Kommerell's Diverticulum in a Right-Sided Aortic Arch With an Aberrant Left Subclavian Artery Hybrid Repair

BACKGROUND

Kommerell's diverticulum (KD) with a right aortic arch (RAA) and aberrant left subclavian artery (aLSCA) is a rare congenital anomaly of the aortic arch. Treatment is not well defined due to its uncommon presentation, with rupture and dissection risk rates of up to 53%.

CASE SUMMARY

A 54-year-old male with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and hypertension presented with difficulty breathing during exercise without dysphagia. Follow-up computerized tomography angiogram (CTA) revealed the presence of a RAA and aLSCA arising from the descending thoracic aorta with an adjacent 58 × 41-mm KD and tracheal and esophageal displacement. Due to the size of the KD, risk of rupture, unsuitable anatomy for total endovascular aortic repair (EVAR), and high COPD burden, the patient was planned to undergo a hybrid surgical repair. Left common carotid (LCCA) artery to LSCA bypass, full aortic debranching, LSCA embolization and percutaneous thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) were performed. Successful device position and exclusion of the diverticulum and aneurysmal aorta were observed after completion thoracic aortogram. 18-month follow-up CTA demonstrated patency of the LSCA to LCCA bypass graft and arch vessel branches, as well as stable exclusion of the KD. Persistence of a type II endoleak originated at the right first posterior intercostal artery has been noted and is being followed conservatively since no sac growth has occurred.

CONCLUSION

We highlight the presence of a KD with RAA and aberrant subclavian artery, a rare congenital anatomic variation of the aortic arch with complex anatomy. Surgical planning must be individualized according to comorbidities and anatomical variations identified on imaging and 3D reconstructions.

Hybrid repair of right aortic arch aneurysm with a Kommerell's diverticulum

We describe the case of a 74-year-old man who underwent a hybrid open and endovascular approach for repair of dissecting thoracic aortic aneurysm of a right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery arising from a Kommerell's diverticulum. Total debranching using a tailored quadrifurcated graft and thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair for the transverse aortic lesion were performed. The procedures were successfully accomplished with complete exclusion of the aneurysm. This hybrid procedure for complex aortic arch disease may reduce perioperative complications compared to challenging conventional open approaches.