Aneurysm Pulsatility After Endovascular Exclusion - An Experimental Study Using Human Aortic Aneurysms

OBJECTIVE: To measure the pulsatility of human aneurysms before and after complete exclusion with an endograft. METHOD: Five aortic aneurysms obtained during necropsy were submitted to pulsatile perfusion before and after implantation of a bifurcated endograft. The specimens were contained in a closed chamber filled with saline solution. A vertical tube attached to the chamber was used to measure volume dislocation in each systole. Mural thrombus was kept intact, and the space around the device was filled with human blood. After each experiment, the aneurysm was opened to check for the correct positioning and attachment of the device. RESULTS: The level of the saline column oscillated during pulsation in each case, with respective amplitudes of 17, 16, 13, 7, and 25 cm before the endograft insertion. After the insertion, the amplitudes dropped to 13, 12, 9, 3.5, and 23 cm, respectively. The differences were not significant. During the post-experimental examination, all devices were found to be in position and well attached to the neck and iliacs. No endoleak was detected during perfusion or by visual inspection. CONCLUSION: Pulsation of an endograft is transmitted to the aneurysm wall even in the absence of endoleak, and should not be interpreted as procedural failure

Aortoesophageal fistula caused by aneurysm of the thoracic aorta: Successful surgical treatment, case report, and literature review

AbstractAortoesophageal fistula induced by atherosclerotic thoracic aortic aneurysm is rare, but is usually a fatal disorder, with few survivors reported. We report the case of a 72-year-old man with aortoesophageal fistula successfully treated in a two-stage operation. In the first stage, we performed resection and replacement of the aortic aneurysm with a prosthetic graft in situ, esophagectomy, cervical esophagostomy, and jejunostomy. After the patient recovered well postoperatively, a transmediastinal retrosternal interposition of the stomach was performed, with esophagogastroanastomosis in the cervical area, to re-establish the gastrointestinal tract. We include a discussion of the causes, diagnostic approach, management of the aorta and esophagus, and review of the literature. (J Vasc Surg 1999;30:1150-7.

Aortic aneurysm and diverticulum of Kommerell: a dreadful concomitance

First described in 1936, the diverticulum of Kommerell (DOK) is a dilatation of the proximal segment of an aberrant subclavian artery. Appearing more frequently in the left-sided aortic arch, the aberrant right subclavian artery passes behind the esophagus toward the right arm, causing symptoms in the minority of cases. Diagnosis is generally incidental with this pattern. When symptomatic, dysphagia, respiratory symptoms, hoarseness, chest pain, and upper limb ischemia are the most common complaints. Although debatable, the origin of DOK is accepted as being degenerative or congenital. The degenerative condition is normally associated with atherosclerosis and occurs more frequently after the age of 50 years with no gender predominance. Complications may be life threatening and are more commonly related to the diverticulum aneurysm or when associated with aortic diseases such as aneurysms or dissection. The authors present a case of a 67-year-old male with a history of acute chest pain, neurological disturbances, and hypertensive crisis. The diagnostic workup revealed an aortic arch aneurysm with intramural hematoma and a diverticulum aneurysm of Kommerell. Treatment was conservative at first. The patient presented a satisfactory outcome and was referred to an outpatient clinic for follow up and further therapeutic consolidation

Evolução do saco aneurismático após a exclusão cirúrgica dos aneurismas de artéria poplítea

Popliteal artery aneurysms are frequent and may lead to thromboembolic events and limb loss. PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical and ultrasonographic follow-up of patients who underwent exclusion of a popliteal artery aneurysm using the technique proposed by Edwards. METHODS: Data of all patients who underwent surgery to repair a popliteal artery aneurysm at Hospital das Clinicas, the São Paulo University Medical School between 1996 and 2004 were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were repair with aneurysm exclusion and bypass using the technique proposed by Edwards, as well as the existence of preoperative and postoperative measurements of the aneurysmal sac. RESULTS: Data of 16 patients who underwent 20 procedures for popliteal artery aneurysm exclusion and bypass were available to analysis. The preoperative diameter of the popliteal artery aneurysms ranged from 1.3 cm to 6.1 cm (mean = 3.1 cm). Patients underwent duplex ultrasound scanning 1 month to 7 years after surgical repair. Follow-up of the 20 cases revealed that 10 aneurysms exhibited decreased mean transverse diameters, ranging from 0.2 to 2.3 cm, while 7 had increased in diameter, ranging 0.3 to 3.3 cm, and 3 remained unchanged. Flow was observed only in 5 outo f the 20 procedures, 3 of which (60%) had increased diameters. CONCLUSION: Although exclusion is a widely accepted procedure for the repair of popliteal artery aneurysms, data in the literature and the results of this study, which did not include cases of rupture or compression, suggest that strict follow-up of patients who undergo aneurysm exclusion is necessary.Os aneurismas da artéria poplítea são freqüentes e estão associados a eventos trombo-embólicos que podem acarretar isquemia grave com risco de perda da extremidade inferior acometida. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a evolução clínica dos pacientes e ultra-sonográfica dos aneurismas de artéria poplítea excluídos pela técnica de Edwards. MÉTODO: Análise retrospectiva dos pacientes com diagnóstico de aneurisma da artéria poplítea operados no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, no período compreendido entre os anos de 1996 a 2004. Foram incluídos os pacientes submetidos à exclusão do aneurisma pela técnica de Edwards e que possuíam diâmetro transverso máximo do aneurisma mensurado no período pré e pós-operatório. RESULTADOS: Dezesseis pacientes foram submetidos a correção cirúrgica de 20 aneurismas. O diâmetro do aneurisma no período pré-operatório variou entre 1,3 cm a 6,1 cm (média 3,1cm). O controle ultrasonográfico foi realizado em intervalo de 1 mês a 7 anos do procedimento cirúrgico. Houve diminuição do diâmetro do aneurisma de artéria poplítea em 10/20 extremidades (variação de 0,2 cm a 2,3 cm), aumento em 7/20 (variação de 0,3 cm a 3,3 cm) e estabilidade em 3/20. Observou-se a ocorrência de fluxo no saco aneurismático em 5 dentre os 20 procedimentos. Destes, três apresentaram crescimento do mesmo (60% dos casos com fluxo). CONCLUSÃO: Esta amostra de pacientes, sem rotura ou sinais e sintomas de compressão, associada à análise da literatura, demonstra que o seguimento estreito do aneurisma excluído é necessário

Open and endovascular repair of juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms: a systematic review

This systematic review focuses on the 30-day mortality associated with open surgery and fenestrated endografts for short-necked

Ferimentos arteriais associados a fraturas e luxações

Fifty one patients with arterial injuries associated with fractures and dislocations operated from 1984 January to 1986 June are review. It is emphasized the aspects of the precocius diagnosis of the arterial injuries, use of arteriography and realization of fasciotomy in the same operation, in order to obtain better results. It is showed too, the preference by the bypase of saphenous vein as the best arterial reconstruction, and the alternatives for the bone fixation. It hasbeen obtained in this series a preservation of extremity reate of 84,3%, and an amputation rate of 15,6%. The mortalitywas not implicated with the vascular procedures.Cinqüenta e um pacientes com ferimentos arteriais associados a fraturas e luxações, operados de janeiro de 1984 a junho de 1986 são revistos. São realçados os aspectos relativos ao diagnóstico precoce das lesões arteriais, uso de arteriografia e realização de fasciotomia no próprio ato cirúrgico, com o que se obtém uma melhora nos resultados. É evidenciada também a preferência pelo enxerto de veia safena como melhor (recor—- -~ jxaçãoóssea. Obtev (oxoxoxoxo)15,6%. A mortalidade não esteve relacionada com os procedimentos vasculares

Cysteine and glycine-rich protein 3 (Crp3) as a critical regulator of elastolysis, inflammation, and smooth muscle cell apoptosis in abdominal aortic aneurysm development

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening vascular disease for which surgical or endovascular repair are the only currently available therapeutic strategies. The development of AAA involves the breakdown of elastic fibers (elastolysis), infiltration of inflammatory cells, and apoptosis of smooth muscle cells (SMCs). However, the specific regulators governing these responses remain unknown. We previously demonstrated that Cysteine and glycine-rich protein 3 (Crp3) sensitizes SMCs to apoptosis induced by stretching. Building upon this finding, we aimed to investigate the influence of Crp3 on elastolysis and apoptosis during AAA development. Using the elastase-CaCl2 rat model, we observed an increase in Crp3 expression, aortic diameter, and a reduction in wall thickness in wild type rats. In contrast, Crp3−/− rats exhibited a decreased incidence of AAA, with minimal or no changes in aortic diameter and thickness. Histopathological analysis revealed the absence of SMC apoptosis and degradation of elastic fibers in Crp3−/− rats, accompanied by reduced inflammation and diminished proteolytic capacity in Crp3−/− SMCs and bone marrow-derived macrophages. Collectively, our findings provide evidence that Crp3 plays a crucial role in AAA development by modulating elastolysis, inflammation, and SMC apoptosis. These results underscore the potential significance of Crp3 in the context of AAA progression and offer new insights into therapeutic targets for this disease