Operation for huge subclavian artery aneurysm: a case report

Subclavian artery aneurysm is extremely rare, and further aneurysm compressing trachea and leading to breathing difficulty is more exceptional. The most common causes of subclavian artery aneurysm are atherosclerosis, trauma and post-stenotic dilated aneurysm secondary to thoracic outlet syndrome, besides, the rare causes include infective, syphilitic media necrosis and so on. We present a case report in which the patient presented with sever dyspnea due to compression of trachea by a 7 cm large subclavian artery aneurysm. After operation, the patient improved symptomatically. The blood pressure remained stable, blood circulation of right upper extremity was fine, and pulse was improved comparing with that before operation. Chest film confirmed tumor shrank and depressed trachea improved significantly. The patient was discharged 14 days later and continued anticoagulant therapy after discharge. Follow up one month later after the operation revealed breathing difficulty disappeared, and patient was with normal right upper extremity movement and good blood circulation.