Endovascular management of type B aortic dissection after attempted central venous catheterization

Abstract

A 41-year-old woman, status postmastectomy for breast cancer had an attempted 8-F left subclavian vein chemotherapy port placed in her. She developed severe upper back pain radiating to the left shoulder. A computed tomographic scan and angiography revealed catheter placement in the left subclavian artery and a type B aortic dissection. A thoracic stent-graft was used to treat the aortic dissection. While removing the catheter, a covered stent was deployed to seal the arterial puncture and a balloon-expandable stent was placed over a persistent subclavian dissection. This case illustrates an example of the feasibility of endovascular management to treat serious iatrogenic access complications.