Bypass and other modified reconstruction techniques for 'challenging' carotid cases: A comparison with conventional endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Standard carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is usually performed with patch closure or eversion. However, sometimes a 'modified' carotid artery revascularization (MCAR) technique is required if the lesion is complex, extended and anatomically or technically challenging. MCAR is defined as carotid artery bypass; otherwise, it is the combination of common carotid artery (CCA) primary suture or patch angioplasty, associated with internal carotid artery (ICA) patch closure or eversion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of MCAR during complex carotid procedures, comparing them with standard CEA. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of asymptomatic patients who underwent CEA during a 16-year period (June 2005 to June 2021) was performed. Patients were divided into three different groups: ECEA (eversion CEA), PCEA (CEA with patch angioplasty) and MCAR. Primary endpoints were relevant neurological complication rate (RNCR), death within 30 days, freedom from ipsilateral stroke, reintervention rates and freedom from carotid artery restenosis. RESULTS: A total of 1,752 patients were included (ECEA: 699; PCEA: 948; MCAR: 105) in the study. Patients treated with MCAR were significantly older and had a higher SVS score for arterial hypertension compared with ECEA and PCEA groups. A long plaque in the CCA was the most common indication for MCAR (40.1%); inadequate distal plaque-end or distal dissection (25.7%) was the second most prevalent indication. Overall perioperative RNCR, defined as minor and major stroke, was 0.7% (ECEA: 0.4%; PCEA: 0.7%; MCAR: 1.9%; p = 0.22), without any significant difference among the three groups. However, patients treated with MCAR had a significantly higher rate of global central neurological complications (defined as transient ischaemic attack, minor stroke and major stroke) than the other cohorts (ECEA: 0.7%; PCEA: 1.2%; MCAR: 3.8%; p = 0.02). One patient (0.05%) died perioperatively of a major cerebral infarction. Long-term follow-up (66.7 ± 43.9) showed a significantly lower rate of freedom from ipsilateral stroke for the MCAR group (96.8%) compared with ECEA and PCEA groups (99.8% and 98.9%, respectively, p = 0.03). Similar reintervention rates (ECEA: 2.7%; PCEA: 3.3%; MCAR: 3.8%; p = 0.74) and freedom from carotid restenosis rates (ECEA: 1.3%; PCEA: 2.6%; MCAR: 1.9%; p = 0.16) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who underwent ICA revascularization with MCAR showed risks of perioperative death, major or minor stroke (<2%), reintervention rates and carotid restenosis rates that are comparable with PCEA or ECEA groups. Nevertheless, the MCAR group showed a significantly higher rate of global central neurological complications (considering together TIA, minor stroke and major stroke) than patients treated with standard CEA. MCAR techniques appear to be effective alternatives to standard CEAs, with an acceptable surgical risk. However, these should be performed mainly in selected cases, for example, in complex anatomy (detected in a non-negligible percentage of patients by preoperative imaging), or in the case of unexpected intraoperative technical issues.

Prophylactic relining for bridging stent compression after thoracoabdominal endovascular aneurysm repair: Myth or reality?

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Target vessels related complications are one of the most important 'Achille's heel' of complex thoracoabdominal endovascular procedures. The aim of this report is to describe a case of spontaneous bridging stent-graft (BSG) delayed expansion in a patient treated for type III mega-aortic syndrome, associated with aberrant right subclavian artery and independent origin of the two common carotid arteries. METHODS: The patient underwent different surgical procedures (ascending aorta replacement with carotid arteries debranching, bilateral carotid-subclavian bypass with subclavian origins embolization and TEVAR in zone 0, associated with a multibranched thoracoabdominal endograft deployment). Visceral vessels stenting was performed using balloon-expandable BSGs for celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery and right renal artery, while for the left renal artery a 6 × 60 mm self-expandable BSG was deployed.The first follow-up (FU) by computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed a severe compression of the left renal artery BSG. Considering the challenging access to the directional branches (SAT's debranching and a tightly curve of the steerable sheath inside the branched main body), a conservative treatment was considered, performing a control CTA after 6-months. RESULTS: Six months later, the CTA demonstrated a spontaneous expansion of the BSG, with a two-fold increase in the minimum stent diameter, excluding the need for new reinterventions such as angioplasty or BSG relining. CONCLUSIONS: Directional branch compression is a frequent complication during BEVAR; however, in this case, it spontaneously resolved after 6 months, without the need for secondary adjunctive procedures. Further studies on predictor factors for BSG related adverse events and regarding spontaneous delayed BSGs' expansion mechanisms are needed.

Open Repair for Juxtarenal Aortic Aneurysm: Short and Long-term Results.

BACKGROUND: The recent technological evolution has also allowed for the treatment of juxtarenal aortic aneurysm (JAA) with an endovascular technique, but short- and long-term results must be compared with the results of open treatment, which is the gold standard. In this study, we analyzed the short- and long-term results of open surgical treatment (open repair) in patients with JAA in our series. METHODS: From January 2006 to December 2016, 155 patients were treated for JAA with open repair; the data were analyzed retrospectively. The mean age was 71.17 years (standard deviation [SD] 7.1), and mean size of aneurysm was 6.15 cm (SD 1.1). The ASA classes 2, 3, and 4 were 20%, 74% and 6%, respectively. Follow-up included clinical visit and abdominal aorta Duplex scan after 1 and 6 months and annually. The mean follow-up interval was 48.6 (SD 32.4) months. RESULTS: The mean surgical time was 256 min (SD 69), the mean stay in the intensive care unit was 1.6 days (SD 1.2), and the mean total hospital stay was 10.2 days (SD 4.3). Aortic cross-clamping was usually suprarenal (110, 71%); in 39 (25%), the aortic clamping was between the renal arteries, and 6 patients (4%) required a supraceliac cross-clamping. The mean renal ischemia time due to aortic clamping was 17 min (SD 3.5). In 32 patients (21%), the left renal vein was sectioned for performing proximal aortic anastomosis and then reconstructed. Twelve patients (8%) required a renal revascularization, and in 49 patients (32%), an hypogastric bypass was performed. The 30-day mortality rate was 0.6%, and only 1 patient died in the postoperative due to intestinal infarction. The postoperative morbidities occurred in 15 cases (10%). Six patients had dehiscence of the laparotomy without the involvement of the muscle, 4 patients had an asymptomatic small increase of the troponin, and in 3 patients, there was an increase in creatinine >1.8 mg/dL. No dialysis was performed. Two patients had peripheral embolism in the lower limbs. Twenty-six patients (15%) died in the follow-up, but causes have never been related to aortic disease. CONCLUSIONS: Open repair of JAA is still safe, effective, and durable also in the long-term period and even in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors.

Aortic Epithelioid Angiosarcoma after Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

We report a case of epithelioid angiosarcoma of the abdominal aortic wall after endovascular treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm (EVAR). A 60-year-old male, treated 7 years before with EVAR, presented with abdominal back pain, general fatigue, and fever. It was assumed to be a graft infection with periaortic tissue compatible with an inflammatory reaction. The endograft was therefore completely removed and a Dacron silver aorto-bisiliac graft was implanted. After a few days the patient worsened, the angio-computed tomography scan showed a progressive increase of the periaortic mass and numerous small nodules in the abdomen were also detected. The patient was again brought to surgery, an axillo-bifemoral bypass was performed, and the aorto-bisiliac graft was removed but the patient died after surgery. The histological examination showed an aortic epithelioid angiosarcoma with peritoneal metastasis.

Surgical treatment for pseudo-occlusion of the internal carotid artery.

OBJECTIVES: Carotid artery pseudo-occlusion is a rare condition and its natural history and clinicopathological characteristics are not well defined. We reported our 7-year experience in the surgical treatment of carotid artery pseudo-occlusion to determine the real benefit of the surgical option. METHODS: From January 2006 to December 2013, 1414 patients were treated for high-grade stenosis of the internal carotid artery, 33 (2.3%) presented with a carotid pseudo-occlusion (26 males and 7 females, mean age: 70 ± 10). Nineteen patients were symptomatic, and 14 asymptomatic. Carotid artery pseudo-occlusion was identified by duplex scan (segmental occlusion at the origin of internal carotid artery with very thin distal flow) and the diagnostic confirmation was obtained by angio-computed-tomography (CT) scan. The operation was performed under general anaesthesia and constant Electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring. The follow-up was performed by duplex scan at discharge, 30 days, 6 months and yearly. RESULTS: Politetrafluoroetilene (PTFE) patch endarterectomy, eversion endarterectomy and carotid bypass were performed in 20 (61%), 10 (30%) and 3 patients (9%), respectively. No mortality or stroke was observed in postoperative period. Four patients presented with an asymptomatic postoperative thrombosis of the internal carotid artery. No restenosis was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment for carotid artery pseudo-occlusion is safe and effective.