[Pseudoaneurysm of a branch of the internal mammary artery in a case operated on for aortic coarctation].

False aneurysm of the internal mammary artery (IMA) is a rare complication of closure of median sternotomy by peristernal wiring. In this report a case of a false aneurysm of a branch of the internal mammary artery following a surgical repair of a complex cardiac anomaly in a patient with a previously dilated mammary artery system for pre-existing coarctation of the aorta is described. In our opinion a special attention has to be given to the course of the IMA and its collaterals whenever a median sternotomy is required to treat an aortic coarctation or its associated diseases, considering the possibility of ligation of vessels at risk of being damaged by the sutures used for closure of the sternal and rectus sheath incisions.