Use of Fogarty Catheter in the Surgical Treatment of Traumatic Pseudoaneurysm of the Subclavian Artery: a Simple and Minimal Invasive Approach

Abstract

Subclavian artery injuries are rare and associated with blunt injuries and can result in puncture and pseudoaneurysm formation requiring urgent management. Different treatment modalities are there, but open surgical repair remains the best choice. A 35-year-old male patient presented to us with a huge swelling over the right side of the anterior chest wall for three months following fracture of the clavicle six months back. On evaluation, it was found to be right subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm of size 14 cm × 14.8 cm × 11.2 cm. Surgery was done with arteriotomy on the right brachial artery with passage of the Fogarty catheter past the pseudoaneurysm and balloon inflated to control the proximal part of the artery and supraclavicular incision given to excise the pseudoaneurysm as well as repair the artery with an autologous venous graft. Surgical repair of the pseudoaneurysm of the subclavian artery with the use of the Fogarty catheter to control the proximal part of artery is a simple, innovative and minimal invasive approach alternative to major surgical procedure, thereby reducing the morbidity and other inadvertent complications.