Treatment of symptomatic popliteal artery lesions: An obituary of the GORE® TIGRIS® vascular stent.

BACKGROUND: The popliteal artery is highly exposed to biomechanical stress, which is the primary factor associated with stent failure. However, information on the optimal endovascular treatment for the popliteal artery is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To report the efficacy of the GORE® TIGRIS® Vascular Stent for the endovascular treatment of popliteal artery lesions. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all patients with symptoms of peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAD) and popliteal artery lesions who underwent implantation of a GORE® TIGRIS® Vascular Stent between August 2012 and August 2014 at a tertiary vascular centre. RESULTS: Between August 2012 and August 2014, 48 patients (32 men, aged 75±8 years) were treated with a GORE® TIGRIS® Vascular Stent. The technical success rate was 100%. At 12 months, the primary and secondary patency rates were 74% and 85%, respectively. During follow-up, no stent fracture was observed. No major amputations were performed. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that isolated popliteal artery lesions in patients with symptomatic PAD could easily be treated with the GORE® TIGRIS® Vascular Stent, as good short-term results were achieved at 12 months. Therefore, the discontinuation of this product removed a useful tool with a simple release mechanism from the endovascular armamentarium of vascular specialists.

Embolization of Type 2 Endoleaks in the Abdominal Aorta Using Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer. / Embolisation von Typ-2-Endoleaks der Bauchaorta mit Ethylen-Vinylalkohol-Copolymer.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 endoleaks (T2EL) are the most frequent complication following endovascular aortic repair. Multiple studies primarily deal with the technical and clinical success of the embolization of persisting T2EL, thereby revealing controversial outcomes. Current reports rarely focus on the detailed execution of such a complex interventional procedure with respect to the difficult anatomic setting. METHODS: The present review provides an in-depth depiction and evaluation of the interventional methodology of the embolization of T2EL in the abdominal aorta with use of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH). Complicating anatomic conditions are taken into account as well as technical and clinical success rates. RESULTS: Using the transarterial approach, there are at least 4 different pathways to access the nidus of a T2EL. CT-guided direct puncture of the aneurysm sac provides an alternative method of high technical success. EVOH with its slow solidification characteristics enables good control to achieve complete filling of the T2EL. During the intervention, however, it remains difficult to meet exactly the embolization endpoint, especially in large T2ELs. CONCLUSION: T2EL embolization using EVOH is an effective treatment with low major complication rates when conducted by skilled interventionists with detailed knowledge of diverse complex access routes. KEY POINTS: · Many roads lead to Rome to access the nidus of a T2EL including diverse complex transarterial pathways and direct aneurysm sac puncture.. · Ethylene vinyl alcohol co-polymer enables good control for slow filling of the nidus with low risk of major complications.. · Identification of the embolization endpoint remains difficult during the procedure and may result in secondary interventions.. · Successful T2EL embolization requires detailed knowledge of all access routes to the nidus and skilled handling of liquid embolics.. CITATION FORMAT: · Nolte-Ernsting C, Mecklenbeck F, Stehr A. Embolization of Type 2 Endoleaks in the Abdominal Aorta Using Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2021; 193: 1426 - 1435.

Multicentre experience with an iliac fenestrated device.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to present a multicentre experience of technical results and mid-term follow-up using a custom-made iliac fenestrated device (Terumo Aortic, Inchinnan, Renfrewshire, UK) for the treatment of iliac aneurysms and endoleaks. METHODS: A multicentre retrospective evaluation of 22 patients (3-12 per institution) with either an iliac artery aneurysm or endoleak treated with an iliac fenestrated device was performed. Data were gathered from 3 departments of vascular and endovascular surgery at 3 European institutions. RESULTS: Ten of the included patients (45.5%) were treated for an endoleak and 12 had aorto-iliac aneurysms (54.5%). Two patients underwent bilateral fenestrated device implantation for a total of 24 devices included in this analysis. Primary technical success was 91.7% (22 of 24 implanted devices). One of the 24 internal iliac arteries could not be cannulated and was covered (primary assisted technical success rate 95.8%) and 1 patient required a relining of the stent graft due to a mid-grade stenosis opposite the internal iliac artery fenestration. Survival at the last available follow-up (mean 15.2 ± 12.0 months, range 0.5-36.6 months) was 90.9%. CONCLUSIONS: The present investigation adds to a growing body of literature on custom-made endografts and their usefulness in achieving endovascular repair without compromising blood flow via important arterial branch vessels, such as the internal iliac artery. It presents encouraging technical and mid-term follow-up data from consecutive patients treated for iliac aneurysms or endoleaks using this custom-made device. The technique may help avoid adverse sequelae associated to a coil-and-cover approach when iliac branch devices are not feasible.

Safety aspect of intraoperative, local urokinase lysis in patients with acute lower limb ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Acute lower limb ischemia (ALI) is associated with a high risk of limb loss and death. OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluates the safety of intraoperative, local urokinase lysis in patients with ALI and crural artery occlusion. METHODS: A total of 107 patients (115 legs) were treated surgically for ALI with additional intraoperative urokinase lysis to improve the outflow tract. Minor and major bleeding as well as efficacy of treatment and amputation-free survival were investigated. RESULTS: Complete restoration of at least one run-off vessel was achieved in 64%. Collateralization was improved in 34%. Lysis failed in 2%. Major amputation rate was 27% overall (12% within 30 days) and depended on Rutherford class of ALI (overall/30 day: IIa 11%/6%; IIb 20%/17%; III 37%/15%). Amputation-free survival turned out to be 82% after 30 days, 58% after one, and 41% after five years. Minor bleeding occurred in 21% (24/115) and major bleeding in 3.5% (4/115). One of these patients died of haemorrhage. No patient experienced intracranial bleeding. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative urokinase lysis improves limb perfusion and causes low major and intracranial bleeding. It can be safely applied to patients with severe ischaemia when surgical restoration of the outflow tract fails.

[Management of Visceral Artery Aneurysms with Preservation of Organ Perfusion: More Than Twenty Years Experience]. / Management von Viszeralarterienaneurysmen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Organperfusion ­ Erfahrungen über mehr als 20 Jahre.

BACKGROUND: Visceral artery aneurysms (VAA) are rare and often incidental findings. Indications for treatment are symptomatic patients, pseudoaneurysms and a true aneurysm of diameter of ≥ 2.5 cm for mesenteric arteries and ≥ 3 cm for renal artery aneurysms. Pregnancy and liver transplantation play an important role in aneurysm rupture. Technical success after open or endovascular procedure and maintenance of organ perfusion are crucial. The aim of this review is to evaluate our data and experience of more than 20 years and to develop a strategy to deal with visceral artery aneurysm in elective and emergency cases. PATIENTS: Between 1995 and 2018, 179 patients (84 males, 95 females, median age 62 [18 - 87] years) were diagnosed with VAA at the Regensburg University Hospital. The site of aneurysm was the splenic artery in 113 (63%) patients (pts), hepatic and renal arteries in 22 and 21 pts (12% each), and gastropancreaticoduodenal artery in 14 (8%) and superior/inferior mesenteric artery in 9 (5%) cases. Surveillance without intervention occurred in 110 (62%) pts, and 34 (19%) pts underwent open and 35 (19%) endovascular repair. In all patients, preoperative imaging was performed, preferably by computed tomography angiography (CTA). RESULTS: A total of 69 patients underwent open or endovascular repair. 51 (74%) pts were treated electively, 18 (26%) pts presented urgently with acute bleeding. 16 emergency pts received endovascular treatment, and in 2 pts open surgery was performed. After emergency treatment, two pts exhibited segmental liver malperfusion without consequences. In one case, segmental bowel resection was necessary. 32/51 (63%) patients were treated electively by open surgery, 19/51 (37%) by endovascular procedures. There were no liver or bowel infarctions. Four splenectomies and one unilateral nephrectomy were necessary in patients with splenic or renal artery aneurysms. Moreover, three partial renal infarctions were noticed postoperatively (overall 8/21 [38%]). After endovascular repair of splenic or renal artery aneurysms, two cases of splenic and three cases of renal segmental infarction were observed. Splenectomy had to be performed twice (overall 7/14 [50%]). Organ perfusion was monitored by CTA, and preferentially by contrast enhanced ultrasound. CONCLUSION: The endovascular approach is the preferred option in an emergency to control bleeding in pseudoaneurysms. Patients for elective splenic or renal artery aneurysm repair have to be evaluated very carefully to achieve technical success with occlusion of the aneurysm and excellent organ perfusion. Imaging techniques such as ultrasound, especially CEUS, are strongly recommended in postoperative follow-up. Partial or complete splenic infarction leads to vaccination.

Clinical outcome and quality of life after upper extremity arterial trauma.

We assessed the long-term clinical outcome of 33 patients treated for arterial trauma of the upper extremity at the Regensburg University Medical Center between 1996 and 2004. Along with clinical parameters, the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score and the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) score of each patient were collected at the time of follow-up. Findings of the clinical assessment were compared to results obtained with the DASH score and the SF-36 questionnaire. The median follow-up time was 42 months. All arterial injuries had been reconstructed and were open at the time of follow-up. The prevalence of concomitant neural and/or orthopedic injuries was high (24/33, 72%). The influence of neural injury was by far greater than the impact of other factors on the long-term functional outcome. Furthermore, blunt trauma and the need for immediate fasciotomy were further markers for deficient functional recovery. Both the DASH and the SF-36 scores correlated with the clinical assessment of the severity of functional deficits. Upper extremity vascular trauma is almost always associated with severe concomitant orthopedic and/or neural injuries. The involvement of the brachial plexus and the peripheral nerves of the upper extremity is a predictor of worse long-term functional outcome.

Surgical strategy in aortoesophageal fistulae: endovascular stentgrafts and in situ repair of the aorta with cryopreserved homografts.

OBJECTIVE: The surgical treatment of aortoesophageal fistulae (AEF) has a high morbidity and mortality rate. We report our experience with the sequential use of endovascular thoracic stentgrafts and cryopreserved aortic homografts for in situ repair of the descending thoracic aorta. METHODS: In a 7-year period, 6 patients with AEF were treated at our center. After primary endovascular repair in all cases, 4 patients subsequently underwent in situ repair of the descending thoracic aorta with cryopreserved homografts. Long-term antibiotic therapy was given in all cases. Recent clinical status and radiologic findings on follow-up studies of each patient were analyzed. The mean follow-up time was 35 months (range, 2-76). RESULTS: Endovascular stentgraft repair was technically successful in all cases. Two patients were not candidates for open surgical repair because of their medical condition; they both died within 8 weeks after discharge from the hospital, 1 from recurrent septic episodes, and the other from upper gastrointestinal bleeding. One of 4 patients who had undergone open surgical repair died 1 year later from upper gastrointestinal bleeding that occurred presumably due to an infectious degeneration of the homograft after secondary infection with a methacillin-resistant Staphyloccocus aureus. In 1 case persistent paraplegia and in another case persistent renal failure occurred. CONCLUSION: The use of cryopreserved homografts is a valuable alternative to in situ repair with prosthetic vascular grafts or extra-anatomic reconstructions in the surgical treatment of AEF. Endovascular stentgraft placement plays a role as a bridging procedure in emergency situations.

Endovascular repair of proximal endograft collapse after treatment for thoracic aortic disease.

We report two cases of proximal endograft collapse with an almost complete aortic occlusion after endovascular tube-graft treatment of thoracic aortic disease (thoracic aneurysm after a type B dissection, traumatic blunt aortic rupture) using the TAG Gore system. Oversizing of endografts is known to cause this complication. In our two cases, however, the oversizing was between 12% and 21.7%, which is less than the allowed oversizing of 25% that is recommended by the manufacturer. This endograft-related complication might be due to a poor alignment of the currently available endografts in highly angulated and tight aortic arches. In the first case, a combined endovascular and open emergent repair procedure achieved a reopening of the proximal endograft by proximal extension (TAG Gore). In the second case, proximal extension was not considered owing to a precise positioning of the endograft distal to the left carotid artery. A balloon-expanding Palmaz stent was therefore placed interventionally in the proximal part of the TAG graft to expand the endograft and to avoid another collapse of the device. This proximal endograft collapse has to be acknowledged as a potentially hazardous complication. We therefore recommend that the proximal part of thoracic endografts in the aortic arch should be closely monitored and we offer two possible endovascular solutions for resolving the problem of proximal endograft collapse.

Plasma disappearance of indocyanine green: a marker for excretory liver function?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the plasma disappearance rate of indocyanine green (ICG) assessed using a commercially available bedside monitor provides an accurate estimation of cumulative biliary ICG excretion in a clinically relevant model of long-term, hyperdynamic porcine endotoxemia. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective experimental study in the animal laboratory in a university hospital. SUBJECTS: Fifteen domestic pigs. INTERVENTIONS: Pigs were anesthetized, mechanically ventilated, and instrumented. Intravenous endotoxin was continuously infused over 12 h concomitant with fluid resuscitation. Measurements were performed before and 12 h after the start of endotoxin infusion. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: All animals developed hyperdynamic circulation characterized by a sustained increase in cardiac output. Despite well maintained portal venous and consequently total liver blood flow endotoxemia decreased hepatic lactate uptake, which was accompanied by a significant fall in portal and hepatic venous pH. Both the cumulative bile flow and biliary ICG and bicarbonate excretion measured during 1 h after intravenous bolus of 25 mg ICG fell significantly. By contrast, neither the plasma disappearance rate of ICG nor the rate corrected for liver blood flow exhibited any changes over time. CONCLUSIONS: In hyperdynamic porcine endotoxemia the plasma disappearance rate of ICG failed to accurately substitute for direct short-term measures of biliary ICG excretion. Hence normal values of plasma disappearance rate of ICG should be interpreted with caution in early, acute inflammatory conditions.

Magnetic resonance-guided percutaneous angioplasty of femoral and popliteal artery stenoses using real-time imaging and intra-arterial contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the possibility of performing magnetic resonance (MR)-guided interventional therapy for femoral and popliteal artery stenoses with commercially available materials supported by MR real-time imaging and intra-arterial MR angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 15 patients suffering from symptomatic arterial occlusive disease of the lower limbs with 19 stenoses were included. Interventional intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography was performed before and after angioplasty on each patient as standard of reference. MR images were acquired on a 1.5-T MR scanner. A fast-low-angle shot (FLASH) 3D sequence was applied for a contrast enhanced MR-angiography (ceMRA). A total of 5 mL of diluted gadodiamide was injected via the arterial access. Maximum intensity projections (MIPs) were used as roadmaps and localizers for the interactive positioning of a continuously running 2D-FLASH sequence with a temporal solution of 2 images/second. The lesion was crossed by a balloon-catheter, which was mounted on a guidewire. The visibility was provided by the radiopaque markers on the balloon and was improved by injection of 1 mL of gadolinium into the balloon. Postinterventional control was performed by intra-arterial MR angiography and catheter angiography. RESULTS: Stenoses were localized by intra-arterial MR angiography. The guidewire/balloon combination was visible, and the balloon was placed correctly to cover the entire stenoses. Balloon dilation reduced the degree of stenosis by approximately 57% on average. No complications were observed. CONCLUSION: MR-guided balloon dilation of femoral and popliteal artery stenoses supported by real-time MR imaging and intra-arterial MR angiography is feasible with commercially available materials.