Challenges in Diagnosis of Non-A Non-B Acute Aortic Dissection.

BACKGROUND: Non-A non-B (NANB) aortic dissections are uncommon and frequently unrecognized diseases. However, their proper identification is crucial given the unpredictable behavior of the dissected aorta with potential mortality and increased morbidity. We investigate the accuracy of radiological computed tomography angiography (CTA) reports in the diagnosis of acute NANB and the risk related to delayed recognition or misdiagnosis. METHODS: The pretreatment contrast CTA of all consecutive patients admitted with acute aortic dissection (AAD) in a University Hospital in London (UK) between January 2017 and May 2023 were reviewed to retrospectively verify the accuracy of CTA reports in the diagnosis of NANB AAD (B1-2D The risk related to the delayed diagnosis (morbidity, mortality, and hospital readmissions) were evaluated as secondary outcomes. The study was conducted according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. RESULTS: Overall, 588 aortic CTAs were reviewed for a total of n = 393 (66.8%) type A AADs, n = 171 (29%) type B AADs and n = 25 (4.3%) NANB AADs (n = 16, 64% men, mean age 60.56, standard deviation ± 14.6 years). While no case of misdiagnosis was identified in Type A or B AAD groups, in NANBs only about a third of cases (n = 9, 36%) were immediately indicated as "NANB" (n = 2, 8%) or "B with retrograde extension into the arch" (n = 7, 28%), n = 8 cases (32%) were described generically as "arch dissections" (n = 6, 24%) or "type A and B" AAD (n = 2, 8%). The remaining 32% of patients received a diagnosis that did not include mention of the arch, as n = 6 (24%) cases were reported to be "type A″ and n = 2 (8%) to be "type B″ AADs. Despite the heterogeneity of terms used to describe NANB AAD, no case of cardiac tamponade, new onset malperfusion nor neurological complications were reported, and no sudden death nor home-discharge and readmission while waiting for the proper diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The heterogeneity of terms used to describe NANB aortic dissection highlights the need for increased awareness, adoption of in guideline based classification systems, and further education to better understand and correctly address this challenging entity, minimizing misdiagnosis in ambiguous or difficult cases.

Frozen Elephant Trunk procedure for Acute type A Aortic Dissection: analysis of distal aortic remodeling according to the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS)/Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) reporting standard.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate impact of Frozen Elephant Trunk (FET) on long-term distal aortic remodelling in acute AAD according to the latest recommended standards from the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS)/Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). METHODS: Clinical data and imaging of patients undergone FET to treat acute AAD over the last 8 years were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were included if a pre- and post-operative Computed AngioTomographies at least 30-day from surgery was available for comparison. Contrasted postprocessed imaging were analysed with Aquarius iNtuition (TeraRecon Inc., Foster City, CA, USA) to analyse long-term positive aortic remodelling, FL thrombosis and aortic expansion according to the SVS/STS recommendations. Secondary endpoints were the rate of in-hospital and long-term mortality, spinal cord ischaemia and aortic-related reinterventions. RESULTS: Out of 75 patients who underwent FET for type A AAD, n=41(54.6%) were included. Significant positive aortic remodelling was reported in Ishimaru zone 1-4 but not in visceral/infrarenal aorta (p<0.001) and overall rate of FL thrombosis was 95.1% (n=39). Aortic expansion rates were: 4.9% in zones 1-4, 8.3% in zones 5-6 and 15% in zone 7. The rates of in-hospital mortality and long-term mortality were 7.3% (n=3) and 9.7% (n=4) respectively. At a median follow-up of 11 months (range 1-141, reintervention rate was 17.1%. CONCLUSIONS: We report positive aortic remodelling of the distal thoracic aorta in patients who underwent FET for acute AAD according to the SVS/STS reporting standards. The positive effect on the distal aorta is limited to the thoracic segments but not in the visceral aorta.

Editor's Choice -- European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) 2024 Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Abdominal Aorto-Iliac Artery Aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: The European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) has developed clinical practice guidelines for the care of patients with aneurysms of the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries in succession to the 2011 and 2019 versions, with the aim of assisting physicians and patients in selecting the best management strategy. METHODS: The guideline is based on scientific evidence completed with expert opinion on the matter. By summarising and evaluating the best available evidence, recommendations for the evaluation and treatment of patients have been formulated. The recommendations are graded according to a modified European Society of Cardiology grading system, where the strength (class) of each recommendation is graded from I to III and the letters A to C mark the level of evidence. RESULTS: A total of 160 recommendations have been issued on the following topics: Service standards, including surgical volume and training; Epidemiology, diagnosis, and screening; Management of patients with small abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), including surveillance, cardiovascular risk reduction, and indication for repair; Elective AAA repair, including operative risk assessment, open and endovascular repair, and early complications; Ruptured and symptomatic AAA, including peri-operative management, such as permissive hypotension and use of aortic occlusion balloon, open and endovascular repair, and early complications, such as abdominal compartment syndrome and colonic ischaemia; Long term outcome and follow up after AAA repair, including graft infection, endoleaks and follow up routines; Management of complex AAA, including open and endovascular repair; Management of iliac artery aneurysm, including indication for repair and open and endovascular repair; and Miscellaneous aortic problems, including mycotic, inflammatory, and saccular aortic aneurysm. In addition, Shared decision making is being addressed, with supporting information for patients, and Unresolved issues are discussed. CONCLUSION: The ESVS Clinical Practice Guidelines provide the most comprehensive, up to date, and unbiased advice to clinicians and patients on the management of abdominal aorto-iliac artery aneurysms.

Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm in women: many questions remain regarding their poor outcome.

Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) affect approximately 5.9/100,000 persons per year, with a male:female ratio of approximately 1.5-1.7:1. Data exploring sex-related variations in epidemiology and clinical presentation are scarce, as women are normally under-represented in clinical trials. As female hormones and their receptors greatly impact the functions of the vascular cells and aneurysm etiology and extent, the age at surgery and comorbidities also differ between men and women. Additionally, female patients have smaller anatomic structures, including visceral/infrarenal aorta and iliac arteries, than most men. Thus, aneurysms of a certain diameter can represent more advanced disease in women comparatively, than the same-sized aneurysms in males, and be the cause of delayed and often emergent treatment. Adjusting the aortic diameter threshold is recommended for surgery using aortic size index (ASI) [aortic diameter in cm/body surface area (BSA) in m2] or aortic height index (AHI) (aortic diameter in cm/patient height in m) indices in patients who are significantly shorter or taller than average, but no specific sex-related size criteria have been indicated so far for TAAA. Data about TAAA outcomes are conflicting, but female sex has been demonstrated to be an independent risk factor for increased major postoperative complications (i.e., bleeding, acute limb ischemia, renal failure, bowel ischemia, spinal cord ischemia) with longer hospital and intensive unit care stay and in-hospital and 30-day mortality following endovascular treatment and increased long-term mortality following open repair. Despite this evidence, sex does not influence TAAA management strategies and currently the allocation to open or endovascular repair is based on anatomy and clinical setting. In light of these disadvantaged outcomes, further efforts are needed to better understand the sex-related differences in the TAAA diagnosis and management in order to allow prompt and appropriate treatment of female patients.

Outcome of different endovascular modalities to treat common iliac artery aneurysms, single center study.

INTRODUCTION: Iliac aneurysms occur in 10% of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). There are three different endovascular approaches to their treatment in the context of infrarenal Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair (EVAR): occlusion by coiling the internal iliac, incorporation using an iliac branch device, and delaying repair using a bell bottom limb. We sought to determine outcomes associated with these three strategies in our practice. METHODOLOGY: The study was a combined prospective cohort study with a retrospective arm: prospective patient recruitment was done for 1 year from September 2019 and ended by September 2020, and retrospective data was collected from 2017 to 2019. Demographic, procedural, and imaging data was collected. SPSS was used to analyze data as patients were classified by limbs in four groups: iliac branched, bell bottom, coil and cover technique, and standard treated limbs. RESULTS: There were 65 male and 4 female patients included in this study incorporating 137 limbs with a mean age of 78 years (SD ± 8 years). Two patients died after discharge (at 3 and 21 months postoperatively, without hospital admission) and five patients were lost to long-term follow-up. Three patients had operations that deviated from the plan: one was an IBD converted to bell bottom, one was an IBD that was converted to coil and cover, and one was a bell bottom that did not seal. Follow-up revealed late type IB endoleak in three bell bottom limbs and one limb treated with coil and cover. Common iliac occlusion occurred in one IBD, three bell bottom limbs, and two limbs treated with coil/cover technique. There were four additional ischemic events (buttock claudication in three and intestinal ischemia in one): all ischemic events occurred in the coil and cover group (p = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Given the small population size examined in this study, there is no statistical difference between treatment groups; however, there was a trend toward bell bottom technique being associated with higher incidence of type IB endoleak. Coil and cover technique was associated with decreased IB endoleak; however, Buttock claudication and intestinal ischemia occurred more significantly in this group. Using IBD may be the best strategy to improve short- and long-term outcomes in patients with iliac aneurysms.

Systematic Review on Early and Follow-up Mortality Rate in Octogenarians Treated With a Fenestrated and/or Branched Endovascular Aortic Repair.

PURPOSE: Advanced age has been related to conflicting outcomes after fenestrated/branched endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (F/BEVAR). The aim of this meta-analysis is to compare 30-day mortality, technical success, and 1-year and 5-year survival in octogenarians and non-octogenarians who underwent F/BEVAR for complex aortic aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This meta-analysis was pre-registered to PROSPERO (CRD42022348659). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement was followed. A search of the English literature, via Ovid, using MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL databases, until August 30, 2022, was executed. Randomized Control Trials and observational studies (2000-2022), with ≥5 patients, reporting on 30-day mortality and 1-year and 5-year survival rates among octogenarians and non-octogenarians after F/BEVAR were eligible. The Risk Of Bias In Non-Randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool was applied to assess the risk of bias. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality and secondary was 1-year and 5-year survival in octogenarians and non-octogenarians. The outcomes were summarized as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A narrative presentation was selected in case of missing outcomes. RESULTS: The initial research isolated 3263 articles; 6 retrospective studies were finally included. A total of 7410 patients were managed with F/BEVAR; 1499 patients (20.2%) were ≥80 years old (75.5% males, 259/343). The estimated 30-day mortality was 6% among octogenarians vs 2% in younger patients, with a significantly higher 30-day mortality for patients ≥80 years old (OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.61-1.81; p=0.0.11; Ι2=36.01%). Technical success was similar between the groups (OR -0.83; 95% CI -1.74-0.07, p<0.0.001; Ι2=95.8%). Regarding survival, a narrative approach was decided due to missing data. Two studies reported a statistically significant difference in 1-year survival between groups, with higher mortality in octogenarians (82.5%-90% vs 89.5%-93%), while 3 reported a similar 1-year survival rate in both groups (87.1%-95% vs 88%-89.5%). At 5 years, 3 studies reported a statistically significant lower survival for octogenarians (26.9%-42% vs 61%-71%). CONCLUSIONS: Octogenarians treated with F/BEVAR presented higher 30-day mortality while a lower survival rate at 1 and 5 years was reported in the literature. Patient selection is thus mandatory among older patients. Further studies, especially on patient risk stratification, are needed to estimate the F/BEVAR outcomes on elder patients. CLINICAL IMPACT: Age may be a factor of increased early and long-term mortality within patients managed for aortic aneurysms. In this analysis, patients over 80 years old were compared to their younger counterparts when managed with fenestrated or branched endovascular aortic repair (F/BEVAR) . The analysis showed that early mortality was acceptable for octogenrains but significantly higher when compared to patients younger than 80 years. One-year survival rates are controversial. At 5-year follow-up, octogenarians present lower survival but data to provide metanalysis are lacking. Patient selection and risk stratification are mandatory in older candidates for F/BEVAR.

Bend-insensitive fiber optic ultrasonic tracking probe for cardiovascular interventions.

BACKGROUND: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is widely used to guide medical device placement in minimally invasive cardiovascular procedures. However, visualization of the device tip with TEE can be challenging. Ultrasonic tracking, enabled by an integrated fiber optic ultrasound sensor (FOUS) that receives transmissions from the TEE probe, is very well suited to improving device localization in this context. The problem addressed in this study is that tight deflections of devices such as a steerable guide catheter can result in bending of the FOUS beyond its specifications and a corresponding loss of ultrasound sensitivity. PURPOSE: A bend-insensitive FOUS was developed, and its utility with ultrasonic tracking of a steerable tip during TEE-based image guidance was demonstrated. METHODS: Fiberoptic ultrasound sensors were fabricated using both standard and bend insensitive single mode fibers and subjected to static bending at the distal end. The interference transfer function and ultrasound sensitivities were compared for both types of FOUS. The bend-insensitive FOUS was integrated within a steerable guide catheter, which served as an exemplar device; the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of tracking signals from the catheter tip with a straight and a fully deflected distal end were measured in a cardiac ultrasound phantom for over 100 frames. RESULTS: With tight bending at the distal end (bend radius < 10 mm), the standard FOUS experienced a complete loss of US sensitivity due to high attenuation in the fiber, whereas the bend-insensitive FOUS had largely unchanged performance, with a SNR of 47.7 for straight fiber and a SNR of 36.8 at a bend radius of 3.0 mm. When integrated into the steerable guide catheter, the mean SNRs of the ultrasonic tracking signals recorded with the catheter in a cardiac phantom were similar for straight and fully deflected distal ends: 195 and 163. CONCLUSION: The FOUS fabricated from bend-insensitive fiber overcomes the bend restrictions associated with the FOUS fabricated from standard single mode fiber, thereby enabling its use in ultrasonic tracking in a wide range of cardiovascular devices.

Effect of Sarcopenia on Mortality and Spinal Cord Ischaemia After Complex Aortic Aneurysm Repair: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Sarcopenia has been related to higher mortality rates after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. This analysis aimed to assess sarcopenia related mortality and spinal cord ischaemia (SCI) at 30 days, and mortality during the available follow up, in patients with complex aortic aneurysms, managed with open or endovascular interventions. DATA SOURCES: A search of the English literature, via Ovid, using Medline, EMBASE, and CENTRAL up to 15 June 2022 was done. REVIEW METHODS: This meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines and preregistered in PROSPERO (CRD42022338079). Observational studies (2000 - 2022), with five or more patients, reporting on sarcopenia related mortality and SCI at 30 days, and midterm mortality after thoraco-abdominal aneurysm repair (open or endovascular), were eligible. The ROBINS-I tool (Risk Of Bias In Non-Randomised Studies of Interventions) was used for risk of bias, and GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) for the assessment of evidence quality. The primary outcome was 30 day and midterm mortality, and the secondary outcome was SCI at 30 days, in sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic patients. The outcomes were summarised as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Four retrospective studies (1 092 patients; 40.0% sarcopenic) were included. Thirty day mortality was similar, with low certainty between groups (6% [95% CI 1 - 11] in sarcopenic vs. 5% [95% CI 1 - 9] non-sarcopenic patients [OR 0.30, 95% CI -0.21 - 0.81; p = .94, Ι2 = 0%). The estimated midterm mortality was statistically significantly higher (very low certainty) in sarcopenic patients (25% [95% CI 0.19 - 0.31] vs. 13% [95% CI -0.03 - 0.29] in non-sarcopenic patients (1.11 OR 0.95, 95% CI -0.21 - 2.44; p < .001, Ι2 = 88.32%). SCI was significantly higher (very low certainty) in sarcopenic patients (19%, 95% CI 4 - 34) vs. 7% (95% CI 5 - 20) in non-sarcopenic patients (OR 1.80, 95% CI -0.17 - 3.78; Ι2 = 82.4%), despite an equal distribution of aneurysm type between the groups. CONCLUSION: Early mortality does not appear to be affected by sarcopenia in patients treated for thoraco-abdominal aneurysms. However, sarcopenia may be associated with higher peri-operative SCI and midterm mortality rates.

Coeliac Incorporation Strategy Impacts Visceral Branch Vessel Stability in Fenestrated Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

OBJECTIVE: During fenestrated endovascular repair (FEVAR), mesenteric vessels may be incorporated with a scallop or fenestration. The benefits/harms of techniques to incorporate the coeliac axis (CA) have not been assessed for their impact on procedural complexity vs. peri-operative and longer term outcomes; this assessment may instruct a balanced operative strategy for the CA and complex FEVAR, minimising adverse intra- or peri-operative events, and maximising durability. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. Patients undergoing fenestrated or scalloped CA incorporation during FEVAR for a juxtarenal/pararenal/suprarenal aortic aneurysm (January 2015 - December 2019) were reviewed (n = 159) for demographics, intra-procedural/peri-operative outcomes, and re-interventions to five years. Mean follow up for all groups was 3.28 years. The primary outcome of CA instability (occlusion/stenosis/endoleak/re-intervention) was assessed. CA specific re-intervention, re-intervention free survival, and all cause mortality were assessed against incorporation strategy. Secondarily, the harm of CA stenting, comprising intra-operative harms and peri-operative adverse outcomes was interrogated. RESULTS: The CA was incorporated with a stented fenestration (n = 74), an unstented fenestration (n = 59), and a minority with scallop (n = 26). There were no between group differences in operative indication, or anatomical aneurysm/CA features. Fenestrated stented and unstented patients had longer aortic coverage but the same primary technical success. At follow up, three CA endoleaks occurred in stented fenestrated patients, although scallop patients more often had type 3 endoleaks at the SMA and renal fenestrations (23%). Elevated CA instability in fenestrated unstented patients was driven by CA occlusion (16.9%), but not associated with CA re-intervention, worse re-intervention free survival, or all cause mortality. Regression analysis for visceral branch instability revealed predictors of CA non-stenting and diminished aortic coverage. CONCLUSION: In the present authors' experience, the practice of not stenting a CA fenestration does not pose peri-operative or long term clinical harm. At follow up, not stenting the CA is associated with CA instability; however, both fenestration groups are preferable to a shorter (scalloped) endograft as increasing aortic coverage reduces non-CA branch vessel instability.

An observational assessment of aortic deformation during infrarenal and complex endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: Real-time aortic deformation during endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) has not been reported. Successful EVAR relies on predicting intraoperative aortic-endograft deformation from preoperative imaging. Correct prediction is essential, because malalignment of endografts decreases patient survival. We describe intraoperative aortic deformation during infrarenal EVAR and complex fenestrated/branched EVAR (F/BEVAR), relating deformation to preoperative anatomy and follow-up outcomes. METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective cohort of aortic aneurysm patients undergoing operation between January 2019 and February 2021, substratified by repair, infrarenal EVAR (n = 50), F/BEVAR (n = 80), and iliac branch graft with F/B/EVAR (IBG + F/B/EVAR; n = 27), were compared using software-based nonrigid two- and three-dimensional aortic deformational intraoperative assessment (CYDAR). Preoperative computed tomography reconstructions of aortic and iliac tortuosities were assessed against intraoperative deformation, the primary outcome, and related to perioperative and follow-up adverse outcomes. RESULTS: All treatment groups had low preoperative visceral aortic tortuosity; the EVAR group had higher iliac tortuosity (1.43 ± 0.05; P = .018). Intraoperative aortic visceral deformation was consistently cranial and anterior; IBG + F/B/EVAR patients had the largest magnitude deformation (superior mesenteric artery, EVAR 5.1 ± 0.9 mm; F/BEVAR 4.4 ± 0.4 mm; IBG 8.3 ± 1.2 mm; P = .004). Celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery, and bilateral renal artery deformations were correlated (R = 0.923-0.983). Iliac deformation was variable in magnitude and direction. Preoperative tortuosity was not correlated with the magnitude of intraoperative deformation nor was deformation magnitude related to endograft instability during follow-up, including endoleak development, reinterventions, or visceral vessel complications. CONCLUSIONS: The aorta deforms consistently during EVAR at the visceral aortic segment but unpredictably at the iliac bifurcation. Aortoiliac deformation is unrelated to adverse perioperative outcomes, branch instability, or reinterventions during short-term follow-up.

A patient-specific multi-modality abdominal aortic aneurysm imaging phantom.

PURPOSE: Multimodality imaging of the vascular system is a rapidly growing area of innovation and research, which is increasing with awareness of the dangers of ionizing radiation. Phantom models that are applicable across multiple imaging modalities facilitate testing and comparisons in pre-clinical studies of new devices. Additionally, phantom models are of benefit to surgical trainees for gaining experience with new techniques. We propose a temperature-stable, high-fidelity method for creating complex abdominal aortic aneurysm phantoms that are compatible with both radiation-based, and ultrasound-based imaging modalities, using low cost materials. METHODS: Volumetric CT data of an abdominal aortic aneurysm were acquired. Regions of interest were segmented to form a model compatible with 3D printing. The novel phantom fabrication method comprised a hybrid approach of using 3D printing of water-soluble materials to create wall-less, patient-derived vascular structures embedded within tailored tissue-mimicking materials to create realistic surrounding tissues. A non-soluble 3-D printed spine was included to provide a radiological landmark. RESULTS: The phantom was found to provide realistic appearances with intravascular ultrasound, computed tomography and transcutaneous ultrasound. Furthermore, the utility of this phantom as a training model was demonstrated during a simulated endovascular aneurysm repair procedure with image fusion. CONCLUSION: With the hybrid fabrication method demonstrated here, complex multimodality imaging patient-derived vascular phantoms can be successfully fabricated. These have potential roles in the benchtop development of emerging imaging technologies, refinement of novel minimally invasive surgical techniques and as clinical training tools.

Social Deprivation and Peripheral Artery Disease.

The link between peripheral artery disease and socioeconomic status is complex. The objective of this narrative review is to explore that relationship in detail, including how social factors affect the development, management, and outcomes of peripheral artery disease. Although the current literature on this topic is limited, some patterns do emerge. Populations of low socioeconomic status appear to be at increased risk for the development of peripheral artery disease, owing to factors such as increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (eg, cigarette smoking) and decreased access to care. However, variables that are more difficult to quantify, such as chronic stress and health literacy, also likely play a significant role. Among those who are living with peripheral artery disease, socioeconomic status can affect disease management as well. Secondary prevention strategies, such as medication use, smoking cessation, and exercise therapy, are underutilised in socially deprived populations. This underutilisation of evidence-based management leads to adverse outcomes in these groups, including increased rates of amputation and decreased postoperative survival. The recognition of the importance of social factors in prognosis is an important first step toward addressing this health disparity. Moving forward, interventions that help to identify those who are at high risk and improve access to care in populations of low socioeconomic status will be critical to improving outcomes.