Treatment of an Aortic Fungal False Aneurysm by Composite Stentless Porcine/Pericardial Conduit: A Case Report

Fungal prosthetic valve endocarditis is an uncommon but serious condition with high early and long-term mortality. The majority of these cases occur after aortic valve surgery and are caused by Candida species. Radical debridement of all infected tissues, valve replacement with perioperative and long-term anti-fungal agents is the recommended treatment. Choice of prosthesis varies widely among surgeons, but present recommendations favour biological prostheses. We report for the first time the case of a fungal PVE with false aneurysm after composite aortic root replacement with a dacron composite conduit treated successfully with aortic root replacement using a Shelhigh (Shelhigh Inc., Millburn. NJ) stentless porcine pericardial valved conduit.