Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery最新文献

Background: Secondary interventions strongly improves patency and limb salvage rates in patients undergoing infrainguinal vein bypass. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of secondary endovascular procedures performed during the follow-up on patency and limb salvage in patients with critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) undergoing in situ saphenous vein infragenicular bypass.

Methods: From January 2018 to December 2019 541 patients in 43 centers have been enrolled into the LIMBSAVE registry (treatment of critical Limb IschaeMia with infragenicular Bypass adopting in situ SAphenous VEin technique). In all patients a strict surveillance program with Duplex scan was established (1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 months). During the follow-up indications for endovascular procedures were anastomotic stenoses, improvement of run-in (iliac stenosis) or run-off (tibial vessels' stenoses or occlusions). Two-year estimated outcomes in terms of overall patency, and limb salvage were analyzed by life-table analysis (Kaplan-Meier test). Outcomes obtained in patients undergoing endovascular procedure (Group-endo) were compared by means of Gehan-Breslow-Wilcoxon Test with those obtained in patients with no secondary endovascular procedure during the follow-up (Group-no endo).

Results: Two groups were homogeneous in terms of demographics and intraprocedural details. Overall mean duration of follow-up was 12.1 months (range 1-24). During the follow-up period (>30 days) 55 endovascular procedures were performed in 49 patients (9.1%) (Group-endo). Most of endovascular procedures (37/55, 67.3%) was performed to treat stenoses at proximal or distal anastomosis. Secondary endovascular procedures (40/55, 72.7%) were predominantly performed within 6 months from the index procedure. Estimated 2-year overall patency (97.9% vs. 85.2%, P=0.05), and limb salvage (100% vs. 93.9%, P=0.05) rates were significantly better in Group-endo.

Conclusions: Secondary endovascular procedures in patients with CLTI undergoing in situ saphenous infragenicular bypass significantly improve the rates of overall patency and limb salvage in the mid-term period.

Background: The purpose of this study was to review early experience with catheter directed thrombolysis in the setting of chronic juxtarenal aortic occlusion as an initial therapy to allow safe definitive management with placement of aorto-iliac endografts.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of all patients with a diagnosis of chronic juxtarenal aortic occlusion treated by the author with initial catheter directed thrombolysis. In all, six patients (five males and one female, average age of 57 years) treated between 2019 and 2022 met criteria. Total duration of symptoms prior to thrombolysis ranged from 2 to 54 months (average 23 months.) Four patients (67%) had progressed to tissue loss 2 to 5 months prior to the initiation of thrombolysis (average 3.25 months). Radiographic confirmation of aortic occlusion on preoperative imaging was noted 7 to 846 days prior to the initiation of thrombolysis (average 190 days).

Results: Five of six patients (83%) had near complete resolution of aorto-iliac thrombus after 12 to 72 hours of thrombolysis to reveal underlying stenoses. The remaining patient's thrombolysis therapy was cut short at 48 hours due to behavioral issues, but had enough clearing of juxtarenal thrombus to undergo placement of aorto-iliac endografts. There were no perioperative deaths, myocardial infarctions, strokes or major complications. Temporary laboratory abnormalities (coagulopathy and/or increase in serum creatinine) were seen in four patients (67%), but all resolved by discharge without clinical sequelae. The primary patency is 100% at early follow-up of up to 15 months.

Conclusions: In the setting of chronic juxtarenal aortic occlusions, thrombolysis can provide effective clearing of the juxtarenal aortic thrombus to allow safe definitive therapy with aorto-iliac endografts. The approach deserves consideration in patients at high risk for open reconstruction.

Acute limb ischemia (ALI) is an emergency situation requiring rapid diagnosis and treatment. Although the traditional treating strategy for ALI includes open surgery, novel endovascular techniques have been introduced during the last decade. Additionally, many new cases of ALI have been reported due to infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The aim of this study was to present an updated overview of characteristics, diagnosis, and current treating strategies of patients with ALI.

Introduction: The covered endovascular reconstruction of aortic bifurcation (CERAB) technique was introduced as a more anatomical and physiological configuration of stents to overcome the limits of standard endovascular technique with kissing stenting in terms of patency and reintervention rates in the treatment of complex aorto-iliac occlusive disease in particular when the aortic bifurcation is involved. The purpose of this systematic review is to report the evolution of this technique during recent years.

Evidence acquisition: Data were retrieved from retrospective studies and case series excluding letters, editorial, and reviews conducted from 2000 to September 2022.

Evidence synthesis: The literature analysis provided data on the evolution of CERAB technique and the current evidence about clinical results.

Conclusions: Since its introduction in 2009, CERAB technique has grown as a safe and effective endovascular therapeutic option for aorto-iliac occlusive disease. Data from prospective multicenter registries with dedicated stent grafts and comparative trials are needed to validate the technique.

Open aortic reconstruction for complex aortoiliac occlusive disease is a time-honored and durable solution. Symptoms manifest as disabling claudication or chronic limb threatening ischemia in patients with multilevel disease. Advanced endovascular techniques have supplanted a large volume of aortic surgery. Nonetheless, it is essential for surgeons-in-training to learn and hone their skills in open aortic surgery. Comprehensive literature review over the past 50 years was conducted on the topics of "aortic occlusive disease," "aortic bypass," and "iliofemoral bypass." Pertinent articles were selected for inclusion as references. The technical aspects of the various aortoiliac exposures are described and selected case images were chosen from the senior author's experience. This review paper details the various operative approaches to open aortoiliac revascularization with emphasis on "tips and tricks" for the learner.

Background: Hybrid revascularization procedures for acute limb ischemia (ALI) are becoming increasingly common, bibliographic data on outcomes is however sparse.

Methods: Single-center, retrospective study of consecutive patients with ALI that underwent either surgical treatment (ST) or hybrid treatment (HT) between January 2015 and December 2021. The composite outcome of amputation-free survival (AFS) was the primary endpoint. Technical success, overall survival, amputation, and re-intervention rates were the secondary endpoints.

Results: During the study period 266 patients (mean age 70.2±14.5 years; 49.6% males) were treated for ALI, 67.3% undergoing ST and 32.7% HT. HT was more frequently used in patients with a previous vascular intervention in the index limb (38/87; 43.7% HT vs. 40/179; 22.3% ST, P=0.001), a stent- or stent graft-occlusion (16/87; 18.4% HT vs. 10/179; 5.6% ST, P=0.002) and/or a bypass occlusion (16/87; 18.4% HT vs. 16/179; 8.9% ST, P=0.043). Technical success was higher in the OR group (75/87; 86.2% HT vs. 173/179; 96.6% ST, P=0.003). Amputation-free survival rate during follow-up (43/87; 49.4% HT vs. 94/179; 52.5% ST, HR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.49 to 1.18, P=0.22) and overall survival (32/87; 36.8% HT vs. 84/179; 46.9% ST, HR 0.81, 95% CI: 0.49 to 1.34, P=0.41) were comparable between the two groups. No statistical differences were observed between the groups regarding major amputation (19/87; 21.8% HT vs. 15/179; 8.4% ST, HR 0.85, 95% CI: 0.33 to 2.23, P=0.74) or reintervention during follow-up (45/87; 51.7% HT vs. 65/179; 36.3% ST, HR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.56 to 1.51, P=0.73).

Conclusions: Hybrid and open surgical treatments showed comparable results in our cohort, even though significantly more patients undergoing HT presented with stent and bypass occlusions rather than de-novo lesions.

Asymptomatic carotid stenosis has been shown to be associated with progressive neurocognitive decline, but the effects of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) on this are not well defined. Due to the wide heterogeneity of studies and lack of standardization in cognitive function tests and study design, there is mounting scientific evidence to support the notion that CEA is effective in reversing or slowing neurocognitive decline; however, definitive conclusions are difficult to make. Further, while the association between ACS and cognitive decline has been well document, a direct etiological role has not been established. More research is required to elucidate the relationship between asymptomatic carotid stenosis and the benefit of carotid endarterectomy and its potential protective effects regarding cognitive decline. This article aims to review current evidence in preoperative and postoperative cognitive function in asymptomatic patients with carotid stenosis undergoing CEA.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review about the clinical and technical aspects of late open conversion for failed endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), and to investigate if the need for suprarenal aortic cross clamping, graft infection, urgent procedures, endoleaks and aortic rupture were associated with an increase of 30-days (perioperative) mortality.

Evidence acquisition: A literature search was conducted on PubMed using the words "open conversion endovascular" on December 29^th, 2021. Studies included randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case series of patients submitted to open conversion that were performed at least 1 month after the initial EVAR for AAA, reporting about 30-days mortality after surgery. A meta-analysis was performed to explore the association of suprarenal aortic cross clamping, graft infection, urgent procedures, endoleaks and aortic rupture with 30-days postoperative mortality using log odds ratios (ORs), with STATA/MP 17.0 (Stata Corp. 2021, LLC). Two-sided P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Evidence synthesis: The search retrieved 985 results on PubMed from 1994 to 2021. Among them, 40 papers were included in the study for the systematic review, and 5 of them for the meta-analysis. A total of 2297 patients from 1992 to 2020 were submitted to open conversion after a median of 40.4 months from the initial EVAR. Endoleak was the most frequent cause of open conversion (76.3%). Perioperative mortality was 23.5% for urgent and 5.3% for elective conversions. At meta-analysis, urgent procedures and aortic rupture were both associated with higher perioperative mortality (OR 5.27, 95% CI 2.90-9.57 and OR 5.61, 95% CI 3.09-10.19 respectively). Similarly, patients with infections and who needed suprarenal aortic clamping were at higher risk of 30-days postoperative death (OR 3.74, 95% CI 1.96-7.13) and OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.24-4.02), while the presence of a preoperative endoleaks was not associated with a higher 30-days mortality.

Conclusions: Late open conversion after EVAR of AAA is burdened by a perioperative mortality rate of 23.5% for urgent and 5.3% for elective cases. Urgent treatment, presence of aortic rupture or infection, and the need for suprarenal aortic cross clamping were associated with increased perioperative mortality, while the presence of an endoleak did not affect perioperative mortality.

All endovascular procedures need an effective anticoagulation regimen that avoids thrombo-embolic complications due to the insertion and manipulation of various intravascular devices. Systemic heparinization reduces the risk of thrombosis but there is no conclusive evidence regarding the correct use of anticoagulant medications and accordant monitoring, especially in endovascular peripheral arterial procedures. Anticoagulation must be maintained during the whole vascular procedure, especially during partial or complete blood flow interruption. Reaching and maintaining the correct coagulative status is mandatory to avoid or reduce thromboembolic complications that could limit the procedure's effectiveness or be harmful to the patient. Patients' baseline variables and procedure-related elements can influence the way anticoagulation should be administered and how coagulative status has to be monitored. This review aimed to clarify the critical points of anticoagulation and monitoring management for non-cardiac arterial procedures in order to understand the best way to manage vascular procedures anticoagulation.