Surgical treatment for aneurysm at the origin of an aberrant right subclavian artery

Arteria lusoria: developmental anatomy, clinical, radiological and surgical aspects

The left aortic arch with an aberrant right subclavian artery, or arteria lusoria, is the most common aortic arch anomaly, occuring in 0.5-2.5% of individuals. Four vessels arise sequentially from the aortic arch: the right common carotid artery, the left common carotid artery, the left subclavian artery and the aberrant right subclavian artery, which crosses upwards and to the right in the posterior mediastinum. It results from a disruption in the complex remodelling of the paired branchial arches, typically of the right dorsal aorta distal to the sixth cervical intersegmental artery. The diagnosis and differentiation of arch anomalies is based on findings at chest radiography in association with those at esophagography. It is usually asymptomatic. When symptomatic, it produces dysphagia lusoria or dyspnea and chronic coughing. Treatment is indicated for symptomatic relief of dysphagia lusoria and for prevention of complications due to aneurysmal dilatation.

Surgical Treatment of Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery (Arteria Lusoria) Aneurysm Using Three Different Methods

BACKGROUND

Here we report our surgical experiences with aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) aneurysm in 8 patients.

METHODS

Eight patients underwent surgical treatment for ARSA aneurysm between March 1994 and June 2005. The age of these patients ranged from 20 to 75 years. The mean size of the ARSA aneurysm was 3.3 cm, ranging from 2 to 5 cm. The ARSA aneurysm was completely resected through a left posterolateral thoracotomy after reconstruction of the right subclavian artery through the supraclavicular approach in 4 patients (group 1). The ARSA aneurysm was excluded through a left posterolateral thoracotomy without revascularization of the right subclavian artery in 2 patients (group 2). The distal site of the ARSA aneurysm was closed followed by revascularization through a median sternotomy, and the ARSA aneurysm was left as a blind sack in 2 patients (group 3).

RESULTS

None of the patients in group 1 or 3 had any postoperative complications. In group 2, 1 had a steal syndrome caused by the exclusion of the ARSA aneurysm, and the other died of sepsis 2 months after the operation.

CONCLUSIONS

Complete anatomical repair of the ARSA aneurysm could be performed through the combination of the supraclavicular approach and the left posterolateral thoracotomy, with excellent results. Exclusion of the ARSA aneurysm without revascularization resulted in a suboptimal outcome. Surgical results of simple closure of the ARSA followed by revascularization were uneventful, but the ARSA aneurysm was left as a blind sack.

Total Aortic Arch Replacement in Patients With Arch Vessel Anomalies

BACKGROUND

The presence of anomalous arch vessels has considerable impact on aortic arch reconstruction techniques and cerebral protection methods when the separated graft technique is adopted to perform total arch replacement. We analyzed our experience of total arch replacement in patients with arch vessel anomalies.

METHODS

Among the 220 patients undergoing total arch replacement at our institution, 21 patients (9.5%) had various arch vessel anomalies. Common brachiocephalic trunk was found in 8 patients (3.6%); an isolated left vertebral artery in 9 (4.1%); aberrant right subclavian artery in 3 (1.4%); and coexistent common brachiocephalic trunk and isolated left vertebral artery in 1 (0.5%). In 4 of the 9 patients with isolated left vertebral artery, preoperative diagnosis was possible with magnetic resonance angiography or three-dimensional computed tomography. In cases with common brachiocephalic trunk, total arch replacement could be performed with the usual techniques after separating the innominate and left common carotid arteries from each other. The isolated left vertebral artery was anastomosed to the left subclavian artery graft in 7 patients and to the native left subclavian artery in 2. In the aberrant right subclavian artery variety, a distal aortic anastomosis was performed distal to the orifice of this anomalous artery. The aberrant vessel was reconstructed on the right side of the trachea and esophagus.

RESULTS

There was no early or in-hospital mortality. No neurologic complication attributable to the arch vessel anomalies was found.

CONCLUSIONS

A precise preoperative diagnosis is very important for the selection of an appropriate surgical strategy in patients with arch vessel anomalies. Magnetic resonance angiography and three-dimensional computed tomography may be useful diagnostic tools in these patients.

Percutaneous Treatment of Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery Aneurysm with Use of the Amplatzer Septal Occluder

Aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) aneurysms are rare but carry a high risk of rupture and require early elective treatment. The present report describes a 60-year-old man with an asymptomatic ARSA aneurysm for whom surgical treatment would have been associated with a high degree of risk. The ARSA aneurysm was occluded with use of Amplatzer septal occluders, which avoided high-risk surgery and preserved antegrade flow into the left common carotid, subclavian, and vertebral arteries and perfusion of the right upper extremity through an induced right subclavian steal. The eventual need for bypass surgery for perfusion of the right upper extremity was assessed after the procedure.

Diverticula of Kommerell and Aberrant Subclavian Arteries Complicated by Aneurysms

This is a retrospective evaluation of the incidence of aberrant subclavian arteries (ASAs) and diverticula of Kommerell, as well as the occurrence and significance of associated aneurysms. Thoracic aortograms obtained during a 12.5-year period were reviewed, seeking the presence of aberrant right and left subclavian arteries (ARSAs/ALSAs), diverticula of Kommerell, and the incidence of associated aortic aneurysms. Several cases were evaluated with computed tomography concomitantly. Results were correlated with a literature review. Twenty-two ASAs were identified. Nineteen were on the right (ARSAs) and three were on the left (ALSAs). A diverticulum of Kommerell (DOK) was also present on the right in seven and on the left in three. Five of these patients had complicating aneurysms. Four of these were associated with ARSAs and their diverticula. Two were atherosclerotic; one was a limited dissection and one of uncertain etiology was ruptured. One additional aneurysm (atherosclerotic) involved an ALSA/DOK. The patient with the ruptured aneurysm died in surgery; three were managed conservatively because of concomitant disease; and one is being followed because of the small size (2.5 cm) of the aneurysm. ARSAs are relatively uncommon and ALSAs are rare. Both ARSA and ALSA are frequently associated with a DOK. Aneurysms rarely involve ASAs (with or without a DOK), but they are associated with a high mortality rate if they are not discovered before rupture. Early diagnosis plus surgical and/or endovascular management can be lifesaving.

Aberrant right subclavian artery as a new cardiac sign in second- and third-trimester fetuses with Down syndrome

OBJECTIVE

The right subclavian artery arises normally as the first vessel from the brachiocephalic artery of the aortic arch. An aberrant right subclavian artery arises as a separate vessel from the aortic isthmus and crosses to the right, behind the trachea. This variant is present in <1% of the normal population; however, in subjects with Down syndrome, an incidence between 19% and 36% was reported. The purpose of this study was to assess the possibility of the detection of an aberrant right subclavian artery in fetuses with Down syndrome.

STUDY DESIGN

Fourteen consecutive fetuses with prenatally detected Down syndrome were examined between 18 and 33 weeks of gestation. The presence of an aberrant right subclavian artery was determined by visualization of the transverse 3-vessel trachea view of the upper thorax with color Doppler ultrasonography.

RESULTS

The right subclavian artery was visualized in 100% of fetuses (14/14) with Down syndrome. An aberrant right subclavian artery was identified in 35.7% of trisomy 21 fetuses (5/14). In 1 fetus, the aberrant right subclavian artery was the only abnormal ultrasound finding. In 3 fetuses, an aberrant right subclavian artery was associated with an intracardiac echogenic focus plus additional extracardiac markers. In the fourth fetus, an aberrant right subclavian artery was associated with an atrioventricular septal defect. All 9 fetuses with Down syndrome with a normal origin of the right subclavian artery had additional cardiac and/or extracardiac abnormalities. In 12 cases, pregnancy was terminated; 2 fetuses were live born.

CONCLUSION

This preliminary study suggests that the in utero identification of an aberrant right subclavian artery may be a new ultrasound marker to be found in fetuses with Down syndrome. Further studies are required to assess the incidence of aberrant right subclavian artery in normal fetuses.