A 13-year-old male presented to our hospital after sustaining injuries from a motor vehicle accident (MVA). The patient had bee sitting unrestrained in the front passenger seat of a car when he met with the accident. He had been found unconscious inside the car. Upon arrival in the emergency room, he regained consciousness. As part of the trauma protocol, the patient underwent a full-body CT, which revealed moderate subgaleal hematoma, small hemorrhagic brain contusion, multiple lung contusion, and moderate-size pseudoaneurysm in the descending aorta just distal to the left subclavian artery (LSCA) with associated mediastinal hematoma (Figure ).\nThe CT scan also revealed hepatic, right renal, and splenic lacerations without any evidence of active bleeding. Multiple fractures in the ribs, sternum, right femur, and tibia were also observed. The patient was subsequently admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU). After a combined surgical and cardiac team discussion, and in the view of other stable lesions, the decision was made to proceed with treating the aortic pseudoaneurysm with impending rupture first. Because of the presence of intracerebral haemorrhage and visceral organ lacerations, the patient was deemed at high risk for systemic anticoagulation required for an operative aortic repair. Available percutaneous endograft sizes were deemed too large for his descending aortic diameter, and the associated potential risk of vessel injury from the large sheath required to implant the endograft removed this option from consideration. The decision was made to attempt percutaneous implantation of a balloon-expandable covered stent across the pseudoaneurysm in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Under general anesthesia, the right femoral artery access was obtained, and an 11 French (Fr) sheath was inserted. A pigtail catheter was advanced to the transverse aorta, and an angiogram was performed (Figure ).\nThe angiogram revealed a diameter of 14 mm at the mid-aortic arch, descending aorta immediately after the pseudoaneurysm, and aorta at the level of the diaphragm. The length of the disrupted aortic segment was 22 mm, and it was 10 mm away from the origin of the LSCA. Based on the angiogram measurements, a 16x38 mm BeGraft aortic stent, which is a balloon-expandable covered stent, was used successfully. This was followed by post-stenting dilation with short non-compliant 17 x 30 mm Z-Med balloon (B. Braun, Melsungen, Germany). There was no residual aneurysmal filling, and comparison pressures demonstrated no significant gradient from ascending to descending aorta (Figure ).\nThe patient was transferred in stable condition to the pediatric ICU for further management. His post-catheterization course was uneventful. Subsequently, he underwent several orthopaedic procedures until he was discharged home in good condition.
A 48-year-old male patient underwent surgical correction of interrupted CoA at the age of 22 years using EABG from the LSCA to the descending aorta. He presented with shortness of breath. The patient was found to be hypertensive with a BP of 170/90 mmHg on both arms. The BP in the lower limbs was 125/85 mmHg with obvious brachiofemoral delay. The patient was taking amlodipine 10 mg and valsartan 160 mg, both once a day. The ECG revealed LV hypertrophy. His TTE revealed normal LV systolic function, with LV hypertrophy and impaired relaxation. A CT angiography revealed stenosis at the proximal anastomosis site of the EABG (Figure ).\nThe plan was to proceed with cardiac catheterization and stenting the proximal stenosis after measuring the gradient but the patient refused any kind of intervention. The patient was sent home after adding a third antihypertensive medication, which wass bisoprolol 5 mg once a day. After six months, the patient's symptoms improved and his BP was 145/80 mmHg. His repeated TTE revealed no major changes.