Endovascular treatment of descending thoracic aortic disease. A single center experience.

AIM: Aim of the study was to assess if endovascular treatment is a feasible alternative in patients with descending thoracic aortic disease. METHODS: Seventy-three patients were admitted for stent-grafting of descending thoracic aortic disease during the period 1997-2008. The majority of the patients had aneurysm (35) or type B dissection (21), but also traumas, penetrating ulcers and other conditions were treated. Sixteen (22%) were unfit for open surgery. Thirty-four (47%) of the patients were symptomatic and 18 had rupture. The primary technical success rate was 96%. RESULTS: Early mortality (<30 days) for the whole group was 3%. Early endoleak (<30 days) was identified in 11 patients (15%) of whom 4 (5%) had a secondary procedure. In addition, two trauma patients required insertion of a new stent-graft due to stent-graft collapse. Two patients had stroke, one had paraplegia and two paraparesis. Mean follow-up was 3.1 years (range 0-12 years). Late endoleak (>30 days) was identified in 5 patients (7%) treated by 6 secondary procedures. One patient (1.7%) had an explant. Two patients have had extensions of endografts due to increasing diameter of the aorta at the distal end of the stent-graft. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment seems to be a viable alternative in patients with descending thoracic aortic disease.

DynaCT in pre-treatment evaluation of aortic aneurysm before EVAR.

OBJECTIVE: DynaCT(®) is a method for obtaining computed tomography (CT)-like images using a C-arm system. Our aim was to compare the accuracy of these images to multidetector CT (MDCT) images prior to endovascular aortic repair (EVAR). METHODS: A non-consecutive group of 20 elective patients were prospectively exposed to MDCT and one additional DynaCT before EVAR. Six arterial measurements and nine anatomical areas were chosen to: (1) visualise the peri-aortic soft tissue and assess the possibility to diagnose a potential haemorrhage from a ruptured aneurysm and (2) make the pre-treatment measurements before insertion of stent graft. Differences between modalities and readers were statistically compared using a linear mixed model. RESULTS: For maximum aortic diameter, a significant difference of 1.3 mm was found between techniques (p = 0.043). Visibility scores were significantly better for all areas in MDCT data. Pre-treatment evaluation with DynaCT before EVAR was possible for all areas; evaluation of the iliac arteries were suboptimal due to a limited imaging volume size. Significant inter-reader differences were found for all anatomical areas. CONCLUSION: The result indicates that DynaCT gives sufficient information to determine the correct treatment and for selecting the proper stent graft before EVAR. A limited volume size reduces the evaluation of the iliac arteries.

DynaCT during EVAR--a comparison with multidetector CT.

OBJECTIVES: We have explored the usefulness of an on-table, cross-sectional radiological imaging (DynaCT) in endovascular aortic repair (EVAR). DynaCT images were compared to images from a regular multidetector (16 slice) CT. In the comparison, we tested the accordance of firstly 5 relevant clinical measurements and secondly the visibility of 9 anatomical areas in the two different types of images. This imaging was carried out in addition to the usual angiographic imaging. DESIGN, MATERIAL AND METHOD: 20 patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) were prospectively enrolled in the study. We compared Images from DynaCT with two different doses of contrast medium to MDCT-images in two different ways. Firstly relevant arterial diameters and lengths and secondly, 9 anatomical areas were evaluated regarding visibility which was scored on a 4-point scale. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the measured arterial diameters and lengths. MDCT had a significantly higher visibility score than both DynaCT investigations. However, with the highest contrast medium dose we found acceptable diagnostic quality in 78-94% of the cases for 8 of the 9 investigated anatomical areas. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that on-table DynaCT are of sufficient quality to give relevant information of arterial measurements, needed in endovascular repair of infrarenal aortic aneurysms.

Endovascular treatment of type B aortic dissections.

The purpose is to describe our experience with endovascular treatment of type B aortic dissections. Five patients were treated for complications following type B dissections like, false channel aneurysm formation, rupture and arterial obstruction. They were treated in general anaesthesia using a 'homemade' endoprosthesis or a commercially available endoprosthesis (Excluder) deployed during fluoroscopy. The patients have been followed at regular intervals with a median observation time of 18 months (range 12--36). One patient needed a secondary intervention due to dislodgement of the proximal stentgraft with haemorrhage into both the false and the true lumen. Otherwise there have been no early or late mortality or major complications in this series. Even if our experience with endovascular treatment of type B dissections is rather limited, the results so far are promising. Open surgery in many of these cases is complicated with high morbidity and mortality rate and the endovascular technique offers great advantages. A longer follow-up period is necessary to define the place of endovascular treatment.

The inflammatory response following treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms: a comparison between open surgery and endovascular repair.

OBJECTIVES: to compare the inflammatory response following endovascular and conventional AAA repair. DESIGN: prospective study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: ten patients were selected for open surgery (OPEN) and ten for endovascular (ENDO) AAA repair. Leukocytes, platelets, myeloperoxidase, lactoferrin, beta-thromboglobulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and complement activation products were measured before, during and after surgery. RESULTS: in the OPEN group the median hospital stay was longer (6 vs. 12 days, p=0.001) and more patients required transfusion (p=0.02). IL-6 and CRP increased postoperatively, most in OPEN (p<0.01). Platelet counts decreased after the first angiography in ENDO (p<0.01) and before aortic cross-clamping in OPEN (p<0.05). The decrease was larger in OPEN (p=0.02). Leukocyte counts decreased after the first angiography in ENDO, and thereafter increased (p=0.001). An equivalent increase was observed in OPEN after declamping (p=0.001). Leukocyte and platelet degranulation products increased after the first angiography in ENDO and after declamping in OPEN. Changes in complement activation products were small. TNF-alpha did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: endovascular AAA repair caused significant leukocyte and platelet activation. Based on the timing of activation this could be caused by radiographic contrast media.

Endovascular Treatment of Aortic Disease.

A review is given of endovascular treatment for AAA, thoracic aortic aneurysms, dissections as well as complications following previous aortic surgery. In several of these conditions endovascular treatment has advantages like a reduced operative trauma, shorter stay in hospital, and the possibility of treating patients who would have been unfit for open surgery. On the other hand, problems like endoleak, deformation of the endoprosthesis, retrograde filling of the aneurysmal sack, and graft limb occlusion need to be solved before the place of endovascular treatment can be defined. It is possible that the steadily improving quality of the implants as well as the introducer systems will widen the indications for endovascular surgery, but randomised clinical trials are warranted and a longer follow-up period is necessary to draw final conclusions.

Endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms in Norway: the first 100 patients.

OBJECTIVES: to present the first 100 consecutive endograft implantations for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) in Norway. DESIGN: retrospective study of 100 consecutive graft implantations, performed at five University Hospitals during 1995 to 1997. MATERIAL: one hundred patients with a median age of 70 years were included. In all patients the Vanguard modular system (Boston Scientific Corp.) was used. Ninety-four of the 100 patients were treated under regional anaesthesia. A completion angiography was done to evaluate the position of the graft and whether endoleaks were present. RESULTS: two patients died within 30 days, one due to cardiac insufficiency and another due to haemorrhage during the procedure. There were four early conversions to open repair. At discharge eight patients had an endoleak, while retrograde flow into the aneurysmal sac was observed in four patients. During the follow-up period one conversion to open repair became necessary due to graft migration. Four late leaks were all repaired successfully using endovascular techniques. Five cases of retrograde filling were detected and embolisation with coils was performed in two cases, while three were observed. Seven graft-limb occlusions occurred during the follow-up period and four of these required treatment. CONCLUSIONS: endovascular AAA repair should be regarded as an experimental treatment, although the short term results are promising. Close follow-up of patients with CT scans or arteriography is necessary.

[Endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysm]. / Endovaskulaer behandling av torakale aortaaneurismer.

Two patients with aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta were treated by endovascular technique. One of the patients was also treated for an infrarenal aortic aneurysm by open surgery during the same procedure. The other patient had chest pain, probably caused by an impending rupture. The procedures were performed using fluoroscopy by a C-arm. The thoracic aneurysms were replaced by an implant made of polyester where Z-stents had been applied on the inside. The prosthesis was mounted on a pusher and advanced through an introducer. When a proper position was obtained, the introducer was withdrawn, and the prosthesis was deployed immediately below the left subclavian artery. Endovascular treatment seems to represent a less traumatic procedure than open surgery. Both operations were uncomplicated and both patients were followed up for more than six months. No complications were observed. A longer follow-up period is necessary to evaluate this treatment fully.

Ultrasound imaging during endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair using the Stentor bifurcated endograft.

PURPOSE: To evaluate different ultrasound modalities during implantation and follow-up of endovascular grafts for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) exclusion. METHODS: Between February 1995 and May 1996, 18 patients (14 men; aged 49 to 80 years, mean 67) were treated with endovascular intervention for infrarenal AAA. Seventeen patients received Mialhe Stentor bifurcated grafts, while one patient was treated with a straight graft for pseudoaneurysm. During and after the implantation, 3.25- and 5-MHz annular array ultrasound probes were used for transabdominal visualization of the endograft. Intravascular ultrasound was applied in combination with angiography for postoperative control. RESULTS: Intraprocedurally, transabdominal two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound successfully monitored guidewire passage from the groin into the main part of the bifurcated endograft for implantation of the second limb. All implantation procedures were technically successful, but four endoleaks were identified intraprocedurally by 2D ultrasound and angiography. One healed spontaneously, two were treated with endovascular techniques at 1 and 4 months, and the last leak was scheduled for repair when the patient died of probable myocardial infarction at 2 months. During follow-up, 2D ultrasound successfully visualized all the endografts; no endoleaks were found in up to 18 months of surveillance. CONCLUSIONS: Transabdominal ultrasound imaging could be valuable in bifurcated endograft deployment both for guiding guidewire insertion and for controlling wire position before the second graft limb is connected to the main graft. Provided that satisfactory visualization of the entire endograft can be obtained, ultrasound examination may possibly replace arteriography and computed tomographic scanning as a follow-up investigation.

Regional anesthesia for endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility of regional anesthesia for endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). METHODS: Since February 1995, 21 patients (17 men and 4 women; median age 67 years, range 49 to 80) have been treated with endovascular technique for true infrarenal AAA using Mialhe Stentor bifurcated grafts. A single dose of spinal anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia was used in all procedures. Electrocardiography and arterial blood pressure were monitored. RESULTS: No cases of emboli, hematoma, or graft migration were seen, and there were no reoperations or conversions to operation. Arterial blood pressure was stable at a satisfactory level from induction of anesthesia throughout the procedure, and there was no period of clinically significant hypotension during any implantation. One patient died on the second postoperative day from cardiac and renal insufficiency. Three endoleaks were observed during the procedure; one healed spontaneously within 5 weeks, and the other two were repaired by endovascular techniques after 1 and 4 months, respectively. During follow-up, one patient died at 6 months from pancreatic carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The application of regional anesthesia is feasible for endovascular treatment of AAA. The arterial blood pressure remained stable throughout the procedure, and all patients, with two exceptions, were mobilized on the first day and placed on a regular diet. Based on these early results, it appears that regional anesthesia is feasible, effective, and safe for endovascular AAA repair.

[Endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms]. / Endovaskulaer behandling av abdominale aortaaneurismer.

Eight patients, six men and two women (mean age 67.3 years) were treated for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm by endovascular technique. A bifurcated graft (Mialhe Stentor, Min Tec, France) was used in all cases. The introducing system, with an 18 French diameter, is inserted through an arteriotomy in the common femoral artery. The proximal end of the main part of the graft is placed just distal to the renal arteries, and includes one graft limb, which is placed in the iliac artery on the ipsilateral side. The contralateral graft limb is introduced into a short limb of the main graft through a 10 French introducer, using Seldinger-technique, from the contralateral common femoral artery. All the implantations were successful from both a technical and a clinical point of view. All patients except one were mobilized on the first day after operation and received a normal diet. A thorough preoperative evaluation of the patient with regard to selection of the right size of the implant is necessary, and the implantation must be performed with great attention to technical details.

Catheter malfunction and thrombus formation on double-lumen hemodialysis catheters: an intravascular ultrasonographic study.

Intravascular ultrasound imaging (IVUS) is a new method that permits in vivo visualization of central venous catheters with hitherto unknown image resolution. It provides information not only about thrombus formation, but also about catheter movement, catheter malposition, and vessel wall injuries. In the present investigation the method was applied to evaluate the frequency of thrombus formation on double-lumen hemodialysis catheters and its significance for catheter malfunction. In 14 patients who had a double-lumen hemodialysis catheter for temporary or long-term vascular access, IVUS of the catheter and the mediastinal vein stems was performed. Mean indwelling duration at the time of the ultrasound investigation was 101 days (range. 3 to 730 days; median, 58 days). Four patients had catheter-related thrombotic complications: IVUS failed to detect an intracatheter thrombus in one case; a catheter thrombus and superior vena cava stenosis were found in a catheter with normal function in one case; in one case with catheter malfunction, a combined catheter-mural thrombus was found; and in the remaining case, a catheter thrombus and a mural superior vena cava thrombus were found in a patient with normal catheter function and pulmonary emboli. Thus, two of 12 patients with well-functioning catheters (16%) had thrombotic complications demonstrated by IVUS, and one of two patients with catheter malfunction had thrombus identified by IVUS. It is concluded that thrombus formation is less likely in patients without signs of catheter malfunction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angiographic and intravascular ultrasonographic findings after endovascular stent implantation.

The study was an attempt to evaluate the benefit of intravascular ultrasound imaging (IVUS) as a supplement to follow-up angiography after endovascular stent implantation. A consecutive series of 15 patients underwent stent implantation in the peripheral or coronary arteries. Ten Palmaz stents, 3 Palmaz-Schatz stents and 2 Wallstents were used. After a period from 1 to 6 months (mean 3.2 months) follow-up angiography was performed. In 12 cases the angiography was combined with IVUS of the stent and the adjacent vessel segments. In one case IVUS failed due to the tortuous course of the vessel, in another case the stent was occluded, and in one case IVUS was considered too hazardous. In stents of diameter > or = 5 mm, ultrasound (US) did not reveal more information concerning vessel and stent diameter, stent stenosis and intraluminal surface contact than angiography alone. Smaller stents were insufficiently visualized by conventional radiologic methods. In small stents only IVUS permitted an exact stent identification and differentiation between stent stenosis and stenosis of the native vessel. At US imaging artifacts, caused by the highly reflectant metallic stent struts, interfered with the native vessel wall and partly obscured its structural details.

[Medial femoral neck fractures treated with hip compression screw. A product control study]. / Mediale collumfrakturer behandlet med hoftekompresjonsskruen. En produktkontroll.

311 medial femoral neck fractures (213 of them displaced) treated with a hip compression screw were studied retrospectively. 90 patients were treated with a primary hemiprosthesis during the same period. Fixation was lost in the case of seven fractures within three months after the operation. Two patients developed pseudarthrosis and 53 late segmental collapse. 54 patients have been reoperated, and given an endoprosthesis. The radiographs of 176 patients (114 displaced fractures) who were accessible for follow-up until failure, or for at least three years, were analysed. The rates of late segmental collapse were particularly high for fractures with a postoperative anterior angulation exceeding 15 degrees. Displacement and time until operation were independently related to late segmental collapse.

Sarcoma following irradiation for breast cancer. Report of three unusual cases including one malignant mesenchymoma of bone.

Three cases of sarcoma developing after irradiation for breast cancer are reported. A malignant mesenchymoma in the sternum--a combination of osteogenic sarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma--is the first documented case of its kind occurring after radiation therapy. Of the other two tumors one was an extraskeletal osteogenic sarcoma in the soft tissues of the thoracic wall and one a rhabdomyosarcoma in the axilla.