title: Alternative management of the left subclavian artery in thoracic endovascular aortic repair for aortic dissection: a single-center experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since the new 2009 guidelines for left subclavian artery (LSA) management using thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), a few studies have been published about alternative LSA management. The objective of this study was to present the follow-up results of covered or revascularized LSA during TEVAR.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2010 to August 2012, 109 consecutive patients were treated with TEVAR at the Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, for aortic dissection extending near the LSA. After evaluating the bilateral vertebral arteries, fifty-two LSAs were covered and not revascularized (covered group), while 57 LSAs were preserved (revascularized group). Complications were stratified according to the time of occurrence after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Emergency operations were more common (17.3 vs. 3.5 %, P = 0.017) and operation time was shorter (96.9 ± 16.3 vs. 135.3 ± 38.4 min, P < 0.001) in the covered group. Pulselessness and intermittent claudication of the left arm occurred in most patients in the covered group (P < 0.001). Incidence of stroke and cold shoulder feeling were higher in the covered group compared with the revascularized group (P = 0.026 and <0.001, respectively). There were five aorta-related deaths in the covered group and one in the revascularized group. Eight endoleaks were observed in the revascularized group (P = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that due to occurrence of complications, LSA should be preserved or revascularized to reduce complications and to improve patients' quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. heatstones@yeah.net.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. luqs@xueguan.net.
authors.forename: Qingsheng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. zhoujian1-2@163.com.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Military Institute of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. xueguanky@163.com.
authors.forename: Zaiping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. zhiqingzhao0903@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zhiqing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. junminbao1010@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Junmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000601:surgery*