Hybrid operation versus the chimney technique for reconstruction of a single aortic arch branch: a single-centre experience

Midterm Outcomes of Multicenter Castor Single-Branch Stent Graft Use in the Treatment of Thoracic Aortic Diseases

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the midterm efficacy and safety of a single-branch Castor stent graft in the treatment of thoracic aortic disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical data of 106 patients with thoracic aortic disease treated with Castor single-branch stent graft at 3 centers were collected between May 2018 and June 2023. The indicators included technical success, stent-related complication, reintervention, retrograde dissection, endoleak, distal stent graft-induced entry (dSINE), branch patency, and mortality. The outcomes of the Castor stent graft for multibranch reconstruction above the arch was also analyzed.

RESULTS

The technical success was 98.1% (104/106), while the surgical success was 93.4% (99/106). The reintervention was 2.8% (3/106), consisting of a case of retrograde type A dissection, an endoleak, and a dSINE. The retrograde dissection was 1.9% (2/106), while type I endoleak was 1.9% (2/106). The new dSINE was 2.8% (3/106), and the branch patency rate was 100%. The mortality was 1.9% (2/106). The mean follow-up time was 29.1±17.7 months. The 2-year post-surgery cumulative survival rate was 91.0%±3.1%, while the cumulative branch patency rate was 96.2%±2.2%. In addition, the cumulative freedom from stent-related reintervention rate was 93.2%±2.8%. A comparison showed no significant difference in the stent-related complication, branch patency, endoleak, reintervention, and mortality when the proximal end of the Castor stent graft was anchored to zones 1 or 2 of the aorta.

CONCLUSION

Castor single-branch stent graft showed favorable early and midterm outcomes in the treatment of thoracic aortic disease. In addition, it was feasible to combine Castor stent graft with other advanced techniques for multibranch aortic arch reconstruction.

CLINICAL IMPACT

The Castor single-branch stent graft was approval by the Chinese Food and Drug Administration in 2017. However, there were few studies on the mid-term outcomes for thoracic aortic disease after launching, which mainly focused on small single-center retrospective study. In the study, we assessed the mid-term outcomes of Castor stent graft through multi-center cases, Castor stent graft combined with other advanced techniques (such as fenestration and hybrid) for multi-branch reconstruction of aortic arch were also conducted. We found Castor single-branch stent graft showed favorable early and mid-term outcomes in the treatment of thoracic aortic disease. Additionally, it was feasible to combine Castor stent graft with other advanced technique for multi-branch aortic arch reconstruction. As an off-the-shelf branched stent graft with a wide range of models, it could be also used in most emergent situation. The Castor stent graft was expected to become more widely used in the future.

Comparison of surgical and endovascular left subclavian artery revascularization during thoracic aortic endovascular repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to incorporate data from the latest clinical studies and compare the safety and efficacy of surgical left subclavian artery (LSA) revascularization and endovascular LSA revascularization during thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).

Methods

This study was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and was registered with the PROSPERO database on 16 April 2023 (CRD42023414579). The Embase, MEDLINE (PubMed), and the Cochrane Library databases were searched from January 2000 to May 2023.

Results

A total of 14 retrospective cohort studies with a total of 1,695 patients, were included for review. The peri-operative stroke rates of the surgical and endovascular LSA revascularization groups were 3.8% and 2.6%, respectively (P = 0.97). The peri-operative technical success rates for the surgical and endovascular LSA revascularization groups were 95.6% and 93.0%, respectively (P = 0.24). The peri-operative spinal cord ischemia rates were 1.6% (n = 18) and 1.9% (n = 7) in the surgical and endovascular LSA revascularization groups, respectively (P = 0.90). The peri-operative type Ⅰ endoleak rates for the surgical and endovascular LSA revascularization groups were 6.6% and 23.2%, respectively (P = 0.25). The subgroup analysis showed that the incidence of peri-operative type I endoleak in the parallel stent group was significantly higher than that in the surgical LSA revascularization group (P < 0.0001). The peri-operative left upper limb ischemia rates for the surgical and endovascular LSA revascularization groups were 1.2% and 0.6%, respectively (P = 0.96). The peri-operative mortality rates of the surgical and endovascular LSA revascularization groups were 2.0% and 2.0%, respectively (P = 0.88).

Conclusion

There was no significant difference in the terms of short-term outcomes when comparing the two revascularization techniques. The quality of evidence assessed by GRADE scale was low to very-low. Surgical and endovascular LSA revascularization during TEVAR were both safe and effective. Compared with surgical LSA revascularization techniques, parallel stent revascularization of LSA significantly increased the rate of type I endoleak.

Accurate Embolization for Endoleak after F-TEVAR of Thoracic Aortic Dissection by Detachable Coils

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy and clinical outcomes of accurate embolization of endoleaks after fenestrated thoracic endovascular aortic repair (F-TEVAR) for thoracic aortic dissections.

METHODS

Twenty patients with endoleaks (17 type I and 3 type II) after fenestrated thoracic endovascular aortic repair (F-TEVAR) were embolized using detachable and ordinary coils. We assessed the success rate and complications of the operation, and its effects, through clinical and CT follow-up.

RESULTS

The mean clinical follow-up duration was 25.68 ± 11.07 months (3-44 months). During follow-up, all endoleaks were completely embolized and aortic remodeling was improved. Secondary endoleaks occurred in four patients who were embolized twice. No other complications or death were reported.

CONCLUSION

Embolization using detachable and ordinary coils is effective and safe for the treatment of endoleaks after fenestrated thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Single-Center Preliminary Experience with Gutter-Plugging Chimney Stent-Graft for Aortic Dissection

PURPOSE

To report the early 2-year results and experience of a novel gutter-plugging chimney stent-graft in a single center that participated in the clinical trial of Prospective Study for Aortic Arch Therapy with stENt-graft for Chimney technology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients diagnosed with aortic dissection were treated with the novel chimney stent-grafts named Longuette™ for the left subclavian artery revascularization. Primary study outcomes were the incidence of freedom from major adverse events within 30 days and success rate of the operation over 12 months.

RESULTS

A total of 34 patients were enrolled between September 2019 and December 2020. The immediate technical success rate (stent-grafts successfully deployed without fast-flow type Ia or type III endoleak intraoperatively) was 100%, and there were no conversions to open repair. Type Ia and type II endoleaks were noted in three patients (8.8%) and one patient (2.9%) at discharge, respectively. One patient (2.9%) with type Ia endoleak underwent coil embolization at 12 months because of false lumen dilation, and one (2.9%) case of type Ia endoleak resolved spontaneously at 24 months. One chimney stent (2.9%) was revealed with stenosis at discharge and occluded with thrombosis at 6 months postoperatively. During the 2-year follow-up, there was no death, rupture, stroke, paraplegia, left arm ischemia, retrograde dissection, stent-graft induced new entry, or stent migration.

CONCLUSION

The initial results of the Longuette™ stent-graft for revascularization of the left subclavian artery are encouraging with a high technical success rate. Further multicenter follow-up outcomes are required to assess the long-term durability.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 4, Case Series.

Chimney Stenting Versus Surgical Debranching for the Treatment of Aortic Arch Pathologies-A Propensity-Matched Analysis

BACKGROUND

Endovascular repair of aortic arch lesions requires revascularization of epiaortic vessels in case of coverage. The objective of this study was to compare the outcomes of surgical bypass versus endovascular reconstruction with a chimney graft.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of a multicenter register between January 2005 and December 2019 was performed. A total of 127 patients were included and divided into 2 groups: thoracic endovascular aortic repair + surgical debranching (n = 72) and thoracic endovascular aortic repair + chimney stenting (n = 55). The main end points were major neurologic sequelae and type IA endoleak. Propensity score matching was performed to analyse baseline variables related to these outcomes.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up was 35.6 months for the debranching group and 34.1 for the chimney group (P = 0.65). The incidence of stroke was higher in the chimney group although not statistically significant (7.3% vs. 4.1%; P = 0.46); for both groups, a wide angle between the ostium of the target vessel and the aorta and landing in Ishimaru Zone 0 was found to be the main predictors for major neurologic sequelae (P = 0.002 and P = 0.003, respectively). During follow-up, 9 (12.5%) type IA endoleaks occurred in the debranching group and 12 (21.8%) in the chimney group (P = 0.14). Aortic diameter larger than 66 mm and arch angle >46° had a strong association with proximal endoleak incidence (P = 0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively) CONCLUSIONS: Surgical debranching showed better results than chimney stenting in terms of major neurologic events incidence and type IA endoleak, although the difference between the groups was not statistically significant. Further research with larger cohorts is needed to establish the indications for these procedures.

Tratamiento endovascular con técnica de chimenea para patologías del arco aórtico

Introducción. La patología del arco aórtico se ha tratado principalmente con cirugía por vía abierta, pero con una alta morbimortalidad. Las técnicas endovasculares híbridas y las reconstrucciones en “chimenea” son una técnica válida y segura para disminuir el riesgo y la mortalidad. Métodos. Se presentan dos pacientes con patología del arco aórtico y contraindicación de manejo quirúrgico abierto, atendidos en el Servicio de Cirugía Vascular, Hospital Universitario Clínica de San Rafael, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. Resultados. Se realizaron dos procedimientos endovasculares del arco aórtico para tratar un aneurisma torácico roto y una úlcera aórtica sintomática, con cubrimiento de los troncos supra aórticos con una endoprótesis y canalización de los vasos supra aórticos con prótesis cubiertas y uso de la “técnica de chimenea”, de manera exitosa. Discusión. La patología del arco aórtico es de alta complejidad y se asocia con una morbimortalidad elevada por lo que, en los últimos 20 años se han desarrollado diferentes técnicas utilizando procedimientos percutáneos. Conclusión. La “técnica de chimenea” se puede realizar de una manera mínimamente invasiva en pacientes con patología del arco aórtico, no candidatos para cirugía abierta, con resultados exitosos.

Zone 1 Aortic Arch Hybrid Endovascular Repair with Extra-anatomical Bypass: A Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this meta-analysis is to determine the morbidity and mortality outcomes of adult patients with aortic arch disease managed with extra-anatomical bypass avoiding median sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass, with simultaneous or staged hybrid zone 1 endovascular aortic repair.

METHODS

Systematic literature searches of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were carried out to identify relevant studies on zone 1 hybrid arch repair. Extracted data were analyzed by random effects models. Primary outcomes included 30-day or in-hospital mortality. Longitudinal survival was analyzed up to 7 years from date of operation. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital morbidity, as well as late endoleak and reintervention.

RESULTS

Twenty studies incorporating 348 patients were included. In-hospital or 30-day mortality was 10.1% (95% confidence interval, 6.7-14.9%). Overall operative technical success was 89.8% (83.7-93.8%). Early type 1 endoleak rate was 14.0% (7.4-24.7%). Stroke prevalence was 9.5% (6.1-14.3%). Spinal cord paraplegia prevalence was 3.8% (1.9-7.6%). Retrograde aortic dissection prevalence was 4.1% (1.5-10.6%). Survival at 1 year postoperatively was 77.2% (66.1-85.4%). Survival at 3 years postoperatively was 73.7% (59.2-84.4%). Survival beyond 4 years postoperatively (range 58-80 months) was 65.9% (53.6-76.4%). Late type 1 endoleak prevalence was 11.8% (5.5-23.7%). Overall rate of reintervention was 11.6% (6.4-20.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Zone 1 hybrid repair has evidence for satisfactory short- and long-term morbidity/mortality outcomes and may be considered as an alternative approach to aortic arch disease.

Short-term results in canines of novel stent-graft design for chimney technique in TEVAR

Introduction

Parallel stent-stent grafting is a major endovascular technique used to preserve the supra-aortic branches during thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) of aortic pathologies involving the aortic arch. The short- and mid-term results of this technique are satisfactory; however, endoleak remains a major concern. Thus, here we designed a new chimney stent-graft to decrease the endoleak rate.

Aim

To testify the feasibility and safety of the new chimney stent-graft system in a canine model.

Material and methods

Six Labrador retrievers were used. Pre-operative data were collected and all operations were performed under general anesthesia. The main and chimney stent-grafts were implanted through the abdominal aorta and left subclavian artery approaches, respectively. Completion digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed to confirm the immediate outcomes. All dogs were fed separately for 6 months and sacrificed after aortic angiography. The thoracic aorta and the main and chimney stent-grafts were harvested for histopathologic examination.

Results

No complications were found in follow-up DSA. All branch arteries were patent. Inflammatory responses were observed around the stent-grafts in 3 experimental animals, and slight hyperplasia was observed in the surrounding tissues compared with the normal vessels. There was no mural thrombus in the stent, endothelial cells were noted on the inner surface of the stent, and thrombus was formed in the outer skirt and gutter area. The histopathologic examinations revealed similar results to those of gross necropsy observations.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the feasibility and safety of the Longuette stent-graft and the first to report a revised stent-graft specific for chimney technique.

Endovascular aortic repairs combined with looping-chimney technique for repairing aortic arch lesions and reconstructing left common carotid artery

Background

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of thoracic endovascular aortic repairs (TEVAR) combined with looping chimney technique (LCT) for repairing aortic arch lesions and reconstructing left common carotid artery.

Methods

Total of 14 patients (mean age 52.86±14.46 years; range, 27–79; 10 men, 4 women) were included in the study from December 2016 to December 2018. Aortic arch pathologies of all patients with insufficient proximal landing zone (PLZ) were repaired by TEVAR under local anesthesia, before TEVAR, the left common carotid artery (LCCA) was protected by the guiding sheath from the retrograde brachial access, after aortic stent graft deployed, chimney graft was implanted to restore LCCA by LCT if necessary. All patients underwent computed tomography angiograph (CTA) 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after surgery.

Results

Pathology results of 14 patients included: type B aortic dissection (n=8), penetrating aortic ulcers (n=1), retrograde type A aortic dissection (n=1), thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) (n=2), and thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm (n=2). In all patients, aortic arch lesions were repaired by TEVAR; while LCCA were successfully reconstructed by the LCT. In one case, the innominate artery (IA) was simultaneously reconstructed through the same percutaneous right brachial artery (RBA) access. Coiling eliminated type Ia endoleak in 3 patients, and type II endoleak vanished by plugging left subclavian artery (LSA) in 2 patients. In four patients, the chimney stent (CG) of LCCA was partially compressed and then another bare stent was implanted to restore patency rate. The mean follow-up duration was 9.77±6.64 months (range, 0–24) and no combinations were observed in 13 patients; except in one patient who died of cerebral hemorrhage due to abnormal coagulation function.

Conclusions

TEVAR combined with LCT has shown to be suitable surgical approach for aortic arch lesions. Either covered intentionally or inadvertently, the LCCA could be safely and effectively reconstructed via percutaneous RBA access. Short-term follow-up demonstrated satisfactory morbidity and mortality in high-risk patients; however, longer follow-up is required to assess the effectiveness and durability of this innovative endovascular procedure.

Chimney Endografting for Zone 2 Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair Using The Reorientation Technique

The purpose of this report was to describe the reorientation of the chimney graft technique to downsize brachial artery access during thoracic endovascular aortic repair and thus preserve left subclavian artery flow. In the case described herein, the chimney graft was advanced not from the brachial or axillary artery, but from the common femoral artery, over a brachiofemoral pull-through wire. The chimney graft was then turned out into the ascending aorta by balloon dilatation via percutaneous brachial access (“reorientation”). Despite the use of a large-diameter chimney graft, the chimney technique with percutaneous brachial access was successfully performed using the reorientation technique.

Long-term outcomes of balloon-expandable bare stent as chimney stent in thoracic endovascular aortic repair for supra-aortic branches reconstruction

Background

To report the long-term outcomes of balloon-expandable bare stent (BEBS) as chimney stent (CS) in thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for supra-aortic branches reconstruction.

Methods

A total of 33 patients with thoracic aortic diseases underwent TEVAR using BEBSs as CSs for supra-aortic branches reconstruction in our center from 2010 to 2015. The demographics and procedural details were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed. All patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6 months and every 1 year thereafter. Postoperative complications and long-term outcomes were recorded.

Results

The technical success rate was 100%. A total of 36 BEBSs were utilized as CSs to reconstruct the supra-aortic branches during TEVAR. The rate of immediate endoleak was 42.4% (14/33), including 12 (36.4%) type Ia endoleaks and 2 (6.1%) type II endoleaks. Two of type Ia endoleaks were managed by balloon dilation and disappeared, while the rest were left with close follow-up. Two type II endoleaks were embolized by coils and excluded by a plug, respectively. One patient (3.0%) died 2 days after the procedure due to the acute rupture of aortic dissection. The mean follow-up time was 61.8 (ranged from 12 to 102) months. The unmanaged 10 type Ia endoleaks were closely observed during the follow-up, of which 7 disappeared at 1 year and 1 disappeared at 2 years. The rest 2 type Ia endoleaks existed without further dilation of the aorta. One patient (3.0%) was re-intervened for the increased false lumen due to the distal residual tears. The long-term mortality was 9.1% (3/33). All CSs kept patent till the end of follow-up. No other complications were found.

Conclusions

The balloon-expandable stent (BES) is a feasible choice as CS for supra-aortic branches reconstruction with long-term patency during TEVAR. However, BEBS may be related to a higher rate of early endoleak.