Endovascular treatment for 2 types of subclavian artery injury: A case report.

RATIONALE: Subclavian artery (SCA) injuries, though rare, carry significant morbidity and mortality risks due to significant blood loss causing hypovolemic shock. Early diagnosis and adequate treatment are crucial to minimize bleeding and associated morbidity. Recent advances in endovascular techniques offer faster and more accurate treatment options compared to traditional open surgical repair. This study demonstrates the efficacy of endovascular treatment in 2 cases of SCA injury and reviews its indications, limitations, and precautions. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 69-year-old man presented with a penetrating SCA injury from a steel bar, and a 38-year-old woman presented with a blunt SCA injury caused by a fall. Both patients were hemodynamically unstable upon presentation. DIAGNOSES: Both patients were diagnosed with SCA injuries. The man had a penetrating injury, while the woman had a blunt injury, both resulting in hemodynamic instability and significant risk of hypovolemic shock. INTERVENTIONS: Endovascular techniques, including the use of covered stent grafts, were employed to manage the injuries. These techniques allowed for rapid and efficient treatment, reducing the need for open surgical intervention. OUTCOMES: Both patients were successfully treated using endovascular methods and were discharged without any complications. The endovascular approach minimized blood loss, transfusion needs, and hospital stay. LESSONS: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of endovascular techniques in rapidly diagnosing, bridging, and definitively treating SCA injuries, suggesting their use as a first-line therapy.

Subclavian arterial rupture due to blunt trauma injury: A case report.

RATIONALE: Subclavian arterial injury due to blunt trauma is rare but can have devastating outcomes. Massive hemorrhage or limb ischemia might develop depending on the extent of damage, and open repair might be necessary to salvage the limb. However, life-saving treatments should be prioritized in critically unstable patients. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 21-year-old male patient who was transferred to our trauma center following a motorcycle accident. Abdominal and chest computed tomography (CT) revealed right renal injury and massive hemothorax with several rib fractures in the right chest. DIAGNOSIS AND INTERVENTIONS: Right renal injury with multiple extravasations and right 8th intercostal arterial injury were detected during angiography. Emergent exploration with lateral thoracotomy was performed to manage right hemothorax. Pulsating bleeding from the thoracic roof observed in the operative field suggested a subclavian arterial injury. The unstable vital signs did not recover despite massive transfusion, and his right arm had already stiffened. Therefore, endovascular approach was adopted and the second portion of the right subclavian artery was embolized using microcoils and thrombin. OUTCOMES: Postoperative intensive care unit management performed to resuscitate patient from multiorgan failure included continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). After confirming the demarcation lines, transhumeral amputation of the right arm was performed on admission day 12. The patient recovered from multiorgan failure for more than 3 weeks after the accident; however, the patient survived. LESSONS: Limb salvage, albeit critical for quality of life, is not possible in some cases where life-saving measures require its sacrifice. In these cases, quick decision-making by the surgeon is paramount for patient survival. As illustrated in this case, endovascular approaches should be considered less invasive measures to save the patient's life.