Alternative surgical approach to repair of the ascending aorta

We describe a case of complete endovascular repair of the ascending aorta using a transfemoral approach. A 59-year-old man with a history of two previous sternotomies experienced an ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm arising from the graft-to-graft anastomosis of a previous DeBakey type I aortic dissection repair. A custom-made Zenith TX2 (William Cook Europe ApS, Bjaeverskov, Denmark) thoracic aortic aneurysm endovascular graft, designed specifically for the ascending aorta, was introduced through the left femoral artery and deployed under a rapid ventricular pacing protocol to achieve precise placement between the sinotubular junction and the aortic arch.     

Intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography as an adjuvant to fluoroscopy during endovascular thoracic aortic repair.

OBJECTIVES: To define the utility of intraoperative transeophageal echocardiography (TEE) during endovascular thoracic aortic repair. DESIGN: Retrospective study. MATERIALS: Five patients underwent six transluminal endovascular stent-graft procedures for repair of thoracic aortic disease. METHODS: After induction of anaesthesia, a multiplane or biplane TEE probe was placed to obtain views of the diseased aorta. Both transverse and longitudinal planes of the aortic arch and descending thoracic aortic segments were imaged. The aortic pathology was confirmed by TEE and the proximal and distal extents of the intrathoracic lesion were defined. Doppler and colour-flow imaging was used to identify flow patterns through the aorta before and after stent-graft deployment. RESULTS: Visualisation and confirmation of the aortic pathology by ultrasonography was accomplished in all patients. TEE was able to confirm proper placement of the endograft relative to the aortic lesion after deployment and was able to confirm exclusion of blood flow into the aneurysm sacs. CONCLUSIONS: TEE may facilitate repair by confirming aortic pathology, identifying endograft placement, assessment of the adequacy of aneurysm sack isolation, as well as dynamic intraoperative cardiac assessment.     

Endovascular repair of a common iliac artery aneurysm using the Cook Zenith abdominal aortic aneurysm Endovascular Graft Converter

Isolated common iliac artery aneurysm is a rare condition that is treated aggressively because of its high risk of rupture. Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair has recently been extended to the clinical management of the iliac artery aneurysm. Stent grafts have been used successfully to exclude iliac artery aneurysms. Successful graft deployment and aneurysm exclusion require adequate seal and fixation at the proximal and distal attachment sites. This article presents a high-risk surgical patient whose 6.8-cm-diameter iliac artery aneurysm was repaired with a Zenith AAA Endovascular Graft Converter (Cook, Bloomington, Indiana). This device is normally used to convert an aortobiiliac endograft to an aortouniiliac endograft during AAA repair. The tapered 80-mm-long graft has diameters of 24 mm proximally and 12 mm distally. Completion arteriogram demonstrated exclusion of the iliac artery aneurysm with no evidence of endoleak. No postoperative complications occurred. No endoleak was seen on the follow-up abdominal computed tomography scan.     

Transapical access for thoracic endograft delivery

The purpose of this paper is to describe the technique of transapical deployment of a thoracic endograft and to discuss the specifics of this access. The technique of endograft deployment through a transapical access is demonstrated in a patient with a symptomatic 14-cm aortic arch aneurysm. The 73-year-old patient, with concomitant chronic obstructive airway disease and cardiovascular disease, had been denied open surgery. Femoral artery access was deemed contraindicated because of a more distal concomitant type III thoracoabdominal aneurysm, borderline renal failure and heavily calcified iliac arteries. Bilateral iliac-subclavian debranching and thoracic endografting via a combined transapical and left subclavian access successfully excluded the thoracic aortic aneurysm. The patient died within 24 hours postoperatively due to a massive myocardial infarction. In conclusion, transapical access for thoracic endograft delivery is feasible. Combined with complex debranching procedures in a challenging aneurysmal anatomy, it carries a high risk for periprocedural complications.     

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.     

Rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm with tear of inferior vena cava in a patient with prior endograft

We report a case of contained rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm and tear of the inferior vena cava (IVC) 15 months after placement of an aortic endograft (ANEURX graft, Medtronic, Sunnyvale, Calif). A 63-year-old man with significant coronary artery disease underwent endograft exclusion of abdominal aortic aneurysm with Aneurx graft. The patient was seen with a rupture of the aortic aneurysm, probably caused by poor proximal fixation of the graft associated with separation of the left iliac extension limb from the main body of the graft. Angulated right iliac limb of the stent graft penetrated into the Ivc just above the common iliac junction and caused sealed perforation. Successful repair with aortobiiliac graft reconstruction after removal of the endograft was accomplished. The IVC laceration was repaired. Possible mechanisms of failure of endograft are discussed.     

Management of a large intraoperative type IIIb endoleak in a bifurcated endograft-a case report

The purpose of this paper is to describe the intraoperative management of a type IIIb endoleak after deployment of a bifurcated endograft in a patient with narrow iliac access vessels. A 62-year-old man underwent elective endovascular repair (EVAR) of a 53 mm abdominal aortic aneurysm. After device deployment, a large IIIb endoleak, arising from the main body of the device, was visualized. Narrow iliac vessels precluded deployment of a second bifurcated graft, and the endoleak was successfully excluded with an aortomonoiliac device, followed by contralateral iliac occlusion and subsequent creation of a femorofemoral bypass. At 1-year follow-up, the aneurysm remains excluded and is decreasing in size. Type III endoleaks are a known complication of EVAR, requiring immediate treatment through their association with aneurysm enlargement and rupture. If an additional bifurcated graft cannot be used, aortomonoiliac conversion represents a feasible endovascular alternative treatment for type III endoleaks, other than conversion to open surgical repair. Therefore, aortomonoiliac converters with appropriate occluder devices should be readily available during deployment of bifurcated devices.     

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。     

Use of a bifurcated endovascular graft for treatment of endograft migration with major endoleak

The purpose of this study was to describe the use of a bifurcated endovascular graft to treat endograft migration with major endoleaks. We present four patients who presented at a mean of 72.0 months after their initial endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Three patients had type I endoleaks resulting from proximal attachment failure and graft migration. A fourth patient had separation of a proximal aortic cuff from a migrated main body device resulting in a type III endoleak. All were treated with a bifurcated Zenith (Cook Medical Incorporated, Bloomington, IN, USA) endovascular graft. There was 100% technical success with no perioperative complications. On follow-up, one patient died of unrelated causes at five months. The mean survival for the remaining three patients was 37 months. In conclusion, treatment with a bifurcated Zenith endograft has advantages over the use of an aortic cuff or aortouniiliac reconstruction. To perform this technique, there must be a sufficient distance between the proximal landing zone and the flow divider of the migrated endograft to allow for deployment of the Zenith device. While there remain limitations in its applicability, the use of a bifurcated endovascular graft is a viable alternative for endovascular salvage in treatment of endograft migration with major endoleaks.     

Staged surgical repair for extensive cardiovascular damage by syphilis

A 45-year-old man had aortic regurgitation with a syphilitic true aneurysm of the ascending to transverse arch aorta and a descending aortic aneurysm from chronic Stanford type B aortic dissection. After antibiotic therapy, two-staged surgical repair was performed and there has been no evidence of recurrence in 12 months since the second stage. We describe the successful management of extensive cardiovascular syphilitic damage.     

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 cervical aortic arch aneurysm

Cervical aortic arch (CAA) is a rare congenital anomaly of the aortic arch. Rarely, CAA is associated with aneurysm of the arch and great vessels. A 32-year-old male patient, previously in good health, presented with 2 weeks of severe chest pain. Radiographic evaluation revealed a CAA with aneurysmal dilation of the distal aortic arch. The aneurysm extended into the left subclavian artery. There was also marked angulation just distal to the aneurysmal portion. The aneurysmal arch and subclavian artery were repaired using a thoracic aortic endograft. An open axillary-to-axillary bypass was performed, and the left axillary artery was ligated proximally. This restored perfusion to the left upper extremity and effectively excluded the aneurysm sac. Immediately postoperatively, the patient's chest pain resolved, and he has remained symptom free. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported repair of a cervical arch aneurysm by endovascular technique.     

Rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm previously treated by endovascular stentgraft

We describe a case of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with rupture 16 months after treatment by an endograft. A 76-year-old patient on Coumadin after aortic valve replacement had initially successful exclusion by stentgraft. There was no evidence of an endoleak seven months after stentgraft repair, although a computed tomography scan detected an enlargement of the aneurysm sac. Sixteen months after initial endograft surgery, rupture of the aneurysm occurred and we performed open emergency surgery. We treated the aneurysm by conventional technique, and the patient survived the rupture. This case emphasized the fact that patients after endograft AAA repair require a close follow-up. An expansion of the aneurysm sac after the procedure should signal failed exclusion, even if a computed tomography scan does not demonstrate an endoleak. Anticoagulation can be an important factor in failure after endoluminal graft treatment. Supravisceral aortic cross clamping is helpful in dealing with a stented aorta. (J Vasc Surg 1998;28:184-7.)     

Successful treatment of endotension and aneurysm sac enlargement with endovascular stent graft reinforcement

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) enlarges after successful endovascular repair because of endoleak, which is persistent blood flow within the aneurysm sac. In the absence of detectable endoleak, AAA may still expand, in part because of endotension, which is persistent pressurization within the excluded aneurysm. We report three patients who underwent successful endovascular AAA repair using the Excluder device (W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, Ariz). Although their postoperative surveillance showed an initial aneurysm regression, delayed aneurysm enlargement developed in all three, apparently due to endotension. Endovascular treatment was performed in which endograft reinforcement with a combination of aortic cuff and iliac endograft extenders were inserted in the previously implanted stent grafts. The endograft reinforcement procedure successfully resulted in aneurysm sac regression in all three patients. Our study underscores the significance of increased graft permeability as a mechanism of endotension and delayed aneurysm enlargement after successful endovascular AAA repair. In addition, our cases illustrate the feasibility and efficacy of an endovascular treatment strategy when endotension and aneurysm sac enlargement develops after endovascular AAA repair.     

Endovascular repair of proximal endograft collapse after treatment for thoracic aortic disease

We report two cases of proximal endograft collapse with an almost complete aortic occlusion after endovascular tube-graft treatment of thoracic aortic disease (thoracic aneurysm after a type B dissection, traumatic blunt aortic rupture) using the TAG Gore system. Oversizing of endografts is known to cause this complication. In our two cases, however, the oversizing was between 12% and 21.7%, which is less than the allowed oversizing of 25% that is recommended by the manufacturer. This endograft-related complication might be due to a poor alignment of the currently available endografts in highly angulated and tight aortic arches. In the first case, a combined endovascular and open emergent repair procedure achieved a reopening of the proximal endograft by proximal extension (TAG Gore). In the second case, proximal extension was not considered owing to a precise positioning of the endograft distal to the left carotid artery. A balloon-expanding Palmaz stent was therefore placed interventionally in the proximal part of the TAG graft to expand the endograft and to avoid another collapse of the device. This proximal endograft collapse has to be acknowledged as a potentially hazardous complication. We therefore recommend that the proximal part of thoracic endografts in the aortic arch should be closely monitored and we offer two possible endovascular solutions for resolving the problem of proximal endograft collapse.     

Hybrid repair of aortic arch aneurysms: a totally extrathoracic approach with branched endografts in two patients

Of all of the aortic segments, the aortic arch is the last frontier for endovascular treatment. The main difficulty for arch repair is the lack of an appropriate proximal landing zone of at least 2 to 3 cm required for endograft sealing and anchoring to diminish the risk of endoleaks or migration. We used branched endografts to treat two cases of aortic aneurysms that required complete arch endografting, with successful aneurysm exclusion.     

Transcatheter repair of combined ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm and aortic arch aneurysm through a cardiac transapical approach

We describe a new surgical technique performed in a heart-transplanted patient who underwent transcatheter repair of combined ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm and aortic arch aneurysm. The endografts were deployed through a left ventricular transapical approach by using a left mini-thoracotomy after previous debranching of the brachiocephalic vessels.     

Hybrid procedures for the treatment of aortic arch aneurysms

Aortic arch aneurysms present a significant clinical challenge. Historically, open repair has been the mainstay of therapy, but it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In particular, the risk of stroke is not insignificant. The development of endovascular therapies has allowed for the less invasive treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms using endograft therapy. This treatment is limited by the need for "healthy" aorta proximal and distal to the aneurysm in order to get an appropriate seal. This limits use of endografts in the aortic arch as treatment of aneurysms in this location would necessitate coverage of critical brachiocephalic vessels including the innominate and left carotid arteries. To overcome these limitations, hybrid approaches to arch aneurysm repair have been developed. These include partial arch reconstruction through a median sternotomy, or extra-anatomic arch vessel bypass depending on the location of the aneurysm and the patients overall medical condition. These are accompanied by the placement of a thoracic stent-graft at the same setting (either antegrade or retrograde) or at a subsequent procedure. Outcomes evaluating these procedures are just beginning to become available in significant numbers. The outcomes, however, demonstrate these are durable procedures that may provide a viable alternative to conventional aortic arch surgery. As experience with these procedures grows, our understanding of the factors affecting outcomes will be clearer, and the use of these procedures will become associated with even lower morbidities and mortality. The further evolution of aortic endograft technology, however, will ultimately allow for complete endovascular treatment of the entire aortic arch.     

Feasibility and possibility of Inoue stent graft for thoracic aortic aneurysms

Open surgical repair is a traditional treatment for patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms. Despite recent advances in surgical techniques and anesthetic management, the surgical repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms is still associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Endovascular aneurysm repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms is emerging as an alternative method for repair in selected patients. Although endovascular stent grafting is less invasive than open surgical repair, involvement of branch vessels and precipitous curvature of the aortic arch limits the application of stent grafting. Inoue stent graft system consists of soft nitinol ring-type stent which enables very flexible stent graft, and it can well comply with the precipitous curvature of the aortic arch. The system also provides a stent graft with a side branch to manage the left subclavian artery. This system does not require the surgical revascularization of the left subclavian artery. In this report, we show the feasibility and possibility of Inoue stent graft system to manage the aortic arch aneurysm.     

Stent grafting-related acute type B redissection

The purpose of this article is to report two distal dissections resulting as a complication of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in two cases of type B aortic dissection (TBAD) and its relationship with prosthetic alignment at the distal landing zone. Two patients affected by aneurysm formation of a chronic type B dissection underwent EVAR. During postoperative follow-up, at 48 and 39 months, respectively, a new chest pain episode recommended a new computed tomographic angiography examination. New false lumen reperfusion and increased aortic diameter distally to the prosthesis were demonstrated. The distal end of each stent graft showed an angulated alignment to the proximal descending aorta at the point of the secondary entry site. Both patients were successfully treated after deployment of a distal endograft. Prosthetic alignment with the aortic axis is important to avoid wall stress and secondary perforation in patients treated for TBAD. The distal landing point at the descending aortic straight segment is recommended.