Preoperative anxiety in the paediatric population in a tertiary hospital: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

AIM: To analyse preoperative paediatric anxiety in a tertiary hospital and influencing factors. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional study. One hundred patients between two and 12 years old who underwent elective surgical intervention were included. All patients received oral or written information about the anaesthetic-surgical process and waited in a playroom before surgery. Preoperative paediatric anxiety was assessed using the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale and its short form. Collaboration during anaesthesia induction was evaluated using the Induction Compliance Checklist and postoperative pain evaluated using Wong-Baker Scale. We performed a descriptive and comparative analysis of the results overall. RESULTS: We found a high incidence of preoperative anxiety, especially during anaesthetic induction. Children aged two to five years, female sex and otorhinolaryngology surgery were associated with a higher incidence of preoperative anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Providing oral and written information and waiting in the playing room before surgery are insufficient measures to prevent preoperative paediatric anxiety.

Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome: Association with Adverse Events After Major Noncardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The American Heart Association (AHA) recently defined the cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome (CKM) as a new entity to address the complex interactions between heart, kidneys, and metabolism. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome impact of CKM syndrome in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of a prospective international cohort study including patients aged ≥45 years with increased cardiovascular risk undergoing noncardiac surgery. Main exposure was CKM syndrome according to the AHA definition. The primary end point was a composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) 30 days after surgery. Secondary end points included all-cause mortality and non-MACE complications (Clavien-Dindo class ≥3). RESULTS: This analysis included 14,634 patients (60.8% male, mean age = 72±8 years). MACE occurred in 308 patients (2.1%), and 335 patients (2.3%) died. MACE incidence by CKM stage was as follows: CKM 0: 5/367 = 1.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4%-3.2%); CKM 1: 3/367 = 0.8% (95% CI, 0.2%-2.4%); CKM 2: 102/7440 = 1.4% (95% CI, 1.1%-1.7%); CKM 3: 27/953 = 2.8% (95% CI, 1.9%-4.1%); CKM 4a: 164/5357 = 3.1% (95% CI, 2.6%-3.6%); CKM 4b: 7/150 = 4.7% (95% CI, 1.9%-9.4%). In multivariate logistic regression, CKM stage ≥3 was independently associated with MACE, mortality, and non-MACE complications, respectively (MACE: OR 2.26 [95% CI, 1.78-2.87]; mortality: OR 1.42 [95% CI: 1.13 -1.78]; non-MACE complications: OR 1.11 [95% CI: 1.03-1.20]). CONCLUSION: The newly defined CKM syndrome is associated with increased morbidity and mortality after non-cardiac surgery. Thus, cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic disorders should be regarded in mutual context in this setting.

Pathological findings associated with the updated European Society of Cardiology 2022 guidelines for preoperative cardiac testing: an observational cohort modelling study.

BACKGROUND: In 2022, the European Society of Cardiology updated guidelines for preoperative evaluation. The aims of this study were to quantify: (1) the impact of the updated recommendations on the yield of pathological findings compared with the previous guidelines published in 2014; (2) the impact of preoperative B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) use for risk estimation on the yield of pathological findings; and (3) the association between 2022 guideline adherence and outcomes. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of MET-REPAIR, an international, prospective observational cohort study (NCT03016936). Primary endpoints were reduced ejection fraction (EF<40%), stress-induced ischaemia, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The explanatory variables were class of recommendations for transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), stress imaging, and guideline adherence. We conducted second-order Monte Carlo simulations and multivariable regression. RESULTS: In total, 15,529 patients (39% female, median age 72 [inter-quartile range: 67-78] yr) were included. The 2022 update changed the recommendation for preoperative TTE in 39.7% patients, and for preoperative stress imaging in 12.9% patients. The update resulted in missing 1 EF <40% every 3 fewer conducted TTE, and in 4 additional stress imaging per 1 additionally detected ischaemia events. For cardiac stress testing, four more investigations were performed for every 1 additionally detected ischaemia episodes. Use of NT-proBNP did not improve the yield of pathological findings. Multivariable regression analysis failed to find an association between adherence to the updated guidelines and MACE. CONCLUSIONS: The 2022 update for preoperative cardiac testing resulted in a relevant increase in tests receiving a stronger recommendation. The updated recommendations for TTE did not improve the yield of pathological cardiac testing.

Assessment of Individualized Mean Perfusion Pressure Targets for the Prevention of Cardiac Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury-The PrevHemAKI Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Retrospective studies support that mean perfusion pressure (MPP) deficit in cardiac surgery patients is associated with a higher incidence of acute kidney injury (CS-AKI). The aim of our study was to apply an algorithm based on MPP in the postoperative period to determine whether management with an individualized target reduces the incidence of CS-AKI. METHODS: Randomized controlled trial of patients undergoing cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation. Adult patients submitted to valve replacement and/or bypass surgery with a high risk of CS-AKI evaluated by a Leicester score >30 were randomized to follow a target MPP of >75% of the calculated baseline or a standard hemodynamic management during the first postoperative 24 h. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients with an eGFR of 54 mL/min were included. There were no differences in MAP and MPP in the first 24 h between the randomized groups, although a higher use of noradrenaline was found in the intervention arm (38.78 vs. 63.27, p = 0.026). The percentage of time with MPP < 75% of measured baseline was similar in both groups (10 vs. 12.7%, p = 0.811). MAP during surgery was higher in the intervention group (73 vs. 77 mmHg, p = 0.008). The global incidence of CS-AKI was 36.7%, being 38.6% in the intervention group and 34.6% in the control group (p = 0.40). There were no differences in extrarenal complications between groups as well. CONCLUSION: An individualized hemodynamic management based on MPP compared to standard treatment in cardiac surgery patients was safe but did not reduce the incidence of CS-AKI in our study.

Impact of cardiac surgery associated acute kidney injury on 1-year major adverse kidney events.

Background: The incidence of acute kidney injury following cardiac surgery (CSA-AKI) is up to 30%, and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been found to be higher in these patients compared to the AKI-free population. The aim of our study was to assess the risk of major adverse kidney events (MAKE) [25% or greater decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), new hemodialysis, and death] after cardiac surgery in a Spanish cohort and to evaluate the utility of the score developed by Legouis D et al. (CSA-CKD score) in predicting the occurrence of MAKE. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study of patients who required cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) during 2015, with a 1-year follow-up after the intervention. The inclusion criteria were patients over 18 years old who had undergone cardiac surgery [i.e., valve substitution (VS), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), or a combination of both procedures]. Results: The number of patients with CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min) increased from 74 (18.3%) to 97 (24%) within 1 year after surgery. The median eGFR declined from 85 to 82 mL/min in the non-CSA-AKI patient group and from 73 to 65 mL/min in those with CSA-AKI (p = 0.024). Fifty-eight patients (1.4%) presented with MAKE at the 1-year follow-up. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the only variable associated with MAKE was CSA-AKI [odds ratio (OR) 2.386 (1.31-4.35), p = 0.004]. The median CSA-CKD score was higher in the MAKE cohort [3 (2-4) vs. 2 (1-3), p < 0.001], but discrimination was poor, with a receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) value of 0.682 (0.611-0.754). Conclusion: Any-stage CSA-AKI is associated with a risk of MAKE after 1 year. Further research into new measures that identify at-risk patients is needed so that appropriate patient follow-up can be carried out.

Risk assessment for major adverse cardiovascular events after noncardiac surgery using self-reported functional capacity: international prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines endorse self-reported functional capacity for preoperative cardiovascular assessment, although evidence for its predictive value is inconsistent. We hypothesised that self-reported effort tolerance improves prediction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) after noncardiac surgery. METHODS: This is an international prospective cohort study (June 2017 to April 2020) in patients undergoing elective noncardiac surgery at elevated cardiovascular risk. Exposures were (i) questionnaire-estimated effort tolerance in metabolic equivalents (METs), (ii) number of floors climbed without resting, (iii) self-perceived cardiopulmonary fitness compared with peers, and (iv) level of regularly performed physical activity. The primary endpoint was in-hospital MACE consisting of cardiovascular mortality, non-fatal cardiac arrest, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and congestive heart failure requiring transfer to a higher unit of care or resulting in a prolongation of stay on ICU/intermediate care (≥24 h). Mixed-effects logistic regression models were calculated. RESULTS: In this study, 274 (1.8%) of 15 406 patients experienced MACE. Loss of follow-up was 2%. All self-reported functional capacity measures were independently associated with MACE but did not improve discrimination (area under the curve of receiver operating characteristic [ROC AUC]) over an internal clinical risk model (ROC AUCbaseline 0.74 [0.71-0.77], ROC AUCbaseline+4METs 0.74 [0.71-0.77], ROC AUCbaseline+floors climbed 0.75 [0.71-0.78], AUCbaseline+fitnessvspeers 0.74 [0.71-0.77], and AUCbaseline+physical activity 0.75 [0.72-0.78]). CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of self-reported functional capacity expressed in METs or using the other measures assessed here did not improve prognostic accuracy compared with clinical risk factors. Caution is needed in the use of self-reported functional capacity to guide clinical decisions resulting from risk assessment in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03016936.

Preoperative triage to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection in surgical patients: lessons learned for resuming surgery.

PURPOSE: To define the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on hospital surgical activity and assess the incidence of perioperative COVID-19 within two protocolized screening pathways for elective and non-elective surgery. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study of adults undergoing surgery during the COVID-19 outbreak. The elective pathway included telephone surveys and a quantitative polymerase-chain-reaction test (RT-PCR) only for patients who were asymptomatic and at low risk of infection. Only patients with negative screening underwent surgery. In the non-elective pathway, preoperative screening was performed during the hospital admission. RESULTS: Among 835 patients considered for the elective pathway, 725 had negative RT-PCR results and underwent surgery. This reflects an 83% reduction in surgical activity from 2019. Moreover, 596 patients underwent non-elective surgery, representing a 28% reduction. Preoperatively, 39 patients (6.5%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and underwent surgery through the non-elective pathway, vs. none in the elective pathway (p < 0.001). Postoperatively, 1.4% of elective surgery patients and 2.2% of non-elective surgery patients tested positive (p > 0.05). Mortality was higher in non-elective surgery (0.6% vs. 2.9%, p < 0.001) and in patients with COVID-19 (0% vs. 14%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The low incidence of COVID-19 in elective surgeries during the outbreak demonstrates the importance and effectiveness of preoperative screening, combining surveys and RT-PCR.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: Rediscovering an Old Cause of Myocardial Infarction.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is an uncommon, but not insignificant cause of acute coronary syndrome that overwhelmingly affects middle-aged women. The pathophysiology of coronary dissection appears to be an outside-in mechanism, where the initiating event is not an intimal tear but rather the formation of an intramural hematoma, which compromises blood flow by reducing the arterial lumen. Considering this mechanism, it is clear to see how intracoronary imaging techniques, such as optical coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound, are most accurate in the diagnosis. However, they carry a high rate of complications and are therefore generally avoided when the clinical scenario and angiographic appearance both support the diagnosis of spontaneous coronary artery dissection. The natural history of the disease is toward healing of the vessel wall and restoration of blood flow. Therefore, conservative medical management is the preferred approach unless there are high-risk factors such as hemodynamic instability, signs of ischemia and severe proximal or multivessel lesions, in which percutaneous or surgical revascularization should be considered. Perioperative evaluation of these patients must take into account several aspects of this disease. Most of these patients will be receiving single or dual antiplatelet therapy, so one must consider the timing of the event and the surgical hemorrhagic risk when deciding to stop these therapies. Extracoronary vascular disease also must be assessed because it can have an effect on patient monitoring and risk of postoperative complications.

European association of cardiothoracic anesthesiology and intensive care (EACTAIC) fellowship curriculum: second edition

Abstract Pediatric cardiac anesthesia is a subspecialty of cardiac and pediatric anesthesiology dedicated to the perioperative care of patients with congenital heart disease. Members of the Congenital and Education Subcommittees of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (EACTAIC) agreed on the necessity to develop an EACTAIC pediatric cardiac anesthesia fellowship curriculum. This manuscript represents a consensus on the composition and the design of the EACTAIC Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Fellowship program. This curriculum provides a basis for the training of future pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists by clearly defining the theoretical and practical requirements for fellows and host centers.

European association of cardiothoracic anesthesiology and intensive care pediatric cardiac anesthesia fellowship curriculum: first edition

ABSTRACT: Pediatric cardiac anesthesia is a subspecialty of cardiac and pediatric anesthesiology dedicated to the perioperative care of patients with congenital heart disease. Members of the Congenital and Education Subcommittees of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (EACTAIC) agreed on the necessity to develop an EACTAIC pediatric cardiac anesthesia fellowship curriculum. This manuscript represents a consensus on the composition and the design of the EACTAIC Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Fellowship program. This curriculum provides a basis for the training of future pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists by clearly defining the theoretical and practical requirements for fellows and host centers.

Risk Factors for Acute Kidney Injury Following Cardiac Surgery and Performance of Leicester Score in a Spanish Cohort.

The incidence of acute kidney injury following cardiac surgery (CSA-AKI) is up to 30%, and it places patients at an increased risk of death. The Leicester score (LS) is a new score that predicts CSA-AKI of any stage with better discrimination compared to previous scores. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for CSA-AKI and to assess the performance of LS. A unicentric retrospective study of patients that required cardiac surgery with cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) in 2015 was performed. The inclusion criteria were patients over 18 years old who were operated on for cardiac surgery (valve substitution (VS), Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), or a combination of both procedures and requiring CPB). CSA-AKI was defined with the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. In the multivariate analysis, hypertension (odds ratio 1.883), estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR) <60 mL/min (2.365), and peripheral vascular disease (4.66) were associated with the outcome. Both discrimination and calibration were better when the LS was used compared to the Cleveland Clinic Score and Euroscore II, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.721. In conclusion, preoperative hypertension in patients with CKD with or without peripheral vasculopathy can identify patients who are at risk of CSA-AKI. The LS was proven to be a valid score that could be used to identify patients who are at risk and who could benefit from intervention studies.

European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Fellowship Curriculum: First Edition.

Pediatric cardiac anesthesia is a subspecialty of cardiac and pediatric anesthesiology dedicated to the perioperative care of patients with congenital heart disease. Members of the Congenital and Education Subcommittees of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (EACTAIC) agreed on the necessity to develop an EACTAIC pediatric cardiac anesthesia fellowship curriculum. This manuscript represents a consensus on the composition and the design of the EACTAIC Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Fellowship program. This curriculum provides a basis for the training of future pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists by clearly defining the theoretical and practical requirements for fellows and host centers.

European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology (EACTA) Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia Fellowship Curriculum: First Edition.

This special article summarizes the design and certification process of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology (EACTA) Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia (CTVA) Fellowship Program. The CTVA fellowship training includes a two-year curriculum at an EACTA-accredited educational facility. Before fellows are accepted into the program, they must meet a number of requirements, including evidence of a valid license to practice medicine, a specialist degree examination in anesthesiology, and appropriate language skills as required in the host centers. The CVTA Fellowship Program has 2 sequential and complementary levels of training-both with a modular structure that allows for individual planning and also takes into account the differing national healthcare needs and requirements of the 36 countries represented in EACTA. The basic training period focuses on the anesthetic management of patients undergoing cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgery and related procedures. The advanced training period is intended to deepen and to extend the clinical and nontechnical skills that fellows have acquired during the basic training. The goal of the EACTA fellowship is to produce highly trained and competent perioperative physicians who are able to care for patients undergoing cardiac, thoracic, and vascular anesthesia.

Medical and surgical management for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: a single center experience.

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary endarterectomy (PE) is the treatment of choice for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The aim of this study was to analyze our experience in the medical and surgical management of CTEPH. METHODS: We included 80 patients diagnosed with CTEPH between January 2000 and July 2012. Thirty two patients underwent PE and 48 received medical treatment (MT). We analyzed functional class (FC), six-minute walking distance (6MWD) and pulmonary hemodynamics. Mortality in both groups and periods were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients who underwent PE were younger, mostly men, and had longer 6MWD. No differences were observed in pulmonary hemodynamics or FC at diagnosis. One year after treatment, all PE patients versus 41% in MT group were at FCI-II. At follow-up, the PE group showed greater increase in 6MWD, and greater reduction in mean pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance than the MT group (P<.05). Overall survival in the MT group at 1 and 5years was 83% and 69%, respectively. Conditional survival in patients alive 100days post-PE at 1 and 5years was 95% and 88%, respectively. Surgical mortality in operated patients in the first period (2000-2006) was 31,3%, and 6,3% in the second (2007-2012). CONCLUSIONS: PE provides good clinical results, and improves pulmonary hemodynamics in patients who successfully overcome the immediate postoperative period. After a learning period, the current operatory mortality in our center is similar to international standards.

Cirugía de preservación pulmonar mediante reconstrucciones broncoangioplásticas extendidas / Lung sparing surgery by means of extended broncho-angioplastic (sleeve) lobectomies

ObjetivoDeterminar la morbimortalidad y supervivencia de los procedimientos broncoangioplásticos extendidos a más de un lóbulo en comparación con las técnicas broncoangioplásticas simples.Pacientes y métodosEntre septiembre de 2005 y mayo de 2010, 535 pacientes diagnosticados de carcinoma broncogénico que cumplían criterios de operabilidad clínica, oncológica y funcional fueron tratados en nuestra unidad. Los tumores centrales(n=95) no resecables mediante lobectomía simple fueron programados para técnicas broncoangioplásticas y en caso de imposibilidad, neumonectomía.ResultadosSe realizaron 58 (11%) procedimientos, 46 lobectomías broncoangioplásticas simple (LBS) y 12 extendidas (LBE). En el grupo de LBS (bronquiales 32 [70%], reconstrucción broncovascular 7 [15%] y vascular sola 7 [15%]). En el grupo de LBE, 8 (66,7%) fueron reconstrucciones bronquiales y 4 (33,3%) broncovasculares. El tipo de resección más frecuente es el lóbulo superior derecho (LSD)+segmento 6 en 5 (41%) casos, seguido del LSD+lóbulo medio. La mortalidad fue de en 2 (3%) casos en el grupo LBS. La morbilidad ocurrió en el 34% LSB y en el 33% LBE (p>0,05). Quince pacientes recibieron tratamiento quimiorradioterápico neoadjuvante, por cN2 confirmado histológicamente, sin embargo no se detectó mayor número de complicaciones significativamente (p>0,05). No se detectaron factores de riesgo respecto a ninguna variable estudiada que afectaran a las LBE respecto a las LBS (p>0,05). En ambos grupos, los pacientes con mayor morbilidad fueron pN1, localización en lóbulo superior izquierdo y con reconstrucción vascular asociada (p<0,05). La supervivencia global a los 5 años fue 61,6% LBS (61%) y LBE (68,9%) sin diferencia entre ambos grupos (p>0,05).ConclusionesLas LBE son procedimientos técnicamente más demandantes pero no aumentan la morbimortalidad respecto a las técnicas broncoangioplásticas simples con una supervivencia similar(AU)

ObjectiveTo determine the morbidity, mortality and survival of sleeve lobectomy procedures compared to simple broncho-angioplasty procedures.Patients and methodsA total of 535 patients diagnosed with bronchogenic cancer between September 2005 and May 2010 who fulfilled the criteria of clinical, oncological and functional operability were treated in our unit. Unresectable central tumours (n=95) using simple lobectomy were scheduled for broncho-angioplasty techniques and a pneumonectomy in those where this was impossible.ResultsA total of 58 (11%) were performed, 46 simple broncho-angioplastic lobectomies (SBAL) and 12 extended broncho-angioplastic lobectomies (EBAL). In the SBAL group there were 32 bronchial (70%) and 7 (15%) bronchovascular reconstructions and only vascular (15%). In the EBAL group, 8 (66.7%) were bronchial and 4 (33.3%) were bronchovascular reconstructions. The most common type of resection was the right upper lobe (RUL)+segment 6 in five (41%) cases, followed by RUL+middle lobe. There were 2 (3%) deaths in the SBAL group. There was 34% morbidity in the SBAL and 33% in the EBAL group (P>0.05). Fifteen patients received neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy treatment, due to histologically confirmed cN2; however, the number of complications was not significantly higher. No risk factors were detected in any variable studied that would affect EBAL compared to the SBAL group (P>0.05). The patients in both groups with a higher morbidity were pN1, located in the left upper lobe and associated with vascular reconstruction (P<0.05). The overall survival at 5 years was 61.6%, SBAL (61%) and EBAL (68.9%) with no differences between groups (P>0.05).ConclusionsEBALs are technically more demanding procedures, but do not increase the morbidity or mortality compared to simple broncho-angioplasty techniques, and with a similar survival(AU)

Lung sparing surgery by means of extended broncho-angioplastic (sleeve) lobectomies.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the morbidity, mortality and survival of sleeve lobectomy procedures compared to simple broncho-angioplasty procedures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 535 patients diagnosed with bronchogenic cancer between September 2005 and May 2010 who fulfilled the criteria of clinical, oncological and functional operability were treated in our unit. Unresectable central tumours (n=95) using simple lobectomy were scheduled for broncho-angioplasty techniques and a pneumonectomy in those where this was impossible. RESULTS: A total of 58 (11%) were performed, 46 simple broncho-angioplastic lobectomies (SBAL) and 12 extended broncho-angioplastic lobectomies (EBAL). In the SBAL group there were 32 bronchial (70%) and 7 (15%) bronchovascular reconstructions and only vascular (15%). In the EBAL group, 8 (66.7%) were bronchial and 4 (33.3%) were bronchovascular reconstructions. The most common type of resection was the right upper lobe (RUL)+segment 6 in five (41%) cases, followed by RUL+middle lobe. There were 2 (3%) deaths in the SBAL group. There was 34% morbidity in the SBAL and 33% in the EBAL group (P>0.05). Fifteen patients received neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy treatment, due to histologically confirmed cN2; however, the number of complications was not significantly higher. No risk factors were detected in any variable studied that would affect EBAL compared to the SBAL group (P>0.05). The patients in both groups with a higher morbidity were pN1, located in the left upper lobe and associated with vascular reconstruction (P<0.05). The overall survival at 5 years was 61.6%, SBAL (61%) and EBAL (68.9%) with no differences between groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EBALs are technically more demanding procedures, but do not increase morbidity or mortality compared to simple broncho-angioplasty techniques, and with a similar survival.

Stent grafting-related acute type B redissection.

The purpose of this article is to report two distal dissections resulting as a complication of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in two cases of type B aortic dissection (TBAD) and its relationship with prosthetic alignment at the distal landing zone. Two patients affected by aneurysm formation of a chronic type B dissection underwent EVAR. During postoperative follow-up, at 48 and 39 months, respectively, a new chest pain episode recommended a new computed tomographic angiography examination. New false lumen reperfusion and increased aortic diameter distally to the prosthesis were demonstrated. The distal end of each stent graft showed an angulated alignment to the proximal descending aorta at the point of the secondary entry site. Both patients were successfully treated after deployment of a distal endograft. Prosthetic alignment with the aortic axis is important to avoid wall stress and secondary perforation in patients treated for TBAD. The distal landing point at the descending aortic straight segment is recommended.