Endovascular repair of thoracic aortic disease with isolated left vertebral artery and unfavorable proximal landing zone using fenestrated castor stent-graft.

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Castor single-branched stent-graft combined with fenestrated technique in treatment of thoracic aortic disease (TAD) with unfavorable proximal landing area (PLZ) and isolated left vertebral artery (ILVA). Methods: From January 2018 to March 2022, 8 patients with TAD (6 patients with type B aortic dissections, 1 patient with type B intramural hematomas, and 1 patient with thoracic aortic aneurysm) underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair with fenestrated Castor stent-graft due to the existence of ILVA and unfavorable PLZ. Demographic characteristics, surgical details, postoperative complications, follow-up and postoperative CTA imaging results were collected and analyzed. Results: The primary technical success rate was 100%. The mean operation time was 115 min (range, 70-180 min). All the left subclavian arteries (LSAs) and ILVAs of the eight patients were revascularized by fenestrated Castor stent-grafts. During the follow-up period, no deaths and complications were observed. No internal leakage, aortic rupture, retrograde type A dissection were found on computed tomography angiography. All of the LSAs and ILVAs maintained patency without stenosis. Conclusion: Castor single-branched stent-graft implantation combined with fenestration technique may be safe and feasible for TAD patients with ILVA and unfavorable PLZ.

Short-term follow-up of proximal aorta remodeling after zone 2 thoracic endovascular aortic repair for acute type B aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the early remodeling of the proximal aorta in patients with acute type B aortic dissection (ATBAD) after zone 2 thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). METHODS: From January 2016 to May 2022, 53 ATBAD patients underwent zone 2 TEVAR were divided into two groups, the Castor single-branched stent-graft (CSS) group (n = 26) and the common stent-graft group (n = 27). Three-dimensional imaging created by computed tomography angiography was used to measure different parameters of the aorta, such as angulation, cross-sectional area (CSA), length and tortuosity. Early remodeling of the proximal aorta was evaluated by comparing geometric parameters of the proximal aorta before and 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: In terms of angle, the postoperative angle of aortic arch to ascending aorta, descending aorta increased in all patients compared with that before surgery (all P < 0.05), while the angle of aortic arch to left subclavian artery increased after surgery only in the CSS group (P < 0.001); As for CSA, the CSA of distal aortic arch and true lumen increased (all P < 0.05), while the CSA of false lumen decreased in both groups after operation (all P < 0.05); Only in CSS group, the CSA of the ascending aorta, proximal aortic arch and total descending thoracic aorta decreased after surgery (all P < 0.05); In terms of length, the aortic arch prolonged after operation in both groups (P = 0.018 and P = 0.004, respectively). In addition, the ascending aorta tortuosity decreased in the CSS group after surgery (P = 0.011). There was no significant difference in the alterations of other aortic parameters after operation (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The CSS implantation provided a more relatively safe and effective treatment for acute type B aortic dissection patients with unfavorable proximal landing zone. It can promote the earlier remodeling of the proximal aorta compared with the common stent-graft implantation after zone 2 TEVAR.

Monocyte to Lymphocyte Ratio, A Novel Predictor of Acute Kidney Injury After Cardiac Valve Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Although inflammation contributes to the development of acute kidney injury (AKI), the role of monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR) in predicting the risk of postoperative AKI in patients underwent cardiac surgery is not completely clear yet. This study aimed to investigate whether elevated MLR predicts postoperative AKI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, a total of 331 adult patients who underwent heart valve replacement were included. These patients are not distinguished between single valve replacement or double valve replacement. AKI was diagnosed, according to the KDIGO classification criteria. The associations between monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and the occurrence of AKI were investigated. RESULTS: Postoperative AKI was detected in 37 (11.2%) patients. In the early period after surgery, the patients who developed AKI had a significant higher preoperative MLR than those who did not (0.38(0.33-0.44) vs. 0.26(0.20-0.34), = 0.02). The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of the MLR for predicting AKI was 0.772 (P = 0.01), and the cut-off value was 0.47. Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that the higher preoperative MLR (≥0.47) was independent predictor of AKI (OR: 2.951, 95% CI: 1.412-6.167, P = 0.004). According to the cut-off value group verification, patients in the higher preoperative MLR group are more likely to have low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS), renal replacement therapy, and hospital death after surgery. CONCLUSION: These results showed that MLR could be used as a cost-effective predictor of postoperative AKI in patients who undergo heart valve replacement surgery.