Editor's Choice -- European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) 2024 Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Abdominal Aorto-Iliac Artery Aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: The European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) has developed clinical practice guidelines for the care of patients with aneurysms of the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries in succession to the 2011 and 2019 versions, with the aim of assisting physicians and patients in selecting the best management strategy. METHODS: The guideline is based on scientific evidence completed with expert opinion on the matter. By summarising and evaluating the best available evidence, recommendations for the evaluation and treatment of patients have been formulated. The recommendations are graded according to a modified European Society of Cardiology grading system, where the strength (class) of each recommendation is graded from I to III and the letters A to C mark the level of evidence. RESULTS: A total of 160 recommendations have been issued on the following topics: Service standards, including surgical volume and training; Epidemiology, diagnosis, and screening; Management of patients with small abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), including surveillance, cardiovascular risk reduction, and indication for repair; Elective AAA repair, including operative risk assessment, open and endovascular repair, and early complications; Ruptured and symptomatic AAA, including peri-operative management, such as permissive hypotension and use of aortic occlusion balloon, open and endovascular repair, and early complications, such as abdominal compartment syndrome and colonic ischaemia; Long term outcome and follow up after AAA repair, including graft infection, endoleaks and follow up routines; Management of complex AAA, including open and endovascular repair; Management of iliac artery aneurysm, including indication for repair and open and endovascular repair; and Miscellaneous aortic problems, including mycotic, inflammatory, and saccular aortic aneurysm. In addition, Shared decision making is being addressed, with supporting information for patients, and Unresolved issues are discussed. CONCLUSION: The ESVS Clinical Practice Guidelines provide the most comprehensive, up to date, and unbiased advice to clinicians and patients on the management of abdominal aorto-iliac artery aneurysms.

The Rate of Postoperative Complications in Complicated Acute, and Subacute Type B Aortic Dissections after TEVAR vs. PETTICOAT Procedures: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background and Objectives: Provisional extension to induce complete attachment (PETTICOAT) is suggested as being associated with a lower incidence of aorta-related events and fewer reinterventions compared to thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in patients with complicated acute, and subacute type B aortic dissections. Materials and Methods: This article is a systematic review and meta-analysis following the PRISMA guidelines. The Medline, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched, starting on 21 February 2022 and ending on 22 June 2022, to identify studies that investigated the rate of postoperative complications in patients treated with the PETTICOAT compared to the TEVAR. A random effects meta-analysis was performed. Of 2350 studies, 5 studies involving 360 patients were included: 143 patients after the PETTICOAT procedure and 217 after the TEVAR. Results: The meta-analysis of all studies showed that the rate of secondary endovascular reinterventions was smaller in patients treated with the PETTICOAT (n = 3 studies; OR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.10 to 0.94; p = 0.04). The results of other postoperative complications (30-day mortality, mortality during follow-up, paraplegia, stroke, and occurrence of endoleak) were lower in the PETTICOAT group but were not statistically significant. The rate of postoperative renal failure was lower in patients treated with the TEVAR (n = 4; OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.46 to 2.51; p = 0.86). Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that the PETTICOAT procedure is related to the lower rate of secondary endovascular reinterventions for complicated acute, and subacute type B aortic dissections.

The Influence of Individualized Three-Dimensional Holographic Models on Patients' Knowledge Qualified for Intervention in the Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD).

We sought to determine the role of the patient-specific, three-dimensional (3D) holographic vascular model in patient medical knowledge and its influence on obtaining a more conscious informed consent process for percutaneous balloon angioplasty (PTA). Patients with peripheral arterial disease who had been scheduled for PTA were enrolled in the study. Information regarding the primary disease, planned procedure, and informed consent was recorded in typical fashion. Subsequently, the disease and procedure details were presented to the patient, showing the patients their individual model. A patient and medical supervisor equipped with mixed reality headsets could both simultaneously manipulate the hologram using gestures. The holographic 3D model had been created on a scale of 1:1 based on computed tomography scans. The patient's knowledge was tested by the completion of a questionnaire before and after the interaction in a mixed reality environment. Seventy-nine patients manipulated arterial holograms in mixed reality head-mounted devices. Before the 3D holographic artery model interaction, the mean ± standard deviation score of the knowledge test was 2.95 ± 1.21 points. After the presentation, the score had increased to 4.39 ± 0.82, with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.0000) between the two scores. Using a Likert scale from 1 to 5, the patients had scored the use of the 3D holographic model at 3.90 points regarding its usefulness in comprehending their medical condition; at 4.04 points regarding the evaluation of the holograms as helpful in understanding the course of surgery; and rated the model at 1.99 points in reducing procedure-related stress. Using a nominal scale (know or don't know), the patients had self-assessed their knowledge of the procedure before and after the 3D model presentation, with a score of 6.29 ± 2.01 and 8.39 ± 1.54, respectively. The study group tolerated the use of head-mounted devices. Only one patient had nausea and dizziness, while four patients experienced transient eye pain. The 3D holographic arterial model aided in the understanding of patients' knowledge regarding the disease and procedure, making the informed consent process more conscious. The holograms improved the patient's self-consciousness. Mixed reality headset-related complications were rare and within acceptable rates.

Beyond Diameter: Enhancing Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Surveillance with Volumetric Assessments after Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR).

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between maximum transverse diameter (MTD) and volume measurements in patients who underwent reoperations after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), and their association with the occurrence of endoleaks. The study included 51 patients who underwent EVAR and subsequent re-operations caused by endoleaks type I-III. In some number of events, multiple re-operations were needed. MTD was measured using the Horos software, and segmentations of the AAA were performed using 3D Slicer. This study first evaluated post-operative computed tomography angiography (CTA) to measure MTD and volume. Then, similar measurements were made in the control scan for re-operation qualification. Negative remodeling (increase in MTD and/or volume) was observed in 40 cases using MTD, and 48 cases using volume measurements. The volume measurement showed lower missed negatives than MTD, indicating its effectiveness in screening for negative remodeling (p < 0.001). Combining both methods identified 51 negative remodeling cases and 8 positive changes, with a higher sensitivity compared to MTD alone. The volume of the sac did not predict specific endoleak types. Decreases in MTD were observed in smaller sacs, with smaller volume changes. Volume measurement is a valuable screening tool, and combining MTD and volume enhances sensitivity. However, sac volume does not predict endoleak type.

Six-year outcomes of a phase II study of human-tissue engineered blood vessels for peripheral arterial bypass.

Objective: The human acellular vessel (HAV) was evaluated for surgical bypass in a phase II study. The primary results at 24 months after implantation have been reported, and the patients will be evaluated for ≤10 years. Methods: In the present report, we have described the 6-year results of a prospective, open-label, single-treatment arm, multicenter study. Patients with advanced peripheral artery disease (PAD) requiring above-the-knee femoropopliteal bypass surgery without available autologous graft options had undergone implantation with the HAV, a bioengineered human tissue replacement blood vessel. The patients who completed the 24-month primary portion of the study will be evaluated for ≤10 years after implantation. The present mid-term analysis was performed at the 6-year milestone (72 months) for patients followed up for 24 to 72 months. Results: HAVs were implanted in 20 patients at three sites in Poland. Seven patients had discontinued the study before completing the 2-year portion of the study: four after graft occlusion had occurred and three who had died of causes deemed unrelated to the conduit, with the HAV reported as functional at their last visit. The primary results at 24 months showed primary, primary assisted, and secondary patency rates of 58%, 58%, and 74%, respectively. One vessel had developed a pseudoaneurysm deemed possibly iatrogenic; no other signs of structural failure were reported. No rejections or infections of the HAV occurred, and no patient had required amputation of the implanted limb. Of the 20 patients, 13 had completed the primary portion of the study; however, 1 patient had died shortly after 24 months. Of the remaining 12 patients, 3 died of causes unrelated to the HAV. One patient had required thrombectomy twice, with secondary patency achieved. No other interventions were recorded between 24 and 72 months. At 72 months, five patients had a patent HAV, including four patients with primary patency. For the entire study population from day 1 to month 72, the overall primary, primary assisted, and secondary patency rate estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis was 44%, 45%, and 60% respectively, with censoring for death. No patient had experienced rejection or infection of the HAV, and no patient had required amputation of the implanted limb. Conclusions: The infection-resistant, off-the-shelf HAV could provide a durable alternative conduit in the arterial circuit setting to restore the lower extremity blood supply in patients with PAD, with remodeling into the recipient's own vessel over time. The HAV is currently being evaluated in seven clinical trials to treat PAD, vascular trauma, and as a hemodialysis access conduit.

Physician-Modified Stent-Grafts Created in the Three-Dimensionally Aortic Template Have Better Reliability and Greater Alignment With the Target Vessels Than Stent-Grafts Modified Based on Measurements From Computed Tomography.

PURPOSE: Physician-modified stent-grafts (PMSG) are widely used, especially when a patient's condition precludes waiting for a custom-made device. In recent years, the modification process has been upgraded using 3-dimensional (3D) aortic templates. Nonetheless, the reliability of PMSG and accuracy of fenestration alignment with the target vessel are not known. Thus, the study is aimed to fulfill the gap in current knowledge. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten computed tomographic (CT) scans of aortic aneurysm previously treated with the fenestrated endovascular repair were selected to 3D-print aortic templates and elastic vessel phantoms. Two vascular surgeons performed fenestrations using the 3D template and modification plan based on CT measurements. Two operators each performed 10 fenestrated stent-grafts in the aortic template and 10 using CT measurements, for a total of 40 fenestrated stent-grafts. Then, stent-grafts were implanted in elastic vessel phantoms, which served to evaluate fenestration alignment with the target vessel. The alignment was judged in a 5-point scale: 0%, 1% to 25%, 26% to 50%, 51% to 75%, and 76% to 100%. The distances between fenestrations served to calculate interobserver variability for both methods. The measurements were processed as interclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Pearson and Spearman correlation, and Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS: PMSG created with a 3D template had higher interclass correlation coefficient values and Pearson/Spearman correlation than fenestrations created from CT measurements. The rate of fenestration alignment with the target vessel was higher for PMSG created with a 3D template (p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: PMSGs created with a 3D template are more reliable and have better fenestration alignment with the target vessel than PMSGs created based on CT measurements.

Questionable Long-Term Results of the Extended Provisional Extension to Induce Complete Attachment (E-PETTICOAT) Technique in the Management of Chronic Type B Aortic Dissection.

BACKGROUND: Published interim results of the extended provisional extension to induce complete attachment (e-PETTICOAT) technique suggested favorable remodeling in chronic type B Aortic Dissection (cTBAD). This report presents long-term results of the e-PETTICOAT technique for the management of cTBAD (without aneurysmal dilatation). METHODS: Patients with cTBAD below the 55 mm aortic size were eligible for the management using the e-PETTICOAT technique. Follow-up was conducted at 1, 2 and 5 years based on the computed tomography angiogram. All the presurgery risk factors (entry >1 cm, inner curve entry, fusiform index >0.65, false lumen > 22 mm, aortic size >40 mm, recurrent pain or hypertension, and Stanford Dissection Risk Calculation) and postsurgery complications were examined in the study. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients underwent the e-PETTICOAT surgery. The survival rate at 1, 2, and 5 years was 75%, 70%, and 64%, respectively, and the percentage of patients without any reinterventions was 100%, 93%, and 18%. Aortic degeneration was recognized in 30%, 55%, and 85% of the patients. Only 3 of the 20 patients were alive and without any reintervention after 5 years. The receiver operating curve analysis does not indicate any factor that would predict the remodeling result in the long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The use of e-PETTICOAT technique in cTBAD might not have a beneficial influence on the long-term results.

Off-the-Shelf Strategy for Endovascular Aneurysm Repair of Ectopic, Dominant, Renal Artery Originating From the Aortic Bifurcation: Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: An ectopic renal artery originating from the aortic bifurcation can strongly interfere with surgical or endovascular intervention in the infrarenal aorta. CASE: We present an infrarenal symptomatic aneurysm with a right ectopic/pelvic kidney associated with 1 renal artery originating from the aortic bifurcation. RESULT: During an endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) procedure, the dominant ectopic right kidney was perfused by an iliac branch device (IBD) used as an iliac extension. However, out of instructions for use (IFU), this is an "off-the-shelf" resolution for this type of rare case. CONCLUSION: The use of an "off-the-shelf" IBD to perform an EVAR with an ectopic renal artery, in patients unfit for open surgery, is a potentially valuable option.

Effectiveness of Inferior Mesenteric Artery Embolization on Type II Endoleak-Related Complications after Endovascular Aortic Repair (EVAR): Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Type II endoleak is one of the most common and problematic complications after endovascular aneurysm repair. It has been suggested that the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) embolization could prevent further adverse events and postoperative complications. This article is a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines. The Medline, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were used to identify studies that investigated the effect of IMA embolization on the occurrence of type II endoleaks and secondary interventions in a group of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm who underwent EVAR compared with results after EVAR procedure without embolization. A random effects meta-analysis was performed. Of 3510 studies, 6 studies involving 659 patients were included. Meta-analysis of all studies showed that the rate of secondary interventions was smaller in patients with IMA embolization (OR, 0.17; SE, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.41; p < 0.01; I2 = 0%). The occurrence of type II endoleaks was also smaller in the embolization group (OR, 0.37; SE, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.25 to 0.57; p < 0.01; I2 = 16.20%). This meta-analysis suggests that IMA embolization correlates with lower rates of type II endoleaks and secondary interventions.

Physician-modified endograft in ruptured aortic arch.

We present the case of a 27-year-old motorcyclist after a multi-organ trauma. He suffered a rupture of the aortic arch located in zone 2 and was disqualified from surgical replacement of the aortic arch due to active bleeding from parenchymal organs. Instead, he was provided with a physician-modified endograft (PMEG) to complete fenestrated thoracic endovascular aortic repair as a damage control procedure. No reports in the world literature are found regarding the use of PMEG technology in truly ruptured post-traumatic pseudo-aneurysm on the border of zone 1 and 2 of the aortic arch in emergency settings. The surgery provided temporary supply of the aorta and allowed all of the other surgical and orthopedic procedures to be completed. Endovascular treatment of aortic arch damage with PMEG is possible and can be effectively used for urgent indications when an open operation is not possible.

Effects of Sterilization Methods on Different 3D Printable Materials for Templates of Physician-Modified Aortic Stent Grafts Used in Vascular Surgery-A Preliminary Study.

Three-dimensionally-printed aortic templates are increasingly being used to aid in the modification of stent grafts in the treatment of urgent, complex aortic disorders, often of an emergency nature. The direct contact between the aortic template and the stent graft implies the necessity of complete sterility. Currently, the efficacy of sterilizing aortic templates and the effect of sterilization on the geometry of tubular aortic models are unknown. A complex case of aortic arch dissection was selected to prepare a 3D-printed aortic arch template, which was then manufactured in six popular printing materials: polylactic acid (PLA), nylon, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), and a rigid and flexible photopolymer resin using fused deposition modeling (FDM) and stereolithography (SLA). The 3D models were contaminated with Geobacillus stearothermophilus broth and Bacillus atrophaeus. The sterilization was performed using three different methods: heat (105 °C and 121 °C), hydrogen peroxide plasma, and ethylene oxide gas. Before and after sterilization, the aortic templates were scanned using computed tomography to detect any changes in their morphology by comparing the dimensions. All sterilization methods were effective in the elimination of microorganisms. Steam sterilization in an autoclave at 121 °C caused significant deformation of the aortic templates made of PLA, PETG, and PP. The other materials had stable geometries, and changes during mesh comparisons were found to be submillimeter. Similarly, plasma, gas, and heat at 105 °C did not change the shapes of aortic templates observed macroscopically and using mesh analysis. All mean geometry differences were smaller than 0.5 mm. All sterilization protocols tested in our study were equally effective in destroying microorganisms; however, differences occurred in the ability to induce 3D object deformation. Sterilization at high temperatures deformed aortic templates composed of PLA, PETG, and PP. This method was suitable for nylon, flexible, and rigid resin-based models. Importantly, plasma and gas sterilization were appropriate for all tested printing materials, including PLA, PETG, PP, nylon, flexible and rigid resins. Moreover, sterilization of all the printed models using our novel protocol for steam autoclaving at 105 °C was also 100% effective, which could represent a significant advantage for health centers, which can therefore use one of the most popular and cheap methods of medical equipment disinfection for the sterilization of 3D models as well.

Initial Experience with Fenestrated Physician-Modified Stent Grafts Using 3D Aortic Templates.

The goal of this study was to describe the surgical results of physician-modified endografts (PMEG) utilizing a 3D aortic template in a center with no prior experience in complex endovascular aortic repairs. Forty-three patients underwent physician-modified graft stent implantation using a 3D aortic model. The inclusion criteria were juxtarenal and suprarenal aortic aneurysms, type IV thoracoabdominal aneurysms, and type IA endoleak after endovascular aortic repair. In asymptomatic patients, the diameter threshold for aneurysm repair was 5.5 cm in males and 5.0 cm in females. 3D aortic templates were prepared from the patient's computed tomography angiography scans and sterilized before use in the operating suite. Forty-three stent grafts were modified with the use of a 3D printing template. A total of 162 reinforced fenestrations (37 celiac, 43 right renal, 39 left renal, 43 superior mesenteric) with a mean of 3.8 per patient were performed. All PMEGs had a posterior reducing-diameter tie and a preloaded guidewire. The mean modification time was 86 ± 12 min. The mean follow-up was 14 ± 12 months. The 30-day mortality was 12%. During the follow-up period, the patency rate was 95% per the superior mesenteric artery, 93% per right renal artery, 95% per left renal artery, and 89% per celiac trunk. Twelve (28%) patients had endoleak, of which type I or III was present in 5 (12%) patients, and type II in 7 (16%). 3D printing can be successfully integrated into the physician's everyday practice of stent graft modification. However, the use of this approach in centers without experience performing complex aortic procedures results in worse surgical metrics than those previously reported.

Multidisciplinary aortic arch procedures within the "Aortic Team".

Introduction and aim: The European societies EACTS (European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery) and ESVS (European Society for Vascular Surgery) recommend the establishment of "Aortic Teams" from 2019. In Poland, the first such team was officially established in Specialist University Hospital no. 2 in Szczecin in 2021. Material and methods: Sixty-four patients were treated for aortic arch pathology using frozen elephant trunk (n = 3), branch custom made devices (n = 12), physician-modified endo-grafts (PMEG; n = 30) and the thoracic endovascular aortic repair "plus" technique (n = 19). Results: Among thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) plus (chimneys/periscopes, n = 7, extra-anatomical bypasses, n = 12) there was 100% technical success and 4% bad outcomes (stroke or death). Among "customized" stent grafts there were Bolton Relay (n = 8), Brail Endo-Branch (n = 1) and Castor branched stent graft (n = 3) with 91% technical success and 18% bad outcomes. In the group of PMEG there were 14 cases with one fenestration, 5 cases with two fenestrations and 11 cases with triple fenestration to all vessels of the aortic arch. In this group, technical success was achieved in 91% and poor outcome ended treatment in 11%. In total we noted a 91% technical success rate and a good treatment outcome was achieved in 89%. The cooperation of cardiac surgeons and vascular surgeons in one team brought competence benefits for both specialties. It allowed for good clinical and economic results despite new logistical complexities and fits into the currently changing perspective of cardiac surgery development worldwide. Conclusions: Implementation of the recommendation to create aortic teams within cardiac surgery departments is possible and may be cost-effective in Polish conditions.

The accuracy and reliability of 3D printed aortic templates: a comprehensive three-dimensional analysis.

BACKGROUND: Advances in 3D printing technology allow us to continually find new medical applications. One of them is 3D printing of aortic templates to guide vascular surgeons or interventional radiologists to create fenestrations in the stent-graft surface for the implantation procedure called fenestrated endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. It is believed that the use of 3D printing significantly improves the quality of modified fenestrated stent-grafts. However, the accuracy and reliability of personalized 3D printed models of aortic templates are not well established. METHODS: Thirteen 3D printed templates of the visceral aorta and sixteen of the aortic arch and their corresponding computer tomography of angiography images were included in this accuracy study. The 3D models were scanned in the same conditions on computed tomography (CT) and evaluated by three physicians experienced in vascular CT assessment. Model and patient CT measurements were performed at key landmarks to maintain quality for stent-graft modification, including side branches and aortic diameters. CT-scanned aortic templates were segmented, aligned with sourced patient data, and evaluated for the Hausdorff matrix. Next, Bland-Altman plots determined the degree of agreement. RESULTS: The Intraclass Correlation Coefficients values were more than 0.9 for all measurements of aortic diameters and aortic branches diameter in all landmark locations. Therefore, the reliability of the aortic templates was considered excellent. The Bland-Altman plots analysis indicated measurement biases of 0.05 to 0.47 for aortic arch templates and 0.06 to 0.38 for reno-visceral aortic templates. The arithmetic mean of Hausdorff's mean distances of the aortic arch templates was 0.47 mm (SD =0.06) and ranged from 0.34 to 0.58. The mean metrics for abdominal models was 0.24 mm (SD =0.03) and ranged from 0.21 to 0.31. CONCLUSIONS: The printed models of 3D aortic templates are accurate and reliable, thus can be widely used in endovascular surgery and interventional radiology departments as aortic templates to guide the physician-modified fenestrated stent-graft fabrication.

When Bodybuilding Goes Wrong-Bilateral Renal Artery Thrombosis in a Long-Term Misuser of Anabolic Steroids Treated with AngioJet Rheolytic Thrombectomy.

Bilateral renal infarction is an extremely rare condition with only few cases reported in the literature. We present a case of bilateral renal infarction affecting an otherwise healthy 34 year old bodybuilder chronically misusing testosterone and stanozolol. The patient presented with severe flank pain mimicking renal colic and biochemical features of acute kidney injury. Diagnostic workup revealed thrombosis affecting both renal arteries. Subsequently, the patient underwent a percutaneous rheolytic thrombectomy with AngioJet catheter, along with catheter-directed thrombolysis. Right-sided retroperitoneal hematoma developed as an early complication, mandating surgical exploration and nephrectomy due to kidney rupture and the unstable condition of the patient. Intensive care and continuous renal replacement therapy were instigated until a gradual improvement of the patient status and a return of kidney function was achieved. No abnormalities were found in the cardiological and hematological evaluation. We believe this is a first report of bilateral renal infarction associated with anabolic steroid misuse in an otherwise healthy individual, and a first report of AngioJet thrombectomy in bilateral thrombosis of renal arteries. It stresses the importance of a thorough diagnostic workup of colic patients and emphasizes the need for sports medicine to reach out to amateur athletes with education on the harms of doping.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Morphology as an Essential Criterion for Stratifying the Risk of Aneurysm Rupture.

The current stratification model of aneurysm rupture seems to be insufficient in some clinical cases. In our study, we determined the differences in wall structure between ruptured and unruptured aneurysms. We obtained computed tomography angiograms and categorized them into the following three groups, consisting of 49 patients each: the group with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA), symptomatic (sAAA), and asymptomatic (aAAA). The three-dimensional AAA anatomy was digitally reconstructed for each patient through semi-automatically obtained segmentation, and each aneurysm was distinguished by the following three parameters: AFL (aneurysm flow lumen), ILT (intraluminal thrombus), and calcifications. The AFL volume was greater in rAAA compared with aAAA (p = 0.004), the ILT volume was greater in aAAA than in rAAA (p = 0.013), and the AFL/ILT surface ratio was bigger in rAAA than in aAAA (p < 0.001), sAAA than in aAAA (p = 0.033), and rAAA than in sAAA (p = 0.016). AFL/ILT surface*100 was defined as an independent predictive factor of rAAA to aAAA (OR 1.187; 95% CI 1.099-1.281), to sAAA (OR 1.045; 95% CI 1.004-1.087), and in sAAA vs. aAAA (OR 1.067; 95% CI 1.017-1.119). Consequently, the wall of rAAA differs significantly from unruptured aneurysms. The AFL/ILT surface ratio might indicate an increased risk of aneurysm rupture and the occurrence of symptoms in AAA.

Modified implantation of a Bolton Relay branch arch device into the ascending aorta close to a mechanical aortic valve.

An aortic arch stent graft is usually contraindicated with a mechanical aortic valve. However, a modified stent graft plus the use of an externalized transapical guidewire technique allowed a safe implantation close to a mechanical aortic valve.

The extended PETTICOAT technique does not guarantee favorable remodeling after acute type B aortic dissection.

Introduction: Favorable remodeling is not always observed after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in acute complicated type B aortic dissection (TBAD). Existing distal re-entries might be the cause of that. Many more extensive techniques have been introduced and evaluated. None of them achieve proven benefit in long-term follow-up. Aim: A new technique called extended PETTICOAT (provisional extension to induce complete attachment) or e-PETTICOAT technique was published in 2018. It allows one to cover proximal and distal re-entries and consists of: combined implantation of a thoracic stent graft to seal the proximal entry; self-expandable stents in the visceral aorta to expand the true lumen; plus two parallel kissing iliac stent grafts below the renal arteries. Despite encouraging medium term results, it has unknown long-term consequences. Material and methods: The prospective observational single center study included 11 patients with complicated acute TBAD qualified for endovascular treatment using the e-PETTICOAT technique. Complicated acute TBAD was identified only in cases of clinical manifestation before or at the time of intervention; radiological findings were not sufficient to identify complications in our study. Method: The 5-year follow-up, based on clinical outcome including survival, re-interventions and angio-CT-assessed remodeling, was examined. Results: The e-PETTICOAT technique achieves good remodeling in 38% of primary and 88% of secondary procedures. Conclusions: The E-PETTICOAT does not guarantee favorable remodeling during a 5-year follow-up in acute complicated TBAD. Complex aortic repair after e-PETTICOAT might be needed.

Incidents and risk factors of biliary complications after orthotropic liver transplantation.

ABSTRACT: Biliary complications (BC) especially stenosis and strictures are the most common complications after orthotropic liver transplantation (OLT) procedure in adult recipients. The intention of this study was analyzed BC in 273 patients after OLT for the last 4 years in our department.Retrospective study of 273 patients underwent cadaveric donor liver transplantation between January 2014 and December 2017. Most of them (n = 268) have anastomosed bile duct in end to end, rest of them (n = 5) underwent hepaticojejunostomy. Statistical analysis was performed using Fischer exact test and Student t test. A P value <.05 was considered significant.BC were developed in 48/273 transplants (17.6%). The most frequent was biliary stricture (n = 42, 87.5%) followed by bile leak (n = 4, 8.3%) and choledocholitiasis (n = 2, 4.2%). Treatment was usually using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Recipients with hypotension during and after OLT treated by norepinephrine have a higher index of BC.Self-expanding metal stents implantation seems to be more effective than repeated balloon dilatation of anastomotic strictures with subsequent plastic biliary stent placement and associated with similar complication rate. Good fluid management against inotropic therapy may reduce risk of BC.

Externalized transapical guidewire technique after artificial aortic valve replacement during complete endovascular aortic arch repair.

An externalized transapical guidewire (ETAG) technique has been used for safe delivery of high-profile devices through a tortuous aorta to zone 0, which is currently precluded after mechanical artificial aortic valve replacement (AVR). The aim of the study was to report one center's experience (based on 3 cases) of a unique modification to the ETAG technique used for the first time during total endovascular aortic arch repair after AVR. This report contains technical notes regarding a new method of steering the guidewire from the apex inside the artificial aortic valve during total endovascular aortic arch repair after AVR and the details crucial in preparation for this mini-invasive procedure. As a conclusion, the ETAG technique could be performed after mechanical AVR with active positioning of the guidewire carried out under the control of transesophageal echocardiography.