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To analyze presentation, management, and outcomes of acute aortic dissections with proximal entry tear in the arch.Patients enrolled in the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection and entry tear in the arch were classified into 2 groups: arch A (retrograde extension into the ascending aorta with or without antegrade extension) and arch B (only antegrade extension into the descending aorta or further distally). Presentation, management, and in-hospital outcomes of the 2 groups were compared.The arch A (n = 228) and arch B (n = 140) groups were similar concerning the presence of any preoperative complication (68.4% vs 60.0%; P = .115), but the types of complication were different. Arch A presented more commonly with shock, neurologic complications, cardiac tamponade, and grade 3 or 4 aortic valve insufficiency and less frequently with refractory hypertension, visceral ischemia, extension of dissection, and aortic rupture. Management for both groups were open surgery (77.6% vs 18.6%; P .001), endovascular treatment (3.5% vs 25.0%; P .001), and medical management (16.2% vs 51.4%; P .001). Overall in-hospital mortality was similar (16.7% vs 19.3%; P = .574), but mortality tended to be lower in the arch A group after open surgery (15.3% vs 30.8%; P = .090), and higher after endovascular (25.0% vs 14.3%; P = .597) or medical treatment (24.3% vs 13.9%; P = .191), although the differences were not significant.Acute aortic dissection patients with primary entry tear in the arch are currently managed by a patient-specific approach. In choosing the management type of these patients, it may be advisable to stratify them based on retrograde or only antegrade extension of the dissection.

The purpose of this research is to analyze factors associated with delays to surgical management of Type A acute aortic dissection patients.Time from diagnosis to surgery and associated factors were evaluated in 1880 surgically managed Type A dissection patients enrolled in the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection.The majority of patients were transferred (75.7% vs 24.3%). Patients who were transferred had a median delay from diagnosis to surgery of 4.0 hours (interquartile range 2.5-7.2 hours), compared with 2.3 hours (interquartile range 1.1-4.2 hours; P .001) in nontransferred patients. Among patients who were transferred, those with worst-ever, posterior, or tearing chest pain those with severe complications, and those receiving transthoracic echocardiogram prior to a transesophageal echocardiogram or as the only echocardiogram were treated more quickly. Those undergoing magnetic resonance imaging, or who had prior cardiac surgery, had longer delays to surgery. Among nontransferred patients, those with coma were treated more quickly. In both groups, patients presenting with emergent conditions such as cardiac tamponade, hypotension, or shock had more rapid treatment. Among transferred patients, surviving patients had longer delays (4.1 [2.6-7.8] hours vs 3.3 [2.0-6.0] hours, P = .001). Overall mortality did not differ between patients who were transferred vs not (19.3% vs 21.1%, P = .416).Simply being transferred added significantly to the delay to surgery for Type A acute aortic dissection patients, but a number of factors affected its extent. Overall, signs and symptoms leading to a definitive diagnosis or indicating immediate life threat reduced time to surgery, while factors suggesting other diagnoses correlated with delays.

Background Optimal management of acute type B aortic dissection with retrograde arch extension is controversial. The effect of retrograde arch extension on operative and long-term mortality has not been studied and is not incorporated into clinical treatment pathways. Methods The International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection was queried for all patients presenting with acute type B dissection and an identifiable primary intimal tear. Outcomes were stratified according to management for patients with and without retrograde arch extension. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed. Results Between 1996 and 2014, 404 patients (mean age, 63.3 ± 13.9 years) were identified. Retrograde arch extension existed in 67 patients (16.5%). No difference in complicated presentation was noted (36.8% vs 31.7%, p = 0.46), as defined by limb or organ malperfusion, coma, rupture, and shock. Patients with or without retrograde arch extension received similar treatment, with medical management in 53.7% vs 56.5% ( p = 0.68), endovascular treatment in 32.8% vs 31.1% ( p = 0.78), open operation in 11.9% vs 9.5% ( p = 0.54), or hybrid approach in 1.5% vs 3.0% ( p = 0.70), respectively. The in-hospital mortality rate was similar for patients with (10.7%) and without (10.4%) retrograde arch extension ( p = 0.96), and 5-year survival was also similar at 78.3% and 77.8%, respectively ( p = 0.27). Conclusions The incidence of retrograde arch dissection involves approximately 16% of patients with acute type B dissection. In the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection, this entity seems not to affect management strategy or early and late death.

Background: Conservative management of acute type B aortic dissection (ABAD) is often associated with aortic dilatation during follow-up increasing the risk of aortic rupture. The goal of this study was to investigate whether morphologic characteristics of the dissection can predict aortic growth. Methods: All conservatively managed ABAD patients from four referral centers were included (2000 to 2010). Aortic diameters were measured at five levels at baseline and at the last follow-up computed tomography angiography, and annual aortic growth rates were calculated for all segments. Linear regression was used to study the influence of aortic morphologic characteristics for aortic dilatation. Results: Included were 62 patients (41 men) with a mean age of 60.3 +/- 10.7 years. Among the 310 analyzed aortic segments, 248 (80.0%) were dissected, of which 211 (85.1%) showed aortic growth. Overall, the mean diameter increased from 36.1 +/- 9.4 to 40.2 +/- 11.1 mm (P < .01), which corresponds with a mean aortic growth rate of 3.1 +/- 6.3 mm/y. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that male sex (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60-4.04; P = .005) and a saccular false lumen (95% CI, 2.07-7.81: P = .001) were associated with a significantly increased aortic growth rate. Increasing age (95% CI, -0.23 to -0.04; P = .005), increased number of entry tears (95% CI, -2.40 to -0.43; P = .005), false lumen located on the aortic outer curvature (95% CI, -4.30 to -0.38; P = .019), and a circular configuration of the true lumen (95% CI, -5.35 to -0.32; P = .027) were associated with a decreased aortic growth rate. Conclusions: Multiple morphologic characteristics appear to predict aortic dilatation in ABAD patients treated medically. Early assessment of these morphologic signs may be useful in the selection of ABAD patients who might benefit from closer radiologic surveillance or prophylactic intervention.

Background: Partial thrombosis of the false lumen has been reported as a significant predictor of mortality during follow-up in patients with acute type B aortic dissection. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of false lumen thrombosis and aortic expansion during follow-up in patients with acute type B aortic dissection. Methods: All medically treated patients with acute type B aortic dissection observed in 4 cardiovascular referral centers between 1998 and 2011, with admission and follow-up computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans, were included. Aortic diameters of the dissected aortas were measured at 4 levels on the baseline and follow-up scans, and annual growth rates were calculated. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to investigate the effect of false lumen thrombosis on aortic growth rate. Results: A total of 84 patients were included, of whom 40 (47.6%) had a partially thrombosed false lumen, 7 (8.3%) had a completely thrombosed false lumen, and 37 (44.0%) had a patent false lumen. A total of 273 of the 336 (81.3%) evaluated aortic levels were dissected segments. Overall, the mean aortic diameter increased significantly at all evaluated levels (P

ObjectiveDynamic imaging provides insight into aortic shape changes throughout the cardiac cycle. These changes may be important for proximal aortic stent graft fixation, sealing and durability. The objective of this study is to analyse the influence of different types of stent grafts on dynamic changes of the aneurysm neck.MethodsPre- and postoperative electrocardiography (ECG)-gated computed tomographic angiography (CTA) scans were obtained in 30 abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients, 10 each from three different types of stent grafts (10 Talent, Endurant, and Excluder). Each dynamic CTA dataset consisted of eight reconstructed images over the cardiac cycle. Aortic area and radius changes during the cardiac cycle were determined at two levels: (A) 3 cm above and (B) 1 cm below the lowermost renal artery. Radius changes were measured over 360 axes, and plotted in a polar plot. An ellipse was fitted over the plots to determine radius changes over the major and minor axis for assessment of the asymmetric aspect and most prominent direction of distension.ResultsBaseline characteristics did not differ significantly between the three groups. Preoperatively, the aortic area increased significantly (p

Purpose: To demonstrate explantation of the Nellix Endovascular Aneurysm Sealing (EVAS) System in the setting of infection. Case Reports: Two male patients, 71 and 83 years old, underwent Nellix implantation for asymptomatic infrarenal aortic aneurysms measuring 5.1 and 6.3 cm, respectively. Each developed late infections at 8 and 4 months post EVAS, respectively. The first patient experienced aneurysm rupture after medical therapy failed; the Nellix endosystem was explanted in an uneventful procedure. The second patient developed an aortoduodenal fistula, which was sutured before the Nellix device was removed without complications. The patient died 3 months later, presumably due to ongoing infection. Conclusion: The need to explant a Nellix EVAS System due to graft infection is a straightforward procedure compared to the removal of a conventional endograft with suprarenal fixation. It requires only temporary suprarenal clamping. The devices can be easily removed due to the lack of penetrating components and without damage to the aortic segment needed to create an anastomosis.

Thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) is currently the therapy of first choice for most thoracic aortic disease. Because aortic stent grafts are placed in the vicinity of aortic side branches, unintentional coverage of these arteries may occur.We report a case of a 69-year-old male with an asymptomatic penetrating ulcer of the aortic arch, based at the origin of the left subclavian artery. Due to his medical story, we decided to perform an endovascular procedure with placement of a stent graft in the left hemi-ach wit previous left common carotid subclavian bypass. During the deployment of the aortic stent graft, the proximal margin of the stent graft displaced, inadvertly covering the origin of the left common carotid artery. As a bail out procedure, we successfully revascularized the left common carotid artery with the use of the chimney technique.Endovascular treatment of aortic disease has gained popularity over the last decade. Despite increasing experience, these procedures remain technically challenging. Unintentional coverage of main aortic side branches during TEVAR is a serious complication, which requires immediate intervention. The chimney technique offers a minimal invasive procedure in such case, with promising results.

Background To report one the most feared complication of thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR); a retrograde aortic dissection who can involve the aortic arch or ascending aorta, which require commonly coextensive open surgical repair. Case Reports We report 2 cases of combined retrograde and antegrade dissection after endovascular treatment of an aneurysm of the descending aorta. In both cases, a dissection was identified at short-term follow-up; which required open surgical repair in one case and an additional endovascular treatment for the second case. Conclusions The incidence of extensive iatrogenic dissection after TEVAR is relatively low, open repair should be considered as a primary option in some cases with limited aortic dilatation to avoid such life-threatening complications.

To quantitatively evaluate the impact of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) on aortic hemodynamics, focusing on the implications of a bird-beak configuration.Pre- and postoperative CTA images from a patient treated with TEVAR for post-dissecting thoracic aortic aneurysm were used to evaluate the anatomical changes induced by the stent-graft and to generate the computational network essential for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. These analyses focused on the bird-beak configuration, flow distribution into the supra-aortic branches, and narrowing of the distal descending thoracic aorta. Three different CFD analyses (A: preoperative lumen, B: postoperative lumen, and C: postoperative lumen computed without stenosis) were compared at 3 time points during the cardiac cycle (maximum acceleration of blood flow, systolic peak, and maximum deceleration of blood flow).Postoperatively, disturbance of flow was reduced at the bird-beak location due to boundary conditions and change of geometry after TEVAR. Stent-graft protrusion with partial coverage of the origin of the left subclavian artery produced a disturbance of flow in this vessel. Strong velocity increase and flow disturbance were found at the aortic narrowing in the descending thoracic aorta when comparing B and C, while no effect was seen on aortic arch hemodynamics.CFD may help physicians to understand aortic hemodynamic changes after TEVAR, including the change in aortic arch geometry, the effects of a bird-beak configuration, the supra-aortic flow distribution, and the aortic true lumen dynamics. This study is the first step in establishing a computational framework that, when completed with patient-specific data, will allow us to study thoracic aortic pathologies and their endovascular management.

Background— The outcome of patients with acute type B aortic dissection (ABAD) is strongly related to their clinical presentation. The purpose of this study was to investigate predictors for mortality among patients presenting with ABAD and to create a predictive model to estimate individual risk of in-hospital mortality using the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD). Methods and Results— All patients with ABAD enrolled in IRAD between 1996 and 2013 were included for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to investigate predictors of in-hospital mortality. Significant risk factors for in-hospital death were used to develop a prediction model. A total of 1034 patients with ABAD were included for analysis (673 men; mean age, 63.5±14.0 years), with an overall in-hospital mortality of 10.6%. In multivariable analysis, the following variables at admission were independently associated with increased in-hospital mortality: increasing age (odds ratio [OR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00–1.06; P =0.044), hypotension/shock (OR, 6.43; 95% CI, 2.88–18.98; P =0.001), periaortic hematoma (OR, 3.06; 95% CI, 1.38–6.78; P =0.006), descending diameter ≥5.5 cm (OR, 6.04; 95% CI, 2.87–12.73; P P P =0.001), and limb ischemia (OR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.05–8.68; P =0.040). Based on these multivariable results, a reliable and simple bedside risk prediction tool was developed. Conclusions— We present a simple prediction model using variables that are independently associated with in-hospital mortality in patients with ABAD. Although it needs to be validated in an independent population, this model could be used to assist physicians in their choice of management and for informing patients and their families.

Type II endoleaks occur in 5% to 10% of patients who are treated by endovascular aneurysm repair. A persistent type II endoleak combined with documented aneurysm expansion is generally considered an indication for intervention. Thrombin injection directly into the aneurysm sac is described as a safe and efficient treatment option. We present a patient with a ruptured aneurysm caused by a puncture of the stent graft during computed tomography-guided thrombin injection. This case highlights a possible harmful complication of thrombin injection and emphasizes the need for caution while performing such a procedure.

Objectives The aim of the present study is to report a risk analysis for spinal cord injury in a recent cohort of patients with simultaneous and sequential treatment of multilevel aortic disease. Methods We performed a multicenter study with a retrospective data analysis. Simultaneous treatment refers to descending thoracic and infrarenal aortic lesions treated during the same operation, and sequential treatment refers to separate operations. All descending replacements were managed with endovascular repair. Results Of 4320 patients, multilevel aortic disease was detected in 77 (1.8%). Simultaneous repair was performed in 32 patients (41.5%), and a sequential repair was performed in 45 patients (58.4%). Postoperative spinal cord injury developed in 6 patients (7.8%). At multivariable analysis, the distance of the distal aortic neck from the celiac trunk was the only independent predictor of postoperative spinal cord injury (odds ratio, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.56-0.99; P = .046); open surgical repair of the abdominal aortic disease was associated with a higher risk of spinal cord injury but did not reach statistical significance (odds ratio, 0.16; 95% confidence interval, 0.02-1.06; P = .057). Actuarial survival estimates at 1, 2, and 5 years after the procedure were 80% ± 5%, 68% ± 6%, and 63% ± 7%, respectively. Spinal cord injury did not impair survival ( P = .885). Conclusions In our experience, the risk of spinal cord injury is still substantial at 8% in patients with multilevel aortic disease. The distance of the distal landing zone from the celiac trunk is a significant predictor of spinal cord ischemia.

To investigate the influence of stent-graft oversizing on device-related complications after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA).The study cohort was composed of patients enrolled in 4 clinical trials of the TAG thoracic stent-graft. A total of 337 TAA patients (222 men; mean age 72 years) treated in these trials had sufficient data for analysis of oversizing and post-procedure mortality and complications, such as endoleak, migration, rupture, and reinterventions. Mean oversizing at the proximal landing zone was 14.6% (range -3.4% to 39.7%). Patients were stratified based on the percentage of oversizing:10% (n=85, group 1), 10%-20% (n=188, group 2), and20% (n=64, group 3).Patients in group 1 had significantly larger preoperative proximal aortic diameters (32.6 vs. 31.3 vs. 28.2 mm, respectively; p0.001) and neck lengths (6.9 vs. 5.8 vs. 5.2 cm (p=0.035). Overall, type I endoleak was the most frequent complication during the first 30 days of follow-up (35, 10.4%), but the incidences did not differ among the 3 groups (10.6% vs. 11.2% vs. 7.8%, respectively; p=0.809). Over a mean follow-up of 41.8±20.7 months, there were no significant differences in the occurrence of device-related complications among the groups, though the incidence of type I endoleaks was lower in group 2 (9.4% vs. 3.2% vs. 7.8%, respectively; p=0.073). Cox proportional hazards modeling showed no difference in the time to type I endoleak among oversizing groups [group 1 vs. 2: HR 1.24, 95% CI 0.65 to 2.36 (p=0.509) and group 3 vs. 2: HR 1.24, 95% CI 0.60 to 2.60 (p=0.562)].The percentage of oversizing did not significantly affect the incidence of device-related complications after TEVAR for TAA. Although oversizing may enhance the radial force and help maintain a good proximal seal, additional oversizing seemed not to improve the overall outcome in this analysis. The current guidelines regarding stent-graft oversizing for TAA seem appropriate, though the correct percentage remains to be determined.

Background. Aortic growth rate in acute type B aortic dissection (ABAD) is a significant predictor for aortic complications and death. To improve the overall outcome, radiologic predictors might stratify patients who benefit from successful medical management vs those who require intervention. This study investigated whether the number of identifiable entry tears in ABAD patients is associated with aortic growth. Methods. ABAD patients with uncomplicated clinical conditions and therefore treated with medical therapy were evaluated. Those with a computed tomography angiography (CTA) obtained at clinical presentation and a subsequent CTA obtained at least 90 days after medical treatment were included (2005 to 2010). The CTAs were investigated for the number of entry tears between the true and false lumen. Diameters of the dissected aortas were measured at five levels on the baseline and on the last available follow-up CTA, and annual aortic growth rates were calculated. The number of entry tears in these patients and the location in the aorta were compared with the aortic growth rate. Results. Included were 60 patients who presented with 243 dissected segments. Mean growth rates during follow-up (median, 23.2; range, 3 to 132 months) were significantly higher in patients with 1 entry tear (5.6 +/- 8.9 mm) than in those with 2 (2.1 +/- 1.7 mm; p = 0.001) and 3 entry tears (mean 2.2 +/- 4.1; p = 0.010). The distance of the primary entry tear from the left subclavian artery did not have an effect on the aortic growth rate (median, 38; interquartile range, 24 to 137 mm; p = 0.434). Conclusions. The number of entry tears in ABAD patients detected on the first CTA after clinical presentation is a significant predictor for aortic growth. Patients with 1 entry tear at presentation show a higher growth rate than other patients and might benefit from more strict surveillance or early prophylactic intervention. (C) 2013 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Background Open repair is the gold standard for type A aortic dissection (TAAD). Endovascular option has been proposed in very limited and selected TAAD patients. We report our experience with endovascular TAAD repair. Methods Inclusion criteria were: (1) entry tear in the ascending aorta; (2) proximal landing zone of at least 2 cm; (3) distance between entry tear and brachio-cephalic trunk of at least 0.5 cm; (4) no signs of cardiac tamponade or severe aortic regurgitation and (5) no signs of aortic branches ischaemia. Patients with cardiac revascularisation from ascending aorta were excluded. Results From April 2009 to June 2012, 37 patients with TAAD were admitted to our hospital. As many as 28 underwent surgical repair and 9 were considered at high surgical risk in a multidisciplinary meeting. Four met our inclusion criteria for an endovascular approach. Two of them had previous ascending aortic repair for TAAD and one had aortic valve replacement. Technical success was achieved in 100% of the patients. No mortality was registered during a median follow-up of 15 months (range 4–39 months), no migration of the graft and complete false lumen thrombosis of the ascending aorta in three patients. Conclusion Endovascular treatment of TAAD is challenging but feasible in a selected subset of patients. Further research remains mandatory.

Objective To present our initial experience and technical considerations for the use of chimney grafts in the treatment of patients that require endovascular aneurysm repair with aortic branch preservation. Methods All patients treated with a chimney procedure between October 2009 and June 2011 were included in our analyses. Chimney procedures were only performed in patients that were unsuitable for open repair and without opportunity to use fenestrated grafts (because of unsuitable anatomy or emergency operation). Open brachial or axillary access was used to deploy covered chimney grafts in the target vessels, and subsequently, a stent graft was deployed via femoral cut-down access. Results Thirteen patients (12 males; mean age, 77.2 ± 6.2 years; mean maximal diameter, 71.4 ± 10.2 mm) underwent a chimney procedure with the preservation of 22 aortic side branches. Primary technical success was 92.3% due to occlusion of one renal artery within 24 hours. Thirty-day mortality was 0%. Infrarenal mean neck length was 2.6 mm ± 3.2 mm (range, 0-8 mm) and could be extended to 27.3 mm ± 9.9 mm (range, 18-53 mm) by the use of chimney grafts. During follow-up (median, 10.8 months; interquartile range, 7.4-19.4), one patient died from complications from mesenteric ischemia based on a stenosis of the celiac trunk attributable to the bare stent of the stent graft, and one patient died from aneurysm rupture. Other complications included late occlusion of one renal artery and a type II endoleak, which was unsuccessfully treated with coil embolization and required laparotomy. If we disregard the ruptured patient who had an enormous increase of aneurysm diameter, mean aortic aneurysm diameter reduced from 70.7 ± 10.3 mm (range, 54-89 mm) to 66.7 ± 13.9 mm (range, 48-96 mm) during follow-up ( P = .13). In three patients, the aneurysm diameter decreased by more than 5 mm and in two patients, the diameter increased by more than 5 mm. The aneurysm diameter remained stable in the other eight patients. Conclusions Until off-the-shelf fenestrated or branched stent grafts become available, the chimney procedure offers a minimally invasive treatment option in patients requiring aneurysm exclusion with side branch revascularization. Although long-term follow-up has to be awaited, the initial results show that chimney grafts can help to decrease or stabilize the aneurysm diameter in most patients, but aneurysm rupture was not prevented in all patients.

Background Approximately 20% to 30% of the patients are considered not eligible for standard endovascular aneurysm repair because of aortic neck morphology. Most of these patients have an aortic neck situated in the vicinity of the aortic side branches, requiring extensive open surgery. The introduction of fenestrated and branched stent grafts has made endovascular branch preservation possible, but these procedures are time-consuming and expensive. The chimney procedure offers a readily available endovascular alternative for the treatment in patients with acute aneurysms and challenging anatomy. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the short- and long-term results of the chimney procedure. Methods A comprehensive literature search for studies describing the chimney procedure was performed using MEDLINE and Excerpta Medica Database. All articles were critically appraised and included, based on relevance, validity, and outcome measures. Patient characteristics, details of the surgical intervention, and short- and long-term outcomes were studied. Results A total of 75 patients were included who underwent a chimney procedure for the preservation of a total of 96 branches. Used operating techniques differed considerably between all studies, with an overall technical success rate of 98.9%. Three perioperative deaths were reported, of which one patient died from intervention-related complication. The follow-up duration ranged from 2 days to 54 months. Late complications included three deaths, none of which was device or aneurysm related. Three chimney grafts occluded during follow-up, of which two required reintervention. Conclusion The chimney procedure appears as an acceptable alternative for patients in an emergency setting, although data regarding long-term follow-up are not yet available.

To evaluate the pulsatility of the iliac arteries and compare their distension at several levels that might influence preoperative stent-graft sizing and the long-term durability of stent-graft sealing and fixation.Preoperative dynamic computed tomographic angiography (CTA) scans of 30 patients (24 men; median age 75 years, range 60-85) with an abdominal aortic aneurysm and patent iliac arteries were included. The CTAs consisted of 8 images per heartbeat. Bilateral diameter and area changes per heartbeat were measured semi-automatically in the common iliac artery (CIA) at 3 levels: (A) 0.5 cm after the aortic bifurcation, (B) in the middle of the CIA, and (C) 0.5 cm proximal to the iliac bifurcation. Pulsatility was defined as the largest difference in area and average diameter change over 180 axes per heartbeat. Pulsatility at the 3 levels was compared, and the intraobserver variability of the method was calculated according to Bland and Altman.The mean area increases in the CIAs at levels A, B, and C were 12.5% (16.3 mm²), 11.2% (13.6 mm²), and 9.6% (12.6 mm²), respectively, and the mean iliac diameter increases were 9.2% (1.1 mm), 8.5% (1.0 mm), and 8.1% (1.0 mm). The iliac distension was statistically significant at all levels. The iliac distension at level A was statistically significantly larger than the distension at level C. The intraobserver variability was 13.3 mm² for area and 0.6 mm for diameter measurements.The pulsatility in the iliac arteries is statistically significant at several levels relevant to endovascular aneurysm repair. The distension of the iliac artery possibly decreases more distally, which might encourage the extension of stent-grafts to the internal iliac artery.

To present a case of percutaneous fenestration of a type B aortic dissection after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).An 82-year-old patient with an earlier conventionally inserted aortobi-iliac prosthesis presented with a proximal anastomotic pseudoaneurysm, which was excluded successfully by EVAR. Standard follow-up computed tomographic angiography (CTA) 48 hours after the procedure, however, revealed a type B aortic dissection. Despite conservative antihypertensive therapy, the patient developed abdominal and back pain, and intervention was indicated. Endovascular balloon fenestration of the intimal flap was performed, resulting in relief of pain even though the false lumen remained patent. At 8 months after the procedure, the patient was symptom free, and CTA showed no progression of the persistent type B dissection.Percutaneous fenestration can be used as a therapy of first choice in patients with an acute aortic dissection post EVAR.

Purpose: This study presented and validated a new standardized method for the measurement of the aortic angulation in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and quantified the observer variability. Methods: A standardized method to quantify aortic angulation was introduced. To measure aortic angulation, a center lumen line (CLL) of the aorta was made, and a three-dimensional (3D) aortic reconstruction was obtained. The 3D reconstruction was turned 360 perpendicular to the CLL in the middle of the flexure. The sharpest angle of the CLL was considered the true angle of the aortic axis. The computed tomography angiography data sets of 20 patients scheduled for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) were obtained. The angles between the suprarenal aorta and the aneurysm neck (alpha) and between the aneurysm neck and sac (beta) were measured. Two observers independently measured the angles. Differences of each pair of measurements were plotted against their mean and intraobserver and interobserver variabilities were calculated according to Bland and Altman. Results: The intraobserver mean difference for angle a was 0.2 (-0.5%), with a repeatability coefficient (RC) of 6.4 degrees (20.2%), and 0.6 degrees (1.4%) for angle beta, with a RC of 6.2 degrees (13.4%). The interobserver mean difference for angle a was 1.5 degrees (-4.5%), with a RC of 6.9 degrees (22.0%), and 0.2 degrees (-0.4%) for angle beta, with a RC of 7.4 degrees (16.0%). No significant differences were observed between the observers. Conclusion: The presented technique to objectively quantify the angulation of the aneurysm neck is easy to perform and reliable. This method showed good intraobserver and interobserver variability and should therefore be the standard when measuring and reporting aortic angulation. (J Vase Surg 2010;51:821-8.)