Surgical Treatment of Angio‐Behçet

Patients with Behçet’s disease are at risk for multiple vessel‐related complications including thromboses, stenoses, occlusions, and aneurysms. Surgical treatment of Angio‐Behçet brings numerous challenges due to the peculiarities of the disease process and the high rate of complications. Recurrent vascular episodes are also quite common and Behçet patients require rigorous follow‐up. In this review, we focus on the manifestations of Behçet’s disease involving the venous system and the systemic arterial vasculitis focusing on the indications, workup, and techniques for surgical treatment. Several case studies from our own experience are presented together with supporting diagnostic imaging and the decision process whether to intervene is discussed. Although open surgery remains a valid option, new endovascular techniques are rapidly advancing and offer excellent results with important decrease in morbidity and mortality even in highly compromised patients

Insight from an Italian Delphi Consensus on EVAR feasibility outside the instruction for use: the SAFE EVAR Study

BACKGROUND: The SAfety and FEasibility of standard EVAR outside the instruction for use (SAFE-EVAR) Study was designed to define the attitude of Italian vascular surgeons towards the use of standard endovascular repair (EVAR) for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) outside the instruction for use (IFU) through a Delphi consensus endorsed by the Italian Society of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery (Societa Italiana di Chirurgia Vascolare ed Endovascolare - SICVE). METHODS: A questionnaire consisting of 26 statements was developed, validated by an 18 -member Advisory Board, and then sent to 600 Italian vascular surgeons. The Delphi process was structured in three subsequent rounds which took place between April and June 2023. In the first two rounds, respondents could indicate one of the following five degrees of agreement: 1) strongly agree; 2) partially agree; 3) neither agree nor disagree; 4) partially disagree; 5) strongly disagree; while in the third round only three different choices were proposed: 1) agree; 2) neither agree nor disagree; 3) disagree. We considered the consensus reached when >70% of respondents agreed on one of the options. After the conclusion of each round, a report describing the percentage distribution of the answers was sent to all the participants. RESULTS: Two -hundred -forty-four (40.6%) Italian Vascular Surgeons agreed to participate the first round of the Delphi Consensus; the second and the third rounds of the Delphi collected 230 responders (94.3% of the first -round responders). Four statements (15.4%) reached a consensus in the first rounds. Among the 22 remaining statements, one more consensus (3.8%) was achieved in the second round. Finally, seven more statements (26.9%) reached a consensus in the simplified last round. Globally, a consensus was reached for almost half of the proposed statements (46.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The relatively low consensus rate obtained in this Delphi seems to confirm the discrepancy between Guideline recommendations and daily clinical practice. The data collected could represent the source for a possible guidelines' revision and the proposal of specific Good Practice Points in all those aspects with only little evidence available

Spontaneous Isolated Dissection of Iliac Artery Treated with Endovascular Repair: A Case Report

Spontaneous isolated dissection of the iliac artery (SID-IA) is a rare pathologic condition. The predisposing factors and best treatment strategies are still being debated. We present the case of a 59-year-old male with acute right lower limb ischemia characterized by the sudden occurrence of rest pain, hypoesthesia, and paresis. Angiography showed SID-IA extending down to the femoral bifurcation. The patient had no risk factors for SID-IA; however, he survived an electrocution and had arterial hypertension at admission. Endovascular revascularization was successfully performed, with complete restoration of limb blood flow and remission of symptoms. Follow-up ultrasonography at 1 year confirmed stent patency and absence of clinical symptoms. Endovascular stenting is a good therapeutic option for symptomatic SID-IA without rupture

Hybrid Solution for Mycotic Pseudoaneurysm of Carotid Bifurcation

Mycotic pseudoaneurysms of the extracranial carotid artery are rare and need surgical treatment to prevent rupture or embolization. We treated a case of a carotid bifurcation pseudoaneurysm secondary to infection caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis. We successfully treated it using a catheter balloon to obtain carotid bifurcation’s control and replacing the carotid bifurcation with a vein graft. Management involves aneurysmectomy associated with antibiotic therapy and restoration of arterial continuity

iTalian RegIstry of doUble inner branch stent graft for arch PatHology (the TRIUmPH Registry)

The objective of this study was to assess early and midterm results after endovascular aortic arch repair using a double inner branch stent graft (DIBSG) in patients with aortic arch aneurysm or dissection unfit for open surgery

A technical review of bail-out procedures to place Najuta stent-graft into the ascending aorta

BackgroundThe Najuta stent-graft (Kawasumi Laboratories Inc., Tokyo, Japan) is usually easily advanced to the correct deployment position in the ascending aorta thanks to the pre-curved delivery J-sheath with all fenestrations automatically oriented towards the supra-aortic vessels. Aortic arch anatomy and delivery system stiffness could however represent limitations for proper endograft advancement, especially when the aortic arch bends sharply. The aim of this technical note is to report a series of bail-out procedures that could be useful to overcome the difficulties encountered during the Najuta stent-graft advancement up to the ascending aorta.Main bodyThe insertion, positioning and deployment of a Najuta stent-graft requires a through-and-through guidewire technique using a .035 '' 400 cm hydrophilic nitinol guidewire (Radifocus (TM) Guidewire M Non-Vascular, Terumo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) with right brachial and both femoral accesses. When standard maneuver to put the endograft tip into the aortic arch, some bail-out procedures can be applied to obtain proper positioning. Five techniques are described into the text: positioning of a coaxial extra-stiff guidewire; positioning of a long introducer sheath down to the aortic root from the right brachial access; inflation of a balloon inside the ostia of the supra-aortic vessels; inflation of a balloon inside the aortic arch (coaxial to the device); and transapical access technique. This is a troubleshooting guide for allowing physicians to overcome various difficulties with the Najuta endograft as well as for other similar devices.Short conclusionTechnical issues in advancing the delivery system of Najuta stent-graft could occur. Therefore, the rescue procedures described in this technical note could be useful to guarantee the correct positioning and deployment of the stent-graft

Endovascular aortic repair in patients with challenging anatomies: the EXTREME study

Aims: The aim of this study was to report the 30-day technical and clinical success with endovascular repair using the ultra-low-profile Ovation stent graft in patients judged to be outside the instructions for use (IFU) for conventional endografts, while amenable to treatment within the IFU for Ovation. Methods and results: One hundred and twenty-two patients (78.65±7.67 years; 111 male) were enrolled. Patients were evaluated as being outside the IFU for standard endografts because of the absence of a suitable proximal aortic neck in 109 cases (89.3%), of inadequate access vessels in 13 (10.7%), or both in 111 (90.9%). Mean aneurysm (abdominal aortic aneurysm [AAA]) diameter was 52.96±10.1 mm; mean aortic neck length was 7.75±6.05 mm. Technical success (98.4%) was achieved in all but two patients due to a type Ia endoleak. At completion angiography, 15 (12.3%) patients presented a type II endoleak. All patients underwent 30-day follow-up. Primary clinical success at one month was 96.8%, assisted clinical success 98.4%. There were no type I endoleaks, while 12 (9.8%) type II endoleaks were still evident, in the absence of sac expansions. Two patients (1.6%) presented an asymptomatic limb occlusion. Conclusions: Our experience suggests that, in a selected population of patients with challenging anatomy outside the IFU for conventional endografts, endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) using the Ovation stent graft can be performed safely with satisfactory immediate outcomes

iTalian RegIstry of doUble inner branch stent graft for arch PatHology (the TRIUmPH Registry)

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess early and midterm results after endovascular aortic arch repair using a double inner branch stent graft (DIBSG) in patients with aortic arch aneurysm or dissection unfit for open surgery. Methods: Between 2012 and 2018, there were 24 patients with aortic arch disease who were treated with a single model of a DIBSG (Terumo Aortic, Glasgow, United Kingdom) in nine Italian cardiovascular centers. We investigated technical success, mortality, occurrence of major complications, and need for reintervention in a multicenter, nonrandomized, retrospective fashion. Results: The in-hospital mortality rate was 16.7%. Cerebrovascular events occurred in 25% of patients and major strokes in 12.5%. Two patients experienced a retrograde dissection (8.3%), whereas none reported any type I or type III endoleak. During a mean follow-up of 18 months (range, 1-60 months), one patient died of a nonaortic cause and one reported a nonarch-related major stroke. No late secondary intervention was needed during the follow-up. Excluding from the analysis the first six patients treated until 2014 as part of the learning curve, in-hospital mortality, major stroke, and retrograde dissection rates were 11.1%, 11.1%, and 5.6%, respectively. Conclusions: Endovascular aortic arch repair using this model of DIBSG is feasible, and results are acceptable for a new technique in a high-risk subset of patients. Operative mortality suffers the effect of a learning curve, whereas midterm aorta-related survival is promising. Endovascular repair of aortic arch disease with a DIBSG should always be considered to give high-risk patients a chance of repair. Large-scale studies are needed to assess the long-term durability of this technique

A national cross-sectional survey on time-trends for endovascular repair of genetically-triggered aortic disease and connective tissue disorders over two decades

Background: By this survey, we aim to gain national-based information regarding trends in endovascular repair (ER) for the treatment of aortic disease in patients with genetically-triggered aortic disease (GTAD) and connective tissue disorder (CTD) over the last two decades. Methods: All Italian vascular surgery centers (N.=80) were invited to participate in an anonymous electronic cross-sectional survey on ER for GTAD/CTD. Results: Overall, 29 institutions completed the survey, thereby yielding a 36% response rate. The percentage of responding institutions rises to 64% if only regional hubs were considered (23/36). The median number of index procedures per center was 6.2, and a steady increase in the overall number of interventions over time was also noted. Most patients were males (73%) with a median age of 48 years. The most common endovascular procedure was TEVAR (N.=101), followed by F/BEVAR (N.=43) and EVAR (N.=37). The overall technical success rate was 83.4% while major adverse events and mortality at thirty days were reported at 18.2% and 9.9%, respectively. An additional 5.0% mortality rate was noted for an overall one-year mortality of 14.9%, while 3.7% of all treated patients were diagnosed with a type 1 endoleak. Conclusions: This national cross-sectional survey, investigating trends in ER of GTADs and CTDs over two decades, highlights a consistent increase in the use of endovascular techniques for their treatment. Early mortality was acceptably low, yet influenced by the urgency of presentation. At one-year follow-up, a 5% additional death rate was noted, and the reintervention rate remained below one in ten