Technical Note: Left Subclavian Artery Scallop Endografts to Facilitate a Proximal Landing Zone and Upper Extremity Access for Branched Endovascular Aortic Repair of Type II Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms

PURPOSE: To describe the dual purpose of left subclavian artery (LSA) scallop endografts to create the proximal landing zone (PLZ) and facilitate antegrade left-sided upper extremity access for branched endovascular aortic repair (BEVAR) of Type II thoracoabdominal aneurysms (TAAA) with a short PLZ. TECHNIQUE: Three patients with an inadequate (< 20 mm) PLZ underwent a 2-stage repair of Type II TAAA. Following femoral cut-down, a custom-made LSA scallop endograft was deployed into zone 2 to create the PLZ and maintain perfusion to the LSA. In a second procedure 36–96 days after insertion of the scalloped thoracic stent-graft, a branched abdominal stent-graft was subsequently deployed to dock into the proximal scallop endograft as the second stage. Via a left axillary conduit, a 12Fr sheath was used to cannulate the LSA scallop to facilitate selective catheterisation of antegrade branch cuffs and renovisceral target vessels, and insertion and deployment of bridging stents. The LSA scallop was also used to selectively catheterise and stent the perfusion branches via left-sided brachial puncture that were left open in each of the three cases 8–14 days after the second procedure to minimise the risk of spinal cord ischaemia. There were no neurological or endoleak complications. CONCLUSION: LSA scallop endografts are a feasible and useful adjunct to create the PLZ and to provide antegrade access for visceral stenting of branches and target vessels through the LSA scallop in branched endovascular repair of Type II TAAA with short PLZ.