Abdominal Aortic Research Articles

Factors associated with early clinical remission in patients with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (IRF) is a rare autoimmune-mediated condition characterized by fibro-inflammatory tissue development around the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries. Ureteral entrapment and hydronephrosis are the most common manifestations and acute renal failure or chronic renal insufficiency may occur as the consequence. Glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants may be effective but the therapeutic response and outcome are heterogeneous and hard to predict. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with early remission in patients with IRF. This retrospective study included 91 IRF patients who visited Peking Union Medical College Hospital between May 2013 and December 2023. Clinical data and outcomes were reviewed and time to remission calculated. Over a median follow-up of 2.63 years (IQR, 1.29-3.41), 38 patients achieved remission within six months after treatment initiation. In multivariable analysis, male gender (OR 5.297, 95%CI 1.445-19.420, p = 0.012) and higher baseline complement component 3 (C3) (OR 2.153, 95%CI 1.131-4.097, p = 0.019) levels were significantly associated with early clinical remission (≤6 months). The time to remission was negatively associated with C3 levels (r=-0.243, p = 0.014). Patients with high C3 levels (≥1.144 g/l) tended to achieve remission in a shorter time than their counterparts with low C3 levels(<1.144g/l) (p = 0.028). An effective nomogram model for predicting disease remission was constructed with gender and C3 (AUC= 0.73, 95% CI 0.62-0.84). Male gender and higher baseline C3 levels may act as potential predictors for achieving early remission in patients with IRF.

Endovascular Repair of Spontaneous Rupture of Stent Graft Branch in Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm—Management, Case Study, and Review

Background: Stent-graft implantation is a widely recognized method for endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysms. In cases where the aneurysm involves the thoracic and abdominal aorta, repair including fenestrated and branched stent grafts provides a viable alternative. This approach, initially reserved for patients unsuitable for open surgery, has become preferred for anatomically appropriate thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. The Zenith t-Branch system has been extensively studied, demonstrating high technical success rates and acceptable mortality and morbidity. However, complications such as endoleaks, kinking, and stent-graft branch rupture remain significant challenges. Methods: We present the case of an 82-year-old male with a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm treated with endovascular aneurysm repair using the Zenith t-Branch. Four years post-implantation, he developed a spontaneous rupture of the stent-graft branch, leading to dangerous leakage and aneurysm sac enlargement. An urgent surgical intervention was performed, implanting additional Be-Graft into the damaged branch, restoring stent-graft continuity and revascularizing the superior mesenteric artery. Results: The procedure was completed successfully. We conducted a review of the latest literature on endovascular treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms with particular emphasis on the possibility of repairing postoperative complications, especially endoleaks. Conclusions: While modern technologies have significantly improved outcomes, serious complications persist. Studies emphasize the importance of regular imaging follow-up for early complication detection and management. Continuous advancements in stent-graft technology aim to reduce complications further and improve outcomes. This case underscores the necessity of experienced operators in managing complex and rare complications and highlights the promising future of endovascular techniques in treating thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms.

Expand the Success of Screening to Reduce Aortic Aneurysm Mortality - Progress Interpretation and New Fronts.

Aortic aneurysm is a leading cause of death across the world. Many victicms carry it without knowing. Ruputre of aortic aneurysms leads to devastating sudden death. This brings trauma to families and our society. Based upon sound results out of several cohort studies, US Preventative Services Task Force (USPST) crafted the 1st nationwide abdominal aorta aneurysm (AAA) screening program in 2005. It was renewed and expanded in each of the subsequent revisions in 2014 and 2019. UK and Sweden estalished their own programs as well. Since then, a significant decline in AAA prevalence and mortality is observed. Two decades into the practice, the state of the art on diagonstics, surgical approaches, and pharmacological options have drastically changed. Patients previously ineligible for treatment or inconclusive on diagnostics now have valid options. The screening program is on the verge for a bold expansion. In this review, we summarized the chroncles leading to the inception of the screening programs, progress interpretation after implementation including gains, gaps and controversies, advents of new technologies and approaches, new fronts facing us, as well as priorities to be addressed in future phases. Particularly, screening asssys with a clinically tested biomarker, tetrahydrobiopterin (H4B), enables unpresended accessibility, consistency and throughput to accommodate the needs of a larger population. Furthermore, patients with AAAs at size below the eligibility threhold for surgical intervention (e.g., < 5.5 cm) can be treated with novel oral medications. Confronting factors such as changing demographics and COVID-19 aftermath are putting up new challenges. Nevertheless, running a program at this scale demands both unwavering commitment and agile fine-tuning. Technical innovation will be an indispensable chapter of its continued success. The burden of aortic aneurysm-led sudden death is too heavy for any family and the society to bear; it is time to step up our resolve with additional capacities as discussed in the present review.

Differential Expression Analyses on Human Aortic Tissue Reveal Novel Genes and Pathways Associated With Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Onset and Progression.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are focal dilatations of the abdominal aorta that expand progressively, increasing their risk of rupture. Rupture of an AAA is associated with high mortality rates, but the mechanisms underlying the initiation, expansion, and rupture of AAAs are not yet fully understood. We aimed to characterize the pathophysiology of AAAs and identify new genes associated with AAA initiation and progression. This study used RNA sequencing data on 140 samples, becoming the largest RNA sequencing data set for differential expression studies of AAAs. We performed differential expression analyses and analyses of differential splicing between dilated and nondilated aortic tissue samples, and between AAAs of different diameters. We identified 3002 differentially expressed genes between AAAs and controls that were independent of ischemic time, 1425 of which were new. Additionally, 8 genes (EXTL3, ZFR, DUSP8, DISP1, USP33, VPS37C, ZNF784, RFX1) were differentially expressed between AAAs of varying diameters and between AAAs and control samples. Finally, 7 genes (SPP1, FHL1, GNAS, MORF4L2, HMGN1, ARL1, RNASE4) with differential splicing patterns were also differentially expressed genes between AAAs and controls, suggesting that splicing differences in these genes may contribute to the observed expression changes and disease development. This study identifies new genes and splicing patterns associated with AAAs and validates previous relevant pathways on AAAs. These findings contribute to the understanding of the complex mechanisms underlying AAAs and may provide potential targets to limit AAA progression and mortality risk.

New Trends of Personalized Medicine in the Management of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Review

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a significant vascular condition characterized by the dilation of the abdominal aorta, presenting a substantial risk of rupture and associated high mortality rates. Current management strategies primarily rely on aneurysm diameter and growth rates to predict rupture risk and determine the timing of surgical intervention. However, this approach has limitations, as ruptures can occur in smaller AAAs below surgical thresholds, and many large AAAs remain stable without intervention. This review highlights the need for more precise and individualized assessment tools that integrate biomechanical parameters such as wall stress, wall strength, and hemodynamic factors. Advancements in imaging modalities like ultrasound elastography, computed tomography (CT) angiography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), combined with artificial intelligence, offer enhanced capabilities to assess biomechanical indices and predict rupture risk more accurately. Incorporating these technologies can lead to personalized medicine approaches, improving decision-making regarding the timing of interventions. Additionally, emerging treatments focusing on targeted delivery of therapeutics to weakened areas of the aortic wall, such as nanoparticle-based drug delivery, stem cell therapy, and gene editing techniques like CRISPR-Cas9, show promise in strengthening the aortic wall and halting aneurysm progression. By validating advanced screening modalities and developing targeted treatments, the future management of AAA aims to reduce unnecessary surgeries, prevent ruptures, and significantly improve patient outcomes.

New virtual contrast enhancement boost technique can reduce the dose of intravenous contrast medium used in computer tomography angiography of the abdominal aorta.

This study aims to evaluate the image quality of computed tomography (CT) angiograms obtained using a virtual contrast augmentation technique, adding an iodine map to the contrast-enhanced images, obtained through a digital subtraction technique, reducing the dose of intravenous iodinated contrast medium compared to the conventional institutional standard technique. This prospective investigation enrolled patients previously diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysms, who underwent two successive computed tomography angiographies (CTAs) of the aorta. One CTA was performed employing the virtual contrast enhancement boost technique with a 40% decrease in the intravenous contrast medium dose, while the other adhered to the conventional protocol without any reduction in contrast medium volume. After imaging, both qualitative and quantitative assessments were conducted to evaluate the opacification level of the aorta and its branching vessels. The study analyzed 28 examinations from 14 subjects (two per participant). Qualitative analysis revealed that image quality was deemed adequate for diagnostic purposes, with nearly all arterial segments in both protocols rated as good or excellent. Although no statistically significant differences were detected, the average attenuation across all arterial segments in the angiograms exhibited a trend towards higher values in the virtual contrast enhancement boost technique, compared to the conventional protocol. Similarly, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) demonstrated comparable levels between the two methodologies. The application of virtual contrast enhancement in the acquisition of CT angiograms of the aorta maintains comparable image quality, while reducing the dosage of intravenous contrast medium by 40%. This approach suggests a potential for optimizing contrast use in vascular imaging, aligning with goals related to patient safety and radiological efficiency.

Outcomes of retroperitoneal fibrosis-related hydronephrosis and its risk factors for poor prognosis: a multi-center retrospective cohort study in Chinese patients

ObjectiveRetroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a rare disease characterized by the presence of fibroinflammatory tissue that surrounds the abdominal aorta and the iliac arteries and often entraps the ureters. Hydronephrosis is a common complication of RPF, however, its clinical features and outcomes have not been well elucidated.MethodsA total of 115 RPF-related hydronephrosis patients have been recruited from 9 clinical centers in China since March 2010. They were followed up until death or September 2021, whichever came first.ResultsThe mean age at diagnosis was 58.83 ± 12.13 years, and 80 patients (69.57%) were men. The median disease duration was 3.00 (1.00, 9.00) months. Renal impairment was observed in 88.35% of the patients, and 49.57% showed bilateral ureteral involvement. Elevated ESR and CRP were presented in 80.28 and 62.02% of the patients, respectively. Overall, 28.21% (11/39) of the patients had increased IgG4 levels, and 41.38% (12/29) showed positive pathological IgG4 staining (IgG4+/IgG+ ≥ 40% or IgG4+ ≥ 10/HPF). Among them, three patients were diagnosed as IgG4RD. After 60.43 ± 34.53 months of follow-up, 36 patients had poor prognosis, which was associated with severe kidney impairment, bilateral hydronephrosis and inflammation status (elevated ESR and IgG) at diagnosis by case–control study. eGFR and creatinine were independent risk factors after adjusting for all other significant associations (p = 0.002 and p = 0.067, respectively). Glucocorticoid-based therapy could reduce the time of stenting, decrease the need for long-term ureteral stenting/percutaneous nephrostomy (PNS)/ureterolysis, increase the rate of mass shrinkage, and reduce the new requirement of hemodialysis compared to surgery-only strategy for RPF-related hydronephrosis patients in need of renal drainage, but did not reduce new-onset renal atrophy.ConclusionSeverity of kidney dysfunction and inflammation status were related to the poor prognosis of hydronephrosis induced by RPF. More efficient interventions and strategies are needed to further improve outcomes.

Affinity-Enriched Plasma Proteomics for Biomarker Discovery in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening condition characterized by the weakening and dilation of the abdominal aorta. Few diagnostic biomarkers have been proposed for this condition. We performed mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis of affinity-enriched plasma from 45 patients with AAA and 45 matched controls to identify changes to the plasma proteome and potential diagnostic biomarkers. Gene ontology analysis revealed a significant upregulation of the proteins involved in inflammation, coagulation, and extracellular matrix in AAA patients, while proteins related to angiogenesis were among those downregulated. Using recursive feature elimination, we identified a subset of 10 significantly regulated proteins that were highly predictive of AAA. A random forest classifier trained on these proteins achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.93 [95% CI: 0.91–0.95] using cross-validation. Further validation in a larger cohort is necessary to confirm these results.

Celiac Trunk with a Replaced Right Hepatic Artery: A Rare Anatomical Variant

The gastrointestinal tract and its accessory organs are supplied by the three main ventral branches of the abdominal aorta; namely, the celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, and inferior mesenteric artery. Variations of these vessels are related to the embryological development of the different parts of the gut; foregut, midgut, and hindgut. We report a case of a replaced right hepatic artery originating from the celiac trunk. Such variations are clinically important for the success of radiological image interpretation and surgical procedures of the region.

Anatomy of the aortic segmental arteries-the fundamentals of preventing spinal cord ischemia in aortic aneurysm repair.

Spinal cord ischemia due to damage or occlusion of the orifices of aortic segmental arteries (ASA) is a serious complication of open and endovascular aortic repair. Our study aims to provide detailed descriptions of the proximal course of the ASAs and metric information on their origins. Initially, 200 randomly selected, embalmed cadavers of human body donors were anatomically dissected and systematically examined. On macroscopic inspection, 47 showed severe pathologies and were excluded. Of the remaining 153, 73 were males and 80 females. In total, 69.9% of the aortae showed 26-28 ASA orifices. In 59.5% the most proximal ASA, at least unilaterally, was the third posterior intercostal artery, which originated from the descending aorta at approximately 10% of its length. In 56.2%, the left and right ASAs had a common origin in at least one body segment. This mainly affected the abdominal aorta and L4 in particular (54.2%). The ASAs of lumber segments 1-3 originated strictly segmentally. In contrast, in 80.4%, at least one posterior intercostal artery originated from a cranially or caudally located ipsilateral ASA. Such an arrangement was seen along the entire thoracic aorta. Further descriptions of variants and metric data on ASA orifices are presented. Our large-scale study presents a detailed topographic map of ASAs. It underscores the value of preoperative CT councils and provides crucial information for interpreting the results. Furthermore, it aids in planning and conducting safe aortic intervention and assists in deciding on single- or two-staged stent graft procedures.

A child with spontaneous resolution of idiopathic mid-aortic syndrome presented with dilated cardiomyopathy

Abstract Mid-aortic syndrome is an uncommon vascular disease characterised by lower thoracic and upper abdominal aorta stenosis and can occur even in neonatal or infant periods. Here, we report an interesting case of a 2-month-old female with diffuse hypoplasia of the lower abdominal aorta and secondary dilated cardiomyopathy. In our patient, her abdominal aortic narrowing spontaneously normalised over time with the administration of consistent and goal-directed heart failure therapy, supporting adequate growth and natural recovery.

Functional Efficacy of Tissue-Engineered Small-Diameter Nanofibrous Polyurethane Vascular Grafts Surface-Modified by Methacrylated Sulfated Alginate in the Rat Abdominal Aorta.

Improved design to imitate natural vascular scaffolds is critical in vascular tissue engineering (VTE). Smooth muscle cells originating from surrounding tissues require larger pore sizes relative to those of endothelial progenitor cells found in the bloodstream. Furthermore, biofunctionalized scaffolds mimic the microenvironment, cellular function, and tissue morphogenesis. Here, we fabricated macroporous and nanofibrous polyurethane (PU) bilayer tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) by a salt-leaching method to achieve high porosities up to 30 μm. These grafts have a low porosity on the luminal side and a high porosity on the abluminal side. To enhance their properties, we surface-modified the PU scaffolds using heparin-mimicking methacrylated sulfated alginate (PU-MSA). We then evaluated these tubular scaffolds for their anticoagulation effect, protein adsorption, and cell attachment in vitro. The results revealed that TEVGs modified with sulfated alginate (PU-MSA) exhibited better anticoagulation (25 ± 1 min) and higher VEGF protein adsorption (75 ± 5 ng/mL) compared to other scaffolds. Moving to in vivo testing, we examined the TEVGs in a rat model for either 1 or 5 months. Through ultrasonication and various histological analyses, we assessed the functionality and biocompatibility of the TEVGs. Notably, the PU-MSA scaffold created a microenvironment conducive to cell homing and regeneration in the field of VTE.

Partial intestinal obstruction caused by duodenal obstruction by the superior mesenteric artery and abdominal aorta in a middle-aged woman: a case report

Partial intestinal obstruction caused by duodenal obstruction by the superior mesenteric artery and abdominal aorta in a middle-aged woman: a case report

COVID-19 Infection and Massive Aortic Dissection.

COVID-19 had a significant impact on public health, including respiratory and cardiovascular complications. Because of COVID-19 hypercoaglupathy effect, it can lead to cardiovascular complications. A 68-year-old Iranian male admitted to the infectious diseases department with the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection. Despite initially stable vital signs and mild symptoms, the patient's condition rapidly deteriorated over the course of several days, with severe respiratory distress and other concerning symptoms. Further investigations revealed evidence of aortic aneurysm or dissection, which was confirmed to be a Stanford type A aortic dissection extending from the aortic root to the abdominal aorta. The available evidence points to a potential association between COVID-19 infection and aortic dissection, and the need for continue investigations about the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this relationship.

Enhancing small diameter tissue engineered vascular grafts with heparin and hepatocyte growth factor: A promising approach.

Currently, there is often a lack of suitable small-caliber graft vessels for treating cardiovascular diseases because of thrombosis and intimal hyperplasia. Tissue engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) promise a potential solution to this issue. Acellular vascular matrix with good mechanical properties and biocompatibility is commonly used as a tissue engineered scaffold. In this study, acellular rat aortas were preloaded with heparin and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) to fabricate small diameter TEVGs. In terms of the biomechanical properties, this scaffold was similar to native rat aortas. We implanted this scaffold into a rat abdominal aorta, and the acellular aorta with heparin only was used as control. The patency at 6 months of the two groups was 100%. At 1 month, a complete layer of endothelial cells could be seen on the surface of the vascular lumen of the scaffold with heparin and HGF. The results also showed that the intimal thickness was significantly reduced in the grafts coated with HGF compared to the control grafts. In conclusion, the small-diameter TEVGs constructed by acellular vascular scaffolds coated with heparin and HGF have a promising clinical application prospect.

Prognostic value of preoperative echocardiography in predicting myocardial injury after open abdominal aortic surgery.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and peripheral arterial and aortic diseases (PAAD) are associated with increased risk of myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS). To evaluate whether preoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) abnormalities are linked to MINS in patients undergoing open vascular surgeries involving the abdominal aorta due to AAA and / or PAAD. This is a retrospective cohort that analyzed consecutive patients who underwent open abdominal aortic surgery due to infrarenal AAA and / or aortoiliac occlusive disease in a single tertiary center. In each patient, TTE was performed within 1-3 months before the surgery and at least two postoperative high-sensitive troponins were measured (on the first and the second postoperative day) as per the standard of care at the participating center. The study group comprised 336 patients. The median age was 67 years, and 82.7% of patients were male. MINS was diagnosed in 122 (36.3%) patients. Multivariable analysis revealed that myocardial hypokinesis compared to normal contractility was associated with a higher risk of MINS (OR 3.23, 95% CI 1.30 to 8.03). A similar association was not found for left ventricular ejection fraction (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.48), left ventricular septum hypertrophy (OR 1.58, 95% CI 0.91 to 2.75), increased left atrium surface (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.70) and mitral insufficiency (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.50 to 1.58). Our study suggests that routine preoperative TTE may have a low but possible value in the prediction of MINS among patients undergoing high-risk vascular surgery.

The correlation between the number of endothelial progenitor cells in the peripheral blood and abdominal aortic aneurysm.

This study was to investigate the correlation between the number of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in peripheral blood and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), and provide a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment monitoring of AAA. Patients with AAA evaluated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from June 2018 to October 2018 (n = 7) were included in this study. All patients were confirmed as AAA by vascular CTA with an increase of more than 50% of the abdominal aortic diameter. Patients (n = 7) with normal abdominal aorta diameter were included as control group with matching age, sex, blood pressure, and blood sugar concentration between experimental and control groups. Mononuclear cells were collected by density gradient centrifugation, stained by CD34-FITC and CD309-PE antibodies, and analyzed by flow cytometry. The number of EPCs in the peripheral blood of patients with AAA (0.874 ± 0.129‰) was significantly lower than that in the control group (1.420 ± 0.289‰) (P < .01). The number of EPCs may be used as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and monitoring of AAA following treatment.

Right ventricular volume overload reboots cardiomyocyte proliferation via immune responses

BackgroundRight ventricular volume overload (RVVO) is one of the most important hemodynamic characteristics in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and heart failure, and cardiomyocyte (CM) proliferation is one of the most vital factors for improving cardiac performance. However, whether and how RVVO reboots CM proliferation remains elusive.Methods and resultsWe first created a neonatal RVVO mouse model via abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava-fistula microsurgery at postnatal day 7 (P7), the edge of CM proliferation window. We subsequently performed bulk RNA-seq, single cell RNA-seq/flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence staining on the right ventricles (RV) of RVVO mice at P14/P21, defined as prepubertal stage, revealing that RVVO temporarily reboots prepubertal CM proliferation via immune responses.ConclusionsIn considering the importance of RVVO and CM proliferation, this study may bring an opportunity to create a novel paradigm to treat pediatric CHDs or heart failure.Graphical

Montelukast inhibits abdominal aortic aneurysm formation in mice via activating the AMPK/mTOR signalling pathway

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which Montelukast inhibits abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation through the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway in mice.MethodsMice were randomly assigned to the Normal group, Model group, Montelukast group, and Montelukast + compound C (C.C) group. The Model, Montelukast, and Montelukast + C.C groups were induced with AAA by continuous infusion of 1000 ng/kg/min of Ang II. The Montelukast group received daily oral administration of 10 mg/kg Montelukast, while the Montelukast + C.C group received 10 mg/kg Montelukast and 10 mg/kg C.C orally for 28 days. Abdominal aortas were isolated, and their diameters and AAA occurrence were measured using a micrometer. Histological analysis was performed using Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining to assess the morphological changes. TUNEL staining was conducted to measure cell apoptosis levels in the abdominal aortas. Western Blot was employed to evaluate protein expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, MMP-2, MMP-9, α1-AT, p-AMPK, AMPK, p-mTOR, mTOR in the abdominal aortic tissues. qRT-PCR was used to assess the expression of IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ in the mouse abdominal aortas.ResultsCompared to the Normal group, the Model group showed significantly increased abdominal aortic diameter, AAA occurrence, TUNEL positivity, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, MMP-2, MMP-9, p-mTOR/mTOR, and decreased α1-AT, p-AMPK/AMPK (P < 0.05). The Montelukast group exhibited significant decreases in abdominal aortic diameter, AAA occurrence, TUNEL positivity, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, MMP-2, MMP-9, p-mTOR/mTOR, and increases in α1-AT, p-AMPK/AMPK compared to the Model group (P < 0.05). The Montelukast + C.C group showed opposite trends compared to the Montelukast group (P < 0.05). The Normal group exhibited intact abdominal aortic wall structure with orderly arranged cells. The Model group showed thickened aortic walls, plaque formation, and inflammatory cell infiltration. The Montelukast group demonstrated reduced aortic wall thickening, approaching a morphology closer to the Normal group. The Montelukast + C.C group exhibited a morphology between the Model and Montelukast groups.ConclusionMontelukast can inhibit AAA formation in mice, possibly through the downregulation of cell apoptosis, inflammatory response, and matrix metalloproteinase levels via the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.

ABDOMINAL SPLANCHNIC ARTERIAL MAPPING OF Cerdocyon thous: HELPING IN SURGICAL PLANNING

Inconceivable that in the 21st century, veterinary extrapolate knowledge of domestic animal anatomy to wild animals, neglecting the patient, especially in the face of the increasing number of professionals claiming to be wild animal specialists. Thus, we mapped the abdominal splanchnic arterial vasculature of Cerdocyon thous, with the aim of contributing to professionals who work directly with wild animal surgery. In specimens whose arterial system was evidenced by stained latex, we identified anatomical variations when compared to other species. The jejunal arteries issued nine branches, and the caudal abdominal phrenic and cranial arteries arose from the common trunk of the abdominal aorta. The cranial abdominal artery was bifurcated and inserted into the cranial pole of the left kidney, while the left renal artery was bifurcated in one specimen; in another specimen, the left renal artery was double and penetrated the renal pelvis. One specimen had the right kidney more caudally in relation to the left kidney, similar to the corresponding renal artery. The left renal artery originated from the left adrenal artery, and the right internal iliac artery was bifurcated. Given these findings, such knowledge is crucial in the clinical and surgical care of this species, as it will allow for the greatest success of the professionals involved.