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Published on: September 8, 2023
Expanding retrograde saphenous vein graft aneurysm treated with endovascular coiling
Dominic J Parry1, Ian C Winburn, Gerald T Wilkins
1Dunedin Public Hospital, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. donathanreeves@hotmail.com
Insights
Saphenous vein graft aneurysms after bypass surgery can be fatal. Endovascular coiling offers a minimally invasive treatment option, successfully thrombosing an aneurysm via a retrograde approach.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Interventional Cardiology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Saphenous vein graft aneurysms are serious complications following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
- Surgical intervention is typically required for these potentially fatal conditions.
- Redo CABG procedures carry specific risks, including graft complications.
Observation:
- A patient developed a saphenous vein graft aneurysm after undergoing redo CABG.
- The aneurysm formed in a previously bypassed and proximally occluded saphenous vein graft.
- The target vessel had been revascularized previously.
Findings:
- Endovascular coiling was successfully employed to treat the saphenous vein graft aneurysm.
- A retrograde approach was necessary, utilizing a patent left internal mammary artery (LIMA) and left anterior descending (LAD) artery.
- The procedure resulted in complete thrombosis of the aneurysm.
Implications:
- Endovascular coiling presents a viable, less invasive alternative to surgery for saphenous vein graft aneurysms.
- The retrograde approach demonstrates technical feasibility for treating complex graft aneurysms.
- This case highlights the importance of surveillance and tailored treatment strategies for post-CABG complications.
Abstract:
Saphenous vein graft aneurysm is a potentially fatal complication of coronary artery bypass grafting and usually requires surgery. This report describes endovascular coiling of a saphenous vein graft aneurysm that developed after redo coronary artery bypass grafting. The aneurysm occurred in a proximally occluded saphenous vein graft after revascularization of the same target vessel. The procedure required a retrograde approach through a patent left internal mammary and left anterior descending artery to reach and successfully thrombose the aneurysm.
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