title: The axillary artery--a new approach for endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic diseases.
abstract: Endovascular procedures are increasing in number for the treatment of thoracic aortic diseases (TAD). Retrograde approach through the femoral artery is the preferred vascular access. Despite the improvements in the devices, femoral artery complications still occurs and some times this access is not possible because of the small size of the vessels, obstruction, calcification, dissection or extreme tortuosity. An axillary approach could be an alternative. We present a series of five patients and describe the technique we used in the axillary artery approach to treat TAD. There were two ascending aortas and three descending aortic aneurysms treated. The left axillary artery was used in three patients and the right in two. There were no local or neurological complications. In this preliminary approach, both axillary arteries were a good alternative access for endovascular graft insertion to treat aortic diseases when femoral access was not possible or was suboptimal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Endovascular Surgery, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul/Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rua Ramiro Barcellos 2350 Zip 90035-004, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. esaadi@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Eduardo Keller
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Saadi
authors.forename: Luiz Henrique
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Dussin
authors.forename: Leandro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.forename: André Severo
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Machado
mesh_terms: D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001027:Aortography; D001366:Axillary Artery; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome