Outcomes of surgery for patients with Behcet's disease causing aortic pseudoaneurysm: a shift from open surgery to endovascular repair.

OBJECTIVES: Behcet's disease is a form of systematic vasculitis that affects vessels of various sizes. Aortic pseudoaneurysm is one of the most important causes of death among patients with Behcet's disease due to its high risk of rupture and associated mortality. Our study aimed to investigate the outcomes of Behcet's disease patients with aortic pseudoaneurysms undergoing open surgery and endovascular aortic repair. METHODS: From January 2003 to September 2014, ten consecutive patients undergoing surgery for aortic pseudoaneurysm met the diagnostic criteria for Behcet's disease. Endovascular repair was the preferred modality and open surgery was performed as an alternative. Systemic immunosuppressive medication was administered after Behcet's disease was definitively diagnosed. RESULTS: Eight patients initially underwent endovascular repair and two patients initially underwent open surgery. The overall success rate was 90% and the only failed case involved the use of the chimney technique to reach a suprarenal location. The median follow-up duration was 23 months. There were 7 recurrences in 5 patients. The median interval between operation and recurrence was 13 months. No significant risk factors for recurrence were identified, but a difference in recurrence between treatment and non-treatment with preoperative immunosuppressive medication preoperatively was notable. Four aneurysm-related deaths occurred within the follow-up period. The overall 1-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 80%, 64% and 48%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both open surgery and endovascular repair are safe and effective for treating aortic pseudoaneurysm in Behcet's disease patients. The results from our retrospective study indicated that immunosuppressive medication was essential to defer the occurrence and development of recurrent aneurysms.

Outcomes of surgery for patients with Behcet's disease causing aortic pseudoaneurysm: a shift from open surgery to endovascular repair

OBJECTIVES: Behcet’s disease is a form of systematic vasculitis that affects vessels of various sizes. Aortic pseudoaneurysm is one of the most important causes of death among patients with Behcet’s disease due to its high risk of rupture and associated mortality. Our study aimed to investigate the outcomes of Behcet’s disease patients with aortic pseudoaneurysms undergoing open surgery and endovascular aortic repair. METHODS: From January 2003 to September 2014, ten consecutive patients undergoing surgery for aortic pseudoaneurysm met the diagnostic criteria for Behcet’s disease. Endovascular repair was the preferred modality and open surgery was performed as an alternative. Systemic immunosuppressive medication was administered after Behcet’s disease was definitively diagnosed. RESULTS: Eight patients initially underwent endovascular repair and two patients initially underwent open surgery. The overall success rate was 90% and the only failed case involved the use of the chimney technique to reach a suprarenal location. The median follow-up duration was 23 months. There were 7 recurrences in 5 patients. The median interval between operation and recurrence was 13 months. No significant risk factors for recurrence were identified, but a difference in recurrence between treatment and non-treatment with preoperative immunosuppressive medication preoperatively was notable. Four aneurysm-related deaths occurred within the follow-up period. The overall 1-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 80%, 64% and 48%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both open surgery and endovascular repair are safe and effective for treating aortic pseudoaneurysm in Behcet’s disease patients. The results from our retrospective study indicated that immunosuppressive medication was essential to defer the occurrence and development of recurrent aneurysms.

Treatment of arterial pseudoaneurysms with percutaneous ultrasound-guided thrombin injection.

BACKGROUND: The pseudoaneurysms or false aneurysms are one of the most common complications after arterial invasive manipulation. Different methods of treatment have been described, such as surgical repair, ultrasound-guided compression and endovascular procedures. Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection has shown efficacy, safety and low cost, and, in some cases, the procedure is considered the treatment of choice. Preliminary results are presented. DESIGN: Case series. We studied adult patients with iatrogenic arterial pseudoaneurysms demonstrated clinically and corroborated with ultrasound. We describe the technique used for the management of the arterial pseudoaneurysms by ultrasound-guided thrombin application, as well as complications and follow-up. RESULTS: Twelve patients were included with a mean age of 63 years (SD 12.4), 33% were male and 67% female. Associated comorbid states were hypertension 83%, 50% diabetes, obesity 66%. All pseudoaneurysms were located in the femoral artery (2:1 right/left ratio). The mean size of the pseudoaneurysm was 48.2 mm SD 11.9, (range of 30 to 65 mm) by 44.3 mm SD 9.3, (range 20 to 53 mm). The average neck diameter was 2.2 mm SD 0.54 (range of 1.5 to 3 mm). Eleven cases were unilobulated (87.5%), and one bilobulated (12.5%). All reported arterial integrity with complete occlusion after one thrombin application without recurrence and morbidity after 90 days of follow up. CONCLUSIONS: In our study we obtained a 100% of thrombosis without pseudoaneurysm recurrence or complications. However a longer follow-up time and more number of cases are required to confirm these results.

Tratamento percutâneo de pseudoaneurismas por injeção de trombina guiada por ultrassom / Percutaneous treatment of pseudoaneurysms by ultrasound-guide thrombin injection

Pseudoaneurisma iatrogênico ocorre em 0,5% a 2% dos procedimentos percutâneos diagnósticos e em até 7% a 8% dos procedimentos percutâneos terapêuticos. A oclusão do pseudoaneurisma pela injeção de trombina guiada por ultrassom diretamente no interior do saco aneurismático é técnica pouco invasiva, de execução rápida e segura, e com alto índice de sucesso. A proposta deste trabalho é relatar nossa experiência no tratamento do pseudoaneurisma iatrogênico por injeção de trombina guiada por ultrassom. Método: Entre setembro de 2006 e fevereiro de 2010 realizamos 1.811 procedimentos cardíacos percutâneos com ocorrência de 15 pseudoaneurismas (0,8%), dos quais 13 foram tratados com injeção de trombina guiada por ultrassom de forma consecutiva. Características clínicas, tipo de procedimento, medicações coadjuvantes, tamanho e morfologia dos pseudoaneurismas, dose de trombina utilizada, resultado da terapia e ocorrência de complicações foram documentados e armazenados prospectivamente em banco de dados e, então, analisados retrospectivamente. Resultados: A taxa de sucesso primário foi de 100%, com apenas uma recidiva sete dias após a abordagem inicial, tratada com sucesso pela mesma técnica. Não foi observada ocorrência de complicações relacionadas à injeção de trombina guiada por ultrassom e todos os pacientes apresentavam-se assintomáticos aos 30 dias de acompanhamento. Conclusão: A injeção de trombina guiada por ultrassom realizada por profissionais com experiência em ultrassom vascular e em punções transparietais de cistos e coleções é uma opção terapêutica viável, prática e segura no tratamento do pseudoaneurisma iatrogênico.

Background: Iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm is observed in 0.5% to 2% of diagnostic percutaneous procedures and in up to 7% to 8% of therapeutic percutaneous procedures.Pseudoaneurysm occlusion by ultrasound-guided thrombin injection directly in the aneurysm sac is a minimally invasive, quick and safe procedure with a high success rate. The aim of our study is to report our initial experience in treatment of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms by ultrasound-guidedthrombin injection. Method: Between September 2006 and February 2010, 1,811 percutaneous coronary interventions were carried out with an occurrence of 15 pseudoaneurysms(0.8%), of which 13 were consecutively treated by ultrasound-guided thrombin injection. Clinical characteristics, type of percutaneous procedure, adjuvant therapy, size and morphology of pseudoaneurysms, thrombin dose, success and complication rate were prospectively documented and later retrospectively analyzed. Results: Primary success rate was 100% with just one recurrence seven days after the initial approach, which was successfully treated using the same technique. There were no complicationsrelated to the ultrasound-guided thrombin injection and all of the patients were asymptomatic 30 days after the procedure. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided thrombin injectionperformed by professionals experienced in intravascular ultrasound and transparietal punctures of cysts and collections is a feasible, practical and safe option in the treatment of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms.