Two Cases of Successful Treatment of Percutaneous Transarterial Embolization via Costocervical Trunk Approach for Patients with Persistent Type II Endoleak and Sac Enlargement of Arch Aneurysm after Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

Among the less reported complications after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is type II endoleak (T2EL). The intercostal and bronchial artery are known as feeder vessels to T2EL after TEVAR. We experienced two cases of successful treatment of percutaneous transarterial feeder vessels embolization via right costocervical trunk approach for patients with persistent T2EL and sac enlargement of an arch aneurysm after TEVAR. The costocervical trunk route is possible for key vessels to construct a collateral pathway to feeder vessels of the endoleak nidus of T2EL after TEVAR procedures for aortic arch aneurysm. A preembolizational Catheter-Directed CT angiogram (CTA) can be helpful to prevent harmful complications (e.g., spinal cord infarction).

Aberrant branches of the subclavian artery and their relationship with the phrenic nerve and the brachial plexus / Ramas aberrantes de la arteria subclavia y su relación con el nervio frénico y el plexo braquial

SUMMARY: Variations in subclavian artery branches are relatively common and may impact surgical procedures and effects. During educational dissection of a male cadaver, we encountered an extremely rare variation of the right subclavian artery branches. The internal thoracic artery, the thyrocervical trunk, and the costocervical trunk arose from the third part of the right subclavian artery. In addition, the phrenic nerve displaced remarkably laterally by the thyrocervical trunk, and the course of the costocervical trunk was between the upper trunk and the middle trunk of the brachial plexus. These variations may pose a potential risk for nerve compression and increase the risk of arterial and nerve puncture. This case report would bring attention to the possibility of other similar cases, and early detection of these variations through diagnostic interventions is helpful to reduce postoperative complications.

RESUMEN: Las variaciones en las ramas de la arteria subclavia son relativamente comunes y pueden afectar los procedimientos y efectos quirúrgicos. Durante la disección educativa de un cadáver masculino, encontramos una variación extremadamente rara de las ramas de la arteria subclavia derecha. La arteria torácica interna, el tronco tirocervical y el tronco costocervical nacían de la tercera parte de la arteria subclavia derecha. Además, el nervio frénico se desplazaba lateralmente por el tronco tirocervical, y el trayecto del tronco costocervical se encontraba entre el tronco superior y el tronco medio del plexo braquial. Estas variaciones pueden suponer un riesgo potencial de compresión nerviosa y aumentar el riesgo de punción arterial y nerviosa. Este reporte de caso llamaría la atención sobre la posibilidad de otros casos similares, y la detección temprana de estas variaciones a través de diagnósticos es útil para reducir las complicaciones postoperatorias.