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In-situ laser fenestration (ISLF) has been described as a viable option for urgent thoracic aortic aneurysm cases involving supra-aortic vessels. There are, however, limited data on its durability. Here, we present a case of a 70-year-old man with a symptomatic 13-cm thoracic aortic aneurysm extending proximally to the origin of the left subclavian artery (LSA). Emergent thoracic endovascular aortic repair with chimney stenting of the left common carotid artery and ISLF for the LSA was successfully performed. During the follow-up, a compression of the bridging stent to the LSA progressed to a stent fracture needing realignment. Despite ISLF’s reported technical success, this case highlights the risk of bridging stent complications, emphasizing the need for a close follow-up.

Objective: Treatment of complex aortic aneurysms with the in situ laser fenestration (ISLF) technique involves implantation of a balloon expandable stent graft (bSG) in the created fenestration. Adequate expansion of this bSG is of importance both to achieve seal and to ensure target vessel stability. This experimental study assessed the expansion rate of different bSGs in the ISLF setting using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Methods: A commercially available aortic endograft was used to test the laser fenestration technique (Zenith Alpha, Cook Medical LLC, Bloomington, IN, USA). The ISLF was stented with the following bSGs: two Gore Viabahn VBX balloon expandable endoprostheses (WL Gore & Associates, Bloomington, IL, USA), three BeGraft Peripheral and three BeGraft Plus (Bentley InnoMed GmbH; Hechingen, Germany), and three Advanta V12 (Atrium, Hudson, NH, USA). The bSGs were expanded in three steps: (1) nominal, (2) rated burst pressure, and (3) dilation with a non-compliant balloon at 15 atmospheres. After each step, an IVUS assessment of the bSG minimum diameter and the area at the fenestration (FA) and in a fully expanded segment distal to the fenestration (SA) was performed. A mean of the three IVUS measurements was used as the value for comparison. An insufficient bSG expansion was defined as a mean of FA/SA of

Background: Surgery is a stressful exercise, and the experience of occupational stress may have impacts on surgical performance, and surgeon well-being. Music is played in operating theatres (OTs) throughout the world, and while it may improve surgical performance, and reduce clinician stress within the OT, concerns exist over its distracting and noise-creating properties. Methods: In this prospective observational study, between May to August 2022, Vascular, General and Paediatric surgeons and registrars in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ) responded to a survey investigating the way they use music, and their perceptions and attitudes towards its effect on the OT environment. Binomial logistic regression and Chi squared tests of association were performed, accepting p

In situ laser fenestration (ISLF) has emerged as a promising technique for emergent revascularization of the left subclavian artery in the case of thoracic endovascular aortic repair coverage, presenting excellent technical success rates in most studies. We describe a case of ISLF of the Thoraflex Hybrid frozen elephant trunk device to achieve immediate left subclavian artery revascularization. We demonstrate the feasibility and technical success of using ISLF in this setting, providing a less invasive alternative to conventional surgical revascularization when required.

The off-the-shelf single fenestrated stent graft is based on the Cook Zenith fenestrated platform (Cook Medical Europe) with a premade 8-mm fenestration for the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). The device is suitable for emergency treatment of paravisceral aneurysms when combined with in situ laser fenestration for the renal arteries (and, if required, the celiac trunk). The presence of a premade SMA fenestration results in minimal visceral ischemia time. We present the case of a 69-year-old woman with a ruptured Crawford type I thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm and a tandem abdominal aortic aneurysm that was treated successfully using the single fenestrated device with in situ laser fenestration for the renal arteries, with no SMA ischemia time. A 6-month computed tomography angiogram showed patent renovisceral stents without an endoleak.

In recent years, mycotic aortic aneurysms have been increasingly treated successfully by endovascular means. The introduction of custom-made fenestrated and branched devices, parallel graft techniques, and in situ fenestration has enabled total endovascular treatment also for arch pathologies. We describe a total endovascular repair of a mycotic arch aneurysm with in situ laser fenestration using venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to preserve flow to vital organs.

Inframalleolar bypass is an effective intervention for chronic limb threatening ischemia. A successful outcome can be compromised by early pedal wound disruption with secondary bypass exposure. We describe the case of a 74-year-old man with a WIfI (wound, ischemia, foot infection) clinical stage 4 foot who underwent popliteal–dorsalis pedis bypass, complicated by early skin necrosis overlying the pedal anastomosis. This necessitated a multidisciplinary approach to obtain tissue coverage over the anastomosis. The wound healed within 28 days, and at 2 years, the patient was mobilizing independently. We outline the approach taken and discuss the management of this challenging limb salvage problem.

Extracranial carotid artery aneurysms (CAAs) are extremely rare and often require surgical intervention to avoid complications such as local compression symptoms and thrombo-embolization. We present the case of a 63-year-old man with a history of hypertension, meningioma, and an incidental finding of a right saccular internal carotid artery aneurysm at the base of the skull. He underwent open surgical repair; nonetheless, end-to-end anastomosis was not feasible. As bailout, the internal carotid artery was successfully reconstructed with a novel Viabahn-assisted sutureless anastomosis technique (GORE, Viabahn). Postoperative clinical assessment revealed no complications, postoperative computed tomography angiography revealed a patent reconstruction, and the patient was discharged home uneventfully with 1-year clinical and computed tomography angiography follow-up without remarks. Hybrid procedure is a viable option for technically challenging carotid anastomoses near the skull base.

Aorto-cutaneous fistulas are an unusual and life-threatening complication after aortic surgery. We present the case of an endovascular intervention for an aorto-cutaneous fistula of the ascending aorta that was intended to be a bridge to definitive surgical treatment and report a literature review. A 56-year-old woman had a previous Bentall’s procedure and mitral valve annuloplasty in 2016. Four years later she re-presented with an infective pseudoaneurysm of the distal anastomosis of the ascending aortic graft, with aorto-cutaneous fistulation. She was at high risk for a revision operation and required optimization before a major open surgery. A thoracic endovascular aortic repair stent graft (Valiant Navion; Medtronic Inc) was implanted to exclude the distal anastomotic pseudoaneurysm. Two months later she re-presented with a new infected pseudoaneurysm at the proximal end of the previously implanted stent graft, and a further thoracic endovascular aortic repair was undertaken.

Objective: Left subclavian artery (LSA)-branched endografts with retrograde inner branch configuration (thoracic branch endoprosthesis [TBE]) offer a complete endovascular solution when LSA preservation is required during zone 2 thoracic endovascular aortic repair. However, the hemodynamic consequences of the TBE have not been well-investigated. We compared near-wall hemodynamic parameters before and after the TBE implantation using computational fluid dynamic simulations. Methods: Eleven patients who had undergone TBE implantation were included. Three-dimensional aortic arch geometries were constructed from the pre- and post-TBE implantation computed tomography images. The resulting 22 three-dimensional aortic arch geometries were then discretized into finite element meshes for computational fluid dynamic simulations. Inflow boundary conditions were prescribed using normal physiological pulsatile circulation. Outlet boundary conditions consisted of Windkessel models with previously published values. Blood flow, modeled as Newtonian fluid, simulations were performed with rigid wall assumptions using SimVascular's incompressible Navier-Stokes solver. We compared well-established hemodynamic descriptors: pressure, flow rate, time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS), the oscillatory shear index (OSI), and percent area with an OSI of >0.2. Data were presented on the stented portion of the LSA. Results: TBE implantation was associated with a small decrease in peak LSA pressure (153 mm Hg; interquartile range [IQR], 151-154 mm Hg vs 159 mm Hg; IQR, 158-160 mm Hg; P = .005). No difference was observed in peak LSA flow rates before and after implantation: 40.4 cm3/ (IQR, 39.5-41.6 cm3/s) vs 41.3 cm3/s (IQR, 37.2-44.8 cm3/s; P = .59). There was a significant postimplantation increase in TAWSS (15.2 dynes/cm2 [IQR, 12.2-17.7 dynes/cm2] vs 6.2 dynes/cm2 [IQR, 5.7-10.3 dynes/cm2]; P = .003), leading to decreases in both the OSI (0.088 [IQR, 0.063 to –0.099] vs 0.1 [IQR, 0.096-0.16]; P = .03) and percentage of area with an OSI of >0.2 (10.4 [IQR, 5.8-15.8] vs 15.7 [IQR, 10.7-31.9]; P = .13). Neither LSA side branch angulation (median, 81°, IQR, 77°-109°) nor moderate compression (16%-58%) seemed to have an impact on the pressure, flow rate, TAWSS, or percentage of area with an OSI of >0.2 in the stented LSA. Conclusions: The implantation of TBE produces modest hemodynamic disturbances that are unlikely to result in clinically relevant changes. : Clinical Relevance: The Gore thoracic branch endoprosthesis represents the only commercially available stent graft in the United States for the treatment of aortic arch pathologies involving the left subclavian artery. The implantation of endografts cause alterations in flow patterns that, in turn, can have a significant impact on long-term device durability and the prognosis of the patient. The results of this computational modelling study provide important data regarding the hemodynamic performance of the thoracic branch endoprosthesis relevant to the associated clinical outcomes and subsequent implications on device durability.

Objective: Metformin is associated with a reduced incidence and growth of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). The aim of the present study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of metformin on AAA development and possible underlying mechanisms in experimentally induced AAAs in mice, along with the possible synergistic effects of metformin and imatinib. Methods: Angiotensin II was used to induce AAAs in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE−/−) mice for 28 days. The mice were treated with metformin (n = 11), metformin combined with imatinib (n = 7), or vehicle (n = 12), starting 3 days before angiotensin II infusion. Ultrasound examination was used to analyze aneurysm formation. Cholesterol and blood pressure levels were measured at the start and end of the study. Gene array and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to analyze the changes in gene expression in the aorta. Wire myography was used to study vascular function. Results: Metformin (n = 11) suppressed the formation and progression of AAAs by 50% compared with the vehicle controls (n = 12), with no further effects from imatinib (n = 7). Metformin reduced total cholesterol and mRNA expression of SPP1 (encoding osteopontin), MMP12, and the glycoprotein genes Gpnmb and Clec7a. Furthermore, metformin inhibited blood pressure increases and reduced vascular contractions, as determined by wire myography, and restored the anticontractile function of perivascular adipose tissue. Conclusion: Metformin inhibited aneurysm formation and progression and normalized vascular function in ApoE−/− mice with no additional effect of imatinib. This might be mediated by the protective effects on vascular endothelial function and perivascular adipose tissue via reduced expression of genes promoting inflammation, including SPP1, MMP12, Gpnmb, and Clec7a. Clinical relevance: Retrospective studies of the effects of metformin in patients with aneurysm have so far only been performed of those with type 2 diabetes. The present study shows that metformin has effects on nondiabetic mice and revealed the mechanistic effects mediated by the drug that could also be important to study as outcomes in humans. Future clinical trials using metformin are warranted in patients without diabetes with abdominal aortic aneurysms.