Left subclavian artery coverage during thoracic endovascular aortic aneurysm repair does not mandate...

This study assessed the risk of left subclavian artery (LSA) coverage and the role of revascularization in a large population of patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.

A retrospective multicenter review of 1189 patient records from 2000 to 2010 was performed. Major adverse events evaluated included cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and spinal cord ischemia (SCI). Subgroup analysis was performed for noncovered LSA (group A), covered LSA (group B), and covered/revascularized LSA (group C).

Of 1189 patients, 394 had LSA coverage (33.1%), and 180 of these patients (46%) underwent LSA revascularization. In all patients, emergency operations (9.5% vs 4.3%; P=.001), renal failure (12.7% vs 5.3%; P=.001), hypertension (7% vs 2.3%; P=.01), and number of stents placed (1=3.7%, 2=7.4%, ≥3=10%; P=.005) were predictors of SCI. History of cerebrovascular disease (9.6% vs 3.5%; P=.002), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (9.5% vs 5.4%; P=.01), coronary artery disease (8.5% vs 5.3%; P=.03), smoking (8.9% vs 4.2%) and female gender (5.3% men vs 8.2% women; P=.05) were predictors of CVA. Subgroup analysis showed no significant difference between groups B and C (SCI, 6.3% vs 6.1%; CVA, 6.7% vs 6.1%). LSA revascularization was not protective for SCI (7.5% vs 4.1%; P=.3) or CVA (6.1% vs 6.4%; P=.9). Women who underwent revascularization had an increased incidence of CVA event compared with all other subgroups (group A: 5.6% men, 8.4% women, P=.16; group B: 6.6% men, 5.3% women, P=.9; group C: 2.8% men, 11.9% women, P=.03).

LSA coverage does not appear to result in an increased incidence of SCI or CVA event when a strategy of selective revascularization is adopted. Selective LSA revascularization results in similar outcomes among the three cohorts studied. Revascularization in women carries an increased risk of a CVA event and should be reserved for select cases.