Endosutured Aneurysm Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms with Short Necks Achieves Acceptable Midterm Outcomes-Results from the Peru Registry.

BACKGROUND: The study aims to describe midterm outcomes following treatment of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) with short necks by endosutured aneurysm repair using the Heli-FX EndoAnchor system. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of prospectively collected data from 9 vascular surgery departments between June 2010 and December 2019, including treated AAAs with neck lengths ≤10 mm. The decision for the use of EndoAnchors was made by the treating surgeon or multidisciplinary aortic committee according to each center's practice. There were 2 Groups further assessed according to neck length, A (≥4 and <7 mm) and B (≥7 and ≤10 mm). The main outcomes analyzed were technical success, freedom from type Ia endoleaks (TIaELs), sac size increase, all-cause and aneurysm-related mortality. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients were included in the study, 17 fell into Group A and 59 into Group B. Median follow-up for the cohort was 40.5 (interquartile range 12-61) months. A median of 6 (interquartile range 3) EndoAnchors were deployed in each subject. Technical success was 86.8% for the total group, 82.4% and 88.1% (P = 0.534) for Groups A and B respectively. Six out of 10 (60%) of TIaELs at the completion angiographies showed spontaneous resolution. Cumulative freedom from TIaEL at 3 and 5 years for the total group was 89% and 84% respectively; this was 93% and 74% for Group A and 88% at both intervals in Group B (P = 0.545). In total, there were 7 (9.2%) patients presenting with TIaELs over the entire study period. Two (11.8%) in Group A and 5 (8.5%) in Group B (P = 0.679). There were more patients with sac regression in Group B (Group A = 6-35.3% vs. Group B = 34-57.6%, P = 0.230) with no statistical significance. All-cause mortality was 19 (25%) patients, with no difference (4-23.5% vs. 15-25.4%, P = 0.874) between groups; whereas aneurysm-related mortality occurred in 1 patient from Group A and 3 from Group B. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates reasonable outcomes for patients with short-necked AAAs treated by endosutured aneurysm repair in terms of TIaELs up to 5-year follow-up. EndoAnchor use should be judiciously evaluated in short necks and may be a reasonable option when anatomical constraints are encountered, mainly for those with 7-10 mm neck lengths. Shorter neck length aspects, as indicated by the results from Group A, may be an alternative when no other options are available or feasible.

Distintos escenarios de aneurismas poplíteos rotos / Different scenarios of ruptured popliteal aneurysms

Introducción: el aneurisma poplíteo (AP) es una enfermedad rara, con la mayoría de pacientes asintomáticos. La ruptura es una complicación excepcional. Habitualmente estos son casos de pacientes añosos y con múltiples comorbilidades. Casos clínicos: presentamos tres casos de aneurismas poplíteos rotos, todos ellos con distintas presentaciones clínicas como tratamientos. Nuestro objetivo es mostrar distintos abordajes y presentaciones para una complicación infrecuente de una patología infrecuente. Discusión: el APR es una rara complicación y no es común ver que se reporte más de un caso. La versatilidad en el manejo de los distintos abordajes es crucial. La alta mortalidad refleja la morbilidad típica en estos pacientes.(AU)

Introduction: popliteal aneurysm (PA) is a rare disease, mostly asymptomatic, being rupture an exceptional complication. This usually occurs in elder and severely comorbid patients. Case reports: we present three different cases of ruptured popliteal aneurysms, all of them with different clinical presentations as well as different treatments. Our objective is to show different approaches and presentations for a rare complication of a rare disease. Discussion: RPA is a rare complication, and it is uncommon to see more than one case reported. Versatility in handling different approaches is paramount. The high mortality reflects the typical morbidity in these patients.(AU)

Uso de conductos iliofemorales como medida para reducir la morbimortalidad neurológica y vascular en EVAR complejo / Use of iliofemoral conduits to reduce neurological and vascular morbimortality associated with complex EVAR

Introducción y objetivo: la enfermedad oclusiva de las arterias ilíacas puede ser causa de complicaciones en EVAR. Su frecuencia no es muy alta, pero su mortalidad sí y hay evidencia escasa en cuanto a su repercusión en EVAR complejo. el uso de conductos iliofemorales es una herramienta que existe para combatir este problema. el objetivo de este trabajo es analizar el impacto del uso de conductos iliofemorales en la morbimortalidad neurológica y vascular en FeVaR y BeVaR. Materiales y métodos: recolección retrospectiva de pacientes con aneurismas yuxtarrenales, abdominotorácicos o endoleak ia tratados mediante FEVAR o BEVAR de forma electiva entre 2014 y 2020 en una sola institución (la Clínica La Sagrada Familia, Buenos aires, argentina). Se dividieron en dos grupos: uno, con conductos (grupo a), y otros, sin (grupo B). el grupo a se subdividió entre aquellos con conductos temporales y aquellos con permanentes. Resultados: analizamos 45 pacientes. 23 recibieron conductos (grupo a) y 22, no (grupo B). La edad media fue de 73 años y el diámetro promedio del saco fue de 69,89 mm. La estancia hospitalaria media fue de 4,7 días. el grupo a presentó más pacientes con enfermedad vascular periférica (56,5 % frente a 22,7 %, p = 0,045) y diámetros menores de arterias ilíacas externas. Hubo 8 complicaciones en el perioperatorio (17,8 %; grupo a, n = 1, 4,3 %, frente al grupo B, n = 7, 31,8 %; p = 0,043). Fallecieron 2 pacientes, lo que dejó una mortalidad perioperatoria del 4,4 % (grupo a, 0 %, frente al grupo B, 9,1 %; p = 0,45). Las complicaciones incluyeron isquemia medular, ruptura de la arteria ilíaca e isquemia de miembros inferiores. dentro del grupo a, 12 pacientes (52,2 %) recibieron conductos permanentes y otros 11 (47,8 %), temporales. Conclusiones: los conductos iliofemorales en FEVAR y BEVAR son seguros cuando forman parte de la planificación preoperatoria. Las complicaciones neurológicas y vasculares no son infrecuentes y conllevan una alta mortalidad...(AU)

Introduction and objective: occlusive arterial disease involving the iliac arteries can be cause of complicationsin eVaR. its frequency is not high, but its mortality is and there is scant evidence regarding its repercussion incomplex eVaR. the use of iliofemoral conduits is a tool to overcome this problem. our objective is to analyzethe impact of the use of iliofemoral conduits in the neurological and vascular morbimortality associated withFeVaR and BeVaR. Materials and methods: retrospective recollection of patients who underwent elective FeVaR or BeVaR for jux-tarrenal, thoracoabdominal aneurysms or type ia endoleak between 2014 and 2020 in one institution (Clínica LaSagrada Familia, Buenos aires, argentina). Patients were divided in two groups, one with conduits (group a) andone without (group B). Group a was subdivided between those who received temporary conduits and those withpermanent conduits. Results: we analyzed 45 patients. 23 received conduits (group a) whereas 22 did not (group B). mean age was 73years and mean sac diameter was 69.89 mm. mean hospital stay was 4.7 days. Group a presented more patientswith peripheral vascular disease (56.5 % vs. 22.7 %, p = 0.045) and smaller iliac arteries. there were 8 complicationsin the perioperative period (17.8 %; group a, n = 1, 4.3 %; group B, n = 7, 31.8 %. p = 0.043). 2 patients died, leavinga perioperative mortality of 4.4 % (group a 0 % vs. group B 9.1 %, p = 0.45). Complications included spinal cordischemia, iliac artery rupture and lower limb ischemia. in group a, 12 (52.2 %) patients received permanent conduitsand 11 (47.8 %) temporary conduits. Conclusions: the use of iliofemoral conduits in FeVaR and BeVaR is safe when they are part of the preoperativeplanning. neurological and vascular complications are not infrequent and carry a high mortality. the use of conduitsis effective to reduce its incidence and associated mortality.(AU)

Cerebrovascular effects of cilostazol in patients with atherosclerotic disease.

BACKGROUND: Cilostazol is a potent selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase-3 of proven efficacy in intermittent claudication. It has antiplatelet effect and produces vasodilatation in several vascular territories. This drug has been approved in some countries for the prevention of recurrence of cerebral infarction. Limited data in patients with cerebral infarcts suggest improvement in cerebral blood flow. Dilatation of cerebral vessels with carbon-dioxide challenge can be assessed by transcranial Doppler technique. The percentage increase in blood flow velocity is called cerebral vasomotor reactivity (CVR). OBJECTIVE: In this investigation we sought to measure CVR before and after oral administration of cilostazol. METHODS: We studied patients with risk factors for atherosclerosis before they received cilostazol (100 mg twice daily) for intermittent claudication. CVR was assessed by measuring bilateral middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity during normoventilation and after 3 minutes of breathing 8% carbon dioxide. One average value was obtained from each patient. CVR was measured the day before cilostazol first dose, at 1 month, and 3 to 6 months later. RESULTS: We examined 9 patients (8 men and 1 woman) aged 67.6 +/- 8.4 years. All patients had hypertension, 5 had diabetes, 4 were smokers, 5 had high cholesterol levels, and 4 had coronary artery disease. CVR was 54.4 +/- 14.4% at baseline, and increased to 64.2 +/- 18.6% after 1 month (P < .05) and to 67.1 +/- 13.3% at 3 to 6 months later (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that cilostazol increases CVR in patients with atherosclerotic disease.

Use of covered stents and endograft as a rescue treatment in a patient with a complex form of recurrent aortic coarctation.

We report our experience with one patient with recurrent coarctation and aneurysm degeneration treated endoluminally. A novel technique was used combining balloon-expandable with self-expandable endografts. The balloon-expandable component expanded the area of stenosis and also created a neck to allow the implantation of the self-expandable endograft to exclude the aneurysm. Mismatch of diameters was solved with the creation of a new proximal neck, in which the distal end was progressively expanded to reach the appropriate diameter to implant the self-expandable endograft inside. Expansion of the narrow stenosis and complete exclusion of the aneurysm was achieved without a residual pressure gradient.

Safety maneuvers to prevent embolism complicating endovascular aortic repair.

The endoluminal approach of the diffusely atheromatous aorta (DAA) is an emerging tool to prevent further embolization. We treated one symptomatic patient with DAA. We designed a catheter with a balloon at the tip for occlusion of both common iliac arteries through which the antegrade flow was allowed by an iliac to femoral arterio-arterial shunt connected to an in-line filter. Filter wires were also placed in the superior mesenteric and both renal arteries' take-off, keeping their antegrade flow. The endograft was then introduced through these tubes. Endoluminal treatment of the primary source of atheromatous embolization is feasible, representing a new approach to be considered.

Tratamiento endoluminal en aneurisma de aorta abdominal roto / Intraluminal treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms

The most frequent complications of any aneurysm is rupture. Consequently there is a general rull that aneurysms should be treated when diagnosed because the odds of survival after rupture are poor... The authors describe the immediate repair using the intraluminal approach, with special reference to indications and results using this procedure. An illustrative and well documented case is presented.