Editor's Choice - Reconstruction of the femoro-ilio-caval outflow by percutaneous and hybrid interventions in symptomatic deep venous obstruction.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Deep venous obstruction is relatively prevalent in patients with chronic venous disease. Endovascular treatments and hybrid interventions can be used to relieve venous outflow obstructions. This paper assesses mid-term clinical outcomes and patency rates in a large cohort after percutaneous and hybrid interventions. METHODS: This was a prospectively analysed cohort study. Patients with symptomatic deep venous obstruction who presented at a tertiary referral hospital were divided into three groups: patients who underwent percutaneous stenting for non-thrombotic iliac vein compression syndrome (IVCS group); patients with post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) treated by percutaneous stent placement (P-PTS group); and PTS patients with obstruction involving the veins below the saphenofemoral junction in which a hybrid procedure was performed, combining stenting with open surgical disobliteration (H-PTS group). Patency rates, complications, and clinical outcomes were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 425 lower extremities in 369 patients were treated. At 60 months, primary patency, assisted primary patency, and secondary patency rates were 90%, 100%, and 100% for IVCS, and 64%, 81%, and 89% for the P-PTS group, respectively. The H-PTS group, showed patency rates of 37%, 62%, and 72%, respectively, at 36 months. Venous claudication subsided in 90%, 82%, and 83%, respectively. At the 24 month follow-up, mean Venous Clinical Severity Score decreased for all patients and improvement in Villalta score was seen in post-thrombotic patients. The number of complications was related to the extent of deep venous obstruction in which patients in the H-PTS group showed the highest complication rates (81%) and re-interventions (59%). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous stent placement to treat non-thrombotic iliac vein lesions, and post-thrombotic ilio-femoral obstructions are safe, effective, and showed patency rates comparable with previous research. Patients with advanced disease needing a hybrid procedure showed a lower patency rate and more complications. However, when successful, the clinical outcome was favourable at mid-term follow-up and the procedure may be offered to selected patients.

Endophlebectomy of the common femoral vein and arteriovenous fistula creation as adjuncts to venous stenting for post-thrombotic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Good results have been reported for angioplasty and stenting of post-thrombotic lesions of the iliac and proximal femoral veins. If lesions at the origin of the superficial femoral and profunda veins are stented, the intraluminal synechiae can be pushed against the orifices of inflow vessels, potentially decreasing stent inflow. Surgical disobliteration of the common femoral vein (endophlebectomy) has been suggested to mitigate this problem. Because of a temporary increase in thrombogenicity, this procedure may be accompanied by arteriovenous fistula creation. METHODS: Data on consecutive patients treated by hybrid venous reconstruction, between December 2010 and May 2015, were analysed. Standard recording consisted of clinical scoring systems (including Villalta scale) and imaging. Patency was assessed with duplex ultrasonography. RESULTS: Seventy-six legs (70 patients) were included. Median follow-up was 379 (range 73-1508) days. Primary, assisted primary and secondary patency rates at 12 months were 51, 70 and 83 per cent respectively. Sixty per cent of loss of primary patency (24 of 40 legs) was related to common femoral vein stenosis, and the rest to rethrombosis. Other complications included wound infection (29 per cent) and lymphatic leak (39 per cent). The Villalta score had decreased by a median of 7 points at 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: The combination of venous stenting, endophlebectomy and arteriovenous fistula creation for patients with extensive post-thrombotic vein damage and severe post-thrombotic syndrome is feasible.

Interventional treatment of postthrombotic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Postthrombotic syndrome (PTS) is the development of symptoms and signs of chronic venous insufficiency following deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and has a significant negative effect on the quality of life. The current understanding is that the clinical manifestation of PTS is related more to venous obstruction than it is to venous reflux. The use of interventional techniques for the treatment of venous obstruction and/or venous occlusion has rapidly increased in recent years. OBJECTIVE: This article summarizes the current concept of endovenous and hybrid interventions and presents the optimized treatment of choice in patients with chronic symptomatic venous obstruction. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search in the Medline database to identify relevant studies on the treatment of patients with PTS. RESULTS: A meta-analysis of the relevant studies showed that this minimally invasive procedure is an effective treatment option with low morbidity and no mortality. Use of the newly developed dedicated venous stents showed promising results with good mid-term patency rates and a significant decrease in related symptoms. CONCLUSION: Interventional therapy for the treatment of symptomatic chronic venous obstruction has become the method of choice in recent years. More studies are needed to evaluate the long-term success rate of dedicated venous stents.

Effect of a new incision management system (PREVENA®) on wound healing after endophlebectomy of the common femoral vein: a case series.

BACKGROUND: New endovascular techniques facilitate treatment of complex deep vein obstructions in cases of post-thrombotic syndrome. In a relevant number of these patients, endophlebectomy including the implantation of an arteriovenous fistula between the common femoral artery and the femoral vein is indispensable in order to establish a good inflow. These procedures display a high risk of wound complications. Despite conservative efforts to prevent these postoperative complications, wound healing problems occur in more than 20 % of cases. The present case report is the first description of wound dressing using a PREVENA® incision management system in cases of endophlebectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: A single center's experience with the incision management system PREVENA®, which was used after endophlebectomy and venous stenting in complex hybrid procedures in three white men aged 46 years, 53 years, and 61 years is the subject of this case report. Although the surgical procedures were performed under therapeutical anticoagulation and took a couple of hours, no wound complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: These encouraging results underline a potential benefit of the incision management system PREVENA® in cases of complex venous recanalization including endophlebectomy of the femoral vein as well as the implantation of an arteriovenous fistula.

[The Compression Syndrome of Lumbar Arteries - Case Report of a Rare Disease Pattern]. / Das Kompressionssyndrom der Lumbalarterien - Kasuistik eines seltenen Krankheitsbilds.

STUDY DESIGN: We present a monocentric analysis of the lumbar artery compression syndrome (LACS) in the form of a case report. OBJECTIVES: Literature information was collected about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of this rare disorder in the context of the existing data. METHODS: The current medical literature includes only one report about three cases of LACS, collected over 20 years in France and Germany. We compared these cases with the experience of the European Vascular Center Aachen-Maastricht. RESULTS: The symptoms of this rare disorder are dominated by reversible, motion-dependent paralysis of the legs. Compression of the right lumbar arteries by muscular fibres or connective tissue is a fundamental cause. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment, which means decompression of the lumbar arteries via a thoracolaparotomy, is an appropriate therapy with few complications and good long-term results.

Short-Term Clinical Experience with a Dedicated Venous Nitinol Stent: Initial Results with the Sinus-Venous Stent.

OBJECTIVE: Deep venous stenting has become the primary treatment option for chronic venous obstructive disease, both for iliac vein compression and post-thrombotic venous lesions. Until recently, only stents aimed at arterial pathology were used, because no dedicated venous stents were available. However, three such stents have now become available. These venous stents are characterized by increased length, diameter, flexibility, and radial force. This study reports an early experience with one of these devices; the sinus Venous stent (OptiMed GmbH, Ettlingen, Germany). METHODS: Between March 2012 and July 2014, 75 patients were treated with the sinus Venous stent: 35 cases of iliac vein compression syndrome and 40 cases of unilateral chronic obstruction in post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). Diagnosis of relevant obstruction was made using clinical evaluation, duplex ultrasound, and magnetic resonance venography. Patency during follow up was assessed with duplex ultrasound. Clinical improvement was assessed by VCSS, Villalta score, rate of ulcer healing, and improvement of venous claudication. RESULTS: The cumulative patency rates at 3, 6, and 12 months were 99%, 96%, and 92%, respectively. The cumulative assisted primary patency rates were 99% at 3, 6, and 12 months. The cumulative secondary patency rate at 12 months was 100%. Differences exist in patency rate between the subgroups of non-thrombotic and post-thrombotic, with the first showing no re-occlusions. All re-thromboses in the PTS group were treated by ancillary treatment modalities. VCSS and Villalta score decreased significantly after stenting, as did venous claudication. Morbidity was low without clinically relevant pulmonary embolism, and mortality was nil. Although two out of seven ulcers healed temporarily, no ulcer remained healed at 12 months follow up. CONCLUSION: Short-term clinical results using the sinus Venous stent are excellent, with significant symptom reduction, low morbidity rates, and no mortality. Loss of stent patency is seen less often compared with arterial stents described in the literature.

Arteriovenous fistula geometry in hybrid recanalisation of post-thrombotic venous obstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Post-thrombotic obstruction can be adequately treated by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting. When post-thrombotic trabeculations extend below the femoral confluence, proper inflow can be facilitated by endophlebectomy and creation of an arteriovenous fistula. The aim of this study was to investigate whether it is more favourable to place the arteriovenous fistula at the cranial or caudal end of the endophlebectomy to prevent stenosis or occlusion. METHODOLOGY: We retrospectively analysed the clinical data of all patients who underwent a hybrid procedure in our two centres. Demographics, interventional details and post-operative imaging were collected. RESULTS: Data on 42 limbs with cranially and 23 limbs with caudally placed arteriovenous fistulas were collected. Post-thrombotic disease of the profunda femoral vein alone or in combination with the femoral vein was observed more often in the cranial group. The caudal group more often received a smaller sized and straight polytetrafluoroethylene fistula, while the cranial group comprised a significantly higher amount of stented segments. Logistic regression showed that only reduced femoral inflow (hazard ratio 2.934 (95%CI, 1.148-7.494)) was a significant predictor of stent stenosis and/or occlusion. Logistic regression for risk of occlusion showed a significant influence of stent-related complications (hazard ratio 4.691 (95%CI, 1.205-18.260)) and a tendency towards influence of arteriovenous fistula geometry in favour of the cranially placed fistula. CONCLUSION: Placement of the arteriovenous fistula in the cranial part of the endophlebectomy during hybrid recanalisation may result in a more favourable outcome, yet this tendency was not statistically significant. Moreover, femoral inflow is pivotal in maintaining patency and should thus be adequately assessed pre-operatively.

[Popliteal artery aneurysma as an important differential diagnosis]. / Das Poplitealarterienaneurysma als wichtige Differenzialdiagnose.

A common reason for painful lesions of the popliteal fossa are baker's cysts. An important differential diagnosis is the popliteal artery aneurysm, which is rare, but is associated with severe complications. The preferred method of diagnosis is the colour-coded duplex ultrasound. By showing the case of a 58-year-old man, who experienced life-threatening complications caused by an insufficient diagnosis before the operation of a Baker's cyst, we want to underline the importance of preoperative duplex ultrasound diagnosis in this context.

Treatment of symptomatic aberrant subclavian arteries.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to present experience with 10 patients with symptomatic aberrant subclavian artery (ASA) and aneurysm of ASA who underwent surgical treatment. METHODS: From 2008 to 2011 10 patients with symptomatic aberrant subclavian artery (mean age 60 years [range 24-90 years]) were studied. Symptoms were dysphagia (n = 7), dyspnea (n = 4), acute chest pain (n = 1), respiratory distress syndrome (n = 1), superior cava syndrome, and shock (n = 1). Six patients had aneurysm formation of the ASA (mean diameter of 7.1 cm [range 3.0-12.4 cm]; rupture [n = 1], dissection [n = 1]). All data were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Treatment was performed as a hybrid procedure in eight patients. This included thoracic endoluminal graft exclusion with revascularization of the ASA, a pure endovascular procedure with two occluders in one patient, and an open procedure in one patient with ligation of the aberrant artery through a thoracotomy. Three patients died during the early postoperative period owing to pulmonary complications. All three suffered from a symptomatic aneurysm, and two were treated as an emergency procedure. Median follow-up was 20 months (range 12-49 months). CONCLUSION: A symptomatic ASA and its associated aneurysmal formation should be excluded after diagnosis. In most cases, a hybrid procedure consisting of thoracic endografting and revascularization of the ASA is feasible.

What predicts outcome after recanalization of chronic venous obstruction: hemodynamic factors, stent geometry, patient selection, anticoagulation or other factors?

In this review we evaluated the effect of different suggested factors associate with the outcome after recanalization of chronic venous obstruction (CVO). HEMODYNAMIC FACTORS: Based upon literature no clear suggestions can be made to identify the risk of stent occlusion in association with the hemodynamic effects. However it is evident that ensuring optimal in- and outflow of the stented tract is key in maintaining the patency. PATIENT SELECTION: Noninvasive imaging modalities are used to divide patients in three subgroups based on the place and extension of post-thrombotic changes. Moreover it should be noted that AV fistula in selected patients can reduce the risk of thrombosis or re-occlusion. GEOMETRY: Excessive oversizing of the stent and stent compression from outside are considered to be associated with stent occlusion. Additionally, overlapping rigid stents, unnatural angel between stents and in-stent kinking are other geometrical factors related to worse outcome after venous recanalization. ANTICOAGULATION: Adequate peri-and postoperative anticoagulation has a crutial role in stent patency. There is no data regarding the duration of anticoagulation therapy and recommendations vary between 6 weeks to 6 months. RESULT: impaired inflow or outflow, presence of a hypercoagulability, total number of treated segments and use of stents designed for implantation in arterial system are associated with decreased stent patency.

Catheter-directed thrombolysis in deep vein thrombosis: Which procedural measurement predicts outcome?

The post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) as a long-term consequence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is caused by a venous obstruction and/or chronic insufficiency of the deep venous system. New endovascular therapies enable early recanalization of the deep veins aiming reduced incidence and severity of PTS. Extended CDT is associated with an increased risk of bleeding and stenting of residual venous obstruction is indispensable to avoid early rethrombosis. Therefore, this article focuses on measurements during or after thrombolysis indicating post procedural outcome.

Anatomic changes of target vessels after fenestrated and branched aortic aneurysm repair.

AIM: Objective of this study was to evaluate the anatomic changes of the stented target vessels after endovascular repair of complex aortic aneurysms. METHODS: Between July 2011 and December 2013, 53 aortic aneurysms were treated in our department with fenestrated and branched stent-graft devices. Forty-two of these patients were pre- and postoperatively scanned with a high resolution computer tomography (CT) (Cook Zenith® fenestrated or branched, Australia Pty. Ltd., Brisbane, Australia: N.=19; AnacondaTM fenestrated, Vascutek, Glasgow, Scotland, UK: N.=23). The other 11 out of the 53 patients did not receive a CT scan, because of a pre-existing renal failure. In the CT scans we retrospectively evaluated the anatomic vessel deviation at the origin of the target vessel and the vessel shift distal to the stent. For the first measurement the CT scans were loaded into OsiriX MD®, and the pre- and postoperative angles of the target vessels were measured and subtracted. For matching, the CT-scans were normalized at vertebral body lumbar 2. The second measured angle was the maximal measured angle distal to the target vessel stent-graft. RESULTS: Altogether, 113 target vessels were stented (celiac trunk [CT] 15, superior mesenteric arteries [SMA] 26, renal arteries [RA] 72), with 97 balloon-expandable PTFE stents: 90 Atrium V12 (Maquet Getinge group, Hudson, NH, USA), 7 BeGrafts (Bentley InnoMed, Hechingen, Germany) and 16 self-expandable fluency PTFE stents (Bard, Karlsruhe, Germany). The mean anatomic deviation at the target vessel origin was 28±17.3 and the mean vessel shift distal to the stent was 36.3±18.8. There were no significant differences between the main device and the target vessel stent types. CONCLUSION: Fenestrated and branched stent-graft solutions for aortic aneurysm repair induce changes of the target vessel anatomy. We did not observe significant differences between the several devices.

Late rupture after EVAR: a new trend?

AIM: Endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) is an adequate therapy for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Late aortic ruptures caused by endoleaks after EVAR still remain a critical issue. The aim of this study was to assess the causes of ruptured aortic aneurysms after EVAR in a single center study. METHODS: All patients, who were treated in our University hospital with a ruptured juxtra- or infrarenal AAA between January 2011 and October 2013, were included in this retrospective analysis. RESULTS: Thirty patients with ruptured infra- or juxtrarenal aneurysms were treated in this time frame. Six out of these 30 patients had previous EVAR repair. The median maximal aneurysm diameter of these post-EVAR patients was 82 (75-95) mm. The median time between primary EVAR and rupture was 42.5 (14-99) months. Three patients with type Ia endoleaks were treated by stent removal and conventional aortic reconstruction. In two patients with type II endoleak the bleeding was controlled by occluding the back bleeding lumbar arteries. One type III endoleak was sealed by an additional stent-graft implantation into the right iliac artery. CONCLUSION: We observed a considerable number of patients with a ruptured AAA after EVAR. Surprisingly, we observed two ruptured aneurysms due to type II endoleaks.

A new shunting concept to prevent lower limb ischemia/reperfusion injury in prolonged fenestrated stent-graft procedures.

AIM: Complex endovascular procedures to treat thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA) can be time consuming and therefore comprise the risk of lower limb ischemia with subsequent reperfusion injury and compartment syndrome. Aim of this study was to evaluate a new protective method to prevent these postoperative problems. METHODS: In order to maintain blood perfusion to both legs during prolonged endovascular aortic procedures we developed a shunting technique with two additional 7 French (Fr) sheaths in both superficial femoral arteries. We evaluated the perfusion technique in 5 patients with fenestrated endovascular aortic aneurysms repair (FEVAR). First, we measured the flow in the 7 Fr sheaths; second, we clinically controlled the lower limb for developing compartment syndrome. Third we measured creatinine kinase (CK) as marker for postoperative muscular damage. RESULTS: In 5 male patients (median age 77, range 59-80 years) undergoing endovascular TAAA repair, the perfusion technique was feasible. The median flow per catheter was 102 mL/min (range 61-156.5 mL/min) and monophasic with a mean arterial blood pressure of 71 mmHg (range 56-82 mmHg). No patient developed a compartment syndrome. The CK levels were only lightly elevated. CONCLUSION: This simple perfusion technique allows adequate lower limb perfusion during prolonged complex endovascular aortic procedures.

Intentional left subclavian artery coverage without revascularization during TEVAR.

At present, endovascular therapy is a well-established treatment for different types of thoracic aortic pathologies. There is growing evidence, that thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has advantages over open repair with regard to perioperative morbidity and mortality in the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms. However, in up to 50% of TEVAR procedures the proximal end of the stent-graft will (partly) cover the origin of the left subclavian artery (LSA) in order to achieve a save sealing zone. Intracranial stroke and paraplegia are feared complications and might be associated with LSA exclusion from the circulation. Unfortunately, no reliable technique is available to assess the individual risk of stroke and paraplegia in case of LSA coverage, so that the indication for LSA revascularization continues to be matter of assuming and guessing. The quality of available evidence on necessity or superfluity to revascularize the LSA is very low and studies report, to some extent, controversial outcome after intentional LSA coverage. In the light of the devastating consequences for patients in case of neurological complications due to LSA coverage the question of prophylactic LSA revascularization remains a significant problem which is elucidated and discussed in this manuscript.

Thoracoabdominal aneurysms and changes in adjacent vertebral bodies.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess if chronic intermittent pressure of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) induces structural changes in vertebral bodies and if eroded vertebral bones can still be found after the extermination of syphilis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of computed tomography (CT) scans of patients with TAAA was performed. In the anatomical regions were the TAAA was in close contact with the vertebral bodies, the vertebral body alteration was distinguished into 4 categories. Category 0: no changes; 1: discrete changes, minimal asymmetry; 2: obvious asymmetry of the vertebral body with sustained cortical layer; 3: severe destruction of the vertebral body with loss of the cortical layer. RESULTS: Eighty-six CT scans of patients (mean age 63; range 25-82 years) with TAAA pathology were examined (24 female, 62 male). The mean aneurysm diameter was 6.5 cm (4.3-14 cm). The results for scoring were: category 0: 33 patients; category 1: 46 patients; category 2: 5 patients and category 3: 2 patients. One of the category 3 patients suffered from acute spinal cord compression with complete paraplegia. In total, 62% of patients showed some degree of changes at vertebral bodies adjacent to the TAAA. CONCLUSION: Intermittent pressure by either dissecting or non-dissecting TAAAs may induce structural changes in the vertebral bodies of the spine. Severe destruction of the bone is a rare, but existing complication.

Technical challenges and anatomic anomalies encountered during aortic surgery.

Since the introduction of endovascular techniques for the treatment of aortic pathologies, clinical application of these lesser invasive procedures has increased exponentially during the last two decades and changed daily vascular practice completely. Starting in the infra-renal aorta, the indications for endovascular repair have gradually extended to the suprarenal aorta, aortic arch, descending and thoracoabdominal aorta. In addition, other pathologies than aneurysms have been treated by endovascular means, including dissection, traumatic injuries, penetrating aortic ulcer, intramural hematoma and aorto bronchial fistula. With increased application, short-term and longer-term technical failures have developed, in the majority of cases managed by repeat endovascular techniques. However, these complications cannot always be solved by endotechniques, requiring conversion to open surgery. At present there are additional reasons why open surgical repair remains a mainstay in the treatment of complex aortic diseases. Younger patients might choose for traditional surgery because of the unknown durability of complex endovascular reconstructions. Patients with connective tissue disease suffer from vulnerable aortic tissue in which endografts might behave different as compared to degenerative aneurysms. Therefore, the modern vascular surgeon should not only be trained in endovascular procedures but also master the wide spectrum of open surgical techniques. Besides anatomical knowledge and standard vascular handling, the surgeon must be familiar with unusual variations and unexpected situations.