Risk Factors for Incomplete Aortic Remodeling With Stent-Assisted Balloon-Induced Intimal Disruption and Relamination in Aortic Dissection Repair for Complicated Aortic Dissection: Results of a Multicenter Study.

PURPOSE: The STABILISE technique has extended the treatment of aortic dissection to the thoracoabdominal aorta to achieve complete aortic remodeling. The aim of this multicenter study was to analyze the short- and midterm anatomical results of the STABILISE technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients treated with the STABILISE technique for complicated aortic dissection at 3 French academic centers. The aortic diameter at different levels was measured preoperatively, postoperatively, and at 1 year. RESULTS: Between 2018 and 2020, 58 patients, including 47 men (average patient age: 60±11 years), were treated for type B aortic dissection in 34 cases and residual aortic dissection after type A repair in 24 cases. Three (5.2%) patients died postoperatively. Complete aortic remodeling (false lumen thrombosis and complete reapposition of the intimal flap) was achieved in 45/55 patients (81.8%), and false lumen thrombosis in the thoracic aorta was achieved in 52/55 patients (94.5%). At 1 year, with a computed tomographic (CT) scan available for 98.2% (54/55) of patients, we observed a significant decrease in the maximal thoracic aortic diameter and a significant increase in the aortic diameter at the bare-stent level compared with the preoperative CT scan. Severe aortic angulation (p=0.024) was a risk factor for incomplete aortic remodeling and significantly increased the aortic diameter (p=0.032). Chronic aortic dissection was associated with an increased risk of incomplete aortic remodeling (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: STABILISE for complicated aortic dissection results in false lumen thrombosis, complete reapposition of the intimal flap, and a decrease in the maximum aortic diameter in most cases. Incomplete reapposition of the intimal flap, which is more frequent in cases of chronic aortic dissection and severe aortic angulation, is a risk factor for a significant increase in the aortic diameter at the bare-stent level, and this risk justifies close follow-up and better patient selection. CLINICAL IMPACT: STABILISE technique for complicated aortic dissection results in false lumen thrombosis, complete aortic remodeling and a decrease in the maximum aortic diameter in most cases. At the bare-stent level, incomplete reapposition of the intimal flap, more frequent in chronic aortic dissection and severe aortic angulation, is a risk factor for an increased aortic diameter. This finding justifies close follow-up and better patient selection; thus, the STABILISE technique should be used with care in chronic aortic dissection and severe aortic angulation.

Surgery of Renal Artery Aneurysms: A Monocentric Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to report the results of conventional surgery for renal artery aneurysms (RAAs) in our center. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the files of all the patients operated for RAAs between 2009 and 2018 in our center. We collected demographic, biological (renal function), morphological (computed tomography [CT] scan), and functional (ultrasound examination and resistance index) preoperative and postoperative data. Clinical and paraclinical operative data were examined. Results were expressed as average ± standard deviation or median and extremes. RESULTS: A total of 26 aneurysms were operated in 20 kidneys (10 right kidneys) among 19 patients, including 13 (68%) women with an average age of 55 (±12) years. Three (16%) patients presented an aneurysm in a single kidney. The discovery of the aneurysm was fortuitous in 14 (74%) patients. One patient with Marfan syndrome was operated after a postpartum rupture. The median diameter of the operated aneurysms was 22 mm (7-48), and 23 (90%) were hilar aneurysms. Arterial repair was carried out in situ in 16 (80%) kidneys. The surgery consisted of a direct arterial repair in 21 cases (81%), including 4 resections and anastomoses, 12 aneurysmorrhaphies, and 5 complex reconstructions. Four arterial replacements were carried out (one prosthetic graft, 2 femoral grafts, and one internal iliac graft). The average duration of renal clamping was 30.5 (±17.3) min. Postoperative renal function was unchanged in all the patients except for one (5.2%) who required 2 days of postoperative dialysis. The resistance index of all the operated kidneys was normal (0.66 ± 0.08) at discharge. Sixteen (70%) of the 23 aneurysms were examined, and anatomopathology concluded them to be of dysplastic origin. At 3 months, a systematic CT scan objectified the patency of 95% of the arterial reconstructions, with 3 stenoses >50%. One stenosis >80% was treated at 7 months by balloon angioplasty. Only one operated kidney presented a loss of viability of its upper pole. The mean duration of follow-up was 54 ± 35 months. By the end of the follow-up, primary and secondary patency rates evaluated by Doppler ultrasound were 90% and 95%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Conventional surgery generally performed in situ remains a sure and effective treatment for RAAs. This challenging surgery for a rare disease should be performed in experimented centers.

Treatment of Carotid Restenoses after Endarterectomy: A Retrospective Monocentric Study.

BACKGROUND: To compare the different techniques for the treatment of carotid restenosis after carotid artery endarterectomy (CAE). METHODS: Among 1,218 carotid surgeries carried out in our center between January 2010 and November 2017, 45 procedures were performed for carotid restenosis after CAE, including 11 by iterative conventional surgery and 34 with endovascular techniques (7 transluminal angioplasties alone [TLA], 9 carotid artery stenting [CAS], and 18 angioplasties with active balloons [drug-coated balloon {DCB}]). Perioperative data (cumulated rate of morbimortality [CRMM], duration of hospitalization) and postoperative results (survival, symptomatic restenoses > 50% or asymptomatic stenoses > 70% on ultrasound, reinterventions) were collected retrospectively and analyzed with Fisher's exact test. The long-term results were estimated according to the Kaplan-Meier estimator and were compared with the log rank test (P < 0.05 was regarded as significant). RESULTS: There was one secondary death due to a massive postoperative stroke in the endovascular (ENDO) group. No significant difference regarding CRMM (2.9%, P = 0.756) between the iterative conventional surgery (open surgery; OS) and the ENDO groups of was observed. Three hematomas were found in the OS group versus one in the ENDO group (P = 0.04). The length of hospital stay was shorter in the ENDO group (P < 0.001). No difference was found between the ENDO group and the OS group regarding the two-year survival or the survival without recurrent restenosis (86 vs. 100%, log rank = 0.804, and log rank = 0.114). There were 5 restenoses >70% and two reinterventions in the ENDO group (P > 0.05). The comparison of the different endovascular techniques did not show significant differences regarding the CRMM, the one-year overall survival, the survival without recurrent restenosis, or the survival without reintervention (89% in the DCB and CAS groups vs. 100% in the percutaneous transluminal angioplasty [PTA] group, log rank = 0.286; 87% in the DCB group vs. 100% in the PTA and CAS groups, log rank = 0.137; and 94% in the DCB group vs. 100% in the PTA and CAS groups, log rank = 0.585, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, endovascular procedures are equivalent to iterative conventional surgery for the treatment of carotid restenoses in terms of major complications, news restenoses, or survival with less hematoma and a shorter duration of hospitalization. We however could not identify the best endovascular strategy in this indication, and a controlled study comparing the various endovascular strategies is proposed.