Search

Abstract Syphilitic aortitis is a rare complication of tertiary syphilis, which can lead to aortic aneurysm formation, aortic valvular insufficiency, and ostial coronary stenosis. Syphilis has re-emerged worldwide over recent decades and vascular surgeons should be aware of its cardiovascular manifestations. Atypical clinical presentation, such as hemoptysis and a computed tomography angiography pattern of a thicker aneurysmal wall with ulcer-like aneurysm projections, should raise suspicion of syphilitic aortic aneurysm. An early diagnosis and appropriate surgical and medical therapies significantly contribute to successful treatment and favorable prognosis. Herein is reported the case of an 82-year-old male patient, positive for syphilis infection, with impending aortic arch aneurysm rupture treated with a hybrid arch repair. After 7 months, the patient was brought to the emergency room in cardiac arrest. Unsuccessful cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers were performed, and an autopsy showed cardiac tamponade due to rupture of the ascending aorta.

Abstract Isolated dissection of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is rare in young patients and is a cause for strong suspicion of fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), especially when associated with artery elongation and tortuosity. The natural history of cerebrovascular FMD is unknown and management of symptomatic patients can be challenging. We report the case of a 44-year-old female patient with a history of transient ischemic attack in the absence of cardiovascular risk factors, associated with an isolated left ICA dissection and kinking. Carotid duplex ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis of dissection and demonstrated severe stenosis of the left ICA. The patient underwent surgical repair and histopathological evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of FMD with dissection. An autogenous great saphenous vein bypass was performed and the patient had an uneventful recovery. Cervical carotid artery dissection can be related to underlying arterial pathologies such as FMD, and the presence of ICA tortuosity highlights certain peculiarities for optimal management, which might be surgical.

We report a case of a 72-year-old patient considered unfit for open surgery, presenting with paraanastomotic aneurysms of all three anastomoses, 13 years after an open aortobiiliac reconstruction for abdominal aortic aneurysm. This patient was successfully treated with an endovascular approach using a left aortouniiliac endograft and a right iliac tubular endograft, followed by crossover femorofemoral bypass. This report illustrates the usefulness of a minimally invasive approach for solving this complication of aortic open surgery and discusses technical issues related to endovascular devices in this particular setting.Relatamos um caso de um paciente de 72 anos não considerado elegível para cirurgia aberta, apresentando aneurismas para-anastomóticos das três anastomoses, 13 anos após uma reconstrução aberta aorto-biilíaca para aneurisma aórtico abdominal. Este paciente foi tratado com sucesso através de abordagem endovascular usando uma endoprótese aorto-uniilíaca esquerda e uma endoprótese tubular ilíaca direita, seguida por derivação cruzada fêmoro-femoral. Este relato ilustra a utilidade de uma abordagem minimamente invasiva para o tratamento desta complicação da cirurgia aórtica aberta e discute questões técnicas relacionadas a dispositivos endovasculares neste contexto em especial.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular approach to the aortic arch is an appealing solution for selected patients. OBJECTIVE: To compare the technical and clinical success recorded in the different anatomical settings of endografting for aortic arch disease. METHODS: Between June 1999 and October 2006, among 178 patients treated at our institution for thoracic aorta disease with a stent-graft, the aortic arch was involved in 64 cases. According to the classification proposed by Ishimaru, aortic zone 0 was involved in 14 cases, zone 1 in 12 cases and zone 2 in 38 cases. A hybrid surgical procedure of supra-aortic debranching and revascularization was performed in 37 cases. RESULTS: Zone 0. Proximal neck length: 44±6 mm. Initial clinical success was 78.6%: two deaths (stroke), one type Ia endoleak. At a mean follow-up of 16.4±11 months the midterm clinical success was 85.7%. Zone 1. Proximal neck length: 28±5 mm. Initial clinical success was 66.7%: 0 deaths, four type Ia endoleaks. At a mean follow-up of 16.9±17.2 months the midterm clinical success was 75.0%. Zone 2. Proximal neck length: 30±5 mm. Initial clinical success was 84.2%: two deaths (one cardiac arrest, one multiorgan embolization), three type Ia endoleaks, one case of open conversion. Two cases of delayed transitory paraparesis/paraplegia were observed. At a mean follow-up of 28.0±17.2 months the midterm clinical success was 89.5%. CONCLUSIONS: This study and a literature review demonstrated that hybrid procedure for aortic arch pathology is feasible in selected patients at high risk for conventional surgery. Our experience is still limited by the relatively small sample size. We propose to reserve zone 1 for patients unfit for sternotomy or in cases with aortic neck length > 30 mm following left common carotid artery debranching. We recommend to perform complete aortic rerouting of the aortic arch in cases with lesser comorbidities and shorter aortic neck.CONTEXTO: O tratamento endovascular dos aneurismas do arco aórtico é uma solução interessante para pacientes selecionados. OBJETIVO: Comparar os sucessos técnico e clínico registrados nas diferentes regiões anatômicas do arco aórtico após a colocação de endoprótese. MÉTODOS: Entre junho de 1999 e outubro de 2006, 178 pacientes foram tratados na nossa instituição devido a doenças da aorta torácica com a colocação de endoprótese, sendo que o arco aórtico estava envolvido em 64 casos. De acordo com a classificação proposta por Ishimaru, a zona aórtica 0 estava envolvida em 14 casos, zona 1 em 12 casos e zona 2 em 38 casos. Procedimentos de debranching do arco aórtico e revascularização extra-anatômica dos troncos supra-aórticos foram realizados em 37 casos para obter um adequado colo aórtico proximal. RESULTADOS: Zona 0. Comprimento do colo proximal: 44±6 mm. Sucesso clínico inicial de 78,6%: dois óbitos (acidente vascular cerebral), um vazamento do tipo Ia. Seguimento médio de 16,4±11 meses com sucesso clínico a médio prazo de 85,7%. Zona 1. Comprimento do colo proximal: 28±5 mm. Sucesso clínico inicial de 66,7%: 0 óbitos, quatro vazamentos do tipo Ia. Seguimento médio de 16,9±17,2 meses com sucesso clínico a médio prazo de 75%. Zona 2. Comprimento do colo proximal: 30±5 mm. Sucesso clínico inicial de 84,2%: dois óbitos (um infarto cardíaco e uma embolização de múltiplos órgãos), três vazamentos do tipo Ia, um caso de conversão para operação aberta. Dois casos de paraparesia/paraplegia transitória tardia foram observados. Seguimento médio de 28,0±17,2 meses com sucesso clínico a médio prazo de 89,5%. CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo e a análise da literatura demonstram que o procedimento híbrido para moléstia do arco aórtico é factível em pacientes selecionados com alto risco para a operação convencional. Nossa experiência ainda é limitada pelo tamanho relativamente pequeno da amostra. Sugerimos reservar a zona 1 para pacientes inadequados para esternotomia ou em casos de comprimento do colo aórtico proximal > 30 mm apos revascularização da artéria carótida comum esquerda. Sugerimos realizar revascularização completa do arco aórtico em pacientes adequados com um colo aórtico proximal mais curto.