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.
ObjectiveTo explore the progresses of diagnosis and treatment for endoleaks after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (EVAR). MethodsThe literatures on studying the classification, diagnosis and management, risk factor, and treatment for the endoleaks after EVAR were reviewed and analyzed. ResultsEndoleak was a common and particular complication after EVAR and its represented persistence meant failure of the EVAR treatment. Accurate detection and classification were essential for the proper management and the treatment method for the endoleak was determined by the different source. Type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ endoleak required urgent treatment， type Ⅱ and type Ⅴ were considered less urgently but may be observed continuously. A variety of techniques including extension endografts or cuff, balloon angioplasty, bare stents, and a combination of transvascular and direct sac puncture embolization techniques were allowed to treat the vast majority of these endoleaks. ConclusionsEndoleak after EVAR is still the main clinical problem to be solved. The characters of endoleak still are not fully revealed. The diagnosis and treatment remained equivocal, which requires further study.
Objective To summarize our experience and the early and midterm outcomes of stented elephant trunk procedure for right-sided aortic arch (RAA) with Kommerell's diverticulum (KD). Methods From April 2013 to July 2020, patients with RAA and KD who underwent stented elephant trunk procedure at our center were collected. Surgery was performed under moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest combined with selective antegrade cerebral perfusion via median sternotomy. Results A total of 8 patients were included, including 7 males and 1 female with a mean age of 51.88±9.61 years. All patients had an aneurysmal KD and aberrant left subclavian artery. Preoperative comorbidities included acute Stanford type B aortic dissection in 1 patient, aortic arch pseudoaneurysm in 1 patient, acute type B intramural hematoma in 2 patients, and coronary artery disease in 1 patient. Concomitant procedures included reconstruction of the left subclavian artery in all patients and coronary artery bypass grafting in 1 patient. The mean time of operation, cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross-clamping, and selective cerebral perfusion was 6.25±1.16 h, 157.75±40.07 min, 77.75±33.10 min, and 28.50±5.55 min, respectively. No intraoperative death occurred. There was 1 in-hospital death. Follow-up was completed in all patients with a mean period of 3.58±2.08 years. No late death occurred. A persistent anastomotic leak of the proximal arch was detected in 1 patient, but reintervention was not performed because neither aortic dilatation nor symptoms of tracheal and esophageal compression were observed during the follow-up. The remaining 6 patients showed positive aortic remodeling with complete thrombosis of the aneurysmal KD, and neither aortic event nor tracheal and esophageal compression occurred. Conclusion Stented elephant trunk procedure is a safe and feasible technique for selected patients with RAA and KD, which can achieve favorable early and midterm outcomes.
Objective By observation of the diameter, progression rate, wall thickness, and the opening angle of the abnormal aortic of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in rats, to observe the effect of saturated hydrogen saline on residual strain of AAA rats, and to investigate its inhibition effect on AAA formation. Methods Twenty healthy male Sprague Dawley rats (weighing, 200-220 g) were randomly divided into 2 groups, which was made the AAA model by infiltration of the abdominal arota with 0.5 mol/L calcium chloride. Saturated hydrogen saline (5 mL/kg) or saline (5 mL/kg) was injected intraperitoneally in the experimental group or control group respectively, every day for 28 days. At 28 days, the diameter, progression rate, wall thickness, and opening angle of the abnormal aorta were mearsured. The aortic tissue was harvested for histological examination (HE staining and aldehyde-fuchsin staining). Results At 28 days after operation, the diameter of abnormal aorta in 2 groups were significantly higher than preoperative ones (P lt; 0.05), the progression rate in experimental group (65% ± 15%) was significantly lower than that in control group (128% ± 54%) (t=3.611, P=0.005). The opening angle and the wall thickness in experimental group were (88.78 ± 29.20)° and (0.14 ± 0.03) mm respectively, had significant differences when compared with the values in control group [(44.23 ± 28.52)° and (0.36 ± 0.05) mm respectively] (P lt; 0.01). The integrity and continuity of the aortic wall in experimental group were superior to that in the control group. Compared with the control group, the injury of elastic fiber in aortic wall and the infiltration of inflammation were all reduced. Conclusion Saturated hydrogen saline can maintain good mechanical properties and reduce dilatation of the aorta by increasing residual strain and reducing the remodeling of it.
Objective To investigate the management experience of type Ⅱ endoleak originating from inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). Methods The clinical data of patients with type Ⅱ endoleak originating from IMA after EVAR treated in the Department of Vascular Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from October 2016 to November 2021 were collected and analyzed. Results There were 12 males and 3 females at age of 57-89 (68.00±7.84) years. Eleven patients received embolization of the abdominal aortic aneurysm lumen and initial segment of the IMA via the superior mesenteric artery-middle colic artery-Riolan arch-left colic artery-IMA route. Three patients received embolization of the initial segment of the IMA by the above route. One patient underwent open dissection of the abdominal aortic aneurysm, and orifice of IMA was sutured in the aneurysm cavity while stents were retained. All 15 patients were successfully treated by surgery. The symptoms of back pain, abdominal pain and abdominal distension disappeared in 6 patients after surgery. Neither perioperative deaths nor complications happened during the treatment and follow-up period. The median follow-up time was 11.00 (9.00, 18.00) months. Two patients with typeⅡendoleak recurred during the follow-up period and were admitted to hospital for secondary embolization. No recurrence was observed at 12 months postoperative follow-up. Conclusion Type Ⅱ endoleak is one of the most common complications after EVAR. IMA is the most common criminal origin of typeⅡendoleak. TypeⅡendoleak that lead to persistent expansion of the aneurysm cavity requires aggressive intervention.
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.
ObjectiveTo summarize the research progress of relationship between distal landing zone geometric and outcomes of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysm. MethodsThe domestic and foreign literature on the accumulation of the impact of proximal and distal landing zone geometric morphology on clinical outcomes, the evaluation methods for related complications of proximal and distal landing zones, preventive measures for adverse outcomes related to the geometric morphology of the distal landing zone, and the pathophysiological mechanisms of complications related to the distal landing zone were retrieved to make an review. ResultsThe irregular geometric morphology of the proximal landing zone was closely associated with adverse events following EVAR. The morphology of the distal landing zone was actually more complex than that of the proximal zone, and the measurement methods for its parameters were also more complicated. Common methods used in the literature for studying landing zones included the centerline distance method, the minimum distance method, and the landing area method. Primary preventive measures for adverse outcomes related to the geometry of the distal landing zone included increasing radial support force and contact area, using endostaples, and extending the landing zone. In addition to anatomical factors, the distal landing zone was also influenced by various pathophysiological factors. ConclusionsThe morphology and related pathological changes of the distal landing zone significantly impact the clinical outcomes following EVAR for abdominal aortic aneurysm. However, current research on the distal landing zone is limited. Future studies should focus on developing new technologies and methods to improve the evaluation and management of the distal landing zone, thereby reducing the complications after EVAR, enhancing the success rate of the surgery, and improving patient survival quality.
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.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical value of in vitro fenestration and branch stent repair in the treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm in visceral artery area assisted by 3D printing.MethodsThe clinical data of 7 patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm involving visceral artery at the Department of Vascular Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from March 2016 to May 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 5 males and 2 females with an average age of 70.2±3.9 years. Among them 4 patients had near-renal abdominal aortic aneurysm, 3 had thoracic aortic aneurysm, 4 had asymptomatic aneurysm, 2 had acute symptomatic aneurysm and 1 had threatened rupture of aneurysm. According to the preoperative CT measurement and 3D printing model, fenestration technique was used with Cook Zenith thoracic aortic stents, and branch stents were sewed on the main stents in vitro, and then the stents were modified by beam diameter technique for intracavitary treatment.ResultsAll the 7 patients completed the operation successfully, and a total of 18 branch arteries were reconstructed. The success rate of surgical instrument release was 100.0%. The average operation time was 267.0±38.5 min, the average intraoperative blood loss was 361.0±87.4 mL and the average hospital stay was 16.0±4.2 d. Immediate intraoperative angiography showed that the aneurysms were isolated, and the visceral arteries were unobstructed. Till May 2019, there was no death, stent displacement, stent occlusion, ruptured aneurysm or loss of visceral artery branches. Conclusion3D printing technology can completely copy the shape of human artery, intuitively present the anatomical structure and position of each branch of the artery, so that the fenestration technique is more accurate and the treatment scheme is more optimized.
Objective To investigate the impact of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) on the rate of ascending aortic diameter re-dilation following ascending aorta remodeling. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of patients who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) combined with ascending aorta remodeling at Fuwai Hospital between 2010 and 2022. The rate of ascending aortic diameter re-dilation after remodeling was calculated and compared between patients with tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) and BAV within the longitudinal aortotomy-sandwich technique and external wrapping technique groups. We explored whether BAV affects the rate of diameter re-dilation after remodeling. Results A total of 84 patients were included, comprising 58 males and 26 females, with a mean age of (54.30±11.36) years (range: 22-76 years). The follow-up duration for all 84 patients ranged from 18.30 to 158.83 months, with a median follow-up time of 42.82 (28.06, 103.12) months. In the longitudinal aortotomy-sandwich technique group (n=47), the rate of re-dilation ranged from –3.08 to 5.90 mm/year, with a median of 0.83 (0.27, 1.44) mm/year. There was no statistical difference in the rate of ascending aortic diameter re-dilation between patients with TAV and BAV within this group [0.65 (0.34, 1.43) mm/year vs. 0.99 (0.18, 1.44) mm/year, P=0.762]. In the external wrapping technique group (n=37), the rate of re-dilation ranged from –3.57 to 6.61 mm/year, with a median of 0.35 (–0.28, 0.96) mm/year. Similarly, there was no statistically significant difference in the rate of ascending aortic diameter re-dilation between patients with TAV and BAV within this group [0.33 (–0.17, 0.77) mm/year vs. 0.58 (–0.28, 1.05) mm/year, P=0.778]. ConclusionBAV does not significantly affect the rate of ascending aortic diameter re-dilation following ascending aorta remodeling.