Traumatic left subclavian artery injury

Case contributed by Stefan Tigges
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Blunt chest trauma.

Patient Data

Age: 35 years
Gender: Male

Occlusion left subclavian artery with reconstitution at the level of the axillary artery with surrounding hematoma. No contrast extravasation, no arterio-venous fistula. Multiple left rib fractures and anterior dislocation left clavicle at the sternoclavicular joint. Soft tissue swelling and subcutaneous emphysema around the elbow.

DSA before, during, and after repair of the subclavian artery. First two sets of images obtained before the repair with injections proximal and distal to the injury confirm subclavian artery occlusion. Subsequent images show the successful repair.

Case Discussion

Arterial injuries may result in vessel occlusion, pseudoaneurysm formation, active extravasation and arteriovenous fistula. This case shows vessel occlusion and subsequent successful repair.

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