Crushing of a bridging stent during follow-up of endovascular branched aortic arch repair:A novel mode of failure

A 68-year-old man developed aneurysmal degeneration of the aortic arch and proximal descending aorta after an open ascending graft for a type A aortic dissection. A three-branched endovascular aortic arch repair was performed with patency of all branches despite some degree of initial misalignment of the branches in relation to the target vessels. At 6 months postoperatively, an asymptomatic partial crushing of the left common carotid bridging grafts was observed on computed tomography angiography. This was treated by reinforcing the branch with a balloon-expandable endograft. The postoperative course was uneventful but a computed tomography angiography after 1 month showed recurrent asymptomatic compression. A left carotid-subclavian bypass was eventually performed. We have reported a new failure mode of an inner branch arch repair of residual type A chronic dissection. (J Vasc Surg Cases Innov Tech 2022;8:646-50.

The Use of Iliac Branched Devices in the Acute Endovascular Repair of Ruptured Aortoiliac AneurysmsThe Use of Iliac Branched Devices in the Acute Endovascular Repair of Ruptured Aortoiliac Aneurysms

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and midterm outcomes of iliac branch devices (IBDs) to preserve the internal iliac artery perfusion in emergent endovascular repair of ruptured aorto-iliac aneurysms.METHODS: Between December 2012 and July 2017, a total of 8 IBDs were implanted in 6 patients (the median age 65 years; all men) in a single tertiary referral center. The indication for IBD implantation was a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm with a concomitant common iliac artery aneurysm (n = 4) or isolated CIA aneurysms (n = 2). The main outcome measures were technical and clinical success. The secondary outcomes were primary and primary assisted patency, the occurrence of type I/III endoleaks, and reinterventions.RESULTS: All patients were hemodynamically stable during the procedures, which were performed under local anesthesia. Technical success was achieved in all cases (the median total procedure time of 188 min and the median IBD procedure time of 28 min). The median follow-up was 34 months (interquartile range 19-78). There were no deaths during the follow-up and no major complications unrelated to the IBD. Two (25%) secondary interventions were performed for IBD occlusion in patients with bilateral IBDs. The other reintervention was a type II endoleak embolization in 1 of these 2 patients. The freedom from reintervention estimate was 75% through 2 years. The overall primary assisted patency was 100% through 3 years.CONCLUSIONS: The use of IBDs in the acute setting is feasible to exclude ruptured aortoiliac aneurysms while maintaining pelvic circulation. The secondary intervention rate is considerable; however, the midterm assisted primary patency rates are promising. Further studies are needed to guide patient selection and to evaluate longer term outcomes

The effect of temperature on growth and competition between Sphagnum species

Peat bogs play a large role in the global sequestration of C, and are often dominated by different Sphagnum species. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how Sphagnum vegetation in peat bogs will respond to global warming. We performed a greenhouse experiment to study the effect of four temperature treatments (11.2, 14.7, 18.0 and 21.4°C) on the growth of four Sphagnum species: S. fuscum and S. balticum from a site in northern Sweden and S. magellanicum and S. cuspidatum from a site in southern Sweden. In addition, three combinations of these species were made to study the effect of temperature on competition. We found that all species increased their height increment and biomass production with an increase in temperature, while bulk densities were lower at higher temperatures. The hollow species S. cuspidatum was the least responsive species, whereas the hummock species S. fuscum increased biomass production 13-fold from the lowest to the highest temperature treatment in monocultures. Nutrient concentrations were higher at higher temperatures, especially N concentrations of S. fuscum and S. balticum increased compared to field values. Competition between S. cuspidatum and S. magellanicum was not influenced by temperature. The mixtures of S. balticum with S. fuscum and S. balticum with S. magellanicum showed that S. balticum was the stronger competitor, but it lost competitive advantage in the highest temperature treatment. These findings suggest that species abundances will shift in response to global warming, particularly at northern sites where hollow species will lose competitive strength relative to hummock species and southern species

Feasibility of a branched stent-graft in common iliac artery aneurysms.

Purpose: To evaluate the short-term feasibility, efficacy, and safety of a modular bifurcated stent-graft with an internal iliac artery (IIA) side branch for endovascular repair of aortoiliac aneurysms. Methods: Between 2002 and 2005, 10 male patients (median age 75 years, range 59–83) were treated with a bifurcated stent-graft that included a unilateral side branch for the IIA. The median diameters of the abdominal aortic and common iliac artery (CIA) aneurysms were 56 mm (range 33–80) and 40 mm (range 27–60), respectively. Four patients were treated mainly for the CIA aneurysm. Postoperative endoleaks, patency rate, and vessel morphology were determined with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). Results: All endografts were implanted in the desired position. One IIA occluded intraoperatively, and 1 external iliac artery occlusion was noted 6 months postoperatively; both occlusions were asymptomatic and remain untreated. Three graft-related endoleaks were treated with implantation of adjunctive stent-grafts (2 intraoperative and 1 late). Median follow-up by CT was 2 months (1 week to 32 months). One patient died of myocardial infarction 13 days postoperatively; the stent-graft was patent at autopsy. Conclusion: Stent-grafts with an IIA side branch offer an opportunity to repair aortoiliac aneurysms without sacrificing the IIA. Implantation of the IIA branch is more complex than routine endovascular aneurysm repair and may have contributed to a periprocedural cardiac death. More patients and longer follow-up are needed to verify these data

Juxtarenal endovascular therapy with fenestrated and branched stent grafts after previous infrarenal repair

Background: The treatment strategy for proximal aortic disease or type I endoleak after previous infrarenal repair has traditionally been open surgery. As endovascular treatment options with fenestrated and branched stent grafts increasingly rival open surgery for juxtarenal and pararenal aortic aneurysms, secondary proximal repair may similarly be performed endovascularly. Fenestrated stent grafts are individually tailored to each patient, whereas a more readily available “off-the-shelf” branched stent graft is often suitable in more urgent settings. Methods: All patients who had been reoperated on with a proximal fenestrated or branched cuff after previous infrarenal endovascular or open repair from two tertiary referral centers between 2002 and 2015 were included in the analysis. Patients were retrospectively enrolled in a digital database. Data were collected from chart review and digital imaging. Results: There were 43 patients, 37 (86%) male and six (14%) female, who were treated. The indications for proximal endovascular repair were type I endoleak (58%), proximal aneurysm formation (30%), and stent graft migration (12%). Median follow-up time was 33 months (range, 3-120 months); 34 patients (79%) received a fenestrated cuff, and branched stent grafts were used in 8 (19%) cases. The majority of grafts had three (47%) or four (49%) fenestrations or branches. Technical success was accomplished in 93% of cases. In two cases, the celiac trunk occluded; in one case, the hepatic artery was overstented, and a renal artery could not be cannulated in one case. Median hospital stay was 5 days (range, 2-57 days). The 30-day mortality was 0%, and 1-year mortality was 5%. One patient died of an aneurysm-related cause during the study period. Conclusions: An endovascular approach with fenestrated or branched stent grafts for treatment of proximal endoleak, proximal aneurysm formation, or pseudoaneurysms after previous infrarenal repair seems to be a valid alternative to open surgery

Malperfusions in Acute Type B Aortic Dissection—Predictors of Outcomes

Background: Acute type B aortic dissection (AoD) with malperfusion is a rare and complex disease. In this specific setting, invasive treatment is generally required to improve aortic branch vessel flow. Thoracic aorta stent grafting (TEVAR) of the proximal descending thoracic aorta to cover/exclude the proximal intimal entry tear would promote resolution of the dynamic component (the most prevalent) of the malperfusion conflict by redirecting the flow within the true lumen. The aim was to study outcomes of patients undergoing TEVAR for acute (<14 days) type B AoD complicated with malperfusion and to depict any preoperative and intraoperative predictors that could affect the prognosis of those patients. Methods: From March 2005 to January 2016, all patients treated with TEVAR for acute type B AoD with malperfusion in 2 European high-volume aortic centers were retrospectively studied. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative details were collected. Preoperative computed tomography angiogram was reanalyzed on a dedicated 3D workstation (Aquarius iNtuition Viewer, TeraRecon). Thirty-day malperfusion-related complication and mortality rates were determined. Logistic regression model was used to assess preoperative and intraoperative factors affecting postoperative outcomes; in particular, details on the mechanisms of malperfusion and organ(s) involved were entered into the model and tested. Results: A total of 41 patients (60 years old [interquartile range (IQR): 51–68.5]; 78% men) have been included in the analysis. Patients were mostly (68.3%) affected by only 1 malperfusion syndrome, with renal ischemia being the most frequent (53.6%). The median length of aortic coverage was 197 mm (IQR: 157–209). Additional visceral/renal/iliac stentings were performed after stent graft implantation for 25 branches in 17 patients (41%). The 30-day mortality rate was 17.1%. All but 2 early deaths were related to malperfusion. The number of malperfusion syndromes was the only independent factor associated to increasing 30-day malperfusion-related complications or deaths (3 vs 1, HR = 30.3 [P = 0.001]; 3 vs 2, HR = 9.9 [P = 0.004]). Conclusions: Prognosis of patients with acute type B AoD complicated initially with malperfusion syndrome(s) is severe, especially if several territories are ischemic. Early identification of those complications can be lifesaving but still lacks hard criteria

Outcome of Radical Surgical Treatment of Abdominal Aortic Graft and Endograft Infections Comparing Extra-anatomic Bypass with In Situ Reconstruction : A Nationwide Multicentre Study

Objective: Abdominal aortic graft and endograft infection (AGI) is primarily treated by resection of the infected graft and restoration of distal perfusion through extra-anatomic bypass (EAB) or in situ reconstruction/repair (ISR). The aim of this study was to compare these surgical strategies in a nationwide multicentre retrospective cohort study. Methods: The Swedish Vascular Registry (Swedvasc) was used to identify surgically treated abdominal AGIs in Sweden between January 1995 andMay 2017. The primary aimwas to compare short and long termsurvival, as well as complications for EAB and ISR. Results: Some 126 radically surgically treated AGI patients were identified - 102 graft infections and 24 endograft infections - treated by EAB: 71 and ISR: 55 (23 neo-aorto-iliac systems, NAISs). No differences in early 30 day (EAB 81.7% vs. ISR 76.4%, p = .46), or long term five year survival (48.2% vs. 49.9%, p = .87) were identified. There was no survival difference comparing NAIS to other ISR strategies. The frequency of recurrent graft infection during follow up was similar: EAB 20.3% vs. ISR 17.0% (p = .56). Survival and re-infection rates of the new conduit did not differ between NAIS and other ISR strategies. Age &amp;gt;= 75 years (odds ratio [OR] 4.0, confidence interval [CI] 1.1 - 14.8), coronary artery disease (OR 4.2, CI 1.2 - 15.1) and post-operative circulatory complications (OR 5.2, CI 1.2 - 22.5) were associated with early death. Prolonged antimicrobial therapy (&amp;gt; 3 months) was associated with reduced long term mortality (HR 0.3, CI 0.1 - 0.9). Conclusion: In this nationwide multicentre study comparing outcomes of radically treated AGI, no differences in survival or re-infection rate could be identified comparing EAB and ISR