| 1. Echeverria AB, Branco BC, Goshima KR, Hughes JD, Mills JL Sr. Outcomes of endovascular management of acute thoracic aortic emergencies in an academic level 1 trauma center. Am J Surg. 208(6):974-80; discussion 979-80, 2014 Dec. |
Observational-Tx |
22 patients |
To evaluate the experience and outcomes in patients presenting with acute aortic catastrophes in a moderate-volume center. |
During the study period, 51 patients underwent TEVAR; 22 cases (43.1%) were performed emergently (11 patients [50.0%] traumatic aortic injury; 4 [18.2%] ruptured descending thoracic aneurysm; 4 [18.2%] complicated type B dissection; 2 [9.1%] penetrating aortic ulcer; and 1 [4.5%] aortoenteric fistula). Overall, 72.7% (n = 16) were male with a mean age of 54.8 +/- 15.9 years. Nineteen patients (86.4%) required only a single TEVAR procedure, whereas 2 (9.1%) required additional endovascular therapy, and 1 (4.5%) open thoracotomy. Four traumatic aortic injury patients required exploratory laparotomy for concomitant intra-abdominal injuries. During a mean hospital length of stay of 18.9 days (range, 1 to 76 days), 3 patients (13.6%) developed major complications. In-hospital mortality was 27.2%, consisting of 6 deaths from traumatic brain injury (1); exsanguination in the operating room before repair could be achieved (2); bowel ischemia (1) and multisystem organ failure (1); and family withdrawal of care (1). A stepwise logistic regression model identified 24-hour packed red blood cell requirements >/=4 units, admission mean arterial pressure <60 mm Hg, and 24-hour fresh frozen plasma to packed red blood cell (pRBC) ratio <1:1.5 as independent risk factors for death in this cohort. During a mean follow-up of 369 days (range, 35 to 957 days), no subsequent major complications or deaths occurred. All patients underwent serial computed tomographic angiography surveillance, and no device-related problems were identified during intermediate follow-up. |
2 |
| 2. Shennib H, Rodriguez-Lopez J, Ramaiah V, et al. Endovascular management of adult coarctation and its complications: intermediate results in a cohort of 22 patients. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. 2010;37(2):322-327. |
Review/Other-Tx |
22 patients |
To determine the safety and effectiveness of current endovascular treatment in adult patients with thoracic aortic coarctation and its complications. |
Ten patients with recently discovered de novo coarctations were treated with balloon-expandable stents, and an endoluminal graft (ELG) was used in one additional patient. In the other 11 patients with recurrent lesions, three underwent repeat balloon dilation and stenting; eight patients with recurrence with aneurysms received ELGs. The gradients across the coarctation decreased from 49 + 16 to 4 + 7 mmHg (p = 0.001), and the diameters increased from 10 + 4 to 19 + 4mm (p = 0.001). In five of the eight patients (63%) with aneurysms, the ELG covered the subclavian artery, and a carotid subclavian bypass was necessary. Two patients required iliac artery access. No early major complications occurred. At mean follow-up of 31 + 15.6 months, one patient with type II leak resolved spontaneously and another developed neck dilation and type I leak, requiring a second ELG placement. All patients except one had improvements in symptoms and better hypertension control. |
4 |
| 3. Johnstone JK, Slaiby JM, Marcaccio EJ, Chong TT, Garcia-Toca M. Endovascular repair of mycotic aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta. Ann Vasc Surg. 2013;27(1):23-28. |
Review/Other-Tx |
7 patients |
To review the use of endovascular repair for mycotic thoracic aortic aneurysms (MTAAs). |
Seven patients underwent endovascular repair of MTAAs. One patient died 2 days postoperatively, which gave an in-hospital survival rate of 85.7%. The 1-year survival rate was 71.4%. The mean follow-up time was 25 months (range, 0–72 months), with a survival rate at that time of 57.1%. All patients were free of infection during their follow-up period. |
4 |
| 4. Okada K, Yamanaka K, Sakamoto T, et al. In situ total aortic arch replacement for infected distal aortic arch aneurysms with penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 148(5):2096-100, 2014 Nov. |
Review/Other-Tx |
9 patients |
To present a series of patients who underwent in situ total aortic arch replacement for infected distal aortic arch aneurysms. |
Average cardiopulmonary bypass time and lower body circulatory arrest time were 199.7 ± 50.7 minutes and 66.6 ± 13.8 minutes, respectively. There was no in-hospital mortality, but 1 patient died of asphyxia 5 months after hospital discharge. Freedom from recurrence of infection was 100%. |
4 |
| 5. Carpenter SW, Kodolitsch YV, Debus ES, et al. Acute aortic syndromes: definition, prognosis and treatment options. [Review]. J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino). 55(2 Suppl 1):133-44, 2014 Apr. |
Review/Other-Tx |
N/A |
To present the definition, prognosis, and treatment options for acute aortic syndromes. |
Acute aortic syndromes (AAS) are life-threatening vascular conditions of the thoracic aorta presenting with acute pain as the leading symptom in most cases. The incidence is approximately 3-5/100,000 in western countries with increase during the past decades. Clinical suspicion for AAS requires immediate confirmation with advanced imaging modalities. Initial management of AAS addresses avoidance of progression by immediate medical therapy to reduce aortic shear stress. Proximal symptomatic lesions with involvement of the ascending aorta are surgically treated in the acute setting, whereas acute uncomplicated distal dissection should be treated by medical therapy in the acute period, followed by surveillance and repeated imaging studies. Acute complicated distal dissection requires urgent invasive treatment and thoracic endovascular aortic repair has become the treatment modality of choice because of favorable outcomes compared to open surgical repair. Intramural hematoma, penetrating aortic ulcers, and traumatic aortic injuries of the descending aorta harbor specific challenges compared to aortic dissection and treatment strategies are not as uniformly defined as in aortic dissection. Moreover these lesions have a different prognosis. Once the acute period of aortic syndrome has been survived, a lifelong medical treatment and close surveillance with repeated imaging studies is essential to detect impending complications which might need invasive treatment within the short-, mid- or long-term. |
4 |
| 6. Desai ND, Burtch K, Moser W, et al. Long-term comparison of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) to open surgery for the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2012;144(3):604-609; discussion 609-611. |
Observational-Tx |
151 patients |
To compare the long-term outcomes of TEVAR with the 3 commercially available stents grafts for thoracic aortic aneurysms to results in control subjects undergoing open surgery. |
During the study period (1995-2007) 106 patients were enrolled in TEVAR trials and there were 45 open controls. TEVAR patients were older and had significantly more comorbidities including diabetes and renal failure. TEVAR patients had 2.3 +/- 1.3 devices implanted. Mortality (2.6% TEVAR, 6.7% open; P = .1), paralysis/paraparesis (3.9% TEVAR, 7.1% open; P = .2), and prolonged intubation more than 24 hours (9% TEVAR, 24% open; P = .02) tended to be more common in the open controls. Overall survival at 10 years was similar between groups (log rank P = .5). Multivariate predictors of late mortality included age, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and chronic renal failure. Use of TEVAR versus open surgery did not influence mortality (hazard ratio, 0.9 95% confidence interval, 0.4-1.6). Over 5 years of radiographic follow-up in the TEVAR group, mean aortic diameter decreased from 61 to 55 mm. Freedom from reintervention on the treated segment was 85% in TEVAR patients at 10 years. |
2 |
| 7. Bianchini Massoni C, Geisbusch P, Gallitto E, Hakimi M, Gargiulo M, Bockler D. Follow-up outcomes of hybrid procedures for thoracoabdominal aortic pathologies with special focus on graft patency and late mortality. J Vasc Surg. 59(5):1265-73, 2014 May. |
Observational-Tx |
45 patients |
To analyze midterm results of bypass patency and overall and aortic-related mortality rates of hybrid aortic procedures for thoracoabdominal aortic pathologies. |
Technical success was achieved in 86.6% (39/45) of patients. Thirty-day morbidity rate was 60% (paraplegia/paraparesis: 13.3%, stroke: 6.7%, renal failure: 31.3%, permanent dialysis: 4.4%). Thirty-day freedom from reintervention rates were 67.1% and 78.5%, respectively. Thirty-day occlusion of revascularized visceral vessels occurred in 11 (7.1%, 11/155) target arteries. In-hospital mortality rate was 24.4%. Primary graft patency after 1, 2, and 4 years was 89.7%, 85.3%, and 79%, respectively. Bypass thrombosis or stenosis developed in nine (6.8%, 9/132) vessels during follow-up. Of these, three patients required reintervention and one died. Freedom from reintervention rates after 1, 2, and 4 years were 45.6%, 45.6%, and 34.2%, respectively. Overall and aortic-related mortality rates after 1, 2, and 4 years were 32.6%, 41.4%, and 45.3% and 9.1%, 13.9%, and 13.9%, respectively. |
2 |
| 8. Knepper J, Criado E. Surgical treatment of Kommerell's diverticulum and other saccular arch aneurysms. J Vasc Surg. 57(4):951-4, 2013 Apr. |
Review/Other-Tx |
9 Patients |
To document hybrid repair in patients with diverse pathologies because of their infrequency. |
Three patients presented with dysphagia from aberrant right subclavian arteries with aneurysm at the origin of the artery, two had asymptomatic aneurysms at the origin of the left subclavian, and four patients had isolated saccular aneurysms of the arch, three of whom presented with thoracic pain. A total of 16 extra-anatomic bypasses were done in the nine patients. Ten endografts and one nitinol plug were used for exclusion in the nine hybrid cases. There were no perioperative deaths, no strokes, or myocardial infarction events. During follow-up, two patients (22%) were found to have type II endoleaks, but no reinterventions were required. Symptoms resolved in six patients, whereas persistent dysphagia and pain occurred in one. |
4 |
| 9. Prescott-Focht JA, Martinez-Jimenez S, Hurwitz LM, et al. Ascending thoracic aorta: postoperative imaging evaluation. Radiographics 2013;33:73-85. |
Review/Other-Tx |
N/A |
To review several open-repair techniques and their indications, as well as their normal and abnormal postoperative appearances at computed tomographic (CT) angiography. |
Several abnormalities of the ascending aorta and aortic arch often require surgery, and various open techniques may be used to reconstruct the aorta, such as the Wheat procedure, in which both an ascending aortic graft and an aortic valve prosthesis are implanted; the Cabrol and modified Bentall procedures, in which a composite synthetic ascending aorta and aortic valve graft are placed; the Ross procedure, in which the aortic valve and aortic root are replaced with the patient's native pulmonary valve and proximal pulmonary artery; valve-sparing procedures such as the T. David-V technique, which leaves the native aortic valve intact; and more extensive arch repair procedures such as the elephant trunk and arch-first techniques, in which interposition or inclusion grafts are implanted, with or without replacement of the aortic valve. Normal postoperative imaging findings, such as hyperattenuating felt pledgets, prosthetic conduits, and reanastomosis sites, may mimic pathologic processes. Postoperative complications seen at CT angiography that require further intervention include pseudoaneurysms, anastomotic stenoses, dissections, and aneurysms. |
4 |
| 10. Litmanovich D, Bankier AA, Cantin L, Raptopoulos V, Boiselle PM. CT and MRI in diseases of the aorta. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2009;193:928-40. |
Review/Other-Tx |
N/A |
To review the role of CT and MRI in the diagnosis, follow-up, and surgical planning of aortic aneurysms and acute aortic syndromes, including aortic dissection, intramural hematoma, and penetrating aortic ulcer. Also provide a systematic approach to the definition, causes, natural history, and imaging principles of these diseases. |
No results stated in the abstract. |
4 |
| 11. Jaussaud N, Chitsaz S, Meadows A, et al. Acute type A aortic dissection intimal tears by 64-slice computed tomography: a role for endovascular stent-grafting? J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino). 2013;54(3):373-381. |
Observational-Dx |
17 patients |
To identify physical characteristics of primary intimal tears in patients arriving to the hospital alive with acute type A aortic dissection using 64-multislice computerized tomography (MSCT) in order to determine anatomic feasibility of endovascular stent-grafting (ESG) for future treatment. |
Ascending aorta (29%) and sinotubular junction (29%) were the most frequent regions where intimal tears originated. Location of intimal tears in nearly 75% of patients was inappropriate for ESG, and 94% of patients did not have sufficient proximal or distal landing zone required for secure fixation. Only 71% of patients underwent surgical aortic dissection repair after imaging and 86% of entry tears detected on MSCT were confirmed on intraoperative documentation. Only one patient would have met all technical criteria for ESG using currently available devices. |
3 |
| 12. Hanna JM, Andersen ND, Ganapathi AM, McCann RL, Hughes GC. Five-year results for endovascular repair of acute complicated type B aortic dissection. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 59(1):96-106, 2014 Jan.J Vasc Surg. 59(1):96-106, 2014 Jan. |
Observational-Tx |
50 patients |
To report long-term outcomes of TEVAR for acute (</= 2 weeks from symptom onset) complicated type B dissection. |
Indications for intervention included rupture in 10 (20%), malperfusion in 24 (48%), and/or refractory pain/impending rupture in 17 (34%). One patient (2%) had both rupture and malperfusion indications. Ten (20%) patients required one or more adjunctive procedures, in addition to TEVAR, to treat malperfusion syndromes. In-hospital and 30-day rates of death were both 0%; 30-day/in-hospital rates of stroke, permanent paraplegia/paraparesis, and new-onset dialysis were 2% (n = 1), 2% (n = 1), and 4% (n = 2), respectively. Median follow-up was 33.8 months [interquartile range, 12.3-56.6 months]. Overall survival at 5 and 7 years was 84%, with no deaths attributable to aortic pathology. Thirteen (26%) patients required a total of 17 reinterventions over the study period for type I endoleak (n = 5), metachronous aortic pathology (n = 5), persistent false lumen pressurization via distal fenestrations (n = 4), type II endoleak (n = 2), or retrograde acute type A aortic dissection (n = 1). Median time to first reintervention was 4.5 months (range, 0 days-40.3 months). Of the 17 total reinterventions, six (35%) were performed using open techniques and 11 (65%) with endovascular or hybrid methods; there was no difference in survival between patients who did or did not require reintervention. |
3 |
| 13. Lavingia KS, Ahanchi SS, Redlinger RE, Udgiri NR, Panneton JM. Aortic remodeling after thoracic endovascular aortic repair for intramural hematoma. J Vasc Surg. 2014;60(4):929-935; discussion 935-926. |
Review/Other-Tx |
44 patients |
To study the effect of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for intramural hematoma (IMH) on aortic remodeling. |
During the 6-year period, 44 patients underwent TEVAR for IMH. Twenty-five patients had an IMH with concomitant PAU. There were 25 (57%) female patients. Mean age was 71 +/- 11 years, and 40 (91%) patients had hypertension. Operative indications included intractable pain in 31 (70%), rapidly progressing IMH or conversion to dissection in 13 (30%), rupture in 10 (23%), and uncontrolled hypertension in 6 (14%). Technically successful TEVAR was performed in all patients with 42 (95%) reporting complete relief of symptoms. The 30-day mortality rate was 5% with a 5% rate of permanent paraplegia or paraparesis. At a mean follow-up of 26 months, there were no additional aortic-related deaths and overall survival was 80% with a reintervention rate of 11%. For our imaging analysis, 10 patients were excluded because of lack of follow-up imaging beyond 30 days. At a mean follow-up of 13 months, all measured data points were statistically improved from before to after TEVAR: thickness of IMH (12 mm vs. 4 mm; P = .01), mean TLD (35 mm vs. 37 mm; P = .04), mean TAD (47 mm vs 42 mm; P = .02), TAD/TLD ratio (1.35 vs. 1.14; P < .01), and IMH volume (103 cm3 vs. 14 cm3; P < .01). The mean Delta in TAD/TLD ratio from before to after TEVAR for the reintervention group was Delta0.14, and the mean Delta in TAD/TLD ratio for the nonreintervention group was Delta0.29 (P = .05). Analysis of patients with isolated IMH and those with concomitant PAU revealed no statistical differences. |
4 |
| 14. Lombardi JV, Cambria RP, Nienaber CA, et al. Aortic remodeling after endovascular treatment of complicated type B aortic dissection with the use of a composite device design. J Vasc Surg. 59(6):1544-54, 2014 Jun. |
Observational-Tx |
86 patients |
To report updated clinical and aortic remodeling results from the Study for the Treatment of complicated Type B Aortic Dissection using Endoluminal repair (STABLE) trial, a prospective, multicenter study evaluating safety and effectiveness of a pathology-specific endovascular system (proximal stent graft and distal bare metal stent) for the treatment of complicated type B aortic dissection. |
The 30-day mortality rate was 4.7% (4/86) in the overall patient group (5.5% in acute patients and 3.2% in non-acute patients). Freedom from all-cause mortality was 88.3% at 1 year and 84.7% at 2 years (no significant difference between acute and nonacute patients). From baseline to 2 years, the true lumen diameter increased significantly in the descending thoracic aorta and the more distal abdominal aorta, along with a decrease in the false lumen diameter in both aortic segments. A majority of patients had either a stable or shrinking transaortic diameter in the thoracic (80.3% at 1 year and 73.9% at 2 years) or abdominal aorta (79.1% at 1 year and 66.7% at 2 years). Transaortic growth (>5 mm) occurred predominantly in acute dissections. Consistently, a shorter time from symptom onset to treatment was found to predict transaortic growth in the abdominal aorta (P = .03). |
2 |
| 15. Merola J, Garg K, Adelman MA, Maldonado TS, Cayne NS, Mussa FF. Endovascular versus medical therapy for uncomplicated type B aortic dissection: a qualitative review. Vasc Endovascular Surg. 2013;47(7):497-501. |
Review/Other-Tx |
6 studies |
To compare the outcomes of best medical therapy (BMT) to thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for uncomplicated type B dissections. |
A total of 6 studies included 123 patients who underwent TEVAR/BMT, and 566 patients who had BMT alone. The mortality rates at 30 days (6.5% TEVAR/BMT vs 4.8% BMT, P = .21) and at 2 years (9.7% vs 11.9%, P = .32) were similar. Renal failure was greater in TEVAR/BMT (15.4% vs 2.1%, P < .01). Rates of surgical reintervention/intervention were similar (17.6% vs 20.1%, P = .31). |
4 |
| 16. Watanabe S, Hanyu M, Arai Y, Nagasawa A. Initial medical treatment for acute type a intramural hematoma and aortic dissection. Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 96(6):2142-6, 2013 Dec.Ann Thorac Surg. 96(6):2142-6, 2013 Dec. |
Observational-Tx |
59 patients |
To evaluate short-term clinical outcomes and predictors of adverse outcomes. |
Survival, aortic death-free survival, and aortic event-free survival rates at 2 years were 90.0%, 96.6%, and 55.8%, respectively. Ascending aortic diameters, false lumen thickness of the ascending aortas, and rate of penetrating aortic ulcers in the ascending aortas were higher among patients with aortic events. The FTR of the ascending aorta (FTRA)/FTR of the descending aorta (FTRD) was also higher in these patients (1.3 +/- 0.9 versus 0.8 +/- 0.5, p = 0.0021). Multivariate analysis revealed FTRA/FTRD greater than 0.98 (odds ratio 5.35; 95% confidence interval: 0.05 to 1.72; p = 0.0431) as an independent predictor of aortic events. An FTRA/FTRD greater than 0.98 predicted aortic events with 87.1% sensitivity and 58.4% specificity. |
2 |
| 17. Niclauss L, Delay D, von Segesser LK. Type A dissection in young patients. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2011;12(2):194-198. |
Observational-Tx |
27 patients
|
To perform a long-term follow-up that shows postoperative disease progression and lifelong consequences to understand the complex pathology of acute or chronic ascending aortic dissection and to identify potential risk factors. |
A connective tissue disease was causative in 46% and a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) was found in 22% of the patients. Fourteen patients had a Bentall procedure and 13 patients a simple prosthetic ascending aortic replacement. Early in-hospital mortality was, with 11%, lower than the average early mortality rate. Twenty-six percent of patients developed neurological complications. During a mean follow-up of 117 months, 20 patients survived in good cardiac health (late mortality rate 8%). Aortic root dilatation was the main re-operation cause and occurred in almost 40% of patients after a simple prosthetic ascending aortic replacement. |
2 |
| 18. Regalado ES, Guo DC, Estrera AL, Buja LM, Milewicz DM. Acute aortic dissections with pregnancy in women with ACTA2 mutations. Am J Med Genet A. 2014;164A(1):106-112. |
Review/Other-Tx |
53 women |
To perform a retrospective review of medical records of women with ACTA2 mutations to examine the frequency of aortic dissections, myocardial infarction, and stroke during pregnancy and the postpartum period. |
Of the 53 women who had a total of 137 pregnancies, eight had aortic dissections in the third trimester or the postpartum period (6% of pregnancies). One woman also had a myocardial infarct that occurred during pregnancy that was independent of her aortic dissection. Compared to the population-based frequency of peripartum aortic dissections of 0.6%, the rate of peripartum aortic dissections in women with ACTA2 mutations is much higher (8 out of 39; 20%). Six of these dissections initiated in the ascending aorta (Stanford type A), three were fatal. Three women had ascending aortic dissections at diameters less that 5.0 cm (range 3.8-4.7 cm). Aortic pathology showed mild to moderate medial degeneration of the aorta in three women. Of note, five of the women had hypertension either during or before the pregnancy. |
4 |
| 19. Abdulkareem N, Soppa G, Jones S, Valencia O, Smelt J, Jahangiri M. Dilatation of the remaining aorta after aortic valve or aortic root replacement in patients with bicuspid aortic valve: a 5-year follow-up. Ann Thorac Surg. 2013;96(1):43-49. |
Observational-Tx |
359 patients |
To identify dilatation of the remaining aorta after AVR or ARR in patients with BAV compared with patients with tricuspid aortic valve (TAV). |
Median ages of patients with BAV and patients with TAV were 57 +/- 14 and 65 +/- 16 years, respectively (p < 0.05). Preoperative diameter of AA in the BAV group with no aneurysm (3.5 cm; range, 3.0-4.0 cm; n = 143) was significantly higher than in the TAV group (3.3 cm; range, 3.1-3.8 cm; n = 129) (p < 0.001). In both BAV and TAV groups with nonaneurysmal aortas who underwent AVR, there was no significant expansion of the AA and arch at 5 years' follow-up. In patients with aneurysmal aorta (BAV group, n = 49; TAV group, n = 74) who underwent ARR, there was also no significant difference in growth of the remaining aorta at 3 and 5 years' follow-up. |
2 |
| 20. Brown CR, Greenberg RK, Wong S, et al. Family history of aortic disease predicts disease patterns and progression and is a significant influence on management strategies for patients and their relatives. J Vasc Surg. 58(3):573-81, 2013 Sep. |
Observational-Dx |
426 patients |
To evaluate the influence of a family history (FH) of aortic disease with respect to the pattern and distribution of aortic aneurysms in a given patient. |
Of the 555 patients who were alive and returning for follow-up, we obtained 426 (77%) family histories. Three-dimensional imaging studies were used to identify the presence of aneurysms; 36% (155/426) of patients had a FH of aortic aneurysms and 5% (21/155) had isolated intracranial aneurysms. A logistic regression model was used to compare aortic morphology between patients with a positive or negative FH for aneurysms. Patients with a positive FH of aortic aneurysms were younger at their initial aneurysm (63 vs 70 years; P < .0001), more frequently had proximal aortic involvement (root: odds ratio [OR], 5.4; P < .0001; ascending: OR, 2.9; P < .001; thoracic: OR, 2.2; P = .01) with over 50% of FH patients ultimately developing suprarenal aortic involvement (P = .0001) and had a greater incidence of bilateral iliac artery aneurysm (OR, 1.8; P = .03). |
3 |
| 21. Eid-Lidt G, Gaspar J, Melendez-Ramirez G, et al. Endovascular treatment of type B dissection in patients with Marfan syndrome: mid-term outcomes and aortic remodeling. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2013;82(7):E898-905. |
Observational-Tx |
10 patients
|
To evaluate the mid-term outcomes, and the aortic remodeling in Marfan Syndrome (MFS) patients with type B dissection that were treated with endovascular repair. |
The mean age was 35.1 6 9.4 years and all patients presented with acute aortic syndrome complicating a chronic type B dissection (DeBakey type IIIb). Five patients underwent a Bentall surgical procedure previous to endovascular repair, and in four patients initial TEVAR was followed by surgery of the ascending aorta. Treatment was limited to endovascular repair in only one patient. In-hospital mortality was 10%. At a mean follow-up of 59.6 6 38.9 months, the cumulated mortality was of 20% and late mortality 11.1%. The rate of secondary endoleak was 44.4%, and late reintervention of 33.3%. Survival freedom from cardiovascular death at 8 years was 80.0%, and positive remodeling was documented in 37.5% of patients. |
2 |
| 22. Kim SW, Lee do Y, Kim MD, et al. Outcomes of endovascular treatment for aortic pseudoaneurysm in Behcet's disease. J Vasc Surg. 2014;59(3):608-614. |
Observational-Tx |
10 patients |
To evaluate the effectiveness of endovascular stent grafting for surgical management of aortic pseudoaneurysm in patients with Behcet's disease (BD). |
From 1998 to 2012, 10 patients (eight male, two female; median age, 39) with BD and aortic pseudoaneurysm were treated with endovascular stent grafting at this institution. Ninety percent of these patients received immunosuppressive therapy before and after surgical treatment. The median follow-up period was 57 months (interquartile range, 43-72). The locations of the 12 pseudoaneurysms treated in this cohort were infrarenal abdominal aorta (seven), descending thoracic aorta (four), and aortic arch (one). Median pseudoaneurysm size was 4.5 cm (interquartile range, 3.4-5.9). At long-term follow-up, complete resolution of the aortic pseudoaneurysm was noted in all patients. No endoleaks occurred. Newly developed pseudoaneurysm at the distal margin of the stent graft was noted in one patient 17 months after the stent graft procedure. One patient required a subsequent stent graft placement for an expanding pseudoaneurysm of the subclavian artery. No patient deaths occurred during the follow-up period. |
2 |
| 23. Perera AH, Youngstein T, Gibbs RG, Jackson JE, Wolfe JH, Mason JC. Optimizing the outcome of vascular intervention for Takayasu arteritis. Br J Surg. 101(2):43-50, 2014 Jan. |
Observational-Tx |
97 patients |
To analyse indications and outcomes of surgical intervention and to assess the potential benefits of immunosuppression and the use of perioperative imaging. |
A series of 97 patients with TA, seen at a single tertiary centre, is reported. Immunosuppression was required in 87 patients (90 per cent). Thirty-seven (38 per cent) underwent 64 procedures: 27 patients underwent 33 open surgical procedures and 20 patients had 31 endovascular procedures. After a median follow-up of 6 years, the overall success rate was 79 per cent for open surgery (mean graft patency 9.4 years) and 52 per cent for endovascular procedures (P = 0.035). Procedural failure was significantly reduced in patients receiving preoperative immunosuppression, and particularly endovascular procedures (P = 0.001). In addition to clinical examination and measurement of acute-phase reactants, combination non-invasive imaging including Doppler ultrasonography, [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose combined positron emission and computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance angiography and CT angiography was used to identify arterial lesions, establish the diagnosis and monitor treatment outcomes. |
2 |
| 24. Zakko J, Scali S, Beck AW, et al. Percutaneous thoracic endovascular aortic repair is not contraindicated in obese patients. J Vasc Surg. 2014;60(4):921-928. |
Observational-Tx |
536 patients |
To describe our experience with P-TEVAR and to compare outcomes in patients with or without obesity. |
The review identified 536 patients, in whom 355 (66%) P-TEVAR procedures were completed (366 arteries; n = 40 [11%] bilateral). Compared with nonobese patients (n = 264), obese patients (n = 91) were typically younger (59 +/- 16 years vs. 66 +/- 16 years; P = .0004) and more likely to have renal insufficiency (28% vs. 17%; P = .05) or diabetes mellitus (19% vs. 9%; P = .02). The number of Perclose deployments was similar between groups (P = NS). Mean sheath size (25.4F vs 25.0F; P = .04), access vessel inner diameters (8.5 +/- 1.9 mm vs. 7.9 +/- 2.0 mm; P = .02), and vessel depth (50 +/- 20 mm vs. 30 +/- 13 mm; P < .0001) were greater in obese patients. Adjunctive iliac stents were used in 7% of cases (10 [11%] in obese patients vs 16 [6%] in nonobese patients; P = .2). Overall technical success was 92% (92% for nonobese patients vs 93% for obese patients; P = .7). Three patients required subsequent operations for access complications, two obese patients (2%) and one nonobese patient (0.4%) (P = .3). Independent predictors of failure were adjunctive iliac stent (odds ratio [OR], 9.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.3-27.8; P < .0001), more than two Perclose devices (OR, 7.0; 95% CI, 2.3-21; P = .0005), and smaller access vessel diameter to sheath size ratio (OR multiplies by 1.1 for each .01 decrease in ratio; 95% CI, 1.02-1.2; P = .007) (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = .75). |
2 |
| 25. Bean MJ, Johnson PT, Roseborough GS, Black JH, Fishman EK. Thoracic aortic stent-grafts: utility of multidetector CT for pre- and postprocedure evaluation. Radiographics 2008;28:1835-51. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To discuss which patients are potential candidates for thoracic aortic stent-graft placement and demonstrate how multidetector computed tomography (CT) with two-dimensional (2D) multiplanar reformation (MPR) and three-dimensional (3D) rendering is relevant in preoperative imaging and postoperative assessment of thoracic aortic stent-grafts. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
| 26. Godoy MC, Cayne NS, Ko JP. Endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta: preoperative and postoperative evaluation with multidetector computed tomography. J Thorac Imaging. 26(1):63-73, 2011 Feb. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To focus on the preoperative assessment of the pathologic aorta and evaluation after thoracic endovascular aortic repair. |
No results stated in abstract |
4 |
| 27. Baril DT, Cho JS, Chaer RA, Makaroun MS. Thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections: endovascular treatment. Mt Sinai J Med. 2010;77(3):256-269. |
Review/Other-Tx |
N/A |
To examine the currently available thoracic endografts, preoperative planning for thoracic endovascular aortic repair, and outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair for the treatment of both thoracic aortic aneurysms and type B aortic dissections. |
No results stated in the abstract. |
4 |
| 28. Cochennec F, Kobeiter H, Gohel MS, et al. Impact of intraoperative adverse events during branched and fenestrated aortic stent grafting on postoperative outcome. J Vasc Surg. 60(3):571-8, 2014 Sep. |
Observational-Tx |
113 patients |
To report our experience of intraoperative adverse events (IOAEs) during fenestrated and branched stent grafting and to analyze the impact on clinical outcomes. |
During the study period, 113 consecutive elective patients underwent fenestrated or branched stent grafting. Indications for treatment were asymptomatic complex abdominal aortic aneurysms (CAAAs, n = 89) and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs, n = 24). Stent grafts included fenestrated (n = 79) and branched (n = 17) Cook stent grafts (Cook Medical, Bloomington, Ind), Ventana (Endologix, Irvine, Calif) stent grafts (n = 9), and fenestrated Anaconda (Vascutek Terumo, Scotland, UK) stent grafts (n = 8). In-hospital mortality rates for the CAAA and TAAA groups were 6.7% (6 of 89) and 12.5% (3 of 24), respectively. Twenty-eight moderate to severe complications occurred in 21 patients (18.6%). Spinal cord ischemia was recorded in six patients, three of which resolved completely. A total of 37 IOAEs were recorded in 34 (30.1%) patients (22 CAAAs and 12 TAAAs). Of 37 IOAEs, 15 (40.5%) resulted in no clinical consequence in 15 patients; 17 (45.9%) were responsible for moderate to severe complications in 16 patients, and five (13.5%) led to death in four patients. The composite end point death/nonfatal moderate to severe complication occurred more frequently in patients with IOAEs compared with patients without IOAEs (20 of 34 vs 12 of 79; P < .0001). |
2 |
| 29. Eagleton MJ, Shah S, Petkosevek D, Mastracci TM, Greenberg RK. Hypogastric and subclavian artery patency affects onset and recovery of spinal cord ischemia associated with aortic endografting. J Vasc Surg. 59(1):89-94, 2014 Jan. |
Observational-Tx |
1251 patients |
To evaluate factors affecting outcomes from SCI associated with endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. |
SCI occurred in 2.8% (n = 36) of patients: abdominal aortic aneurysm, 0.3%, juxtarenal, 0.4%, thoracic aortic aneurysm, 4.6%, and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm, 4.8%). Four (11%) required carotid-subclavian bypass prior to endografting, and two underwent coverage of the left subclavian artery. Unilateral hypogastric artery occlusion was present in 11 (31%) patients prior to endograft placement, and three had bilateral occlusions. An additional seven patients had occlusion of at least one hypogastric artery during surgery. SCI was apparent immediately in 15 (42%) patients. Immediate onset of symptoms was observed in 73% of patients with at least one occluded collateral bed but in only 24% of those with patent collateral beds (P = .021). Of those presenting in a delayed fashion, nine (43%) had a clear precipitating event prior to onset of SCI (hypotension, n = 6, and segmental artery drain removal, n = 3). Recovery occurred in 24 (67%) patients, most within 7 days. Immediate presentation was a negative predictor of recovery (P = .025), as was occlusion of at least one collateral bed (P = .035). Mean follow-up was 22 +/- 4 months with 30-day and 1-year survival of 92 +/- 4.6% and 56 +/- 8.3%. Survival was only 36% at 3 months in those with permanent SCI compared with 92% (P < .001) in those with temporary symptoms. |
2 |
| 30. Sadek M, Abjigitova D, Pellet Y, Rachakonda A, Panagopoulos G, Plestis K. Operative outcomes after open repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms in the era of endovascular surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2014;97(5):1562-1567. |
Observational-Tx |
68 patients |
To assess the operative and long-term outcomes in a contemporary series of open repairs of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (DTAAs). |
In-hospital mortality was 3% (2 patients). There was no immediate paraplegia. Delayed paraplegia developed in 1 patient (1.5%). Postoperative stroke occurred in 3 patients (4.4%), and 20 (29%) required prolonged ventilatory support (intubation>/=48 hours). New-onset renal insufficiency (creatinine>/=2.5 mg/dL) developed postoperatively in 6 patients (9%), and 1 (1.5%) required temporary dialysis. The median follow-up time was 5.8+/-3.8 years. Sixteen of the 66 operative survivors (24.2%) died during follow-up. Probability of survival was 82%+/-0.05% at 5 years and 67%+/-0.07% at 10 years. Reintervention was necessary in 4 patients (6%). Freedom from reintervention was 98%+/-0.02% at 5 years and 89%+/-0.06% at 10 years. The univariable predictor of long-term death was postoperative reintubation (p<0.05). |
2 |
| 31. Lu S, Lai H, Wang C, et al. Surgical treatment for retrograde type A aortic dissection after endovascular stent graft placement for type B dissection. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 14(5):538-42, 2012 May. |
Review/Other-Tx |
9 patients |
To retrospectively investigate our experience of surgical treatment for retrograde type A aortic dissection (RTAD) after endovascular stent graft placement for type B dissection. |
Between June 2006 and September 2011, nine patients with RTAD were transferred to our department for surgery. Total arch replacement was performed in six patients and three patients underwent subtotal arch replacement. Associated procedures consisted of ascending aorta replacement in nine patients, coronary artery bypass grafting in one patient and aortic valve plasty in two patients. All operations were performed under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and selective antegrade cerebral perfusion. Cardiopulmonary bypass time was 158.33 +/- 29.18 min. The myocardial ischaemic time was 78.11 +/- 28.30 min. The antegrade cerebral perfusion time was 38.67 +/- 12.34 min. The mean ventilation time was 45.63 +/- 24.74 h. A tracheotomy was necessary in one patient. The ICU time was 7.00 +/- 6.80 days and the in-hospital duration was 25.33 +/- 11.95 days. There was no in-hospital mortality. The mean follow-up was 34.79 +/- 19.37 months and eight patients are still alive. One patient was lost to follow-up. |
4 |
| 32. Faure EM, Canaud L, Agostini C, et al. Reintervention after thoracic endovascular aortic repair of complicated aortic dissection. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 59(2):327-33, 2014 Feb. |
Observational-Tx |
41 patients |
To assess predictive factors for reintervention after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for complicated aortic dissection (C-AD). |
Between 2000 and 2011, 41 patients underwent TEVAR for a C-AD involving the descending thoracic aorta. Primary indications included aneurysm >55 mm in 24, rapid aneurysmal enlargement or impending rupture in 6, saccular aneurysm >20 mm in 1, malperfusion in 1, intractable chest pain in 3, and rupture in 6. Technical success was achieved in 100%. The 30-day mortality rate was 5% (n = 2). Fourteen secondary procedures were performed in 13 patients (32%) for indications of device migration in 2, proximal type I endoleak in 5, distal type I endoleak in 2, type II endoleak in 1, aneurysmal evolution of the descending thoracic aorta in 2, aneurysmal expansion of the dissected abdominal aorta in 1, and retrograde dissection in 1. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that oversizing >/=20% (odds ratio [OR], 16; P = .011), bare-spring stent in the proximal landing zone of the stent graft (OR, 12; P = .032), and anticoagulant therapy (OR, 78; P = .03) were significant factors for reintervention. On univariate analysis, large aneurysm was a risk factor for reintervention (P = .002), whereas complete false lumen thrombosis at the stent graft level was protective (P < .05). |
2 |
| 33. Hughes GC, Ganapathi AM, Keenan JE, et al. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair for chronic DeBakey IIIb aortic dissection. Ann Thorac Surg 2014;98:2092-7; discussion 98. |
Review/Other-Tx |
32 patients |
To examine long-term results of TEVAR for this disorder including examination of anatomic features associated with TEVAR outcomes. |
The mean interval from dissection to TEVAR was 32 +/- 44 months (range, 1 to 146 months). There were no 30-day or in-hospital deaths, strokes, or paraplegia. During a 54-month median follow-up, there were no aortic-related deaths. Significant thoracic aneurysm sac regression (>1 cm) in the intervened segment was observed in 89%. Thoracic remodeling was not correlated with the number of visceral vessels arising from the true lumen or the number or size of residual distal fenestrations; failure of thoracic remodeling was associated with fenestrations distal to the endograft(s) in the descending thoracic aorta, most often stent graft-induced new entry tears. Complete resolution of the thoracic and abdominal false lumen after TEVAR was observed in 15.6% (n = 5). All patients in this group had all visceral vessels arising from the true lumen and fewer than three residual distal fenestrations. |
4 |
| 34. VIRTUE Registry Investigators.. Mid-term outcomes and aortic remodelling after thoracic endovascular repair for acute, subacute, and chronic aortic dissection: the VIRTUE Registry. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 48(4):363-71, 2014 Oct. |
Observational-Tx |
100 patient |
To describe the mid-term clinical and morphological results of thoracic endovascular repair (TEVR) in patients with type B aortic dissection. |
Three-year all-cause mortality (18%, 4%, and 24%), dissection related mortality (12%, 4%, and 9%), aortic rupture (2%, 0%, and 4%), retrograde type A dissection (5%, 0%, and 0%), and aortic reintervention rates (20%, 22%, and 39%) were, respectively, defined for patients with acute (n = 50), subacute (n = 24), and chronic (n = 26) dissections. Analysis of aortic morphology observed that patients with subacute dissection demonstrated a similar degree of aortic remodelling to patients with acute dissection. Patients with acute and subacute dissection exhibited greater aortic plasticity than patients with chronic dissection. |
2 |
| 35. Qing KX, Yiu WK, Cheng SW. A morphologic study of chronic type B aortic dissections and aneurysms after thoracic endovascular stent grafting. J Vasc Surg. 55(5):1268-75; discussion 1275-6, 2012 May. |
Observational-Tx |
32 patients |
To evaluate the morphology of stent graft and aorta remodeling and the volumetric changes in these patients after successful TEVAR. |
Aortic stent grafts remodeled progressively, with inlet area increasing 4.4%, 10.1%, and 14.2% and outlet area increasing 42.6%, 67.2%, and 72.3%, respectively, at 6, 12, and 36 months. True lumen volume increased progressively in group A (114 to 174 mL) and group B (124 to 190 mL) from baseline to 36 months. False lumen volume decreased in group A (150 to 88 mL) and group B (351 to 250 mL), whereas thrombus load in the false lumen increased from 73% to 80% in group A and 84% to 87% in group B in 3 years. Eight patients (4 in each group) showed an increase in total aortic volume of >10%, 12 showed a static volume, and 12 showed shrinkage. Aortic volume change had no relationship to pathology, stent graft sizing, and thrombus load but was positively associated with the placement of a longer graft. A small but progressive distal migration of stent grafts was noted in all patients (3.1, 4.5, and 5.1 mm at 6, 12, and 36 months) but was more prominent in shorter stent grafts (</= 162 mm). No deaths, rupture, or secondary interventions occurred during follow-up. |
2 |
| 36. Rengier F, Geisbusch P, Vosshenrich R, et al. State-of-the-art aortic imaging: part I - fundamentals and perspectives of CT and MRI. Vasa 2013;42:395-412. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To describe the imaging principles of CT and MRI with regard to aortic disease, show how both technologies can be applied in every day clinical practice, offer exciting perspectives. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
| 37. American College of Radiology. ACR–NASCI–SIR–SPR Practice Parameter for the Performance and Interpretation of Body Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA). Available at: https://www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/Practice-Parameters/body-cta.pdf. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
Guidance document to promote the safe and effective use of diagnostic and therapeutic radiology by describing specific training, skills and techniques. |
No abstract available. |
4 |
| 38. Rengier F, Geisbusch P, Schoenhagen P, et al. State-of-the-art aortic imaging: Part II - applications in transcatheter aortic valve replacement and endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. [Review]. Vasa. 43(1):6-26, 2014 Jan. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To discuss the application of imaging, including preprocedural assessment and measurements as well as postprocedural imaging of complications. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
| 39. Stein E, Mueller GC, Sundaram B. Thoracic aorta (multidetector computed tomography and magnetic resonance evaluation). Radiol Clin North Am. 52(1):195-217, 2014 Jan. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To review cross-sectional imaging of thoracic aorta. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
| 40. Mendoza DD, Kochar M, Devereux RB, et al. Impact of image analysis methodology on diagnostic and surgical classification of patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms. Ann Thorac Surg 2011;92:904-12. |
Observational-Dx |
50 subjects |
To examine the impact of methodological variance on aortic quantification. |
Fifty subjects were studied. Aortic size differed between AX and DO at all locations (p</=0.001), with magnitude greatest at the sinotubular junction (4.8+/-1.1 vs 4.0+/-1.0 cm, p<0.001). The difference between AX and DO correlated with aortic angular displacement (r=0.37, p<0.01), which was threefold larger at the sinotubular junction (37+/-12 degrees) than the ascending aorta (12+/-5 degrees; p<0.001). At all locations, aortic area calculated using DO yielded smaller differences with planimetry than AX (p<0.05). DO and planimetry yielded equal prevalence (24%) of subjects eligible for prophylactic TAA repair based on area-height cutoff, whereas AX prevalence was higher (44%; p=0.006). Using a linear cutoff, AX yielded over a twofold greater prevalence of surgically eligible subjects (56%) than did DO (24%; p<0.001). |
4 |
| 41. Maldjian PD, Partyka L. Intimal tears in thoracic aortic dissection: appearance on MDCT with virtual angioscopy. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 198(4):955-61, 2012 Apr. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To illustrate the ability of MDCT using multiplanar image reformatting and virtual angioscopy to depict the location and appearance of intimal tears and fenestrations within dissection flaps in cases of thoracic aortic dissection. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
| 42. Chen CK, Liang IP, Chang HT, et al. Impact on outcomes by measuring tortuosity with reporting standards for thoracic endovascular aortic repair. J Vasc Surg. 60(4):937-44, 2014 Oct. |
Observational-Tx |
77 patients |
To assess the association between the tortuosity of the thoracic aorta as measured by the reporting standards for thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), described by the Society for Vascular Surgery, and midterm outcomes after TEVAR for atherosclerotic aneurysms. |
The mean follow-up period was 29 +/- 26 months. During this period, endoleaks occurred in 19 patients. Patients in the high-tortuosity group were at greater risk for endoleaks (odds ratio, 9.95; 95% confidence interval, 2.06-48.1; P = .004) and stroke (odds ratio, 13.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-169; P = .047) than those in the low-tortuosity group. The overall survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 73%, 69%, and 63%, respectively, for the high-tortuosity group and 92%, 92%, and 86%, respectively, for the low tortuosity group. |
2 |
| 43. Ueda T, Takaoka H, Raman B, Rosenberg J, Rubin GD. Impact of quantitatively determined native thoracic aortic tortuosity on endoleak development after thoracic endovascular aortic repair. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2011;197:W1140-6. |
Observational-Dx |
40 patients |
To assess whether there is an association between native thoracic aortic curvature and the development of endoleaks after thoracic endovascular aortic repair. |
Compared with patients without endoleaks, the tortuosity index of the proximal fixation zone was higher in patients with type Ia endoleak (9.5 vs 1.5 cm(-1), p < 0.01); the tortuosity index of the distal fixation zone was higher in type Ib endoleak patients (6.6 vs 0.5 cm(-1), p < 0.05); and the tortuosity indexes of the proximal fixation zone and of the diseased segment were higher in type III endoleak patients (11.0 vs 1.5 cm(-1), p < 0.01; and 15.8 vs 7.2 cm(-1), p < 0.01, respectively). Patients with a type III endoleak had longer diseased segments and larger mean diameters of the aneurysm than patients without endoleaks (148.6 vs 87.1 mm, p < 0.01; and 75.4 vs 63.2 mm, p < 0.05, respectively). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk of a type I or type III endoleak increased as the tortuosity index increased, with a 90% risk of endoleak at a tortuosity index of 10 cm(-1) in the proximal fixation zone. |
2 |
| 44. Tolenaar JL, van Keulen JW, Trimarchi S, et al. Number of entry tears is associated with aortic growth in type B dissections. Ann Thorac Surg. 96(1):39-42, 2013 Jul. |
Observational-Dx |
60 patients |
To investigate whether the number of identifiable entry tears in acute type B aortic dissection (ABAD) patients is associated with aortic growth. |
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). |
4 |
| 45. Mehta M, Darling RC, 3rd, Taggert JB, et al. Outcomes of planned celiac artery coverage during TEVAR. J Vasc Surg. 2010;52(5):1153-1158. |
Review/Other-Tx |
31 patients |
To report our experience of planned celiac artery coverage during endovascular repair of complex thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA). |
Thirty-one of 228 (14%) patients with TEVAR required celiac artery interruption; 24 (77%) had demonstrable collaterals to the SMA. Twelve (39%) of 31 patients underwent additional partial SMA coverage by stent graft, and proximal SMA stent. The majority of patients were females (n=20, 65%), the mean age was 74 years (range 55-87 years), and the mean TAA size was 6.5 cm. Postoperative complications included visceral ischemia in 2 (6%) patients, paraplegia in 2 (6%) patients, and death in 2 (6%) patients. All type 1b endoleaks (n=2, 6%) and type 2 endoleaks vial retrograde flow from the celiac artery (n=3, 10%) were successfully treated by transfemoral coil embolization. Over a mean follow-up of 15 months, there have been no other complications of mesenteric ischemia, spinal cord ischemia, SMA in-stent stenosis, or conversion to open surgical repair. |
4 |
| 46. Hsu HL, Chen CK, Chen PL, et al. The impact of bird-beak configuration on aortic remodeling of distal arch pathology after thoracic endovascular aortic repair with the Zenith Pro-Form TX2 thoracic endograft. J Vasc Surg. 59(1):80-8, 2014 Jan. |
Observational-Tx |
19 patients |
To analyze the morphologic changes, conformability, and angulation factors in patients who underwent stainless steel-based stent graft repair of thoracic aortic pathology. |
The treated diseases included chronic type B aortic dissection in 17 patients and degenerative aneurysms in 21. Significant arch angle transformation was noted at the zone 2 level between the Pro-Form and Z-Trak treated groups (150 degrees +/- 11 degrees vs 158 degrees +/- 6 degrees ; P = .033) and left subclavian artery level (152 degrees +/- 12 degrees vs 160 degrees +/- 8 degrees ; P = .031) during 1 year of follow-up. The bird-beak configuration was detected in six patients (32%) in the Pro-Form group and in 11 (58%) in the Z-Trak group (P = .096) at 1 month, and in six (32%) in the Pro-Form group and in 14 (74%) in the Z-Trak group (P = .022) at 12 months. The mean bird-beak angle was significantly less in Pro-Form-treated patients at 1 month (5 degrees +/- 9 degrees vs 15 degrees +/- 13 degrees ; P = .019) and at 1 year (6 degrees +/- 10 degrees vs 18 degrees +/- 15 degrees ; P = .033). In the Pro-Form platform, a preoperative zone 2 angle <151.1 degrees was a better estimation of the presence of a postoperative bird-beak configuration, with a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 83%. |
2 |
| 47. Finlay A, Johnson M, Forbes TL. Surgically relevant aortic arch mapping using computed tomography. Ann Vasc Surg. 26(4):483-90, 2012 May. |
Review/Other-Tx |
45 patients |
To map the aortic arch diameters, branch orientations, and center line distances using a commercially available three-dimensional computed tomography-based software package and to propose a prototype design. |
The mode of the proximal diameters (2 cm and 4 cm distal to coronary artery) was 32 mm and 34 mm. The mode of the distance between the innominate and left common carotid arteries was 5 mm and 6 mm, and the mode of the distance between the left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery was 8 mm. Most commonly, the left common carotid artery was anterior to the other arch branches by 3 to 5 mm. |
4 |
| 48. Orr N, Minion D, Bobadilla JL. Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair: current endovascular perspectives. [Review]. Vasc Health Risk Manag. 10:493-505, 2014. |
Review/Other-Tx |
N/A |
To focus on the current state of endovascular thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair, including specific considerations in patient selection, operative planning, and perioperative complications. |
No Results Stated in Abstract. |
4 |
| 49. Bisdas T, Donas KP, Bosiers MJ, Torsello G, Austermann M. Custom-made versus off-the-shelf multibranched endografts for endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. J Vasc Surg. 60(5):1186-1195, 2014 Nov. |
Observational-Tx |
46 patients |
To compare early outcomes between the custom-made and the new off-the-shelf multibranched endograft (mbEVAR, t-branch; Cook Medical, Bloomington, Ind) for the endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs). |
Technical success was 100% in both groups. The 30-day mortality was 8% in group A (n = 2) and 0% in group B (P = .51). Survival rates at 6 months were 71% in group A (mean follow-up, 13 +/- 11 months) and 94% in group B (mean follow-up, 6 +/- 3 months; (P = .04). There was only one procedure-related death caused by cerebral bleeding and herniation in group A. The freedom-from-reintervention rate at 6 months was 100% in group A (mean follow-up, 12 +/- 11.5 months) and 90% in group B (mean follow-up, 6 +/- 3.9 months; P = .07). No branch occlusions were observed in group A, whereas a branch occlusion occurred in three patients in group B (in all cases the bridging endograft for the renal artery). In two patients, the possible reason for branch occlusion was a thrombophilic disorder, whereas in one patient, the reason remains unknown. Paraplegia was observed in one patient in each group (group A: 4%; group B: 5%; P = .51) and persistent paraparesis in two patients in group A (8%) and in one patient (5%) in group B (P = .94). |
1 |
| 50. Sonesson B, Landenhed M, Dias N, et al. Anatomic feasibility of endovascular reconstruction in aortic arch aneurysms. Vascular. 23(1):17-20, 2015 Feb. |
Review/Other-Dx |
137 patients |
To estimate the proportion of current open aortic arch reconstructions that might be feasible for endovascular repair. |
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. |
4 |
| 51. Alberta HB, Secor JL, Smits TC, et al. Comparison of thoracic aortic diameter changes after endograft placement in patients with traumatic and aneurysmal disease. J Vasc Surg. 59(5):1241-6, 2014 May. |
Observational-Tx |
124 patients |
to evaluate acute changes in aortic size before and after endograft placement for traumatic injury and aneurysmal disease. |
Mean increases in proximal (3.0 mm vs 2.0 mm; P < .05) and distal neck diameters (2.9 mm vs 0.7 mm; P < .01) after TEVAR are significantly greater in traumatic injury patients than in aneurysm patients between pretreatment and 30-day imaging. In both study populations, smaller pretreatment aortic neck diameters showed a larger change in neck diameter than did larger pretreatment aortic diameters. Aneurysm patients were oversized significantly more than were trauma patients at the proximal neck (9.1% vs 4.5%; P < .05). However, at the distal neck, the trauma patients were oversized more than were the aneurysm patients (17.5% vs 13.6%; P = .06). A strong correlation was found between the percentage of oversizing and change in the distal neck diameter after TEVAR in both patient groups. |
2 |
| 52. Ye C, Chang G, Li S, et al. Endovascular stent-graft treatment for Stanford type A aortic dissection. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2011;42(6):787-794. |
Review/Other-Tx |
45 cases |
To summarise our experience of endovascular stent grafting for Stanford type A aortic dissection. |
The surgical success rate was 97.8% (44/45) and 30-day mortality rate was 6.7% (3/45). Type I endoleaks occurred in 10 cases: one patient died intra-operatively, four were successfully treated with ballooning, four were sealed with aortic cuffs and one case caused by left subclavian artery (LSA) reflux was sealed with an occluder. Average follow-up time was 35.5 +/- 5.4 months. Up to the most recent review or death, 32 patients had complete thrombosis and 10 had partial thrombosis inside the false lumen. Two deaths occurred after 30-days postoperatively. |
4 |
| 53. Oderich GS, Picada-Correa M, Pereira AA. Open surgical and endovascular conduits for difficult access during endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. Ann Vasc Surg 2012;26:1022-9. |
Review/Other-Tx |
N/A |
To summarize open surgical and endovascular alternatives to dealing with difficult iliofemoral access during endovascular aortic interventions. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
| 54. Freeman LA, Young PM, Foley TA, Williamson EE, Bruce CJ, Greason KL. CT and MRI assessment of the aortic root and ascending aorta. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2013;200:W581-92. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To provide an outline of aortic anatomy and disease patterns, describe methods of aortic measurement, and highlight measurement thresholds for surgical intervention. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
| 55. American College of Radiology. Manual on Contrast Media. Available at: https://www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/Contrast-Manual. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To assist radiologists in recognizing and managing risks associated with the use of contrast media. |
No abstract available. |
4 |
| 56. Dill KE, George E, Abbara S, et al. ACR appropriateness criteria imaging for transcatheter aortic valve replacement. J Am Coll Radiol. 2013;10(12):957-965. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To evaluate several pre-intervention imaging examinations that focus on both imaging at the aortic valve plane and planning in the supravalvular aorta and iliofemoral system. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
| 57. Fleischmann D, Chin AS, Molvin L, Wang J, Hallett R. Computed Tomography Angiography: A Review and Technical Update. Radiol Clin North Am. 2016;54(1):1-12. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To understand the principles of CTA and explain the technical aspects of CTA, including early contrast medium dynamics. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
| 58. Midulla M, Fattori R, Beregi JP, Dake M, Rousseau H. Aortic dissection and malperfusion syndrome: a when, what and how-to guide. Radiol Med 2013;118:74-88. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To present a when, what and how-to guide for all radiologists who encounter complicated aortic dissection. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
| 59. Booher AM, Eagle KA, Bossone E. Acute aortic syndromes. [Review]. Herz. 36(6):480-7, 2011 Sep. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To review the relevant variants of AAS presentation, as well as diagnostic and management issues, including adequate long-term medical therapy and follow-up imaging. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
| 60. Francois CJ, Tuite D, Deshpande V, Jerecic R, Weale P, Carr JC. Unenhanced MR angiography of the thoracic aorta: initial clinical evaluation. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2008;190(4):902-906. |
Observational-Dx |
23 patients |
To determine if an unenhanced 3D segmented steady-state free precession (SSFP) MR angiography (MRA) technique would be an alternative to contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) for the evaluation of vasculature. |
The difference in orthogonal measurements of the aortic diameter between those made on images from the 3D SSFP and those made from the CE-MRA sequences was -0.042 cm. The aortic root was better visualized with 3D SSFP: score of 3.78 (of 5) for CE-MRA versus score of 4.65 (of 5) for 3D SSFP (p < 0.05). |
2 |
| 61. Boodhwani M, Andelfinger G, Leipsic J, et al. Canadian Cardiovascular Society position statement on the management of thoracic aortic disease. [Review]. Can J Cardiol. 30(6):577-89, 2014 Jun. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To provide recommendations for most patients and situations. |
No result in abstract. |
4 |
| 62. American College of Radiology. ACR-SPR Practice Parameter for Imaging Pregnant or Potentially Pregnant Adolescents and Women with Ionizing Radiation. Available at: https://www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/Practice-Parameters/pregnant-pts.pdf |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To assist practitioners in providing appropriate radiologic care for pregnant or potentially pregnant adolescents and women by describing specific training, skills and techniques. |
No abstract available. |
4 |
| 63. Tsagakis K, Konorza T, Dohle DS, et al. Hybrid operating room concept for combined diagnostics, intervention and surgery in acute type A dissection. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. 43(2):397-404, 2013 Feb.Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 43(2):397-404, 2013 Feb. |
Review/Other-Dx |
1,883 cardiological and surgical patients |
To present the results of the hybrid operating room concept encompassing simultaneous hemodynamic control, noninvasive and invasive diagnostics and immediate surgical and/or interventional treatment. |
Preoperative angiography was performed in 71 patients, and no angiography related complications were observed during the procedure. A total of 32% (23/71) of these underwent coronary artery bypass graft for newly-diagnosed coronary artery disease in 21% of cases and for coronary malperfusion in 11%. Visceral/peripheral malperfusion syndromes, necessitating primary endovascular intervention, were detected in 23% (16/71). Ascending aorta replacement was performed in 100% (124/124) of patients, arch replacement in 88% (109/124) and descending aorta repair in 35% (44/124). Five postoperative endovascular interventions became necessary due to persistent malperfusion. In-hospital mortality was 13% (12/90) in patients who had undergone preoperative invasive diagnostics and 24% (8/34) in patients who had not. |
4 |
| 64. Clarencon F, Di Maria F, Cormier E, et al. Comparison of intra-aortic computed tomography angiography to conventional angiography in the presurgical visualization of the Adamkiewicz artery: first results in patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. Neuroradiology. 55(11):1379-87, 2013 Nov. |
Observational-Dx |
30 patients |
To compare the sensitivity of intra-aortic computed tomography angiography (IA-CTA) to that of regular spinal digital subtraction angiography for the presurgical location of the Adamkiewicz artery (AKA). |
The AKA was visualized by the IA-CTA in 27/30 cases (90 %); in 26/31 (84 %) cases, the continuity with the aorta was satisfactorily seen. Interrater agreement was good for the visualization of the AKA and its feeder(s): 0.625 and 0.87, respectively. In 75 % of the cases for which the AKA was visualized, the selective catheterization confirmed the results of the IA-CTA. In the remaining 25 % of the cases, the selective catheterization could not be performed due to marked vessels' tortuosity or ostium stenosis. |
2 |
| 65. Nienaber CA, Clough RE. Management of acute aortic dissection. [Review]. Lancet. 385(9970):800-11, 2015 Feb 28.Lancet. 385(9970):800-11, 2015 Feb 28. |
Review/Other-Tx |
N/A |
To review improved imaging, operative, and endovascular strategies for aortic dissection, both in diagnostic and therapeutic management. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
| 66. Ganapathi AM, Englum BR, Schechter MA, et al. Role of cardiac evaluation before thoracic endovascular aortic repair. J Vasc Surg. 2014;60(5):1196-1203. |
Observational-Tx |
343 patients |
To assess the adequacy of a limited cardiac evaluation before TEVAR, including assessment of cardiac symptoms, resting electrocardiography (ECG), and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), as well as to estimate the incidence of perioperative cardiac events in patients undergoing TEVAR. |
No preoperative cardiac workup was performed for 28 patients (7.4%); 127 patients (33.4%) had resting ECG only, 208 patients (54.7%) had resting echocardiography, 12 patients (3.2%) underwent stress testing, and five patients (1.3%) had coronary angiography. Patients undergoing stress testing or coronary angiography were older and had a higher incidence of known coronary artery disease (P < .01) and prior myocardial infarction (P = .01). Complex hybrid aortic repairs and TEVAR for aneurysmal disease were more likely to have an extensive workup, whereas nonelective procedures more commonly had no workup. A total of nine patients (2.4%) experienced a perioperative cardiac event (myocardial infarction or cardiac arrest), with no significant difference noted among all groups (P = .45), suggesting that the extent of cardiac workup was appropriate. The incidence of 30-day/in-hospital mortality (5.5%) and cardiac-specific mortality (0.8%) was similar among all groups. |
2 |
| 67. Eriksson MO, Nyman R. The value of intravascular phased-array imaging in endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic pathology. Acta Radiol. 2011;52(3):285-290. |
Review/Other-Tx |
11 patients |
To report our primary experiences of using intraluminal phased-array imaging (IPAI) as an additive tool for diagnostics and endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic pathology. |
Intraluminal phased-array imaging (IPAI) could detect and visualize the entries and re-entries in the intima. Aortic branch vessels could be visualized for patency both during and immediately after stentgraft deployment. It was also possible to detect ceased blood flow in the false lumen or aneurysmal sac after stentgraft deployment. |
4 |
| 68. Bensley RP, Hurks R, Huang Z, et al. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous endovascular aneurysm repair success is predicted by access vessel diameter. J Vasc Surg. 55(6):1554-61, 2012 Jun. |
Observational-Tx |
168 patients |
To describe out experience with P-EVAR and to compare our outcomes with the published literature. |
One hundred sixty-eight patients (296 arteries) had percutaneous access endovascular aneurysm repair (P-EVAR) whereas 131 patients (226 arteries) had femoral cutdown access EVAR. Ultrasound scan-guided access was introduced in 2007. P-EVAR increased from zero cases in 2005 to 92.3% of all elective cases in 2010. The success rate with percutaneous access was 96%. Failures requiring open surgical repair of the artery included seven for hemorrhage and six for flow-limiting stenosis or occlusion of the femoral artery. P-EVAR had fewer wound complications (0.7% vs 7.4%; P = .001), shorter operative time (153.3 vs 201.5 minutes; P < .001), and larger minimal access vessel diameter (6.7 mm vs 6.1 mm; P < .01). Patients with failed percutaneous access had smaller minimal access vessel diameters when compared to successful P-EVAR (4.9 mm vs 6.8 mm; P < .001). More failures occurred in small sheaths than large ones (7.4% vs 1.9%; P = .02). Access vessel diameter <5 mm is predictive of percutaneous failure (16.7% of vessels <5 mm failed vs 2.4% of vessels >/= 5 mm failed; P < .001; odds ratio, 7.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.58-33.8; P = .01). |
2 |
| 69. Trimarchi S, Tolenaar JL, Tsai TT, et al. Influence of clinical presentation on the outcome of acute B aortic dissection: evidences from IRAD. J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino). 53(2):161-8, 2012 Apr. |
Observational-Tx |
550 patients |
To analyze the patients of the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD) in order to clarify the influence of the clinical presentation on the outcome. |
The overall in-hospital mortality among 550 patients was 12.4%. Mortality in group I (250 patients) was 20.0%, compared to 6.1% in group II (300 patients) (P<0.001). Univariate predictors of ABAD complications were Marfan syndrome, abrupt onset of pain, migrating pain, any focal neurological deficits, need for higher number of diagnostic examinations and use of MR and/or aortogram, abdominal vessels involvement at aortogram, larger descending aortic diameter, especially >6 cm, pleural effusion, and widened mediastinum on chest x-ray. Univariate predictors of a noncomplicated status were normal chest x-ray and medical management. In group I, in-hospital mortality following surgical and endovascular intervention were 28.6% and 10.1% (P=0.006), respectively. Independent predictors of overall in-hospital mortality included age >70 years, female gender, ECG showing ischemia, preoperative acute renal failure, preoperative limb ischemia, periaortic hematoma, and surgical management. The only independent variable protective for mortality was magnetic resonance as diagnostic test. |
2 |
| 70. Kato K, Nishio A, Kato N, Usami H, Fujimaki T, Murohara T. Uptake of 18F-FDG in acute aortic dissection: a determinant of unfavorable outcome. J Nucl Med. 2010;51(5):674-681. |
Observational-Dx |
28 patients |
To investigate the use of FDG-PET/CT to predict short- and midterm outcomes in medically controlled AAD patients. |
Maximum dissection diameter in the unfavorable group was significantly greater than that in the favorable group (P=0.0207). On 50-min images, maximal and mean SUV at maximum AD sites were significantly greater for the unfavorable group than for the favorable group (all P<0.01). A stepwise-forward selection procedure demonstrated that the mean SUV at sites of maximum AD on 50-min images significantly and independently predicted an unfavorable outcome for AAD (P=0.0171; odds ratio, 7.72; 95% CI, 1.44-41.4; R(2)=0.2372). A mean SUV greater than 3.029 had significant predictive power, with sensitivity of 75.0%, specificity of 70.0%, a PPV of 50.0%, a NPV of 87.5%, and accuracy of 71.4%. Greater uptake of FDG in AAD was significantly associated with an increased risk for rupture and progression. FDG-PET/CT may be used to improve AAD patient management, although more studies are still needed to clarify its role in this clinical scenario. |
3 |
| 71. Matsumura JS, Melissano G, Cambria RP, et al. Five-year results of thoracic endovascular aortic repair with the Zenith TX2. J Vasc Surg 2014;60:1-10. |
Observational-Tx |
230 patients |
To evaluate thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) compared with open surgical repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms and large ulcers at 42 international sites. |
Although follow-up was limited, 5-year mortality rate was similar at 37% for both groups. Aneurysm-related mortality rate was 5.9% with TEVAR compared with 12% with open surgical repair (P = .11). There were no ruptures of the treated aneurysms in either group or open conversions in the TEVAR group. Predefined severe morbidity occurred at a significantly lower rate in TEVAR (21%) compared with open surgical repair (39%; P < .001). Aneurysm growth was seen by core laboratory in 5.9% of patients and endoleak in 5.7% of patients. Secondary intervention rates were similar between TEVAR (8%) and open surgical repair (12%; P = .49) patients. |
1 |
| 72. Flors L, Leiva-Salinas C, Norton PT, Patrie JT, Hagspiel KD. Endoleak detection after endovascular repair of thoracic aortic aneurysm using dual-source dual-energy CT: suitable scanning protocols and potential radiation dose reduction. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 200(2):451-60, 2013 Feb. |
Observational-Dx |
48 patients |
To evaluate the diagnostic performance of dual-source dual-energy CT (DECT) in the detection of endoleaks after thoracic endovascular aortic repair for thoracic aortic aneurysm and to investigate if a double-phase (arterial and dual-energy late delayed phase) or a single-phase (dual-energy late delayed phase) acquisition can replace the standard triphasic protocol. |
Forty-eight patients (mean age, 66 years; age range, 19-84 years) underwent 74 triple-phase CT examinations. The single-phase studies (session B) were characterized by 85.7% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% negative predictive value (NPV), and 94.6% positive predictive value (PPV). The dual-phase study (session C) revealed 100% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% NPV, and 100% PPV. The use of the dual-phase protocol and single-phase protocol resulted in a radiation exposure reduction of 19.5% and 64.1%, respectively. |
3 |
| 73. Kret MR, Azarbal AF, Mitchell EL, Liem TK, Landry GJ, Moneta GL. Compliance with long-term surveillance recommendations following endovascular aneurysm repair or type B aortic dissection. J Vasc Surg. 58(1):25-31, 2013 Jul. |
Review/Other-Tx |
204 patients |
To determine factors associated with failure to obtain recommended lifelong surveillance for both endovascular aneurysm repair and acute. |
Two hundred four patients, median age 71.9 years, were identified; 171 had EVAR and 33 had type B dissection. EVAR patients included 45 thoracic, 100 abdominal, and 12 thoracoabdominal endografts, as well as 7 iliac artery aneurysm repairs and 7 proximal/distal graft extensions. Median follow-up was 28 +/- 10.5 months. Overall, 56% were lost to follow-up, whereas 11% never returned for surveillance after initial hospitalization. Follow-up was compared for each of the comorbidities and socioeconomic factors; none were found to significantly affect follow-up. The known complication rate was 9.3% (n = 19), with reintervention performed in 14% of EVAR/TEVAR patients. Thirty-eight percent of medically managed patients with type B dissections eventually required surgical intervention. All-cause 5-year mortality was 27% as determined by the Social Security Death Index. |
4 |
| 74. Oliveira N, Bastos Goncalves F, Ten Raa S, et al. Do we need long-term follow-up after EVAR and TEVAR or can we simplify surveillance protocols?. [Review]. J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino). 55(2 Suppl 1):151-8, 2014 Apr. |
Review/Other-Tx |
N/A |
To describe the recommended surveillance strategies after (T)EVAR, determine the expected complication rate in modern series and to revise the data of risk-adapted surveillance strategies suggested in literature. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
| 75. Ganapathi AM, Andersen ND, Hanna JM, Gaca JG, McCann RL, Hughes GC. Comparison of attachment site endoleak rates in Dacron versus native aorta landing zones after thoracic endovascular aortic repair. J Vasc Surg. 2014;59(4):921-929. |
Observational-Tx |
697 landing zones |
To compare the rate of type I endoleak occurring in Dacron landing zones vs native aorta landing zones using a large, single-institution TEVAR database that contains a high proportion of complex hybrid reconstructions involving endograft landing zones in segments of previously reconstructed Dacron aorta. |
Identified were 697 proximal or distal landing zones (native aorta, 599; Dacron, 79; and endograft, 19). Patients with at least one Dacron landing zone had higher rates of hypertension (P < .01), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P = .04), and prior aortic surgery (P < .01) and were more likely to have undergone complex hybrid repairs (P < .01). Cumulative type I endoleak rates were equivalent between the three types of landing zone (native aorta, 3.7%; Dacron, 2.5%; endograft, 0%; P = .44). Two type I endoleaks occurred with Dacron landing zones in the first tertile of TEVAR experience and with Dacron landing zone lengths of <2.5 cm. Evaluation of endoleak rates by tertile of experience demonstrated decreased type I endoleak rates in Dacron landing zones between the first and second/third tertiles of experience (13.3% vs 0%, P = .03) after a policy of using >4 to 5 cm (twice the device instructions for use) of Dacron overlap was initiated. |
2 |
| 76. Ozdemir BA, Chung R, Benson RA, et al. Embolisation of type 2 endoleaks after endovascular aneurysm repair. J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino). 2013;54(4):485-490. |
Review/Other-Tx |
N/A |
To give an overview of type II endoleaks, their natural history and vessels most commonly involved, as well as different approaches to embolisation. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
| 77. Patterson BO, Vidal-Diez A, Karthikesalingam A, Holt PJ, Loftus IM, Thompson MM. Comparison of aortic diameter and area after endovascular treatment of aortic dissection. Ann Thorac Surg. 99(1):95-102, 2015 Jan. |
Observational-Tx |
100 patients |
To determine if aortic diameter measurements could be used to approximate aortic area in order to refine reporting standards. |
Aortic true and false lumen diameter and area showed good correlation (p < 0.001) in the majority of anatomic locations. This relationship was present preoperatively and during follow-up (p < 0.001). The linear regression models fit well with high R(2) values. At very large aortic sizes nonlinear models were a slightly better fit, but this was not significant. |
1 |
| 78. Hughes GC, Andersen ND, McCann RL. Management of acute type B aortic dissection. [Review]. Journal of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery. 145(3 Suppl):S202-7, 2013 Mar.J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 145(3 Suppl):S202-7, 2013 Mar. |
Review/Other-Tx |
N/A |
To discuss the management of acute type B aortic dissection and long-term treatment considerations. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
| 79. Tsai MT, Wu HY, Roan JN, et al. Effect of false lumen partial thrombosis on repaired acute type A aortic dissection. Journal of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery. 148(5):2140-2146.e3, 2014 Nov.J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 148(5):2140-2146.e3, 2014 Nov. |
Observational-Tx |
67 patients |
To investigate the effects of a partially thrombosed false lumen on the segmental growth rates, distal aortic reoperations, and long-term survival. |
The segmental aortic growth rate of completely thrombosed, completely patent, and partially thrombosed false lumens was -0.10+/-0.31, 0.09+/-0.22, and 0.35+/-0.60 mm/mo at the proximal DTA (P=.001), -0.04+/-0.18, 0.12+/-0.19, and 0.28+/-0.28 mm/mo at the middle DTA (P<.001), and -0.02+/-0.13, 0.07+/-0.07, and 0.16+/-0.14 mm/mo at the distal DTA (P<.001), respectively. The corresponding freedom from reoperation rates for the proximal DTA at 10 years were 100%, 88%, and 62% (P=.013). The overall 10-year survival rate was 89% and was not significantly different among the study groups. |
2 |
| 80. Eriksson MO, Steuer J, Wanhainen A, Thelin S, Eriksson LG, Nyman R. Morphologic outcome after endovascular treatment of complicated type B aortic dissection. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 24(12):1826-33, 2013 Dec. |
Observational-Tx |
51 patients |
To investigate the long-term morphologic changes of the aorta after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for acute complicated type B aortic dissection and to analyze whether these changes differed between DeBakey class IIIa and IIIb dissections. |
There was an overall significant reduction of the thoracic aortic diameter, increased true lumen diameter, and reduced false lumen diameter (P < .05). Total thrombosis of the false lumen, with or without reintervention, was seen in 53% of all patients, in 41% primarily and in 12% after reintervention. The IIIa group had a higher degree of total false lumen thrombosis. All patients in the IIIb group had total thrombosis of the false lumen along the stent graft. |
2 |
| 81. Song SW, Kim TH, Lim SH, Lee KH, Yoo KJ, Cho BK. Prognostic factors for aorta remodeling after thoracic endovascular aortic repair of complicated chronic DeBakey IIIb aneurysms. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 148(3):925-32, 933.e1; discussion 932-3, 2014 Sep. |
Observational-Tx |
20 patients |
To analyze the potential prognostic factors affecting aorta remodeling after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for chronic DeBakery III type b (CDIIIb) aneurysms. |
All the patients had uneventful in-hospital courses; 2 patients (10%) required reintervention during the follow-up period. Thirteen patients (65%) had complete thrombosis of the FL at stent graft segment. Compared with the complete thrombosis group, the partial thrombosis group had more reentry tears (1.8 vs 2.3, P = .48), large intimal tears (0.8 vs 1.7, P < .05), visceral branches arising from the FL (1.2 vs 2.3, P < .05), and ICAs arising from the FL (3.8 vs 5.1, P = .35). Reentry tears, visceral branches, and ICAs from the FL were significant negative prognostic factors for FL shrinkage (P < .05). |
2 |
| 82. Sueyoshi E, Nagayama H, Hashizume K, Eishi K, Sakamoto I, Uetani M. Computed tomography evaluation of aortic remodeling after endovascular treatment for complicated ulcer-like projection in patients with type B aortic intramural hematoma. J Vasc Surg. 59(3):693-9, 2014 Mar. |
Observational-Tx |
18 patients |
To investigate changes of the affected aorta after endovascular treatment for complicated ulcer-like projection (ULP), including aneurysmal change or rupture of ULP, or both, in patients with type B aortic intramural hematoma (IMH). |
A stent graft was successfully deployed and ULPs disappeared in all patients. IMH disappeared in 16 or decreased in two after treatment. There were significant differences in the mean maximum aortic diameter (37.8 +/- 5.2 vs 34.5 +/- 5.2 mm; P = .0006), mean IMH volume (39.4 +/- 12.1 vs 2.0 +/- 6.0 mL; P < .0001), and total volume of the aorta with IMH (158.1 +/- 40.2 vs 128.9 +/- 28.0 mL; P < .0001) before and after treatment. |
2 |
| 83. Murphy EH, Szeto WY, Herdrich BJ, et al. The management of endograft infections following endovascular thoracic and abdominal aneurysm repair. J Vasc Surg 2013;58:1179-85. |
Observational-Tx |
18 patients |
To examine the results of treatment at a single center for the management of infected aortic endografts. |
Overall, 18 patients were treated for infected endografts (thoracic: six, abdominal:12). Three patients were treated between 2000 and 2006, corresponding to a 0.6% institutional incidence of endograft infection (3/473). There were no transfers for infected endografts from outside institutions. From 2006 to 2011, 15 patients underwent treatment. Six were institutional cases of infections (6/945, 0.6% infection rate), however, there was an increase in transfers (n = 9). Median time to presentation with infection from endograft implant was 90 days, with over one-half (61%) presenting within the first 3 months. Tissue and/or blood cultures were positive in 12/16 growing Escherichia coli (n = 1), group A streptococcus (n = 3), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (n = 3), or polymicrobial infections (n = 7). The other four patients were culture negative with computed tomography evidence of gas surrounding the endograft and clinical sepsis. Ten patients (abdominal: eight, thoracic: two) were treated with endograft explantation. The remaining eight patients were considered too high-risk for explant or refused open surgery and were therefore managed conservatively without explant (abdominal: four, thoracic: four). At a mean follow-up of 24.7 months, aneurysm-related mortality was 38.9% (n = 7) and was higher for patients presenting with aortoenteric or aortobronchial fistulas (n = 6/10, 60%) (P = .04) and for thoracic stent infections (n = 5/6; 83%) (P = .03). The only survivor of a thoracic infection was managed surgically. Overall survival for patients with abdominal endografts (n = 12) was similar between the eight patients managed surgically (n = 6/8; 75%) and the four selected for medical management (n = 4/4; 100%) (P = .39). All survivors remain on long-term suppressive antibiotics. Two additional patients died of unrelated causes during follow-up. |
2 |
| 84. Zoli S, Trabattoni P, Dainese L, et al. Cumulative radiation exposure during thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair and subsequent follow-up. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2012;42(2):254-259; discussion 259-260. |
Observational-Tx |
48 patients |
To investigate cumulative radiation exposure of patients undergoing TEVAR—including the pre-operative workup, the procedure and recurrent followup computed tomographic imaging |
The average screening time was 15.7 +/- 11.4 min, with an RE of 11.3 +/- 9 mSv. Obese patients had significantly higher RE during TEVAR (Pearson's coefficient = 0.388, P = 0.019). The RE dropped from 14.9 +/- 9.4 mSv to 8.6 +/- 7.9 mSv (P = 0.033) after a hybrid suite was established. Our institutional TEVAR protocol involves one pre-operative thoracoabdominal CT scan and three follow-up thoracic CT scans for the first year, with a yearly evaluation thereafter. The life expectancy of an age- and sex-matched population was 17 years. A patient adhering to our surveillance protocol would be subjected to an overall exposure of 89 mSv at 1 year and 161 mSv at 5 years, with a projected lifetime RE >350 mSv. |
2 |
| 85. Deak Z, Grimm JM, Mueck F, et al. Endoleak and in-stent thrombus detection with CT angiography in a thoracic aortic aneurysm phantom at different tube energies using filtered back projection and iterative algorithms. Radiology. 271(2):574-84, 2014 May. |
Observational-Dx |
N/A |
To determine the lower limit of dose reduction with hybrid and fully iterative reconstruction algorithms in detection of endoleaks and in-stent thrombus of thoracic aorta with computed tomographic (CT) angiography by applying protocols with different tube energies and automated tube current modulation. |
Both sensitivity and specificity were 100% for simulated lesions on images with 2.5-mm section thickness and an NI of 25 (3.45 mGy), 34 (1.83 mGy), or 43 (1.16 mGy) at 120 kVp; an NI of 34 (1.98 mGy), 43 (1.23 mGy), or 61 (0.61 mGy) at 100 kVp; and an NI of 43 (1.46 mGy) or 70 (0.54 mGy) at 80 kVp. SNR values showed similar results. With the fully iterative algorithm, mean attenuation of the aorta decreased significantly in reduced-dose protocols in comparison with control protocols at 100 kVp (311 HU at 16 NI vs 290 HU at 70 NI, P </= .0011) and 80 kVp (400 HU at 16 NI vs 369 HU at 70 NI, P </= .0007) |
1 |
| 86. Bley TA, Chase PJ, Reeder SB, et al. Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: nonenhanced volumetric CT for follow-up. Radiology. 2009;253(1):253-262. |
Observational-Dx |
70 patients |
To retrospectively evaluate the clinical usefulness of volumetric analysis at nonenhanced CT as the sole method with which to follow-up EVAR and to identify endoleaks causing more than 2% volumetric increase from the previous volume determination. |
Types I and III high-pressure endoleaks (n=10) showed a 10.0% (95% CI: 5.0%, 18.2%) interval volumetric increase. Type II low-pressure endoleaks (n=37) showed a 5.4% (95% CI: 4.6%, 6.2%) interval volumetric increase. Endoleaks associated with minimal aortic volume increase of less than 2% did not require any intervention. This protocol reduced radiation exposure by approximately 57%-82% in an average-sized patient. Serial volumetric analysis of aortic aneurysm with nonenhanced CT serves as an adequate screening test for endoleak, causing volumetric increase of more than 2% from the volume seen at the previous examination. |
3 |
| 87. Cao P, De Rango P, Verzini F, Parlani G. Endoleak after endovascular aortic repair: classification, diagnosis and management following endovascular thoracic and abdominal aortic repair. [Review] [117 refs]. J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino). 51(1):53-69, 2010 Feb. |
Review/Other-Tx |
N/A |
To discuss endoleak after endovascular aortic repair: classification, diagnosis and management following endovascular thoracic and abdominal aortic repair |
No results stated in abstract |
4 |
| 88. Weigel S, Tombach B, Maintz D, et al. Thoracic aortic stent graft: comparison of contrast-enhanced MR angiography and CT angiography in the follow-up: initial results. Eur Radiol. 13(7):1628-34, 2003 Jul. |
Observational-Dx |
11 patients |
To compare contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE MRA) and multislice computed tomographic angiography (MS CTA) in the follow-up of thoracic stent-graft placement. |
The CE MRA and MS CTA were performed following nitinol stent-graft treatment due to thoracic aneurysm ( n=4), intramural bleeding ( n=2) and type-B aortic dissection ( n=5). Corresponding evaluation of arterial-phase imaging characteristics focused on the stent-graft morphology and leakage assessment. Stent-graft and aneurysm extensions were comparable between both techniques. Complete exclusion (aneurysm, n=4; dissection, n=2) was assessed with high confidence with CE MRA and MS CTA. Incomplete exclusion (intramural bleeding, n=2; dissection, n=3) was assigned to lower confidence scores on CE MRA compared with MS CTA. On CE MRA the stent-graft lumen demonstrated an inhomogeneous signal, the stent struts could not be assessed. |
3 |
| 89. Rasche V, Oberhuber A, Trumpp S, et al. MRI assessment of thoracic stent grafts after emergency implantation in multi trauma patients: a feasibility study. Eur Radiol. 21(7):1397-405, 2011 Jul. |
Observational-Dx |
20 patients |
To evaluate the feasibility of MRI for static and dynamic assessment of the deployment of thoracic aortic stent grafts after emergency implantation in trauma patients. |
The stent graft geometry and motion over the cardiac cycle were assessable by MRI in all patients. Flow-mediated signal variations in areas of flow acceleration could be well visualised. No statistically significant differences in stent-graft diameters were observed between CT and MRI measurements. |
3 |
| 90. Karanikola E, Dalainas I, Karaolanis G, Zografos G, Filis K. Duplex Ultrasound versus Computed Tomography for the Postoperative Follow-Up of Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair. Where Do We Stand Now? Int J Angiol. 2014;23(3):155-164. |
Review/Other-Dx |
35 articles |
To review and evaluate the safety of color-duplex ultrasound (CDU) as compared with computed tomography (CT), based on the current literature, for post-EVAR surveillance. |
There was a substantial heterogeneity among the studies due to the following reasons: 1. The wide range of the number of patients enrolled in each study (20–561). 2. Variation in CT protocol (CTor CTA, arterial phase, biphasic or triple phase). 3. The interobserver reliability for the ultrasound imaging, which was not defined with the exception of two studies: (a) Zannetti et al in 2000, evaluated the interobserver agreement in endoleak detection (k analysis value ¼ 1) and in a type of endoleak (k ¼ 0. 7) in 50 random duplex examinations. (b) Lezzi et al in 2009, estimated that the interobserver agreement in all reading sessions of ECDU for endoleak detection was high (k analysis value 0.89). In six studies all the ultrasound examinations were conducted by one single vascular sonographer. CDU or ECDU were performed by experienced vascular technologists in 18 trials. There is no information reported about the CDU/ECDU operators for the rest 11 studies. Moreover, differences in ultrasound equipment quality, particularly in the earlier studies with less advanced ultrasound instruments, have not been evaluated. |
4 |
| 91. Nakai M, Sato H, Sato M, et al. Utility of 99mTc-human serum albumin diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid SPECT for evaluating endoleak after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 204(1):189-96, 2015 Jan. |
Observational-Dx |
15 patients |
To assess the utility of (99m)Tc-human serum albumin diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid ((99m)Tc-HSAD) SPECT in the detection of endoleaks after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. |
Endoleaks were interpreted as perigraft radioisotope accumulation in 12 patients (80.0%) on (99m)Tc-HSAD SPECT images, in 13 patients (86.7%) on three-phase CT images, and in 15 patients (100%) on CT during aortography. The mean endoleak volume visualized with (99m)Tc-HSAD SPECT was 8.37 cm(3) (range, 5.2-15.1 cm(3)), and the volume not visualized was 3.47 cm(3) (2.5-4.6 cm(3)), a statistically significant difference (p = 0.019). In two patients, (99m)Tc-HSAD SPECT depicted endoleaks evident at delayed phase CT during aortography but not at three-phase CT, suggesting they were slow-filling endoleaks. Accumulation of (99m)Tc-HSAD corresponding to endoleaks disappeared after embolization, but CT evaluation of embolization was impeded by artifacts of NBCA-Lipiodol and metallic coils. |
3 |
| 92. American College of Radiology. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Radiation Dose Assessment Introduction. Available at: https://www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/Appropriateness-Criteria/RadiationDoseAssessmentIntro.pdf. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To provide evidence-based guidelines on exposure of patients to ionizing radiation. |
No abstract available. |
4 |
