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Objective: To determine whether access to extra-corporal circulation (ECC) is necessary to treat acute descending thoracic aorta disease., Method: From January 2004 to May 2006, 16 patients underwent endovascular stent-graft repair of the descending thoracic aorta, among them 13 (81%) were treated in an emergency setting (nine men, mean age: 75.4 years, range 30-94 years). The indication was traumatic aortic rupture (n=3, 23%), complicated acute type B dissection (n=4; 31%), symptomatic or ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm (n=4; 31%), aorto-esophageal fistula (n=1; 7,5%) and aortic intramural haematoma (n=1; 7,5%). Computed tomography showed hemomediastin and/or hemothorax in five patients (38%). Transesophageal echocardiography and angiography were performed in two (15%) and one patients respectively. Cerebrospinal fluid drainage was performed for two patients (15%)., Results: Endovascular repair was successfully completed in 92.3% of cases. The 30-day mortality was 7.5% (n=1). There was one case (7.5%) of delayed paraplegia. Follow-up ranged between two and 24 months (mean 10.2), no rupture occurred. Three type I endoleaks were detected and only two were treated. Two none related additional mortalities were observed. None of these patients has needed ECC., Conclusion: The unavailability of ECC does not seem to be a compromising factor in the management of thoracic aorta disease, however a good experience in endovascular techniques is required.

Objective: --To evaluate mechanical strength of new potential systems of vascular prostheses anastomosis versus usual suture (4.0 yarn), --To advance objective quantified data in order to establish the specifications of a new quick and reliable mechanical anastomosis device for laparoscopic surgery., Material and Methods: Two experimental studies were conducted in order to quantify the mechanical resistance of anastomoses between two Dacron vascular prostheses and anastomoses between one Dacron vascular prosthesis and one cadaver abdominal aorta segment. Existing materials, which have generally used for other types of surgery, were applied for these studies (clips, staples, stents). These systems of anastomosis were compared to usual suture, used as reference., Results: The mechanical strength of an anastomosis between two Dacron vascular prostheses performed with staples or the same number of stitches is of equivalent magnitude. Anastomoses made with clips or stent are ten to fifteen times weaker than those made with stitches. We did not succeed in performing an anastomosis with staples on cadaver aorta segments because aorta segments tear when staples are applied. In the experiments with a hand-sewn graft, the aorta always tor before the suture, without breakage of the suture., Conclusion: From these in vitro trials, we can advance that a continuous suture is probably far too resistant in relation to the aorta own resistance. As we do not know accurately the physiologic strength applied to a vascular prosthesis in vivo, one acceptance criterion from a safety point of view for a new anastomosis system must be that its strength will be equal to the well-proven continuous suture (greater than 150 N) or to the aorta breaking point (between 100 and 160 N). From that point of view, anastomoses performed with clips or a stent are not convenient, unless special clips or stents can be developed for this application. The mechanical strength is of staples sufficient but their design has to be adapted to this particular type of anastomosis.

Objective: Descending thoracic aorta to femoral artery bypass (DTAFB) has demonstrated usefulness in the treatment of aorto-iliac occlusive disease but related morbidity and mortality are not negligible. We wanted to determine the feasibility of thoracoscopic DTAFB and to report our clinical experience., Material and Methods: An experimental study was performed on 8 pigs in helicoidal position under general anesthesia with right selective ventilation ). Three trocars were inserted and the descending aorta was dissected ). After tunnelisation of a 6 mm graft, a lateral aortic anastomosis was thoracoscopically performed ) then femoral anastomoses were made. At the end of the procedure, an angiogram and then an autopsy were performed ). Subsequently, three patients were operated, two for thrombosis of a previous aortobifémoral bypass and one for infrarenal aortic hypoplasia. Dissection and graft tunnelisation were performed thoracoscopically ). Then, the aortic anastomosis ) was constructed through a left lateral minithoracotomy (10 cm)., Results: One pig died during surgery of acute lung oedema due to the difficulties of selective ventilation. Excluding this case, the average times of surgery and of dissection were respectively 246 (205-325) and 68 minutes (50-90). The average aortic clamping and anastomosing times were 135 (105-220) and 120 minutes (80-210) ). Three aortic tears were noted; one was repaired. Angiogram was normal 5 times; one pig had a minor stenosis and a leak, and another one had a leak. All the anastomoses were patent without stenosis at autopsy; no organ lesion was found. In humans, the procedure was performed with simple postoperative course in 2 patients and a conversion (20 cm long thoracotomy) was necessary for the third due to poorly supported selective ventilation., Conclusion: Totally thoracoscopic DTAFB can be performed in pigs. In clinical practice, we recommend the use of a mini thoracotomy. This way, the aortic anastomosis can be performed with aortic clamping time under 30 minutes, reducing the risk of spinal cord ischemia. These results allow to propose mini invasive thoracoscopically assisted DTAFB for the patients for whom laparoscopic access of the abdominal aorta appears to be difficult (calcified aorta, hostile belly.).

The goal of this study was to evaluate per and postoperative use of nadroparin during carotid surgery with mortality and neurologic morbidity as primary end points. From January 1995 to December 1999, 237 procedures were performed on 215 patients for isolated carotid surgery; 57% were symptomatic. Surgery was performed under general anesthesia. Before clamping, patients received an intravenous bolus of 70 UI/kg of nadroparin. Shunting was used in 40% of patients. Postoperatively, from the 6(th) hour, nadroparin was given subcutaneously, 2,850 UI or 3,800 UI every 12 hours depending on the patient weight (less or more than 70 kg). The only biologic surveillance was platelet count twice a week. Antiplatelet drugs were given at day 2. Completion Duplex scan was performed before day 30. Seven postoperative ischemic strokes (3 non disabling) occurred including one fatal stroke. Another patient died at day 25 from inaugural duodenal bleeding due to pancreas cancer. The 30 days stroke or death rate was 3.37% (5.92% in symptomatic; 0% in asymptomatic). No hemorrhagic stroke occurred. Four patients were reoperated for cervical hematoma (1.68%). No thrombocytopenia occurred. Duplex scan, performed on 235 operated carotid arteries, showed 2 asymptomatic carotid thromboses. No other cardiovascular complication was found on clinical data. These results are comparable to published literature data in prospective as well as retrospective studies. Per and postoperative use of nadroparin in carotid surgery gave results similar to previously published reports in terms of mortality, neurologic morbidity and hematoma. Its easy use, needing only 2 injections a day and platelet count, with a reduction of the risk of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia make the use of nadroparin very attractive during the perioperative period.

Objective: To study the feasibility and the tolerance of a combined laparoscopic transperitoneal aortic and renal restoration performed on animals., Methods: Six pigs (mean weight: 79.5 kg, range 73-86) underwent laparoscopic replacement of the abdominal aorta using a 6-mm Dacron(R) graft, with direct reimplantation of the left renal artery. The study protocol was approved by the Advisory committee of Animal Ethics. The animal was placed supine on the operative table with a pillow under the lumbar region in order to raise the aortic area. A first midline, 10-mm diameter trocar was placed under direct vision, 5 cm above the pubis and allowed the insufflation of a 12-mm Hg pneumoperitoneum. One 30 degrees optic was used during the intervention. The pig was then tilted to a 30 degrees Trendelenbourg's position and two other 10-mm trocars were introduced 5 cm medially to the right and left antero-superior iliac spines ). Four other 10-mm incisions were necessary for introduction of an intestinal retractor, a suction-irrigation device and two laparoscopic aortic clamps., Results: The procedure was performed in all animals in a mean operative time of 320 min (292-366), including ): - a time for aortic and renal artery dissection of 104 min (90-120), - a supra-renal aortic clamping time of 221 min (180-276), - a time for confection of proximal and distal aorto-prosthetic anastomosis of respectively 59 min (40-75) and 64 min (50-80), - a time for the left renal artery reimplantation of 72 min (40-140). Average blood loss was 525 ml (250-1050), and the mean pre and postoperative hemoglobin and pH values were 9.9 g/dl (8.9-10.7) versus 9.4 g/dl (8.5-11.3) and 7.36 (7.31-7.38) versus 7.30 (7.21-7.43) respectively. An angiogram ) performed before the sacrifice of animals showed a wide patent anastomosis in 18 (56%) cases, a<50% stenosis in 4 cases (22%), a > 50% stenosis in 1 case (5%) and a thrombosis of the first three renal artery restorations (17%) probably due to insufficient intraoperative heparinization., Conclusion: This experimental study shows the feasibility of laparoscopic transperitoneal abdominal aortic restoration with re-implantation of the left renal artery (fig. et ). The techniques of arterial sutures must be improved in order to decrease aortic and renal clamping times.