Challenges of “Reverse” Aortic Arch Debranching for Repair of the Ascending Aorta by Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair

Abstract

IntroductionAscending aortic pathology presents a unique challenge for treatment by thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), because of lack of adequate endograft landing zones. This report describes a unique “reverse” extra-anatomical aortic arch debranching procedure performed to enable TEVAR of the ascending aorta.ReportA 71-year-old male presented with a large ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm secondary to previous arch repair anastomosis. This pathology was treated by TEVAR of the ascending aorta. To create a sufficient landing zone for the endovascular stent graft, a “reverse” extra-anatomical aortic arch debranching procedure was performed. This involved a left subclavian artery to left carotid artery bypass, left to right carotid-to-carotid bypass, ligation of proximal left common carotid artery, and embolization of the innominate artery origin.DiscussionTEVAR of the ascending aorta can be made feasible through a novel debranching procedure that creates sufficient landing zones for the endograft. This surgical approach may prove useful in patients who present with aortic arch pathology and comorbidities that prevent open surgical repair.

Commentary: The life in our years

“…The great preponderance of procedures in the 70to 79-year and the 80-to 89-year age groups were ascending aortic replacements with a hemiarch (70.1% and 93.9% for the 2 groups, respectively), but currently few endovascular options for isolated ascending aneurysm are on the horizon because of the unique anatomic and hemodynamic milieu of the proximal aorta. 6 ''Reverse'' extra-anatomic arch debranching followed by transapical endovascular stenting has been reported recently for the treatment of an ascending aortic aneurysm, 7 yet in its current form is reserved for prohibitive-risk patients only.…”