Evolution of the therapeutic approach of visceral artery aneurysms

INTRODUCTION: Visceral artery aneurysms are an infrequent entity. Most of them are asymptomatic, but when they present as a rupture, a high mortality is associated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We review our experience of 18 cases between 1988 and 2006. RESULTS: 9 males and 9 females with a mean age of 66,5 years are analyzed. Aneurysms were located in splenic artery (9), hepatic artery (2), superior mesenteric artery (2), celiac trunk (3), inferior mesenteric artery (1) and gastroduodenal artery (1). Three of them were associated with abdominal aorta aneurysms. Fourteen patients were asymptomatic, three presented abdominal pain and one case presented with rupture and intraperitoneal bleeding. Surgical treatment was performed in thirteen of the patients and endovascular in five. Two cases of endovascular treatment failed and surgery was necessary. Postsurgical mortality was 0 and complications appeared in 2 patients. Mean hospital stay after surgical treatment was 11 days and 3 days after endovascular one. None of the patients presented recurrences, and one has chronic mesenteric ischemia as sequelae of surgical treatment of a superior mesenteric artery aneurysm. CONCLUSION: Visceral artery aneurysms must be treated if it is feasible, due to the potential risk of rupture. Endovascular treatment associates lower morbimortality rates and shorter hospital stay than surgical one, but nowadays many aneurysms are not suitable for this management. Endovascular treatment is a technically difficult approach, that requires a specific training and the first cases represent a learning curve.     

Visceral artery aneurysm rupture

PURPOSE: Aneurysms of the visceral arteries are infrequently encountered. Many are found incidentally and are thought to have a benign outcome. To better characterize these lesions and their clinical course, we reviewed our experience with visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs) at a single institution. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all VAAs diagnosed at our institution over the past 10 years was performed. The presentation, management, and outcome of therapy was examined for each patient. RESULTS: Thirty-four VAAs in 26 patients were diagnosed over the past 10 years. Four patients had multiple VAAs: splenic (17), hepatic (7), celiac (3), superior mesenteric (2), gastroduodenal (2), pancreaticoduodenal (1), right gastric (1), ileal (1) artery aneurysms. Associated aneurysms were found in 31% of patients and involved the thoracic aorta (3 patients), abdominal aorta (4 patients), renal arteries (2 patients), iliac artery (3 patients), lower extremity (1 patient), and intracranium (1 patient). In 15 patients (58%), VAAs were detected before rupture by chance or because abdominal symptoms resulted in diagnostic evaluation. Eight of these underwent elective surgery, and there were no deaths. Of those 15 patients with known VAAs, one patient died of rupture and hemorrhage from an untreated splenic artery aneurysm. Eleven patients (42%) presented unexpectedly with rupture, and two died despite prompt surgical treatment. The mortality rate in patients who had ruptured VAAs was 25%, including those who presented with ruptured aneurysms and those observed whose aneurysms eventually ruptured. CONCLUSIONS: Aneurysms of the visceral arteries are rare but important vascular lesions. Associated aneurysms are common. Because of the risk of rupture, often with a fatal outcome, an aggressive approach to the treatment of VAA is essential.     

MSCTA观察腹腔干与肠系膜上动脉的解剖学变异

目的采用MSCTA评价腹腔干与肠系膜上动脉及其主要分支的解剖变异。方法收集1000例患者的MSCTA,进行VR、MIP和MPR,观察腹腔干与肠系膜上动脉及其主要分支的起源和走行。结果1000例患者中,880例（88．00％）属于正常解剖学类型（Michels I型）,120例（12．00％）存在不同类型的解剖变异,其中72例（7．20％）属于Mi-chelsⅡ～X型;48例（4．80％）不属于Michels分型,包括腹腔干-肠系膜上动脉共干31例（3．10％）,脾动脉起源于肠系膜上动脉5例（O．50％）,胃十二指肠动脉起源于肠系膜上动脉和脾动脉各3例（O．30％）、肝左动脉1例（O．10％）,腹腔干缺如2例（O．20％）,胃左动脉起源于腹主动脉、脾动脉和肝固有动脉各1例（O．10％）。结论腹腔干与肠系膜上动脉存在广泛的解剖学变异;MSCTA有助于了解变异情况,对腹部血管外科手术具有指导意义。     

内脏动脉瘤的诊断与治疗

目的　探讨内脏动脉瘤的诊断和治疗方法。方法　回顾性总结我院40 多年来收治的62 例内脏动脉瘤的临床经验。结果　本组包括肝动脉瘤15 例,胃胰十二指肠动脉瘤13 例,脾动脉瘤16 例,肾动脉瘤6 例,肠系膜上、下动脉瘤分别为5 例和1 例,腹腔干动脉瘤3 例,网膜动脉瘤3 例。本组自发性破裂大出血29 例,其中破裂入胆管14 例,上消化道10 例,腹腔及腹膜后5 例。本组术前经内脏动脉造影确诊37 例,经磁共振( MRI) 及数字减影血管造影术( DSA) 确诊各2 例,另6 例由螺旋CT 动脉造影(SCTA) 诊断。手术治疗51 例,死亡9 例,动脉栓塞治疗6 例。结论　内脏动脉瘤术前临床诊断极为困难,选择性内脏动脉造影( 包括DSA) 最具诊断价值,一旦确诊应尽早手术治疗     

Indications for the revascularization of visceral branches of the abdominal aorta in aorto-femoral reconstruction

Affection of the visceral branches of the abdominal aorta was diagnosed in 546 of 783 patients subjected to aorto-femoral reconstructions. The clinical picture of affection of the visceral branches is analysed according to the extent of their involvement and the genesis of the occlusive process. The authors possess experience in 169 cases with revascularization of the visceral branches in aorto-femoral reconstructions. Reconstruction of the inferior mesenteric artery was carried out in 134 cases and reconstruction of the celiac trunk and the superior mesenteric artery--in 35 cases. Retrospective analysis of the frequency and severity of gastrointestinal complications in the immediate and late-term postoperative periods allowed the authors to formulate the indications for and elaborate the optimum extent of reconstruction of the visceral branches depending on the character of their affection and the course of the occlusive process.     

Aneurysms of anomalous splenomesenteric trunk: Clinical features and surgical management in two cases

Aneurysms of the splenic artery that anomalously arise from a splenomesenteric trunk are a rarity. Aneurysmal disease of visceral arteries is found in only 0.2% of the general population. The celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) are involved in less than 10% of all visceral aneurysms. Although rupture seems to occur in 20% to 22% of patients, the related mortality rate can rise as high as 100%. Anomalies of the celiac trunk and SMA, more common than previously claimed, include the splenic artery arising from the SMA, which occurs in only 1% of patients. We present two cases of young patients who had 4-cm aneurysms behind the pancreas that involved an anomalous splenic artery. The first patient required dissection of the entire splenopancreatic bloc through a transverse abdominal incision to excise the aneurysm and repair the SMA. The second patient was treated by the classic approach, through a median incision and by entering the mesenteric root. There do not seem to be reports of similar cases, except for two cases of aneurysms involving the celiomesenteric trunk. The cause of these aneurysms can be attributed to mesenchymal alterations during the embryonic formation of aortic collateral branches. A correct surgical approach to splanchnic aneurysms calls for awareness of potential vascular variations of the arteries and their collateral pathways. (J Vasc Surg 1996;24:687-92.)     

The endovascular management of visceral artery aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms

OBJECTIVE: Visceral artery aneurysms may be treated by aneurysm exclusion, excision, revascularization, and endovascular techniques. The purpose of this study was to review the outcomes of the management of visceral artery aneurysms with catheter-based techniques. METHODS: Between 1997 and 2005, 90 patients were identified with a diagnosis of visceral artery aneurysm. This was inclusive of aneurysmal disease of the celiac axis, superior mesenteric artery (SMA), inferior mesenteric artery, and their branches. Surveillance without intervention occurred in 23 patients, and 19 patients underwent open aneurysm repair (4 ruptures). The endovascular treatment of 48 consecutive patients (mean age 58, 60% men) with 20 visceral artery aneurysms (VAA) and 28 visceral artery pseudoaneurysms (VAPA) was the basis for this study. Electronic and hardcopy medical records were reviewed for demographic data and clinical variables. Original computed tomography (CT) scans and fluoroscopic imaging were evaluated. RESULTS: The endovascular treatment of visceral artery aneurysms was technically successful in 98% of 48 procedures, consisting of 3 celiac axis repairs, 2 left gastric arteries, 1 SMA, 12 hepatic arteries, 20 splenic arteries, 7 gastroduodenal arteries, 1 middle colic artery, and 2 pancreaticoduodenal arteries. Of these, 29 (60%) were performed for symptomatic disease (5 ruptured aneurysms). Procedures were performed in the endovascular suite under local anesthesia with conscious sedation (94%). The femoral artery was used as the preferential access site (90%). Coil embolization was used for aneurysm exclusion in 96%. N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (glue) was used selectively (19%) using a triaxial system with a 3F microcatheter for persistent flow or multiple branches. The 30-day mortality was 8.3% (n = 4). One patient died from recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding after gastroduodenal embolization, and the remaining died of unrelated causes. All perioperative deaths occurred in patients requiring urgent or emergent intervention in the setting of hemodynamic instability. No patients undergoing elective intervention died in the periprocedural period. Postprocedural imaging was performed after 77% of interventions at a mean of 16 months. Complete exclusion of flow within the aneurysm sac occurred in 97% interventions with follow-up imaging, but coil and glue artifact complicated CT evaluation. Postembolization syndrome developed in three patients (6%) after splenic artery embolization. There was no evidence of hepatic insufficiency or bowel ischemia after either hepatic or mesenteric artery aneurysm treatment. Three patients required secondary interventions for persistent flow (n = 1) and recurrent bleeding from previously embolized aneurysms (n = 2). CONCLUSION: Visceral artery aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms can be successfully treated with endovascular means with low periprocedural morbidity; however, the urgent repair of these lesions is still associated with elevated mortality rates. Aneurysm exclusion can be accomplished with coil embolization and the selective use of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. Current catheter-based techniques extend our ability to exclude visceral artery aneurysms, but imaging artifact hampers postoperative CT surveillance.     

A case of atherosclerotic inferior mesenteric artery aneurysm secondary to high flow state

Inferior mesenteric artery aneurysms are very rare and they are among the rarest of visceral artery aneurysms. Sometimes, the distribution of the blood flow due to chronic atherosclerotic occlusion of some arteries can establish an increased flow into a particular supplying district (high flow state). A high flow state in a stenotic inferior mesenteric artery in compensation for a mesenteric occlusive disease can produce a rare form of aneurysm. We report the case of an atherosclerotic inferior mesenteric aneurysm secondary to high flow state (association with occlusion of the celiac trunk and severe stenosis of the superior mesenteric artery), treated by open surgical approach.     

三维增强核磁共振血管造影在内脏动脉瘤诊治中的应用

目的 探讨三维增强核磁共振血管造影在内脏动脉瘤诊治中的临床价值.方法 对43例内脏动脉瘤患者行三维增强MR血管造影检查,19例同期行数字减影血管造影(digital subtraction angiography,DSA).三维增强MR血管造影用屏气超快速三维梯度回波序列,图像减影后进行三维重建.结果 43例共50个内脏动脉瘤,涉及脾动脉32个(其中5例脾动脉异位起源于肠系膜上动脉),占64%;肠系膜上动脉7个(14%),腹腔动脉干5个(1例为腹腔系膜干),肾动脉4个,肝动脉2个.三维增强MR血管造影能清楚显示动脉瘤部位、大小、形态,并在立体直观显示动脉瘤及其与周围血管脏器关系方面优于DSA.43例中,行栓塞治疗15例,手术9例,保守观察19例.结论 三维增强MR血管造影能尤创、准确诊断内脏动脉瘤,所提供的三维解剖细节有助于临床治疗方案的制定,可作为内脏动脉瘤的首选检查方法.     

Embryology, anatomy, and surgical exposure of the great abdominal vessels

This article describes the embryology of the abdominal aorta and the anatomic features of its major visceral branches, including the celiac, superior mesenteric, and inferior mesenteric arteries. The common anatomic variants of these visceral vessels also are reviewed. Various operative techniques to gain surgical exposure to these vessels are described.     

腹腔干、肠系膜上动脉共干部动脉瘤的切除和血管重建探讨

目的探讨腹腔干、肠系膜上动脉畸形共干部真性动脉瘤的切除以及血管重建的手术治疗方法。方法回顾性总结1998年2月至2006年4月6例患者临床资料,均在全身麻醉下行动脉瘤切除,肾下主动脉与肝动脉、脾动脉、肠系膜上动脉行转流手术5例,行主动脉肝动脉转流、肠系膜上动脉成形术1例。结果均获得临床治愈,随访观察2月~8年,无一例复发。结论腹腔干、肠系膜上动脉畸形共干部动脉瘤切除,主动脉与内脏动脉转流或重建是一种安全有效的治疗方法。     

Management of aneurysms involving branches of the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries: a comparison of surgical and endovascular therapy

OBJECTIVE: Aneurysms involving branches of the superior mesenteric and celiac arteries are uncommon and require proper management to prevent rupture and death. This study compares surgical and endovascular treatment of these aneurysms and analyzes outcome. METHODS: Patients at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York who were treated for aneurysms in the branches of the celiac artery and superior mesenteric artery were identified through a search of the institution's medical records and endovascular database. Patient demographics, history, clinical presentation, aneurysm characteristics, treatments, and follow-up outcome were retrospectively recorded. Significant differences between patients treated by surgical or endovascular therapy were determined by using Student's t test and chi2 analysis. RESULTS: Between January 1, 1991, and July 1, 2005, 59 patients with 61 aneurysms were treated at a single institution. Twenty-four patients had surgical repair, and 35 underwent endovascular treatment, which included coil embolization and stent-graft therapy. Splenic (28) and hepatic (22) artery aneurysms predominated. Eighty-nine percent of splenic artery aneurysms were true aneurysms and were treated by endovascular and surgical procedures in near equal numbers (14 and 11, respectively). Pseudoaneurysms were significantly more likely to be treated by endovascular means (P < .01). The technical success rate of endovascular treatment for aneurysms was 89%, and failures were successfully treated by repeat coil embolization in all patients who presented for retreatment. Patients treated by endovascular techniques had a significantly higher incidence of malignancy than patients treated with open surgical techniques (P = .03). Furthermore, patients treated by endovascular means had a shorter in-hospital length of stay (2.4 vs 6.6 days, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Endovascular management of visceral aneurysms is an effective means of treating aneurysms involving branches of the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries and is particularly useful in patients with comorbidities, including cancer. It is associated with a decreased length of stay in the elective setting, and failure of primary treatment can often be successfully managed percutaneously.     

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??Therapeutic effect comparison between endovascular and open surgery of celiac artery and its branches arteries aneurysms GUO Jian-ming, GU Yong-quan, YU Heng-xi, et al. Department of Vascular Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
Corresponding author: GU Yong-quan, E-mail:guyq66@sina.com
Abstract Objective To analyze surgical treatment methods of celiac artery and its branches arteries aneurysms. Methods The clinical data of 20 patients performed surgery because of celiac artery and its branches arteries aneurysms from February 2002 to December 2012 in Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University were analyzed retrospectively. The celiac artery and its branches arteries aneurysms consist of 1 celiac trunk??11 splenic??1 right hepatic??2 left gastric??3 pancreaticoduodenal and 2 gastroduodenal aneurysms. Rupture occurred in 10 patients. Transcatheter arterial embolization was performed in 14 patients and other 6 patients were performed laparotomy. Results Four patients suffered from recurrent bleeding after first embolization. One patient received exploring surgery to stop bleeding. Another 3 patients were performed second embolization. Bleeding was controlled rapidly in 7 patients in danger of rupture associated with shock. Duodenum incomplete obstruction developed in 1 patient after pancreaticoduodenal artery embolization. Another 4 patients suffered from partial splenic infarct after splenic artery operation. Nineteen patients were followed up for 4 to 130 months. No aneurysms recurred. Conclusion Both endovascular and open surgery for celiac artery and its branches arteries aneurysms are safe and effective. Endovascular procedure can get shorter length of stay.     

Delayed visceral malperfusion in aortic dissection—successful surgical revascularization using a saphenous vein graft

Obstruction of the thoracoabdominal aorta and/or its branches with subsequent organ ischemia is a frequent complication of aortic dissection. Surgical and percutaneous fenestrations have been used and endovascular stenting has emerged as an additional less invasive approach. In some cases, surgical revascularization may be the most successful procedure. We report two patients who underwent surgical revascularization of the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery for delayed abdominal malperfusion due to aortic dissection.     

Successful treatment of pseudoaneurysms of celiac and superior mesenteric arteries by combined endovascular and surgical approach

Pseudoaneurysm after pancreas resection poses serious complications, including rupture and hemorrhage. Here we report a case of delayed massive hemorrhage from celiac and superior mesenteric arteries, which was successfully treated with a combined endovascular and surgical approach. The patient was a 52-year-old man who presented with pseudoaneurysms of the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries after distal pancreatectomy. Following the detection of sentinel bleeding from the abdominal drain, emergency angiography of the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries revealed stenosis of the celiac artery and pseudoaneurysms in the superior mesenteric artery. We occluded these lesions with a platinum coil, using an interventional radiological technique combined with bypass grafting between the abdominal aorta and the SMA, using the saphenous vein. However, re-bleeding into the abdominal cavity occurred from the proximal SMA pseudoaneurysm. We inserted an endoluminal stent-graft into the abdominal aorta and completed bypass grafting between the aorta and bilateral renal arteries. The hemorrhage ceased and the postoperative course was uneventful. The patient was discharged 34 days after the treatment (149 days after the initial operation). In conclusion, this combined endovascular and surgical approach is feasible and seems appropriate for pseudoaneurysms arising from proximal sites in visceral arteries.     

内脏动脉瘤诊治经验

目的　探讨内脏动脉瘤的诊断和治疗方法。方法　对 71例内脏动脉瘤的诊断和治疗进行回顾性总结。结果　 71例内脏动脉瘤中包括脾动脉瘤 2 2例 ,肝动脉瘤 16例 ,腹腔干动脉瘤 4例 ,胃、胰十二指肠动脉瘤 13例 ,肠系膜上、下动脉瘤分别为 6例和 1例 ,网膜动脉瘤 3例 ,肾动脉瘤 6例。本组自发性破裂大出血 2 9例 ,其中破裂入胆道 14例 ,上消化道 10例 ,腹腔及腹膜后 5例。术前经内脏动脉造影确诊 (包括DSA) 4 2例 ,螺旋CT血管造影 (SCTA)证实 14例 ,经核磁共振血管造影 (MRA)确诊 4例。手术治疗 5 8例 ,死亡 9例 ;动脉栓塞治疗 7例。结论　内脏动脉瘤术前临床诊断极为困难。DSA、SCTA和MRA具有诊断价值。一旦确诊 ,应尽早手术治疗。     

Anatomía quirúrgica aplicada a abordajes transperitoneales de la aorta abdominal y los troncos viscerales. Artículo dinámico

Access to the abdominal aorta and its visceral trunks is possible through several approaches.Dissections of five cadavers performed during three National Surgical Anatomy courses applied to Aorta, Hepatobiliopancreatic and Digestive Surgery. Videos and pictures were taken throughout the dissections and showed different abdominal aorta approaches.Abdominal aorta and visceral trunks approaches: longitudinal inframesocolic access, supraceliac clamping, celiac trunk dissection, superior mesenteric artery approaches (retroperitoneal after Kocher menoeuvre, supramesocolic or inframesocolic), Cattell-Braasch manoeuvre and mattox manoeuvre: retrorenal and prerenal.Correct knowledge of the intraabdominal anatomy is necessary to perform all the abdominal aorta surgical approaches. Cadaveric dissection could help to achieve this objective. Cardiovascular and digestive surgeons need to know the possible strategies in order to choose the one which is best suited for each patient.     

Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms: stent-graft fixation across the visceral arteries.

PURPOSE: Recent studies have suggested that transrenal artery fixation of endovascular stent-grafts is safe and may be a desirable means of reducing the risk of type I endoleaks, particularly those with short infrarenal necks. The close proximity of the superior mesenteric and celiac arteries to the renal arteries may commonly result in the placement of the stent struts across all the vessels of the visceral segment of the aorta. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and impact of transvisceral artery fixation during aortic stent-graft deployment for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). METHODS: From January 1997 to June 1999, 192 patients (165 men, 27 women; mean age, 82 years) with AAAs were treated with an endovascular graft secured proximally to the aorta with a long (15 mm) uncovered stent segment (60 Parodi/Palmaz, 132 Talent-LPS). Preoperative and postoperative abdominal aortograms and intravenous contrast enhanced spiral computed tomography (CT) scans were performed. Follow-up CT scans were obtained at 3, 6, and 12 months and yearly thereafter as a means of determining stent position and visceral artery patency RESULTS: In 95 patients (49%), the uncovered stent was at or above the level of the superior mesenteric artery. In 23 patients (12%), the stent extended to the level of the celiac axis. In a mean follow-up period of 25 months (range, 6-44 months), serum creatinine levels remained stable, no stenoses or occlusions occurred in the celiac, superior mesenteric, or renal arteries, and no evidence of renal, hepatic, splenic, or intestinal infarction was present on contrast enhanced spiral CT scans. There were no type I endoleaks. CONCLUSION: Transvisceral fixation of the uncovered proximal aortic stent occurs frequently during deployment of devices designed for transrenal fixation and is associated with no early morbidity. Long-term follow-up is necessary to ensure that there are no late sequelae.     

Successful treatment of a visceral artery aneurysm with a celiacomesenteric trunk: Report of a case

A celiacomesenteric trunk is an anomaly in which the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries have a common origin from the aorta. This structure accounts for less than 1% of all visceral artery anomalies, and is estimated to have an incidence of 0.25%. Aneurysms involving a celiacomesenteric trunk are exceptionally rare. We herein report our treatment modality for an 82-year-old man with a visceral artery aneurysm involving a celiacomesenteric trunk. The aneurysm was resected, and the superior mesenteric, splenic, and common hepatic arteries were successfully reconstructed.