Endovascular repair of acute traumatic thoracic aortic transection with laser-assisted in-situ fenestration of a stent-graft covering the left subclavian artery.
OBJECTIVE
To report the use of in-situ laser-assisted endograft fenestration during thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).


METHODS
A healthy 26-year-old man presented to the emergency department after sustaining blunt chest trauma. He was hemodynamically stable, although he subjectively complained of tearing chest pain and pleuritic chest wall pain. Radiography revealed a left clavicular fracture, multiple rib fractures, and a widened mediastinum. Imaging showed a partially contained acute aortic transection just distal to the takeoff of the left subclavian artery (LSA); the arch had a bovine configuration, with a shared origin of the right innominate and left common carotid arteries. Endovascular repair was elected, but to avoid sacrificing the LSA, TEVAR with in-situ graft fenestration was performed to reduce the risk of posterior circulation stroke, spinal cord ischemia, and subclavian steal syndrome. A Talent thoracic stent-graft was deployed, with the covered portion of the endograft extending just distal to the shared origin of the innominate and left carotid arteries. A laser catheter was advanced through the LSA to fenestrate the endograft; the fenestration was dilated and stented with an iCast stent, which was flared proximally and distally to effect a seal. At 6 weeks, imaging documented that the repair was patent and secure; the patient continues to do well at his most recent follow-up at 8 months.


CONCLUSIONS
This technique may provide a means for extending thoracic endografting technology to a greater number of patients with acute thoracic aortic pathology.
Murphy
Erin H
EH
Divisions of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery and, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Dimaio
J Michael
JM
Dean
William
W
Jessen
Michael E
ME
Arko
Frank R
FR
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D015607:Stents; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*