Endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms: Results of the phase II multicenter trial of the GORE TAG thoracic endoprosthesis

Endovascular coil embolization of segmental arteries prevents paraplegia after subsequent thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair: an experimental model

OBJECTIVES

To test a strategy for minimizing ischemic spinal cord injury after extensive thoracoabdominal aneurysm (TAAA) repair, we occluded a small number of segmental arteries (SAs) endovascularly 1 week before simulated aneurysm repair in an experimental model.

METHODS

Thirty juvenile Yorkshire pigs (25.2 ± 1.7 kg) were randomized into 3 groups. All SAs, both intercostal and lumbar, were killed by a combination of surgical ligation of the lumbar SAs and occlusion of intercostal SAs with thoracic endovascular stent grafting. Seven to 10 days before this simulated TAAA replacement, SAs in the lower thoracic/upper lumbar region were occluded using embolization coils: 1.5 ± 0.5 SAs in group 1 (T13/L1), and 4.5 ± 0.5 SAs in group 2 (T11-L3). No SAs were coiled in the controls. Hind limb function was evaluated blindly from daily videotapes using a modified Tarlov score (0 = paraplegia, 9 = full recovery). After death, each segment of spinal cord was graded histologically using the 9-point Kleinman score (0 = normal, 8 = complete necrosis).

RESULTS

Hind limb function remained normal after coil embolization. After simulated TAAA repair, paraplegia occurred in 6 of 10 control pigs, but in only 2 of 10 pigs in group 1; no pigs in group 2 had a spinal cord injury. Tarlov scores were significantly better in group 2 (control vs group 1, P = .06; control vs group 2, P = .0002; group 1 vs group 2, P = .05). A dramatic reduction in histologic damage, most prominently in the coiled region, was seen when SAs were embolized before simulated TAAA repair.

CONCLUSIONS

Endovascular coiling of 2 to 4 SAs prevented paraplegia in an experimental model of extensive hybrid TAAA repair, and helped protect the spinal cord from ischemic histopathologic injury. A clinical trial in a selected patient population at high risk for postoperative spinal cord injury may be appropriate.

Thoracic stent graft versus surgery for thoracic aneurysm

BACKGROUND

Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is an uncommon disease with an incidence of 10.4 per 100,000 inhabitants. It occurs mainly in older individuals and is evenly distributed among both sexes. There are no signs or symptoms indicative of the presence of the disease. Progressive but unpredictable enlargement of the dilated aorta is the natural course of the disease and can lead to rupture. Open chest surgical repair using prosthetic graft interposition has been a conventional treatment for TAAs. Despite improvements in surgical procedures perioperative complications remain significant. The alternative option of thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) is considered a less invasive and potentially safer technique, with lower morbidity and mortality compared with conventional treatment. Evidence is needed to support the use of TEVAR for these patients, rather than open surgery.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this review is to assess the efficacy of TEVAR versus conventional open surgery in patients with TAAs.

SEARCH METHODS

For this update the Cochrane Peripheral Vascular Diseases Group Trials Search Co-ordinator searched the Specialised Register (last searched March 2013) and CENTRAL (2013, Issue 2).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials in which patients with TAAs were randomly assigned to TEVAR or open surgical repair.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently identified and evaluated potential trials for eligibility. Excluded studies were further checked by another author. We did not perform any statistical analyses as no randomised controlled trials were identified.

MAIN RESULTS

We did not find any published or unpublished randomised controlled trials comparing TEVAR with conventional open surgical repair for the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Though stent grafting of the thoracic aorta is technically feasible and non-randomised studies suggest reduction of early outcomes such as paraplegia, mortality and hospital stay, high quality randomised controlled trials assessing all clinically relevant outcomes including open-conversion, aneurysm exclusion, endoleaks, and late mortality are needed.

Management of a Patient With Turner Syndrome Presenting With an Isolated Left Subclavian Artery Aneurysm

We describe a case of a 52-year-old female with Turner syndrome found to have an isolated 3.5-cm left subclavian artery aneurysm. Surgical intervention was performed to decrease the risk of compressive symptoms, distal embolization, and rupture. This entailed exclusion of the aneurysm proximally using thoracic stent graft, carotid–subclavian bypass, and ligation of the subclavian artery distal to the aneurysm. One-year follow-up demonstrated exclusion of the aneurysm with a 5-mm reduction in maximum aneurysm sac diameter. This case represents the management of a rare isolated left subclavian artery aneurysm, in the setting of Turner syndrome, treated with a successful endovascular approach.

Acute Traumatic Thoracic Aortic Injury: Considerations and Reflections on the Endovascular Aneurysm Repair

Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta is a life-threatening lesion and it occurs in 10 to 30% of fatalities from blunt thoracic trauma and is the second most common cause of death after head injury. Immediate surgery is often characterized by a high mortality and morbidity rate. Delayed repair of traumatic aortic injuries has significant survival benefits and a much lower mortality rate compared with early open repair. Despite developments in operative techniques, there still remains considerable operative mortality and morbidity associated with a surgical approach even if delayed. Endovascular stent grafts for the thoracic aorta represents an alternative to the conventional approach for traumatic aortic rupture. Because of the lower invasivity avoiding thoracotomy and use of heparin, endovascular repair can be applied in acute patients without the risk of destabilizing pulmonary, head or abdominal traumatic lesions. However, despite the good deal of convincing evidence for endovascular treatment for thoracic aortic diseases and for traumatic aortic injuries as a valid and efficacious alternative to surgery, several reports show a variety of late complications of thoracic endografts especially for first-generation stent-grafts. In light of this, is the endovascular treatment really safe, efficacious and free from complications in the long term? This manuscript aims to offer a moment of reflection on this important chapter of aortic pathology.

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair: update on indications and guidelines

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has revolutionized thoracic aortic surgery and has increased the options available to the aortic specialist in treating thoracic aortic disease. TEVAR is less invasive, and is associated with a decrease in perioperative morbidity and mortality when compared with open surgical repair. The dramatic expansion of TEVAR activity has necessitated a better definition for the indications, contraindications, and limitations of this new technology. Ideally TEVAR should be performed in specialized aortic centers providing a full range of diagnostic and treatment options, using a multidisciplinary team approach.

Diseases of the thoracic aorta in women

Women have now equaled or surpassed men in the number of cardiovascular deaths per year in published statistics. In 2006, according to the National Center for Health Statistics and the Center for Disease Control, cardiovascular disease was the cause of death in 428,906 women (35% of all deaths in women) and in 394,840 men (33% of all deaths in men). Of those numbers, it was estimated that 5506 women (0.4% of all deaths in women) and 7732 men (0.6%) died because of aortic aneurysm or dissection. Currently, aortic disease ranks as the 19th leading cause of death with reported increases in incidence. Historically, aortic disease is thought to affect men more frequently than women with a varying reported gender ratio. Gender bias has long been implicated as an important factor, but often overlooked, in the analysis and interpretation of cardiovascular diseases outcome, in part, because of the under-representation of women in clinical trials and studies. In this section, we provide an up-to-date review of the epidemiology and management of common diseases of the thoracic aorta, focusing on the differences and similarities in women and men.

Endovascular stent graft repair for thoracic aortic aneurysms: the history and the present in Japan

Stent-grafts for endovascular repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms have been commercially available for more than ten years in the West, whereas, in Japan, a manufactured stent-graft was not approved for the use until March 2008. Nevertheless, endovascular thoracic intervention began to be performed in Japan in the early 1990s, with homemade devices used in most cases. Many researchers have continued to develop their homemade devices. We have participated in joint design and assessment efforts with a stent-graft manufacturer, focusing primarily on fenestrated stent-grafts used in repairs at the distal arch, a site especially prone to aneurysm. In March 2008, TAG (W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Flagstaff, Arizona, USA) was approved as a stent graft for the thoracic area first in Japan, which was major turning point in treatment for thoracic aortic aneurysms. Subsequently, TALENT (Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA) was approved in May 2009, and TX2 (COOK MEDICAL Inc., Bloomington, Indiana, USA) in March 2011. Valiant as an improved version of TALENT was approved in November 2011, and TX2 Proform as an improved version of TX2 began to be supplied in October 2012. These stent grafts are excellent devices that showed good results in Western countries, and marked effectiveness can be expected by making the most of the characteristics of each device. A clinical trial in Japan on Najuta (tentative name) (Kawasumi Labo., Inc., Tokyo, Japan) as a line-up of fenestrated stent grafts that can be applied to distal arch aneurysms showing a high incidence, and allow maintenance of blood flow to the arch vessel was initiated. This trial was completed, and Najuta has just been approved in January of 2013 in Japan, and further development is expected. In the U.S., great efforts have recently been made to develop and manufacture excellent stent grafts for thoracic aneurysms, and rapid progress has been achieved. In particular, in the area of the aortic arch, in which we often experience aneurysmal change, but there are no commercially available devices which are urgently needed. Companies are competing keenly to develop devices. To our knowledge, more than 4 manufacturers are involved in the development of functionally new stent grafts in this area. The introduction of branched stent grafts may not be faraway.

[Stent graft of the thoracic aorta]

Considering the demographic changes in our society and the proliferation of imaging-based improved diagnostics, both acute and chronic aortic diseases attract increasing attention and require dedicated care. Cardiac as well as vascular surgery used to represent the gold standards for therapeutic management of pathologies of the ascending aorta and the arch; however, the technological evolution of endoluminal strategies has had a serious impact on the treatment of the descending aorta, the aortic arch in combination with vascular debranching or bypass, and in selected cases even on managing pathologies of the ascending aorta. Although several case series and meta-analyses of published observations hint towards superiority of endografting in comparison to open surgical repair, the affected usually multimorbid patients with highly complex aortic disease should be subjected to an individual evaluation by a team of cardiologists, cardiac and vascular surgeons as well as imaging specialists; a dedicated individualized treatment concept in highly experienced centers of excellence is likely to provide the best results for such challenging patients.

Fate of patients with spinal cord ischemia complicating thoracic endovascular aortic repair

OBJECTIVE

Spinal cord ischemia (SCI) is a potentially devastating complication of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) that can result in varying degrees of short-term and permanent disability. This study was undertaken to describe the clinical outcomes, long-term functional impact, and influence on survival of SCI after TEVAR.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all TEVAR patients at the University of Florida from 2000 to 2011 was performed to identify individuals experiencing SCI, defined by any new lower extremity neurologic deficit not attributable to another cause. SCI was dichotomized into immediate or delayed onset, with immediate onset defined as SCI noted upon awakening from anesthesia, and delayed characterized as a period of normal function, followed by development of neurologic injury. Ambulatory status was determined using database query, record review, and phone interviews with patients and/or family. Mortality was estimated using life-table analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 607 TEVARs were performed for various indications, with 57 patients (9.4%) noted to have postoperative SCI (4.3% permanent). SCI patients were more likely to be older (63.9 ± 15.6 vs 70.5 ± 11.2 years; P = .002) and have a number of comorbidities, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and cerebrovascular disease (P < .0001). At some point in their care, a cerebrospinal fluid drain was placed in 54 patients (95%), with 54% placed postoperatively. In-hospital mortality was 8.8% for the entire cohort (SCI vs no SCI; P = .45). SCI developed immediately in 12 patients, delayed onset in 40, and indeterminate in five patients due to indiscriminate timing from postoperative sedation. Three patients (25%) with immediate SCI had measurable functional improvement (FI), whereas 28 (70%) of the delayed-onset patients experienced some degree of neurologic recovery (P = .04). Of the 34 patients with complete data available, 26 (76%) reported quantifiable FI, but only 13 (38%) experienced return to their preoperative baseline. Estimated mean (± standard error) survival for patients with and without SCI was 37.2 ± 4.5 and 71.6 ± 3.9 months (P < .0006), respectively. Patients with FI had a mean survival of 53.9 ± 5.9 months compared with 9.6 ± 3.6 months for those without improvement (P < .0001). Survival and return of neurologic function were not significantly different when patients with preoperative and postoperative cerebrospinal fluid drains were compared.

CONCLUSIONS

The minority of patients experience complete return to baseline function after SCI with TEVAR, and outcomes in patients without early functional recovery are particularly dismal. Patients experiencing delayed SCI are more likely to have FI and may anticipate similar life-expectancy with neurologic recovery compared with patients without SCI. Timing of drain placement does not appear to have an impact on postdischarge FI or long-term mortality.

Incidence of descending aortic pathology and evaluation of the impact of thoracic endovascular aortic repair: a population-based study in England and Wales from 1999 to 2010

OBJECTIVES

To investigate population trends in thoracic aortic disease (dissections and aneurysms) in England and Wales, with focus on the impact of thoracic endovascular aortic repair on procedure numbers and age at repair.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Routine hospital statistics of England and Wales provided admission, procedure and mortality data from 1999 to 2010. All data were age-standardised, reported per 100,000 population, by age bands (>50 years or 50-74 years versus 75+ years) and gender. Only patients 50+ years were included, to focus on degenerative disease.

RESULTS

Between 1999 and 2010 hospital admissions for total (ascending and descending) have risen steadily for thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) from 7.2 to 8.8 and thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) from 4.4 to 9.0, principally attributable to increased admissions in those 75+ years. Total mortality declined steadily over the same period, for TAD from 4.4 to 3.2 and for TAA from 10.4 to 7.5. Procedure rates have risen sharply, driven by the implementation of TEVAR from 2006, for type B dissection from 0.06 to 0.53 and for descending TAA from 0.76 to 1.89. All figures are per 100,000 population with P <0.005.

CONCLUSION

Improvements in case ascertainment may have contributed to the increase in hospital admissions. The increased application of TEVAR, particularly for dissections, is mainly in those above 75 years and has not yet translated into an accelerated survival benefit.

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair for thoracic aortic mobile thrombus

Thoracic aortic mobile thrombus is a rare and significant source of peripheral, visceral, as well as cerebral emboli. A 51-year-old female with a history of emergency left brachial artery embolectomy 5 months previously was referred to our unit for evaluation of a mobile thrombus in the descending thoracic aorta. We describe the successful primary treatment of a symptomatic mobile thrombus in the thoracic aorta by using a stent graft.

Tratamento endovascular das doenças da aorta torácica: análise dos resultados de um centro

OBJETIVO: Analisar os resultados do tratamento de uma série consecutiva de pacientes submetidos a tratamento endovascular de doenças da aorta torácica. Foram observados o sucesso técnico, o sucesso terapêutico, a morbimortalidade e a taxa de complicações perioperatórias e de reintervenções. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo, realizado em um centro de referência, no período de janeiro de 2010 a julho de 2011, em que foram analisados pacientes submetidos a correção endovascular de doenças da aorta torácica. A população foi dividida em dois grupos: grupo 1 (G1) - aneurismas de aorta torácica verdadeiros, úlcera aórtica e pseudoaneurisma; grupo 2 (G2) - dissecção aórtica tipo B crônica. RESULTADOS: Em um total de 55 pacientes tratados, 29 pertenciam ao G1 e 26, ao G2. As idades médias foram 66,8 ± 10 e 56,4 ± 7 anos, respectivamente. Os sucessos técnico e terapêutico foram, respectivamente, 86,3% e 68,6% no G1 e 100% e 74% no G2. A mortalidade perioperatória foi 10,3% no G1 e 7,6% no G2, com taxa de mortalidade anual de 10,3% no G1 e de 19,3% no G2. As taxas de reintervenções foram 10,3% e 15,3%, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: Em nosso estudo, o tratamento endovascular das doenças da aorta torácica demonstrou ser um método viável e associado a aceitáveis taxas de complicações.

Imaging of vascular remodeling after simulated thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair

OBJECTIVE

A better understanding of the response of the spinal cord blood supply to segmental artery (SA) sacrifice should help minimize the risk of paraplegia after both open and endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aortic (TAA) aneurysms.

METHODS

Twelve female juvenile Yorkshire pigs were randomized into 3 groups and perfused with a barium-latex solution. Pigs in group 1 (control) had infusion without previous intervention. Pigs in group 2 were infused 48 hours after ligation of all SAs (T4-L5) and those in group 3 at 120 hours after ligation. Postmortem computed tomographic scanning of the entire pig enabled overall comparisons and measurement of vessel diameters in the spinal cord circulation.

RESULTS

We ligated 14.5 ± 0.8 SAs: all filled retrograde to the ligature. Paraplegia occurred in 38% of operated pigs. A significant increase in the mean diameter of the anterior spinal artery (ASA) was evident after SA sacrifice (P < .0001 for 48 hours and 120 hours). The internal thoracic and intercostal arteries also increased in diameter. Quantitative assessment showed an increase in vessel density 48 hours after ligation of SAs, reflected by an obvious increase in small collateral vessels seen on 3-dimensional reconstructions of computed tomographic scans at 120 hours.

CONCLUSIONS

Remodeling of the spinal cord blood supply--including dilatation of the ASA and proliferation of small collateral vessels--is evident at 48 and 120 hours after extensive SA sacrifice. It is likely that exploitation of this process will prove valuable in the quest to eliminate paraplegia after TAA aneurysm repair.

Role of induced hypothermia in thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery

For more than 50 years, hypothermia has been used in aortic surgery as a tool for neuroprotection. Hypothermia has been introduced into thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) surgery by many cardiovascular centers to protect the body's organs, including the spinal cord. Numerous publications have shown that hypothermia can prevent immediate and delayed motor dysfunction after aortic cross-clamping. Here, we reviewed the historical application of hypothermia in aortic surgery, role of hypothermia in preclinical studies, cellular and molecular mechanisms by which hypothermia confers neuroprotection, and the role of systemic and regional hypothermia in clinical protocols to reduce and/or eliminate the devastating consequences of ischemic spinal cord injury after TAAA repair.

Results with the Talent thoracic stent graft in the VALOR trial

OBJECTIVE

We report the 5-year outcomes of thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) using the Medtronic Vascular Talent Thoracic Stent Graft System (Medtronic Vascular, Santa Rosa, Calif) in patients considered low or moderate risk for open surgical repair.

METHODS

The Evaluation of the Medtronic Vascular Talent Thoracic Stent Graft System for the Treatment of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms (VALOR) trial was a prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter, pivotal study conducted at 38 U.S. sites. Between December 2003 and June 2005, VALOR enrolled 195 patients who were low or moderate risk (0, 1, and 2) per the modified Society for Vascular Surgery and American Association for Vascular Surgery criteria. The patients had fusiform thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) and/or focal saccular TAAs/penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers. Standard follow-up interval examinations were conducted at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and annually thereafter.

RESULTS

Over the 5-year follow-up, 76 deaths occurred (43.9%). Freedom from all-cause mortality was 83.9% at 1 year and 58.5% at 5 years. Most deaths were due to cardiac, pulmonary or cancer-related causes. Freedom from aneurysm-related mortality (ARM) was 96.9% at 1 year and 96.1% at 5 years. There was only 1 case of ARM after the first year of follow-up. Over the 5-year follow-up period, four patients were converted to open surgery and four patients experienced aneurysm rupture. The 5-year freedom from aneurysm rupture was 97.1% and the 5-year freedom from conversion to surgery was 97.1%. The incidence of stent graft migration (>10 mm) was ≤ 1.8% in each year of follow-up. The rate of type I endoleak was 4.6% at 1 month, 6.3% from 1 month to 1 year, and 3.8% during year 5. The rate of type III endoleak was 1.3% at 1 month, 1.9% from 1 month to 1 year, and 1.9% during year 5. Through 5 years, 28 patients (14.4%) underwent 31 additional endovascular procedures on the original target lesion. The 5-year freedom from secondary endovascular procedures was 81.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

Through 5-year follow-up in patients who were candidates for open surgical repair, TEVAR using the Talent Thoracic Stent Graft System has demonstrated sustained protection from ARM, aneurysm rupture, and conversion to surgery, and durable stent graft performance. Close patient follow-up remains essential after TEVAR.

Preoperative prediction of mortality within 1 year after elective thoracic endovascular aortic aneurysm repair

OBJECTIVE

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is known to have a survival benefit over open repair in patients with descending thoracic aneurysms and has become a mainstay of therapy. Because death before 1 year after TEVAR likely indicates an ineffective therapy, we have created a predictive model for death within 1 year using factors available in the preoperative setting.

METHODS

A registry of 526 TEVARs performed at the University of Florida between September 2000 and November 2010 was queried for patients with degenerative descending thoracic aneurysm as their primary pathology. Procedures with emergent or urgent indications were excluded. Preoperatively available variables, such as baseline comorbidities, anatomic-, and procedure-specific planning details, were recorded. Univariate predictors of death were analyzed with multivariable Cox proportional hazards to identify independent predictors of 30-day (death within 30 days) and 1-year mortality (death within 1 year) after TEVAR.

RESULTS

A total of 224 patients were identified and evaluated. The 30-day mortality rate was 3% (n = 7) and the 1-year mortality rate was 15% (n = 33). Multivariable predictors of 1-year mortality (hazard ratios [95% confidence interval]) included: age >70 years (5.8 [2.1-16.0]; P = .001), adjunctive intraoperative procedures (eg, brachiocephalic or visceral stents, or both, concomitant arch debranching procedures; 4.5 [1.9-10.8]; P = .001), peripheral arterial disease (3.0 [1.4-6.7]; P = .006), coronary artery disease (2.4 [1.1-4.9]; P = .02), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1.9 [1.0-3.9]; P = .06). A diagnosis of hyperlipidemia was protective (0.4 [0.2-0.7]; P = .006). When patients were grouped into those with one, two, three, or four or more of these risk factors, the predicted 1-year mortality was 1%, 3%, 10%, 27%, and 54%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors are available in the preoperative setting that are predictive of death within 1 year after TEVAR and can guide clinical decision making regarding the timing of repair. Patients with multiple risk factors, such as age ≥ 70 years, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and a need for an extensive procedure involving adjunctive therapies, have a high predicted mortality within 1 year and may be best served by waiting for a larger aneurysm size to justify the risk of intervention.

Safety of elective management of synchronous aortic disease with simultaneous thoracic and aortic stent graft placement

BACKGROUND

Simultaneous treatment of multilevel aortic disease is controversial due to the theoretic increase in morbidity. This study was conducted to define the outcomes in patients treated electively with simultaneous thoracic endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (TEVAR) and abdominal aortic endovascular endografting for synchronous aortic pathology.

METHODS

Patients treated with simultaneous TEVAR and endovascular aneurysm repair (T&E) at the University of Florida were identified from a prospectively maintained endovascular aortic registry and compared with those treated with TEVAR alone (TA). The study excluded patients with urgent or emergency indications, thoracoabdominal or mycotic aneurysm, and those requiring chimney stents, fenestrations, or visceral debranching procedures. Demographics, anatomic characteristics, operative details, and periprocedural morbidity were recorded. Mortality and reintervention were estimated using life-table analysis.

RESULTS

From 2001 to 2011, 595 patients underwent TEVAR, of whom 457 had elective repair. Twenty-two (18 men, 82%) were identified who were treated electively with simultaneous T&E. Mean ± standard deviation age was 66 ± 9 years, and median follow-up was 8.8 months (range, 1-34 months). Operative indications for the procedure included dissection-related pathology in 10 (45%) and various combinations of degenerative etiologies in 12 (55%). Compared with TA, T&E patients had significantly higher blood loss (P < .0001), contrast exposure (P < .0001), fluoroscopy time (P < .0001), and operative time (P < .0001). The temporary spinal cord ischemia rate was 13.6% (n = 3) for the T&E group and 6.0% for TA (P = .15); however, the permanent spinal cord ischemia rate was 4% for both groups (P = .96). The 30-day mortality for T&E was 4.5% (n = 1) compared with 2.1% (n = 10) for TA. Temporary renal injury (defined by a 25% increase over baseline creatinine) occurred in two T&E patients (9.1%), with none requiring permanent hemodialysis; no significant difference was noted between the two groups (P = .14). One-year mortality and freedom from reintervention in the T&E patients were 81% and 91%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Acceptable short-term morbidity and mortality can be achieved with T&E compared with TA, despite longer operative times, greater blood loss, and higher contrast exposure. There was a trend toward higher rates of renal and spinal cord injury, so implementation of strategies to reduce the potential of these complications or consideration of staged repair is recommended. Short-term reintervention rates are low, but longer follow-up and greater patient numbers are needed to determine procedural durability and applicability.

Midterm outcomes of open surgical repair compared with thoracic endovascular repair for isolated descending thoracic aortic disease

Objective

This study aimed to assess the surgical morbidity and mortality of thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR) as compared with open surgical repair (OSR) for isolated descending thoracic aortic disease.

Materials and Methods

From January 1, 2006 through May 31, 2010, a total of 68 patients with isolated descending thoracic aortic disease were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of perioperative complication, 30-day mortality, and clinical success. The patients were divided into two groups (group 1, OSR, n = 40 vs. group 2, TEVAR, n = 28) and these groups were compared for major variables and late outcomes.

Results

The mean age was 58 years (group I = 54 vs. group II = 63 years, p = 0.011). Significant perioperative complications occurred in 12 patients: 8 (20%) in group I and 4 (13%) in group II (p = 0.3). There were five 30 day mortalities of which 4 occurred in group I and 1 in group II (p = 0.23). Clinical success (effective aortic remodeling and complete false lumen obliteration or thrombosis) was achieved in 20 patients (71%). Mean Kaplan-Meier survival rate at 1 year was similar for both groups (group 1 = 87% vs. group 2 = 80%, p = 0.65).

Conclusion

Thoracic endovascular repair for isolated thoracic aortic disease shows comparable results to OSR. However, the potential for endoleak or rupture remains a challenge that needs to be addressed in the future. Therefore, close follow-up study is needed for the evaluation of satisfactory long-term outcomes.

Unusual complications of endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta: MDCT findings

With the development of minimally invasive surgical techniques, endovascular stent-graft placement has become an accepted and widely used alternative to the traditional surgical repair of aortic disease and is gaining acceptance as the treatment of choice. Many studies show that endovascular stent-graft therapy is safe and effective, although complications related to this treatment are also recognised. Although the incidence of major complication is low, neurological sequelae remain the major concern of endovascular repair. With growing experience, however, the spectrum of mid- and long-term complications has broadened to include potentially disastrous events, other than paraplegia or stroke, that require diligent surveillance. Three-dimensional data sets acquired quickly by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) allow multiplanar reformations and 3D viewing, as well as quantitative assessment of vessel lumens, walls and surroundings. Although a large portion of radiologists will not be involved in the actual endograft deployment, many will be involved in the interpretation of postprocedural surveillance studies. Accordingly, the goal of this report is to summarise our experience with the presentation, diagnostic approach, management and outcomes of these unusual, but potentially catastrophic, postendovascular aortic repair complications to highlight their significance and increase familiarity with them among the imaging community. Increasing awareness of these complications may facilitate rapid diagnosis and/or triage and treatment.

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair for aortic complications after esophagectomy for cancer: report of three cases

Aortic complications after esophageal cancer surgery are rare and usually fatal. Here, we report three patients who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for aortic complications after esophagectomy for cancer. In the first case, aortic rupture was caused by pyothorax due to residual tumor after esophagectomy. In the second case, aortic rupture was caused by pyothorax due to anastomotic leakage. In the third case, a pseudoaneurysm was caused by surgical injury during esophagectomy. TEVAR was safe and effective for severe aortic complications when graft infection was avoided. The first case died of sepsis on the 84th postoperative day, and the other two cases have survived 4 years and 2 years to date.

Neurological complications of thoracic endovascular aortic repair

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has decreased the morbidity and mortality associated with open surgical repair of descending thoracic aortic diseases, but important complications unique to the procedure remain. Spinal cord ischemia and infarction is a recognized complication caused by endovascular coverage or injury to spinal cord collateral vessels. Stroke is a consequence of thromboembolism or coverage of aortic arch branch vessels with insufficient collateral circulation. Understanding the risk factors and the pathophysiology of neurological complications of TEVAR are important for the successful anesthetic and surgical management and treatment of patients undergoing endovascular procedures involving the thoracic aorta.

Predictability of Cerebral Embolization from Aortic Arch Manipulations During Thoracic Endovascular Repair

There is no sensitive tool to monitor embolic events and predict patients at a risk for strokes during thoracic endovascular aortic repair. We examined the relationship between the number of high intensity transient signals (HITS) by transcranial doppler ultrasound and the extent of atherosclerotic plaques in aortic arch. Thirteen patients were treated as a part of a single center United States Food and Drug Administration-approved investigational device exemption for various thoracic aortic pathologies. Bilateral transcranial doppler ultrasound transducers recorded the number of HITS. CT angiography and intravascular ultrasound were used to measure the thickness of mural thrombi and determine their arch location. All 13 patients had detectable HITS, and one patient sustained a stroke. Eleven patients had quantifiable mural thrombi. The highest HITS were observed in patients with thrombi in zones 2 to 3. All three patients with bovine arch had more HITS in the right middle cerebral artery whereas the patients with normal arch anatomy had more HITS in the left middle cerebral artery. The presence of mural thrombi in zones 2 and 3, irrespective of their thickness, was associated with increased HITS during thoracic endovascular aortic repair. This is the first study to characterize the significance of mural thrombi in aortic arch and their relationship to embolic events during aortic arch manipulations.

Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair: A Local Single Institution Experience

Introduction: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the short- to mid-term results of the endovascular repair of thoracic aortic disease and to present an overview of our experience with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in our institution. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of all patients who were treated and underwent TEVAR in our institution between August 2004 and November 2009 was conducted. Results: Technical success was achieved in 100% of the patients and the 30-day mortality rate was 0%. Perioperative endoleak was visualised at the end of the procedure in 4 patients. Secondary endoleak was observed in 2 patients. Mean hospital length of stay post-TEVAR was 15.4 days. Postoperative major complications were observed in 4 patients. The 30-day mortality rate was 0%, with 2 mortalities (11.1%) during the follow-up period. Conclusion: This study adds to the growing body of literature that support TEVAR as an effective procedure in the management of thoracic aortic diseases and reflects its feasibility in our population. Further technical advancement in stent grafts, careful selection of patients and standardised peri-procedural care would contribute to further improvements in clinical outcomes. Key words: Endovascular, Stent graft, TEVAR, Thoracic aneurysm, Thoracic dissection

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting after renal transplantation: a case report

Twelve years after receiving a renal transplant, a 50-year-old woman developed asthmatic symptoms. Chest CT revealed a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm. She had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention to treat the left anterior descending artery 10 years earlier. Coronary artery angiography revealed restenosis of the left anterior descending artery (99%, #6 in-stent). Because cardiopulmonary bypass may cause problems for transplanted kidney, we performed off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (left internal thoracic artery to left anterior descending artery) and thoracic endovascular graft placement to treat the aortic aneurysm. Considering that the artery of the transplanted kidney was attached to the right iliac artery, and then the left common femoral artery was selected as the access root for GORE TAG(®) endografts (34 × 200 and 34 × 150 mm) (stentgrafts were deployed for the descending aortic artery). Postoperative angiography showed a patent bypass graft. Postoperative CT confirmed the absence of endoleaks. The postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged without complications. Ischemic heart disease and descending thoracic aortic aneurysm in recipients of kidney transplants can be treated using off-pump coronary bypass grafting and thoracic endovascular graft placement. The transplanted kidney was protected without using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

National trends and regional variation of open and endovascular repair of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysms in contemporary practice

OBJECTIVES

Successful surgical management of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA) has historically relied upon open surgical repair (OSR). More recently, the advent and application of thoracic endovascular stent graft aneurysm repair (TEVAR) permutations have become increasingly performed in contemporary practice. To better determine the effect of TEVAR techniques on OSR, we examined national and regional trends in treatment use.

METHODS

All Medicare patients from 1998 through 2007 undergoing isolated TAA and TAAA repair were analyzed using a clinically validated algorithm using diagnostic International Classification of Disease 9th revision (ICD-9; 441.1, 441.2, 441.6, 441.7, 441.9) codes and procedural (ICD-9 OSR: 38.35, 38.45 and TEVAR: 39.73, 39.79) codes. Differential rates of OSR and TEVAR were compared across census tract regions during the study interval.

RESULTS

Total complex aortic repairs increased by 60%, from 10.8 to 17.8/100,000, between 1998 and 2007 (P < .001). A dramatic increase occurred in TEVAR (not performed in 1998, 5.8/100,000 in 2007) during the study period, but OSR rates remained stable during the same interval (10.7 to 12.0/100,000 in 2007, P = NS). There was substantial regional variation for both OSR and TEVAR. This regional variation was greater in OSR (range, 8.8-16.7/100,000) than in TEVAR (range, 4.5-6.9/100,000).

CONCLUSIONS

Degenerative TAA and TAAA aneurysms are being repaired in the United States at an increasing rate. This reflects the rapid acceptance of TEVAR, which apparently supplements rather than supplants OSR. There appears to be greater regional variation in OSR compared with TEVAR. These data may have significant implications for those interested in the effect of new technologies on health care and cost containment.

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair with homemade stent grafts: early and mid-term outcomes

PURPOSE

We reviewed our experience with homemade stent grafts in the repair of a variety of thoracic aortic lesions. The objective of this study was to assess the early and mid-term outcomes of this therapy.

METHODS

From 1999 to 2007, homemade stent grafts were inserted in 88 patients with an atherosclerotic aneurysm, dissection, pseudoaneurysm, trauma, or rupture in the thoracic aorta. The endoprostheses were stainless steel Z-stents covered by a polyester graft, and were custom-designed for each patient.

RESULTS

Placement of stent grafts was technically successful in 81 of the 88 patients (92%). Within 30 days after treatment, 3 patients died, 3 had a cerebral infarction, and 3 had onset of paraplegia or paraparesis. Primary endoleaks were observed in 8 patients (9%). During the mean follow-up period of 32 ± 26 months, 7 patients had persistent endoleaks and 7 had stent-graft migration. The aneurysm-related mortality rate was 7%. The rate of freedom from open-surgery conversion at 32 months was 89.0%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our early experience with elective and emergency thoracic endovascular aortic repair using homemade stent grafts provided therapeutic benefits to high-risk patients. Endoleaks and stent-graft migrations were the factors most commonly responsible for secondary intervention in the mid-term period. Careful follow-up of patients treated with this approach is needed to avoid major complications in the long term.

Endovascular repair of thoracic aortic injury: current thoughts and technical considerations

Thoracic aortic traumatic injury is a highly morbid event. Mortality and paraplegia rates after emergent open repair remain high. Now, however, thoracic aortic endografting for trauma (TAET) is commonly used. It is appealing due to reduction of operative stress for the multiply injured trauma victim. This minimizing of stress and risk is secondary to avoidance of thoracotomy, single-lung ventilation, aortic cross-clamping, and the more complex anesthetic techniques required. Early and midterm results from TAET delineate improved outcomes, yet access and aortic constraints continue to challenge TAET. Questions regarding longer-term durability of endografts in younger patients remain unanswered. Broader application of TAET within endovascular programs is challenged by appropriate imaging, operating suite inventories, and the logistics and personnel required for TAET. Currently developed thoracic endograft devices are not ideal for TAET due to platform size and graft diameter. This is changing, however, as new modifications have been developed and trials are ongoing. In light of these collective factors, the management paradigm for traumatic aortic injury is beginning to favor TAET.

Initial experience in the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysmal disease with a thoracic aortic endograft at Baylor University Medical Center

A retrospective review of 27 patients who underwent endovascular repair of thoracic aneurysms and of other thoracic aortic pathology with the thoracic aortic endograft (Gore Medical, Flagstaff, AZ) from June 2005 to July 2007 was performed. The mean follow-up period was 13.5 months (range, 2-25 months). Indications for thoracic endografting included descending thoracic aneurysms (n = 18), thoracoabdominal aneurysms (n = 3), traumatic aortic injuries (n = 3), penetrating aortic ulcers (n = 2), and contained rupture of a type B dissection (n = 1). One patient died during the procedure, for an overall mortality rate of 3.7%. The average length of stay was 8.1 days, with an average stay in the intensive care unit of 4.2 days. If patients with traumatic aortic injuries were excluded, the average overall and intensive care unit length of stay were 5.6 and 1.8 days, respectively. There was one incident of spinal cord ischemia (3.7%). There were five type I or type III endoleaks, three of which required revision (11.1%). In conclusion, thoracic endografting is a safe and viable option for the repair of descending thoracic aneurysms and other aortic pathologies. We have found it to be less invasive, even in conjunction with preoperative debranching procedures, with a shorter recovery time, decreased perioperative morbidity and blood loss, and decreased peri-operative mortality compared with standard open repair.

Endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta

The emergence of endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta (TEVAR) quickly followed the development of technology for the exclusion of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms. Stent grafts comprised of metal struts covered with fabric made of Dacron/polyester or polytetrafluoroethylene were developed for the purpose of achieving an adequate seal at the proximal and distal aspects of thoracic aneurysms, thus excluding sac flow. The recognition of the decreased morbidity of this approach compared with open repair was readily apparent, as it avoided left thoracotomy, aortic cross-clamping, and left heart bypass. Since then, TEVAR is increasingly being used for other aortic pathologies such as complicated type B dissection, traumatic aortic transection, and aneurysmal disease extending into the arch or visceral segment, requiring debranching procedures.