Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) enables survival during 7 h of sustained ventricular fibrillation

We describe the case of a patient implanted with a DeBakey left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as bridge to transplant who survived 7 h of ventricular fibrillation. He was successfully converted into a stable sinus rhyth

Long-term Survival After Endovascular and Open Repair of Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Pla general interior de l'estació de Roquetes Andana central de 8m. d'ample, 100m de llargada i a 50m profunditat, amb bancs de pedra de color blanc en el centre

Hybrid-repair of thoraco-abdominal or juxtarenal aortic aneurysm: what the radiologist should know

Purpose: Endovascular aneurysm repair of the infrarenal or thoracic aorta has been shown to be a less invasive alternative to open surgery. A combined aneurysm of the thoracic and abdominal aorta is complex and challenging; the involvement of renal and/or visceral branches requires new treatment methods. Methods: A hybrid approach is currently an accepted alternative to conventional surgery. Renal and/or visceral revascularisation enables subsequent stent-graft placement into the visceral portion of the aorta. Results: Knowledge of the surgical procedure and a precise assessment of the vascular morphology are crucial for pre-procedural planning and for detection of post-procedural complications. Multi-detector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA) combined with two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) rendering is useful for pre-interventional planning and for the detection of post-procedural complications. Three-dimensional rendering allows proper anatomical analyses, influencing interventional strategies and resulting in a better outcome. Conclusions: With the knowledge of procedure-specific MDCTA findings in various vascular conditions, the radiologist and surgeon are able to perform an efficient pre-interventional planning and follow-up examination. Based on our experience with this novel technique of combined open and endovascular aortic aneurysm treatment, this pictorial review illustrates procedure-specific imaging findings, including common and rare complications, with respect to 2D and 3D post-processing technique

Maximum Diameter Measurements of Aortic Aneurysms on Axial CT Images After Endovascular Aneurysm Repair: Sufficient for Follow-up?

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of maximum diameter measurements of aortic aneurysms after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) on axial computed tomographic (CT) images in comparison to maximum diameter measurements perpendicular to the intravascular centerline for follow-up by using three-dimensional (3D) volume measurements as the reference standard. Materials and Methods: Forty-nine consecutive patients (73±7.5years, range 51-88years), who underwent EVAR of an infrarenal aortic aneurysm were retrospectively included. Two blinded readers twice independently measured the maximum aneurysm diameter on axial CT images performed at discharge, and at 1 and 2years after intervention. The maximum diameter perpendicular to the centerline was automatically measured. Volumes of the aortic aneurysms were calculated by dedicated semiautomated 3D segmentation software (3surgery, 3mensio, the Netherlands). Changes in diameter of 0.5cm and in volume of 10% were considered clinically significant. Intra- and interobserver agreements were calculated by intraclass correlations (ICC) in a random effects analysis of variance. The two unidimensional measurement methods were correlated to the reference standard. Results: Intra- and interobserver agreements for maximum aneurysm diameter measurements were excellent (ICC=0.98 and ICC=0.96, respectively). There was an excellent correlation between maximum aneurysm diameters measured on axial CT images and 3D volume measurements (r=0.93, P<0.001) as well as between maximum diameter measurements perpendicular to the centerline and 3D volume measurements (r=0.93, P<0.001). Conclusion: Measurements of maximum aneurysm diameters on axial CT images are an accurate, reliable, and robust method for follow-up after EVAR and can be used in daily routin

Normalization of high pulmonary vascular resistance with LVAD support in heart transplantation candidates

Objective: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) lead to poor outcome after heart transplantation due to postoperative failure of the non-conditioned right ventricle. The role of continuous flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support in the reduction of elevated PVR was evaluated in a series of clinical implants. Methods: Among 17 patients with terminal heart failure receiving a MicroMed DeBakey LVAD as bridge to transplant, there were six patients with pulmonary hypertension (mean systolic PAP 47mmHg) and high PVR (398dynes/cm5), previously not considered suitable for heart transplantation, who underwent serial right heart catheters during their LVAD support period. Results: In these patients mean systolic pulmonary pressure dropped to 29mmHg and PVR decreased to a mean 167dynes/cm5 under LVAD support. Clinical improvement was significant in all patients. Four patients were successfully transplanted without major postoperative difficulties (mean duration 130 days support) and all are doing well to date. Post-transplant-PVR remained in the normal range in all transplanted patients. Conclusions: Elevated PVR and severe PH were both previously considered as contraindication for heart transplantation. A period of LVAD pumping leads to a progressive decrease of PVR and normalization of pulmonary pressures, making these patients amenable for heart transplantation. LVAD as bridge to heart transplantation is safe and highly beneficial for terminal heart failure patients with severe P

Advantages of subclavian artery perfusion for repair of acute type A dissection

Objective: Arterial perfusion through the right subclavian artery is proposed to avoid intraoperative malperfusion during repair of acute type A dissection. This study evaluated the clinical and neurological outcome of patients undergoing surgery of acute aortic type A dissection following subclavian arterial cannulation compared to femoral artery approach. Methods: From 1/97 to 1/03, 122 consecutive patients underwent surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. Subclavian cannulation was performed in 62 versus femoral cannulation in 60 patients. Clinical characteristics in both groups were similar. Mean age was 61 years (SD±14 years, 72% male) and mean follow-up was 3 years (±2 years). Patient outcome was assessed as the prevalence of clinical complications, especially neurological deficits, mortality at 30 days, perioperative morbidity and time of body temperature cooling and analyzed by nominal logistic regression analysis for odds ratio calculation. Results: Arterial subclavian cannulation was successfully performed without any occurrence of malperfusion in all cases. Patients undergoing subclavian cannulation showed an odds ratio of 1.98 (95% CI 1.15-3.51; P=0.0057) for an improved neurological outcome compared to patients undergoing femoral cannulation. Re-exploration rate for postoperative bleeding was significantly reduced in the subclavian group (P<0.0001), as well as occurrence of myocardial infarction (P<0.0001) and duration for body temperature cooling (P=0.004). The 30-day mortality of patients with femoral cannulation was significantly higher compared to patients with subclavian artery cannulation (24 versus 8%; P=0.0179). Conclusions: Arterial perfusion through the right subclavian artery provides an excellent approach for repair of acute type A dissection with optimized arterial perfusion body perfusion and allows for antegrade cerebral perfusion during circulatory arrest. The technique is safe and results in a significantly improved clinical and especially neurological outcom