Lengthening of proximal implantation site during endovascular repair of thoracic aortic aneurysm: preservation of carotid patency with retrograde trans endograft deployment of a carotid stent.

Endovascular repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms with a reduced proximal implantation site represents a technical challenge. Surgical procedures before endovascular exclusion can be necessary to increase the length of the proximal landing site to avoid type 1 endoleaks. We present a case of endovascular exclusion of a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm with the endograft placed proximal to the left common carotid artery. Flow to this arch was preserved reconstructing the carotid ostium with the retrograde implantation of a carotid stent that was placed extending across an orifice created in the deployed endograft by puncture and balloon dilatation.