Background: Some recent reports have demonstrated that preoperative Adamkiewicz artery (AKA) identification and its targeted reconstruction has provided satisfactory outcomes with respect to spinal cord protection. This paper investigates the impact of preoperative identification of the AKA on reducing the incidence of spinal cord injury (SCI) in open repair (OR) and endovascular repair (EVR) of descending thoracic aortic (dTA) and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA) repair.
Methods: The clinical data of patients with dTA and TAA treated between 2011 and 2022 were investigated. A total of 256 patients comprising of 201 males and 55 females, with a mean age of 72.1±10.0 years, were included. OR was used in 102 patients and EVR in 154 patients whose distal landing zone was below T8, all of which needed preoperative identification of the AKA.
Results: The AKA was identified in 207 (80.9%) patients, and was located in the level between T8 and T12 in 81.2%. In OR, the responsible arteries, including the identified AKA, were promptly reconstructed in 66 (64.7%) patients. In EVR, 65 (42.2%) patients had the AKA covered by an endovascular prosthesis. Deaths prior to 30 days occurred in seven (2.7%, four in OR and three in EVR) patients. In OR, SCI occurred in six (5.9%) patients including three (2.9%) with paraplegia and three (2.9%) with paraparesis, whereas in EVR ten (6.5%) patients had SCI, including two (1.3%) with paraplegia and eight (5.2%) with paraparesis. The incidence of SCI was significantly higher in patients with the AKA covered than those without it covered [13.8% (9 of 65) vs. 1.1% (1 of 89); P=0.002], whereas no significant differences were found between patients with or without the AKA reconstructed.
Conclusions: Preoperative identification of the AKA was useful enough to determine treatment strategies with less likelihood of SCI in both OR and EVR for dTA and TAA pathologies.
Surgical and interventional repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms improve survival significantly compared to the natural history of the disease. However, both strategies are associated with a substantial risk of spinal cord ischemia, which has been reported to occur-even in contemporary series by expert centers-in up to 12% of patients, depending on the extent of the disease. Following improved neurological outcomes after staged approaches in extensive clinical and long-term large animal studies, and the description of the "collateral network", the concept of "Minimally Invasive Staged Segmental Artery Coil Embolization" (MIS2ACE) was introduced by Etz et al. This concept of priming the collateral network in order to improve spinal cord blood supply showed promising experimental and early clinical outcomes, and consequently led to the initiation of the randomized controlled multicenter PAPAartis trial (Paraplegia Prevention in Aortic Aneurysm Repair by Thoracoabdominal Staging). This Keynote Lecture describes the background and rationale for this trial and gives an update on the current status.
Background: Staged procedures are one strategy found to be beneficial for medium- to high-risk Crawford extent I-III thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair patients and may be performed through a variety of techniques. This review sought to compare the primary outcomes of spinal cord ischemia (SCI) and long-term mortality between three cohorts grouped by approach: open, endovascular, and hybrid.
Methods: In accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a total of 919 references were extracted from a search of three online databases (Embase, PubMed, Scopus). Following application of inclusion/exclusion criteria and data extraction, quantitative meta-analysis was undertaken utilizing a random effects model. Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves were digitized and aggregated to graph estimated survival.
Results: A total of 20 studies representing 924 patients were included. SCI was highest in the endovascular group, at 9.8% of weighted means, followed by hybrid, and open groups at 3.2% and 1.4%, respectively. However, 30-day mortality was highest in the open group at 6.0%, followed by the hybrid group at 3.8%, and endovascular at 3.6%. Aggregated long-term survival estimations are shown graphically, extending to 5 years for open and endovascular cohorts, and 3 years for the smaller hybrid cohort.
Conclusions: While all cases incorporated spinal drainage, monitoring and staging for spinal protection, there is innate difference in approach when examining for cord ischemia. This systematic review and meta-analysis of staged TAAA repair describes the first comparison between cohorts of open and endovascular approach, revealing the increased risk of SCI and long-term mortality in endovascular repair.
Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a rare but severe complication after open or endovascular repair of descending thoracic aneurysms (DTAs) or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs). This meta-analysis aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of SCI rates and factors associated with SCI.
Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in September 2022 looking for studies on open and/or endovascular repair of DTA and/or TAAA published after 2018, to update the results of our previously published meta-analysis. The primary outcome was permanent SCI. Secondary outcomes were temporary SCI, 30-day and in-hospital mortality, follow-up mortality, postoperative stroke, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drain-related complications. Data were pooled as proportions using inverse-variance weighting.
Results: A total of 239 studies (71 new studies and 168 from our previous meta-analysis) and 61,962 patients were included. The overall pooled rate of permanent SCI was 3.3% [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.9-3.8%]. Open repair was associated with a permanent SCI rate of 4.0% (95% CI, 3.3-4.8%), and endovascular repair was associated with a permanent SCI rate of 2.9% (95% CI, 2.4-3.5%). Permanent SCI was 2.0% (95% CI, 1.2-3.3%) after DTA repair, and 4.7% (95% CI, 3.9-5.6%) after TAAA repair; permanent SCI rate was 3.8% (95% CI, 2.9-5.0%) for Crawford extent I, 13.4% (95% CI, 9.0-19.5%) for extent II, 7.1% (95% CI, 5.7-8.9%) for extent III, 2.3% (95% CI, 1.6-3.5%) for extent IV, and 6.7% (95% CI, 1.7-23.1%) for extent V TAAA aneurysms. The pooled rate of CSF drain related complications was 1.9% (95% CI, 0.8-4.7%) for severe, 0.4% (95% CI, 0.0-4.0%) for moderate, and 1.8% (95% CI, 0.6-5.6%) for minor complications.
Conclusions: Permanent SCI occurs after both endovascular and open DTA or TAAA repairs. Open repairs and TAAA repairs have higher risk of SCI compared with endovascular or DTA repairs. In particular, extent II aneurysms present the highest overall risk of SCI.
Extensive thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair can cause spinal cord ischemia which significantly impacts survival and quality of life. Although this complication is uncommon, it is important to recognize the pathophysiology and preventative measures. In the 1990s, Dr. Griepp and colleagues proposed the existence of an extensive collateral network that supports spinal cord perfusion, "the collateral network concept". This includes an interconnecting complex of vessels in the intraspinal, paraspinous, and epidural spaces, and in the paravertebral muscles, involving the intercostal and lumbar segmental arteries as well as the subclavian and hypogastric (iliac) arteries. In this concept, as opposed to the one major segmental input model such as the Adamkiewicz artery, recognition of the importance of multiple inputs to the spinal circulation is paramount to maintaining the spinal blood flow and preventing spinal cord ischemia. In this article, we review the current evidence of the collateral concept and its application in aortic surgery.
Spinal cord deficit (SCD) is a feared complication after thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Vigilant management throughout the perioperative period is necessary to reduce the risk of SCD. Measures for preventing SCD during the intraoperative period include preoperative optimization and recognizing patients at a higher risk of SCD. In this manuscript, we discuss intraoperative adjuncts including utilization of cerebrospinal fluid drainage, left heart bypass, mild hypothermia, selective reimplantation of intercostal and lumbar arteries, and renal and visceral vessel perfusion. From the operative to the postoperative period, careful attention to avoiding hypotension and anemia is important. If SCD is recognized early, therapeutic intervention may be implemented to mitigate injury.
Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a significant morbidity of surgical repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (DTAA) and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA). We present our 17-year experience with cerebrospinal fluid drainage (CSFD) as a protective strategy during open surgical repair of descending and thoracoabdominal aortic disease.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 132 patients who underwent open surgical repair of DTAA and TAAA and dissections with concurrent use of CSFD for spinal cord protection. Information regarding survival, postoperative course, and complications related to CSFD use were extracted from electronic health records (EHR) and analyzed.
Results: Mean patient age was 65.4±13.0 years, and 82 (62.1%) were male. A CSFD was successfully inserted in all patients. The mean hospital length of stay after surgery was 12.2±11.2 days, and in-hospital mortality was 7.6%. Postoperative transient paresis was observed in 5 patients (3.8%), and permanent paraplegia was seen in 4 (3.0%). CSFD related complications were reported in 25 patients (19%). Complications included persistent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, blood-tinged CSF (with subdural hematoma reported in 3 patients) and spinal cutaneous fistula in 9 (7%), 14 (11%), and 1 (1%), respectively. Long term survival was 50.9% at 15 years.
Conclusions: CSFD is associated with minor complications, without major sequalae. It is a safe practice and likely contributes innocuously to decreased SCI in patients undergoing open repair of DTAA and TAAA.