Oderich, Gustavo S.

Objective: To evaluate outcomes of endovascular treatment of aortic coarctation in the adult, either newly diagnosed or due to recurrent coarctation and pseudoaneurysm formation Methods: Clinical data and imaging studies of 93 patients treated at nine institutions from 1999-2015 were reviewed. Primary end-points were morbidity and mortality. Secondary end-points were stent patency and need for re-intervention Results: There were 54 male and 39 female patients with a mean age of 44±17 years, including 32 with de novo coarctation (mean 48±16 years) and 61 with prior open repair during childhood, who required endovascular re-intervention (mean: 30±17 years after initial repair). Indications for treatment were: resistant hypertension (32%), left ventricular hypertrophy (23%) and claudication (20%). Imaging studies included: computed tomography angiography (CTA) (42%), CTA and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) (37%), MRA (13%), angiography (5%) and ultrasound (2%). Endovascular treatment was performed using stent grafts (55%), balloon expandable bare metal in (28%) or covered stents (15%) and primary angioplasty alone (1%). Mean lesion length and diameter were 64±50mm and 20±7mm, respectively. Mean systolic pressure gradient decreased from 24±18mmHg to 5±8mmHg after treatment, (p<0.001). Four patients had intraprocedural complications including: rupture in two, type 1A endoleak and access hemorrhage in one each. Perioperative complications occurred in six: aortic dissection in three, thrombus migration into renal artery, spinal headache requiring blood patch and lung hemorrhage in one patient each. Two patients died within 30-days from hemorrhage and cardiopulmonary arrest. After a mean follow up time of 7±21 years, nearly all patients (98%) had symptom improvement and all stents were patent. Re-intervention was needed in 11%. 2 patients died from coarctation related causes including rupture of an infected graft and visceral ischemia Conclusions: In this multi-center study, endovascular repair was a safe and effective treatment for de novo coarctation and post-surgical complications of coarctation repair in adults. Rate of procedural complications and re-interventions were low with high procedural and long-term clinical success

Objective: To describe outcomes after elective and non-elective fenestrated-branched endovascular aortic repair (FB-EVAR) for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs). Background: FB-EVAR has been increasingly utilized to treat TAAAs; however, outcomes after non-elective versus elective repair are not well described. Methods: Clinical data of consecutive patients undergoing FB-EVAR for TAAAs at 24 centers (2006–2021) were reviewed. Endpoints including early mortality and major adverse events (MAEs), all-cause mortality, and aortic-related mortality (ARM), were analyzed and compared in patients who had non-elective versus elective repair. Results: A total of 2603 patients (69% males; mean age 72±10 year old) underwent FB-EVAR for TAAAs. Elective repair was performed in 2187 patients (84%) and non-elective repair in 416 patients [16%; 268 (64%) symptomatic, 148 (36%) ruptured]. Non-elective FB-EVAR was associated with higher early mortality (17% vs 5%, P<0.001) and rates of MAEs (34% vs 20%, P<0.001). Median follow-up was 15 months (interquartile range, 7–37 months). Survival and cumulative incidence of ARM at 3 years were both lower for non-elective versus elective patients (50±4% vs 70±1% and 21±3% vs 7±1%, P<0.001). On multivariable analysis, non-elective repair was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 1.92; 95% CI] 1.50–2.44; P<0.001) and ARM (hazard ratio, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.63–3.62; P<0.001). Conclusions: Non-elective FB-EVAR of symptomatic or ruptured TAAAs is feasible, but carries higher incidence of early MAEs and increased all-cause mortality and ARM than elective repair. Long-term follow-up is warranted to justify the treatment.

Objective: To assess outcomes of fenestrated-branched endovascular aortic repair (FB-EVAR) of Extent I-III thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) without prophylactic cerebrospinal fluid drainage (CSFD). Background: Prophylactic CSFD has been routinely used during endovascular TAAA repair, but concerns about major drain-related complications have led to revising this paradigm. Methods: We reviewed a multicenter cohort of 541 patients treated for Extent I-III TAAAs by FB-EVAR without prophylactic CSFD. Spinal cord injury (SCI) was graded as ambulatory (paraparesis) or nonambulatory (paraplegia). Endpoints were any SCI, permanent paraplegia, response to rescue treatment, major drain-related complications, mortality, and patient survival. Results: There were 22 Extent I, 240 Extent II and 279 Extent III TAAAs. Thirty-day mortality was 3%. SCI occurred in 45 patients (8%), paraparesis occurring in 23 (4%) and paraplegia in 22 patients (4%). SCI was more common in patients with Extent I-II compared with Extent III TAAAs (12% vs. 5%, P=0.01). Rescue treatment included permissive hypertension in all patients, with CSFD in 22 (4%). Symptom improvement was noted in 73%. Twelve patients (2%) had permanent paraplegia. Two patients (0.4%) had major drain-related complications. Independent predictors for SCI by multivariate logistic regression were sustained perioperative hypotension [odds ratio (OR): 4.4, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.7–11.1], patent collateral network (OR: 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1–0.6), and total length of aortic coverage (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01–1.10). Patient survival at 3 years was 72%±3%. Conclusion: FB-EVAR of Extent I-III TAAAs without CSFD has low mortality and low rates of permanent paraplegia (2%). SCI occurred in 8% of patients, and rescue treatment improved symptoms in 73% of them.

Objective: Percutaneous femoral artery access is being increasingly used in endovascular aortic repair (EVAR). The technique can be challenging in patients with previously surgically exposed or repaired femoral arteries because of excessive scar tissue. However, a successful percutaneous approach may cause less morbidity than a “re-do” open femoral approach. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of prior open surgical femoral exposure on technical success and clinical outcomes of percutaneous approach. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of patients who underwent percutaneous EVAR between 2010 and 2020 at 2 major aortic centers. Patients were divided into 2 groups (with or without prior open surgical femoral access) for analysis of clinical outcomes. Only punctures with sheaths ≥12Fr were included for analysis. The access and (pre)closure techniques were similar in both institutions. Primary end points were intraoperative technical success, access-related revision, and access complications. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify determinants of conversion to open approach and femoral access complications in intact and re-do groins. Results: A total of 632 patients underwent percutaneous (complex) EVAR: 98 had prior open surgical femoral access and 534 patients underwent de novo femoral percutaneous access. A total of 1099 femoral artery punctures were performed: 149 in re-do and 950 in intact groins. The extent of endovascular repair included 159 infrarenal, 82 thoracic, 368 fenestrated/branched, and 23 iliac branch devices. No significant differences were seen in technical success (re-do 93.3% vs intact 95.3%, p=0.311), access-related surgical revision (0.7% vs 0.6%, p=0.950), and access complications (2.7% vs 4.0%, p=0.443). For the whole group, significant predictors for access complications in multivariate analyses were main access site (odds ratio [OR] 2.39; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07%–5.35%; p=0.033) and increase of the procedure time per hour (OR 1.65; 95% CI 1.34%–2.04%; p<0.001), while increase in sheath-vessel ratio had a protective effect (OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.127%–0.85%; p=0.021). Surgical conversion was predicted by main access site (OR 2.32; 95% CI 1.28%–4.19%; p=0.007) and calcification of 50% to 75% of the circumference of the access vessel (OR 3.29; 95% CI 1.38%–7.86%; p=0.005). Conclusion: Within our population prior open surgical femoral artery exposure or repair had no negative impact on the technical success and clinical outcomes of percutaneous (complex) endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.

Rationale: The role of cardiac natriuretic peptides (NPs) in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or thromboangiitis obliterans (TA) is unknown. Recent studies in mice suggested that BNP may be produced outside the heart in the ischemic limbs contributing to peripheral angiogenesis. Objective: Determine if synthesis or consumption/degradation of NPs occur in the ischemic legs of patients with PAD or TA. Methods: 32 patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) or claudication (PAD n=31; TA n=1; 20 males; mean age 72.9 years) underwent diagnostic angiography or revascularization. We determined differences of concentrations of BNP, NT-proBNP, and CNP in the blood of proximal veins and arteries of both legs. Concentrations differences were then compared between the more ischemic target and the contralateral self-control legs. Results: Values are means ± SD. P values <0.05 were considered significant. In the PAD group, in the target extremity, concentration step-ups of NT-proBNP (11±68; p=0.40) and CNP (0.45±6.22; p=0.71) were not significant from the arterial to venous blood. In the contralateral self-control legs, NT-proBNP and CNP concentrations drops were also not significant (-37±160, p=0.7; -0.89±4.09, p=0.23). Venous BNP concentrations were significantly lower than arterial both in the target (-66±153, p<0.001) and self-control legs (-59±107, p<0.001). BNP concentrations drops were greater in the CLI than claudication cases driving the overall significance. In the patient with TA, whose only identifiable PAD risk factor was smoking, arterial concentrations of NPs were generally low (NT-proBNP 81; BNP 46; CNP 8.2), but higher than venous concentrations (80; 41; 6.7). Conclusion: Significantly lower venous BNP concentrations suggest possible BNP consumption/degradation in the ischemic legs. Concentrations of NT-proBNP, that has a longer half-life than BNP, were more stable suggesting no significant local production or conversion to BNP. CNP concentrations were stable. Recognizing the angiogenic properties of NPs and lack of evidence of peripheral production, studies are warranted in humans with PAD to determine the potential angiogenic properties of exogenous NPs supplementation in what could be considered a local NPs deficiency state.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the midterm outcomes of fenestrated and branched endovascular aortic repair (FB-EVAR) of pararenal (PRA) and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs). Summary Background Data: FB-EVAR has been associated with decreased morbidity compared to open repair, but there is limited midterm data. Methods: A total of 430 patients (302 males, mean age 74 ± 8 years) treated by FB-EVAR were enrolled in a prospective, nonrandomized investigational device exemption study. Endpoints included 30-day mortality and major adverse events (MAEs), freedom from all cause and aortic-related mortality, target vessel patency, and freedom from secondary intervention and target vessel instability. Results: There were 133 PRAs and 297 TAAAs with 1673 renal-mesenteric arteries incorporated by fenestrations or directional branches (3.9 ± 0.5 vessels/patient). At 30 days or within the hospital stay if longer than 30 days, there were 4 (0.9%) deaths. MAEs included new-onset dialysis in 8 patients (2%), permanent paraplegia or stroke in 10 patients each (2%), and respiratory failure requiring tracheostomy in 2 patients (0.5%). After a mean follow-up of 26 ± 20 months, there were 3 (0.7%) aortic-related deaths from SMA stent occlusion, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, or complications of open arch repair. At 5 years, freedom from all-cause and aortic-related mortality were 57% ± 5% and 98% ± 1%, respectively. Freedom from secondary intervention was 64% ± 4%, primary target vessel patency was 94% ± 1%, and freedom from target vessel instability was 89% ± 2% at same interval. One patient (0.2%) had nonfatal aneurysm treated using endovascular repair. Conclusion: FB-EVAR is safe and effective for treatment of PRA and TAAAs with low rate of aortic-related mortality and aneurysm rupture on midterm follow-up.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the outcomes of a standardized protocol using routine CSFD, neuromonitoring, LL reperfusion, and selective TASP to prevent SCI during F-BEVAR. Background: SCI is to be the most devastating complication for the patient, family, and surgeon, with impact on patient’s quality of life and long-term prognosis. An optimal standardized protocol may be used to improve outcomes. Methods: Patients enrolled in a prospective, nonrandomized single-center study between 2013 and 2018. A SCI prevention protocol was used for TAAAS or complex abdominal aneurysms with ≥5-cm supraceliac coverage including CSFD, neuromonitoring, LL reperfusion, and selective TASP. Endpoints included mortality and rates of SCI. Results: SCI prevention protocol was used in 170 of 232 patients (73%) treated by F-BEVAR. Ninety-one patients (55%) had changes in neuromonitoring, which improved with maneuvers in all except for 9 patients (10%) who had TASP. There was one 30-day or in-hospital mortality (0.4%). Ten patients (4%) developed SCIs including in 1% (1/79) of patients with normal neuromonitoring and 10% (9/91) of those who had decline in neuromonitoring (P = 0.02). Permanent paraplegia occurred in 2 patients (1%). Factors associated with SCI included total operating time (odds ratio 1.5, 95% confidence interval 1.1–2.2, P = 0.02) and persistent changes in neuromonitoring requiring TASP (odds ratio 15.7, 95% confidence interval 2.9–86.2, P = 0.001). Conclusion: This prospective nonrandomized study using a standardized strategy to prevent SCI was associated with low incidence of the SCI during F-BEVAR. Permanent paraplegia occurred in 1%.

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence and outcomes of cerebral embolic events when using right (RUE) vs left upper extremity (LUE) access for fenestrated/branched endovascular aneurysm repair (f/bEVAR). Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of 290 consecutive patients enrolled in a physician-sponsored Investigational Device Exemption study to evaluate f/bEVAR between 2013 and 2018. Of these, 270 patients (93%) had an upper extremity access with 12-F sheaths, including 205 patients (mean age 75±8 years; 147 men) with LUE and 65 patients (mean age 73±8 years; 42 men) with RUE access. Outcome measures were technical success, procedural metrics, major adverse events (MAEs), any stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), and mortality. Results: Technical success was higher (p=0.04) for LUE (99.6%) vs RUE access (98.4%). Patients treated via RUE access more often had extent I-III thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (57% vs 39%, p=0.03). Procedural metrics were similar for LUE vs RUE sides, including endovascular time (255±80 vs 246±83 minutes, respectively; p=0.23), fluoroscopy time (84±32 vs 90±35 minutes, respectively; p=0.80), and contrast volume (156±57 vs 153±56 mL, respectively; p=0.82). Total radiation exposure was significantly higher for LUE vs RUE access (2463±1912 vs 1757±1494 mGy, respectively; p=0.02). There were 2 deaths (1%) at 30 days or during hospital admission, both unrelated to access site complications. MAEs occurred in 32% of patients who had LUE and 26% of those who had RUE access (p=0.44). Five patients (2%) had embolic stroke and none had TIA. Embolic strokes were ipsilateral to the access side in 4 patients and affected the posterior circulation in 3. Two patients (1%) had hemorrhagic strokes. The incidence of stroke was 3% for LUE and 2% for RUE access (p>0.99). Conclusion: Fenestrated/branched stent-graft repair was associated with low rates of cerebral embolic events and no significant difference between the right vs left upper extremity approach.

AbstractPrior studies suggest high prevalence of intracranial aneurysms (IA) in patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). We reviewed our multicenter experience in clinical detection/treatment of IAs in AAA patients and estimated the risk of IA in patients with AAA relative to patients without AAA. We reviewed cases of vascular surgery infrarenal AAA repairs at three Mayo Clinic sites from January 1998 to December 2018. Concurrent controls were randomly matched in a 1:1 ratio by age, sex, smoking history, and head imaging characteristics. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios. We reviewed 2,300 infrarenal AAA repairs. Mean size of AAA at repair was 56.9 ± 11.4 mm; mean age at repair, 75.8 ± 8.0 years. 87.5% of the cases (n = 2014) were men. Head imaging was available in 421 patients. Thirty-seven patients were found to have 45 IAs for a prevalence of 8.8%. Mean size of IA was 4.6 ± 3.5 mm; mean age at IA detection, 72.0 ± 10.8 years. Thirty (81%) out of 37 patients were men. Six patients underwent treatment for IA: four for ruptured IAs and two for unruptured IAs. All were diagnosed before AAA repair. Treatment included five clippings and one coil-assisted stenting. Time from IA diagnosis to AAA repair was 16.4 ± 11.0 years. Two of these patients presented with ruptured AAA, one with successful repair and a second one that resulted in death. Odds of IA were higher for patients with AAA versus those without AAA (8.8% [37/421] vs. 3.1% [13/421]; OR 3.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.62–6.27, p < 0.001). Co-prevalence of IA among patients with AAA was 8.8% and is more than three times the rate seen in patients without AAA. All IAs were diagnosed prior to AAA repair. Surveillance for AAA after IA treatment could have prevented two AAA ruptures and one death.

Chronic mesenteric ischaemia is a severe and incapacitating disease, causing complaints of post‐prandial pain, fear of eating and weight loss. Even though chronic mesenteric ischaemia may progress to acute mesenteric ischaemia, chronic mesenteric ischaemia remains an underappreciated and undertreated disease entity. Probable explanations are the lack of knowledge and awareness among physicians and the lack of a gold standard diagnostic test. The underappreciation of this disease results in diagnostic delays, underdiagnosis and undertreating of patients with chronic mesenteric ischaemia, potentially resulting in fatal acute mesenteric ischaemia. This guideline provides a comprehensive overview and repository of the current evidence and multidisciplinary expert agreement on pertinent issues regarding diagnosis and treatment, and provides guidance in the multidisciplinary field of chronic mesenteric ischaemia.