Decision-Making in Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Surgery—Clinician and Patient View

Transport across the thoracic aortic wall: implications for aneurysm pathobiology, diagnosis, and treatment

Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) are a dilation of the aorta that may fatally dissect or rupture. The current clinical management for TAA is continuous monitoring and surgical replacement once the aortic diameter reaches a specified size or rate of growth. Although operative intervention is often successful in preventing fatal outcomes, not all patients will reach surgical criteria before an aortic event, and the surgery carries significant risk with a potential requirement for reoperation. There is a need for patient-specific diagnostic tools and/or novel therapeutics to treat TAA. In this review, we discuss fluid and solute transport through the aortic wall (transmural aortic transport), its potential contributions to TAA progression, and possible applications for diagnosis and treatment. We first discuss the structural organization of the aortic wall with a focus on cellular and extracellular matrix (ECM) changes associated with TAA that may alter transmural transport. We then focus on aortic transmural transport processes defined with biphasic and multiphasic theory. Biphasic theory describes fluid interactions with a porous solid (i.e., the aortic wall), whereas multiphasic theory describes fluid and solute(s) interactions with a porous solid. We summarize experimental and computational methods to quantify transport through the aortic wall. Finally, we discuss how transmural transport may be used to diagnose, monitor, or treat TAA. Further understanding of transmural transport may lead to new insights into TAA pathobiology and future clinical solutions.

Patient perspectives of shared decision-making in emergency surgery

AIM

Shared decision-making (SDM) is now considered the gold standard approach to counselling and obtaining patient consent. Research into patient perceptions of SDM is lacking and barriers to its implementation remain, specifically in the time-pressurized, high-risk emergency general surgery (EGS) setting. The aim of this work was to explore what EGS patients understand about SDM, gaining insight into their perspectives and experiences to understand the potential barriers both clinicians and patients may face.

METHOD

This work consisted of two parts: part 1 was an initial scoping review to inform the development of part 2-a patient and public involvement (PPI) exercise. The scoping review determined the quantity and quality of research in this area enabling long-listing of known SDM concepts. This long-list developed questions and structured discussions for the PPI exercise. Responses were transcribed, then analysed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The scoping review found limited evidence for both the implementation of SDM in EGS and patients' perspectives. Seven papers considered SDM in other settings that allowed long-listing of the values and concepts for the PPI exercise. Nine patients and four supporters were identified from an established EGS database. After open discussion of the values and SDM concepts, thematic analysis was performed that identified two key themes: patient perceptions of how surgeons make decisions, and patient experiences of EGS decision-making. Five subtheme analyses showed participants were not aware of surgeons' use of '30-day mortality' and could not quantify surgical risk, feeling time pressures and out of control. Almost all relied on surgeons to make their decision, valuing the surgeon's opinion over their own.

CONCLUSION

With no previous reported evidence, this work provides the first patient insights into SDM in the EGS setting. With multiple barriers identified, further work is essential to increase implementation of this gold standard approach to patient consent.

2022 ACC/AHA guideline for the diagnosis and management of aortic disease: A report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines

AIM

The "2022 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Aortic Disease" provides recommendations to guide clinicians in the diagnosis, genetic evaluation and family screening, medical therapy, endovascular and surgical treatment, and long-term surveillance of patients with aortic disease across its multiple clinical presentation subsets (ie, asymptomatic, stable symptomatic, and acute aortic syndromes).

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted from January 2021 to April 2021, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that were published in English from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CINHL Complete, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline. Additional relevant studies, published through June 2022 during the guideline writing process, were also considered by the writing committee, where appropriate.

STRUCTURE

Recommendations from previously published AHA/ACC guidelines on thoracic aortic disease, peripheral artery disease, and bicuspid aortic valve disease have been updated with new evidence to guide clinicians. In addition, new recommendations addressing comprehensive care for patients with aortic disease have been developed. There is added emphasis on the role of shared decision making, especially in the management of patients with aortic disease both before and during pregnancy. The is also an increased emphasis on the importance of institutional interventional volume and multidisciplinary aortic team expertise in the care of patients with aortic disease.

Matched comparison between external aortic root support and valve-sparing root replacement

OBJECTIVES

Differences in indication and technique make a randomised comparison between valve-sparing root replacement (VSRR) and personalised external aortic root support (PEARS) challenging. We performed a propensity score (PS)-matched comparison of PEARS and VSRR for syndromic root aneurysm.

METHODS

Patients in the PEARS 200 Database and Aortic Valve Insufficiency and ascending aorta Aneurysm InternATiOnal Registry (undergoing VSRR) with connective tissue disease operated electively for root aneurysm <60 mm with aortic regurgitation (AR) <1/4 were included. Using a PS analysis, 80 patients in each cohort were matched. Survival, freedom from reintervention and from AR ≥2/4 were estimated using a Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 25 and 55 months for 159 PEARS and 142 VSRR patients. Seven (4.4%) patients undergoing PEARS required an intervention for coronary injury or impingement, resulting in one death (0.6%). After VSRR, there were no early deaths, 10 (7%) reinterventions for bleeding and 1 coronary intervention. Survival for matched cohorts at 5 years was similar (PEARS 98% vs VSRR 99%, p=0.99). There was no difference in freedom from valve or ascending aortic/arch reintervention between matched groups. Freedom from AR ≥2/4 at 5 years in the matched cohorts was 97% for PEARS vs 92% for VSRR (p=0.55). There were no type A dissections.

CONCLUSIONS

VSRR and PEARS offer favourable mid-term survival, freedom from reintervention and preservation of valve function. Both treatments deserve their place in the surgical repertoire, depending on a patient's disease stage. This study is limited by its retrospective nature and different follow-ups in both cohorts.

2022 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Aortic Disease: A Report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines

AIM

The "2022 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Aortic Disease" provides recommendations to guide clinicians in the diagnosis, genetic evaluation and family screening, medical therapy, endovascular and surgical treatment, and long-term surveillance of patients with aortic disease across its multiple clinical presentation subsets (ie, asymptomatic, stable symptomatic, and acute aortic syndromes).

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted from January 2021 to April 2021, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that were published in English from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CINHL Complete, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline. Additional relevant studies, published through June 2022 during the guideline writing process, were also considered by the writing committee, where appropriate. Structure: Recommendations from previously published AHA/ACC guidelines on thoracic aortic disease, peripheral artery disease, and bicuspid aortic valve disease have been updated with new evidence to guide clinicians. In addition, new recommendations addressing comprehensive care for patients with aortic disease have been developed. There is added emphasis on the role of shared decision making, especially in the management of patients with aortic disease both before and during pregnancy. The is also an increased emphasis on the importance of institutional interventional volume and multidisciplinary aortic team expertise in the care of patients with aortic disease.

2022 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Aortic Disease: A Report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines

AIM

The "2022 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Aortic Disease" provides recommendations to guide clinicians in the diagnosis, genetic evaluation and family screening, medical therapy, endovascular and surgical treatment, and long-term surveillance of patients with aortic disease across its multiple clinical presentation subsets (ie, asymptomatic, stable symptomatic, and acute aortic syndromes).

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted from January 2021 to April 2021, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that were published in English from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CINHL Complete, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline. Additional relevant studies, published through June 2022 during the guideline writing process, were also considered by the writing committee, where appropriate.

STRUCTURE

Recommendations from previously published AHA/ACC guidelines on thoracic aortic disease, peripheral artery disease, and bicuspid aortic valve disease have been updated with new evidence to guide clinicians. In addition, new recommendations addressing comprehensive care for patients with aortic disease have been developed. There is added emphasis on the role of shared decision making, especially in the management of patients with aortic disease both before and during pregnancy. The is also an increased emphasis on the importance of institutional interventional volume and multidisciplinary aortic team expertise in the care of patients with aortic disease.

Assessing the Accuracy of an Artificial Intelligence-Based Segmentation Algorithm for the Thoracic Aorta in Computed Tomography Applications

The aim was to evaluate the accuracy of a prototypical artificial intelligence-based algorithm for automated segmentation and diameter measurement of the thoracic aorta (TA) using CT. One hundred twenty-two patients who underwent dual-source CT were retrospectively included. Ninety-three of these patients had been administered intravenous iodinated contrast. Images were evaluated using the prototypical algorithm, which segments the TA and determines the corresponding diameters at predefined anatomical locations based on the American Heart Association guidelines. The reference standard was established by two radiologists individually in a blinded, randomized fashion. Equivalency was tested and inter-reader agreement was assessed using intra-class correlation (ICC). In total, 99.2% of the parameters measured by the prototype were assessable. In nine patients, the prototype failed to determine one diameter along the vessel. Measurements along the TA did not differ between the algorithm and readers (p > 0.05), establishing equivalence. Inter-reader agreement between the algorithm and readers (ICC ≥ 0.961; 95% CI: 0.940−0.974), and between the readers was excellent (ICC ≥ 0.879; 95% CI: 0.818−0.92). The evaluated prototypical AI-based algorithm accurately measured TA diameters at each region of interest independent of the use of either contrast utilization or pathology. This indicates that the prototypical algorithm has substantial potential as a valuable tool in the rapid clinical evaluation of aortic pathology.

Computed tomography follow-up after elective proximal aortic surgery: Less is more?

STUDY OBJECTIVE

The added value of computed tomography (CT) follow-up after elective proximal aortic surgery is unclear. We evaluated the benefit of CT follow-up by assessing the incidence of aorta-related complications and reinterventions detected during routine CT follow-up.

METHODS

Data on 314 patients undergoing first time elective proximal aortic surgery between 2000 and 2015 were collected. The primary study end points were aorta-related complications and reinterventions, detected during routine CT follow-up. Secondary study endpoints included all aorta-related complications and reinterventions, irrespective of the mode of detection and survival.

RESULTS

Median CT follow-up time was 6.8 (IQR 4.1-9.8) years, during which a total of 1303 routine follow-up CT-scans (median 4, IQR 3-5) were performed. During CT follow-up, aorta-related complications were detected in 18 (5.7%) patients, of which 6 (1.6%) underwent reintervention. In total, 28 aorta-related complications were observed in 23 (7.3%) patients, of which 9 led to reintervention. In order to detect 1 aorta-related complication leading to reintervention, 218 routine follow-up CT-scans were required. The unadjusted and EuroSCORE II adjusted hazard ratios of not undergoing CT follow-up on mortality were 1.260 (95% CI 0.705-2.251) and 0.830 (95% CI 0.430-1.605), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Following first time elective proximal aortic surgery, aorta-related complications are uncommon, are not always detected during CT follow-up and, if detected, often do not result in reintervention. Therefore, a more conservative CT follow-up protocol could be considered in selected patients to reduce lifetime radiation burden and health care costs.

Thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms: exploring their contrast and genetic associations

Until recently thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) were correlated with atherosclerosis but following a range of cohort studies, a linkage proved unlikely. Instead, data from the Genome wide association study detected two common significantly correlated lncRNA loci: miRNA and the antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL). lncRNAs are sometimes utilized by the body as transcription regulators and signaling molecules. This is crucial in cell transformation and embryology, including that of the mammalian heart. ANRIL, a 19 exon RNA sequence found in the chromosome 9p21 region, will be one of the main focuses of this paper. TAA and AAA have many differences due to their vessel walls but similarities in their gross anatomic structure prove a genetic correlated disease likely. ANRIL has a convincing potential to be used as an additive therapeutic tool in TAA and AAA. This is because Chr9p21 is independent of typical risk factors. However, it remains that further research and clinical studies are required before clinical translation. It is best to consider TAA and AAA separately as the underlying pathophysiology has some distinct differences. They are both commonly diagnosed late, and the hope is that genetic mutations (ANRIL) can act as a biomarker for a faster diagnosis, management and possible treatment alternative.

4D flow imaging of the thoracic aorta: is there an added clinical value?

Four-dimensional (4D) flow MRI has emerged as a powerful non-invasive technique in cardiovascular imaging, enabling to analyse in vivo complex flow dynamics models by quantifying flow parameters and derived features. Deep knowledge of aortic flow dynamics is fundamental to better understand how abnormal flow patterns may promote or worsen vascular diseases. In the perspective of an increasingly personalized and preventive medicine, growing interest is focused on identifying those quantitative functional features which are early predictive markers of pathological evolution. The thoracic aorta and its spectrum of diseases, as the first area of application and development of 4D flow MRI and supported by an extensive experimental validation, represents the ideal model to introduce this technique into daily clinical practice. The purpose of this review is to describe the impact of 4D flow MRI in the assessment of the thoracic aorta and its most common affecting diseases, providing an overview of the actual clinical applications and describing the potential role of derived advanced hemodynamic measures in tailoring follow-up and treatment.