Questionable Long-Term Results of the Extended Provisional Extension to Induce Complete Attachment (E-PETTICOAT) Technique in the Management of Chronic Type B Aortic Dissection.

BACKGROUND: Published interim results of the extended provisional extension to induce complete attachment (e-PETTICOAT) technique suggested favorable remodeling in chronic type B Aortic Dissection (cTBAD). This report presents long-term results of the e-PETTICOAT technique for the management of cTBAD (without aneurysmal dilatation). METHODS: Patients with cTBAD below the 55 mm aortic size were eligible for the management using the e-PETTICOAT technique. Follow-up was conducted at 1, 2 and 5 years based on the computed tomography angiogram. All the presurgery risk factors (entry >1 cm, inner curve entry, fusiform index >0.65, false lumen > 22 mm, aortic size >40 mm, recurrent pain or hypertension, and Stanford Dissection Risk Calculation) and postsurgery complications were examined in the study. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients underwent the e-PETTICOAT surgery. The survival rate at 1, 2, and 5 years was 75%, 70%, and 64%, respectively, and the percentage of patients without any reinterventions was 100%, 93%, and 18%. Aortic degeneration was recognized in 30%, 55%, and 85% of the patients. Only 3 of the 20 patients were alive and without any reintervention after 5 years. The receiver operating curve analysis does not indicate any factor that would predict the remodeling result in the long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The use of e-PETTICOAT technique in cTBAD might not have a beneficial influence on the long-term results.

The Impact of a Simplified Hydrostatic Bypass Flow Technique on Error Detection during Surgical Limb Revascularization.

Technical errors have an impact on the results of surgical lower limb revascularization. Use of ultrasound scanning or angiography on the operating table is inconvenient and, in case of angiography, carries a certain risk of radiation and contrast exposure. A simpler method of screening for errors is required. This study assessed the accuracy of a new simple hydrostatic bypass flow technique during surgical limb revascularization. In all, 885 patients were included in the retrospective study. All were treated for Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia (CLTI) with a femoropopliteal bypass. Preoperatively, the radiological Vascular Surgery/International Society of Cardiovascular Surgery (SVS/ISCVS) score was used to assess the complexity of the anatomical changes. The surgeon made a subjective runoff assessment for every surgery. In 267 cases, the hydrostatic bypass flow (HBF) technique was used, and, in 66 cases, a digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was used. In each case, a postoperative Doppler ultrasound (DUS) examination was performed following the HBF. Good early results were achieved in 89.46%, and 154 errors (17.4%) were detected (85 were detected on the operating table, including 57 technical errors). Independent efficacy in error detection was proven with a postoperative Doppler examination (Aera Under Curve (AUC) = 0.89; criterion mid-graft peak systolic velocity (PSV) <24 cm/s, p = 0.00001) and hydrostatic bypass flow (AUC = 0.71, criterion HBF < 53 mL/min, p = 0.00001) during surgery. The hydrostatic bypass flow technique is an effective intraoperative screening method in bypass surgery. Algorithmic use of HBF, DSA if needed, and DUS postoperatively improves the outcome. HBF sufficiently reduced the need for on-table angiography.

Complete Entry and Re-entry Neutralization protocol in endovascular treatment of aortic dissection.

There have been indisputable developments in techniques for stabilizing acute aortic syndromes. However, aneurysmal degeneration following aortic dissection remains a problem to be solved. The currently available treatment options for aortic dissection still fail to take into account the known risk factors for aneurysmal degeneration. This is why we introduced a new approach to treating patients with an aortic dissection, called Complete Entry and Re-entry Neutralization (CERN). This is our initial report on the promising interim results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 68 patients qualified for endovascular treatment of an acute or chronic aortic dissection. Computed tomography was performed post-operatively to assess aortic remodeling after 1/6/12/24/36 months. RESULTS: the 30-day mortality rate was 4.4%. In 29 cases (43%) unfavorable remodeling was noted in the follow-up. The most important factors leading to unfavorable remodeling were: uncovered re-entry tear including the infra-renal segment, no relining of dissection membranes and insufficient coverage of the descending aorta. We analyzed these factors to develop the CERN protocol. This concept consists of six basic rules: A. cover all entry tears, B. amplify the BMS radial force, C. use the STABILISE technique, D. consider using thrombus plugs, E. avoid stenting the visceral branches, F. spare the intercostal and lumbar side branches. CERN improves the rate of favorable remodeling from 25% to 85% (P = 0.0067). CONCLUSION: Introduction of the Complete Entry and Re-entry Neutralization protocol improves the rate of favorable remodeling following endovascular treatment of aortic dissection in mid-term follow-up in patients with diffused aortic dissection.