ObjectiveTo explore the progresses of diagnosis and treatment for endoleaks after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (EVAR). MethodsThe literatures on studying the classification, diagnosis and management, risk factor, and treatment for the endoleaks after EVAR were reviewed and analyzed. ResultsEndoleak was a common and particular complication after EVAR and its represented persistence meant failure of the EVAR treatment. Accurate detection and classification were essential for the proper management and the treatment method for the endoleak was determined by the different source. Type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ endoleak required urgent treatment， type Ⅱ and type Ⅴ were considered less urgently but may be observed continuously. A variety of techniques including extension endografts or cuff, balloon angioplasty, bare stents, and a combination of transvascular and direct sac puncture embolization techniques were allowed to treat the vast majority of these endoleaks. ConclusionsEndoleak after EVAR is still the main clinical problem to be solved. The characters of endoleak still are not fully revealed. The diagnosis and treatment remained equivocal, which requires further study.
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 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 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.
ObjectiveTo summarize experience of surgical treatment of ascending aortic aneurysm and analyse related problems.MethodsOne hundred and fourteen (containing 62 cases had aortic dissection) consecutive cases underwent replacement of diseased ascending aorta alone (9 cases) or Bentall operation.ResultsThere were seven operative death (6.14%). The cardiac function, in six of them, was in class Ⅳ(NYHA) preoperatively. Follow up was completed in 107 patients, with a duration of 40±30 months. Eight patients succumbed due to intracranial hemorrhage (3 cases), rupture of abdominal aortic lesion (3 cases), cardiac failure after coronary artery bypass grafting (1 case), and sudden death of unknown cause (1 case),respectively. All 99 long term survivors (86.8%) were in NYHA class Ⅰor Ⅱ.ConclusionThe results indicate that Bentall operation for treating ascending aortic aneurysms and aortic insufficiency, or aortic replacement alone for treating ascending aortic aneurysm gives good functional recovery and an active life for the vast majority of survivors.
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.
Objective To discuss feasibility and effectivity of intraoperative ultrasound (US) during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Methods A radiographic contrast nephropathy patient of abdominal aortic aneurysm and left internal iliac artery aneurysm was treated by EVAR without iodine contrast media assisted by US. Then summarized the data of this patient. Results The precise placement of the stent-graft was performed for abdominal aortic aneurysm. The left internal iliac artery aneurysm was successfully treatment with the stent-graft and coils. Intraoperative Ⅱ type endoleak from inferior mesenteric artery and Ⅰ b type endoleak from right iliac stent were identified by using US. The operative duration was 120 min and the blood loss was only 20 mL. Ⅱ type endoleak was still detected and the Ⅰ b type of endoleak was loss on postoperative a week. Conclusion Intraoperative US-assisted EVAR in patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm represents a new option for intraoperative visualization of aortoiliac segments required as proximal or distal fixation zones and identification of endoleaks, especially in those patients with contraindications for usage of iodine-containing contrast agents.
Objective To explore the diagnosis and treatment for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm （RAAA）. Methods The clinical data of 20 patients with RAAA from January 2000 to December 2010 were analyzed retrospectively．Results There were 18 males and 2 females．The age was 31-82 years with an average 65.4 years．All the patients were abdominal pain and （or） back pain．Eleven cases had low blood pressure or shock．Seven cases had a history of abdominal aortic aneurysm．All the cases were accurately diagnosed by CTA，Doppler ultrasonography or operation．Nineteen cases were treated by conventional operation，1 by endovascular aortic repair．Survival of 16 cases recovered smoothly. Perioperative death occurred in 4 cases，mortality rate was 20% in 20 patients with RAAA．The causes of death included circulatory failure in 1 case and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in 3 cases．Conclusions Surgery treatment is an effective treatment for RAAA．Early diagnosis and urgent surgical repair are crucial to reduce the mortality of RAAA．
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.
ObjectiveTo summarize the diagnosis and treatment experience of one case of abdominal aortic aneurysm with iliac arteriovenous fistula.MethodsA case of abdominal aortic aneurysm with left iliac arteriovenous fistula admitted to Nanchong Central Hospital in December 2019 was retrospectively analyzed. The diagnosis and treatment of the patient and the MDT discussion results were summarized.ResultsThe clinical manifestations of this patient was refractory heart failure, and he received heart medicine treatment in Nanchong Center Hospital. The patient diagnosed as abdominal aortic aneurysm with left iliac arteriovenous fistula after computed tomography angiography (CTA), abdominal aorta lumen coated stents isolation (EVAR) during operation was performed after the MDT discussion. Postoperative imaging revealed a tumor cavity abdominal aortic aneurysm and left iliac arteriovenous fistula completely closed, then the heart failure symptoms of the patient was quickly relieved. The whole operation went smoothly, with a duration of about 120 min and intraoperative blood loss of about 100 mL. The patient was discharged from hospital on the 7th day after the operation. CTA and color doppler ultrasound were rechecked in 3 months after the operation, and the stent was found to have unobtrusional blood flow and no internal leakage, and the pseudoaneurysm of the left iliac artery disappeared.ConclusionsFor patients with refractory heart failure, if accompanied by lower limb swelling, the possibility of arteriovenous fistula of the great vessels should be taken into account, and the medical history and physical examination should be collected comprehensively, and necessary examinations should be carried out timely to avoid missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis. Meanwhile, compared with traditional surgery, EVAR is a more reliable, minimally invasive, and safe treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm with iliac arteriovenous fistula.