Hybrid Endovascular Aorta Repair with Simultaneous Supra-aortic Branch or Iliac Branch Revascularization

Objective To describe a hybrid endovascular procedure for aorta repair with different kinds of bypass followed by concomitant placement of stent graft in the aorta. Methods From June 2007 to May 2008, 5 consecutive patients who presented with aortic aneurysm or dissection were treated with a new hybrid aorta repair technique. Complete surgical rerouting of supra-aortic vessels was simultaneously created by endovascular repair of aortic arch aneurysm with stent graft. Hybrid left carotid-subclavian bypass with stent graft deployment covering the ostium of the left subclavian artery was performed in a Debakey type III aortic dissection case. The supra-aortic branch was revascularized in 2 cases from ascending aorta to bilateral common carotid arteries using a 16-8 mm bifurcated graft, then total aortic arch and descending artery was occluded with stent-graft. The left carotid artery to the left subclavian artery bypass was created in 1 case, followed by stent-graft deployment. Two cases of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm underwent left external iliac artery to left internal iliac artery bypass by a retroperineal route, then hybrid procedure was performed with bifurcated stent-graft. All stent grafts were deployed via a retrograde femoral artery approach in 5 patients. Results Technical success with complete aneurysmal exclusion was achieved in all patients. There was no incidence of encloleak. During a follow-up period of 2 to 10 months, documented perioperative neurologic events did not occur in all patients. One patient suffered from adult respiratory distress syndrome. After received tracheostomy, he recovered later. There was one death resulting from a postoperative myocar- dial infarction. Conclusion Hybrid arch repair provides an alternative therapy to patients otherwise considered prohibitively high risk for traditional open arch and thoracoabdominal aorta repair.

Thoraco-abdominal Aorta Revascularization through a Retroperitoneal Approach

Objective To investigate the application of the retroperitoneal approach in aortic surgery. Methods We collected and analyzed data of 7 patients in Macao who presented with aortic diseases from 2007 to 2008 and were treated with aorta repair through retroperitoneal approach. Demographic features as well as intraoperative and postoperative data were analyzed. One case of thoracoabdominal aneurysm and 4 cases of abdominal aneurysm received artificial graft, among which hybrid iliac artery reconstruction with Zenith stent covering the ostium of the left subclavian artery was performed in 2 cases of infrarenal abdominal aneurysm. Aortic-iliac artery bypass was performed in 2 cases of aortoiliac occlusion. Results No operative or early postoperative death was observed. No perioperative intestinal adhesion or ureteral obstruction was found. One case reported delayed paraplegia and graft infection as postoperative complications. The complications were partially removed 3 months later after rehabilitation. Conclusion Retroperitoneal approach is a safe and feasible technique, which associated with a low incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications.