Treatment Of Visceral Artery Aneurysms Research Articles

Surgical treatment of visceral artery aneurysms: A 25-year experience

The aim of this study was to analyze our 25-year experience with surgical treatment of visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs), with particular attention paid to early and long-term results. From January 1982 to September 2007, 55 patients (32 males, 58%, and 23 females, 42%) underwent surgical treatment of 59 VAAs. Only one patient was treated with an endovascular procedure. Mean patient age was 59.3 years (range, 36-78 years). The site of aneurysmal disease was splenic artery in 30 (50.8%) cases, renal artery in nine (15.2%) cases, common hepatic artery in seven (11.9%) cases, pancreaticoduodenal artery in four (6.8%) cases, celiac trunk in three (5.1%) cases, superior mesenteric artery in two (3.4%) cases, and gastroduodenal, inferior mesenteric, middle colic and right gastroepiploic in one (1.7%) case for each artery. Two (3.6%) patients had multiple VAAs. In five (9.1%) patients, an abdominal aortic aneurysm coexisted. Early results in terms of mortality and major complications were assessed. Follow-up consisted of clinical and ultrasound examinations at 1 and 12 months, and yearly thereafter. Long-term results in terms of survival and aneurysm-related complications were analyzed. In all but two cases, elective intervention in asymptomatic patients was performed. Two (3.6%) patients had a ruptured aneurysm (one pancreaticoduodenal artery and one middle colic artery). The one perioperative death was due to an acute pancreatitis in a patient operated on for a giant inflammatory splenic artery aneurysm, yielding a perioperative mortality rate of 1.8%. Two major complications (retroperitoneal hematoma and acute pancreatitis) were recorded. Mean duration of follow-up was 82.1 months (range, 0-324 months). Estimated 10-year survival rate was 79.5%. During follow-up two aneurysm-related complications occurred, with an estimated 10-year, aneurysm-related, complication-free survival rate of 75.2%. In the era of minimally invasive therapeutic approaches, elective open surgical treatment of visceral artery aneurysms is safe and effective, and offers satisfactory early and long-term results.

Nonoperative management of unruptured visceral artery aneurysms: Treatment by transcatheter coil embolization

To describe our experiences with the treatment of visceral artery aneurysms (VAA) by transcatheter coil embolization and to propose indications for treating VAA by this method. We treated 22 patients with VAA by coil embolization; 9 had splenic-, 7 renal-, 4 pancreaticoduodenal arcade-, and 2 proper hepatic artery aneurysms. All nine splenic artery aneurysms patients presented with chronic hepatitis-C; four had hepatocellular carcinoma. Of the seven renal artery aneurysms patients, four were hypertensive and three had rheumatoid arthritis. Both pancreaticoduodenal arcade artery aneurysms patients manifested severe stenosis of the celiac axis. Our transcatheter coil embolization procedure includes coil embolization and coil-packing of the aneurysmal sac, preserving the native arterial circulation. Transcatheter coil embolization with aneurysm packing was technically successful in 16 (72.7%) of the 22 patients and the native arterial circulation was preserved. Postprocedure angiograms confirmed complete disappearance of the VAA. In four of the nine splenic artery aneurysm patients, the native arterial circulation was not preserved. In one renal artery aneurysm patient, stenosis at the aneurysmal neck necessitated placement of a stent before transcatheter coil embolization. Magnetic resonance angiographs obtained during the follow-up period (mean 27 months) demonstrated complete thrombosis of the VAA in all 22 patients. Infarction occurred in one splenic- and two renal artery aneurysms patients; the latter developed flank pain and fever after the procedure. Transcatheter coil embolization is an effective alternative treatment for patients with saccular and proximal VAA. In particular, the isolation technique using coil embolization is advantageous in splenic artery aneurysm patients.

Multimodal approach to endovascular treatment of visceral artery aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms

Multimodal approach to endovascular treatment of visceral artery aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms

Endovascular Treatment of Visceral Artery Aneurysms

Visceral artery aneurysms, although uncommon, can present with life-threatening hemorrhage. The increasing use of imaging studies has allowed for earlier identification and intervention of these aneurysms, thus avoiding the high morbidity and mortality associated with rupture. The treatment options for visceral artery aneurysms range from conventional open surgical repair to minimally invasive techniques using covered stents or embolization materials. Anatomic features and patient selection determine which treatment option would result in the most durable treatment and outcome. This article reviews our experience with the endovascular treatment of visceral artery aneurysms.

Treatment of visceral artery aneurysms: Retrospective study of 35 cases

Visceral artery aneurysms (VAA) represent a rare clinical entity with possible life-threatening complications. The presentation, diagnosis and management vary accordingly to the artery involved and the underlying pathology. During a 25-year period (1980-2005), 35 patients (25 males + 10 females, age range 36-73 years-median 59.2 years) with VAA were treated at two tertiary vascular surgery centers in Belgrade. All data were retrospectively collected from the patient's records. On presentation, 19/35 patients were symptomatic, and 3/35 had ruptured VAA. Surgery was performed in 28 cases; most commonly involved arteries were splenic (11), hepatic (5), celiac trunk (5), superior mesenteric (3), inferior mesenteric (3) and gastroduodenal (1). Fatal rupture occurred in two patients. In 5 patients abdominal aortic aneurysm was associated with VAA, and in 4 patients multiple aneurysms of the involved artery were noted. Successful embolization was performed in 3 patients. Overall, four patients were treated medically. In the surgically treated patients, perioperative mortality and morbidity were 11% (3/28) and 40% (10/25) respectively. Of 25 patients included in the long-term follow up, six died. Since VAA have considerable tendency to rupture, an active approach is necessary. Based on our experience, surgical treatment could be recommended for any VAA patient with symptoms. In addition, we believe that the choice of the therapeutic procedure should be made on an individual basis.

The endovascular management of visceral artery aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms

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

Multimodal approach to endovascular treatment of visceral artery aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms

Purpose To assess the feasibility and the effectiveness of endovascular treatment of visceral arteries aneurysms (VAAs) using a “multimodal approach”. Material and methods Twenty-five patients (mean age 60.1 years) with 29 VAAs (13 splenic, 4 hepatic, 3 gastroduodenal, 6 renal, 2 pancreatic-duodenal, 1 superior mesenteric) were considered suitable for endovascular treatment; 8/29 were ruptured. Saccular aneurysms (9/29) were treated by sac embolization with coils (in 4 cases associated with cyanoacrylate or thrombin) with preservation of artery patency. Fusiform aneurysms (6/29), were treated by an “endovascular exclusion”. In 10/29 cases, supplied by a terminal branch, we performed an embolization of the afferent artery, with coils and cyanoacrylate or thrombin. 2/29 cases were treated with a stent-graft and 2/29 cases with a percutaneous ultrasound-guided thrombin injection and coils embolization of the afferent artery. The follow-up was performed by ultrasonography and/or CT-angiography 1 week after the procedure and then after 1, 6, and 12 months and thereafter annually. Results In 29/29 cases we obtained an immediate exclusion. Two patient died for other reasons. Complication rate was 27.6% (7 spleen ischemia and 1 stent-graft occlusion). During the follow-up (range: 7 days–36 months, mean 18.7 months), we observed 3/29 (10.3%) cases of reperfusion in the first month, all treated successfully with a further endovascular procedure. Primary technical success was 89.7%; secondary technical success was 100%. Conclusion Endovascular therapy can be considered a feasible and effective approach for VAAs with good primary and secondary success rates.

Is Endovascular Therapy the Preferred Treatment for All Visceral Artery Aneurysms?

Endovascular intervention can provide an alternative method of treatment for visceral artery aneurysms. We conducted a retrospective review of all patients with visceral artery aneurysms at a single university medical center from 1990 to 2003, focusing on the outcome of endovascular therapy. Sixty-five patients with visceral artery aneurysms were identified: 39 splenic (SAA), 13 renal, seven celiac, three superior mesenteric (SMA), and three hepatic. Eleven patients (16.9%) had symptoms attributable to their aneurysms, which included a total of four ruptures (6.2%): three splenic and one hepatic. Management consisted of 18 (27.7%) endovascular interventions, nine (13.9%) open surgical repairs, and 38 (58.5%) observations. Mean aneurysm diameter for patients treated expectantly was significantly less than for those who underwent intervention (p = 0.001). Endovascular interventions included 15 (83.3%) embolizations (11 SAA, three renal, one hepatic) and three (16.7%) stent grafts (two SMA, one renal). The initial technical success rate of the endovascular procedures was 94.4% (17/18). However, there were four patients (22.2%) with major endovascular procedure-related complications: one late recurrence requiring open surgical repair, two large symptomatic splenic infarcts, and one episode of severe pancreatitis. These four patients had distal splenic artery aneurysms at or adjacent to the splenic hilum. There were no endovascular procedure-related deaths. Reasons for performing open surgical repair included three SAA ruptures diagnosed at laparotomy and complex anatomy not amenable to endovascular intervention (six patients). One surgical patient had a postoperative small bowel obstruction treated nonoperatively; and there was one perioperative death in a patient operated on emergently for rupture. Endovascular management of visceral artery aneurysms is a reasonable alternative to open surgical repair in carefully selected patients. Individual anatomic considerations play an important role in determining the best treatment strategy if intervention is warranted. However, four of 11 (36.4%) patients with distal splenic artery aneurysms treated with endovascular embolization developed major complications. Based on our experience, traditional surgical treatment of SAA with repair or ligation and concomitant splenectomy when necessary may be preferred in these cases.

Visceral artery aneurysms

Visceral artery aneurysms are an uncommon form of vascular disease, yet are important to the practicing vascular surgeon because of the potential for rupture or erosion into an adjacent viscus, resulting in life-threatening hemorrhage. Many visceral artery aneurysms still present with rupture, which often results in the death of the patient. An aggressive approach to the diagnosis and management of these aneurysms is warranted. The treatment of visceral artery aneurysms has significantly evolved over the past decade. Open surgical repair has been the standard method of treatment, usually by aneurysm resection or simple ligation. Open surgical repair is durable with excellent long-term results, but is accompanied by the morbidity and mortality of a major abdominal operation. Over the past decade, catheter-based treatments with coil embolization and placement of stent grafts have emerged as promising therapies to treat visceral artery aneurysms. These have provided safe and effective short-term results and should be preferentially used in selected patients at high surgical risk.

Treatment of Visceral Artery Aneurysms: Description of a Retrospective Series of 42 Aneurysms in 34 Patients

Visceral artery aneurysms (VAA) can be treated by revascularization, ligation, or, most often, endovascular techniques depending on clinical presentation, hemodynamic status, and location. From 1975 to 2002 a total of 42 VAA in 34 patients were treated. The lesion involved the splenic artery (SA; 19), pancreaticoduodenal artery (PDA; 6), celiac trunk (CT; 5), superior mesenteric artery (SNA; 4), common hepatic artery (CHA; 3), gastroduodenal artery (GDA; 2), left hepatic artery (LHA; 1), a branch of the inferior mesenteric artery (BIMA; 1), and a branch of the SMA (BSMA; 1). Twenty-seven VAA in 21 patients (64%) were uncomplicated (group I) and 15 VAA in 13 patients (36%) had ruptured (group II) (PDA; 6; CT, 3; SA, 1; CHA, 1; LHA, 1; BSMA, 1; BIMA, 1). In group I VAA were treated by embolization (n = 11), splenectomy (n = 6), bypass (n = 7), ligation (n = 2), and aneurysmorraphy (n = 1). No deaths were observed. The morbidity rate associated with surgical treatment was 12% including hepatic bypass thrombosis without ischemic complications in two cases. The morbidity rate associated with endovascular treatment was 18% including cholecystitis in one case and bile duct stenosis in one case. The VAA recanalization rate following embolization was 9%. In group II, 12 VAA (80%) were treated by ligation in association with splenectomy in two cases and left hepatectomy in one case. Only one bypass procedure was performed and embolization was used to treat two VAA (1 SMA and 1 PDA). The mortality rate was 20% (3/15). The morbidity rate associated with surgical treatment was 46% (6/13) including bile duct stenosis in one case, ischemic cholecystitis in one case, duodenal fistula in one case, pancreatic fistula in one case, bile tract fistula in one case, and colonic ischemia in one case. No patient died after endovascular treatment and the morbidity rate was 50% (1/2) with duodenal stenosis occurring in one case. In sum, VAA can rupture. Emergency cases can be treated by ligation in most cases or by embolization if the hemodynamic status of the patient allows. Regardless of treatment technique, the morbidity and mortality rate remains high after rupture, especially in cases involving PDA. Embolization can be proposed as a first-line treatment for most VAA. Because of the risk of rupture, endovascular or open repair is warranted for VAA and has a favorable prognosis.

Endovascular treatment of visceral artery aneurysms.

To review a 10-year experience with endovascular embolization of visceral artery aneurysms. Twenty-five patients (13 men; mean age 52.1 years, range 31-80) presented with VAAs of varying locations and etiologies: 10 splenic, 3 gastroduodenal, 2 pancreaticoduodenal, 3 hepatic, 3 superior mesenteric, 2 celiac, 1 left gastric, and 1 jejunoileal. Ten patients were asymptomatic; 7 aneurysms were ruptured. Transcatheter coil embolization was the treatment of choice in all patients. Coil placement was initially (<7 days) successful in 23 (92%) patients. One superior mesenteric artery aneurysm remained perfused, and recurrent bleeding occurred 2 days after intervention in 1 case, but repeated embolization excluded the aneurysm. One patient with necrotizing pancreatitis died from sepsis 10 days after endovascular treatment and surgery (4% 30-day mortality). Long-term follow-up revealed excellent results after an average 48.7 months (range 14-75) with only 1 recurrence after 12 months. Embolotherapy is the treatment of choice in visceral artery aneurysms, regardless of etiology, location, or clinical presentation.

Endovascular Treatment of Visceral Artery Aneurysms

<b>Endovascular Treatment of Visceral Artery Aneurysms</b>

Visceral artery aneurysm rupture

Purpose: Aneurysms of the visceral arteries are infrequently encountered. Many are found incidentally and are thought to have a benign outcome. To better characterize these lesions and their clinical course, we reviewed our experience with visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs) at a single institution. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all VAAs diagnosed at our institution over the past 10 years was performed. The presentation, management, and outcome of therapy was examined for each patient. Results: Thirty-four VAAs in 26 patients were diagnosed over the past 10 years. Four patients had multiple VAAs: splenic (17), hepatic (7), celiac (3), superior mesenteric (2), gastroduodenal (2), pancreaticoduodenal (1), right gastric (1), ileal (1) artery aneurysms. Associated aneurysms were found in 31% of patients and involved the thoracic aorta (3 patients), abdominal aorta (4 patients), renal arteries (2 patients), iliac artery (3 patients), lower extremity (1 patient), and intracranium (1 patient). In 15 patients (58%), VAAs were detected before rupture by chance or because abdominal symptoms resulted in diagnostic evaluation. Eight of these underwent elective surgery, and there were no deaths. Of those 15 patients with known VAAs, one patient died of rupture and hemorrhage from an untreated splenic artery aneurysm. Eleven patients (42%) presented unexpectedly with rupture, and two died despite prompt surgical treatment. The mortality rate in patients who had ruptured VAAs was 25%, including those who presented with ruptured aneurysms and those observed whose aneurysms eventually ruptured. Conclusions: Aneurysms of the visceral arteries are rare but important vascular lesions. Associated aneurysms are common. Because of the risk of rupture, often with a fatal outcome, an aggressive approach to the treatment of VAA is essential. (J Vasc Surg 2001;33:806-11.)

Multiple Pancreaticoduodenal Aneurysms: Treatment with Superior Mesenteric Artery Stent-Graft Placement and Distal Embolization

Abbreviations: IAPDA 5 inferior anterior pancreaticoduodenal artery, IPPDA 5 inferior posterior pancreaticoduodenal artery, PDA 5 pancreaticoduodenal artery, SMA 5 superior mesenteric artery DURING the last decade, transluminal placement of endovascular grafts has evolved as an alternative to open surgical repair of aortic (1– 4), peripheral (5–7), and visceral artery aneurysms (8,9), as well as traumatic vascular injuries (10,11). Transcatheter embolization is an established technique in the treatment of visceral artery aneurysms (12,13), including those arising from peripancreatic vessels (14–17). We report a unique case in which multiple pancreaticoduodenal artery (PDA) aneurysms were treated by percutaneous placement of a graftcovered stent in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) combined with transcatheter embolization of the outflow vessel.