Jeremiah H. Holleman

Spontaneous splanchnic dissection: Application and timing of therapeutic options

BACKGROUND Spontaneous splanchnic dissection (SSD) occurs infrequently and has a poorly defined natural history. Few studies address the application, timing, and consequences of therapeutic options. Our goal was to apply conservative (non-operative) management in the care of each patient, reserving interventions for specific indications that may be predictive of adverse outcomes. METHODS Between 2003 and 2008, 10 consecutive patients (mean age 54.7-years-old, 70.0% male) presented with 11 SSDs involving either the celiac artery (n = 6), superior mesenteric artery (n = 3), or both (n = 1). Each patient had acute, spontaneous onset of persistent abdominal pain and was diagnosed with SSD following multidetector row computed tomographic angiography (CTA). Non-operative management (anticoagulation, anti-impulse therapy, analgesics, and serial CTA examinations) was initially used in 9 patients. Endovascular (n = 2) or operative (n = 2) intervention was performed either immediately (n = 1) or following failed medical management (n = 3) in 4 patients for specific indications that included persistent symptoms (n = 3), expansion of false lumen (n = 3), and/or radiologic malperfusion (n = 3). RESULTS All patients were asymptomatic after successful non-operative management or following intervention. No morbidity occurred. Upon complete follow-up (mean 13.4 months, range, 2 to 36 months), all patients remained asymptomatic. Preservation of distal perfusion with either thrombosis or ongoing regression of false lumen was achieved in 5 patients who received only non-operative management and in 4 patients following intervention. A stable chronic dissection was present in 1 patient who had only non-operative management. CONCLUSION Successful outcomes following SSD may be achieved with either non-operative therapy alone or intervention if persistent symptoms, expansion of false lumen, and/or malperfusion occur. The unpredictable response of the false lumen to conservative management mandates close, long-term follow-up. Endovascular and operative interventions produced similar outcomes in a small number of patients with limited follow-up. Although SSD is currently perceived as rare, the increasing use of CTA may prove that the true incidence has been underestimated.

Evaluation of the redesigned conformable GORE TAG thoracic endoprosthesis for traumatic aortic transection

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the conformable GORE TAG thoracic endoprosthesis (CTAG) device (W. L. Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, Ariz) for the endovascular repair of traumatic aortic transections. METHODS A prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter trial was conducted at 21 sites. Primary safety end points included 30-day all-cause mortality. The effectiveness end point was freedom from a major device event requiring reintervention through 1-month follow-up. RESULTS Fifty-one subjects were enrolled between December 2009 and January 2011 with polytraumatic injuries and a mean Injury Severity Score of 32 ± 14. The proximal mean intimal aortic diameter measured 24 mm, while the mean distal intimal diameter was 22 mm. A total of 57 CTAG devices were implanted (mean, 1.1/subject; range, 1-2) with a mean patient age of 44 years (range, 21-87) and a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. Technical success was 100% with an operative mortality of 0%. Femoral access was utilized in 96% of patients. The mean procedure time and blood loss was 105 minutes and 148 mL, respectively. All subjects required admission to an intensive care unit with a mean hospital stay of 14.6 days. Adjuvant techniques (ie, lumbar drains and induced hypertension) to prevent paraplegia were used in only 7.8% of patients. No patient developed paraplegia despite 63% having complete or partial left subclavian artery coverage and only 9% of those receiving left subclavian artery revascularization. In addition, there were no device compressions or major device events reported. Overall mortality at 30 days was 7.8%, and all were adjudicated by the clinical events committee as not being device or procedure related. Serious adverse events occurred in 39.2% of patients through 30 days. To date, there have been no conversions to open repair. Two site-reported endoleaks were detected during the mean follow-up of 4.2 months, which did not require reintervention. CONCLUSIONS The CTAG device was demonstrated to be a safe and effective treatment for traumatic aortic transection based on 30-day outcomes. There were no device-related serious adverse events.

Current Status of Endovascular Aneurysm Repair: 20 Years of Learning

Parodi first introduced endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in 1991 and since that time it has been shown to have a lower 30-day morbididty and mortality compared to open surgery. Anatomic constraints governed by the need for adequate access vessels, and sufficient proximal and distal landing zones, as well as the need for long-term surveillance, have been the main limitations of this technology. Anatomic factors were initially estimated to exclude 40% of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The rapid extension of EVAR technology has been complimented by improved access to both high-quality imaging modalities and a variety of endografts. These developments have led EVAR to become a more practical alternative for patients with ruptured AAA. Early data in this setting is encouraging with even more profound reductions in morbidity and mortality than seen in the elective repair.

Use of a percutaneous septal occlusion device to exclude a juxta-renal pseudoaneurysm of the abdominal aorta

Abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm is an uncommon, but challenging condition. The most common etiologies are either trauma or iatrogenic repair via open surgery, endovascular aortic cuff, and exclusion via placement of coils has been described. We describe a case of a juxta-renal aortic pseudoaneurysm following aorto-bi-iliac bypass grafting that was successfully excluded by endovascular placement of a percutaneous septal occlusion device.