Comparison of single- and multistage strategies during fenestrated-branched endovascular aortic repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms

Safety and learning curve of percutaneous axillary artery access for complex endovascular aortic procedures

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous axillary artery access is increasingly used for large-bore access during interventional vascular and cardiac procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and learning curve of percutaneous axillary artery access in patients undergoing complex endovascular aortic repair (fenestrated and branched endovascular aneurysm repair [FBEVAR]) requiring large-bore upper extremity access and to discuss best practices for technique and complication management.

METHODS

One-hundred forty-six patients undergoing large-bore percutaneous axillary artery access during FBEVAR in a prospective, nonrandomized, Investigational Device Exemption study between September 2017 and January 2023 were analyzed. Ultrasound guidance and micropuncture were used to access the second portion of the axillary artery and 2 Perclose Proglide or Prostyle devices (Abbott Vascular) were predeployed before the insertion of the large-bore sheath. Completion angiography was performed in all patients to verify hemostatic closure. Axillary artery patency was also assessed on follow-up computed tomography angiography. Patient-related, procedural, and postoperative variables were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

One-hundred forty-five patients underwent successful percutaneous axillary artery access; 1 patient failed axillary access and alternative access was established. The left axillary artery was accessed in 115 patients (79%), and the right axillary artery was accessed in 30 patients (21%). The largest profile sheath was 14 F in 4 patients (2.8%), 12F in 133 patients (91.7%), and 8F in 8 patients (5.5%). Ten patients (6.9%) required covered stent placement (Viabahn, W. L. Gore & Associates) for failure to achieve hemostasis; there were no conversions to open surgical repair. Additional adverse events included transient upper extremity weakness in two patients (1.3%) and transient upper extremity paresthesias in two patients (1.3%). Three patients (2%) suffered postoperative strokes, including one unrelated hemorrhagic stroke and two possibly access-related embolic strokes. On follow-up, axillary artery patency was 100%. There was a trend toward decreased closure failure over time, with seven patients (10%) in the early cohort and three (4%) in the late cohort. There was a significant negative correlation between the cumulative complication rate and the cumulative experience.

CONCLUSIONS

Large-bore percutaneous axillary artery access provides safe upper extremity large-bore access during FBEVAR, achieving successful closure in >90% of patients with a low incidence of access-related complications. There was a trend toward better closure rates with increasing experience, suggesting a learning curve effect. Application of best practices including ultrasound guidance and angiography may ensure safe application of the technique of percutaneous large-bore axillary artery access.

Early and midterm outcomes of fenestrated and branched endovascular aortic repair in thoracoabdominal aneurysms types I through III

BACKGROUND

Fenestrated and branched endovascular aortic repair (F/BEVAR) of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) has shown high technical success and low early mortality rates. Aneurysm extent has been reported as a factor affecting outcomes. This study aimed to assess the early and midterm follow-up outcomes of patients managed by F/BEVAR for types I through III TAAAs.

METHODS

A single-center retrospective analysis was conducted, including data from consecutive, elective and urgent (symptomatic and ruptured cases), patients treated for types I through III TAAAs, between October 1, 2011, and October 1, 2022, using F/BEVAR. Degenerative and postdissection TAAAs were included. Patients received prophylactic cerebrospinal fluid drainage (CSFD), except those under therapeutic anticoagulation, those who were hemodynamically unstable, or those with failed CSFD application. When an initial thoracic endovascular aortic repair was performed, as part of a staged procedure, no CSFD was used. Later stages and nonstaged procedures were performed under CSFD. Thirty-day mortality and major adverse events (MAEs) were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier estimates were used for follow-up outcomes.

RESULTS

F/BEVAR for types I through III TAAAs was performed in 209 patients (56.9% males; mean age, 69.6 ± 3.2 years; mean aneurysm diameter, 65.2 ± 6.2 mm); 29.2% type I, 57.9% type II, and 12.9% type III. Urgent repair was performed in 26.7% of patients (56 cases; 23 ruptured and 33 symptomatic cases) and 153 were treated electively. Thirty-two patients (15.3%) were classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class IV. CSFD was used in 91% and staged thoracic endovascular aortic repair was performed in 51.2% of patients. Technical success was 93.8% (96.7% in elective vs 94.6% in urgent cases; P = .92). Thirty-day mortality was 11.0% (4.6% in elective vs 28.5% in urgent cases; P < .001) and MAEs were recorded in 17.2% of cases (7.8% in elective vs 42.8% in urgent cases; P < .001). Spinal cord ischemia rate was 20.5% (17.6% in elective vs 28.7% in urgent cases; P = .08), whereas 2.9% of patients presented paraplegia (1.3% in elective and 7.1% in urgent cases; P = .03). The mean follow-up was 16 ± 5 months. Survival was 75.0% (standard error, 4.0%) and freedom from reintervention was 73.3% (standard error, 4.4%) at 36 months. ASA IV and urgent repair were detected as independent factors related to early mortality and MAE, whereas ruptured aneurysm status was related to spinal cord ischemia evolution.

CONCLUSIONS

Endovascular repair for types I through III TAAAs provides encouraging early outcomes in terms of mortality, MAE, and paraplegia, especially in an elective setting. Setting of repair and baseline ASA score should be taken into consideration during decision-making.

The Safety and Outcome of Minimally Invasive Staged Segmental Artery Coil Embolization (MIS2ACE) Prior Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: A Single-Center Study, Systematic Review, and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Minimally Invasive Staged Segmental Artery Coil Embolization (MIS2ACE) is a novel technique of spinal cord preconditioning used to reduce the risk of paraplegia in thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair. In this study, we report our experience with MIS2ACE, including both degenerative and post-dissection TAAA, while we attempt to systematically summarize relevant data available in the literature.

DESIGN

single-center observational study with systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Initial retrospective analysis of 7 patients undergoing MIS2ACE over 12 sessions with a subsequent systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis of the available published data (PROSPERO protocol number: CRD42023477411). Baseline patient and aneurysm characteristics, along with procedural technique and outcomes, were analyzed. One-arm pooling of proportions was used to summarize available published data.

RESULTS

We treated seven patients (5 males, 71%) with a median age of 69 years (IQR 55,69). According to the Crawford classification, five patients (1%) had extent II TAAA, and two (29%) had extent III TAAA. Five patients (71%) had post-dissection -TAAA; four of them were after Stanford type A dissection, and one had a chronic type B dissection. Three patients (43%) had connective tissue disease. Of the seven patients, six (86%) underwent previous aortic surgery, while the median aneurysm diameter was 58 mm (IQR 55,58). MIS2ACE was successful in 11 sessions (92%). The median number of embolized arteries was 4 (IQR 1,4). There were no periprocedural complications in any embolization. The median embolization-operation time interval was 37.0 days (IQR 31,78). Two patients had open and five endovascular treatment. There were no events of spinal cord ischemia either after MIS2ACE or after the aortic repair. Out of the 432 initially retrieved articles, we included two studies in the meta-analysis, including patients with MIS2ACE for spinal cord preconditioning in addition to our cohort. The prevalence of pooled postoperative spinal cord ischemia among MIS2ACE patients is 1.9% (95% CI -0.028 to 0.066, p = 0.279; 3 studies; 81 patients, 127 coiling sessions).

CONCLUSIONS

While the current published data is limited, our study further confirms that MIS2ACE is a technically feasible and safe option for spinal cord preconditioning.

Risk Factors for Spinal Cord Injury during Endovascular Repair of Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm: Review of the Literature and Proposal of a Prognostic Score

Despite recent improvements, spinal cord ischemia remains the most feared and dramatic complication following extensive aortic repair. Although endovascular procedures are associated with a lower risk compared with open procedures, this risk is still significant and must be considered. A combined medical and surgical approach may help to optimize the tolerance of the spinal cord to ischemia. The aim of this review is to describe the underlying mechanism involved in spinal cord injury during extensive endovascular aortic repair, to describe the different techniques used to improve spinal cord tolerance to ischemia-including the prophylactic or curative use of spinal drainage-and to propose our algorithm for spinal cord protection and the rational use of spinal drainage.

Gore thoracoabdominal branched endoprosthesis: early results and impressions

The remarkable advances in technology and devices in the last two decades have made possible the endovascular repair of complex abdominal (cAAA) and thoracoabdominal (TAAA) aortic aneurysms with challenging anatomy. To date, despite the creation of multiple fenestrated/branched endografts intended to treat these difficult cases, in the USA, many of them remain available only under physician sponsored investigational device exemption (PSIDE) protocols in few institutions. The Gore Thoracoabdominal Branched Endoprosthesis (TAMBE; W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ, USA) investigational device is a four-branched off-the-shelf (OTS) endograft that concluded an early feasibility study in 2016 and is currently finalizing a pivotal trial in pursuit of approval from the Food and Drug Administration. This article discusses the TAMBE early feasibility multicenter study results, the most relevant features of this device, its anatomical feasibility, and the impressions about this endograft as an OTS option for the treatment of CAAA and TAAA.

Outcomes of Elective and Non-elective Fenestrated-branched Endovascular Aortic Repair for Treatment of Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms

OBJECTIVE

To describe outcomes after elective and non-elective fenestrated-branched endovascular aortic repair (FB-EVAR) for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs).

BACKGROUND

FB-EVAR has been increasingly utilized to treat TAAAs; however, outcomes after non-elective versus elective repair are not well described.

METHODS

Clinical data of consecutive patients undergoing FB-EVAR for TAAAs at 24 centers (2006-2021) were reviewed. Endpoints including early mortality and major adverse events (MAEs), all-cause mortality, and aortic-related mortality (ARM), were analyzed and compared in patients who had non-elective versus elective repair.

RESULTS

A total of 2603 patients (69% males; mean age 72±10 year old) underwent FB-EVAR for TAAAs. Elective repair was performed in 2187 patients (84%) and non-elective repair in 416 patients [16%; 268 (64%) symptomatic, 148 (36%) ruptured]. Non-elective FB-EVAR was associated with higher early mortality (17% vs 5%, P <0.001) and rates of MAEs (34% vs 20%, P <0.001). Median follow-up was 15 months (interquartile range, 7-37 months). Survival and cumulative incidence of ARM at 3 years were both lower for non-elective versus elective patients (50±4% vs 70±1% and 21±3% vs 7±1%, P <0.001). On multivariable analysis, non-elective repair was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 1.92; 95% CI] 1.50-2.44; P <0.001) and ARM (hazard ratio, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.63-3.62; P <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Non-elective FB-EVAR of symptomatic or ruptured TAAAs is feasible, but carries higher incidence of early MAEs and increased all-cause mortality and ARM than elective repair. Long-term follow-up is warranted to justify the treatment.

The "safe-line" technique as theoretical additional attempt to mitigate spinal cord ischemia after urgent complete endovascular exclusion of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm

We describe the feasibility of a technique for temporary aneurysm sac reperfusion after endovascular single-stage thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm exclusion, to be used in the case of postoperative spinal cord ischemia. Two cases were treated for impending rupture of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. Before completion of sac exclusion, a supplementary buddy wire (V-18 control guidewire; Boston Scientific) was advanced in parallel fashion from the left percutaneous femoral access into the aneurysmal sac on the posterior aspect of the endograft. Distal aneurysm exclusion was completed using the main superstiff guidewire, and the femoral access was closed with a percutaneous closure device (ProGlide; Abbott) in standard fashion, leaving in place the sole V-18 guidewire, draped in sterile fashion. In the case of spinal cord ischemia, the "safe-line" can be rapidly used for spinal reperfusion after trans-sealing exchange with a 6F, 65-cm-long Destination sheath (Terumo) connected to a 6F introducer on the contralateral femoral artery.