Traumatic innominate artery pseudoaneurysm in the setting of a bovine arch

A blunt traumatic giant pseudoaneurysm of the brachiocephalic artery: A case report from Somalia

INTRODUCTION

Pseudoaneurysm of the brachiocephalic artery is a rare condition that can occur as a result of various causes, including trauma, iatrogenic injury, and infection. The clinical presentation of brachiocephalic artery pseudoaneurysms can vary depending on the size and location of the pseudoaneurysm. The treatment options for innominate artery pseudoaneurysms include both surgical and endovascular approaches. Our goal of the study is to increase awareness and early detection of blunt injuries in the chest, clavicle, or sternoclavicular joint that may cause a vascular injury.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present here A 24-year-old male came to present with an acute onset of dyspnea, stridor (an abnormal, high-pitched respiratory sound produced by irregular airflow in a narrowed airway), a worsening cough, and chest pain that had been worsening over several months. His medical history was significant for blunt chest trauma secondary to a bicycle fall 3 months earlier.

DISCUSSION

A traumatic giant pseudoaneurysm of the innominate artery is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. Treatment options for brachiocephalic artery pseudoaneurysm include both endovascular and surgical approaches. This case report contributes to the current literature when any patient has a blunt injury in the chest, clavicle, or sternoclavicular joint and is highly suspect of a vascular injury. To increase awareness, we first need to exclude if there is any vascular injury, which helps to detect it early and intervene.

CONCLUSION

Brachiocephalic artery traumatic large pseudoaneurysm is an uncommon but potentially fatal disorder that can arise from a number of different sources. Achieving favorable results requires prompt diagnosis and proper care, which may include open surgical repair and endovascular procedures. To better comprehend the condition and optimize its management approaches, more investigation and case studies are required.

Bovine aortic arch: Prevalence in human fetuses

OBJECTIVE

"Bovine aortic arch" is the second most common variant of aortic arch branching, in which only two branches originate directly from the aorta. The prevalence of this condition has been reported in different studies to be around 6% in human fetuses and 11-27% in the adult population. In this study, we describe the prevalence of bovine aortic arch in fetuses, and assess the prevalence of concomitant fetal anomalies.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 417 fetuses between 15-40 weeks of gestation. Data regarding branching of the fetal aortic arch and other fetal anomalies were collected by fetal echocardiography and/or fetal ultrasonography.

RESULTS

A bovine arch was found in 20/413 fetuses (4.8%, 95CI 3.1-7.3%), of whom 14/310 (4.5%) had no fetal anomalies, and 6/77 (7.8%) exhibited minor changes (P = .241). None of the 26 fetuses with major anomalies had a bovine arch.

CONCLUSION

Fetuses in this study had a lower prevalence of bovine aortic arch than that previously reported in adults, most probably due to differences in the population examined. This study was underpowered to determine that bovine arch is a common anatomic variant, and is not associated with fetal anomalies.

Blunt Injury of the Innominate Artery: What Surprises to Expect? A Case Report

Injuries of the supra-aortic trunk after blunt chest trauma are rare. This is a case report of a blunt traumatic lesion of the innominate artery (IA) origin that exhibited aortic arch involvement with a focus on imaging and treatment. A 41-year-old fisherman presented an IA injury secondary to a high-impact blunt chest trauma. Upon physical examination, vital signs were stable and upper extremity pulses were present. In addition to several bone fractures (costal ribs, clavicle, scapula, temporal, maxillary, and sphenoid), computed tomography angiography revealed dissection/pseudoaneurysm of the IA sparing the bifurcation. The patient underwent emergent angiography, which confirmed that the IA dissection was not ruptured, but it was unclear whether there was a pseudoaneurysm at the origin of the IA or aortic arch involvement. The patient was considered for open surgery. An ascending aorta-to-IA bypass was achieved by the off-pump beating heart approach. The IA stump was carefully observed, but oversewing was not possible due to the extension of the intimal-medial lesions into the artic arch. An on-pump intervention was then required for aortic angioplasty with a pericardial patch that was reinforced by Gel Seal. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient was discharged without any complications. Conventional surgery provides good results and should remain in the armamentarium for the treatment of traumatic lesions at the IA origin, particularly if aortic arch involvement cannot be ruled out, to ensure a truly patient-tailored approach.