Sizing the Frozen Elephant Trunk Based on Aortic Pathology and the Importance of Pre-Operative Imaging.

The frozen elephant trunk is a formidable tool for the aortovascular surgeon. An appreciation of how to size the graft in different pathologies is key in achieving optimal results. Herein, we demonstrate worked examples of how imaging can be used to plan for a frozen elephant trunk and discuss the nuisances and uncertainties of sizing using three index cases: Type A aortic dissection, distal thoracic aortic aneurysm and chronic dissection.

Frozen elephant trunk for blunt aortic arch injury.

Total arch replacement with the frozen elephant trunk technique is expanding its indications to treat a wide range of aortic arch and descending aortic conditions. Although blunt thoracic aortic injury commonly occurs at the aortic isthmus or descending thoracic aorta, we encountered a 36-year-old male patient with Grade III blunt aortic injury located in the mid-arch. An endovascular approach was not feasible and thus the patient underwent total arch replacement using the frozen elephant trunk technique.

Is the thoracic aorta a safe site for the proximal anastomosis for bypassing the mesenteric arteries in patients with chronic mesenteric ischaemia?

A best evidence topic in cardiovascular surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether the thoracic aorta is a safe site for the proximal anastomosis when bypassing the mesenteric arteries in patients with chronic mesenteric ischaemia. Five articles reported the use of the thoracic aorta as the site of proximal anastomosis in 35 patients with chronic mesenteric ischaemia. All of these studies were retrospective case reports or case series. The ascending aorta was the site for the proximal anastomosis in 7 patients with the descending thoracic aorta being used in the other 28 patients. The ascending aorta was used when there was disease of the descending thoracic aorta. Out of the 35 patients there was only 1 perioperative death (3%). Rates of graft patency and freedom from recurrent symptoms were excellent. The published literature supports the use of the thoracic aorta as an option for the site of the proximal anastomosis when bypass from elsewhere is not possible.

Ascending Aorta to Hepatic and Mesenteric Artery Bypassing, in Patients with Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia and Extensive Aortic Disease-A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) is a rare disorder caused by severe stenosis of the mesenteric arterial supply that results in postprandial pain and weight loss. Treatment options are surgical or endovascular. Surgical bypass can be performed in an antegrade fashion from the supraceliac abdominal aorta (AA) or the distal descending thoracic aorta or in a retrograde fashion from the infrarenal aorta or the common iliac artery. However, in some patients with disease of the descending thoracic aorta or the AA, another site for the proximal anastomosis needs to be found. In this article, we report the case of a 69-year-old man with a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm and CMI in whom we performed bypass grafts to the hepatic and superior mesenteric arteries using the ascending aorta as the site for the proximal anastomoses via a median sternolaparotomy. In addition, we performed a literature review of all similar cases and provide an analysis of this technique and an assessment of the success rates.

Surgical repair of distal arch psendoaneurysm from ruptured penetrating aortic ulcer with the frozen elephant trunk technique.

Ruptured Penetrating Ulcer and aortic arch pseudo-aneurysm is a rare condition but one which carries a high risk of rupture. We report the case of a 74-year-old man with aortic arch pseudo-aneurysm, in which a Frozen Elephant Trunk procedure was successfully performed. There were no postoperative complications at 6 months follow-up. The Computed Tomography Angiogram demonstrated thrombus formation in the pseudo-aneurysm lumen, with no endoleak on the stented part of the descending thoracic aorta and complete patency of all branches of aortic arch. This case demonstrates that the Frozen Elephant Trunk technique may be the treatment of choice when treating such complex aortic arch lesions provided there is no absolute contraindication to radical surgical intervention. However, long-term clinical efficacy and safety have yet to be confirmed.