Francis J. Kazmier

Penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers of the thoracic aorta: natural history and clinicopathologic correlations

Clinically, penetrating atheromatous ulceration of the aortic wall may be confused with either symptomatic thoracic aneurysm or classic spontaneous aortic dissection. Aortography and computed tomographic (CT) scanning of the thoracic aorta provide specific diagnostic information which permits one to distinguish this lesion from atherosclerotic aneurysm and classic dissection. Hallmarks of findings on aortography and CT scan include the presence of the ulcer and an intramural hematoma. Since the findings may be disarmingly subtle, the potentially progressive and serious nature of this condition may remain unappreciated. Recognition of the penetrating atheromatous ulcer and distinguishing it from aortic dissection arising just distal to the origin of the left subclavian artery is mandatory. Resection of only a conservative segment of the proximal descending aorta suffices for classic dissection in the upper descending thoracic aorta, but the penetrating aortic ulcer requires graft replacement in the area of the ulcer and intramural hematoma.

Risk of spinal cord dysfunction in patientsundergoing thoracoabdominal aortic replacement

The records of 150 consecutive patients underoingthoracoabdominal aortic replacement from 1980 to 1991 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 89 men and 61 women; mean age was 67.8 years (range: 33 to 88 years). Since June 1989, a multimodality prospective perioperative protocol was used to reduce the risk of spinal cord dysfunction. Ischemia is minimized by complete intercostal reimplantation whenever possible, cerebrospinal fluid drainage, and maintenance of proximal hypertension during cross-clamping. Spinal cord metabolism is reduced by moderate hypothermia, high-dose barbiturates, and avoidance of hyperglycemia. Reperfusion injury is minimized by the use of mannitol, steroids, and calcium channel blockers. Ninety-seven percent of patients survived long enough for evaluation of their neurologic function. Spinal cord dysfunction was reduced from 6 of 108 (6%) in the preprotocol group to 0 of 42 in the protocol group (0%) (p A multimodality protocol appears to be effective in reducing the risk of spinal cord injury during thoracoabdominal aortic replacement.

Late survival after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: Influence of coronary artery disease

To evaluate long-term survival in relation to preoperative risk factors, we reviewed 1112 patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair from 1970 to 1975. A 6-to 12-year follow-up was obtained on 1087 patients (97.7%) by chart review, death certificates, autopsy reports, and questionnaires returned by patients and referring physicians. Preoperatively 24% of patients had a history of prior myocardial infarction, 19.9% had a history of angina, and 40.4% were hypertensive. Emergency operation for ruptured aneurysm was performed in 6.5% and for expanding aneurysm in 3.4% of patients. The survival rate at 5 years was 67.5% and at 10 years was 40.7%. Cardiac-related problems were the most frequent cause of death (38%); 23% died of myocardial infarction and 15% from other heart disease or sudden death. Other causes included neoplasm (14.6%), other ruptured aneurysm (8.2%), and stroke (6.8%). Cause of death was unknown in 19.6%. A significant correlation of reduced survival time was noted in patients with advanced age and those with evidence of heart disease or hypertension. For patients without preoperative evidence of heart disease or hypertension, the 5-year mortality rate from myocardial infarction was 3.7%, compared with 11.7% for those with a positive history of hypertension and heart disease (p = 0.0001). For patients with no preoperative evidence of hypertension or heart disease, the length of survival after AAA repair was the same as that expected for the general population with the same age and sex composition. This study supports the contention that coronary angiography and prophylactic coronary bypass grafting should be performed selectively. Decisions regarding the need for coronary revascularization should be based on symptoms, noninvasive testing, and selective coronary angiography because aneurysmal disease alone is not shown in this study to increase the risk of death from myocardial disease. For patients with clinical findings of coronary artery disease, an aggressive diagnostic approach appears to be justified.

Late survival in abdominal aortic aneurysm patients: The role of selective myocardial revascularization on the basis of clinical symptoms

Coronary artery disease is recognized as the major cause of perioperative and late death after abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. Routine coronary angiography and prophylactic myocardial revascularization for all significant lesions, regardless of symptoms, have been recommended as a means of reducing this mortality risk. We have advocated a more selective approach in which coronary angiography and myocardial revascularization are performed on the basis of cardiac symptoms. Studies have shown that this selective approach is just as effective as the prophylactic approach in reducing perioperative deaths. To evaluate the effect on late survival of selective myocardial revascularization on the basis of symptoms, we reviewed the preoperative coronary status and course of 485 patients who successfully underwent AAA repair between 1980 and 1985. Late survival was evaluated by means of the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with life expectancy of an age- and sex-matched population. Late survival of the entire group of patients was no different from that of the matched population. Patients with no preoperative evidence of coronary artery disease did significantly better than expected (p = 0.05), whereas those patients with uncorrected or previously bypassed coronary disease had survival no different from that expected. When age was considered as a variable, patients in their 50s and 60s had survival significantly worse than the matched population (p less than 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively). Patients in their 70s and 80s had survival as good as or better than the matched population, regardless of coronary status.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of operative reconstruction and percutaneous balloon dilatation for central venous obstruction

To evaluate the efficacy of venous reconstruction versus percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for the treatment of obstruction of the superior vena cava and its major tributaries, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical course of 27 patients, of whom 13 underwent operative reconstruction and 15 had angioplasty (1 had both). Three patients had obstruction of the superior vena cava, 8 had occlusion of the innominate veins, and 16 had obstruction of the subclavian or axillary veins. In both treatment groups, mean age, indications, etiology, and location of the lesion were comparable. No major surgical complications occurred; one patient who underwent angioplasty experienced stent migration to the pulmonary artery without sequelae. Primary symptomatic relief at 1 year was achieved in 88% in the surgical group versus 36% in the angioplasty group (p < 0.05 by Fishers exact test) and at 2 years in 71% versus 0%, respectively (p < 0.01). One- and 2-year success rates with repeated angioplasty, however, were 86% and 66% (p > 0.9), respectively. We conclude that the long-term success rate of operative reconstruction exceeds that of single percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. However, with repeated angioplasty, success rates approach those of operative reconstruction.

Axillary-subclavian venous occlusion: The morbidity of a nonlethal disease

To evaluate results of medical and surgical treatment of axillary-subclavian venous occlusion, the clinical courses of 95 patients were reviewed. Twenty-three patients had acute axillary-subclavian venous thrombosis, and 72 patients had chronic occlusion. Thirty-four patients with thoracic outlet syndrome and axillary-subclavian occlusion represented 3.5% of the 969 patients treated for thoracic outlet syndrome during the same period. Nonlethal pulmonary embolization from the axillary-subclavian vein occurred in four patients. Sixty percent of patients were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms during strenuous exercise at last follow-up (mean, 5.4 years). Forty-eight of these 56 patients had received anticoagulation during the acute phase of the disease. Twenty-seven percent of patients had symptoms with moderate exercise and 12.6% had symptoms at rest. Thirteen patients had operations, with improvement demonstrable in 10 patients. All five patients who underwent first rib resection for intermittent venous occlusion or for thoracic outlet syndrome after thrombosis occurred on the contralateral side did well. Axillary-subclavian venous occlusion is a nonlethal disease but late sequelae occur in one third of patients. Early anticoagulation appears to be beneficial and, in some patients with concomitant thoracic outlet syndrome, first rib resection also appears to be helpful. Further data are needed to evaluate results of fibrinolytic treatment, thrombectomy, and venous reconstruction.

Systemic embolism in chronic left ventricular aneurysm: incidence and the role of anticoagulation

The incidence and prevention of systemic embolism in patients with chronic left ventricular aneurysm have been controversial. This retrospective study investigated the incidence of clinically evident embolic events and the effect of oral anticoagulation in patients with unequivocal angiographically defined left ventricular aneurysm. Between 1971 and 1979, 76 patients met the ventriculographic criteria and received initial medical management. The median interval from myocardial infarction to ventriculography was 11 months (range 1 month to 16 years) and subsequent median follow-up time was 5 years. Twenty patients receiving anticoagulant therapy were followed up for a total of 40 patient-years and 69 patients not on anticoagulant therapy were followed up for a total of 288 patient-years; 13 patients were included in both subsets. Twenty-eight patients died during follow-up and the 3 and 5 year survival rates were 75 and 61%, respectively. Only one patient not receiving anticoagulant therapy had a clinical embolic event, resulting in an incidence of 0.35 per 100 patient-years. Therefore, in the absence of other predisposing conditions, the extremely low incidence of systemic emboli in these patients with chronic (first documented at least 1 month after myocardial infarction) left ventricular aneurysm does not justify the use of long-term oral anticoagulant therapy.

Cardiovascular complications of pheochromocytoma crisis

Two patients with hypertensive crises due to pheochromocytoma presented with unusual features suggestive of cardiovascular disorders other than pheochromocytoma. These features included transient cortical blindness and other neurologic deficits, electrocardiographic changes indicative of transmural infarction and peripheral arterial spasm. In both patients the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was made later; removal of the tumor was followed by ready reversal of the clinical and biochemical abnormalities. Management of such cases includes suspicion of the diagnosis in the presence of atypical features, early initiation of therapy with alpha and beta adrenergic blocking agents and a definitive surgical procedure before peripheral vascular changes become irreversible. When an apparent myocardial infarction occurs, the diagnosis of coronary artery disease cannot always be excluded, but rapid stabilization of the clinical and electrocardiographic changes after adrenergic blockade would favor the diagnosis of a catecholamine-induced myocarditis. The coexistence of coronary artery disease and uncontrollable arrhythmias presents an increased risk but, if pheochromocytoma is suspected, surgery may be necessary despite the increased risk.

Conventional repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm in the high-risk patient: a plea for abandonment of nonresective treatment.

Recent reports in the literature have promulgated nonresective treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm as a safer procedure than conventional aneurysmectomy with graft replacement in high-risk patients. This review of 106 high-risk patients who underwent conventional aneurysm repair between 1980 and 1985 was undertaken to compare the relative risks, perioperative morbidity, and operative mortality of these patients to that reported for patients treated by nonresective therapy. Excluded were those patients who had rupture initially or underwent a concomitant renovascular procedure. Patients were considered to be at high risk if they met one or more of the following criteria: age equal to or greater than 85 years; receiving oxygen at home, PO2 less than 50 torr, or forced midexpiratory flow less than 25% of predicted; serum creatinine equal to or greater than 3 mg/dl; biopsy-proven cirrhosis with ascites; retroperitoneal fibrosis; or New York Heart Association functional class III-IV angina, left ventricular ejection fraction less than 30%, recent congestive heart failure, complex ventricular ectopy, large left ventricular aneurysm, severe valvular disease, recurrent congestive heart failure or angina after coronary artery bypass grafting, or severe unreconstructed coronary artery disease confirmed by angiography. The mortality rate for conventional aneurysm repair in high-risk patients was 5.7%, compared with a reported 7% mortality rate for nonresective therapy. In those patients with severe cardiac dysfunction, intraoperative pharmacologic manipulation and the selective use of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation appeared helpful in achieving survival.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Direct replacement of mycotic thoracoabdominal aneurysms

Direct graft replacement with local debridement and prolonged administration of antibiotics was used in the treatment of six patients with mycotic thoracoabdominal aneurysms. The only early death occurred in a patient with systemic sepsis related to Staphylococcus aureus mycotic suprarenal aneurysm. Long-term survival of the remaining patients has been excellent: two patients died of unrelated causes at 5 and 6 years, respectively; one patient remains alive with known persistent infection at 5 years; and the remaining patients are alive with no evidence of infection at 1 1/2 and 10 years, respectively. Percutaneous aspiration of infected perigraft fluid with local instillation of antibiotics along with administration of intravenous antibiotics may provide palliation in selected patients with recurrent infections. In view of the magnitude of the problems associated with recurrent infection, life-time administration of antibiotics is recommended after in situ graft replacement of mycotic thoracoabdominal aneurysms.