A multidisciplinary multistage complete mega aorta replacement and utilization of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair

Abstract

A 49-year-old woman underwent a 11-month multistage complete replacement of a mega aorta. Replacement stages included ascending aorta and arch replacement in conjunction with a frozen elephant trunk thoracic endovascular aortic repair, extension of thoracic endovascular aortic repair to zone 5, and open repair of the thoracoabdominal aneurysm with the use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for circulatory support. This case illustrates the complexity of repairing a mega aorta, the multidisciplinary care and staging needed for repair, and the use of peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for circulatory perfusion during thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair.

Keywords

• Mega aorta
• Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm
• Thoracoabdominal aortic repair
• Hybrid aortic repair
• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)