Hybrid endovascular operation for ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm

P Ho, SWK Cheng, ACW Ting, JTC Poon, LHL Liu
Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

The rupture of a thoracic aortic aneurysm is a life-threatening emergency. Conventional open surgical repair carries a high mortality and morbidity. We report an elderly patient who suffered from rupture of a proximal descending thoracic aortic aneurysm close to the aortic arch. A hybrid operation consisting of a right-to-left carotid bypass followed by endovascular repair of the descending thoracic aorta was carried out. The patient recovered uneventfully. A hybrid endovascular repair should be considered the treatment of choice for rupture of a thoracic aortic aneurysm near the arch.

Hong Kong Med J 2007;13:78-80

Key words: Aortic aneurysm, thoracic; Aortic rupture; Hemothorax