Acute limb ischemia in nonagenarians: Characteristics and factors related to outcomes in a single-center consecutive series

BACKGROUND

The increasing aging and frailty of the population make the management of acute limb ischemia (ALI) more difficult, with decision-making far from being guided by evidence. The aim of the study was to evaluate the characteristics and results of ALI treatment in nonagenarians.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of nonagenarian patients with ALI attended at our institution between 2008 and 2021. The primary outcomes of the study were 1-year limb salvage and survival rates.

RESULTS

A total of 102 patients were included (mean age 92.38, 78.4% women). In 83 cases (81.4%) ALI was attributed to embolism, and 19 (18.6%) to acute arterial thrombosis. One-month overall survival was 70.6%. Fifteen patients (14.7%) were treated palliatively, including 8 (53.3%) irreversible ALI with associated malignancy/advanced dementia, 5 (33.3%) with associated cerebral/intestinal ischemia and 2 (13.3%) with aortic occlusion and poor medical condition. None of these patients survived after 10 days. The remaining 87 patients (85.3%) were treated with isolated anticoagulation (n = 8, 9.1%), primary major amputation (n = 1, 1.1%) or revascularization (n = 78, 89.6%), including 69 (67.6%) embolectomies, 6 (5.9%) bypass and 3 (2.9%) endovascular techniques. One-year limb salvage and survival rates were 96% and 48%, respectively. Predictive factors of lower survival included anemia (HR = 1.81, p = 0.014) and ALI severity (HR = 1.73, p = 0.032), but not cognitive or functional status. Patients surviving the ALI episode had a 1-year survival rate significantly below that of a similar matched population.

CONCLUSION

Although nonagenarians with an ALI are often functionally and cognitively impaired and have a limited life expectancy, most patients need revascularization for limb salvage and this can be done successfully with a low invasive surgery.

Genome-wide association meta-analysis identifies risk loci for abdominal aortic aneurysm and highlights PCSK9 as a therapeutic target

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common disease with substantial heritability. In this study, we performed a genome-wide association meta-analysis from 14 discovery cohorts and uncovered 141 independent associations, including 97 previously unreported loci. A polygenic risk score derived from meta-analysis explained AAA risk beyond clinical risk factors. Genes at AAA risk loci indicate involvement of lipid metabolism, vascular development and remodeling, extracellular matrix dysregulation and inflammation as key mechanisms in AAA pathogenesis. These genes also indicate overlap between the development of AAA and other monogenic aortopathies, particularly via transforming growth factor β signaling. Motivated by the strong evidence for the role of lipid metabolism in AAA, we used Mendelian randomization to establish the central role of nonhigh-density lipoprotein cholesterol in AAA and identified the opportunity for repurposing of proprotein convertase, subtilisin/kexin-type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors. This was supported by a study demonstrating that PCSK9 loss of function prevented the development of AAA in a preclinical mouse model.

Outcome of elective endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms in octogenarians

AIM

The need to adjust the indications of elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair among patients with a limited life-span deserves a specific evaluation for octogenarians. The aim of this study was to compare the postoperative results and the long-term survival after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic and/or iliac aneurysms (EVAR) in octogenarians compared with patients under 80 years of age.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 241 consecutive patients who underwent an elective EVAR between 2000 and 2017. EVAR was not considered among patients with clear life-limiting conditions. Patients receiving other than commercially standard infra-renal endoprostheses were excluded.

RESULTS

Seventy patients (29.0%) were octogenarians. They had a lower rate of active smoking (10.0% vs. 30.4%, P < 0.001) and a higher prevalence of previous cerebrovascular disease (21.4% vs. 11.7%, P = 0.055) than younger patients. Thirty-day/in-hospital complication and mortality rates were not significantly higher among octogenarians when compared with younger patients (24.3% vs. 16.9% and 2.9% vs. 2.4%, respectively). Octogenarians had a lower long-term survival at 1, 3 and 5 years (92.6% vs. 93.3%, 67.7% vs. 78.0% and 39.3% vs. 60.6%, P = 0.039) in the bivariate analysis. However, an age ≥ 80 years per se was not an independent predictor of survival after adjustment for confounding factors.

CONCLUSION

An age above 80 years was not associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications or long-term mortality. Our results suggest that EVAR can be considered in elderly patients without a clear life-limiting condition and with a suitable aneurysm anatomy. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 392-397.

Endovascular treatment of a splenic vein aneurysm through a transhepatic approach

Aneurysms of the portal vein and its branches have been rarely described. Their natural history is unknown although large ones (>3 cm in diameter) have been reported to cause rupture, thrombosis, duodenal or biliary obstruction, inferior vena cava compression and/or portal hypertension. We report the case of an incidentally diagnosed 4.5 cm splenic vein aneurysm repaired by endovascular treatment through a transhepatic route. The aneurysm was successfully excluded using a covered stent (Viabahn, Gore). The transhepatic route opens the possibility of offering a minimally invasive approach to vascular lesions of the portal vein system. Splenic vein aneurysms were first reported in 1953 (1) and they are part of the extrahepatic portal vein aneurysm group (2). Their mechanism of development is not well understood. Etiology may include congenital causes (inherent weakness of the vessel wall) or acquired causes (trauma, inflammation such as pancreatitis, liver disease, or portal hypertension). However, portal aneurysms do not seem to be the result of an isolated portal hypertension since they are extremely rare even in patients with this condition (3). The demographic characteristics of extrahepatic portal vein aneurysm include a female-to-male ratio of 2:1 and the median age of 52 years (range, 5-77 years). The size of the reported aneurysms ranges from 1.9 to 8 cm. The most common location of the aneurysm is in the main portal vein trunk, the junction of the superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein, or at the hepatic hilus; intrahepatic venous aneurysms are rare (4, 5). Here, for the first time, we report the successful endovascular treatment of a splenic vein aneurysm through transhepatic percutaneous approach using a Viabahn stent.

Hypothenar hammer syndrome

In 1934 von Rosen first described a posttraumatic thrombosis of the distal ulnar artery resulting from blunt a trauma to the hypothenar region. But it was Conn in 1970 who named it the "hypothenar hammer syndrome (HHS)" 1-2.

Endovascular treatment of malignant superior vena cava syndrome secondary to lung cancer

OBJECTIVES

Superior Vena Cava obstruction results in severe oedema of the upper thorax. Endovascular treatment allows a rapid restoration of the blood flow with a rapid resolution of symptoms. We retrospectively report a single institution's experience in stent placement for malignant Superior Vena Cava Syndrome (SVCS) caused by lung cancer.

METHODS

Thirty-three consecutive patients (23 men, 10 women; median age, 57.6 years; range 34-71 years) who underwent endovascular SVCS palliative treatment were enrolled between August 2002 and June 2015. All patients presented SVCS secondary to lung cancer. Signs and symptoms of SVCS were scored.

RESULTS

All procedures were successfully completed (100% technical success rate). Twenty-eight patients showed a progressive clinical improvement after endovascular treatment of SVCS (84.8% clinical success rate) within 48 hours, there were five clinical failures which improved progressively with posterior radiotherapy. During follow-up, three patients (9%) suffered intra or post-procedural complications (1 cardiac arrhythmia, 2 stent thrombosis).

CONCLUSIONS

Stent placement in malignant SVCS seems to be an effective and rapid treatment for the relief of symptoms and quality of life improvement with a relatively low complications rate with a rapid resolution of symptoms. Therefore, it should be seriously considered as the first option in the SVC obstruction treatment.

Hybrid Repair of Aortic Arch Aneurysms with Endografting of the Ascending Aorta

BACKGROUND

Different "hybrid" techniques that combine open debranching of the supra-aortic vessels with endografting of the aortic arch have emerged as alternatives to the open arch repair in high-risk patients. This study aims to review the early and mid-term results of single-stage hybrid arch repair with ascending aorta stent graft deployment for aortic arch aneurysms and dissections.

METHODS

Between June 2006 and May 2015, five consecutive patients, with an age range of 54-78 years, with complex aortic arch diseases, were treated with a hybrid approach in which the endograft had a proximal landing zone in the ascending aorta. Indications included: acute and chronic type A aortic dissections and three arch aneurysms associated with distal aortic pathology. Length of postoperative clinical and imaging follow-up ranged from 10 to 121 months and was completed in all patients.

RESULTS

Technical success of the endografting was achieved in all cases. There was one in-hospital mortality secondary to pulmonary embolism, one case of retrograde type A aortic dissection (RTAD) detected before discharge and one case of late type Ib endoleak that required an endografting procedure. No postoperative stroke or transient or permanent spinal cord ischemia occurred.

CONCLUSION

Hybrid arch repair with endograft landing in zone 0 may decrease mortality and morbidity in high-risk patients. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12735 (J Card Surg 2016;31:341-347).