Abdominal aortic aneurysm in liver transplant recipients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To analyze the incidence, clinical features, expansion rate of, and clinical approach to abdominal aortic aneurysm in patients who had undergone orthotopic liver transplantation. To our knowledge, this is the first report on this issue in liver transplant recipients. PATIENTS/METHODS: Among 172 patients undergoing 185 liver transplantations at our institution over the last 10-year period, we identified three patients (1.7%) with infrarenal aortic aneurysm. They had all undergone routine pre-liver transplant ultrasonography screening for aortic aneurysm. RESULTS: All three patients were symptom free at the time of the discovery of a mild infrarenal abdominal enlargement before ( n=2) and after liver transplantation ( n=1), and were closely monitored by ultrasonography in the follow-up period (3.1-4.3 years). The mean aneurysm expansion rate was 0.73 cm/year. All patients underwent aneurysm repair after their aneurysm expanded significantly under observation, with a mean diameter of 5.1 cm at the time of repair. All three patients are alive and well (median follow-up: 19 months). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that careful ultrasonographic surveillance is warranted in any liver transplant recipient, because of the apparent propensity for a more rapid aneurysm expansion and potentially aggressive course than in the untransplanted population. Early repair of the infrarenal aneurysm is recommended in transplant recipients, given that excellent perioperative and late outcomes can be achieved.     

Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in kidney transplant recipients

Renal transplant recipients currently survive many years with a consequent increase in the risk of presentation with vascular diseases. So aortic reconstruction in transplant patients has been increasingly reported the most common procedures involving abdominal aorta aneurysms (AAAs). The most important problem during the operation is ischemic injury to the transplanted kidney during aortic clamping. Protection for the grafted kidney from ischemic or reperfusion injury may be achieved by permanent or temporary axillo-femoral, femoro-femoral, aorto-iliac bypass, cold perfusion, local cold preservation, or autotransplantation. Some authors have reported protection of the transplanted kidney function without any other procedures. We had experience with four AAA cases in kidney transplant patients, including two cases of direct reconstruction of the AAA without any other surgical protection, one autotransplantation, and one AAA excision with using temporary aortofemoral bypass with good results. Herein, we report two cases of successful AAA excision without a surgical procedure for graft protection.     

Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair in kidney transplant recipients

Aortic aneurysm, chronic renal failure, and kidney transplantation are common clinical entities that rarely coexist. The increased number of kidney transplant patients, their greater survival, and the sharing of risk factors for aortic aneurysms, suggest the emergence of a larger number of diagnoses of aortic aneurysms among kidney transplant patients. These patients cases present the particularities of immunosuppression that can alter the healing of the wounds or the development of infections. There is a need to protect the kidney during aortic clamping and several co-morbidities that increase the surgical morbidity and mortality. The advent in 1991 of the endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR), with less physiologic aggression, brought a new therapeutic perspective that minimizes these problems. Our experience with renal transplantation began in 1987 and with EVAR in 2001. During this period we had the opportunity to treat aortic aneurysms in three kidney transplanted patients using EVAR.     

Abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy in renal transplant patients.

Five patients who had undergone renal transplantation 3 months to 23 years ago were operated on successfully for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. In the first case, dating from 1973, the kidney was protected by general hypothermia. In the remaining patients, no measure was used to protect the kidney. Only one patient showed a moderate increase of blood creatinine in the postoperative period; renal function returned to normal in 15 days. All five patients have normal renal function 6 months to 11 years after aortic repair. Results obtained in this series show that protection of the transplant during aortic surgery is not necessary, provided adequate surgical technique is used. Such a technique is described in detail. Its use simplifies surgical treatment of such lesions and avoids the complex procedures employed in the seven previously published cases.     

Abdominal aortic reconstruction without renal bypass in renal transplant patients

Abdominal aortic reconstruction was successfully performed in three kidney transplant patients without the use of any specific measures to protect the kidney transplant during aortic cross-clamping. The cases are discussed in relation to previously published case reports describing various surgical techniques to protect kidney transplants during abdominal aortic reconstruction.     

Dissecting aortic aneurysm in a renal transplant recipient

There have been few reports of surgical repair of acute aortic dissection in renal transplant recipients. The incidence, operative risk, or perioperative management of aortic dissection with functioning allografts remains unknown. Herein we report our experience in successful treatment of type I dissecting aortic aneurysm in a renal transplant patient. A 35-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of severe chest pain. He had undergone a living renal transplant from his mother for chronic renal failure caused by immunoglobulin A nephropathy 11 years prior to admission. An immunosuppressive regimen had been maintained continuously. Preoperative chest computed tomography demonstrated a thoracic dissecting aortic aneurysm (DeBakey classification type I). An emergent graft replacement for the ascending aorta was placed under circulatory arrest. Although continuous hemodiafiltration was required postoperatively because of deteriorated renal function, he recovered uneventfully and his renal function returned to preoperative values. He was discharged on postoperative day 26 without any complications.     

Abdominal aortic aneurysm

The most common site for an arterial aneurysm, i.e. the focal dilatation of the original blood vessel, is the abdominal aorta. Studies have suggested that abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are rare in women under the age of 55 and in men under the age of 60. However, in men older than 60, AAAs are nearly 10 times more common in men than in women, and many of these affected men will be asymptomatic. This article reviews the prevalence, diagnosis, including screening guidelines, and treatment options for AAA, with reference to a case study of a 72 year old male smoker diagnosed with an AAA.     

Abdominal aortic aneurysm

Between 1981 and 1986, 282 cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm were diagnosed in Waltham Forest. Rupture had occurred in 183, 15 underwent urgent operation for intact aneurysm, and 84 had elective surgery. The incidence of rupture increased from 13 to 21 per 100,000 population during the 6-year period. Operative mortality for patients with rupture was 54.7 per cent, but the mortality overall was 81.4 per cent. In 59 per cent of patients with rupture no operation was performed, and 35.0 per cent of all deaths occurred in the community. The mortality for rupture in women was significantly higher than in men, although the operative mortality was comparable. Fifty patients (27 per cent) were found to have attended hospital within 2 years of rupture and many had documented evidence of an aneurysm. One-third of all patients admitted with rupture were undiagnosed. This study complements the previous small number of community studies and suggests that the incidence of rupture is increasing nationally particularly in women, where the mortality was exceptionally high. Early elective surgery is the key to the problem and improved clinical awareness could save many patients without elaborate and expensive programmes to screen the 'at risk' population.     

Central aortic pressure augmentation in stable renal transplant recipients

BACKGROUND: Premature cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in renal transplant recipients and classical risk factors significantly underestimate the risk. The increased effect of arterial wave reflections on central arteries has recently been shown to be an important independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality in chronic hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of several classical and potential non-classical cardiovascular risk factors on aortic pressure augmentation by the reflected arterial wave in stable renal transplant recipients. METHODS: Using the non-invasive technique of pulse wave analysis aortic augmentation was investigated in 250 stable renal transplant recipients. Peripheral pulse waveforms were recorded from the radial artery. Central aortic waveforms were then generated and the aortic augmentation index calculated. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis, female sex (regression coefficient 7.5 +/- 1.7%; P < 0.001), heart rate (-4.8 +/- 0.5% per 10 beats/min; P < 0.001), mean arterial pressure (4.2 +/- 0.6% per 10 mm Hg; P < 0.001), the persistence of an arteriovenous fistula (4.1 +/- 1.3%; P < 0.005), total time on renal replacement therapy (3.8 +/- 0.9% per 10 years; P < 0.001), height (-3.1 +/- 0.8% per 10 cm; P < 0.001), immunosuppression with cyclosporine (2.8 +/- 1.3%; P < 0.005) and age (2.5 +/- 0.5% per 10 years; P < 0.001) were all important correlates of aortic augmentation index. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest, to our knowledge for the first time, that both the presence of a functioning arteriovenous fistula and immunosuppressive treatment with cyclosporine are associated with an increased aortic augmentation index in renal transplant recipients and could, therefore, be potential reversible contributors to the high cardiovascular risk profile in these patients.     

Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in a patient with a cardiac transplant

We describe successful elective abdominal aneurysm repair in a patient with a cardiac transplant. In light of the unique physiology and pharmacology of the denervated heart, this presented an unusual combination of complex problems. Whereas the normally innervated heart increases cardiac output via neural stimuli, the denervated heart relies primarily on the Frank Starling mechanism which is dependent on preload and myocardial contractility. Thus, rapidly changing haemodynamic variables associated with aortic cross-clamping require scrupulous attention to the maintenance of adequate preload as well as myocardial function which can only be manipulated by direct-acting agents. We conclude that the denervated heart will readily compensate for the haemodynamic changes brought about by infrarenal aortic crossclamping if a high-normal preload is maintained and if the transplanted donor heart is free of pathology with good inherent myocardial contractility.     

Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in patients with preoperative renal failure

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of preoperative renal failure on the outcome of patients undergoing infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. Of 251 patients undergoing AAA repair from 1977 to 1984, 10% had evidence of preoperative chronic renal failure. These patients were classified according to their preoperative serum creatinine values; group I had preoperative creatinine levels of 2 to 4 mg/dl, group II had creatinine levels greater than 4 mg/dl but no history of hemodialysis, and group III consisted of patients on chronic hemodialysis before operation. One of 16 patients in group I developed transient high-output renal failure postoperatively. Four of the six patients in group II (67%) developed significant postoperative deterioration of renal function and required acute hemodialysis. Of the four patients in group III maintained on chronic hemodialysis preoperatively, one died of sepsis from an ischemic colon. This experience suggests that patients with mild renal dysfunction (serum creatine value less than 4 mg/dl) can undergo elective AAA repair without additional morbidity. Patients on hemodialysis before operation can also safely undergo surgical repair of their AAAs electively if dialyzed the day before operation. Patients with severe renal dysfunction (serum creatinine greater than 4 mg/dl) who are not on hemodialysis should be considered for dialysis preoperatively in an attempt to reduce the high incidence of serious postoperative renal functional deterioration and subsequent morbidity.     

Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Newer, minimally invasive catheter-based endovascular technology utilizing stent grafts are currently being evaluated for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. A retrospective review of all (3 years) consecutive, non-ruptured elective AAA repairs was undertaken to document the results of AAA surgical repair in a modern cohort of patients to allow a contemporary comparison with the evolving endoluminal data. One hundred twenty-one AAAs were identified in a male veteran population. Mean age was 68.5 +/-7.7 years. Medical history review showed hypertension in 55%, heart disease in 73.5%, peripheral vascular disease in 21%, stroke and transient ischemic attacks in 22%, diabetes mellitus in 7%, renal insufficiency in 10%, and smoking history in 80%. The AAA size was documented with ultrasound (5.2 +/-1.3 cm, n=40) and computed tomography (5.6 +/-1.3 cm, n=100). Fifty-nine percent had angiography. Intraoperative end points included an operative time of 165 +/-6.3 minutes from incision to dressing placement. A Dacron tube graft was used in 78%, the remaining were Dacron bifurcated grafts. A suprarenal clamp was used in 8% for proximal aortic control with juxtarenal aneurysms. A pulmonary-artery catheter was placed in 69%. A transverse incision was used in 69% of patients and a midline incision was used in the rest. Estimated blood loss was 1505 +/-103 mL; cell saver blood returned 754 +/-53 mL; crystalloid/Hespan 4771 +/-176 mL; banked packed red blood cells 0.75 +/-0.11 U. Time to extubation was, in the operating room (78.5%), on the day of the operation (5.0%), postoperative day (POD) 1 (12.4%), POD2 (1.7%), POD3 (0.8%), and one case was performed with epidural anesthesia only. Postoperative end points included a 30-day mortality rate of 1.6% (two patients). Postoperative morbidity included wound dehiscence 0.8%; sepsis, urinary tract infection, wound infection, leg ischemia, ischemic colitis, and stroke each had an incidence of 1.6%; myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, pneumonia, re-operation for suspected bleeding, and ileus or bowel obstruction occurred with an incidence of 3.3%. No significant increase in serum creatinine levels was noted. Time to enteral fluids/nutrition was 3.5 +/-0.08 days. Patients were out of bed to a chair or walking by 1.3 +/-0.06 days postoperatively. The length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) was 2.0 +/-0.12 days and postoperative hospital stay was 6.6 +/- 0.33 days. Transfusion requirement for the hospital stay was 1.6 +/-0.2 U per patient. This review highlights a cohort of male veteran patients with significant cardiac co-morbidity who have undergone repair with a conventional open technique and low mortality and morbidity rates. This group had rapid extubation, time to oral intake, and ambulation. In addition, ICU and hospital stays were relatively short.     

Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Options for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair include both open and endovascular approaches. Patient selection for each of these requires careful consideration relating to patient health, fitness and anatomy. This article aims to provide an overview of the essential aspects of both open surgical repair (OSR) and endovascular AAA repair (EVAR), focussing upon decision making, the procedures, follow-up and long-term outcomes. Consideration is also given to more complex AAA repairs, including fenestrated/branched stent grafts and open juxta-renal aneurysm repairs. AAA epidemiology, screening, and work up for repair are covered in the previous article.     

Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in patients with chronic renal disease.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the outcome of AAA repair in patients with established renal failure (RF), including patients on dialysis. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study in a teaching hospital. Methods. All patients with established RF undergoing AAA repair were identified during the last eight years. Data was collected from patient notes on operative difficulty, hospital mortality, survival time and future dialysis requirements. For comparison, 28 consecutive patients undergoing AAA repair without RF were studied prospectively. RESULTS: Thirteen RF patients were identified. Three were receiving Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD), three were receiving Haemodialysis (HD) and seven had established RF, but were not receiving dialysis. Compared with the control patients, RF patients had a longer total hospital stay (p=0.03, 95% CI for median stay -24.3 to -4.0 days), more postoperative complications (p<0.01, 95% CI 26.4-73.7%) and had an increased in-hospital mortality (p=0.02, 95% CI 4.6-54.3%). Four of the six survivors who were non-dialysis-dependent required long-term dialysis postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: AAA repair in RF patients is associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. Previously non-dialysis-dependent patients have a high risk of subsequent long-term dialysis.