Use of Multilayer Stent and Fenestrated Endograft in a Single Session to Treat Long-Segment Aorta.

A 72-year-old man with suprarenal aneurysm and 2 large penetrating ulcers (PAUs) in the descending aorta was referred for endovascular treatment. To avoid long-segment aortic coverage and the attendant risk of spinal ischemia, combination of 2 different stent technologies was used. A multilayer flow modulator was implanted in the thoracic aorta for the PAU, followed by implantation of a customized 4-vessel fenestrated stent graft for the suprarenal aneurysm. The patient remained well at 2 years with computed tomography evidence of exclusion of the suprarenal aneurysm and involution of the PAU.

The V-Block Occlusion Stent and Sclerotherapy Device for Varicose Vein Treatment: A Retrospective Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The procedure aims to show our results with a novel nontumescent, nonthermal technique to treat varicose veins. The V-block occlusion stent is a minimally invasive device for treating reflux of the great saphenous vein (GSV). It is an office-based procedure that does not require tumescence anesthesia. The V-block stent is a self-expandable device that functions as a vein occluder and blood clot trap. Once the V-block is in place, further treatment of the saphenous vein such as ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy can be performed. The V-block device is intended to eliminate the possibility of forwarding passage of clot and sclerosant (embolization) to the deep and pulmonary circulations. METHODS: Patients were treated in an outpatient setting with the V-block occluding device. Follow-up was performed using duplex ultrasound to assess occlusion of the saphenous vein as well as the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire and Venous Severity Scoring to determine changes in quality of life after the procedure. Patients were followed up at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after V-block placement. Duplex scanning was performed to confirm GSV occlusion at all follow-up visits. After deployment of the occlusion stent, a maximum of 2% polidocanol foam was injected with a double barrel syringe which simultaneously evacuated blood from the greater saphenous vein. Follow-up assessment for safety included evaluation of potential complications, device migration, and potential injury at the deployment site. RESULTS: Fifty-one symptomatic subjects with documented GSV reflux were enrolled in the study. Complete occlusion of the GSV was achieved in 98% of the patients during the 7-day postprocedural visit. There was no injury at the deployment site. No migration of the V-block device was observed. No deep vein thrombosis or any other complication was recorded. One patient of the 50 patients and 51 procedures experienced an adverse event, phlebitis that resolved under conservative therapy within 4 days with no residual effect. There was a significant improvement in the Aberdeen Vein quality of life measurements and the pain scores. After 3 years, 18 patients were willing to undergo a duplex follow-up examination. The occlusion rate after 3 years was 77.8. There were no device-related complications after this period. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated a good safety and performance profile without any major adverse events. The primary end point of vein occlusion and obliteration was met.

Developments in parallel grafts for aortic arch lesions.

Due to the shortage of commercially available off the shelf aortic arch grafts since the last years parallel grafts or chimney grafts have played an increasing role in the treatment of patients with aortic arch lesions. Although there are still issues with type endoleaks and gutters between the chimney graft and the aortic stent-graft remaining. We report our results with the Medtronic thoracic graft in combination with long self-expanding parallel grafts, to ensure an overlapping zone of more than 7 cm between the different grafts. Alternatively, sandwich configurations are used where a direct contact between the parallel graft and the aortic wall is avoided. We have placed a total of 65 parallel grafts into supra-aortic branches. In 21 cases chimney grafts were placed into the carotid artery, in most cases into the left common carotid artery. In 36 cases chimney grafts were placed into left subclavian artery. A maximum number of 4 parallel grafts were placed for total endovascular debranching. In addition, in 8 patients a parallel graft had to be placed into the innominate artery. There was a patency of 69% for all subclavian artery chimney grafts versus 73% for carotid artery parallel grafts. Of note is a stroke rate of 5.2% in all these cases. Only 2 of the patients with an occluded left subclavian artery chimney graft required a bypass procedure for arm claudication or ischemia. We had a primary type I endoleak rate of 28%. In almost 25% secondary interventions were required mainly to treat type I leaks, in those cases where the leak did not resolve spontaneously. The overall mortality rate was 3.5%. The results of parallel graft in the aortic arch are promising, but of major concern is still the high rate of type I endoleaks as well as the neurological complication rate, most probably due to catheter manipulation in patients with severe atherosclerotic arch lesions.

Experience with the sandwich technique in endovascular thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

BACKGROUND: The sandwich technique is an endovascular off-the-shelf solution for patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs). In a sandwich configuration, the chimney stent runs in the middle of a space created by two or three aortic endografts. METHODS: All patients with TAAAs who were treated with the sandwich technique were included in the study. Self-expanding Viabahn grafts (W. L. Gore and Associates Inc, Flagstaff, Ariz) were used as parallel grafts in the renal arteries and visceral vessels. Caudad-facing chimney grafts were used for the visceral arteries and cephalad-facing periscope grafts for the renal arteries. RESULTS: During the study period, 32 patients with TAAAs were treated with sandwich grafts. Indication for the procedure in 43% was an acute onset of symptoms, including two patients with a rupture and a retroperitoneal hematoma. Three patients required an additional debranching procedure. A total of 104 chimney grafts were implanted. Two patients died postoperatively because of the operation. Major adverse events were recorded in five patients, including one patient with persistent paraplegia and two with permanent renal failure requiring dialysis. The incidence of chimney graft occlusion was higher in patients with three or four parallel grafts than in those with two chimney grafts only. Patients with chronic dissections had a 12-times higher incidence of chimney graft occlusion than aneurysm patients. The number of patients with type I or III endoleaks was higher in the group with three or four parallel grafts. CONCLUSIONS: The sandwich technique is an off-the-shelf endovascular alternative to treat patients with TAAAs in an emergent setting. The combination of chimney grafts with a periscope configuration enables a rapid endovascular aneurysm exclusion with acceptable midterm results.

Safety and feasibility of a novel transcervical access neuroprotection system for carotid artery stenting in the PROOF Study.

BACKGROUND: Randomized controlled trials have shown that periprocedural rates of stroke and death are higher with carotid artery stenting (CAS) than with carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in the treatment of carotid artery stenosis. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) has shown higher rates of clinically silent new ischemic brain lesions when CAS is performed as compared with CEA. The Silk Road Medical Embolic PROtectiOn System: First-In-Man (PROOF) Study is a single-arm first-in-man study using the MICHI Neuroprotection System (Silk Road Medical Inc, Sunnyvale, Calif), a novel transcervical access and cerebral embolic protection system. This system enables stent implantation under controlled blood flow reversal of the carotid artery, also known as Flow Altered Short Transcervical Carotid Artery Stenting (FAST-CAS). METHODS: Between March 2009 and February 2010, a total of 44 subjects were enrolled into the study. The primary composite endpoint was major stroke, myocardial infarction, or death within 30 days. Forty-three patients (97.7%) completed the study through the 30-day endpoint. One patient was lost to follow-up. In a subgroup of consecutive subjects, DW-MRI examinations were performed preprocedure and within 24 to 48 hours after the stent implantation. Blinded independent neuroradiologists reviewed all DW-MRI studies and confirmed the absence or presence of new ischemic brain lesions. RESULTS: All enrolled patients were successfully treated, and no major adverse events were seen through the follow-up period. Thirty-one subjects had DW-MRI examinations. Of these, five patients (16%) had evidence of new ischemic brain lesions but no clinical sequelae. Transient intolerance to reverse flow was reported in 9% of cases, but in all cases, a stent was successfully placed, and the intolerance was managed by minimizing the duration of reverse flow during the procedure. CONCLUSION: In this first-in-man experience, FAST-CAS using the MICHI Neuroprotection System was shown to be a safe and feasible method for carotid revascularization. DW-MRI findings suggest controlled reverse flow provides cerebral embolic protection similar to that seen with CEA.

Endovascular management of ascending aortic pathology.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular treatment of the ascending aorta is particularly challenging because of the anatomic features of this aortic segment. Only patients without connective tissue disorders, clinically relevant aortic regurgitation or stenosis, or concomitant coronary artery disease can be considered for an endovascular procedure. We report our results in a series of patients with aneurysms or intramural hematoma, penetrating ulcers, or floating thrombus who were scheduled for stent grafting. METHODS: Only patients with ascending aortic pathology who were unfit for open surgery were treated with an endograft. When preoperative computed tomography imaging showed severe calcification of the aortic arch or thrombus lining, temporary clamping of the carotid arteries before wire and catheter introduction was performed. An extracorporeal bypass from the right groin to both carotid arteries with a roller pump was established and maintained during the procedure. The endograft was placed across the aortic valve into the left ventricle and deployed in a retrograde fashion. At the end of the procedure, ventriculography and, if necessary, coronary angiography was performed to rule out any damage to the left ventricle or the valve apparatus. RESULT: Eleven patients were scheduled for stent graft exclusion of ascending aortic pathology. In five cases because of discrepancies in length measurements and sizing, the thoracic endograft was cut to length intraoperatively after partial deployment on the operating table and reloaded to avoid covering of the innominate artery. The mean length of the ascending aorta covered was longer in aneurysm patients than in those with dissection. An 81-year-old patient presented with a type Ia leak. The distal landing zone in one patient was enlarged by debranching. One patient died after wire perforation of the left ventricle, and one patient sustained a cerebral stroke. Combined morbidity and mortality was 18%, and the technical success rate was 91%. CONCLUSIONS: Stent grafting of the ascending aorta is technically feasible but should be reserved for selected high-risk patients only, preferably in centers where vascular specialists cooperate closely with interventional cardiologists. Cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is still the gold standard to treat ascending aortic aneurysms. Stent graft exclusion of more advanced and complex ascending aortic pathology should be performed only in centers with the necessary experience in transvalvular cardiac procedures.

A total laparoscopic technique for endovascular thoracic stent graft deployment.

BACKGROUND: Limitations of endovascular thoracic aneurysm treatment include small, tortuous, or severely calcified iliac arteries. We present our experience with a total laparoscopic access to deploy thoracic endografts. METHODS: A total laparoscopic left retrocolic approach was used in all cases. A Dacron conduit was laparoscopically sutured to either the iliac artery or to the aorta directly. The endograft was inserted through this conduit. After graft deployment, the Dacron prosthesis was tunneled to the groin and anastomosed with the femoral artery. RESULTS: The laparoscopic procedure could successfully be performed in 11 patients. In six cases, the aorta was used as an access and in five patients, the iliac arteries were preferred. In one of these cases, the right iliac artery was used for deployment of the endograft. After successful aorto- or ileo-femoral bypass grafting, all patients had an improvement of their ankle brachial index postoperatively. The mean operative time was almost four hours, including laparoscopy, laparoscopic anastomosis, endograft deployment, and femoral artery anastomosis or profundaplasty. CONCLUSION: Totally laparoscopic assisted graft implantation in aorta or iliac arteries provides a safe and effective access for the endovascular delivery system. However, further evaluation and long follow-up are necessary to ensure the potential advantages of this technique. It is a less invasive option to overcome access-related problems with thoracic endograft deployment, giving the patient the advantage of a totally minimal invasive procedure.

Laparoscopic surgery in the management of complex aortic disease: techniques and lessons learned.

Laparoscopic vascular surgery must be assessed in the context of both open and endovascular interventions. The development of improved laparoscopic equipment and endoscopic techniques makes performance of laparoscopy easier, but endovascular interventions still hold wide appeal because they are minimally invasive and are easier to master by vascular surgeons. Despite decreased morbidity and recovery time, endovascular interventions have inferior durability and higher reintervention rates when compared with open aortoiliac interventions. In particular, after endovascular aneurysm repair, patients need lifelong surveillance because there is potential for delayed endoleaks, aortic neck dilatation, graft migration, and ongoing risk of aneurysmal rupture. These limitations of endovascular therapy are the impetus behind the pursuit of other minimally invasive techniques, such as laparoscopy, in vascular surgery. Currently, two evolving laparoscopic approaches are available for abdominal vascular surgery: total laparoscopic aortic surgery and hybrid techniques that combine laparoscopy with endovascular techniques to treat failing endografts.

Protected carotid artery stenting and angioplasty via transfemoral versus transcervical approaches.

This prospective cohort study was taken to determine whether transcervical carotid artery stenting (CAS) with internal carotid artery (ICA) flow reversal is associated with a lower incidence of embolization and femoral access complication when compared with protected, transfemoral CAS in selected, high-risk patients. From 2002 to October 2004, the authors performed 55 carotid stentings and angioplasties. Among the 24 cases via transfemoral approach, 1 developed transient ischemic attack (TIA), 1 stroke, 1 asystolic cardiac arrest, 2 groin hematoma, 2 technical failure, and 1 restenosis. Among the 31 cases via transcervical approach, 2 patients developed TIAs, 4 bradycardia, 2 cervical hematoma, and 3 technical failures leading to open conversion and carotid endarterectomy. Transcervical CAS with ICA flow reversal eliminates the risk of aortic arch emboli, provides cerebral protection during predeployment manipulation across the carotid lesion, negates preprocedure mapping of the aortic arch configuration, and surpasses difficult aortic arch or transfemoral access.