Papers of the Week

Pseudoaneurysms of the descending aorta after open graft replacement usually occur in patients with connective tissue disorders and form at anastomotic or cannulation sites. We present a case of an iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm in the descending thoracic aortic graft body caused by intercostal nerve block. The patient had undergone repair for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm four years prior and underwent a series of intercostal nerve blocks after experiencing persistent post-thoracotomy pain. A pseudoaneurysm in the descending thoracic graft, contiguous with the chest wall was encountered. He underwent successful pseudoaneurysm resection with redo graft replacement, resulting in significant pain relief.