A single-centre experience of the treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms: clinical and anatomic characteristics of open versus endovascular repair

AIM

The treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms is a constant challenge for vascular surgeons and can be achieved either by endovascular repair or by an open surgical technique. Endovascular repair presents a higher 30-day survival rate. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and anatomical characteristics and the outcomes of these two treatment techniques.

METHODS

Our study sample comprised patients who presented at the emergency department of a General Regional Hospital with rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm between January 2003 and December 2008. Of the 43 patients who were treated, 23 underwent open surgical repair and 20 underwent endovascular repair.

RESULTS

Comorbidities, age, clinical presentation and anatomical characteristics didn't present statistically significant differences in the two groups. Patients in the endovascular repair group were transfused with less units of blood and fresh frozen plasma (P=0.001) and had shorter stay in the intensive care unit (P=0.042). The 30-day mortality rate was 43% for open surgical repair and 35% for endovascular treatment (P=0.627), while the overall in-hospital mortality rate was 61% and 50% (P=0.474), respectively.

CONCLUSION

When certain anatomical characteristics are present and the hemodynamic condition of the patient allows it, endovascular treatment appears to be associated with better survival rates, both 30-day and overall.

Splenic artery aneurysm in a cardiac transplant patient: a case report

We present the case of a 61-year-old woman who underwent repair of a symptomatic 4-cm splenic artery aneurysm. This patient had received heart transplantation for hypertrophic congestive cardiomyopathy 5 years before this event. She was under immunosuppression therapy with cyclosporine, prednisone and azathioprine. The aneurysm was ligated both proximally and distally without removal of the spleen. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an isolated splenic artery aneurysm in the heart transplant population. We discuss the potential role of immunosuppressive agents and hormonal factors in the development of this extremely rare occurrence.

Profunda femoris as an access site vessel for a hybrid approach to the treatment of a para-anastomotic common iliac artery aneurysm and intermittent claudication, occurring after previous abdominal aortic thbe graft repair and femoro-femoral bypass graft. A case report

A true para-anastomotic right common iliac artery aneurysm and intermittent claudication developed in a 76-year-old man 5 years after open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with a Dacron tube graft. Following the initial operation the patient developed acute left iliac occlusive disease necessitating an immediate right-to-left femoro-femoral crossover bypass graft. The patient was a poor open surgical candidate because of multiple medical comorbidities. Therefore, a hybrid approach was used consisting of exposure and catheterization of the right profunda femoris artery, which was used as the access site vessel for the deployment of a covered stent graft extending from the ostium of the common iliac artery into the external iliac artery. Simultaneously, the right profunda femoris provided inflow for an open above-knee profunda femoro-popliteal bypass graft to perfuse the right lower extremity. Postoperative angiography demonstrated primary technical success, with exclusion of the aneurysm and no endoleak. The patient is doing well 34 months postoperatively, with a patent endograft and no sign of intermittent claudication. Profunda femoris proved to be an excellent alternative to the common femoral artery for the application of a hybrid technique in a high-risk patient with complicated anatomy.

Early endograft collapse following endovascular treatment of a traumatic thoracic aortic disruption: a case report

The authors present the case of a 39-year-old man who underwent endovascular repair of a thoracic aortic disruption. Implantation of a Gore TAG stent-graft achieved total exclusion of the traumatic lesion with no contrast extravasation. However, on the third postoperative day, the patient developed complete anuria necessitating continuous venovenous hemofiltration. On the IV postoperative day there were no palpable femoral pulses and the pressure gradient between the lower and upper limbs was -80 mmHg. Given the development of severe intestinal and peripheral hypoperfusion status a possible endograft collapse was suspected. Urgent computed tomography (CT) angiography demonstrated central subtotal collapse of the device and proper distal sealing. A second TAG stent-graft was deployed successfully within the collapsed device with no contrast extravasation and good apposition of the stent-graft to the aortic wall. At 6 months, there is no sign of graft collapse or endoleak. Endovascular reintervention succeeded re-expansion of the collapsed endoprosthesis and resolution of the initial symptoms.

Endovascular treatment of symptomatic and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms

AIM

To report our early experience with endovascular treatment of symptomatic and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) using the Talent bifurcated stent graft.

PATIENTS-METHODS

From August 2003 to May 2007 nine patients with symptomatic AAA (sAAA) (two after previous endovascular repair and endoleak), and eleven patients with ruptured AAA (rAAA) (one with ruptured iliac aneurysm and one with spontaneous aortic rupture) were treated endovascularly. Seven bifurcated stent grafts, (six Talent), and two iliac extensions were implanted into the patients with sAAA, and nine bifurcated stent grafts (eight Talent) and two aorto-uniliacs were implanted into the patients with rAAA.

RESULTS

The deployment of the endovascular device in the intended location was successful in all patients. There was no conversion to open surgery. One patient with sAAA died after stroke and sepsis resulting in 11.1% 30-day mortality in this group. One required re-intervention for a type I endoleak before his discharge. Eight patients were discharged and during a follow-up period of 4-42 months (median 18 months) they have remained well. Two patients with rAAA died in the 30-day postoperative period. Thirty-day mortality was 18.1%. An unintended occlusion of one renal artery was performed. There were 9 survivors. During a follow-up period of 17-45 months (median 26 months) one more died of myocardial infarction.

CONCLUSION

Initial experience with endovascular treatment of patients with symptomatic or ruptured AAA, using the Talent bifurcated stent graft is promising. Bifurcated endografts can be implanted into patients with rAAA. A larger number of patients and longer follow-up is necessary to arrive at more reliable conclusions.

Recurrent arterial thromboses in a woman with heparin induced thrombocytopenia, successfully managed with iloprost followed by clopidogrel. An alternative therapeutic option for heparin induced thrombocytopenia type II syndrome

In its more severe form heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a rare immune mediated complication of heparin administration that potentially has catastrophic results, and significant mortality. In view of the severity of this condition it is important for the clinician to maintain a high index of suspicion and get alerted to the HIT syndrome by the precocity of platelet count decrease in any patient group, and especially in those previously exposed to heparin. We report on a 72-year-old woman who developed HIT syndrome that was complicated by recurrent arterial thromboses after receiving postoperative antithrombotic prophylaxis with tinzaparin, a low molecular weight heparin. The patient was successfully treated with iloprost (Ilomedin, iloprost tromethamine, Schering) a stable prostacyclin analogue, at the acute phase of the syndrome, followed by long-term treatment with clopidogrel (Plavix, clopidogrel bisulfate, Sanofi) an inhibitor of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor. Although direct thrombin inhibitors have been proven to be effective for the treatment of HIT thrombosis, they do not completely eliminate the morbidity and mortality of this disorder. Our case report suggests that antithrombotic treatment by targeting of the activated platelets with a potent platelet inhibitor during the acute phase of type II HIT syndrome followed by long-term administration of oral anticoagulation may be an additional, safe and effective therapeutic alternative that merits to be systematically studied.

Histochemical and ultrastructural characteristics of leg muscle fibres in patients with repairative abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)

Tibialis anterior (ta) muscle biopsies before and after elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair operation were obtained, in order to observe possible changes after the aortic declamping reperfusion. Open muscle biopsies were taken from each of eight patients (60-75 years old) which were processed for enzyme histochemistry, and for transmission electron microscopy (EM). Morphometric analysis was applied to estimate the number and the area of muscle fibres of each fibre type. Rectus abdominis muscle biopsies were served as controls. Before the operation the predominant elements found were the presence of atrophic muscle fibres, fibre size diversity, localised cellular reactions, increased extent of connective tissue, disappearance, in many cases, of the mosaic pattern, predominance of type I and oxidative fibres, and existence of fibres with core-like structures in the sarcoplasm. Type I fibres consisted of 66.95 +/- 9% of all muscle fibres, the mean cross sectional area of which was 3,372.8 +/- 1,016 microm(2) and of type II fibres was 3,786.5 +/- 6,046 microm(2). After the aortic clamping was performed mitochondrial swelling was found, as well as disorganisation of sarcomeres. After declamping of the aorta, there were also severe edema, local fibre necrosis, and adhesion of leucocytes, whereas muscle fibre areas became 3,935.18 micro 531 microm(2) for type I and 5,804 +/- 1,075 microm(2) for type II. The short ischemic period during aortic clamping and the subsequent reperfusion resulted mainly in ultrastructural changes.

The effects of exercise training on muscle atrophy in haemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Patients with end-stage renal disease on haemodialysis (HD) have limited work capacity. Many structural and functional alterations in skeletal muscles contribute to this disability.

METHODS

To evaluate the effects of exercise training on uraemic myopathy, seven HD patients (mean age 44.1+/-17.2 years) were studied. Open muscle biopsies were taken from their vastus lateralis muscle before and after a 6-month exercise rehabilitation programme and examined by routine light- and transmission electron-microscopy. Histochemical stainings of frozen sections were performed and morphometric analysis was also applied to estimate the proportion of each fibre type and the muscle fibre area. Spiroergometric and neurophysiological testing and peak extension forces of the lower limbs were measured before and after exercise training.

RESULTS

All patients showed impaired exercise capacity, which was associated with marked muscular atrophy (mean area 2548+/-463 microm2) and reduction in muscle strength and nerve conduction velocity. All types of fibres were atrophied, but type II were more affected. The ultrastructural study showed severe degenerative changes in skeletal muscle fibres, mitochondria, and capillaries. Exercise training had an impressive effect on muscular atrophy; in particular the proportion of type II fibres increased by 51% and mean muscle fibre area by 29%. Favourable changes were also seen on the structure and number of capillaries and mitochondria. These results were confirmed by a 48% increase in VO2 peak and a 29% in exercise time, as well as an improvement in the peak muscle strength of the lower limbs and in nerve conduction velocity.

CONCLUSIONS

Skeletal muscle atrophy in HD patients contribute to their poor exercise tolerance. The application of an exercise training rehabilitation programme improved muscle atrophy markedly, and therefore had beneficial effects in overall work performance.

Primary aortocaval fistula in association with ruptured aneurysms

We report three cases in which ruptured aneurysm and aortocaval fistula went undetected until surgery was performed. Preoperative features suggestive of an arteriovenous fistula were not apparent in any of these patients; they all presented with cardiovascular collapse and all underwent emergency laparotomy after a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm was diagnosed. The fistula was discovered unexpectedly only after the aneurysmal sac was opened and the thrombus evacuated. In the first two patients the fistula was successfully sutured from within the aneurysmal sac. The first patient died 1 week postoperatively from rupture of a previously known associated thoracic aortic aneurysm and the second patient died during the operation from excessive blood loss. The third patient had a large fistula requiring an interposition synthetic graft to restore the continuity of the vena cava; the graft has remained patent 15 months postoperatively. Aortocaval fistula is an uncommon complication of aneurysmal aortic disease and may coexist with a rupture of the aneurysm into the retroperitoneum. In emergency cases such as ours it is usually discovered unexpectedly during the operation. The established method of treatment is to oversew the fistula from within the aneurysm; however, when the fistula is large reconstruction of the infrarenal inferior vena cava with an interposition synthetic graft is a good alternative to caval ligation.

Transposed basilic vein-brachial arteriovenous fistula: an alternative vascular access for hemodialysis

Twenty-five brachial-basilic arteriovenous (AV) fistulas with transposed basilic vein for alternative vascular access were created in 22 chronic hemodialysis patients. This surgical procedure was performed under brachial block or general anesthesia. After a longitudinal skin incision that was made in the inner side of the arm, the basilic vein was exposed, transposed subcutaneously, and anastomosed end-to-side to the brachial artery. The follow-up was between 7 and 24 months. Early complications were hemorrhage, thrombosis, steal syndrome, and swelling of the arm. Among the late complications were failure of the fistula because of thrombosis and multiple stenosis at the site of venipuncture. The accumulated one-year patency rate of fistulas was 81%. The complications of high-output cardiac failure or local infection were not seen in our study. On the basis of our results, the brachial-basilic AV fistula with transposed basilic vein is a useful and safe second- or third-choice vascular procedure for hemodialysis patients, in particular for women without good quality of vessels.