Neoaortoiliac system and cryopreserved human allograft for the treatment of aortic graft infections.

OBJECTIVE: To report and compare neoaortoiliac system reconstruction and cryopreserved human allograft in treating aortic graft infections. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the data of the patients treated for aorto graft infections between January 2015 and May 2021 in our hospital. The clinical data, diagnostic procedures, and surgical options were evaluated. The primary endpoint of this study was the 30-day and 1-year mortality; secondary endpoints were major postoperative complications. RESULTS: We retrospectively reviewed a series of 31 consecutive patients (28 males; median age 72 years, range, 50-87 years) with aortic graft infection treated with NAIS (n = 20, 65%) or cryopreserved allograft (n = 11, 36%). The clinical presentation included fever attacks in 18 (58%) patients, abdominal pain in 15 (48%) patients, haemodynamic instability in 6 (19%) patients, and haematemesis in 2 (7%) patients. The median operative time of the NAIS was longer than CHA without a statistically significant difference (458 min vs. 359 min, p = .505). The postoperative morbidity for all patients was 81%, with no significant difference between NAIS and CHA groups (85% vs. 73%, p = .638). There was no limb thrombosis of the new reconstructions. Limb loss occurred in 4 (13%) patients, including 2 (10%) NAIS patients and 2 (18%) CHA patients. One NAIS patient developed complications in the form of a distal (femoral) disruption of the vein 15 days after surgery. There were no significant differences between NAIS and CHA groups in ICU stay (12 vs 8 days, .984) but in hospitalization (22 vs 33, p = .033). The most common bacteria isolated were staphylococci strains in 15 (48%). In 13 (36%) patients, candida was positive. The in-hospital 30-day and 1-year mortality for all patients was 16% (5/31) and 29% (9/31), with no significant differences between NAIS and CHA at 30 days (25% vs. 0, p = .133) or 1 year (35% vs. 18%, .429). Five NAIS patients died during the hospital stay; three of them had end-of-life decisions. After a median follow-up of 16 months (1-66 months), 12 (39%) patients died, including 9 patients with NAIS and 3 with CHA reconstructions. The causes of death included overwhelming sepsis in 5 (42%) patients, graft disruption in one (8%) NAIS patient, non-small cell lung cancer in one (8%) patient, COVID-19 in one (8%) patient and unknown causes (8%) in one. CONCLUSIONS: Non-staged neoaortoiliac system reconstruction and cryopreserved human allografts show comparable short- and midterm results for treating aortic graft infections. However, both procedures remain challenging with high morbidity and mortality rates.

Outcomes of Endurant II Stent Graft According to Anatomic Severity Grade Score.

OBJECTIVES: This study's objective was to evaluate Endurant II (Medtronic Inc, Minneapolis, Minnesota) stent graft's early and midterm outcomes and compare the results according to the anatomic severity grade (ASG) scores. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients treated with the Endurant II stent graft between January 2013 and May 2021. The patients were divided into 2 independent groups, including those with a low ASG score (score <14) and a high ASG score (score >14). RESULTS: A total of 165 consecutive patients (89% males, age 74±8 years) were included. There were 110 (67%) patients in the low-score group and 55 (33%) patients in the high-score group. Technical success was achieved in all cases. Primary clinical success at 30 days was 100% and at 1 year was 96%. Median operative time was longer in the high-score group with no statistical significance (133 vs 120 minutes, p=0.116). The median dose area product of low-score patients (50.9 Gy·cm2; IQR 22.4-75.5 Gy·cm2) was significantly lower than high-score patients (85.0 Gy·cm2; IQR 46.5-127.9 Gy·cm2) with p=0.025. Median fluoroscopic time was lower in low-score patients (17 minutes; IQR 13-24 minutes) compared with high-score patients (19 minutes; IQR 16-23 minutes) without a significant difference at p=0.148. At a midterm follow-up of 32 months (range 2-63 months), combined complications (29% vs 8%, p<0.001) and implant-related complications (13% vs 4%, p=0.043) were higher in the high-score group. Systemic complications at 30 days were higher in the high-score group without a statistically significant difference (15% vs 11%, p=0.500). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of freedom from reintervention was significantly higher in the low-risk group at 1 (97% vs 90%), 2 (96% vs 88%), and 3 years (96% vs 85%) with (p=0.035). The cumulative survival rate was significantly higher in the low-score group than high-score group (p=0.001) at 1 (99% vs 87%), 2 (98% vs 85%), and 3 years (96% vs 82%). CONCLUSIONS: Endurant II endovascular aneurysm repair seems to be safe in both low-score and high-score patients. However, patients in the high-score group showed more implant-related complications and midterm mortalities than those in the low-score group.

Outcomes of Candida and Non-Candida Aortic Graft Infection.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the outcomes of Candida- and non-Candida-associated aortic graft infections. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data from patients treated for aortic graft infection from 2015 to 2021 in our hospital. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients (56 men; median age, 69 years; range, 50-87 years) were admitted with aortic graft infection, including 21 (32%) patients in the Candida group and 45 (68%) in the non-Candida group. The average time between initial operation and presentation of aortic graft infection was 50 months (range, 1-332 months). Graft-enteric fistulas (GEFs) were more often in the Candida group (57% vs 27%, P = .017). The most proven causative fungal specimen was C. albicans in 16 (76%) patients. Non-albicans Candida was found in 9% of all patients and 29% of the Candida patients. The median ICU length of stay was longer in the Candida group than non-Candida (10 vs 9 days, P = .012). Additionally, the median hospital length of stay was longer in the Candida group (33 vs 22 days, P = .048). There were no statistically significant differences between Candida and non-Candida groups according to the in-hospital mortality (24% vs 24%, P = .955), and 1-year mortality (38% vs 38%, P = .980). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with bacterial and fungal aortic graft infections have high rates of morbidity and mortality. We found no significant differences in postoperative morbidity and mortality between Candida and non-Candida patients. However, the ICU and hospital length of stay were longer in the Candida group.

Risk factors for elective and urgent open conversion after EVAR-a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) has become the standard procedure for treating infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Various associated complications can lead to open conversion (OC). Thorough follow-up after the procedure is mandatory for the early detection of complications. Persisting perfusion of the aneurysm, a so-called endoleak (EL), paired with structural instability because of aortic wall atrophy and impaired cell functionality induced by EVAR, results in a high risk for aortic rupture. PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to detect the risk factors for elective and urgent OC as a result of EVAR-induced pathophysiological changes inside the aortic wall. RESEARCH DESIGN: Retrospective data analysis was performed on all open aortic repairs from January 2016 to December 2020. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Fifty patients were identified as treated by OC for failure of an infrarenal EVAR. The patients were divided into two subgroups, here depending on the urgency of surgery. Statistical analysis of patient characteristics and outcomes was performed. RESULTS: The most common indications for OC were various types of EL (74%), resulting in an aortic rupture in 15 patients. Patients with insufficient or absent follow-up were treated more frequently in an emergency setting (16% vs. 63%). The mortality rate was higher in cases of emergency OC (3% vs. 26%). CONCLUSIONS: Particularly in cases of insufficient or absent follow-up, complications such as EL pose an enormous risk for fatal aortic rupture.

Aortoduodenal fistulas after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and open aortic repair.

OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we have reported and compared aortoduodenal fistulas (ADFs) after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) vs after open aortic repair (OAR). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data from patients treated for ADFs from January 2015 to May 2020 in our hospital. The clinical data, diagnostic procedures, and surgical options were evaluated. The primary endpoints of the present study were 30-day and 1-year mortality. The secondary endpoints were major postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 24 patients (20 men; median age, 69 years; range, 53-82 years) were admitted with ADFs after EVAR (n = 9) or OAR (n = 15). These patients accounted for ∼4.3% of all abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs in our hospital. The median interval from the initial aortic repair and the diagnosis of ADF was 68 months (range, 6-83 months) for the ADF-EVAR group and 80 months (range, 1-479 months) for the ADF-OAR group. Three patients in the ADF-EVAR group had refused surgical treatment owing to their high surgical risk. One patient in the ADF-OAR group had undergone removal of the aortic prosthesis without replacement. Of the remaining 20 patients, 12 (ADF-EVAR group, n = 4; ADF-OAR group, n = 8) had undergone in situ replacement of the aorta and 8 (ADF-EVAR group, n = 2; ADF-OAR group, n = 6) had undergone extra-anatomic reconstruction with aortic ligation. After a mean follow-up of 26 months, no patient had experienced early limb loss. However, one case of rupture of the venous graft (ADF-EVAR), one case of aortic stump blowout (ADF-OAR), and one case of a ureteroarterial fistula with a homograft (ADF-OAR) had occurred. Overall, the incidence of postoperative complications was significantly greater after ADF-OAR (93% vs 33%; P = .036). The most frequent bacteria involved in the blood cultures were Escherichia coli (25% of patients), and Candida spp. (61%) were the predominant pathogens found on intra-abdominal smears. The in-hospital mortality rates for the ADF-EVAR and ADF-OAR group were 22% and 13%, respectively. The corresponding 1 -year mortality rates were 22% and 33%. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ADFs after EVAR or OAR have limited overall survival. In addition to the similar therapeutic approaches, we found no significant differences in postoperative mortality between these two uncommon pathologic entities. In our study, the overall postoperative morbidity seemed greater for the ADF-OAR group.