Lessons learned over 2 decades of fenestrated-branched endovascular aortic repair.

Fenestrated-branched endovascular repair has been disseminated worldwide from a technique used to treat high-risk patients to a valid alternative in almost any patient who is anatomically suitable and has complex abdominal and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. As with any new procedure, there is a steep learning curve that goes beyond proficiency with deployment. Ultimately, patient selection, team performance, surgeon's ability to adapt to unexpected events, and the constant evolution of improvements in technical aspects all affect the early outcomes and durability of the repair. This article reviews the importance of the learning curve, evolution of complex endovascular techniques, and factors affecting outcomes of complex endovascular aneurysm repair.

Endovascular repair for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms: current status and future challenges.

Open surgical repair has been the gold standard for treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA). Currently, open surgical repair has been reserved mostly for young and fit patients with connective tissue disorders, using separate branch vessel reconstructions instead of 'island' patches, and distal perfusion instead of a 'clamp and go' technique. Endovascular repair has gained widespread acceptance because of its potential to significantly decrease morbidity and mortality. Several large aortic centers have developed dedicated clinical programs to advance techniques of fenestrated-branched endovascular aortic repair (FB-EVAR) using patient-specific and off-the-shelf devices, which offers a less-invasive alternative to open repair. Although FB-EVAR was initially considered an option for older and frail patients, many centers have expanded its indications to any patient with suitable anatomy and no evidence of connective tissue disorders, independent of their clinical risk. In this article, we review current techniques and outcomes of endovascular TAAA repair.

Benefit of selective shunt use during carotid endarterectomy under regional anesthesia.

OBJECTIVES: Carotid cross-clamping during endarterectomy exposes the patient to intraoperative neurological deficits due to embolism or cerebral hypoperfusion. To prevent further cerebrovascular incidents, resorting to shunt is frequently recommended. However, since this method is also considered a stroke risk factor, the use is still controversial. This study aims to shed some light on the best approach regarding the use of shunt in symptomatic cerebral malperfusion after carotid artery cross-clamping. METHODS: From January 2012 to January 2018, 79 patients from a tertiary referral hospital who underwent carotid endarterectomy with regional anesthesia for carotid artery stenosis and manifested post-clamping neurologic deficits were prospectively gathered. Shunt use was left to the decision of the surgeon and performed in 31.6% (25) of the patients. Demographics, comorbidities, imaging tests, and clinical/intraoperative features were evaluated. For data assessment, univariate analysis was performed. RESULTS: Regarding 30-day stroke, 30-day postoperative complications (stroke, surgical hematoma, hyperperfusion syndrome), and cranial nerve injury, no significant differences were found (P = 0.301, P = 0.460, and P = 0.301, respectively) between resource to shunt and non-shunt. Clamping and surgery times were significantly higher in the shunt group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Selective-shunting did not demonstrate superiority for patients who developed focal deficits regarding stroke or other postoperative complications. However, due to the limitations of this study, the benefit of shunting cannot be excluded. Further randomized trials are recommended for precise results on this matter with current sparse clinical evidence.

Prognostic effect of troponin elevation in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy with regional anesthesia - A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS) occurs in 15% of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) with general anesthesia. Short and long-term risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke have been strongly associated with the presence of MINS, with an associated mortality rate superior to 10% in the first year. Due to the absence of studies concerning CEA with regional anesthesia (RA), the present study aimed to evaluate the incidence of MINS in patients with RA and its prognostic value on cardiovascular events or death. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2009 to January 2018, 156 patients from a Portuguese tertiary care medical center who underwent CEA under RA were retrieved from a prospectively gathered database. Troponin I or high-sensitive troponin I values were systematically measured in the postoperative period and studied as a binary outcome in a logistic regression model. Survival analysis was used to study the impact of MINS in time-dependent clinical outcomes such as stroke and MI. RESULTS: The incidence of MINS after CEA was 15.3%. Multivariate analysis confirmed that chronic heart failure was strongly associated with MINS (OR: 4.458, 95% CI: 1689-11.708, P < 0.001). A previously diagnosed MINS was associated with the long-term risk of MI and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) with hazard ratios (HR) of 3.318 (95% CI: 0.97-13.928, Breslow: P = 0.025) and 1.955 (95% CI: 1.01-4.132, Breslow: P = 0.046), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: MINS is a long-term predictor of MI and MACE. Troponin assessment after CEA should be routinely monitored in patients with a cardiovascular risk superior to 5%. Further studies concerning prophylaxis and management of MINS should be carried on, focusing on the effect of anesthetic procedure in postoperative troponin elevation.

Onset of Neurological Deficit During Carotid Clamping With Carotid Endarterectomy Under Regional Anesthesia Is Not a Predictor of Carotid Restenosis.

BACKGROUND: A number of awake patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) present from test clamp neurological deficits (NDs) during the procedure. Current guidelines advocate tighter Doppler ultrasound (DUS) surveillance in these patients because of probable higher likelihood of hemodynamic stroke (class 1 grade C), although evidence is lacking regarding benefit. The aim for the study is the assumption that patients who present ND have a higher risk of developing a complete stroke if the ipsilateral carotid artery becomes occluded, and for this reason, surveillance over restenosis of endarterectomy in this group is justifiable; hence, the authors would like to contribute to this matter presenting their experience on restenosis in this specific group of patients. METHODS: Data were prospectively collected between 2009 and 2018 for patients of a university tertiary referral center who underwent CEA under regional anesthesia and developed alterations in the neurologic monitoring during internal carotid artery (ICA) test clamping. Control patients were consecutively selected as the next patient submitted to the same procedure but who did not develop neurologic alterations. Patients who did not present to the first postoperative evaluation were excluded (4-6 weeks). Primary outcome was any restenosis (>30%; >50%; >70%) detected by DUS evaluations between 16 and 30 months of follow-up. Clinical adverse events such as stroke, myocardial infarction, acute heart failure, and all-cause death were assessed 30 days after the procedure and in the subsequent long-term surveillance period. A multivariate analysis of factors with significant associations to restenosis identified in a univariate analysis was performed by binary logistic regression. Kaplan-Meier analysis and life tables were used to evaluate time-dependent variables. RESULTS: Ninety patients with ND and 94 controls were included. Those with ND had a higher prevalence of obesity, mean age, and scores of American Society of Anesthesiologist physical status, as well as a lower mean degree of ipsilateral stenosis (82.3% vs. 85.8%, P = 0.032) and a higher mean degree of contralateral stenosis (67.8% vs. 61.1%, P = 0.030). The incidence of restenosis after 2 years did not differ significantly between groups. The univariate analysis yielded two significant associations to restenosis >50%, which remained significant after adjustment: ipsilateral stenosis (1.927 + -0.656, P = 0.02) and peripheral arterial disease (3.006 + -1.101, P = 0.048). NDs were not found to be associated to restenosis (P = 0.856). After a median follow-up period of 52 months, patients with NDs did not have a higher incidence of stroke (90.6%, standard deviation [SD]: 3.5%; ND: 91.1%, SD: 3.6%, P = 0.869), major adverse cardiovascular events (ND: 69.2%, SD: 5.5%; control, 73.6%, SD: 5.2%, P = 0.377), or all-cause death (ND: 90.6%, SD: 3.5%; control: 91.1, SD: 3.6%, P = 0.981) than controls. The presence of any restenosis was not associated with later stroke rate (ND: 89.5%, SD: 3.2%; control: 100%, P = 0.515). CONCLUSIONS: Cost-effective DUS surveillance after CEA requires the definition of evidence-based factors associated with restenosis and late stroke. The present study does not support the assumption that patients who presented NDs during the ICA test clamping present a higher risk of developing late stroke. This group of patients also did not present a higher incidence of restenosis. For these reasons, tighter DUS surveillance in this group seems not justifiable. Results from other groups are required to support this position.