Johnny Steuer

Early and Long-term Outcome after Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) for Acute Complicated Type B Aortic Dissection

OBJECTIVES The study aimed to investigate early and long-term outcome of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for acute complicated type B dissection. DESIGN This was a retrospective, single-centre, consecutive case series. MATERIALS AND METHODS During the period 1999-2009, TEVAR was carried out in 50 patients with non-traumatic acute complicated type B dissection, and in another 10 patients with acute complications, including rupture, end-organ ischaemia and acute dilatation during the primary hospitalisation, but >14 days after onset of symptoms. Thus, in total, 60 patients were included; 22 with a DeBakey type IIIa dissection and 38 with a type IIIb; median age was 67 years. Early (30-day) and long-term (5-year) survival, re-intervention rate and complications were recorded until 1 July 2010. RESULTS Within 30 days, two (3%) deaths, one (2%) paraplegia and three (5%) strokes were observed. Five-year survival was 87% and freedom from re-intervention at 5 years was 65%. CONCLUSIONS In patients with acute complicated type B aortic dissection, TEVAR can be performed with excellent early and long-term survival, whereas morbidity and long-term durability must be further elucidated.

Distinction between acute and chronic type B aortic dissection: is there a sub-acute phase?

OBJECTIVES This study aims to assess the relevance of the definition of acute dissection, to analyse whether there is a sub-acute phase and to determine early outcome of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in acute complicated type B aortic dissection. DESIGN Dual-centre consecutive case series. MATERIALS Between 1999 and 2011, 102 patients underwent TEVAR for non-traumatic acute complicated type B dissection in Zurich, Switzerland, and Uppsala, Sweden. In addition, 22 patients treated for an acute dissection-related complication occurring >14 days after onset of symptoms were included. Median age was 68 years, 35% were women. METHODS Demographic, procedural and outcome data were collected prospectively. The patients were followed up on 1 January 2012. RESULTS In the 22 sub-acute patients (18%), there were no early deaths or neurological complications. The predominant complication in these patients was rapid aortic enlargement, whereas rupture was more prevalent in patients treated within 14 days. In total, there were nine (7%) early deaths, three (2%) post-intervention paraplegias and six cases of stroke (5%). CONCLUSIONS TEVAR was performed with low early mortality and few neurological complications. A significant proportion of patients presented with acute complications >14 days after onset of symptoms, indicative of a sub-acute phase in the transition between acute and chronic dissection, questioning the relevance of the current definition.

Hospital readmission after coronary artery bypass grafting : are women doing worse?

BACKGROUND In studies of gender effects on outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting, early mortality has consistently tended to be higher among women, whereas long-term results have varied. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of hospital readmission and assess the effect of gender. METHODS Between 1987 and 1996, 7,493 patients were discharged alive after primary coronary artery bypass grafting and were followed up to the first readmission, date of death, or December 31, 1996. The hazard ratios for the risk factors found were used to calculate a readmission risk score. RESULTS A total of 4,780 (63.8%) patients were readmitted. The fraction not readmitted within 1, 5, and 10 years were 61%, 29%, and 14% (95% confidence intervals = 60 to 62, 28 to 30, and 12 to 16), respectively. The risk of readmission was highest early after operation and then gradually decreased. Older age, active smoking, diabetes, previous myocardial infarction, unstable angina, dyspnea, severe left ventricular dysfunction, advanced New York Heart Association functional class, bypass time of 2 hours or more, and length of stay all independently increased the risk of readmission. Female sex was a significant risk factor in univariate but not in multivariate analysis. In all age groups, women had a one unit higher risk score. Given the same risk score, the risk of readmission was similar between sexes. CONCLUSIONS This study showed an acceptable risk of readmission after coronary artery bypass grafting. Women more often had risk factors related to readmission. However, given identical disease severity, the risk was similar in men and women.

Morphologic outcome after endovascular treatment of complicated type B aortic dissection.

PURPOSE To investigate the long-term morphologic changes of the aorta after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for acute complicated type B aortic dissection and to analyze whether these changes differed between DeBakey class IIIa and IIIb dissections. MATERIALS AND METHODS During the period 1999-2009, 58 patients with acute complicated type B aortic dissection were treated with TEVAR. Seven patients lacked follow-up data, leaving 51 patients-17 patients with DeBakey IIIa aortic dissection and 34 patients with DeBakey IIIa aortic dissection IIIb-for inclusion in the study. Computed tomography scans performed before and after TEVAR were evaluated. Maximum thoracic and abdominal aortic diameters and diameters of the true lumen and false lumen at the level of the maximum aortic diameter in the thorax and abdomen were analyzed as well as degree of thrombosis of the false lumen. RESULTS There was an overall significant reduction of the thoracic aortic diameter, increased true lumen diameter, and reduced false lumen diameter (P < .05). Total thrombosis of the false lumen, with or without reintervention, was seen in 53% of all patients, in 41% primarily and in 12% after reintervention. The IIIa group had a higher degree of total false lumen thrombosis. All patients in the IIIb group had total thrombosis of the false lumen along the stent graft. CONCLUSIONS Long-term follow-up showed favorable aortic remodeling after TEVAR for acute complicated type B aortic dissection. Total thrombosis of the false lumen occurred more often in patients with DeBakey IIIa aortic dissection compared with patients with DeBakey IIIb aortic dissection.

Percutaneous Closure of Large Femoral Artery Access with Prostar XL in Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair

OBJECTIVES To investigate the technical success rate of Prostar XL for closure of large (≥20F) femoral vascular access sites in thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) procedures. METHODS This was a single-center consecutive case series. All TEVAR procedures at Uppsala University Hospital 2006-2010 were registered prospectively. Reoperations and cases with open closure technique were excluded. Primary (early) technical failure was defined as closure failure requiring immediate (on-table) open surgical repair; late access-related complication occurred thereafter. The medical records, pre- and postoperative computed tomography images were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS A total of 164 TEVAR procedures were identified, of which 118 (71%) had a median 22F (range 20-26F) access site sealed with tandem Prostar XL. The indications for TEVAR were dissection (47%), aneurysm (42%), trauma (8%), and miscellaneous (3%). Median follow-up time was 10 months (range 1-62). Primary technical failure occurred in 10 of 118 (8%). These cases were converted to cut-downs and surgical repair (n = 7), femoral fascia suturing (n = 2), and external compression with the Femo-Stop device (n = 1). Hypertension was associated with primary failure (p = .005), and a trend was observed for high age (p = .078) and increased groin subcutaneous fat layer (p = .077). Late access-related complications included pseudo-aneurysms (n = 12), small hematomas (n = 7), superficial groin infections (n = 2), and deep venous thrombosis (n = 1). None of the late complications required surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS The access closure technique with tandem Prostar XL for large access sites during TEVAR is safe, in experienced hands. Few technical failures and few late complications occur, and they are usually benign.

Editor's Choice – Durability of Endovascular Repair in Blunt Traumatic Thoracic Aortic Injury: Long-Term Outcome from Four Tertiary Referral Centers

OBJECTIVES To analyze the early and long-term survival and re-intervention rate in patients undergoing TEVAR for blunt traumatic thoracic aortic injury. METHODS This was a consecutive case series. Between the years 2001 and 2010, a total of 74 patients underwent TEVAR for blunt traumatic thoracic aortic injury at four tertiary referral centers, three in Sweden and one in Switzerland. The median age of the patients was 41 years, and 16% were women. Demographic, procedural, and outcome data were collected and reviewed retrospectively. The patients were followed up during 2013-2014. RESULTS Early (30 day) mortality was 9% (7 patients), with only two cases directly related to the aortic injury; in hospital mortality was 14% as three patients died during the primary hospital admission within the first 6 months. Most patients had sustained severe injuries to other organ systems, and among all in hospital deaths brain injury was the predominant cause. Five year survival in the whole group was 81%. Re-intervention was needed in 16% (12 patients) during the first year, half of them within the first month. Only one patient underwent re-intervention more than 1 year after the initial procedure. Infolding and partial stentgraft collapse was the reason for the secondary procedure in five of the 13 patients; in three it occurred within 3 weeks of the acute TEVAR. CONCLUSION TEVAR allows rapid and effective therapy in trauma patients with blunt aortic injury. The outcome is dependent on the severity of the concomitant injuries. The treatment is durable during the first decade after the procedure, but even longer follow up is needed to determine the impact of TEVAR in young patients on the degenerative changes that take place in the aging aorta.

Increased risk of heart failure as a consequence of perioperative myocardial injury after coronary artery bypass grafting

Objective: To analyse the relation between perioperative myocardial injury (PMI) and the risk of subsequent heart failure after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Design and setting: Clinical data were documented prospectively in all patients and stored in a computer. All hospital readmissions were identified and the registered primary diagnoses were analysed. Survival information on all patients was obtained by use of combined registers. The study was carried out at the cardiac surgical referral centre of University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. Patients: 7493 patients discharged alive after primary CABG between 1987 and 1996 were followed up until the first hospital readmission for heart failure, death, or 31 December 1996 was reached. Main outcome measures: Hospital readmission for heart failure or late mortality. Results: Of the patients studied 576 (7.7%) were readmitted for heart failure. Actuarial freedom from readmission for heart failure after four years was 93%, and after seven years, 89%. Of the 576 patients, 114 (20%) had had PMI, which increased the risk of heart failure independently (hazard ratio (HR) 2.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8 to 2.8). Increased age, female sex, diabetes, previous myocardial infarction, dyspnoea, preoperative atrial fibrillation, left ventricular dysfunction, and triple vessel disease were independent risk factors for heart failure. The use of an internal mammary artery decreased the risk. PMI implied increased mortality (HR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.8). Late mortality was greatly increased in patients readmitted for heart failure. Conclusion: PMI increased the risk of heart failure and late death after CABG, and heart failure had a notable adverse effect on late survival.

Endovascular grafts for abdominal aortic aneurysm

During the last two decades, endovascular technology has revolutionized the management of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Today, endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) is the treatment of choice for the majority of patients with an AAA. Randomized controlled trials provide robust evidence for the indication of AAA repair and the rationale for the use of EVAR in selected patients. However, despite that, practice varies and several areas need further elucidation. Important future challenges and areas of research include the role of medical therapy in AAA, whether the indication for repair should be any different in women and in the elderly, and long-term follow-up of patients undergoing complex EVAR with adjuncts, both for elective treatment and for ruptured AAA. Continuous rapid technical and clinical development is to be expected. In this paper, we review the current practice and evidence of stenting in AAA.

Predilation technique with balloon angioplasty to facilitate percutaneous groin access of large size sheath through scar tissue.

Purpose Percutaneous remote access for endovascular aortic repair is an advantageous alternative to open access. Previous surgery in the femoral region and the presence of synthetic vascular grafts in the femoral/iliac arteries represent major limitations to percutaneous remote access. The aim of this study was to evaluate an original technique used for enabling percutaneous remote access for thoracic or abdominal endovascular aortic repair in patients with scar tissue and/or a vascular graft in the groin. Methods Twenty-five consecutive patients with a thoracic (11/25; 44%) or an aortic aneurysm (14/25; 66%) and with a synthetic vascular graft in the groin (16/25; 64%) or a redo groin access (9/25; 36%) were managed through the percutaneous remote access. In all patients, a percutaneous transluminal angioplasty balloon was used to predilate the scar tissue and the femoral artery or the synthetic vascular graft after preclosing (ProGlide®; Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA, USA). In 10 patients, requiring a 20 Fr sheath, a 6 mm percutaneous transluminal angioplasty balloon was used; and in the remaining 15, requiring a 24 Fr sheath, an 8 mm percutaneous transluminal angioplasty balloon. Preclosing was exclusively performed using ProGlide®. Mean follow-up was 15 months. Results In all cases, stent-graft deployment was successful. There was one surgical conversion (4%; 1/25) due to bleeding from a femoral anastomosis. Two cases required additional percutaneous maneuvers (postclosing with another system in one patient and endoluminal shielding with stent-graft in the other patient). No pseudoaneurysm or access complication occurred during the follow-up. Conclusions Percutaneous access in redo groins with scar tissue and/or synthetic vascular graft using ultrasound-guided punction, preclosing with ProGlide® system and predilation with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty balloon to introduce large size sheath as used for endovascular aortic repair showed to be feasible, safe and with few local complications.

Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Levels and Activity Decrease After Intervention in Patients with Critical Limb Ischaemia

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND Patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD), in particular critical limb ischaemia (CLI), carry a high risk of thrombotic events. We hypothesised that patients undergoing conservative, endovascular, or open surgical treatment for CLI have increased levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), leading to a prothrombotic state. The objective was to determine levels of PAI-1 in patients with acute or chronic PAOD/CLI. METHODS Thirty-two patients with a median age of 74 (49-90) years were included. Three underwent thrombolysis for acute limb-threatening ischaemia. Twenty-six patients with chronic ischaemia received endovascular (n = 20) or open (n = 6) surgical treatment. Three were treated conservatively. Biomarkers and ankle brachial index (ABI) were measured before and up to 1 month after intervention. Patency was studied with repeated duplex ultrasound. RESULTS Ankle pressure and ABI improved after intervention (p < .001). C-reactive protein (CRP) increased from a median of 7.90 mg/L at baseline to 31.5 on day 1 (p < .001), 28.0 on day 6 (p < .001), and returned to baseline levels on day 30. PAI-1 antigen and activity decreased from day 6 and onwards post-intervention compared with baseline (p < .05). A great individual variability in PAI-1 antigen and activity was observed. Although most actively treated patients had normal PAI-1 activity, 11/29 (38%) were above that level of normality at baseline, 10/24 (42%) on day 1, 3/23 (13%) on day 6, and 5/27 (19%) on day 30 after intervention. CONCLUSION Endovascular and open surgical treatment resulted in improved ankle pressure and ABI. The intervention was followed by a transient increase in CRP and a sustained reduction in PAI-1 levels and activity.