Ann Surg Case Rep | Volume 6, Issue 2 | Case Report | Open Access

Subclavian Artery Pseudoaneurysm after Blunt Chest Trauma: A Case Report

Mosavari H^1*, Farahani S¹ and Saberi A²

¹Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Iran ²Department of General Surgery, Rasool-e-Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Iran

^*Correspondance to: Hesam Mosavari 

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Abstract

Delayed presentations of traumatic subclavian artery injury (e.g., pseudoaneurysm) are sometimes challenging to diagnose. We present a unique case of left subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm in a 72-year-old male who presented to us two months after blunt chest trauma without any signs of fracture of the left clavicle or first rib. The patient presented to the emergency department with swelling on his upper left hemithorax accompanied by a dull pain and decreased muscle strength. Physical examination showed neurovascular deficits and an absent radial pulse. A Computed Tomography Angiogram (CTA) was performed due to high suspicion of underlying vascular injury and revealed a large pseudoaneurysm in the second part of the left subclavian artery. This was managed operatively with an open surgical approach by evacuating the pseudoaneurysm and repairing the subclavian artery wall. Subclavian artery injury is uncommon but associated with high mortality and morbidity. This case suggests that trauma patients with signs and symptoms of subclavian artery injury, including progressive swelling in the clavicular, the first rib and clavicular fracture, absence of distal pulses, and decreased muscle forces, should undergo further vascular investigations (e.g., CTA) to rule out possible subclavian artery injury.

Keywords:

Subclavian artery; Blunt chest trauma; Subclavian pseudoaneurysm; Subclavian artery injury; Vascular injury

Citation:

Mosavari H, Farahani S, Saberi A. Subclavian Artery Pseudoaneurysm after Blunt Chest Trauma: A Case Report. Ann Surg Case Rep. 2023; 6(2): 1070..