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Background: Behcet's disease is a multi-system inflammatory disorder. A small subset of patients with Behcet's develop relapsing polychondritis which is classified as a separate disease known as Mouth and Genital ulcers with inflamed cartilage (MAGIC syndrome). It has previously been observed that this condition can also affect the cartilaginous tissue in the tracheobronchial tree. Case presentation: We present the case of a 44-year-old lady with Behcet's Disease, Mouth and Genital ulcers with inflamed cartilage (MAGIC) syndrome and an aortic Frozen Elephant Trunk (FET) who presented to hospital with recurrent episodes of left lobar collapse of the lung. During bronchoscopy, we found the presence of multiple inflammatory endobronchial webs occluding segments of the left bronchial tree. Repeated examinations showed evidence that these inflammatory webs were progressing in size, density and location. Furthermore, we noticed herniation of her descending aortic FET into her left bronchial tree forming an aorto-bronchial fistula which was complicated by a graft infection. Her descending aortic FET section was surgically replaced with an open procedure and bronchoscopic interventions attempted to remove the occlusions in her bronchial tree. Despite optimisation of medical management and surgical correction, this patient continued to develop progressive occlusion of her left bronchial tree, resulting in a chronically collapsed left lung. Conclusions: A multi-disciplinary team approach is of paramount importance in order to optimally manage patients with Behcet's disease, balancing immunosuppressive regimens that need close monitoring and titration in the context of potential surgical intervention and the risk for intercurrent infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open in new tab Download slide OBJECTIVES We investigated whether prophylactic preoperative cerebrospinal fluid drainage (CSFD) was effective in preventing spinal cord ischemia (SCI) during thoracic endovascular aortic repair of degenerative descending thoracic aortic aneurysms, excluding dissecting aneurysms. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair involving proximal landing zones 3 and 4 between 2009 and 2020. RESULTS Eighty-nine patients with preemptive CSFD [68 men; median (range) age, 76.0 (71.0–81.0) years] and 115 patients without CSFD [89 men; median (range) age, 77.0 (74.0–81.5) years] were included in this study. Among them, 59 from each group were matched based on propensity scores to regulate for differences in backgrounds. The incidence rate of SCI was similar: 8/89 (9.0%) in the CSFD group and 6/115 (5.2%) in the non-CSFD group (P  = 0.403). Shaggy aorta (odds ratio, 5.13; P  = 0.004) and iliac artery access (odds ratio, 5.04; P  = 0.005) were identified as positive predictors of SCI. Other clinically important confounders included Adamkiewicz artery coverage (odds ratio, 2.53; P  = 0.108) and extensive stent graft coverage (>8 vertebrae) (odds ratio, 1.41; P  = 0.541) were not statistically significant. Propensity score matching yielded similar incidence of SCI: 4/59 (6.8%) in the CSFD group and 3/59 (5.1%) in the non-CSFD group (P  = 0.697). CONCLUSIONS Aggressive use of prophylactic CSFD was not supportive in patients without complex risks of SCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Spinal cord ischemia (SCI) is a devastating complication of thoracic aortic aneurysm repair in the era of thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR). This review aims to clarify the causes of SCI during TEVAR and to propose ways that it may be prevented.Methods and results: We performed an extensive literature search of SCI during TEVAR. Based on the existing literature, we examined the anatomy of the anterior spinal cord artery, which supplies blood to the anterior aspect of the spinal cord, and discuss reported effective ways to prevent SCI during TEVAR, including augmentation of arterial blood pressure and drainage of cerebrospinal fluid.Conclusion: After reviewing the mechanism of SCI during TEVAR, we evaluated promising preventative measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate surgical outcomes in open repair of thoracoabdominal aortic (TAAA) and descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (DTA) in patients with preoperative renal failure (PRF). METHODS: Our database was examined for all patients undergoing open TAAA/DTA repair. Patients with a creatinine greater than or equal to 1.5 gm/dl or on haemodialysis were defined as having PRF and were compared to those having normal preoperative renal function. Logistic and Cox regression analysis were used to identify independent determinants of in-hospital outcomes and long-term survival. RESULTS: From 1997 to 2015, 711 patients underwent open TAAA/DTA repair. Two hundred and two were categorized as having PRF, of which, 22 where on preoperative haemodialysis. PRF patients had significantly worse comorbidities; smoking (95.5% vs 69.0%; P < 0.001), chronic pulmonary disease (65.8% vs 29.7%; P < 0.001), peripheral vascular disease (44.1% vs 19.4%; P < 0.001) and diabetes (16.3% vs 6.7%; vs P < 0.001). Operative mortality (OM) was seven-times higher in patients with PRF (14.2 vs 2.2%; P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that PRF was a predictor of OM [odds ratio (OR): 4.91; confidence interval (CI): 2.01–11.97; P < 0.001] and major adverse events (OR: 2.05; CI: 1.21–3.46; P = 0.007). Kaplan–Meier 5-years survival was significantly lower in PRF patients (45.0% vs 69.8%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PRF predicts higher OM and major adverse events incidence following open TAAA/DTA repair. Long-term survival is negatively impacted. Strategies for improving preoperative and intraoperative renal function may lead to better outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: The risk of stroke caused by dislodgment of loose atheromatous plaque or mural emboli is increased by cross-clamping of the aorta. Some patients undergo descending thoracic aortic aneurysm repair with proximal aortic cross-clamping between the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of proximal aortic cross-clamping in arteriosclerotic aneurysm or dissecting aneurysm repair. Methods: Between May 1984 and May 2003, 81 patients underwent elective surgery for distal arch or descending aortic aneurysm repair with proximal aortic cross-clamping between the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery. To evaluate the influence of the proximal aortic cross-clamping, patients were divided into two groups: patients who had undergone arteriosclerotic aneurysm repair (group I, n=25) and patients who had undergone dissecting aneurysm repair (group II, n=56). Results: Eight (9.9%) of the 81 patients had a stroke. Six strokes occurred in operations for arteriosclerotic aneurysm repair group I and two strokes occurred in operations for dissecting aneurysm repair group II (24 vs 3.6%; p=0.009). In-hospital mortality rates were 12% in group I and 8.9% in group II (p=0.70). Major postoperative complications included renal failure requiring hemodialysis (in 4.2% of the patients in group I and in 8.3% of the patients in group II, p=0.99) and pulmonary complication (in 20% of the patients in group I and in 16% of the patients in group II, p=0.67). Conclusion: Cross-clamping between head vessels should be avoided if at all possible when operating on patients who have arteriosclerotic descending thoracic aneurysms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The presence of an aneurysm in the descending thoracic aorta increases the risk of thrombus formation with systemic embolisation, and in severe cases it can lead to the rupture of the affected aortic segment. Objective: Our goal is to present the applied procedures used for diagnosis and correction of descending thoracic aortic aneurysm. Material and methods: We present the case of a 46-year-old patient known with arterial hypertension, who developed a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm. Thorax-abdomen-pelvis CT examination reveals the descending aortic dilatation with an antero-posterior maximum axial diameter of 56 mm and decalibration overlying the origin of the renal arteries, left ventricle hypertrophy and slightly ectasia of the ascending aorta up to 42 mm. In addition to this, the presence of the aortic coarctation at the arch-descending aorta junction explains the arterial hypertension followed by the ventricle hypertrophy. The patient underwent an interventional therapy in the Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and Transplantation Tg. Mureş Cath Lab, that consisted of the thoracoabdominal TEVAR (Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair) technique with percutaneous insertion of a 4 Gore-TAG Grafts Stent into the celiac trunk, to exclude the aneurysm and assure the celiac trunk perfusion. Results: The post-interventional evolution of the patient was favorable, with no visible complications in AngioCT examination after one month and six months. Conclusions: This case presentation highlights the importance of thoracic aortic aneurysm early diagnosis and TEVAR as a safety therapeutic alternative to the open surgical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]