Emergency aortic repair technique shows hidden risk in follow-up care
A new case report reveals that laser fenestration—a fast-growing emergency technique for life-threatening aortic aneurysms—can lead to stent fractures months after surgery. The finding suggests hospitals need stricter monitoring protocols and may face liability if complications aren't caught early.
Originaltitel: Left subclavian artery bridging stent fracture after in-situ laser fenestration during emergent thoracic endovascular aortic repair
<p>In-situ laser fenestration (ISLF) has been described as a viable option for urgent thoracic aortic aneurysm cases involving supra-aortic vessels. There are, however, limited data on its durability. Here, we present a case of a 70-year-old man with a symptomatic 13-cm thoracic aortic aneurysm extending proximally to the origin of the left subclavian artery (LSA). Emergent thoracic endovascular aortic repair with chimney stenting of the left common carotid artery and ISLF for the LSA was successfully performed. During the follow-up, a compression of the bridging stent to the LSA progressed to a stent fracture needing realignment. Despite ISLF's reported technical success, this case highlights the risk of bridging stent complications, emphasizing the need for a close follow-up. (J Vasc Surg Cases Innov Tech 2024;10:101550.)</p>