Hybrid aortic arch repair for a ruptured and infected penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer of the aortic arch.

Aortic arch rupture is a life-threatening emergency. Conventional open surgical repair carries a high mortality and morbidity. We report a case of an elderly patient who suffered from a ruptured and infected penetrating ulcer of the aortic arch. A hybrid operation was performed, consisting of a right-to-left carotid bypass and transposition of the left subclavian artery into the left common carotid artery followed by endovascular repair of the aortic arch. Antibiotic therapy, based on the results of culture and sensitivity tests for Staphylococcus aureus, was administered for 6 months. The patient recovered uneventfully and remains asymptomatic 16 months after the procedure. However, long-term follow-up is mandatory to determine the efficacy and the durability of this technique.