Axillofemoral Bypass for Kidney Transplant Protection during Open Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Spinal Cord Protection of Aorto-Iliac Bypass in Open Repair of Extent II and III Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm

BACKGROUND

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the serious complications of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and left heart bypass (LHB) are well-established extracorporeal circulatory assistance methods to increase distal aortic perfusion and prevent spinal cord ischaemia in TAAA repair. Aorto-iliac bypass, a new surgical adjunct offering distal aortic perfusion without the need of complex perfusion skills, was developed as a substitute for CPB and LHB. However, its spinal cord protective effect is unknown.

METHODS

The perioperative data of 183 patients who had elective open Crawford extent II and III TAAA repair at our aortic centre from July 2011 to May 2019 were retrospectively analysed. Spinal cord protection was compared between the aorto-iliac bypass group (n=106) and the extracorporeal circulatory assistance group (n=77 [65 CPB, 12 LHB]), and the risk factors for SCI in these patients were explored.

RESULTS

Eleven (11) patients had postoperative SCI: five (6.5%) in the extracorporeal circulatory assistance group (four with CPB and one with LHB), and six (5.7%) in the aorto-iliac bypass group. The incidence of SCI was 6.0% (11/183 cases). There was no difference between the aorto-iliac bypass group and the extracorporeal circulatory assistance group (p=1.0), while operation time, proximal aortic clamp time, intercostal artery clamp time, and length of intensive care unit stay were all increased in the latter group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that cerebrospinal fluid pressure (odds ratio [OR], 1.270; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.092-1.478 [p=0.002]) and lowest haemoglobin on the first postoperative day (OR, 0.610; 95% CI, 0.416-0.895 [p=0.011]) were the independent predictors of SCI in TAAA repair.

CONCLUSIONS

Spinal cord protection of aorto-iliac bypass is comparable to that of CPB and LHB in open TAAA repair.

Axillary-iliac bypass to protect a transplanted kidney during abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: case report

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are the most common type, even when compared to those involving other segments of the aorta. The prevalence and natural history of arterial aneurysms in abdominal organ transplant recipients remain uncertain. We report a case of abdominal aortic aneurysm in a kidney transplant patient with contrast allergy. Conventional abdominal aortic aneurysm repair was performed, constructing a bi-iliac aortic bypass. A temporary bypass was constructed from the right axillary artery to the right common iliac artery to maintain the renal graft. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit, where he remained hemodynamically stable, and he was discharged on the 2nd postoperative day. Conventional open surgery with temporary extra-anatomic bypass is an alternative option for treatment of AAA in patients with transplanted kidneys.

Management of Aortoiliac Aneurysms with Atypical Renal Artery Anatomy

BACKGROUND

Renal artery anomalies occur at a rate of 1-2% and present a challenge to vascular surgeons performing aortic surgery. We describe adjuncts used to manage such anatomic variants.

METHODS

A single surgeon registry of all abdominal aortic aneurysms repaired in an academic center was retrospectively reviewed. Patients with prior renal transplants, congenital pelvic kidneys, or horseshoe kidneys were included. Open repair was reserved for patients with no endovascular or hybrid repair options.

RESULTS

Over an 8-year period, 18 patients were identified (renal transplant n = 9, horseshoe kidney n = 3, congenital pelvic kidney n = 6). All transplant patients were treated with endovascular repair. Four required cross-femoral bypasses, 1 for retrograde allograft perfusion after aorto-uni-iliac (AUI) procedure to the contralateral external iliac artery and 3 for contralateral limb perfusion after endograft extension into iliac artery ipsilateral to allograft. Three transplant patients required carotid access due to severe iliofemoral occlusive disease or allograft origin off the internal iliac artery. Two horseshoe kidney patients underwent open repair with direct reimplantation of accessory renal arteries, whereas 1 underwent endovascular repair with exclusion of an isthmus branch. Of the congenital single/pelvic kidney cohort, 2 underwent open repair with renal reimplantation, 2 underwent endovascular aneurysm repair, 1 was treated with AUI and cross-femoral bypass, and one was treated with a staged iliorenal bypass and subsequent fenestrated endovascular repair. Intravascular ultrasound was used to minimize contrast use in patients with chronic renal insufficiency (Cr > 1.5 mg/dL, n = 6). Over a mean follow-up of 31 months (range, 1-110), there were no aortic deaths or reintervention, no decline in renal function (measured by serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate), and 100% patency of the preserved renal arteries.

CONCLUSIONS

Atypical renal anatomy should not preclude repair of aortic aneurysms. Repair of such aneurysms is safe and achieves good long-term outcomes with the use of the described techniques.

Multiple Aneurysms and a Transplanted Kidney in Behçet Disease

Arterial manifestation of Behçet disease represents a challenging clinical scenario with a potential for fatal complications. This case depicts the surgical management of a 4.5-cm infrarenal aortic aneurysm and a 6-cm left renal artery aneurysm in a patient with known Behçet disease. The presence of a contralateral living donor kidney transplant added to the complexity of the case. Open surgical repair was performed on both aneurysms with the use of axillofemoral bypass to protect the transplanted kidney. This case highlights the challenges of treating an aortic aneurysm in a patient with Behçet disease and a kidney transplant.