多层螺旋CT造影在主动脉病变腔内修复术后随访的价值

目的:探讨多层螺旋CT血管造影(multi-detector rowspiral computed tomography angiography,MDCTA)及后处理技术在主动脉覆膜支架腔内修复术(transluminal stent-graft placement,TSGP)术后随访的临床应用价值。方法:21例接受TSGP主动脉疾病患者,包括:Stanford B型夹层13例,真性动脉瘤3例,假性动脉瘤2例,弓降部穿透性溃疡1例,胸主动脉瘤合并局限性夹层1例,胸主动脉瘤合并Stanford B型夹层1例,术后采用MDCTA进行随访,平均随访13个月(1~24个月)。采用轴位图像与多种重建图像相结合来显示支架形态、术前术后主动脉管腔情况的变化和有无并发症。结果:13例主动脉夹层覆膜支架置入后:所有患者均真腔扩大,假腔减小或消失并伴血栓形成,支架未发现移位或断裂;共3例(14%)随访中发现内漏,1例Ⅱ型内漏,建议随访观察;1例术后8个月复查新发现支架近端Ⅰ型内漏,密切随访2个月后患者出现胸痛,复查CT内漏增多,转外科治疗。1例腹主动脉瘤术后1月复查发现Ⅲ型内漏。所有患者介入术后CT随访图像均满足临床诊断需要。结论:MDCTA对主动脉覆膜支架置入术后随访较其他检查手段具有多方面的优越性,能及时观察术后疗效、发现并发症,对主动脉疾病覆膜支架腔内修复术后随访具有重要价值。     

覆膜支架腔内修复术治疗主动脉病变的价值

目的:评价覆膜支架腔内修复术治疗主动脉病变的应用价值及临床意义。方法:21例主动脉疾病患者,包括:Stanford B型夹层13例(65%),真性动脉瘤3例(15%),假性动脉瘤2例(10%),弓降部穿透性溃疡1例(5%),胸主动脉瘤合并局限性夹层1例(5%),胸主动脉瘤合并Stanford B型夹层1例(5%),全部接受TSGP。共应用3种类型大动脉覆膜支架,分别为:美国锐乐(10例)、国产先健(10例)及COOK公司血管支架(1例)。结果:17例分别置入1个支架,2例分别置入2个支架,2例分别置入主体支架1个、短支架2个,所有支架释放成功率100%。患者无截瘫及瘤体破裂等严重并发症,无围手术期死亡。支架释放后即刻造影复查,19例无明显渗漏和假腔显影(90%);2例少许内漏,其中1例术后7 d CTA复查内漏消失,1例为Ⅱ型内漏,建议随访观察;1例术后8月随访,支架近端新发内漏并逐次增多。结论:TSGP治疗主动脉夹层、真性及假性动脉瘤、穿透性溃疡成功率高、创伤小,近中期效果良好,但远期随访及效果评价有待进一步观察。     

Stanford B型主动脉夹层腔内修复术治疗体会

目的:探讨腔内修复术治疗Stanford B型主动脉夹层的效果。方法:对2005-09~2010-02期间18例Stanford B型主动脉夹层患者实行血管造影和血管腔内带膜支架植入手术治疗,术后3、6、12个月行CTA检查,观察手术疗效以及有无狭窄、移位和扭曲等术后并发症。结果:无中转开胸手术。除1例再发Stanford A型夹层破裂死亡外,其余患者均顺利出院。结论:主动脉夹层腔内修复术治疗Stanford B型主动脉夹层是一种安全有效的方法,早期结果满意,中远期效果还有待观察。     

带膜支架治疗Stanford B型胸主动脉夹层的经验探讨

目的:探讨Stanford B型胸主动脉夹层(TAD)腔内隔绝术一些经验.方法:回顾性分析我院2002年～2005年全麻下行腔内隔绝术的36例Stanford B型胸主动脉夹层患者的资料.结果:所有患者均成功实行了带膜支架腔内隔绝术,未出现死亡现象,内漏9例,右股动脉切开处内膜撕裂3例.结论:带膜支架置入术治疗Stanford B型胸主动脉夹层是一种安全有效的方法,但术中术后并发症的预防是成功的关键.     

血管腔内隔绝术治疗降主动脉夹层动脉瘤

目的：探讨血管腔内隔绝术治疗降主动脉夹层动脉瘤的技术方法和疗效。方法：对10例降主动脉夹层动脉瘤患者的临床资料进行分析,其中2例为DeBakeyШa型,8例为DeBakeyШb型。1例夹层动脉瘤仅累及腹主动脉,合并真性动脉瘤。影像学资料显示全组有3例在不同部位有2个以上撕裂口。结果：1例腹主动脉混合型动脉瘤按腹主动脉瘤腔内隔绝术进行,2例将人工带膜支架封闭左锁骨下动脉口,另7例均顺利进行主动脉腔内隔绝术。随访2~16个月,全部病例均存活。结论：血管腔内置入带膜支架型人工血管是治疗主动脉夹层动脉瘤的简便、安全、有效的方法。     

内支架置入术治疗胸腹主动脉瘤的临床评价

目的：探讨胸腹主动脉瘤的ESG治疗临床疗效。方法：对10例患者分别行CTA、MRA、DSA检查和ESG治疗，其中Stanford B型夹层动脉瘤6例，真性腹主动脉瘤2例，肾动脉开口以下腹主动脉瘤2例（行分体式支架），所有病例均采用带膜支架。结果：8例行一体式支架腔内隔绝术，2例行分体式支架腔内隔绝术，均获成功。顺利植入，术后造影提示动脉瘤消失．无内漏发生。患者症状完全消失，全部患者在随访期间均未出现术前症状，未见相关并发症。结论：应用ESG治疗胸腹主动脉瘤安全、有效、创伤小、术后恢复快，长期疗效尚待进一步观察。     

血管覆膜支架置入治疗胸主动脉夹层动脉瘤

目的:介绍覆膜支架血管内置入治疗胸主动脉夹层动脉瘤(TADA)的初步经验。方法:本组4例Debakey B型胸主动脉夹层动脉瘤,经CT或MR增强检查确诊。经股动脉置入覆膜支架,封堵胸主动脉破裂口,置入后造影检查证实疗效,术后随访采用彩超或增强CT检查。结果:4例患者共成功置入7个支架,1例术后支架远端出现内漏,6个月后内漏自行封闭;1例并发的腹主动脉瘤随访2个月无变化;随访2~18个月,所有患者内膜破裂口封闭,胸降主动脉和腹主动脉真腔扩大,假腔内血栓形成,支架位置、形态正常。结论:覆膜支架血管内置入治疗胸主动脉夹层动脉瘤的近期疗效满意。     

血管内支架置入术治疗Stanford B 型主动脉夹层

目的：总结主动脉血管支架置入术治疗Stanford B型主动脉夹层的临床经验。方法：术前对15例Stanford B型主动脉夹层患者进行主动脉全程薄层增强CT扫描及血管成像,以获得主动脉夹层病变解剖学特征。在局麻下行主动脉造影,并与CT结果比较,选取支架血管型号。全麻下切开左股动脉或右股动脉,置入支架血管,封堵原发破口,重复造影检查有无内漏。术后1周及1年行CT随访,观察有无内漏、支架移位和假腔变化。结果：15例均获临床成功。1例见少量近端内漏,未发生其他并发症。CT随访,5例主动脉夹层消失,余者假腔内血栓形成。结论：与传统手术相比,腔内隔绝术治疗Stanford B型主动脉夹层具有创伤小、并发症少、安全性高等优点,近期疗效满意。     

胸、腹主动脉病变的血管内治疗

目的探讨胸、腹主动脉病变不同血管内治疗方法的临床疗效。方法7例患者,其中DebakeyⅢ型主动脉夹层5例(4例行一体式支架腔内隔绝术,1例行内膜瓣开窗术);DebakeyⅢ型主动脉夹层外院外科人造血管置换术后降主动脉假性动脉瘤形成1例(行一体式支架腔内隔绝术);肾动脉开口以下腹主动脉瘤1例(行分体式支架腔内隔绝术)。结果5例一体式支架腔内隔绝术均获成功,2例出现Ⅰ型内漏,1例经球囊扩张后内漏消失,1例30 min后内漏减少,未处理;1例内膜瓣开窗术后患者双下肢缺血症状消失;1例分体式支架腔内隔绝术后造影提示动脉瘤消失,无内漏发生。结论应用血管内支架移植物或内膜瓣开窗术治疗胸、腹主动脉病变安全有效,其中分体式支架的临床应用具有更好的前景。     

带膜支架治疗胸主动脉夹层和真性动脉瘤的经验分析

目的探讨血管腔内治疗主动脉夹层和真性动脉瘤的技术方法和疗效。方法24例主动脉夹层和(或)真性动脉瘤患者的临床资料进行分析。StanfordB型23例,4例在不同部位有2个以上撕裂口。真性动脉瘤1例。全组均以带膜支架型人工血管腔内植入行隔绝术。结果除2例患者术后出现内漏外,其余患者带膜支架植入后破口完全封闭。真腔血流恢复正常。手术成功率100%,无术中转开胸手术,无截瘫及瘤体破裂等严重并发症,无围手术期死亡。随访1~20个月,24例均经螺旋CT增强扫描和5例DSA复查,证实无支架移位等严重并发症发生,原2例内漏患者术后2个月后复查DSA,内漏均消失。结论带膜支架腔内置入治疗胸主动脉StanfordB型夹层动脉瘤和真性动脉瘤具有技术可靠,创伤小,术后恢复快,手术死亡率低,手术成功率高和生存率高的优点,尤其在亚急性期或慢性期的夹层动脉瘤均应为首选的治疗方法。     

Endovascular treatment in diseases of the thoracic aorta

PURPOSE: To determine whether endovascular treatment of thoracic aorta conditions can be an effective alternative approach to surgical repair. MATERIAL AND METHODS: July 1997 to February 1999, eighteen patients (16 men and 2 women; 58.6 +/- 14.8 years) presenting with different kinds of descending aorta conditions were selected for the endovascular treatment. All patients exhibited severe comorbid pulmonary and/or cardiovascular medical conditions which increased surgical risk. All implants were performed in the operating room under fluoroscopic and TEE guidance. Clinical and imaging follow-up was performed 1, 3, 6 and 12 months later. RESULTS: The endovascular treatment was successful in 17 cases. No deaths or major complications occurred. No leakage was evident at post-procedure angiography. The patients were discharged after 6 +/- 4 days. MRI or CT study performed before hospital discharge showed aneurysms exclusion in 16 patients. In the four cases of dissection, thrombosis of the false lumen was evident since the first follow-up study. In the group of patients (11 cases) with 6 months follow-up, the diameters of stented aortic segments decreased. No late leakage was observed and thrombosis was complete in all cases. DISCUSSION: The natural history of aortic aneurysms and dissection is progressive toward dilation and aortic rupture. Surgery of descending thoracic aorta is burdened with a mortality of 8-12% in elective cases and over 50% in emergency cases or aortic dissection. The endovascular treatment of aortic conditions was introduced in clinical practice in 1991 and literature data show that it is effective, with lower mortality and morbidity rates than surgical treatment. CONCLUSION: Our results stress the feasibility and effectiveness of endovascular procedure in the treatment of complex thoracic aorta conditions even in high risk patients. Thus, endovascular treatment of thoracic aorta can be considered an effective alternative approach to conventional surgery.     

Endovascular repair of ruptured saccular aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta

Open repair of ruptured aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta (DTA) is associated with early mortality rates of 20%-60% and severe morbidity rates exceeding 40%. The present report describes three octogenarian patients and one sexagenarian patient at poor surgical risk admitted with acutely ruptured saccular DTA aneurysms (two of four were anastomotic) unrelated to trauma or infection who underwent successful endovascular therapy, which involved the use of aortic endovascular cuffs in three cases. Mean intensive care unit and total hospital stay durations were 1.75 days (range, 1-4 d) and 6 days (range, 3-13 d), respectively. At 30 days, all patients were alive and free of repeat intervention, with aneurysm exclusion achieved in all cases but one, which featured a marginal type II endoleak. These data support endovascular therapy for ruptured saccular DTA aneurysms enabling short-term outcomes that otherwise would have been unrealistic.     

Aneurysm shrinkage after endovascular repair of aortic diseases

BACKGROUND: There are two graft materials for endovascular repair of aortic diseases, i.e., polyester and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). The latest reports have suggested that there is graft-specific difference in outcomes. The purpose of this article was to evaluate the difference in terms of aneurysm shrinkage. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-six patients who underwent endovascular repair of aortic diseases were included. Forty patients had true aortic aneurysms, 8 had aortic pseudoaneurysms, and 38 had aortic dissections. Eighteen patients with true aortic aneurysms were treated with stent grafts fabricated with polyester, while the other 68 patients, including 22 patients with true aneurysms, 8 patients with pseudoaneurysms, and 38 patients with aortic dissections, were treated with stent grafts fabricated with ePTFE. All patients were followed-up by computed tomography (CT) for more than 1 year. The mean follow-up term was 28 months. Computed tomography confirmed that there were sufficiently long necks, and the aneurysm or the entry tear was completely excluded without any endoleak in all patients. The diameter of the preoperative lesion was compared with that measured on follow-up CT at 1 year and at the end of the follow-up term. Increase or decrease in the diameter by more than 5 mm was defined as a significant diameter change. RESULTS: Aneurysm shrinkage was observed in 40% of patients with true aneurysms, 88% of patients with pseudoaneurysms, and 55% of patients with aortic dissections at 1 year. There was no significant increase in patients with aneurysm shrinkage at the end of follow-up in any groups. In the case of true aortic aneurysms, shrinkage of aneurysms was observed more frequently with polyester-fabricated stent grafts (67%, 13/18) than with ePTFE-fabricated ones (18%, 4/22) at 1 year (P<.01). In contrast, expansion of aneurysms was observed only in patients treated with ePTFE (14%, 3/22). Shrinkage of the descending aorta was observed in 55% of patients with acute aortic dissections and 36% of patients with chronic aortic dissections. There was no case with aortic enlargement in either group. There was no significant difference between acute and chronic dissection in terms of shrinkage of the descending aorta. CONCLUSION: Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene appears to be effective for the treatment of pseudoaneurysms and aortic dissections. However, polyester seems to be more effective than ePTFE when true aneurysms are to be treated.     

Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in 144 patients: correlation of aneurysm size, proximal aortic neck length, and procedure-related complications.

PURPOSE: During endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair, larger aneurysms often present formidable anatomic challenges to the insertion of the delivery catheter and graft deployment. The authors sought to evaluate whether large-diameter aneurysms and those with short proximal aortic necks might be associated with a higher frequency of insertion-related and short-term complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 1999 to August 2000, 144 patients underwent elective endovascular graft placement for infrarenal AAA disease at the authors' institution. These patients were treated with use of the AneuRx bifurcated endoprosthesis. AAA size (maximum aneurysm diameter) and proximal aortic neck length were compared to estimated blood loss, operative time, accuracy of graft placement, presence of endoleak, intraoperative and postoperative complications (such as limb occlusion or vascular injury), length of hospital stay, and mortality. Statistical methods included correlation analysis and logistic regression. RESULTS: There were 121 men and 23 women whose aneurysms ranged in size from 3 cm to 9.8 cm (mean, 5.6 cm; 95% CI, 5.4-5.8 cm). Endograft insertion was successful in all cases. There were three deaths within 30 days (2.1%) and seven deaths overall (4.9%). There were 43 intraoperative complications (29.9%) in 31 patients (21.5%), most of them minor. Patients with major intraoperative complications had significantly longer procedure times than those without complications (337 vs. 149 min; P <.0001). In the postoperative period (within 30 days), 31 complications (21.5%) occurred in 28 patients (19.4%), again most of them minor. AAA size was unrelated in any way to the rate of complications, but short proximal aortic neck length was associated with more serious intraoperative and postoperative complications (P =.0404 and P =.0230, respectively), and decreased 30-day and overall survival (P =.0240 and P =.0152, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular repair of large AAAs can be challenging; however, the size of the AAA does not influence the rate of complications. A short proximal aortic neck is the only significant risk factor for more serious complications.     

Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: how many patients are eligible for endovascular repair?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine how many patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are eligible for endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed computed tomography (CT) angiograms obtained between January 2002 and June 2003 in 182 patients with suspected AAA. Indication for surgical or endovascular treatment was based on clinical and radiological criteria. The percentage of patients eligible for EVAR was evaluated. RESULTS: Out of a total of 182 patients with suspected AAA studied by CT angiography, after combined radiological-surgical assessment, 130 were considered eligible for surgical or endovascular treatment (71.4%). EVAR was indicated in 51 patients (39.3%, group A) and surgical repair was indicated in 79 patients (60.7%, group B). The reasons for ineligibility for EVAR were the following: unfavourable anatomy of the proximal neck in 41 patients (51.9%), diameter of the aneurysm sac >7 cm in 13 patients (16.4%), markedly tortuous/dilated iliac axis in six patients (7.6%), age <65 years in 17 patients (21.5%) and patient refusal in two cases (2.5%). There were no statistically significant differences in aneurysm diameter (52.7+/-0.8 versus 49.8+/-1.2 mm, p=ns), patients' age (73.2+/-1.2 versus 70.6+/-2.02 years, p=ns) or proximal neck length (2.95+/-1 versus 3.03+/-1.2 cm, p=ns) between groups A and B. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms through the placement of aortic stent-grafts has now become a viable alternative to open surgery. In recent years, the number of patients treated with EVAR has steadily risen as a result of increased physician experience, availability of new and more versatile devices and improvements in noninvasive imaging techniques. Unfavourable neck anatomy is the primary factor for exclusion from endovascular repair.     

Resolved Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Following Stent Graft Treatment: A Report of Five Cases

Complete aneurysm resolution is the hallmark of successful endoluminal stent-graft treatment. We describe 5 patients in whom an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) disappeared completely at mid-term follow-up after endovascular stent-graft placement. We reviewed 45 patients (43 men and 2 women) who underwent AAA repair using an endovascular technique, from April 1997 to December 2001. Mean AAA diameter was 58.3 mm. On 48-month follow-up, 12 aneurysms had not changed in size, 4 had grown, 16 had shrunk, and 5 had resolved completely. We describe these 5 patients in detail. The 5 patients were all men, mean age 68 years; their mean aneurysmal sac diameter was 54 mm. The only common finding in all of them was patency of lumbar and inferior mesenteric arteries at pre-procedure evaluation as well as at follow-up. Mean time to complete resolution was 18 months. No major complications were encountered. AAA may resolve completely after endovascular stent-graft implantation. Patent side branches may perhaps contribute to AAA disappearance by antegrade flow. A larger patient population should be reviewed, however, before any statistical conclusion can be drawn.     

Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms during routine lumbar CT scan: modification of the standard technique

INTRODUCTION: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are often incidental findings in patients undergoing US, CT or MRI studies. The recommended field of view (FOV) for standard CT examinations of the spine is 14 cm. This FOV does not allow full visualization of the abdominal aorta. PURPOSE: To justify a larger FOV for male smokers older than 55 years and women older than 65 years, with a higher incidence of AAA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The lumbar CT examinations of 100 consecutive patients (age: mean 68 years, range 55-85 years) presented with low-back pain were retrospectively reviewed. Measurements of the abdominal aorta and lumbar abnormalities were analysed. A control study in 850 patients who underwent abdominal CT scans for other causes was available for comparison. RESULTS: There were three men with AAAs measuring 4.5, 5.5 and 5.6 cm (mean 5.2 cm). Findings related to the clinical problem were disk prolapse or herniation, spondylosis, spinal stenosis and grade I spondylolesthesis. In the control group, 17 patients were found with AAAs with diameter greater than 4 cm (2%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with low-back pain, older than 55 years of age, examined with lumbar spine CT, should also be screened for aortic disease, since the prevalence of AAA is similar with that of an age-matched control group. Appropriate modification in the applied FOV is recommended.     

Die interventionelle/endovaskuläre Therapie des infrarenalen abdominellen Aortenaneurysmas

The catheter-based interventional therapy (endovascular aortic repair EVAR) of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) has gained an established place in the spectrum of therapeutic options. The procedure is characterized by low peri-interventional morbidity and mortality. Multislice computed tomography (CT) has a dominant role in defining the correct indications and in selecting an appropriate stent graft prior to the intervention. The rate of acute conversions could be reduced from 2.9 % to 0?% in our own elective patient population since 2010. In our vascular centre the proportion of patients treated by EVAR was 39.5?% (102 out of 258). The procedure is used routinely in patients who have an increased risk for general anesthesia or open surgery due to concomitant diseases. It is also used in patients with a reduced local operability due to prior surgery, abdominal diseases or radiation therapy. Arterial closure devices allow a completely percutaneous approach in a certain group of patients. However, after EVAR a life-long surveillance is mandatory because delayed therapy failure has been described. In younger patients who do not have a higher risk open surgery is still an option. The paper describes techniques, results und complications of EVAR.     

Diagnosis and treatment of inferior mesenteric arterial endoleaks after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms

PURPOSE: To review the incidence and repair of inferior mesenteric arterial (IMA) type II endoleaks after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients who underwent endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms were examined. If an endoleak was identified at 30-day postoperative computed tomography, conventional arteriography was performed to identify and eliminate its source. After the exclusion of attachment site leaks, a catheter was placed selectively in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). If retrograde filling of the IMA and aneurysm was identified, coil embolization was attempted through the SMA and middle colic artery. Intrasac pressures were measured at embolization. RESULTS: Eight of 50 patients (16%) had type II endoleaks that were attributed to retrograde flow in the IMA. Intrasac measurements demonstrated systemic pressure in six patients and one-half systemic pressure in two patients. The IMA was embolized through the SMA and left colic artery in seven patients and through the translumbar aorta in one patient. CONCLUSION: Retrograde flow in the IMA is responsible for many type II endoleaks. Systemic pressures are transmitted into the aneurysm sac from the IMA. The IMA can be embolized successfully with an SMA approach in most patients.