Balloon protection of the left subclavian artery in debranching thoracic endovascular aortic repair

Abstract Objectives Since 2012, we have routinely applied balloon protection of the proximal left subclavian artery to prevent embolic events through the left vertebral artery during debranching thoracic endovascular aortic repair. This study aimed to study the effectiveness of balloon protection of the proximal left subclavian artery. Methods We reviewed the medical records of 157 patients who underwent debranching thoracic endovascular aortic repair between 2007 and 2017. Of these, 71 patients for whom balloon protection of the proximal left subclavian artery was used were assigned to the balloon protection of the proximal left subclavian artery group (58 men; age: 78 ± 6.7 years), and 86 patients were assigned to the control group (66 men; age: 78 ± 8.9 years). A total of 51 patients from each group were matched by their propensity scores to adjust for differences in the patients' characteristics. Results Perioperative stroke was significantly lower in the balloon protection of the proximal left subclavian artery group than in the control group (0%: 0/71 vs 7.9%: 7/86, P  = .014). Freedom from all causes of mortality at 2 and 4 years was significantly higher in the balloon protection of the proximal left subclavian artery group compared with the control group (93%/76% vs 77%/59%, P  = .015). Freedom from aortic death at 2 and 4 years was similar in both groups (97%/97% vs 91%/86%, P  = .094). Propensity score matching yielded similar results of better freedom from all causes of mortality in the balloon protection of the proximal left subclavian artery group (93%/93% vs 81%/63%, P  = .017) and equivalent aortic death in both groups (95%/95% vs 92%/88%, P  = .30). Conclusions Debranching thoracic endovascular aortic repair using balloon protection of the proximal left subclavian artery demonstrated more appropriate early and late outcomes. Evaluation using propensity score matching enhanced the efficacy of balloon protection of the proximal left subclavian artery.