K. Grabitz

The risk of ischemic spinal cord injury in patients undergoing graft replacement for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms

PURPOSE We developed a monitoring system to detect spinal cord ischemia during aortic cross-clamping (AXC). This system was used to prospectively determine in which patients ischemia occurs, in which patients reimplantation of intercostal arteries is unnecessary or mandatory, and when reperfusion of intercostal arteries (ICAs) is urgent. METHODS Two hundred sixty patients underwent thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA) repair with simple AXC. In 167 patients, two electrocatheters were placed before the onset of anaesthesia at level L1/L2 (stimulation) and level T5/T6 (recording) within the epidural space. During surgery, spinal cord function was monitored by recording spinal somatosensory evoked potentials (sSSEP). According to the extent of aortic replacement, most patients were expected to have a high risk of paraplegia. RESULTS In group A (59 patients), sSSEP remained normal throughout surgery, and in 54 of these patients ICAs were not reattached outside the proximal aortic anastomosis. In the other five patients ICAs were reimplanted separately because of possible anatomic relation to spinal cord blood supply. No patient in group A had postoperative neurologic deficit. In group B (54 patients) sSSEP remained normal until 15 minutes after AXC but were impaired thereafter. Nineteen patients had early reimplantation of ICAs. Of the 19, three had paraparesis and two had paraplegia. Neurologic deficit developed in the patients without early reimplantation of ICAs. In four patients separate reimplantation of ICAs was performed late in the procedure because of incomplete sSSEP recovery. Subsequently, the sSSEP returned to normal and only one of the four patients had mild paraparesis. The total rate of neurologic deficits in this group was 13% (paraplegia, 3.5%; paraparesis, 9.5%). All 54 patients in group C showed rapid loss of sSSEP within 15 minutes of AXC. In 28 patients ICAs were reimplanted only within the proximal anastomosis. Twenty-one of these patients showed prompt signal recovery after blood-flow release into the reimplanted ICAs, and none had neurologic deficit. Seven patients had no or very late and incomplete sSSEP recovery. Of the seven, three had paraplegia and four had paraparesis. In 26 patients ICAs were reimplanted separately to the proximal anastomosis. This was done early during the procedure in 17 patients, of whom 13 had full recovery of sSSEP and normal neurologic status. Four patients had incomplete or no recurrence of sSSEP, followed by paraplegia in one and paraparesis in three. In nine patients ICAs were reimplanted after the aortic replacement had been completed because of sSSEP recovery was not satisfactory. In all patients in this subgroup sSSEP returned to normal. Six patients had a normal neurologic status and three had mild paraparesis. The total neurologic complication rate in group C was 26% (paraplegia, 7.5%; paraparesis, 18.5%). CONCLUSION The risk of ischemic spinal cord injury during replacement for TAA can be assessed continuously by monitoring the sSSEP directly from the spinal cord. Patients without sSSEP changes during aortic reconstruction do not require ICA reattachment and will not have neurologic deficit. Patients who lose sSSEP after AXC are at risk for paraplegia. Patients with impairment or loss of sSSEP >15 minutes after AXC have some collateral vessels, and must have ICAs reimplanted only if sSSEP do not return within normal recovery time after blood-flow release into the proximal anastomosis. Loss of sSSEP within 15 minutes of AXC shows poor collateralization and mandates early restoration of spinal cord blood supply. If the surgeon can achieve the return of sSSEP to normal by subsequent separate reimplantation of ICAS, paraplegia will not occur and paraparesis will be rare and mild. Spinal cord monitoring is a valuable guide to detect whether the spinal cord is at risk and to take measures against par

Surgical treatment of septic deep venous thrombosis

BACKGROUND Septic deep venous thrombosis (SDVT) is an uncommon but occasionally lethal disease caused by systemic complications. In most cases reported in the literature SDVT is caused by intravenous drug abuse or transvenous catheter lines. Conservative management with antibiotic drugs and systemic anticoagulation is usually successful, and the surgical approach is regarded as not indicated or unnecessary. Occasionally, however, conservative management fails, thrombosis progresses, and septic embolism develops. METHODS In a 7-year period five patients (three male and two female; mean age, 21.2 years), three with severe systemic complications of SDVT (femoropopliteal, 1; iliofemoral, 1; iliofemoral+vena cava, 3), were treated by venous thrombectomy in addition to intravenous antibiotic administration. Simultaneous transabdominal caval thrombectomy was performed twice. RESULTS Two patients suffered from respiratory failure caused by previous septic embolization. One patient had experienced multiorgan failure before thrombectomy was performed. Intensive care was necessary for all patients (mean, 28 days). All patients survived. CONCLUSIONS In complicated cases of SDVT without improvement or even impairment after conservative management, venous thrombectomy is a lifesaving treatment.

Single-center experience with open surgical treatment of 36 infected aneurysms of the thoracic, thoracoabdominal, and abdominal aorta.

BACKGROUND To describe a single-center experience with open surgical treatment of infected aortic aneurysms. We analyzed risk factors for 90-day mortality. METHODS Between 1983 and 2008, 4,410 patients underwent open surgery for thoracic, thoracoabdominal, or abdominal aneurysm at our institution. Primary infection of the aneurysm was suspected because of clinical signs of infection in combination with typical radiological and morphological aspects in 66 patients (1.5%). In all, 36 patients displayed 10 different kinds of organisms in cultures of blood and/or intraoperative specimens and were further analyzed. RESULTS The group consisted of 23 men and 13 women, with a mean age of 66.8 ± 8 (50-84) years. Location of the aneurysm was thoracic in five patients (14%), thoracoabdominal in 13 patients (36%), and abdominal in 18 patients (50%). Eleven patients (28%) were treated before and 25 (72%) after 1995. We found free rupture in three cases; contained rupture into surrounding tissue in 23 cases (64%); penetration into lung, bronchus, esophagus, or inferior vena cava in five cases; and an intact aneurysm in another five cases. Kinds of surgery were as follows: extra-anatomic revascularization in four patients (11%), Dacron patch plasty in four patients (11%), in situ revascularization in 24 patients (66%), and four patients died during surgery before reconstruction (11%). In all, 13 patients died during hospital stay (36%). In 25 patients treated after 1995, 90-day mortality was 24% and was significantly better (p < 0.05) than the rate of 64% in 11 patients treated before 1995. Outcome depended on status of rupture: all patients with free rupture, three of five patients (60%) with rupture into an organ, seven of 23 patients (30%) with contained rupture into the surrounding tissue, but no patient with intact aneurysm died. Age, gender, bacterium, location of the aneurysm, and method of surgical treatment did not influence 90-day mortality. During follow-up, 18 patients died after a mean of 56 ± 49 months. One patient died because of an infected aortic prosthesis. CONCLUSIONS Outcome of patients with infected aortic aneurysms has improved during the last 15 years and depends on the status of rupture at time of surgery. Therefore, only early diagnosis and early treatment can further improve the prognosis.

Surgical Treatment for Agenesis of the Vena Cava: A Single-centre Experience in 15 Cases

OBJECTIVE Agenesis of the inferior vena cava (IVC) is a rare vascular malformation. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and bilateral pelvic thrombosis develop quite frequently, making surgical therapy necessary. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between 1982 and 2006, 15 patients (nine male, six female, mean age 28 standard deviance 9 years) with agenesis of the IVC (IVCA) were treated surgically because of acute or subacute DVT. These patients underwent bilateral transfemoral ante- and retrograde thrombectomy of the iliofemoral and sometimes popliteal veins and replacement of the IVC with an external ring supported PTFE-graft. Bi- or unilateral arteriovenous fistulae were created in the femoral region. The fistulae were closed, on average, 8 months after trans-arterial venography was performed. These patients were examined clinically and by duplex ultrasound imaging during follow-up to assess graft patency and to allow CEAP classification. Patients were assessed for the development of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). RESULTS No patient died during any part of their treatment or within 60 days. Primary patency of the venous reconstruction was 53%, secondary and long time follow-up patency was 83%. The mean duration of follow-up was 41 SD 12 months. Minor complications were observed in five cases (33%). PTS showed no progression during a follow-up of 41 SD 12 months in all patients. There was no change in the CEAP clinical stage during follow-up nor did any leg ulcer develop. CONCLUSION A surgical approach to restore venous patency is effective and appears to prevent the deterioration of CVI over time.

Ergebnisse der konventionellen chirurgischen Therapie des abdominellen Aortenaneurysmas seit Beginn der „endovasculären Ära“

Summary.Introduction: In 1990 the new method of endovascular graft treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) emerged. For this reason we analyzed the results of open surgery for AAA in our department to consider the question of standard therapy. Methods: In a retrospective study the medical data of 941 consecutive patients treated by open surgery in a single center from 1990 to 1997 (mean age 67 years, 14.5 % female, 3.2 % suprarenal AAA) were analyzed. Operations were performed electively in 778 asymptomatic patients, urgently in 104 symptomatic patients, and as emergency operations (immediately after admission) in 59 symptomatic patients (45 patients presenting with rupture). Results: Mortality was 1.54 % (elective operations), 8.65 % (urgent operations), and 35.6 % (emergency operations, rupture). Morbidity was 15.9 % (elective operations), 28.8 % (urgent operations), and 66.7 % (emergency operations, rupture). Mortality was not increased in patients undergoing additional procedures of the renal, iliac, femoral, or crural arteries. Conclusion: Because of its low mortality and morbidity today open surgical repair remains the standard therapy for AAA.Zusammenfassung.Einleitung: Anfang der 90er Jahre kam die endovasculäre Stentimplantation als neuartige Methode zur Behandlung des abdominellen Aortenaneurysmas (AAA) auf. Dies bot uns Anlaß, die eigenen Ergebnisse der offenen Chirurgie des AAA zu überprüfen, um die Frage der Standardtherapie des AAA neu zu überdenken. Methoden: Die medizinischen Daten von 941 konsekutiven Patienten mit AAA, die in unserer Klinik von 1990–1997 offen chirurgisch behandelt wurden (Durchschnittsalter 67 Jahre, 6 % über 80 Jahre, 14,5 % Frauen, 3,2 % suprarenale AAA), wurden retrospektiv analysiert. 778 asymtomatische Patienten wurden elektiv, 104 symptomatische Patienten wurden dringlich, und 59 symptomatische Patienten (davon 45 mit Perforation) wurden als Notfall operiert. Ergebnisse: Die Letalität betrug bei elektiven Operationen 1,54 %, bei dringlichen Operationen 8,65 % und bei Notfällen mit perforiertem AAA (unverzügliche Operation nach Aufnahme in die Klinik) 35,6 %. Die Morbidität lag bei elektiven Eingriffen bei 15,9 %, bei dringlichen Operationen bei 28,8 % und bei Notfalloperationen mit perforiertem AAA bei 66,7 %. Für Patienten mit zusätzlichen Eingriffen an Nieren-, Becken- und Beinarterien sowie Kombinationseingriffen in anderen Operationsgebieten war die Letalität im Vergleich zum Durchschnitt nicht erhöht. Schlußfolgerung: Aufgrund der niedrigen Letalität und Morbidität stellt die offene Chirurgie auch heute den gültigen Standard der AAA-Behandlung dar.

Reconstructive surgery for carotid artery occlusive disease in the elderly--a high risk operation?

Patients over 80 yr of age may require carotid surgery for symptomatic or critical asymptomatic carotid artery occlusive disease.A total of 2262 operations were performed between 1990 and 1999; 76 (3.4%) were carotid reconstructions in 70 patients over 80 yr of age. Twenty patients (26%) presented with asymptomatic critical stenosis. Transient ischemic symptoms were the reason for presentation in 35 patients (46%). Progressive stroke was documented in two patients (3%) and a stroke with persisting neurological deficit was demonstrated in 19 cases (25%). Coronary artery disease was present in 47 patients (38%) and arterial hypertension in 55 (72%). Fifty-nine patients (84%) were classified as ASA group 3. Seventy-one thromboendarterectomies of the carotid bifurcation with vein-patch closure were performed. Five patients had other types of reconstruction. Simultaneous operations (aorto-coronary vein-bypass, aortic interposition graft etc.) were performed in nine patients. Postoperative complications occurred in three patients. One had a transient neurological deficit and another a lethal stroke; the third patient died from myocardial infarction. The in-hospital mortality was 2.9%, which was not significantly higher than the results of the other 2186 reconstructions (1.5%). Surgery for carotid artery occlusive disease can be safely performed in selected patients of more than 80 yr of age.

Thrombectomy with arteriovenous fistula for embolizing deep venous thrombosis: an alternative therapy for prevention of recurrent pulmonary embolism.

SummaryThrombectomy with arteriovenous fistula was performed between 1977 and 1988 in 103 patients (41 females, 62 males, mean age 46.7 years, 114 involved extremities) with embolizing deepvein thrombosis (DVT). The sole aim of the surgical procedure was prevention of recurrent embolization. On the basis of the proximal extent of the thrombosis the source of embolization was identified as the iliac veins or inferior vena cava in 63% of the patients; 48% presented with a postphlebitic vein and/or an older thrombosis, and 46% had already had recurrent pulmonary emboli. Unsuccessful aggressive procedures had been carried out previously in 11%. The rate of intraoperative pulmonary embolism (PE) was 3 % (one fatal case). The perioperative mortality was 6.8%, but only one death was related to the surgical treatment itself. During follow-up (8–140 months postoperatively, mean 55±34 months) late recurrent PE was confirmed in two patients (antithrombin III deficiency, contralateral DVT) and was reported as the suspected cause of death in a third (3.6%). Venous thrombectomy with arteriovenous fistula is a reliable and effective procedure for management of embolizing DVT and is indicated especially in young patients. The rates of early- and late-recurrent PE are low, introduction of artificial material into the vein can be avoided, and long-term preservation of valve function is occasionally possible.

Results of surgical treatment for atherosclerotic renovascular occlusive disease.

In this study we retrospectively examined the results of surgery for atherosclerotic renal artery lesions and analysed the factors that may affect postoperative blood pressure response, changes in renal function and late mortality. A total of 326 patients were operated on over a 15 year period and were followed up for periods from 4 to 165 months (mean follow-up time: 37.2 months). An extra renal vascular area was also involved in 91.4% of cases and in 187 (57.3%) a significant involvement of both renal arteries was found and simultaneously treated. Combined revascularisation of other arteries was performed in 50.3% of patients. The indications for surgery were the treatment of extreme hypertension in 243 patients (74.5%), the improvement of renal function in 45 with renal insufficiency, and preservation of the kidney in 38 (11.7%). The preferred method of reconstruction was transaortic endarterectomy (236 cases, i.e. 72.4%) and postoperative angiography demonstrated a normal patent renal artery in 319 of 338 studied renal arteries (94.4%). There were no deaths in the early postoperative period after isolated renal artery reconstruction. Of the 164 patients with simultaneous renal and aortic reconstruction however 14 died during the early postoperative phase. The overall early mortality was thus 4.3% (14 out of 326 patients) and correlated significantly with the extent of the atherosclerotic disease, the age of the patients, the operative technique used and the different intra- and postoperative management during the two different periods of our experience (1974-1980 v. 1981-1989).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Langzeitergebnisse nach Operation eines Bauchaortenaneurysmas im Alter über 80 Jahre

Zusammenfassung In einem Zehnjahreszeitraum von 1985–1995 wurden 51 Patienten im Alter über 80 (82,3 ± 2,0) Jahre in der Klinik für Gefäßchirurgie und Nierentransplantation der Universität Düsseldorf an einem Bauchaortenaneurysma operiert; 34 Patienten wurden elektiv bei asymptomatischen oder symptomatischen intakten Aneurysma operiert; 17mal erfolgte die Operation bei Aneurysmaruptur. Von diesen 51 Patienten konnte für 50 die Überlebenszeit postoperativ eruiert werden, und von 44 konnte eine vollständige Nachuntersuchung bezüglich Begleiterkrankungen, postoperativer Komplikationen, neu eingetretener Pflegebedürftigkeit und postoperativer Gesamtliegezeit erstellt werden. Die 30-Tage-Letalität des Eingriffs betrug bei elektiver Operation 5,9%, bei Aneurysmaruptur 64,7%. Eine neu aufgetretene Pflegebedürftigkeit wurde bei 9,4% der elektiv Operierten beobachtet. Die Überlebenskurve nach Kaplan-Meier zeigt für elektiv Operierte (n = 33) eine Überlebensrate von 81% für 1 Jahr, von 56% für 3 Jahre und von 42% für 5 Jahre. Nach Aneurysmaruptur (n = 17) weisen die den Eingriff überlebenden Patienten eine Lebenserwartung auf, welche jener der elektiv Operierten entspricht. Ein spezielles Risikoprofil präoperativ bestehender Begleiterkrankungen, welche die Langzeitprognose nach dem Eingriff belasten, konnte nicht erstellt werden. Die Ergebnisse rechtfertigen die elektive Operation eines Bauchaorten-aneurysmas im Alter über 80 Jahre. Auch bei Aneurysmaruptur sollte kein Patient von der Operation ausgeschlossen werden. Die Letalität des Elektiveingriffs entspricht weitgehend der in anderen Altersgruppen; die Lebenserwartung ist im Vergleich zur über 80jährigen Gesamtbevölkerung nicht wesentlich vermindert.Abstract Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in patients 80 years of age and older (82.3 ± 2.0 years) was performed in 51 patients over a period of 10 years from 1985 to 1995; 34 of these patients underwent elective aneurysm repair and 17 emergency operations for rupture. Of these 51 patients, 50 cases were reviewed for long-term survival, and 44 case reports were reviewed for preoperative risk factors, postoperative complications, discharge to nursing homes and duration of hospitalisation. After 30 days, the mortality for asymptomatic or symptomatic intact aneurysm repair was 5.9%; in the case of emergency repair for rupture the mortality was 64.7%. After elective operations 9.4% of the patients were discharged to nursing homes. All patients who survived emergency operations went on to live normal lives in their previous housing areas. The survival probability was 81% for 1 year, 56% for 3 years, and 42% for 5 years. After surviving the emergency operation, life expectancy was similar to the group of elective aneurysm repair. The analysis did not show any risk factors with predictive value for long-term survival after elective surgery. The results justify elective abdominal aneurysm repair in octogenarians. Even in the case of aneurysm rupture every patient should be operated on. The mortality in elective surgery did not differ very much from that of other patients younger than 80 years old, and life expectancy after surgery was similar to the general population of 80 years of age and older.

Use of the Electrospinogram for Predicting Harmful Spinal Cord Ischemia during Repair of Thoracic or Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms

BackgroundTo reduce the incidence of misleading assessments, and to derive criteria for critical spinal cord ischemia during thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair, the authors epidurally stimulated and recorded somatosensory evoked potentials (ESEP) below and above, respectively, the spinal segment at risk (electrospinogram). MethodsEpidural somatosensory evoked potentials were analyzed in 100 consecutive patients undergoing resection of aortic aneurysms using two bipolar catheters (stimulation at the L2 level and recording at the T3 level) for the following criteria: 1) the time until ESEP disappeared completely after cross clamping, 2) the duration of complete ESEP loss during and after cross clamping, and 3) the time until ESEP recovered after declamping. Postoperatively, neurologic deficits were evaluated by a neurologist who was unaware of the ESEP recordings. ResultsThree types of patients could be identified. First, thirty-one patients neither showed ESEP loss nor neurologic deficits. Second, ESEP loss occurring later than 15 min after cross clamping was associated with a neurologic deficit in 2 of 29 patients (6.9%). And, third, 12 of 40 patients (30%) presented a neurologic deficit when ESEP loss occurred within 15 min after cross clamping. Further indicators of an impending risk were a total ESEP loss greater than 40 min (sensitivity 100%, specificity 68%, positive predictive value [PPV] 35%, and negative predictive value [NPV] 100%), and a recovery of ESEP later than 20 min after declamping (sensitivity 93%, specificity 86%, PPV 52%, and NPV 99%). ConclusionsEpidural somatosensory evoked potentials appeared to be a reasonable intraoperative predictor of postoperative neurologic outcome, and informs surgeons and anesthesiologists about the impending danger at an early state of the operation.