Aberrant origin of the vertebral artery is a rare case. Due to its important clinical significance during operations in the superior mediastinum and the root of the neck, the variations of this artery should be clarified, and any cadaveric case should be explored specifically if accompanied by any vascular problem. In this cadaveric case, the embalmed male cadaver was found to have a pacemaker wire inserted in the heart through the superior vena cava, denoting a vascular incompetence due to sinus arrhythmia. The left vertebral artery was found to originate from the aortic arch, positioned between the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery. It traveled upward behind the left common carotid artery, passing in front of the stellate ganglion and the ventral rami of cervical spinal nerves before entering the left foramen transversarium of the C6 vertebra. This atypical left vertebral artery, which had an unusual origin from the arch of aorta, was distinct from the right vertebral artery, that typically arises from the right subclavian artery. Also, the left atypical artery was found to be narrower and longer than the right one. Additionally, the left common carotid artery exhibited an unusual origin from the beginning of the brachiocephalic trunk. The present case report would be of significance for vascular surgeons in designing surgical intervention in the root of the neck and for clinicians responsible for monitoring patients with variant vertebral arteries to effectively manage potential vascular complications.

We present a case of a 60-year-old female with headache and vertigo where computed tomography (CT) angiography incidentally revealed a dual origin of the left vertebral artery in which the dominant lateral limb of the left vertebral artery was arising from the left subclavian artery while the accessory medial limb was seen arising from the aortic arch with fusion of the two limbs seen cranial to the transverse process of the sixth cervical vertebra.

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OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to evaluate the morphology of the aortic arch, focusing on the left subclavian artery (LSA), and to anticipate implications for single-branched endovascular aortic arch repair.
METHODS: We performed a morphological analysis of computed tomography angiography scans of 322 patients between January 2002 and December 2018. Arch type and distance between arch vessels on the convexity were evaluated. We defined 3 morphological types: U-type distance between the left common carotid artery (LCCA) and LSA offspring >10 mm; V-type distance between the LCCA and LSA offspring <10 mm and W-type isolated left vertebral artery offspring from the aortic arch.
RESULTS: Most patients presented a type III arch [50% (n = 161)]. The median distance from the brachiocephalic trunk offspring to the LCCA offspring measured 2.5 mm (2.0-3.0 mm) and that between the LCCA offspring and the LSA offspring was 6.5 mm (4.0-11.0 mm). We observed no significant difference based on the morphological type (V versus U versus W) in the brachiocephalic trunk-LCCA distance, but there were significant differences in the LCCA-LSA distance between types V and U (P < 0.001) and between types V and W (P < 0.001). Interestingly, we found no significant difference in the LCCA-LSA distance between types U and W. We noted a significant difference in the median diameter of the LSA according to U, V and W types: V type versus U type, 12.5 vs 13.5 mm (P = 0.033) as well as U type versus W type, 13.5 vs 10.5 mm (P < 0.001) and V type versus W type, 12.5 vs 10.5 mm (P < 0.002). The distances between the LSA offspring and left vertebral artery offspring between types U and V did not differ significantly.
CONCLUSIONS: Our categorization of the U, V and W types of the LSA can help us anticipate shapes and distances and thereby function as an initial evaluation tool for predicting single branched endovascular aortic arch repair involving the LSA.

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A left vertebral artery (LVA) originating directly from the aortic arch is the second most common supra-aortic branching anomaly. This isolated LVA can also terminate in the posterior inferior cerebellar artery without contributing to the circle of Willis, limiting treatment options, especially in cases with an incomplete circle. Here, we describe our consideration of the treatment options for a 79-year-old patient with a large distal aortic arch aneurysm combined with an isolated LVA and incomplete circle of Willis that may endanger adequate (intraoperative) cerebral perfusion.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated anatomical characteristics and clinical significance of left vertebral artery (VA) originating from aortic arch (AA) by computed tomography (CT) angiography.
METHODS: CT angiography was performed in 3460 patients between March 01, 2014 and November 30, 2015. We examined course of prevertebral VA (PVVA) segment and level of entry into the cervical vertebra transverse foramen (CVTF) of left VA originated from AA.
RESULTS: One hundred fifty-three of 3460 patients had left VA originated from AA. Six of 153 patients had dual origin of VA. Entry level to CVTF of 156 left VAs in 153 cases ranged from C3 to C6. Entry level to CVTF of 156 right VAs in 153 cases ranged from C3 to C7. One hundred fifty-six right PVVA segments positioned in longus colli muscle lateral side in 112 VAs, longus colli muscle anterior surface near longus colli muscle lateral margin in 41 VAs, and unknown location in three VAs. One hundred fifty-six left PVVA segments positioned in anterior surface of longus colli muscle midline in 5 cases, anterior surface of longus colli muscle near longus colli lateral margin in 138 cases, longus colli muscle lateral side in 12 cases, and anterior surface of anterior scalene muscle midline in one case.
CONCLUSIONS: Left VA may arise from the AA. If a long PVVA segment entering higher CVTF is present, operator can perform anterior cervical surgery via contralateral approach for avoidance of VA injury.

Anatomic anomalies of the aortic arch have implications for clinical practice if their significance is understood. Our case study involves a cadaveric finding of the left vertebral artery originating directly from the aortic arch. Although this anatomical variation has been documented, the prevalence of this anomaly may be generally underestimated. After noting this anomaly, we analyzed 27 cases and found that four female cadavers had the left vertebral artery originating from the aortic arch rather than the left subclavian artery. With a prevalence rate of 14.8%, it would seem that this anomaly is more significant than previously thought, which could have implications for surgical practice.