Endovascular Repair versus Open Repair for Isolated Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) with those of open repair for descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (DTAA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared the outcomes of 114 patients with DTAA and proximal landing zones 3 or 4 after TEVAR to those of 53 patients after conventional open repairs. Thirty-day and late mortality were the primary endpoints, and early morbidities, aneurysm-related death, and re-intervention were the secondary endpoints. RESULTS: The TEVAR group was older and had more incidences of dissecting aneurysm. The mean follow-up was 36+/-26 months (follow-up rate, 97.8%). The 30-day mortality in the TEVAR and open repair groups were 3.5% and 9.4% (p=0.11). Perioperative stroke and paraplegia incidences were similar between the groups [5.3% vs. 7.5% (p=0.56) and 7.5% vs. 3.5% (p=0.26), respectively]. Respiratory failure occurred more in the open repair group (1.8% vs. 26.4%, p<0.01). The incidence of acute kidney injury requiring dialysis was higher in the open repair group (1.8% vs. 9.4%, p<0.01). The cumulative survival rate was higher in the TEVAR group at 2 to 5 years (79.6% vs. 58.3%, p=0.03). The free from re-intervention was lower in the TEVAR group (65.3% vs. 100%, p=0.02), and the free from aneurysm-related death in the TEVAR and open repair groups were 88.5% and 86.1% (p=0.45). CONCLUSION: TEVAR is safe and effective for treating DTAAs with improved perioperative and long-term outcomes compared with open repair.

Myocardial Perfusion SPECT as a Screening Test before Planned Vascular Surgery for Predicting Perioperative Cardiac Complications / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Patients with vascular diseases commonly have coronary artery disease and associated cardiac problems. Therefore, their underlying heart diseases may be induced or exacerbated after vascular surgery. The effectiveness of SPECT imaging, which is a relatively simple and non-invasive imaging modality, for assessing these underlying heart diseases is still controversial. This study was performed to evaluate the clinical effect of tests and treatment based on SPECT imaging prior to vascular surgery on the development of post-operation cardiac complications. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Sixty three patients who were treated at Inje University Pusan Paik Hospital between April 2004 and September 2007 and who underwent adenosine infusion technetium-99m (Tc-99m) tetrofosmin SPECT imaging prior to vascular surgery were selected for this study and we retrospectively reviewed their records. RESULT: The sensitivity and specificity of detecting a perfusion defect on SPECT to predict the development of cardiac complications was relatively low at 41.2% and 52.2%, respectively. However when coronary angiographies were done on the patients with abnormal SPECT and this was followed by aggressive treatment such as coronary artery intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting based on the angiography results, there was a tendency for lower cardiac complication rates. CONCLUSION: SPECT imaging shows low effectiveness as a screening test for predicting cardiac complications after vascular surgery.

Retroperitoneal Pulmonary Sequestration in a Neonate : A case report / 대한흉부외과학회지

Retroperitoneal pulmonary sequestration is an extremely rare congenital malformation. It is more frequently diagnosed in the antenatal period due to routine ultrasonic examinations that are conducted for a fetus or during the first 6 months of life, although retroperitoneal pulmonary sequestration is incidentally discovered in adults on rare occasions. Because the location and radiological findings of retroperitoneal pulmonary sequestration are very similar to those of another retroperitoneal masses, retroperitoneal pulmonary sequestration, although they are very rare, should be included in the differential diagnosis of a retroperitoneal suprarenal mass. Although fine needle aspiration may be considered as an aid for making the preoperative diagnosis, surgery remains the treatment of choice for symptomatic lesions and this surgery is associated with excellent results and a good prognosis.

Surgical Treatment for a Primary Arterioenteric Fistula between a Common Iliac Artery Aneurysm and the Terminal Ileum with Massive Bleeding / 대한흉부외과학회지

A 72-year-old man with progressive, unexplained lower gastrointestinal bleeding presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain and shock. Computed tomography of the abdomen showed a fistula between a right common iliac artery aneurysm and the small intestine. Laparotomy demonstrated a saccular aneurysm of the common iliac artery with a fistulous communication to the terminal ileum. Aneurysmectomy, aortoiliac graft replacement and segmental ileocecal resection with end-to-side anastomosis were all successfully performed. For a patient having an arterioenteric fistula along with lower gastrointestinal bleeding, making an early diagnosis using computed tomography and then performing immediate surgery can be expected to save the patient's life.