Management of Patients with Colorectal Cancer and Concomitant Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the optimal management of patients with colorectal cancer and abdominal aortic aneurysm in the elective situation. METHODS: All patients with a history of colorectal cancer and abdominal aortic aneurysm between 1986 and July 2000 were identified, and charts of those with concomitant disease were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 435 patients with available charts were reviewed. Eighty-three patients with concomitant abdominal aortic aneurysm and colorectal cancer were identified. In 64 patients the colorectal cancer was treated first, and 44 of these patients had an abdominal aortic aneurysm less than 5 cm in diameter (average = 3.8 cm). No abdominal aortic aneurysm ruptured in the postoperative period. Median delay to colorectal cancer surgery from diagnosis was four days. Twenty patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm of 5 cm or greater (average = 5.4 cm) were treated for colorectal cancer first. In two of these patients (with abdominal aortic aneurysms sized 5 and 6.4 cm), the abdominal aortic aneurysm ruptured in the early postoperative period. Median delay to colorectal cancer resection was eight days. Twelve patients had both abdominal aortic aneurysm and colorectal cancer treated at the same time. The average size of the abdominal aortic aneurysm was 6.4 cm. Median delay from colorectal cancer diagnosis to resection was 15 days. No documented cases of graft infection occurred in this group; median follow-up was 3.2 years. Seven patients underwent abdominal aortic aneurysm repair before resection of colorectal cancer; in two patients, colorectal cancer was found at the time of resection. The average size of abdominal aortic aneurysm was 6 cm and median delay to treatment of colorectal cancer was 122 days, a statistically significant longer delay than in the other two groups (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In patients with colorectal cancer and abdominal aortic aneurysm of 5 cm or more, treatment of colorectal cancer first may result in life-threatening rupture, whereas treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm first may significantly delay treatment of colorectal cancer. Concomitant treatment seems to be a safe alternative. If anatomically suitable, the abdominal aortic aneurysm may be considered for endovascular repair followed by a staged colon resection. The presence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm less than 5 cm does not affect colorectal cancer treatment.     

以胸痛为首发症状的主动脉瘤致急性心肌梗死一例报道

主动脉瘤指各种病因导致主动脉扩张或膨出并达到正常管径的1.5倍以上,多数患者无明显症状,仅少数患者出现不典型症状,极易漏诊。主动脉瘤致急性心肌梗死的症状与左主干病变致急性心肌梗死相似,二者极易混淆。本文报道了1例以胸痛为首发症状的主动脉瘤致急性心肌梗死患者,以期为临床诊疗提供参考。     

Infected aortic aneurysm and inflammatory aortic aneurysm--in search of an optimal differential diagnosis

Infected aortic aneurysm and inflammatory aortic aneurysm each account for a minor fraction of the total incidence of aortic aneurysm and are associated with periaortic inflammation. Despite the similarity, infected aortic aneurysm generally shows a more rapid change in clinical condition, leading to a fatal outcome; in addition, delayed diagnosis and misuse of corticosteroid or immunosuppressing drugs may lead to uncontrolled growth of microorganisms. Therefore, it is mandatory that detection of aortic aneurysm is followed by accurate differential diagnosis. In general, infected aortic aneurysm appears usually as a saccular form aneurysm with nodularity, irregular configuration; however, the differential diagnosis may not be easy sometimes for the following reasons: (1) symptoms, such as abdominal and/or back pain and fever, and blood test abnormalities, such as elevated C-reactive protein and enhanced erythrocyte sedimentation rate, are common in infected aortic aneurysm, but they are not found infrequently in inflammatory aortic aneurysm; (2) some inflammatory aortic aneurysms are immunoglobulin (Ig) G4-related, but not all of them; (3) the prevalence of IgG4 positivity in infected aortic aneurysm has not been well investigated; (4) enhanced uptake of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) by 18F-FDG-positron emission tomography may not distinguish between inflammation mediated by autoimmunity and that mediated by microorganism infection. Here we discuss the characteristics of these two forms of aortic aneurysm and the points of which we have to be aware before reaching a final diagnosis.     

彩色多普勒超声在腹主动脉瘤破裂诊断中的应用价值

目的探讨彩色多普勒超声在腹主动脉瘤破裂诊治中的价值。方法回顾性分析14例腹主动脉瘤破裂患者的灰阶和彩色多普勒超声图像,从腹主动脉瘤发生部位、瘤体大小、瘤壁厚度、瘤体破裂部位、瘤体破裂时血管内异常回声、血管周边形成血肿、出现腹腔游离液及瘤体内彩色多普勒表现等方面进行分析,并与手术结果、CT血管成像或磁共振检查结果进行对比。结果腹主动脉瘤超声检出率100%,肾上型2例,肾下型12例,瘤体最大直径6.1～1 3.2 cm,超声诊断腹主动脉瘤壁破裂处显示率14.3%,腹主动脉瘤旁腹腔血肿显示率66.7%,腹腔积液显示率80.0%,腹膜后血肿显示率12.5%。结论超声作为可移动简便无损伤的检查方法 ,可以快速的对腹主动脉瘤破裂和其他腹腔器官肿物引起的急腹症进行鉴别,在腹主动脉瘤的发现、随访监测、腹主动脉瘤破裂急诊入院有较高的临床应用价值。     

Atrial septal aneurysm--a potential cause of systemic embolism. An echocardiographic study

Atrial septal aneurysm is an uncommon condition. Between 1981 and 1984 10 cases of atrial septal aneurysm were diagnosed by real time cross sectional echocardiography performed in 4840 patients. The aneurysm was associated either with mitral valve prolapse (three patients) or with atrial septal defect (three patients) or occurred in isolation (four patients, two of whom had had a previous embolic event leading to the diagnosis of atrial septal aneurysm by cross sectional echocardiography). During cross sectional echocardiography the aneurysm appeared as a localised bulging of the interatrial septum, which was best seen in the subcostal four chamber view and in the parasternal short axis view at the level of the aortic root. The aneurysm either protruded into only the right atrium (five patients) or moved backwards and forwards between the right and the left atria during the cardiac cycle (five patients). This motion pattern might be related to changes in the interatrial pressure gradient. The two patients who had had a systemic embolism were given anticoagulant treatment, but none underwent surgery. It is concluded that the true prevalence of atrial septal aneurysm might have been underestimated before the routine use of cross sectional echocardiography, that cross sectional echocardiography enables definitive diagnosis of this condition by a non-invasive technique, and that an atrial septal aneurysm should be suspected and looked for by cross sectional echocardiography after an unexplained systemic embolism.     

Atrial septal aneurysm--a potential cause of systemic embolism. An echocardiographic study.

Atrial septal aneurysm is an uncommon condition. Between 1981 and 1984 10 cases of atrial septal aneurysm were diagnosed by real time cross sectional echocardiography performed in 4840 patients. The aneurysm was associated either with mitral valve prolapse (three patients) or with atrial septal defect (three patients) or occurred in isolation (four patients, two of whom had had a previous embolic event leading to the diagnosis of atrial septal aneurysm by cross sectional echocardiography). During cross sectional echocardiography the aneurysm appeared as a localised bulging of the interatrial septum, which was best seen in the subcostal four chamber view and in the parasternal short axis view at the level of the aortic root. The aneurysm either protruded into only the right atrium (five patients) or moved backwards and forwards between the right and the left atria during the cardiac cycle (five patients). This motion pattern might be related to changes in the interatrial pressure gradient. The two patients who had had a systemic embolism were given anticoagulant treatment, but none underwent surgery. It is concluded that the true prevalence of atrial septal aneurysm might have been underestimated before the routine use of cross sectional echocardiography, that cross sectional echocardiography enables definitive diagnosis of this condition by a non-invasive technique, and that an atrial septal aneurysm should be suspected and looked for by cross sectional echocardiography after an unexplained systemic embolism.     

Aneurysm and dissection in a patient with syphilitic aortitis

In the antibiotic era, aortic aneurysm is a rare complication of syphilis, what makes the diagnostic assumption even more difficult. Nonetheless, this condition should be suspected in patients with aortic aneurysm. Reports of aortic dissection complicating syphilitic aortitis have been distinctly rare in the literature, and their cause-effect relationship has not been definitely established. In this case report, we present a 62-year-old woman with aortic aneurysm and dissection associated with an unexpected diagnosis of syphilitic aortitis.     

Dystrophic aortic valve insufficiency

Although dystrophic aortic regurgitation is considered to be a rare condition, if aortic regurgitation due to cystic media-necrosis which usually presents with annulo-aortic ectasia and regurgitation due to dystrophic aortic valves are included, it becomes a relatively common cause of aortic regurgitation. In the authors' experience of 313 patients operated for pure chronic aortic regurgitation, approximately 30% had dystrophic lesions and this was the second most common cause of aortic regurgitation after acute rheumatic fever. The clinical presentation is variable: excluding annulo-aortic ectasia, the other features of dystrophic aortic regurgitation are less well known. Eighty-nine cases without aneurysm of the ascending thoracic aorta were recensed and analysed in a French Cooperative study. They were divided into two groups with respect to the diameter of the ascending aorta measured by echocardiography. The incidence of late postoperative complications of the ascending aorta was higher in patients with a dilated aorta. The diagnosis of dystrophic aortic regurgitation is easy in patients with an aneurysm of the ascending aorta: in other cases, transoesophageal echocardiography is very useful for evaluating the valvular lesions. Surgical treatment of pure dystrophic aortic regurgitation with an aneurysm of the ascending aorta is well established but the best management of aortic regurgitation associated with only mildly dilated aorta is debatable.     

Incremental value of live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography over the two-dimensional technique in the assessment of aortic aneurysm and dissection

We compared findings from intraoperative live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) and two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2DTEE) with surgery in 67 patients having aortic aneurysm and/or aortic dissection. Of these, 20 patients had aortic aneurysm without dissection, 21 aortic aneurysm and dissection, and 26 aortic dissection without aneurysm. 3DTEE diagnosed the type and location of aneurysm correctly in all patients unlike 2DTEE, which missed an aneurysm in one case. There were four cases of aortic aneurysm rupture. Three of them were diagnosed by 3DTEE but only one by 2DTEE, and one missed by both techniques. The mouth of saccular aneurysm, site of aortic aneurysm rupture, and communication sites between perfusing and nonperfusing lumens of aortic dissection could be viewed en face only with 3DTEE, enabling comprehensive measurements of their area and dimensions as well as increasing the confidence level of their diagnosis. In all patients with aortic dissection, 3DTEE enabled a more confident diagnosis of dissection because the dissection flap when viewed en face presented as a sheet of tissue rather than a linear echo seen on 2DTEE which can be confused with an artifact. 2DTEE missed dissection in one patient. In six cases the dissection flap involved the right coronary artery orifice by 3DTEE and surgery. These were missed by 2DTEE. Aortic regurgitation severity was more comprehensively assessed by 3DTEE than 2DTEE. Aneurysm size by 3DTEE correlated well with 2DTEE and surgery/computed tomography scan. In conclusion, 3DTEE provides incremental information over 2DTEE in patients with aortic aneurysm and dissection.     

Mycotic aneurysm complicating staphylococcal endocarditis

OBJECTIVE: To emphasize the role of noninvasive diagnostic investigative methods and their importance in early detection of mycotic aneurysm related to staphylococcal endocarditis, and of monitoring therapy or identifying complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two patients with mycotic aneurysm that developed as complications of staphylococcal endocarditis are presented. The first patient had mesenteric artery mycotic aneurysm and presented with sudden rupture one month after initial diagnosis of mitral valve infective endocarditis and completion of a full course of antimicrobial therapy. The second patient had multiple cerebral mycotic microaneurysms and presented with hemorrhagic cerebral embolization from aortic valve infective endocarditis. RESULTS: The first patient died because of ischemic cerebral edema 48 h after rupture of the mesenteric artery mycotic aneurysm and massive hemoperitoneum, which was treated surgically with distal ileal resection and ileostomy. The second patient was alive two years after prolonged antimicrobial therapy and aortic replacement to treat moderate aortic regurgitation and progressive left ventricular enlargement. CONCLUSIONS: Mycotic aneurysm is a rare complication of infective endocarditis but has a high mortality rate because of its early or late potential catastrophic rupture. Diagnosis by noninvasive diagnostic imaging techniques of mycotic aneurysm before rupture would be beneficial for its treatment.     

Coronary artery disease in patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans of the lower extremities or aortic aneurysm.

Routine coronary angiography was performed in order to determine the incidence and clinical condition of coronary artery disease in 37 patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans or aortic aneurysm. Coronary angiography demonstrated significant stenosis in 12 (57%) of 21 patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans and in 7 (44%) of 16 patients with aortic aneurysm. The prevalence of risk factors for arteriosclerosis was similar for patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans and those with aortic aneurysm, and similar for patients with and without coronary artery stenosis. But coronary artery disease is often silent in patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans.     

Diagnosis and management issues in thoracic aortic aneurysm

Thoracic aortic enlargement is an increasingly recognized condition that is often diagnosed on imaging studies performed for unrelated indications. The risk of unrecognized and untreated aortic enlargement and aneurysm includes aortic rupture and dissection which carry a high burden of morbidity and mortality. The etiologies underlying thoracic aortic enlargement are diverse and can range from degenerative or hypertension associated aortic enlargement to more rare genetic disorders. Therefore, the evaluation and management of these patients can be complex and requires knowledge of the pathophysiology associated with thoracic aortic dilation and aneurysm. Additionally, there have been important advances in the treatment available to patients with thoracic aortic disease, including an increased role of endovascular therapy. Given the risk of mortality, increased clinical recognition and advances in therapeutics, the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association and related professional societies have recently published guidelines on the management of thoracic aortic disease. This review focuses on the pathophysiology and various etiologies that lead to thoracic aortic aneurysm along with the diagnostic modalities and management of asymptomatic patients with thoracic aortic disease.     

Combined surgical and catheter‐based treatment of extensive thoracic aortic aneurysm and aortic valve stenosis

An extensive thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a potentially life‐threatening condition and remains a technical challenge to surgeons. Over the past decade, repair of aortic arch aneurysms has been accomplished using both hybrid (open and endovascular) and totally endovascular techniques. Thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) has changed and extended management options in thoracic aorta disease, including in those patients deemed unfit or unsuitable for open surgery. Accordingly, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is increasingly used to treat patients with symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) who are considered at high risk for surgical aortic valve replacement. In this report, we describe the combined surgical and catheter‐based treatment of an extensive TAA and AS. To our knowledge, this is the first report of hybrid TAA repair combined with TAVR. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

升主动脉瘤的外科治疗

目的总结升主动脉瘤的临床诊断和外科治疗经验。方法自2003年3月至2008年11月,20例升主动脉瘤患者中马凡综合征11例、升主动脉瘤伴主动脉瓣关闭不全3例、单纯升主动脉瘤3例、急性夹层动脉瘤伴主动脉瓣关闭不全2例、升主动脉瘤伴主动脉瓣关闭不全并感染性心内膜炎1例。行单纯Bentall手术10例、Bentall手术加右半弓人工血管置换2例、Wheat手术4例、Cabrol手术1例、David手术1例、主动脉瓣置换加主动脉弓置换加象鼻手术1例、主动脉瓣置换术加升主动脉成形术1例。结果全组无手术死亡和术后严重并发症发生。结论早期诊断、精细的手术操作技巧、据病情选择合适的手术方式,是改善升主动脉根部瘤患者预后的关键。     

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms: experience with 70 cases

During the period 1965-1983, 270 patients underwent resection of abdominal aortic aneurysm. In 70 patients (26%) the aneurysm was ruptured. Overall hospital mortality of patients with ruptures was 34%. Five patients died before the graft could be completed. Common denominators associated with mortality were hypotension, renal failure, cardiac arrest, and postoperative hemorrhage. The average age over the first 10 years was 68, but subsequently, has risen gradually, with a corresponding increase in mortality despite improved surgical technique and postoperative care. Only with more widespread elective resections and earlier diagnosis of rupture followed by prompt operative management, can the outlook for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm be improved.     

Surgical outcome of abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis

 Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis presents several surgical difficulties due to tissue fragility, accelerated atherosclerosis, and calcification of the aorta. In addition to these surgical procedure-related problems, anemia, electrolyte abnormalities, bleeding tendency, and susceptibility to infection were also critical issues in perioperative management. The aim of this study was to examine the surgical outcome of abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis. Between January 1988 and August 2001, six patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis underwent repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. There were five males and one female, and the mean age was 65 years. Two of the six patients had bilateral common iliac artery aneurysms in addition to the abdominal aortic aneurysm. At the time of abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, the duration of hemodialysis had ranged from 3 to 109 months, with a mean of 34 months. All patients underwent hemodialysis on the day prior to the abdominal aortic aneurysm repair operation. The first postoperative hemodialysis was scheduled to be performed on the day after operation or later. The mean duration of operation was 291 min. Blood transfusion was required in all patients. The first postoperative hemodialysis was performed between the first and third postoperative days. Postoperative complications were: ileus in one, and atrial fibrillation and blue toe syndrome just after operation in one. There was no hospital death. The follow-up period was 56 months. One patient died of lingual cancer at 102 months after operation. Five patients are alive. Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair can be done in patients on chronic hemodialysis with an acceptable early and long-term outcome. Received: March 12, 2002 / Accepted: September 21, 2002 Correspondence to Y. Umeda     

Aortoduodenal fistula as a cause of gastrointestinal bleeding--difficulties in endoscopic diagnosis

We report on three patients with severe gastrointestinal bleeding arising from aortoenteric fistula. Two patients presented with a secondary aortoduodenal fistula. In the first case bleeding occurred 8 months after aortobifemoral graft implantation. In the second patient aortobiliacal graft implantation was performed 22 years before. In the third case the aortoenteric fistula was primary and was caused by an abdominal aortic aneurysm without prior vascular intervention. In the first case diagnosis was made by urgent endoscopy visualizing ongoing bleeding from the duodenal fistula. In the two other patients urgent endoscopy and CT as well could not demonstrate the bleeding source. Aortoenteric fistula was diagnosed endoscopically during severe rebleeding some hours later. Two patients underwent surgery with implantation of an axillobifemoral bypass; the third patient declined further intervention and died. The course shows that aortoduodenal fistula can present with severe but intermittent gastrointestinal bleeding making the diagnosis in the non-bleeding interval difficult. In patients with severe gastrointestinal bleeding and a history of aortic disease (aneurysm, prior aortic graft repair or stenting) an aortoduodenal fistula should be suspected and the indication for surgical intervention should be considered early in spite of negative results of endoscopy and CT.     

Chronic contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm presenting as a lower extremity neuropathy

Rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm often presents with a pulsatile abdominal mass, abdominal pain, and hypotension. Recent clinical reports describe patients with less apparent clinical signs and symptoms who were found later in their evaluation to have a contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Even more unusual is a chronic contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Our patient had a chronic contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm that presented with erosion into the lumbar vertebral bodies and subsequent lumbar neuropathy. CT scan confirmed the contained rupture of the aortic aneurysm and the patient underwent successful repair of his aortic aneurysm. Our report discusses the significance of atypical presentations of abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture and the importance of prompt diagnosis and definitive repair.     

Surgical and medical treatments of true and dissecting aortic aneurysm in cases over 65 years old

Ninety-one patients with true and dissecting aortic aneurysm were reviewed. They ranged in age from 65 to 87 years (mean 71 years). Forty-eight patients were diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysm, 21 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm and 22 patients with dissecting aortic aneurysm. They were divided into 2 categories, surgical group and non-surgical, and the prognoses of the 2 groups were compared. The average age of surgically treated cases was significantly younger than that of non-surgical cases. This study suggests that elective operation should be considered for abdominal aortic aneurysms because of the high risk of late rupture. In older patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm, the prognosis was better in surgically treated patients than in those not treated. However, the surgical mortality rate of elective operation was high. The surgical mortality rate of older patients with dissecting aortic aneurysm was not satisfactory, and medical treatment which decreases blood pressure should be considered first. All patients classified as Stanford type A should be operated on if possible.     

Clinical features of aortic dissection with early thrombosis of the false lumen]

There are cases of dissecting aortic aneurysm in which thrombotic formation occurs in the false lumen at an early stage, preventing dissection of the vessel wall and enlargement of the aneurysm. We studied such early thrombotic obliteration of false lumina in 12 (28.6%) of 42 patients with dissecting aortic aneurysm who underwent transesophageal two-dimensional echocardiography in the acute phase from June 1986 to October 1989. It was the first employment of a transesophageal approach at our hospital. In this study, we examined the clinical profiles of these patients as well as the usefulness of transesophageal two-dimensional echocardiography in establishing the diagnosis of dissecting aortic aneurysm and characterizing the disease. The patients were classified as Type I (2 patients) and Type III (10 patients; 6 Type IIIa and 4 Type IIIb) according to DeBakey's classification. The minimum and mean intervals from the onset of symptoms to transesophageal two-dimensional echocardiography were 1.5 hours and a mean of 38.2 hours, respectively. These results indicated that thrombotic obliteration of the false lumen had already occurred at a very early stage in some patients. The maximum diameter of the descending aorta was mean 37.6 mm with only 2 patients having that of 40 mm or more. Since left intrapleural hemorrhage was observed in these 2 patients (1 received emergent replacement of the descending aorta), enlargement of the aortic diameter may be indicative of unpredictable outcome, even in patients with early thrombotic obliteration of the false lumen. The long-term clinical course was favorable in all patients, including those who were treated surgically, over a mean follow-up period of 14.5 months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)