Dartevelle Approach for Intra-Thoracic Subclavian Artery Aneurysm Repair

Abstract

Subclavian artery aneurysm is a rare phenomenon in the West, but its prevalence is increasingly proportionate to incidence of atherosclerotic disease in the population. It is generally accepted that gold standard care is surgical resection but with limited experience opportunity remains to optimise this. We report on a 66-year-old female arteriopath with an 8 cm intra-thoracic aneurysm of the right subclavian artery, just distal to the brachiocephalic trunk. Lack of a proximal landing zone prohibited endovascular repair thus we utilised the anterior transcervical approach described by Dartevelle. This approach provided excellent visualisation of the aneurysm, along with right vagus and phrenic nerves, facilitating proximal and distal control and subsequent decompression. Post operative recovery was swift and not marred by substantial pain or inhibition of chest wall mechanics, associated with median sternotomy and thoracotomy incisions usually advocated for such aneurysms. As such we purport this approach to offer excellent operative exposure for this increasing disease burden, with less morbidity associated than the currently accepted approach, representing an advance in the management of this condition.