Aortic endograft and bridging stent-graft remodeling after branched endovascular aortic repair.

OBJECTIVES: The results of branched endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aneurysms are mainly dependent on durability of the graft used. The purpose of this study was to evaluate postoperative aortic main body and bridging stent-graft remodeling, and their impact on bridging stent-graft instability at one year. METHODS: Computed tomoangiographies of 43 patients (43 aortic main body mated with 171 bridging stent-grafts) were analyzed before and after branched endovascular repair as well as after a follow-up of 12 months. Primary endpoint was aortic main body remodeling (migration >5 mm, shortening >5 mm, scoliosis >5° or lordosis >5°). Shortening was defined as a reduced length in the long axis, scoliosis as left-right curvature, and lordosis as antero-posterior curvature. Aortic main body remodeling, aneurysm sac changes, and bridging stent-graft tortuosity were evaluated to study their correlations and the impact on the bridging stent-graft instability. RESULTS: At 12 months, aortic main body remodeling was observed in 72% of the cases, migration in 39.5% (mean 5.21 mm), shortening in 41.9% (mean 5.79 mm), scoliosis in 58.1%, (mean 10.10°), lordosis in 44.2% (mean 5.78°). Migration, shortening, and scoliosis were more frequent in patients with larger aneurysms (p = .005), while scoliosis was significantly more frequent in type II thoracoabdominal aneurysm (p = .019). Aortic main body remodeling was significantly associated to bridging stent-graft remodeling (r: 0.3-0.48). The bridging stent-graft instability rate was 9.3%. Despite a trend toward significance (p = .07), none of the evaluated aortic main body and bridging stent-graft changes were associated with bridging stent-graft instability at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic main body remodeling is frequent especially in large and extended thoracoabdominal aneurysm aneurysms. Aortic main body and bridging stent-graft remodeling was significantly correlated. While these geometric changes had no significant impact on bridging stent-graft instability at one year, a close long-term follow-up after branched endovascular repair could predict bridging stent-graft failures.

Outcomes of bridging stent grafts in fenestrated and branched endovascular aortic repair.

OBJECTIVE: Until today, no dedicated bridging stent graft (BSG) has been available for use in fenestrated and branched endovascular aneurysm repair (F/BEVAR). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of the well-known Advanta/iCast V12 (Getinge Maquet, Rastatt, Germany) and the new Viabahn VBX (W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, Ariz) balloon-expandable stent graft in F/BEVAR. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was performed. Inclusion criteria were treatment with fenestrated or branched endografts for complex aortic diseases, implantation of at least one VBX stent graft as a BSG in one of the target vessels, and clinical or radiologic follow-up of 6 months. The primary end point of the study was technical success of all BSGs, defined as placement of the BSG in the desired position with absence of endoleak on final angiography. Secondary end points were freedom from perioperative major adverse events and freedom from reinterventions and mortality at 6 months. Procedural and postoperative data were analyzed. RESULTS: Between December 2017 and July 2018, there were 50 patients (40 male; mean age, 71 years) included. A total of 145 VBX stent grafts were implanted, followed by 57 Advanta V12, 29 Viabahn, and 28 bare-metal stents. There were 126 branches (celiac trunk, 27; superior mesenteric artery, 25; renal arteries, 74) sealed exclusively with VBX. Technical success rate was 98.6%. There were six device-related reinterventions due to type IC endoleaks (n = 4), target vessel stenosis distal to the BSG, and stent graft occlusion in a left renal artery in one case. The perioperative and aneurysm-related mortality was 0%; the 6-month all-cause mortality was 2%. CONCLUSIONS: The used BSGs demonstrated promising preliminary results in F/BEVAR. Further evaluation is mandatory to determine durability of the VBX.

Sex-Related Differences and Factors Associated with Peri-Procedural and 1 Year Mortality in Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia Patients from the CLIMATE Italian Registry.

BACKGROUND: Identifying sex-related differences/variables associated with 30 day/1 year mortality in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). METHODS: Multicenter/retrospective/observational study. A database was sent to all the Italian vascular surgeries to collect all the patients operated on for CLTI in 2019. Acute lower-limb ischemia and neuropathic-diabetic foot are not included. FOLLOW-UP: One year. Data on demographics/comorbidities, treatments/outcomes, and 30 day/1 year mortality were investigated. RESULTS: Information on 2399 cases (69.8% men) from 36/143 (25.2%) centers. Median (IQR) age: 73 (66-80) and 79 (71-85) years for men/women, respectively (p < 0.0001). Women were more likely to be over 75 (63.2% vs. 40.1%, p = 0.0001). More men smokers (73.7% vs. 42.2%, p < 0.0001), are on hemodialysis (10.1% vs. 6.7%, p = 0.006), affected by diabetes (61.9% vs. 52.8%, p < 0.0001), dyslipidemia (69.3% vs. 61.3%, p < 0.0001), hypertension (91.8% vs. 88.5%, p = 0.011), coronaropathy (43.9% vs. 29.4%, p < 0.0001), bronchopneumopathy (37.1% vs. 25.6%, p < 0.0001), underwent more open/hybrid surgeries (37.9% vs. 28.8%, p < 0.0001), and minor amputations (22% vs. 13.7%, p < 0.0001). More women underwent endovascular revascularizations (61.6% vs. 55.2%, p = 0.004), major amputations (9.6% vs. 6.9%, p = 0.024), and obtained limb-salvage if with limited gangrene (50.8% vs. 44.9%, p = 0.017). Age > 75 (HR = 3.63, p = 0.003) is associated with 30 day mortality. Age > 75 (HR = 2.14, p < 0.0001), nephropathy (HR = 1.54, p < 0.0001), coronaropathy (HR = 1.26, p = 0.036), and infection/necrosis of the foot (dry, HR = 1.42, p = 0.040; wet, HR = 2.04, p < 0.0001) are associated with 1 year mortality. No sex-linked difference in mortality statistics. CONCLUSION: Women exhibit fewer comorbidities but are struck by CLTI when over 75, a factor associated with short- and mid-term mortality, explaining why mortality does not statistically differ between the sexes.