Expanded Petticoat technique to promote the reduction of contrasted false lumen volume in patients with chronic type B aortic dissection

Zone 2 arch repair for acute type A dissection: Evolution from arch-first to proximal-first repair

Objective

With growing experience of acute type A aortic dissection repair, Zone 2 arch repair has been advocated. The aim of this study is to compare the outcome between "proximal-first" and "arch-first" Zone 2 repair.

Methods

From January 2015 to March 2023, 45 patients underwent Zone 2 arch repair out of 208 acute type A aortic dissection repairs: arch-first, N = 19, and proximal-first technique, N = 26, since January 2021. Indications were aortic arch or descending tear, complex dissection in neck vessels, cerebral malperfusion, or aneurysm of the aortic arch.

Results

The lowest bladder temperature was higher in the proximal-first technique (24.9 °C vs 19.7 °C, P < .001). Cardiopulmonary bypass (230 vs 177.5 minutes, P < .001), myocardial ischemic (124 vs 91 minutes, P < .001), and lower-body circulatory arrest (87 vs 28 minutes, P < .001) times were shorter in the proximal-first technique. The arch-first group required more packed red blood cells (arch-first, 2 units vs proximal-first, 0 units, P = .048), platelets (arch-first, 4 units vs proximal-first, 2 units, P = .003), and cryoprecipitates (arch-first, 2 units vs proximal-first, 1 unit, P = .024). Operative mortality and major morbidities were higher in the arch-first group (57.9% vs 11.5%, P = .001). One-year survival was comparable (arch-first, 89.5% ± 7.0% vs proximal-first, 92.0% ± 5.5%, P = .739). Distal intervention was successfully performed in 5 patients (endovascular, N = 3, and open repair, N = 2).

Conclusions

Zone 2 arch repair using the proximal-first technique for acute type A aortic dissection repair yields shorter lower-body ischemic time with a warmer core temperature, resulting in shorter cardiopulmonary bypass time, less blood product use, and fewer morbidities when compared with the arch-first technique.

Questionable Long-Term Results of the Extended Provisional Extension to Induce Complete Attachment (E-PETTICOAT) Technique in the Management of Chronic Type B Aortic Dissection

BACKGROUND

Published interim results of the extended provisional extension to induce complete attachment (e-PETTICOAT) technique suggested favorable remodeling in chronic type B Aortic Dissection (cTBAD). This report presents long-term results of the e-PETTICOAT technique for the management of cTBAD (without aneurysmal dilatation).

METHODS

Patients with cTBAD below the 55 mm aortic size were eligible for the management using the e-PETTICOAT technique. Follow-up was conducted at 1, 2 and 5 years based on the computed tomography angiogram. All the presurgery risk factors (entry >1 cm, inner curve entry, fusiform index >0.65, false lumen > 22 mm, aortic size >40 mm, recurrent pain or hypertension, and Stanford Dissection Risk Calculation) and postsurgery complications were examined in the study.

RESULTS

A total of 20 patients underwent the e-PETTICOAT surgery. The survival rate at 1, 2, and 5 years was 75%, 70%, and 64%, respectively, and the percentage of patients without any reinterventions was 100%, 93%, and 18%. Aortic degeneration was recognized in 30%, 55%, and 85% of the patients. Only 3 of the 20 patients were alive and without any reintervention after 5 years. The receiver operating curve analysis does not indicate any factor that would predict the remodeling result in the long-term follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of e-PETTICOAT technique in cTBAD might not have a beneficial influence on the long-term results.

Changing Management of Type B Aortic Dissections

The purpose of this manuscript is to review recent trends in the management of acute type B aortic dissection. Due to its efficacy and low morbidity, thoracic endografting has rapidly been adopted as the treatment of choice for most patients with malperfusion or rupture as a consequence of acute aortic dissection. This technology is increasingly applied to patients without rupture or malperfusion, so-called "uncomplicated" dissections, to reduce the incidence of late aneurysmal degeneration in the ungrafted segments of the thoracoabdominal aorta. A variety of techniques have been proposed, including intentional rupture of the dissection membrane to obliterate the false lumen as well as the candy-plug technique to eliminate retrograde flow in the false lumen.

Chronic Thoracic Aortic Dissection: How to Treat, When to Intervene

Thoracic aortic dissection (AD) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Acute aortic syndrome is the first presentation of the disease in most cases. While acute AD management follows concrete guidelines because of its urgent and life-threatening nature, chronic AD is usually overlooked, although it concerns a wide spectrum of patients surviving an acute event. Acute AD survivors ultimately enter a chronic aortic disease course. Patients with chronic thoracic AD (CTAD) require lifelong surveillance and a proportion of them may present with symptoms and late complications demanding further surgical or endovascular treatment. However, the available data concerning the management of CTAD is sparse in the literature. The management of patients with CTAD is challenging as far as determining the best medical therapy and deciding on intervention are concerned. Until recently, there were no guidelines or recommendations for imaging surveillance in patients with chronic AD. The diagnostic methods for imaging aortic diseases have been improved, while the data on new endovascular and surgical approaches has increased significantly. In this review, we summarize the current evidence in the diagnosis and management of CTAD and the latest recommendations for the surgical/endovascular aortic repair of CTAD.

Procedure and Aortic Remodeling Effects of Entry Closure with Stentgraft for Type B Aortic Dissection: Comparison between the Patients with Narrow True Lumen and Those with Aneurysmal Dilated False Lumen

Objectives: Appropriateness of device selection, procedure protocol and aortic remodeling effects of entry closure (TEVAR) with stent-graft (SG) for patent false lumen type B aortic dissection (TBAD) were compared between the patients with narrow true lumen (narrow group) and those with aneurysmal dilated false lumen (aneurysmal group).

Methods: Twenty-six patients with narrow true lumen (narrow group) and 20 patients with aneurysmal false lumen (aneurysmal group) were included in this study. In narrow group, straight SG was implanted from Zone 3 regardless the distance between the left subclavian artery and entry. In aneurysmal group, straight or taped SG was implanted with proximal landing zone length 20 mm or more. Thoracic aortic anatomy was evaluated by CT and aortic remodeling was defined as true lumen diameter ≥50% of the aortic diameter and occlusion of false lumen. Aorta related death, retrograde type A aortic dissection (RTAD), stentgraft induced new entry (SINE) and aortic maximum diameter enlargement 5 mm or more (aortic expansion) were included in the aortic event.

Results: There was no procedure related complication in narrow group and 1 patient died due to aortic rupture in aneurysmal group, Type Ia endoleak by enhanced CT 7 days after TEVAR was detected in one patient in each group. Achievement of aortic remodeling was significantly better in narrow group. Aortic event occurred in only one patient in narrow group, in whom aortic expansion was observed. In aneurysmal group, aortic event occurred 12 patients (60%) and 2 RTAD, 5 SINE, and 8 aorta expansion were observed. Aortic event free rate was significantly better in narrow group.

Conclusion: TEVAR procedure for the TBAD patients with narrow true lumen seemed to be appropriate, however, different TEVAR procedure or additional procedures would be required for those with aneurysmal dilated false lumen to obtain favorable outcomes. (This is secondary publication from Jpn J Vasc Surg 2021; 30: 347–357.)

[Chronic type B aortic dissection-what to do?]

BACKGROUND

Chronic type B aortic dissection requires optimal medical therapy. However, secondary complications like organ or extremity malperfusion or development of aneurysmal dilatation require interventional therapy.

OBJECTIVES

Presentation of different endovascular treatment options for complications of chronic type B aortic dissection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Analysis of current literature with regard to indications, techniques, results, and differential indications of interventional techniques for the treatment of chronic type B aortic dissection complications.

RESULTS

Endovascular implantation of an aortic stent graft is interventional standard therapy for treatment of aneurysmal dilatation of the aorta following type B dissection. Technical problems are the proximal and distal landing zones and the treatment of persistent flow in the false lumen.

CONCLUSION

Endovascular treatment of chronic complicated type B aortic dissection is increasingly used compared to open surgical treatment because not only are more complex stent grafts (fenestrated and branched devices) available but also because of newly developed techniques for effective occlusion of flow in the false lumen (e.g., candy plug).

Endovascular Management of Chronic Type B Aortic Dissection

Acute uncomplicated type B aortic dissection (aTBAD) is often treated non operatively, with medical management primarily focused on blood pressure and heart rate control. After a 3 month period following the initial diagnosis, the dissection is considered chronic. Frequent clinical and imaging follow-up is performed to evaluate for dissection stability, aneurysmal degeneration, and visceral malperfusion, which would represent indication for surgical or endovascular repair. In this article we discuss four cases of chronic type B aortic dissection (cTBAD) managed with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and varying techniques.

Endovascular therapies for Type B Aortic Dissection

Aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition resulting from a tear in the intimal layer of the aorta, requiring emergent diagnosis and prompt multi-disciplinary management strategy for best patient outcomes. While type A dissection involving ascending aorta is best managed surgically due to high early mortality, type B aortic dissection (TBAD) involving descending aorta generally has better outcomes with conservative management and medical therapy as primary strategy is favored. However, there has been a recent paradigm shift in management of TBAD due to late aneurysmal degeneration of TBAD increasing morbidity and mortality at longer-term. Late surgical intervention can be prevented by early endovascular intervention when combined with optimal medical therapy. In this narrative review, we explore available literature on different endovascular therapies for TBAD in different populations of patients.

Influence of Distal Re-entry Tears on False Lumen Thrombosis After Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair in Type B Aortic Dissection Patients: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation

PURPOSE

Distal re-entry tears play a significant role in false lumen (FL) thrombosis, which will strongly affect the postoperative long-term survival of patients with type B aortic dissection (TBAD) after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). This study aimed to investigate the influence of a peculiar morphological parameter of the residual re-entry tears in TBAD patients after TEVAR on long-term FL thrombosis using the computational fluid dynamics.

METHODS

Ideal population-based three-dimensional models of post-operative TBAD were established. Numerical simulation was performed to investigate the hemodynamic differences caused by different tear features, including the tear count, the maximum distance between tears, and the tear area.

RESULTS

Although the low relative residence time (RRT) area did not change significantly when the tear distance was fixed, the area of oscillatory shear index (OSI) > 0.45 and endothelial cell activation potential (ECAP) > 1.5 decreased significantly with the tear count and area increased and a dramatic increase in blood flow into the FL was also observed. When tear count and total area were fixed, for each 10-mm increase in the maximum distance between tears, the area of low RRT in the FL increased significantly, while the average pressure difference increased by 10.85%.

CONCLUSION

The different morphology of the re-entry tears had different effects on the thrombosis-related hemodynamic parameters in FL following TEVAR. and the number of re-entry tears was most crucial to the potential thrombosis in the post-TEVAR FL of TBAD patients.

Role of Endoluminal Techniques in the Management of Chronic Type B Aortic Dissection

In recent guidelines of international societies, the most frequent indication for treatment after chronic type B aortic dissection (cTBAD) is aneurysmal dilatation. Endovascular repair is recommended in patients with moderate to high surgical risk or with contraindications to open repair. During the last decade, many advances have been made in the field of endovascular techniques and devices. The aim of this article is to address the current status of endoluminal techniques for the management of cTBAD including standard thoracic endovascular repair, new devices, fenestrated and branched abdominal aortic devices and false lumen occlusion techniques.

Fenestrated/Branched Endovascular Repair for Postdissection Thoracoabdominal Aneurysms: A Systematic Review with Pooled Data Analysis

PURPOSE

Patients who have survived an acute aortic dissection remain at risk for postdissection thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (PD-TAAAs). Fenestrated/branched endovascular repair for PD-TAAA is increasingly used in some high-volume centers, but outcomes are still limited because of the additional challenges compared to atherosclerotic thoracoabdominal aneurysms. This study was performed to evaluate the literature on fenestrated/branched endovascular repair for PD-TAAAs.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Database were searched for relevant studies published until September 2019. Outcome data were extracted to evaluate the technical success, 30-day mortality, later survival, major complications, endoleaks, target vessel patency, and reintervention. Studies were analyzed in a pooled proportion meta-analysis.

RESULTS

In total, 143 patients from 4 studies were identified for the pooled data analysis. The pooled technical success rate was 98% (95% CI: 86%-100%). After the treatment, the overall estimated 30-day mortality rate was 3% (95% CI: 1%-8%), early spinal cord ischemia rate was 10% (95% CI: 4%-21%), early renal injury rate was 5% (95% CI: 1%-19%), endoleak rate was 33% (95% CI: 22%-47%), reintervention rate at a median follow-up of 22.5 months was 34% (95% CI: 27%-42%), and all-cause mortality rate was 12% (95% CI: 6%-24%).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of fenestrated/branched stent grafts for the treatment of PD-TAAA appears generally feasible based on the limited literature, but endoleaks and reinterventions are frequent.

Application of a Reversed Off-the-Shelf Iliac Branched Device Stent in Revascularization of the Renal Artery Originating from the False Lumen

Fenestrated/branched endovascular aneurysm repair is a feasible and effective treatment option for patients with postdissection thoracoabdominal/abdominal aneurysm. However, this technique is cumbersome when the target vessel originates from the false lumen. We herein report our primary experiences in utilizing a reversed off-the-shelf iliac branched device (IBD) stent to reconstruct the renal artery originating from the false lumen. This technique was performed in 3 patients (all men; 49, 46, and 45 years old) in our center. After deployment of the main aortic endograft, the distal re-entry in the common iliac artery was dilated by a balloon. The off-the-shelf IBD was then reversely deployed to allow for deployment of the bridging stent graft. Finally, the IBD and the bridging stents were assembled and the IBD was connected to the main graft. No migration of the IBDs occurred, and all target vessels remained patent during follow-up. Utilization of a reversed off-the-shelf IBD for the renal artery originating from the false lumen is a feasible option, especially for patients with specific anatomical characteristics of postdissection aortic aneurysms.