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Less-invasive management of left subclavian artery in stent-grafting for distal aortic arch disease

^a Department of Traumatology and Critical Care Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, South 1 West 16, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8543, Japan
^b Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan

*Corresponding author. Tel.: +81-11-611-2111 (ext 3713); fax: +81-11-611-4963.

E-mail address: kurimoto{at}sapmed.ac.jp (Y. Kurimoto).

Simple coverage of the left subclavian artery (LSA) in thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is still a controversial procedure. We present our modified strategy dealing with LSA in TEVAR. Hand-made stent grafts were placed more proximal beyond the LSA for 104 patients. In elective 76, preoperative LSA occlusion test was performed on 31 patients, and preoperative computed tomographic angiography (CTA) of the vertebro-basilar artery was performed on the remaining 45. Head vessels were planned to be kept patent using fenestrated stent grafts, if possible. Stent grafts were placed from zone 0 in 23, zone 1 in 39, and zone 2 in 42. The LSA occlusion tests revealed harmful effects, such as loss of consciousness and vertigo in two out of 31 patients (6.5%). Vertebro-basilar arterial CTA revealed possible risks, if LSA covered, in three out of 45 patients (6.7%). Fenestrated stent grafts could successfully preserve 131 head vessels, except for one unintentional occlusion of the left carotid artery (0.75%). There was no LSA-related complication in any of the cases. A combination of preoperative vertebro-basilar arterial CTA and fenestrated stent grafts is useful to avoid possible LSA-related complications in TEVAR.

Key Words: Stent graft; Left subclavian artery; Vertebral artery; CT angiography; Thoracic aorta