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

Abstract

Introduction

Ascending 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.

Report

A 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.

Discussion

TEVAR 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.

Highlights

• •TEVAR of ascending aorta presents a challenge because of inadequate landing zones.
• •Unique “reverse” extra-anatomic aortic arch debranching procedure is demonstrated.
• •This technique enables TEVAR in patients with distal ascending aorta pathology.

Introduction

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has markedly impacted the treatment algorithm for patients presenting with vascular pathology of the thoracic aorta. The success of TEVAR is well demonstrated in the repair of pathologies of the descending aorta.¹ More recently, this endovascular repair has been employed in treatment of non-operative high-risk patients.²

TEVAR in the treatment of ascending aortic pathologies has not been well demonstrated; open repair remains the current standard of treatment. The ascending aorta presents unique anatomic challenges for existing endograft devices. The distance between the coronary ostia and the brachiocephalic artery is usually quite short, representing an insufficient landing zone for endograft deployment. The present case describes a novel “reverse” extra-anatomic debranching procedure comprising 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 to create an adequate landing zone for TEVAR.

Report

A 71-year-old male presented with a complex past history revealing a Stanford Type A aortic dissection repair 20 years previously with an isolated ascending aortic arch graft. He also underwent an aortobifemoral bypass graft for aneurysmal disease of the abdominal aorta in the remote past. Both femoral anastomoses subsequently developed aneurysmal degeneration requiring interposition graft repair. Both iliac limbs developed fluid around the limbs, but because of significant cardiac issues it was decided to treat these conservatively with chronic antibiotic therapy.

He was subsequently admitted with chest pain, a CT scan revealed a large dilatation of the distal ascending aortic arch consistent with a pseudoaneurysm from a previous anastomosis (Fig. 1). The extra aortic component measured 5.6 cm in anteroposterior diameter and 6.4 cm in length. The pseudoaneurysm appeared to erode into the posterior wall of the sternum.

Figure 1.

Pre-operative contrast-enhanced CT scan of the ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm.

This patient was unlikely to survive redo open ascending arch repair because of his cardiac morbidity and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There were multiple challenges to fix this by endovascular repair. The pseudoaneurysm started immediately proximal to the innominate artery, indicating that a sealing zone would require coverage of both the innominate artery and the left common carotid artery with its take off just 2 mm from the innominate artery. Furthermore, the thoracic stent would need to be short enough to lie distal to the coronary sinus and proximal to the left subclavian artery. This distance was measured to be 100 mm. The aorta above the aortic valve measured 36 mm while the distal landing zone at the left subclavian was only 25 mm in diameter, indicating that a tapered graft would be preferred. The relationship of the pseudoaneurysm to the great vessels and coronary ostia is illustrated in Fig. 2.

Figure 2.

3D reconstruction of contrast-enhanced CT illustrating the relationship of the ascending aortic aneurysm to the great vessels and coronary ostia.

A “reverse” arch debranching procedure was performed comprising: 1) left subclavian artery to left carotid artery bypass; 2) left to right carotid to carotid bypass; and 3) left common carotid artery ligation (Fig. 3). Bypasses were performed using 8 mm Gore propaten graft material. There were no intra-operative complications. Recovery was delayed secondary to respiratory issues.

Figure 3.

Angiogram demonstrating unique “reverse” debranching of the aortic arch with left subclavian artery to left carotid artery bypass, and left to right carotid to carotid bypass. There is retrograde flow in the innominate artery.

Two weeks later, TEVAR for the ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm was attempted using a Cook Zenith stent graft system (40 mm × 40 mm × 80 mm, catheter length 75 cm) (Cook Vascular Inc., Bloomington, IN, USA). The endograft was delivered via the proximal left superficial femoral artery.

Unfortunately, the TX2 Cook stent graft delivery system was not long enough to pass the graft to the desired landing zone in the proximal ascending aorta. Higher femoral cut-down either by groin incision or retroperitoneal incision was considered, however, there was concern about infection of the fluid collections surrounding the aortobifemoral graft (Fig. 4). As a consequence, this procedure was terminated.

Figure 4.

Contrast-enhanced CT illustrating fluid around the left limb of the previous aortobifemoral graft.

Three days later, TEVAR was successfully reattempted using a Medtronic Valiant stent graft (40 mm × 40 mm × 100 mm, catheter length 85 cm) (Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland). This was delivered via the right limb of the patient's aortobifemoral bypass graft underneath the inguinal ligament. The Medtronic delivery system reached the desired landing zone in the ascending aorta. The graft was deployed with the proximal landing zone just distal to the coronary ostia, and the distal landing zone excluding the origin of the left common carotid artery. During deployment ventricular pacing was employed to maintain blood pressure at less than 50 mmHg.

Completion angiogram demonstrated patency of the coronary ostia and the left subclavian artery. However, Type 1b endoleak was evident. Balloon dilation of the distal portion of the endograft reduced this endoleak significantly. Finally, the innominate artery was embolized using a 16 mm Amplatz plug via right brachial artery puncture.

Follow-up CT scan revealed the pseudoaneurysm sac filling from a possible Type 1. Subsequent angiogram from the right brachial artery after traversing the Amplatz plug by microcatheters confirmed a Type 1a endoleak. This was embolized with multiple coils in the pseudoaneurysm and in the endoleak tract (Fig. 5). Follow-up CT scan has shown a reduction in the size of the pseudoaneurysm and no endoleak (Fig. 6).

Figure 5.

Intra-operative angiogram illustrating embolization coils in pseudoaneurysm and endoleak tract.

Figure 6.

Contrast-enhanced CT scans performed pre- and post-embolization of the pseudoaneurysm sac, demonstrating reduction in aneurysm size to 5.1 cm and no endoleak.

Discussion

This case report illustrates the feasibility of a “reverse” aortic arch debranching procedure – left subclavian to left carotid artery bypass and a left to right carotid-to-carotid bypass – used in conjunction with TEVAR for repair of ascending aortic aneurysms. Furthermore, the challenges encountered when using standard endovascular devices for these repairs are demonstrated.

Extra-anatomic bypass has previously been described through left lateral thoracotomy from the descending thoracic aorta to the left subclavian and left carotid arteries using a bifurcated graft and subsequent left-to-right carotid bypass.3, 4 This approach has the advantage of providing a longer landing zone for the aortic graft; however, at the cost of invasive thoracotomy. The present patient suffered from severe chronic lung disease, precluding this alternate approach.

The challenges encountered highlight the need for development of dedicated ascending aorta endovascular stent graft devices. In a first attempt with the Cook TX2 device it was not possible to traverse the aortic arch and reach the appropriate landing zone in the proximal ascending aorta because of the short length of the graft delivery system. In a second attempt, the Medtronic Valiant endograft (85 cm catheter length) was used to reach the desired landing zone. This graft was successfully deployed in the intended location. The proximal landing zone in this case necessitates the nose cone of the stent graft to traverse the aortic valve during deployment of the graft. This may compromise hemodynamic stability and preclude successful deployment. Accurate and safe deployment of the graft requires precise manipulation of cardiac output and blood pressure. Right ventricular pacing allows accurate control of these variables allowing for exact and deliberate placement.

The Type 1 endoleak on the completion angiogram illustrates device limitations. TEVAR devices currently available on the market are designed to treat pathology of the distal aortic arch and descending aorta. Placement of the device in the ascending aorta and arch violates the instructions for use⁵; angulation of the device in the arch may have prevented full device expansion and adequate proximal fixation. Newer graft designs specifically for the ascending arch from Cook Corp and Bolton Corp may improve the graft limitations experienced in this case.6, 7

The feasibility of this “reverse” debranching procedure is demonstrated for treatment of ascending aortic disease by TEVAR. This technique can be considered when treating ascending aortic pathology in patients who are not amenable to open aortic repair.

Conflict of Interest

None.

Funding

None.