Treatment of aortic arch and left subclavian artery aneurysms in two stages using combined surgical approaches: case report

Aortic arch aneurysms are often asymptomatic, being diagnosed incidentally in tests such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or echocardiogram. Conventional treatment involves thoracotomy surgery, although treatment can also be performed using endovascular techniques. This article presents a case report of a complex aneurysm of the aortic arch with involvement of the left subclavian artery. Treatment was initiated with debranching of the supra-aortic trunks by carotid-carotid and carotid-subclavian bypasses, followed by ligation of the common carotid and left subclavian arteries. A second procedure was then needed to construct a surgical vascular conduit using a Dacron graft to obtain access to the aortic arch for the stent graft delivery device, due to the narrow caliber of the external femoral and iliac arteries. This report illustrates a satisfactory outcome in a case of aortic arch aneurysm with complex anatomy.