Project description:We describe the feasibility of a technique for temporary aneurysm sac reperfusion after endovascular single-stage thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm exclusion, to be used in the case of postoperative spinal cord ischemia. Two cases were treated for impending rupture of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. Before completion of sac exclusion, a supplementary buddy wire (V-18 control guidewire; Boston Scientific) was advanced in parallel fashion from the left percutaneous femoral access into the aneurysmal sac on the posterior aspect of the endograft. Distal aneurysm exclusion was completed using the main superstiff guidewire, and the femoral access was closed with a percutaneous closure device (ProGlide; Abbott) in standard fashion, leaving in place the sole V-18 guidewire, draped in sterile fashion. In the case of spinal cord ischemia, the "safe-line" can be rapidly used for spinal reperfusion after trans-sealing exchange with a 6F, 65-cm-long Destination sheath (Terumo) connected to a 6F introducer on the contralateral femoral artery.
Project description:BackgroundSpinal cord ischemia (SCI) is one of the most devastating complications of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Prophylactic cerebrospinal fluid drainage (CSFD) has been shown to decrease the risk of SCI in open thoracic aortic procedures; however, its utility in TEVAR remains uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to determine the role of prophylactic CSFD in preventing SCI in TEVAR.MethodsA literature search of five databases was performed and all studies published before September 2022 that reported SCI rates in TEVAR patients undergoing prophylactic CSFD were included. A random effects meta-analysis of means or proportions was performed for single-arm data. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported for comparisons between groups.ResultsA total of 4,793 patients undergoing TEVAR from 40 studies were included. The mean age was 68.8 years and 70.9% of patients were male. The overall SCI rate was 3.5%, with a 1.3% rate of immediate SCI and a 1.9% rate of delayed SCI. There were no significant differences in SCI rates between prophylactic CSFD patients and non-drained patients. Routine CSFD did not have a significant impact on SCI rates compared to non-drained patients. There was an increased rate of transient SCI with selective CSFD compared to non-drained patients (OR 2.08; 95% CI: 1.06-4.08; P=0.03). The most common drain-related complication was spinal headache (4.3%). The major complication rate was 1.6%, of which epidural or spinal hematoma (0.9%) was the most common, followed by intracranial or subdural hemorrhage (0.8%) and paraparesis or paraplegia (0.8%).ConclusionsThis study found no significant difference in SCI rates between prophylactic CSFD patients and their non-drained counterparts. CSFD is associated with a small but non-negligible risk of serious complications. Multi-center randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are warranted to help stratify the risk of both SCI and CSFD-related complications in patients undergoing endovascular aortic procedures.
Project description:ObjectiveSpinal cord ischemia (SCI) after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is associated with permanent neurologic deficit and decreased survival. Prophylactic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage (CSFD) in TEVAR is controversial. We evaluated the usage of CSFD in TEVAR at our tertiary aortic center.MethodsOur institutional TEVAR database was reviewed to determine the frequency of CSFD usage/complications. Complications were categorized as mild (headache/CSF leak not requiring intervention, urinary retention), moderate (headache/CSF leak requiring intervention, drain malfunction requiring replacement), or severe (intrathecal hemorrhage, CSFD-attributable neurologic deficit). The relationships between CSFD complications and patient/procedural characteristics, CSFD placement timing, and survival were analyzed.ResultsNine hundred thirty-six TEVAR procedures were performed in 869 patients from 2011 to 2020. Three hundred ninety CSFD drains were placed in 373 (41.7%) TEVAR patients. Most CSFD drains (89.5%) were pre-TEVAR. Most post-TEVAR drains were placed for new SCI symptoms (n = 21). Twenty-five patients (6.4%) suffered 32 CSFD complications. Most (n = 17) were mild in severity. Severe CSFD complications occurred in 5/432 (1.1% CSF drains) patients. No patient/procedural characteristics were predictive of CSFD complications. Post implant CSFD placement for new SCI symptoms conferred an increased risk of CSFD complication (odds ratio, 6.9; 95% CI, 2.42-19.6; P < .01). The long-term survival of the CSFD complication cohort did not differ from the overall population.ConclusionsPost-TEVAR CSFD placement for new SCI symptoms was associated with substantially greater risk of CSFD complications. Avoidance of post-implant therapeutic drain placement might be the key to prevention of CSFD complications, favoring a strategy of selective pre-implant drain placement in patients at higher risk for SCI.
Project description:BackgroundSpinal cord injury (SCI) is a rare but severe complication after open or endovascular repair of descending thoracic aneurysms (DTAs) or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs). This meta-analysis aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of SCI rates and factors associated with SCI.MethodsA systematic literature search was performed in September 2022 looking for studies on open and/or endovascular repair of DTA and/or TAAA published after 2018, to update the results of our previously published meta-analysis. The primary outcome was permanent SCI. Secondary outcomes were temporary SCI, 30-day and in-hospital mortality, follow-up mortality, postoperative stroke, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drain-related complications. Data were pooled as proportions using inverse-variance weighting.ResultsA total of 239 studies (71 new studies and 168 from our previous meta-analysis) and 61,962 patients were included. The overall pooled rate of permanent SCI was 3.3% [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.9-3.8%]. Open repair was associated with a permanent SCI rate of 4.0% (95% CI, 3.3-4.8%), and endovascular repair was associated with a permanent SCI rate of 2.9% (95% CI, 2.4-3.5%). Permanent SCI was 2.0% (95% CI, 1.2-3.3%) after DTA repair, and 4.7% (95% CI, 3.9-5.6%) after TAAA repair; permanent SCI rate was 3.8% (95% CI, 2.9-5.0%) for Crawford extent I, 13.4% (95% CI, 9.0-19.5%) for extent II, 7.1% (95% CI, 5.7-8.9%) for extent III, 2.3% (95% CI, 1.6-3.5%) for extent IV, and 6.7% (95% CI, 1.7-23.1%) for extent V TAAA aneurysms. The pooled rate of CSF drain related complications was 1.9% (95% CI, 0.8-4.7%) for severe, 0.4% (95% CI, 0.0-4.0%) for moderate, and 1.8% (95% CI, 0.6-5.6%) for minor complications.ConclusionsPermanent SCI occurs after both endovascular and open DTA or TAAA repairs. Open repairs and TAAA repairs have higher risk of SCI compared with endovascular or DTA repairs. In particular, extent II aneurysms present the highest overall risk of SCI.
Project description:To improve surgical pain control through cryoablation of intercostal nerves and reduce narcotic usage in patients undergoing open thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA or TAAA) repair. From 2012 to 2018, 117 patients underwent open repair of TAA or TAAA. Of those patients, 25 (21%) received cryoablation (2016-2018) of their intercostal nerves and 92 (79%) did not (2012-2018). The primary outcome was pain scores and narcotic usage from extubation day 1 to 10 or the day of discharge. The median age (57 years), demographics, and preoperative comorbidities were not significantly different between the 2 groups. The cryoablation group had significantly more incidences of thoracoabdominal incisions (52% vs 28%), urgent operations (32% vs 11%), and longer duration of chest tubes compared to the noncryoablation group (all P < 0.05). T9-T12 intercostal arteries were selectively reimplanted. Left intercostal nerves were cryoablated from T3 to T9 if 2 thoracotomies were used; or 2 intercostal spaces above and below the thoracotomy if 1 thoracotomy was used. There were no significant differences between the noncryoablation and cryoablation groups in postoperative stroke, paraplegia (5%), pneumonia, and in-hospital mortality (0.9%). However, the average usage of narcotics was significantly reduced in the cryoablation group by 28 measured morphine equivalents (equal to four 5 mg Oxycodone)/patient/day in 10 days after extubation, P = 0.005. With cryoablation of intercostal nerves, the postoperative surgical pain was well controlled and narcotic usage was significantly decreased after TAA or TAAA repair. Cryoablation of intercostal nerves was a safe and effective measure for postoperative pain control in TAA or TAAA repair.
Project description:We describe a technique for antegrade in situ laser fenestration that has several advantages in the setting of ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. This technique involves rapid aneurysm sealing by deployment of aortic stent graft, followed by sequential incorporation of branch vessels using a laser probe through steerable sheath. The advantages of this technique include (1) rapid seal of the ruptured aneurysm, (2) preservation of the visceral and renal branch perfusion, (3) use of an off-the-shelf device, and (4) the ability to be performed without general anesthesia.
Project description:To characterize the inflammatory and coagulopathic response after endovascular thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair and to evaluate the effect of the response on postoperative renal function.From July 2005 to June 2008, 42 patients underwent elective endovascular repair of a TAAA using custom designed multi-branched stent-grafts at a single academic institution. Four patients were excluded from the analysis. White blood cell count (WBC), platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), and creatinine were measured in all patients. In the last nine patients, interleukin-6 (IL-6), protein C, Factor V, d-dimers, cystatin C, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels were also measured. Change in lab values were expressed as a percentage of baseline values.The 30-day mortality rate was 5% (2/38). All patients (n = 38) had a higher WBC (mean +/- SD: 139 +/- 80%, P < .0001), lower platelet count (56 +/- 15%, P < .0001), and higher PT (median: 17%, Interquartile range (IQR) 12%-22%, P < .0001) after stent-graft insertion. Twelve of 38 patients (32%) developed postoperative acute renal insufficiency (>50% rise in creatinine). Patients with renal insufficiency had significantly larger changes in WBC (178 +/- 100% vs 121 +/- 64%, P = .04) and platelet count (64 +/- 17% vs 52 +/- 12%, P = .02) compared with those without renal insufficiency. All patients (n = 9) had significant increases in NGAL (182 +/- 115%, P = .008) after stent-graft insertion. Six of nine patients (67%) had increased cystatin C (35 +/- 43%, P = .04) after stent-graft insertion, with a greater rise in those with postoperative renal insufficiency (87 +/- 32% vs 8 +/- 13%, P = .02). IL-6 levels were markedly increased in all patients (n = 9) after repair (9840 +/- 6160%, P = .008). Protein C (35 +/- 10%, P = .008) and Factor V levels (28 +/- 20%, P = .008) were uniformly decreased, while d-dimers were elevated after repair in all patients (310 +/- 213%, P = .008).Leukocytosis and thrombocytopenia were uniform following endovascular TAAA repair, and the severity of the response correlated with post-operative renal dysfunction. Elevation of a sensitive marker of renal injury (NGAL) suggests that renal injury may occur in all patients after stent-graft insertion.