Instituto de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular. Centro de Investigaciones Médico Quirúrgicas.

A 37-year-old male patient of the white race with antecedents of injury by firearm in dorsal region with 6 months of evolution is presented showing dysfagia and subsequent thoracic pain. An aortography was carried out, arriving to a diagnosis of pseudoaneurism of the thoracic aorta at the level of T 10. Due to the high possibility of rupture and the symptoms that were causing it was decided surgery. A toracotomy at the left poster lateral 7 mo intercostal space was performed. A second incision was made in the femoral region where a cannulation of artery and femoral vein was needed to avoid ischemia of the abdominal organs during the time of aortic clamp at thoracic level. Abdominal perfusion was achieved with the use of an extracorporeal circulation machine and above the clamp with the heart as a pump. A patch of dacron covered with collagen was placed. The postoperative evolution was favourable. Key words: circulatory assistance, perfusion, aortic pseudo-aneurysm