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Partial upper median sternotomy for anterior aortopexy for innominate artery compression syndrome: Our preferred technique.
  • Sandeep Sainathan,
  • Raghav Murthy
Sandeep Sainathan
University of Miami Department of Surgery

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Raghav Murthy
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
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Abstract

Objectives: Innominate artery compression syndrome (IAS) is caused by an anterior compression of the trachea by an abnormally originating innominate artery. One option to relieve such a compression is an anterior aortopexy (AA). In this paper we describe our technique of an AA via a partial upper median sternotomy. Methods: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of patients with IAS (July 2017 to November 2020) treated with AA via a partial upper median sternotomy at University teaching hospitals in the US was done. Results: Nine consecutive patients underwent AA for IAS during the study period. The median age was 9 months (IQR 3- 16.5). The male to female ratio was 1.25. All patients had > 70% compression by flexible bronchoscopy. 2 patients had previous surgeries. The follow-up was a median of 6 (IQR 4- 8.5) months. The indications for the operation were: reflex apnea (4/9 patients), recurrent intubation (4/9 patients), and severe stridor (1/9). IAS was a technical success (defined as ≤ 20 % residual stenosis) in 78 % (7/9) of the patients. Complete symptom resolution after an AA was seen in 71% (5/7) of the patients. 2 patients had an unsuccessful AA, requiring a tracheal resection and an innominate artery reimplantation, respectively. Conclusion: An upper partial sternotomy approach provides a very versatile approach to an AA for IAS. Besides facilitating an adequate AA, it provides options for direct tracheal surgery or an innominate artery reimplantation in case an optimal result is not obtained by an AA.