Repair Of Aortic Arch Aneurysm Research Articles

Aortic arch aneurysm repair – Unsteady hemodynamics and perfusion at different heart rates

The aortic arch aneurysm is a complex disease that requires branching of one or more aortic arch vessels and can be fatal if left untreated. In this in vitro study, we examine the effect of the treatment approach on the unsteady hemodynamics and blood perfusion to the upper vessel's in models of an aortic arch aneurysm, and of the three common repair approaches: open-chest surgical repair, chimney, and hybrid approach. A particle image velocimetry method was used to quantify the unsteady hemodynamics in the four models simulated in a mock circulatory loop, to evaluate unsteady hemodynamic parameters and measure perfusion to the brain and the upper body.According to the findings, in terms of perfusion to the brain and upper body, the surgery model has the highest flow rate comparing to the other models in most heart-rate conditions. It also shows oscillatory parameters in the upper vessels which in normal arteries are correlated with a better arterial function. Between the two endovascular procedures, the hybrid model exhibits slightly better hemodynamic characteristics than the chimney model, with lower shear stresses and more oscillatory flow and WSS in the upper vessels. The hybrid model had lower perfusion flow rates to upper vessels during rest conditions (90BPM). However, unlike the other models, perfusion in the hybrid model increased with heart rate, thus at 135 BPM, it results in flow rate to upper vessels similar to that of the chimney model. The results of this study may shed light on future endograft' design and placement techniques.

Emergent endovascular repair of a huge aortic arch aneurysm with aortopulmonary fistula secondary to Takayasu's arteritis.

Emergent endovascular repair of a huge aortic arch aneurysm with aortopulmonary fistula secondary to Takayasu's arteritis.

Short-Term Results of Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair for Aortic Arch Aneurysm with a Fenestrated Stent Graft

Short-Term Results of Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair for Aortic Arch Aneurysm with a Fenestrated Stent Graft

Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery for Residual Aneurysm after Total Arch Replacement

Background: Residual aneurysms after graft replacement are rare, but they can be detrimental if they are saccular and large. The etiology of residual aneurysms remains unknown, and their management is controversial. One treatment option is late open surgical conversion; however, postoperative respiratory complications resulting from the dissection of pleural adhesions, which is frequently necessary with this approach, are often unavoidable. Case presentation: Herein, we report a case of open surgical repair of a residual distal aortic arch aneurysm that occurred after total arch replacement and thoracic endovascular aortic repair. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging was not possible in this case due to the patient’s severe renal dysfunction; however, contrast-enhanced computed tomography using minimal contrast did not detect remarkable leakage through the graft or stent graft into the aneurysm. Late open surgical conversion using video-assisted thoracic surgery was performed by thoracic surgeons, and the adhesion between the aortic wall and the lung was safely and effectively dissected. Because there was no significant pulsation or evidence of feeding arteries in the aortic wall, the aortic wall was opened carefully. No bleeding or backflow from any branch arteries into the aneurysm was noted, so the aortic wall was ligated with continuous sutures. The patient recovered without experiencing any major complications. Conclusions: This case report demonstrates that video-assisted thoracic surgery is safe and effective for late open conversion in cases of residual aneurysm; furthermore, this case suggests that video-assisted thoracic surgery may be particularly beneficial for the dissection of adhesions between the aortic wall and lung in these cases.

Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair for Arch Aneurysms with the Najuta Thoracic Stent-Graft System.

Objective: The treatment for arch aneurysms by endovascular repair is often difficult. This study evaluated the long-term outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair for aortic arch aneurysms treated with the Najuta stent-graft system.Materials and Methods: From January 2009 to December 2019, 37 patients underwent treatment for aortic aneurysms with the Najuta stent graft system at two institutes, including our hospital. We retrospectively analyzed the short- and long-term clinical outcomes.Results: Of all 37 cases, the technical success rate was 97.3% (36 of 37). The mean proximal neck length was 20.1±5.3 mm. The postoperative results revealed 10 patients with type Ia endoleaks (27.8%), 6 with stroke (16.7%), and one with paraplegia (2.8%). In the chronic phase, the overall survival rates and the rates of freedom from aorta-related events at 7 years were 71.3% and 50.7%, respectively. Between two groups divided based on the proximal neck diameter of 20 mm, the <20-mm group had significantly higher rates of aorta-related events in terms of freedom from aortic events (P=0.046).Conclusion: The fenestrated stent graft can be a less invasive option for the treatment of high-risk patients with aortic aneurysms.

Debranching thoracic endovascular aortic repair for distal aortic arch aneurysm in elderly patients aged over 75\u2009years old

BackgroundWe examined the outcome of debranching thoracic endovascular aortic repair (d-TEVAR) without sternotomy for distal aortic arch aneurysm in patients aged ≥75 years.MethodsPatients who underwent d-TEVAR or TAR for aortic arch aneurysm between 2008 and 2015 at our hospital and aged ≥75 years were included. Age, sex, left ventricular ejection fraction, preoperative creatinine level, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were matched using PS.ResultsAmong 74 patients (d-TEVAR: 51, TAR: 23), 17 patients in each group were matched. No difference in surgical outcome was detected between the d-TEVAR and TAR groups, including 30-day death (0% vs. 0%), hospital death (5.8% vs. 0%: p = 0.31) and incidence of cerebral infarction (5.8% vs. 7.6%: p = 0.27) as well as the long-term outcomes of 5-year survival (92.8% vs. 74.8%: p = 0.30) and 5-year aorta-related event-free rate (88.2% vs. 100%: p = 0.15). Average duration of ICU stay (1.3 ± 1.1 days vs. 5.6 ± 1.3 days: p = 0.025) and hospital stay (16.5 ± 5.2 days vs. 37.7 ± 19.6 days: p = 0.017) were significantly shorter in the d-TEVAR group.ConclusionOur results indicated that d-TEVAR is less invasive without affecting long-term outcome up to 5 years. Although the number of the patients included in the study was small, debranching TEVAR could be one of the treatments of the choice in the elderly, especially with comorbidities.

TAA 21. Hybrid Repair of Ruptured Aortic Arch Aneurysm Combined With Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery: Case Report

Surgical repair of aortic arch aneurysms is still an invasive procedure requiring arch replacement during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Endovascular aortic arch repair is less invasive compared with the open surgical aortic arch repair in treating aortic arch disease; this correlates with low morbidity and mortality rates, even in high-risk patients. Aortic arch diseases, such as aneurysms and dissections, often involve the origin of the supra-aortic branches. Surgical aortic arch debranching is therefore indicated before covering of these branches. On the other hand, an aberrant right subclavian artery is the most common abnormality arising in the development of the aortic arch. We describe an original method of revascularization followed by stent graft insertion in the case of ruptured aortic arch aneurysm with existing aberrant right subclavian artery. A 56-year-old woman was admitted to our emergency department because of chest pain, cough, and hemoptysis. At the time of admission, the blood pressure was 200/100 mm Hg; pulse rate was 115 beats/min. The initial laboratory findings showed hemoglobin level of 8.9 g/dL. The computed tomography scan showed a 6-cm fusiform aneurysm of the aortic arch 0.5 cm distal to the left carotid artery, extravasation of the contrast material from the posterior wall, and aberrant right subclavian artery (Fig 1). After a multidisciplinary team discussion, a decision was made to perform a hybrid procedure as a safer and more viable option than surgical replacement of the aortic arch. In our case, the hybrid procedure was performed in three steps: bilateral subclavian to carotid bypass with supraclavicular access, followed by midline sternotomy and aorta-bicarotid bypass (Dacron 16/8 mm) from ascending aorta, and finally implantation of an endovascular stent graft that completely covered the aortic arch. The operation was performed under brain oxygenation monitoring. No extracorporeal circulation was used. After the procedure, normal blood flow to the branches of the aortic arch was restored; the aortic aneurysm was completely isolated, and there was no endoleak (Fig 2). The patient was discharged 15 days after the operation with stable hemodynamics, without symptoms of neurologic deficiency and in a good general condition. Endovascular repair after aortic arch debranching has the potential to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates in patients with ruptured aortic arch aneurysm and abnormality of the supra-aortic branches.Fig 2Aorta-bicarotid bypass, bilateral subclavian to carotid bypass, and aortic stent graft.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)

Mini open stent grafting with half sternotomy for aortic arch aneurysm

BackgroundOpen stent grafting is an alternative of graft replacement and thoracic endovascular aortic repair for aortic arch aneurysm. We have performed open stent grafting with half sternotomy (mini-OSG) to reduce in-hospital stay and recovery time of patients and herein report seven cases of mini-OSG for aortic aneurysm and dissection.Case presentationThe patients’ mean age was 66 years. Cardiopulmonary bypass was performed conventionally, and an open stent graft was inserted via an aortotomy on the aortic arch during circulatory arrest. No mortality occurred. The mean operation time was 387 min, and the mean blood loss was 587 ml. The patients were weaned from the ventilator 7.1 h postoperatively. No pseudoaneurysm or endoleakage was observed during the 2- to 20-month follow-up.ConclusionsMini-OSG might be less invasive, although further studies and intensive follow-up are needed.

Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm Caused by a Left Ventricular Venting Catheter via the Right Superior Pulmonary Vein during Thoracic Aortic Surgery: A Case Report

A left ventricular (LV) pseudoaneurysm is one of the complications of acute myocardial infarction. It is also reported after chest trauma, cardiac surgery, and endocarditis. We report a rare case of an LV pseudoaneurysm induced by an LV venting catheter through the right superior pulmonary vein during thoracic aortic surgery. A 77-year-old man was referred for surgical repair of a distal aortic arch aneurysm. He underwent total aortic arch reconstruction with the frozen elephant trunk technique. The early postoperative period was uneventful. Postoperative contrast computed tomography and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed a pseudoaneurysm with a narrow neck at the apex of the LV that had sub-clinically progressed. Because of the risk of spontaneous rupture, an urgent aneurysmectomy was performed via a repeat sternotomy. Under cardioplegic arrest, the pseudoaneurysm was opened and the small orifice, which communicated with the LV, was confirmed. No myocardial ischemic changes were observed around the orifice. The pseudoaneurysm was thought to be induced by endocardial laceration by the tip of the venting catheter. The pseudoaneurysm was closed by linear repair reinforced with felt strips. The patient recovered well and was discharged 18 days after the second surgery. TTE showed no recurrence of LV aneurysm at the last follow-up.

Anesthetic Considerations for 3-Branch Endovascular Total Aortic Arch Aneurysm Repair

Anesthetic Considerations for 3-Branch Endovascular Total Aortic Arch Aneurysm Repair

Midterm Results of 2-Stage Hybrid Arch Repair for Extensive Aortic Arch Aneurysms

This report evaluated the perioperative and midterm results of the 2-stage hybrid arch procedure. This procedure involves total arch replacement with an elephant trunk as the first stage and thoracic endovascular aortic repair as the second stage for patients with extended aortic arch pathology. Between April 2010 and April 2017, 55 consecutive patients (age, 74.2±6.4years) with extended aortic arch atherosclerotic pathology involving the aortic arch and descending aorta underwent first-stage total arch replacement with the elephant trunk procedure. The second stage was completed for 53 (96.4%) of the 55 patients. The mean duration between the 2 procedures was 2.4±2.2months. Postoperative follow-up was completed after a mean of 36.6±24.9months. The in-hospital mortality rate for the first stage was 0%. Two patients died during the interval between surgeries. The in-hospital mortality rate for the second stage was 0%. Two (3.6%) of the 55 first-stage patients and none of the 53 second-stage patients experienced a postoperative stroke. No spinal cord dysfunction occurred during the first-stage and second-stage procedures. The 3- and 5-year survival rates were 88.2% and 67.0%, respectively. The 5-year thoracic aortic intervention-free rate was 95.5%. Extended aortic arch aneurysms were repaired using a 2-stage hybrid arch repair. Perioperative mortality and midterm results were acceptable. Use of an elephant trunk provided a secure landing zone for thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair. This 2-stage hybrid procedure is an alternative approach to extended aortic arch pathology.

Impact of Isolated Cerebral Perfusion Technique for Aortic Arch Aneurysm Repair in Elderly Patients

In aortic surgery, a severely atherosclerotic aorta is a known risk factor for perioperative stroke. The authors adopted a novel procedure of selective cerebral perfusion, named isolated cerebral perfusion (ICP), for the prevention of stroke during aortic arch operations. Between January 2010 and June 2016, 48 patients (mean age, 80 ± 3 years) at Yokohama City University Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan underwent total aortic arch replacement, which included nine emergency cases with rupture. ICP was routinely performed for extracorporeal circulation during total arch replacement. The ICP procedure included the following steps: First, 9-mm Dacron grafts were anastomosed to the bilateral axillary arteries for systemic perfusion. Next, the left common carotid artery (LCCA) was clamped just before starting systemic perfusion. Dissection of the LCCA and insertion of a balloon-tipped cannula into the LCCA were performed. Extracorporeal circulation through the bilateral axillary arteries and selective cerebral perfusion to the LCCA were simultaneously started. Finally, at a bladder temperature of 25°C, clamping of the brachiocephalic and left subclavian arteries was performed. Preoperative evaluation by enhanced computed tomography confirmed that 62.2% of patients had severely atherosclerotic aortas and 37.8% had shaggy aortas. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 2.1%, whereas that for elective cases was 0%. Neurologic deficits developed in 3 patients (6.3%), 1 patient (2.6%) after an elective procedure. The 1-year and 3-year survival rates were 85.3% and 69.5% overall and 87.0% and 70.4% in elective cases, respectively. ICP during total aortic arch replacement presents an acceptable procedure for elderly patients with severely atherosclerotic aortas.

Case Series of Aortic Arch Aneurysm in Patients with Bovine Arch Treated with Proximal Scalloped and Fenestrated Stent Graft.

The bovine arch is the most common variant of the aortic arch and occurs when the innominate artery shares a common origin with the left common carotid artery. We report an endovascular repair of aortic arch aneurysm in patients with a bovine arch using the Najuta proximal scalloped and fenestrated stent graft. Thoracic endovascular aneurysm repairs using the Najuta stent graft were performed at our facility. It was inserted and deployed at a zone 0 with precise positional adjustment of the scallop of the stent graft to the brachiocephalic trunk. Overall, eight patients with bovine aortic arch were treated with fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair. Technical success was 100% with no 30-day death. The follow-up period ranged from 7 to 29 (median 12) months. None of the patients had a stroke or paraplegia, and no endoleak was observed. All brachiocephalic trunks scalloped, and the left subclavian artery fenestrated vessels remained patent during the follow-up period. The Najuta stent graft repair of aortic arch aneurysms in patients with a bovine arch is a safe and effective treatment option, with good immediate and short-term results.

Arch branch endografts for arch aneurysms associated with bovine anomaly

Bovine aortic arch is known to be associated with an increased rate of aortic arch expansion. The most frequently observed human variant of bovine aortic arch is a common origin of the innominate trunk and left common carotid artery. This is a report of two patients who had successful custom-made arch branch endograft treatment for an arch aneurysm associated with bovine arch anomaly. Modular endovascular repair of aortic arch aneurysms using an inner-branched device adds to the armamentarium of treatment options, and is a minimally invasive management modality without the need for sternotomy or intraoperative extracorporeal bypass.

Is there a prospect for hybrid aortic arch surgery?

The surge of endovascular repair of aortic aneurysm in current modern aortic surgery practice has been the key for surgical management of elective cases of thoracic aortic aneurysms. This has paved way for the combined hybrid approach to be amongst the armamentarium for the management of aortic arch disease. The pivotal understanding of the aortic arch natural history coupled with device technology advancement allowed surgeons insight into delivery of hybrid surgery with acceptable morbidity and mortality results. This review article provides current insights into hybrid technique of aortic arch aneurysm repair and the evidences behind its applicability to arch surgery. It is aimed to highlight the challenges encountered for this innovative approach and correlate its challenges to those that are met by the conventional open aortic arch repair.

Endovascular Repair of Aortic Arch Aneurysm with Surgeon-Modified Fenestrated Stent Graft.

The authors describe a technique of treating patients with aortic arch aneurysm using surgeon-modified fenestrated stent graft (SMFSG). The technique is demonstrated in a 80-year-old patient whose aneurysm was successfully excluded with a SMFSG using Cook Alpha thoracic stent graft. The device was deployed, removed from its delivery system, and a fenestration created before being mounted back on the delivery system and constrained. It was transitioned through a series of sheaths before being introduced into its original sheath. The device was implanted via a common femoral artery access site; fenestration cannulated from the left brachial artery and bridged with a stent graft.

Distal Arch Aneurysm Repair Using Left Subclavian Artery Transposition With Stented Elephant Trunk in the Hybrid Repair Era

Hybrid aortic arch repair is an invasive approach to the surgical management of distal aortic arch aneurysm. The complications associated with hybrid aortic arch repair, such as stroke and endoleaks, are not uncommon and late reintervention is frequent. We retrospectively reviewed our experience of distal aortic arch aneurysm repair using the stented elephant trunk procedure with left subclavian artery (LSCA)-left common carotid artery (LCCA) transposition in the hybrid repair era. Between May 2009 and September 2016, 19 patients with distal aortic arch aneurysm underwent LSCA-LCCA transposition with stented elephant trunk implantation under hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass with selective antegrade cerebral perfusion. All patients were males with a median age of 51±14 (range 20-69) years. There were no in-hospital deaths. Continuous renal replacement therapy was not required in patients with preoperative renal dysfunction after surgery. No neurologic deficits were observed in any patients prior to hospital discharge. One patient underwent concomitant thoracic endovascular aortic repair after this technique. One case required reoperation due to bleeding. One patient required debridement due to poor wound healing. During a mean follow-up of 33±21months, one patient died. Satisfactory results were obtained in suitable patients undergoing surgery for distal aortic arch aneurysm using LSCA-LCCA transposition with stented elephant trunk implantation in the hybrid repair era. The straightforward nature of the surgical approach, with avoidance of the complications related to hybrid aortic arch repair and reduction of late re-intervention favours this technique for treating distal aortic arch aneurysm.

Total arch replacement versus debranching thoracic endovascular aortic repair for aortic arch aneurysm: what indicates a high-risk patient for arch repair in octogenarians?

This study aimed to reveal the differences in intermediate outcomes between TAR and d-TEVAR in octogenarians and to identify risk factors for adverse events after aortic arch repair in octogenarians. We reviewed medical records of 125 patients aged > 80years who underwent surgical intervention for aortic aneurysm between 2008 and 2016. Of these, 60 underwent conventional TAR (43 men; age, 82 ± 2.2years) and 65 underwent d-TEVAR (49 men; age, 84 ± 3.4years). Freedom from all causes of mortality at 2 and 4years was similar (80 and 66% in TAR, 80 and 51% in d-TEVAR, p = 0.17). Freedom from aortic death at 2 and 4years was similar (88 and 88% in TAR, 87 and 76% in d-TEVAR, p = 0.86). Using Cox regression analysis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [hazard ratio (HR), 6.0; p = 0.008], malignancy (HR, 8.8; p = 0.004), previous cardiac and thoracic aortic surgery (required median sternotomy) (HR, 65.9; p = 0.012), perioperative stroke (HR, 12.6; p = 0.012), and postoperative pneumonia (HR, 5.8; p = 0.026) were identified as independent positive predictors of overall postoperative mortality for TAR, whereas neurological dysfunction (HR, 3.0; p = 0.016) and perioperative stroke (HR, 12.1; p = 0.023) were identified for d-TEVAR. TAR in octogenarians with COPD and/or malignancy showed higher mortality rates; d-TEVAR is more appropriate in these situations. The prevention of perioperative stroke, which is related with poor prognosis in both the groups, is critical.

Hybrid repair versus conventional open repair for thoracic aortic arch aneurysms

BACKGROUND Thoracic aortic arch aneurysms (TAAs) can be a life-threatening condition due to the potential risk of rupture. Treatment is recommended when the risk of rupture is greater than the risk of surgical complications. Depending on the cause, size and growth rate of the TAA, treatment may vary from close observation to emergency surgery. Aneurysms of the thoracic aorta can be managed by a number of surgical techniques. Open surgical repair (OSR) of aneurysms involves either partial or total replacement of the aorta, which is dependent on the extent of the diseased segment of the aorta. During OSR, the aneurysm is replaced with a synthetic graft. Hybrid repair (HR) involves a combination of open surgery with endovascular aortic stent graft placement. Hybrid repair requires varying degrees of invasiveness, depending on the number of supra-aortic branches that require debranching. The hybrid technique that combines supra-aortic vascular debranching with stent grafting of the aortic arch has been introduced as a therapeutic alternative. However, the short- and long-term outcomes of HR remain unclear, due to technical difficulties and complications as a result of the angulation of the aortic arch as well as handling of the arch during surgery. OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness and safety of HR versus conventional OSR for the treatment of TAAs. SEARCH METHODS The Cochrane Vascular Information Specialist searched the Cochrane Vascular Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and AMED databases and World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and ClinicalTrials.gov trials registers to 22 March 2021. We also searched references of relevant articles retrieved from the electronic search for additional citations. SELECTION CRITERIA We considered for inclusion in the review all published and unpublished randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) comparing HR to OSR for TAAs. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently screened all titles and abstracts obtained from the literature search to identify those that met the inclusion criteria. We retrieved the full text of studies deemed as potentially relevant by at least one review author. The same review authors screened the full-text articles independently for inclusion or exclusion. MAIN RESULTS No RCTs or CCTs met the inclusion criteria for this review. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Due to the lack of RCTs or CCTs, we were unable to determine the safety and effectiveness of HR compared to OSR in people with TAAs, and we are unable to provide high-certainty evidence on the optimal surgical intervention for this cohort of patients. High-quality RCTs or CCTs are necessary, addressing the objective of this review.

Retrograde Cerebral Perfusion Is Effective for Prolonged Circulatory Arrest in Arch Aneurysm Repair

The optimal brain protection strategy for prolonged periods of circulatory arrest is still controversial. This study evaluated whether retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP) provides adequate brain protection for prolonged periods of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA). From January 1997 to December 2014, 1,043 patients underwent aortic arch operations using RCP and DHCA at 18°C. The DHCA time for 993 patients was 49 minutes or less and the DHCA time for the remaining 50 patients was 50 minutes or more. Propensity matching between the two groups was performed, taking into account the main preoperative and surgical variables and all the preoperative and intraoperative neurologic risk factors. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of operative death and postoperative cerebral complications. In the unmatched population, mortality in the 50 minutes or more vs the 49 minutes or less group was 8% vs 3.8% (p= 0.143), and the stroke rate was 2% vs 1.2% (p= 0.623). Propensity matching resulted in 48 pairs. Operative death and incidence of transient and permanent neurologic deficit were similar and not statistically significant in the matched groups for all comparisons. No difference in the incidence of other major postoperative complications was found between the two groups. Midterm survival was similar. Regression analysis showed DHCA duration was not independently associated with operative death or postoperative neurologic deficits. RCP is an effective adjunctive cerebral protection strategy for complex aortic arch aneurysm repair with prolonged DHCA and is not associated with increased death or neurologic complications.