Treatment Strategy of Endovascular versus Open Repair for Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Based on the Fitzgerald Classification.

BACKGROUND: The Fitzgerald classification expresses the extension of hematoma from the ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) and is related to a patient's preoperative status. The objective of this study was to propose a new decision-making method for emergency surgeries, endovascular aortic repair (EVAR), or open repair (OR) for rAAA based on the Fitzgerald classification using preoperative computed tomography images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter observational study was performed with a questionnaire survey of rAAA from August 2010 to July 2015 in Hokkaido, Japan, and sent to 20 institutions participating in the Hokkaido Society of Aortic Stent Graft. We included 205 patients who could be stratified by the Fitzgerald classification as the subjects of this study. We categorized these patients into Fitzgerald classes I and II (first category, n = 72) and classes III and IV (second category, n = 133). The short-term results of both EVAR and OR cases were examined in the 2 categories. RESULTS: In the first category, patients in the EVAR group were older than those in the OR group. Nonetheless, the in-hospital mortality rate was lower in the EVAR group than in the OR group (0% vs. 18%; P = 0.019). In the second category, there was no difference in preoperative factors between the groups. The EVAR group showed a higher incidence rate of postoperative abdominal compartment syndrome than the OR group (12% vs. 2%; P = 0.042). The in-hospital mortality rate was comparable between the groups (24% vs. 25%; P = 0.80). Although there were no deaths in the EVAR group without preoperative shock, in-hospital mortality in the EVAR group of the second category with shock was 41% (vs. 28% in the OR group; P = 0.27). Furthermore, mortality in the EVAR group with Fitzgerald class IV was 100% (vs. 29% in the OR group; P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: EVAR is recommended in Fitzgerald class I or II and also in Fitzgerald class III or IV without shock because the results of EVAR were better than those of OR. Because all patients who underwent EVAR died in Fitzgerald class IV, OR would be beneficial in this patient population.

Toward Reduction of Post-Hospital Admission Death Rate Caused by Acute Traumatic Aortic Tear.

BACKGROUND: Terminology and classifications are the vehicles by which pathologic conditions are identified and understood. It is critically important for the patient admitted with suspected blunt thoracic aortic injury that admitting physicians have a thorough knowledge of acute traumatic aortic tear and its natural history. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this review were as follows: (1) to introduce a pathology-based terminology and classification of acute traumatic aortic injuries that unambiguously defines each, and (2) to emphasize the clinical relevance of acute traumatic tear to post-hospital admission deaths in blunt thoracoabdominally injured patients. METHODS: This is a literature review of 32 refereed articles pertaining to acute traumatic thoracic aortic injury published from 1957 to the present. RESULTS: The terminology used to describe aortic injury is inconsistent. Several terms are often loosely interchanged: tear, laceration, transection, and rupture. Furthermore, classifications of aortic injuries have been proposed based on microscopic or gross pathologic or computed tomography scan results. While microscopically-based classifications have little or no clinical application, a classification based on gross pathology provides information useful for aortic injury prognosis and management. CONCLUSION: Reduction of post-hospital death caused by acute aortic tear requires knowledge and understanding of the pathology of acute traumatic aortic tear and its natural history. Such understanding of pathology of acute traumatic aortic tear and its natural history is enhanced by terminology that defines the aortic injury. Therefore, we present our proposed terminology and classification of acute traumatic injuries.

Computational Biomechanics in Thoracic Aortic Dissection: Today's Approaches and Tomorrow's Opportunities.

Dissection of an artery is characterised by the separation of the layers of the arterial wall causing blood to flow within the wall. The incidence rates of thoracic aortic dissection (AoD) are increasing, despite falls in virtually all other manifestations of cardiovascular disease, including abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Dissections involving the ascending aorta (Type A) are a medical emergency and require urgent surgical repair. However, dissections of the descending aorta (Type B) are less lethal and require different clinical management whereby the patient may not be offered surgery unless complicating factors are present. But how do we tell if a patient will develop a complication later on? Currently, there is no consensus and the evidence base is limited. There is an opportunity for computational biomechanics to help clinicians decide as to which cases to repair and which to manage with blood pressure control. In this review article, we look at AoD from both the clinical and biomechanical perspective and discuss some of the recent computational studies of both Type A and B AoD. We then focus more on Type B where the real opportunity for patient-specific modelling exists. Finally, we look ahead at some of the promising areas of research that may help clinicians improve the decision-making process surrounding Type B AoD.

Acute type B aortic dissection with communicating vs. non-communicating false lumen.

BACKGROUND: In practice, patients with acute aortic dissection (AAD) are generally divided into 2 groups according to the status of the false lumen: non-communicating or communicating. The similarities and differences between the 2 groups, however, have not been fully determined in a large population. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 502 patients with Stanford type B AAD. Clinical background at symptom onset was compared, and similarities and differences characterized, for patients with non-communicating (NC group, n=288) vs. communicating (C group, n=214) false lumens. Time of day (00.00-06.00 hours, 06.00-12.00 hours, 12.00-18.00 hours, and 18.00-24.00 hours) and extent of physical activity (extreme exertion, slight exertion, at rest, and sleeping) at symptom onset were similar between groups. Patients in the NC group were older (mean age, 71±11 years vs. 64±14 years, P<0.01) and had lower prevalence of distally extended aortic dissection (26% vs. 8%, P<0.01) and deaths in hospital (2% vs. 7%, P=0.011) than those in the C group. CONCLUSIONS: At symptom onset, clinical circumstances and physical activity were similar between the groups, and old age and a background of DeBakey IIIa aortic dissection may be associated with determination of false lumen status. The outcome in the NC group was better than in the C group.

Angiographic features of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm: new classification.

BACKGROUND: The formal classification system for ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (RSVA) is from a surgical aspect and is seldom utilized for percutaneous closure. This study was undertaken to introduce a new classification for RSVA according to the angiographic features of patients. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 30 cases of RSVA undergoing percutaneous closure between July 2005 and September 2013. The data of patients' angiographic features, management, and outcomes were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The patients included 18 males and 12 females with a median age of 42.5 years (range, 24-74 years). According to the shape of left to right shunt jet, patients were divided into four types: type I, window-like, 56.7% (n=17); type II, aneurysmal, 16.7% (n=5); type III, tubular, 16.7% (n=5); and type IV, other rare conditions, 10.0% (n=3). One patient in type IV had a giant RSVA and the other 2 in type IV presented with angiographic features of long and funnel shape. Total occlusion rate was 93.3% (28 out of 30 patients) at discharge and during a median follow-up of 18.5 months (1-96 months). In patients with types I and II, small-waist double-disk ventricular septal defect (VSD) occluders were selected. In patients with type III, muscular VSD occluders were chosen. We failed in 2 out of 3 patients in type IV for serious hemolysis and occluders were retrieved finally. The proportion of patients in New York Heart Association class III/IV was reduced from 73.3% at baseline to 10% at the time of last follow-up (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: According to the shape of left to right shunt jet, we propose a new and simple classification for RSVA. It could help toward the better understanding of angiographic morphology of RSVA and facilitate the selection of occluders for percutaneous closure.

Modified Sakakibara classification system for ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce a modified Sakakibara classification system for a ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. METHODS: From February 1, 2006, to January 31, 2012, surgical repair was performed on 159 patients with a ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm at Fu Wai Hospital. Of the 159 patients, 105 were men and 54 were women, with a mean age of 33.4 ± 10.7 years. The patients were divided into 5 types according to the site of the ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm rupture. The 5 types were as follows: type I, rupture into the right ventricle just beneath the pulmonary valve (n = 66); type II, rupture into or just beneath the crista supraventricularis of the right ventricle (n = 17); type III, rupture into the right atrium (type IIIa, n = 21) or right ventricle (type IIIv, n = 6) near or at the tricuspid annulus; type IV, rupture into the right atrium (n = 46); and type V, other rare conditions, such as rupture into the left atrium, left ventricle, or pulmonary artery (n = 3). RESULTS: Repair of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm through aortotomy was used in 100% of those with type V and 50% of those with type IIIv. In most patients with types I, II, and IV, repair was achieved through the cardiac chamber of the fistula exit (71.2%, 64.7%, and 69.6%, respectively). Both routes of repair were used in 76.2% of patients with type IIIa. No early and late deaths occurred. The aortic valve was replaced in 33 patients. One patient (type IV) underwent reoperation for a residual shunt during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: The modified classification system for ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is simple and practical for clinical use.

A new and simple classification for sinus of Valsalva aneurysms and the corresponding surgical procedure.

OBJECTIVES: The classification system of Sakakibara and Konno for sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SVA) is highly complex and seldom utilized in clinical practice. In this study, we propose a new and simple classification system; we suggest a novel approach that utilizes four distinct types of SVAs. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 257 cases of SVAs in which surgical repair was performed between October 1996 and December 2009 and divided these cases into four types: I, rupture or protrusion into the right atrium; II, rupture or protrusion into the right atrium or right ventricle near or at the tricuspid annulus; III, rupture or protrusion into the right ventricular outflow tract under pulmonary valve and IV, others. The surgical results of the different approaches in each respective type were compared as follows: cardiopulmonary bypass time, clamp aorta time, mechanical ventilation time, intensive care unit time and postoperative stay time. RESULTS: In all the patients, there was no early postoperative death; all the patients recovered and were discharged as expected. There were no significant differences in intensive care unit time and postoperative stay time among different approaches in each type (P > 0.05). Two hundred and thirty-eight (92.61%) patients were followed up. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical repair of SVAs exhibited good long-term results. Our classification of SVA could be potentially helpful for surgical practice. For Type I, the right atrium approach is advised; for Type II, the transaortic approach with a right atrium incision is advised; for Type III, the transaortic approach with pulmonary incision is advised while for Type IV, repair according to the respective situation is advisable.

Preoperative risk factors for in-hospital mortality and validity of the Glasgow aneurysm score and Hardman index in patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the validity of the Glasgow aneurysm score (GAS) and Hardman index in patients operated on because of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA), and determining preoperative risk factors that affect in-hospital mortality. One hundred one patients operated on to repair a rAAA within the last 10 years were included. The GAS and Hardman index were calculated for each patient separately. The relation between in-hospital mortality and the Hardman index and GAS was analyzed by means of the receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve. Univariate and multivariate methods of analyses were used to determine preoperative risk factors. Average age was 69 ± 8, and in-hospital mortality rate was 51.5%. Analysis of the ROC curve showed that the Hardman index had an area under the curve (AUC) = 0.71 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.593-0.800, P = 0.0002) for predicting in-hospital mortality. The GAS had an AUC = 0.77 (95% CI, 0.680-0.851, P < 0.0001). The results of multivariate analysis revealed the presence of the following preoperative risk factors: age more than 63 years (odds ratio [OR], 4.4; 95% CI, 1.17-16.49, P = 0.028); loss of consciousness (OR, 9.33; 95% CI, 1.94-44.86, P = 0.005); creatinine higher than 1.7 mg/dL (OR, 5.52; 95% CI, 1.92-15.85, P = 0.001); and pH lower than 7.31 (OR, 3.77; 95% CI, 1.18-11.99, P = 0.024). In conclusion, the Hardman index and GAS have a significant correlation with in-hospital mortality rates. Nevertheless, a high score does not necessarily correspond with a definite mortality. This is why scoring systems could not be considered as the sole criterion for choosing patients for this study. Clinical experience was still the leading factor in deciding against or in favor of surgery.

A new classification scheme for treating blunt aortic injury.

BACKGROUND: There are numerous questions about the treatment of blunt aortic injury (BAI), including the management of small intimal tears, what injury characteristics are predictive of death from rupture, and which patients actually need intervention. We used our experience in treating BAI during the past decade to create a classification scheme based on radiographic and clinical data and to provide clear treatment guidelines. METHODS: The records of patients admitted with BAI from 1999 to 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with a radiographically or operatively confirmed diagnosis (echocardiogram, computed tomography, or angiography) of BAI were included. We created a classification system based on the presence or absence of an aortic external contour abnormality, defined as an alteration in the symmetric, round shape of the aorta: (1) intimal tear (IT)-absence of aortic external contour abnormality and intimal defect and/or thrombus of <10 mm in length or width; (2) large intimal flap (LIF)-absence of aortic external contour abnormality and intimal defect and/or thrombus of ≥10 mm in length or width; (3) pseudoaneurysm-presence of aortic external contour abnormality and contained rupture; (4) rupture-presence of aortic external contour abnormality and free contrast extravasation or hemothorax at thoracotomy. RESULTS: We identified 140 patients with BAI. Most injuries were pseudoaneurysm (71%) at the isthmus (70%), 16.4% had an IT, 5.7% had a LIF, and 6.4% had a rupture. Survival rates by classification were IT, 87%; LIF, 100%; pseudoaneurysm, 76%; and rupture, 11% (one patient). Of the ITs, LIFs, and pseudoaneurysms treated nonoperatively, none worsened, and 65% completely healed. No patient with an IT or LIF died. Most patients with ruptures lost vital signs before presentation or in the emergency department and did not survive. Hypotension before or at hospital presentation and size of the periaortic hematoma at the level of the aortic arch predicted likelihood of death from BAI. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of this new classification scheme, no patient without an external aortic contour abnormality died of their BAI. ITs can be managed nonoperatively. BAI patients with rupture will die, and resources could be prioritized elsewhere. Those with LIFs do well, and currently, most at our institution are treated with a stent graft. If a pseudoaneurysm is going to rupture, it does so early. Hematoma at the arch on computed tomography scan and hypotension before or at arrival help to predict which pseudoaneurysms need urgent repair.

A new and simple classification for the non-coronary sinus of Valsalva aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE: We introduce a simple classification of the non-coronary sinus of Valsalva aneurysm, and suggest a different approach for the corresponding type of non-coronary sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. METHODS: Between October 1996 and December 2009, 45 patients with non-coronary sinus of Valsalva aneurysm underwent surgical repair. Twenty-three were male and 22 female. The mean age was 32.80±11.77 years (range, 13-67 years). We divided them into two types, type I: rupture or protrusion into right atrium; and type II: rupture or protrusion into right atrium or right ventricle near or at the tricuspid annulus. For type I (n=32), the right atrium approach was chosen, using direct suture with patch repair. For type II (n=13), the transaortic approach with right atrium incision was chosen, with patch repair through an aortic incision and direct suture through a right atrium incision. Surgical results between types I and II were compared as regards cardiopulmonary bypass time, clamp aorta time, mechanical ventilation time, and intensive care unit time, and postoperative stay time. RESULTS: There was no early death after operation. There were no significant differences in cardiopulmonary bypass time, mechanical ventilation time, intensive care unit time, and postoperative stay time between two types (p>0.05). There was significant difference in clamp aorta time, with type II being longer than type I (p<0.05). Forty-three patients (93.33%) were followed up; one case of coronary artery disease using medication occurred, and there was no late death. CONCLUSIONS: Approach through the right atrium or right atrium with aortotomy showed the same early surgical results. Our classification of non-coronary SVA is simple and practical for clinical usage.

Distribution of intimomedial tears in patients with type B aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVE: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair is a promising means of treating patients with complicated type B aortic dissection by excluding the intimomedial tears. This study aims to characterize the location of tears and to propose a classification of type B aortic dissections based on these findings. METHODS: Advanced protocols in computed tomography scans of patients with type B aortic dissection were used to identify the size and location of intimomedial tears in relation to the origin of the left subclavian artery. Aortic imaging details in 72 un-operated patients were used as a reference standard. From 1999 to 2005, 44 patients underwent primary endovascular treatment for complications of type B aortic dissection. RESULTS: Each patient had an average of 2.8 +/- 2.11 intimomedial tears. The median intimomedial tear surface area was 0.63 cm(2). The presence of >or=3 or >or=5 intimomedial tears in the descending thoracic aorta did not correlate with aortic branch malperfusion (P > .05). Thirteen of 26 (50%) patients with a tear >1.9 cm(2) had aortic branch malperfusion (P = .032). Ten of 14 (71%) patients with a tear >4.86 cm(2) (mean plus one standard deviation) had aortic branch malperfusion (P = .002). The location of tears ranged from -6 mm to +459.2 mm from the left subclavian artery orifice: 80.5% (n = 99) of these tears were above the reference origin of the celiac artery. Eight of 13 patients (62%) with a tear distal to 282 mm (the orifice of the celiac artery) had aortic branch malperfusion in (P = .04). A classification for the location of intimomedial tears is proposed with potential clinical relevance to endovascular repair: type 1 has no identifiable tears; type 2 has one or more tears with no tears distal to the orifice of the celiac artery; type 3 has tears involving the branch vessels of the abdominal aorta; and type 4 has intimomedial tears distal to the aortic bifurcation. CONCLUSIONS: Characterization and location of intimomedial tears using computed tomography (CT) imaging is feasible and represents an important step in the management of type B aortic dissection. The location and surface area of tears is associated with malperfusion. Based on the proposed classification and anatomic reference data, three out of every four patients may have a favorable constellation of intimomedial tears (type 1 or 2) that would be amenable to endovascular repair and reverse aortic remodeling. The clinical correlation will be established in upcoming studies.

Setting the standards for reporting ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

INTRODUCTION: Reported mortality rates for endovascular repair (EVR) of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) vary from 0% to 50%. Selection bias, inaccurate reporting, and lack of uniform reporting standards are responsible for this significant discrepancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Existing literature about the classification/reporting systems of rAAA is reviewed. A standard way of reporting rAAA based on the physiological, radiological, and operative findings is proposed. CONCLUSION: The proposed system attempts to provide a universal language of communicating the severity of rupture, address the reporting bias, and allow comparing the outcomes of rAAA.

Debranching of the aorta produces thrombosis of the false lumen in selected cases of chronic type A aortic dissection.

Patent false lumen of the descending aorta is related to poor prognosis in patients who undergo surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. We describe a patient with chronic type A aortic dissection and a patent dilated false lumen that was successfully thrombosed following an ilio-renal bypass. In patients with chronic aortic dissection and a single intimal tear on contrast spiral CT, debranching of arteries of the infra-diaphragmatic aorta supplied by the false lumen and reimplantation of these vessels may produce complete thrombosis of the false lumen. This outcome can spare such patients from extensive aortic replacement or endografts.

Thoracic aortic aneurysm: reading the enemy's playbook.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to use the clinical database at the Yale University Center for Thoracic Aortic Disease to shed light on the pathophysiology of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), the clinical behavior of thoracic aortic aneurysm, and the optimal clinical management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Yale database contains information on 3,000 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm, with 9,000 patient-years of follow-up and 9,000 imaging studies. Advanced statistical techniques were applied to this information. RESULTS: Analysis provided the following observations: (1) TAA is a genetic disease with a predominantly autosomal dominant mode of inheritance, (2) matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes are activated in the pathogenesis of TAA, (3) wall tension in TAA approaches the tensile limits of aortic tissue at a diameter of 6 cm, (4) by the time a TAA reaches a clinical diameter of 6 cm, 34% of affected patients have suffered dissection or rupture, (5) extreme physical exertion or severe emotion often precipitate acute dissection, and (6) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are being identified which predispose a patient to TAA. CONCLUSIONS: The "playbook" of TAA is gradually being read, with the help of scientific investigations, positioning practitioners to combat this lethal disease more effectively than ever before.

A giant aortocaval fistula due to abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Although very rare, the fistula development between vena cava inferior and an abdominal aortic aneurysm is a pathology which can deteriorate the clinical status of the patient rapidly. Today, this pathology can be diagnosed very easily with non-invasive tests, and invasive tests can also be used for diagnostic purposes when needed. Especially spiral computed tomography scan with contrast is usually sufficient to diagnose this pathology. A large-diameter aortocaval fistula case, which to our knowledge never presented in the literature before, and its diagnosis and treatment will be presented in this article.

Successful type II endoleak closure by subclavian-to-carotid artery transposition after stent-graft placement of a distal aortic arch aneurysm.

Endovascular stent-graft placement has become a safe and effective treatment modality for various diseases of the distal aortic arch as well as of the descending aorta. However, its effectiveness may be limited by various kinds of endoleaks resulting in persistent or recurrent perfusion of the aneurysm sac. Subsequently, systemic pressurization leads to expansion of the aneurysm sac, exposing the patient to a recurrent risk of aneurysm rupture. We report on the case of a 57-year-old male who underwent emergency stent-graft placement in March 2001 due to a contained rupture of a distal aortic arch aneurysm involving the origin of the left subclavian artery. Due to the emergency condition, a subclavian-to-carotid artery transposition had not been performed prior to stent-graft placement. During follow-up the patient developed a type II endoleak originating from the left subclavian artery with consecutive enlargement of the aneurysm sac. The endoleak was successfully treated by subclavian-to-carotid artery transposition.

Descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair: 15-year results using a uniform approach.

This review presents the results of surgical repair of descending thoracic (DT) and thoracoabdominal aortic (TAA) aneurysms, using spinal drainage (SD) distal aortic perfusion (DAP), and other adjuncts intended to reduce complications. Records of patients undergoing repair of DT and TAA between 1986 and 2002 were reviewed. Elective operations were performed using single lung ventilation, invasive monitoring, SD, modest anticoagulation, permissive hypothermia (> or = 33 degrees F), liberal use of transaortic endarterectomy, and complete repair. Intercostal arteries were reimplanted when possible and DAP was used in DT and TAA types I, II, and III repair. Exceptions to this approach were noted. Some of these adjuncts were used in emergency cases. Actuarial survival was calculated. Fifty consecutive patients with DT (3) or TAA (47), type I (4), type II (16), type III (18), or type IV (9), aneurysms received elective (36) or emergency (14) repair between 1986 and 2002. Mortality was 2/36 (5.5%) in the elective group. In the emergency group, there were 2 intraoperative deaths and mortality was 4/14 (28.5%, p < 0.07). Overall survivor morbidity was 6/34 (17.6%) in elective and 7/10 (70%, p < 0.02) in emergency cases. Paraplegia occurred in one patient in the elective group (2.7%) with dissecting type II TAA aneurysm in whom the intercostal patch was sacrificed. Two of 12 initial survivors developed paraplegia in the emergency group (16.7%); one had SD but neither had DAP or intercostal reimplantation. Serious complications were associated with avoidable deviations from the approach. Five and 10-year survival for the entire series was 64.8% and 46.4%, respectively. These results parallel those in contemporary reports from centers where repair of descending and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm is frequently performed. Good long-term results can be achieved using spinal drainage and distal aortic perfusion, combined with other adjuncts as a means of reducing complications. When possible, the same approach should be used in emergency cases.

Aortic dissection: the tear that kills.

Patient survival of aortic dissection hinges on timely diagnosis and treatment.