Aberrant right subclavian artery complicated by acquired hemophilia A and a subclavian artery–esophageal fistula after traumatic injury

Abstract

An aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) is a rare developmental anomaly wherein the right subclavian artery arises from the descending aorta as a fourth branch of the aortic arch. We present the case of ARSA in an 81-year-old woman who was injured in a motorcycle accident. The patient had a history of asymptomatic cerebral infarction, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and rheumatoid arthritis. She was diagnosed with spleen and liver injury, left renal injury, along with fractures in the rib, pelvic, vertebrae, and right tibia. On the 3rd hospitalization day, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) prolongation was observed, followed by sudden massive hematemesis and shock on the 39th day. We indicate sudden hematemesis and ARSA bleeding as the cause. We performed compression with a Sengstaken–Blakemore tube and coil embolization for hemostasis. Our findings show that the bleeding was mainly caused by nasogastric tube compression, prolonged APTT, and acquired hemophilia A.

Keywords

• aberrant right subclavian artery
• acquired hemophilia a
• complication
• esophageal fistula