Results of the North American Complex Abdominal Aortic Debranching (NACAAD) Registry.

Background: Hybrid debranching repair of pararenal and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms was initially designed as a better alternative to standard open repair, addressing the limitations of endovascular repair involving the visceral aorta. We reviewed the collective outcomes of hybrid debranching repairs using extra-anatomic, open surgical debranching of the renal-mesenteric arteries, followed by endovascular aortic stenting.

Methods: Data from patients who underwent hybrid repair in 14 North American institutions during 10 years were retrospectively reviewed.

Intermodality feature fusion combining unenhanced computed tomography and ferumoxytol-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography for patient-specific vascular mapping in renal impairment.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to establish the feasibility of fusing complementary, high-contrast features from unenhanced computed tomography (CT) and ferumoxytol-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (FE-MRA) for preprocedural vascular mapping in patients with renal impairment.

Methods: In this Institutional Review Board-approved and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant study, 15 consecutive patients underwent both FE-MRA and unenhanced CT scanning, and the complementary high-contrast features from both modalities were fused to form an integrated, multifeature image. Source images from CT and MRA were segmented and registered.

Infrarenal aortic repair with or without false lumen intentional placement of endografts for hybrid management of complex aortic dissection.

Objective: Aortic dissection (AD) often involves the infrarenal aorta. We review our experience with open infrarenal aortic repair with or without false lumen intentional placement (FLIP) of endografts in the proximal dissected aorta as part of a hybrid strategy to treat complex AD.

Methods: A prospectively maintained database of patients undergoing intervention for AD was reviewed.

Recognition and Surgical Techniques for Management of Nonrecurrent Laryngeal Nerve during Carotid Endarterectomy.

The presence of a nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve (NRLN) during carotid endarterectomy (CEA) may significantly limit the exposure of the surgical field during this operation. Although its reported incidence is rare, NRLN typically overlies the carotid bifurcation and failure to recognize this anatomic variation increases the risk of NRLN injury. A retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent CEA for hemodynamically significant extracranial carotid stenosis between January 2005 and December 2014 was performed.

Is heparin reversal required for the safe performance of percutaneous endovascular aortic aneurysm repair?

Background: Percutaneous endovascular aneurysm repair (PEVAR) can be performed with high technical success rates and low morbidity rates. Several peer-reviewed papers regarding PEVAR have routinely combined heparin reversal with protamine before sheath removal. The risks of protamine reversal are well documented and include cardiovascular collapse and anaphylaxis.

Prospective, multicenter experience with the Ventana Fenestrated System for juxtarenal and pararenal aortic aneurysm endovascular repair.

Objective: This study assessed preliminary results of the Ventana Fenestrated System (Endologix, Irvine, Calif) as an off-the-shelf integrated device for juxtarenal aortic aneurysm (JAA) or pararenal aortic aneurysm (PAA) endovascular repair.

Methods: From November 2010 to April 2012, seven centers enrolled 31 patients with JAAs or PAAs in an international clinical trial of the Ventana Fenestrated System. Clinical and laboratory evaluations were done predischarge and at 1 month, with continuing follow-up through 5 years.

Techniques for inferior vena cava resection and reconstruction for retroperitoneal tumor excision.

Management of the inferior vena cava (IVC) after resection for treatment of retroperitoneal sarcomas is controversial. Ligation is well tolerated if collateral circulation is preserved. These pathways, however, are often interrupted or resected during tumor excision, and up to 50% of these patients will experience lower extremity edema with IVC ligation.

Results of a double-barrel technique with commercially available devices for hypogastric preservation during aortoilac endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Objective: To assess technical feasibility and short-term outcome of a novel hypogastric preservation technique in patients with aortoiliac aneurysms using commercially available endografts without device modification.

Methods: Multi-institution review of prospectively acquired database of patients undergoing double-barrel endograft repair of aortoiliac aneurysms.

Results: Twenty-two patients underwent endovascular aneurysm repair for aortoiliac aneurysms from 2010 to 2011, with 23 double-barrel hypogastric preservation procedures successfully completed in 21 patients.

Technical modifications for endovascular infrarenal AAA repair for the angulated and dumbbell-shaped neck: the precuff Kilt technique.

Background: High risk surgical patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms and difficult infrarenal necks continue to be challenged when performing endovascular repair. Although fenestrated and branched endografts may ultimately be the main method of repair for these patients, their current limited availability has prompted the use of alternative endovascular techniques to enhance success of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair in patients with "dumbbell" shaped and angulated necks.

Methods: A retrospective review of all patients who underwent endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair with a predeployed aortic cuff (Kilt) at University of California, Los Angeles between January 2009 and April 2010 was performed.

Laparoscopic versus open celiac ganglionectomy in patients with median arcuate ligament syndrome.

Objective: Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is a rare disorder characterized by abdominal pain and compression of the celiac artery. Traditional management consists of open MAL division, with or without arterial reconstruction. We present our outcomes using a laparoscopic approach and compare them to patients treated with open MAL division during the same period.

Chronic mesenteric ischemia: how to select patients for invasive treatment.

Chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) remains a well-described disease process that is difficult to diagnose. Since its initial description more than a century ago, a myriad of diagnostic and treatment modalities have been applied to ameliorate the classic symptoms of postprandial abdominal pain and weight loss. It is estimated that mesenteric occlusive disease affects approximately 1% to 18% of the population, with a majority of these patients manifesting no symptoms of CMI.

Aneurysmectomy with arterial reconstruction of renal artery aneurysms in the endovascular era: a safe, effective treatment for both aneurysm and associated hypertension.

Background: Renal artery aneurysms (RAAs) represent a rare vascular pathology with an estimated incidence of <1%. Although an endovascular approach is being increasingly used to treat RAAs, we hypothesized that open surgical repair of RAA, specifically via aneurysmectomy with arterial reconstruction (AAR), is a safe, effective treatment, particularly for those with complex aneurysm anatomy.

Methods: A review was performed of all patients with RAA, identified by ICD-9 codes, from January 2003 to December 2008 seen at a tertiary care medical center.

Angled guidewire delivery of aortic endovascular prostheses for angulated landing zones.

We present a case of a 90-year-old male with suprarenal, infrarenal, and bilateral iliac aneurysms with significant interval enlargement treated with an endovascular graft. Due to severe infrarenal neck angulation, a type 1a endoleak was encountered, which was successfully treated with an aortic cuff. A novel technique of cuff deployment over an angled guidewire to accommodate the aortic angulation was used.

Proper evaluation and management of acute embolic versus thrombotic limb ischemia.

Acute limb ischemia is one of the most potentially devastating but treatable diseases faced by the vascular surgeon. It is crucial to identify the ischemic process early, as the outcomes of early intervention can lead to limb salvage, whereas late recognition places the patient at risk for limb loss and potential mortality. This article emphasizes the importance of properly evaluating the acutely ischemic extremity to ascertain whether the etiology is embolic or thrombotic.

Interposition grafts for difficult carotid artery reconstruction: a 17-year experience.

Carotid interposition grafts (CIP) for carotid artery revascularization can be a viable alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid artery stenting (CAS) for complex carotid disease. This is a retrospective review of the UCLA 17-year experience with CIP for carotid reconstruction. Carotid operations performed between 1988 and 2005 revealed 41 CIP procedures in 39 patients using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, n = 31) or reversed greater saphenous vein (Vein) (n = 10).

Technical strategies for recurrent carotid stenosis following angioplasty and stenting.

As the number of carotid angioplasty and stent procedures increases, vascular surgeons should anticipate the need for increased surgical correction for complications of stenting and, particularly, in-stent restenosis. This study reviews operative technique alternatives for hemodynamically significant recurrent carotid stenosis following angioplasty and stent placement. Four techniques have been used for repair of carotid in-stent restenosis.

Acute and chronic open conversion after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair: a 14-year review.

Objective: This study reviewed outcomes of patients requiring surgical conversion after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair.

Methods: Records for all patients undergoing open conversion after endovascular AAA repair were reviewed.

Results: From 1993 to 2006, 574 patients underwent endovascular repair for AAA.

Technical modifications in endoscopic vein harvest techniques facilitate their use in lower extremity limb salvage procedures.

Objective: We describe and report our results using endoscopic vein harvest (EVH) for lower extremity arterial bypass procedures, following the implementation of technical modifications specific to patients undergoing limb salvage procedures.

Methods: We underwent training in EVH, followed by implementation of the technique in patients requiring limb salvage for lower extremity ischemia and aneurysms. After technical modifications in the technique were developed for limb salvage, we reviewed our experience in all patients who underwent minimally invasive distal bypass with EVH.