Protection of the Abdominal Aortic Anastomosis

Background: Open surgical or endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) relies on precise preprocedual imaging. Purpose of this study was to assess inter- and intraobserver variation of software-supported automated and manual multi row detector CT angiography (MDCTA) in aortoiliac diameter measurements before AAA repair. Patients and methods: Thirty original MDCTA data sets (4 times 2mm collimation) of patients scheduled for endovascular AAA repair were studied on a dedicated software capable of creating two-dimensional reformatted planes orthogonal to the aortoiliac center-line. Measurements were performed twice with a four-week interval between readings. Data were analysed by two blinded readers at random order. Two different measurement methods were performed: reader-assisted freehand wall-to-wall measurement and semi-automatic measurement. Results: Aortoiliac diameters were significantly underestimated by the semi-automatic method as compared to reader-assisted measurements (p < 0.0031). Intraobserver variability of AAA diameter calculation was not significant (p > 0.15) for reader-assisted measurements except for the diameter of the left common iliac artery in reader 2 (p = 0.0045) and it was not significant (p > 0.14) using the semi-automatic method. Interobserver variability was not significant for AAA diameter measurements using the reader-assisted method and for proximal neck analysis with the semi-automatic method (p > 0.27). Relevant interobserver variation was observed for semi-automatic measurement of maximum AAA (p = 0.0007) and iliac artery diameters (p = 0.024). Conclusions: Dedicated MDCTA software provides a useful tool to minimize aortoiliac diameter measurement variation and to improve imaging precision before AAA repair. For reliable AAA diameter analysis the reader-assisted freehand measurement method is recommended to be applied to a set of reformatted CT data as provided by the software used in this study.

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Current evidence and prospects for medical treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms

VASA ◽

10.1024/0301-1526.34.4.217 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 217-223 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Diehm ◽

Schmidli ◽

Dai-Do ◽

Baumgartner

Keyword(s):

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm ◽

Aortic Aneurysm ◽

Medical Treatment ◽

Endovascular Treatment ◽

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Significant Morbidity ◽

Abdominal Aortic ◽

Risk Of Rupture

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a potentially fatal condition with risk of rupture increasing as maximum AAA diameter increases. It is agreed upon that open surgical or endovascular treatment is indicated if maximum AAA diameter exceeds 5 to 5.5cm. Continuing aneurysmal degeneration of aortoiliac arteries accounts for significant morbidity, especially in patients undergoing endovascular AAA repair. Purpose of this review is to give an overview of the current evidence of medical treatment of AAA and describe prospects of potential pharmacological approaches towards prevention of aneurysmal degeneration of small AAAs and to highlight possible adjunctive medical treatment approaches after open surgical or endovascular AAA therapy.

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No relation between biomarkers at age 47–49 and aortic diameter after 14–19 years of follow-up – a population-based study

VASA ◽

10.1024/0301-1526/a000632 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 46 (4) ◽

pp. 291-295 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Soumia Taimour ◽

Moncef Zarrouk ◽

Jan Holst ◽

Olle Melander ◽

Gunar Engström ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Population Based ◽

Aortic Diameter ◽

Aortic Dilatation ◽

Population Based Study ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Abdominal Aortic ◽

Long Term Follow Up ◽

Old Men

Abstract. Background: Biomarkers reflecting diverse pathophysiological pathways may play an important role in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (aortic diameter ≥30 mm, AAA), levels of many biomarkers are elevated and correlated to aortic diameter among 65-year-old men undergoing ultrasound (US) screening for AAA. Probands and methods: To evaluate potential relationships between biomarkers and aortic dilatation after long-term follow-up, levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), proneurotensin (PNT), copeptin (CPT), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase 2 (Lp-PLA2), cystatin C (Cyst C), midregional proatrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP), and midregional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) were measured in 117 subjects (114 [97 %] men) aged 47–49 in a prospective population-based cohort study, and related to aortic diameter at US examination of the aorta after 14–19 years of follow-up. Results: Biomarker levels at baseline did not correlate with aortic diameter after 14–19 years of follow up (CRP [r = 0.153], PNT [r = 0.070], CPT [r = –.156], Lp-PLA2 [r = .024], Cyst C [r = –.015], MR-proANP [r = 0.014], MR-proADM [r = –.117]). Adjusting for age and smoking at baseline in a linear regression model did not reveal any significant correlations. Conclusions: Tested biomarker levels at age 47–49 were not associated with aortic diameter at ultrasound examination after 14–19 years of follow-up. If there are relationships between these biomarkers and aortic dilatation, they are not relevant until closer to AAA diagnosis.

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Statin therapy for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms

VASA ◽

10.1024/0301-1526/a000156 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 3-4

Author(s):

Diehm ◽

Dick

Keyword(s):

Statin Therapy ◽

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Abdominal Aortic

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Influence of preoperative statins and aspirin administration on biological and magnetic resonance imaging properties in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm

VASA ◽

10.1024/0301-1526/a000895 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Milos Sladojevic ◽

Petar Zlatanovic ◽

Zeljka Stanojevic ◽

Igor Koncar ◽

Sasenka Vidicevic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Aortic Aneurysm ◽

Signal Intensity ◽

Psoas Muscle ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Maximal Diameter ◽

Aneurysm Wall ◽

Abdominal Aortic

Summary: Background: Main objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of statins and/or acetylsalicylic acid on biochemical characteristics of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) wall and intraluminal thrombus (ILT). Patients and methods: Fifty patients with asymptomatic infrarenal AAA were analyzed using magnetic resonance imaging on T1w sequence. Relative ILT signal intensity (SI) was determined as a ratio between ILT and psoas muscle SI. Samples containing the full ILT thickness and aneurysm wall were harvested from the anterior surface at the level of the maximal diameter. The concentration of enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9, MMP2 and neutrophil elastase (NE/ELA) were analyzed in ILT and AAA wall; while collagen type III, elastin and proteoglycan 4 were analyzed in harvested AAA wall. Oxidative stress in the AAA wall was assessed by catalase and malondialdehyde activity in tissue samples. Results: Relative ILT signal intensity (1.09 ± 0.41 vs 0.89 ± 0.21, p = 0.013) were higher in non-statin than in statin group. Patients who were taking aspirin had lower relative ILT area (0.89 ± 0.19 vs 1.13. ± 0.44, p = 0.016), and lower relative ILT signal intensity (0.85 [0.73–1.07] vs 1.01 [0.84–1.19], p = 0.021) compared to non-aspirin group. There were higher concentrations of elastin in AAA wall among patients taking both of aspirin and statins (1.21 [0.77–3.02] vs 0.78 (0.49–1.05) ng/ml, p = 0.044) than in patients who did not take both of these drugs. Conclusions: Relative ILT SI was lower in patients taking statin and aspirin. Combination of antiplatelet therapy and statins was associated with higher elastin concentrations in AAA wall.

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