Is Mini-Invasive Surgery an Alternative for the Treatment of Juxtarenal Aortic Aneurysms?

INTRODUCTION: Aim of our study is to evaluate the outcomes of mini-laparotomy, suprarenal cross-clamping, and enhanced recovery after elective open surgical repair for juxta-renal abdominal aortic aneurysms (JAAA) in a tertiary referral center. METHODS: Data of all consecutive patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) electively treated with left sub-costal mini-laparotomy requiring infrarenal or suprarenal cross-clamping between 2013 and 2018 were retrospectively collected. Patients were divided into two groups: infra-renal cross-clamping (group A) and JAAA requiring supra-renal cross-clamping (group B). Early and mid-term mortality, postoperative renal dysfunction according to RIFLE criteria and factors affecting postoperative outcome were analysed. RESULTS: Four hundred one patients, 356 (88.8%) men, mean age 70.8 yrs, underwent open surgical repair (OSR), 343 (85.5%) AAA in group A, 58 (14.5%) JAAA in group B. Mean diameter of the aneurysms was 54 ± 11.4 mm vs. 52 ± 9 mm and mean time of intervention 154.9 ± 56.3 min vs. 180.1 ± 65.7 min respectively. Total clamp time was 72.27 ± 31.4 vs. 75 ± 33.1 and suprarenal clamp time in group B 27.82 ± 14.1 min. Mean hospital length of stay was 5.1 ± 2.8 vs. 5.37 ± 3.4 days respectively. At 30 days, 3 (0.9%) patients died in group A and no one in group B; at 24 months 7 (2%) deaths in group A and 4 (6.9%) in group B. Preoperative, postoperative and discharge serum creatinine mean value, in group B, were 1.07 ± 0.32, 1.31 ± 0.36 and 1.83 ± 1.24 respectively. Based on RIFLE criteria for renal function, we observed Risk in 14.2% and Injury in 12.7% of patients after suprarenal cross clamping. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that mini-invasive open repair for JAAA with a suprarenal cross-clamping can be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates similar to traditional surgical approach without significant modifications of renal functions.

Insulin resistance, serum uric acid and metabolic syndrome are linked to cardiovascular dysfunction in pediatric obesity.

INTRODUCTION: Childhood obesity is associated with cardiovascular abnormalities but little is known on the potential correlation between early cardiovascular and metabolic alterations. AIM: Aims of this study were 1) to evaluate early cardiovascular abnormalities in a large population of obese children and adolescents compared with a normal weight counterpart, 2) to investigate their potential association with insulin resistance (IR), serum uric acid (sUA) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). METHODS: This was a single-center case-control study. Eighty obese (OB) subjects (6-16years) and 20 normal weight (NW) matched controls were consecutively recruited. In the whole population we performed an anthropometric and a cardiovascular assessment. OB patients also underwent an OGTT and biochemical evaluations. RESULTS: OB children showed greater left atrial (LA) and ventricular (LV) dimensions and mass and higher carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT), compared with NW controls. The BMI z-score, waist circumference, IR and sUA were positively related with LA and LV dimensions and mass. OB subjects with MetS (46.3%) showed greater LA diameter (p=0.001) and LV area (p=0.01) and volume (p=0.04) compared with OB children without MetS. LA diameter and LV dimensions and mass were significantly dependent on the number of criteria for MetS. Mets, sUA and IR were significant predictors of left heart dimensions and mass in obese children. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity and MetS are associated with abnormal cardiovascular response during childhood. Hyperuricemia can be an early marker of cardiovascular dysfunction and the routine determination of circulating levels of sUA should be implemented during risk stratification among pediatric age.

Fast-track in abdominal aortic surgery: experience in over 1,000 patients.

BACKGROUND: Fast-track recovery programs have led to reduced patient morbidity and mortality after surgery. Minimally invasive surgery and anesthesia, with programs of early postoperative recovery are the main aspects of fast-track recovery programs. The optimization of pain control, early mobilization, and oral feeding allows for a rapid functional rehabilitation, which leads to minor morbidity and early discharge from the hospital to home. METHODS: We enrolled all nonemergent patients treated for elective abdominal aortic surgery for an aneurysm or obstructive disease from April 2000 to June 2014. The fast-track protocol was applied to all these patients. A transperitoneal aortic approach was used through a left subcostal incision and was complemented with epidural anesthesia-analgesia and a protocol of early rehabilitation. RESULTS: A total of 1,014 patients were treated for elective aortic surgery. For 980 patients (96.6%), clear liquids followed by a semisolid diet were tolerated starting on the afternoon of the day of intervention (day 0). Nine hundred eighty-seven patients (97.3%) began early ambulation on day 0, and for 81.2% of the population, regular colonic function returned within the second postoperative day. Seventeen deaths (1.7%) occurred. Nine hundred ten patients (89.7%) had no complications. The median hospital length of stay was 3 days for the entire series, and 80.4% of patients (n = 815) were discharged to their homes between the second and fifth days after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The fast-track program can be efficiently and safely applied to aortic surgery and that this program improves surgical outcomes, allows for earlier discharge, and reduces costs.