Recanalization of Chronic Femoropopliteal Total Occlusions after Failed Anterograde Attempt: Use of an Intravascular Ultrasound-Guided Re-entry Catheter versus the Bidirectional Approach.

PURPOSE: To analyze the feasibility and effectiveness of the use of an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided re-entry catheter (IGRC) for femoropopliteal chronic total occlusions (FP-CTOs) after a failed anterograde approach compared with the bidirectional approach without the IGRC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 2019 and December 2022, an IGRC (Pioneer Plus; Philips Volcano, San Diego, California) was used in 52 patients after failure of conventional recanalization techniques (Group A). In the same period, 48 patients who were also eligible for IGRC use were treated without IGRC using the bidirectional approach (Group B). In Groups A and B, 12 (23.1%) and 3 (6.2%) patients experienced claudication, and 40 (76.9%) and 45 (93.7%) patients experienced critical limb-threatening ischemia, respectively. Clinical and procedural records, angiographic imaging findings, and follow-up data were collected, analyzed, and reviewed. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in 49 (94.2%) patients in Group A and 44 (91.7%) patients in Group B (P = .616). Use of the IGRC was associated with a reduction of procedural time (120 vs 133 minutes; P < .001), radiation exposure (47 vs 59 Gy cm2; P < .001), iodinated contrast medium use (98 vs 138 mL; P = .028), and intraprocedural discomfort (numerical rating scale score, 4 vs 6; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Use of the IGRC was equivalently successful for FP-CTO recanalization compared with the use of the bidirectional approach, but it reduced radiation exposure, iodinated contrast medium used, patient discomfort, and procedural time. These advantages suggest that IGRC could be favored as the next-choice option for FP-CTOs after failure of anterograde recanalization.

Polyester Stent Graft Devices and Higher Risk of Post-Implantation Syndrome after EVAR: Single-Center Analysis of 367 Patients.

BACKGROUND: The post-implantation syndrome may occur shortly after endovascular aneurysm repair in patients treated for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Different types of biomaterials may provoke varying inflammatory responses in patients receiving different endografts. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the PIS after EVAR and the influence of different types of device fabric. METHODS: All patients submitted to elective AAA endovascular repair at our institution from January 2014 to December 2019 were enrolled. The PIS was defined by a body temperature of >38°C and WBC >12'000/µl without any evidence of an infection during (48h) the observation period. RESULTS: Three hundred and sixty-seven patients (89% males) were enrolled in this study and post-implantation syndrome occurred in 41 cases (11.2%). The incidence of PIS was significantly higher (P< 0.001) in patients treated with polyester stent grafts (39/201, 19,4%) compared to patients with PTFE stent grafts (2/166, 1,2%). CRP was related to the presence of PIS with a cut-off values of 109.31 mg/dL (P = 0.0052). The median in-hospital stay considering the polyester group was 6,2 days, while in the PTFE group it was 5,6 days (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative inflammatory response after EVAR seems significantly higher by using polyester stent graft compared to PTFE devices. CRP could be a useful biomarker in defining PIS. Multi-center studies are necessary to confirm these data.

Clinical worsening despite intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke secondary to carotid plaque rupture.

First-line therapy of acute ischemic stroke is intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) irrespective of etiology. We report on a patient with acute ischemic stroke secondary to carotid plaque rupture who experienced plaque thrombosis and marked clinical worsening despite IVT. While the latter is the gold standard therapy optimal platelets inhibition should be guaranteed to allow a safe as possible carotid intervention. Hereby we discuss all available strategies to be considered in order to better individualized treatment decision-making.

Internal Carotid Stenosis Associated with Compression by Hyoid Bone.

Atherosclerotic plaques concomitantly with the hyoid bone protrusion into the internal carotid artery (ICA) are rarely reported in the literature. These plaques can be considered as arising from the turbulent flow and the shear stress caused by the close contact between the hyoid bone and the arterial wall carotid artery. The carotid stenosis was greater than 70%. We report a patient with a transient ischemic attack and a right significant carotid artery stenosis presumably due to a compression of an elongated ICA by the hyoid bone. The patient was submitted to open surgery to remove the plaque and correct the anomalous course of ICA combined with the lysis of the arterial adhesions with the right greater horn of the hyoid bone. The hyoid bone is a remote cause of injury and subsequent atherosclerotic lesions of carotid vessels. Elongation of the carotid artery can alter its course and can favor the mechanical interference with the hyoid bone and the subsequent arterial wall damage. When an external compression of the carotid artery is viewed, the endovascular treatment of the carotid artery stenosis is not advisable and open surgery is mandatory.

Nellix Endovascular Aortic Sealing Endoprosthesis Late Explantation for Concomitant Type I Endoleak and Stent Frames Proximal Caudal Migration.

Endovascular aneurysm sealing (EVAS) using the Nellix™ System was introduced in clinical practice with the aim of reducing the incidence of complications such as migration, endoleaks, and reinterventions after conventional endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Although, initial efficacy data on this device have been encouraging, EVAS has also demonstrated to undergo adverse events. Herein, we report a case of Nellix graft explant due to endobags shrinkage after air bubble reabsorption leading to proximal type I A endoleak and stent migration. The focus of this article is on the importance of a more assiduous surveillance of this new device, in particular in those cases with air into the endobags immediately after the procedure; this surveillance should be aimed to timely identify complications which can otherwise lead to consequences that require open conversion.

An Alternative Approach for Treating a Type Ia Endoleak after Conventional EVAR Using the Nellix Endovascular Aneurysm Sealing.

BACKGROUND: To report the use of a Nellix endovascular aneurysm sealing (EVAS) device, to successfully treat a type Ia endoleak (EL) after an endovascular aortic repair (EVAR). CASE REPORT: A 70-year-old man was diagnosed with a 90-mm aortic aneurysm, suspicious for being inflammatory. It was initially treated successfully, with a Medtronic Endurant (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA). Five years after the index endovascular repair, an asymptomatic type Ia EL was detected on duplex ultrasound and computed tomographic angiogram. Other endovascular solutions in the form of proximal cuff, chimney was considered difficult to execute due to challenges in planning, manipulation, and renal cannulation caused by the short proximal sealing zone above the existing stent graft and the constraints of the previous endograft. Thus, a relining of the previous endoprothesis was performed using the Nellix system (Endologix, Inc., Irvine, CA, USA). One-year follow-up imaging demonstrated successful resolution of the EL and persistent sealing of the Nellix device. CONCLUSIONS: Nellix EVAS system can be an alternative and safe option for relining a stent graft with a type Ia EL. Nellix platform can be added to the clinician's armamentarium for treating type Ia EL after conventional EVAR of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

One-Year Outcomes after Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Repair: Is Endovascular Aortic Repair the Best Choice? A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAAs) is still burdened by high morbidity and mortality. Although endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) offers encouraging results in elective setting, its role as first-line strategy to treat rAAA is still debated. Our aim was to compare early and late outcomes in patients undergoing open surgical repair (OSR) versus EVAR for rAAAs. METHODS: A retrospective review of data extracted from medical records identified 105 consecutive patients with rAAA who were submitted to open or endovascular repairs from 2008 to 2016. The primary end point was to assess the rAAA-related mortality in the immediate postoperative period, within 1 month and 1 year after OSR, and EVAR; secondary endpoints included the following: length of stay, AAA-related postoperative complications such as acute limb ischemia, myocardial infarction, renal and respiratory failure, and rAAA-related re-interventions. Statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher exact test, χ2 test, and logistic regression calculations. Early and midterm survival rates were assessed with Cox model. RESULTS: Of the 105 patients with rAAA, 70.48% underwent OSR including 41.89% which was hemodynamically (Hd) unstable and the remaining 29.52% was submitted to rEVAR. (all Hd stable). Compared with EVAR group, the OSR group had a higher rAAA-related mortality rate for both Hd stable and Hd unstable patients: 18.92% vs. 6.45% at 24 hr; (P = 0.185) 39.19% vs. 19.35% at 30 days (P = 0.082); 44.59% vs. 38.71% at 1 year (P = 0.734) If only Hd stable patients were considered, mortality following OSR and EVAR was as follows: 6.98% vs. 6.45% at 24 hr (P = 0.703); 27.91% vs. 19.35% at 30 days (P = 0.567); 32.56% vs. 38.71% at 1 year (P = 0.764). Mean length of stay for patients was 15 days after OSR and 10 days after rEVAR (P = 0.002). At 1-year follow-up, the overall rAAA-related complications incidence was higher in the rEVAR group than that in the OSR group (47.85% vs. 18.33%; P = 0.008); re-interventions were 18.33% in OSR group vs. 21.82% in EVAR group (P = 0.917). Cox model showed that instability and coronary artery disease were predictors of overall mortality of rAAAs. CONCLUSIONS: EVAR does not independently reduce 1-year mortality in comparison with OSR in Hd stable patients. Urgent EVAR for rAAAs in unstable patients can be limited by logistical problems. It follows that patients selected for OSR have a more complex aortic anatomy and worse Hd status than those submitted to rEVAR. rEVAR burdened by a higher incidence of procedure-related complications than OSR. Reconfiguration of acute aortic services and establishment of standardized institutional protocols might be advisable for improvements in the management of ruptured AAA. A careful evaluation of whether the benefits of an endovascular strategy translate into long term benefit is needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn about the advantages of EVAR as first-line strategy for ruptured aneurysms.

A Peculiar Case of Type 1 Endoleak after Nellix Endovascular Aneurysm Sac Sealing: Clinical Presentation and Management.

We report a case of type 1 endoleak with an outflow via a lumbar artery (LA) following Nellix endovascular aneurysm sealing (EVAS) to discuss the specific peculiarities and management of this complication. A 64-year-old man (acetylsalicylic acid 3) underwent Nellix EVAS for an asymptomatic infrarenal aortic aneurysm. The 6-month duplex scanning ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging showed a type IA endoleak with an outflow via an LA combined with a stable aneurysmal sac size. The subsequent 9-month imaging controls showed no changes of the endoleak cavity, but there was a slight enlargement in proximal neck size associated with the distal migration of both Nellix grafts. Thus, catheter-directed embolization with detachable coils first of the LA origin and then of the endoleak cavity was carried out. Postoperative course was uneventful. The patient is endoleak free with stable sac size on 6-month computed tomography imaging investigations following the secondary intervention.

Treatment of a Juxtarenal Aneurysm with a Parallel Graft in the Left Renal Artery and Polymer-Based Technology to Seal the Entire Aneurysmal Sac.

BACKGROUND: Presenting the treatment of a juxtarenal aneurysm using a Nellix device combined with a chimney stent in a renal artery. CASE REPORT: A 72-year-old woman was diagnosed with a 5.5-cm bilobed juxtarenal aneurysm. She underwent successful aneurysm repair with the Nellix system combined with a chimney stent in the left renal artery. Angio computed tomography control showed complete sealing of the aneurysm sac and patent chimney stent. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular aneurysm sealing combined with chimney may be a valid way to treat juxtarenal aneurysms, and the conformable polymer-filled endobags may provide a durable seal around the chimney-graft preventing gutter formation.

Early-Staged Carotid Artery Stenting Prior to Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Analysis of the Early and Mid-Term Results in Comparison with a Consecutive Cohort of Isolated Coronary Artery Surgery Patients.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to analyze retrospectively the results of patients who underwent early-staged, i.e., within 24-48 h, carotid artery stenting (e-s CAS) before coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: Between December 2014 and December 2022, 1046 consecutive patients underwent CABG; 31 of these patients (3%) were subjected to e-s CAS prior to CABG (e-s CAS + CABG group). Preoperative and intraoperative variables and early and mid-term results of the e-s CAS + CABG group were compared with those of patients who underwent isolated CABG (CABG group). RESULTS: As compared with the CABG group, the e-s CAS + CABG group showed a worse clinical risk profile due to higher Euroscore-2 values and incidence of obstructive pulmonary disease and bilateral carotid artery and peripheral artery diseases (p < 0.05, for all comparisons). The combined end point of operative mortality, periprocedural myocardial infarction, and stroke was 3.2% (0%/0%/3.2%) in the e-s CAS + CABG group vs. 5.9% (2.2%/2.8%/0.9%) in the CABG group (p > 0.5, for all measurements). At 5 years, actuarial survival was 74% ± 16% in the e-s CAS + CABG group vs. 93% ± 4.0% in the CABG group, freedom from cardiac death was 100% vs. 98% ± 1.0% (p = 0.6), and freedom from MACCEs was 85% ± 15% vs. 97% ± 2.5% (p > 0.1, for all comparisons). Independent predictors of all-causes death were advanced age at the operation (p < 0.0001), a lower value for left ventricular ejection fraction (p = 0.05), and a high Euroscore-2 (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: CABG preceded by e-s CAS appears to be associated with satisfactory early outcomes while limiting the risk of myocardial infarction to a very short time interval between the two procedures. Freedom from late all-causes death, cardiac death, and MACCEs were comparable and equally satisfactory, underscoring the positive protective effects of CAS and CABG on the carotid and coronary territories over time.