Frozen Elephant Trunk Technique to Treat Extensive Thoracic Aortic Mural Thrombus.

Abstract

We describe a case report of a 63-year-old man who presented with chronic left-hand weakness and the absence of a pulse in the left arm. Thoracoabdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed an extensive thoracic aortic mural thrombus. Initial anticoagulation therapy did not provide a positive result, so the patient was referred for surgery. Hybrid aortic arch surgery using the frozen elephant trunk technique was performed with excellent early outcomes. A CT performed in the early postoperative period showed that the thrombus was completely excluded from the aortic lumen by the hybrid graft. No thrombus dislodgment was detected. No thrombus recurrence was observed during 19 months of follow-up.