Combined surgical and endovascular treatment of extensive thoracic aortic aneurysm

AIM: Patients with extensive aneurysm involving ascending aorta, aortic arch and descending aorta are usually treated by sequential operations. For these patients we can also use combined surgical and endovascular treatment. The experience with this procedure published in the literature is very limited. We report our experience in the 'elephant trunk' technique followed by an endovascular stent-grafting of the descending thoracic aorta in a small group of three consecutive patients with extensive thoracic aortic aneurysm. METHODS: Three consecutive patients with extensive thoracic aortic aneurysm or chronic dissection underwent combined surgical and endovascular treatment between January and December 2004. The procedure was carried out as a two-stage procedure. During the first stage aortic arch was replaced using the elephant-trunk' method and during the second stage the stentgrafting of the descending aorta was performed. RESULTS: All three patients were treated successfully. There was no death, no endoleak and no permanent neurological deficit. One patient had a transient paraparesis. In all patients the spiral CT demonstrated excellent technical result without endoleak and with thrombosis of the paraprosthetic space. CONCLUSIONS: We can conclude, that the combined surgical and endovascular treatment of extensive thoracic aortic aneurysm is a feasible method which could reduce mortality and morbidity. In our institution the elephant trunk technique followed by an endovascular stent-grafting of the descending aorta is the preferred method of treatment in patients with extensive thoracic aortic aneurysm involving ascending aorta, aortic arch and descending aorta.     

经颈动脉腔内技术重建主动脉弓治疗Stanford A型夹层动脉瘤(附1例报告)

目的探讨血管腔内技术重建主动脉弓治疗升主动脉、主动脉弓病变的可行性。方法2005年,对1例StanfordA型夹层动脉瘤,腔内修复主动脉病变之前做右颈总动脉-左颈总动脉-左锁骨下动脉的旁路术;经右颈总动脉将修改的分叉支架型血管主体放入升主动脉,长臂位于无名动脉。短臂应用延长支架型血管延伸至降主动脉。通过腔内技术重建主动脉弓实现累及升主动脉和主动脉弓主动脉病变的微创治疗。结果腔内修复术后移植物形态良好,血流通畅,病变被隔绝,脑、躯干、四肢循环稳定。无严重并发症。结论该手术方案设计合理、技术可行。可能成为复杂胸主动脉病变新的腔内治疗模式。     

Acute retrograde aortic dissection during endovascular repair of a thoracic aortic aneurysm

Endovascular aneurysm exclusion represents a valuable alternative treatment for descending thoracic aortic aneurysms. Although the minimally invasive character of this procedure is obvious, major complications are possible. We report a 77-year-old male who developed acute retrograde dissection of the aortic arch and ascending aorta during endovascular stent-grafting of a descending aortic aneurysm. Emergent open surgical repair provided a successful outcome.     

Retrograde Typ-A-Dissektion nach „debranching“ und endovaskulärer Stentgraft-Therapie des Aortenbogens

This article describes the hybrid repair of a large thoracic aneurysm of the transverse arch and the descending aorta in an 81-year-old patient using the debranching technique with subsequent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). On postoperative day 10 the patient suffered a retrograde type A aortic dissection – involving the ascending aorta and the aortic root – with acute tamponade. After stabilization the patient successfully underwent emergency supracoronary ascending aortic replacement by performing of a distal elephant trunk anastomosis.     

Iatrogenic type A dissection after attempted stenting of a descending aortic aneurysm

This case demonstrates an iatrogenic acute retrograde type A dissection of the aortic arch and ascending aorta during elective endovascular stenting of a proximal descending aortic aneurysm. This devastating complication necessitated emergent surgery with unfavorable postoperative outcome. Other than the known causes, the described retrograde type A dissection resulted from guidewire manipulation and iatrogenic creation of a false lumen, which was erroneously dilated and stented.     

Complex thoracic aortic aneurysm: a combined open and endovascular approach

The authors wish to describe a combined open and endovascular approach to repair a complex thoracic aortic aneurysm. A 72-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, aortic valvular insufficiency and diffuse thoracic aortic aneurysm underwent aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement by a Bentall-procedure and replacement of arch aneurysm using the elephant trunk technique, performed in a first procedure. During the second procedure, endovascular stenting of the descending thoracic aorta was done. Only a few similar case reports have been presented. Endovascular repair after an elephant trunk procedure for complex thoracic aortic aneurysms is an elegant approach to deal with such mega aortas. Further research is necessary to compare open and endovascular repair and to determine long-term follow-up with regard to endoleaks and mortality.     

Complex Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm: A Combined Open and Endovascular Approach

The authors wish to describe a combined open and endovascular approach to repair a complex thoracic aortic aneurysm. A 72-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, aortic valvular insufficiency and diffuse thoracic aortic aneurysm underwent aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement by a Bentall-procedure and replacement of arch aneurysm using the elephant trunk technique, performed in a first procedure. During the second procedure, endovascular stenting of the descending thoracic aorta was done. Only a few similar case reports have been presented. Endovascular repair after an elephant trunk procedure for complex thoracic aortic aneurysms is an elegant approach to deal with such mega aortas. Further research is necessary to compare open and endovascular repair and to determine long-term follow-up with regard to endoleaks and mortality.     

Transcarotid artery endovascular reconstruction of the aortic arch by modified bifurcated stent graft for Stanford type A dissection

A 40-year-old man with Stanford type B dissection underwent his first endovascular repair (EVAR) in April 2004 by Talent thoracic stent graft. He had an uncomplicated recovery and maintained good blood pressure control. However, a new retrograde dissection appeared in September 2004. The new dissection involved his aortic arch and ascending thoracic aorta to the opening of the coronary arteries. To reconstruct the aortic arch, bypasses between the right common carotid artery (RCCA), left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery were performed before endovascular repair. A modified bifurcated Talent stent graft was deployed from the RCCA to the ascending thoracic aorta with a long limb in the innominate artery and a short limb in the aortic arch. A further two pieces of graft were deployed via the common femoral artery. The ascending thoracic aorta and aortic arch were reconstructed completely by the bifurcated stent graft. The final angiography confirmed that there was good stent graft configuration, normal blood flow, and stable haemodynamics. No endoleak or other major complications were encountered. This result indicated that it is possible to reconstruct the aortic arch with a bifurcated stent graft and could be a new endovascular repair model for complex thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection.     

A case of the ascending aorta and aortic arch replacement with thrombo-occlusion of distal arch and descending aorta suround the modified elephant trunk graft

We report a 65-year-old female who had a extensive thoracic aneurysm from ascending aorta to descending thoracic aorta. The patient underwent a graft replacement of ascending aorta and aortic arch using modified elephant trunk method. The surgery was carried out through median sternotomy with profound hypothermia and selective cerebral perfusion. Postoperatively, the patient was recovered without any complications except bronchial asthma. Postoperative chest computed tomography showed that the surrounding space of the elephant trunk vascular graft inserted into distal arch and descending aneurysm was mostly occupied with thrombus. Therefore, we considered that the second operation on the descending aorta is not necessary at this point and careful attention to the size and shape of the descending aneurysm should be paid.     

Combined open and endovascular repair of a syphilitic aortic aneurysm

The use of endovascular stent grafts in the repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms has provided an alternative means of treatment, particularly in the high-risk patient who may not tolerate conventional open repair. The combination of conventional surgery and endovascular repair may allow for successful treatment in patients with anatomy unsuitable for repair entirely by endovascular means alone. We present the case of a patient with a syphilitic thoracic aortic aneurysm involving the aortic arch and descending thoracic aorta. He underwent a staged repair with an elephant trunk reconstruction of the aortic arch followed by endovascular repair of the descending thoracic aorta. This is the first reported case of the repair of a syphilitic aneurysm by means of endovascular techniques.     

Staged hybrid treatment of complex ascending aortic and distal aortic arch pseudoaneurysm after repair of aortic coarctation

A 49-year-old operated for aortic coartaction patient presented with thoracic and ascending aortic aneurysm. He was asymptomatic. Angio-magnetic resonance nuclear scan and angiography revealed an ascending aortic aneurysm (5.2 cm), bicuspid aortic valve, 6-cm proximal descending aortic pseudoaneurysm at the site of the previous operation with involvement of the left subclavian artery. Restenosis at the original site of coarctation and aortic arch hypoplasia distally to the brachiocefalic trunk was also found. The operation performed was a "modified Bentall - De Bono". The pseudoaneurysm was not accessible through median sternotomy due to the massive lung adhesions following the previous surgery. The left common carotid artery was explanted from the aortic arch and connected with a graft to the ascending aortic conduit. A proximal neck suitable for landing zone of the endovascular stent-graft was then established. The postoperative course was uneventful. After two weeks, the patient was readmitted. The exclusion of the thoracic descending aortic pseudoaneurysm by endovascular implantation of the stent-graft prosthesis was performed. The left subclavian artery was excluded because left vertebral artery was closed. The patient did not develop hand claudicatio. The procedure was successful.     

Survival in Thoracic or Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Comparison between patients with or without surgical treatment

The surgical mortality among 22 patients treated for thoracic or thoracoabdominal aneurysm was compared with the mortality in 47 patients managed without surgery. Surgical mortality (<30 days) was low (1/13) in ascending aortic aneurysm, but higher (3/8) in aneurysm of the descending or thoracoabdominal aorta (including both acute and elective operations). Of the 20 non-surgically managed patients in the latter group, 15 died after a mean of 1.1 year. The only patient operated on for aortic arch aneurysm died of cerebral ischaemia 2 days postoperatively. Most of the 19 non-operated patients with aneurysm of the arch or total aorta (mean age 76 years) were never considered for surgical treatment. The analysis supports aggressive management of patients with aneurysm of the ascending, descending or thoracoabdominal aorta. Many of our patients with aneurysm of the arch or involving most of the aorta were old and had other, concomitant diseases, and in such cases an aggressive treatment strategy does not seem justified.     

Natural history of thoracic aortic aneurysms: indications for surgery,and surgical versus nonsurgical risks

BACKGROUND: The natural history of thoracic aortic aneurysm is incompletely understood. Over the last 10 years, at Yale University we have maintained a large computerized database of patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections. Analysis of this database has permitted insight into fundamental issues of natural behavior of the aorta and development of criteria for surgical intervention. METHODS: Specialized statistical methods were applied to the prospectively accumulated database of 1600 patients with thoracic aneurysm and dissection, which includes 3000 serial imaging studies and 3000 patient years of follow-up. RESULTS: Growth rate: the aneurysmal thoracic aorta grows at an average rate of 0.10 cm per year (0.07 for ascending and 0.19 for descending). Critical sizes: hinge points for natural complications of aortic aneurysm (rupture or dissection) were found at 6.0 cm for the ascending aorta and 7.0 cm for the descending. By the time a patient achieved these critical dimensions the likelihood of rupture or dissection was 31% for the ascending and 43% for the descending aorta. Yearly event rates: a patient with an aorta that has reached 6 cm maximal diameter faces the following yearly rates of devastating adverse events: rupture (3.6%), dissection (3.7%), death (10.8%), rupture, dissection, or death (14.1%). Surgical risks: risk of death from aortic surgery for thoracic aortic aneurysm was 2.5% for the ascending and arch and 8% for the descending and thoracoabdominal aorta. Genetic analysis: family pedigrees confirm that 21% of probands with thoracic aortic aneurysm have first-order family members with arterial aneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: In risk/benefit analysis the accumulated data strongly support a policy of preemptive surgical extirpation of the asymptomatic aneurysmal thoracic aorta to prevent rupture and dissection. We recommend intervention for the ascending aorta at 5.5 cm and for the descending aorta at 6.5 cm. For Marfan's disease or familial thoracic aortic aneurysm, we recommend earlier intervention at 5.0 cm for the ascending and 6.0 cm for the descending aorta. Symptomatic aneurysms must be resected regardless of size. Family members should be evaluated.     

Entire rerouting of the supraaortic branches for endovascular stent-graft placement of an aortic arch aneurysm.

Conventional surgical repair of the aortic arch using cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest still carries a substantial rate of mortality and morbidity. Endovascular stent-graft placement has developed as a safe and effective treatment modality in various diseases of the aorta. We report on the case of a 64-year-old male presenting with an aortic arch aneurysm involving the origin of the brachiocephalic trunk. A second thoracic aortic aneurysm was detected in the distal third of the descending aorta. The patient was treated by entire prosthetic rerouting of the supraaortic branches. Metachronously, the patient underwent endovascular stent-graft placement from the distal ascending aorta up the thoracoabdominal transition.     

Anesthetic management for distal aortic arch aneurysm stent grafting

A 76-year-old woman with thoracic aortic aneurysm involving distal aortic arch was scheduled for graft replacement from ascending to proximal aortic arch with endovascular stent graft to descending aorta. Surgical procedures were performed under median sternotomy with hypothermic systemic circulation arrest and selective cerebral perfusion. The stent graft composed of 30 mm Gianturco Z stent and 27.5 mm woven Dacron graft was introduced into the descending aorta under the guidance of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and fluoroscopy. Ascending and proximal aortic arch replacement was then performed with four branched woven Dacron graft. The aortic pathology was confirmed by TEE and the extent of the aneurysmal lesion was defined. TEE was also useful to find the dislodgement of the stent graft after deployment. This surgical technique, being less invasive than conventional thoracotomy, would be indicated for elderly patients with distal aortic arch aneurysm. TEE is the vital imaging technique for placement of the stent graft, as well as for intraoperative cardiac monitoring.     

Endovascular repair of a ruptured descending thoracic aortic aneurysm in a patient with an ascending aortic aneurysm: hybrid open arch reconstruction with simultaneous thoracic stent-graft deployment within elephant trunk

Endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta is now widely practiced. The extension of this technique to emergent settings is in evolution. Pathology of the ascending and transverse aortic arch may preclude thoracic aortic stent grafting due to the lack of a proximal seal zone. Several hybrid open/endovascular approaches have been described. We recently encountered the difficult case of a contained rupture of a 6.8 cm descending thoracic aortic aneurysm in a 60-year-old patient with aneurysmal degeneration of the ascending and transverse aortic arch. This patient was treated with a hybrid approach of open ascending and transverse arch reconstruction along with simultaneous stent-graft repair of the descending thoracic aorta. The open repair established an excellent proximal landing zone by use of the "elephant trunk" technique. This technique also allowed direct suture fixation of the stent graft to the arch graft to prevent stent-graft migration. This hybrid surgical approach was successful and avoided the cumulative morbidity that a left thoracoabdominal approach would have added to the sternotomy. Further creative uses of these hybrid techniques will undoubtedly serve a larger role in the treatment of thoracic aortic pathology.     

One advice to the decision of graft size for ascending and total arch graft replacement (in a case of differential diameters in ascending aorta and descending aorta)

We carried out the surgery of thoracic aortic aneurysm in fifty-eight patients from June 1994 to February 1999 (including aortic dissection in twenty-six patients). The mean size of grafts were 28.1 mm in ascending graft replacement, 25.8 mm in both ascending and arch graft replacement and 23.8 mm in descending graft replacement. The grafts for ascending aortic aneurysm were significantly larger than those for descending aortic aneurysm. In two of twenty-six patients undergoing both ascending and arch graft replacement, different size of grafts were used for ascending replacement and for arch replacement with satisfactory results in terms of bleeding from the anastomotic sites. Case 1; A 45-year-female with aortitis syndrome and aortic regurgitation due to annuloaorticectasia and thoracic aortic aneurysm underwent simultaneous aortic root replacement with composite graft (25 mm St. Jude Medical valve and 28 mm Hemashield graft) and total arch replacement (30 mm Hemashield graft with two side branches). Case 2; A 64-year-female was diagnosed as chronic type II dissecting aneurysm combined with acute type I aortic dissection. Ascending aorta was replaced with a 26 mm Hemashield graft, and the aortic arch was replaced with a 24 mm Hemashield graft with three side branches.     

Acute Type A Dissection Treated with Combined Endovascular Repair of Arch and Surgical Bypass of Arch Vessels from Descending Aorta

We report a case of an endovascular repair of a recurrent dissecting aneurysm of the aortic arch and dissection of carotid vessels, 3 years after surgical repair of aortic valve and ascending aorta for a type A dissection. We performed a bypass from the descending aorta to right, left common carotid artery (CCA), to left subclavian artery with no cardiopulmonary bypass and thereafter, total ascending and aortic arch stent grafting. We suggest considering total aortic arch stent grafting with bypass of arch vessels in cases of complicated acute type A dissection. In cases where the ascending aorta cannot be used as donor site for bypass, we suggest the use of the descending aorta.     

Secondary elephant trunk fixation with endovascular stent grafting for extensive/multiple thoracic aortic aneurysm.

Four patients who underwent secondary elephant trunk fixation by endovascular stent grafting are presented and the advantage of this method to treat multiple/extensive thoracic aortic aneurysm is discussed. In two of them, the elephant trunk installation has been performed at another hospital for extensive aortic aneurysm. In two other patients, the aortic arch replacement and the elephant trunk installation were performed through median sternotomy, initially for multiple aortic lesions, including both arch and descending aorta. No neurological deficit, stroke nor spinal cord injury was encountered during the follow-up period (24-40 months). The diameter of the aneurysms decreased markedly in three patients. In one patient, the aneurysm expanded gradually and type II endoleak was treated by coil embolization. In one patient, who showed marked shrinkage of the aneurysm, the stent graft kinked mildly. Based on the low mortality rate of well-established aortic arch surgery, concomitant elephant trunk installation which was followed by the secondary fixation with endovascular stent grafting might be useful to treat multiple/extensive thoracic aneurysm from distal arch to descending aorta.     

Hypothermic circulatory arrest does not increase the risk of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm resection.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of a period of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) during elective replacement of the ascending thoracic aorta. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: DHCA has been implemented in ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm resection whenever the anatomy or pathology of the aorta or arch vessels prevents safe or adequate cross-clamping. Profound hypothermia and retrograde cerebral perfusion have been shown to be neurologically protective during ascending aortic replacement under circulatory arrest. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of 91 consecutive patients who underwent repair of chronic ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms from 1986 to present. The authors hypothesized that patients undergoing DHCA with or without retrograde cerebral perfusion during aneurysm repair were at no greater operative risk than patients who received aneurysm resection while on standard cardiopulmonary bypass. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in hospital mortality, stroke rate, or operative morbidity between patients repaired on DHCA when compared to those repaired on cardiopulmonary bypass. CONCLUSIONS: DHCA with or without retrograde cerebral perfusion does not result in increased morbidity or mortality during the resection of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms. In fact, this technique may prevent damage to the arch vessels in select cases and avoid the possible complications associated with cross-clamping a friable or atherosclerotic aorta.