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Published on: March 28, 2025
Acquired thoracic aortic interruption: percutaneous repair using graft stents
Lucy E Hudsmith1, Sara A Thorne, Paul F Clift
1Department of Adult Congenital Heart Disease, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK. lucyhudsmith@hotmail.com
Insights
Percutaneous graft stent insertion successfully treated two adults with isolated aortic interruption. This minimally invasive approach offers a promising new therapeutic option for this rare cardiovascular condition.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Interventional Cardiology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Isolated aortic interruption is a rare congenital or acquired condition.
- Adults with this condition often present with hypertension and require management of significant hemodynamic abnormalities.
- Previous treatment options may be limited or invasive.
Observation:
- Two adult patients with isolated aortic interruption were evaluated.
- Ascending aortography revealed a blind-ending thoracic aorta distal to the left subclavian artery, significant pressure gradient, and collateral circulation.
- Both patients had pre-existing hypertension and were on medication.
Findings:
- Successful percutaneous insertion of graft stents across the interrupted aortic segment was achieved in both patients.
- This endovascular technique effectively bridged the aortic defect.
- The procedure was technically successful without immediate complications.
Implications:
- Percutaneous stenting represents a novel and potentially less invasive treatment for adult aortic interruption.
- This technique may offer a viable alternative to traditional surgical repair.
- Further research and larger studies are warranted to confirm long-term efficacy and safety.
Abstract:
Two adult patients with isolated, aortic interruption were successfully treated by percutaneous insertion of graft stents. Prior to the intervention, both patients were hypertensive and on medication. In both cases, an ascending aortogram demonstrated a blind ending of the thoracic aorta distal to the left subclavian artery with a large gradient across the interruption and with multiple collaterals. A graft stent was successfully deployed across the interrupted segment in both cases. We believe that this is one of the first reported cases of percutaneous stenting of aortic interruption and represents a promising new therapeutic option for these adult patients.
