Clinical Impact of Rare Aortic Arch Variant

Abstract

This case report describes the clinical implications of peripheral arterial disease in a patient with a rare variant of the aortic arch branches. The patient was a 68-year old-female with an extensive cardiovascular history including multiple severe peripheral arterial stenoses, systemic and pulmonary hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, multiple myocardial infarctions, atrial fibrillation, and possible aortic valve disease. The focus of the case report will be how the patient’s anatomical variant played a large role in maintaining cerebral circulation in the presence of significant stenoses of the right vertebral artery, left subclavian artery, and left common carotid artery.