Spinal cord ischemia after simultaneous and sequential treatment of multilevel aortic disease.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study is to report a risk analysis for spinal cord injury in a recent cohort of patients with simultaneous and sequential treatment of multilevel aortic disease. METHODS: We performed a multicenter study with a retrospective data analysis. Simultaneous treatment refers to descending thoracic and infrarenal aortic lesions treated during the same operation, and sequential treatment refers to separate operations. All descending replacements were managed with endovascular repair. RESULTS: Of 4320 patients, multilevel aortic disease was detected in 77 (1.8%). Simultaneous repair was performed in 32 patients (41.5%), and a sequential repair was performed in 45 patients (58.4%). Postoperative spinal cord injury developed in 6 patients (7.8%). At multivariable analysis, the distance of the distal aortic neck from the celiac trunk was the only independent predictor of postoperative spinal cord injury (odds ratio, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.56-0.99; P=.046); open surgical repair of the abdominal aortic disease was associated with a higher risk of spinal cord injury but did not reach statistical significance (odds ratio, 0.16; 95% confidence interval, 0.02-1.06; P=.057). Actuarial survival estimates at 1, 2, and 5 years after the procedure were 80%±5%, 68%±6%, and 63%±7%, respectively. Spinal cord injury did not impair survival (P=.885). CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, the risk of spinal cord injury is still substantial at 8% in patients with multilevel aortic disease. The distance of the distal landing zone from the celiac trunk is a significant predictor of spinal cord ischemia.

Sequential multiple visceral arteries dissections without aortic involvement.

Isolated dissection of visceral arteries without associated aortic pathology is very rare. Risk factors, etiology, and natural history of this pathology continue to be unclear, and the guidelines for clinical management remain to be defined. We present a case not described previously, with sequential dissections of the celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, and renal arteries without aortic involvement. The patient presented with severe back thoracic and abdominal pain and without evidence of peritonitis. An abdominal angio-CT scan showed dissection of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), with partial thrombosis of the false lumen and subsequent stenosis of around 60%. Conservative treatment with anticoagulants seemed to be appropriate in the beginning, because the patient became asymptomatic spontaneously within a few hours and angio-CT showed dissection but no ischemic lesions. On day 10 after onset, however, he again indicated severe back thoracic and abdominal pain. Emergent CT was performed. The prior SMA dissection appeared to be worse due to increased size of the false lumen, followed by SMA stenosis (about 75‒80%). In addition, dissection of the celiac artery and both renal arteries could be seen. The patient underwent angiography and stenting of the main trunk of the SMA, with good clinical and radiologic outcome. Double oral antiplatelet therapy was then introduced. An angio-MRI scan 6 months later showed stability of the multiple dissections.

Lesson learned from early and long-term results of 327 cases of coexisting surgical abdominal diseases and aortic aneurysms treated in open and endovascular surgery.

Patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) frequently have other abdominal pathologies of surgical interest (other diseases, OD). Out of 1,375 elective open aortic replacements for AAA, 315 cases with OD were subdivided in Group 1 (82 patients with "clean wound" OD) and Group 2 (233 patients with "clean-contaminated wound" OD). The results of the sub-groups in which OD was treated at the same time as AAA were analysed (1a, 66 cases and 2a, 86 cases) and compared with OD not treated at the same time as AAA (1b, 16 cases and 2b, 147 cases). EVAR was done in 12 patients with a infrarenal AAA and concomitant abdominal disease. In this group post-operative complications occurred in two patients (endoleaks) and no sign of endograft infection was developed. Mean follow-up was 36 months. Mortality was 0% in Group 1a, 1b, 2b and 5.8% in Group 2a. In Group 1a there were one haemoperitoneum, one ischaemic colitis and one graft infection. In Group 1b there were 4 nefrectomies for renal carcinoma and three emergency hernia repairs within 18 months from AAA operation. In Group 2a the follow-up was uneventful. In Group 2b there was no acute complication of OD and 57.2% of patients were subsequently operated for OD. In the EVAR group the 30-day and late mortality rates were 0 and 25%, respectively and all deaths were cancer-related. Contemporary correction of OD in open surgery for AAA should be performed in clean wound cases, while clean-contaminated operations can be done only in selected cases. EVAR is a valid alternative technique to open vascular surgery for the concomitant treatment of aortic aneurysms and abdominal pathologies.

Preoperative cardiac evaluation and perioperative cardiac therapy in patients undergoing open surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysms: effects on cardiovascular outcome.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular complications, such as death, myocardial infarction, or heart failure, are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in adult patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of an accurate preoperative cardiac evaluation, together with optimized perioperative drug therapy, in reducing cardiovascular events in patients undergoing open aortic surgery for abdominal aneurysm. METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2008, we considered all consecutive patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic open surgery at the Vascular Surgery Unit of the University of Study-Spedali Civili (Italy). Since January 2003, we have used an intensive cardiac preoperative evaluation: patients with at least one cardiac risk factor received a preoperative cardiac evaluation; all non-invasive and invasive tests were performed preoperatively when indicated by the consultant cardiologist, that also optimized the pharmacological perioperative therapy. The outcome of the 418 patients undergoing surgery between 2003 and 2008 was compared with those of the 204 patients in the previous triennium 2000 to 2002, when only patients with positive history for cardiac disease received a standard preoperative cardiological clinical or instrumental evaluation. RESULTS: Patients enrolled in the 2003 to 2008 interval were slightly older and with a higher prevalence of comorbidities compared with those observed in the previous triennium; furthermore, the number of noninvasive tests performed before surgery increased significantly. Nevertheless, the number of major cardiac perioperative complications decreased over time: particularly, in-hospital mortality rate was 0.9% in the latter period, compared with 3.4% in the years 2000 to 2002. Also, the long-term mortality was significantly reduced in patients operated on between 2003 and 2008 compared with those operated on in the previous triennium. CONCLUSION: These data suggest a significant benefit of an intensive cardiac preoperative evaluation in reducing the incidence of perioperative and postoperative cardiac morbidity and mortality.

Open surgery in endovascular aneurysm repair era: simplified classification in two risk groups owing to factors affecting mortality in 137 ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (RAAAs).

Our objective is to identify in 137 true RAAAs operated consecutively in open surgery: (1) diagnostic therapeutic aspects capable of influencing results, (2) risk classes with different prognosis, (3) any situations where the prognosis is so negative that surgery is not recommended. The relationship of 16 anamnestic, clinical and technical parameters prospectively collected with 30-day mortality was retrospectively evaluated by uni- and multivariate analyses. Thirty-day mortality was 37%. The univariate analysis identified as mortality predictors Hb ≤ 8 g/dl and circulatory shock at hospitalisation, but following the multivariate analysis only circulatory shock was a certainly significant risk-factor. The cumulative effect on mortality of the two parameters identified at univariate analysis translates into a statistically significant difference in mortality between two groups of patients: A (no or just one risk-factor) and B (two risk-factors). To reinstate euvolemia, rather than adequate haemoglobin values, improves the chances of success. A simple prognostic index into two risk classes is feasible, but abstention from surgery is not justified in any type of patient.