The modified branch-first open repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms-video article.

Open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) surgeries are complex and challenging that warrant an experienced multidisciplinary team effort to achieve good results. We present a technical description of the modified branch-first technique (MBFT) of open TAAA repair which helps minimize overall morbidity and mortality associated with the procedure. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12055-023-01563-y.

Recurrent symptomatic aortic aneurysm in a young girl with tuberous sclerosis complex and review of the literature.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a rare occurrence in pediatric populations. When present, it is usually associated with an underlying etiology such as a connective tissue disorder, inflammatory process, or noninflammatory medial degeneration. In the present report, we describe the case of a girl with tuberous sclerosis complex who underwent successful emergency open repair of a symptomatic infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm and recurrent type IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm.

Hybrid repair of type II thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm using modified branch-first technique.

The hybrid modified branch-first technique has extended the feasibility of open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair in otherwise hostile aortic anatomy that is not entirely amenable for extent II open TAAA conventional repair or total endovascular repair. The modified branch-first open TAAA technique has been developed successfully at our center and has been used to treat extent III TAAAs with successful outcomes. By combining the modified technique with endovascular thoracic aortic repair, we have been able to successfully extend its use to more extensive extent II TAAAs. This could prove to be a useful technique in the armamentarium of aortic surgeons.

Alternative option for limb reperfusion cannula placement for percutaneous femoral veno-arterial ECMO.

Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) is an established last line support for severe, acute cardiorespiratory failure. In the case of VA ECMO, peripheral cannulation via the femoral vessels is often advantageous when compared with the alternative central cannulation, and is associated with better clinical outcomes. One of the specific potential complications of peripheral femoral arterial cannulation for ECMO, however, is ipsilateral distal lower limb ischemia; a consideration especially when cannulating the vessel directly, as distal limb perfusion is invariably compromised by an occlusive effect of the arterial cannula within the femoral artery. The gold standard technique for lower limb reperfusion is a separate size 6-7 Fr cannula inserted proximally into the femoral artery, just below the insertion point of the ECMO return cannula, and connected directly to the ECMO circuit so that the blood flow is also directed distally to perfuse the entire limb. This functions well whether the ECMO cannula has been placed percutaneously or by surgical cut-down. Although proximal femoral arterial placement of the reperfusion cannula is the established and preferred technique, there are many technical challenges which may preclude its placement. Local haematoma or bleeding post ECMO insertion, peripheral vascular disease, constricted vasculature in severely shocked patients, or patient obesity are all common reasons why placement of the proximal reperfusion cannula may be difficult, or impossible. In such instances, our retrograde perfusion technique may maintain limb perfusion and may even be limb saving for patients on VA ECMO support.

Digital ischaemia of the upper limbs in middle age: consider arterial thoracic outlet syndrome until proven otherwise!

OBJECTIVES: Patients presenting with digital upper limb ischaemia are occasionally referred to rheumatology services to rule out vasculitis. We aimed to present two cases of delayed diagnosis of arterial thoracic outlet syndrome (aTOS) in middle-aged patients presenting with digital ischaemia in order to raise awareness of this important pathology that requires timely surgical intervention. METHODS: Two cases of progressive ischaemia of the right upper extremity caused by primarily undiagnosed compression of the subclavian artery by an accessory cervical rib are presented. The case notes, radiological images, intra-operative and postoperative findings for both patients were reviewed. Patients were followed up after ≥6 months to assess prognosis. RESULTS: Both patients had a working diagnosis of Buerger's disease and had been treated with prostaglandin infusions before establishment of the diagnosis of arterial thoracic outlet syndrome. Both patients were heavy smokers, and one patient had bilateral symptoms and a history of axial SpA and positive HLA-B27. Late presentation in one patient led to the loss of three fingers and the need for plastic reconstructive surgery after cervical rib resection and revascularization. In the other patient, surgical thrombectomy of the upper limb arteries along with resection of a cervical rib and repair of the subclavian artery with an interposition graft were necessitated to heal digital ulcers successfully. CONCLUSION: A high index of suspicion of aTOS should be maintained in middle-aged patients presenting with digital or upper limb ischaemia even in the presence bilateral symptoms or relevant risk factors of other diagnoses, such as smoking or a positive rheumatological history.

Thromboelastography findings in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

The rate of venous and arterial thrombotic events among patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SAR-CoV-2) is high. This may be due to a hypercoagulable state induced by the severe inflammation that results from the SAR-CoV-2 infection. We aimed to determine hypercoagulable states' incidence based on thromboelastography study and its association with thrombotic events in critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Fifty-two COVID-19 patients who had thromboelastography study were retrospectively included. All patients received pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis. The hypercoagulable state was observed in 16 patients (30.8%). Among them, maximum amplitude and a-angle were elevated in 75% and 25%, respectively. Reaction time and K were low in only 12.5% for both of them. Inflammatory and coagulation markers, as well as thromboprophylaxis regimens, were not associated with a hypercoagulable state. Fourteen patients (27%) experienced a total of 16 thrombotic events, including 8 (57%) deep venous thrombosis, 6 (43%) pulmonary embolism, and 2 (14.3%) arterial thrombosis. The hypercoagulable state was not significantly associated with thrombotic events. In summary, we observed a lower rate of hypercoagulable state on thromboelastography study in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Also, the hypercoagulable state was not associated with the occurrence of thrombotic events.

Gonadal Vein Transposition in Nutcracker Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Nutcracker syndrome, caused by mesoaortic compression of the left renal vein leading to symptoms related to venous hypertension, is an uncommon entity that may require operative intervention. Traditional open transposition of the left renal vein to the vena cava has been shown to have a reintervention rate of up to 30%, while also having additional morbidity associated with laparotomy. More recently, endovascular stenting has been described in several small series but have reported stent fracture, thrombosis, and migration. METHODS: We report the case of a 26-year-old woman with 4 months of intermittent flank pain and hematuria, diagnosed with nutcracker syndrome by both duplex ultrasound and axial based imaging. RESULTS: The patient underwent catheter venography confirming left renal vein compression, which also demonstrated a dilated gonadal vein measuring 11 mm leading to significant pelvic varices. Through a left lower quadrant retroperitoneal exposure, the gonadal vein was transposed to the left common iliac vein with completion venography demonstrating relief of renal venous congestion. The patient was discharged uneventfully with immediate resolution of symptoms and remains symptom-free at 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Gonadal vein transposition is an effective alternative surgical treatment for nutcracker syndrome.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm in the setting of Clostridium perfringens pancreatitis.

We report a case of a 56-year-old woman who presented with worsening abdominal pain located in the left upper quadrant together with abdominal distention, nausea and anorexia. One month prior to this admission, she had presented and had been diagnosed with concurrent acute pancreatitis and rapidly expanding abdominal aortic aneurysm. The aneurysm was prioritised over the pancreatitis and she underwent uncomplicated endovascular repair. Cross-sectional imaging was consistent with infected pancreatic necrosis and also revealed a large collection located in the anterior pararenal space with extensive gas formation. An image-guided fluid aspiration revealed Clostridium perfringens as the causative organism. She was treated by placement of large bore drains along with irrigation and targeted intravenous antibiotic for 6 weeks. The collections resolved completely and at 6 months follow-up she was well and symptom free.

Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome Is Not a Vascular Disease.

BACKGROUND: Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is a rare disorder characterized by postprandial abdominal pain, weight loss, and celiac stenosis. Diagnosis can be challenging, leading to a delay in treatment. We report on our continued experience using a laparoscopic approach for this uncommon diagnosis. METHODS: This is an Institutional Review Board-approved, prospectively collected retrospective analysis of patients treated with laparoscopic MAL release at our institution. Data collected included patient demographics, preoperative symptoms, operative approach, and postoperative outcomes. Patients were then contacted to complete a postoperative survey designed to assess the improvement of symptoms and overall patient satisfaction. RESULTS: A total of 39 patients (33 women and 6 men) underwent laparoscopic MAL release from March 2007 to July 2014. Mean age was 40.6 years (range, 17-77 years). Thirty of 39 patients had a postoperative celiac axis ultrasound. Twenty-three had a patent celiac axis on postoperative duplex. Of the remaining 7, 5 with residual celiac axis stenosis and 1 with occlusion, reported complete resolution of their symptoms. One remaining patient with occlusion remained symptomatic. Thirty-three of 39 (84.6%) reported symptom relief after surgery. Nine of 33 (27.3%) responders had cardiovascular risk factors versus 4 of 6 (67%) nonresponders. Five patients with atypical presentations underwent preoperative diagnostic celiac plexus block using local anesthetic, with 4 reporting symptom reliefs after block. These 4 patients also reported postoperative symptom relief. One patient of 39 received a postoperative celiac stent placement and remained symptomatic. There were 4 conversions to open surgery (10.3%) and no deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic MAL release continues to be a safe and effective means of managing MALS. Our data suggest that the symptoms associated with MALS are not related to vascular compromise, and atherosclerotic risk factors may predict poorer outcomes. Symptomatic relief is seen in the vast majority of patients undergoing this procedure. However, patient selection remains critically important in obtaining optimal results.

Postradiation Extraskeletal Osteosarcoma Masquerading as an Axillary Artery Pseudoaneurysm.

BACKGROUND: A 68-year-old woman with a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm recently status after first-stage elephant trunk procedure with right brachiocephalic artery endarterectomy and reimplantation of the innominate and left carotid using a 14 × 10-mm branch graft presented to clinic with increasing pain in her right arm and shoulder for 2 weeks. She also had a remote history of radiation to the right axilla for breast cancer. On physical examination, she had a tender mass under her clavicle, numbness in shoulder and right hand weakness. Computed tomography scan revealed a 5.3 × 4.3-cm coarsely rim calcified lesion in the right axillary region reported as a pseudoaneurysm. METHODS: She was taken to the operating room for exploration. After obtaining proximal and distal control, the mass revealed to be a solid tumor. The mass was removed, taking care to avoid the axillary artery and medial and lateral cords of the brachial plexus. RESULTS: Pathology revealed an extraskeletal osteosarcoma. CONCLUSIONS: Extraskeletal osteosarcoma is an extremely rare primary bone cancer, making up <1% of all osteosarcomas. Less than 350 cases are described in the literature. Of the cases described in the literature, less than 5% involve the upper extremity and/or thorax. They are aggressive tumors located in the soft tissue and not an extension of bone. Treatment involves multimodality therapy with surgical resection and adjuvant chemoradiation.