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.
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.
Objective To explore the predictive value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in peripheral blood for postoperative complications of elective endovascular repair for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Methods From August 2016 to November 2021, the clinical data of patients with AAA who received endovascular isolation repair for the first time in the Department of Vascular Surgery of Beijing Hospital were retrospectively analyzed, including the basic information of the patients, comorbid diseases, and the largest diameter of AAA, preoperative blood labotry test, postoperative complications, long-term survival rate and other indicators. The optimal NLR in peripheral blood was determined, and the differences in postoperative complications and long-term survival rates between the high NLR group and the low NLR group were analysed. Results A total of 120 patients with AAA underwent endovascular isolation for the first time were included in this study, including 105 males and 15 females. The age ranged from 52 to 94 years, with an average of (73.3 ± 8.26) years. The largest diameter of abdominal aortic aneurysm was 35 to 100 mm, with an average of (58.5 ± 12.48) mm. The best cut-off value of NLR for predicting postoperative complications of AAA was 2.45 by using Yoden index screening. Those with NLR ≥2.45 were in the high NLR group (n=66), and those with NLR <2.45 were in the low NLR group (n=54). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of overall complications and the incidence of sub-complications (P>0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis suggested that NLR was an independent risk factor for complications after endovascular repair of AAA (P<0.05). The median survival time of patients in the high NLR group and the low NLR group was 31.47 months and 35.28 months, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion NLR can be used as a reference predictor of complications after elective endovascular repair of AAA, but more research results are still needed to confirm.
ObjectiveTo understand risk factors of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture and the latest progress.MethodThe domestic and foreign related literatures on risk factors affecting AAA rupture were retrieved and reviewed.ResultsBesides some definite risk factors of AAA rupture, including age, gender, hypertension, smoking, family history, complications (such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, etc.), the biomechanical factor was the crucial factor of AAA rupture, including the aortic compliance, aortic wall peak value of pressure, aortic wall calcification, and hemodynamics. The latest imaging methods such as the high resolution ultrasound, function and molecular imaging, and phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging could provide technical supports for the prediction of AAA rupture.ConclusionsThere are many risk factors affecting AAA rupture. Clinicians might prevent and make individualize treatment for AAA rupture according to its risk factors, and risks of AAA rupture could be more accurately assessed with help of new medical imaging examination.
ObjectiveTo investigate the association between the admission fasting blood glucose-to-albumin ratio (FAR) and short-term prognosis in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) underwent open surgical repair (OSR) or endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). MethodsA retrospective study was conducted on patients with AAA who underwent OSR or EVAR at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 2020 to January 2024 and met the inclusion criteria. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the discriminative ability of the FAR for in-hospital mortality after AAA surgery and to determine its optimal cutoff value. Patients were then divided into a low-FAR group (FAR below the cutoff) and a high-FAR group (FAR equal to or above the cutoff) based on this value. Logistic regression analysis, Cox proportional hazards regression models, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were employed to examine the relation between FAR and postoperative severe complications (Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅲ or above) as well as in-hospital all-cause mortality. ResultsA total of 191 patients were included in this study. The area under the ROC curve of FAR for predicting in-hospital mortality was 0.707 [95%CI (0.637, 0.770)], with an optimal cutoff value of 2.33. There were 164 patients in the low-FAR group and 27 in the high-FAR group. The incidence of postoperative severe complications and in-hospital all-cause mortality were significantly higher in the high-FAR group compared to the low-FAR group [22.22% (6/27) vs. 12.20% (20/164), χ2=5.22, P=0.029; 14.81% (4/27) vs. 2.44% (4/164), χ2=6.03, P=0.014]. An elevated FAR was identified as a risk factor for both postoperative severe complications [OR (95%CI)=1.49 (1.27, 1.88), P=0.018] and in-hospital all-cause mortality [OR (95%CI)=1.35 (1.29, 3.06, P=0.047]. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed significantly worse survival in patients with a high-FAR compared to those with a low-FAR (χ2=10.44, P=0.001). ConclusionElevated AAR is a risk factor for poor in-hospital prognosis in AAA patients treated with OSR or EVAR and may serve as a valuable marker for assessing short-term outcomes.
The phenomenon of sex differences exists in patients who have abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). The occurrence rate of AAA is higher in male, while the rates of rupture and postoperative mortality are higher for female. This phenomenon of sex differences would affect the diagnosis, treatment and postoperative rehabilitation for AAA patients. This article reviewed the recent research status of sex differences on AAA, and explored the phenomenon of sex differences from the aspects of threshold determination, biomechanics and mechanobiology. This review points out that the sex differences on AAA could ascribe to the differences of biomechanical environment and biological properties induced by the vascular size, anatomy structure and structure components of abdominal aortic artery. The comprehensive investigations of the sex differences on AAA could help to optimize the diagnosis, treatment and device design, patient care and rehabilitation strategy of AAA based on sex differences phenomenon.
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.
The surgical treatment of thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) requires a unique multidisciplinary approach. A thorough preoperative examination and evaluation are essential to determine the optimal timing for surgery and to optimize organ function as needed. During the perioperative period, excellent surgical skills and an appropriate strategy for extracorporeal circulation will be employed based on the extent of the aneurysm. Additionally, necessary measures will be taken to monitor and protect the functions of vital organs. Close monitoring and management in the postoperative stage, along with early detection of complications and effective treatment, are crucial for improving the prognosis of TAAA surgery. This article reviews the current research progress in the perioperative management of TAAA surgery.
ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of fenestrated endovascular aortic repair (F-EVAR) and chimney endovascular aortic repair (Ch-EVAR) in treatment of juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (JRAAA).MethodsThe databases including the PubMed, Cochrane Library, CNKI, etc. were searched to collect the randomized controlled trails (RCTs) and non-RCTs about the F-EVAR versus Ch-EVAR for the JRAAA. The retrieval time was from inception to November 2019. The studies were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the data were extracted and the quality was evaluated by 2 reviewers independently. Then the meta-analysis was conducted using the RevMan 5.1 software.ResultsA total of 9 non-RCTs involving 536 patients were included, 315 of whom were in the F-EVAR group, 221 of whom were in the Ch-EVARF group. The results of meta-analysis showed that: Compared with the F-EVAR group, the Ch-EVAR group had a higher incidence of type Ⅰ endoleak [OR=0.31, 95%CI (0.12, 0.85), P=0.02] and a lower incidence of target organ injury [OR=2.96, 95%CI (1.30, 6.72), P=0.010]. But there were no differences in the technical success rate, vascular restenosis, re-intervention rate, and 30 d mortality between the 2 groups (P>0.05).ConclusionsBoth F-EVAR and Ch-EVAR are safe and effective treatments for JRAAA. F-EVAR has a relative low incidence of type Ⅰ endoleak, but a relatively high incidence of target organ damage. However, for the limitation of quantity and quality of the included studies, this conclusion still requires to be further proved by performing large scale and high quality RCTs. It suggests that doctors should choose a best therapy for patients with JRAAA according to an integrative disease assessment.
The treatment of aortic dissection has already shifted to endovascular strategies. However, with the evolution of this disease and a deeper understanding of it, experts from various countries have developed a series of innovative endovascular techniques and devices in areas such as lumen reconstruction, false lumen embolization, entry sealing, and branch arteries reconstruction, targeting the long-term complication of chronic post-dissection thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. The past few decades have seen that Chinese vascular surgeons have gradually emerged on the world stage and contributed multiple “Chinese solutions” for post-dissection thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. The author in this review intends to provide an overview of these techniques and devices mentioned above.