Innominate truncal and arch blowout with left hemiparesis and right hemothorax followed by delayed cheese-wire perforation of innominate graft

Innominate artery rupture is an extremely rare occurrence in the current era. The usual causes include external or iatrogenic injuries, aneurysmal disease of diverse etiology, malignancy of contiguous structures or aortic dissection. Rupture of an innominate graft by a cheese-wired sternal wire has not been previously reported.

A 68 year old woman presented in extremis with 24 hour history of right sided pleuritic chest pain, right CVA with worsening left hemiparesis and respiratory distress. Other significant history included that of hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, recurrent respiratory infections suggestive of bronchiectasis, right hemi-thyroidectomy for benign disease, new onset Parkinsonism, cholelithiasis and peptic ulcer disease. Intriguingly, she gave a history of fall on the left side with some bruising of leg and gluteal region, 1 week earlier. She was underweight with body mass index of 17.19. Chest X ray showed right hemothorax and superior mediastinal widening (Figure 1). ECG confirmed sinus tachycardia. Contrast CT scan revealed a 3 cm false aneurysm arising from the medial junction of brachiocephalic trunk with the aortic arch, representing a blow out from a medial ulcer at the junction of the brachiocephalic trunk from the aortic arch. There was a large mediastinal hematoma pushing trachea to the left with impending airway obstruction. There was near total collapse of right lung with large right hemothorax. There was no ascending aortic or arch dissection and the left common carotid and left subclavian arteries were normal (Figures 2,3,4).

Patient was taken to theatre and right common femoral artery and vein exposed in the groin. Median sternotomy was made. The left common carotid artery (LCCA), the left subclavian artery (LSA), the right subclavian artery (RSA) and the right common carotid artery (RCCA) were taped. Pericardium was opened to reveal fresh blood in the pericardial cavity. There was a 4 cm clot-filled false aneurysm arising from the junction of innominate artery and the aortic arch, occupying a space between the innominate artery and the left common carotid artery, which had ruptured into mediastinum and the right pleural cavity, with more than 1 litre of blood in the right pleural cavity (Figure 5). The pleural cavity was evacuated of blood and clots. The adjoining arch surrounding the take-off of the innominate artery and the proximal half of the innominate artery, beyond the origin of the false aneurysm, were dusky and diseased. Mediastinum surrounding the innominate artery and the adjoining arch was covered with hematoma. The rest of the ascending aorta and root and the arch vessels were normal.

Cardiopulmonary bypass was established by arterial return into both left common femoral artery and left common carotid artery through a Y connector in the arterial return, and systemic venous drainage by one stage right atrial cannulation. Left ventricle was vented through right superior pulmonary vein vent and patient cooled to 17 C. Aorta was cross clamped and heart arrested with 1 litre of cold blood cardioplegia. At 17 C, the common femoral arterial return was stopped and selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) started through left common carotid artery (LCCA) at 15 ml/kg, aiming at a pressure of 40–50 mm Hg in both radial arteries. The tapes on the RSA, RCCA, LCCA and LSA were snugged down and the aortic cross clamp was released. There was copious return from the distal bifurcation of the innominate artery and the left subclavian artery on temporary release of the tapes and this provided corroborative evidence of the integrity of the circle of Willis along with the fact that pressures in both the radial arteries were equal, around 40 to 50 mm Hg. The origin of the innominate artery from the arch was incised to reveal the mouth of the false aneurysmal opening at the junction of the arch and the innominate artery (Figure 6). The diseased area of the aortic arch surrounding the innominate artery, the entire proximal 4/5^th of the innominate artery and the clot filled false aneurysm arising from the arch adjoining the origin of the innominate trunk were excised and sent for histopathology. The resultant defect in the arch was repaired with bovine pericardial patch. The continuity between ascending aorta and the innominate bifurcation was re-established with a 14 mm Vascutex graft (Figure 7). Full body circulation was commenced by reestablishing full femoral flow and unsnugging the tapes on RSA, RCCA, LCCA and LSA. Arterial return was now established through ascending aorta so that the femoral and LCCA cannulae could be removed. Bypass was discontinued, chest closed and patient transferred to ICU in satisfactory condition. Total SCP time was 49 minutes. Histopathology showed features of atherosclerosis in the excised innominate and arch remnants but little else of note.

In the postoperative period, patient made good cardiac recovery, reasonable neurological recovery, including resolution of left hemiparesis, although swallowing difficulties remained. She was transferred to Stroke Rehabilitation Unit in the district hospital on the 8^th postoperative day where she required percutaneous esophagogastrostomy (PEG). She also developed MRSA pneumonia from which she recovered. She was discharged home 15 weeks following initial surgery. However, a month after discharge she represented with a subcutaneous swelling in the upper part of her healed sternal wound. Lateral chest X-ray showed an abnormally dislocated posterior top sternal wire (Figure 8). Contrast CT showed evidence of bilateral lower lobe bronchiectasis. There was a 36 mm non-enhancing subcutaneous hematoma overlying manubrium with no communication with the previous repair. In particular, there was no extravasation of the contrast medium from the innominate graft or the previous arch repair into the subcutaneous collection and no false aneurysm in relation to previous surgery. The top sternal wire had cheese-wired through the sternum and was lying close to the brachiocephalic graft (Figures 9 and10). The subcutaneous hematoma was evacuated and there was no ongoing bleeding from behind the sternum. However, one week later, following the development of another spontaneous hematoma, she was transferred to theatre. Secondary median sternotomy was made after exposing right femoral artery and vein. The top sternal wire had cut through the sternum and had perforated the innominate graft at the junction of upper 1/3 and lower 2/3, causing a ½ cm perforation in this 14 mm Vascutex interposition graft between the ascending aorta and the innominate bifurcation, which was lying just under the sternum. Femorofemoral bypass was established. Heart was partially dissected away from the sternum, bleeding from the perforation in the innominate Vascutex graft controlled manually till heart and the graft could be completely dissected away from the sternum. The innominate graft was clamped both proximally and distally for 3 minutes and direct suture of the perforation done in two layers (Figure 11). A bovine pericardial patch was incorporated between the sternum and the graft. Routine sternal closure was done and patient transferred to ICU.

Patient made satisfactory recovery but had to stay in hospital for 6 weeks for completion of intravenous antibiotics. A postoperative CT scan to investigate abdominal pain revealed an old intramural hematoma in the distal arch and descending thoracic aorta (Figure 12), with low attenuation on the non-contrast study, extending down into the upper abdominal aorta and changes suggestive of chronic dissection of upper abdominal aorta (Figure 13), with false lumen supplying the celiac axis, left renal artery and IMA all of which demonstrated good opacification. There were ischaemic changes in spleen and left kidney, but none in liver, which showed congestion, and none in bowel. There was cholelithiasis. The aortic dissection recommenced just proximal to the aortic bifurcation and extended into both common iliac arteries with distal extension up to the level of the left common femoral artery. These chronic changes in the thoracic and abdominal aorta were managed conservatively. Patient was transferred to a rehabilitative facility, from where she was transferred home. She has been seen in follow up clinic regularly, last time more than a year following her initial surgery, when she was noted to have made very good progress, maintaining good quality of life.

Innominate trunk can be involved with atherosclerosis, arterites, trauma, dissection and aneurysmal disease of diverse etiology.

Similarly, innominate trunk rupture can follow any of the above disease processes as well as a variety of other conditions. Blunt or deceleration trauma[1, 2], operative injury during tracheal surgery[3] or tracheostomy[4], tumor invasion[5], radiotherapy[6], invasive infections[7], tubercular pseudoaneurysms[8], heritable abnormalities of connective tissue like Ehlers- Danlos syndrome[9], bovine aortic arch[10, 11], innominate artery aneurysms, caused variously by Takayasu disease, degenerative disease, Syphilis, trauma, Marfan disease and dissection[12] can all result in innominate trunk rupture.

Innominate dissections, with or without innominate rupture, can be spontaneous[13] or secondary to trauma[14, 15], heritable connective tissue disorders like Ehlers- Danlos syndrome[16, 17], iatrogenic, for example, after axillary perfusion during arch surgery[18], or following aortic dissections[19]. Aortic dissection involves carotid arteries in 28%, celiac, mesenteric or renal arteries in 28%, iliac or femoral arteries in 26%, subclavian arteries in 14%, coronary arteries in 7% and spinal arteries in 1.8%[20]. 5 to 10% patients develop stroke due to innominate/carotid dissection following type A dissection[21]. Iguchi et al reported that among 208 stroke patients presenting within 3 hours of onset, only 2 patients (1%) displayed aortic dissection[22]. Innominate dissection is, however, rarely complicated by rupture of innominate trunk. On the other hand, 30% of patients with ascending aortic dissection died within 24 hours and a further 50% within 48 hours, mostly due to ascending aortic rupture into pericardial or pleural cavities or mediastinum[23]. This difference, in frequency of rupture between aorta and innominate artery, is explained by Laplace’s law as well as the extrapericardial location of the innominate artery, and the support provided by the supraaortic tissues making it resistant to rupture, despite high incidence of innominate involvement in type A dissection[24]. Post traumatic innominate artery rupture has been reported after repair of type A dissection[25], as has been a rupture of innominate artery associated with a localised acute dissection, repaired with a bifurcated prosthetic graft without cerebral complications[26].

Innominate dissection, with or without aortic dissection, may or may not present with neurological symptoms depending on a number of factors including the extent and speed of occlusion and the integrity of circulation through circle of Willis. Rarely, aortic dissections may present as stroke without chest pain or with rapidly deteriorating consciousness[27‐29]. A carotid bruit, widened mediastinum on chest X ray, a dissection flap in ascending aorta on echo and a CT chest establish the diagnosis. Innominate or carotid dissection, with or without aortic dissection, is not necessarily a contraindication of surgery. Repair is often followed by amelioration in the degree of disability postoperatively, or less often by complete resolution of symptoms. Alternately, complete resolution after percutaneous stenting of right common carotid artery and innominate artery through right common carotid artery after type A dissection repair, complicated by thrombotic defects in IA and RCCA postoperatively, has been described[30]. Again, bail-out percutaneous external shunt from common femoral artery to right common carotid artery in a patient with type A dissection complicated by innominate dissection and right common carotid occlusion with restoration of normal flow on transcranial doppler in the middle cerebral artery territory has been described, followed by an unsuccessful ascending aortic and hemi-arch replacement[31]. Localised dissection of aortic arch at the origin of innominate and left common carotid arteries with onset of unconsciousness after archery practice in a 43 year old man was managed by an aorto-bicarotid bypass graft on cardiopulmonary bypass with selective cerebral perfusion[32]. Two stage repair of type A dissection extending to innominate trunk and left common carotid artery causing occlusion of RSA and LCCA has been reported. First stage repair involved left sided subclavian-carotid reconstruction followed by ascending aortic, arch and innominate reconstruction[33]. Innominate and carotid dissections not presenting with stroke at initial type A dissection do, however, predispose to delayed neurological problems. In a large study, 42 out of 137 patients with type A dissection following surgical repair had residual innominate dissection, out of which 13 developed focal neurological complications and 6 developed frank strokes at a median follow up time of 3.1 years[34].

Traumatic rupture of innominate artery is more common. In one large series, there were 8 blunt innominate artery disruptions out of 66 blunt aortic and great vessel injuries over a 5 year period. Six were proximal (within 0.5 cm of the origin) and were treated by ascending aortic – distal innominate artery graft with oversewing of the innominate origin or ligation. One each was distal (within 0.5 cm of the bifurcation) and middle and were managed by end to end anastomosis or interposition graft respectively. Cardiopulmonary bypass or aorto-carotid shunting was not utilised in any patient[35]. Surgical approaches to ruptured and unruptured innominate artery aneurysms have been described. In one large series, out of 27 patients with IAA, 3 ruptured, out of which 1 died. 2 high risk patients underwent cervical distal exclusion and cross-over graft. The rest 25 patients had median sternotomy. 10 patients had prosthetic replacement of ascending aorta and/or arch with separate prosthetic graft to the innominate artery. 13 patients had ascending aortic-IA bypass graft with lateral suturing or prosthetic patching of aorta. One patient with infected aneurysm had excision of aneurysm, proximal ligation of IA and transposition of RCCA to LCCA. One patient died[12]. With increasing use of innominate artery for arterial cannulation during surgery of the thoracic aorta[36] and during repair of type A dissection for both arterial return and selective cerebral perfusion to improve neurological outcomes[37], it is possible there might be an increase in iatrogenic innominate artery injuries. However, most cases of supra-aortic aneurysms are asymptomatic and embolization as opposed to rupture represents the greatest risk to the patient. Endovascular repair is an emerging alternative to treatment and is likely to form the mainstay of treatment in future[38].

Our patient presented in extremis with sudden onset of right hemothorax and left hemiparesis and was found to have a rupture of the false aneurysm which originated at the innominate take off from the aortic arch, secondary possibly to an ulcer blow-out. There was extensive mediastinal hematoma around the involved vessels, but, importantly, the rest of the arch and the ascending aorta were normal. In particular there was neither aneurysmal dilatation nor dissection of ascending aorta or aortic root. What was the underlying pathology? Was the rupture traumatic, the false aneurysm secondary to trauma to the innominate take-off at the time of fall 1 week ago, although the trauma at the time did not seem severe? Or was it secondary to a localised dissection that ruptured? Was the dissection secondary to an undiagnosed arteriopathy? The CT scan had suggested a medial ulcer at the junction of innominate artery with the aorta which blew out, initially contained within the false aneurysm, which too ruptured. Six months after the initial episode, CT scan of the aorta showed a dissection of the abdominal aorta upto the iliac bifurcation and hematoma in the descending aorta and distal arch although the CT scan at initial presentation had shown no aortic dissection. Was this an aortopathy not picked up by routine investigations that resulted in innominate and aortic arch weakness resulting in the blow out? Histopathology suggested only a minor degree of atheromatous intimal expansion. Or were the changes of chronic dissection in the descending thoracic and abdominal aorta secondary to the initial operation on the arch? The right hemothorax is explained by the relation of the innominate trunk to the dome of right pleura and the left hemiparesis to either a catastrophic sudden fall in right hemispherical perfusion at the time of the rupture or thromboembolism at a later stage. Involvement of the arch at the mouth of the innominate take off mandated the repair under cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory arrest with selective cerebral perfusion through the right common carotid artery. Since only that area of the arch which surrounded the innominate take off was involved, only a patch repair of the arch, rather than total replacement, sufficed, along with the interposition graft replacement of the innominate artery.

Our patient’s presentation nearly 6 months after initial surgery with a subcutaneous hematoma without the contrast showing any communication between the graft and the subcutaneous hematoma is easily explained by the fact that the small perforation in the graft caused by the sternal wire that had cut through the sternum and perforated the graft was temporarily sealed by thrombus. Further downward movement of the wire into the graft reopened and extended the perforation with frank bleeding from the wound threatening exsanguination one week later. The innominate graft extended from the ascending aorta, just above the aortic valve, to the innominate bifurcation, on a plane anterior to the ascending aorta, running just behind the sternum in this frail woman with a body mass index of 17.19. There had been very little thymic remnant or pleural fat to sew in front of the graft. Once the offending sternal wire had cut through the sternum, it was only a matter of time before it perforated the anteriorly placed innominate graft. Once proximal and distal control of the graft, above and below the perforation, had been obtained after establishing femorofemoral bypass, the repair of the perforation was easily achieved. A bovine pericardial patch was placed in front of the graft this time to protect it from any further sternal wire migrations.

A postoperative CT scan to investigate abdominal pain revealed an old intramural hematoma in the distal arch and descending thoracic aorta, with low attenuation on the non-contrast study, extending down into the upper abdominal aorta, changes suggestive of chronic dissection of upper abdominal aorta, with false lumen supplying the celiac axis, left renal artery and IMA all of which demonstrated good opacification. The aortic dissection recommenced just proximal to the aortic bifurcation and extended into both common iliac arteries with distal extension up to the level of the left common femoral artery. It was a moot point whether these changes were new, or related to previous surgery, 6 months earlier, which involved proximal bovine pericardial patch repair of the proximal arch at the innominate truncal take-off and the interposition innominate Vascutex graft, employing left femoral – LCCA composite cannulation, or whether this represented an earlier descending thoracic dissection extending antegradely into abdominal aorta and retrogradely to involve the innominate trunk, but somehow skipped the intervening arch, and failed to be picked up on the conventional CT scan. There are some accounts of retrograde extension of aortic dissections, extending from descending thoracic aorta to arch and ascending aorta, but none that are not in continuity[39].

Spontaneous innominate artery blow-out and rupture is an extremely unusual occurrence in itself and all the usual substrates of causation, like trauma, dissection and connective tissue disorders, tumour or previous surgery, seem to be missing in our case. The 1 week old history of trivial trauma in our patient is probably coincidental and unrelated. Our patient showed no signs of widespread aortic dissection at the time of initial presentation and histopathology did not suggest any obvious underlying localised innominate dissection.

This case report illustrates that a high index of suspicion needs to be reserved for the rare presentation of innominate rupture when left hemiparesis and right hemothrax acutely present together.

Another learning point from this case report relates to the invariable anterior anatomical location of aorto-innominate grafts. This has special relevance to the more commonly constructed trifurcated grafts from the ascending aorta to the innominate, left common carotid and the left subclavian arteries in the debranching procedures preparatory to TEVAR for descending thoracic and arch aneurysms. All such grafts need to be covered with autologous pericardium or an appropriate substitute.

Finally, any presternal swelling in a patient who has had previous surgery involving anterior thoracic aorta should be presumed to have the same origin unless unequivocally proved otherwise.

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for the publication of this report and the accompanying images.