Modified Total Arch Debranching TEVAR with Aberrant Left Vertebral Artery

Prior reconstruction of an isolated left vertebral artery for Stanford type A aortic dissection

Although isolated left vertebral artery is a supra-aortic trunk variant, it is not so rare. It may pose additional difficulties during total arch replacement surgeries. The aim of this study was to present our experience with prior reconstruction of isolated left vertebral artery by isolated left vertebral artery-left common carotid artery during total arch replacement combined with stented elephant trunk implantation.

Type B aortic dissection repair using a Thoraflex hybrid prosthesis in a setting of aberrant left vertebral artery

Type B aortic dissection (TBAD) is often managed conservatively with intervention reserved for complicated cases. Strategies for complicated and uncomplicated TBAD can involve optimal medical therapy, thoracic endovascular aortic replacement and open surgical repair of TBAD with replacement of the affected segment of aorta and reimplantation of aortic branches. The frozen elephant trunk technique has been reported to be a successful surgical strategy in patients with complicated TBAD, particularly in patients who possess unfavourable aortic arch anatomy for endovascular stenting or at increased risk of retrograde Type A aortic dissection. The Thoraflex is a commercially available aortic graft, manufactured by Vascutek®. We describe a successful case of addressing complicated TBAD with rare variant aortic anatomy using a Thoraflex hybrid frozen elephant trunk graft and reimplantation of the aberrant left vertebral artery to the perfusion limb of the Thoraflex graft.

Transposition of the left vertebral artery during endovascular stent-graft repair of the aortic arch

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to present our experience with the management of isolated left vertebral artery during hybrid aortic arch repairs with thoracic endovascular aortic repair completion.

METHODS

This is a single-center, observational, cohort study. Between January 2007 and December 2018, 9 patients (4.5%) of 200 who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair were identified with isolated left vertebral artery. The isolated left vertebral artery was the dominant vertebral artery in 4 cases and entered the Circle of Willis to form the basilar artery in all cases. Isolated left vertebral artery transposition was performed in 2 patients during open ascending/arch repair before thoracic endovascular aortic repair completion. In 4 patients, isolated left vertebral artery transposition was performed concomitant with carotid-subclavian bypass during thoracic endovascular aortic repair completion ("zone 2" thoracic endovascular aortic repair). Primary outcomes were early (<30 days) and late survival, freedom from aortic-related mortality, and isolated left vertebral artery patency.

RESULTS

Primary technical success was achieved in all cases. Isolated left vertebral artery-related complication occurred in 1 patient (Horner syndrome). Immediate thrombosis, vagus/recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, lymphocele, and chylothorax were never observed. Postoperative cerebrovascular accident or spinal cord injury was not observed. Median follow-up was 15 months (range, 3-72). We did not observe aortic-related mortality during the follow-up. Aortic-related intervention was never required. Both isolated left vertebral artery and carotid-subclavian bypass are still patent in all patients with no sign of anastomotic pseudoaneurysm or stenosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Although isolated left vertebral artery is not a frequent occurrence, it is not so rare. It may pose additional difficulties during hybrid aortic arch surgical repairs, but isolated left vertebral artery transposition was feasible, safe, and a durable reconstruction.