Objective Despite improved short-term outcomes, concerns remain regarding durability of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the ...pathology-specific incidence of secondary aortic interventions (SAI) after TEVAR and their impact on survival. Methods Retrospective review was performed of all TEVAR procedures and SAI at one institution from 2004-2011. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate survival. Results Of 585 patients, 72 (12%) required SAI at a median of 5.6 months (interquartile range, 1.4-14.2) with 22 (3.7%) requiring multiple SAI. SAI incidence differed significantly by pathology ( P = .002) acute dissection (21.3%), postsurgical (20.0%), chronic dissection (16.7%), degenerative aneurysm (10.8%), traumatic transection (8.1%), penetrating ulcer (1.5%), and other etiologies (14.8%). Most common indications after dissection were persistent false lumen flow and proximal/distal extension of disease. For degenerative aneurysms, SAI was performed primarily to treat type I/III endoleaks. SAI patients had a greater mean number of comorbidities ( P < .0005), stents placed ( P = .0002), and postoperative complications after the index TEVAR ( P < .0005) compared with those without SAI. Freedom from SAI at 1 and 5 years (95% confidence interval) was estimated to be 86% (82%-90%) and 68% (57%-76%), respectively. There were no differences in survival (95% confidence interval) between patients requiring SAI and those who did not SAI 1-year, 88% (77%-93%); 5-year, 51% (37%-63%); and no SAI 1-year, 82% (79%-85%); 5-year, 67% (62%-71%) (log-rank, P = .2). Conclusions SAI after TEVAR is not uncommon, particularly in patients with dissection, but does not affect long-term survival. Aortic pathology is the most important variable impacting survival and dictated need, timing, and mode of SAI. The varying incidence of SAI by indication underscores the need for diligent surveillance protocols that should be pathology-specific.
Background Complex aortic arch disease can be a formidable challenge and is often treated with a two-stage elephant trunk technique. We examined our experience with hybrid arch repair with combined ...zone 0 stent graft deployment. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of all patients who underwent type 2 hybrid arch replacement and zone 0 antegrade endovascular stent graft deployments at a single university center from June 2010 to August 2015. Results The review included 48 patients, 25 (52%) elective and 23 (48%) nonelective, with a mean ± SD age of 64 ± 11 years. Overall in-hospital mortality was 17% (8 of 48). Age exceeding 65 years (odds ratio, 9.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 36), preoperative international normalized ratio exceeding 1.3 (odds ratio, 14.2; 95% confidence interval, 2.1 to 95.87), and postoperative acute kidney injury (odds ratio, 5.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 29) were associated with in-hospital death. Postoperative stroke occurred in 3 patients (6%) and permanent paraplegia in 1 patient (2%). One (2%) patient underwent reoperation due to bleeding, and 6 patients (13%) experienced respiratory failure/reintubation. Acute kidney injury developed in 12 patients (25%), according to Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria, with 7 (14.6%) at stage 1 and 5 (10.4%) at stage 3. At the 1-year follow-up, type II endoleak developed in 2 of the 40 patients (5%), and 2 others required reoperation due to progression of chronic aortic dissection. Median follow-up time was 17 months (range, 1 to 63 months). The overall survival rate was 92% ± 0.04% at 6 months and 89% ± 0.05% at 1 and at 3 years. Conclusions Hybrid repair of complex aortic arch pathology with antegrade stent graft deployment can be performed safely with high technical success while obviating the need for a second operation. Reasonable midterm survival can be anticipated; however, older age, preoperative coagulopathy, and postoperative acute kidney injury are factors associated with poor outcome.
Background The Florida sleeve (FS) procedure was developed as a simplified approach for repair of functional type I aortic insufficiency secondary to aortic root aneurysm. We evaluated postoperative ...aortic valve function, long-term survival, and freedom from reoperation in Marfan syndrome patients who underwent the FS procedure at our center. Methods All Marfan syndrome patients undergoing FS procedure from May 2002 to December 2014 were included. Echocardiography assessment included left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), ejection fraction, and degree of aortic insufficiency (none = 0, minimal = 1, mild = 2, moderate = 3, severe = 4). Social Security Death Index and primary care physicians’ report were used for long-term follow-up. Results Thirty-seven Marfan syndrome patients, 21 (56.8%) men and 16 (43%) women with mean age of 35.08 ± 13.45 years underwent FL repair at our center. There was no in-hospital or 30-day death or stroke. Two patients required reoperation due to bleeding. Patients’ survival rate was 94% at 1 to 8 years. Freedom from reoperation was 100% at 8 years. Twenty-five patients had postoperative follow-up echocardiography at 1 week. Aortic insufficiency grade significantly decreased after the procedure (preoperative mean ± SD: 1.76 ± 1.2 versus 1-week postoperative mean ± SD: 0.48 ± 0.71, p < 0.001), and mean LVEDD decreased from 52.23 ± 5.29 mm to 47.53 ± 8.89 mm ( p = 0.086). Changes in LVESD (35.33 ± 9.97 mm to 36.58 ± 9.82 mm, p = 0.58) and ejection fraction (57.65% ± 6.22% to 55% ± 10.83%, p = 0.31) were not significant. Conclusions The FS procedure can be performed safely in Marfan syndrome patients with immediate improvement in aortic valve function. Long-term survival and freedom from reoperation rates are encouraging.
In many patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia requiring treatment, induction therapy with rituximab plus chemotherapy improves outcomes compared with chemotherapy alone. In this study we aimed ...to investigate the potential of rituximab maintenance therapy to prolong disease control in patients who respond to rituximab-containing induction regimens.
In this randomised, international, multicentre, open-label, phase 3 clinical trial, we enrolled patients who had achieved a complete response (CR), CR with incomplete bone marrow recovery (CRi), or partial response (PR) to first-line or second-line rituximab-containing chemoimmunotherapy and randomly assigned them in a 1:1 ratio (central block randomisation in the electronic case report form system) to either intravenous rituximab 375 mg/m(2) every 3 months, or observation alone, for 2 years. Stratification was by country, line of treatment, type of chemotherapy added to the rituximab backbone, and degree of remission following induction. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival. Efficacy analysis was done in the intention-to-treat population. This is the final, event-triggered analysis. Final analysis was triggered by the occurrence of 92 events. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01118234.
Between April 1, 2010, and Dec 23, 2013, 134 patients were randomised to rituximab and 129 to observation alone. Median observation times were 33·4 months (IQR 25·7-42·8) for the rituximab group and 34·0 months (25·4-41·9) for the observation group. Progression-free survival was significantly longer in the rituximab maintenance group (47·0 months, IQR 28·5-incalculable) than with observation alone (35·5 months, 95% CI 25·7-46·3; hazard ratio HR 0·50, 95% CI 0·33-0·75, p=0·00077). The incidence of grade 3-4 haematological toxicities other than neutropenia was similar in the two treatment groups. Grade 3-4 neutropenia occurred in 28 (21%) patients in the rituximab group and 14 (11%) patients in the observation group. Apart from neutropenia, the most common grade 3-4 adverse events were upper (five vs one 1% patient in the observation group) and lower (three 2% vs one 1%) respiratory tract infection, pneumonia (nine 7% vs two 2%), thrombopenia (four 3% vs four 3%), neoplasms (five 4% vs four 3%), and eye disorders (four 3% vs two 2%). The overall incidence of infections of all grades was higher among rituximab recipients (88 66% vs 65 50%).
Rituximab maintenance therapy prolongs progression-free survival in patients achieving at least a PR to induction with rituximab plus chemotherapy, and the treatment is well tolerated overall. Although it is associated with an increase in infections, there is no excess in infection mortality, suggesting that remission maintenance with rituximab is an effective and safe option in the management of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in early treatment phases.
Arbeitsgemeinschaft Medikamentöse Tumortherapie gemeinnützige GmbH (AGMT), Roche.
Background The aim of this study was to assess effectiveness, stability, position, and expansibility of an expansible aortic annuloplasty ring with computed tomography (CT). Methods Ten men (median ...age 51 years) scheduled for aortic root remodeling with implantation of external annuloplasty ring underwent contrast-enhanced CT of the aortic root preoperatively, postoperatively, and at a median of 21 months after operation. A reconstructed transverse double oblique view of the aortic base (AB) and of the new defined annuloplasty ring base (ARB; plane of the lower edge of the ring) in systole and diastole were obtained. The diameters, perimeter, and area were measured. In addition, the distances between AB and ARB in the nadir of each sinus were measured. Results We found 12% reduction of the postoperative AB and 19% of ARB perimeter in both systole ( p = 0.004, p < 0.001, respectively) and diastole ( p = 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively) compared with preoperative. There was 22% reduction of the postoperative AB area in systole and 24% in diastole ( p = 0.002, p = 0.001, respectively) and 33% reduction of the ARB area in systole and 32% in diastole ( p < 0.001 for both) compared with the preoperative period. Nearly all measured variables in the follow-up period showed a slight increase compared with the postoperative period; however, they did not reach statistical significance. The postoperative systolic-diastolic differences in the three measured variables at the level of AB and ARB were statistically significant and were maintained throughout the follow-up period. The base of the ring was implanted 2 ± 2 mm at the right, 0 ± 1 mm at the left above the AB, and 2 (−3 to 2) mm at the noncoronary nadir below the AB. Conclusions This study demonstrates imaging evidence of the effectiveness, stability, and pulsatility of the annuloplasty ring in aortic root remodeling in follow-up and describes the exact position of the ring at the base of the aortic root.
Objectives This study sought to evaluate the effect of catheter-based patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure on the occurrence of arterial bubbles after simulated dives. Background PFO is a risk factor ...of decompression sickness in divers due to paradoxical embolization of bubbles. To date, the effectiveness of catheter-based PFO closure in the reduction of arterial bubbles has not been demonstrated. Methods A total of 47 divers (age 35.4 ± 8.6 years, 81% men) with a PFO (PFO group) or treated with a catheter-based PFO closure (closure group) were enrolled in this case-controlled observational trial. All divers were examined after a simulated dive in a hyperbaric chamber: 34 divers (19 in the PFO group, 15 in the closure group) performed a dive to 18 m for 80 min, and 13 divers (8 in the PFO group, 5 in the closure group) performed a dive to 50 m for 20 min. Within 60 min after surfacing, the presence of venous and arterial bubbles was assessed by transthoracic echocardiography and transcranial color-coded sonography, respectively. Results After the 18-m dive, venous bubbles were detected in 74% of divers in the PFO group versus 80% in the closure group (p = 1.0), and arterial bubbles were detected in 32% versus 0%, respectively (p = 0.02). After the 50-m dive, venous bubbles were detected in 88% versus 100%, respectively (p = 1.0), and arterial bubbles were detected in 88% versus 0%, respectively (p < 0.01). Conclusions No difference was observed in the occurrence of venous bubbles between the PFO and closure groups, but the catheter-based PFO closure led to complete elimination of arterial bubbles after simulated dives. (Nitrogen Bubble Detection After Simulated Dives in Divers With PFO and After PFO Closure; NCT01854281 )
Abstract Background Atrial fibrillation (AF), with a prevalence of 1–2%, is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. Without antithrombotic treatment, the annual risk of a cardioembolic event is 5–6%. The ...source of a cardioembolic event is a thrombus, which is usually formed in the left atrial appendage (LAA). Prevention of cardioembolic events involves treatment with anticoagulant drugs: either vitamin K antagonists, or, recently, novel anticoagulants (NOAC). The other (non-pharmacologic) option for the prevention of a cardioembolic event involves interventional occlusion of the LAA. Objective To determine whether percutaneous LAA occlusion is non-inferior to treatment with NOAC in AF patients indicated for long-term systemic anti-coagulation. Study design The trial will be a prospective, multicenter, randomized non-inferiority trial comparing two treatment strategies in moderate to high risk AF patients (i.e. patients with history of significant bleeding, or history of cardiovascular event(s), or a with CHA2 DS2 VASc≥ 3 and HAS-BLED score≥ 2). Patients will be randomized into a percutaneous LAA occlusion (group A) or a NOAC treatment (group B) in a 1:1 ratio, the randomization was done using web-based randomization software. A total of 396 study participants (198 patients in each group) will be enrolled in the study. The primary endpoint will be the occurrence of any of the following events within 24 months following randomization: stroke or TIA (any type), systemic cardioembolic event, clinically significant bleeding, cardiovascular death, or a significant peri-procedural or device-related complications. Conclusion The PRAGUE-17 trial will determine if LAA occlusion is non-inferior to treatment with NOAC in moderate to high-risk AF patients.
Background Acute thromboembolic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is associated with high mortality. Recent advances in diagnostics and surgical techniques may affect outcome. Methods ...Through the Swedish Vascular Registry (Swedvasc), 121 open and 42 endovascular revascularizations of the SMA at 28 hospitals during 1999 to 2006 were identified. Patient medical records were retrieved, and survival was analyzed with multivariate Cox-regression analysis. Results The number of revascularizations of the SMA increased over time with 41 operations in 2006, compared to 10 in 1999. Endovascular approach increased sixfold by 2006 as compared to 1999. The endovascular group had thrombotic occlusion ( P < .001) and history of abdominal angina ( P = .042) more often, the open group had atrial fibrillation more frequently ( P = .031). All the patients in the endovascular group, but only 34% after open surgery, underwent completion control of the vascular reconstruction ( P < .001). Bowel resection ( P < .001) and short bowel syndrome (SBS; P = .009) occurred more frequently in the open group. SBS (hazard ratio HR, 2.6; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.3-5.0) and age (HR, 1.03/year; 95% CI, 1.00-1.06) were independently associated with increased long-term mortality. Thirty-day and 1-year mortality rates were 42% vs 28% ( P = .03) and 58% vs 39% ( P = .02), for open and endovascular surgery, respectively. Long-term survival after endovascular treatment was better than after open surgery (log-rank, P = .02). Conclusion The results after endovascular and open surgical revascularization of acute SMA occlusion were favorable, in particular among the endovascularly treated patients. Group differences need to be confirmed in a randomized trial.
Objective The safety and feasibility of fenestrated/branched endovascular repair of acute visceral aortic disease in high-risk patients is unknown. The purpose of this report is to describe our ...experience with surgeon-modified endovascular aneurysm repair (sm-EVAR) for the urgent or emergent treatment of pathology involving the branched segment of the aorta in patients deemed to have prohibitively high medical and/or anatomic risk for open repair. Methods A retrospective review was performed on all patients treated with sm-EVAR for acute indications. Planning was based on three-dimensional computed tomographic angiogram reconstructions and graft configurations included various combinations of branch, fenestration, or scallop modifications. Results Sixteen patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 68 ±10 years; 88% male) deemed high risk for open repair underwent urgent or emergent repair using sm-EVAR. Indications included degenerative suprarenal or thoracoabdominal aneurysm (six), presumed or known mycotic aneurysm (four), anastomotic pseudoaneurysm (three), false lumen rupture of type B dissection (two), and penetrating aortic ulceration (one). Nine (56%) had previous aortic surgery and all patients were either American Society of Anesthesiologists class IV (n = 9) or IV-E (n = 7). A total of 40 visceral vessels (celiac, 10; superior mesenteric artery, 10; right renal artery, 10; left renal artery, 10) were revascularized with a combination of fenestrations (33), directional graft branches (six), and graft scallops (one). Technical success was 94% (n = 15/16), with one open conversion. Median contrast use was 126 mL (range, 41-245) and fluoroscopy time was 70 minutes (range, 18-200). Endoleaks were identified intraoperatively in four patients (type II, n = 3; type IV, n = 1), but none have required remediation. Mean length of stay was 12 ± 15 days (median, 5.5; range, 3-59). Single complications occurred in five (31%) patients as follows: brachial sheath hematoma (one), stroke (one), ileus (one), respiratory failure (one), and renal failure (one). An additional patient experienced multiple complications including spinal cord ischemia (one) and multiorgan failure resulting in death (n = 1; in-hospital mortality, 6.3%). The majority of patients were discharged to home (63%; n = 10) or short-term rehabilitation units (25%; n = 4), while one patient required admission to a long-term acute care setting. There were no reinterventions at a median follow-up of 6.2 (range, 1-16.1) months. Postoperative computed tomographic angiogram was available for all patients and demonstrated 100% branch vessel patency, with one type III endoleak pending intervention. There were two late deaths at 1.4 and 13.4 months due to nonaortic-related pathology. Conclusions Urgent or emergent treatment of acute pathology involving the visceral aortic segment with fenestrated/branched endograft repair is feasible and safe in selected high-risk patients; however, the durability of these repairs is yet to be determined.
Troponin T in Acute Ischemic Stroke Král, Michal, MD; Šaňák, Daniel, MD, PhD; Veverka, Tomáš, MD ...
The American journal of cardiology,
07/2013, Letnik:
112, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Multiple interactions are considered to occur among the various forms of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the serum level profile of cardiac troponin T ...(cTnT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) to evaluate factors associated with increased serum levels of cTnT. Patients with AIS enrolled in this prospective observational study were admitted to the hospital <12 hours after stroke onset. At admission, and 4 hours later, all patients were subjected to neurologic examinations and brain computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging; standard laboratory tests, including cTnT and other cardiac markers; and repeated electrocardiography. Correlations between cTnT and several baseline parameters were tested, and multivariate regression analysis was used to assess the predictors of cTnT elevation. In total, 107 consecutive patients with AIS (65 men, mean age 67.2 ± 14.2 years) were enrolled. Thirty-nine patients (36.4%) presented with elevated cTnT above the upper limit of normal. The cTnT levels were correlated significantly with age (r = 0.448) and the levels of N-terminal pro–brain natriuretic peptide (r = 0.528), cystatin C (r = 0.457), creatine kinase-MB mass (r = 0.253), urea (r = 0.281), and albumin (r = −0.219). Multiple logistic regression analysis found creatinine >90 μmol/L (odds ratio 3.45, 95% confidence interval 1.09 to 10.85), N-terminal pro–brain natriuretic peptide (odds ratio 100 μg/L increase 1.09, 95% confidence interval 1.03 to 1.16), and creatine kinase-MB mass (odds ratio per 1 μg/L increase 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.04 to 2.04) were associated with cTnT elevation in patients with AIS. In conclusion, elevated cTnT can be frequently detected in patients with AIS. To reliably identify patients with current acute myocardial impairment, more in-depth clinical investigation is needed.
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