Percutaneous Treatment of Severe Mechanical Intravascular Hemolytic Anemia Due to Deformation of Ascending Aortic Prosthesis.

Mechanical intravascular hemolysis (MIH) is a known complication in patients with prosthetic cardiac devices and grafts, often caused by mechanical stress on red blood cells and potentially leading to severe anemia requiring surgical intervention. However, some patients are considered a high surgical risk. We present a case of a 35-year-old patient with severe MIH caused by deformation of an ascending aortic prosthesis. Owing to recent and previous cardiac surgeries, the patient was deemed inoperable. After extensive investigations, percutaneous stent implantation in the aortic prosthesis was performed. During the index hospitalization and at subsequent follow-up examinations, the patient recovered well, with a decline in the degree of hemolysis. Data regarding percutaneous management of MIH remain limited, based on case reports and small series. This case highlights the importance of the implementation of multidisciplinary management and rethinking traditional approaches, which were key to the success of this case.