Elective reconstruction of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm type IV by transabdominal approach

Introduction. Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) type IV represents an aortic dilatation from the level of the diaphragmatic hiatus to the iliac arteries branches, including visceral branches of the aorta. In the traditional procedure of TAAA type IV repair, the body is opened using thoractomy and laparotomy in order to provide adequate exposure of the descending thoracic and abdominal aorta for safe aortic reconstruction. Case report. We reported a 71-yearold man with elective reconstruction of the TAAA type IV performed by transabdominal approach. Computed tomography scans angiography revealed a TAAA type IV with diameter of 62 mm in the region of celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery branching, and the largest diameter of 75 mm in the infrarenal aortic level. The patient comorbidity included a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hypertension, therefore he was treated for a prolonged period. In preparation for the planned aortic reconstruction asymptomatic carotid disease (occlusion of the left internal carotid artery and subtotal stenosis of the right internal carotid artery) was diagnosed. Within the same intervention percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stent placement in right internal carotid artery was made. In general, under endotracheal anesthesia and epidural analgesia, with transabdominal approach performed aortic reconstruction with tubular dakron graft 24 mm were, and reimplantation of visceral aortic branches into the graft performed. Postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the postoperative day 17. Control computed tomography scan angiography performed three months after the operation showed vascular state of the patient to be in order. Conclusion. Complete transabdominal approach to TAAA type IV represents an appropriate substitute for thoracoabdominal approach, without compromising safety of the patient. This approach is less traumatic, especially in patients with impaired pulmonary function, because there is no thoracotomy and any complications that could follow this approach

Using vacuum in the treatment of surgical wounds complications

Background/Aim. Using vacuum in medicine has been known from long ago, however, it has not been used for the treatment of wounds. The first experiments in this field were performed by Wagner Fleischmann, University of Ulm, Ulm, West Germany, in 1993. The aim of this study was to present our clinical experience with the treatment of surgical wounds complications in vascular patients by the use of controled vacuum. Method. In a period October 2006 - December 2009 a total of 18 patients with infection and surgical wound dehiscence were treated by the use of vacuum. Vacuum was applied to wounds by placing a polyurethane sponge on them and by fixing a polyurethane foil and a sponge to the surrounding healthy skin so to completely airtight wounds. Over a foil vacuum of - 150 mmHg was applied for a 5-day period, and on the day 6 a foil and a sponge were removed. Results. In all the 18 wounds treated by the use of vacuum secondary wound closing was achieved with no complications and with a significantly shortened time period treatment. Wound infections were healed using this method and only in 2 patients antibiotics were used at the same time. Conclusion. The use of vacuum in the treatment of operative wounds complications is an easy and reliable method contributing significantly to wounds better healing

Early inflammatory response following elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: A comparison between endovascular procedure and conventional, open surgery

Background/Aim. Abdominal aorta aneurysm (AAA) represents a pathological enlargment of infrarenal portion of aorta for over 50% of its lumen. The only treatment of AAA is a surgical reconstruction of the affected segment. Until the late XX century, surgical reconstruction implied explicit, open repair (OR) of AAA, which was accompanied by a significant morbidity and mortality of the treated patients. Development of endovascular repair of (EVAR) AAA, especially in the last decade, offered another possibility of surgical reconstruction of AAA. The preliminary results of world studies show that complications of such a procedure, as well as morbidity and mortality of patients, are significantly lower than with OR of AAA. The aim of this paper was to present results of comparative clinical prospective study of early inflammatory response after reconstruction of AAA between endovascular and open, conventional surgical technique. Methods. A comparative clinical prospective study included 39 patients, electively operated on for AAA within the period of December 2008 - February 2010, divided into two groups. The group I counted 21 (54%) of the patients, 58-87 years old (mean 74.3 years), who had been submited to EVAR by the use of excluder stent graft. The group II consisted of 18 (46%) of the patients, 49-82 (mean 66.8) years, operated on using OR technique. All of the treated patients in both groups had AAA larager than 50 mm. The study did not include patients who have been treated as urgent cases, due to the rupture or with simptomatic AAA. Clinical, biochemical and inflamatory parameters in early postoperative period were analyzed, in direct postoperative course (number of leucocytes, thrombocytes, serum circulating levels of cytokine - interleukine (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10). Parameters were monitored on the zero, first, second, third and seventh postoperative days. The study was approved by the Ethics Commitee of the Military Medical Academy. Results. The study showed a statistically significantly shorter time of treatment in the EVAR group (average 90 min) compared to the OR group (average 136 min). Also, there was a statistically significantly less blood loss in the patients operated on by the use of EVAR surgery (average 60 mL) as compared to the patients treated with OR techinique (average 495 mL), as well as a shorter postoperative hospitalization of patients in the EVAR group (average 4 days) compared to the OR group (average 8 days). The OR group was detected with a statistically significant increase of leucocytes and statistically significant fall of the number of thrombocytes in comparison with the EVAR group in all the investigated terms. A significant concentration rise of IL-2 in the OR group and concentration rise of IL-6 in the EVAR group was shown 24 hours after the procedure, whereas on the second postoperative day there was detected a significant fall of IL-6 in the EVAR group. IL-4 concentration in the OR group was significantly higher as of the third postoperative day in comparison to the EVAR group. There was no significant difference in IL-10 concentration between the groups. Conclusion. The EVAR techinique is a safer and less invasive and less traumatic procedure for patients than the OR of AAA. Following the EVAR, there are less inflammatory reactions in the early postoperative periodas compared to the OR and therefore less possibility of the development of systemic inflammatory respons syndrome in patients treated

War, traffic and iatrogenic injuries of D3 duodenal segment

Background. Injuries of the duodenum at the level of aortomesenteric clamp (segment D3) are with a high incidence of death due to the development of fistula and peritonitis. In three successfully managed cases, we applied the biliary surgery method. Case reports. All three cases were with the injuries of D3 duodenal segment. The first patient suffered from the blast perforation of duodenum at the level of the aortomesenteric clamp which occurred at the 7th day after the injury. The second patient suffered from the duodenal injury caused in a traffic accident. The third patient suffered from an iatrogenic injury at the beginning of D3 duodenal segment inflicted during ureterolithotomy. The described surgical procedure included basically the suture to narrow the site of the injury, then lateroterminal anastomosis with the Roux-en-Y jejunal flexure and, finally, the placement of a silicone prosthesis starting from the duodenum through the site of injury and the Roux-en-Y out. Octreotide and the total parenteral nutrition were administered to the patients postoperatively. Conclusion. The use of the releasing silicone prosthesis in all three patients provided the repair of the site of the injury with anastomosed Reux-en-Y jejunum

External transluminal drainage of the pancreatic duct due to fistula caused by postbioptic pancreatic necrosis

Background. Pancreatic fistulas are not frequent after the needle biopsy of the pancreatic head. The aim was to present a patient with this type of fistula who was managed using the surgical method never previously applied in our surgical practice. Case report. In our patient, pancreatic fistula appeared at the site of the needle biopsies due to the development of the necrosis. Since the conservative treatment with octreotide and the total parenteral nutrition were without result, we turned to the surgical treatment by placing a silicone prosthesis along the pancreatic duct into the duodenum, next through the Roux-en-Y flexure to provide the external drainage of a pancreatic juice. Postoperatively, applying the conservative treatment, pancreatic fistula disappeared, and a silicone prosthesis was removed three weeks later. Conclusion. The described surgical procedure can be successful in managing fistulas which occur after the pancreatic necrosis

Neurolytic blockade of the obturator nerve in the treatment of idiopatic obturator neuralgia

Introduction. Idiopathic obturator neuralgia is a rare chronic pain condition. It consists of pain radiating from the obturator nerve territory to the inner thigh. However, the symptomatic obturator neuralgia is commonly caused by the obturator canal bowel hernia that causes painful compressive neuropathy in more than 85% of the cases. Case report. A 61-year-old female who underwent right femoral amputation due to the occlusion of the aortofemoral vascular graft, complained of the pain characterized by its localization in the inguinal region and anterointernal side of the right inner thigh. Computer tomography and MRI findings excluded obturator canal herniation or lumbar plexopathy. A diagnosis of the obturator neuralgia was confirmed by an analgesic block of the obturator nerve. Thereafter, the neurolitic blockade of the right obturator nerve was done. The complete pain relief was achieved. Pain relief was complete in three-month follow-up period. Conclusion. Neurolitic blockade is an efficacious method in treating chronic pain caused by the idiopathic obturator neuralgia

Elective visceral hybrid repair of type III thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm

Introduction. According to the classification given by Crawford et al. type III thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) is dilatation of the aorta from the level of the rib 6 to the separation of the aorta below the renal arteries, capturing all the visceral branch of aorta. Visceral hybrid reconstruction of TAAA is a procedure developed in recent years in the world, which involves a combination of conventional, open and endovascular aortic reconstruction surgery at the level of separation of the left subclavian artery to the level of visceral branches of aorta. Case report. We presented a 75-years-old man, with elective visceral hybrid reconstruction of type III TAAA. Computerized scanning (CT) angiography of the patient showed type III TAAA with the maximum transverse diameter of aneurysm of 92 mm. Aneurysm started at the level of the sixth rib, and the end of the aneurysm was 1 cm distal to the level of renal arteries. Aneurysm compressed the esophagus, causing the patient difficulty in swallowing act, especially solid food, and frequent back pain. From the other comorbidity, the patient had been treated for a long time, due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hypertension. In general endotracheal anesthesia with epidural analgesia, the patient underwent visceral hybrid reconstruction of TAAA, which combines classic, open vascular surgery and endovascular procedures. Classic vascular surgery is visceral reconstruction using by-pass procedure from the distal, normal aorta to all visceral branches: celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery and both renal arteries, with ligature of all arteries very close to the aorta. After that, by synchronous endovascular technique a complete aneurysmal exclusion of thoracoabdominal aneurysm with thoracic stent-graft was performed. The postoperative course was conducted properly and the patient left the Clinic for Vascular Surgery on postoperative day 21. Control CT, performed 3 months after the surgery showed that the patient's vascular status was uneventful with functional visceral by-pass and with good position of a stent-graft without a significant endoleak. Conclusion. Visceral hybrid reconstruction represents a complementary surgical technique to that with open reconstruction of TAAA. This approach is far less traumatic to a patient, and is especially important in patients with lot of comorbidities, because there is no need for thoracotomy, and ischemicreperfusion injury of the body is reduced to a minimum

Morbidity and mortality in the early postoperative course following elective reconstruction of abdominal aorta aneurysm using endovascular and open surgical techniques

Backgroud/Aim. Surgical treatment is the only method of abdominal aorta aneurysm (AAA) treatment. According to data of the available literature, elective open, ie conservative, reconstruction (OR) is followed by 3%-5% mortality, as well as by numerous comorbide conditions inside the early postoperative course (the first 30 days after the surgery) that occur in 20%-30% of the operated on. The aim of the study was to present preliminar results of a comparative clinical retrospective study of early postoperative morbidity and mortality in AAA reconstruction using endovascular (EVAR) and open surgical techniques. Method. This comparative clinical retrospective study included 59 patients, electively operated on for AAA within the period January 2008 - March 2009, divided into two groups. The group I counted 29 (49%) of the patients who had been submitted to EVAR by the use of Excluder stent. The group II consisted of 30 (51%) of the patients operated on using OR. All of the patients were males, 50-87 years old (mean 67.6 year in the group I, and 54-86 years (mean 68.3 years) in the group II. All tha patients had AAA larger than 50 mm, in the group I 50-105 mm (mean 68 mm), and in the group II 50-84 mm (mean 65 mm). Preoperative comorbide conditions of any patients were similar (coronary disease, obstructive lung disease, chronical renal insufficiency). Patients operated on as emergency cases due to rupture or due to symptomatic aneurysm (threthening rupture) were excluded. The analysed parameters were the duration of surgical operation, intraoperative and operative blood substitution, postoperative morbidity, the duration of postoperative hospitalization, and hospital mortality. Results. The obtained results showed a statistically significantly shorter time taken by EVAR surgery (average 95 min, ranging 70-180 min) as compared to OR surgery (average 167 min, ranging 90-300 min). They also showed statistically significantly less blood loss in the patients operated on by the use of EVAR surgery (average blood compensation 130 mL, ranging 0-1050 mL) as compared to OR surgery (average blood compensation 570 mL, ranging 0-2.000 mL). Also, general complications as wound infection, no restoration of intestines peristalsis, febrility, proteinic and electolytic disbalance, lung and heart decompensation were statistically significantly less following EVAR than OR surgery. Postoperative hospitalization was also statistically significantly shorter after EVAR than after OR surgery (average 4.2 days, ranging 3-7 days; 10.6 days, ranging 8-35 days, respectively). Finally, within this 13- month study there was no mortality following EVAR surgery, while two patients died after OR surgery. Conclusion. In the patients with elective AAA reconstruction endovascular reconstruction is shown to be far more safer and minimally invasive procedure than open conventional aorta reconstruction

Living unrelated donor kidney transplantation: A fourteen-year experience

Background. In countries without a national organization for retrieval and distribution of organs of the deceased donors, problem of organ shortage is still not resolved. In order to increase the number of kidney transplantations we started with the program of living unrelated - spousal donors. The aim of this study was to compare treatment outcome and renal graft function in patients receiving the graft from spousal and those receiving ghe graft from living related donors. Method. We retrospectively identified 14 patients who received renal allograft from spousal donors between 1996 and 2009 (group I). The control group consisted of 14 patients who got graft from related donor retrieved from the database and matched than with respect to sex, age, kidney disease, immunological and viral pretransplant status, the initial method of the end stage renal disease treatment and ABO compatibility. In the follow-up period of 41 ± 38 months we recorded immunosuppressive therapy, surgical complications, episodes of acute rejection, CMV infection and graft function, assessed by serum creatinine levels at the beginning and in the end of the follow-up period. All patients had pretransplant negative cross-match. In ABO incompatible patients pretransplant isoagglutinine titer was zero. Results. The patients with a spousal donor had worse HLA matching. There were no significant differences between the groups in surgical, infective, immunological complications and graft function. Two patients from the group I returned to hemodialysis after 82 and 22 months due to serious comorbidities. Conclusion. In spite of the worse HLA matching, graft survival and function of renal grafts from spousal donors were as good as those retrieved from related donors