Outlook of Non Operated Type B Aortic Dissection with Special Reference to the Incidence of Degenerative Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA). One Center Study

Objectives: to determine the value of pharmacological treatment of type B aortic dissection (B AD) in face of new forms of treatment.

Design: this is a retrospective study of the period from 1990 to 2000. Files of 81 patients have been reviewed and completed by questionnaires.

Results: Two B AD died after admission without any treatment, 10 were operated on with 7 discharged alive (group I); 69 received hypotensive agents and ß-blockers, 65 were discharged alive (group II). Late mortality of the group I is 3/7, not related with B AD. Late mortality after mean follow-up of 56.8 months is 27/65 with 4/27 related to B AD (4 ruptures, 2 operated on). Non fatal secondary surgery amounts 5 in 4 patients. Total B AD aortic events comprise 8/65 patients. Type A AD were operated on successfully (8: 4 before B AD, and 4 after B AD). Degenerative abdominal aortic aneurysms were present, operated (9) or not (3), in the history of patients and 3 more appear subsequently. At 10 years, actuarial survival is 40% ±18.

Conclusion: in non-complicated cases of B AD, medical treatment is a reasonable choice, provided that a strict follow-up of the thoracic abdominal aorta is performed.     

Prevalence of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms in Patients with Degenerative Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Results from the Prospective ACTA Study

1. Download : Download high-res image (137KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

Simultaneous Surgical Treatment of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Bilateral Aneurysms of the Internal Iliac Artery

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to present our experience in the management of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AaA) and aneurysms in both the internal iliac arteries (IIA) at the same time. Methods: Between 2000 and 2005, a series of 13 patients with AAA and also aneurysms in both the IIA, were treated in our clinic. They were all men with a mean age of 74 years. The size of the IIA aneurysms (IIAA) ranged from 2.0 to 8.0 cm (mean, 3.4 cm). All patients underwent an aneurysmatectomy of the AAA and placement of a prosthetic bifurcated aorto-biiliac or-bifemoral bypass, by a transperitoneal approach. The management of one of the two IIAA was the aneurysmatectomy and the direct revascularization of the healthy peripheral portion of the remaining IIA with the ipsilateral leg of the aorto-biiliac bypass. The other IIAA was treated with proximal ligation of its neck and aneurys-morraphy.

Results: No patient died during the first 30 postoperative days. Morbidity was about 7.7% (one patient suffered from ‘trash foot’, which was treated successfully with conservative measures). Finally, the mean stay in hospital was 7 days and no patient clinically presented symptoms of pelvic or colonic ischaemia.

Conclusions: Simultaneous treatment of AAA and bilateral IIA aneurysms is a technically difficult, but safe procedure, if it is performed meticulously. Revascularization of at least one internal iliac artery is strongly recommended in order to avoid dangerous complications, such as pelvic or colonic ischaemia.     

Appraisal Era for Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Aims: To determine the impact of preoperative use of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in therapeutic surgical approach in women with breast cancer.

Materials and Methods: Preoperative contrast-enhanced MRI of the breast was performed in 105 patients with suspected breast carcinomas. MRI findings were correlated with mammography (MMG) and ultrasonography (US). Results: Histopathologic analysis revealed 144 breast carcinomas. The results of the MRI lead to a change in 17.1% of the planned surgical procedure. MRI imaging alone revealed 16 multifocal or multicentric tumors and four contralateral carcinomas.

Conclusion: Breast MRI could be recommended as a pre-surgical diagnostic procedure in patients allocated to breast conservation surgery. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to determine if preoperative breast MRI leads to a decrease in tumor recurrence and in overall survival.     

胸,腹主动脉瘤腔内隔绝术的临床应用

目的:总结腔内隔绝术治疗胸、腹主动脉瘤的初步临床经验,探讨其指征、方法、操作要点及临床应用前景.方法:本组15例患者在DSA监视下经股总动脉小切口将人造血管内支撑复合体(移植物)导人腹主动脉瘤,从腔内将瘤体与血流隔绝.15例中置入直管型移植物4例,分叉型移植物11例.结果:13例患者于手术当日进食,次日下床活动;1例出现急性酸中毒;1例因髂动脉扭曲导致移植物将髂动脉阻塞,而加作股.股交叉转流术,恢复较慢.4例出现内漏,其中1例3月后自行愈合;1例术后第4天动脉瘤破裂,经传统开腹手术治愈;另2例随访中.2周及3月后分别复查彩超、螺旋CT.结果显示全部病例移植物中血流通畅,无移位.结论:腔内隔绝术简捷、方便,避免了常规开腹手术所见腹部及重要脏器并发症,创伤小、恢复快,适用于所有尤其是高龄高危肾下腹主动脉瘤及胸降主动脉瘤患者.全程内支架-人造血管复合体应用于EVGE效果良好.熟练的导管操作技巧及精确的术前评估有利于提高操作成功率及减少术后并发症.并发内漏的问题有待于继续观察探讨.     

肾动脉平面下腹主动脉瘤的外科治疗

目的：探讨肾动脉平面下腹主动脉瘤的外科治疗经验。方法：传统开放手术治疗27例中择期手术19例,动脉瘤破裂行急症手术8例;腔内手术治疗4例。结果：围手术期并发心力衰竭3例,呼吸衰竭8例,急性心肌梗死1例,急性肾功能衰竭4例,术后严重出血1例,死亡5例,余均治愈。结论：外科手术是治疗肾动脉平面下腹主动脉瘤的有效手段,而腔内治疗以其安全、微创、对人体内环境干扰小等优点将成为未来发展的趋势。     

Simultaneous Open and Endoluminal Repair of Ruptured Abdominal and Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms: Report of a Case

A 66-year-old woman was transferred to our hospital for emergency treatment of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and impending rupture of a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) caused by a Stanford type-B dissection. She had severe coronary artery disease and a highly calcified aorta, and had been taking long-term steroids for rheumatoid arthritis. Endovascular repair of the TAA failed because the femoral artery was too small, so we performed simultaneous repair of the TAA and the AAA. A temporary axillofemoral bypass was constructed and the AAA was replaced with a bifurcated prosthetic graft. A thoracic stent graft was delivered successfully through a chimney graft of the abdominal graft. About 4 months later, the TAA extended proximally, causing hemoptysis, which was stopped by placing a new stent graft proximal to the previous one. This case report shows that a combination of open and endovascular repair is useful for treating a TAA with an AAA, especially in a small or frail patient.     

Serum Elastin Peptides in the Preoperative Evaluation of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

OBJECTIVE: Serum elastin peptides (SEP) have been reported to be associated with the expansion of small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Consequently, SEP-measurements may predict future rupture, and allow further selection for surgery in cases referred for surgery due to size. MATERIAL AND METHODS: SEP was measured in 90 men and 10 women with AAA, who were considered for surgery as part of the Chichester aneurysm screening programme. Sixty-one patients were electively operated and four because of symptoms. The rest were followed up further. Twelve of these experienced ruptured AAA later. RESULTS: No correlation between last measured AAA-diameter, annual expansion rate and SEP was noticed. However, SEP levels were significantly higher in cases rupturing later, persisting after adjustment for age, sex, and last measured AAA-size. ROC curve analysis concerning SEP as a predictor of rupture later showed an optimal sensitivity and specificity of 67% and 60%, respectively, similar with last measured AAA-size. By combining AAA-size and SEP, the optimal sensitivity and specificity reached 83% and 66%, respectively. CONCLUSION: One sampling of SEP combined with AAA-size in patients referred for AAA surgery may be a clinical useful indicator of high rupture risk.     

Prognostic Factors in the Surgical Treatment of Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Although the operative mortality following elective aneurysmectomy has achieved satisfactory results, that following surgery for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) remains high. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting the mortality rate associated with the treatment of ruptured AAAs. Between 1978 and 1999, 33 patients underwent emergency surgery for a ruptured AAA. The operative mortality was 33.3% and in-hospital mortality was 6.0%. Hypotension, defined as a systolic blood pressure <80 mmHg, was seen in 19 patients at the time of presentation, 9 of whom underwent surgery in this state. In the remaining 10 patients, it was possible to increase the systolic blood pressure to ≥80 mmHg preoperatively. Of the 11 patients who died within 30 days of surgery, 9 had hypotension at the time of induction of anesthesia and only 2 had a systolic blood pressure of ≥80 mmHg. A satisfactory outcome was achieved in patients whose condition met the following criteria: a systolic blood pressure ≥80 mmHg at the time of operation, minimal aortic cross-clamping time, less blood loss and blood transfusions, and a shorter operation time to repair the ruptured AAA. Concomitant heart disease was also found to be an important prognostic factor. Received: June 16, 1999 / Accepted: March 24, 2000     

The Amsterdam Acute Aneurysm Trial: Suitability and Application Rate for Endovascular Repair of Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

PURPOSE: To evaluate anatomical suitability and application rate for endovascular repair of patients with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA). METHODS: The Amsterdam Acute Aneurysm trial is a multicenter randomised trial comparing open with endovascular treatment in patients with a RAAA (International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) 66212637). Between April 2004 and January 2006, all consecutive patients with clinical suspicion of a RAAA at presentation were assessed prospectively. Anatomical suitability for endovascular repair was based on use of an aorto-uni-iliac endovascular graft and assessed in patients with a proven aortic rupture on CT angiography (CTA). RESULTS: In 128/256 patients, presenting with clinical suspicion of a ruptured aneurysm, RAAA was diagnosed. 105 patients were brought to a trial center and CTA confirmed RAAA in 83 patients. In 38 of 83 patients (45.8%) with positive CTA, the anatomy of the aorta and iliac arteries was considered suitable for endovascular repair. Exclusion from endovascular repair was due to unsuitable infrarenal neck or iliac anatomy (37 and 8 patients respectively). Overall, endovascular treatment was applicable in 38/128 patients (29.7%) with a RAAA in the Amsterdam region and in 38 out of 105 patients (35.5%) admitted to the trial centers. CONCLUSION: In this prospective cohort of all patients with a RAAA in the Amsterdam Acute Aneurysm Trial region, the suitability for endovascular repair in patients with a RAAA confirmed on CTA is 45.8%, but the application rate was lower.     

A Shorter Skin Incision Technique for the Repair of Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Purpose We evaluated the effectiveness of a shorter skin incision technique for the treatment of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether or not the difference in the length of the skin incision contributed to an early recovery after the operation. Methods Between October 2001 and December 2004, we performed 105 elective repairs for AAA. The patients were divided into three groups according to the length of the skin incision as follows: group A, less than 15 cm, group B, from 15 cm to less than 20 cm, and group C, 20 cm or more. Results There was no significant difference in the intraoperative course among the three groups. The duration of paralytic ileus was shorter in group A than in group C (2.0 ± 0.9 days versus 3.2 ± 2.3 days; P = 0.0428). Although the periods before removal of nasogastric suction and before starting a solid diet were slightly shorter in group A than in groups B and C, there were no statistically significant differences. Conclusion We define minimally invasive vascular surgery as surgery performed with a small abdominal skin incision that does not expose the intestine to air while providing a good operative field that does not place any undue stress on the surgeon.     

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.     

Risk Assessment in Patients with Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Objectives: Surgery of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms is associated with a high mortality rate, mostly related to multi-organ-failure after a prolonged intensive care therapy. In a retrospective study attempts are made to identify individual organ-dysfunction risk profiles influencing the outcome.

Methods: Fifty seven patients (53 men, 4 women, mean age 71.8 ±8.8 years) with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms underwent graft replacement in a three year period. Fourty eight preoperative, 13 intraoperative and 34 postoperative variables were analyzed. A multi-organ dysfunction (MOD) score was used.

Results: The perioperative mortality rate was 31%. Significance of pre-existing risk factors at admission was identified only for cardiovascular diseases. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that hemoglobin < 90g/l, systolic blood pressure < 80 mmHg and ECG signs of ischemia at admission are highly significant risk factors. Patients, who died later than 48 hours postoperatively, deceased mainly from MOD (93%) and required intensive care significantly longer than surviving patients (p < 0.0005). All patients with a MOD score > 4 died (n = 7). These patients required 26% of all ICU-days and 72% of the ICU-days of the nonsurvivors.

Conclusion: Patients with ruptured aortic aneurysms should not be excluded from treatment. However, a physiological scoring system after 48 h appears justifiable in order to decide on the appropriateness of continued ICU support.     

Emergency Endografting for Spontaneous Thoracic Aortic Rupture

Spontaneous rupture of the thoracic aorta is rare. We present a 76-year-old man who developed spontaneous rupture of the aortic arch associated with massive periaortic hematoma and hypovolemic shock. Because the site of rupture could not be identified, emergency hybrid endovascular aortic repair to shield a long segment of the aorta was performed according to the extent and density of periaortic hematoma on axial CT scans. His blood pressure improved just after deployment of the endograft. Rapid diagnosis by CT and prompt control of aortic hemorrhage by endografting salvaged this patient. Three-dimensional (3D) volume-rendered CT images are useful for identifying the site of aortic rupture, but may not be available in an emergency.     

Emergency Endovascular Repair for Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Feasibility and Comparison of Early Results with Conventional Open Repair

PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility of endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) on patients presenting with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in a teaching hospital, and to compare there post-operative outcomes with contemporaneous patients treated with open repair (OR). METHODS: A series of consecutive of patients presenting ruptured AAA with retro/intraperitoneal haematoma were included in the study. EVAR was attempted whenever possible. In all other cases (severe haemodynamic instability, adverse anatomy, device unavailability), ruptured AAA were treated by OR. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were enrolled between January 2001 and July 2004. Seventeen (46%) patients were treated using adapted designed aortoiliac endografts (eight bifurcated, eight aorto-uniiliac, one iliac extension). Twenty (54%) patients unfit for EVAR because of severe haemodynamic instability (n=8), adverse anatomical configuration (n=7), or unavailability of an appropriate endograft (n=5) were treated by OR. Twenty-seven (73%) had a retrospective suitable anatomy for EVAR. Three early conversions from EVAR to OR were performed. Blood loss, operating time, and intensive care stay were significantly decreased in EVAR patients (respectively: 156 min+/-60, 1520 ml+/-1175, 3 days for EVAR; vs. 222 min+/-82, 3075 ml+/-1750, 13 days for OS; P<.01). The 30-day mortality rate was 23.5% for EVAR vs. 50% for OR (P=0.09). CONCLUSION: EVAR of ruptured AAA is feasible for selected patients based on haemodynamic and morphologic criteria, and should be associated with improved immediate outcomes as compared with OR. These results should be tempered by the fact that these patients have heavy comorbidities which explains the absence of difference in mid-term mortality rates between the two groups, but should also encourage surgical institutions that are managing such life-threatening emergencies to introduce EVAR as part of their therapeutic arsenal for ruptured AAA.