Transapical to Femoral Through-and-Through Wire Technique for Ruptured Aortic Arch Aneurysm Management: Case Report and Review of Literature

AIM: To present a case where the transapical and femoral accesses were used to establish a through-and-through guidewire to deliver branched arch endograft effectively. CASE: An 86-year-old male presented with an aortic arch aneurysm rupture was treated with branched arch endograft. Due to tortuous anatomy, several attempts using femoral and axillary routes to navigate the endograft to the proximal landing zone failed. A through-and-through guidewire was established using transapical and femoral accesses to provide sufficient stability for subsequent advancement and delivery of the arch branch endograft. CONCLUSION: Transapical to femoral through-and-through approach is a feasible adjuvant for delivering aortic endografts in emergent cases, particularly in patients with trackability issues and challenging tortuous anatomy. This technique could be a valuable solution for carefully selected patients where conventional approaches are not viable. CLINICAL IMPACT: Transapical access has been widely used in valvular and elective aortic interventions; however, its application in ruptured scenarios is seldom documented. This case report details the utilisation of transapical access in a ruptured aortic arch aneurysm with a tortuous aorta, where femoral and axillary access have proven inadequate. Establishing a transapical to transfemoral through-and-through wire has provided enhanced stability for precise endograft deployment. Procedural details and outcomes, alongside a review of the literature, underscore the use of transapical access and through-and-through wire in managing complex ruptured pathologies, addressing gaps in the literature concerning its efficacy and safety in urgent high-risk scenarios.