Matteo Azzarone

Endovascular treatment of an innominate artery iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm following subclavian vein catheterization.

Central venous catheterization is routinely required in a wide range of clinical situations such as hemodynamic monitoring, delivery of blood products and drugs, hemodialysis, total parental nutrition, and management of perioperative fluids. Pseudoaneurysms account for 4% of all innominate artery aneurysms. Clinical presentation may include airway and neurological compression, chest pain, mediastinal syndrome, upper limb ischemia, and hemodynamic instability. We report what we believe is the first documented case of a successful endovascular stent-graft repair of an innominate artery iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm.

Clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic features in patients with major arterial vascular disease assigned to surgical revascularization.

BACKGROUND Preoperative cardiac assessment may essentially contribute to estimate the operative risk in vascular surgery.This study was undertaken to depict the clinical conditions and cardiac status in patients before elective major vascular surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS 143 patients with asymptomatic critical aortic abdominal aneurysm, 119 with high-grade carotid stenosis, and 138 with advanced symptomatic ischemia due to peripheral artery disease were assigned to surgical revascularization. Preoperatively, all subjects completed detailed medical history, physical and laboratory examinations, electrocardiogram, and transthoracic echocardiography. RESULTS In patients with peripheral artery disease we identified more smokers (p < 0.05), diabetes (p < 0.01), hypertriglyceridemia (p < 0.05), previous myocardial infarction (p < 0.01); the asymptomatic aortic abdominal aneurysm group had a higher body mass index (p < 0.05), diastolic hypertension (p < 0.05), and most had left ventricular anterior hemiblocks (p < 0.001). Patients with critical carotid stenosis were older (p < 0.01), with greater systolic hypertension (p < 0.01), and with a less compromised left ventricular systolic function. CONCLUSIONS Patients with peripheral artery disease were mostly affected by severe metabolic diseases and by worst cardiac conditions; patients with asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms were of robust physique, and often had left ventricular anterior hemiblocks. Patients with critical carotid stenosis were older and had less cardiomyopathies.

Endovascular Stent Grafting of a Posterior Tibial Artery Pseudoaneurysm Secondary to Penetrating Trauma: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Endovascular treatment of posttraumatic pseudoaneurysms has become a viable less-invasive option when compared with open repair. In this study, we present a case of a posttraumatic pseudoaneurysm of the posterior tibial artery in a 34-year-old man treated with endovascular stent grafting. An extensive review of the literature has been performed.

Hybrid Treatment of Acute Abdominal Aortic Thrombosis Presenting with Paraplegia

Acute thrombotic or embolic occlusion of the abdominal aorta is a rare vascular emergency associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Classically, the clinical presentation is a severe peripheral ischemia with bilateral leg pain as the predominant feature. Aortic occlusion presenting as an isolated acute onset of paraplegia due to spinal cord ischemia is very rare and requires improved awareness to prevent adverse outcomes associated with delayed diagnosis. We report the case of a 54-year-old man who presented with sudden paraplegia due to the thrombotic occlusion of the infrarenal aorta involving the first segment of the common iliac arteries on both sides; emergent transperitoneal aorto iliac thrombectomy combined with the endovascular iliac kissing-stent technique were performed achieving perioperative complete regression of the symptoms.

Superior Mesenteric Artery Aneurysm Caused by Aortic Valve Endocarditis: The Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Infectious aneurysms of the superior mesenteric artery are a rare but life-threatening condition due to the risk of visceral ischemia, sepsis, or hemorrhage. In this study, we report the case of a superior mesenteric artery aneurysm (SMAA) secondary to a bioprosthetic valve endocarditis, successfully managed with aneurysm resection and saphenous vein interposition graft. We performed an extensive PubMed-based rewiew of the literature of the last 10 years on SMAA, which include the detection of 38 articles quoting 41 SMAAs. The case histories were divided in 2 groups: 18 cases belonged to nonmycotic group A and 23 cases were included in mycotic group B. In group A, 44.4% of patients were treated surgically, whereas in group B, 90.5%. The 2 study groups significantly differed (P = .01) in terms of surgical treatment. The surgical approach still remains the first choice of treatment in mycotic aneurysm.

A systematic review of treatment modalities and outcomes of type Ib endoleak after endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair

Objectives To collect specific literature on type Ib endoleak after aorto-iliac endografting for abdominal aortic aneurysm, reporting data on diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up results. Methods Publications about type Ib endoleak after aorto-iliac endografting for abdominal aortic or iliac aneurysm were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Considered studies were in English and published until 3 November 2016. Research methods and reporting were performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Inclusion criteria were: (1) reporting on abdominal aortic or iliac aneurysm as primary diagnosis; (2) reporting on distal endoleak after aorto-iliac endografting. Patient data, data on endovascular treatment, endoleak, reintervention, and follow-up were collected by two independent authors. Results Included studies were 11 (five original articles, six case reports), corresponding to 29 patients and 30 type Ib endoleak. Excluding missing data (2/30, 6.7%), type Ib endoleak was treated intra-operatively, within six months and after six months in six cases (21.4%), eight cases (28.6%), and fourteen cases (50%), respectively. Treatment of type Ib endoleak was endovascular in 27 cases (90%) (7 embolizations + extender cuffs, 10 extender cuffs, 8 embolizations without extender cuff, 1 Palmaz stenting and 1 iliac branched endograft), hybrid in 1 case (3.3%) and surgical in 2 cases (6.6%). Buttock claudication occurred in two cases (6.7%). One-month mortality was 3.4% (2/29) without events due to type Ib endoleak. In 14 cases (46.7%), median follow-up was six months (interquartile range: 2.75–14; range: 0.75–53). Type Ib endoleak persisted or reappeared in three cases (10%), all after endovascular treatment. Two of these (2/3, 66.7%) needed endovascular reintervention. No death during follow-up was reported. Conclusions Few specific data are available in literature about type Ib endoleak after aorto-iliac endografting for abdominal aortic aneurysm. About 50% of type Ib endoleak occurred after six months from the endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair procedure. Treatment is mainly endovascular and distal endograft extension is the main and effective treatment. Buttock claudication is the most frequent complication in case of exclusion of internal iliac artery. Persistent type Ib endoleak is possible, and adjunctive endovascular procedures are necessary.

Early and mid-term results in the endovascular treatment of popliteal aneurysms with the multilayer flow modulator

Background The endovascular approach became an alternative to open surgical treatment of popliteal artery aneurysm over the last few years. Heparin-bonded stent-grafts have been employed for endovascular popliteal artery aneurysm repair, showing good and stable results. Only few reports about the use of multilayer flow modulator are available in literature, providing small patient series and short follow-up. The aim of this study is to report the outcomes of patients with popliteal artery aneurysm treated with the multilayer flow modulator in three Italian centres. Methods We retrospectively analysed a series of both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with popliteal artery aneurysm treated with the multilayer flow modulator from 2009 to 2015. Follow-up was undertaken with clinical and contrast-enhanced ultrasound examinations at 1, 6 and 12 months, and yearly thereafter. Computed tomography angiography was performed in selected cases. Primary endpoints were aneurysm sac thrombosis; freedom from sac enlargement and primary, primary-assisted and secondary patency during follow-up. Secondary endpoints were technical success, collateral vessels patency, limb salvage and aneurysm-related complications. Results Twenty-three consecutive patients (19 males, age 72 ± 11) with 25 popliteal artery aneurysms (mean diameter 23 mm ± 1, 3 symptomatic patients) were treated with 40 multilayer flow modulators during the period of the study. Median follow-up was 22.6 ± 16.7 months. Complete aneurysm thrombosis occurred in 92.9% of cases (23/25 cases) at 18 months. Freedom from sac enlargement was 100% (25/25 cases) with 17 cases of aneurysm sac shrinkage (68%). At 1, 6, 12 and 24 months, estimated primary patency was 95.7%, 87.3%, 77% and 70.1%, respectively. At the same intervals, primary-assisted patency was 95.7%, 91.3%, 86% and 86%, respectively, and secondary patency was 100%, 95.7%, 90.3% and 90.3%, respectively. Technical success was 100%. The collateral vessels patency was 72.4%. Limb salvage was 91.4% at 24-month follow-up. One multilayer flow modulator fracture was reported in an asymptomatic patient. Conclusions Multilayer flow modulator seems a feasible and safe solution for endovascular treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms in selected patients.

IP009. Intraoperative Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound for Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Endoleaks During Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair∗

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of intraoperative contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to detect and to treat endoleaks (EL) during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Methods: Patients undergoing elective EVAR from January to December 2017 were consecutively enrolled. After endograft deployment, two completion angiography studies (2CAs) with orthogonal Carm angulation (anteroposterior and 90-degree left anterior oblique) were routinely performed. Intraoperative CEUS was performed in sterile conditions on the surgical field before guidewire removal. Presence and type of EL at the 2CAs and CEUS were evaluated and prospectively collected. CEUS was performed by a vascular surgeon blinded to the findings of the 2CAs. The primary end point was the agreement between the 2CAs and CEUS for detection of any EL and type II EL (Cohen k). The

One-year experience in carotid endarterectomy combining general anaesthesia with preserved consciousness and sequential carotid cross-clamping

Background and aim of the work: We report 1-year single-centre experience in carotid endarterectomy (CEA) combining general anaesthesia with preserved consciousness (GAPC) and standardized carotid sequential cross-clamping, for our protocol effectiveness evaluation in reduction of perioperative stroke, death or cardiologic complications. Methods: We considered all patients who underwent CEA in 2016. All patients underwent superficial cervical plexus block and GAPC with Remifentanil. The surgical technique consisted of common carotid artery (CCA) cross-clamping, carotid bifurcation isolation, external (ECA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) cross-clamping. After CCA cross-clamping, we performed a neurological tolerance test (NTT); this allowed selective shunting only for positive NTT. Primary end-points were: transient ischemic attack (TIA)/stroke, myocardial infarction, death in perioperative period. Secondary end-points were: carotid shunting, peripheral cranial nerves injuries (PCNI), GAPC intolerance, other complications, reintervention in perioperative period, length of hospital stay. Results: 104 consecutive patients underwent CEA with this protocol in the considered period. Twenty-seven (25.9%) patients were symptomatic. Mean clamping time was 48±13.5 minutes. Five cases (4.8%) requested internal carotid artery shunting. No TIA/stroke, myocardial infarction or death were recorded in the perioperative period. PCNI were observed in 19 cases (18.2%) in the immediate post-operative period; 16 of them (84.2%) showed complete or partial resolution at discharge. Only one patient (0.9%) showed GAPC intolerance. No other complication occurred. Three patients (2.9%) underwent reintervention for neck haematoma drainage. Mean hospital stay were 3±0.9 days. Conclusions: GAPC associated with sequential carotid cross-clamping appeared to be safe and effective in prevention of major neurological and cardiologic complications during CEA. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in a Patient with Congenital Fused Pelvic Kidney: A Case Report of Emergency Endovascular Treatment

A 90-year-old male developed acute onset of abdominal and lumbar pain due to the rupture of an 11-cm abdominal aortic aneurysm. A congenital fused pelvic kidney perfused by three renal arteries arising from iliac axes was detected. In an emergent setting, an aorto-uni-iliac endograft was deployed through right femoral surgical access with occlusion of the upper right renal artery. An occluder device was placed in the common iliac artery above the renal artery through left femoral access. A femorofemoral crossover bypass completed the procedure. The patient developed acute renal failure, with no dialysis necessity. One-month computed tomography angiography showed procedure success.