Percutaneous Axillary Artery Access in Complex Endovascular Aortic Repair.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to assess the feasibility and safety of percutaneous axillary access in complex endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) with use of a percutaneous closure device. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients undergoing percutaneous axillary artery access between 2012 and 2017 were included. Left percutaneous axillary access was the sole antegrade aortic approach used. Patient and intervention characteristics were documented. Mortality, procedural success, technical success, peri- and postoperative complications, and repeat interventions were examined. A total of 25 percutaneous axillary access procedures were performed in 23 patients. The mean age of the treated patients was 72.2 years, and 71% were male. Percutaneous axillary access was obtained for a variety of indications (chimney EVAR, thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair, thoracic EVAR, and type B dissections). Vascular access sheath sizes ranged from 6 F to 12 F. RESULTS: The procedural success rate was 96%. Technical success of vascular closure was 100%. The perioperative access complication rate was 8%: 1 dissection of the axillary artery and 1 stenosis occurred. No hematoma, hemorrhage, or neuropathies were seen. One access-related repeat intervention had to be performed. The 30-d mortality rate was 4%. CONCLUSIONS: Direct puncture and percutaneous closure of the axillary artery for complex aortic procedures is safe and feasible.

Endovascular repair of acute traumatic aortic injury: experience of a level-1 trauma center.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta after traumatic rupture is an alternative to open repair and its use is becoming increasingly widespread. We aimed to determine the concurrent injuries sustained in patients who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) as well as their Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) and Injury Severity Score (ISS). We also aimed to identify the intraoperative and early complications of TEVAR grafting up to 6 months after procedure and in addition identify the late postoperative complications occurring after 6 months after stent. METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively between January 1998 and January 2012. The Australasian Vascular Audit and hospital trauma registry were used to obtain data related to those patients who underwent TEVAR at our center. Their characteristics were analyzed including associated injuries, delays to diagnosis, ISS scores, and early and long-term complications of endovascular repair. RESULTS: Forty patients (mean age 41.3 ± 20.1) underwent stent graft repair of traumatic thoracic rupture at the aortic isthmus. Motor vehicle and motorbike accidents were responsible for 82.5% of presentations. Average ISS was 37 ± 13 (range 20-75) with an average GCS of 12.5 ± 3.8 at scene. Intraoperative death occurred in 2 cases (ISS score of 75), with 1 further death from severe head injures within 30 days. Average follow-up time was 5.48 ± 2.89 years (maximum 13 years). CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular intervention is a safe and effective treatment, with minimal longer term complications seen after 5-year follow-up.

Coeliac artery avulsion secondary to high velocity blunt abdominal trauma: a case report.

Coeliac artery (CA) injuries are an extremely rare subset of blunt abdominal trauma with a reported incidence of only 0.01%. Patterns of CA injury include intimal tear, dissection, thrombosis and pseudoaneurysm, with the most rare being complete CA avulsion. These complex injuries pose a treatment challenge due to rapid blood loss and anatomical difficultly in achieving proximal and multiple points of distal vascular control. To our knowledge, this case of CA avulsion from blunt polytrauma is only the 7th case reported in the literature. To assist in management, we report a case of blunt traumatic CA avulsion managed successfully with open ligation following endovascular balloon occlusion of the juxta-coeliac aorta for haemorrhage control.

Frail patients having vascular surgery during the early COVID-19 pandemic experienced high rates of adverse perioperative events and amputation.

BACKGROUND: Frailty predicts adverse perioperative outcomes and increased mortality in patients having vascular surgery. Frailty assessment is a potential tool to inform resource allocation, and shared decision-making about vascular surgery in the resource constrained COVID-19 pandemic environment. This cohort study describes the prevalence of frailty in patients having vascular surgery and the association between frailty, mortality and perioperative outcomes. METHODS: The COVID-19 Vascular Service in Australia (COVER-AU) prospective cohort study evaluates 30-day and six-month outcomes for consecutive patients having vascular surgery in 11 Australian vascular units, March-July 2020. The primary outcome was mortality, with secondary outcomes procedure-related outcomes and hospital utilization. Frailty was assessed using the nine-point visual Clinical Frailty Score, scores of 5 or more considered frail. RESULTS: Of the 917 patients enrolled, 203 were frail (22.1%). The 30 day and 6 month mortality was 2.0% (n = 20) and 5.9% (n = 35) respectively with no significant difference between frail and non-frail patients (OR 1.68, 95%CI 0.79-3.54). However, frail patients stayed longer in hospital, had more perioperative complications, and were more likely to be readmitted or have a reoperation when compared to non-frail patients. At 6 months, frail patients had twice the odds of major amputation compared to non-frail patients, after adjustment (OR 2.01; 95% CI 1.17-3.78), driven by a high rate of amputation during the period of reduced surgical activity. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight that older, frail patients, experience potentially preventable adverse outcomes and there is a need for targeted interventions to optimize care, especially in times of healthcare stress.

May-Thurner syndrome, a diagnosis to consider in young males with no risk factors: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: May-Thurner syndrome is an anatomical condition characterized by compression of the left common iliac vein by the right common iliac artery, causing venous outflow obstruction. It is an uncommon cause of deep vein thrombosis and is more prevalent among women. This paper highlights the importance of considering May-Thurner syndrome in young males without risk factors presenting with left lower limb pain, as endovascular treatment may be required. CASE PRESENTATION: A 23 year-old Caucasian male presented with a 1-week history of left lower limb pain, edema, and pallor. He was found to have an unprovoked deep vein thrombosis on Doppler ultrasound involving the left fibular, soleus, gastrocnemius, popliteal, femoral, common femoral, and external iliac veins. A heparin infusion was commenced as the initial treatment for deep vein thrombosis. Further investigation with computer tomography pulmonary angiogram and computer tomography venography of the abdomen and pelvis showed bilateral pulmonary emboli and left common iliac vein compression with left common, internal, and external iliac vein thrombosis. He was diagnosed with May-Thurner syndrome despite having no risk factors. A retrievable Cook Celect Platinum inferior vena cava filter was placed, and thrombus of the left common femoral, external, and common iliac veins was treated successfully with AngioJet thrombectomy, thrombolysis using 200,000 units of urokinase, angioplasty and stenting using two Cook Zilver Vena venous self-expanding stents. Therapeutic enoxaparin was commenced on discharge. His filter was removed after 10 weeks. Hematological follow-up 4 months later showed an overall negative thrombophilia screen, and anticoagulation was switched to apixaban. He has had no recurrent thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should have a low threshold to investigate for May-Thurner syndrome in patients with left lower limb venous thrombotic events regardless of risk factors, as endovascular treatment may be required to minimize the long-term sequelae of deep vein thrombosis. Duplex ultrasound can be used initially for diagnosis, and computer tomography venography used subsequently if the common iliac vein is not visualized on ultrasound. Endovascular treatment is preferred over anticoagulation alone, especially in otherwise fit patients presenting early, the aim being to reduce the chances of chronic venous hypertension in the lower limb.

True Saccular Aneurysm at the Iliac Bifurcation in an Adolescent: Case Report and Review of Lower Limb Vascular Embryology.

INTRODUCTION: Isolated iliac artery aneurysms are an uncommon occurrence in the absence of concurrent aortic disease in the adult population and are a rare entity in children and adolescents. Paediatric patients may present with false aneurysms less frequently but true aneurysms are exceptional. In this report, the case of an iliac bifurcation true saccular aneurysm is described. REPORT: An 18 year old woman without history of infection, trauma, connective tissue disorders, or vasculitis, was referred with an incidental left iliac bifurcation saccular aneurysm. She underwent open surgical resection of the aneurysm with primary re-anastomosis of the common to external iliac arteries and ligation of the internal iliac artery. Histopathological assessment did not show any inflammatory or other underlying disease process. DISCUSSION: A case is presented of an isolated iliac bifurcation true aneurysm in an adolescent and its successful treatment. It is plausible that incomplete involution of the embryologically dominant sciatic artery may have been the cause for this presentation and for other congenital iliac artery aneurysms. Literature review of other paediatric iliac aneurysms shows an array of postulated underlying causes and treatment strategies.

Closure of patent Potts shunt with aortic endoluminal stent graft.

Pulmonary hypertension secondary to residual Potts shunt is not an uncommon phenomenon. A 59-year-old male with a history of tetralogy of Fallot was noted, on a full heart study, to have persistent pulmonary hypertension, normal left ventricular function, severe aortic regurgitation, and a residual Potts shunt. A previous surgical attempt at closure of the shunt during definitive repair was unsuccessful. An aortic endoluminal stent graft was deployed to definitively close the shunt. There was a subsequent normalization of pulmonary pressures following Potts shunt closure. The patient will now proceed with surgical aortic root repair and aortic valve replacement.

Blunt traumatic aortic transection: the endovascular experience.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic aortic transection resulting from blunt trauma is usually fatal. It is almost always associated with multiple, complex, nonaortic injuries that could be adversely affected by standard surgical repair of the aorta. Endovascular stenting techniques offer these patients a less physiologically disruptive treatment option. We studied the feasibility and safety of endovascular stent graft placement for treatment of acute traumatic aortic transection. METHODS: Between 1994 and 2001, 9 patients were treated emergently for aortic transections with stent graft placement. The first patient had a custom-made prototype, and the other 8 patients had the Cook-Zenith thoracic stent graft implanted. All were polyester-covered Z-stent construction and deployed through a femoral 20- to 24-F delivery sheath. RESULTS: Stent graft placement successfully sealed the aorta in all patients. One patient died as a result of a cerebrovascular accident. One patient required a brachial thrombectomy to relieve arm ischemia. The remaining eight patients were alive and without complications during the follow-up period (mean 21 months). CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular repair for acute aortic transection is a safe, effective, and timely treatment option. It may be the treatment of choice in patients with extensive associated injuries.