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The purpose was to estimate the proportion of current open aortic arch reconstructions that might be feasible for endovascular repair. From all elective repair made in Southern Sweden in one center between 2005 and 2012, 129 open and eight endovascular aortic arch repairs were identified. The anatomy of the ascending arch and descending aorta as well as the arch vessels was categorized from multiplanar and axial computed tomography scans. Of 129 open cases, only two (1.5%) were suitable for endovascular repair. Among 137 all arch open and endovascular arch reconstructions performed during the study period, only 10 (7%) were candidates for endovascular repair. The most common exclusion for endovascular repair was an excessively large ascending aortic diameter. In conclusion, only a small proportion of patients having an open arch repair are suitable for endovascular arch repair, a finding related to the large diameter of the ascending aorta. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The mechanical properties of the aorta affect cardiac function and are related to cardiovascular morbidity/ mortality. This study was designed to evaluate the isotropic (mainly elastin, elastiniso) and anisotropic (mainly collagen, collagenani) material parameters within the human aorta in vivo. Thirty healthy men and women in three different age categories (23-30, 41-54, and 67-72 yr) were included. A novel mechanical model was used to identify the mechanical properties and the strain field with aid of simultaneously recorded pressure and radius in the abdominal aorta. The magnitudes of the material parameters relating to both the stiffness of elastiniso and collagenani were in agreement with earlier in vitro studies. The load-bearing fraction attributed to collagenani oscillated from 10 to 30% between diastolic and systolic pressures during the cardiac cycle. With age, stiffness of elastiniso increased in men, despite the decrease in elastin content that has been found due to elastolysis. Furthermore, an increase in stiffness of collagenani at high physiological pressure was found. This might be due to increased glycation, as well as changed isoforms of collagen in the aortic wall with age. A marked sex difference was observed, with a much less age-related effect, both on elastiniso and collagenani stiffness in women. Possible factors of importance could be the effect of sex hormones, as well as differing collagen isoforms, between the sexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: To evaluate the short-term feasibility, efficacy, and safety of a modular bifurcated stent-graft with an internal iliac artery (IIA) side branch for endovascular repair of aortoiliac aneurysms. Methods: Between 2002 and 2005, 10 male patients (median age 75 years, range 59-83) were treated with a bifurcated stent-graft that included a unilateral side branch for the IIA. The median diameters of the abdominal aortic and common iliac artery (CIA) aneurysms were 56 mm (range 33-80) and 40 mm (range 27-60), respectively. Four patients were treated mainly for the CIA aneurysm. Postoperative endoleaks, patency rate, and vessel morphology were determined with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). Results: All endografts were implanted in the desired position. One IIA occluded intraoperatively, and 1 external iliac artery occlusion was noted 6 months postoperatively; both occlusions were asymptomatic and remain untreated. Three graft-related endoleaks were treated with implantation of adjunctive stent-grafts (2 intraoperative and 1 late). Median follow-up by CT was 2 months (1 week to 32 months). One patient died of myocardial infarction 13 days postoperatively; the stent-graft was patent at autopsy. Conclusion: Stent-grafts with an IIA side branch offer an opportunity to repair aortoiliac aneurysms without sacrificing the IIA. Implantation of the IIA branch is more complex than routine endovascular aneurysm repair and may have contributed to a periprocedural cardiac death. More patients and longer follow-up are needed to verify these data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To examine the safety and efficacy of endovascular management of isolated infrarenal aortic occlusive disease within our centre. Design and methods: Retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent endovascular treatment of occlusive disease that is confined to the infrarenal aorta between September 1993 and November 2004. Results: Primary aortic stenting was carried out in 16 women and five men using self-expanding (12 patients) and balloon expanding stents to treat both occlusions (six) and stenoses (15). Indications included intermittent claudication (13), critical limb ischaemia (six), and distal embolisation (three). Significant postoperative complications within 30 days were noted in three, including one death. Fifteen patients completed 1-year follow-up with primary patency in 14 and secondary patency in the remaining patient. Clinical improvement was documented in all patients. Conclusion: Primary stenting for occlusive disease isolated in the infrarenal aorta is relatively safe in selected patients with encouraging early follow-up results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To assess if percutaneous insertion of large-bore sheaths is safe during endovascular repair (EVR) for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Methods: Ninety-five AAA patients undergoing EVR had the endografts implanted percutaneously via 14-F to 20-F sheaths in a prospective nonrandomized study. Vascular sutures were applied bilaterally to the common femoral arteries using a vascular closure device; the sutures were tied after sheath withdrawal. Blood loss, operative time, and length of stay (LOS) were compared to 26 AAA patients undergoing EVR with bilateral femoral cutdowns before the percutaneous technique was available. Follow-up included duplex ultrasonography and clinical examination. Results: Bilateral percutaneous closure of the femoral arteries was successful in 78 (82%) patients. Fifteen patients required arteriorrhaphy intraoperatively and 2 others within 24 hours. The failure rate was 20%, 0%, 3%, and 7% for the 20-F, 18-F, 16-F, and 14-F introducers, respectively. Blood loss was 400 mL (range 0-1800) in successful cases, 900 mL (range 0-3000) in failures (p<0.0001). One deep infection at the puncture site required thrombectomy and patchplasty; no other late complication occurred. There was no significant difference in operative time, blood loss, and LOS between patients treated with percutaneous EVR and those with primary femoral exposure. Conclusions: Percutaneous transfemoral EVR of AAA using large-bore introducer sheaths is safe. More than three quarters of the patients avoid femoral cutdown. Late complications are rare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine whether contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography (CE MRA) could replace digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for the evaluation of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease of the lower leg and foot. Material and Methods: Thirty-five patients with symptoms of atherosclerotic disease of the leg were examined prospectively with CE MRA of the foot and the lower legs as well as with DSA from the aorta to the pedal arches. The MRA technique was focused on optimal imaging of the arteries of the foot. Results: The agreement between CE MRA and DSA for grading of stenosis was moderate to good (weighted k-values 0.48-0.80). The sensitivity of CE MRA for detection of significant stenosis (350%) was 92% and the specificity was 64% with DSA as gold standard. Conclusion: CE MRA is a fairly accurate method for the demonstration of atherosclerotic disease below the knee including the pedal arches. It can replace DSA for the assessment of distal arteries in patients with impaired renal function. However, image quality and resolution still needs to be improved before CE MRA can become the method of choice in all patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SummaryAims The increase in risk for cardiovascular complications in diabetic women is even greater than that in diabetic men. We found arterial stiffness to be increased in women, but not in men, with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). The aims of the present study were to evaluate whether the changes in arterial distensibility are influenced by diabetes duration and to evaluate any association between autonomic neuropathy and decreased arterial distensibility. Methods Stiffness of the abdominal aorta was measured noninvasively using echo-tracking sonography and parasympathetic function by heart rate variation during deep breathing (E/I ratio) in 40 women (mean age 33 years, range 20–61) and 38 men (mean age 36 years, range 22–56) with Type 1 DM. Results There was a significant correlation between aortic stiffness and duration of diabetes in women (r = 0.41, P = 0.008), but not in men (r = 0.15, P = 0.35). There was also a significant correlation between aortic stiffness and the E/I ratio in women (r = – 0.49, P = 0.002), but not in men (r = – 0.14, P = 0.41). When adjusted for diabetes duration, the significant association between the E/I ratio and aortic stiffness remained in diabetic women (r = – 0.44, P = 0.008) and was stronger than the association between diabetes duration and aortic stiffness. There were no significant correlations between aortic stiffness and triglycerides or total cholesterol, respectively. Conclusions Increased aortic wall stiffness found in women with Type 1 DM is related to diabetes duration. Further, in women with Type 1 DM there is a correlation between increased aortic stiffness and parasympathetic dysfunction. This may be of importance for the increased susceptibility to cardiovascular complications in diabetic women. Diabet. Med. 16, 291–297 (1999). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]