Percutaneous balloon occlusion of the inferior vena cava as an adjunct for treating ruptured type IV thoracoabdominal aneurysm and aortocaval fistula

Contemporary uses of inferior vena cava balloon occlusion

The evolution of the hybrid operative environment has expanded the utility of inferior vena cava balloon occlusion (IVCBO) in contemporary surgical practice. First described in the management of acute decompensated heart failure and venous thromboembolism, IVCBO has been utilised in deployment of thoracic endoprosthesis, repair of aorto-caval fistula, management of inferior vena cava (IVC) tumour thrombus and abdominal IVC trauma. More recently, IVCBO has also been utilised as a therapeutic strategy to assist patients with reduced ejection fraction and exercise tolerance in the form of an implantable device. Here we present a narrative review of the physiological impact of IVCBO as well as its historical, contemporary and future uses. The contemporary utilisation of IVCBO is a novel example of employing endovascular technology in the hybrid operative environment; paramount for the modern vascular surgeon who is now increasingly involved in multi-disciplinary management of complex clinical presentations.

Treatment of Aortocaval Fistula Secondary to Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Aortocaval fistula (ACF) secondary to an abdominal aortic aneurysm is a rare complication, inadvertently caused by a rupture into the inferior vena cava. Different treatment modalities have been applied toward the repair of such lesions, including open surgical and endovascular repair. The aim of this study was to report on ACF treatment and to analyze its early and mid-term outcomes.

METHODS

A systematic search of the English medical literature published between 2000 and 2022 was undertaken, using PubMed, SCOPUS, and CENTRAL databases as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis 2020 guidelines. A study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022329058). Studies reporting on primary ACF outcomes following open surgical or endovascular repair were included. The ROBINS-I tool was applied for risk of bias assessment. Outcomes included technical success, 30-day and mid-term survival, endoleak following endovascular repair, and reintervention rates.

RESULTS

In total, 110 case studies, incorporating 196 patients (mean age; 66.2 years, males 96%) were included. Open surgical repair was applied in 78% (153/196). From the available data, technical success rate for each modality was 99% (152/153) and 100% (43/43), respectively. Open and endovascular repair demonstrated 87.5% (126/144) and 97.6% (42/43) 30-day survival, respectively, while mid-term survival was 86% (74/86) and 95.2% (20/21), respectively (medial follow-up: 14 months [1-54 months]). Endoleaks were reported in 19 endovascular cases (39.5%). Type II endoleak was the most frequent with a rate at 32.5% (14/43). Reintervention rates were 2.5% (4/151) and 35.7% (15/42) for open and endovascular repair, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Only few case studies were published on the treatment of this rare condition, while almost all invasive procedures were performed in males. Management of ACF repair with both open and endovascular approach was associated with excellent technical success rate and acceptable early and mid-term survival outcomes. Reintervention remained an issue for patients who were managed endovascularly.

Endovascular Occlusion of Iliocaval Confluence During Surgical Repair of Iliocaval Fistula due to Ruptured Abdominal Aortoiliac Aneurysm

We describe the successful use of endovascular occlusion of the iliocaval confluence to prevent excessive bleeding during open repair of an iliocaval arteriovenous fistula due to a ruptured abdominal aortoiliac aneurysm. A 70-year-old man was admitted with chest pain, hemodynamic instability, acute pulmonary edema, and bilateral leg swelling. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed a ruptured AAIA with a large primary iliocaval fistula. Aortobifemoral bypass with a Dacron bifurcated prosthetic graft was performed with catheter balloon occlusion of the iliocaval confluence to prevent massive bleeding. Follow-up CTA showed no complications. Iliocaval fistula is a rare complication of AAIA that requires emergent surgery. Endovascular occlusion of iliac or inferior cava vein can control bleeding.

Open Surgery and Endovascular Techniques in Treatment of Acute Abdominal Arteriovenous Fistulas

Acute abdominal arteriovenous fistulas in the setting of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms are a life-threatening condition; thus, a prompt diagnosis is required for proper treatment. Open, endovascular, and hybrid repair have been proposed for their management, with pros and cons for each method. In particular, the evolution of endoluminal techniques guarantees an increasing feasibility of these procedures, and a significant reduction in morbidity and mortality rates was usually associated with open surgery. Nevertheless, some concerns still remain regarding the midterm and long-term follow-up. The aim of this article was to review and compare the reported clinical and technical results of conventional open surgery and endoluminal techniques in this scenario and to report the case of an acute aorto-iliac fistula due to a ruptured common iliac artery aneurysm into the iliac vein that was managed by endovascular repair at our institution.

Aortocaval Fistula: Is Endovascular Repair the Preferred Solution?

BACKGROUND

To compare outcomes of open and endovascular repair of aortocaval fistulas (ACFs) in the setting of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs).

METHODS

A literature review was undertaken on Pubmed from 1999 to 2014 to identify reported cases of both endovascular and open repair of ACF, including the index case, presented here. Primary outcomes for endovascular repair were: complications, presence of endoleak, and death. Primary outcomes for open repair were: complications and death.

RESULTS

Forty articles were reviewed with a total of 67 patients, including the index case. Endovascular approach was used in 26 patients (39%). Endoleaks were present in 50%, whereas similarly 46% of patients had a reported complication. Five deaths (19%) occurred in the endovascular group. Open repair was performed in 41 cases (61%). The rate of complication and the death in open repair were 36% and 12%, respectively (P = 0.327 and P = 0.910, respectively) compared with endovascular. Mean follow-up was 7.7 months for the endovascular group and 8.5 months in the open group.

CONCLUSIONS

Previous demonstrations of high morbidity and mortality with open repair of ACF in the setting of AAA have motivated endovascular approaches. However, endoleaks are a significant problem and were present in 50% of ACF cases. The continued presence of an endoleak in the setting of an ACF may result in persistence of the ACF, unlikely thrombosis of the endoleak, and continued sac enlargement. Endovascular repair presents theoretical benefit, yet is not associated with a reduced rate of complication or death versus open repair in this contemporary review.

Open repair of inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm and aortocaval fistula using retrograde balloon occlusion

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to describe a novel endovascular technique used to minimize blood loss during the open repair of an aortocaval fistula (ACF) in the context of an inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

CASE REPORT

We describe a patient who presented to our hospital with a symptomatic infrarenal AAA which was discovered intraoperatively to contain a large ACF. The patient underwent successful transperitoneal open repair of the AAA with balloon occlusion of the inferior vena cava to obtain distal control of the vessel.

CONCLUSIONS

Retrograde balloon occlusion of the inferior vena cava can be used to control hemorrhage during the open repair of an ACF, especially in the challenging setting of an inflammatory AAA.

Endovascular stent-graft repair of major abdominal arteriovenous fistula: a systematic review

PURPOSE

To evaluate the outcomes of endovascular stent-graft repair of major abdominal arteriovenous fistulas.

METHODS

The English literature was systematically searched using the MEDLINE electronic database up to January 2009. All reports on endovascular stent-graft repair of major abdominal arteriovenous fistula were considered. Our experience of abdominal arteriovenous fistula was involved in the data analysis. The primary outcome measures were technical success and perioperative, 30-day, and overall mortality.

RESULTS

Data for the final analysis were extracted from 21 papers reporting on 22 patients and from the medical records of a patient treated at our institution. The most common causal associations of these fistulae were the presence of an aortoiliac aneurysm and previous endovascular aneurysm repair, accounting for 56% and 13% of all associations, respectively. The technical success rate was 96% (22/23). No perioperative or 30-day mortality was noticed during a mean follow-up of 9 months. The most common procedure-related complication was type II endoleak, which was found in 22% (5/23) of the patients. This event was either self limiting or required minimal percutaneous intervention.

CONCLUSION

Endovascular stent-graft repair of major abdominal arteriovenous fistula is a safe and effective treatment option, with good short- and midterm results. However, no long-term data exist, and larger series are required to draw solid conclusions regarding the outcomes of this method.