Endovascular embolisation of the middle meningeal artery to treat chronic subdural haematomas: effectiveness, safety, and the current controversy. A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH) represents a clinical challenge due to its high recurrence rate. Endovascular middle meningeal artery embolisation (eMMAE) has emerged as an alternative for those patients presenting health problems or multiple recurrences of CSDH. Despite several encouraging reports, the safety profile, indications, and limitations of the technique are not clearly established. DEVELOPMENT: This study aimed to evaluate the current evidence on eMMAE in patients with CSDH. We performed a systematic review of the literature, following the PRISMA guidelines. Our search yielded a total of 6 studies, in which a total of 164 patients with CSDH underwent eMMAE. The recurrence rate across all studies was 6.7%, and complications occurred in up to 6% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: eMMAE is a feasible technique for treating CSDH, with a relatively low recurrence rate and an acceptable rate of complications. Further prospective and randomised studies are needed to formally establish a clear profile of the safety and effectiveness of the technique.

Embolización endovascular de la arteria meníngea media para el tratamiento de hematomas subdurales crónicos: efectividad, seguridad y controversia actual. Revisión sistemática / Endovascular embolisation of the middle meningeal artery to treat chronic subdural haematomas: Effectiveness, safety, and the current controversy. A systematic review

Introducción: Dadas las altas tasas de recurrencia, el hematoma subdural crónico (HSDC) es una condición que supone un reto para el clínico. La embolización endovascular de la arteria meníngea media (EeAMM) ha surgido como una alternativa para aquellos pacientes con problemas de salud o con varias recurrencias de su HSDC. A pesar de la publicación de algunos artículos prometedores referentes a esta técnica, el perfil de seguridad, las indicaciones y las limitaciones no están claramente establecidas.DesarrolloNuestro objetivo es evaluar la evidencia actual sobre la EeAMM en el HSDC. Se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura según las guías PRISMA. Nuestra búsqueda arrojó un total de 6 estudios, en los que 164 pacientes con HSDC se sometieron a EeAMM. La tasa de recurrencia entre todos los estudios fue del 6,7% y se produjeron complicaciones en hasta el 6% de los pacientes.ConclusiónLa EeAMM es una técnica factible en el tratamiento del HSDC con una tasa de recurrencia relativamente baja y tasas aceptables de complicaciones. Se necesitan más estudios prospectivos y aleatorizados para establecer formalmente un perfil de seguridad claro y su efectividad. (AU)

Introduction: Chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH) represents a clinical challenge due to its high recurrence rate. Endovascular middle meningeal artery embolisation (eMMAE) has emerged as an alternative for those patients presenting health problems or multiple recurrences of CSDH. Despite several encouraging reports, the safety profile, indications, and limitations of the technique are not clearly established.DevelopmentThis study aimed to evaluate the current evidence on eMMAE in patients with CSDH. We performed a systematic review of the literature, following the PRISMA guidelines. Our search yielded a total of 6 studies, in which a total of 164 patients with CSDH underwent eMMAE. The recurrence rate across all studies was 6.7%, and complications occurred in up to 6% of patients.ConclusionseMMAE is a feasible technique for treating CSDH, with a relatively low recurrence rate and an acceptable rate of complications. Further prospective and randomised studies are needed to formally establish a clear profile of the safety and effectiveness of the technique. (AU)

Contained rupture of an aortic arch aneurysm in a patient with syphilitic aortitis. A case report / Ruptura contida de um aneurisma do arco aórtico em paciente com aortite sifilítica. Um relato de caso

Abstract Syphilitic aortitis is a rare complication of tertiary syphilis, which can lead to aortic aneurysm formation, aortic valvular insufficiency, and ostial coronary stenosis. Syphilis has re-emerged worldwide over recent decades and vascular surgeons should be aware of its cardiovascular manifestations. Atypical clinical presentation, such as hemoptysis and a computed tomography angiography pattern of a thicker aneurysmal wall with ulcer-like aneurysm projections, should raise suspicion of syphilitic aortic aneurysm. An early diagnosis and appropriate surgical and medical therapies significantly contribute to successful treatment and favorable prognosis. Herein is reported the case of an 82-year-old male patient, positive for syphilis infection, with impending aortic arch aneurysm rupture treated with a hybrid arch repair. After 7 months, the patient was brought to the emergency room in cardiac arrest. Unsuccessful cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers were performed, and an autopsy showed cardiac tamponade due to rupture of the ascending aorta.

Resumo A aortite sifilítica é uma complicação rara da sífilis terciária, que pode levar a formação de aneurisma aórtico, insuficiência valvar aórtica e estenose ostial coronariana. Ao longo das últimas décadas, a sífilis ressurgiu ao redor do mundo, e os cirurgiões vasculares devem estar atentos às suas manifestações cardiovasculares. Apresentações clínicas atípicas, como a hemoptise, e um padrão na angiotomografia computadorizada de parede aneurismática mais grossa com projeções de aneurisma com aparência de úlcera devem levantar a suspeita de aneurisma sifilítico da aorta. O diagnóstico precoce e terapias cirúrgica e clínica adequadas contribuem significativamente para um tratamento bem-sucedido e prognóstico favorável. Relatamos o caso de um paciente do sexo masculino, de 82 anos, que apresentou infecção por sífilis com ruptura iminente de aneurisma do arco aórtico. Ele foi tratado com reparo híbrido do arco. Após 7 meses, o paciente deu entrada na emergência com parada cardiorrespiratória. As manobras de reanimação cardiopulmonar foram realizadas, mas não obtiveram sucesso, e a autópsia mostrou tamponamento cardíaco devido à ruptura da aorta ascendente.

Endovascular embolisation of the middle meningeal artery to treat chronic subdural haematomas: Effectiveness, safety, and the current controversy. A systematic review. / Embolización endovascular de la arteria meníngea media para el tratamiento de hematomas subdurales crónicos: efectividad, seguridad y controversia actual. Revisión sistemática.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH) represents a clinical challenge due to its high recurrence rate. Endovascular middle meningeal artery embolisation (eMMAE) has emerged as an alternative for those patients presenting health problems or multiple recurrences of CSDH. Despite several encouraging reports, the safety profile, indications, and limitations of the technique are not clearly established. DEVELOPMENT: This study aimed to evaluate the current evidence on eMMAE in patients with CSDH. We performed a systematic review of the literature, following the PRISMA guidelines. Our search yielded a total of 6 studies, in which a total of 164 patients with CSDH underwent eMMAE. The recurrence rate across all studies was 6.7%, and complications occurred in up to 6% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: eMMAE is a feasible technique for treating CSDH, with a relatively low recurrence rate and an acceptable rate of complications. Further prospective and randomised studies are needed to formally establish a clear profile of the safety and effectiveness of the technique.

Manejo de un aneurisma infeccioso / Treatment of infected aneurysm

Resumen Introducción: Los aneurismas infecciosos constituyen una patología poco frecuente y se caracterizan por presentar infección de la pared del vaso implicado. El mejor tratamiento no está definitivamente establecido. Objetivo: Describir un caso de aneurisma infeccioso con manejo endovascular. Caso clínico: Presentamos un paciente de sexo masculino de 75 años que ingresa por cuadro compatible con abdomen agudo y que en el posoperatorio se pesquisa un aneurisma infeccioso del tronco celíaco, el cual se trata mediante una endoprótesis y manejo antibiótico. Discusión: El manejo tradicional del aneurisma infeccioso es la cirugía abierta que incluye la extirpación o exclusión del aneurisma y de su tejido perivascular infectado, pero conlleva gran morbimortalidad. Conclusión: El aneurisma infeccioso puede ser manejado de forma mínimamente invasiva con técnica endovascular, con baja morbilidad inmediata, pero con resultados a largo plazo aun no concluyentes.

Introduction: Infectious aneurysms are a rare disease and are characterized by infection of the involved vessel wall. The best treatment is definitely not established. Aim: To describe a case of infectious aneurysm with endovascular management. Case report: We present a 75-year-old male patient admitted to a table compatible with acute abdomen and that an infectious aneurysm of the celiac trunk is investigated in the postoperative period, treated with an endoprosthesis and antibiotic management. Discussion: The traditional management of the infectious aneurysm is open surgery that includes the removal or exclusion of the aneurysm and its infected perivascular tissue, but it leads to great morbidity and mortality. Conclusion: The infectious aneurysm can be managed minimally invasively with endovascular technique, with immediate low morbidity, but with long-term results that are still inconclusive.

New scale for predicting mortality in ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. / Nueva escala de predicción de mortalidad en los aneurismas de aorta abdominal rotos.

INTRODUCTION: To determine the usefulness of mortality risk scores for the endovascular treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. METHODS: Retrospective study of 61 patients undergoing endovascular repair between 2009 and 2014. Preoperative variables and in-hospital mortality were collected. The Hardman, GAS, Vancouver and ERAS scales were calculated. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality was 45.9%. The univariate predictors obtained were age, male sex, hypertension, smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, systolic blood pressure <90mmHg, heart rate and loss of consciousness. After completing the multivariate analysis, significant variables were age (P=.021), systolic blood pressure <90mmHg (P=.004) and heart rate (P=.050). The GAS (76.79±9.88 vs. 90.43±14.76, P=.001), Vancouver (4.41±0.62 vs. 4.83±0.55, P=.007) and ERAS scales (0.06±0.24 vs. 0.86±0.76, P=.001) were statistically different between the groups. The scale resulting from the following formula: 0.083+0.158 (if age>80 years)+0.701 (if systolic blood pressure<80mmHg)+0.598 (if heart rate<70 beats/min); obtained an area under the curve of 0.95. CONCLUSIONS: Age, systolic pressure and heart rate, are predictors of hospital mortality of patients treated with endovascular repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. Applying the scale proposed in this study, in combination with GAS, Vancouver and ERAS scales, allows the detection of patients who would not benefit from endovascular treatment.

Initial experience of percutaneous treatment of mitral regurgitation with MitraClip® therapy in Spain.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Symptomatic mitral regurgitation has an unfavorable prognosis unless treated by surgery. However, the European registry of valvular heart disease reports that 49% of patients with this condition do not undergo surgery. Percutaneous treatment of mitral regurgitation with MitraClip® has been proved a safe, efficient adjunct to medical treatment in patients with this profile. The objective of the present study is to describe initial experience of MitraClip® therapy in Spain. METHODS: Retrospective observational study including all patients treated between November 2011 and July 2013 at the 4 Spanish hospitals recording the highest numbers of implantations. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients (77.4% men) were treated, mainly for restrictive functional mitral regurgitation (85.4%) of grade III (37%) or grade IV (63%), mean (standard deviation) ejection fraction 36% (14%), and New York Heart Association functional class III (37%) or IV (63%). Device implantation was successful in 98% of the patients. At 1 year, 81.2% had mitral regurgitation ≤ 2 and 90.9% were in New York Heart Association functional class ≤ II. One periprocedural death occurred (sepsis at 20 days post-implantation) and another 3 patients died during follow-up (mean, 9.1 months). Two patients needed a second implantation due to partial dehiscence of the first device and 2 others underwent heart transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: In Spain, MitraClip® therapy has principally been aimed at patients with functional mitral regurgitation, significant systolic ventricular dysfunction, and high surgical risk. It is considered a safe alternative treatment, which can reduce mitral regurgitation and improve functional capacity.