Two-stage combined endovascular and surgical approach for recurrent thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm

To present a 2-stage combined endovascular and surgical approach for recurrent thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA).

A 78-year-old man with previous surgical repairs of infrarenal abdominal and descending thoracic aortic aneurysms was referred for dysphagia due to an enlarging 9-cm aneurysm extending from the mid thoracic to the suprarenal aorta. Because no suitable endograft was available, an open repair was attempted, but the presence of a "frozen" chest made the redo procedure extremely difficult. A 2-stage treatment was thus decided upon. First, a retrograde bifurcated bypass graft was implanted from the abdominal aortic graft to the superior mesenteric and celiac arteries. Twenty days later, the TAAA was successfully excluded with a stent-graft, during which spinal fluid drainage was performed to prevent paraplegia. At 6 months, computed tomography showed patency of the endoprosthesis and visceral grafts. At 1 year, the patient remains asymptomatic.

This case illustrates that a 2-stage combined endovascular and surgical approach may be a safe and effective alternative to reoperation for recurrent TAAA.