Repair of Isolated Innominate Artery Pathology with a Modified Endovascular Graft

Innominate artery pathology is traditionally treated with open surgical repair and is associated with significant morbidity. No dedicated endovascular solution exists for this anatomic location. We report a series of 3 cases of successful management of innominate artery injuries using an off-label, modified Zenith ESLE stent graft (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN). Two patients presented with pseudoaneurysms after attempted central venous catheterization, and 1 patient developed a tracheo-innominate fistula. Access was obtained in a retrograde fashion via the right common carotid artery in 2 cases, and via the right axillary artery in the other. Additional anatomic considerations included a prior sternotomy in 2 cases and a bovine arch in 2 cases. Due to the emergent nature of the cases, no cerebral protection maneuvers were taken. The ESLE limbs are of uniform diameter with 3 Z-stent wireforms and measure 55 mm in length. Removal of the distal stent reduces the length to 38 mm. Fourteen- to 18-mm diameter grafts were used. All 3 cases resulted in technical success with complete exclusion of the defect. There were no new neurologic deficits and all patients recovered uneventfully. This approach represents an effective off-label solution for what frequently presents as an emergent problem. In 2 cases, it obviated the need for a complicated redo sternotomy and facilitated endovascular repair in a vessel for which there was no indicated off-the-shelf conduit. Modification of existing devices successfully addressed the need for a nontapered graft of short length and moderate vessel diameter and allowed for minimally invasive treatment of anatomically complex pathology.