Custom-Made Endograft for Endovascular Repair of Thoraco-Abdominal Aneurysm and Type B Dissection: Single-Centre Experience.

AIMS: To report a series of patients treated with the Jotec custom-made endograft for thoraco-abdominal aneurysms and dissections and identify predictive factors for re-intervention. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 49 patients unsuitable for surgery, treated between 2011 and 2017 (71.3 ± 9.5 years; 15 females). Indications included Crawford type 4 aneurysm in 25 patients, type 3 in 13, type 2 in 4, type 1 in 2 and chronic aneurysmal dilatation of the false lumen following dissection in 5 cases. Mean aneurysm diameter was 58.7 ± 8.4 mm. The study aims were to assess procedural success, complications rate, mortality and long-term follow-up. We also analysed factors that predicted the need for re-intervention. RESULTS: The endograft was successfully deployed in all patients, catheterization of the fenestration and/or branches was achieved in 152/156 (97.4%) vessels. Early complications occurred in 10 patients (3 paraplegia, 3 haemorrhages, pancreatitis, aortic rupture, iliac artery rupture, 2 strokes). Thirty-day mortality was 10.2% and 180-day mortality 14.3%; two non procedure related deaths occurred. Mean follow-up was 23.6 ± 29.9 months [range 1-80]. No patients needed surgical explantation or developed significant renal impairment. Endoleak rate was 34.6% and re-intervention rate 9.7%. The aneurysm sac reduced or was stable in 36/49, and enlarged in 9/49 patients prompting re-intervention. Primary, primary-assisted and secondary patency of fenestrations/branches at 80 months was 90, 96 and 100%. Re-intervention was required more frequently in braches than in fenestrations, most commonly the external type branches. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the Jotec endograft are comparable to other devices, with acceptable complication and re-intervention rates. Fenestration and inner-branch should be preferred due to lower re-intervention rates.

Intimal re-layering technique for type A acute aortic dissection-reconstructing the intimal layer continuity to induce remodeling of the false channel.

BACKGROUND: Residual false channel is common after repair of type A acute aortic dissection (TAAAD). Starting from our recent series of TAAAD patients we carried out a retrospective analysis, regarding the failure of primary exclusion at the time of the initial operation. We classified the location of the principal entry tears perfusing the residual false channel. The proposed technique represents our attempt to correct the mechanism of false channel perfusion during primary repair. We describe a new technique designed to address some limitations of standard hemiarch aortic replacement. Its goal are: (I) to reinforce the intimal layer at the arch level; (II) to eliminate inter-luminal communications at the arch level using suture lines around the arch vessels; (III) to provide an elephant trunk configuration for further interventions. METHODS: Between August 2016 and January 2018, 11 patients underwent emergency surgery using this technique; 7 were men; the median age was 74 years. All patients were treated using systemic circulatory arrest under moderate hypothermia (26 °C) and selective cerebral perfusion. All patients had supra-coronary repair; 1 patient had aortic valve replacement + CABG. In the first two patients a manual suture around supra-aortic trunks was used; the subsequent seven patients were treated with a mechanical suture bladeless device. CT scan follow up was performed in all survivors with controls before discharge 3 months and 1 year after operation. RESULTS: No patient died in the operating room and no neurologic deficit was observed in this initial experience. One patient died in POD 5th for low cardiac output syndrome. Median ICU stay was 3 days (IQR, 2-6 days). Hospital mean length of stay was 15.2±8 days. Median cardiopulmonary bypass time was 130 min (IQR, 110-141 min); median arrest time for re-layering was 17 min (IQR, 16-20 min); median total arrest was 36 min (IQR, 29-39 min). Distal aortic anastomosis was performed in zone 0 in 4 patients, zone 1, with innominate replacement, in 5 patients, in zone 2, with branches to innominate and left common carotid arteries, in 2 patients. Median follow up (closing date 06/01/2018) was 443 days (IQR, 262-557 days); no late deaths occurred. No dehiscence at the level of stapler or manual sutures was observed. Proximal 1/3 of the thoracic aorta false channel was obliterated in all cases but one; in 3 cases complete exclusion of the false channel was obtained after operation. In one case stent graft completion was required. CONCLUSIONS: This technique combines the advantages of arch replacement to the simplicity of anterior hemiarch repair. This study demonstrates the safety of the procedure and the possibility to induce aortic remodeling without complex arch replacement.

Use of the Gore Tigris Vascular Stent in Advanced Femoropopliteal Peripheral Arterial Disease.

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of using the Tigris vascular stent (Gore, Flagstaff, Arizona) alone or in combination with the Viabahn stent (Gore) for revascularizing femoropopliteal Trans-Atlantic Intersociety Consensus (TASC) type B-D lesions with varying degrees of calcification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with Rutherford stage ≥ 3 and TASC type ≥ B were included in the study. From January 2015 to April 2017, 31 segments in 31 patients (21 men, ovarall mean age 73.3 ± 9.2 years) were treated. The breakdown by TASC type and Rutherford stage were TASC B (n = 12), C (n = 6), and D (n = 13), and Rutherford 3 (n = 28) and 4 (n = 3). The lesions were located in the common femoral artery (n = 1), superficial femoral artery (SFA; n = 20), distal SFA to P1 (n = 3), popliteal P1 (n = 1), popliteal P1-3 (n = 3), popliteal P2-3 (n = 2), and 1 femoropopliteal bypass. There were 18 occlusions (58.1%) and 13 stenoses (41.9%). The mean diseased segment length was 15.5 ± 9.9 cm with 80.6% of moderate/severe calcification. The follow-up consisted of color Doppler ultrasound and clinical assessment at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 months. RESULTS: Technical success was 100%. There were no periprocedural or postprocedural complications. The mean stented lesion length was 17.2 ± 10.5 cm with a mean follow-up of 13.1 ± 6.9 months. Primary patency rates at 6, 9, 12, and 15 months were, respectively, 100% (24/31 patients), 90.5% (21/31 patients), 88.9% (20/31 patients), and 80% (15/31 patients). The median postprocedural Rutherford stage was 1. Three occlusions occurred at 7, 9, and 14 months, leading to a target lesion revascularization of 9.7% and a secondary patency of 100% at 15 months. Logistic analysis results demonstrated that lesion length (P = .003) was associated with reocclusion. Amputation-free survival at 15 months was 100%. Intrastent restenosis was observed in four cases (12.9%) but none were associated with worsening of symptoms. No stent fractures were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The Tigris stent used alone or in combination with a Viabahn stent for femoropopliteal TASC B-D lesions demonstrated acceptable 12-month primary patency with a low reintervention rate.

Trans-pericardal Color Doppler Ultra Sound to Assess Blood Flow in the Visceral Branches during Type A Dissection Procedures Complicated with Mesenteric Malperfusion.

Aortic dissection is a complex disease associated with high mortality and morbidity. Among the different possible clinical presentations, type A aortic dissection complicated at the onset by mesenteric malperfusion is characterized by poor outcome compared with patients not presenting such complication. We report the case of a patient with acute type A aortic dissection presenting with mesenteric malperfusion, in whom trans-pericardial color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) examination was used to assess intraoperative and postoperative blood flow in the mesenteric artery. Trans-pericardial CDUS is demonstrated as a fast and simple diagnostic method with a good matching compared with contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan imaging, if correctly approached. We believe that this technique could be an important adjunctive tool for the intraoperative and perioperative management and decision-making in all patients with type A dissection presenting with mesenteric ischemia.

External Jugular Vein Spontaneous Aneurysm, Diagnosis, and Treatment with Video.

True and false aneurysms of veins are very rare conditions and only few cases have been described in the literature. We present a case of a 56-year-old female with personal history of primary arterial hypertension and connective tissue disease. Ultrasound of the neck showed a saccular, compressible, hypoechoic structure that appeared to have a direct communication with the left external jugular vein lumen. The venous aneurysm was removed and the histopathology of the mass showed a grossly dilated vein, with continuous aspects of the entire 3 layer of the venous wall, classifying it as a venous aneurysm.