Endovascular stent graft repair for infected thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysms—a durable option?

Endovascular Stent Graft Repair for Mycotic Aorto-Iliac Aneurysm Due to Brucella

PURPOSE

Brucella aneurysms are very rare but life-threatening, and a standard treatment approach has yet to be established. The current study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment for Brucella aneurysms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The clinical data of 15 Brucella aortic-iliac aneurysm patients who underwent endovascular repair at 2 hospitals from January 2012 to December 2021 were retrospectively collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients (12 men and 3 women) with a mean age of 59.3 years were included. Fourteen patients (93.3%) had a history of exposure to animals (cattle and sheep). All patients had aortic or iliac pseudoaneurysms, 9 abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), 4 iliac aneurysms, and 2 AAA combined with iliac aneurysms. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) was performed in all patients without conversion to open surgery. Six cases were treated for emergency surgery due to aneurysm rupture. The immediate technique success rate was 100%, with no postoperative death. Two cases had the iliac artery ruptured again after operation because of lack of antibiotic treatment and was given endovascular treatment again. Once brucellosis is diagnosed, antibiotic treatment with doxycycline and rifampicin was initiated for all the patients until 6 months after operation. All patients survived over a median follow-up period of 45 months. Follow-up computed tomography angiography showed that all stent grafts remained patent, with no endoleak.

CONCLUSION

EVAR combined with antibiotics treatment is feasible, safe, and effective for Brucella aneurysms and represents a promising treatment option for these Brucella aneurysms.

CLINICAL IMPACT

Brucella aneurysms are very rare but life-threatening, and a standard treatment approach has yet to be established. The traditional operation management strategy is surgical resection and debridement of the infected aneurysm and the surrounding tissues. However, open surgical management in these patients causes severe trauma with high surgical risks and mortality (13.3%-40%). We tried to treat Brucella aneurysms with endovascular therapy, and the technique success and survival rate of the operation reached 100%. EVAR combined with antibiotics treatment is feasible, safe, and effective for Brucella aneurysms and represents a promising treatment option for some mycotic aneurysms.

Infective native arterial aneurysms and inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysms: An overview with a focus on emergency settings

Infective native arterial aneurysms and inflammatory aortic aneurysms are rare but morbid pathologies seen by vascular surgeons in the emergency setting. Presentation is not always clear, and a full workup must be obtained before adopting a management strategy. Treatment is multidisciplinary and is tailored to every case based on workup findings. Imaging with computed tomography, magnetic resonance, or with fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography aids in diagnosis and in monitoring response to treatment. Open surgery is traditionally performed for definitive management. Endovascular surgery may offer an alternative treatment in select cases with acceptable outcomes. Neither technique has been proven to be superior to the other. Physicians should consider patient's anatomy, comorbidities, life expectancy, and goals of care before selecting an approach. Long-term pharmacological treatment, with antibiotics in case of infective aneurysms and immunosuppressants in case of inflammatory aneurysms, is usually required and should be managed in collaboration with infectious disease specialists and rheumatologists.

Off-the-Shelf, Hybrid, Innominate Chimney Thoracic Endovascular Aneurysm Repair for Treatment of Mycotic Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm: A Case Report

Mycotic thoracic aortic aneurysm (MTAA) is a disease that is difficult to treat and often lethal. Open repair has high morbidity and mortality risks; additionally, thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) often requires innovative techniques. We report the use of an innominate artery chimney endovascular aneurysm repair (ChEVAR) with carotid-carotid and carotid-left subclavian artery bypass for a time-sensitive Salmonella-related MTAA. A symptomatic type 1a endoleak was discovered and promptly and successfully treated. This report shows that the use of innominate artery ChEVAR to treat MTAA is feasible and safe, although the procedure is rarely performed, even in large series. We hypothesize that prophylactic gutter embolization is a feasible option in view of the high endoleak risks in such cases, although further evidence is required to support this.

Contemporary Outcomes of Endovascular and Open Surgical Repair for Mycotic Aortic Aneurysms: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

To perform a systematic review on contemporary outcomes of endovascular repair and open surgical repair (OSR) for the treatment of mycotic aortic aneurysm (MAA).

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search on the management of MAAs with endovascular repair or OSR was performed between January 1998 and January 2023. Patient demographics, early and late outcomes were analyzed with respect to treatment modality and MAA location.

RESULTS

Forty-eight articles were included, encompassing a total of 1,358 patients (75.8% male; mean age 66.9 years; 1,372 aneurysms) treated by open (49.8%) or endovascular (50.2%) repair. Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus spp. were the most prevalent pathogens in Asian and European countries respectively. An increasing number of descending thoracic MAAs were managed by endovascular repair (27.9% vs. 12.8%). Early mortality rates for supra- and infra-renal MAAs managed by endovascular repair were lower than OSR (suprarenal 5.4% vs. 43.2%; infrarenal 1.8% vs. 16.7%). Overall, endovascular repair demonstrated lower intraoperative (1.0% vs. 1.8%) and early mortality (6.5% vs. 15.9) rates than OSR. However, endovascular repair was associated with higher late sepsis rate (5.7% vs. 0.9%) and reintervention rate (17.6% vs. 7.3%). Pooled survival rates at 1- and 5-year were similar between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Current literature suggest that endovascular repair is an effective and safe alternative to OSR for descending thoracic, suprarenal, and infrarenal MAAs. However, endovascular repair is associated with higher risk of infection-related complications and reintervention during follow-up.

Brucellosis involving the aorta and iliac arteries: a systematic review of 130 cases

Objective: Brucellosis, the most common bacterial zoonosis, poses a serious threat to public health in endemic regions. Cardiovascular complications of brucellosis, mostly pericarditis or endocarditis, are the leading cause of brucellosis-related death. Complications involving the aorta and iliac arteries are extremely rare but can be life-threatening. Our objective was to identify and review all reported cases of aortic and iliac involvement in brucellosis to provide a deep, up-to-date understanding of the clinical characteristics and management of the disease. Methods: Online searches in PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and the Chinese Wanfang database were conducted to collect articles reporting cases of brucellosis with aortic and iliac artery involvement. All data in terms of patient demographics, diagnostic methods, clinical manifestations, and treatment regimens and outcomes were extracted and analyzed in this systematic review. Results: A total of 79 articles were identified, reporting a total of 130 cases of brucellosis with aortic and iliac artery involvement. Of the 130 cases, 110 (84.5%) were male individuals and 100 (76.9%) were over 50 years old. The patients had an overall mortality rate of 12.3%. The abdominal aorta was most commonly involved, followed by the ascending aorta, iliac artery, and descending thoracic aorta. Arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and smoking were the most common comorbidities. There were 71 patients (54.6%) who presented with systemic symptoms of infection at the time of admission. Endovascular therapy was performed in 56 patients (43.1%), with an overall mortality rate of 3.6%. Open surgery was performed in 52 patients (40.0%), with an overall mortality rate of 15.4%. Conclusion: Aortic and iliac involvement in brucellosis is extremely rare but can be life-threatening. Its occurrence appears to be associated with the male gender, an older age, arteriosclerosis, and smoking. Although the number of reported cases in developing countries has increased significantly in recent years, its incidence in these countries may still be underestimated. Early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention are critical in improving patient outcomes. Endovascular therapy has become a preferred surgical treatment in recent years, and yet, its long-term complications remain to be assessed.

Human descending aorta injury caused by brucellosis: A case report

BACKGROUND

Brucellosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases in the world. Although cardiovascular complications of human brucellosis account for only 3% of morbidity, they are the leading cause of death. Peripheral vascular disease due to brucellosis is rare and under-reported in the literature.

CASE PRESENTATION

Two patients with previous brucellosis, both of whom had been treated with anti-brucellosis, were admitted to vascular surgery for thoracic aortic ulcer and abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm, respectively, with positive IgG antibody to brucellosis and negative IgM antibody to brucellosis, tube agglutination test, and blood culture. These 2 patients were successfully treated with aortic stent-graft implantation and followed up for 8 and 10 weeks without complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic damage to human blood vessels by brucellosis may not disappear with brucellosis treatment, and peripheral blood vessels should be examined annually in people previously diagnosed with brucellosis. Clinicians in related departments should pay attention to peripheral vascular complications of brucellosis.

Treatment of abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm caused by brucellosis with endovascular aneurysm repair

Peripheral vascular disease caused by brucellosis is rarely seen around the world; thus, it is easily ignored by patients and doctors, leading to a lack of corresponding screening and delayed comprehensive treatment. Currently, there is no standard or guideline for diagnosing and treating peripheral arterial disease caused by brucellosis. From June 2021 to December 2022, four cases of abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm caused by brucellosis disease were treated with endovascular aneurysm repair This study reported treatment results as follows and reviewed the incidence, treatment, and prognosis of abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm caused by brucellosis.

Case Report: Successful Repair of Primary Aortoesophageal Fistula With an Endovascular Stent Graft and an Esophageal Stent

Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF), secondary to thoracic pseudoaneurysm as a result of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, is a rare condition and will be undoubtedly lethal without prompt surgical intervention. The estimated annual incidence of primary AEFs and secondary AEFs is about 0.0015% and 0.6%–2%, respectively. The challenges of the therapy posed by AEF are control of the hemorrhage, arterial reconstruction in an infection field, control of sepsis, and re-establishment of the alimentary tract. We present a case of a 58-year-old man who suffered from chest pain and hematemesis and was finally diagnosed with pAEF caused by descending thoracic pseudoaneurysm. Our team successfully deployed an endovascular stent graft and esophageal stent to seal ruptured thoracic aorta and esophageal defects, which provided a new surgical strategy for aortoesophageal fistula in the endovascular era.

A mycotic aortic aneurysm treated by thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair

An 88-year-old man was admitted with general fatigue. Computed tomography (CT) showed a descending aortic aneurysm. The laboratory data indicated severe infection. Despite negative blood cultures, broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotic therapy was started. Though antibiotic therapy was continued for about 2 weeks, the aneurysm extended 20 mm. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair was performed, and antibiotic therapy was continued for 4 weeks after the procedure, followed by oral antibiotics for 1 year. CT showed regression of the aneurysm 15 months after reconstruction. Antibiotic therapy, preoperatively and postoperatively, is important for a mycotic aortic aneurysm.

Mycotic pseudoaneurysm of the aortic isthmus secondary to salmonella infection causing a diagnostic dilemma

Mycotic pseudoaneurysms usually arise from an infectious arteritis or mycotic aneurysms secondary to weakening and destruction of the arterial wall resulting in a contained rupture. We report a case of a mycotic pseudoaneurysm affecting the aortic isthmus of the thoracic aorta which is an extremely rare infection. To our knowledge no case report of mycotic pseudoaneurysm of the aortic isthmus secondary to salmonella infection has thus far been described. The specific case we present is also unique in that it posed a diagnostic imaging dilemma where the initial imaging revealed a periaortic mass which could not be accurately characterized and only on subsequent imaging reveal itself to be a thrombosed mycotic pseudoaneurysm. We hope that our case report highlights to the medical community the high degree of suspicion one should have regarding pseudoaneurysms when dealing with a complex mass intimately related to a vascular structure.

Carotid Mycotic Aneurysm associated with Persistent Primitive Hypoglossal Artery. Case Report and Literature Review

Carotid mycotic aneurysm is extremely rare and even more unusual when it is associated with a persistent primitive hypoglossal artery. This artery is the second most common of the embryonic carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomoses. It originates from the cervical internal carotid artery and enters the cranium through a widened hypoglossal canal before anastomosing with the basilar artery. We report a case of an elderly man with a rare Salmonella-induced mycotic aneurysm associated with a persistent primitive hypoglossal artery. Surgical resection of the mycotic aneurysm was complicated by a posterior circulation stroke. To the best of our knowledge, there was no previous report of a carotid mycotic aneurysm associated with a persistent primitive hypoglossal artery thus far in the literature. Owing to the high mortality rate of the carotid mycotic aneurysm, it is imperative to be familiar with the vascular and imaging anatomy prior to surgery particularly in the presence of an embryonic carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomosis. In this report, we highlight the imaging characteristics and treatment options for this rare mycotic aneurysm together with a literature review.

Endovascular treatment of Brucella-infected abdominal aortic aneurysm: A case report

RATIONALE

In very rare cases, a primary infected abdominal aortic aneurysm (IAAA) is caused by a species of Brucella. In this report, we report such a case that was successfully treated with a novel approach. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first case occurring in China, in which an infection of the abdominal aortic aneurysm was caused by a Brucella species.

PATIENT CONCERNS

The clinical findings included high fever, fatigue, and abdominal pain.

DIAGNOSES

The diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography angiography and by bacteriologic isolation from the patient's blood culture.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient was given endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and Brucella-sensitive antibiotics for 6 weeks.

OUTCOMES

During the 10-month follow-up, the patient's clinical course remained uneventful.

LESSONS

Our case study supports the premise that endovascular aneurysm repair is an appropriate alternative strategy to treat an infected abdominal aortic aneurysm. Compared with conventional surgical treatment, EVAR with long-term oral antibiotics is a simpler, less traumatic, and more efficient procedure. However, this needs to be further evaluated through long-term follow-up.

Aortic dissection with aneurysm associated with Salmonella infection

This case report presents aortic dissection with aneurysm (ADA) related to Salmonella infection. An 84-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital for fever and chest pain. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed ADA. The patient underwent aortic dissection and cavity isolation surgery; subsequently, the patient was found to be febrile. Blood culture detected the presence of Salmonella infection. We concluded that the case presented was mycotic aneurysm due to Salmonella infection.

Successful Endovascular Repair of Mycotic Aortic Pseudoaneurysm Followed by Aortoesophageal Fistula

Mycotic aneurysm of the aorta is a rare, but life-threatening pathology. In recent years, endovascular stent graft placement has been introduced as an effective alternative for treating infected aortic aneurysms. A 64-year-old woman with a history of paraplegia due to spinal cord injury was referred to our institute with fever and blood-tinged sputum. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed an 11-cm pseudoaneurysm arising from the proximal descending aorta, which was normal 1 month ago at the previous CT scan. The patient underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair for the pseudoaneurysm, deployed with a transiliac access approach, and received antibacterial medical therapy. On postoperative day 11, she developed signs of infection, caused by an aortoesophageal fistula. The infection was treated conservatively with parenteral nutrition and antibiotic administration. The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged on postoperative day 113. At 2-year follow-up, she had a normal physical examination and CT angiography showed a marked reduction of the pseudoaneurysm sac. We report a successful endovascular stent grafting and subsequent medical treatment in a patient with a mycotic thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm followed by a postoperative aortoesophageal fistula.

Renal colic caused by mycotic iliac artery aneurysm

A 33-year-old female presented with acute colicky left loin-to-groin pain and microscopic haematuria, with a background of 6 months of muscle and joint pains and diplopia. A CT kidneys/ureters/bladder demonstrated fat stranding surrounding the left ureter, as it passed over the left common iliac vessels. Arterial and delayed phase imaging revealed an obstructed ureter secondary to a left common iliac artery aneurysm, later found to be mycotic. No previous descriptions of a mycotic aneurysm presenting as renal colic have been found in the literature. The diagnosis and management of infective endocarditis and mycotic aneurysm are discussed, with a review of the literature. This serves as a good example of a common presenting complaint occurring secondary to a rare and serious pathology.

Aortic graft in hollow viscus

Secondary aortoenteric fistulas (AEFs) and aortic graft infection are relatively rare but fatal complications of aortic surgery. A 77-year-old man had a 1-week history of fever and abdominal pain with right inguinal area swelling. The patient's medical history included hypertension, aortobifemoral bypass grafting due to right iliac artery, and superficial femoral artery occlusion. Abdominopelvic computed tomography revealed the presence of an aortic graft in the hollow viscus. Although there have been several reports of secondary AEF, there have been few reports of an aortic graft in a hollow viscus. Diagnosis of AEF can be delayed in patients with atypical symptoms. Without a high index of suspicion, this condition has fatal consequences.

Clinical, microbiologic, and outcome analysis of mycotic aortic aneurysm: the role of endovascular repair

BACKGROUND

Mycotic aortic aneurysm (MAA) is an infrequent but devastating form of vascular disease.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a major medical center to identify independent risk factors for MAA and to provide opinions about treating it. The study population consisted of 43 patients who had had 44 MAAs over a period of 15 y.

RESULTS

All of the patients had positive blood cultures, radiologic findings typical of MAA, and clinical signs of infection (leukocytosis, fever, and elevated C-reactive protein). The mean age of the patients was 63.8±10.6 y and the mean period of their follow up was 35.7±39.3 mo. Twenty-nine patients with MAAs underwent traditional open surgery, 11 others received endovascular stent grafts, and four MAAs were managed conservatively. The most frequent causative pathogens were Salmonella (36/44 patients [81.8%]), in whom organisms of Salmonella serogroup C (consisting mainly of S. choleraesuis) were identified in 14 patients, organisms of Salmonella serogroup D were identified in 13 patients, and species without serogroup information were identified in nine patients. The overall mortality in the study population was 43.2% (with an aneurysm-related mortality of 18.2%, surgically related mortality of 13.6%, and in-hospital mortality of 22.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

Shock is a risk factor for operative mortality. Misdiagnosis and treatment of MAA as low back pain, co-existing connective-tissue disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, and Salmonella serogroup C-associated bacteremia are risk factors for aneurysm-related death. Endovascular repair should be considered as an alternative option to the open repair of MAA.

Outcomes of infective aneurysm repairs in the New Zealand thoracic stent database

BACKGROUND

Infective thoracic aneurysms are rare and have a poor prognosis. In the past, these have been managed surgically with adjunctive antibiotic therapy. Endoluminal repair is a relatively new treatment option which may be associated with lower morbidity and mortality.

METHODS

The New Zealand Thoracic Aorta Stent graft registry was interrogated between December 2001 and September 2009, selecting all patients with endoluminal repair of infective thoracic aortic aneurysms.

RESULTS

Out of 184 patients on the database, four (2.2%) patients (male = 3, median age = 72) underwent endoluminal repair of an infective thoracic aortic aneurysm. The aneurysm was successfully excluded at the time of the procedure in all patients. There was a low incidence of post-procedural complications including atrial fibrillation (n = 1), pneumonia with haemoptysis (n = 1), urinary retention (n = 1) and access site seroma (n = 1). Time to discharge was mean of 26.5 days, median 22.5 days (8–53 days). One of the four patients is still alive and well at the time of reporting. Of the remaining three patients, mean survival is 486 days, median 374 days (336–748 days).

CONCLUSIONS

Endoluminal repair is a treatment option for infective thoracic aneurysms, but the durability is unknown. Due to the rareness of the condition, a randomized clinical trial is unlikely to succeed. National registries such as the New Zealand Thoracic Aortic Stent provide useful information regarding this.

Distal aortic aneurysm presumed to be secondary to an infected umbilical artery in a foal

CASE HISTORY

A 3-month-old female Warmblood foal was presented after displaying signs of colic with pyrexia for 5 days.

CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS

The foal continued to show signs of colic, frequently passed urine, and was pyrexic with an elevated white blood cell count. The umbilical stalk was thickened but there was no evidence of purulent material. Exploratory laparotomy revealed an enlarged left umbilical artery remnant tightly adhered to the bladder wall. The left umbilical artery continued to an aneurysm involving the distal aorta. The foal was subject to euthanasia and post-mortem examination confirmed a spherical aortic aneurysm, in the dorsal midline caudal to the kidneys that contained a large thrombus. Histopathological examination revealed inflammation and necrosis of the tunica intima and tunica media of the left umbilical artery with suppuration and bacterial colonies evident in the periarterial tissues.

DIAGNOSIS

Infected aortic aneurysm presumably caused by an umbilical artery infection.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

A previously undetected umbilical infection appears to have resulted in an unusual delayed complication causing signs of colic in a foal. Veterinarians should be aware of this condition, and the possibility that it may be a cause of signs of colic in foals. Diagnosis based on ultrasonography should be possible, but may require sedation, visceral analgesia and careful examination.

Hybrid aortic arch repair for a ruptured and infected penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer of the aortic arch

Aortic arch rupture is a life-threatening emergency. Conventional open surgical repair carries a high mortality and morbidity. We report a case of an elderly patient who suffered from a ruptured and infected penetrating ulcer of the aortic arch. A hybrid operation was performed, consisting of a right-to-left carotid bypass and transposition of the left subclavian artery into the left common carotid artery followed by endovascular repair of the aortic arch. Antibiotic therapy, based on the results of culture and sensitivity tests for Staphylococcus aureus, was administered for 6 months. The patient recovered uneventfully and remains asymptomatic 16 months after the procedure. However, long-term follow-up is mandatory to determine the efficacy and the durability of this technique.

Is Endovascular Stent-Graft Treatment of Primary Aortoesophageal Fistula Worthwhile?

Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) as a result of prolonged nasogastric intubation is rare and certainly fatal, without prompt surgical intervention. We report the case of a 41-year-old man with morbid obesity who was admitted after suffering 55% of total body surface area burns. After several skin graft operations over the course of 12 weeks, he was rushed into surgery because of the acute onset of severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Exploratory laparotomy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) suggested an AEF, which was then quickly confirmed by a diagnostic angiogram. An endovascular aortic stent graft repair was performed that successfully stopped the bleeding. We include a review of the literature pertaining to cases of AEF treated by endovascular surgery, which appears to be a promising alternative to open surgery in the unfit patient.

Late-Term Complication of Endograft Repair for Aortoenteric Fistula

Aortoenteric fistula is a devastating complication of aortic aneurysm repair. Traditional repair carries a high risk of mortality and significant morbidity. While endograft repair can be effective at mitigating the immediate life-threatening bleed, the temptation to consider endograft repair as definitive treatment should be resisted. We present a case of a 72 year old male who developed an aortoenteric fistula four years following surgical repair of a ruptured aortic aneurysm. Four years thereafter the patient developed infection of the graft and required extra-anatomic bypass and excision of the infected graft. Endograft repair of aortoenteric fistula is associated with persistent infection and should be viewed as a temporizing measure. Here we present the case and review the literature regarding the treatment and outcome of this condition.

Infected aneurysm of the aortic arch with purulent pericarditis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae

A 76-year-old woman had a chest pain and high fever, and was admitted to the intensive care unit diagnosed as acute pericarditis. Enhanced CT-scan showed a 47-mm aneurysm in the aortic arch which seemed to be impending rupture and the part of the aorta looked like a pseudoaneurysm. Emergent total aortic arch replacement with a rifampicin-bonded Dacron graft was performed. Pericardial effusion was purulent and the aorta was infected with pus discharge in the aortic wall. There were some ulcerations on the surface of the luminal wall of the aorta. One of them was penetrating into the pericardial space causing a pseudoaneurysm. Both pericardial effusion and excised aortic wall were sent to culture study and resulted in positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae. The infection of the aorta, with erosion into the pericardial space, seemed to be the cause of purulent pericarditis. Antibiotic therapy was commenced immediately after surgery and continued for four weeks. Though she had neurological deficit after surgery, her infection was well controlled and there was no recurrence of infection 11 months after surgery.

Outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair for aortobronchial and aortoesophageal fistulas

PURPOSE

To identify in-hospital and follow-up outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for aortobronchial fistula (ABF) and aortoesophageal fistula (AEF).

METHODS

The authors reviewed all published cases of ABF and AEF undergoing TEVAR indexed in the MEDLINE, Cochrane Library CENTRAL, and EMBASE databases. After removal of duplicates, 850 articles were scrutinized for relevance and validity. Exclusion criteria included: (1) no clear description of the organs involved with the fistula, (2) no description of outcomes after TEVAR for ABF or AEF, or (3) no original data presented in the article. In this manner, 66 relevant articles were identified that included original data on 114 patients (76 men; mean age 63+/-1.5 years) with ABF (n = 71) or AEF (n = 43). Meta-analyses were performed to investigate outcomes of TEVAR for ABF and AEF.

RESULTS

Patients with AEF presented more frequently with hypovolemic shock (33% versus 13%, p = 0.012) and systemic infection (36% versus 9%, p<0.001) compared to patients with ABF. In-hospital mortality was 3% (n = 2) after TEVAR for ABF and 19% (n = 8) after TEVAR for AEF (p = 0.004). Additional thoracic surgery in the first 30 days after TEVAR was performed in 3% (n = 2) of ABF patients and in 37% (n = 16) of AEF patients (p<0.001); 12 AEF patients who had received esophageal surgery in the first month after TEVAR showed lower fistula-related mortality during 6 months of follow-up compared to patients who did not receive additional esophageal surgery (p = 0.018).

CONCLUSION

TEVAR is associated with superior outcomes in patients with ABF. Endovascular management of AEF is associated with poor results and should not be considered definitive treatment. TEVAR could serve as a bridge to surgery for emergency cases of AEF only, with definitive open surgical correction of the fistula undertaken as soon as possible.