Physician Modification of a Custom-Made Fenestrated Endograft By Closure of a Fenestration With Bovine Patch.

PURPOSE: Ruptured mycotic pararenal aortic aneurysms are rare and serious condition that requires prompt treatment. Open surgery with aortic resection and in-situ or extra-anatomic reconstruction is the standard treatment. The aim of this technical note is to report urgent endovascular treatment using a readily available custom-made device (created for another patient), with a back-table modification using pericardium patch and a new fenestration. TECHNIQUE: In preoperative measurements on centerline-based workstation, aortic diameter in proximal and distal landing zone and target vessel position matched the measurements of graft plan of custom-made device (CMD) besides left renal artery. To address current patient`s anatomy, closure of the nonsuitable fenestration with pericardial patch and creation of new fenestration (1 cm above and 1:15 hours posterior to original fenestration) for the respective target vessel have been performed. Postoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) scan showed complete exclusion of aneurysm, perfused target vessels, and no endoleak. Under resistance-based antibiotic therapy, the patient was asymptomatic and showed normal infection parameters in blood samples postoperatively. CONCLUSION: In the hands of an experienced endovascular aortic surgeon modification of a custom-made device is a quick and feasible technique in this emergency situation. Long-term follow-up must confirm the durability and reliability of this new technique. CLINICAL IMPACT: The described technique of modification of a custom-made endograft can provide an alternative endovascular treatment option for urgent complex abdominal aortic pathologies. Compared to the current available treatment modalities, like physician modified endografts, off-the-shelf branched devices, parallel grafts and in-situ fenestration, it can save considerable time and provides reasonable sealing in ruptured cases. The technique offers a valuable add-on to the armamentarium of experienced endovascular physicians.

Significant CT-angiographic evidence of coexisting abdominal aortoiliac aneurysms with simple renal cysts and abdominal wall hernias.

AIM: Aim of the study was to determine and compare the incidence of simple renal cysts (SRCs) and abdominal/inguinal wall hernias (AWHs/IHs) in patients with known abdominal aortoiliac aneurysm (AAA) and aortoiliac occlusive disease (AOD) in order to assess if these comorbidities could be promoted as added high risk factors for AAA development. METHODS: Prospectively collected clinical and radiological data of 236 AAA patients, treated at our institution between June 2009 and June 2012, were retrospectively analyzed regarding the number, location and type of SRCs and AWHs. Two hundred thirty-six randomly chosen patients with aortoiliac occlusive disease (AOD) were recruited as control group. RESULTS: SRCs and AWHs were significantly more frequent in the AAA group than in AOD group (68.6% vs. 37.3%, OR=2.110, 95%-CI 1.325-3.359, P=0.002 and 45.3% vs. 24.2%, OR=1.850, 95%-CI 1.153-2.968, P=0.011). In 30.1% of AAA patients both clinical entities were simultaneously detected (OR=2.441, 95%-CI 1.342-4.437, P=0.003), the comorbidity of SRCs and IHs was related to a 3.6-fold increased risk for a coexisting AAA (OR=3.558, 95%-CI 1.622-7.805, P=0.002). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study contribute to the clinical evidence of a significant coexistence of SRCs and AWH/IHs in AAA patients. However, further clinical screening trials and research are necessary to establish the clinical significance of this observation and to assess a possible common pathogenesis of systemic extracellular matrix degeneration in affected individuals.

Early experience with the EntrustTM delivery system for stent treatment of the lower extremities' arteries via transbrachial approach.

AIM: The femoral artery remains the access of choice in the majority of peripheral vascular interventions. However, specific conditions indicate catheterization of the brachial artery. Contrary to balloon catheters, the majority of stent delivery systems are too short to facilitate transbrachial implantation of self-expandable stents (SES) in the superficial femoral artery (SFA). We report our experience with a new 150 cm working length SES-delivery system for transbrachial lower extremity interventions. METHODS: All patients treated with the Entrust(TM) delivery system (EDS) for lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) via a transbrachial access between December 2012 and February 2014 were included into this study. All data were prospectively collected and analyzed. Primary endpoints were the feasibility and safety of the EDS in the transbrachial setting. Secondary endpoints consisted of stent length accuracy after deployment, early clinical outcome and perioperative complications. RESULTS: Thirty-seven EverFlex(TM) stents with Entrust(TM) delivery system were implanted transbrachially in twenty-eight (N.=28) patients. The transbrachial implantation of a SES using the EDS was feasible in all patients. Stent compression or elongation >10%, premature jumping or movements of the implanted stents were not observed in any patient. Although no stent fractures were observed, a single stent occlusion was noticed. Early clinical success was achieved in all but one patient, with one patient requiring a surgical revision of the puncture site due to pseudoaneurysm. CONCLUSION: The early experience with the new SES-delivery system suggests that EDS enables the safe and effective treatment of the lower extremities PAD via a transbrachial approach. However, further evaluation is needed to define whether the use of the new long shaft stent delivery system influences the performance of the EverFlex(TM) stent in the long run.