Dealing with a Porcelain Aorta during Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Case Rep Surg. 2014:2014:582425. doi: 10.1155/2014/582425. Epub 2014 Dec 24.

Abstract

We report a complex case of multivessel CAD in a patient with a porcelain aorta and high-grade left subclavian artery stenosis. Utilizing a staged left subclavian artery stent placement with a next-day plan for a four-vessel, on-pump CABG and ascending aortic replacement, this case highlights an organized approach to diagnosing and dealing with a heavily calcified aorta while describing a stepwise algorithm to deal with aortic calcifications prior to initiating cardiac surgery.