Staged open surgery for bicuspid aortic valve regurgitation and coarctation of the aorta in a Jehovah’s witness

Abstract

Abstract Background Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse allogeneic blood transfusions, which makes cardiovascular surgery challenging. Surgeons must minimize blood and fluid loss within one procedure. Case presentation We herein describe a 17-year-old male Jehovah’s Witness with bicuspid aortic valve regurgitation and coarctation of the aorta. The procedures were performed in the following order: aortic valve replacement combined with Nick’s aortic root enlargement, right axillary artery–bilateral external iliac artery bypass, and distal arch–descending aorta bypass. Conclusions Axillary artery–bilateral external iliac artery bypass maintained distal perfusion and reduced the amount of heparin during distal arch–descending aorta bypass surgery.

Keywords

• Coarctation of the aorta
• Bicuspid valve
• Jehovah’s witness