Endovascular stent graft repair of mycotic aneurysms of the thoracic aorta

Traditional open surgical repair for mycotic aneurysms of the thoracic aorta is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Endovascular repair has been reported as an alternative treatment in patients with mycotic thoracic aneurysms. This article reports our experience of endovascular stent graft placement in three patients with mycotic aneurysms of the thoracic aorta and compares the results with similar reports on the literature.     

Endovascular stent graft for symptomatic mobile thrombus of the thoracic aorta

Mobile thoracic aortic thrombus is a potential source of arterial embolism. Therapeutic management remains controversial. Systemic anticoagulation and various open surgical procedures are the commonly used therapeutic modalities. We report the successful primary treatment by endovascular stent graft of a mobile thoracic aortic thrombus that had caused visceral and peripheral embolism. Our case shows that endovascular stent-graft treatment is an effective, minimally invasive treatment of symptomatic mobile thoracic aortic thrombus.     

Aortobronchial fistula after endovascular stent graft repair of the thoracic aorta

Endovascular stent graft repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms has been recently introduced as an alternative to conventional graft replacement of the diseased aorta. As experience with this new technique accumulates, complications may occur. We herein report the case of a patient in whom we observed distal migration with leak of an endovascular stent graft previously inserted in the descending thoracic aorta, associated with an aortobronchial fistula. The urgent surgical treatment undertaken, which consisted of graft replacement of the previously stented aorta, had a fatal outcome.     

Endovascular stent graft repair for a Salmonella-infected aneurysm of thoracic aorta

Thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair using stent graft has been reported as a feasible and effective treatment for aortic aneurysm. However, its application for treating infected aortic aneurysms is still controversial and less reported. We report a 74-year-old male diabetic patient diagnosed with Salmonella-infected aortic aneurysm, who was successfully treated with endovascular stent graft repair followed by a 2-month course of intravenous antibiotics and long-term oral antibiotic therapy. Sequential computed tomography scans demonstrated the shrinkage of the aneurysm and no evidence of relapse 11 months later.     

Anaesthesia for stent graft repair of thoracic aneurysm and coarctation of the aorta

We present the anaesthetic management of a patient for stenting of a thoracic aortic aneurysm at the site of an aortic coarctation. The specific challenges to the anaesthetist for this case are outlined. These include the specific problems of placing the graft, the obvious risk of aortic rupture and the unfamiliar environment of the separate radiological theatre. The advantages and disadvantages to the anaesthetist of the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms with stents are briefly discussed.     

Usefulness of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in stent graft implantation for thoracic descending aorta

BACKGROUND: Stent graft implantation for thoracic descending aorta is a promising alternative to open repair. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a sensitive imaging modality for aortic disease. We reviewed our experience with TEE in stent graft implantation for thoracic descending aorta. METHOD: Five patients underwent stent graft implantation for thoracic descending aorta under general anesthesia. Intraoperative angiography and TEE were used to identify the extent of the aneurysm and the placement of the stent. RESULTS: TEE showed stent graft configuration and presence of leakage in all cases. In three cases, additional stent graft placement or bypass was performed. CONCLUSIONS: Useful information was obtained by TEE in enhancing the accuracy of stent graft positioning potentially improving outcomes. TEE may facilitate repair by confirming aortic pathology, identifying endograft placement, and assessing the adequacy of aneurysm sack isolation, presence of leakage, as well as dynamic intraoperative cardiac performance.     

Evaluation of an aortic stent graft for use in surgery on esophageal cancer involving the thoracic aorta

Objective: The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate whether aortic stent grafting can be applied to the treatment of an esophageal cancer involving the thoracic aorta. Methods: The canine thoracic aorta was partially resected without aorta being clamped after emplacement of an endovascular stent graft. Study I; The aortic whole layer of 1 cm in length and 1/4 of the circumference was resected and was covered by a free fascia patch of the abdominal rectal muscle immediately after stent graft placement. Study II; The aortic adventitia and the outer half of the media of the same size was resected on day 3, 7,14, 21, and on day 28, after the stent graft placement. The resected portion was covered by the free fascia patch in half experimental dogs, and was uncovered in the others. Study III; The aortic adventitia and the outer half of the media of 1 cm in length and 1/2 of the circumference was resected and was uncovered on day 7 after stent graft placement. Histological examinations were performed on day 28 and at one year after aortic resection. Results: The aortic wall could be resected in all cases with no complication, except in resection of 1/2 the circumference where the aorta had become narrow. There was no difference in healing of the resected portion of the aorta between with and without fascia covering. Conclusion: An aortic endovascular stent graft could be applied to surgery for an esophageal cancer involving the aorta.     

Use of the abdominal aorta as an alternative access site for thoracic aortic stent graft placement

The treatment of thoracic aortic pathology has undergone a paradigm shift in recent years, with a trend toward less invasive endovascular techniques and away from open surgical repair. Reports on the successful use of endografts in the thoracic aorta have demonstrated decreased morbidity and mortality of these procedures compared with traditional open repair. However, some patients are not candidates for an endovascular approach because of a short proximal landing zone, arch angulation, luminal irregularities, or a large diameter of the transverse arch and the proximal descending aorta. Other patients are excluded because of distal pathology or anatomic irregularities. This article presents 2 patients with thoracic aortic pathology, and both had inadequate proximal landing zones and small, calcified iliac arteries prohibiting femoral or iliac access. Successful repair of these patients was achieved by a staged procedure using a brachiocephalic debranching technique, followed by direct infrarenal aortic cannulation through a limited celiotomy.     

Salvage options after stent collapse in the thoracic aorta

The endograft was originally developed to repair aneurismal disease of the infra-renal aorta and has since realised many other applications, including the treatment of arterial trauma. Traumatic transection of the thoracic aorta is a condition associated with a high mortality and affected patients often have multiple injuries. Endovascular repair of thoracic transection is an attractive option in those patients for whom open surgical repair would be highly dangerous and other groups have reported early technical success. However, we report 3 cases of young patients with traumatic thoracic aortic transection, initially treated successfully by endoluminal stenting, who developed the complication of stent collapse. We discuss here the options available to treat the complication.     

人工血管内支架与腹主动脉的生物相容性

目的评价人工血管内支架与腹主动脉的生物相容性。方法用膨体聚四氟乙烯膜压于镍钛合金支架制成人工血管内支架,将其植入实验猪肾下腹主动脉。2、4、12周取材,切片行苏木素伊红(HE)染色、胶原纤维和弹力纤维染色、血管平滑肌细胞α肌动蛋白免疫组织化学检查以及细胞原位凋亡检测,并行图像分析,对照实验组与正常腹主动脉内膜厚度、胶原纤维和弹力纤维相对含量、血管平滑肌细胞密度和凋亡比例。结果实验组2周时人工血管内支架表面有内皮细胞覆盖,与正常组相比,其各时间点内膜增生显著(P<0.01),弹力纤维和胶原纤维的形态和分布基本正常(P>0.05),2、4周时中膜内血管平滑肌细胞密度和凋亡比例显著高于正常组(P<0.01)。结论人工血管内支架与腹主动脉有着良好的生物相容性,但内膜增生较明显。     

血管覆膜支架置入术用于胸主动脉受累的脊柱骨巨细胞瘤治疗1例报告

脊柱骨巨细胞瘤（giant cell tumor of bone,GCTB）是一种较为少见的脊柱原发性肿瘤,其仅占脊柱原发肿瘤的1.4%~9.4%。目前国际肿瘤学疾病分类（International Classification of Diseases for Oncology,ICD-O）将其定义一种交界性原发骨肿瘤,具有局部侵袭性,并可局部复发及远处转移。脊柱GCTB目前尚无公认的类似于美国癌症联合委员会（American Joint Committee on Cancer,AJCC）骨肉瘤或者软组织肉瘤的分期系统。在临床工作中,临床医生及研究者更习惯将GCTB分为可切除及不可切除两种类型。2020年的中国临床肿瘤学会（Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology,CSCO）骨巨细胞瘤诊疗指南将这种分期方法作为Ⅱ级推荐,其中将不可切除型又分为手术困难及不可切除两类。脊柱GCTB由于位置深在,周围解剖结构复杂,毗邻脊髓及大血管,大多数研究者将其归属于不可切除范畴。按照CSCO骨巨细胞瘤诊疗指南外科治疗的选择策略,对于术前评级为不可切除的GCTB,应用地舒单抗等骨靶向药物治疗后,整块切除术仍然被作为Ⅰ级推荐（2A类证据）。全脊椎整块切除（total enbloc spondylectomy,TES）技术由Stener自20世纪70年代首次提出,该技术要点是沿肿瘤外缘将其整块切除,以获得良好的外科边界,更加符合肿瘤学原则。20世纪90年代中期Tomita等采用后路椎弓根截骨,将病椎分为两块切除,最大限度减少术中污染,降低肿瘤的局部复发率,使TES技术得到了进一步的发展。经过国内外医生多年的手术实践,TES技术已经作为成熟的脊柱肿瘤外科技术在临床中广泛应用。然而,部分脊柱GCTB可突破骨皮质形成软组织肿块,并侵犯周围大血管壁。整块切除可能导致血管损伤,引起严重的手术并发症,甚至危及生命。那么如何在整块切除脊柱骨巨细胞瘤的同时降低术中血管损伤所带来的风险,目前临床中尚无明确的解决方案。笔者报道1例胸主动脉受累的胸椎GCTB,通过行血管覆膜支架置入术以避免血管相关事件发生,并对相关文献回顾讨论。     

Midterm results of endoluminal stent grafting of the thoracic aorta

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the overall outcome of repair of thoracic aortic lesions with endoluminal grafts. Patients were studied prospectively following the implantation of a thoracic endovascular device. Preoperative imaging was performed by helical computed tomography (CT), angiography, transesophageal ultrasonography, or magnetic resonance imaging. Procedures were performed in an endovascular surgical suite under general anesthesia. All patients were evaluated with CT and chest radiography at discharge and at 1, 6, and 12 months. From December 1999 to November 2001, thirty-two patients were enrolled in the study (mean age 62 years; 20 male and 12 female patients). Seventeen patients had dissections, five patients had ruptured aortic ulcer, five patients had traumatic ruptures, three patients had atherosclerotic aneurysms, and two patients had pseudoaneurysms. An American Society of Anesthesiology score of III or IV was evaluated in 22 (69%) patients. The procedure was performed under emergency conditions in 11 cases. All prostheses were implanted successfully. There were no conversions. Three patients (9%) presented with a neurologic event following the implantation procedure, which was lethal in one case (hemorrhagic stroke). Two other patients died during early follow-up of myocardial infarction and multiorgan failure. The early death rate was 9%. The mean follow-up was 13.5 months. During follow-up, the maximal diameter of the aorta shrunk (> or = 5 mm) in 9 (28%) patients, remained stable in 17 (53%) patients, and increased (> or = 5 mm) in 6 (19%) patients. All patients presenting with an increased diameter were initially treated for dissections. A type 1 endoleak was diagnosed on the discharge CT scan in one patient. It sealed spontaneously thereafter. A type 3 endoleak was diagnosed 3 months after the procedure in one patient. A complementary stent graft was implanted in two patients presenting with a dissection with persistent patent false lumen and aortic enlargement. Three patients died during follow-up (two aneurysm-related and one aneurysm-unrelated death). The morbidity and mortality rates reported in our series related to the preoperative morbid conditions of the patients treated. Thoracic aorta endografting is an alternative to open surgery in this subset of patients.