One-Year Outcome of Postoperative Stroke and Nerve Injury After Supraclavicular Revascularization of The Left Subclavian Artery for Proximal Landing Zone Extension in Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the outcome of stroke and nerve injury after supraclavicular revascularization of the left subclavian artery for proximal landing zone extension in thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing left-sided carotid-subclavian bypass (CSB) and subclavian-carotid transposition (SCT) with simultaneous or staged TEVAR between January 2010 and June 2019. Endpoints were perioperative cerebrovascular events and nerve injuries, patency and re-intervention due to the debranching, and mortality at 30 days and during follow-up. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients (median age 66 years, 81 % male) had 25 (52%) CSB and 23 (48%) SCT. TEVAR was performed simultaneously in 39 (81%) patients, 11 (23%) of them in an emergent setting. There were 7 (15%) re-interventions within 30 days: 3 due to local hematoma, one for bypass occlusion, 2 for stenosis (of which one was not confirmed intraoperatively), and one after initially abandoned SCT with subsequent CSB on the next day. 30-day mortality was 2%; 1 patient died on the first postoperative day after emergency coronary artery bypass surgery and multiorgan failure. 4 (8%) patients suffered postoperative strokes; 3 occurred after simultaneous emergency procedures and none was fatal. There were 9 (19%) left neck nerve injuries in 8 patients, 5 patients had SCT and 3 CSB. During a median follow-up of 37.5 months (IQR 23-83) with a Follow-up Index of 0.77, there were no reinterventions or occlusions, and no graft infections. Primary patency was 90% and primary assisted patency 98% during follow-up. 8 patients died during follow-up, all of them with patent cervical debranching. CONCLUSION: Supraclavicular LSA revascularization for proximal landing zone extension in TEVAR is safe with an acceptable rate of early re-interventions. There is higher risk for perioperative stroke during concomitant emergency LSA revascularization and TEVAR. Left neck nerve injuries are common complications but resolve completely in vast majority of the cases during first postoperative year. During follow-up, excellent patency could be expected.

Acute aortic dissection determines the fate of initially untreated aortic segments in Marfan syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study was to investigate incidence and causes of surgical interventions in primarily nontreated aortic segments after previous aortic repair in patients with Marfan syndrome. METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospective analysis of 86 consecutive Marfan syndrome patients fulfilling Ghent criteria that underwent 136 aortic surgeries and were followed at this institution in the past 15 years. Mean follow-up was 8.8±6.8 y. Thirty-day, 6-month, 1-year, and overall mortality was 3.5%, 5.8%, 7.0%, and 12.8%, respectively. Ninety-two percent of patients initially presented with aortic root, ascending aortic or arch lesions, whereas 8% presented with descending aortic or thoraco-abdominal lesions. Primary presentation was acute aortic dissection (AAD) in 36% (77% type A, 23% type B) and aneurismal disease in 64%. Secondary complete arch replacement had to be performed in only 6% of patients without AAD, but in 36% with AAD (P=0.0005). In patients without AAD, 11% required surgery on primarily nontreated aortic segments (5 of 6 patients experienced type B dissection during follow-up), whereas in patients after AAD, 48% underwent surgery of initially nontreated aortic segments (42% of patients with type A and 86% of those with type B dissection; P=0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: The need for surgery in primarily nontreated aortic segments is precipitated by an initial presentation with AAD. Early elective surgery is associated with low mortality and reintervention rates. Type B dissection in patients with Marfan syndrome is associated with a high need for extensive aortic repair, even if the dissection is being considered uncomplicated by conventional criteria.

Evaluation of custom-made Relay® stent-grafts for aortic arch landing zones 0 and I: experience from two high-volume aortic centres.

OBJECTIVES: To report experience with a Relay® stent-graft custom-made platform in treating different aortic arch pathology in 2 high-volume aortic centres. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all patients treated between July 2016 and July 2023 with custom-made Relay® stent-graft (custom-made device). Underlying aortic arch pathology was an aneurysm, penetrating aortic ulcer, and dissection. Three custom-made device designs were used: proximal scallop, fenestrations, and inner branches. The endpoints were technical success, perioperative stroke, death, and reintervention rate. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients (89% males) with a mean age of 70 ± 11 years were treated.Indication for treatment was penetrating aortic ulcer in 14 patients (40%), aneurysm in 11 patients (31%) and aortic dissection in 10 patients (29%). The technical success rate was 100%. Twenty-eight patients (80%) had proximal sealing in zone 0, and 7 (20%) had proximal sealing in zone 1. Nine patients (25.6%) had proximal scallops, 9 (25.6%) had 1 big fenestration and 17 (48.8%) had a branched device; 1 with single branch, 15 with double branches and 1 with triple branches. Thirty patients (86%) had previous or simultaneous left subclavian artery revascularization. No patient died during 30 days. Two patients (5.7%) had stroke postoperatively; both recovered without disabling deficits. The mean follow-up was 35 ± 26 months. Six patients (17.1%) died during follow-up. One patient required reinforcement of the bridging stent in the left common carotid artery and one additional vascular plugging of the left subclavian artery. Three patients received distal extension. CONCLUSIONS: The Relay® stent-graft custom-made platform showed a good performance in our study with a high technical success rate, low perioperative stroke and mortality, and low reintervention rates during the follow-up.

The non to moderately dilated root in acute type A aortic dissection: outcomes of the PENN-BERN registry in young, non-syndromic patients.

OBJECTIVES: There is an ongoing debate regarding whether patients benefit more from root replacement compared to a reconstruction of the sinuses of Valsalva in acute type A aortic dissection (aTAAD). In those with known or suspected connective tissue disorders, root replacement is considered appropriate. However, there are currently no diameter-based guidelines regarding the best approach in patients with minimally to moderately dilated root and no connective tissue disorders. METHODS: From January 2005 to December 2022, a two-centre registry of aTAAD was created. Patients were included based on their age (≤60 years), the absence of root entry and dilatation >50 mm and the absence of syndromic hereditable aortic disease. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the proximal procedure, root reconstruction and root replacement. Propensity score pair matching was performed based on preoperative characteristics. RESULTS: Cumulative incidence of reintervention at 10 years was slightly higher after root reconstruction 13% vs 3.9% in the matched group (P = 0.040). Survival at 10 years was not affected by the procedure independently of the matching 72.1% vs 71.4% (P = 0.2). Uni- and multivariate Cox regressions showed that a root diameter of >40 mm was associated with a hazard ratio of 7.7 (95% confidence interval 2.6-23) and 5.4 (7-17), respectively, for reoperation for aneurysm and pseudoaneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: Rate of reoperation due to proximal pseudoaneurysm and aneurysm could be significantly reduced with a lower threshold of 40 mm to replace the aortic root in aTAAD than in elective cases.

Endovascular aortic repair in patients with Marfan and Loeys-Dietz syndrome is safe and durable when employed by a multi-disciplinary aortic team.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to report on mid-term outcomes after endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) in patients with Marfan (MFS) or Loeys-Dietz (LDS) syndrome. METHODS: We analysed data from 2 European centres of patients with MFS and LDS undergoing EVAR. Patients were analysed based on (i) timing of the procedure (planned versus emergency procedure) and (ii) the nature of the landing zone (safe versus non-safe). The primary end-point was freedom from reintervention. Secondary end-points were freedom from stroke, bleeding and death. RESULTS: A population of 419 patients with MFS (n = 352) or LDS (n = 67) was analysed for the purpose of this study. Thirty-nine patients (9%) underwent EVAR. Indications for thoracic endovascular aortic repair or EVAR were aortic dissection in 13 (33%) patients, aortic aneurysm in 22 (57%) patients and others (intercostal patch aneurysm, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer, pseudoaneurysm, kinking of frozen elephant trunk (FET)) in 4 (10%) patients. Thoracic endovascular repair was performed in 34 patients, and abdominal endovascular aortic repair was performed in 5 patients. Mean age at 1st thoracic endovascular aortic repair/EVAR was 48.5 ± 15.4 years. Mean follow-up after 1st thoracic endovascular aortic repair/EVAR was 5.9 ± 4.4 years. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of reinterventions between patients with non-safe landing zone and the patients with safe proximal landing zone (P = 0.609). Furthermore, there was no increased probability for reintervention after planned endovascular intervention compared to emergency procedures (P = 0.916). Mean time to reintervention, either open surgical or endovascular, after planned endovascular intervention was in median 3.9 years (95% confidence interval 2.0-5.9 years) and 2.0 years (95% confidence interval -1.1 to 5.1 years) (P = 0.23) after emergency procedures. CONCLUSIONS: EVAR in patients with MFS and LDS and a safe landing zone is feasible and safe. Endovascular treatment is a viable option when employed by a multi-disciplinary aortic team even if the landing zone is in native tissue.

Hyperoxia-induced deterioration of diastolic function in anaesthetised patients with coronary artery disease - Randomised crossover trial.

Background: There are no current recommendations for oxygen titration in patients with stable coronary artery disease. This study investigates the effect of iatrogenic hyperoxia on cardiac function in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing general anaesthesia. Methods: Patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery were prospectively recruited into this randomised crossover clinical trial. All patients were exposed to inspired oxygen fractions of 0.3 (normoxaemia) and 0.8 (hyperoxia) in randomised order. A transoesophageal echocardiographic imaging protocol was performed during each exposure. Primary analysis investigated changes in 3D peak strain, whereas secondary analyses investigated other systolic and diastolic responses. Results: There was no statistical difference in systolic function between normoxaemia and hyperoxia. However, the response in systolic function to hyperoxia was dependent on ventricular function at normoxaemia. Patients with a normoxaemic left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) poorer than the derived cut-off (>-15.4%) improved with hyperoxia (P<0.01), whereas in patients with normoxaemic LV-GLS <-15.4%, LV-GLS worsened with transition to hyperoxia (P<0.01). The same was seen for right ventricular GLS with a cut-off at -24.1%. Diastolic function worsened during hyperoxia indicated by a significant increase of averaged E/e' (8.6 [2.6]. vs 8.2 [2.4], P=0.01) and E/A ratio (1.4 (0.4) vs 1.3 (0.4), P=0.01). Conclusions: Although the response of biventricular systolic variables is dependent on systolic function at normoxaemia, diastolic function consistently worsens under hyperoxia. In coronary artery disease, intraoperative strain analysis may offer guidance for oxygen titration. Clinical trial registration: NCT04424433.

Perfusion management during cardiopulmonary bypass in a patient with high cardiac output due to arteriovenous malformations.

We present a case of a 37-year-old woman diagnosed with Parkes-Weber syndrome characterized by high-flow arterio-venous malformations of the pelvic region with an estimated cardiac output of 7.2-8.5 l/min. Due to concomitant Marfan syndrome, the patient also presented an aortic root aneurysm needing surgical treatment under cardiopulmonary bypass. Concerns arose regarding the ability to maintain sufficient perfusion pressure during cardiopulmonary bypass due to the arterio-venous malformations. To address this, an intravascular balloon occlusion at the level of the aortic bifurcation was placed in order to limit arterial inflow into the arterio-venous malformations and achieve optimal perfusion pressure during cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient did not experience any complications and recovered completely after surgery.

The impact of sex and gender on aortic events in patients with Marfan syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore sex and gender differences regarding aortic events in Marfan patients. METHODS: We analysed all data from our connective tissue disorder database. Only patients with Marfan syndrome were included. For analysis, patients were divided by sex. Female patients were further divided into 2 subgroups: with versus without children. Aortic events were defined as Stanford type A aortic dissection (TAAD) or type B aortic dissection (TBAD) or any aortic intervention. RESULTS: A population of 183 Marfan patients was analysed for the purpose of this study. One hundred four (57%) were male and 79 (43%) were female patients. Thirty-seven (47%) of the 79 female patients had at least 1 child. Male patients had a significantly higher probability of experiencing an aortic event (P = 0.015) compared to female patients. However, there was no increased probability for recurrent events in male patients compared to female patients (P = 0.063). Follow-up revealed no sex and gender differences in the occurrence of Stanford TAAD or TBAD between male and female patients (P = 0.324/P = 0.534). While 11% of women with children suffered from peripartum aortic events, 24% experienced Stanford TAAD unrelated to pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Male patients have a higher risk of aortic events than female patients. The majority of women were not aware of their Marfan syndrome diagnosis before conceiving. One out of 10 women suffered from peripartum Stanford TAAD or TBAD. Twice as many female patients with children suffered from aortic dissection unrelated to childbirth. There were no sex and gender differences affecting mortality in Marfan patients.

Study design for a randomized crossover study investigating myocardial strain analysis in patients with coronary artery disease at hyperoxia and normoxemia prior to coronary artery bypass graft surgery (StrECHO-O2).

BACKGROUND: Supplemental oxygen (O2) is used routinely during anesthesia. In the treatment of acute myocardial infarction, it has been established that hyperoxia is to be avoided, whereas information on benefit and risk of hyperoxia in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) remain scarce, especially in the setting of general anesthesia. This study will compare the immediate effects of normoxemia and hyperoxia on cardiac function, with a primary focus on changes in peak longitudinal left-ventricular strain, in anesthetized stable chronic CAD patients using peri-operative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). METHODS: A single-center randomized cross-over clinical trial will be conducted, enrolling 106 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery. After the induction of anesthesia and prior to the start of surgery, cardiac function will be assessed by 2D and 3D TEE. Images will be acquired at two different oxygen states for each patient in randomized order. The fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) will be titrated to a normoxemic state (oxygen saturation of 95-98%) and adjusted to a hyperoxic state (FIO2 = 0.8). TEE images will be analyzed in a blinded manner for standard cardiac function and strain parameters. CONCLUSION: By using myocardial strain assessed by TEE, early and subtle signs of biventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction can be promptly measured intraoperatively prior to the onset of severe signs of ischemia. The results may help anesthesiologists to better understand the effects of FIO2 on cardiac function and potentially tailor oxygen therapy to patients with CAD undergoing general anesthesia.

Long-term outcome of patients with Marfan syndrome with previous aortic surgery but native aortic roots.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to report the long-term outcomes of patients with Marfan syndrome who had aortic surgery on any aortic segment except for the replacement of the aortic root itself. METHODS: An observational retrospective single-centre study was conducted with 115 Marfan syndrome patients who underwent 189 major aortic interventions from 1995 until 2018. Patients without aortic root replacement were identified and aortic root growth was analysed over time. RESULTS: Eleven of 115 patients (9.5%) did not have aortic root replacement during a follow-up of 10.5 [standard deviation (SD) 5.7] years and a mean age at last follow-up of 53.9 (SD 13.4) years. Patients without root replacement did not suffer less frequently from any type of acute aortic dissection (type A 27% vs 25%, P = 0.999; type B 36% vs 25%, P = 0.474). Patients with native aortic roots did not undergo fewer aortic interventions than those with aortic root replacement [12/11, mean 1.09 (SD 0.54) operations/patient vs 177/104, mean 1.7 (SD 1.3); P = 0.128]. Progression of the aortic root dimension was 0.5 (SD 0.3) mm/year in the group of patients with native aortic roots. CONCLUSIONS: Current data suggest that 10% of patients with Marfan syndrome with previous aortic surgery will be free from aortic root replacement until the sixth decade of life.

Management of the aortic arch in patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to develop strategies for management of the aortic arch in patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) through a review of our clinical experience with these patients and a comparison with our experience in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS). METHODS: We reviewed hospital and follow-up records of 79 patients with LDS and compared them with 256 patients with MFS who served as reference controls. RESULTS: In the LDS group, 16% of patients presented initially with acute aortic dissection (AAD) (67% type A, 33% type B) or developed AAD during follow-up, compared with 10% of patients with MFS (95% type A, 5% type B). There was no difference between patients with LDS or MFS in need for subsequent arch interventions after aortic root surgery (46% vs 50%, P = 1.0). Among the patients who never had AAD, the need for arch repair at initial root surgery was greater in patients with LDS (5% vs 0.4%, P = .04), as was the need for any subsequent aortic surgery (12% vs 1.3%, P = .0004). Late mortality in patients with LDS after arch repair was greater than in those patients who had no arch intervention (33% vs 6%, P = .007). CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of dissection, patients with LDS have a greater rate of arch intervention after root surgery than patients with MFS. After a dissection, arch reintervention rates are similar in the 2 groups. Arch intervention portends greater late mortality in LDS.

The role of the sinuses of Valsalva in aortic root flow dynamics and aortic root surgery: evaluation by magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Combined replacement of the aortic valve and ascending aorta using a composite graft represents the standard treatment for dilated aortic root with concomitant structural damage of the aortic valve, especially when the aortic valve cannot be preserved. Unfortunately, hemodynamic changes associated with prosthetic replacement of the aortic root have not been fully elucidated. The study aim was to compare hemodynamics within the replaced aortic root using either a prosthetic vascular graft with bulges mimicking the sinuses of Valsalva and including a stented pericardial valve, or a straight xenopericardial conduit and a stentless porcine valve. METHODS: Between July 2004 and March 2006, a total of 35 patients (mean age 65.2 years: range: 32-80 years) was enrolled into the present study. Aortic root replacement was performed in nine patients with a Valsalva graft (Gelweave Valsalva; Vascutek, Renfrewshire, UK) including a stented pericardial valve, and in 19 patients with a xenopericardial conduit containing a stentless porcine valve. All patients underwent postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A control group of seven patients allowed for comparison with native aortic root hemodynamics. RESULTS: Maximum flow-velocity above the aortic valve as one marker of compliance of the aortic root was slightly higher in patients with a Valsalva graft compared to native aortic roots (1.9 m/s versus 1.3 m/s, p = 0.001), but was significantly lower than in patients with the xenopericardial graft without neo-sinuses (1.3 m/s versus 2.4 m/s, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The pre-shaped bulges in the prosthetic Valsalva graft effectively mimic the native sinuses of Valsalva, improve compliance of the aortic root, and result in a more physiologic flow pattern, as demonstrated by postoperative MRI.

The fate of nonaortic arterial segments in Marfan patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the fate of nonaortic arterial segments in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS). METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 100 consecutive patients with MFS fulfilling Ghent criteria who underwent 192 interventions on any segment of the arterial tree and were followed over the past 20 years. A review of the available imaging regarding 9 defined regions of interest of the carotid, innominate, subclavian, iliac, and femoral arteries was performed. RESULTS: Mean follow-up interval was 11.6 ± 7.7 years. Of 600 measurements that were performed, 414 (69%) arterial segments showed dilatation above the upper range of normal. There were no significant sex differences. In 100 patients, 66 dissections in nonaortic arterial segments in 33 patients were identified. Nineteen patients with or without previous dissection underwent 34 interventions. Most interventions were performed on the iliac arteries (56%), followed by the subclavian arteries (21%), the intercostal arteries (9%), the carotid arteries (6%), the visceral arteries (6%), and the innominate artery (3%). Most iliac artery interventions (88%) were caused by dilatations due to previous dissections, whereas this was only the case in 17% of interventions on the subclavian arteries. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with MFS presented with at least 2 dilated nonaortic arterial segments. The current data suggest that 20% of MFS patients will need some form of intervention on nonaortic arterial segments 5 to 6 years after their first aortic intervention, referring to the first aortic dissection of the patient if the patient had a history of dissection. Routine long-term follow-up imaging should include the iliac arteries as well as the supra-aortic branches.

Standards of reporting in open and endovascular aortic surgery (STORAGE guidelines).

The number of patients undergoing surgery on the thoracic and thoraco-abdominal aorta has been steadily increasing over the past decade. This document aims to give guidance to authors reporting on results in aortic surgery by clarifying definitions of aortic pathologies, open and endovascular techniques and by listing clinical parameters that should be provided for full presentation of patients' clinical profile and in particular, their outcome. The aim is to help find a common language in the treatment of aortic disease and to contribute to a better understanding of this patient population.

Impact of reimplantation technique of supra-aortic branches in total arch replacement on stroke rate and survival: results from the ARCH registry.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to evaluate the impact of reimplantation techniques of the supra-aortic branches in total arch replacement on the rates of permanent neurological deficit (PND) and survival. METHODS: We identified patients enrolled in the ARCH registry who underwent total arch replacement between 2000 and 2015 with either en bloc or separate reimplantation of the supra-aortic branches. RESULTS: A total of 3345 patients were included in the present analysis. From this cohort, 686 patients underwent en bloc and 2659 patients had separate reimplantation of the supra-aortic branches. Propensity score analysis identified 461 matched patient pairs. In the matched cohort, there were no differences regarding the mortality rate (15.6% vs 15.7%, P = 0.710) or PND (9.2% vs 12.1%, P = 0.231). Although separate reimplantation of the supra-aortic branches was not associated with an increased mortality rate on multivariable logistic regression, it increased the risk of PND [odds ratio (OR) 1.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-2.29; P = 0.023]. Propensity-adjusted regression confirmed these findings and found a similar risk for PND with separate reimplantation of the supra-aortic branches (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.01-2.23; P = 0.047), although this significance was not found with conditional logistic regression (P = 0.20). No significant differences between survival were seen between the 2 matched cohorts (stratified log rank P = 0.35). CONCLUSIONS: Separate reimplantation of the supra-aortic branches in total arch replacement is a significant predictor of stroke in the overall group, although comparable stroke rates were observed in the matched cohort. The current trend towards separate reimplantation of supra-aortic branches may expose certain subgroups of patients to an increased risk of stroke, e.g. those with a high atherosclerotic burden.

Re-interventions on the thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta in patients with Marfan syndrome.

The advent of multi-gene panel genetic testing and the discovery of new syndromic and non-syndromic forms of connective tissue disorders have established thoracic aortic aneurysms as a genetically mediated disease. Surgical results in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) provide an important benchmark for this patient population. Prophylactic aortic root surgery prevents acute dissection and has contributed to the improved survival of MFS patients. In the majority of patients, re-interventions are driven by a history of dissection. Patients undergoing elective root repair have a low risk for re-interventions on the root itself. Experienced centers have results after valve-sparing procedures at 10 years comparable with those seen after a modified Bentall procedure. In patients where only the ascending aorta was replaced during the initial surgery, re-intervention rates are high as the root continues to dilate. The fate of the aortic arch in MFS patients presenting with dissection is strongly correlated with the extent of the initial surgery. Not replacing the entire ascending aorta and proximal aortic arch results in a high rate of re-interventions. Nevertheless, the additional burden of replacing the entire aortic arch during emergent proximal repair is not very well defined and makes comparisons with patients undergoing elective arch replacement difficult. Interestingly, replacing the entire aortic arch during initial surgery for acute dissection does not protect from re-interventions on downstream aortic segments. MFS patients suffering from type B dissection have a high risk for re-interventions ultimately leading up to replacement of the entire thoracoabdominal aorta even if the dissection was deemed uncomplicated by conventional criteria. While current guidelines do not recommend the implantation of stent grafts in MFS patients, implantation of a frozen-elephant-trunk to create a stable proximal landing zone for future endovascular or open procedures has emerged as a means to address aortic arch and descending aortic pathologies.