Endovascular approach to treat ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm in a patient with previous CABG and very high surgical risk

Outcomes of Endovascular Repair Confined to the Ascending Thoracic Aorta: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

High risk, inoperable patients with ascending aortic disease are increasingly managed with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). The aim of this study was to assess the available literature on TEVAR confined to the ascending aorta (a-TEVAR), describing study and patient characteristics, procedural and stent graft details, and outcomes.

DATA SOURCES

This was a systematic review and meta-analysis. MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus were systematically searched for eligible studies reporting on outcomes after a-TEVAR (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023440826). Eligible studies reported outcomes after a-TEVAR without adjunctive supra-aortic vessel treatment.

REVIEW METHODS

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement was followed. The ROBINS-I and Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist were used as quality assessment tools. A Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) evidence certainty analysis was performed for the main outcomes. The main outcome was death. A proportional meta-analysis was performed with a mean and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the main outcomes. All articles were included up to 1 January 2024.

RESULTS

Ninety four studies were included (19 cohort studies, 75 case reports or series), reporting on 259 patients (57.8% male). The mean age was 69.1 (95% CI 65.0 - 73.1) years and mean follow up 19.6 (95% CI 14.5 - 24.6) months. The most common comorbidity was prior cardiac or thoracic surgery (n = 191). The most frequent indications for a-TEVAR (52.1% urgent a-TEVAR) were type A aortic dissection (43.6%) and pseudoaneurysm (38.6%). The most commonly deployed stent grafts were Gore (44.5%), Cook (23.5%), and Medtronic (17.0%). The in hospital mortality rate was 7.3% (95% CI 4.7 - 11.2%), 30 day mortality rate 7.7% (95% CI 5.1 - 11.6%), and overall mortality rate 17.0% (95% CI 12.9 - 22.0%) during follow up. GRADE showed very low evidence certainty for all outcomes. Eighty eight complications were reported and there was a re-operation rate of 13.1% (95% CI 9.5 - 17.8%). In hospital and 30 day mortality rates for type A dissection were 12.4% (95% CI 7.5 - 19.7%) (n = 14) and 13.3% (95% CI 8.2 - 20.8%) (n = 15), respectively, and for pseudoaneurysm 4.0% (95% CI 1.6 - 9.8%) (n = 4) and 4.0% (95% CI 1.6 - 9.8) (n = 4), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Despite heterogeneous literature and very low GRADE evidence certainty, a-TEVAR seems technically feasible in high risk patients. In addition, there is need for a consensus on when and how to use a-TEVAR and a need for a specific endograft for use in the ascending aorta.

Minimally Invasive Endovascular Repair for Nondissected Ascending Aortic Disease: A Systematic Review

Objective

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of endovascular treatment for nondissected diseases of the ascending aorta. Data Sources. PubMed, Embase, and SciELO. Review Methods. In this study, we conducted a search on the PubMed, Embase, and SciELO databases for all cases of ascending aortic endovascular repair included in the literature published between January 2007 and July 2023, excluding type A aortic dissection. We reviewed 56 case reports and 7 observational studies included in this study, assessing the techniques, equipment, procedural steps, and results. We summarized the age, complications, follow-up time, and access route.

Results

This study includes 63 articles reporting 105 patients (mean age: 64.96 ± 17.08 years) who received endovascular repair for nondissected ascending aortic disease. The types of disease include aneurysm (N = 16), pseudoaneurysm (N = 71), penetrating aortic ulcer (N = 10), intramural hematoma (N = 2), thrombosis (N = 2), iatrogenic coarctation (N = 1), and rupture of the aorta (N = 3). The success rate of surgery is 99.05% (104/105). Complications include endoleak (10.48%, 11/105), stroke (5.71%, 6/105), postoperative infection (1.91%, 2/105), acute renal failure (0.95%, 1/105), aortic rupture (0.95%, 1/105), thrombosis (0.95%, 1/105), and splenic infarction (0.95%, 1/105). Five patients required conversion to open surgery, two patients underwent endovascular reintervention, and four of these five patients underwent surgery due to endoleak. Early mortality was 2.86% (3/105).

Conclusion

While the viability and results of endovascular repair for the treatment of ascending aortic disease are acknowledged in some circumstances, further research is needed to determine the safety and effectiveness of endovascular treatment for ascending aortic disease.

Endovascular repair of ascending aorta pseudoaneurysm post-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulation during pulmonary transplant

We demonstrated an endovascular technique excluding an ascending aorta pseudoaneurysm using an aortic extension. A 32-year-old woman, 3 years after lung transplantation with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation presented with an ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm. Vascular surgery was consulted after open repair was deemed high risk. An aortic extension stent graft was placed in a hybrid operating room with the aid of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. Ascending aorta pseudoaneurysms are complex and life-threatening complications. Traditional repair involves high surgical and anesthetic risks whereas endovascular treatment is technically feasible.

3D model-guided transcatheter closure of ascending aorta pseudoaneurysm with the novel Amplatzer Trevisio intravascular delivery system

Ascending aorta pseudoaneurysm (AAP) is a rare but life-threatening complication of atherosclerosis, endocarditis, chest trauma, transcatheter or cardio-thoracic procedures. Since surgical repair is burdened by high morbidity and mortality, percutaneous closure is nowadays considered a valuable cost-effective therapeutic alternative. Due to unpredictability and complexity of local anatomy, no standardized technique and device are advised. In this setting, 3D printing technology could significantly help in planning trans-catheter approach. This article reports on a 3D printed model-guided percutaneous closure of a huge AAP using an Amplatzer Septal Occluder (Abbott, Plymouth MN) implanted by the recently commercialized Amplatzer Trevisio Intravascular Delivery System.

Endovascular treatment of non-dissected ascending aorta disease: a systematic review

Severe ascending aorta disease includes aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms (ascending aorta pseudoaneurysms), penetrating aortic ulcers and Type A aortic dissections. Surgical replacement of the aortic root, ascending aorta or aortic arch is the common treatment for severe ascending aortic disease involving the root, the ascending aorta and/or the arch. Despite good surgical results, there is still a risk for morbidity and mortality following surgery for ascending aorta replacement when elderly patients or patients at high risk for surgery are concerned. Less invasive endovascular treatments for ascending aorta repair are under evaluation, and some reports appeared in the available literature in the last decade. However, clinical series or randomized studies are not yet available, and the use of these techniques is still questionable. In this study, we analysed the outcomes of reported cases of endovascular treatment for ascending aorta disease, excluding Type A aortic dissection. We reviewed reports published until February 2017, and we evaluated the employed technology, the devices, the procedural steps and the outcomes. A total of 26 articles reported 67 patients (mean age 65 ± 17 years) who received endovascular treatment for ascending aorta disease: aneurysms, ascending aorta pseudoaneurysms, penetrating aortic ulcers, intramural haematoma, thrombosis, iatrogenic coarctation and aortic rupture. Complications included endoleak (9 cases), stroke (3 cases), non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (1 case) and splenic infarction (1 case). Three patients required conversion to open surgery, and 1 patient underwent endovascular reintervention. Early mortality was 2.9%. As an alternative treatment for ascending aorta disease in selected high-risk patients, the endovascular repair will gain popularity, but further analysis is required.

Percutaneous thoracic endovascular aortic repair for ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm after prosthetic aortic valve repair

Ascending aortic pseudoaneurysms are an uncommon and challenging surgical problem that requires intervention to avoid rupture and hemorrhage. Preceding cardiac procedures often compound the high rate of morbidity and mortality associated with open repair. A case is described of an iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm in a patient with a recently placed prosthetic aortic valve and a clinical course precluding repeat open operative procedure. An endovascular approach was used, with placement of a thoracic aorta endograft with temporary cardiac pacing and a double-curved Lunderquist wire to avoid instrumenting the prosthetic aortic valve. At 9 months of follow-up, the patient returned to his baseline activity status, and at 24 months, had no symptoms or signs of infection, and a computed tomography angiogram demonstrated pseudoaneurysm exclusion with no graft migration.

Endovascular Closure of Ascending Aortic Pseudoaneurysm With a Type II Amplatzer Vascular Plug

A 71-year-old man initially presented with an asymptomatic, incidentally detected ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm 25 years following aortic root repair with mechanical aortic valve replacement. This pseudoaneurysm was previously treated with coil embolization but due to coil impaction it reopened 8 years later. Endovascular closure of the pseudoaneurysm was achieved with the off-label use of a type II Amplatzer vascular plug.