Treatment of Aortic and Iliac Artery Occlusion by Catheter Thrombolysis Combined with Catheter Thrombectomy and Aortic Bifurcation Endovascular Stent Reconstruction

Aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) is an occlusive disease of the infrarenal aorta and iliac arteries usually caused by stenosis or occlusion at the end of the abdominal aorta-common iliac artery. Herein, we reported a case of Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus- (TASC-) D AIOD with pale, cool, and intangible dorsalis pedis artery treated with catheter thrombolysis combined with catheter thrombectomy and aortic bifurcation endovascular stent reconstruction, which proved to be safe, effective, and minimally invasive approach. In the present paper, we discussed the physical and imaging manifestations, as well as treatments.

Experimental study of the flow in the elastic model of the abdominal aortic bifurcation

This paper reflected preliminary results of physical modeling of pulsating flow in a model of abdominal aortic bifurcation with taking into account the physiological elasticity of the vessel walls. Elastic vessel models were made via molding from a silicone mixture based on Lasil-T4 silicone rubber. The auxiliary study was performed to assess the elastic properties of the silicone mixture and select a necessary composition. The experiment on the pulsating flow in the rigid and elastic models of the abdominal aortic bifurcation was carried out using a blood flow simulator with circulation of blood-emulating fluid. It was revealed that interaction between the elastic model and closed rigid circuit of the blood flow simulator resulted in generation of intense parasite flow oscillations and prevented from getting similar flow conditions for rigid and elastic models. A way to solve the problem is to include dampers with liquid in the hydraulic circuit of the blood flow simulator at the inlet and the outlets of the elastic model.

Use of the AFX Stent Graft in Patients with Extremely Narrow Aortic Bifurcation: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

Introduction. This study analyzed the patient outcomes following endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) for infrarenal aortic pathologies with very narrow aortic bifurcations using the AFX stent graft. Methods. The data was retrieved from the archived medical records of 35 patients treated for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) (48.6%) or penetrating aortic ulcer (PAU) (51.4%) with very narrow aortic bifurcation between January 2013 and May 2020. Patient survival, freedom from endoleak (EL), and limb occlusion were estimated applying the Kaplan–Meier method. Results. The mean follow-up time was 20.4 ± 22.8 months. The mean aortic bifurcation diameter was 15.8 ± 2.2 mm . Technical success was 100%, and no procedure-related deaths occurred. Two type II ELs occurred within 30-day follow-up. We observed one common iliac artery stenosis at four months and one type III EL at 54 months in the same patient, both of which required re-intervention. Overall patient survival was 95 ± 5 % (AAA: 100%; PAU: 89 ± 10 % ), freedom from limb occlusion was 94 ± 5 % (AAA: 91 ± 9 % ; PAU: 100%), freedom from type II EL was 94 ± 4 % (AAA: 88 ± 8 % ; PAU: 100%), and freedom from EL type III was 83 ± 15 % (AAA: 80 ± 18 % ; PAU: 100%) at the end of the follow-up period. Conclusions. Very narrow aortic bifurcations may predispose patients to procedure-related complications following EVAR. Our results suggest a safe use of the AFX stent graft in such scenarios. The overall short- and long-term procedure-related patient outcomes are satisfying albeit they may seem superior for PAU when compared to AAA.

TP5.2.5 The utility of ‘kissing’ common iliac artery stents in the management of occlusive atherosclerotic arterial disease of the aortic bifurcation

Introduction A systematic review published in 2017 concluded that ‘kissing’ iliac stents to treat occlusive disease of the aortic bifurcation was associated with high technical procedural success and good medium-term patency. We have explored this in a regional vascular unit. Methods Retrospective review of patients managed with endovascular treatment of aorto-iliac segment (March 2015 to September 2020). The median follow-up was 2-years. Key outcome variables included the patency of the reconstruction and requirement for secondary intervention. Results There were 1,348 iliac endovascular procedures performed for occlusive atherosclerotic arterial disease of the aorto-iliac segment of which 56 were ‘kissing’ iliac stents. Intervention was performed for chronic limb threatening ischaemia in 29 cases. In 37 cases patients had unilateral symptoms only and in 41 cases patients had either TASC A or B lesions. Technical success was achieved in 55 cases and the median duration of admission was 1-day. At follow-up there was clinical patency in 54 cases, although there were 3 major extremity amputations performed (all on the index admission). Conclusion As with much of the work on ‘kissing’ iliac stents the number of patients is small and the group of patients variable in terms of medical co-morbidity, presenting clinical features and morphology of iliac disease. The procedure appears to have high technical success and can be achieved with little in the way of major morbidity. Medium term durability is good.

Neutrophil extracellular traps in feline cardiogenic arterial thrombi: a pilot study

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the spatial distribution of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in cardiogenic arterial thromboembolism (CATE). Specifically, we aimed to examine the related structural features of NETs in feline arterial thrombi in relation to their arterial locations. Methods Paraffin-embedded aortic bifurcations from nine cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (four with CATE and five without) were deparaffinized, and NETs were identified by immunodetection based on colocalization of cell-free DNA, citrullinated histone H3 and neutrophil elastase. The distribution of NETs in thrombi within the aortic bifurcations and common iliac arteries (CIAs) was compared based on their proximity to the descending aorta (proximal, mid, distal). Ten random fields per section were captured at × 10 and × 20 magnification for each section of the clot and analyzed. Results The distributions of NETs in thrombi within the aortic bifurcation and CIAs were found to differ in relation to their assigned zones (proximal, mid, distal; P = 0.04); NETs were concentrated mostly in the proximal region in the aortic bifurcations (47.56%, interquartile range [IQR] 14.07–77.95) and CIAs (44.69%, IQR 24.65–85.28), compared with the distal regions (2.69%, IQR 0.10–50.04 [P = 0.027]; 7.08%, IQR 1.27–59.33 [P = 0.02]). Conclusions and relevance The variation in NET distribution within arterial thrombi may shed light on the pathogenesis of thrombus growth. This may be due to possible neutrophil entrapment or variations in shear stress.

Long-Term Outcome for Covered Endovascular Reconstruction of Aortic Bifurcation for Aortoiliac Disease: A Single-Center Experience

Purpose The gold standard for the treatment of complex (TASC II C and D) atherosclerotic aortoiliac lesions is still open surgical repair. Endovascular techniques have a lower mortality and morbidity rate but this comes at the cost of worse patency rates when compared with open repair. Improved short- and mid-term results have been reported using the covered endovascular reconstruction of aortic bifurcation (CERAB) technique. The aim of this study was to report our initial experience with the CERAB technique and report long-term patency rates. Materials and Methods All patients treated with the CERAB technique between 2012 and 2018 were prospectively registered in an institutional database and included in this study. Patient demographics, characteristics, symptoms, procedural, and follow-up details were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Perioperative complications and reinterventions were also identified. The Kaplan-Meier survival method was used to assess cumulative rates of patency. Results A total of 44 patients were treated with the CERAB technique and included in this study. The majority of the treated aortoiliac occlusions were classified as complex: TASC II C (n=7; 15.9%) or TASC II D (n=25; 56.8%). Primary patency rate at 60 months was 83.3%, assisted primary patency was 90.9% and secondary patency 95%. No significant differences were found in patency rates comparing noncomplex (TASC II A and B) and complex (TASC II C and D) aortoiliac lesions. Seven patients (15.9%) required at least one additional procedure to maintain either assisted primary patency or secondary patency during follow-up. The 30-day complication rate in this series was 20.5% (n=9), of which 55.6% (n=5) were minor complications. All major 30-day complications (n=4) occurred during or directly after the CERAB procedure. Thirty-day mortality was 0%. No limb occlusions occurred within 30 days of the procedure. Conclusion Good long-term patency rates can be achieved with the CERAB technique to treat aortoiliac stenosis or occlusions while maintaining advantages associated with endovascular interventions. This remains true even when a CERAB is used to treat complex aortoiliac lesions. An endo-first approach to treat complex aortoiliac lesions seems viable.

Treatment of Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease With the Covered Endovascular Reconstruction of the Aortic Bifurcation (CERAB) Technique: Results of a UK Multicenter Study

Objective This UK multicenter study aims to report early- and medium-term results following covered endovascular reconstruction of aortic bifurcation (CERAB) for the treatment of aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) in patients with chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI) or intermittent claudication (IC). Materials and Methods Retrospective case analysis was performed of patients who underwent CERAB between November 1, 2012 and March 31, 2020 in 6 centers across the United Kingdom. Anatomical data, including degree of plaque calcification, were assessed using preoperative imaging. Outcome measures included mortality, perioperative complications, target lesion reintervention (TLR), and major limb amputation. Primary, assisted primary, and secondary patencies were calculated at set intervals. Results A total of 116 patients underwent CERAB over the study period for the following reasons [48% presenting with CLTI (Rutherford 4–6) and 52% with IC (Rutherford 1–3)]; 82% presented had Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) D AIOD disease. Median age was 65 years (range 42–90 years); 76% of the cohort were male. Severely calcified aortic and iliac lesions were noted in 90% and 80% of patients, respectively. Over a median follow-up of 18 months (range 1–91 months), 2 (1.7%) patients were lost to follow up. In total 5, (4.3%) patients died and 2 (1.7%) had a major amputation. Endovascular TLR was required in 14 (12.1%) patients at last follow up. Surgical TLR was performed in 4 (3.4%) patients at last follow-up. Seven (6%) patients developed an aortic/iliac stent occlusion at last follow-up. The Kaplan-Meier (KM) freedom from TLR at 1 year was 94% and KM 1-year primary patency, assisted primary patency, and secondary patency were 88%, 94%, and 98% respectively. Subanalysis found the following features were associated with need for TLR; TASC D disease (OR = 2.45, 95% CI 1.44 to 3.71), severe aortic calcification (OR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.20), and presence of tissue loss at baseline (OR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.01 to 4.63). Conclusion Perioperative (<30 days) and medium-term morbidity, mortality, and patency rates in this pragmatic cohort of patients with severe AIOD lesions show that CERAB is a valid revascularization option. A direct comparison with surgical treatments for AIOD in a randomized controlled trial is justified.

Laparoscopic removal of a large pheochromocytoma-paraganglioma of the Zuckerkandl organ

Paragangliomas represent 15 to 20% of all chromaffin tissue tumors. Most often, paragangliomas are located in the abdominal cavity along the large vessels — in the para-aortic region from the diaphragm to the aortic bifurcation. One of the most common extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas is the Zuckerkandl tumor, originating from the para-aortic accumulation of sympathetic tissue located in the area of the inferior mesenteric artery’s origine or in the zone of the aortic bifurcation itself. Due to the technical difficulty in performing laparoscopic removal of paragangliomas, conversion to laparotomy is frequent and reaches 80%. The article describes a clinical case of a patient suffering from this type of neoplasm, with diagnosis details and treatment by a successful radical laparoscopic intervention with a large chromaffinnoma located in a difficult anatomical zone removal.

Two-year single centre results with covered endovascular reconstruction of aortic bifurcation (CERAB) in the treatment of extensive aorto-iliac occlusive disease

Objective To report the results of a single-centre in the treatment of extensive aorto-iliac occlusive disease (AIOD) by the covered endovascular reconstruction of aortic bifurcation (CERAB) technique. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on data obtained from the review of medical charts of all consecutive patients treated with CERAB technique for AIOD between January 2016 and December 2019 in San Giovanni-Addolorata Hospital (Rome, Italy). Clinical examination, duplex ultrasound with ankle-brachial index measurement and contrast-enhanced computed tomography angiography were performed preoperatively. A clinical and ultrasound follow-up was carried out at one month and then half yearly after the intervention to evaluate patients’ clinical status, limb salvage, target lesion revascularization rate, primary and secondary patency rate. Results During the study period, 24 patients (14 men, 58.3%; 10 women, 41.7%; median age 59 years, range 37–79 years) underwent CERAB for AIOD (TASC II C 29.2%, TASC II D 70.8%). Indications for treatment were: intermittent claudication in 18 patients (75%) and critical limb ischemia in 6 (25%). Technical success was achieved in all cases. Perioperative minor complications occurred in three cases (12.5%). One patient reported an intraoperative iliac rupture requiring adjunctive covered stenting. Median hospital length of stay was two days (range 1–9). No patient died perioperatively nor at the last follow-up. At a median follow-up of 18 months (range 6–48 months), mean ankle-brachial index increased significantly (from 0.62 ± 0.15 before the procedure to 0.84 ± 0.18) ( P < 0.001) and target lesion revascularization rate was 12.5%. At two years, the limb salvage rate was 100%, and primary and secondary patency rates were 87.5% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion CERAB technique demonstrated to be effective at the mid-term follow-up with low rate of complications and short length of stay. Long-term results and more robust data are needed to affirm this technique as the first-line treatment for extensive AIOD. However, it could become the preferred option especially in fragile patients and during contemporary COVID-19 pandemic due to the current limitations in vascular and critical care bed capacity.