[Angioscopy: a new intraoperative diagnostic and interventional tool for thoracic aortic treatment]. / Angioskopie: Neues intraoperatives diagnostisches und interventionelles Verfahren für die Therapie der thorakalen Aortenerkrankung.

In complex thoracic aortic disease endovascular techniques and the use of hybrid stent grafts enables a combination therapy of the aortic arch and the descending aorta through a median sternotomy. This emphasizes the importance of intraoperative visualization of the descending aorta and its pathologies. Intraoperative angioscopy is a new diagnostic method for the assessment of distal aortic disease and assists in therapeutic decision-making and navigation of endovascular techniques in the descending aorta. This study presents the angioscopic results of 62 patients (mean age 60±12 years, 73% male, 54 aortic dissections, eight aortic aneurysms) during surgery of the thoracic aorta. Visualization of the extent of pathology along the downstream aorta was feasible in all patients. The implantation of a hybrid stent graft prosthesis was assisted by angioscopy in 34 patients and endovascular balloon dilatation of the stent graft was navigated by angioscopy in 11 patients. Angioscopy has become an indispensable tool in the intraoperative treatment of complex thoracic aortic disease in our clinic, particularly in the navigation of endovascular interventions in the distal thoracic aorta through the aortic arch.

Towards trends in minimal invasive cardiac surgery.

While various minimally invasive techniques have been established in many other surgical specialties during the last decades, cardiac surgery has been one of the last domains to adopt the principles of minimally invasive techniques. This was mainly based on the reduced surgical exposure in highly complex cardiac operations and the missing technical requirements in the beginning of the modern cardiac era. Nowadays, technical conditions have continuously improved and have become routine also in cardiac surgery. Most of these novel minimal-invasive concepts have been developed in order to treat high-risk or inoperable patients by reducing operative trauma. Actually, since more high-risk and multimorbid patients were referred for surgery, these initial extraordinary procedures have been adopted into daily clinical routine. Currently, many promising innovations aim to reduce the operative trauma and perioperative morbidity, and furthermore, to increase patients' satisfaction and security. It is anticipated that in the future this current trend towards minimal invasiveness will increase further due to an increased demand, and therefore, such minimal-invasive procedures will become less complex and straightforward.

[Hybrid room technology as a prerequisite for the modern therapy of aortic dissection]. / Hybridraumtechnologie als Voraussetzung für die moderne Therapie der Aortendissektion.

With the establishment of a hybrid room 7 years ago, it was possible for the first time to unite a full range of diagnostics and surgical therapy under the sterile conditions of an operating theatre in life-threatening aortic dissection. Thus, the early phase associated with high mortality rates (3%-5% per hour) could be significantly reduced from 8 h to 4 h. Multidisciplinary teams consisting of a cardiac surgeon, a cardiologist and an anaesthetist enable competent and rapid life-saving measures. In the case of acute and persistent visceral and/or peripheral malperfusion over many hours, primary endovascular reconstitution of perfusion precedes delayed surgical replacement of the ascending aorta with or without the aortic arch. Additional strategic and technical surgical developments have helped reduce overall hospital mortality from 15%-20% to 10%-15%. Though expensive to build, a high-technology hybrid room enables interdisciplinary specialization and concentration, as demonstrated by the exponential growth in the development of transcatheter aortic valve implants or the endovascular treatment of aortic disease.

The International E-vita Open Registry: data sets of 274 patients.

AIM: After the introduction of the hybrid stent-graft "E-vita-open" by the Essen group in 1/2005 for one stage repair of complex thoracic aortic disease, the International E-vita open Registry was founded in 2008 to study the principles of this treatment algorithm and to control reported favorable single center results on a large patient data set basis up to six years after the first clinical implant. METHODS: Retrospective data work-up after prospective data acquisition was achieved by institution of the International E-vita open Registry with anonymous registration and calculation at Essen University Hospital. From January 2005 to December 2010, 274 patients (mean age 60; 74% males) with complex aortic disease, 190 with aortic dissection (88 acute (AAD), 102 chronic aortic dissection (CAD), and 84 with complex thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) were included in the studied. RESULTS: Eighty-one out of 274 (30%) patients underwent emergency surgery. Stent-graft deployment and arch replacement (238 total, 36 subtotal) was performed under selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (75 min mean). Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cardiac arrest times were mean 235 and 134 minutes, respectively. In-hospital mortality was 15% (40/274), 18% for AAD, 13% for CAD, and 14% for TAA. New strokes were observed in 6% (16/274), spinal cord injury in 8% (22/274). The false lumen (FL) was evaluated throughout the first hospital stay and at a median follow up time of 59 months after surgery. From the first follow up CT-examination to the last, thoracic complete FL thrombosis increased from 83% to 93% in AAD, from 72% to 92% in CAD. Full exclusion of the aneurysmal disease was achieved in 77% (61/79) during the primary hospital stay. CONCLUSION: Favorable single center results could be confirmed by an International community of cardiac surgical centers in regard to hospital mortality and morbidity, as well as a low postoperative complication rate and exclusion of false lumen in aortic dissection.

[Malperfusion in aortic dissection: diagnostic problems and therapeutic procedures]. / Malperfusion bei Aortendissektion: Diagnostische Probleme und therapeutische Möglichkeiten.

Malperfusion of the thoracoabdominal aorta and its side branches is a common complication of aortic dissection, often proving fatal. Vital organ malperfusion accompanying acute aortic dissection is a major cause of mortality and morbidity and requires timely reperfusion of the ischemic organs as well as adequate management of the aortic dissection. Ischemic damage to vital organs supplied by the thoracoabdominal aorta greatly increases the overall risk of aortic dissection. As initial symptoms may be subtle, malperfusion tends to be recognized late, and therefore accounts for a considerable percentage of fatalities.Effective reperfusion is not readily achieved by central aortic surgery alone in a certain number of patients. Various strategies have been used, including entry closure by central aortic surgery or stent grafting, surgical or catheter fenestration, bypass grafting and percutaneous stenting.Endovascular bare-metal stent placement is an attractive and promising treatment option since it is readily available, is less invasive and presents fewer risks to the patient.

[Successful treatment of secondary aortoesophageal fistula after thoracic endovascular aortic repair]. / Erfolgreiche Therapie einer sekundären aortoösophagealen Fistel nach Implantation eines endovaskulären Aortenstentgrafts.

HISTORY AND CLINICAL SYMPTOMS: A 58-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with acute chest pain and subfebrile temperatures. Two years ago, endovascular aortic stent-graft placement had been performed for acute type B aortic dissection complicated by malperfusion syndrome. DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT: CT angiography showed a discrete soft-tissue attenuation mass between the aorta and esophagus. The patient developed progressive swallow disorder and esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy demonstrated deep esophageal ulcerations at the level of the implanted aortic stent-graft. Intravenous treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics was started. The FDG-PET/CT scan showed increased FDG uptake and air entrapment in the affected region establishing the diagnosis of aortoesophageal fistula formation. THERAPY AND OUTCOME: Given the generally poor condition of the patient and the high risk of any aggressive surgical intervention, a new limited surgical approach was chosen consisting of open transthoracic esophageal resection, blind closure of the stomach and cervical esophagostomy. A percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube was placed. After three months, esophageal continuity was restored by retrosternal colon interposition. The presented therapeutic management resulted in a full recovery of the patient. CONCLUSION: Aortoesophageal fistula is a rare complication of thoracic aortic stent-graft placement. Patient may present with unspecific symptoms such as fever and rised inflammatory markers, but may also present with massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The herein presented limited therapy with esophageal resection represents a promising to the otherwise difficult therapy of aortoesophageal fistula.

DeBakey type I dissection: when hybrid stent-grafting is indicated?

AIM: For avoidance of late downstream complications after classic DeBakey type I aortic dissection repair, replacement of the arch with simultaneous antegrade descending stent-grafting using a hybrid prosthesis was applied in acute and chronic aortic dissection. Indication and results were studied. METHODS: Between January 2001 and January 2010, 168 patients were operated for acute and chronic aortic dissection (AD). Forty-five patients received an E-vita open stent-graft prosthesis, 29 for acute aortic dissection (AAD) (28 for DeBakey type I, 1 for type III) and 16 for chronic aortic dissection (CAD) (13 type I, 3 type III). Indication was full circular arch dissection, an entry or re-entry tear distal to the left subclavian artery in AAD, and new abdominal malperfusion, rapid growth of the false lumen (FL), impending or contained rupture in CAD. RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 10% in AAD and 0 in CAD. Complications like new stroke occurred in 7% versus 6%, temporary dialysis in 55% versus 19%, and false lumen obliteration was observed in 93% versus 63% in AAD versus CAD, respectively. Follow-up was 100% at a mean of 19 months. Overall survival at four years was 72% in AAD versus 94% in CAD. FL thrombosis was stable in AAD (92%) and increased to 93% in CAD over time. Freedom from secondary aortic intervention was 90% in AAD and 75% in CAD. CONCLUSION: This hybrid approach in patients with AAD and CAD type I is safe when indicated and renders stable results over time down to the stent-graft end. Secondary TEVAR can be easily performed downstream when necessary. The international E-vita open registry data supports this single center results.

Complex acute dissection of the aortic arch--a novel hybrid concept for one stage surgical repair.

Acute aortic dissection is a life threatening disease, which is occasionally limited to an ascending aorta only (DeBakey type II). In majority of patients it involves the aortic arch and entire rest of the aorta (DeBakey type I). The standardized cannulation and operation strategy can not be used in cases, when aortic arch branches are involved in dissection (complex aortic arch dissection) or in cases with malperfusion or severely compromised hemodynamics (tamponade or heart failure due to severe aortic valve insufficiency). The aim of this present review is to present the "Essen" treatment concept of complicated acute aortic arch dissection from diagnostics to operation strategy.

ICU controlled delay for acute type a aortic dissection repair after intervention for total visceral malperfusion: a way out of a dilemma?

Despite immediate surgical repair of the entry site in acute thoracic aortic dissection with visceral malperfusion, the results are poor. Primary restitution of visceral flow by intervention might be one way to cope with this problem, but probably causes ischemia/reperfusion associated problems after prolonged complete visceral ischemia. In this report, we demonstrate a successful attempt of controlled delay of thoracic aortic surgical repair after visceral flow restitution with stable hemodynamics.