Clinical impact of fluoropolymer-based drug-eluting stent thrombosis in femoropopliteal artery occlusive lesions.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular treatment (EVT) is recommended for superficial femoral artery (SFA) lesions, and good results have been reported after implantation of drug-eluting stents (DES) for SFA. However, the major concern after implantation is acute thrombosis during the follow-up period, resulting in major amputation and major adverse limb events. In this study, we examined the incidence and outcome of acute thrombosis after DES implantation in the SFA. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: DES implantation for a femoropopliteal lesion was performed in 288 patients at multiple centers in Japan from 2019 to 2021. A total of 25 patients (8.6%) with DES acute occlusion were analyzed retrospectively. The primary endpoint was amputation-free survival (AFS) after acute occlusion. RESULTS: The median patient age was 77 years, with 48% having diabetes, 40% undergoing maintenance dialysis, and 66% having chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). The mean time from initial DES implantation to acute occlusion was 153.5 ± 177.6 days, with a median of 104 days. EVT was performed in 18 patients (72%), surgical revascularization in 3 (12%), and conservative treatment in 4 (16%). Two deaths within 30 days were both due to sepsis. No major amputation or major adverse cardiovascular events occurred within 30 days. The 1-year rates of patency and freedom from target lesion revascularization after DES thrombosis were 22.9% and 48.8%, respectively. AFS at 1 year was 55.1%. CONCLUSION: Acute DES occlusion is relatively frequent, and the outcome is poor. Therefore, the indication of DES implantation for a complex SFA lesion may require careful consideration. Further investigation may be needed in DES implantation for a complex SFA lesion.

Medium-Term Outcomes of Treatment with a VIABAHN VBX Covered Stent for Aortoiliac Occlusive Lesions in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular treatment (EVT) for aortoiliac (AI) occlusive lesions is now conducted worldwide, but there are challenges in EVT for complex AI lesions. The VIABAHN VBX (W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ) is a next-generation balloon-expandable covered stent designed for use with complex AI lesions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the medium-term outcomes of VIABAHN VBX for such lesions. METHODS: Symptomatic patients who underwent EVT with VIABAHN VBX for an AI lesion from 2018 to 2020 at 7 Japanese centers were reviewed retrospectively. The primary endpoints were primary patency and freedom from target lesion revascularization (TLR). RESULTS: A total of 95 EVT procedures with VIABAHN VBX for AI occlusive lesions were performed in 71 patients. The patients had high rates of dyslipidemia (53%) and chronic kidney disease (61%), and 22% had chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). The Transatlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC Ⅱ) class was A in 12 patients (17%), B in 12 (17%), C in 10 (14%), and D in 37 (52%). Severe calcification (360°) of the treated lesion was present in 31 patients (33%). The median procedure time was 84 (49-158) min, with a technical success rate of 100%. The median follow-up period was 36 (32-43) months. The 3-year primary and secondary patency of VIABAHN VBX were 91% and 99%, the 3-year freedom from TLR was 92%, and the 3-year freedom from major adverse limb event (MALE) was 98%. No limbs required major amputation. Lesion severity (TASC Ⅱ C or D) and severe calcification did not affect the primary patency or freedom from TLR. CONCLUSIONS: Medium-term outcomes after EVT with VIABAHN VBX for AI lesions were acceptable regardless of lesion severity and calcification. These results suggest that VIABAHN VBX may be suitable for AI occlusive lesions with severe anatomical complexity and/or severe calcification.

Clinical Outcomes of Common Femoral Thromboendarterectomy with Bovine Pericardium Patch Angioplasty.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of thromboendarterectomy (TEA) for common femoral occlusive disease using bovine pericardium patch angioplasty. METHODS: The subjects were patients who underwent TEA for common femoral occlusive disease with bovine pericardium patch angioplasty from October 2020 to August 2021. The study had a prospective, multicenter, and observational design. The primary end point was primary patency (freedom from restenosis). The secondary end points were secondary patency, amputation-free survival (AFS), postoperative wound complication, hospital death within 30 days, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) within 30 days. RESULTS: Forty-seven TEA procedures with a bovine patch were performed in 42 patients (34 males; median age, 78 years; diabetes mellitus, 57%; end-stage renal disease with hemodialysis, 19%). Clinical presentations were intermittent claudication (68%) and critical limb-threatening ischemia (32%). Sixteen (34%) limbs underwent TEA alone and 31 (66%) underwent a combined procedure. Surgical site infection (SSI) occurred in 4 limbs (9%) and lymphatic fistulas in 3 limbs (6%). One limb with SSI required surgical debridement 19 days after the procedure, and 1 limb (2%) without postoperative wound complications required additional treatment due to acute bleeding. Hospital death within 30 days occurred in 1 case due to panperitonitis. There was no MACE within 30 days. Claudication was improved in all cases. Postoperative ABI of 0.92 [0.72-1.00] was significantly higher than the preoperative value (P < 0.001). The median follow-up period was 10 months [9-13 months]. One limb (2%) required additional endovascular therapy due to stenosis at the endarterectomy site at 5 months postoperatively. Primary and secondary patencies were 98% and 100% at 12 months, respectively, and the AFS rate was 90% at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Common femoral TEA with bovine pericardium patch angioplasty has satisfactory clinical outcomes.

Non-aneurysmal ascending aorta diameter changes after aortic valve replacement in patients with stenotic bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve.

OBJECTIVE: The appropriate timing of aortic repair in patients with bicuspid aortic valve-related aortopathy remains controversial. We describe the changes in diameter of the non-aneurysmal ascending aorta after aortic valve replacement for bicuspid or tricuspid aortic valve stenosis. METHODS: This retrospective review included 189 patients who had undergone aortic valve replacement for severe stenotic aortic valve with a non-aneurysmal ascending aorta diameter of 45 mm or less between January 2008 and December 2018. A linear mixed-effect model was used to analyze and compare the enlargement rates of the non-aneurysmal ascending aorta at the tubular portion after aortic valve replacement in bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve patients. RESULTS: The enlargement rate of the non-aneurysmal ascending aorta after aortic valve replacement was significantly greater in the bicuspid aortic valve group than in the tricuspid aortic valve group (0.36 mm/year vs. 0.09 mm/year, p < 0.001). The specific form of bicuspid aortic valve also affected aorta diameter enlargement: the enlargement rate of 0.85 mm/year in the Type 0 (according to Sievers' classification) group was approximately five times that in the Non-Type 0 group (p < 0.001). No aortic events were observed, and no patients needed reoperations for the ascending aorta, in either the bicuspid or tricuspid aortic valve groups. CONCLUSION: The persistent possibility of progressive ascending aortic dilatation after aortic valve replacement for bicuspid aortic valve stenosis, especially in Type 0 bicuspid aortic valve patients, demands careful post-procedural evaluation of the ascending aorta.

Strict control of phosphorus concentration of hemodialysis patients may decrease structural valve deterioration after aortic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVES: The number of hemodialysis patients requiring aortic valve replacement (AVR) is increasing. Although bioprosthetic valves are increasingly popular, they are associated with a risk of structural valve deterioration (SVD). The aim of this study is to examine the outcomes of bioprosthetic valves in hemodialysis patients undergoing AVR and to identify treatment strategies that can decrease the risk of SVD. METHODS: Between February 2010 and November 2019, 61 patients on hemodialysis underwent AVR using bioprosthetic valves at our hospital. Five patients died while still in the hospital. Kaplan-Meier estimates of overall survival and univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed for the remaining 56 patients. RESULTS: During follow-up, there were six SVD events (10.7%) related to the bioprosthetic valves. The survival rate was 67.9% at 3 years and 39.5% at 5 years. In all SVD cases, SVD was caused by aortic stenosis. The mean interval between AVR and the discovery of SVD was 41.5 months. The SVD-free rate was 88.6% at 3 years and 65.3% at 5 years. Preoperative phosphorus levels are associated with SVD risk. High preoperative phosphorus concentration is associated with elevated SVD risk. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we determined that the risk of SVD can be influenced by preoperative phosphorus level. Strict control of the phosphorus concentration of hemodialysis patients may decrease structural valve deterioration after aortic valve replacement.

Thoracic aortic stent graft placement and simultaneous screw removal for a screw hitting the aorta.

Vascular injury caused by spinal screw displacement is a rare complication of spinal fusion surgery. Here, we report a case with no perforation of the aortic wall, which we treated by means of simultaneous thoracic endovascular aorta repair (TEVAR) and screw removal. An 82-year-old female underwent corrective spinal fixation. Postoperatively, a screw became displaced from the vertebrae and contacted the outer membrane of the descending aorta. To prevent rupture of the aorta, we performed stent graft placement from the right common femoral aorta. We left a flexion-resistant catheter in the left arm and moved the patient into an abdominal position with the left arm extended upward to enable immediate insertion of a guidewire and occlusion balloon if necessary. Then we removed the displaced screw with a drill. This safe and effective method can prevent possible aortic injuries secondary to displaced spinal screws. The key to our method is the simultaneous performance of TEVAR and screw removal, made possible through patient repositioning.

A case of supra-annular mitral valve replacement using chimney technique for severe mitral stenosis with extensive mitral annular calcification.

When patients with extensive mitral annular calcification undergo mitral valve replacement, excessive debridement of calcification may result in fatal complications and may protract operation time. We report a case of supra-annular MVR using "the chimney technique" on a high-risk patient for severe mitral stenosis with extensive mitral annular calcification. This technique is usually used in small infants whose mitral annulus is smaller than the smallest available prosthetic valve. We apply this technique to minimize the debridement of calcification and shorten the operation time. The operation was successfully completed, and the postoperative course has been uneventful. This technique was safely and easily performed, and eliminated the need for aggressive debridement of the calcification. We believe this technique may be a good choice for high-risk patients with mitral annular calcification.

Complete brain protection during debranching thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

We describe the case of a 71-year-old man with an asymptomatic saccular-type thoracic aortic aneurysm and severe atheroma in the distal arch. As he had previously undergone coronary artery bypass grafting, we decided to perform thoracic endovascular aortic repair rather than open repair to avoid injury to the bypass grafts. Owing to severe atheroma, we completely blocked the native forward flow before deploying the endograft using percutaneous cardiopulmonary support, thus preventing perioperative stroke.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation for severe aortic stenosis in dextrocardia with situs inversus using a self-expanding aortic valve.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has evolved into a standard therapy for aged patients with severe aortic valve stenosis who are not candidates for surgery. However, the reports about the safety of TAVI for patients with dextrocardia situs inversus are few. An 84-year-old man with dextrocardia situs inversus underwent a TAVI for severe aortic stenosis (AS) with an aortic valve area of 0.5 cm2, and a mean pressure gradient of 46 mmHg. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) revealed an inverted (rightward) orientation of the ventricle apex as well as the great vessels. The TAVI was performed through a transfemoral approach under general anesthesia. A left and right reversed fluoroscopic image was used for the TAVI. Finally, a 26-mm CoreValve Evolut R (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) was successfully deployed at the aortic annulus under angiographic guidance. Post-procedural transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated a well-functioning CoreValve Evolut R with a mean pressure gradient of 8 mmHg. No complications occurred during the procedure or peri-procedural period. The patient's symptoms subsequently improved from New York Heart Association class III to class I. In conclusion, a TAVI procedure was safely performed in a patient with dextrocardia situs inversus through a transfemoral approach by evaluating the anatomical details with preoperative CT. .

Hybrid Repair for Ruptured Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm: Frozen Elephant Trunk Technique with Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair.

We present a case of ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) with type B aortic dissection in which hybrid repair, namely, the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), was performed. The TAA extended to the proximal descending aorta at the level of the pulmonary trunk bifurcation. We thus employed the FET technique to control the blood flow into the TAA. After performing the FET technique, intraoperative catheter aortography revealed slight type 1B endoleak. We therefore performed additional TEVAR to control the blood flow into the TAA. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful.

Early- and mid-term aortic remodelling after the frozen elephant trunk technique for retrograde type A acute aortic dissection using the new Japanese J Graft open stent graft.

OBJECTIVES: We previously performed the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique for acute type A aortic dissection to try to improve the long-term prognosis. In this study, we report the mid-term results of the FET technique for treating retrograde type A acute aortic dissection using a new device, the J Graft open stent graft (JOSG). METHODS: Between January 2008 and December 2015, 24 patients (mean age: 59.3 ± 13.9 years) underwent total arch replacement with the FET technique using the JOSG for retrograde type A acute aortic dissection. All patients had at least 1 year of follow-up imaging. RESULTS: The average outer diameter of the JOSG was 28 ± 2.8 mm (range: 25-35 mm). The average position of the distal edge of the JOSG was Th 6.6 ± 1.1. The cumulative survival rate at 1 year was 91.6%. Postoperative computed tomography 1 year after surgery showed that complete thrombosis was present in all patients at the level of the distal edge of the stent graft and the aortic valve. At the diaphragmatic level, complete thrombosis was seen in 14 (70%) patients, the false lumen was patent in most patients (90%) at the superior mesenteric artery level. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the FET technique with the JOSG for retrograde type A acute aortic dissection provides good outcomes. With the proper use of the JOSG, it is possible to expand the true lumen and eliminate antegrade false-lumen flow, resulting in good aortic remodelling. Furthermore, there should be obliteration of the false lumen from the stent graft to the aortic valve, and this might reduce long-term complications.

Management of cerebral malperfusion in surgical repair of acute type A aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVES: Cerebral malperfusion for patients with acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) remains an unsolved problem. The present study aimed to evaluate our management of cerebral perfusion and identify predictors of perioperative cerebral malperfusion in patients undergoing surgical repair of AAAD. METHODS: Between January 2004 and December 2015, 137 consecutive patients with AAAD underwent aortic replacement at Tsuchiya General Hospital. The status of the dissected supra-aortic branch vessels (SABVs) was classified as patent or thrombosis by preoperative computed tomographic angiography. Intraoperative cerebral perfusion was monitored by transcutaneous carotid echo and regional oxygen saturation. In cases with neurological symptoms or cerebral malperfusion, quick cerebral perfusion was immediately started using a quick cutdown technique. We assessed clinical outcomes, including mortality and complications, and analysed predictors of early mortality and cerebral malperfusion. RESULTS: The early mortality rate was 8.0%. Postoperative cerebral injury was observed in 4 patients (2.9%). Nineteen patients had perioperative cerebral malperfusion. There were no postoperative cerebral injuries in the patients in whom intraoperative cerebral malperfusion was corrected. Multivariable analysis revealed that preoperative shock (odds ratio [OR] 22.60, P < 0.0001) and extension of dissection to the abdominal aorta (OR 9.31, P = 0.0064) were significant risk factors for early mortality. Preoperative neurological symptoms (OR 12.40, P = 0.0006) and partial or complete thrombosis of the SABV (OR 64.10, P < 0.0001) were identified as independent predictors of perioperative cerebral malperfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative cerebral perfusion should be carefully managed, especially in the patients with preoperative neurological symptoms or partial or complete thrombosis of the SABV.

Endovascular Repair by Graft-to-Graft Bridging in a Patient with Marfan Syndrome.

We report a case of chronic aortic dissection in a patient with Marfan syndrome in which we performed thoracic endovascular repair after aortic root replacement, total arch replacement with open stent grafting and thoracoabdominal aortic repair. We consider that endovascular repair of the dissected descending aorta in a patient with Marfan syndrome can be effective when graft-to-graft bridging is performed as the "finishing procedure".

[Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection with an unusual drainage vein from the right lung to the innominate vein;report of a case].

We encountered a case of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection with a drainage vein following an unusual course. The drainage vein, after emerging from the right lung, crossed the midline and drained into the innominate vein. Along the course of this vein, severe stenosis was present in the region wedged between the aortic arch and pulmonary artery, leading to severe pulmonary congestion. The common pulmonary vein was well developed. There was no other intracardiac malformation except atrial septal defect. No heterotaxy syndrome associated. Because echocardiography was unable to provide a complete picture of the pulmonary veins and drainage veins, multidetector-row computed tomography was performed to ascertain the anatomy. Emergency surgical intervention was carried out and anastomosis of the common pulmonary vein to the left atrium was performed. The postoperative course was favorable.

Distribution of thermal neutron flux around a PET cyclotron.

The number of positron emission tomography (PET) examinations has greatly increased world-wide. Since positron emission nuclides for the PET examinations have short half-lives, they are mainly produced using on-site cyclotrons. During the production of the nuclides, significant quantities of neutrons are generated from the cyclotrons. Neutrons have potential to activate the materials around the cyclotrons and cause exposure to the staff. To investigate quantities and distribution of the thermal neutrons, thermal neutron fluxes were measured around a PET cyclotron in a laboratory associating with a hospital. The cyclotron accelerates protons up to 18 MeV, and the mean particle current is 20 µA. The neutron fluxes were measured during both 18F production and C production. Gold foils and thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) badges were used to measure the neutron fluxes. The neutron fluxes in the target box averaged 9.3 × 10(6) cm(-2) s(-1) and 1.7 × 10(6) cm(-2) s(-1) during 18F and 11C production, respectively. Those in the cyclotron room averaged 4.1 × 10(5) cm(-2) s(-1) and 1.2 × 10(5) cm(-2) s(-1), respectively. Those outside the concrete wall shielding were estimated as being equal to or less than ∼3 cm s, which corresponded to 0.1 µSv h(-1) in effective dose. The neutron fluxes outside the concrete shielding were confirmed to be quite low compared to the legal limit.