Rupture and Migration of an Endovascular Stent in the Brachiocephalic Trunk Causing a Vertebral Steal Syndrome

The presence of long and heavily calcified lesions predisposes for fracture in patients undergoing stenting of the first part of the subclavian artery

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence and risk factors of subclavian artery stent fractures and to investigate their impact on in-stent restenosis development.

METHODS

One hundred eight patients (65 females; median age, 58.3 years [interquartile range, 53.4-65.5 years]) with steno-occlusive disease of the first part of the subclavian artery who underwent stenting (N = 108 stents; balloon-expandable, 83.3%; self-expandable, 16.7%) between 2005 and 2015 and returned for a fluoroscopic examination of the implanted stents in 2017 were included in our study. Fractures were type I (single strut fracture), type II (multiple strut fractures without deformation), type III (multiple strut fractures with deformation), type IV (multiple strut fractures with acquired transection but without gap), or type V (multiple strut fractures with acquired transection with gap in the stent body). Stent patency was monitored by duplex ultrasound imaging. The Mann-Whitney U and Fisher's exact tests; Kaplan-Meier, receiver operating characteristic, and logistic regression analyses; as well as a log-rank test were used as statistical methods.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 73.8 months (interquartile range, 35.6-104.2 months). Thirty-eight fractures (35.2%) were detected; fractures were type I in 13, type II in 12, type III in 6, type IV in 4, and type V in 3 cases. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed the presence of long (≥20 mm) lesions (odds ratio, 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-8.4; P = .012) and heavy calcification (odds ratio, 4.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-12.7; P = .002) to be significant independent predictors of stent fracture. The primary patency rates were significantly worse (P = .035) in patients with stent fracture compared with those without stent fracture.

CONCLUSIONS

Stent fractures frequently occur. Patients with long and/or heavily calcified lesions require closer follow-up.

Subclavian transectional stent fracture and migration to the aortic carrefour: a case description of retrieval by snare system

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with or without stent has become the treatment of choice for stenotic lesion in subclavian arteries. However, there is a growing concern following many reports of stent fractures, a serious complication of endovascular therapy. We report for the first time a case of delayed left subclavian stent fracture with transection of the protruding ostial part and migration into the aortic carrefour that was retrieved by a snare device.

[Traumatic dissection of the innominate artery. A case report]

INTRODUCTION

Lesions affecting the supra-aortic arterial trunks often occur in a contest of severe chest trauma. They are rarely isolated and can be life-threatening. We report a case of surgery for an isolated traumatic dissection of the innominate artery.

CASE REPORT

A 48-year-old patient had a road accident causing head injury, trauma of the left lower limb and blunt chest trauma. At the physical exam, the pulse at the upper right limb was weak compared to the contralateral member. A pressure gradient of 50mm Hg was recorded between the two upper limbs. A whole body scan revealed a dissection of the innominate artery sparing its origin and bifurcation. Cervicotomy and sternotomy was necessary to achieve control. After heparinization and clamping, a prosthetic bypass was inserted to replace the innominate artery. The postoperative course was uneventful and the pressure gradient between the two upper limbs disappeared.

CONCLUSION

Lesions of the brachiocephalic arterial trunk are not frequent but they are serious. A careful physical exam at admission helps detect them. Prognosis is directly linked to early diagnosis and management. Conventional surgery provides good results and remains the standard treatment for these lesions.

Stent fracture in the brachiocephalic trunk

Stents are commonly used as a tool for revascularization of different vascular beds in the body. However, many pitfalls have been reported with their use, such as thrombosis, migration, restenosis or fractures. The latter have been strongly correlated to in-stent restenosis with long-term follow-up. We report a rare case of an early stent fracture in the brachiocephalic trunk with in-stent restenosis and recurrence of symptoms. To our knowledge there has been only one case report of a delayed brachiocephalic stent fracture in the English literature. We believe that our case is the first report of an early stent fracture in the brachiocephalic trunk.