The modified chimney technique with a thoracic aortic stent graft to preserve the blood flow of the left common carotid artery for treating descending thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection

Tratamiento endovascular con técnica de chimenea para patologías del arco aórtico

Introducción. La patología del arco aórtico se ha tratado principalmente con cirugía por vía abierta, pero con una alta morbimortalidad. Las técnicas endovasculares híbridas y las reconstrucciones en “chimenea” son una técnica válida y segura para disminuir el riesgo y la mortalidad. Métodos. Se presentan dos pacientes con patología del arco aórtico y contraindicación de manejo quirúrgico abierto, atendidos en el Servicio de Cirugía Vascular, Hospital Universitario Clínica de San Rafael, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. Resultados. Se realizaron dos procedimientos endovasculares del arco aórtico para tratar un aneurisma torácico roto y una úlcera aórtica sintomática, con cubrimiento de los troncos supra aórticos con una endoprótesis y canalización de los vasos supra aórticos con prótesis cubiertas y uso de la “técnica de chimenea”, de manera exitosa. Discusión. La patología del arco aórtico es de alta complejidad y se asocia con una morbimortalidad elevada por lo que, en los últimos 20 años se han desarrollado diferentes técnicas utilizando procedimientos percutáneos. Conclusión. La “técnica de chimenea” se puede realizar de una manera mínimamente invasiva en pacientes con patología del arco aórtico, no candidatos para cirugía abierta, con resultados exitosos.

Safety and Efficacy of an Aortic Arch Stent Graft with Window-Shaped Fenestration for Supra-Aortic Arch Vessels: an Experimental Study in Swine

Background and Objectives

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair exhibits limitations in cases where the aortic pathology involves the aortic arch. We had already developed a fenestrated aortic stent graft (FASG) with a preloaded catheter for aortic pathology involving the aortic arch. FASG was suitable for elective cases.

Materials and Methods

An aortic arch stent graft with a window-shaped fenestration (FASG-W) for supra-aortic arch vessels is suitable for emergent cases. This study aims to test a FASG-W for supra-aortic arch vessels and to perform a preclinical study in swine to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this device. Six FASG-Ws with 1 preloaded catheter were advanced through the iliac artery in 6 swine. The presence of endoleak and the patency and deformity of the grafts were examined with computed tomography (CT) at 4 weeks postoperatively. A postmortem examination was performed at 8 weeks. The mean procedure time for FASG-W was 27.15±4.02 minutes. The mean time for the selection of the right carotid artery was 5.72±0.72 minutes.

Results

Major adverse events were not observed in any of the 6 pigs who survived for 8 weeks. For the FASG-W, no endoleaks, no disconnection, and no occlusion of the stent grafts were observed in the CT findings or the postmortem gross findings.

Conclusion

The procedure with the FASG-W was able to be performed safely in a relatively short procedure time and involved an easy technique. The FASG-W was found to be safe and convenient for use in this preclinical study of swine.

Utility of Chimney Stentgraft Technique for Patients with Short Zone 1

PURPOSE

Arch aneurysm combined with insufficient Zone 1 length remains challenging. While a chimney stentgraft with supra-aortic bypass is a recognized solution for arch aneurysm, no definite strategy has been established yet. The aim of this study was to investigate efficacy of chimney stentgraft for patients with zone 1 of insufficient length.

METHODS

Between 2011 and 2013, 10 consecutive patients with aortic arch aneurysm who were treated with a chimney stentgraft were retrospectively reviewed. The minimum length of zone 1 and length of landing zone inside zone 0 were measured on pre-/post-operative 3D-CT.

RESULTS

Neither in-hospital mortality nor postoperative stroke was encountered. The minimum median length of zone 1 (zone 2 for bovine aortic arch of two patients) on preoperative 3D-CT was 10.1 mm [range: 3.9-15.3]. On postoperative 3D-CT, the median proximal landing length on a major curvature proximal to brachio-cephalic artery was 37.5 [range: 20.9-63.9] mm. Type Ia endoleak was observed in two patients with a landing length along the major curvature of less than 30 mm.

CONCLUSION

For patients with insufficient length of zone 1, aneurysm exclusion could be achieved with a chimney stentgraft ensuring sufficient length (>30 mm) of the landing zone inside the ascending aorta along major curvature.

Safety and efficacy of a novel, fenestrated aortic arch stent graft with a preloaded catheter for supraaortic arch vessels: an experimental study in Swine

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) shows limitations in cases in which the aortic pathology involves the aortic arch. The study aims were to test a fenestrated aortic arch stent graft (FASG) with a preloaded catheter for the supraaortic arch vessels and to perform a preclinical study in swine to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this device. Six FASGs with 1 preloaded catheter and 5 FASGs with 2 preloaded catheters were advanced through the iliac artery in 11 swines. The presence of endoleaks and the patency and deformity of the grafts were examined with computed tomography (CT) at 4 weeks postoperatively. A postmortem examination was performed at 8 weeks. The mean procedure time for the one and two FASG groups was 30.2 (27.9-34.5) min and 43.1 (39.2-53.7) min. The mean time for the selection of the carotid artery was 4.8 (4.2-5.5) min and 6.2 (4.6-9.4) min. Major adverse event was observed in one of 11 pigs. One pig died at 4 weeks likely because of the effects of the high dose of ketamine, while the remaining 10 pigs survived 8-week. For both the one and two FASG groups, no endoleaks, no disconnection, no occlusion of the stent grafts were observed in the CT findings and the postmortem gross findings. The procedure with the FASG could be performed safely in a relatively short procedure time and involved an easy technique. The FASG is found to be safe and convenient in this preclinical study with swine.

Endovascular repair of an aortic arch pseudoaneurysm with double chimney stent grafts: a case report

Aortic arch pseudoaneurysm is a rare condition but carries a high risk of rupture. We report a case of a 45-year-old man with aortic arch pseudoaneurysm between left common carotid artery (LCCA) and left subclavian artery (LSA), in which a endovascular stent graft combined with double chimneys covered stents were successfully placed. There were no any complaints and complications after 12 months follow-up. The CTA demonstrated thrombus formation in the pseudoaneurysm lumen, no endoleak and the aortic arch, LCCA and LSA were all patent. We feel that the combined endovascular and double chimneys may be a valuable therapeutic alternative when treating aortic arch lesion. However, long-term clinical efficacy and safety have yet to be confirmed.