Retrieving a lost needle in the descending aorta during hemi-arch replacement

A 73-year-old man diagnosed with moderate aortic insufficiency and dilatation of the aortic root and ascending aorta underwent a modified Bentall procedure and hemi-arch aortic replacement. During open distal anastomosis of the ascending aorta, the surgical needle was lost. Because of circulatory arrest, the operation was continued; before closing the chest, radiography and a transesophageal echo were located in the needle in the descending aorta. It was retrieved using a snare catheter via the graft branch under fluoroscopic guidance. Thus, locating the needle in the descending aorta and leaving the graft branch uncut led to its removal without a new incision.

Use of On-Site Digital Subtraction Angiography for Left Subclavian Artery Management During Hybrid Aortic Arch Repair in DeBakey I Dissection

Purpose: A hybrid aortic repair using the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique with an open distal anastomosis in zone 2 and debranching of the left subclavian artery (LSA) has been demonstrated to be favorable and safe. Although a transposition of the LSA reduces the risk of cerebellar or medullar ischemia, this may be challenging in difficult LSA anatomies. Case Report: We present the case of a 61-year old patient with DeBakey I aortic dissection, treated with FET in moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (26°C) and selective cerebral perfusion using a Thoraflex-Hybrid (Vascutek Terumo) prosthesis anchored in zone 2, with overstenting of the LSA orifice and no additional LSA debranching. Sufficient perfusion of the LSA was proved intraoperatively using LSA backflow analysis during selective cerebral perfusion in combination with on-site digital subtraction angiography (ARTIS Pheno syngo software). No neurologic dysfunction or ischemia occurred in the postoperative course. An angiographic computed tomography revealed physiologic LSA perfusion, with subsequent thrombotic occlusion of the false lumen in the proximal descending aorta after 7 days. Conclusion: Using an angiography-guided management in patients with complex DeBakey I dissection and difficult anatomy may simplify a proximalization of the distal anastomosis in zone 2 for FET, even without an additional LSA debranching.

Surgical treatment of extended spongy urethral strictures in men: minimizing the risks of narrowing in the anastomotic zones between the buccal graft and the native urethra using the dorsal inlay technique

Introduction. Currently, the most common method of treating extended urethral strictures is augmentation urethroplasty using oral mucosa grafts. Analysis of the long-term outcomes of this surgery type shows a high incidence of relapses and complications.Purpose of the study. To improve the outcomes of augmentation urethroplasty, in particular the dorsal inlay (Asopa) technique, in patients with extended spongy urethral strictures by minimizing the risk of recurrent strictures.Materials and methods. The study is based on an analysis of the surgery in 90 patients (aged 18-72 years) with extended spongy urethral strictures. Seventy patients (group I) underwent dorsal inlay augmentation urethroplasty according to the Asopa technique, and 20 patients (group II) — according to the author's modified technique. Statistical data analysis was carried out using the SPSS ver.26 software (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL, USA).Results. A comparative analysis of the course of the early postoperative period showed a lower number of complications in group II patients compared to group I — 20.0% versus 34.3%, respectively. The recurrent strictures were registered for groups I and II in 18.8% and 5.6% of cases 6 months after surgery, respectively. The recurrent urethral narrowing was most often localized in the area of distal anastomosis between the buccal graft and the native urethra in patients from both groups.Conclusion. The modified dorsal inlay augmentation urethroplasty technique developed and implemented in clinical practice by increasing the internal urethral lumen in the areas of proximal and distal anastomosis between the buccal graft and the native spongy urethral body allows minimizing the risks of recurrent urethral narrowing after augmentation urethroplasty.

Four-branched graft inversion technique for the distal anastomosis in acute aortic dissection

Background Distal anastomosis bleeding is an issue during total arch replacement with the frozen elephant trunk technique. We used the 4-branched graft inversion technique for the distal anastomosis in acute aortic dissection. The aim was to evaluate the feasibility and benefits of the technique used during the frozen elephant trunk procedure for acute aortic dissection. Methods From January 2017 to July 2019, 109 patients underwent total arch replacement for type A acute aortic dissections. Patients were divided according to the technique used for the distal anastomosis as follows: group G (n = 57; 4-branched graft inversion technique) and group C (n = 52; conventional method with Teflon felt). The postoperative variables were analysed. Results The hospital mortality rate was 9.2% (10/109). The mean cardiopulmonary bypass, cardiac arrest, and circulatory arrest times were 234.95 ± 71.88 min, 168.25 ± 61.33 min, and 39.19 ± 9.45 min, respectively. The circulatory arrest and cardiac arrest times were shorter in the graft inversion group than in the conventional group (36.46 ± 7.88 min vs. 42.19 ± 10.17 min, P = 0.001 and 156.21 ± 55.99 min vs. 181.44 ± 64.68 min, P = 0.031, respectively). There were 7 cases of stroke (6.4%) and 5 cases of paraplegia (4.6%). Additionally, 13 patients (11.9%) required temporary continuous renal replacement therapy. Respiratory failure occurred in 19 patients (17.4%). There were no significant differences in postoperative complications between the two groups. Conclusions The 4-branched graft inversion technique provides effective and confirmed haemostasis during total aortic arch replacement using the frozen elephant trunk procedure.

Dexmedetomidine as an Anaesthetic Adjunct in Patients Undergoing Elective Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Background: The aim of the present study was to study the hemodynamic profile of dexmedetomidine during induction and distal anastomosis of coronary arteries in patients undergoing OPCAB in comparison to the institutional practice of using midazolam. Methods: In Group I, (n=25) patients were anaesthetised using fentanyl, pancuronium bromide, Isoflurane and midazolam. Group II (n=25) patients received a loading dose of dexmedetomidine infusion (1µg/Kg) over 10 minutes followed by an infusion of dexmedetomidine at the rate of 0.6 µg/Kg/hour, along with fentanyl, Pancuronium bromide and isoflurane. Heart rate (HR) mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulmonary artery (PA) catheter derived data and BIS were recorded at baseline, at 1 and 3 minutes after induction, at 1, 3 and 5 minutes after intubation, and at 5 and 30 minutes after protamine administration. MAP and HR were recorded every 10 min during the operation, except during distal anastomosis of the coronary arteries when it was recorded every 5 minutes after application of the Octopus tissue stabilising system. Results: The intubation response by way of increase in HR was much less in group II and stabilized by 5 min after intubation. The accompanying hypotension at 1 minute after induction was more in group II, but it was clinically acceptable (81.68±21.74 mm Hg). During distal graft anastomoses HR was in the range of 68 beats/min to 85 beats/min in group II vs. 85 beats/min to 100 beats/min in Group I. The MAP was lower in this group during the distal anastomosis, but it was within clinically acceptable range (> 65 mm Hg). Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine is a viable option as an anaesthetic adjunct in a loading dose of 1µg/Kg followed by an infusion of 0.6 µg/Kg. Future studies will be necessary to show if this provides any outcome benefits.

Frozen Elephant Trunk in Aortic Arch Disease: Different Devices for Different Pathologies

The frozen elephant trunk technique (FET) requires the use of a pre-assembled hybrid prosthesis consisting of a standard Dacron vascular portion to replace the aortic arch and a stent graft component, which is placed into the proximal descending thoracic aorta (DTA) anterogradely in the proximal descending thoracic aorta. In Europe, two hybrid prostheses are available: the E-evita Open Plus hybrid stent graft system provided by JOTEC (Hechingen, Germany) and the ThoraflexTM Hybrid (Vascutek, Inchinnan Scotland). Recommendations for use are extensive pathologies of the arch in case of acute and chronic aortic dissection, degenerative aneurysm and intramural hematoma. The FET approach allows the replacement of the whole arch in one stage with the option of direct treatment of the proximal descending thoracic aorta based on the stent component, creating a safe landing zone for further endovascular treatment more distally. The remarkable feature of this technique is the possibility to perform more proximally (from zone 3 to zone 0) the distal anastomosis in to the arch. This allows for an easier distal anastomosis, reduced hypothermic circulatory arrest time and decreased risk of paraplegia (<5%). Early results are promising and according to the most recent series the rate of developing post-operative renal insufficiency ranges from 3 to 10%, the risk of stroke from 3% to 8% and mortality from 8–15%. The aim of the article will be to provide some knowledge about the use and application of FET procedures in different aortic situations.

SURGICAL TREATMENT OF ARTERIAL ANEURYSMS OF THE LOWER LIMB.

Peripheral artery aneurysms are dangerous with possible complications such as ruptures, bleeding, thromboembolism in the distal bed with subsequent tissue ischemia, neurological disorders due to pressure of closely located nerve trunks. One of the most common causes of peripheral artery aneurysms is trauma. Special attention should be paid to a significant increase in the number of iatrogenic injuries. From 2000 to 2019, 46 patients were operated on the arteries of the lower extremities. Operations of various types of reconstructions were performed. The total age of the patients ranged from 30 to 76 years, the average age of the patients was 43.3± 6.5 years. A total of 6 (9.2%) patients were operated on with combined aneurysmal lesion of the femoral and popliteal arteries. In the postoperative period, 91.5% of patients with peripheral artery aneurysm had positive clinical results. 4 (8.5%) developed complications. Long-term results were tracked in the period from 3 months to 3 years. A clinical examination was performed, supplemented by ultrasound control. 2 cases of thrombosis in the distal anastomosis were identified, which were restored after reconstruction of the distal anastomosis.