Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common lethal aortic disease in clinical practice. At present, the imaging diagnostic methods used for AAA mainly include Doppler ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but these methods can only observe the morphological changes of the aorta. These techniques used for the risk assessment of aneurysms, such as aneurysm rupture have some certain limitations. With the continuous development of molecular imaging technology and the further understanding of the pathogenesis of AAA, positron emission tomography (PET), molecular MRI and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) techniques can be used to observe the pathological changes of the AAA and assess the risk of rupture from cell and molecular level. In this paper, the latest application of PET, molecular MRI, SPECT in the risk assessment was discussed.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical value of in vitro fenestration and branch stent repair in the treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm in visceral artery area assisted by 3D printing.MethodsThe clinical data of 7 patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm involving visceral artery at the Department of Vascular Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from March 2016 to May 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 5 males and 2 females with an average age of 70.2±3.9 years. Among them 4 patients had near-renal abdominal aortic aneurysm, 3 had thoracic aortic aneurysm, 4 had asymptomatic aneurysm, 2 had acute symptomatic aneurysm and 1 had threatened rupture of aneurysm. According to the preoperative CT measurement and 3D printing model, fenestration technique was used with Cook Zenith thoracic aortic stents, and branch stents were sewed on the main stents in vitro, and then the stents were modified by beam diameter technique for intracavitary treatment.ResultsAll the 7 patients completed the operation successfully, and a total of 18 branch arteries were reconstructed. The success rate of surgical instrument release was 100.0%. The average operation time was 267.0±38.5 min, the average intraoperative blood loss was 361.0±87.4 mL and the average hospital stay was 16.0±4.2 d. Immediate intraoperative angiography showed that the aneurysms were isolated, and the visceral arteries were unobstructed. Till May 2019, there was no death, stent displacement, stent occlusion, ruptured aneurysm or loss of visceral artery branches. Conclusion3D printing technology can completely copy the shape of human artery, intuitively present the anatomical structure and position of each branch of the artery, so that the fenestration technique is more accurate and the treatment scheme is more optimized.
Objective To compare the effectiveness between conventional open repair (OR) and endovascular repair (EVRAR) for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Methods Between March 2000 and July 2011, 48 cases of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm were treated by conventional OR in 40 cases (OR group) or by EVRAR in 8 cases (EVRAR group). There was no significant difference in age, sex, the neck length (less than 2 cm), the neck angulation of aneurysm (more than60°), il iac severe tortuosity, preoperative systol ic pressure, and preoperative comorbidity between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The blood transfusion volume, operation time, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, postoperative complications, reinterventions, and mortality were analyzed. Results There was no significant difference in 24-hour and 30-day mortality rates and non graft-related complications between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). EVRAR group was significantly better than OR group in blood transfusion volume, operation time, and ICU stay (P lt; 0.05), but OR group was significantly better than EVRAR group in reinterventions and graftrelated complications (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion EVRAR has obvious advantages in blood transfusion volume, operation time, and ICU stay, so it is feasible for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm in patients with precise anatomical suitability.
ObjectiveTo summarize the current advancement of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) participating in formation of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and to find out the potential treatment strategy of AAA. MethodsRelevant literatures about PPARs and formation of AAA were reviewed. ResultsAAA involved inflammation of all the layers of aorta, and the formation of AAA needed many kinds of inflammatory cells and cytokines. Many researches in vitro or in vivo had shown that PPARs could reduce the expression of inflammatory cytokines, to reduce formation of AAA. However, PPARγ was also confirmed to participate in the formation of AAA and the mechanism might be the transformation of macrophage from type 1 macrophage (M1) to type 2 macrophage (M2). According to the existing studies, the assumption could be that PPARγ can suppress the inflammatory function of M1 to reduce formation of AAA at the initiating stage, and promote formation of AAA by inducing the transform of macrophage to M2 at the late stage. ConclusionPPARs may be a potential targeting point for the prevention of AAA. More studies are needed to show the feasibility and to decide the application timing.
Objective To review the progress of artificial intelligence (AI) and radiomics in the study of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Method The literatures related to AI, radiomics and AAA research in recent years were collected and summarized in detail. Results AI and radiomics influenced AAA research and clinical decisions in terms of feature extraction, risk prediction, patient management, simulation of stent-graft deployment, and data mining. Conclusion The application of AI and radiomics provides new ideas for AAA research and clinical decisions, and is expected to suggest personalized treatment and follow-up protocols to guide clinical practice, aiming to achieve precision medicine of AAA.
ObjectiveTo determine the influence of proximal aneurysm neck anatomy on typeⅠA endoleak follo-wing endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. MethodsFrom September 2007 to February 2014, 111 consecutive patients with non-ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms were treated with EVAR. The preoperative CTA of abdominal aortic was obtained by every patient, and the three-dimensional imaging was reconstructed and measured by software of Osorix. Then, the relation between the recurrence of typeⅠA endoleak and the concerned data measured by Osorix was analyzed by the statistical software. ResultsThe recurrence of typeⅠA endo-leak was related to the proximal neck angle of the abdominal aortic aneurysm, which weren't related to the proximal neck diameter and variation rates, the mural thrombas and calcification rate, and the maximum diameter of abdominal aortic aneurysm by multivariate analysis. ConclusionsThe complicated proximal aneurysm neck anatomy is a major cause for the typeⅠA endoleak, the proximal neck angle of the abdominal aortic aneurysm is the independent factor. The applica-tion of EVAR depends largely on the shape of the proximal aneurysm neck.
ObjectiveThis paper aimed to summarize the new progress in surgical indications regarding as maximum diameter from evidence-based medical evidence and morphological rupture-risk assessment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and its clinical application value.MethodThe rupture-risk and its mechanism of AAA in specific population and morphological characteristics were reviewed.ResultsAsymptomatic patients in specific subgroups may also benefit from AAA repair by lowering the intervention threshold. Besides the maximum diameter of aneurysm, other morphological factors, such as the true geometric shape, the wall thickness, and mural thrombus also had important predictive value for AAA rupture risk.ConclusionRupture-risk assessment based on the actual individual situation of AAA patients can further facilitate the clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Objective To summarize the efficacy of aortic arch 1 zone clamping technique in the procedure of ascending aortic aneurysm involving the proximal aortic arch. Methods The clinical data of patients with ascending aortic aneurysm involving the proximal aortic arch who underwent surgical treatment with aortic arch 1 zone clamping technique in our hospital from 2017 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsA total of 35 patients were enrolled, including 21 males and 14 females, with an average age of 63.9±10.8 years. According to different lesions, the proximal aorta underwent Bentall/Carbrol procedure in 8 patients, Wheat in 4 patients, David in 3 patients, and ascending aorta replacement in 20 patients. Distal lesions were completely resected under aortic arch 1 zone clamping technique, and anastomotic reconstruction was performed under hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. Distal anastomosis was performed with interrupted suture in 7 patients, and continuous suture with intermittent reinforcement of the posterior wall in 28 patients. All patients successfully completed the procedure. The average cardiopulmonary bypass time was 121.5±28.2 min, the aortic clamping time was 78.1±21.3 min, and the distal anastomosis time was 15.2±3.6 min. One patient underwent a second thoracotomy for hemostasis, and the remaining patients were drained 330.6±108.1 mL on the first day following the procedure. The postoperative mechanical ventilation time of 2 patients exceeded 24 hours, and the main complications were pulmonary infection in 1 patient and acute renal injury in 2 patients. Transient delirium occurred in 2 patients and no transient or permanent neurological dysfunction occurred. The average follow-up time was 2.6±1.1 years. The maximum diameter of the ascending aorta after operation was 30.4±0.9 mm, the diameter of zone 1 aortic arch was 39.8±3.1 mm, and the diameter of the distal aortic arch was 32.3±4.3 mm. There was no lesion in the artificial blood vessels of all patients, and no aneurysms occurred at the proximal or distal anastomosis. No reoperation or intervention was needed for the aorta. ConclusionThe aortic arch 1 zone clamping technique can simplify the procedure of ascending aortic aneurysm involving the proximal aortic arch, reduce or avoid the use of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, reduce the surgical trauma, and has good short-term and medium-term efficacy.
This paper interprets clinical practice guideline for abdominal aortic aneurysm of American Society for Vascular Surgery in 2018.
Abstract： Objective To study the spinal cord protection effect of cerebrospinal fluid drainage （CSFD）for patients undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery. Methods We randomly allocated 30 patients undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from December 2008 to August 2009 into a CSFD group with 15 patients（12 males, 3 females; average age of 45.0 years） and a control group with 15 patients（11 males, 4 females; average age at 45.8 years）by computer. All the patients underwent replacement of ascending aorta and aortic arch, implantation of descending aorta stent, or thoracoabdominal aorta replacement. Some patients underwent Bentall operation or replacement of half aortic arch. Patients in the CSFD group also underwent CSFD. Serum S100B, glial fibrillary acidic protein and neuron-specific enolase were measured at set intraoperative and postoperative times. All the patients were scored preoperatively, 72 hours postoperatively, and before discharge according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury. Results Central nervous system injury occurred in four patients in the control group： one died of both brain damage and spinal cord damage; one patient had spinal cord injury and became better after treatment by early CSFD; two patients had brain damage（one patient died, another patient had concomitant acute renal failure and acute respiratory failure, recovered and was discharged after treatment）. In the CSFD group, only one patient died of acute respiratory failure and subsequent multiple organ system failure, and all other patients recovered very well. There was no late death during three months follow-up in both groups. The average serum S100B, glial fibrillary acidic protein，and neuron-specific enolase concentrations of the CSFD group patients were significantly lower than those of the control group （F=7.153，P=0.012；F=3.263，P=0.082；F=4.927，P=0.035）. Conclusion Selected CSFD is a safe, effective and feasible procedure to protect the spinal cord from ischemic damage during the perioperative period of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery.