[Antegrade selective cerebral perfusion for extended total arch replacement using separated graft technique; reassessment from the type of aneurysms and dissections].

One hundred eighty two patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms or dissections who required total arch replacement (TAR) were operated on with separated graft technique and selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) between 1991 and 2000. These patients were divided into 4 groups according to the pathology as follows: group 1; acute type A dissection, group 2; chronic type A dissection, group 3; distal arch aneurysm and group 4; proximal arch aneurysm. For SCP, both the innominate artery and the left common carotid artery were cannulated when the patient was cooled to a rectal temperature of 22 degrees C. Hospital mortalities were 27% in group 1, 14% in group 2, 19% in group 3, and 8% in group 4. Independent predictors of hospital mortality were shock, visceral, and leg ischemia in group 1, and circulatory arrest time of the lower half body to be more than 1 hour and cardiopulmonary bypass time to be more than 5 hours in group 3. Permanent neurological complication occurred in 3% in group 1 and 8% in group 3. Hospital mortality was affected by the type of aneurysms and dissections. It is necessary to give careful consideration to the indication of TAR with SCP, especially in acute type A dissection and distal arch aneurysm.

[Minimal incision abdominal aortic aneurysm repair]. / Die Minilaparotomie zur Versorgung des abdominellen Bauchaortenaneurysma.

OBJECTIVE: The use of a limited incision for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair was evaluated, and its outcome was analyzed in comparison to standard open repair. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between February 2000 and August 2001, 20 patients with an AAA underwent minimal incision repair (MINI) for tube graft implantation. The minimal skin incision was made after localization of aneurysm neck and aortic bifurcation by CT and DSA. For repair of the upper part of the AAA the abdominal incision was retracted toward the head of the patient who was in a jackknife decubitus position. Conversely, when the peripheral portion of the AAA was treated, the abdominal incision was retracted caudally with the patient in a flat or slightly bent decubitus position. The operation itself was performed using the standard conventional technique. The length of the abdominal incision was 10 cm. Clinical characteristics and in-hospital outcome of this procedure were compared to a group of patients who underwent repair of AAA by means of a standard open technique (OPEN). RESULTS: Patients age in the MINI and OPEN groups were similar (69 +/- 11 vs. 69 +/- 9 years). However, there were significant differences between the MINI and OPEN groups in the time for starting oral intake of food (2,4 +/- 1,2 vs. 7,4 +/- 5,5 postoperative days, p = 0,003), time for starting to walk outside the room (2,2 +/- 0,7 vs. 4,6 +/- 2,2 postoperative days, p = 0,01) and operation times (197 +/- 37 vs. 294 +/- 83 min, p = 0,0004). CONCLUSION: Minimal incision repair is technically feasible and combines the benefits of a minimal incision with those of conventional open repair, reducing patient recovery time.

Successful management of an aortoesophageal fistula resulting from an aneurysm of the thoracic aorta with a covered stent.

Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is a relatively rare but life-threatening cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. There have been only a few survivors previously reported. There are controversies particularly regarding the treatment of the esophagus and postoperative infections. We report a case of an elderly man with an aortoesophageal fistula resulting from a thoracic aortic aneurysm. We managed the replacement of the aorta using a prosthetic graft, and an omentopexy for the fistula of the esophagus. For the treatment of leakage of the esophageal fistula, we successfully used a covered stent. This is the first report of the management of AEF using a covered stent.