Role of cardiac evaluation before thoracic endovascular aortic repair

Anesthetic Considerations for Endovascular Repair of the Thoracic Aorta

Thoracic aorta pathologies, especially those of the ascending aorta and aortic arch, were traditionally approached via open surgical repair. This carries risk of ischemic end-organ damage and other complications. Endovascular repair of ascending aorta and aortic arch pathologies is becoming more successful and widespread, thereby posing numerous challenges to the anesthesiologist. This article reviews the anesthesia-pertinent pathophysiology, repair techniques, preoperative evaluation, intraoperative management, and postoperative care of patients presenting for endovascular repair of thoracic aorta pathologies.

How Would I Treat My Own Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Perioperative Considerations From the Anesthesiologist Perspective

A thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) can be potentially life-threatening due to its associated risk of rupture. Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair, performed as endovascular repair and/or open surgery, is the recommended therapy of choice. Hemodynamic instability, severe blood loss, and spinal cord or cerebral ischemia are some potential hazards the perioperative team has to face during these procedures. Therefore, preoperative risk assessment and intraoperative anesthesia management addressing these potential hazards are essential to improving patients' outcomes. Based on a presented index case, an overview focusing on anesthetic measures to identify perioperatively and manage these risks in TAAA repair is provided.

Preoperative Assessment of Patients with Vascular Disease

Patients with vascular disease represent a particularly high-risk surgical population. Many of the comorbidities that contribute to their vascular presentation impact a number of vascular beds or other organ systems. As a result, these patients have the highest rates of cardiac and pulmonary complications among patients with noncardiac surgery. The vascular surgeon is in a unique position to help evaluate and treat many of these conditions to not only reduce the perioperative risk but also to improve the patient's overall health. This article presents a comprehensive review of the common preoperative evaluations that have a high impact on patients with vascular disease.

Echocardiographic Changes in Cardiac Function After Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Evidence suggests thoracic stent grafts increase the aortic stiffness postimplantation. Our objective was to examine the effect of thoracic aortic stenting on heart function, as demonstrated with echocardiography.

METHODS

We considered nonrandomized studies examining echocardiographic parameters (left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricle end-diastolic (LVED) and end-systolic diameter (LVESD), posterior wall thickness (LVPWT), interventricular septal thickness (IVST), mass, and mass index) pre and poststent graft implantation in patients with thoracic aortic diseases (aneurysm, dissection, and blunt injury). MEDLINE and CENTRAL were searched (up to March 2021) for eligible studies. The National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment Tool was used for risk of bias assessment. Echocardiographic data pre and postimplantation were compared using the pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

Four studies were included in the meta-analysis. Three of the studies were judged to be "good" quality and one "fair". Nonsignificant differences pre and postimplantation were found for ejection fraction (SMD = -0.53, 95% CI = -1.8 to 0.728, P = 0.406), IVST (SMD = -0.79, 95%, CI = -3.25 to 1.66, P = 0.52), EDD (SMD = -0.10, 95% CI = -0.48 to 0.28, P = 0.60), ESD (SMD = -0.66, 95% CI = -2.35 to 1.02, P = 0.44), and PWT (SMD = -2.20, 95% CI = -5.89 to 1.47, P = 0.24). A trend toward an increase in mass postimplantation was found (SMD = 0.28, 95%, CI = -0.03 to 0.60, P = 0.08), but there was no significant difference in mass index (SMD = 0, 95%, CI = -0.195 to 0.195, P = 1).

CONCLUSIONS

Thoracic aortic stenting does not appear to significantly impact cardiac physiology as indicated by echocardiographic parameters.

Anesthetic Management for Endovascular Repair of Thoracic and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Aortic aneurysms-both abdominal and thoracic-are a significant cause of death and disability in the United States. Endovascular aneurysm repair has since become the preferred operative treatment of most thoracic and abdominal aneurysms because of a lower rate of complications and better outcomes compared with the open approach. Patients who present for endovascular aneurysm repair often have comorbid conditions related to their aortic pathology. These conditions should be evaluated and optimized before the procedure.

Current state of hybrid solutions for aortic arch aneurysms

Since its inception in the early 2000s, hybrid arch repair (HAR) has evolved from a novel approach to a well-established treatment modality for aortic arch pathology in appropriately selected patients. HAR procedures have been proposed as a means to circumvent the perioperative morbidity and mortality associated with open total arch replacement. These procedures, all of which remain off-label applications of approved endograft technology, combine more conventional open surgical techniques, to create endograft landing zones, with thoracic endovascular aortic repair to exclude the aortic pathology from the circulation. The current classification system for HAR was proposed in 2013 and consists of three types, designated by the Roman numerals I, II and III. The current system has become outdated, however, with the advent of newer technologies, and herein we propose a new, updated classification system that is more encompassing with regards to the broad array of options available to treat aortic arch disease. Likewise, an institutional algorithm to guide patient and operative selection for HAR is presented. Patients are considered for HAR if they have either high-risk comorbidities or high-risk anatomy, with an important feature of the algorithm being that any decisions about repair strategy should be made by a surgical team with expertise in both open and endovascular techniques. Despite being performed for nearly two decades, the evidence around HAR consists mainly of single center series (level B-C evidence) with no randomized controlled trials. The data suggest HAR to be a safe alternative to open repair with acceptable short and mid-term results. As we as aortic surgeons continue to move towards less invasive approaches, both conventional open and hybrid techniques will remain important tools in the toolbox for arch repair, although the advent of multi-branched arch endografts will almost certainly reduce the extent of open or hybrid repair in many patients and eliminate it altogether in others.

Predictors and Outcomes of Cardiac Events following Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair in Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection

BACKGROUND

 Cardiac events following thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) have been associated with significant morbidity and mortality. However, predictors of post-TEVAR cardiac events in descending thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection are poorly understood.

METHODS

 A retrospective analysis of completed TEVAR procedures performed from 2010 to 2016 was conducted using the ACS-NSQIP (American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program) participant user file database. Adult patients (≥18 years) who underwent TEVAR for descending thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection were identified and 30-day outcomes were examined. An initial univariate analysis was performed to determine associations between all patient variables and cardiac events, defined as myocardial infarction or cardiac arrest that occurred ≤30 days of surgery. Multivariate logistic regression was subsequently performed to identify independent risk factors for cardiac events following TEVAR.

RESULTS

 The study identified 150 out of 2,905 (5.2%) patients who underwent TEVAR for descending thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection who developed cardiac events. No significant difference in incidence of cardiac events was noted among patients presenting with aortic aneurysm or dissection (p = 0.339). The overall 30-day mortality rate for all patients was 9.1%. Independent preoperative predictors of post-TEVAR cardiac events included emergency procedure (odds ratio [OR] 2.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9-4.1, p < 0.01); American Society of Anesthesiologists score >3 (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.1-2.6, p = 0.01), ventilator dependence (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.3-4.2, p < 0.01), renal failure (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.50-4.3, p < 0.01), blood transfusion (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.1-3.2, p = 0.03), and preoperative leukocytosis (OR 2.45, 1.6-3.8, p < 0.01). After TEVAR, unplanned reintubation (OR 5.52, 95% CI 3.5-8.8, p < 0.01), prolonged mechanical ventilation (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.2-3.2, p = 0.011), and postoperative blood transfusion (OR 4.02, 95% CI 2.70-6.0, p < 0.01) were independent predictors of cardiac events. Cardiac events greatly increased mortality (60.7 vs. 5.5%), total length of hospital stay (13.2 ± 14.7 days vs. 8.3 ± 9.3 days), and readmission rates (19.3 vs. 8.2%, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

 Cardiac events following TEVAR are associated with significant mortality. Patients with these risk factors should be appropriately monitored to improve outcomes.

Anesthetic Management for Endovascular Repair of the Thoracic Aorta

Thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) is fast becoming the primary treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms, thoracic aortic dissections, acute aortic injuries, and other conditions affecting the thoracic aorta. Patients scheduled for TEVAR tend to have a host of comorbid conditions, including coronary artery disease, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Intraoperative management should optimize end-organ perfusion, facilitate neuromonitoring, and adjust hemodynamic management. Complications include spinal cord injury, peripheral vascular injury, contrast-induced nephropathy, postimplantation syndrome, and endoleaks. Patients who undergo TEVAR require care in a postoperative environment where these complications can be rapidly detected and aggressively treated.

Intensive Care Management of Thoracic Aortic Surgical Patients, Including Thoracic and Infradiaphragmatic Endovascular Repair (EVAR/TEVAR)

The patient with thoracic aortic disease can present for open or endovascular repair. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has emerged as a minimally invasive option for a multitude of aortic pathology, including dissections, aneurysms, traumatic injuries, and ulcers. Postoperative management of these patients depends on the extent of procedure, whether it was open or endovascular, and, finally, on the preoperative comorbidities present. While procedural success has catapulted TEVAR to popularity, midterm results have been mixed. Additionally, periprocedural complications such as paraplegia and renal failure remain a significant morbidity in these patients.