Physician-modified endograft for symptomatic zone 2 penetrating ulcer of the aortic arch without bridging stenting of the left subclavian artery for vertebral preservation

Abstract

We report the case of a 65-year-old male patient who was deemed unfit for open surgery and underwent zone 0 endovascular repair with a physician-modified fenestrated endograft for a symptomatic penetrating ulcer. A thoracic stent graft was modified creating a large fenestration for the innominate artery and the left common carotid artery, and a second small fenestration for the left subclavian artery and the left vertebral artery, which had a common origin. No bridging stent was used for the left subclavian artery to avoid coverage of the left vertebral artery. The postoperative course was uneventful, and no leaks nor other complications were detected on postoperative computed tomography angiography. Although long-term durability needs to be better assessed, our experience suggests that physician-modified fenestrated endografts are a feasible option for the emergent treatment of aortic arch lesions in unfit patients and provide satisfactory results in the short term.