ABSTRACT
A hybrid approach, combining open and endovascular procedures, may be a less invasive substitute to correct aortic arch pathologies in high-risk patients. We describe an 82-year-old male patient with an atherosclerotic aortic arch aneurysm, which was treated with proximal transposition of all arch branches and endovascular aortic arch repair. During the left common carotid artery reconstruction, oxygen saturation level of the left cerebral hemisphere decreased lower than the safety limit. To re-establish brain perfusion, we installed an external shunt from the right common femoral artery to the left common carotid artery. The oxygen saturation was restored to an acceptably safe level, and the patient tolerated the procedure without any signs of postoperative ischemic stroke.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate ultrasonographic character of carotid plaques, and incidences of brain embolism in carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: CEA (22/25 symptomatic lesions) and CAS (17/20 symptomatic lesions) between 2007 and 2010. Embolic protection devices (15 occlusion and 5 filtering devices) were used during CAS. Carotid plaques were classified into three categories (I: calcificated, II: intermediately echogenic, III: echolucent). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to investigate brain emboli. RESULTS: Ultrasonographic character of the plaques in CEA cases (I: 4%, II: 88%, III: 8%) was different from the one in CAS cases (I: 10%, II: 90%, III: 0%). The incidence of brain embolism in the CAS cases was 52.6% while 0% in the CEA cases (p = 0.00037). CAS had high incidences of brain embolism in any plaques (I: 100%, II: 43.8%). In the most recent 9 procedures of CAS using occlusion devices, averaged number of embolic lesion was 1.0 (0 post operative day; 0 POD). The number increased as 1.4 (1 POD) and 2.0 (7 POD). CONCLUSION: CEA should be currently the first choice for most patients with a high-grade and symptomatic carotid artery stenosis.
ABSTRACT
Aortoenteric fistulas are a rare, but often fatal cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. This report describes the use of endovascular aneurysmal repair (EVAR) for the initial treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding possibly related to an aortoenteric fistula. A 69-year-old man with an abdominal aortic aneurysm was admitted to our hospital because of melena. He initially underwent EVAR. Upper and lower endoscopic examination failed to detect a bleeding site. Twenty-five days later, a fever of 38 degrees C developed, and endograft infection was diagnosed. The patient underwent an extra-anatomic bypass and total endograft explantation. He remains well 9 months after EVAR
