Iatrogenic subclavian artery and aortic dissection with mesenteric ischemia following subclavian artery angioplasty: Endovascular management

Focal intramural hematoma as a potential pitfall for iatrogenic aortic dissection during subclavian artery stenting: A case report

BACKGROUND

Iatrogenic aortic dissection (IAD) is a rare but fatal complication of interventional treatment for the proximal supra-aortic large vessels. Several cases of IAD after endovascular treatment of subclavian artery have been reported. Nevertheless, the pathogenesis of IAD is still unclear. Here we report a patient with IAD following a balloon expandable stent implanted into the left subclavian artery (LSA).

CASE SUMMARY

An 84-year-old man with a history of hypertension was admitted to the Neurology Department of our hospital complaining of dizziness and gait disturbance for more than 1 mo. Computed tomography angiography of the head and neck showed severe stenosis at the proximal LSA and the origin of the left vertebral artery. Magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging of the brain revealed subacute infarctions in cerebellum, occipital lobe and medulla oblongata. He suffered a Stanford type B aortic dissection after the proximal LSA angioplasty with a balloon expandable stent. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair was performed immediately with the chimney technique and he was discharged 20 d later. After exploring the pathogenesis with multimodal imaging analysis, an easily neglected focal intramural hematoma (IMH) in the aorta near the junction of the LSA was found to be the main cause of the IAD. The risk of IAD should be sufficiently evaluated according to the characteristics of aortic arch lesions before the proximal LSA angioplasty.

CONCLUSION

Focal aortic IMH is a potential risk factor for IAD during a seemingly simple stenting of the proximal LSA.

Angioplasty and stenting for symptomatic stenosis of the left subclavian artery complicated with aortic dissection

BACKGROUND

Aortic dissection is a rare but severe complication of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) for stenosis of the subclavian artery (SA). This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the risk factors and outcomes of patients with severe stenosis of the SA who underwent PTAS complicated by aortic dissection.

METHODS

Between 1999 and 2018, 169 cases of severe symptomatic stenosis of the SA underwent PTAS at our institute. Of them, six cases complicated by aortic dissection were included in this study. We evaluated the demographic features, technical factors of PTAS, and clinical outcomes in these six patients.

RESULTS

Aortic dissection occurred in 5.3% (6/113) of all left SA stenting cases but in none of the right SA stenting cases. All patients had hypertension and a high severity of SA stenosis (85.0 ± 13.0%, 60%-95%). Five of the six patients received balloon-expandable stents (83.3%). All patients had spontaneous resolution of the aortic dissection with conservative treatment. In a 63.33 ± 33.07 (7-118) month follow-up, five of the six patients (83.3%) had long-term symptom relief and stent patency.

CONCLUSION

Aortic dissection occurred in patients who underwent PTAS for severe stenosis of the left SA, mainly with balloon-expandable stents. We suggest using self-expandable stents and angioplasty with an undersized balloon during PTAS for severe stenosis of the left proximal SA to prevent aortic dissection.