Repair of juxtarenal para-anastomotic aortic aneurysms after previous open repair with fenestrated and branched endovascular stent grafts

Three patients with juxtarenal para-anastomotic aortic aneurysms after previous open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair were treated with custom-designed fenestrated and branched Zenith endovascular stent grafts. Six renal arteries and two superior mesenteric arteries were targeted for incorporation by graft fenestrations and branches. The fenestration/renal ostium interface was secured with balloon-expandable Genesis stents (n = 5) or Jostent stent grafts (n = 1). Completion angiography demonstrated no endoleaks and antegrade perfusion in all target vessels. During follow-up, one patient developed asymptomatic renal artery occlusion and underwent further endovascular intervention for type I distal endoleak. Computed tomography at 12 months demonstrated complete aneurysm exclusion in all patients with antegrade perfusion in the remaining target vessels. Fenestrated and branched endovascular stent grafts may be an acceptable alternative to conventional open repair in this group of patients.     

Endovascular stent grafts as a safe secondary option for para-anastomotic abdominal aortic aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience of endovascular repair of para-anastomotic aortic aneurysm. METHODS AND RESULTS: From March 2001 to December 2004 we identified 6 patients with a para-anastomotic aortic aneurysms following previous open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm. All patients were treated with endovascular surgery under epidural anaesthesia. There were no major complications, surgical conversions or deaths. Four patients received a bifurcated aortic stent-graft, and two an aorto-uniliac stent-graft followed by a femoro-femoral bypass. At follow-up (mean 26.1+/-10.2 months) there were no deaths, endoleaks or graft migrations observed. CONCLUSION: Endovascular surgery, avoiding general anesthesia and re-laparotomy, is the ideal technique for treatment of this complication resulting from failed primary conventional AAA repair.     

External iliac artery-to-internal iliac artery endograft: a novel approach to preserve pelvic inflow in aortoiliac stent grafting.

PURPOSE: To describe four patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and bilateral common iliac artery aneurysms repaired by coil embolization of the ipsilateral internal iliac artery, aortouniiliac endograft extended to the ipsilateral external iliac artery, femorofemoral bypass grafting, and a contralateral external iliac to internal iliac stent graft to preserve pelvic perfusion. METHODS: Four patients with multiple risk factors, abdominal aortic aneurysm (mean diameter, 6.6 cm), and bilateral common iliac artery aneurysms were evaluated with contrast-enhanced computed tomography scanning, arteriography, and intravascular ultrasonography. Aortobiiliac endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair was not feasible because of extension of the common iliac artery aneurysms to the iliac bifurcation bilaterally. RESULTS: The abdominal aortic aneurysms were repaired with an aortouniiliac endograft. The ipsilateral common iliac artery aneurysms were treated by coil embolization of the internal iliac artery and extension of the endograft to the external iliac artery. The contralateral common iliac artery aneurysms were excluded by a custom-made stent graft (n = 2) or a commercial stent graft (n = 2) from the external iliac artery to the internal iliac artery, which preserved pelvic inflow via retrograde perfusion from the femorofemoral bypass. Mean length of stay was 3.5 days. One patient had hip claudication. Follow-up (mean 10 months, range 6 to 17) demonstrated exclusion of the abdominal aortic aneurysm and common iliac artery aneurysms with no endoleak and patent external iliac artery-to-internal iliac artery endografts in all patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with bilateral common iliac artery aneurysms that extend to the iliac bifurcation may be excluded from endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair because of concerns regarding pelvic ischemia after occlusion of both internal iliac arteries. External iliac artery-to-internal iliac artery endografting is a feasible alternative to maintain pelvic perfusion and still allow endograft repair of the abdominal aortic aneurysm in these patients.     

Endovascular repair of para-anastomotic aneurysms of the aorta and iliac arteries: preferred treatment for a complex problem

PURPOSE: Standard surgical repair of para-anastamotic aneurysms (PAAs) of the abdominal and thoracic aorta and the iliac arteries has been associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. We reviewed our continuing experience with endovascular repair of these lesions to determine whether this approach is favorable and durable. METHODS: All patients with PAAs of the aorta or iliac arteries who underwent endovascular treatment of their lesions between August 1993 and July 1999 were prospectively followed up, and data on age, previous aortic pathology and surgery, size of PAA, time to diagnosis, and symptoms at presentation were recorded. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative imaging studies were analyzed. All patients had endovascular stent-grafts placed under digital fluoroscopic guidance in the operating room. Data on intraoperative and postoperative complications, mortality, and endoleaks were reviewed. RESULTS: From August 1993 to July 1999, 28 patients (20 men, 8 women) had 35 PAAs of the aorta or iliac arteries. There were 5 thoracic aortic, 12 abdominal aortic, and 18 iliac artery PAAs. Three patients had a contained rupture of their PAA. All patients who had originally undergone reconstruction for occlusive disease had lesions consistent with false aneurysms, whereas 73% of the aortic or iliac PAAs in patients originally treated for aneurysm disease appeared to be true aneurysms. Thirty-four of 35 PAAs were successfully excluded with stent-grafts (97%). There was one death at 30 days (3.6%) in a patient who was successfully treated endovascularly for a contained rupture of a thoracic PAA. There were four major postoperative complications (14.2%) in the 28 patients who were treated. One patient had continued perfusion of a thoracic aortic PAA (type I endoleak). The in-hospital length of stay after endovascular repair of PAA was 4 days (range, 1-18 days). The mean follow-up period was 21 months (range, 1-68 months). CONCLUSION: Endovascular repair of aortic and iliac artery PAAs is technically feasible and provides a high rate of lesion exclusion. Morbidity and mortality rates appear lower than those reported for open surgical repair. These patients can typically be discharged by the second postoperative day. Endovascular therapy for stable ruptured PAAs can be successfully performed and should be considered as an option only when appropriate devices and expertise are available. For uncomplicated PAAs of the aorta and iliac arteries, endovascular therapy may be more favorable than surgical repair.     

Endovascular Repair of Paraanastomotic Aneurysms after Previous Open Aortic Prosthetic Reconstruction

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of endovascular repair of anastomotic and true aortic and iliac aneurysms occurring after prior polyester graft repair for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) or aortoiliac obstructive disease. Between July 1999 and January 2003, 14 patients underwent endovascular treatment of aortic pseudoaneurysms (n = 6) or iliac aneurysms (2 patients with pseudoaneurysms and 6 patients with true aneurysms) occurring 4 to 18.4 years (mean, 8.8 years) after open aortic surgery. No patient had symptoms or positive parameters for infection of the original polyester graft. Eleven patients, including one patient with both a proximal anastomotic and a true iliac aneurysm, were treated with AneuRx (n = 8), Talent (n = 2), or Quantum LP (n = 1) bifurcated stent grafts. Three patients with an infrarenal anastomotic pseudoaneurysm were treated with a tube stent graft (Talent [n = 2] and AneuRx [n = 1]). Endovascular stent grafts were successfully inserted in all patients. Procedure-related complications or death was not seen. During a median follow-up of 12 months (range, 3-40) all anastomotic and/or true aneurysms treated with bifurcated stent grafts maintained excluded. However, two out of three patients, treated with a tube graft for proximal aneurysm exclusion, were converted. In both patients the tube stent graft did not migrate from the level of the renal arteries but fixation failed between the stent graft and the previous polyester graft, creating endotension in the thrombus of the aneurysm sac. In one of these patients the old anastomotic aneurysm ruptured 16 months after stent graft placement and the patient died 1 day after conversion because of mesenterial ischemia. At 1 year follow-up the second patient was converted successfully after enlargement of his anastomotic aneurysm due to similar disconnection between the stent graft and the polyester graft. From this experience with endovascular stent grafts, we conclude that these can be used successfully to exclude anastomotic or true aneurysms after open aortic surgery. Exclusion of aneurysms at the proximal anastomosis with tube stent grafts is apparently not durable because of the insecure distal fixation in polyester grafts. Endovascular repair with bifurcated stent grafts, however, seems to be effective at midterm follow-up.Presented at the Twenty-eighth Annual Meeting of the Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society, Chicago, II, June 7, 2003.     

Thoracic aortic aneurysms: treatment with endovascular self-expandable stent grafts

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of endovascular stent graft placement in the treatment of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms. METHODS: Between November 1996 and February 1999, endovascular stent graft repair was used in 21 patients. There were 5 women and 16 men with a mean age of 67 years (range, 41 to 87 years). An atherosclerotic aneurysm with a diameter of more than 6 cm was the indication for intervention in 19 patients (90.5%). In 2 patients (9.5%), a localized aortic dissection with a diameter of more than 6 cm was treated. In 71.4% (15 of 21) of patients, multiple stents were necessary for aneurysm exclusion. To allow safe deployment of the stent graft, preliminary subclavian-carotid artery transposition was performed in 9 patients (42.9%). Vascular access was achieved through a small incision in the abdominal aorta (n = 6), an iliac artery (n = 8), or a femoral artery (n = 7). Talent and Prograft stent grafts were used. RESULTS: Successful deployment of the endovascular stent grafts was achieved in all patients. Two patients died postoperatively (mortality rate, 9.5%), 1 of aneurysmal rupture and the other of impaired perfusion of the celiac axis. Repeat stenting was done in 3 patients because of intraoperative leakage. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular stent graft repair is a promising and less invasive alternative to exclude the aneurysm from blood flow. This technique allows treatment of patients who are unsuitable for conventional surgical procedures. An exact definition of inclusion criteria and technical development of stent grafts should contribute to further improvements in clinical results.     

Clinical results of endovascular stent graft repair for fifty cases of thoracic aortic aneurysms

Between February 1995 and December 1997, 50 cases (55 lesions) of thoracic aortic aneurysms including 20 cases of aortic dissections were treated with an endovascular technique using the stent grafts. All patients were treated in the operating room under general anesthesia and the stent grafts were implanted through 18 Fr. or 20 Fr. sheathes via femoral arteries under fluoroscopic guidance. The stent graft was composed of several units of self-expanding stainlesssteel Z stents covered with an ultra-thin polyester fabric. Stent graft deployment was technically successful in 53 of 55 lesions (delivery success rate: 96.4%). Exclusion of the aneurysms and entry closing without endoleak were achieved within two weeks after the operation in 43 of 53 lesions (initial success rate: 81.1%). Endoleak was found in 10 lesions (minor endoleak: 8 and major endoleak: 2 lesions). Two patients died in the periopertive period of delivery failures as injury to external iliac artery and damage to the delivery sheath caused by tortuous and narrow access routes. Endovascular stent graft repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms is minimally invasive operation in comparison with conventional surgical graft replacement with extracorporeal circulation. These early results suggest that the stent graft repair is possibly safe and useful treatment for the patients of thoracic aortic aneurysms especially in high risk patients. However, careful long-term follow-up is necessary to prove the value and the effects of this endovascular treatment and improvement of the stent graft system and technical training of endovascular surgery for operators are required to reduce the delivery failure and to determin the stent graft repair is reliable treatment.     

Ancillary techniques to facilitate endovascular repair of aortic aneurysms.

PURPOSE: The ability to treat abdominal aortoiliac aneurysms and thoracic aortic aneurysms may be limited by coexisting arterial disease. Device deployment may be impaired by occlusive disease and tortuosity of the arteries used to access the aneurysm or by suitability of the implantation sites. In this study we describe the auxiliary procedures performed to circumvent these obstacles and thereby enable endovascular aneurysm repair. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 1999, 390 patients treated for aneurysm of the aorta with endovascular devices were entered prospectively in a vascular registry. Fifty (12%) of the 390 patients required adjunctive surgical techniques to (1) create or extend the length of the proximal or distal device implantation site or (2) permit device navigation through diseased iliac arteries. Auxiliary techniques used to extend or enhance implantation sites were elephant trunk graft (n = 2), the construction of renovisceral bypass grafts (n = 1), and subclavian artery transposition (n = 2). Plication of the common iliac artery at its bifurcation was performed in conjunction with femorofemoral bypass graft in nine patients to allow preservation of pelvic circulation by avoiding internal iliac artery sacrifice. Construction of a bypass graft to transpose the internal iliac artery orifice was performed in one patient. The auxiliary techniques used to facilitate device navigation were iliac artery angioplasty or stenting (n = 8), external iliac artery endovascular endarterectomy or straightening (n = 14), endoluminal iliofemoral bypass conduit (n = 5), and the construction of an open iliofemoral bypass conduit (n = 8). RESULTS: Successful deployment of the endovascular devices was achieved in 49 (98%) of 50 patients. Auxiliary techniques were successful in providing access for endovascular device deployment in all 35 patients (100%). Mean follow-up for techniques to facilitate device navigation is 26 months for endovascular procedures and 42 months for the open bypass graft construction patients; no occlusions were observed at this moment. There were five patients with incisional hematomas that did not necessitate intervention. Fourteen (94%) of 15 patients underwent successful device implantation after the auxiliary maneuvers to enhance implantation site. Mean follow-up for implantation site manipulation is 28 months. One of the subclavian transpositions had a new onset of Horner's syndrome, two of nine patients who had common iliac artery ligated had retroperitoneal hematomas that did not necessitate interventions, and no colon ischemia was seen. The patient who underwent nonanatomic bypass grafting of viscero-renal arteries had a retroperitoneal hematoma that necessitated reexploration. CONCLUSIONS: Significant coexisting arterial disease may be encountered in patients with aortic or iliac aneurysms. Identification of coexisting arterial diseases is essential to help tailor the appropriate supplemental surgical procedure to allow the performance of endovascular aneurysm repair in patients who would otherwise require open surgical repair.     

Hybrid-fenestrated aortic aneurysm repair: a novel technique for treating patients with para-anastomotic juxtarenal aneurysms

This article describes a novel technique that combines off-label endovascular methods with an open surgical debranching procedure to facilitate repair of a para-anastomotic juxtarenal aortic aneurysm. We present a case of recurrent aortic aneurysmal disease 10 years after infrarenal tube graft repair. The aneurysm was treated in two stages; first by retrograde aortobirenal bypass with a bifurcated graft. Subsequently, fenestrated endografting was performed with a custom-altered TX-2 thoracic stent graft (COOK, Bloomington, IN), with fenestrations for both the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries. As compared with a purely open approach, this technique offers an alternative for managing juxtarenal aneurysms with less physiologic insult.     

Endovascular repair of an aortoiliac aneurysm with bilateral bifurcated branched iliac stent‐grafts

Extension of abdominal aortic aneurysms to involve one or both common iliac arteries occurs in 20–30% of patients. In treating aneurysmal diseases involving the common iliac arteries, preservation of blood flow to the pelvic circulation is desirable. The development of branched stent‐grafts has made this possible with the endovascular approach. We herein describe our technique of endovascular repair of an aortoiliac aneurysm with bilateral bifurcated branched iliac stent‐grafts.     

Evaluation of spinal cord ischemia in endovascular stent graft repair and surgical operation of descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms

Between October 1996 and June 2003, endovascular stent graft repair was performed in 87 patients with descending thoracic aortic aneurysms, graft replacement was performed in 24 patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms, and endovascular stent graft repair with concomitant surgical bypass of abdominal visceral arteries was performed in 3 patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. The retrievable stent graft was inserted and evoked spinal cord potential were monitored in order to predict spinal cord ischemia for stent graft repair. There was no paraplegia or hospital death, although 3 patients had paraparesis in stent graft repair. Two of the 3 patients with paraparesis made a full neurologic recovery. There were no cases of paraplegia or paraparesis in surgical operations with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. The concomitant surgical procedure was a good technique for patients in whom cardiopulmonary bypass could not be used. Our results of stent graft repair and surgical operation for descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms were acceptable. The retrievable stent graft was useful for prediction of spinal cord ischemia before endovascular stent graft repair of descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm.     

Endovascular treatment of the descending thoracic aorta.

OBJECTIVES: to report our initial experience with endovascular stent graft repair of a variety of thoracic aortic pathology. DESIGN: retrospective single center study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: between February 2000 and January 2002, endovascular stent graft repair was performed in 26 patients: traumatic aortic isthmus rupture (n=3), Type B dissection (n=11) and descending thoracic aortic aneurysm (n=12). The deployed stent graft systems were AneuRx-Medtronic (n=1), Talent-Medtronic (n=13) and Excluder-Gore (n=12). RESULTS: successful deployment of the stent grafts in the intended position was achieved in all patients. No hospital mortality neither paraplegia were observed. Late, non procedure related, death occurred in four patients (15%). Access artery complications with rupture of the iliac artery occurred in two patients and were managed by iliac-femoral bypass. The left subclavian artery was overstented in seven patients (27%). Only the first patient received a carotido-subclavian bypass. The mean maximal aortic diameter decreased significantly in patients treated for descending thoracic aneurysm. Only one patient had an endoleak type II after 6 months without enlargement of the aneurysm. Complete thrombosis of the thoracic false lumen occurred in all but one patient treated for Type B dissection 6 months postoperatively. Two patients underwent a consecutive stent graft placement, due to a large re-entry tear distal to the first stent graft. CONCLUSIONS: endovascular stent graft repair for Type B dissection, descending thoracic aneurysm and aortic isthmus rupture is a promising less-invasive alternative to surgical repair. Further studies are mandatory to determine its long-term efficacy.     

经股动脉带膜支架腔内搭桥治疗动脉瘤的初步应用

目的 探讨带膜支架腔内治疗动脉瘤的临床意义。方法 应用进口及自制带膜支架,在透视下经股动脉放置在动脉瘤的恰当位置上,实现动脉瘤的腔内搭桥。结果 ４例胸主动脉瘤,１例累及肾动脉、肠系膜上动脉及腹腔动脉的腹主动脉瘤及１例髂动脉瘤应用直筒状带膜支架;５例肾动脉下腹主动脉瘤应用分叉状带膜支架腔内治疗,即刻效果满意。随访３～１９个月,定期ＣＴ及ＭＲＡ检查。５例术后５～８ｄ出现延迟性发热。１例术后３个月发现有     

一期杂交手术治疗弓部和胸腹段主动脉病变

目的 总结单中心手术结合微创的杂交技术,同期治疗弓部、胸腹段主动脉病变的经验.方法 回顾性分析2007年6月至2008年5月在澳门仁伯爵综合医院应用杂交技术,同期治疗主动脉病变5例的临床资料.其中胸降主动脉瘤累及半弓合并夹层1例,弓降主动脉瘤1例,DebarkeyⅢ型急性主动脉夹层1例,累及双侧髂总、髂内动脉的肾下腹主动脉瘤2例.弓部近端锚定区分类,ZAP 0区2例,ZAP 2区1例.弓降主动脉瘤正中开胸行升主动脉至双侧颈总人工血管搭桥+左颈总动脉至左锁骨下动脉搭桥术,同期导管室血管造影(digital seduction angiogram,DSA)下经股动脉释放Zenith覆膜支架.Debakey Ⅲ型夹层行左颈总至左锁骨下动脉搭桥后释放覆膜支架封闭破口.对于累及双侧髂内动脉的腹主动脉瘤,预先髂内、外动脉搭桥后释放腹主动脉分叉支架.结果 手术5例均获成功,术后即刻造影和随访CTA无内漏发生,随访期2～10个月.出血量约200～600 ml之间,均未输血.1例弓部杂交术后相继发生成人呼吸窘迫综合征(adult respiratory distresssyndrome,ARDS),及急性左心衰,经积极治疗后痊愈.1例术后因心肌梗塞死亡.2例弓部杂交治疗病例各颈动脉阻断时间均小于10 min,均无神经并发症或者轻微神经症状.另1例腹主动脉瘤患者杂交术后恢复正常,无并发症.结论 应用手术结合微创这一新型杂交技术治疗胸腹各段主动脉病变,有利于减少外科创伤和体外循环等所带来的血流动力学改变.     

The value of late computed tomographic scanning in identification of vascular abnormalities after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of late arterial abnormalities after aortic aneurysm repair and thus to suggest a routine for postoperative radiologic follow-up examination and to establish reference criteria for endovascular repair. METHODS: Computed tomographic (CT) scan follow-up examination was obtained at 8 to 9 years after abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair on a cohort of patients enrolled in the Canadian Aneurysm Study. The original registry consisted of 680 patients who underwent repair of nonruptured AAA. When the request for CT scan follow-up examination was sent in 1994, 251 patients were alive and potentially available for CT scan follow-up examination and 94 patients agreed to undergo abdominal and thoracic CT scanning procedures. Each scan was interpreted independently by two vascular radiologists. RESULTS: For analysis, the aorta was divided into five defined segments and an aneurysm was defined as a more than 50% enlargement from the expected normal value as defined in the reporting standards for aneurysms. With this strict definition, 64.9% of patients had aneurysmal dilatation and the abnormality was considered as a possible indication for surgical repair in 13.8%. Of the 39 patients who underwent initial repair with a tube graft, 12 (30.8%) were found to have an iliac aneurysm and six of these aneurysms (15.4%) were of possible surgical significance. Graft dilatation was observed from the time of operation (median graft size of 18 mm) to a median size of 22 mm as measured by means of CT scanning at follow-up examination. Fluid or thrombus was seen around the graft in 28% of the cases, and bowel was believed to be intimately associated with the graft in 7%. CONCLUSION: Late follow-up CT scans after AAA repair often show vascular abnormalities. Most of these abnormalities are not clinically significant, but, in 13.8% of patients, the thoracic or abdominal aortic segment was aneurysmal and, in 15.4% of patients who underwent tube graft placement, one of the iliac arteries was significantly abnormal to warrant consideration for surgical repair. On the basis of these findings, a routine CT follow-up examination after 5 years is recommended. This study provides a population-based study for comparison with the results of endovascular repair.     

Aneurysm rupture after endovascular repair using the AneuRx stent graft

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the cause and frequency of aneurysm rupture after endovascular aneurysm repair. METHODS: We reviewed each patient who sustained aneurysm rupture among all patients enrolled for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair in phases I, II, and III of the US AneuRx Multicenter Clinical Trial from June 1996 through October 1999. RESULTS: A total of 1067 patients were enrolled for endovascular aneurysm repair. The AneuRx stent graft was successfully implanted in 1046 patients (98%). Endovascular repair was unsuccessful in 21 patients (2%); 13 patients (1%) were converted to open aneurysm repair. Among these, two patients (0.2%) sustained aneurysm rupture due to procedure-related instrumentation and underwent open surgical conversion. Aneurysm rupture has occurred in seven patients (0.7%) 3 weeks to 24 months (mean, 16 months) after successful endovascular repair. Four patients survived open surgical repair, and three patients died within 30 days. Overall rupture-related mortality was 0.5% and included late deaths after rupture. Before rupture, two patients had endoleak and aneurysm enlargement, and five patients had no endoleak and no aneurysm enlargement. After aneurysm rupture all seven patients had evidence suggesting that there was poor fixation of the stent graft at the proximal distal, or iliac junction fixation sites. The two patients with endoleak declined recommended open surgical or endovascular repair, which could have prevented aneurysm rupture. In retrospect, the five patients without endoleak could potentially have avoided rupture with better patient selection, better stent graft positioning, or reinforcement of fixation points with stent graft extenders. The probability of no aneurysm rupture for all patients undergoing endovascular repair is 0.996 +/- 0.002 at 1 year and 0.974 +/- 0.011 at 2 years by life table analysis with the longest follow-up of 41 months. CONCLUSION: The early risk of aneurysm rupture after endovascular aneurysm repair is low. However, the possibility of rupture persists even in patients with no endoleak after the procedure. Therefore, all patients treated with endovascular aneurysm repair should continue to be monitored after the procedure. Patients with evidence suggesting insecure stent graft fixation should undergo further endovascular treatment or open surgical repair.     

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.     

Hybrid procedures as a combined endovascular and open approach for pararenal and thoracoabdominal aortic pathologies

OBJECTIVES: to report our experience with hybrid vascular procedures in patients with pararenal and thoracoabdominal aortic pathologies. METHODS: 68 patients were treated for thoracoabdominal aortic pathologies between October 1999 and February 2004; 19 patients (16 men; mean age 68, range 40-79) with high risk for open thoracoabdominal repair were considered to be candidates for combined endovascular and open repair. Aortic pathologies included five thoracoabdominal Crawford I aneurysms, one postdissection expanding aneurysm, three symptomatic plaque ruptures (Crawford IV), five combined thoracic descending and infrarenal aneurysms with a healthy visceral segment, three juxtarenal or para-anastomotic aneurysms, and two patients with simultaneous open aortic arch replacement and a rendezvous maneuver for thoracic endografting. Commercially available endografts were implanted with standardized endovascular techniques after revascularization of visceral and renal arteries. RESULTS: Technical success was 95%. One patient developed a proximal type I endoleak after chronic expanding type B dissection and currently is waiting conversion. Nine patients underwent elective, five emergency and five urgent (within 24 h) repair. 17 operations were performed simultaneously, and 2 as a staged procedure. Postoperative complications include two retroperitoneal hemorrhages, and one patient required long-term ventilation with preexisting subglottic tracheal stenosis. Thirty-day mortality was 17% (one multiple organ failure, one secondary rupture after open aortic arch repair, one myocardial infarction). Paraplegia or acute renal failure were not observed. Total survival rate was to 83% with a mean follow-up of 30 months. CONCLUSIONS: Midterm results of combined endovascular and open procedures in the thoracoabdominal aorta are encouraging in selected high risk patients. Staged interventions may reduce morbidity.     

Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms and other arterial lesions

Purpose: This report describes our experience with endovascular stented graft repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms and other arterial lesions.Methods: Between September 1990 and April 1994, 57 patients were treated with endovascular stented grafts (50 with abdominal aortic aneurysms or iliac aneurysms; five with traumatic arteriovenous fistulas; one with an infected femoral false aneurysm; and one with a false aneurysm of the proximal right common carotid artery). The devices consist of either a Dacron or an autogenous vein graft sutured to a balloon-expandable stent. The stented grafts are placed through remote arteriotomies, advanced under fluoroscopic guidance to their predetermined sites, and secured into position.Results: Forty of the 50 endovascular stented graft procedures used to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms or iliac aneurysms were considered successful, even though some secondary treatment was required in six patients (two open operations; four secondary endovascular procedures). The 10 failures include four early procedural deaths, one late procedural death, and five leaks. All five arteriovenous fistulas and the two false aneurysms were successfully treated with endovascular stented grafts.Conclusions: Although our experience with endovascular stented grafts has been promising, remaining problems require resolution, and further follow-up is needed. However, the potential advantages of these endovascular grafts warrant their continued evaluation. (J VASC SURG 1995;21:549-57.)     

Internal iliac artery revascularization as an adjunct to endovascular repair of aortoiliac aneurysms.

PURPOSE: Endovascular repair of aortoiliac aneurysms may be limited by extension of the aneurysm to the iliac bifurcation, necessitating endpoint implantation in the external iliac artery. In such cases the circulation to the internal iliac artery is interrupted. Bilateral internal iliac artery occlusion during endovascular repair may be associated with significant morbidity, including gluteal claudication, erectile dysfunction, and ischemia of the sigmoid colon and perineum. We have employed internal iliac artery revascularization (IIR) to allow endograft implantation in the external iliac artery while preserving flow to the internal iliac artery in patients with aneurysms involving the iliac bifurcation bilaterally. METHODS: A total of 11 IIR procedures were performed in 10 patients undergoing endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair (9 men, 1 woman; mean age, 74 years). IIR was accomplished via a retroinguinal incision in 9 cases and a retroperitoneal incision in 2 cases. Six-mm polyester grafts were used for external-to-internal iliac artery bypass in 10 cases and internal iliac artery transposition onto the external iliac artery was used in one case. Endovascular AAA repair was performed using a modular bifurcated device (Talent-LPS, Medtronics, Minneapolis, Minn) after IIR. Bypass graft patency was determined immediately after the surgery, at 1 month, and every 3 months thereafter, using duplex ultrasound scanning and computed-tomography angiography. Mean aneurysm diameters were as follows: AAA, 6.4 +/- 0.7 cm; ipsilateral common iliac, 3.7 +/- 1.0 cm; contralateral common iliac, 3.9 +/- 0.8 cm. RESULTS: Successful IIR and endovascular AAA repair were accomplished in all cases. No proximal, distal, or graft junction endoleaks occurred. Two patients demonstrated retrograde aneurysm side-branch endoleaks originating from the lumbar arteries. One thrombosed spontaneously within 3 months. One perioperative myocardial infarction occurred. Reduction in aneurysm size was documented in 5 aortic, 5 ipsilateral iliac, and 3 contralateral iliac aneurysms. Gluteal claudication, erectile dysfunction, colon and perineal ischemia, and mortality did not occur. All IIRs have remained patent during a follow-up period of 4 to 15 months (mean, 10.1 months). CONCLUSIONS: IIR may be used with good short-term to intermediate-term patency to prevent pelvic ischemia in patients whose aneurysm anatomy requires extension of the endograft into the external iliac artery. This may allow endovascular AAA repair to be performed in patients who might otherwise be at risk for developing complications associated with bilateral internal iliac artery occlusion.