title: Left subclavian artery aneurysm: surgical repair via a sternal incision--a case report.
abstract: For trauma, the traditional approach to the proximal left subclavian artery is through a posterolateral thoracotomy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of accessing the proximal left subclavian artery through a partial sternotomy approach. Anatomical review of 52 subclavian arteries was performed on 52 randomly picked computed tomography (CT) scans of the thorax. The depth of the origin of the subclavian artery was measured from the lateral thoracic wall and from the sternum. It was noted that the distance from the sternum to the origin of the left subclavian artery was 4.71 cm as compared to the posterolateral wall, which was 8.87 cm. This is in contrast to the belief that the left subclavian artery is a posterior structure in the mediastinum. A subclavian artery aneurysm was repaired through the sternal approach and was noted to have an adequate exposure required for the procedure. This approach was necessitated owing to the fact that the patient had significant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. From these data, the authors conclude that in elective circumstances it is easier and appropriate to use the partial sternotomy approach to access the proximal left subclavian artery, especially in patients who have reduced pulmonary function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Guthrie Clinic, Sayre, PA 18840, USA. nilbalar@aol.com
authors.forename: Nilesh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Balar
authors.forename: Vipul
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ganatra
authors.forename: Lawrence N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Sampson
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reitknecht
authors.forename: Sushil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery*; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013348:Subclavian Artery; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures