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Objectives To evaluate the use of novel technology to treat complex aortic aneurysms involving branches that provide critical end-organ blood supply. Methods A prospective study was conducted in patients with thoracoabdominal, suprarenal, or common iliac aneurysms (TAA, SRA, or CIA) at high risk for open surgical repair. An endovascular graft using the Zenith platform was customized to fit patient anatomy (TAA or SRA) and combined with Jomed balloon-expandable stent-grafts. Prefabricated hypogastric branches were used with a Zenith abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) or Fluency self-expanding fenestrated device in conjunction with a self-expanding stent-graft. Analyses were conducted in accordance with the endovascular aneurysm reporting standards document. Follow-up studies occurred at discharge, 1, 6, and 12 months, and included computed tomography and duplex ultrasound scans, and flat plate radiography. Results Fifty patients were treated (9 TAA, 20 SRA, 21 CIA). The mean aneurysm size was 7.6 cm (TAA), 7.2 cm (SRA), and 6.1 cm AAA size associated with a mean CIA size of 3.8 cm. Bilateral CIA aneurysms were present in 86% (18/21) of patients with CIA aneurysms. Perioperative mortality was 2% (1/50) and resulted from a myocardial infarction after a planned conduit and iliac endarterectomy required for device access. Five late deaths occurred (2 TAA, 2 SRA, 1 CIA), three of which (2 TAA, 1 SRA) were aneurysm related. Failure to access internal iliac arteries occurred in three cases, and two late hypogastric branch thromboses occurred. No visceral branches were lost acutely or occluded during follow-up. Sac shrinkage (>5 mm) was noted in 65% of patients at 6 months and in all patients (10/10) by 12 months. There were no ruptures or conversions, but nine patients required secondary interventions. Conclusions Branch vessel technology has made it technically feasible to preserve critical end-organ perfusion in the setting of CIA, SRA, and TAA aneurysms. The relatively low acute mortality rate and lack of short-term branch vessel loss are encouraging and merit further investigation. These advances have the potential to markedly diminish the complications associated with conventional management of complex aneurysms.

Purpose This prospective study was designed to assess the technical success and outcome after patients with thoracic aortic pathology at high risk for conventional therapy were treated with the Zenith TX1 and TX2 endovascular graft. Methods Between 2001 and 2004, patients at high risk for conventional surgical therapy presenting with chronic aortic dissections, thoracic aneurysms, or aortobronchial or aortoesophageal fistulas were treated with a single- or multiple-piece endovascular grafts. Surgical modification of proximal or distal fixation sites was performed when necessary to establish adequate regions for device landing zones. Follow-up studies included radiographic evaluation before discharge and at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months. Aortic morphologic characteristics were determined by using three-dimensional imaging studies and centerline of flow measurements. Statistical analyses were performed with Kaplan Meier analysis to assess survival, factors predictive of poor outcome, and morphologic changes, including sac shrinkage. Results A total of 100 patients (42% women) were treated, including 81 aneurysms, 15 aortic dissections (with aneurysms), 2 patients with fistulous connections (1 aortobronchial and 1 aortoesophageal), 1 subclavian artery aneurysm, and 1 aortic rupture. Mean follow-up and aneurysm size were 14 months and 62 mm, respectively. Most patients (55%) had undergone prior aortic aneurysm repair. Surgical modifications were required to create adequate implantation sites in 29% patients, including 14 elephant trunk/arch reconstructions, 18 carotid-subclavian bypasses, and 4 visceral vessel bypasses. Iliac conduits were required in 19 patients. Overall mortality was 17%, and aneurysm-related mortality was 14% at 1 year. Sac regression (>5 mm maximum diameter decrease) was observed in 52% and 56% at 12 and 24 months. Growth was noted in one patient (1.6%) at 12 months. Endoleaks were detected in eight patients (8.5%) at 30 days and three patients (6%) at 12 months. Secondary interventions were required in 15 patients. Migration (>10 mm) of the proximal or distal stent was noted in three patients (6%) (two proximal and one distal), none of which required treatment or resulted in an adverse event. Conclusions Acceptable intermediate-term outcomes have been achieved in the treatment of high-risk patients in the setting of both favorable and challenging anatomic situations with these devices. The complexity of the patient population, in contrast to endovascular infrarenal repair, attests to the differences in the pathophysiology aortic disease in the anatomic beds.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively identify variables associated with early death and postoperative complications in patients undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic operations. Methods: The data on 1509 patients who underwent 1679 thoracoabdominal aortic repairs between 1960 and 1991 were retrospectively reviewed. The median age was 66 years (range 1.5 years to 86 years), and aortic dissection was present in 276 (18%) patients. The extent of the first repair performed included 378 (25%) type I (proximal descending to upper abdominal aorta), 442 (29%) type II (proximal descending aorta to below the renal arteries), 343 (23%) type III (distal descending and abdominal aorta), and 346 (23%) type IV (most of the abdominal aorta). The median total aortic clamp time was 43 minutes. Results: The 30-day survival rate was 92% (1386/1509) for the 30-year period. On multivariate analysis the preoperative and operative variables associated with death included ( p p p 3 mg/dl or dialysis) occurred in 18% (269/1509) of patients; dialysis was required in 9% (136/1509). Gastrointestinal complications manifested in 7% (101/1509) of patients. Conclusion: Although the survival rate has improved, paraplegia/paraparesis and kidney failure continue to be vexing problems that require further research. (J VASC SURG 1993;17:357-70.)

Two hundred seventy-one of 1509 patients who underwent thoracoabdominal aortic repairs had either celiac or superior mesenteric or renal artery occlusive disease. These latter patients were treated by endarterectomy or bypass between June 20, 1960 and Jan. 10, 1991. After 1987, the 30-day survival rate was 93% (79 of 85) compared with 90% (245 of 271) before 1988. Multivariate predictors of death were age, postoperative reoperation for bleeding, and cardiac complications ( p p p p p p = 0.08). We conclude that endarterectomy or bypass of occlusive visceral disease reduces the risk of renal failure after thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs, does not decrease early or late survival, and does not increase the risk of gastrointestinal complications. (J Vasc Surg 1992;16:378–90.)

Aneurysrns in infants and children are rare and are usually associated with cardiovascular malformations or connective tissue disorders. A new subgroup of patients has become recognized over the past two decades—those with aneurysms associated with umbilical artery catheterization. Critically ill newborns who have required umbilical artery catheterization and have developed sepsis, usually staphylococcal, are at risk for the development of mycotic aneurysm disease of the aorta or its major branches or both. Since first described in 1970, 34 cases have been reported in the literature, 14 involving the descending thoracic aorta, 10 the abdominal aorta, 6 the iliac arteries, and 4 either the thoracoabdominal aorta or multiple aneurysms involving both the thoracic and abdominal aorta. This report presents a case we recently treated of a 15-month-old-boy with a large thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm and aneurysrns of the infrarenal abdominal aorta and proximal right common iliac artery. It includes a review of the recent literature to analyze pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and to formulate methods of treatment. (J Vasc Surg 1992;16:75–86.)

From June 1960 to September 1990, 1414 patients underwent repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms, of whom 112 (8%) had pulmonary complications requiring respiratory support with tracheostomy; subsequently 45 (40%) died in the hospital. We determined by stepwise logistic regression analysis, in a prospective study of high-risk type I and II thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms repairs, the independent predictors of respiratory failure, defined as respiratory ventilation exceeding 48 hours after operation. In 98 patients studied, 38 (39%) were women, 60 (61%) were men, 54 (55%) had type II thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms, 34 (35%) had aortic dissection, 19 (19%) were nonsmokers, 40 (41%) exsmokers, and 39 (40%) active smokers. Before operation, 55 (56%) had chronic pulmonary disease with respiratory failure developing in 58% (p = 0.0005 versus no chronic pulmonary disease, 10/43, 23%), and of the 26 patients in the lower quarter of forced expiratory volume (1 sec) (FEV1 less than or equal to 1.45 L) respiratory failure developed in 61% (p = 0.035). In-hospital survival was 98% and 83% (p = 0.008), respectively, and cumulative survival at 6 months by Kaplan-Meier analysis was 96% and 80% (p = 0.004, log-rank test), respectively, for patients without respiratory failure (N = 56/98, 57%) and with respiratory failure (N = 42/98, 43%). On univariate analysis, the following were associated with respiratory failure (p less than 0.05): FEV1, FEV1% predicted, FVC, FEF25, FEF25% predicted, FEF25-75, FEF25-75% predicted, PaCO2 Pao2, symptoms, smoking history, chronic pulmonary disease, cryoprecipitate volume, postoperative neuromuscular deficit, cardiac complications, reoperation for bleeding, renal complication, stress ulceration, postoperative creatinine level, postoperative dialysis, and postoperative encephalopathy. The independent predictors of respiratory failure were (p less than 0.05): chronic pulmonary disease, smoking history, cardiac and renal complications. In patients with chronic pulmonary disease, the only independent predictor was FEF25 (p = 0.030). These observations may be of value in selecting patients for elective operation.

This article is concerned with the study of the effect of several variables, principally that of cerebrospinal fluid drainage, on the incidence of neurologic deficit in a prospective randomized series of patients with extensive aneurysms of the descending thoracic and abdominal aorta (thoracoabdominal type I and II). Forty-six patients had cerebrospinal fluid drainage, and 52 were controls, with a total of 98 available for study. Cerebrospinal fluid pressure was continuously monitored in the former group and pressure maintained less than or equal to 10 mm Hg in 20, less than or equal to 15 mm Hg in 20, and greater than 15 mm Hg in 6 patients during period of aortic clamping. The method of treatment including reattachment of intercostal and lumbar arteries (p = 0.2), temporary atriofemoral bypass during aortic occlusion (p = 0.3), and spinal fluid drainage (p = 0.8) were not statistically significant in reducing the incidence of neurologic deficits. Thus cerebrospinal fluid drainage as we used it, was not beneficial in preventing paraplegia. On appropriate statistical analysis we found that the only significant predictor of delayed deficits was postoperative hypotension (p = 0.006).

We have previously described a technique for intrathecal administration of papaverine and cerebrospinal fluid drainage to prevent paraplegia after aortic surgery. Herein we report the cerebrospinal fluid and hemodynamic alterations that occurred in 11 patients who had 30 mg of a specially prepared papaverine hydrochloride 10% dextrose solution injected before aortic cross-clamping and also had cerebrospinal fluid drainage. A mean of 26.6 ml (SD +/- 7.1 ml) was drained before and 34.6 ml (SD +/- 24.1 ml) was drained during aortic cross-clamping. The cerebrospinal fluid pressure increased significantly with anesthetic induction (p less than 0.03), during the period between anesthetic induction and cerebrospinal fluid drainage (p less than 0.005), and with aortic cross-clamping (p less than 0.05). These cerebrospinal fluid pressure alterations were similar to central venous pressure increases with a significant linear correlation between cerebral spinal fluid pressure and central venous pressure before anesthetic induction (r2 = 0.81, p less than 0.005), and both before (r2 = 0.94, p less than 0.005) and after (r2 = 0.74, p less than 0.005) aortic cross-clamping. As expected, cerebrospinal fluid pressure was significantly reduced by cerebrospinal fluid drainage before aortic cross-clamping (p less than 0.001). The administration of intrathecal papaverine had no significant effect on mean arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistance, cerebrospinal fluid pressure, nor the pH of cerebrospinal fluid. Neither were there any complications noted related to the technique. All the patients survived, and no new immediate postoperative paraparesis or paraplegia occurred.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Purpose: The purpose of this article was to study the influence of either reattachment or oversewing of patent segmental intercostal or lumbar arteries, extent of aneurysm, and atriofemoral bypass on the incidence of postoperative paraplegia/paraparesis in patients at high risk with type I or II thoracoabdominal aneurysms. Methods: Data were prospectively collected on 99 patients undergoing type I or II thoracoabdominal aneurysm repairs, including exact extent of repair and whether atriofemoral bypass was used. Patency of intercostal arteries from T3 to T12 and lumbar arteries from L1 to L4 were checked by intraoperative inspection. If the arteries were patent, note was taken of whether they were reattached to the new aortic prosthesis. Postoperative neurologic motor function was graded daily for the first 5 days, and the worst score in the first 30 postoperative days (POD) was used for analysis. Results: Ninety-five of 99 (96%) patients were 30-day survivors. By POD 30, 31 of 98 (32%) patients had had a neurologic deficit. There was no difference in the incidence of deficits according to whether lumbar or intercostal arteries were reattached, ignoring the effect of patency of the arteries. Of greater importance, however, was whether patent segmental arteries were oversewn at specific levels. Thus, for patients who had one or more arteries at T11, T12, or L1 oversewn (often because they could not be reattached), a deficit developed in 11 of 23 (48%) patients versus 20 of 75 (27%) patients who did not have patent arteries or had all patent arteries reattached ( p = 0.05, odds ratio=2.5). More specifically, if all arteries at this level were oversewn, a neurologic deficit developed in 63% of patients versus 23% if all their arteries were reattached ( p = 0.01). Reattachment of patent arteries at individual levels from T7 to L4 showed a trend toward a lower risk of deficits but did not reach statistical significance. On multivariate analysis, atriofemoral bypass was associated with a lower risk of paralysis ( p = 0.068), and significantly so when controlled for age ( p = 0.0329, odds ratio 0.287). Subgrouping of extent type I thoracoabdominal aneurysms resulted in an incidence of paralysis of 14% (3/22) for subgroup A and 23% (5 of 22) for subgroup B compared with 43% (23 of 55) for type II thoracoabdominal aneurysms (type I [8 of 44 18%], versus type II [p = 0.0097]). Conclusion: Patients with no or few patent segmental arteries in the aortic segment being replaced have a lower risk of neurologic deficits, compared with those with patent arteries. Every effort should be made to reattach all arteries at T11, T12, and L1 and, when possible within the constraints of technical feasibility and time, also those from T7 to L4. Preoperative angiography or intraoperative hydrogen testing may better identify the arteries that need to be reattached. When feasible, atriofemoral bypass appears to be protective, particularly when sequential clamping and segmental repairs can be performed. (J VASC SURG 1994;20:255-62.)

PurposeThis trial evaluated the safety and effectiveness of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) with a contemporary endograft system compared with open surgical repair (open) of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms and large ulcers.MethodsForty-two international trial sites enrolled 230 subjects with descending thoracic aortic aneurysms or ulcers. The study compared 160 TEVAR subjects treated with the Zenith TX2 Endovascular Graft (William Cook Europe, ApS, Bjaeverskov, Denmark) with 70 open subjects. Subjects were evaluated preprocedure, predischarge, 1, 6, and 12 months, and yearly through 5 years with medical examination, laboratory testing, chest radiographs, and computed tomography scans. Mortality rates, prespecified severe morbidity composite index, major morbidity, clinical utility, aneurysm rupture, and secondary interventions were compared. The TEVAR subjects were evaluated by a core laboratory for device performance, including change in aneurysm size, endoleak, migration, and device integrity.ResultsThe 30-day survival rate was noninferior (P < .01) for the TEVAR group compared with the open group (98.1% vs 94.3%). The severe morbidity composite index was lower for TEVAR (0.2 ± 0.7 vs 0.7 ± 1.2; P < .01). Cumulative major morbidity scores were significantly lower at 30 days for the TEVAR group compared with the open group (1.3 ± 3.0 vs 2.9 ± 3.6, P < .01). The TEVAR patients had fewer cardiovascular, pulmonary, and vascular adverse events, although neurologic events were not significantly different. Clinical utility for the TEVAR patients was superior to that of the open patients. No ruptures or conversions occurred in the first year. Reintervention rates were similar in both groups. At 12 months, aneurysm growth was identified in 7.1% (8/112), endoleak in 3.9% (4/103), migration (>10 mm) in 2.8% (3/107), and other device issues were rare. None of the patients with migration experienced endoleak, aneurysm growth, or required a secondary intervention.ConclusionsThoracic endovascular aortic repair with the TX2 is a safer and effective alternative to open surgical repair for the treatment of anatomically suitable descending thoracic aortic aneurysms and ulcers at 1 year of follow-up. Device performance issues are infrequent, but careful planning and regular follow-up with imaging remain a necessity.

We evaluated 1525 consecutive patients who had undergone thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic surgery to ascertain the factors associated with the development of acute renal failure. Complete data were available in 1233 patients who were treated recently, and these were analyzed. Acute renal failure, severe enough to require dialysis, developed in 5.5% of this group (68/1233): 2.3% and 7%, respectively, for descending (9/391) and thoracoabdominal repairs (59/842). Of interest, on multivariate analysis, both renal artery endarterectomy for occlusive disease (p = 0.0006) and chronic dissection (p = 0.03) were associated with significantly less acute renal failure. On multivariate analysis, the significant independent predictors (p < 0.05) of acute renal failure were preexistent renal dysfunction, evidence of diffuse atherosclerosis, the use of the pump bypass, and markers of hemodynamic instability. Contrary to earlier reports based on a smaller number of patients, we found that neither the use of pump bypass (7% acute renal failure), atriorenal bypass (8% acute renal failure), nor cold Ringer's lactate (3% acute renal failure) appeared to significantly avert the complication of acute renal failure. Indeed, pump bypass appeared to be deleterious (p = 0.0146) and perfusion with cold Ringer's lactate was not without risk. Furthermore, in a prospective evaluation of angiotensin converting enzyme blockers, we were unable to show that they afforded renal protection after transient renal ischemia. This study has clarified the clinical problems associated with acute renal failure and lays the foundation for future research. (J Vasc Surg 1989;10:230–9.)

We report an unusual case of presumed posttraumatic chronic proximal descending aneurysm associated with a fistula into the pulmonary artery. Review of the literature showed that a fistula of the descending aorta into the pulmonary artery is uncommon and that only a few patients have survived. This rare entity is best treated with open repair; however, in patients at high risk an endovascular stent graft is an option.