Delayed presentation of subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm after polytrauma with left clavicle and brachial plexus injury
Autori:
Mirela Dobrić, Goran Sabo, Ana Miletić, Stjepan Dokuzović, Tomislav Krpan, Tatjana Beker, Morana Banić, Romana Hodalin Vidović
Sažetak
Summary
Subclavian artery injury is a rare occurrence found in less than 5% of trauma patients. The majority of subclavian artery trauma is typically attributed to a penetrating mechanism, whereas blunt mechanisms are less prevalent. The prompt diagnosis remains obscured by the presence of severe associated injuries, which require prioritization for treatment. A healthy 34-year-old man sustained polytrauma in a car accident, with bilateral serial rib fractures, pulmonary contusion, thoracic and cervical spine injury, shoulder girdle fractures with brachial plexus injury. Initial radiologic examination included thoracic CT angiography with no specific findings. The patient underwent several surgical treatments including splenectomy, Th 3 to Th 10 posterior thoracic spine fixation and C5 to C7
anterior cervical spine fixation. Nine days after cervical spine surgery the patient developed left neck swelling propagating to the temporal bone mastoid process, with dysphagia, dysphonia, and difficulty breathing. Revision surgery excluded hematoma as a surgical complication but revealed a new pulsating mass adjacent to the subclavian artery. Cervical digital subtraction angiography confirmed subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm with active filling, 7 cm in diameter, by the origin of the left vertebral artery. The patient underwent successful subclavian artery stent-graft placement, with no further complications. Prompt diagnosis remains obscured by the presence of severe associated injuries, the treatment of which requires prioritization. Symptoms of subclavian artery aneurysm vary depending on its location and size. Endovascular repair is increasingly replacing surgical treatment of pseudoaneurysm.