Cervical aortic arch with aortic aneurysm and retro-aortic innominate vein: A case of successful surgical repair

Abstract

Purpose: We report the case of a patient with a cervical aortic arch and retro-aortic innominate vein without congenital heart disease. Procedures & main findings: A 40-year-old female was referred to our hospital because of hoarseness for a few months. Computed tomography revealed a saccular aneurysm complicated by a cervical aortic arch with normal brachiocephalic branching, redundant transverse aorta, and left-sided descending aorta. The left innominate vein crossed the aneurysm beneath the aortic arch. Surgical repair was performed under hypothermic circulatory arrest through a fifth intercostal thoracotomy. The arch distal to the left common carotid artery and the proximal descending aorta were replaced with a prosthesis, and the left subclavian artery was reconstructed. The patient was discharged with a favorable postoperative course. Conclusions: Proper diagnosis and relevant surgical manipulations are required for patients with congenital aortic arch abnormalities.

Keywords

• Cervical aortic arch
• Aortic aneurysm
• Retro-aortic innominate vein