Evidence for Ethylene-Vinyl-Alcohol-Copolymer Liquid Embolic Agent as a Monotherapy in Treatment of Endoleaks.

OBJECTIVE: Endoleak remains the Achilles heel of endovascular aneurysm repair and the exclusion of Type II endoleaks, in particular, remains challenging. This systematic review presents the evidence for ethylene-vinyl-alcohol-copolymer liquid embolic agent as a monotherapy in the treatment of endoleaks. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed for all studies reporting the use of liquid embolic agent as a sole agent in the treatment of endoleaks. Patient numbers, clinical details (endoleak type, route of delivery) and outcome in terms of survival, technical and clinical success with freedom from endoleak together with follow-up period were examined. RESULTS: Only 12 articles reporting the use of liquid embolic as the sole treatment modality for endoleaks in 174 patients were identified. All but 21 patients had a Type II endoleak. Transarterial embolization was attempted in 73% of patients with 48 patients having direct sac puncture. Technical success was high at 96%, but in patients with adequate imaging, the clinical success rate dropped to 79%. Complications were sparsely reported and follow-up ranged from 0 to 75 months. CONCLUSIONS: This review highlights the lack of data regarding the use of liquid embolic agent as a monotherapy with only 4 studies including more than 10 patients. Data from the largest series suggests a learning curve exists and no study reports on cost effectiveness. Technical success does not always translate into clinical success and with the largest series only reporting median 4-month follow-up no claims regarding durability can be made. In problematic Type II endoleaks, however, liquid embolic agent is a welcome addition to the treatment armamentarium.

Systematic review of chimney and periscope grafts for endovascular aneurysm repair.

BACKGROUND: Conventional endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) needs a proximal aortic seal zone that is free from aortic branch vessels. The modified application of conventional EVAR devices using adjuvant chimney or periscope grafts is described as a pragmatic alternative to custom-made fenestrated and branched endografts. This systematic review examined the application and outcomes of chimney or periscope grafts for aortic aneurysm. METHODS: A search was performed for all studies of chimney or periscope grafts for EVAR. Clinical details and outcome in terms of technical success, survival, freedom from endoleak and branch vessel patency were examined. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies describing 234 patients who underwent EVAR with one or more chimney or periscope grafts for aortic branch vessels were identified. Most procedures were elective; only 62 (26.5 per cent) were performed urgently. There were 176 patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm and 58 with a thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. Three hundred and seventy-six branch vessels were perfused. Twelve patients (5.1 per cent) died within 30 days of aneurysm repair. Twenty-seven patients (11.5 per cent) developed a type I endoleak. After a mean(s.d.) follow-up of 12(5) months, seven branch vessels stents had occluded. CONCLUSION: These highly selected data support the potential value of chimney and periscope graft techniques for patients with challenging aortic aneurysm morphology. There is a lack of medium- and long-term follow-up data.

Fenestrated aortic endografts for juxtarenal aortic aneurysm: medium term outcomes.

AIMS: The utility of fenestrated-endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR) remains uncertain. This study examines the medium term outcomes of patients undergoing FEVAR for asymptomatic juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing elective FEVAR for juxtarenal AAA at a single tertiary centre were studied between October 2005 and March 2010. Patients were followed up for at least six-months within a protocol including clinical examination, laboratory studies, CT and duplex imaging, and abdominal radiographs. Outcomes were assessed in terms of survival, target vessel patency and graft related complications. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients were analysed on an intention to treat basis. There were 27 men and two women of median (range) age 74 (54-86) years. Mean (SD) aneurysm diameter was 68 (7) mm. Median (range) ASA score was 3 (2-4). No procedures required conversion to an open procedure, but one procedure was abandoned. Seventy-nine visceral vessels were perfused through a fabric fenestration or scallop. All vessels remained patent at completion angiography. No patients died within 30-days of surgery. During follow up there were four (14%) deaths at a median (range) of 17 (8-21) months after aneurysm repair. None of these deaths were aneurysm related. Eighteen (62%) patients suffered one or more graft related complications, of whom 11 (38%) required one or more early or late reintervention. CONCLUSIONS: Fenestrated aortic endografts can be utilized safely in the management of juxtarenal AAA in patients at high-risk for open surgery. However, the rate of graft related complication and reintervention is high at medium term follow up.

Natural history of thoraco-abdominal aneurysm in high-risk patients.

INTRODUCTION: There is considerable interest in the role of novel endovascular techniques for the treatment of patients with complex aneurysms who are unsuitable for standard interventions. Knowledge of the natural history of these lesions, as well as other co-morbidities, is required in order that these techniques may be applied correctly in this high-risk group. METHOD: This study reviews the outcome of patients deemed to be unfit for surgery following assessment under the Scottish National Thoraco-abdominal aneurysm service (TAAA) service (2002-2008). RESULTS: Of 216 patients assessed, 89 (41%) patients were considered to be unfit for intervention. The median (interquartile range, IQR) age of patients was 75 (70-80) years and there were 39 men (44%). Median (IQR) aneurysm size was 6 (5.6-7.0) cm. The median (IQR) follow-up time was 12 (7-26) months. There were 49 (55%) deaths during the follow-up period of which 23 (47%) cases were due to ruptured TAAA and 26 (53%) were not aneurysm-related. Comparing patients with aneurysms <6 cm (33 patients) with those aneurysms > or =6 cm (56 patients) there was no difference in aneurysm-related death (p = 0.32) or all-cause mortality (p = 0.147). CONCLUSION: Aneurysm-related mortality amongst patients unsuitable for open TAAA surgery is considerable and evolving endovascular techniques may permit intervention in selected patients. However any intervention can only be justified if the patient's life expectancy is sufficient to allow benefit to accrue.

Glutathione supplementation to University of Wisconsin solution causes endothelial dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION: Glutathione (GSH) is added to University of Wisconsin (UW) organ preservation solution to protect against oxidative stress. This study assesses the effect of GSH-supplementation on endothelial function in tissues subjected to cold ischaemia and compares its effects to a mono-ethyl ester equivalent (GSH-MEE) and S-nitrosated GSH (GSNO). METHODS: Rat aortic rings were stored for 1 h or 48 h in cold, hypoxic UW solution with or without GSH (3 mM), GSH-MEE (3 mM) or GSNO (100 mciroM) supplementation. Aortic rings were reoxygenated in warm Krebs solution; smooth muscle function was assessed by responses to phenylephrine (PE), and endothelial function by vasodilatation to the endothelium-dependent dilator, acetylcholine (ACh). The protective effects against oxidant-induced endothelial cell death were assessed in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). RESULTS: Supplementation of UW with either GSH or GSH-MEE had no effect on vascular responses to PE, but smooth muscle contraction was significantly attenuated in rings incubated for 48 h with GSNO. Endothelium-dependent relaxation was significantly impaired in tissues stored under hypoxic conditions in GSH, GSH-MEE and GSNO supplemented UW solution for 1 h. However, impairment at 48 h was significantly more pronounced in GSH-treated vessels. Cultured HUVEC death was exacerbated by GSH and GSH-MEE in unstressed cells and in those stressed with a superoxide anion generator. CONCLUSIONS: GSH supplementation of UW solution exacerbates cold-ischaemia induced endothelial dysfunction. GSNO did not share the detrimental effects of GSH and promoted NO-mediated vasodilatation.

Aortic trauma in Scotland--a population based study.

OBJECTIVES: This population-based study aims to determine the incidence, mechanisms and outcomes of aortic trauma in patients from Scotland between 1992-2002. METHODS: Patients with aortic trauma were identified from the Scottish Trauma Audit Group database. Demographics, mechanism of injury, initial management and outcome were analysed. RESULTS: 165 (0.3%) patients suffered trauma to the thoracic or abdominal aorta. Of these, 130 (79%) patients had an injury of the thoracic aorta, 33 (20%) an injury of the abdominal aorta and two (1%) had injuries of both. There were 123 (75%) men and 42 (25%) women with a median (range) age of 36 (14-90) years. Blunt trauma was responsible for 121 (73%) injuries, of which road traffic accidents were the most common mechanism. A further 44 (27%) aortic injuries were due to penetrating trauma, of which assault was the most common cause. The median (range) Injury Severity Score was 43 (16-75). Ninety (55%) patients died in the emergency department while 59 (32%) underwent attempted operative repair. The operative mortality was 35 (59%) of 59 patients and overall mortality 141 (86%) of 165 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of aortic trauma presenting to Scottish hospitals is low. The majority of patients do not survive to surgical repair and operative and overall mortality remain prohibitive.

Cardiac troponin I predicts outcome after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a highly sensitive and specific marker for myocardial injury that predicts mortality in patients with acute coronary syndromes. This study examined the relationship between perioperative cTnI levels and clinical outcome in patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent operative repair of a ruptured AAA over a 22-month interval and survived for more than 24 h were entered into a prospective observational cohort study. Levels of cTnI were measured immediately before, and at 24 and 48 h after surgery, and related to clinical outcome. RESULTS: Of 62 patients who underwent attempted operative repair of ruptured AAA, 50 (81 per cent) survived for more than 24 h and were included in this study. Twenty-three (46 per cent) of the 50 had a detectable cTnI level at one or more time points during the first 48 h. Of these, 11 patients had clinical or electrocardiographic evidence of an acute cardiac event and 12 did not; five patients in each of these two groups died. Of 27 patients with no increase in cTnI in the first 48 h, only three died (P = 0.031 and P = 0.043 respectively, relative to the groups with detectable cTnI). CONCLUSION: Approximately half of patients who survived repair of ruptured AAA for more than 24 h sustained a detectable myocardial injury within the first 48 h. A perioperative increase in the level of cTnI, with or without clinically apparent cardiac dysfunction, was associated with postoperative death.

Validity of the Glasgow Aneurysm Score and the Hardman Index in predicting outcome after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

BACKGROUND: The Glasgow Aneurysm Score and the Hardman Index have been recommended as predictors of outcome after repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). This study aimed to assess their validities. METHODS: Patients admitted to a single unit with a ruptured AAA over a 2-year interval (2000-2001) were identified from a prospectively compiled database. Hospital records of all patients undergoing attempted operative repair were reviewed. The Glasgow Aneurysm Score and the Hardman Index were calculated retrospectively and related to clinical outcome. RESULTS: One hundred patients were admitted with a ruptured AAA. Of these, 82 underwent attempted operative repair and were included in the study: 68 men and 14 women, of median age 73 (range 54-87) years. Thirty (37 per cent) patients died after the operation. The Glasgow Aneurysm Score was a poor predictor of postoperative mortality. The area under the Receiver-Operator Characteristic curve was 0.606 (P = 0.112, 95 per cent c.i. 0.483-0.729). Similarly, the Hardman Index failed to predict postoperative mortality accurately (P = 0.211, chi(2) for trend). Of nine patients in this series with three or more Hardman criteria, generally held to be fatal, six survived. CONCLUSION: Contrary to previous reports, The Glasgow Aneurysm Score and the Hardman Index were poor predictors of postoperative mortality after repair of a ruptured AAA in this study.

Does immediate operation for symptomatic non-ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm compromise outcome?

Background. The optimum timing of surgery for acutely symptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) remains a clinical dilemma: should symptomatic aneurysm be operated on urgently for fear of impending rupture, or should there be a period of preoperative evaluation to optimise the patient's medical co-morbidity, with a consequent delay in surgery? Method. Ninety-five patients were diagnosed with acutely symptomatic AAA (back pain, abdominal pain or a tender aneurysmal aorta) between 1995 and 2001 and included in a retrospective case-cohort study. The in-hospital mortality rates for patients undergoing early surgery (within 24h of presentation) were compared to those of patients whose surgery had been delayed to allow further evaluation. Results. Of 95 patients with an acutely symptomatic AAA, 70 had surgery within 24h of admission. The remaining 25 underwent planned delayed surgery after a median of (range) three (2-17) days. The reasons for delay to AAA repair were primarily to allow further cardiorespiratory assessment and radiological imaging. In the early surgery group, there were six postoperative deaths (9%); in the group who were to have delayed surgery, there were three (12%) deaths (P=0.694). Conclusion. Early operation for acutely symptomatic AAA, in selected patients, is not associated with an excessive mortality rate compared to delayed operation.

Quality of life after repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

BACKGROUND: Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) continues to be associated with high operative mortality. Though survivors can expect to return to a normal life expectancy, their postoperative health related quality of life (HRQoL) remains uncertain. This review examines HRQoL following operative repair of ruptured AAA. METHODS: PreMedline, Medline and Embase databases were searched for clinical studies relating to quality of life following repair of ruptured AAA. Reference lists of relevant papers were also reviewed. RESULTS: Fourteen retrospective-observational studies of postoperative quality of life following repair of ruptured AAA were identified. Both validated and non-validated tools for generic HRQoL assessment were used. All but one study showed no significant difference in overall HRQoL following ruptured AAA repair when compared to both the normal age-adjusted population and patients undergoing elective repair of intact AAA. However, survivors of ruptured AAA did exhibit significant reductions in the isolated domains of physical function, social behaviour and general well-being. CONCLUSIONS: There are few studies of HRQoL following repair of ruptured AAA. These reports are retrospective, have small sample sizes and use generic instruments for HRQoL assessment. The findings suggest that survivors of ruptured AAA may attain a similar functional outcome to patients undergoing elective AAA repair and the age-matched healthy population. However, these results must be interpreted with caution and further prospective study is required.

Non-operative management of high-risk patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm.

OBJECTIVES: to determine the risk of rupture in patients with large non-operated abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). METHODS: in 128 patients admitted over a 5-year period with an intact AAA, and who did not have a surgical repair were included, initial maximum antero-posterior AAA diameter was related to survival and cause of death. RESULTS: at the end of follow-up 27/52 (52%) patients with AAA <55 mm were alive compared to 17/62 (27%) patients with AAA > or =55 mm. Six (12%) in the former and 18 (29%) in the latter group had an AAA-related death. However, non-AAA-related death was commoner in both groups. CONCLUSION: these findings support a role for non-operative management in high-risk patients with large AAAs.

Conservative management of MRSA periaortic graft abscess.

Following repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm a patient developed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus perigraft abscess. The patient's clinical condition did not permit conventional open surgical correction. Ultrasound-guided aspiration and insertion of percutaneous drain enabled local antibiotic irrigation accompanied by systemic therapy. At 2 years follow-up the patient remains well with no evidence of sepsis.