Application of multi-planar reconstruction technique in endovascular repair of aortic dissection

BACKGROUND Endovascular repair of aortic dissection is an effective method commonly used in the treatment of Stanford type B aortic dissection.Stent placement during the operation was one-time and could not be repeatedly adjusted during the operation.Therefore,it is of great significance for cardiovascular physicians to fully understand the branch status,position,angle,and other information regarding aortic arch dissection before surgery.AIM To provide more references for clinical cardiovascular physicians to develop treatment plans.METHODS Data from 153 patients who underwent endovascular repair of aortic dissection at our hospital between January 2021 and December 2022 were retrospectively collected.All patients underwent multi-slice spiral computed tomography angiography.Based on distinct post-image processing techniques,the patients were categorized into three groups:Multiplanar reconstruction(MPR)(n=55),volume reconstruction(VR)(n=46),and maximum intensity projection(MIP)(n=52).The detection rate of aortic rupture,accuracy of the DeBakey classification,rotation,and tilt angles of the C-arm during the procedure,dispersion after stent release,and the incidence of late complications were recorded and compared.RESULTS The detection rates of interlayer rupture in the MPR and VR groups were significantly higher than that in the MIP group(P<0.05).The detection rates of De-Bakey subtypesⅠ,Ⅱ,andⅢin the MPR group were higher than those in the MIP group,and the detection rate of typeⅢin the MPR group was significantly higher than that in the VR group(P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the detection rates of typesⅠandⅡcompared to the VR group(P>0.05).The scatter rate of markers and the incidence of complications in the MPR group were significantly lower than those in the VR and MIP groups(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The application of MPR in the endovascular repair of aortic dissection has improved the detection rate of dissection rupture,the accuracy of anatomical classification,and safety.

Supraceliac Aortic Clamping for Repair of Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Patients with Short Aortic Neck Length

Objective: Prompt bleeding control with proximal aortic clamping and subsequent aortic repair are very important for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. However, unsuitable anatomy, such as short aortic neck length, not only disturbs the means to an expeditious repair, but may also increase morbidity and mortality. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of supraceliac aortic clamping for improving surgical outcomes for patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, who have a short aortic neck length. Method: Between April 2010 and September 2015, eighteen patients underwent emergent open surgical repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Eight patients with a short aortic neck length underwent supraceliac aortic clamping, and 10 underwent infrarenal aortic clamping. Results: The mean supraceliac aortic clamping time was 30 ± 7 minutes. There was 1 operative death in the infrarenal aortic clamping group due to respiratory failure, and the overall operative mortality was 6%. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups with respect to postoperative complication rates or mortality. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in variables of renal function between the 2 groups, through-out the study period. Conclusion: Supraceliac aortic clamping was associated with minimal mortality and morbidity, but not with harmful effects on postoperative renal function. Thus, supraceliac aortic clamping can be safely applied for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm with short aortic neck length.

Calcific degeneration and rupture of the aortic valve and ascending aorta： from cardiac auscultation to multimodality imaging

A 76-year-old Caucasian woman was admitted to the emergency room and referred for cardiac evaluation for dyspnea and abrupt onset of cough three weeks ago. She had a history of well-controlled arterial hypertension and was on adequate oral anticoagulant therapy for permanent atrial fibrillation. Previous thoracic injuries, connective tis- sue disorders or recent infections were excluded. No chest pain or syncope was reported. mmHg in both arms, heart rate Blood pressure was 150/50 was 90 beats/min.

Restrictive perimembranous ventricular septal defect with left to right Shunt post urgent aortic balloon valvuloplasty and transcatheter aortic valve replacement

An 86-year-old male patient was admitted in our cardiology ward with signs of congestive biventricular heart failure. The patient presented with deteriorating dyspnea on mild exertion and at rest the last days, compatible with class NYHA Ⅲ-Ⅳ heart failure, bilateral peripheral oedema, increased NT-proBNP （9198 pg/mL）, mildly elevated Troponin （TnT 64 pg/mL）, interstitial pulmonary oedema and bilateral pleural effusions in chest X ray.

Perioperative aortic dissection rupture after endovascular stent graft placement for treatment of type B dissection

Background The perioperative aortic dissection （AD） rupture is a severe event after endovascular stent graft placement for treatment of type B AD. However, this life-threatening complication has not undergone systematic investigation. The aim of the study is to discuss the reasons clAD rupture after the procedure. Methods The medical record data of 563 Stanford type B AD patients who received thoracic endovascular repair from 2004 to December 2011 at our institution were collected and analyzed. Double entry and consistency checking were performed with Epidata software. Results Twelve patients died during the perioperation after thoracic endovascular repair, with an incidence of 2.1%, 66.6% were caused by aortic rupture and half of the aortic rupture deaths were caused by retrograde type A AD. In our study, 74% of the non-rupture surviving patients had the free-flow bare spring proximal stent implanted, compared with 100% of the aortic rupture patients （74% vs. 100%, P=-0.213）. The aortic rupture patients are more likely to have ascending aortic diameters 〉4 cm （62.5% vs. 9.0%, P=0.032）, involvement the aortic arch concavity （62% vs. 27%, P=-0.041） and have had multiple stents placed （P=0.039）. Conclusions Thoracic AD endovascular repair is a safe and effective treatment option for AD with relative low in-hospital mortality. AD rupture may be more common in arch stent-graft patients with an ascending aortic diameter 〉4 cm and with severe dissection that needs multi-stent placement. Attention should be paid to a proximal bare spring stent that has a higher probability of inducing an AD rupture. Post balloon dilation should be performed with serious caution, particularly for the migration during dilation.

A comparative study on the medium-long term results of endovascular repair and open surgical repair in the management of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms

Background Although it is generally acknowledged that patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm （rAAA） obtain the greatest benefit from endovascular repair （EVAR）, convincing evidence on the medium-long term effect is lacking. The aim of this study was to compare and summarize published results of rAAA that underwent EVAR with open surgical repair （OSR）. Methods A search of publicly published literature was performed. Based on an inclusion and exclusion criteria, a systematic meta-analysis was undertaken to compare patient characteristics, complications, short term mortality and medium-long term outcomes. A random-effects model was used to pool the data and calculate pooled odds ratios and weighted mean differences. A quantitative method was used to analyze the differences between these two methods. Results A search of the published literature showed that fourteen English language papers comprising totally 1213 patients with rAAA （435 EVAR and 778 OSR） would be suitable for this study. Furthermore, 13 Chinese studies were included, including 267 patients with rAAA totally, among which 238 patients received operation. The endovascular method was associated with more respiratory diseases before treatment （OR=1.81, P=0.01）, while there are more patients with hemodynamic instability before treatment in OSR group （OR=1.53, P=0.031）. Mean blood transfusion was 1328 ml for EVAR and 2809 ml for OSR （weighted mean difference （WMD） 1500 ml, P=0.014）. The endovascular method was associated with a shorter stay in intensive care （WMD 2.34 days, P 〈0.001） and a shorter total post- operative stay （WMD 6.27 days, P 〈0.001）. The pooled post-operative complication rate of respiratory system and visceral ischemia seldom occurred in the EVAR group （OR=0.48, P 〈0.001 and OR=0.28, P=0.043, respectively）. The pooled 30-day mortality was 25.7% for EVAR and 39.6% for OSR, and the odds ratio was 0.53 （95% confidence interval （CI） 0.41-0.70, P 〈0.001）. There was not, however, any significant reduction in the medium-long all-cause mortality rate （HR=1.13, P=0.381） and re-intervention rate （OR= 2.19, ,~=-0.243） following EVAR. In EVAR group, nevertheless, incidence of type I endoleak was significantly lower than type II endoleak （OR=0.33, P=0.039） at late follow-up period. Conclusions On the basis of this systematic review, rAAA EVAR results in less blood use for transfusion, shorter operation time, shorter intensive care unit and hospital stays, and lower 30-day mortality. However, in the medium-long term, it is not associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality.

Scapular fractures and concomitant injuries

Objective： The association of scapular fractures with other life-threatening injuries including blunt thoracic aortic injury is widely recognized. Few studies have investigated this presumed association. In this study, we investigated the incidence of significant associated injuries with scapular fracture and their outcomes. Methods： A retrospective study was conducted from 2005 to 2009 in a level I trauma center in Thailand. All blunt trauma patients were identified. Patients＇ demographics, injury mechanism, associated injuries, Injury Severity Score （ISS）, and survival outcomes were recorded. The manage- ment of associated injuries with scapular fracture was reviewed, and the risk factors for mortality were identified. Results： Among the 7 345 trauma patients admitted, scapular fractures occurred in 84 cases （1.1%）. The mean age was （37.98±15.21） years. Motorcycle crash was the most frequent mechanism of injury, occurring in 51 cases （60.7%）.Seventyour patients （88.1%） suffering from scapular fractures had associated injuries： 5 （6.0%） had significant chest injuries, but none of them had blunt thoracic aortic injury. Two patients （2.4%） with scapular fractures died. Factors determining the likelihood of mortality were： （1） ISS〉25 （LR=8.5, P〈0.05）; （2） significant associated chest injury （AIS〉3, LR=5.3, P〈0.05） and （3） significant associated abdominal injury （AIS〉3, LR=5.3, P〈0.05）. Conclusion： A blunt scapular fracture may not accompany a blunt thoracic aortic injury but it is strongly related to other injuries like chest injury, extremity injury, head injury, etc. If a scapular fracture is found with a high ISS score, high chest or abdomen AIS score, the patient would have a high risk of mortality.