Treating Neurogenic Heterotopic Ossification around a Femur Following Paraplegia after an Open Surgery for Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 59-year-old man who was diagnosed with hypertension and a large thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm was referred to our hospital for surgical treatment. He underwent open surgery and thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair in three stages. He developed paraplegia after the third surgery. Despite acute postoperative treatment and rehabilitation, his lower extremity motor function and bladder and bowel dysfunction did not improve. He was transferred to a recovery hospital 67 days after the third surgery. However, he was readmitted to our hospital about four months later for management of a refractory decubitus ulcer and recurrent urinary tract infections. Computed tomography revealed hematoma and calcification around the femur. Based on the clinical course and imaging findings, we diagnosed neurogenic heterotopic ossification associated with postoperative paraplegia in this patient. He had flap reconstruction for the ulcer. Finally, he was discharged 79 days after readmission. To date, no study has reported neurogenic heterotopic ossification associated with postoperative aortic aneurysm paraplegia. The mechanism underlying this condition is similar to the widely accepted process associated with traumatic spinal cord injury, and conservative treatment comprising pressure ulcer treatment and antibiotics was continued. Although acute rehabilitation is important after highly invasive aortic aneurysm surgery, rehabilitation is limited by the risk of neurogenic heterotopic ossification in patients with postoperative paraplegia, and recovery and maintenance of activities of daily living are challenging. To our knowledge, early diagnosis and prompt treatment for these complications are important considering neurogenic heterotopic ossification.

Comparison of the outcomes between open and hybrid approaches in the treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms repair / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm is one of the most challenging aortic diseases. Open surgical repair remains constrained with considerable perioperative morbidity and mortality. The emergence of a hybrid approach utilizing visceral debranching with endovascular aneurysm repair has brought an alternative for high-risk patients. This study aimed to compare the short- and long-term outcomes between hybrid and open repairs in the treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms.@*METHODS@#In this retrospectively observational study, patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm treated in a single center between January 2008 and December 2019 were reviewed, of whom 11 patients with hybrid repair, and 18 patients with open repair were identified. Demographic characteristic, operative data, perioperative morbidity and mortality, freedom from reintervention, and long-term survival were compared between the two groups.@*RESULTS@#In the hybrid repair group, the patients with dissection aneurysm, preoperative combined renal insufficiency, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of 3 or more were significantly overwhelming than in the open repair group. The operation time of debranching hybrid repair was (445±85) min, and the intraoperative blood loss was (955±599) mL. There were 2 cases of complications in the early 30 days after surgery, without paraplegia, and 1 case died. The 30-day complication rate was 18.2%, and the 30-day mortality was 9.1%. The operation time of the patients with open repair was (560±245) min, and the intraoperative blood loss was (6 100±4 536) mL. Twelve patients had complications in the early 30 days after surgery, including 1 paraplegia and 4 deaths within 30 days. The 30-day complication rate was 66.7%, and the 30-day mortality was 22.2%. The bleeding volume in hybrid repair was significantly reduced compared with open repair (P < 0.001). Besides, the incidence of 30-day complications in hybrid surgery was significantly reduced (P=0.011). During the follow-up period, there were 4 reinterventions and 3 deaths in hybrid repair group. The 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year all-cause survival rates were 72%, 54%, and 29%, respectively. In open repair group, reintervention was performed in 1 case and 5 cases died, and the 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year all-cause survival rates were 81%, 71%, and 35%, respectively. There was no significant difference between hybrid repair and open repair in all-cause survival and aneurysm-specific survival.@*CONCLUSION@#Hybrid approach utilizing visceral debranching with endovascular aneurysm repair is a safe and effective surgical method for high-risk patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. The incidence of early postoperative complications and mortality is significantly reduced compared with traditional surgery, but the efficacy in the medium and long term still needs to be improved.

Treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm by prosthetic vessel replacement under left heart bypass / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVES@#Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) prosthetic vessel replacement is one of the most complex operations in the field of cardiovascular surgery. The key to success of this operation is to prevent and avoid ischemia of important organs while repairing TAAA. This study aims to summarize and analyze the effect of prosthetic vessel replacement under left heart bypass in the treatment of TAAA.@*METHODS@#Data of 15 patients with TAAA who underwent prosthetic vessel replacement under left heart bypass in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University were retrospectively analyzed. According to Crawford classification, there were 2 cases of type I, 8 cases of type II, 3 cases of type III, and 2 cases of type V. There were 14 cases of selective operation and 1 case of emergency operation. All operations were performed under left heart bypass, and cerebrospinal fluid drainage was performed before operation. Left heart bypass was established by intubation of left inferior pulmonary vein and distal abdominal aorta or left femoral artery. The thoracoabdominal aorta was replaced segment by segment. After aortic dissection, the kidneys were perfused with cold crystalloid renal protective solution, and the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery were perfused with warm blood.@*RESULTS@#One patient with TAAA after aortic dissection of type A died. During the operation, straight blood vessels were used to repair TAAA, and the celiac artery branches were trimmed into island shape and anastomosed with prosthetic vessels. After the operation, massive bleeding occurred at the anastomotic stoma, then anaphylactic reaction occurred during massive blood transfusion, resulting in death. One patient suffered from paraplegia due to ischemic injury of spinal cord. The other patients recovered well and were discharged. The postoperative ventilation time was (16.5±13.8) h and the postoperative hospital stay was (10±4) d. The amount of red blood cell transfusion was (13±9) U. The patients were followed up for 2 months to 2 years, and the recovery was satisfactory.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The effect of prosthetic vessel replacement under left heart bypass in the treatment of TAAA is good, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Perfusion management of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair using partial femoral to femoral cardiopulmonary bypass / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective:Analysis the protective effect of the partial femoral to femoral cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) on thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair(TAAAR).Methods:From September 2016 to August 2020, 50 cases of TAAAR under partial CPB were performed at our hospital. Thirty males and 20 females with an average age of(40.5±12.4) years old(ranging 21 to 69 years old) were involved. Partial CPB without selective organ perfusion were applied at the early stage. Since November 2019, the adjunct of perfuse the celiac and superior mesenteric artery with warm blood and irrigate the renal artery with 4℃ HTK solution was used in TAAAR, and 25 patients were operated under this adjunct.Results:The average CPB time was(116.9±35.4) min, the lowest central body temperature during the partial CPB was(34.7±0.7)℃. Total early postoperative mortality was 6%(3/50, 3 deaths in partial CPB alone group). Paraplegia occurred in 4 cases(8%), new happened postoperative hemodialysis was in 6 cases(16%). Among the hemodialysis event, 2 cases(8%, 2/25) were in the group with selective organ perfusion, and 4 cases(16%, 4/25) in the group without using the adjunct.Conclusion:Mild hypothermic partial cardiopulmonary bypass combined with selective organ perfusion have protective effects on spinal cord and abdominal organ in patients underwent TAAAR.

Risk Factors for Acute Renal Failure after Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Surgery / 中国医学科学院学报

To investigate the risk factors associated with acute renal failure (ARF) after thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) surgery. A total of 156 patients underwent TAAA repair between January 2009 and December 2017. Renal failure was defined based on the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria. The patients were divided into ARF group and non-ARF group based on the presence/absence of postoperative ARF. The risk factors of ARF were analyzed by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic analysis. The subjects included 111 males and 45 females aged (40.4±10.9) years (range:19-65 years). The surgical reasons included aortic dissection (=130,83.3%),aneurysm (=22,14.1%),and pseudoaneurysm (=4,2.6%). The degrees of repair included Crawford extent I in 6 patients (3.8%),extent Ⅱ in 128 patients (82.1%),extent Ⅲ in 20 patients (12.8%),and extent Ⅳ in 2 patients(1.3%). There were 3 patients presented with aortic rupture and 6 patients received emergent operations. Nine patients (5.8%) died within 30 days after surgery,and 8 patients (5.1%) suffered from permanent paraplegia. Thirty-six patients (23.1%) had ARF after surgery,and 18 of them needed dialysis. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that smoking ( =2.637,95%=1.113-6.250,=0.028),packed red blood cell usage in operation (≥6 U) ( =5.508,95%=2.144-11.930,=0.000),reoperation for bleeding (=3.529,95%=1.298-9.590,=0.013) were independent risk factors for ARF after TAAA repair. Smoking,packed red blood cell usage in operation (≥6 U),reoperation for bleeding are the independent risk factors of ARF after TAAA surgery.

Outcomes after Surgical Repair of Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm with Distal Aortic Dissection:DeBakey Type Ⅰ versus Type Ⅲ / 中国医学科学院学报

To evaluate the early and mid-term results after surgical repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm(TAAA)in patients with DeBakey typeⅠor Ⅲ aortic dissection. The clinical data of 130 patients who underwent TAAA repair for chronic DeBakey typeⅠ(groupⅠ, =47)or type Ⅲ(group Ⅲ, =83)aortic dissections in our center between January 2009 and December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.Early postoperative results,midterm survival,and re-interventions were compared between these two groups. The 30-day mortality rate was 6.9%(=9)in the overall cohort,with no statistic difference between groupⅠand group Ⅲ(10.6% 4.8%;=0.803, =0.370).The incidence of major adverse events(38.3% 51.8%;=2.199, =0.138),5-year actuarial survival rate [(81.7±5.9)% (87.2±4.2)%;=0.483, =0.487],and 5-year actuarial freedom from all reinterventions [(84.5±6.7)% (85.5±4.8)%;=0.010, =0.920] showed no significant differences between these two groups. The early and mid-term outcomes after surgical repair of TAAA are similar for DeBakey typeⅠ and type Ⅲ patients.However,studies with larger sample sizes are still required.

Hybrid Repair of Concomitant Descending Thoracic and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Using Antegrade Visceral Debranching from the Ascending Aorta / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 76-year-old man had increasing thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms. First, endovascular repair was performed on the thoracic descending aorta, but type Ib endoleak persisted due to severe aortic calcification. Additional treatment was planned since the maximum diameter of the thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms had increased to 75 and 70 mm, respectively. Due to the fact that aortic calcification was present from the aortic arch to the bilateral iliac arteries, which is sometimes referred to as porcelain aorta, conventional open thoracoabdominal aortic repair or hybrid repair using retrograde debranching seemed impossible. Therefore we performed antegrade visceral debranching from the ascending aorta followed by endovascular thoracoabdominal aortic repair successfully. For the thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms which present difficulty in performing conventional open surgical repair or hybrid repair with retrograde debranching from the iliac artery. This technique can be an effective alternative strategy, but still needs further investigation, including its indications, due to the high surgical stress associated with the procedure.

The application of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in the surgical treatment of complex thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective To discuss the application of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in surgical treatment of complex thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms and its near-midterm effect.Methods The clinical data of 34 cases of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm in the center from August 2009 to June 2018 were analyzed retrospectively.All the patients underwent surgery under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.There were 23 males and 11 females; aged 23 -67 years, mean(42.26 ±10.96) years old; Crawford type Ⅰ in 12 cases and Crawford type Ⅱ in 22 cases; aneurysms with a maximum diameter of 50 -120 mm, mean(65.26 ±16.09) mm;Marfan syndrome 15 cases, atherosclerosis 14 cases, aortic coarctation in 5 cases;22 cases of hypertension;28 cases of first aortic surgery, 6 cases of re-aortic surgery.Surgical transthoracic and abdominal incision, ext-racapsular approach, femoral artery and inferior vena cava intubation, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest technique to complete proximal anastomosis, arterial tube reconstruction of intercostal artery, abdominal organ blood supply artery and four The bifur-cated vessels were anastomosed, and the bifurcated vessels were anastomosed with the "Y"type artificial blood vessel trunk. The bilateral radial arteries were end-to-end anastomosis in the 10 mm artificial blood vessels of the "Y"type artificial blood vessels.Results There were no complications of cranial nerve system in the whole group , deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (17.68 ±4.88) min, ventilator assist time(34.88 ±16.04) hours, postoperative renal failure in 5 cases, after CRRT treat-ment After recovery, 1 case of paraplegia after operation, muscle strength recovered after cerebrospinal fluid drainage and de-compression, and 1 case died in the whole group, and died of multiple organ failure.The patients were followed up for 3 months to 5 years, and the results were satisfactory.The survivors did not die.The survivors did not die.However, 5 patients underwent thoracic aortic replacement under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest for the first time , and 4 patients underwent reo-peration because of distal vasodilation.The reconstructed intercostal artery occlusion occurred in 4 patients, but no paraplegia occurred.Conclusion When cross clamping the aorta is not feasible,it is safe to perform proximal anastomosis with deep hy-pothermic circulatory arrest.

Hybrid Technique for Extensive Aortic Arch Aneurysm after Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

We report a case of operations using a hybrid technique for repeated extensive aortic aneurysm. A 71-year-old man had extensives aneurysms of the aortic arch and descending aorta. In the first operation, he had undergone thoracoabdominal aortic replacement with island repair for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (Crawford type 3) at age 64. Six years later, computed tomography showed an aortic aneurysm around the region of the island repair and penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU). Therefore, he underwent abdominal debranching and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) at 70 years old. At the same time, he had an extensive aortic arch aneurysm. Considering the complicated surgical history and the affected region, we judged that conventional graft replacement was difficult. So, in the third operation, we performed TEVAR for the descending aorta at 71 years old. One month later, total arch replacement (TAR) with a frozen elephant trunk (FET) was performed (4th operation). The patient was discharged home 22 days after the 4th operation. This strategy of operations using hybrid techniques for extensive aortic aneurysm may be useful in high risk cases of surgical procedures and postoperative complications.

Non-Anastomotic Rupture of a Woven Dacron Graft in the Descending Thoracic Aorta Treated with Endovascular Stent Grafting

The intrinsic structural failure of a Dacron graft resulting from the loss of structural integrity of the graft fabric can cause late graft complications. Late non-anastomotic rupture has traditionally been treated surgically via open thoracotomy. We report a case of the successful use of thoracic endovascular repair to treat a Dacron graft rupture in the descending aorta. The rupture occurred 20 years after the graft had been placed. Two stent grafts were placed at the proximal portion of the surgical graft, covering almost its entire length.

Successful Repair of Critical Air Leakage after Surgery for a Large Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 76-year-old woman with a sudden onset of chest and back pain was admitted to our hospital. Computed tomography (CT) showed a giant thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. Therefore, the patient underwent emergency operation. Under a left anterolateral thoracotomy and pararectal laparotomy with left heart bypass, we performed graft replacement of the thoracoabdominal aorta and reconstruction of the celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery and renal arteries. The left lung was tightly adhered to the aneurysm because of the contained rupture. Copious pulmonary bleeding and air leakage occurred due to thrombectomy of the aneurysm. During the operation, critical air leakage was repaired using the remaining aneurysmal wall. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient was discharged 16 days after surgery. Copious air leakage due to lung injury was a potentially life-threating condition in the postoperative course of this case of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. Surgical treatment of critical air leakage due to lung injury is very important in thoracic surgery.

A Successfully Treated Case of Crawford Type I Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm with Supra-renal Abdominal Aorta Occulusion by Endovascular Repair and Debranching Visceral Arteries / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 64-year-old man under dialysis was referred for surgical treatment of Crawford type I thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. He had a history of idiopathic portal hypertension and chronic total occulusion of supra-renal abdominal aorta and appeared to have massive development of collateral arteries and veins in the abdomen. We chose endovascular repair with debranching of visceral arteries and bypass grafting to bilateral superficial femoral artery considering bleeding from collateral arteries and veins by conventional open surgery. Postoperative CT scan revealed no endoleak and all debranched and bypass grafts were patent. He was discharged with no postoperative complications including paraplegia.

Disruption of a Dacron Graft Caused by the Vertebral Body of the Lumbar Vertebrae after Reconstruction of the Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

We report an extremely rare case of early disruption of a woven Dacron graft by the mechanical force of the lumbar vertebral body after a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair. A 75-year-old man with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm of Crawford type III underwent replacement of the thoracoabdominal aorta using a Gelweave thoracoabdominal graft (Vascutek) and a Gelweave bifurcate graft (Vascutek). His postoperative course was uneventful and discharged on postoperative day 20. On the 22nd postoperative day, he was re-hospitalized with low back pain. Computed tomography scanning showed a massive hematoma around the region of the graft-to-graft anastomosis. He underwent an emergency operation. At laparotomy, the Gelweave thoracoabdominal graft had a 2-mm hole which had been caused by the mechanical force of lumbar vertebral body, which was not related to the anastomosis. The graft was repaired with a 4-0 polypropylene buttress suture and a new prosthesis graft was used to wrap around the disrupted graft.

The clinical research of different surgical strategies in total thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective To explore the safety and feasibility of performing total thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair (tTAAAR) under normal thermia and non-cardiopulmonary bypass fashion by comparing surgical indications and details of different surgical strategies in tTAAAR.Methods From February 2009 to May 2011,46 consecutive patients with extensive Crawford Ⅱ thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA)underwent total thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair( tTAAAR ) in An Zhen Hospital.The patients were divided into 2 groups ( A and B) according to their different surgical strategies.Patients in group A underwent total thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair with deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest.Patients in group B underwent total thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair in a normal thermia and non-circulatory bypass was performed via a combined left thoracoabdominal incision.After established the bypass from descending aorta to bilateral iliac arteries under normal thermia,the reestablishment of intercostal arteries and visceral arteries was followed with subsection circulatory arrest.The clinical results of these 2 groups were analyzed by SPSS 18.0.Results Patients in group A underwent total thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair with deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest have higher mortality rate and transient nervous dysfunction rate (26.67％ vs 3.20％,P =0.033 ; 33.30％ vs 3.30％,P =0.018,respectively) than patients in group B underwent total thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair in a normal thermia and non-circulatory bypass.Statistical significance was also observed between group A and circulatory arrest and group B in operation time,descending aortic clamping time,and transfusiori volume of red blood cells ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Average age,sex,pathological type,the maximal diameters of aneurysm,preoperative complications,visceral ischemia time,spinal cord ischemia time,ICU treatment time,intubation time,respiratory complications,plasma dosage,platelets dosage,RBC dosage,thoracotomy hemostatic,spinal cord injury,renal insufficiency were found no statistical significance(P ＞ 0.05 ) between two groups.In addition to death and paraplegia,the others were cured.Conclusion The normal thermia and non-cardiopulmonary bypass tTAAAR is a safe and feasible therapeutic strategy for TAAA patients.A bypass from descending aorta to iliac arteries can be built under normal thermia in TAAA patients,which is the indication of this new technique.Reestablishment of intercostal arteries is an important protective adjunct to avoid spinal cord injury.

Uso de endoprótesis fenestrada para la reparación de aneurismas aórticos complejos: reporte de dos casos / Fenestrated endografts for the treatment of complex aortic aneurysms: report of two cases

In the last decade endovascular repair of infrarenal aortic aneurysms (EVAR) has become increasingly popular. However, until recently patients with juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (JAAA) or with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAA) were not candidates for EVAR due to the lack of an adequate landing zone to deploy the endograft. Because of considerable morbidity and mortality that traditional open surgery of these aneurysms entail, new endografts with fenestrations and branches have been developed to treat these patients. We present our initial experience with two cases, both male with coronary artery disease considered high-risk for traditional open repair. The first patient has a 4.1 cm sacular JAAA; it is repaired with a fenestrated endograft with branches for both renal arteries (RA), superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and a scallop for the celiac trunk (CT). The second patient has a 5.9 cm TAA with a previous aorto bifemoral bypass; because the CT is chronically occluded it is repaired with a fenestrated endograft with branches for both RA and SMA. In both patients post operative course was uneventful. Follow-up at 11 months and 30 days respectively, show adequate exclusion of the aneurysm with patency of all revascularized vessels. This new therapeutic procedure allows treatment of high-risk patients with complex aortic aneurysms in whom conventional repair entails a prohibitive surgical risk.

La reparación endovascular de un aneurisma aórtico abdominal infrarrenal (EVAR) se ha popularizado en la última década. Sin embargo, hasta ahora los pacientes con aneurisma aórtico abdominal yuxtarrenal (AAAY) o aneurisma aórtico tóracoabdominal (AATA) no eran candidatos a EVAR por ausencia de una zona sana donde apoyar la endoprótesis tubular. La reparación convencional se asocia a una morbimortalidad considerable, por lo que se han desarrollado endoprótesis capaces de acomodar ramas de la aorta que permiten tratar estos aneurismas en forma mínimamente invasiva. Presentamos la experiencia inicial de dos casos, ambos de sexo masculino y portadores de enfermedad coronaria considerados de alto riesgo para cirugía abierta. El primero, portador de un AAAY sacular de 4,1 cm de diámetro; se repara mediante el uso de endoprótesis fenestrada con ramas a ambas arterias renales (AR), arteria mesentérica superior (AMS) y una escotadura para el tronco celíaco (TC). El otro, portador de AATA de 5,9 cm de diámetro, un puente aorto bifemoral previo y TC crónicamente ocluido; se repara con endoprótesis fenestrada con ramas para las AR y AMS. Ambos pacientes presentaron una evolución post operatoria favorable. El seguimiento a 11 meses para el primero y 30 días para el segundo demuestra exclusión del aneurisma y permeabilidad de todas las arterias revasculari-zadas. Este nuevo procedimiento terapéutico abre la posibilidad de tratar pacientes de alto riesgo, portadores de aneurismas aórticos complejos, para los que una alternativa convencional implica un alto riesgo quirúrgico.

Treatment and Outcome of Acute Aortic Dissection Associated with Atherosclerotic Aortic Aneurysm / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

We set out to assess our treatment strategy of acute aortic dissection associated with atherosclerotic aortic aneurysm, and to assess its results. A total of 228 patients with acute aortic dissection were admitted to our hospital between 1994 and 2009. Among these, 30 cases were associated with atherosclerotic aortic aneurysm and we retrospectively analyzed their patient data. Of these, 5 patients received diagnoses of Stanford A dissection and 25 patients demonstrated Stanford B. Coexisting aneurysms consisted of postabdominal aortic replacement in 9 patients, ascending aortic aneurysm in 1, arch aortic aneurysm in 6, descending aortic aneurysm in 2, thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm in 3, and abdominal aortic aneurysm in 9. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on the relationship between aneurysm and dissection : acute aortic dissection occurred after graft replacement of an aortic aneurysm (Group 1, <i>n</i>=9), dissection coexisted with aneurysm in a different segment of the aorta (Group 2, <i>n</i>=8), and dissection extended to or involved the aneurysm (Group 3, <i>n</i>=13). Our treatment strategy for all patients excluding those with aortic rupture or malperfusion is described below. In the cases of Stanford A dissection, emergency ascending aortic replacement or total arch replacement was performed. In cases of Stanford B, patients were treated conservatively in the acute phase. Surgery for the coexisting aortic aneurysm was then performed in the chronic phase, if the aneurysm was large. We think that the interval between dissection onset and aneurysm surgery should be extended to at least 1 month, because the aortic wall was too fragile to perform anastomosis in the acute phase in the present cases. As a result, there were 2 hospital deaths in Group 3, but there was no aortic rupture during treatment in the acute phase in any of these 3 groups. There were no vascular-related deaths during follow up. Our treatment strategy obtained favorable outcomes.

Separate Visceral Revascularization in Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: Report of 3 Cases

Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) involving the roots of the celiac, superior mesenteric and both renal arteries is a rare, but potentially lethal disease. The overall postoperative mortality rate is high even when the intact TAAA is electively repaired. Furthermore, the postoperative complications are often serious and they include acute renal failure, paraplegia, respiratory distress and intestinal ischemia. The inclusion technique using a visceral-aortic patch (VAP) is considered the gold standard method for visceral artery revascularization for the treatment of TAAA. However, the inclusion technique is not feasible for patients with Marfan syndrome or for those patients with inappropriate anatomy for VAP. In such cases, separate visceral revascularization is a useful alternative and this may decrease the visceral ischemic time. Herein we report on 3 cases of TAAA, and the patients all underwent successful separate visceral revascularization, including one patient with Marfan syndrome.

Successful Endovascular Stent-graft Treatment of a Ruptured Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm with Coverage of the Celiac Axis / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 73-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for treatment of a ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA). Computed tomography (CT) showed a ruptured saccular TAAA (maximum diameter, 70 mm) located just above the celiac trunk. The patient chose to undergo endovascular repair because of the high risk associated with conventional repair, so an emergency endovascular stent-graft treatment was performed. The collateral pathway from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) to the celiac branches via the pancreaticoduodenal arcades was confirmed by selective angiography of the SMA before stent-grafting. The stent-graft was successfully deployed just proximal to the origin of the SMA with intentional coverage of the celiac axis to achieve sealing. Postoperatively, the patient was free from abdominal organ disorder or paraplegia/paraparesis and was discharged from the hospital after 36 days procedure. Follow-up CT scans performed at 1 week, month and 6 months showed patency in the SMA and the celiac branches, and there was no evidence of an endoleak. A less invasive endovascular repair procedure such as this can be an alternative treatment of a ruptured TAAA.

The Tolerance for Misalignment When Repairing Standardized Multi-Branched Thoracoabdominal Stent Grafts

PURPOSE: We wanted to assess the accuracy of thoracoabdominal stent graft deployment and the effect of the stent graft orientation on the angulation of the visceral branches. METHODS: The accuracy of thoracoabdominal stent graft deployment and the effect of the stent graft orientation on the angulation of the visceral branches were assessed. The actual cuff orientation (ACO), the actual vessel orientation (AVO) and the longitudinal branch length (LBL) were measured by 3-dimensional analysis (TeraRecon) of the postoperative CT scans. The ACO was compared with the planned orientation (PCO) to assess malorientation (ACO-PCO). The ACO was also compared with the AVO to assess the branch angulation in the trans-axial (ACO-AVO) and longitudinal branch angle (LBA) planes. RESULTS: Between Nov 2005 and Dec 2008, 38 patients underwent multi-branched endovascular aortic aneurysm repair with a total of 136 branches to the visceral arteries. Small degrees of malorientation (ACO-PCO) were common, but severe malorientation (>45 degrees) was rare. The cuff-bearing portion of the stent graft usually rotated as a single unit. Only one patient had >30 degrees of twisting between the celiac artery (CA) and SMA cuffs and only 4 had >30 degrees between the CA and the left renal artery (LRA). Ninety one percent of the visceral arteries lay within a vertical 60 degree-wide arc (LBA x2) that was centered on the outer orifice of the corresponding cuff. All 141 branches were inserted as planned. None have migrated, disconnected or kinked. CONCLUSION: The branches of a thoracoabdominal stent graft do bend to accommodate a modest degree of malorientation, but these angles do not compromise the stability of the branch implantation.

Multi-detector-row CT angiography in visualization of the artery of Adamkiewicz / 重庆医科大学学报

Objective:To visualize the artery of Adamkicwicz in patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm using multi-detector row spiral CT angiography (MDCTA).Methods:Thirty-one patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm underwent MDCTA.Various reconstruction techniques including multiplanar reformation (MPR),maximum intensity projection (MIP) and curved planar reformation (CPR) were used to visualize the origin,the branching patterns and the entire course of the artery of Adamkiewicz.Results:The anterior spinal artery was clearly visualized in all patients.The artery of Adamkiewicz was visualized in 28 of 31 aneurysmal patients(90.3%).The anatomic continuity of the entire course of the artery of Adamkiewicz,starting from the aorta to the intercostals artery and entering in the anterior spinal artery,was clearly depicted in 19 of 31 patients(61.3%).Two arteries of Adamkiewicz were identified in 7 of the 28 patients (25%).There were twenty-seven arteries of Adamkiewicz (27/35,77.1%) originated from the left side and thirty-three (33/35,94.3%) originated between the level from T 7 to T 12 .Conclusion:MDCTA can clearly depict the detailed anatomy of the artery of Adamkiewicz in patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm.As a noninvasive imaging technique,optimized MDCTA should therefore be the method of choice for the depiction of the artery of Adamkiewicz.