Concomitant Hybrid Arch Vessel Reconstruction and Intracranial Clot Retrieval in Takayasu's Arteritis Presenting with Acute Cerebral Ischemia: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Type 1 Takayasu's arteritis (TA) predominantly affects the supra-aortic branches. Occlusive disease can cause catastrophic complications such as stroke and death. Open and endovascular techniques of revascularization are described for extracranial disease. There is currently no default choice of surgical intervention. Furthermore, the management of distal intracranial complications has not been described.

METHODS: A 25-year-old woman with known TA on immunosuppression was presented with acute left middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke. Computed tomography angiogram and formal cerebral digital subtraction angiography demonstrated critical stenoses or occlusion of all arch vessels except for the left subclavian artery (SCA), which was also stenosed at the origin. The left vertebral artery was the sole inflow to the brain. Furthermore, there was acute embolus in M1 of MCA and A1 of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA). Surgical access was achieved by bilateral common carotid artery (CCA) and left SCA exposures. Extracranial revascularization was performed using a hybrid technique: (i) left SCA covered stent; (ii) left SCA to right CCA bypass; (iii) left CCA thrombectomy; (iv) left CCA covered stent; and (v) left CCA interposition bypass. This was immediately followed by clot retrieval in the MCA and ACA territory for intracranial revascularization.

RESULTS: There were no major postoperative complications and the patient made an excellent neurologic recovery.

CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid vascular reconstruction for extracranial disease with concomitant clot retrieval for intracranial disease is a novel approach to achieving emergency revascularization in active TA.