Epidural analgesia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing transperitoneal abdominal aortic aneurysmorraphy--a multi-institutional analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are more likely to develop pulmonary morbidity following major abdominal surgery. The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of epidural analgesia in patients with COPD who underwent elective transperitoneal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. METHODS: During a 7-year period, all patients diagnosed with COPD undergoing elective AAA repair (n=425) from three hospitals were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were an FEV(1)/FVC ratio <75% and/or a PaCO(2)>45 mmHg. Clinical outcomes were compared between those who received epidural analgesia (epidural group) and those who did not (control group). Primary endpoints measured were duration of intubation, ICU stay, hospital days, and pulmonary complications. RESULTS: Strict inclusion criteria were met by 131 patients, which included 86 patients in the epidural group and 45 patients in the control group. When comparing the epidural vs. control group, the mean AAA size was 6.3+/-0.9 cm vs. 6.0+/-1.5 cm (NS), FEV(1) was 57.2+/-24.7% vs. 49.0+/-10.3% (NS), and the mean FEV(1)/FVC ratio was 52.0+/-11.4% vs. 50.6+/-6.7% (NS), respectively. The epidural group had a significantly lower incidence of post-operative ventilator dependency and ICU stay (p<0.05), as well as a decreased trend in pulmonary complications when compared to the control group. The overall hospital stay remained similar between the two groups. The relative risk of developing a pulmonary complication in the absence of epidural analgesia was 2.3. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative epidural analgesia is beneficial in patients with COPD undergoing AAA repair by reducing both the post-operative ventilator duration and ICU stay. Epidural analgesia should be considered in all COPD patients undergoing elective transperitoneal AAA repair.

Surgical intervention for complications caused by femoral artery catheterization in pediatric patients.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the risk factors and surgical management of complications caused by femoral artery catheterization in pediatric patients. METHODS: From January 1986 to March 2001, the hospital records of all children who underwent operative repairs for complications caused by femoral artery catheterization were reviewed. A prospective cardiac data bank containing 1674 catheterization procedures during the study period was used as a means of determining risk factors associated with iatrogenic femoral artery injury. RESULTS: Thirty-six operations were performed in 34 patients (age range, 1 week-17.4 years) in whom iatrogenic complications developed after either diagnostic or therapeutic femoral artery catheterizations during the study period. Non-ischemic complications included femoral artery pseudoaneurysms (n = 4), arteriovenous fistulae (n = 5), uncontrollable bleeding, and expanding hematoma (n = 4). Operative repairs were performed successfully in all patients with non-ischemic iatrogenic femoral artery injuries. In contrast, ischemic complications occurred in 21 patients. Among them, 14 patients had acute femoral ischemia and underwent surgical interventions including femoral artery thrombectomy with primary closure (n = 6), saphenous vein patch angioplasty (n = 6), and resection with primary anastomosis (n = 2). Chronic femoral artery occlusion (> 30 days) occurred in seven patients, with symptoms including either severe claudication (n = 4) or gait disturbance or limb growth impairment (n = 3). Operative treatments in these patients included ileofemoral bypass grafting (n = 5), femorofemoral bypass grafting (n = 1), and femoral artery patch angioplasty (n = 1). During a mean follow-up period of 38 months, no instances of limb loss occurred, and 84% of children with ischemic complications eventually gained normal circulation. Factors that correlated with an increased risk of iatrogenic groin complications that necessitated surgical intervention included age younger than 3 years, therapeutic intervention, number of catheterizations (>or= 3), and use of 6F or larger guiding catheter. CONCLUSION: Although excellent operative results can be achieved in cases of non-ischemic complications, acute femoral occlusion in children younger than 2 years often leads to less satisfactory outcomes. Operative intervention can provide successful outcome in children with claudication caused by chronic limb ischemia. Variables that correlated with significant iatrogenic groin complications included a young age, therapeutic intervention, earlier catheterization, and the use of a large guiding catheter.

Early experience with the bifurcated Excluder endoprosthesis for treatment of the abdominal aortic aneurysm.

PURPOSE: This report describes our initial experience with the modular, bifurcated Excluder endoprosthesis and its safety and efficacy in the primary endovascular repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). METHODS: AAAs (mean diameter, 58.2 +/- 14.3 mm) were repaired in 19 patients with this device between March 1999 and January 2000. The mean age of patients was 71.8 +/- 8.4 years (range, 57-86 years). This modular device was inserted through an 18F introducer sheath placed in one femoral artery, and the contralateral artery was cannulated with a 12F introducer sheath. All procedures were performed in a standard operating room with angiographic capabilities. RESULTS: Endograft deployment was successful in all patients. The average surgical time was 135 +/- 37 minutes, with a mean blood loss of 229 +/- 138 mL. In eight patients, the use of either aortic or iliac extenders was required for enhanced sealing or additional length. An external iliac artery dissection occurring at the time of endograft insertion was successfully treated with a Wallstent. Type II leaks initially found to be present by means of intraoperative completion angiography had spontaneously thrombosed by the 1-month follow-up computed tomography scan. There was one perioperative death (5.3%). Complications included superficial wound infections (n = 3) and a nonfatal myocardial infarction (n = 1). The mean length of hospital stay was 2.9 +/- 1.2 days, and only six patients required intensive care. Endoleaks were seen in four patients (21%) by means of the 30-day computed tomography scan; three of these endoleaks had spontaneously sealed at the time of the 6-month follow-up examination (5.5% 6-month endoleak rate). Aneurysm size did not increase in the patients with leaks. CONCLUSION: The Excluder endoprosthesis was an effective means of excluding an infrarenal AAA from the systemic circulation in this selected group of patients. The smaller sheath sizes may increase the pool of potential candidates. Further study of this device is warranted, and continued assessment of the long-term durability of the device will be necessary.

Detection of isolated hook fractures 36 months after implantation of the Ancure endograft: a cautionary note.

Two cases of delayed (36-month) Ancure hook fracture are reported in patients who experienced a decrease in aneurysm size and no evidence of endoleak. Both devices used redesigned hooks and are otherwise identical to those devices currently used in clinical practice. Notably, hook fractures were not visualized on all abdominal radiographic views, nor were they noted on the final "institutional" report by the reviewing radiologist. Careful clinical follow-up with multiple-view abdominal radiographs remains essential for all patients treated with an endovascular graft, with particular attention directed to the integrity of the metal components. The broader clinical significance of this observation with respect to the Ancure endograft remains to be defined.

Mid-term results after endovascular repair of the abdominal aortic aneurysm.

PURPOSE: As a minimally invasive strategy for the treatment of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), endovascular repair has been embraced with enthusiasm because of the promise of achieving a durable result with a reduced risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality. Our mid-term experience with endovascular AAA repair was assessed by examining early and late clinical outcome in concurrent cohorts of patients stratified either as low-risk or as at increased-risk for intervention. METHODS: From April 1994 to December 1999, endovascular AAA repair was performed in 104 patients with commercially available systems. A subset of patients considered at increased risk for intervention (n = 51) were categorized as such based on a pre-existing history of ischemic coronary artery disease (73%), with documentation of myocardial infarction (57%) or congestive heart failure (29%), or because of the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, liver disease, or malignancy. RESULTS: The perioperative mortality rate (30-day) was 7.8% for patients at increased risk compared with 1.9% among those classified as low-risk (P = NS). There was no difference between groups in age (72 +/- 7 years vs 74 +/- 7 years; mean +/- SD), surgical time (221 +/- 90 minutes vs 192 +/- 68 minutes), blood loss (437 +/- 402 mL vs 331 +/- 238 mL), postoperative hospital stay (4.4 +/- 2.7 days vs 4.2 +/- 2.5 days), or days in the intensive care unit (1.2 +/- 1.6 days vs 0.6 +/- 1.3 days). Patients at increased risk of intervention had larger aneurysms than patients at low risk (58 +/- 11 mm vs 52 +/- 12 mm; P < .05). Stent grafts were successfully implanted in 47 (92%) patients at increased risk versus 50 (94%) patients at low risk (P = NS). Conversion rates to open operative repair were similar in increased-risk and low-risk groups at 3.9% and 5.7%, respectively. The initial endoleak rate was 21% versus 18% based on the first computed tomography performed (either at discharge or 1 month; P = NS). To date, patients at increased risk have been monitored for 14.6 +/- 12.4 months, and patients at low risk have been monitored for 17.7 +/- 15.0 months. Kaplan-Meier analysis for cumulative patient survival demonstrated a reduced probability of survival among those patients initially classified as at increased risk for intervention (P < .05, Mantel-Cox test). Both cohorts had similar 2-year clinical success rates of approximately 75%. CONCLUSION: Despite the use of an endovascular approach for aneurysm treatment, the risk of perioperative death and morbidity remains present for all patients including those who have no significant medical comorbidity. Moreover, although clinical success rates are comparable in both patient groups, 2 years after endovascular repair was performed, at least one in four patients was classified as a clinical failure. Given the continued uncertainty associated with clinical outcome and the need for close life-long surveillance, caution is dictated in advocating endovascular treatment for the patient who is otherwise considered an ideal candidate for standard open surgical repair.

Endovascular revascularization of renal artery stenosis in the solitary functioning kidney.

The treatment of renal artery stenosis by angioplasty and stenting is an effective and accepted alternative to surgery for the treatment of renovascular hypertension and preservation of renal function. We report the technical and clinical outcomes of renal artery stenting in patients with a solitary functioning kidney and renal artery stenosis. From October 1993 to November 1999, 30 stents were placed in the renal arteries of 27 patients (mean age 72+/-8 years) with a solitary functioning kidney and azotemia. The mean diameter renal artery stenosis was 86+/-14%. The mean preprocedure serum creatinine (Cr) level was 3.0+/-1.5 mg/dL (range 1.5-7.5 mg/dL), arterial blood pressure was 171+/-29/85+/-13 mmHg, and the number of antihypertensive drugs was 2.9+/-1.1. Indications for stenting were suboptimal balloon dilation (n = 16), intimal dissection (n = 6), and restenosis following angioplasty (n = 5). Atherosclerotic ostial lesions were present in 25 (93%) of 27 renal arteries. This represents the largest series of renal artery stenting in patients with a solitary functioning kidney, and demonstrates this treatment modality to be a relatively safe alternative to conventional surgery in this high-risk patient group. Most (74%) of the patients in this series had improved or stabilized renal function. Further efforts to define preprocedural indicators of success are necessary to identify the patients who may benefit from revascularization of their solitary kidney.

Subclavian artery disruption resulting from endovascular intervention: treatment options.

Endovascular intervention is a commonly accepted form of treatment in patients with subclavian artery stenosis. Complications will undoubtedly occur as the utility of catheter-based intervention continues to rise. We report two cases of subclavian artery disruption as a result of endovascular intervention. One patient had contrast extravasation after the deployment of a balloon-expandable stent in a stenotic subclavian artery, and the arterial injury was successfully treated with balloon tamponade. A second patient had a large subclavian pseudoaneurysm 4 months after a balloon-expandable stent placement. Successful repair was achieved in this patient by means of arterial reconstruction with a prosthetic bypass graft. These cases illustrate different therapeutic methods of treating subclavian artery rupture due to endovascular intervention.

Evaluation of thrombolysis and angioplasty in a porcine iliac artery thrombosis model: application of endovascular stent-graft-induced thrombosis.

PURPOSE: To develop a novel endovascular thrombosis model in the porcine iliac artery for the evaluation of thrombolysis and angioplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A stent-inversion-graft (SIG) model combining either a 3-mm or 5-mm tapered expandable polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) graft attached within a self-expandable, 10-mm nitinol stent was placed in the left common iliac artery via an ipsilateral common femoral artery approach in 24 pigs. When the iliac artery was thrombosed, urokinase (250,000 IU) plus heparin (1,000 units) were pulse sprayed via a contralateral femoral approach (n = 12). Saline pulse-spray was used as a control group (n = 12). Balloon angioplasty was performed to eliminate the stenotic tapered graft within the stent after successful thrombolysis. The efficacy of the thrombolysis was assessed with use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and arteriogram. RESULTS: Both the 3-mm tapered and 5-mm tapered SIG models caused iliac artery occlusion in 22 +/- 5 and 41 +/- 9 minutes, respectively, after the deployment. Luminal patency was re-established successfully in all occluded arteries after urokinase infusion. Angioplasty was successful in eliminating the tapered stenosis and restoring the normal diameter in all iliac arteries treated with urokinase. Complete thrombolysis was achieved in both models treated with urokinase. CONCLUSION: This novel endovascular approach of inducing arterial thrombosis is simple to perform and reliably produces arterial thrombosis. The intraluminal stenosis is also amenable to angioplasty. This model is useful for the evaluation of antithrombotic treatment modality and adjunctive endovascular interventions.

A new perfusion culture system used to study human vein.

BACKGROUND: Cell culture studies, ring studies, and indirect physiologic studies are the predominant models used to study human vascular tissue. Such studies are limited in their capacity to permit physiologic single-factor changes or to provide the proper mechanical stress or extracellular matrix present in normal tissues. We present a newly devised organ culture system that addresses these issues and permits survival of intact segments of human vascular tissue in a perfused environment. Our experience culturing human saphenous vein with this system is detailed. METHODS: Perfusion culture chambers were designed and constructed in our laboratory. Excess saphenous vein segments were collected from coronary artery bypass graft cases at our hospital and then mounted into our perfusion culture system for 0, 24, 48, 72, or 96 h. Vasomotor assays, hematoxylin and eosin staining, bromodeoxyuridine staining, and factor VIII staining were performed to assess tissue survival. RESULTS: A total of 24 veins were cultured. Average vessel length was 5 cm. The vessels contracted and relaxed the following amounts: time 0 (6.7% contraction, 5.0% relaxation), 24 h (5.7%, 5.3%), 48 h (5.2%, 2.8%), 72 h (4.8%, 5.3%), 96 h (4.8%, 3.8%). Hematoxylin and eosin staining, bromodeoxyuridine staining, and factor VIII staining support the viability of the tissue segments. CONCLUSION: A new perfusion organ culture system has been devised that permits survival of intact human venous tissue for periods up to 96 h. Studies that permit physiologic single-factor changes along with precise control of the hemodynamic environment are possible with this system.

Endoscopic vein harvest techniques for coronary and infrainguinal bypass.

Endoscopic saphenous vein harvest represents a minimally invasive approach to obtain a suitable bypass conduit for coronary or extremity revascularization. Endoscopic vein harvest has been designed to reduce wound complications in a population typically at risk for problematic wound healing. Most studies have shown a reduction in such wound healing complications and improved patient comfort, which may result in fewer postoperative visits. The technique of endoscopic saphenous vein harvest is described, and the current limitations of the procedure are discussed.

Endovascular treatment of vascular injuries.

The endovascular management of hemodynamically stable patients with traumatic vascular lesions is an appealing concept. In principle, many of the injuries detected at the time of diagnostic angiography can be treated at the same setting. Moreover, lesions that occur at the base of the skull or at infraclavicular and pelvic locations pose far less difficulty when managed by transcatheter techniques than by traditional surgical exposure. Even among more accessible injuries, standard surgical dissection is often complicated by the presence of hematoma or pseudoaneurysm, which causes obliteration of natural tissue planes, or arteriovenous fistulas that may complicate dissection because of associated regional venous hypertension. Thus, endovascular approaches may provide easier access to the target lesion, limit the morbidity often associated with surgical exploration, and reduce transfusion requirements. Nonetheless, the long-term consequence of placing an intravascular foreign body in a young patient is undefined, and the potential risk for a device infection cannot be ignored. Definitive answers to these issues await the outcome of longitudinal follow-up studies. Until that time, a prudent approach in the use of this new technology is appropriate.

Minimally invasive vascular surgery: review of current modalities.

The concept of a minimally invasive approach to the treatment of vascular pathology was realized nearly 30 years ago when Charles Dotter described dilatation of atherosclerotic stenoses. Since that time biotechnology and therapeutic innovation have progressed to the point where entire medical subspecialties are based on the endoluminal treatment of diseases of the blood vessels. The most rapid progress has been made in the area of endoluminal treatment of vascular lesions, with angioplasty, stent, and stent graft deployment becoming an increasingly common method of treating various vascular lesions. Extraluminal endoscopic treatment of vascular disease has been gaining popularity, particularly for management of perforator vein incompetence associated with venous stasis disorders. Endoscopic saphenous vein harvest has become an accepted method for minimizing the length of incision required for saphenectomy. Vascular imaging has followed similar trends, with more detailed information being derived from tiny intravascular ultrasonic catheters. This article summarizes the current state of minimally invasive vascular surgery to provide the reader with an understanding of the efficacy of the various modalities. It also discusses future directions in the field.

Acute occlusion of the abdominal aorta.

BACKGROUND: Acute aortic occlusion most commonly results from aortic saddle embolus or thrombosis of an atherosclerotic abdominal aorta. The purpose of this study was to review the experience at a university hospital to better define the diagnosis and management of this uncommon process. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed from patients admitted to Emory University Hospital with acute occlusion of the abdominal aorta from 1985 through 1997. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were identified. In group EMB (n = 16), occlusion was due to saddle embolus. In group IST (n = 17), occlusion was attributed to in situ thrombosis of a severely diseased aorta. Operative procedures performed included transfemoral embolectomy (15), aorto-bifemoral bypass (9), axillobifemoral bypass (5), fasciotomy (3), and thrombolysis (1). The in-hospital mortality rate was 21% (31% EMB, 12% IST), and morbidity was significant and included mesenteric ischemia (6%), bleeding complications (9%), subsequent amputation (12%), renal failure (15%), recurrent embolization or thrombosis (21%), and cardiac complications (42%). CONCLUSIONS: Acute aortic occlusion has tremendous morbidity and mortality even with optimal surgical care.