title: Upper limb ischemia after subclavian flap aortoplasty: unusual long-term complication.
abstract: Repair of isolated coarctation of the aorta by subclavian flap aortoplasty carries the disadvantage of impaired blood supply to the left arm. However, ligation of branches of the subclavian artery can be tolerated without manifest ischemia of the upper extremity. We report the case of a young man who suffered from left upper extremity ischemia 18 years after initial operation. Treatment consisted of carotid-subclavian bypass with good outcome. The surgical approach of coarctation by subclavian aortoplasty should be reserved for specific cases, and if this procedure is performed, ligation of branches of the subclavian artery should be minimized to increase inflow into the left brachial artery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hôpital Broussais, Paris, France.
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Diemont
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Chemla
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Julia
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sirieix
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Fabiani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017130:Angioplasty; D001011:Aorta / Q000601:surgery*; D001017:Aortic Coarctation / Q000601:surgery; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013997:Time Factors