Endovascular Aneurysm Repair Research Articles

Anesthesia choice for frail patients undergoing endovascular repair of non-ruptured infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms

BackgroundWhile general anesthesia is the predominant choice in endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), recent studies have suggested that locoregional anesthesia could be a viable alternative for suitable patients. Frailty has been identified as an independent predictor of elevated mortality and morbidity in EVAR. However, the choice of anesthesia in frail patients undergoing EVAR has not been explored. MethodsThis study aimed to compare the 30-day outcomes of non-emergent intact infrarenal EVAR in frail patients receiving either locoregional or general anesthesia. Patients who underwent infrarenal EVAR were identified in ACS-NSQIP database from 2012-2022. Frail patients were selected by 5-item Modified Frailty Index (mFI-5)≥2. Exclusion criteria included age<18 years, ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), emergency, and acute intraoperative conversion to open. A 1:1 propensity-score matching was used to match demographics, baseline characteristics, aneurysm diameter, distal aneurysm extent, and concomitant procedures between patients under locoregional and general anesthesia. Thirty-day postoperative outcomes were evaluated. ResultsAmong 16,438 patients who underwent EVAR, 4812 (29.27%) were frail. Among the frail patients, 483 (10.04%) were under locoregional anesthesia while 4,329 (89.96%) were under general anesthesia. After propensity-score matching, patients under locoregional or general anesthesia had comparable 30-day mortality (2.07% vs 2.48%, p=0.83) or any complications. ConclusionLocoregional and general anesthesia were found to have comparable postoperative outcomes in frail patients undergoing EVAR unruptured AAA, which did not align with the suggestion that locoregional anesthesia might be more advantageous in frail patients. While the patient’s preferences should be considered, the choice of anesthesia should still be individualized to take into account the patient’s age, comorbidities, AAA anatomy and the complexity of the case, as well as previous surgical and anesthesia experiences.

Results of Local and General Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Elective Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair (EVAR): A Single Center Experience

Results of Local and General Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Elective Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair (EVAR): A Single Center Experience

Cardiac Remodeling and Antihypertensive Medication Changes After Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair vs Open Surgical Repair

Cardiac Remodeling and Antihypertensive Medication Changes After Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair vs Open Surgical Repair

Characterization of cerebrospinal fluid markers as indicators of spinal cord ischemia following an endovascular aortic aneurysm repair procedure.

Spinal cord ischemia (SCI) remains one of the most devastating complications in both open and endovascular stent graft repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. The endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) can be either thoracic (TEVAR) when it targets the thoracic aortic aneurysm or fenestrated branched when repair involves the visceral and/or renal arteries. Even though EVAR interventions are less invasive than open repair, they are still associated with a significant risk of SCI. The current primary strategy to prevent SCI after TEVAR is to increase and/or maintain spinal cord perfusion pressure (blood flow) by increasing the mean arterial pressure while simultaneously draining CSF. Although the benefit of CSF drainage in EVAR procedures remains uncertain, it provides an opportunity to study the changes in cytokine and oxidative stress markers that may signal the pathophysiology of SCI following EVAR. The aim of this study was to evaluate the temporal relationship between stent deployment and CSF cytokine and oxidative stress marker levels as predictors of delayed SCI in patients undergoing an EVAR procedure. There were 16 EVAR cases across 15 patients enrolled in this study, with 1 patient undergoing the procedure twice 1 year apart. The levels of oxidative stress (8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine [8-OHdG], glial fibrillary acidic [GFAP], and lactic acid) and proinflammatory (tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α], interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β) and antiinflammatory (IL-4) markers were quantified at different time points between 0 and 48 hours after EVAR by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The changes in protein levels of both oxidative stress and inflammatory markers were expressed as fold change from the time of the lumbar drain insertion prior to surgery. Following the EVAR procedure, 8-OHdG resulted in the highest upregulation at later time points postoperatively (48 hours) and this increase was positively correlated with TNF-α level. The data also revealed that IL-6 peaked during the stent deployment intervention and this pattern of expression was positively correlated with the expression of lactic acid. No significant changes were noted in the expression levels of GFAP, lactic acid, and IL-1β. There appears to be a temporal relationship between lumbar CSF drainage and CSF cytokines and oxidative stress markers that may help 1) identify patients at risk for developing delayed SCI and 2) modify patient management to prevent the damage from delayed SCI.

Sealing Zone Failures and Durability of Endovascular Aneurysm Repair: Is it Time to Update Instructions for Use, Extend Repairs, or Change Follow Up Protocols?

Sealing Zone Failures and Durability of Endovascular Aneurysm Repair: Is it Time to Update Instructions for Use, Extend Repairs, or Change Follow Up Protocols?

Midterm Outcomes of the BeGraft and BeGraft Plus Bridging Covered Stents for Fenestrated and Branched Endovascular Aneurysm Repair

The aim of this study was to report outcomes of the BeGraft and BeGraft Plus as bridging covered stents in fenestrated and branched endovascular aneurysm repair (F/BEVAR). Patients treated and followed in two institutions receiving at least one BeGraft or BeGraft Plus as bridging covered stent between January 2018 and July 2023 were included. A total of 765 target vessels (TVs) in 281 patients were aimed to be bridged with the BeGraft or BeGraft Plus. TV technical success was 99.5% (761/765). Estimated TV patency at one and two years was 98.5 ± 0.5% and 96.7 ± 0.9%, respectively, with no difference between fenestrations and branches. Estimated freedom from TV related endoleak at one and two years was 98.5 ± 0.5% and 97.9 ± 0.6%, respectively. Estimated freedom from endoleak at two years was lower for TVs targeted with branches compared with TVs targeted with fenestrations (94.2 ± 1.9% vs. 99.7 ± 0.3%, respectively; p < .001). Estimated freedom from TV related re-intervention at one and two years was 97.7 ± 0.6% and 97.1 ± 0.7%, respectively. Estimated freedom from TV related re-intervention at two years was lower for TVs targeted with branches compared with TVs targeted with fenestrations (93.1 ± 2.0% vs. 99.0 ± 0.5%, respectively; p < .001). Estimated freedom from TV instability at one and two years was 96.8 ± 0.7% and 94.5 ± 1.1%, respectively. Estimated freedom from TV instability at two years was 96.0 ± 1.3% for fenestrations and 91.2 ± 2.2% for branches (p = .003). The BeGraft and BeGraft Plus covered stents showed good midterm outcomes as bridging covered stents in F/ΒEVAR. Branches showed higher instability rates compared with fenestrations. Branches showed similar patency rates to fenestrations.

Aortic Stent Graft Treatment in a Medium-Size Aortic Center Performed by a Cardiac Surgeon Only-The 9 Years Experience in Poland.

Background: The incidence of thoracic aortic aneurysms is estimated at 3.0-8.3/100,000 persons per year. There is a lack of reports in the literature on the outcomes of small- and medium-sized thoracic endovascular aortic repairs. The aim of this study is to present the results of thoracic endovascular aortic repairs at a single medium-sized center performed exclusively by a cardiac surgeon. Methods: Ninety patients who had undergone aortic stent graft implantations for the treatment of thoracic aortic anomalies were comprehensively, retrospectively evaluated. The detailed preoperative, surgical, and postoperative parameters of the patients, including the survival rate up to five years, were recorded and further analyzed. Results: The patients' Euroscores were four (2.1-9). The 30-day mortality rate was 8.9%, the 1-year mortality rate was 15.6%, and the 5-year mortality rate was 38.9% for all causes. Postoperative complications were observed in 10% of the patients. Statistically significant differences were observed between the urgency of surgery at 30 days and survival at one year, but not at five years. The most common complications were related to respiratory (4.4%), renal (3.3%), and neurological (3.3%) dysfunction. Conclusions: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair can be safely performed in small- and medium-sized centers with optimal long-term results.

Outcomes of elective open surgical repair or fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair for juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms in Sweden.

A juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm is defined as a short (less than 4 mm) or no-neck aneurysm, which is often treated with open or complex endovascular repair. The evidence to support the best treatment strategy is scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the short- and mid-term outcomes of elective open surgical repair or fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair for juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms in Sweden. Patients who underwent elective open surgical repair or fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair for juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms between 2018 and 2021 were identified in the Swedish Vascular Registry. Demographics, practice patterns, and operative details were assessed. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included perioperative complications and mid-term survival. Among 3777 aortic aneurysm repairs performed, 418 involved juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (open surgical repair 228 (54.5%), fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair 176 (42.1%), chimney endovascular aneurysm repair 6 (1.4%), and branched endovascular aneurysm repair 8 (1.9%)). Some 25 centres performed juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs with open surgical repair and fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair. The caseload varied from 2 to 54 repairs per centre. The mean aneurysm diameter was 61 mm. Endovascularly treated patients were older and had more pulmonary co-morbidities. The 30-day mortality rate was 2.2% (open surgical repair 2.6% and fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair 1.7%; P = 0.397). Perioperative major complications occurred in 14.1% of patients (open surgical repair 19.3% and fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair 7.4%; P < 0.001) and perioperative vascular complications occurred in 12.1% of patients (open surgical repair 8.8% and fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair 11.9%; P = 0.190). The survival rate (estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis) at 1 year and 3 years was 93.1% and 85.9% respectively for open surgical repair and 95.2% and 80.9% respectively for fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (P = 0.477). This nationwide study reveals considerable variations in volume and treatment strategy between Swedish centres performing juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs. Survival is comparable for open surgical repair and fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair, although there are significant baseline demographic differences between patients selected for the two treatment modalities.

Feasibility and Safety of Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) in a District General Hospital: A Retrospective Study of 10-Year Outcomes

Feasibility and Safety of Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) in a District General Hospital: A Retrospective Study of 10-Year Outcomes

Safe and favorable prognosis of thoracic endovascular aortic repair for the low-risk patients with non-acute type B aortic dissection.

Preemptive thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has the potential to improve the prognosis of Stanford type B aortic dissection (TBAD), however it is important to determine whether it could be safely performed as a prophylactic treatment. This study aimed to determine the short- and long-term outcomes of preemptive TEVAR for uncomplicated TBAD with a small aortic aneurysm. Retrospective multicenter analysis. We analyzed 212 patients with medically treated uncomplicated subacute TBAD between July 2004 and October 2019 in two Japanese academic centers. The short- and long-term prognosis of patients who underwent preemptive TEVAR and the changes in aortic diameter over time after TEVAR were analyzed. Aorta-related complications, aortic-related death and postoperative complications were recorded and analyzed. Analysis was performed on an intension-to-treat basis. During follow-up, patients were divided into two groups: optimal medical treatment [OMT; n = 185 (87%)] and preemptive TEVAR [n = 27 (13%)]. In all cases, aortic enlargement was the reason for therapeutic intervention in the preemptive TEVAR group. Propensity score matching yielded a cohort of 27 control patients with OMT (group A) and 27 patients who underwent preemptive TEVAR (group B). Preoperative characteristics were similar between groups. In group B, only one patient developed type A dissection at a late stage and died from aortic rupture. Freedom from aortic-related death at 1/5/10 years was 100%/92%/92% in group B. Overall growth (mm/year) of max aorta was significantly smaller in the TEVAR group than in the control group (-3.7 ± 2.9 vs. 0.4 ± 5.6, p < 0.01), and the diameter of the false lumen was reduced (-8 ± 4.8 vs. -1.3 ± 8.0, p < 0.001). Short- and long-term outcomes of TEVAR for uncomplicated TBAD with a small aortic aneurysm were excellent, with few postoperative complications. After TEVAR, aortic remodeling was observed in the short term, suggesting that it may contribute to the prevention of aortic-related death due to rupture.

Variation in care in individuals hospitalised with abdominal aortic aneurysm in nine high-income countries: a cross-sectional cohort study

Abstract Background Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) can be safely repaired using either endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) or open repair when intact, but after rupture morbidity and mortality are extremely high. Treatment patterns and outcomes for intact AAA are likely to differ between countries due to differences in AAA screening policies, health system capacity and payment approaches, and other factors, such as demographics and lifestyle, but are poorly studied. Methods We conducted a retrospective serial cross-sectional cohort study of adults aged ≥66 years hospitalised for with an intact AAA and repair procedure in the same admission between 2011 and 2019 in nine countries (US, Canada, England, Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland, Taiwan, South Korea and Israel) using population-representative administrative data. We investigated age-sex standardised (to the 2019 US population) repair rates (open repair or EVAR) and health system performance measures, including hospital length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmission, and all-cause mortality (30 days and 1 year). Results The number of intact AAA hospital admissions between 2011 and 2019 ranged from 1,290 in Israel to 199,764 in the US. The rates of intact AAA repair per 1000 population varied between countries and over time, from 0.11 per 1000 (South Korea) to 0.69 per 1000 (US) in 2011 and from 0.14 per 1000 (Taiwan) to 0.57 per 1000 (the Netherlands) in 2019. Most countries saw a decline in the rate of AAA repair over the study period. The proportion repaired using open repair vs EVAR also varied widely across the countries. In the US, Israel and Taiwan open repair was used in 11% or fewer cases whereas in the remaining countries we observed open repair in 25.1 % (South Korea) to 56.7% (Denmark) of cases. (Figure 1) Mortality was generally higher following open repairs compared to EVAR in all countries. In 2019, following EVAR, 30-day mortality varied from 0.6% (8.1% at 1 year) in South Korea to 2.3% (11.7% at 1 year) in Israel and following open repair varied from 2.9 (4.4% at 1 year) in England to 7.6% (15.1% at 1 year) in the US. (Figure 2) Mean hospital LOS in 2019 ranged from 2.5 days (US) to 12.2 days (South Korea), following EVAR and from 9.1 days (Taiwan) to 21.5 days (South Korea) following open repair. The 30-day readmission rate in 2019 ranged from 8.1% (US) to 31.8% in Israel following EVAR and from 11.4% (US) to 22.2% (South Korea) following open repair. Conclusions We observed substantial between-country variation in surgical approaches, mortality, and health system performance measures for AAA. Further research is needed to understand and plan optimal, evidence-based AAA screening and treatment strategies.Rates of EVAR and open repairAdjusted 30-day all-cause mortality

Percutaneous decannulation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation using MANTA device: A real-world single-center experience.

The MANTA vascular closure device (VCD) represents a novel approach to achieving hemostasis after large-bore femoral access procedures. Numerous clinical studies have evaluated the efficacy of the MANTA device across a range of patient populations undergoing different procedures. However, there is still a paucity of data available concerning the use of MANTA devices in aiding the decannulation of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). To present our single-center experience of utilizing the MANTA VCD in patients undergoing this procedure. This single-center study included all patients undergoing percutaneous decannulation of femoral VA-ECMO using the MANTA plug-based VCD between January 2021 and October 2023 at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. Inclusion criteria were adult patients who required prolonged (> 24 hours) hemodynamic support with VA-ECMO. Outcomes included all-cause mortality, hemostasis, bleeding, limb ischemia, and site infection. This is a retrospective cohort study of 19 patients with a mean age of 56.8 years. Twelve of them were males with a mean body mass index of 29. The most common extracorporeal membrane oxygenation indication was acute coronary syndrome complicated by cardiogenic shock at 36.8%. The mean length of intensive care unit stay for these patients was 18.8 ± 8.42 days. Seventeen out of 19 patients survived to discharge. The MANTA device was successfully deployed in 19 patients, with 10 procedures conducted at the bedside and 9 in an operating room setting. Complete hemostasis was achieved within 5 minutes of MANTA deployment in 17 out of 19 patients. In 2 patients manual compression after Manta deployment was required to achieve adequate hemostasis. Additionally, acute lower extremity ischemia was noted in two patients, necessitating endovascular interventions. No infections were reported at the site of MANTA deployment. Overall, based on our experience and that of other centers, the MANTA VCD has proven to be a simple, safe, and effective percutaneous technique for facilitating in the OR, but most of all it opens the opportunity for bedside VA-ECMO decannulation. Post-decannulation ischemic complications are higher in this series of sick patients when compared with elective procedures like transcatheter aortic valve replacement and endovascular aneurysm repair. Additionally, operators should be mindful of the incidence of ischemic complications. Distal Doppler pulse signals should always be checked, to indicate bailout options when this occurs.

Transmission line model as a digital twin for abdominal aortic aneurysm patients

We investigated the potential of the transmission line model as a digital twin of aneurysmal aorta by comparatively analyzing how a uniform lossless tube-load model were fitted to the carotid and femoral artery tonometry waveforms pertaining to (i) 79 abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients vs their matched controls (CON) and (ii) 35 AAA patients before vs after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). The uniform lossless tube-load model fitted the tonometry waveforms pertaining to AAA as well as CON and EVAR. In addition, the parameters in the tube-load model exhibited physiologically explainable changes: when normalized, both pulse transit time and reflection coefficient increased with AAA and decreased after EVAR, which can be explained by the increase in arterial compliance and the decrease in arterial inertance due to the aortic expansion associated with AAA. In sum, the tube-load model may have the potential as a digital twin to enable personalized AAA monitoring.

Antegrade in-situ needle assisted fenestration during thoracic endovascular aortic repair for preserving left subclavian artery.

Antegrade in-situ needle assisted fenestration during thoracic endovascular aortic repair for preserving left subclavian artery.

Simultaneous versus staged approach in transcatheter aortic valve implantation for severe stenosis and endovascular aortic repair for thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Thoracic/abdominal aortic aneurysms(T/AAAs) and aortic stenosis(AS) may be concomitant diseases requiring both transcatheter aortic valve implantation(TAVI) and endovascular aneurysm repair(T/EVAR) in high risk patients for surgical approaches, but temporal management is not clearly defined, yet. Aim of the study was to analyze outcomes of simultaneous vs staged TAVI and T/EVAR. Retrospective observational multicentre study on patients requiring TAVI and T/EVAR from 2016 to 2022. Patients were divided into 2 groups: "Simultaneous group" if T/EVAR+TAVI were performed in the same procedure and "Staged group" if T/EVAR and TAVI were performed in two steps, but within 3 months. Primary outcomes were: technical success, 30-day mortality/major adverse events and follow-up survival. Secondary outcomes were procedural metrics and length of stay (LOS). Forty-four cases were collected; 8(18%) had TEVAR and 36(82%) EVAR, respectively. Upon temporal determination 25(57%) and 19(43%) were clustered in simultaneous and staged groups, respectively. In staged group, median time between procedures was 72(interquartile-range-IQR : 57-87) days. Preoperative and intraoperative figures were similar. There was no difference in 30-day mortality(Simultanoeus : 0/25 vs Staged : 1/19; p = 0.43). Pulmonary events(Simultaneous : 0/25 vs Staged : 5/19; p = 0.01) and need of postoperative cardiac pacemaker(Simultaneous : 2/25 vs Staged : 7/19; p = 0.02) were more frequent in Staged patients. The overall LOS was lower in Simultaneous group[Simultaneous : 7(IQR : 6-8) vs Staged : 19(IQR : 15-23)days; p = 0.001]. The median follow-up was 25(IQR : 8-42) months and estimated 3-year survival was 73% with no difference between groups(Simultanoeus : 82% vs Staged : 74%; p = 0.90). Both simultaneous or staged T/EVAR and TAVI procedures are effective with satisfactory outcomes. Despite the small numbers, simultaneous repair seems to reduce length-of-stay and pulmonary complications, maintaining similar follow-up survival.

Large bore access for transcatheter aortic valve replacement, endovascular aortic repair, and thoracic endovascular aortic repair. A review of anatomic challenges and operative considerations.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), endovascular aortic repair (EVAR), and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) are standard and prolific procedures in the modern cardiovascular world, and appropriate delivery of these endoprostheses requires adequate understanding of the requisite large bore access. Percutaneous large bore access is the preferred route but may be accompanied by complications like thrombosis, hemorrhage, or inability to deliver the device. Anatomic limitations such as vessel tortuosity, small size, and heavy calcification may require alternative approaches for successful large bore access. This study aimed to better define large bore access, as well as to elucidate optimal adjuncts and alternatives to enable successful delivery of large bore endoprostheses. A systematic review for "large bore access" in the cardiovascular literature was conducted on PubMed and the Cochrane Library Central according to PRISMA guidelines. Identified articles were filtered and sub-selected for TAVR, EVAR, and TEVAR; studies related to other large bore interventions were excluded. A representative selection of 39 full-text studies included both cardiac and vascular studies and was critically interpreted to identify a consensus definition for large bore access, challenging anatomy, and adjuncts or alternative approaches to the standard transfemoral approach. Transfemoral access remains the first-line approach but in the setting of unfavorable anatomy, adjunct maneuvers (e.g. intravascular lithotripsy, endoconduits) or alternative approaches (supra-aortic, transcaval) help decrease morbidity, mortality, length of procedure, and overall health care cost in large bore access.

Early and Late Aortic-Related Mortality and Rupture After Fenestrated-Branched Endovascular Aortic Repair of Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study.

Fenestrated-branched endovascular aortic repair (FB-EVAR) has been used as a minimally invasive alternative to open surgical repair to treat patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs). The aim of this study was to evaluate aortic-related mortality (ARM) and aortic aneurysm rupture after FB-EVAR of TAAAs. Patients enrolled in 8 prospective, nonrandomized, physician-sponsored investigational device exemption studies between 2005 and 2020 who underwent elective FB-EVAR of asymptomatic intact TAAAs were analyzed. Primary end points were ARM, defined as any early mortality (30 days or in hospital) or late mortality from aortic rupture, dissection, organ or limb malperfusion attributable to aortic disease, complications of reinterventions, or aortic rupture. Secondary end points were early major adverse events, TAAA life-altering events (defined as death, permanent spinal cord injury, permanent dialysis, or stroke), all-cause mortality, and secondary interventions. A total of 1109 patients were analyzed; 589 (53.1%) had extent I-III and 520 (46.9%) had extent IV TAAAs. Median age was 73.4 years (interquartile range, 68.1-78.3 years); 368 (33.2%) were women. Early mortality was 2.7% (n=30); congestive heart failure was associated with early mortality (odds ratio, 3.30 [95% CI, 1.22-8.02]; P=0.01). Incidence of early aortic rupture was 0.4% (n=4). Incidence of early major adverse events and TAAA life-altering events was 20.4% (n=226) and 7.7% (n=85), respectively. There were 30 late ARMs; 5-year cumulative incidence was 3.8% (95% CI, 2.6%-5.4%); older age and extent I-III TAAAs were independently associated with late ARM (each P<0.05). Fourteen late aortic ruptures occurred; 5-year cumulative incidence was 2.7% (95% CI, 1.2%-4.3%); extent I-III TAAAs were associated with late aortic rupture (hazard ratio, 5.85 [95% CI, 1.31-26.2]; P=0.02). Five-year all-cause mortality was 45.7% (95% CI, 41.7%-49.4%). Five-year cumulative incidence of secondary intervention was 40.3% (95% CI, 35.8%-44.5%). ARM and aortic rupture are uncommon after elective FB-EVAR of asymptomatic intact TAAAs. Half of the ARMs occurred early, and most of the late deaths were not aortic related. Late all-cause mortality rate and the need for secondary interventions were 46% and 40%, respectively, 5 years after FB-EVAR. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifiers: NCT02089607, NCT02050113, NCT02266719, NCT02323581, NCT00583817, NCT01654133, NCT00483249, NCT02043691, and NCT01874197.

Blunt Thoracic and Abdominal Aortic Injury in Multiple Trauma: A Case Report.

Blunt abdominal aortic injury (BAAI) is rare among traumatic aortic injuries, and further complications of blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) have never been reported. A man in his 80s presented to our hospital following a motor vehicle accident. Pan-scan contrast-enhanced CT showed a thoracic aortic isthmus injury (Grade III), an abdominal aortic injury (Grade IV) with extravasation of contrast media at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra. Endovascular abdominal aortic repair was performed on the same day and a thoracic endovascular aortic repair for BTAI was performed 11 days after admission. The patient had a good postoperative course and was discharged without complications. This report presented a rare case of BTAI complicated with BAAI. The timing of intervention for aortic injury should be determined based on urgency and other organ damage.

Long-Term Outcomes of PETTICOAT Technique-Assisted Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair for the Treatment of Acute and Subacute Complicated Type B Aortic Dissection.

To evaluate the long-term outcomes of the provisional extension to induce complete attachment technique (PETTICOAT) for the treatment of acute and subacute complicated type B aortic dissection (TBAD). We retrospectively collected and analyzed the clinical data of patients with acute and subacute TBAD who were treated using the PETTICOAT technique at our center between March 2014 and March 2023. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality; secondary endpoints were a composite of complications, such as entry flow, stent-graft-induced new entry (SINE), and re-intervention. The technical success was 92% (46/50). The perioperative mortality was 2% (1/50), and the procedure-related re-intervention was also 2% (1/50). The mean follow-up time was (74.9±33.9) months. The mortality was 4.1% (2/49). The incidence of aortic-related complications was 8.2% (4/49), including new entry flow, 2 retrograde type A aortic dissections, and 1 distal stent graft-induced new entry SINE. The procedure-related re-intervention rate was 4.1% (2/49). After 5 years of follow-up, the total aortic diameter at the renal artery level was reduced from that at the third year of follow-up but was still significantly larger than preoperatively (26.9±6.6 mm vs. 24.1±4.2 mm, p=0.013). While at the covered stent, bare stent, stentless, and celiac artery (CA) levels, the total aortic diameters did not change significantly compared with preoperative values, whereas true lumen (TL) diameters and TL ratios were maintained at obviously higher levels than preoperative. The rate of complete thrombosis of false lumen in the thoracic aortic segment was significantly higher than that in the abdominal aortic segment (79.6% vs 30.6%, p=0.0001). The results indicated that the PETTICOAT technique is safe and effective and could promote positive remodeling of the aorta from the level of the covered stent to the CA. Remodeling of the distal abdominal aorta may fluctuate and requires close follow-up review. The long-term results from our center suggest that the PETTICOAT technique promotes positive remodeling of the aorta from the level of the covered stent to the CA; whereas this advantage does not seem to be significant in the more distal segment of the abdominal aorta, mainly at the level of RA and distal. Therefore, further procedures may be required for aortic dissection of the abdominal segment. In addition, aortic remodeling may fluctuate to some extent during the follow-up period, especially in the abdominal visceral region, so close follow-up review is quite important, and prompt re-intervention is required if necessary.

Ruptured Complex Aortoiliac Aneurysm in an Elderly Patient With a Kidney Transplant Presenting With Sciatica.

Background: Common iliac artery aneurysms are uncommon, with an estimated incidence of less than 0.01% in adults and accounting for only 1% of all intra-abdominal aneurysms. While the risk of rupture is approximately 5%, it increases significantly to 29% once the aneurysm reaches 4 cm. Similarly to abdominal aortic aneurysms, common iliac artery aneurysms often develop silently, remaining asymptomatic in about 70% of cases. This report describes the treatment of a patient with a kidney transplant who underwent endovascular repair of a ruptured left common iliac artery aneurysm with a concomitant abdominal aortic aneurysm and a focal aneurysm of the right renal artery origin. Case Description: A 78-year-old male patient with a kidney transplant presented with left sciatica symptoms and was found to have a contained rupture of a 10 x 7 cm left common iliac artery aneurysm with a concomitant 8 cm abdominal aortic aneurysm and a focal 1.8 cm aneurysm of the right renal artery origin. He underwent an endovascular aneurysm repair with an Aorto-Uni-iliac stent graft and a concomitant right-to-left femoral-femoral bypass using 8 mm ringed PTFE graft and ligation of left external iliac artery to prevent retrograde flow into the left common iliac artery aneurysm. At 3-year follow-up, patient remains stable with a functioning kidney transplant and excluded aneurysms with no evidence of endoleak. Conclusion: This report describes the endovascular repair of a ruptured left common iliac artery aneurysm conducted under local anesthesia in a patient with a renal transplant and complex aneurysm anatomy. The calcification pattern observed on a non-contrast CT scan was effectively used for surgical planning, leading to a successful aneurysm repair while preserving kidney transplant function.