Project description:Distal stent graft-induced new entry is not rare after frozen elephant trunk implantation. We report a case of covered frozen elephant trunk placement for prevention of distal stent graft-induced new entry. Coverage of the rigid distal stent edge using a graft reduces mechanical stress on the intima and radial force of the distal stent; therefore, this technique can potentially prevent distal stent graft-induced new entry.
Project description:BackgroundThe introduction of hybrid total arch replacement with the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique has improved the field of aortic surgery by allowing single-stage treatment of complex aortic pathologies. Although FET has been associated with favorable aortic remodeling, it is also associated with the potential development of distal stent graft-induced new entries (dSINEs). The aim of our review is to collect data about the incidence and the supposed conditions for the occurrence of dSINE after total hybrid arch replacement with FET technique.MethodsThe literature review was performed using PubMed databases from inception to January 2022. A descriptive approach to detect and display supposed risk factors and predictors for dSINE occurrence has been adopted.ResultsEight studies summarized the state-of-the-art of dSINE in a total number of 544 FET procedures performed to treat acute and chronic aortic dissections. The scoping review showed dSINEs occurrence in 69 patients (12.7%). The mean time between surgery and the diagnosis ranged from 12.6 to 30.6 months. Most patients that developed dSINE received endovascular treatment, whereas a couple of them needed open surgery. According to our experience, from January 2007 to December 2021, in 225 FET procedures a total of 54 cases of dSINE, both with Thoraflex and E-vita grafts have been detected. The mean time between the surgical procedure and the diagnosis was 27.2±33.6 months.ConclusionsdSINEs are frequent complications after FET. Although not emergent, they require proper treatment. Due to dSINE's asymptomatic nature and potential harm, a rigorous follow-up including angio-computed tomography (CT) should be planned.
Project description:ObjectivesDistal stent graft-induced new entry (dSINE), a new intimal tear at the distal edge of the frozen elephant trunk (FET), is a complication of FET. Preventive measures for dSINE have not yet been established. This study aimed to clarify the mechanisms underlying the development of dSINE by simulating the mechanical environment at the distal edge of the FET.MethodsThe stress field in the aortic wall after FET deployment was calculated using finite element analysis. Blood flow in the intraluminal space of the aorta and FET models was simulated using computational fluid dynamics. The simulations were conducted with various oversizing rates of FET ranging from 0 to 30% under the condition of FET with elastic recoil.ResultsThe elastic recoil of the FET, which caused its distal edge to push against the greater curvature of the aorta, induced a concentration of circumferential stress and increased wall shear stress (WSS) at the aorta. Elastic recoil also created a discontinuous notch on the lesser curvature of the aorta, causing flow stagnation. An increase in the oversizing rate of the FET widened the large circumferential stress area on the greater curvature and increases the maximum stress. Conversely, a decrease in the oversizing rate of the FET increased the WSS and widened the area with high WSS.ConclusionsCircumferential stress concentration due to an oversized FET and high WSS due to an undersized FET can cause a dSINE. The selection of smaller-sized FET alone might not prevent dSINE.
Project description:BackgroundChanges in stent graft (SG) orientation after frozen elephant trunk (FET) treatment for aortic arch aneurysms are not well understood. This study investigated changes in SG orientation and their effects on aortic events after FET for aortic arch aneurysms.MethodsThis study included 57 patients with true aneurysms who underwent elective total arch replacement using FET between 2016 and 2023. Postoperative SG angle, descending aortic (DA) diameter at the end of the SG, and the DA angle were measured retrospectively by using enhanced computed tomography (CT).ResultsMedian patient age was 74 years. The median stent size was 33 mm, and the stent length was 12 cm (range, 23-37 mm and 6-15 cm). Enhanced CT showed that all the patients had completely thrombosed aneurysms after the procedure. Aortic events (dissection or type Ib leaks) were observed in four patients during the follow-up period. The diameter of the DA at the end of the SG and the DA angle increased in recent periods (P=0.04 and P=0.01, respectively). The SG angle changed to an obtuse angle in the recent periods (P<0.0001). The probability of postoperative aortic events did not correlate with changes in SG orientation but with the ratio of recent postoperative descending diameter to preoperative descending diameter (P=0.04).ConclusionsThe descending aorta into which the SG was inserted showed flattening and widening movements owing to the spiring back force. One of the factors related to aortic events was dilation of the postoperative DA due to oversizing of the SG.
Project description:ObjectivesOur aim was to investigate the occurrence and clinical consequence of postoperative in-stent thrombus formation following the frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure.MethodsPostoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) scans of all 304 patients following the FET procedure between 04/2014 and 11/2021 were analysed retrospectively. Thrombus size and location were assessed in multiplanar reconstruction using IMPAX EE (Agfa HealthCare N.V., Morstel, Belgium) software. Patients' characteristics and clinical outcomes were evaluated between patients with and without thrombus formation.ResultsDuring the study period, we detected a new postoperative in-stent thrombus in 19 patients (6%). These patients were significantly older (p = 0.009), predominantly female (p = 0.002) and were more commonly treated for aortic aneurysms (p = 0.001). In 15 patients (79%), the thrombi were located in the distal half of the FET stent-graft. Thrombus size was 18.9 mm (first quartile: 12.1; third quartile: 33.2). Distal embolisation occurred in 4 patients (21%) causing one in-hospital death caused by severe visceral ischaemia. Therapeutic anticoagulation was initiated in all patients. Overstenting with a conventional stent-graft placed within the FET stent-graft was the treatment in 2 patients (11%). Outcomes were comparable both groups. Female sex (p = 0.005; OR: 4.289) and an aortic aneurysm (p = 0.023; OR: 5.198) were identified as significant predictors for thrombus development.ConclusionPostoperative new thrombus formation within the FET stent-graft is a new, rare, but clinically highly relevant event. The embolisation of these thrombi can result in dismal postoperative outcomes. More research is therefore required to better identify patients at risk and improve perioperative treatment.
Project description:BackgroundAim of this study was to report and to identify risk factors for distal aortic failure following aortic arch replacement via the frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure.MethodsOne hundred eighty-six consecutive patients underwent the FET procedure for acute and chronic aortic dissection. Our cohort was divided into patients with and without distal aortic failure. Distal aortic failure was defined as: (I) distal aortic reintervention, (II) aortic diameter dilatation to ≥ 6 cm or > 5 mm growth within 6 months, (III) development of a distal stent-graft-induced new entry (dSINE) and/or (IV) aortic-related death. Preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative and aortic morphological data were analyzed.ResultsDistal aortic failure occurred in 88 (47.3%) patients. Forty-six (24.7%) required a distal reintervention, aortic diameter dilatation was observed in 9 (4.8%) patients, a dSINE occurred in 22 (11.8%) patients and 11 (6.4%) suffered an aortic-related death. We found no difference in the number of communications between true and false lumen (p = 0.25) but there were significantly more communications between Ishimaru zone 6-8 in the distal aortic failure group (p = 0.01). The volume of the thoracic descending aorta measured preoperatively and postoperatively within 36 months afterward was significantly larger in patients suffering distal aortic failure (p < 0.001; p = 0.011). Acute aortic dissection (SHR 2.111; p = 0.007), preoperative maximum descending aortic diameter (SHR 1.029; p = 0.018) and preoperative maximum aortic diameter at the level of the diaphragm (SHR 1.041; p = 0.012) were identified as risk factors for distal aortic failure.ConclusionThe incidence and risk of distal aortic failure following the FET procedure is high. Especially those patients with more acute and more extensive aortic dissections or larger preoperative descending aortic diameters carry a substantially higher risk of developing distal aortic failure. The prospective of the FET technique as a single-step treatment for aortic dissection seems low and follow-up in dedicated aortic centers is therefore paramount.
Project description:Treatment of aortic arch aneurysms and dissections require highly complex surgical procedures with devastating complications and mortality rates. Currently, repair of the complete arch until the proximal descending thoracic aorta consists of a two-stage procedure, called elephant trunk (ET) technique, or a single stage a single-stage technique referred to as frozen elephant trunk (FET). There is conflicting evidence about the perioperative results of ET in comparison with FET. We carried out a meta-analysis to investigate possible differences in perioperative and early (up to 30 days) outcomes of ET vs. FET, particularly for mortality, spinal cord injury (SCI), stroke, and renal failure. We also performed a meta-regression to explore the effects of age and sex as possible cofactors. Twenty-one studies containing data from interventions conducted between 1997 and 2019 and published between 2008 and 2021 with 3153 patients (68.5% male) were included. ET was applied to 1,693 patients (53.7%) and FET to 1460 (46.3%). Overall mortality after ET was 250/1693 (14.8%) and after FET 116/1460 (7.9%). Relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were 1.37 [1.04 to 1.81], p = 0.027. There was no significant effect of age and sex. SCI occurrence after the second stage of ET was 45/1693 (2.7%) and after FET 70/1,460 patients (4.8%) RR 0.53 [0.35 to 0.81], p = 0.004. Age and sex were not associated with the risk of SCI. No significant differences were observed between ET and FET in the incidence of stroke and renal failure. Our results indicate that ET is associated with higher early mortality but lower incidence of SCI compared to FET. When studies published in the last 5 years were analyzed, no significant differences in mortality or SCI were found between ET and FET. This difference is attributed to a decrease in mortality after ET, as the mortality after FET did not change significantly over time.
Project description:We describe our technique for total aortic arch replacement with stenting of the descending thoracic aorta allowing normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass and avoiding hypothermic circulatory arrest.Supplementary informationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12055-023-01536-1.
Project description:ObjectiveTraditional total arch replacement with frozen elephant trunk requires 2 separate grafts in the descending thoracic aorta and arch, and frequently requires a graft-to-graft anastomosis, which is prone to bleeding. The Thoraflex (Terumo Aortic) device treats the arch and descending thoracic aorta in a single device but has not been compared directly to traditional total arch replacement with frozen elephant trunk and has not been studied in a real-world context in the United States.MethodsA consecutive sample of total arch replacement with frozen elephant trunk patients across 5 different institutions between January 2018 and January 2024, identified 438 patients of which 83 out of 438 (18.9%) had a Thoraflex device. Propensity score matching in a 1:2 ratio identified 166 well-matched controls. Groups were compared across perioperative outcomes.ResultsOne hundred forty out of 438 (32%) patients presented with acute type A dissection, 112 out of 438 (26%) had an aneurysm, and 87 out of 438 (20%) had chronic dissection with a previous proximal repair. One hundred thirty-two out of 438 (30%) underwent surgery on an emergency or emergency/salvage basis. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) crossclamp times in the Thoraflex and traditional matched groups were 71 (IQR, 48-105) and 82 (IQR, 62-123), respectively, (P = .012). Total circulatory arrest times were 19 minutes (IQR, 13-32 minutes) and 23 minutes (IQR, 17-37 minutes), respectively (P = .009). Total procedure times were 6.1 hours (IQR, 5.2-7.3 hours) and 6.8 hours (IQR, 5.7-8.2 hours), respectively (P = .012). The operative mortality, stroke, and paralysis rates were 11 out of 83 (13%), 16 out of 83 (19%), and 4 out of 83 (5%), respectively, in the Thoraflex group and were not significantly different than matched controls.ConclusionsThe Thoraflex hybrid device facilitates shorter crossclamp and circulatory arrest times for arch replacement, with similar observed mortality and stroke rates compared with matched controls.