Three-Year Outcomes With the Multilayer Flow Modulator for Repair of Thoracoabdominal Aneurysms: A Follow-up Report From the STRATO Trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate midterm outcomes of endovascular repair of types II and III thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA) using the Multilayer Flow Modulator (MFM) in patients unsuitable for open surgery or fenestrated stent-grafts. METHODS: In the prospective, multicenter, nonrandomized STRATO trial (EudraCT registration: 2009-013678-42; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01756911), 23 patients (mean age 75.8 years; 19 men) with Crawford type II and III TAAA (mean diameter 6.5 cm) were implanted between April 2010 and February 2011. Outcomes included all-cause mortality and stable aneurysm thrombosis with associated branch vessel patency. RESULTS: Through 36 months, there were 7 deaths (none confirmed as aneurysm-related), and no cases of spinal cord injury, device migration or fracture, or respiratory, renal, or peripheral complications. Three patients were lost to follow-up and 2 devices were explanted. The device was patent in the 11 remaining patients at 3 years. Stable aneurysm thrombosis was achieved for 15 of 20 patients at 12 months, 12 of 13 at 24 months, and 10 of 11 at 36 months. The rate of branch patency was 96% at 12 months (primary patency), 100% at 24 months, and 97% at 36 months. Nine patients suffered from endoleaks (attachment site or device overlap); 9 patients underwent 11 reinterventions (3 surgical). Maximum aneurysm diameter was stable for 18 of 20 patients at 12 months, 11 of 13 at 24 months, and 9 of 11 at 36 months. For 10 patients with computed tomography at 36 months, the mean ratio of aneurysm flow volume to total volume had decreased by 83%; the mean ratio of thrombus volume to total volume increased by 159%. CONCLUSION: Through 3 years, endovascular repair with the MFM appears to be safe and effective while successfully maintaining branch vessel patency.

Aortic arch aneurysm: short- and mid-term results comparing open arch surgery and the hybrid procedure†.

OBJECTIVES: Open arch surgery for aortic arch aneurysm was historically associated with a high risk of postoperative morbi-mortality. Improved operative techniques have now lowered the incidence of these complications but in parallel, hybrid arch procedures have emerged. Nowadays, very little data are available about their mid-term results compared with open surgery. METHODS: From January 2002 to January 2014, 46 patients had treatment for an exclusive aortic arch aneurysm including 25 open arch surgeries and 21 type I hybrid arch procedures in our institution. All cases involved arch aneurysms involving at least one carotid artery (Zone 0 and Zone 1). Aneurysms of the distal arch and descending aorta were excluded (Zone 2 and beyond). Results from a retrospective database are reported. There were no patients lost to the follow-up. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in preoperative comorbidities between the two groups. The incidence of in-hospital mortality was similar at 20% (5/25) for open surgery and 19% (4/21) for hybrid procedure (P = 0.830). The incidence of permanent cerebral neurological deficit was comparable at 17.4% (4/23) for open surgery and 21.1% (4/19) for hybrid procedure (P = 1). Median survival was 109.5 months for open surgery and 56.3 months for hybrid procedure. Freedom from all-cause mortality was 78, 63, 63 and 57% at 1, 3, 5 and 7 years, respectively in the open surgical group. Freedom from all-cause mortality was 74, 55, 46 and 28% at 1, 3, 5 and 7 years, respectively in the hybrid group. Survival rates and incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebro-vascular event between open surgery and hybrid procedure were not statistically different (P = 0.530 and P = 0.325, respectively). However, incidence of reintervention was in favour of open surgery [14.5 vs 44.8% at 7 years, P = 0.045; 95% confidence interval: (0.06-0.97)]. CONCLUSIONS: The type I hybrid arch procedure fails to demonstrate better results compared with open surgery, regarding morbi-mortality at the short- and mid-term follow-up. Moreover, it increases the risk of reintervention. Patients treated by this technique must undergo a closer follow-up because of this risk. Larger randomized studies are needed to better define the exact indications of this therapy.

Left circumflex artery aneurysm: the end-to-end reconstruction.

This report describes a surgical myocardial revascularization procedure for a huge, atherosclerotic left circumflex coronary artery aneurysm. The technique proposed in this paper is based on the isolation of the aneurysm followed by the aneurysmectomy and a complete reconstruction of the circumflex artery by an end-to-end anastomosis.

One-year outcomes following repair of thoracoabdominal aneurysms with the multilayer flow modulator: report from the STRATO trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate endovascular repair of type II and III thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA) using the Multilayer Flow Modulator (MFM) in patients with contraindications for open surgery and fenestrated stent-grafts. METHODS: In this prospective, multicenter, nonrandomized trial (EudraCT registration: 2009-013678-42; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01756911), 23 patients (19 men; mean age 75.8 years) with Crawford type II (43.5%) and III (56.5%) TAAA (mean diameter 6.5 cm) were treated with the MFM between April 2010 and February 2011. The primary efficacy outcome measure was stable aneurysm thrombosis with associated branch vessel patency at 12 months; the primary safety endpoint was 30-day and 12-month all-cause mortality. RESULTS: The rate of technical success was 100%. In 20 patients with computed tomography scans at 12 months, the primary efficacy outcome was met in 15 patients. The rate of primary patency of covered branch vessels was 96% (53/55); 1 patient with 2 occluded visceral branches underwent successful surgical reintervention. Endoleaks were identified in 5 patients (3 attachment site and 2 at device overlap), 4 of whom underwent reintervention (3 additional MFMs and 1 stent-graft implanted). At 12 months, aneurysm diameter was stable in 18 of 20 patients; the mean ratio of residual aneurysm flow volume to total volume had decreased by 28.9%, and the mean ratio of thrombus volume to total lumen volume had increased by 21.3% (n=17). There were no cases of device migration, loss of device integrity, spinal cord ischemia, or aneurysm rupture. CONCLUSION: At 1 year, endovascular repair with the MFM appears to be safe and effective while successfully maintaining branch vessel patency. Follow-up is ongoing.

Wrapping procedure for stanford type a acute aortic dissection: is there an indication for surgery without a cardiopulmonary bypass?

A wrapping procedure for acute type A aortic dissection was performed on six elderly patients at high risk for conventional surgery. Aortic valve insufficiency was mild, with no malperfusion syndrome. A Teflon plaque or Dacron vascular prosthesis was passed around the aorta and tightened from the coronary ostia to the innominate artery. No severe neurologic complications or deaths occurred in the postoperative period. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging imaging during follow-up showed aortic diameters had stabilized in all patients.

Diagnosis and surgical treatment of an aneurysm on a cervical aortic arch associated with an anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery.

Cervical aortic arch (CAA) is a rare congenital anomaly. An aneurysm developed on a CAA is even rarer and a life threatening condition. We report the diagnosis and surgical treatment of an aneurysm on a CAA associated with an anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery. The surgical procedure consisted in the resection of the aneurysm, a direct aorto aortic anastomosis and a coronary artery bypass to the left anterior descending (LAD) artery with a good result at 11 months. This first case reported of an anomaly of a coronary artery origin associated with an aneurysm on a CAA, underlines the interest of a preoperative complete anatomical and functional diagnosis, to define an optimal intraoperative strategy.

Cardiac bioassist: results of the French multicenter cardiomyoplasty study.

The French multicenter experience (6 centers) of dynamic cardiomyoplasty was analyzed for long-term survival and functional outcome, the most important endpoints in congestive heart failure therapy. Cardiomyoplasty was performed in 212 patients with symptoms of chronic heart failure despite maximal pharmacological therapy. The etiology was ischemic (48%), idiopathic (45%) or other (7%). Cardiomyoplasty was performed using the latissimus dorsi muscle which was electrostimulated after surgery. During follow-up, 88% of patients improved clinically. Hospital death occurred in 29 (14%) patients and was related to the severity of preoperative heart failure symptoms. Late mortality occurred in 99 patients due to heart failure (44%), sudden death (37%), or noncardiac causes (18%). Combined dynamic cardiomyoplasty and implantation of a cardiac rhythm management system was safely achieved in 22 patients, and 26 underwent heart transplantation for recurrent heart failure. Long-term functional improvements were observed in most patients, and the best outcome was achieved in those with isolated right ventricular failure. Dynamic cardiomyoplasty can be considered as a destination therapy or a mid- to long-term biological bridge to heart transplantation.

Results of radiofrequency ablation for permanent atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The study aim was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of radiofrequency ablation for the surgical treatment of permanent atrial fibrillation in patients with degenerative mitral valve disease. DESIGN: From August 2000 to August 2003, 40 consecutive patients (mean age 69.0 +/- 9.3 years) with permanent atrial fibrillation and degenerative mitral valve disease underwent surgical radiofrequency ablation in conjunction with 22 mitral valve repairs and 18 mitral valve replacements. The mean duration of chronic AF was 5.1 +/- 3.4 years. The completeness of follow-up was 100%. The mean follow-up time was 4.6 +/- 2.0 years (range 0 to 7.8 years). RESULTS: Thirty-day mortality was 2.5% (1 patient), the cause of death was cardiac failure. Cardiac failure and temporary A-V block were the most common postoperative complications. Both occurred in 10% (4 patients). No complication was related to the ablation procedure. At discharge, 65% (26/40) of the patients were in sinus rhythm. Overall incidence of sinus rhythm at the end of the follow-up was 56.4% (22/39).The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival was 97.5%, 91.8% and 85.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Mitral valve surgery combined with radiofrequency ablation is a safe and effective procedure in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation and degenerative mitral valve disease. The result is encouraging in restoring sinus rhythm, and an excellent postoperative survival rate can be achieved.

Surgical exclusion of a symptomatic circumflex coronary to right atrium fistula.

Coronary artery fistulas are rare and half of them are symptomatic. Diagnosis is confirmed by echocardiography and coronarography and can be precisely located by multislice CT-scan. We report the case of a 56-year-old female patient with congestive heart failure caused by a coronaro-cardiac fistula established between the proximal circumflex coronary artery and the right atrium. Surgical exclusion of the fistula was achieved by ligation of both extremities and a running suture on the aneurysmal vessel. Follow-up at 6 months was satisfactory with an asymptomatic patient and absence of recurrence of the fistula on echocardiography.

Ebstein's anomaly assessed by real-time 3-D echocardiography.

The outcome of patients with Ebstein's malformation depends mainly on the severity of the tricuspid valve malformation. Accurate description of the tricuspid anatomy by two-dimensional echocardiography remains difficult. We applied real-time three-dimensional echocardiography to 3 patients with Ebstein's anomaly. Preoperative and postoperative descriptions of the tricuspid valve were obtained from views taken inside the right ventricle. Surface of the leaflets as well as the commissures were obtained by three-dimensional echocardiography. Real time three-dimensional echocardiography is a promising tool, providing new views that will help to evaluate the ability and efficiency of surgical valve repair in patient with Ebstein's malformation.

Endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic fistulas.

Aortoesophageal and aortobronchial fistulas constitute a problem in therapy because of the high rates of morbidity and mortality associated with operation. From May 1996 to March 2000, we treated by an endovascular procedure one aortoesophageal and three aortobronchial fistulas. There was no postoperative death. We noted one peripheral vascular complication that required a surgical procedure, one postoperative confusion, and one inflammatory syndrome. In one case, because of a persistent leakage after 21 months, we had to implant a second endovascular stent graft. A few weeks later the reopening of this patient's esophageal fistula led to his death by mediastinitis 25 months after the first procedure. The few cases published seem to bear out the interest, observed in our 4 patients, of an endovascular approach to treat complex lesions such as fistulas of the thoracic aorta especially in emergency or palliative cases.

Type-A acute aortic dissection: combined operation plus stent management.

When the port of entry of acute type-A aortic dissection is at the level of the horizontal portion of the aortic arch, the latter should be replaced by a prosthesis. To avoid performing this difficult procedure in an emergency situation, we place a stent in the aortic arch. Then we replace the ascending aorta by a prosthesis.

Treatment of a fistula at the distal anastomosis after Bentall operation with endoluminal covered stent.

A 25-year-old Marfan patient was operated on for an acute type A aortic dissection that was complicated twice by false aneurysms at the distal suture line. At the third episode a covered endoprosthesis was inserted in the ascending aorta between the coronary ostia and the inominate artery. The postoperative course was uneventful and a control computed tomographic scan showed complete occlusion of the false aneurysm. This attractive technique should be considered versus an open-heart operation in selected patients.