Outcomes of surgery for patients with Behcet's disease causing aortic pseudoaneurysm: a shift from open surgery to endovascular repair

OBJECTIVES: Behcet’s disease is a form of systematic vasculitis that affects vessels of various sizes. Aortic pseudoaneurysm is one of the most important causes of death among patients with Behcet’s disease due to its high risk of rupture and associated mortality. Our study aimed to investigate the outcomes of Behcet’s disease patients with aortic pseudoaneurysms undergoing open surgery and endovascular aortic repair. METHODS: From January 2003 to September 2014, ten consecutive patients undergoing surgery for aortic pseudoaneurysm met the diagnostic criteria for Behcet’s disease. Endovascular repair was the preferred modality and open surgery was performed as an alternative. Systemic immunosuppressive medication was administered after Behcet’s disease was definitively diagnosed. RESULTS: Eight patients initially underwent endovascular repair and two patients initially underwent open surgery. The overall success rate was 90% and the only failed case involved the use of the chimney technique to reach a suprarenal location. The median follow-up duration was 23 months. There were 7 recurrences in 5 patients. The median interval between operation and recurrence was 13 months. No significant risk factors for recurrence were identified, but a difference in recurrence between treatment and non-treatment with preoperative immunosuppressive medication preoperatively was notable. Four aneurysm-related deaths occurred within the follow-up period. The overall 1-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 80%, 64% and 48%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both open surgery and endovascular repair are safe and effective for treating aortic pseudoaneurysm in Behcet’s disease patients. The results from our retrospective study indicated that immunosuppressive medication was essential to defer the occurrence and development of recurrent aneurysms.

Tratamento percutâneo de pseudoaneurismas por injeção de trombina guiada por ultrassom / Percutaneous treatment of pseudoaneurysms by ultrasound-guide thrombin injection

Pseudoaneurisma iatrogênico ocorre em 0,5% a 2% dos procedimentos percutâneos diagnósticos e em até 7% a 8% dos procedimentos percutâneos terapêuticos. A oclusão do pseudoaneurisma pela injeção de trombina guiada por ultrassom diretamente no interior do saco aneurismático é técnica pouco invasiva, de execução rápida e segura, e com alto índice de sucesso. A proposta deste trabalho é relatar nossa experiência no tratamento do pseudoaneurisma iatrogênico por injeção de trombina guiada por ultrassom. Método: Entre setembro de 2006 e fevereiro de 2010 realizamos 1.811 procedimentos cardíacos percutâneos com ocorrência de 15 pseudoaneurismas (0,8%), dos quais 13 foram tratados com injeção de trombina guiada por ultrassom de forma consecutiva. Características clínicas, tipo de procedimento, medicações coadjuvantes, tamanho e morfologia dos pseudoaneurismas, dose de trombina utilizada, resultado da terapia e ocorrência de complicações foram documentados e armazenados prospectivamente em banco de dados e, então, analisados retrospectivamente. Resultados: A taxa de sucesso primário foi de 100%, com apenas uma recidiva sete dias após a abordagem inicial, tratada com sucesso pela mesma técnica. Não foi observada ocorrência de complicações relacionadas à injeção de trombina guiada por ultrassom e todos os pacientes apresentavam-se assintomáticos aos 30 dias de acompanhamento. Conclusão: A injeção de trombina guiada por ultrassom realizada por profissionais com experiência em ultrassom vascular e em punções transparietais de cistos e coleções é uma opção terapêutica viável, prática e segura no tratamento do pseudoaneurisma iatrogênico.

Background: Iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm is observed in 0.5% to 2% of diagnostic percutaneous procedures and in up to 7% to 8% of therapeutic percutaneous procedures.Pseudoaneurysm occlusion by ultrasound-guided thrombin injection directly in the aneurysm sac is a minimally invasive, quick and safe procedure with a high success rate. The aim of our study is to report our initial experience in treatment of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms by ultrasound-guidedthrombin injection. Method: Between September 2006 and February 2010, 1,811 percutaneous coronary interventions were carried out with an occurrence of 15 pseudoaneurysms(0.8%), of which 13 were consecutively treated by ultrasound-guided thrombin injection. Clinical characteristics, type of percutaneous procedure, adjuvant therapy, size and morphology of pseudoaneurysms, thrombin dose, success and complication rate were prospectively documented and later retrospectively analyzed. Results: Primary success rate was 100% with just one recurrence seven days after the initial approach, which was successfully treated using the same technique. There were no complicationsrelated to the ultrasound-guided thrombin injection and all of the patients were asymptomatic 30 days after the procedure. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided thrombin injectionperformed by professionals experienced in intravascular ultrasound and transparietal punctures of cysts and collections is a feasible, practical and safe option in the treatment of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms.

Non-surgical management of iatrogenic arterial pseudoaneurysms-ultrasound-guided manual compression, an Indian experience.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided manual compression of arterial pseudoaneurysms formed as a result of various procedures. METHODS: Ultrasound-guided manual compression was performed in 444 patients with ultrasound-diagnosed pseudoaneurysm. These patients were evaluated for number of locules in pseudoaneurysm, size of pseudoaneurysm, total time of compression, number of sittings, success/failure of the procedure, and possible complications. RESULTS: Out of 444 patients, 231 (52%) were on post-coronary angiography (3 via brachial route and rest via femoral route), 212 (47.7%) had post-coronary angioplasty and 1 (0.22%) was post-nailing of fracture of right tibia (pseudoaneurysm of right anterior tibial artery). Out of 444 patients, 132 (29.7%) had hypertension, 45 (10.1%) had diabetes mellitus, 117 (26.3%) had both hypertension and diabetes, and 90 (20.2%) were obese. 384 (86.5%) had unilocular, 51 (11.5%) had bilocular, 6 (1.3%) had trilocular and 3 (0.67%) had tetralocular pseudoaneurysm. Size of pseudoaneurysm varied between 0.8 cm and 8.1 cm (mean 3.3 cm). 342 (77%), 48 (10.8%), 54 (12.1%) required 1, 2 and 3 sittings, respectively for complete closure. The compression time was between 15 and 120 minutes (mean 40 minutes). Successful compression was achieved in 423 (95.3%). There were 21 (4.7%) failures, 12 out of which required surgical repair, 6 had spontaneous closure between 12 and 24 weeks and 3 were lost to follow up at 1 year. Out of 212 post-coronary intervention patients, 9 were on low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). In 7 of these 9 patients, LMWH was stopped 48 hours before compression and in remaining 2, compression was done during the course of LMWH therapy. The compression was successful in all 9 patients. Only 2 patients had a transient vasovagal attack. CONCLUSIONS: USG manual compression is safe, inexpensive, reliable and effective outpatient procedure for non-surgical management of arterial pseudoaneurysm.

Sonographically guided thrombin injection for the treatment of femoral artery pseudoaneurysm.

The formation of pseudoaneurysm in the femoral artery after cardiac catheterization is a well-recognized complication occurring in 1%-4% of cases. It is traditionally managed surgically and has a high morbidity. Prolonged ultrasound-guided compression of the neck of the pseudoaneurysm, and ultrasound-guided injection of thrombin into the aneurysm are newer modalities of treatment especially for small aneurysms. We describe the case of a giant pseudoaneurysm of the right femoral artery, post-arteriography, which was successfully managed with ultrasonographically guided percutaneous thrombin injection.