Objective To study the diagnostic procedures and management of aortic stent graft infection. Methods Clinical data of 4 patients with aortic stent graft infection from 1998 to 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. Results Primary disease was thoracic endovascular aortic repair in 2 cases and endovascular aneurysm repair in another 2 cases. Constitutional symptoms and abscess information on imaging studies were presented in all patients. Salmonella choleraesuis was revealed in 2 cases. Surgical debridement, drainage and systematic antimicrobial therapies were given to 2 patients. The remaining 2 patients were managed with antimicrobial therapy only. During follow-up, there was no recurrence of infection. Conclusions Infection of aortic stent graft infection is a rare but potentially devastating complication. Radiologic studies can serve as important adjuncts in the diagnosis of endovascular graft infections. Several treatment options are available, some cases may be managed with conservative treatment.
ObjectiveTo summarize the mid-term follow-up results and postoperative aortic remodeling of treating blunt aortic injuries (BAI) with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).MethodsA retrospective study was conducted on BAI patients treated with TEVAR, who were admitted into the Department of Vascular Surgery in Zhongshan Hospital, Affiliated to Fudan University between September 2003 and December 2015. There were 15 males and 9 females at an average age of 45.6±14.0 years. The mechanism of BAI was mainly auto car crash. Totally 25 entry tears were detected and most of them were located at the aortic isthmus.ResultsTwenty-four BAI patients survived and eventually went through TEVAR. One patient died of pulmonary embolism 1 week post-TEVAR. Rate of technical success, clinical success and perioperative mortality was 100.0%, 95.8%, and 4.2%, respectively. Nineteen patients were followed up with a mean time of 35.1(13-87) months. All of them survived this period. Based on the follow-up imaging of CTA, 18 of them revealed no endoleak or stent migration, and 1 patient of transection still had perfusion of distal false lumen at the abdominal aorta. None of the aortic segments measured in this study showed expansion of ≥5 mm during follow-up. The aorta remodeled well in 94.7% of them.ConclusionTEVAR for treating BAI appears feasible with high rates of technical and clinical success rates. The mid-term follow-up results seems satisfying, but the long-term results are yet to be assessed with further follow-up.
ObjectiveTo analyze the causes and preventions of stent graft induced new entry (SINE) after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for Stanford type B dissection, particularly from the standpoint of biomechanical behavior of stent graft. MethodsSINE was defined as the new tear caused by the stent graft itself, excluding those arising from natural disease progression or any iatrogenic injury from the endovascular manipulation. Twentytwo patients with SINE were retrospectively collected and analyzed out of 650 cases undergoing TEVAR for type B dissection from August 2000 to June 2008 in our center. An additional case included was referred to our center in 14 months after TEVAR performed in another hospital. ResultsTotally, there were 24 SINEs found in 23 cases, including SINE at the proximal end in 15 cases, at the distal end in 7, and at both in 1, and 6 patients died. The incidence was 3.4% ( 22/650) in our hospital, and the mortality was 26.1% (6/23). All 16 proximal SINEs was located at the greater curve of the arch and caused retrograde type A dissection. All 8 distal SINEs occurred at the dissected flap, and 5 of them caused enlarging aneurysm while 3 remained stable. All 23 cases had the endograft placed across the distal aortic arch during the primary TEVAR. ConclusionsSINE is not rare following TEVAR for type B dissection, and associates with a high substantial mortality. The stress yielded by the endograft seems to play a predominant role in its occurrence. It is of significance to take the stressinduced injury into account during both design and placement of the endograft.