Prospective assessment of health-related quality of life after endovascular repair of pararenal and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms using fenestrated-branched endografts.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate changes in health-related quality of life (QOL) in patients treated for pararenal aortic aneurysms (PAAs) and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) with fenestrated-branched endovascular aneurysm repair (F-BEVAR). METHODS: A total of 159 consecutive patients (70% male; mean age, 75 ± 7 years) were enrolled in a prospective, nonrandomized single-center study using manufactured F-BEVAR (2013-2016). All patients were observed for at least 12 months (mean follow-up time, 27 ± 12 months). Patients' health-related QOL was assessed using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire at baseline (N = 159), 6 to 8 weeks (n = 136), 6 months (n = 129), and 12 months (n = 123). Physical component scores (PCSs) and mental component scores (MCSs) were compared with historical results of patients enrolled in the endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) 1 trial who were treated by standard EVAR for simple infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms. RESULTS: There were 57 patients with PAAs and 102 patients with TAAAs (50 extent IV and 52 extent I-III TAAAs). There were no 30-day deaths, in-hospital deaths, conversions to open surgery, or aorta-related deaths. Survival was 96% at 1 year and 87% at 2 years. Major adverse events occurred in 18% of patients, and 1-year reintervention rate was 14%. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in 30-day outcomes. Patients treated for TAAAs had lower baseline scores compared with those treated for PAAs (P < .05). PCS declined significantly 6 to 8 weeks after F-BEVAR in both groups and returned to baseline values at 12 months in the PAA group but not in the TAAA group. Patients with TAAAs had significantly lower PCSs at 12 months compared with those with PAAs (P < .001). There was no decline in mean MCS. Major adverse events were associated with decline in PCS assessed at 6 to 8 weeks (P = .021) but not in the subsequent evaluations. Reinterventions had no effect on PCS or MCS. Overall, patients treated by F-BEVAR had similar changes in QOL measures as those who underwent standard EVAR in the EVAR 1 trial, except for lower PCS in TAAA patients at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated for TAAAs had lower scores at baseline in their physical aspect of health-related QOL. F-BEVAR was associated with significant decline in PCSs in both groups, which improved after 2 months and returned to baseline values at 12 months in patients with PAAs but not in those with TAAAs. Patients treated for PAAs had similar changes in QOL compared with those treated for infrarenal aortic aneurysms with standard EVAR.

Impact of aortic wall thrombus on late changes in renal function among patients treated by fenestrated-branched endografts.

OBJECTIVE: Renal function deterioration is an important determinant of mortality in patients treated for complex aortic aneurysms. We have previously determined that catheter and guidewire manipulation in diseased aortas during fenestrated-branched endovascular aneurysm repair (F-BEVAR) is associated with risk of renal function deterioration. The aim of this study was to describe the impact of atherothrombotic aortic wall thrombus (AWT) on renal function deterioration among patients treated by F-BEVAR for pararenal and extent IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. METHODS: Clinical data of 212 patients treated for complex aortic aneurysms with F-BEVAR were entered into a prospectively maintained database (2007-2015). AWT was evaluated by computed tomography angiography using volumetric measurements in nonaneurysmal aortic segments. AWT was classified as mild, moderate, or severe using objective assessment of the number of affected segments, thrombus type, thickness, area, and circumference. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was defined using Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss of kidney function, and End-stage renal disease (RIFLE) criteria, and renal function deterioration was defined by a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) >30% from baseline. Patient survival and renal outcomes were assessed at dismissal, at 6 to 8 weeks, at 6 months, and annually, including AKI, serum creatinine concentration, eGFR, chronic kidney disease stage, need for renal replacement therapy, and presence of kidney infarction. RESULTS: There were 169 male (80%) and 43 female (20%) patients with a mean age of 75 ± 7 years. Aneurysm extent was pararenal in 157 patients and extent IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm in 55 patients. A total of 700 renal-mesenteric arteries were incorporated (3.1 ± 1 vessels/patient). AWT was classified as mild in 98 patients (46%), moderate in 75 (35%), and severe in 39 (19%). At 30 days, 45 patients (21%) developed AKI. Decline in eGFR and kidney infarction were associated with higher AWT volume index and severe AWT classification (P < .05). There was no association of AWT with 30-day mortality, which was 0.5% for the entire cohort. Mean follow-up was 29 ± 23 months. Freedom from renal function deterioration was 73% ± 6% for mild, 81% ± 6% for moderate, and 66% ± 8% for severe AWT patients at 3 years (P = .012) and 46% ± 9% and 82% ± 4% for those with or without AKI after the initial procedure (P < .001). Overall, 41 patients (19%) had progression of chronic kidney disease stage, but none of the patients required renal replacement therapy. Survival was 73% ± 5% for mild, 72% ± 6% for moderate, and 69% ± 10% for severe AWT patients at 3 years (P = .67). CONCLUSIONS: AWT is a significant predictor of AKI and continued decline in renal function after the initial F-BEVAR procedure. Longer follow-up time is needed to determine the actual impact of AWT on survival.

Multicenter study of retrograde open mesenteric artery stenting through laparotomy for treatment of acute and chronic mesenteric ischemia.

OBJECTIVE: Retrograde open mesenteric stenting (ROMS) through laparotomy was introduced as an alternative to surgical bypass in patients with acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the indications and outcomes of ROMS for treatment of AMI and chronic mesenteric ischemia. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical data and outcomes of all consecutive patients treated by ROMS in seven academic centers from 2001 to 2013. ROMS was performed through laparotomy with retrograde access into the target mesenteric artery and stent placement using a retrograde or antegrade approach. End points were early (<30 days) and late mortality, morbidity, patency rates, and freedom from symptom recurrence and reintervention. RESULTS: There were 54 patients, 13 male and 41 female, with a mean age of 72 ± 11 years. Indications for ROMS were AMI in 44 patients (81%) and subacute-on-chronic mesenteric ischemia with flush mesenteric occlusion in 10 patients (19%). A total of 56 target mesenteric vessels were stented, including 52 superior mesenteric arteries and 4 celiac axis lesions, with a mean treatment length of 42 ± 26 mm. Retrograde mesenteric access was used in all patients, but 16 patients also required a simultaneous antegrade brachial approach. The retrograde puncture was closed primarily in 34 patients and with patch angioplasty in 17 patients; 1 patient had manual compression. Bowel resection was needed in 29 patients (66%) with AMI because of perforation or gangrene. Technical success was achieved in all (98%) except one patient for whom ROMS failed, who was treated by bypass. Early mortality was 45% (20/44) for AMI and 10% (1/10) for subacute-on-chronic mesenteric ischemia (P = .04). Early morbidity was 73% for AMI and 50% for subacute-on-chronic mesenteric ischemia (P = .27). Patient survival for the entire cohort was 43% ± 9% at 2 years. Primary patency and secondary patency at 2 years were 76% ± 8% and 90% ± 8%, respectively. Freedom from symptom recurrence and freedom from reinterventions were 72% ± 8% and 74% ± 8% at the same interval. CONCLUSIONS: ROMS offers an alternative to bypass or percutaneous stenting in patients with AMI who require abdominal exploration and in those who have flush mesenteric occlusions and have failed to respond to or are considered unsuitable for stenting by a percutaneous approach. Despite high technical success, mortality remains elevated in patients with AMI. Patency rates and freedom from symptom recurrence and reinterventions are comparable to the results achieved with stenting using percutaneous technique.