Endovascular repair of pararenal and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms with inner and outer off-the-shelf multibranched endografts: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: During the last years a great progress has been noted in device technology and operator experience in treating complex aortic aneurysms. Fenestrated and branched custom-made devices require detailed preoperative planning and production time that can take ≤12 weeks. During this awaiting period, aortic-related mortality is increased. To overcome this limitation, off-the-shelf standardized multibranched devices were launched in the market for the treatment of pararenal and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs). Our aim was to evaluate systematically all the published studies of off-the-shelf endografts for the treatment of pararenal and TAAAs. METHODS: We performed a systematic review to identify all the eligible studies that reported outcomes to the off-the-shelf with inner or outer multibranched devices and then conducted a qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis of the results. The main outcomes were technical success, mortality, target visceral vessel instability, major adverse events, and reintervention rates. We estimated pooled proportions and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: A total of 1605 study titles were identified by the initial search strategy, of which 13 (8 t-Branch, 3 E-nside, 1 We-Flow, and 1 TAMBE) were considered eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis. A total of 595 patients (70% male) were identified among the eligible studies. In terms of procedures, 64.4% were elective, 19.2% (13.4% outer multibranched group [OMG]; 6.1% inner multibranched group [IMG]) were emergent, and 16.4% (15.6% OMG; 0.8% IMG) were urgent. The pooled technical success was 92.1% (95% CI, 83.8%-96.4%) and 96.9% (95% CI, 92.5%-98.8%) for the outer and inner multibranched endografts, respectively. The pooled 30-day mortality was 10.4 % (95% CI, 6.6%-16.1%,) and 4.2% (95% CI, 2.0%-8.6%) for the OMG and IMG, respectively. The pooled 30-day and late target visceral vessel instability for the OMG was 3.5% (95% CI, 2.0%-6.1%) and 6.2% (95% CI, 4.7%-8.0%) and for the IMG 10.4% (95% CI, 4.5%-22.5%) and 1.6% (95% CI, 0.7%-3.3%) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This pooled analysis indicated good technical success and mortality rates for both devices despite the high rate of urgent procedures. Pararenal and TAAAs can be treated safely using the included devices. However, further studies are required to draw additional conclusions for the IMG owing to the small sample size.

Low-Profile Altura Endograft System for Endovascular Abdominal Aorta Aneurysm Repair. Preliminary Results in Elective and Emergent Situations.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess the Altura endoprosthesis outcomes up to 12 months for patients affected by infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) either in elective or emergent situations. METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective study identifying all patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) with the Altura endoprosthesis from January 2021 to August 2022. Outcomes evaluated included mortality, technical and clinical success (freedom from procedure-related death, endoleak, migration, thrombosis, and reintervention), and the freedom from reintervention rate. RESULTS: A total of 34 (25 elective and 8 emergent) patients who underwent AAA with Altura endoprosthesis were retrospectively reviewed. The technical success of the Altura endograft either in elective or emergent situations was 100%. There was no inhospital mortality, but 1 (3%) patient who underwent AAA repair emergently, died unexpectedly 7 days after the discharge due to massive pulmonary embolism. The clinical success and the freedom from reintervention during the median follow-up of 12 months (interquartile range [IQR] 12-18), were 97%. One patient presented with disabling intermittent claudication at third month postoperatively, and the computed tomographic angiography (CTA) revealed thrombosis of one of the iliac endografts (3%). The patient underwent femorofemoral bypass with an uneventful postoperative course and immediate relief of the symptoms. One type II endoleak was spontaneously resolved on the sixth month. Sac shrinkage (>3 mm) was registered in 12 patients (35%), but the sac size was stable in the remaining 22 (65%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary outcomes of the Altura endograft seem to be promising, suggesting that the endograft could be safely used either in elective or emergent situations. Further studies with a major number of participants are needed to document its technical and clinical performance, especially in emergency situations that could be amenable to improvement.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of stroke rates in patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair for descending thoracic aortic aneurysm and type B dissection.

OBJECTIVE: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the stroke rates after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for descending thoracic aortic aneurysms and/or dissections. METHODS: A systematic search of all the literature reported until September 2021 was performed according to the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) guidelines. The pooled perioperative stroke rates and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using fixed or random effect methods. RESULTS: A total of 878 study titles were identified by the initial search strategy, of which 43 were considered eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis. A total of 5764 patients (63.5% male) were identified among the eligible studies. The pooled any stroke rate was 4.4% (95% CI, 3.60%-5.28%). However, after procedures without left subclavian artery (LSA) ostial coverage (eg, TEVAR deployed within or distal to zone ≥3), the stroke rate was 3.15% (95% CI, 2.21%-4.22%). For the patients with LSA coverage, the pooled stroke rate was 2.8% (95% CI, 1.69%-4.14%) for patients receiving left subclavian artery revascularization. However, the patients without LSA revascularization had a pooled estimated stroke incidence of 11.8% (95% CI, 5.85%-19.12%). CONCLUSIONS: Stroke has been a common finding after TEVAR, especially with LSA coverage without revascularization, validating current clinical practice guidelines recommending routine revascularization, when feasible. Additional studies with larger patient numbers that provide separate data regarding the aortic pathology treated, the anatomic location of the stroke and their association with functional recovery and survival are needed.

Systematic review with pooled data analysis reveals the need for a standardized reporting protocol including the visceral vessels during fenestrated endovascular aortic repair (FEVAR).

OBJECTIVES: To collect and analyse the available evidence in the outcomes of patients treated with fenestrated endovascular aortic repair (f-EVAR) technique focusing specifically on visceral vessel outcomes. METHODS: The current meta-analysis was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. All the studies reporting the f-EVAR technique for the management of degenerative pararenal and/or type IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA) were considered eligible for inclusion in the study. The main study outcomes (technical success, type I endoleaks, fracture or occlusion of the bridging stents, overall aneurysm-related mortality, and the reintervention rate) were subsequently expressed as proportions and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Fourteen studies with a total of 1804 patients were included in a pooled analysis. The technical success of the procedure was 95.97% (95%CI = 92.35-98.60). Intraoperatively, the pooled proportion of reported type I endoleak was 7.6% (95%CI = 2.52-14.60) while during a median follow-up of 41 months (range 11-96) follow-up period the pooled rate of fracture and occlusion of the bridging stents was 2.79% (95%CI = 0.00-8.52) and 4.46% (95%CI = 1.93-7.77), respectively. The overall aneurysm-related mortality was detected to be 0.63% (95%CI = 0.04-1.63), and the pooled estimate for re-intervention rate was 15.69%. CONCLUSIONS: Fenestrated endovascular repair for p-AAA is an effective and safe treatment. Target vessel complications and endoleaks remain the two most important concerns for fenestrated endovascular procedures, contributing to most of the secondary interventions. The lack of computed tomography angiography follow-up evaluation does not allow us to draw robust conclusions about the complication rates for the superior mesenteric artery during f-EVAR. Due to the potential implications of SMA complications on aneurysm-related mortality, standardized reporting of short- and long-term target visceral vessel outcomes is required.

Hypogastric Preservation Using a Retrograde Endovascular Bypass in a Patient with Ruptured AAA and Concomitant Bilateral Common Iliac Aneurysms: A Feasible Option in the Acute Setting.

Preservation of the hypogastric circulation is of major clinical importance in cases of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA). Pelvic ischemia can be detrimental and significantly increase post-operative morbidity and mortality. However, the application of a side branch device or a bell-bottom graft is not possible in ruptured aortoiliac aneurysms (due to off-the-shelf unavailability and/or prolonged operative time) and in most cases pelvic circulation may have to be sacrificed. We report a case of a rAAA with bilateral common iliac artery (CIA) aneurysms that was successfully repaired with an aorto-uni-iliac (AUI) endograft, a cross-femoral bypass, and an inverted-U shaped contralateral EIA to IIA endovascular bypass. The procedure is described in detail and certain technical points are further discussed. The steps in cases where the aneurysm has ruptured are different compared to elective repairs and vascular surgeons need to be aware of certain pitfalls. This strategy may be feasible in the acute setting and permits preservation of the hypogastric circulation with the combination of standard techniques and grafts that are readily available in most institutions.

Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin Measured on Clinical Laboratory Platforms for the Prediction of Acute Kidney Injury and the Associated Need for Dialysis Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: The usefulness of measures of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in urine or plasma obtained on clinical laboratory platforms for predicting acute kidney injury (AKI) and AKI requiring dialysis (AKI-D) has not been fully evaluated. We sought to quantitatively summarize published data to evaluate the value of urinary and plasma NGAL for kidney risk prediction. STUDY DESIGN: Literature-based meta-analysis and individual-study-data meta-analysis of diagnostic studies following PRISMA-IPD guidelines. SETTING & STUDY POPULATIONS: Studies of adults investigating AKI, severe AKI, and AKI-D in the setting of cardiac surgery, intensive care, or emergency department care using either urinary or plasma NGAL measured on clinical laboratory platforms. SELECTION CRITERIA FOR STUDIES: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and congress abstracts ever published through February 2020 reporting diagnostic test studies of NGAL measured on clinical laboratory platforms to predict AKI. DATA EXTRACTION: Individual-study-data meta-analysis was accomplished by giving authors data specifications tailored to their studies and requesting standardized patient-level data analysis. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Individual-study-data meta-analysis used a bivariate time-to-event model for interval-censored data from which discriminative ability (AUC) was characterized. NGAL cutoff concentrations at 95% sensitivity, 95% specificity, and optimal sensitivity and specificity were also estimated. Models incorporated as confounders the clinical setting and use versus nonuse of urine output as a criterion for AKI. A literature-based meta-analysis was also performed for all published studies including those for which the authors were unable to provide individual-study data analyses. RESULTS: We included 52 observational studies involving 13,040 patients. We analyzed 30 data sets for the individual-study-data meta-analysis. For AKI, severe AKI, and AKI-D, numbers of events were 837, 304, and 103 for analyses of urinary NGAL, respectively; these values were 705, 271, and 178 for analyses of plasma NGAL. Discriminative performance was similar in both meta-analyses. Individual-study-data meta-analysis AUCs for urinary NGAL were 0.75 (95% CI, 0.73-0.76) and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.79-0.81) for severe AKI and AKI-D, respectively; for plasma NGAL, the corresponding AUCs were 0.80 (95% CI, 0.79-0.81) and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.84-0.86). Cutoff concentrations at 95% specificity for urinary NGAL were>580ng/mL with 27% sensitivity for severe AKI and>589ng/mL with 24% sensitivity for AKI-D. Corresponding cutoffs for plasma NGAL were>364ng/mL with 44% sensitivity and>546ng/mL with 26% sensitivity, respectively. LIMITATIONS: Practice variability in initiation of dialysis. Imperfect harmonization of data across studies. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary and plasma NGAL concentrations may identify patients at high risk for AKI in clinical research and practice. The cutoff concentrations reported in this study require prospective evaluation.

Use of Stainless-Steel, Balloon-Expandable Chimney Grafts Is Durable Though Caution Is Required When Lining Angulated Renal Arteries.

PURPOSE: To analyze the overall performance of flexible nitinol stents used to line chimney grafts (CGs) during chimney endovascular aneurysm repair (chEVAR) of pararenal pathologies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of all 116 elective patients (mean age 74.3±7.2 years; 103 men) who underwent chEVAR with balloon-expandable Advanta V12/iCAST CGs in combination with the Endurant stent-graft between January 2009 and December 2017 at a single center. CG lining with a nitinol stent was electively performed in 43 target vessels of 32 patients. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the primary outcomes of CG patency and freedom from reintervention (FFR) at the patient level and according to the use of a stent to line the CG. Estimates are reported with the 95% confidence interval (CI). Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated to identify any confounding effect between the presence/absence of a stent lining or according to the number of CGs. RESULTS: The mean radiological follow-up was 27.3 months (range 22.1-32.6). During this time, 8 CGs (4.7%) became occluded, 6 of them were lined with stents. Restoration of patency was possible in 3 of the 4 occluded stents that were associated with symptoms. First-year primary patency estimates were 96.9% (95% CI 92.5% to 100%) for the unlined group vs 77.1% (95% CI 58% to 95.3%; p=0.001) for the lined group, while FFR was 87.6% (95% CI 79.9% to 95.2%) vs 83.4% (95% CI 68.1% to 98.6%; p=0.82), respectively. Lining represented an independent risk factor for CG occlusion (OR 9.9, p=0.006). CONCLUSION: CG lining performed mainly in angulated renal arteries during chEVAR was significantly associated with CG occlusion. These findings highlight the importance of not having the distal part of the CG impinge on the angulated segment of the target vessel.

Outcomes of endosutured aneurysm repair with the Heli-FX EndoAnchor implants.

OBJECTIVE: Endovascular aneurysm repair has gained field over open surgery for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm. However, type Ia endoleak represents a common complication especially in hostile neck anatomy that is recently faced using endoanchors. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to collect and analyse all the available comparative evidence on the outcomes of the endosuture aneurysm repair in patients with or without hostile neck in standard endovascular aneurysm repair. METHODS: The current meta-analysis was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. All the prospective and retrospective studies reporting primary use of the Heli-FX EndoAnchor implants were considered eligible for inclusion in this study. The main study outcomes (technical success of endoanchor implantation, incidence of type Ia endoleak, aortic stent graft migration and the percentage of patients who presented regression or expansion of aneurysm sac throughout the follow-up) were subsequently expressed as proportions and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Eight studies with a total of 968 patients were included in a pooled analysis. The technical success of the primary endoanchor fixation was 97.12% (95%CI: 92.98-99.67). During a mean six months follow-up period, a pooled rate of 6.23% (95%CI: 0.83-15.25) of the patients developed a persistent type Ia endoleak despite the primary implantation. Migration of the main graft was reported in five studies, in which a 0.26% (95%CI = 0.00-1.54) of the patients required an additional proximal aortic cuff. Regression of the aneurysm sac was observed at 68.82% (95%CI: 51.02-84.21). An expansion of the aneurysm sac was found in 1.93% (95%CI: 0.91-3.24) of the participants. The overall survival rate was 93.43% (95%CI: 89.97-96.29) at a mean six months follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Endosuture aneurysm repair with the Heli-FX EndoAnchor implants seems to be technically feasible and safe either for prevention or for repair of intraoperative type Ia endoleak. Despite the primary implants of endoanchors, few cases of persistent type Ia endoleak and migration are still conspicuous. Long-term follow up is needed to determinate the role of this therapeutic option in the treatment of aortic aneurysms.

gamma-H2AX: A potential biomarker in breast cancer.

Histone H2AX undergoes phosphorylation as an answer to DNA double-strand breaks, which in turn are part of the oncogenic procedure. The detection of gamma-H2AX can potentially serve as a biomarker for transformation of normal tissue to premalignant and consequently to malignant tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of gamma-H2AX expression in breast cancer. Gamma-H2AX expression in tissues from 110 breast cancer patients was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and correlated with clinicopathological variables. Greater tumor size, higher grade, and the number of affected lymph nodes are significantly associated with greater values of gamma-H2AX. In addition, gamma-H2AX differs significantly among patients' International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage. Higher values of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor are significantly associated with lower gamma-H2AX values. In conclusion, a positive association between gamma-H2AX expression and infaust histopathological parameters was observed.

Spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (SISMAD) is a rare disease with an incidence of 0.06%. The purpose of the meta-analysis was to identify the outcomes associated with the various treatment options in the management of asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with SISMAD. METHODS: Eligible studies were selected by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. Endpoints were outcome of asymptomatic patients treated conservatively, resolution of symptoms according to the treatment approach, rate of symptomatic patients switched from conservative to the endovascular and/or open repair, characteristics of the dissected lesion, and findings regarding the remodeling of superior mesenteric artery. RESULTS: We identified 30 studies including 729 patients. Among them, 608 (83.4%) were symptomatic and were managed with conservative (438/72%), and/or endovascular (139/22.8%) and/or open treatment (31/5%). The remaining were asymptomatic and they were treated solely conservatively. A high rate of resolution of symptoms (92.8%) was noted for patients treated conservatively. Conversion from conservative treatment to either endovascular or open procedure was required in 12.3% and 4.4%, respectively. Resolution of symptoms was observed in 100% for those treated with open procedure and 88.8% for those treated endovascularly. The pooled rate of bowel ischemia in patients treated conservatively was 3.75% (95% confidence interval = 1.15-7.27). Complete remodeling was achieved in 32% and partial in 26% of those who were treated conservatively. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of symptomatic patients with SISAMD were treated conservatively and showed an uncomplicated course and only a small percentage required conversion to endovascular or open repair. This might highlight the benign course of the disease.

Endovascular treatment of proximal para-anastomotic aneurysms after previous surgical repair of infrarenal aortic aneurysms by the chimney technique.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the use of chimney grafts in the treatment of para-anastomotic aneurysms after previous abdominal aortic aneurysms open repair with short neck. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of consecutive patients who underwent endovascular repair for proximal aortic para-anastomotic aneurysms following previous open repair for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms was performed. All included patients had a short infrarenal aortic neck (<10 mm) excluding standard endovascular aortic repair. Five patients were symptomatic at the admission needed urgent treatment. RESULTS: Twelve patients with para-anastomotic aneurysms underwent placement of chimney grafts. The median time between the original operations to redo endovascular procedure was 11 years (interquartile range, 9.5 years). The mean infrarenal length was 4.3 mm (1-9 mm). A total of 28 chimneys grafts were deployed for the 12 patients. The technical success rate was 91.7%. At a median radiologic follow-up of 16 months (2.0-29.4, 95% confidence interval), one patient died, while two late endoleaks and two reinterventions at one and three years for type Ia endoleak were performed by proximal extension and triple chimney graft placement. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study show that ch-endovascular aortic repair is a safe technique for patients who suffered from proximal para-anastomotic aneurysms and having short neck unsuitable for standard endovascular repair. Longer follow up warranted to evaluate the durability of ch-endovascular aortic repair for this specific indication.

Open repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms in experienced centers.

OBJECTIVE: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis aiming to assess the mortality and morbidity of all published case series on thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) in experienced centers treated with open repair. METHODS: A systematic search of the literature published until April 2017 was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Separate meta-analyses were conducted for overall in-hospital mortality for TAAA, mortality according to the type of TAAA, spinal cord ischemia, paraplegia and paraparesis, cardiac events, stroke, acute kidney failure, and bowel ischemia. A metaregression analysis was performed with volume of the center, percentage of ruptured cases among the series, length of in-hospital stay, and publication year as covariates. RESULTS: A total of 30 articles were included in the meta-analysis, corresponding to a total of 9963 patients who underwent open repair for TAAAs (543 ruptured). The pooled mortality rate among all studies was 11.26% (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.56-13.09). Mortality was 6.97% (95% CI, 3.75-10.90), 10.32% (95% CI, 7.39-13.63), 8.02% (95% CI, 6.37-9.81), and 7.20% (95% CI, 4.19-10.84) for Crawford types I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Pooled spinal cord ischemia rate was estimated at 8.26% (95% CI, 6.95-9.67), whereas paraparesis and paraplegia rates were 3.61% (95% CI, 2.25-5.25) and 5% (95% CI, 4.36-5.68), respectively. We estimated a pooled cardiac event rate of 4.41% (95% CI, 1.84-7.95) and a stroke rate of 3.11% (95% CI, 2.36-3.94), whereas the need for permanent dialysis rate was 7.92% (95% CI, 5.34-10.92). Respiratory complications after surgery were as high as 23.01% (95% CI, 14.73-32.49). Metaregression analysis evidenced a statistically significant inverse association between mortality and the volume of cases performed in the vascular center (t = -2.00; P = .005). Interestingly, a more recent year of study publication tended to be associated with decreased in-hospital mortality (t = -1.35; P = .19). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that despite the advances in open surgical techniques, the morbidity and mortality of the technique continue to remain considerable. Despite the focus on mortality and spinal cord ischemia, respiratory complications, permanent postoperative renal dialysis, stroke rate, and cardiac events also affect the outcome. The estimated trend of lower mortality in high-volume centers suggests that perhaps this type of service should be provided in a few reference centers that have an established record and experience in the management of these patients.

Translumbar Infusion of N-Butyl Cyanoacrylate for the Treatment of Type II Endoleaks.

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term efficacy of translumbar embolization of type II endoleaks exclusively supplied by the lumbar arteries in patients with growing abdominal aortic aneurysm sacs using N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) instilled via percutaneous needle access. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 25 patients who developed type II endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair. Inclusion criteria for intervention were defined as sac expansion > 5 mm detected with CT angiography at 6-month follow-up or later. Translumbar infusion of NBCA directly into the patent portion of the aneurysm sac was performed in all cases. Duplex US was performed the day after the intervention, and CT angiography was performed within the first month. Subsequently, duplex US was performed at 3, 6, and 9 months, and CT angiography or CT was performed at 12 months and annually thereafter. RESULTS: Translumbar embolization was achieved in all 25 patients. The endoleak resolved in 22 patients (88%) on duplex US performed 1 day after the embolization procedure. Three patients with persistent endoleak (12%) required repeat embolization. Two complications were detected and were managed conservatively. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of NBCA injection for treatment of type II endoleaks. This technique provides another option for the management of type II endoleaks.

Apolipoprotein J as a predictive biomarker for restenosis after carotid endarterectomy: a retrospective study.

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is an effective surgical option for stroke prophylaxis in most patients. Restenosis after CEA can lead to re-intervention and adverse events, but the factors predicting restenosis are poorly understood. Apolipoprotein J (ApoJ) is considered to be a novel predictive factor of vascular restenosis and is associated with a large number of processes related to atherosclerosis and cell-cycle phases. The aim of this study was to elucidate the predictive value of Apo J in internal carotid artery (ICA) restenosis following CEA. This retrospective study examined all prospectively collected data for patients who underwent CEA at our surgical department over a 2-year period. The serum ApoJ levels of 100 patients were examined; 56 patients who underwent CEA comprised the vascular group (VG), and 44 patients who underwent minor surgery comprised the control group (CG). ApoJ samples were obtained preoperatively, 24 h after the surgical procedure and at 1, 6 and 12 months thereafter during the follow-up. The preoperative difference in ApoJ levels between the CG and VG was statistically signifcant; the mean values were 39.11±14.16 and 83.03±35.35 µg/mL, respectively. In the VG, the serum ApoJ levels were 112.09±54.40, 71.20±23.70, 69.92±25.76 and 62.25±19.17 µg/mL at postoperative day 1 and at 1, 6 and 12 months post-operatively, respectively, while the ApoJ concentrations of patients in the CG remained unchanged. Further subdivision of the VG into patients with or without restenosis revealed that restenosis patients presented signifcantly higher mean ApoJ values than non-restenosis VG patients. In summary, ApoJ seems to be an important predictor for carotid restenosis at 6 and 12 months postoperatively.

Cytokines as biomarkers of inflammatory response after open versus endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms: a systematic review.

The repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a high-risk surgical procedure related to hormonal and metabolic stress-related response with an ensuing activation of the inflammatory cascade. In contrast to open repair (OR), endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) seems to decrease the postoperative stress by offering less extensive incisions, dissection, and tissue manipulation. However, these beneficial effects may be offset by the release of cytokines and arachidonic acid metabolites during intra-luminal manipulation of the thrombus using catheters in endovascular repair, resulting in systemic inflammatory response (SIR), which is clinically called post-implantation syndrome. In this systematic review we compared OR with EVAR in terms of the post-interventional inflammatory response resulting from alterations in the circulating cytokine levels. We sought to summarize all the latest evidence regarding post-implantation syndrome after EVAR. We searched Medline (PubMed), ClinicalTrials.gov and the Cochrane library for clinical studies reporting on the release of cytokines as part of the inflammatory response after both open/conventional and endovascular repair of the AAA. We identified 17 studies examining the cytokine levels after OR versus EVAR. OR seemed to be associated with a greater SIR than EVAR, as evidenced by the increased cytokine levels, particularly IL-6 and IL-8, whereas IL-1ß, IL-10 and TNF-α showed conflicting results or no difference between the two groups. Polyester endografts appear to be positively correlated with the incidence of post-implantation syndrome after EVAR. Future large prospective studies are warranted to delineate the underlying mechanisms of the cytokine interaction in the post-surgical inflammatory response setting.

Spinal Cord Ischemia following Elective Endovascular Repair of Infrarenal Aortic Aneurysms: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord ischemia (SCI) after abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a rare but devastating complication. The mechanism underlying the occurrence of SCI after EVAR seems to be multifactorial and is underreported and not fully elucidated. The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical outcomes in patients with this serious complication. METHODS: A systematic review of the current literature, as per Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement guidelines, was performed to evaluate the incidence of SCI after elective EVAR. PubMed and Scopus databases were systematically searched. Studies reporting on thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair, open repair of AAAs, and symptomatic or ruptured AAAs were excluded. RESULTS: In total, 18 articles reporting 25 cases were included. The mean age was 74.6 ± 7.6 (range: 60-90) years. The mean diameter of AAAs was 5.96 ± 1.0 cm (range: 4.7-8.3). Six cases also had aneurysms in the common iliac arteries. Seventy-one percent of AAAs had characteristics that made EVAR difficult and technically demanding. The mean operative time was prolonged, 254 ± 104.6 min, and associated with extensive intravascular handling. In 41.6% of cases, additional procedures were performed because of the difficult anatomy. Thirty-two percent of the cases had 1 internal iliac artery (IIA) embolized with coils or covered with the stent graft, and 14% had both IIAs compromised. In most of the cases, SCI symptoms presented immediately after the operation, and in 14.8% of patients, the symptoms had late presentation. Almost all cases had motor loss in the form of paraparesis or paraplegia, 54% of the cases also had diminished sensation, and 29.1% of the cases had urinary and/or fecal incontinence. Heterogeneity was observed regarding the management of the disease; in 6 of the cases, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage was performed, steroids were administered in 5, and in the other cases, an expectant strategy was selected. In 50% of the cases, only small improvement was seen at follow-up. In 25% of the cases, no improvement was seen, and 25% had almost complete recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified a common pattern among patients who present SCI after EVAR: difficult anatomy, prolonged operative time, additional procedures, and extensive intravascular handling that may have led to embolization. Patency of pelvic circulation preoperatively is also of importance. Regarding outcomes, only 25% of patients recovered, and in certain cases, CSF drainage may have significantly improved chances for recovery.

gamma-H2AX: Can it be established as a classical cancer prognostic factor?

Double-strand breaks are among the first procedures taking place in cancer formation and progression as a result of endogenic and exogenic factors. The histone variant H2AX undergoes phosphorylation at serine 139 due to double-strand breaks, and the gamma-H2AX is formatted as a result of genomic instability. The detection of gamma-H2AX can potentially serve as a biomarker for transformation of normal tissue to premalignant and consequently to malignant tissues. gamma-H2AX has already been investigated in a variety of cancer types, including breast, lung, colon, cervix, and ovary cancers. The prognostic value of gamma-H2AX is indicated in certain cancer types, such as breast or endometrial cancer, but further investigation is needed to establish gamma-H2AX as a prognostic marker. This review outlines the role of gamma-H2AX in cell cycle, and its formation as a result of DNA damage. We investigate the role of gamma-H2AX formation in several cancer types and its correlation with other prognostic factors, and we try to find out whether it fulfills the requirements for its establishment as a classical cancer prognostic factor.

Three-Stage Esophagectomy Combined with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: First Case in the Literature.

The purpose of this report is to describe the synchronous surgical treatment of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with concomitant esophageal cancer with a 3-stage esophagectomy, a real management challenge especially in establishing the therapeutic priorities and the ideal treatment approach. A 65-year-old male was referred for treatment in our hospital with the diagnosis of AAA. He complained of general fatigue, weight loss, and intermittent dysphagia. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography and upper endoscopy showed the AAA and a large gastroesophageal junction tumor, respectively. Considering his age and the absence of severe comorbidities, he underwent 3-stage esophagectomy combined with AAA repair. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged on the 15th postoperative day. He was offered adjuvant chemotherapy and remains free of disease and with a patent aortic graft at 18 months of follow-up.

Influence of HIV virus in the hospital stay and the occurrence of postoperative complications classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification and in comparison with the Charlson Comorbidity Index in patients subjected to urologic and general surgery operations. Our preliminary results.

OBJECTIVES: From the first time that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was discovered, till today both the quality of life and survival expectancy of HIV-infected patients have markedly improved. As the life expectancy of these patients increases due to the use of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) also increases the number of HIV-positive patient to be subjected to an operation. Different studies have examined the occurrence of complications in this particular group of patients and their possible susceptibility to infections or other complications that could lead to increased hospital stay, morbidity and mortality with controversial results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 25 HIV-patients that were subjected to general surgery and urologic operations and we also examined in comparison with the Charlson score and their comorbidities the occurrence of complications and subsequently the possibility of an increase hospital stay due to their HIV infection. Alongside we classified their complications according to the Clavien-Dindo and compared these complications in relation to their Charlson score and CD4 count. RESULTS: 10/25 (40%) of the population had prolonged hospital stay and from this population 6 (6/25) (24%) patients had less than 200 CD4 constituting the AIDS subpopulation. The decline of the CD4 count showed a tendency for the occurrence of a complication and comorbidities to HIV-positive patients seem to affect more the AIDS subpopulation. CONCLUSIONS: Although this is a small retrospective study, we tried to classify our complications according to the Clavien- Dindo classification and combine the classification to the age adjusted Charlson score index of comorbidities.