Open treatment of extent IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms.

AIM: Extent IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) open repair is considered relatively safer to repair than other extents of TAAA in terms of both perioperative mortality and spinal cord ischemia. Our purpose is to report our experience and to perform a literature review regarding extent IV TAAA open repair in order to provide an updated benchmark for comparison with any other alternative strategy in this aortic segment. METHODS: From 1993 to 2015 we performed 736 open repairs for TAAA (177 extent I, 196 extent II, 141 extent III, 222 extent IV). In extent IV group there were 164 men (73.9%) and the mean age was 67.4±9.3 years (range 32-84). The aneurysm etiology was degenerative in 198 patients (95.6%). Twelve patients (5.4%) underwent emergent operation. Totally abdominal approach was used in 22.0% of the cases. Until 2006 left heart bypass (LHBP) and cerebrospinal fluid drainage (CSFD) were almost never performed during extent IV repair. Since 2006 we changed our approach with a more aggressive use of LHBP (22.9%) and CSFD (43.4%) in 83 consecutive extent IV. Renal arteries perfusion was performed with 4 °C Ringer's solution until 2009 and with 4 °C Custodiol solution since September 2009 to date. Literature search was performed on several databases (PubMed, BioMedCentral, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of clinical trials). Research was updated on March 1th 2015. RESULTS: Perioperative mortality in our overall group of TAAA and in the extents IV was 10.7% and 4.9%, respectively (P=0.01); spinal cord ischemia rate 11.4% and 2.7%, respectively (P=0.0001). In the extents IV treated between 2006 and 2015 we observed a further trend of outcomes improvement with a rate of perioperative mortality and spinal cord ischemia of 1.2%, and 2.4%, respectively. Database searches yielded a total of 767 articles. Excluding non-pertinent titles or abstracts, we retrieved in complete form and assessed 27 studies according to the selection criteria. Nine studies were further excluded because of our prespecified exclusion criteria. The final 18 manuscripts included a total of 2098 patients. In this group median mortality rate was 4.8% (interquartile range 3-6) and the mean incidence of spinal cord ischemia was 1.56±1.54%. CONCLUSION: Perioperative outcomes after extent IV TAAA open repair were significantly better compared to our overall TAAA series. A more aggressive use of CSFD, LHBP and renal perfusion with Custodiol solution allowed a further trend of outcomes improvement in our series of extent IV TAAA open repair. Literature analysis confirmed during extent IV open repair very satisfactory perioperative outcomes with rates of mortality and spinal cord ischemia dropped to under 5% and 2%, respectively.

Open repair for aortic occlusive disease: indication, techniques, results, tips and tricks.

AIM: The aim of this article was to review indications, techniques, and outcomes of a series of open repair for aortic occlusive disease. METHODS: Between 1991 and 2013, 1071 patients (917 men, 154 women; mean age 62.6 years) underwent open repair for aortoiliac occlusive disease. According to TASC II classification, 123 patients (11.5%) had type B lesions, 343 (32%) type C, and 605 (56.5%) type D. Among type D lesions, 138 patients had Leriche's Syndrome with complete aortic occlusion. Nine hundred and eight aortobifemoral bypasses, 114 axillo-bifemoral bypasses, 42 aortic endarterectomies with patch aortoplasty, and 7 thoracobifemoral bypasses were performed. Associated endarterectomy of abdominal aorta was required in 191 patients (18.5%), of the femoral arteries in 297 (28.7%). RESULTS: Perioperatively mortality was 0.6%; perioperative morbidity included cardiac (3.4% of patients), respiratory (2.6%), as well as acute renal insufficiency (2.6%). There were 26 (2.5%) cases of intraoperative distal embolization, 9 (0.8%) of acute graft thrombosis and 9 (0.8%) of bleeding requiring surgical revision within the first 24 hours after surgery. Sixty-one groin complications were reported in 57 patients (5.3%). During a mean follow-up time of 74 months (range 1-264), calculated actuarial occlusion-free survival at 12, 24, and 36 months was 94.8%, 91.8% and 87.2%, respectively. The limb-salvage rate in patients with critical limb ischemia was 87.3%. There were 11 (1%) graft infections. CONCLUSION: Open repair is a ductile strategy and may be tailored according to the patient clinical condition and disease anatomy. Long-term patency is excellent with low perioperative mortality and reasonable morbidity rates.

Endovascular treatment of descending thoracic aneurysms.

INTRODUCTION: Current strategies for repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms consist of open repair with surgical graft replacement or thoracic endovascular aortic repair. We review and update our overall experience in aortic thoracic diseases and specifically analyzed our outcomes with thoracic endovascular aortic repair in patients with descending thoracic aortic aneurysms. METHODS: From 1993 to present a total of 1144 patients were treated in our Center for pathology involving the thoracic aorta. Since 1998, 322 patients underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair, and among this group, in 188 cases the descending aorta was involved. In 74% of patients treated for a descending thoracic aortic lesion, a degenerative aneurysm was observed. RESULTS: In patients with descending thoracic aortic aneurysms receiving thoracic endovascular aortic repair, our technical success rate, i.e. deployment of endograft with complete exclusion of the lesion/minimal endoleak, was 99.5% (one case required emergent open conversion) with a perioperative mortality of 2.6% (five patients). The rate of spinal cord ischemia, manifesting either as paraplegia or paraparesis, was 4.7%. Delayed onset spinal cord ischemia ameliorated with adequate arterial pressure and cerebrospinal fluid drainage. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience of selected patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair of descending thoracic aorta aneurysms is satisfactory with very low mortality and morbidity. A large use of thoracic endovascular aortic repair is foreseen in the next future.

Open repair of descending thoracic aneurysms.

INTRODUCTION: Current strategies for operative treatment of a thoracic aortic aneurysm consist of open repair with surgical graft replacement or endovascular exclusion. To reduce mortality and morbidity of open repair, a multimodal approach has gradually evolved by maximizing organ protection. METHODS: On a total of 1108 patients treated in our Center from 1993 for pathology involving the thoracic aorta, we reviewed the prospectively collected data of 194 consecutive patients who underwent open thoracic aortic aneurysm repair, 104 (54%) for degenerative aneurysms, 65 (34%) for dissections, 25 (12%) for other pattern of disease. Left Heart Bypass was used in 82% of cases, clamp and sew technique in 16%, hypotermic circulatory arrest in 2%. RESULTS: Overall perioperative mortality was 4.1%. The rate of pulmonary complications was 8.8%. The rate of cardiac complications, i.e. new onset myocardial necrosis demonstrated by positive blood tests, was 6.2%. The rate of renal complications was 7.2%. Cerebrovascular accident, defined as a new neurologic deficit lasting more than 24 hours confirmed by imaging, occurred in 2.0% of patients. The rate of spinal cord ischemia, manifesting either as paraplegia or paraparesis, was 4.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality and morbidity rates of open thoracic aortic aneurysm repair are currently satisfactory especially in fit patients. In order to define surgical indications and the role of endovascular repair, consideration of age of the patient, comorbidity, symptoms, life expectancy, likely quality of life (if asymptomatic), aortic diameter, aneurysm morphology, aneurysm extent, suitability of landing zones, and operator experience are all distinctly relevant.

Delayed upstream migration of an iliac stent.

INTRODUCTION: Stent migrations are described after peripheral endovascular treatments. We report a case of an unusual iliac stent movement after a successful angioplasty. REPORT: An occlusive distal intimal flap after aorto-iliac endoarterectomy was successfully fixed by stenting of the left external iliac artery. One month later, the patient was readmitted due to contralateral limb acute ischemia. Angiography revealed a right iliac artery thrombosis due to upstream stent migration from the left external iliac artery into the right common iliac artery. The patient underwent a combined surgical and endovascular rescue technique. CONCLUSION: Turbulent and pulsatile flow, associated with wall remodelling may explain this unexpected complication.