Vascular access site complications after transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation in the POL-TAVI Registry: surgical versus percutaneous approach.

BACKGROUND: Transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TF TAVI) has recently become an established treatment option for intermediate and high-risk surgical patients with severe aortic stenosis. Despite significant reduction in diameter of valvular delivery systems, access related vascular complications remain a major safety concern. The aim of this study was to evaluate impact of femoral access techniques: surgical versus percutaneous on in-hospital outcomes. METHODS: Polish National TAVI Registry (POL-TAVI) was used as a data source. The analysis included 1680 patients treated with TF TAVI in years 2013-2016. 677 patients were treated using percutaneous technique (Group PC) and 1003 using open surgical access (Group S). The two groups were matched and compared. All-cause mortality, length of hospital stay, procedure time and potential risk factors for vascular access site complications after TF TAVI were analyzed. RESULTS: Vascular access site complications were reported in 162 (9.64%) of 1680 patients and were found significantly more often in PC group (13.15% vs. 7.28% P>0.001). There was a significant difference between groups regarding Body Mass Index, arterial hypertension, transient ischemic attack history and NYHA classification. The data analysis showed that increased probability of all vascular complications was associated with percutaneous access. In addition, left-side access and female sex were independent risk factors for all vascular complications. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical cut-down in the groin with exposure of the artery and manual suture after the procedure seems to be a safer option for TF TAVI patients.

Predeployed aortic extension cuff (kilt) in EVAR with hostile neck anatomy using Endurant II system: preliminary results.

INTRODUCTION: Various modifications of standard endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) have been developed to solve the problem of difficult neck anatomy. AIM: The authors propose the implantation of a predeployed extension cuff (kilt) using on-shelf Endurant II elements. In a vast majority of cases, the proposed method provides a solution for the hostile neck problem using standard Endurant II elements available in all centers performing subrenal EVAR procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The early outcomes of kilt implantation were evaluated in 11 patients (three with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms, one symptomatic) in 2 vascular centers in Silesia (Poland). All patients presented with hostile neck anatomy defined as neck length < 10 mm, diameter > 28 mm, angulation > 60°, mural thrombus or calcium > 2 mm in thickness or > 180° circumference. RESULTS: No intraoperative type I endoleak or device migration was observed. Two perioperative deaths occurred in patients in a severe condition with ruptured aneurysms. One case of type III endoleak was managed by the implantation of an additional iliac extension with complete endoleak sealing. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method seems to be effective in early endoleak prevention in patients with hostile neck anatomy undergoing EVAR procedures; however, studies with long-term follow-up are needed.

Symetis Acurate Neo transfemoral aortic bioprosthesis - initial Polish experience.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has proven to be a valuable alternative to conventional surgical aortic valve replacement in high-risk and surgically inoperable patients who suffer from severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. With the second generation of TAVI devices improvements in both handling and performance are highly demanded. This brief clinical communication reports the first Polish experience with the second generation of transfemoral TAVI device--Symetis Acurate Neo. METHODS: From November 19th 2014 until February 18th 2015 nine (n = 9) patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis have been operated on using the Symetis Acurate Neo. Patients were subject to seven-day evaluation and 30-day phone follow-up. RESULTS: The procedure was safely and successfully performed in all patients. A SMALL (S) valve (21-23 mm equivalent) was used in two patients, MEDIUM valve (M; 23-25 mm equivalent) in five patients, and a LARGE valve (L; 25-26 mm equivalent) in two patients. In three cases post-release balloon dilatation was required. There were no intraoperative complications and no major adverse events (as per VARC classification) during initial hospitalisation, including conduction or rhythm disturbances. In all cases, the mean gradient on the prosthetic valves was 7.8 mm Hg (10.2 mm Hg on the "S" valves). Rapid improvement in patients' functional class was noted. Perivalvular leak was evaluated as "mild" in three cases, "trace" in one, and "not existing" in five. CONCLUSIONS: This initial experience with the Symetis Acurate Neo demonstrates its good safety profile and excellent haemodynamics. Low radial stress of the valve results in minimal incidence of atrioventricular rhythm disturbances, and a sealing crown for nearly non-existent paravalvular leak.

"Open" repair of ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (experience of 51 cases).

INTRODUCTION: Surgical treatment of toracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA) represents a difficult problem for the vascular surgeon and may become a formidable challenge in an emergency procedure. In patient with hemodynamic instability, protective measures as cerebral spinal fluid drainage and bio-pump against spinal cord, visceral and renal ischemia, may be ineffective or impracticable. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We report our experience of 51 emergency-operated patients with TAAA out of 660 treated between 1994 and 2014; 48 patients (94%) were hemodynamically unstable, 3 (6%) were hemodynamically stable. The TAAA patients were evaluated, according to Crawford classification, as: 18 type I, 13 type II, 15 type III, 5 type IV. RESULTS: Overall mortality was 23 cases out of 51 (43.1%); 8 deaths occurred during the surgical procedure and 14 in the postoperative period. Early deaths, subdivided by Crawford TAAA classification, were: type I 9/18 (50%), type II 9/13 (69.2%), type III 7/15 (46.6%), type IV 3/5 (60%). Paraplegia-paraparesis developed in 6 cases out of 43 (16.2%), excluding 8 deaths during the operative procedure. Acute renal failure was observed in 8 out of 43 patients (18.6%). Dialysis was found to be a risk factor for hospital mortality (p = 0.03). Pulmonary insufficiency was diagnosed in 15 patients out of 43 (34.8%), and 5 patients (15.5%) needed tracheostomy, out of whom 3 died (p = 0.04%). Postoperative bleeding was present in 8 cases out of 43 (18.6%). Inferior laryngeal nerve palsy was present in 6 cases out of 43 (13.5%). The follow-up period comprised 1-3-5-10 years postoperative follow-up. The actuarial survival rate of patients discharged from hospital was respectively 75%, 63%, 48%, 35%. CONCLUSIONS: In the literature there are very few studies published on emergency treatment for TAAA. Having usually low numbers of patients in the groups wider experiences are still needed to give more light on the pathophysiology and surgical treatment of this type of TAAA, which are still being treated according to the individual surgeon's experience.

The use of a new hybrid stentgraft for the repair of extensive thoracic aortic aneurysms with the frozen elephant trunk method - first Polish experiences.

The frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique is a modification of the traditional elephant trunk method, which was introduced by Borst in 1983 in order to treat extensive thoracic aortic aneurysms. The crux of the new method is the different type of aortic prosthesis, consisting of a Dacron part (with or without branches leading to the arterial vessels which exit the aortic arch) and a port for extracorporeal circulation with a self-expanding nitinol stentgraft. This combination enables a complete one-stage treatment of the pathologies within the arch and the proximal segment of the descending aorta; moreover, it facilitates the performance of a two-stage hybrid treatment of extensive thoracic aortic aneurysms involving a significant part of the descending aorta. This article presents the cases of four patients with extensive aortic disease, who were implanted with Thoraflex prostheses (Vascutek, Scotland).