Laparoscopy-assisted abdominal aortic aneurysm endoaneurysmorraphy: early and mid-term results

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to evaluate the consequences on patient selection and on early and mid-term results during the learning curve of a surgical team performing laparoscopy-assisted surgery to treat abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between December 1998 and January 2002, 24 patients (22 men, 2 women; mean age, 68.2 years [range, 57-82 years]) were included in a prospective study and underwent laparoscopic transperitoneal AAA dissection followed by graft implantation through a 6 to 9 cm minilaparotomy. Perioperative data for the first 10 patients, obtained during the first 25 months of the study (group 1), were compared with data for the last 14 patients, obtained during the last 13 months of the study (group 2). Follow-up consisted of clinical examination or duplex scanning, or both, at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and yearly thereafter, and computed tomographic scanning before discharge and yearly thereafter. RESULTS: One patient (4.3%) died in the immediate postoperative period. In this patient and two others (12.5%), the minilaparotomy was extended intraoperatively, from 12 cm to 16 cm. With experience, initial contraindications such as obesity and short proximal or calcified aortic neck were eliminated, enabling increase in rate of patients included, from 27.7% during the first 25 first months to 56% during the last 13 months (P =.063). Mean duration of operative clamping decreased from 275 minutes in group 1 to 195 minutes in group 2 (P <.0001), and mean duration of aortic clamping decreased from 101 minutes in group 1 to 52 minutes in group 2 (P <.0001). The number of early repeat interventions was reduced from 3 (30%) in group 1 to 2 (14.3%) in group 2 (P =.61), and clinical recovery period decreased from 6.8 days to 4.3 days (P <.005). During mean follow-up of 17.1 months (range, 3-38 months), no late aortoiliac procedures were necessary and no prosthetic abnormality was detected. CONCLUSION: This minimally invasive video-assisted technique provides good postoperative comfort and excellent mid-term results. Developments in experience and instrumentation have enabled us to include a growing number of patients and to reduce the duration of the procedure.     

Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: 5-year follow-up results

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) offers a minimally invasive alternative to open repair and has the benefits of reduced perioperative morbidity and mortality. There are potential complications specific to EVAR, including device failure, graft migration, and endoleak, which necessitate long-term follow-up. This remains a relatively novel technique, and therefore, little long-term data exist. This study reports 5-year EVAR outcome data from a single center. Five-year follow-up data for 58 patients at a single center who underwent EVAR using a variety of different commercial devices was reviewed. All patients were followed up with 6-monthly duplex ultrasound scanning and clinical assessment in a nurse-led clinic, in addition to yearly computed tomographic (CT) scans for those participating in the EVAR trial. All patients in this series were male, with a median age of 72 years (range 58-81). Mean preoperative aortic diameter was 5.95 cm, and this reduced following EVAR to 5.2 cm (mean diameter) at 5 years. Mean hospital stay was 7 days, and there were no perioperative deaths. There were 20 (34%) early and 15 (26%) late complications. There were 13 endoleaks confirmed on CT; four (31%) were type I and nine (69%) were type II. All-cause mortality was 26%. There were no late aneurysm-related deaths. EVAR has the advantages of shorter hospital stay and reduced perioperative morbidity and mortality. Long-term follow-up remains a priority following aortic stenting in order to detect late complications such as endoleak.     

Laparoscopically assisted abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: First 20 cases

Purpose: Laparoscopic surgery decreases postoperative pain, shortens hospital stay, and returns patients to full functional status more quickly than open surgery for a variety of surgical procedures. This study was undertaken to evaluate laparoscopic techniques for application to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. Methods: Twenty patients who had AAAs that required a tube graft underwent laparoscopically assisted AAA repair. The procedure consisted of transperitoneal laparoscopic dissection of the aneurysm neck and iliac vessels. A standard endoaneurysmorrhaphy was then performed through a minilaparotomy using the port sites for the aortic and iliac clamps. Data included operative times, duration of nasogastric suction, intensive care unit days, and postoperative hospital days. Pulmonary artery catheters and transesophageal echocardiography were used in seven patients. For these patients data included heart rate, pulmonary artery systolic and diastolic pressures, mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, cardiac index, and end diastolic area. Data were obtained before induction, during and after insufflation, during aortic cross-clamp, and at the end of the procedure. Results: Laparoscopically assisted AAA repair was completed in 18 of 20 patients. Laparoscopic and total operative times were 1.44 ± 0.44 and 4.1 ± 0.92 hours, respectively. Duration of nasogastric suction was 1.3 ± 0.7 days. Intensive care unit stay was 2.2 ± 0.9 days. The mean length of hospital stay was 5.8 days excluding three patients who underwent other procedures. There were two minor complications, one major complication (colectomy after colon ischemia), and no deaths. For the eight patients who had intraoperative transesophageal echocardiographic monitoring, no changes were noted in heart rate, pulmonary artery systolic pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and cardiac index. Pulmonary artery diastolic pressure and central venous pressure were greatest during insufflation without changes in end-diastolic area. Volume status, as reflected by end-diastolic area and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, did not change. Conclusions: Laparoscopically assisted AAA repair is technically challenging but feasible. Potential advantages may be early removal of nasogastric suction, shorter intensive care unit and hospital stays, and prompt return to full functional status. The hemodynamic data obtained from the pulmonary artery catheter and transesophageal echocardiogram during pneumoperitoneum suggest that transesophageal echocardiography may be sufficient for evaluation of volume status along with the added benefit of detection of regional wall motion abnormalities and aortic insufficiency. Further refinement in technique and instrumentation will make total laparoscopic AAA repair a reality. (J Vasc Surg 1998;27:81-8.)     

高外科风险腹主动脉瘤腔内修复术的近远期结果

目的 探讨高外科风险腹主动脉瘤患者接受腔内修复术治疗的近远期结果.方法 1997年7月至2011年7月,120例因肾下腹主动脉瘤行腔内修复术治疗的高外科风险患者纳入本研究.本组患者男性96例,女性24例;年龄52～95岁,平均74岁.平均动脉瘤直径(57±8)mm.术后1、3、6、12个月及此后每年进行CT血管造影或B超随访.主要研究内容是手术病死率及远期生存率,次要研究内容是二次手术率、动脉瘤体术后的变化以及支架的通畅率.结果 全身麻醉83例,局部麻醉37例.术后Ⅰ型内漏5例,Ⅱ型内漏25例,Ⅲ型内漏1例,技术成功率95％.手术病死率2.5％.随访6～144个月,平均(36±3)个月.术后1年生存率为92％,3年生存率为75％,5年生存率为43％.术后3年支架的一、二期通畅率分别为97％和100％.5年二次手术率为10％ (12/120),手术原因为:7例内漏,2例支架断裂,2例支架移位,1例支架内血栓形成.结论 高外科风险腹主动脉瘤患者接受腔内修复术治疗的近远期结果满意,证实该技术适用于这类人群.     

腹主动脉瘤腔内治疗81例临床分析

目的 评估腔内修复术(EVAR)治疗腹主动脉瘤(AAA)的疗效及安全性,并比较不同年龄阶段患者的预后情况.方法 回顾性分析2005年5月到2011年5月接受EVAR的81例AAA 患者的住院和随访资料,将所有患者划分为高龄组(年龄≥75岁)和相对低龄组(年龄＜75岁),分别为24例和57例.对两组患者的一般状况、合并症、手术情况、院内并发症和随访等资料进行对比.结果 所有覆膜支架均顺利植入,技术成功率91.4％ (74/81).术中无死亡病例,住院病死率1.2％( 1/81).74例获得随访,随访率91.4％,平均随访47.5个月.随访期间死亡12例,1、2、3、4和5年生存率分别为98.6％、92.2％、80.8％、58.7％和44.1％.与相对低龄组比较,高龄组出现腹部疼痛症状比例较低,而合并肾脏疾病和冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病比例较高,术后重症监护时间较长,内漏发生率明显增加,而肺部感染和穿刺点血肿发生率也有增高趋势,其余住院及随访情况则无明显差异.结论 EVAR治疗AAA创伤小,安全,短中期疗效满意.高龄患者接受EVAR治疗后部分并发症发生率更高,围手术期应充分准备和密切观察,更好地防治可能的并发症,进一步改善预后.     

Elective abdominal aortic aneurysm operations--the results of a single surgeon series of 243 consecutive operations from a district general hospital

BACKGROUND: There are few data on the morbidity and mortality of planned elective surgery for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) as a single surgeon series. This audit is of a consecutive series of AAA operations performed by one surgeon in one district general hospital over a 13-year period. METHODS: 243 patients were operated on for AAA between 1985 and 1998. Data were collected on the majority of patients prospectively. A reliable method was devised to identify all patients. Any missing complication and mortality data were then collected retrospectively. RESULTS: 13 patients died as a result of their operation (5.3%). In patients over the age of 80 years (36), five patients died (14%) and in the 207 patients under the age of 80 years, eight died (3.8%). Cardiac deaths were the most frequent cause (38%); 82 patients had recorded complications (34%). The operative mortality rate has increased in later years, (2.2% to 7.1%), largely due to an increase in the very elderly accepted for operation (12% to 16%), and a possible increase in co-morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: An acceptable and comparable mortality rate can be achieved in a district general hospital. The complication rate is high indicating the need for very intense medical and nursing care for these patients postoperatively. There is a considerable variance in mortality rates with age and risk even in the practice of one surgeon, indicating a need to be very knowledgeable and cautious in interpreting postoperative mortality data. This is the largest single surgeon series to date in the UK.     

A statewide experience with endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: rapid diffusion with excellent early results

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare survival and outcomes of endovascular versus open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) in New York State (NYS). METHODS: We used the NYS discharge dataset Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) to analyze the outcomes of elective admission for nonruptured (International Classification of Diseases-9th revision [ICD-9] 441.4) open aneurysm repair (38.44) and endovascular aneurysm repair (39.71) during the years 2000-2002. The ICD-9 code for endovascular repair was introduced in late 2000, thus capturing 3 months of empiric data for 2000. RESULTS: There has been a significant increase in the number of AAA procedures performed in NYS (comparing before and after 2000: average, 1419 vs 1701; P =.0001), temporally coinciding with the implementation of training programs after US Food and Drug Administration approval of endovascular grafts and the new payment code. From 2000 to 2002 the number of NYS hospitals performing endovascular repairs increased from 24 to 60. By 2002 there were more endovascular repairs being performed than open repairs (871 vs 783). The target population for these surgical interventions showed interesting differences. In 2002, women had a 43% chance of receiving an endograft, whereas men had a 55% probability. The use of endovascular repair over the observation period was relatively constant in patients younger than 65 years. In patients older than 65 years, and especially those older than 75 years, endovascular use increased substantially, so that by 2002 older patients were more likely to undergo endovascular repair than open repair. Patients who underwent endovascular repair had significantly more hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia than did patients who underwent open repair. Yet the mean length of stay for endovascular procedures was approximately 3.6 days, and for open procedures was about 10.3 days, across all 3 years (P = <.0001). Moreover, patients who underwent endovascular repair had statistically fewer postoperative complications and significantly lower mortality. In-hospital mortality in 2001 was 3.55% for open repair and 1.14% for endovascular repair (P =.0018), and in 2002 these rates were 4.21% versus 0.8% (P <.0001), respectively. CONCLUSION: This dataset suggests that endovascular AAA repairs are being performed in a patient population with a higher frequency of comorbidities. However, endovascular repairs still are associated with significantly lower in-hospital mortality, fewer postoperative complications, and a dramatically shorter length of stay. These results suggest that, despite the rapid diffusion of this new technique, early perioperative outcomes may be superior to those with conventional open repair. However, prospective clinical studies are needed to confirm these insights, and such studies may require the infrastructure of consortia of hospitals or society-based registries.     

Laparoscopic-assisted abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Since the advent of laparoscopy, the sweeping changes seen in general surgery have not been paralleled in vascular surgery. There have been case reports of laparoscopic-assisted aortobifemoral bypass for occlusive disease. Because aneurysmal disease comprises the majority of aortic surgery, we pursued animal and cadaveric feasibility studies for laparoscopic-assisted abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. We present a case report of the first clinical case performed under Institutional Review Board protocol using this technique. The patient was a 62-year-old male with a 6-cm infrarenal AAA. After obtaining a pneumoperitoneum, a modified fish retractor was used to exclude the bowel. Ten 11-mm ports provided access to laparoscopically dissect the neck of the aneurysm and the iliac vessels. Then, a 10-cm minilaparotomy was performed and standard vascular clamps were inserted via the port incisions. Standard aneurysmorraphy was performed with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tube graft. Laparoscopy conferred three major benefits: better visualization of the aneurysm neck, less bowel manipulation, and avoidance of hypothermia. This case report illustrates the feasibility of laparoscopic-assisted aneurysm repair. Controlled human studies will define the role of laparoscopy in AAA surgery.     

Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Around two-thirds of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are incidentaldiscoveries during the investigation of backache, hip pain orurinary tract complaints. They are much more common in men thanwomen (5:1) and account for 2% of all deaths in men aged >60yr. Open surgical repair of the aneurysm is considered as thestandard, traditional method of treatment. Surgery is recommendedwhen the AAA exceeds 55 mm in anteroposterior diameter as measuredby ultrasound scan. The risk of spontaneous rupture dependson aneurysm size, ranging from <1% per annum for AAA <55mm diameter to >17% per annum for aneurysms >60 mm diameter.Ninety per cent of AAAs are located distal to the renal arteries. Endovascular repair of an aortic aneurysm using an in-situ prostheticgraft was suggested as a technique in 1969 by Dotter, but wasonly first performed successfully by Parodi and colleagues in1990. Over the last 10 yr, the availability of endovascularstent grafts has provided an alternative treatment for patientswith AAA, especially the elderly with significant co-existingmedical conditions. Endovascular repair is much less invasive.However, it is challenging technically and requires a multidisciplinaryapproach. During endovascular surgery, an aortic stent graft is passedvia the femoral arteries through the aortic lumen to fit tightlyabove and below the AAA. The aim is to exclude the aneurysmsac from the systemic circulation, thereby decreasing or eliminatingthe risk of future rupture. The procedure is performed throughincisions in one or both groins; no laparotomy is required.However, certain anatomical considerations apply.     

Complex abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

ascular surgery is a challenging discipline and complex aneurysms can present an entire range of technical difficulties. To overcome these problems good technical skills are mandatory. However, it is also worth remembering a few basic rules: The simplest solution is often the best. All cases need careful planning, including that of the approach. A successful anastomosis requires good aortic tissue. Minimal dissection reduces morbidity.     

腹主动脉瘤腔内治疗现状

1991年,Parodi等发明人工血管内支架（stent graft,SG）并用于临床成功治愈腹主动脉瘤（abdominal aortic aneurvsm,AAA）,此后腹主动脉瘤腔内治疗（endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair,EVAR）取得迅速发展。由于EVAR避免了传统开腹手术创伤大和出血多的缺点,使高龄或伴有心、肺、肝、肾功能不全的患者获得积极治疗的机会。一般来讲,腔内治疗主要是指肾下型腹主动脉瘤。     

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair

In treating uncomplicated abdominal aortic aenurysm, endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) has been employed as a good alternative to open repair with low perioperative morbidity and mortality. However, the aneurysm can enlarge or rupture even after EVAR as a result of device failure, endoleak, or graft migration. We experienced two cases of aneurismal rupture after EVAR, which were successfully treated by surgical extra-anatomic bypass.     

Late abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture after AneuRx repair: a report of three cases

Rupture due to device failure and/or endoleak is the most feared complication of endoluminal grafting for exclusion of abdominal aortic aneurysm. We present three previously unreported cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture 23 months after AneuRx "repair" and describe the mechanisms of failure and discuss instructive technical aspects of their management.     

Influence of sex on the results of abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of sex on the survival rate and complications after repair of nonruptured and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).Methods: The Canadian Society for Vascular Surgery Aneurysm Registry formed the database for analysis and provided current, ongoing follow-up of the patients. Statistical methods included t tests, chi-squared analysis, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and Cox regression analysis.Results: Of the 679 patients undergoing repair of a nonruptured AAA, 19.7% were women and 82.3% men. The following risk factors were significantly different (p < 0.05) in women and men: women were older; more had never smoked; more had a positive family history of AAA; fewer had an electrocardiogram showing evidence of an old myocardial infarction; more had coexisting aortoiliac occlusive disease; fewer had popliteal or femoral aneurysms; and the average size of the AAA was smaller. In spite of potential differences in risk, the in-hospital mortality rates were not affected by sex: 5.2% mortality rate for women and 4.4% for men. Early and late vascular complications occurred with a similar prevalence. The late survival rates were not different in women and men: for women, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 93.0%, 74.2%, and 63.3%, respectively, and for men 90.3%, 82.8%, and 68.9%. To control for the potential effects of other confounding variables on survival, the Cox proportional hazards method was used. When sex was included in a model along with other significant predictive variables of late survival, sex was not found to be a significant predictor of late results. Of the 146 patients with a ruptured AAA, 13.7% were women and 83.3% men. The in-hospital mortality rates were not significantly different: 55.0% for women and 49.2% for men. There was no difference between the cumulative survival rates: the 3- and 5-year survival rates for women were 36.0% and 9.0%, respectively, and for men 33.9% and 26.9%.Conclusions: Sex was not found to have an effect on the early or late results after repair of nonruptured or ruptured AAA. However, a literature review suggests the possibility of a gender bias in the diagnosis and/or selection of patients for surgical treatment because the proportion of women in surgical series is generally less than the proportion determined from autopsy studies, ultrasound studies, hospital discharge data, and national mortality information. (J VASC SURG 1994;20:914-26.)     

Percutaneous repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm

OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous treatment of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is feasible, but is associated with a unique set of risks. A comparison of Excluder endograft deployment with femoral artery cutdown (FAC) versus percutaneous femoral access (PFA) for treatment of infrarenal AAA was undertaken. METHODS: A single-institution, controlled, retrospective review was carried out in patients who underwent either bilateral FAC or bilateral PFA for endovascular repair of infrarenal AAA with the Gore bifurcated Excluder endograft between March 1999 and November 2003. To November 2000, 35 patients underwent bilateral FAC; since then, 47 patients have undergone bilateral PFA. All have been followed up for at least 30 days. RESULTS: Mean AAA size was 5.7 cm in the FAC group and 6.0 cm in the PFA group. During hospitalization there were six access-related complications in the FAC group; three required early surgical intervention. In the PFA group nine perioperative access-related complications occurred, all consisting of either hemorrhage or arterial occlusion; seven required additional intervention, and were recognized and ameliorated while the patient was still in the operating room. At 30-day follow-up there were no additional access-related complications in the PFA group. There were eight other access-related complications in eight additional patients who underwent FAC. In patients undergoing bilateral PFA total operative time was shorter (PFA 139 minutes vs FAC 169 minutes; P =.002), total in-room anesthesia time was less (PFA 201 minutes vs FAC 225 minutes; P <.008), and use of general anesthesia was reduced (P <.001). No significant differences were observed between groups with respect to estimated blood loss (PFA 459 mL vs FAC 389 mL; P =.851). CONCLUSION: Complete percutaneous treatment of AAA may have some advantages over open femoral artery access, but it is not free from risk. Percutaneous treatment of AAA can be completed successfully in most patients, but should be performed at an institution where conversion to an open procedure can be completed expeditiously if necessary.