Endovascular management of unusual aneurysms of the axillary and subclavian arteries.
OBJECTIVE
Aneurysms of the upper extremity arteries are uncommon and may be difficult to manage with standard surgical techniques. We report the exclusion of three axillary-subclavian aneurysms with covered stents.


RESULTS
Palmaz stents were covered with either polytetrafluoroethylene (2 cases) or brachial vein and deployed to exclude pseudoaneurysms in 1 axillary (ruptured) and 2 left subclavian arteries. Two of the patients had advanced cancer and died within 52 days and 3 months of treatment, but their aneurysms were occluded at the time of their death. The repair in the third patient is patent at 9 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Endovascular exclusion of axillary and subclavian aneurysms with covered stents may offer a useful alternative to operative repair, particularly in patients with significant comorbidities.
Sullivan
T M
TM
Department of Vascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195, USA.
Bacharach
J M
JM
Perl
J
J
Gray
B
B
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D001366:Axillary Artery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011859:Radiography; D015607:Stents; D013348:Subclavian Artery
D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene