Objective To review the progress of artificial intelligence (AI) and radiomics in the study of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Method The literatures related to AI, radiomics and AAA research in recent years were collected and summarized in detail. Results AI and radiomics influenced AAA research and clinical decisions in terms of feature extraction, risk prediction, patient management, simulation of stent-graft deployment, and data mining. Conclusion The application of AI and radiomics provides new ideas for AAA research and clinical decisions, and is expected to suggest personalized treatment and follow-up protocols to guide clinical practice, aiming to achieve precision medicine of AAA.
The treatment of aortic dissection has already shifted to endovascular strategies. However, with the evolution of this disease and a deeper understanding of it, experts from various countries have developed a series of innovative endovascular techniques and devices in areas such as lumen reconstruction, false lumen embolization, entry sealing, and branch arteries reconstruction, targeting the long-term complication of chronic post-dissection thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. The past few decades have seen that Chinese vascular surgeons have gradually emerged on the world stage and contributed multiple “Chinese solutions” for post-dissection thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. The author in this review intends to provide an overview of these techniques and devices mentioned above.
Objective To explore the predictive value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in peripheral blood for postoperative complications of elective endovascular repair for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Methods From August 2016 to November 2021, the clinical data of patients with AAA who received endovascular isolation repair for the first time in the Department of Vascular Surgery of Beijing Hospital were retrospectively analyzed, including the basic information of the patients, comorbid diseases, and the largest diameter of AAA, preoperative blood labotry test, postoperative complications, long-term survival rate and other indicators. The optimal NLR in peripheral blood was determined, and the differences in postoperative complications and long-term survival rates between the high NLR group and the low NLR group were analysed. Results A total of 120 patients with AAA underwent endovascular isolation for the first time were included in this study, including 105 males and 15 females. The age ranged from 52 to 94 years, with an average of (73.3 ± 8.26) years. The largest diameter of abdominal aortic aneurysm was 35 to 100 mm, with an average of (58.5 ± 12.48) mm. The best cut-off value of NLR for predicting postoperative complications of AAA was 2.45 by using Yoden index screening. Those with NLR ≥2.45 were in the high NLR group (n=66), and those with NLR <2.45 were in the low NLR group (n=54). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of overall complications and the incidence of sub-complications (P>0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis suggested that NLR was an independent risk factor for complications after endovascular repair of AAA (P<0.05). The median survival time of patients in the high NLR group and the low NLR group was 31.47 months and 35.28 months, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion NLR can be used as a reference predictor of complications after elective endovascular repair of AAA, but more research results are still needed to confirm.
Abstract： Objective To study the spinal cord protection effect of cerebrospinal fluid drainage （CSFD）for patients undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery. Methods We randomly allocated 30 patients undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from December 2008 to August 2009 into a CSFD group with 15 patients（12 males, 3 females; average age of 45.0 years） and a control group with 15 patients（11 males, 4 females; average age at 45.8 years）by computer. All the patients underwent replacement of ascending aorta and aortic arch, implantation of descending aorta stent, or thoracoabdominal aorta replacement. Some patients underwent Bentall operation or replacement of half aortic arch. Patients in the CSFD group also underwent CSFD. Serum S100B, glial fibrillary acidic protein and neuron-specific enolase were measured at set intraoperative and postoperative times. All the patients were scored preoperatively, 72 hours postoperatively, and before discharge according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury. Results Central nervous system injury occurred in four patients in the control group： one died of both brain damage and spinal cord damage; one patient had spinal cord injury and became better after treatment by early CSFD; two patients had brain damage（one patient died, another patient had concomitant acute renal failure and acute respiratory failure, recovered and was discharged after treatment）. In the CSFD group, only one patient died of acute respiratory failure and subsequent multiple organ system failure, and all other patients recovered very well. There was no late death during three months follow-up in both groups. The average serum S100B, glial fibrillary acidic protein，and neuron-specific enolase concentrations of the CSFD group patients were significantly lower than those of the control group （F=7.153，P=0.012；F=3.263，P=0.082；F=4.927，P=0.035）. Conclusion Selected CSFD is a safe, effective and feasible procedure to protect the spinal cord from ischemic damage during the perioperative period of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery.
ObjectiveThis paper aimed to summarize the new progress in surgical indications regarding as maximum diameter from evidence-based medical evidence and morphological rupture-risk assessment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and its clinical application value.MethodThe rupture-risk and its mechanism of AAA in specific population and morphological characteristics were reviewed.ResultsAsymptomatic patients in specific subgroups may also benefit from AAA repair by lowering the intervention threshold. Besides the maximum diameter of aneurysm, other morphological factors, such as the true geometric shape, the wall thickness, and mural thrombus also had important predictive value for AAA rupture risk.ConclusionRupture-risk assessment based on the actual individual situation of AAA patients can further facilitate the clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Objective To explore the diagnosis and treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA). Methods Between January 1996 and December 2009, 14 patients with RAAA were treated. There were 13 males and 1 female with an average age of 65 years (range, 50-82 years). The main cl inical manifestations were abdominal pain and/or back pain. Ten cases had low blood pressure or shock. All cases were accurately diagnosed with CT, Doppler ultrasonography,or operation. The aneurysm diameter was from 4.5 cm to 8.0 cm. Eleven cases were treated by conventional operation, 1 by endovascular aortic repair, 1 by conservative treatment, and 1 case died after admission treatment. Results Perioperative death occurred in 6 cases (mortal ity rate was 50%) in 12 surgical patients. One case died after conservative treatment. The overall mortal ity rate was 57.14% (8/14). The causes of death included circulatory failure in 2 cases and multiple organ failure in 4 cases. The other 6 cases were cured. The postoperative hospital ization days were 12 to 34 days (14 days on average). A total of 4 cases were followed up 11 to 40 months without related compl ication. Conclusion Surgical treatment is still a main method to treat RAAA. Early diagnosis, appropriate resuscitation, and urgent surgical repair are crucial to reduce the mortal ity rate of RAAA.
Objective To investigate the further results of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair， and analyze the midterm results of 63 cases treated by total thoraco abdominal aortic replacement with a tetrafurcate graft. Methods From August 2003 to October 2007，total thoracoabdominal aortic replacement with a tetrafurcate graft was performed in 63 consecutive patients with Crawford Ⅱ TAAA in Fu Wai Hospital. There were 46 male and 17 female with a mean age of 39.98 years (17-71 years). All the procedures were performed through combined thoracoabdominal incision via the retroperitoneal approach and underwent profound hypothermia with shorttime interval circulatory arrest. T6 to T12 intercostal arteries were reconstructed by arterial tube technique. The celiac artery， superior mesenteric artery and right renal artery were joined into a patch and anastomosed to the end of the main graft. Left renal artery was anastomosed to an 8 mm branch or joined to the visceral arterial patch. The other 10 mm branches were anastomosed to iliac arteries. KaplanMeier method was used to perform survival analysis. Results All the cases were followed，and the mean followup time was 36.57(8-57) months. No patient died during the operation. Early mortality rate was 7.94%（5/63）. Among them， 4 patients died of multiple organ failure. Two of them were caused by neurological complications, and the other 2 of them were caused by renal failure. One patient died of low cardiac output syndrome after surgery because of coronary artery disease. This patient underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) emergently, but couldn’t wean from cardiopulmonary bypass. The incidence of stroke and temporary neurological dysfunction was 9.52%（6/63）, 4 of them were temporary neurological dysfunction and were cured before discharged from hospital. Paraplegia and paraparesis occurred in 2 and 1, respectively. They were all [CM(158.3mm]cured before leaving hospital. Pulmonary complication was 25.40%(16/63)， and12 of them were cured. Pseudoaneurysmal change was observed in reconstructed intercostal arteries in 2 patients with Marfan syndrome, but neither of them underwent paraplegia or paraparesis. One patient died at 20th, 23rd, 30th month after discharge, respectively. The survival time of this group was 50.64±2.13 months（95%CI：46.47,54.84 months） with a survival rate of 92.06% after 1 year， 88.38% after 2 years， 86.11% after 3 years. Conclusion Using tetrafurcate graft is a reliable method in total thoracoabdominal aortic replacement and has a satisfactory midterm survival rate. The intercostal arteries reconstruction by arterial tube technique in total thoracoabdominal replacement is simple, and it is helpful in spinal cord protection.
ObjectiveReporting a case of hybrid procedure of extensive thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) with type B dissection due to Marfan syndrome (MFS) using a prosthetic graft as the distal landing zone for stent-graft.MethodsRetrospectively summarize in-hospital profiles of a patient for who was diagnosed as MFS complicated with TAAA and type B dissection and admmited to Vascular Surgery Department of West China Hospital in May 2018. A GORE-TEX 18 mm×9 mm Y-shaped graft was sewn side-to-end to the bifurcation of left common iliac artery as the inflow site, and a self-made penta-limb graft was sewn side-to-end to the bifurcation of the 18 mm graft. The visceral and bilateral iliac arteries were reconstructed subsequently. Then, the release of the stent-graft was designed from distal to proximal. The distal part of the stent-graft was anchored into the main body of the 18 mm Y-shaped graft.ResultsThe patient underwent the operation successfully with a duaration of 6 h, blood loss of about 800 mL. No serious postoperative complications occurred. Computed tomography angiography at 2-year follow-up showed that the bypass grafts were patent without endoleak, stent migration, stent infolding or infections of the vessel graft and endograft.ConclusionThis modified management of the landing zone could be a proper choice for this kind of rare case as extensive aneurysm or dissection involved in patients with MFS.
Objective To compare the effectiveness between conventional open repair (OR) and endovascular repair (EVRAR) for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Methods Between March 2000 and July 2011, 48 cases of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm were treated by conventional OR in 40 cases (OR group) or by EVRAR in 8 cases (EVRAR group). There was no significant difference in age, sex, the neck length (less than 2 cm), the neck angulation of aneurysm (more than60°), il iac severe tortuosity, preoperative systol ic pressure, and preoperative comorbidity between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The blood transfusion volume, operation time, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, postoperative complications, reinterventions, and mortality were analyzed. Results There was no significant difference in 24-hour and 30-day mortality rates and non graft-related complications between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). EVRAR group was significantly better than OR group in blood transfusion volume, operation time, and ICU stay (P lt; 0.05), but OR group was significantly better than EVRAR group in reinterventions and graftrelated complications (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion EVRAR has obvious advantages in blood transfusion volume, operation time, and ICU stay, so it is feasible for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm in patients with precise anatomical suitability.
Objective To explore the method of surgical treatment and endoluminal repairs of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)so as to improve the safety of surgical treatment. Methods The information of surgical treatment was analysed restrospectively in 195 cases of infrarenal AAA treated from January 1981 to December 2004. Of the patients, 155 were males, 40 were females with a mean age of 56.5 years. The diametersof the aneurysm were larger than 5 cm in 183 patients (93.8%) and 4 to 5 cm in12 patients (6.2%). Of the 175 patients who underwent selective operation, graft replacements were performed in 139 and endovascular aneurysmal repairs in 36. Twenty patients (10.3%) suffering from aneurysm rupture were given emergency operation. Results There were 6 deaths in the patients underdingselective operation(6/175, 4.3%) and in those undergoing emergengcy surgery (6/20, 30%) respectively within 30 days. The other patients were followed up from 1 month to 21 years ( 8.7 years on average), and there were 16 deaths (8.9%) during the follow-up. Nodeath was found in the endoluminal repaired group. Endoleak occurred in 8 patients, including 5 cases of type Ⅰand 3cases of type Ⅱ. After 6 months, CT scan showed that endoleak disappeared in 6 and rernained in 2. Late type Ⅱ endoleak occurred in 1 and endoleak disappearedafter endoluminal embolization. Conclusion With improvement of vascular surgical technique and development of endogafting, the safety of AAA both on surgicaland interventional means would be improved.