Project description:Despite the technical innovations introduced in the previous decades, open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair still represents an enormous challenge for patients and surgeons. Logically, the systemic inflammatory response resulting from these massive operations appears considerable; however, the response has never been thoroughly investigated. In addition, intraoperative adjuncts to modulate the postoperative activation of the immune system have not yet been introduced into clinical practice. We report a case of intraoperative hemadsorption during open repair of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm through the introduction of a CytoSorb device (CytoSorbents Corp) in the left heart bypass circuit. The technique appeared feasible and safe and probably contributed to the good clinical outcomes.
Project description:Background and objective: The G-Branch endograft is a novel multibranched "off-the-shelf" device used to repair thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs). This report describes the hemodynamic and morphological performance of the G-Branch endograft in a human patient with TAAA. Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the computed tomography angiography scans and clinical data of a woman in whom TAAA was treated using a G-Branch endograft. Patient-specific three-dimensional models were reconstructed, and computational fluid dynamics and morphological and hemodynamic indicators were analyzed before and after implantation of the device. Results: From a morphological perspective, there was an increase in cross-sectional area in the G-Branch endograft and all bridging stent grafts over time. Blood flow was redistributed among the renovisceral arteries, with a decrease in flow rate in the celiac artery and an increase in the left renal artery. Laminar blood flow was smoother and more rapid after implantation of the G-Branch device and remained stable during follow-up. In the bridging stent grafts, flow recirculation zones were found in the bridging zones of the celiac artery and superior mesenteric artery as well as the distal sealing zones of both renal arteries. Furthermore, higher time-averaged wall shear stress and a lower oscillatory index and relative resident time were found in the G-Branch endograft and bridging stent grafts. Quantitative analysis showed obvious reduction in the surface area ratio of the elevated time-averaged wall shear stress area and surface area ratio of the relative resident time after G-branch implantation. Conclusion: The revascularization of branch vessels occurred following G-branch implantation, with improvements arising not only from morphological changes but also from hemodynamic alterations. The long-term performance of the G-Branch endograft needs further investigation and clinical validation.
Project description:Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a relevant complication following thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair (TAAA). Biomarkers, such as secretory leucocyte peptidase inhibitor (SLPI), may enable a more accurate diagnosis. In this study, we tested if SLPI measured in serum is an appropriate biomarker of AKI after TAAA repair. In a prospective observational single-center study including 33 patients (51.5% women, mean age 63.0 ± 16.2 years) undergoing open and endovascular aortic aneurysm repair in 2017, SLPI was measured peri-operatively (until 72 h after surgery). After surgery, the postoperative complications AKI, as defined according to the KDIGO diagnostic criteria, sepsis, death, MACE (major cardiovascular events) and, pneumonia were assessed. In a subgroup analysis, patients with preexisting kidney disease were excluded. Of 33 patients, 51.5% (n = 17) of patients developed AKI. Twelve hours after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), SLPI serum levels were significantly increased in patients who developed AKI. Multivariable logistic regression revealed a significant association between SLPI 12 hours after admission to ICU and AKI (P = 0.0181, OR = 1.055, 95% CI = 1.009-1.103). The sensitivity of SLPI for AKI prediction was 76.47% (95% CI = 50.1-93.2) and the specificity was 87.5% (95% CI = 61.7-98.4) with an AUC = 0.838 (95% CI = 0.7-0.976) for an optimal cut-off 70.03 ng/ml 12 hours after surgery. In patients without pre-existing impaired renal function, an improved diagnostic quality of SLPI for AKI was observed (Sensitivities of 45.45-91.67%, Specificities of 77.7-100%, AUC = 0.716-0.932). There was no association between perioperative SLPI and the incidence of sepsis, death, MACE (major cardiovascular events), pneumonia. This study suggests that SLPI might be a post-operative biomarker of AKI after TAAA repair, with a superior diagnostic accuracy for patients without preexisting impaired renal function.
Project description:BackgroundOpen surgical repair (OSR) for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAA) is associated with a high pulmonary and renal morbidity rate. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is a mechanism of protection against the deleterious effects of ischemia-reperfusion. To our knowledge IPC has never been tested during OSR for TAA.MethodsThe primary objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of IPC during OSR for TAA with respect to acute kidney injury (AKI) according to KDIGO and pneumonia/prolonged ventilation-time during the first 8 postoperative days. The secondary objectives are to compare both arms with respect to cardiac complications within 48 h, renal and pulmonary complications within 21 days and mortality at 60 days. To assess the efficacy of IPC with respect to pulmonary and renal morbidity, a cox model for competing risks will be used. Assuming that the event occurs among 36% of the patients when no IPC is performed, the allocation of 55 patients to each arm should allow detecting a hazard ratio of at least 2.75 with a power of 80% when admitting 5% for an error of first kind. This means that 110 patients, enrolled in this multicenter study, may be randomised within 36 months of the first randomization. Randomization will be performed to allocate patients either to surgery with preconditioning before aortic cross clamping (Arm 1) or to surgery without preconditioning before aortic cross clamping (Arm 2). Randomization takes place during the intervention after intravenous injection of heparin, or after the start of femoral assistance. The procedure for IPC will be a supra-visceral thoracic aortic cross clamping for 5 min followed by an unclamping period of 5 min. This procedure will be repeated twice before starting thoracic aortic cross clamping needed to perform surgery.ConclusionsOur hypothesis is that ischemic preconditioning could reduce clinical morbidity and the incidence of lung damage associated with supra-visceral aortic clamping.Trial registrationEPICATAStudy registered in ClinicalTrial.gov / number: NCT03718312 on Oct.24.2018 URL number.
Project description:Open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair remains a surgical challenge. Hybrid and total endovascular repair have emerged as alternatives in treating TAAA. Total endovascular TAAA repair may be best performed with branched/fenestrated stent grafts. However, these technologies are not yet widely available. Thus, currently total endovascular TAAA repair using the chimney/snorkel techniques is considered a viable option in many centers. In this article, we briefly review 2 readily available techniques with off-the-shelf devices, hybrid procedure using total abdominal debranching, and total endovascular repair using chimney/snorkel procedures. The hybrid TAAA repair avoids thoracotomy but requires laparotomy and carries high morbidity and mortality (eg, operative mortality, 4%-26% and renal failure, 4%-26%), comparable to traditional open repair. The staged hybrid approach has been proposed to minimize the invasiveness of the procedure, whereas the associated risk of interval aortic deaths is not negligible. Total endovascular repair reduces the morbidity and mortality after TAAA repair (eg, operative mortality, 3%-20% and renal failure, 0%-20%). However, it is technically demanding and the risks of future reinterventions-and need for repetitive surveillance-is inevitable (eg, immediate type I endoleak, 7%-16% and 1-year branch patency, 93%-98%). Currently, there are not enough data to determine which less-invasive option for open repair in patients with TAAA is superior. These alternatives should complement each other and be applied to carefully selected populations as a part of the overall toolbox in treating TAAA.
Project description:We previously described a transfemoral antegrade in situ laser fenestration technique (in situ fenestrated endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair) for ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. In the present report, we have described an alternative technique of caudally directed in situ fenestrated endografts using upper extremity access for branch vessel incorporation. This technique involves partial deployment of the aortic stent graft in the thoracic aorta to achieve proximal control, followed by sequential branch incorporation using a laser probe through a steerable sheath, from the upper extremity access. The advantages of the technique include rapid proximal aortic control before branch incorporation without target vessel prestenting and separation of in situ fenestration from the target branch vessel origin, facilitating cannulation of angulated branch vessels.
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.