Luc Dussaussois

Penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer of the descending thoracic aorta: Treatment by endovascular stent-Graft

Purpose: To present four cases of penetrating ulcer of the descending thoracic aorta treated by transfemoral insertion of an endoluminal stent-graft.Methods: Four patients with penetrating aortic ulcers were reviewed. Three cases were complicated by rupture, false aneurysm, or retrograde dissection. All patients were treated by endovascular stent-graft and were followed by helical computed tomography (CT).Results: Endovascular stent-graft deployment was successful in all patients. However, in one case we observed a perigraft leak that spontaneously disappeared within the first month, and two interventions were needed for another patient. Following treatment, one episode of transient spinal ischemia was observed. The 30-day survival rate was 100%, but one patient died from pneumonia with cardiac failure 34 days after the procedure. In one patient, helical CT performed at 3 months showed a false aneurysm independent of the first ulcer. This patient refused any further treatment and suddenly died at home (unknown cause) after a 6-month follow-up period.Conclusion: Transluminal placement of endovascular stent-grafts for treatment of penetrating ulcers of the descending thoracic aorta appears to be a possible alternative to classical surgery. After treatment, follow-up by CT is essential to detect possible complications of the disease.

Transcatheter Embolization of Pseudoaneurysms Complicating Pancreatitis

AbstractPurpose: To evaluate the therapeutic role of angiography in patients with pseudoaneurysms complicating pancreatitis. Methods: Thirteen symptomatic pseudoaneurysms were treated in nine patients with pancreatitis. Eight patients had chronic pancreatitis and pseudocyst and one had acute pancreatitis. Clinical presentation included gastrointestinal bleeding in seven patients and epigastric pain without bleeding in two. All patients underwent transcatheter embolization. Results: Transcatheter embolization resulted in symptomatic resolution in all patients. Rebleeding occurred in two patients, 18 and 28 days after embolization respectively, and was successfully treated by repeated emnbolization. One patient with severe pancreatitis died from sepsis 28 days after embolization. Follow-up was then available for eight patients with no relapse of bleeding after a mean follow-up of 32 months (range 9—48 months). Conclusion: Transcatheter embolization is safe and effective in the management of pseudoaneurysms complicating pancreatitis.

Percutaneous Treatment of Iatrogenic Iliocaval Fistula Related to Endograft Placement for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

The authors report a case of iatrogenic dissection occurring during endovascular treatment of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The dissection was related to catheterization maneuvers that led to the development of a symptomatic arteriovenous fistula, which was successfully closed by coil embolization.

Imaging of abdominal aortic aneurysms after endoluminal repair

The recently published clinical trials of endoluminal repair of aortic aneurysms underline the need for a close imaging follow-up of patients undergoing these procedures. This article discusses the role of different imaging modalities in the evaluation of these patients.

Embolization of Large Aneurysms with Long Wire Coils

The authors report the experience of using long coils of 2 m length in the management of large anuerysms. Knowledge of the characteristics of these coils is of value for correct placement. These coils are safe and cost-effective for excluding large aneurysms.