Background: Patients suffering blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) can be treated by use of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). In this setting, the coverage of the left subclavian artery (LSA) is frequently necessary. Nevertheless, the functionality of the upper left extremity after TEVAR had been rarely analyzed. Thus, this study intends to underline the safety of TEVAR as well as to determine the functionality of the left arm after coverage of the LSA.
Methods: All patients suffering from BTAI treated by endovascular means in 3 centers (Aachen [Germany], Maastricht [Netherlands], and Innsbruck [Austria]) between 1996 and 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. The safety of the procedure had been assessed by the morbidity and mortality rate. The mid-term functional status of the upper left extremity was evaluated by using the DASH score (disabilities of the arm shoulder and hand).
Results: Forty-six patients (40 male, 6 female), mean age 39.4 ± 16.9 years suffered from BTAI caused by traffic accident (n = 31 [67.39%]), by skiing injury (n = 8 [17.39%]), and by fall (n = 7 [15.21%]). All patients underwent TEVAR, the technical success rate was 100%; 1 carotid-carotid subclavian bypass implantation was necessary. LSA coverage was performed in 76% (35/46) of the cases. Total complication rate was 17.3% (8/46); the endoleak rate was 8.6% (4/46) (2 × Ib, 1 × IIa, 1 × IV). Further complications were bypass and endograft occlusion. The postoperative mortality rate was 6% (3/46), the DASH score was completed in 65% (30/46). The study population reached a mean value of 17 ± 20, which is comparable to a nonharmed reference group (10.10 ± 14.68). A significant correlation between the DASH score and patients age could be demonstrated (2-sided P value: 0.0213).
Conclusions: Endovascular therapy of BTAI revealed a good primary success rate. An adequate mid-term functional status of the upper left extremity could be assessed in comparison to a nonharmed reference group.
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