Stent graft repair for rupture of the subclavian artery secondary to infection of a subclavian-to-carotid bypass graft

The case of anastomotic rupture of the subclavian artery following infection of a subclavian-to-carotid bypass grafting is reported. Emergency endoluminal stent graft repair was life saving and aided wound healing, but stent graft thrombosis occurred. Such a complication raises some concern about the safety of this procedure in an infected setting. The use of autologous saphenous vein-covered stent graft may provide some advantages in avoiding graft infection and thrombosis.