TAArget versus EndoFit thoracic stent-grafts in thoracic endovascular aortic repair: a retrospective comparison of early and mid-term results in a single center.

Background: Aim of the study was to compare our early and mid-term results using EndoFit and TAArget thoracic stent-grafts in thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 169 consecutive TEVAR cases (69.1±8.

Endovascular repair of proximal para-anastomotic aneurysms after previous open abdominal aortic aneurysm reconstruction.

Objective: To evaluate the safety, efficacy and durability of endovascular repair for proximal para-anastomotic aneurysms after previous open abdominal aortic aneurysms prosthetic reconstruction and share our experience.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of all patients with previous open abdominal aortic aneurysms prosthetic reconstruction who underwent endovascular repair for proximal para-anastomotic aneurysms between May 2003 and January 2013 in our center (Nuremberg South Hospital). Key clinical outcomes included technical success rate, peri-operative morbidity and mortality, mid-term complications, reinterventions and open conversion rates.

Seventeen years' experience of late open surgical conversion after failed endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with 13 variant devices.

Purpose: To investigate the causes and results of late open surgical conversion (LOSC) after failed abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) and to summarize our 17 years' experience with 13 various endografts.

Methods: Retrospective data from August 1994 to January 2011 were analyzed at our center. The various devices' implant time, the types of devices, the rates and causes of LOSC, and the procedures and results of LOSC were analyzed and evaluated.

Endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms: indications and results.

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is an attractive alternative to open surgical approach in treating abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). In Nuerenberg in our 14-year experience of 1502 cases (ending December 2007) we used 13 different endografts. The median follow-up was 41 months (1.

Preliminary embolization of the hypogastric artery to expand the applicability of endovascular aneurysm repair.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of preliminary hypogastric artery (HA) embolization prior to endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all 101 consecutive patients (91 men; mean age 73.4 ± 8.

Collected world and single center experience with endovascular treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background: Case and single center reports have documented the feasibility and suggested the effectiveness of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (RAAAs), but the role and value of such treatment remain controversial.

Objective: To clarify these we examined a collected experience with use of EVAR for RAAA treatment from 49 centers.

Methods: Data were obtained by questionnaires from these centers, updated from 13 centers committed to EVAR treatment whenever possible and included treatment details from a single center and information on 1037 patients treated by EVAR and 763 patients treated by open repair (OR).

Techniques for precise thoracic endograft placement.

Precise endograft placement in the thoracic aorta is challenging due to the special local anatomy and unique hemodynamic blood flow. We are employing many techniques together to launch the endograft precisely to the target location: various debranching techniques to extend the proximal landing zone, magnified imaging with full exposition of the supra-arch branches and the proximal landing area to achieve a clear and accurate view, screen markers of the landing target for guidance of deployment, 1-2 cm proximally to the cranial landing marker before launching in case of any displacement, steady deployment of the endograft in hypotensive status or within the temporary heart asystole period induced by intravenous adenosine administration. If a balloon angioplasty or a proximal cuff is inevitable, the abovementioned techniques should be repeated.

Two-year single-center experience with thoracic endovascular aortic repair using the EndoFit thoracic stent-graft.

Purpose: To analyze our single-center experience of thoracic endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (TEVAR) using the EndoFit Thoracic Aortic Endograft.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of 87 consecutive patients (64 men; median age 67.8+/-8.

Experience with the Endologix Powerlink endograft in endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms with short and angulated necks.

Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) for anatomically suitable abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) has gained wide acceptance in the past decade, and EVAR for anatomically challenging or unsuitable AAAs such as short and angulated neck AAAs has become a hotly debated subject. The objective of this study is to summarize the unique experience of EVAR for short / angulated neck AAAs with Powerlink unibody bifurcated stent-graft. Data were retrospectively analyzed from 519 patients in our single unit from February 1999 to December 2007 who underwent EVAR using the Powerlink endograft, and had short or angulated necks.

Accumulation of immune cells and high expression of chemokines/chemokine receptors in the upstream shoulder of atherosclerotic carotid plaques.

The presence of immune cells is important for plaque destabilization. Disturbed flow conditions were shown to enhance the recruitment of circulating immune cells. Thus, we analyzed in 54 atherosclerotic carotid plaques the frequency of different immune cells, HLA-DR, chemokines, and chemokine receptors, comparing the upstream with the downstream plaque shoulder.

Decrease in circulating myeloid dendritic cell precursors in coronary artery disease.

Objectives: We analyzed the frequency of myeloid dendritic cell (mDC) and plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) precursors in blood of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and in atherosclerotic carotid plaques of patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD).

Background: Circulating DC precursors are reduced in several autoimmune diseases. Atherosclerosis has features of an autoimmune disease, such as the presence of autoantibodies or autoreactive T cells.

Aortocaval fistula after stent-graft repair.

Purpose: To report an aortocaval fistula after stent-graft repair and the feasibility of interventional treatment.

Case Report: A 78-year-old man with a 61-mm infrarenal aortic aneurysm (AA) was treated successfully with a Zenith bifurcated stent-graft. Three years later, the patient presented with deteriorating renal function and acute bronchial obstruction.

Connective tissue growth factor is overexpressed in complicated atherosclerotic plaques and induces mononuclear cell chemotaxis in vitro.

Objective: Atherosclerotic blood vessels overexpress connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) mRNA, but the role of CTGF in atherosclerosis remains controversial. To assess the hypothesis that CTGF is involved in atherosclerotic plaque progression, we investigated CTGF protein expression and distribution in the different types of plaque morphology.

Methods And Results: Serial cross-sections of 45 human carotid plaques were immunohistochemically analyzed for the presence of CTGF protein, neovascularization (von Willebrand factor), macrophages (CD68), and T cells (CD3).

Carotid plaque echolucency increases the risk of stroke in carotid stenting: the Imaging in Carotid Angioplasty and Risk of Stroke (ICAROS) study.

Background: Carotid artery stenting (CAS) has recently emerged as a potential alternative to carotid endarterectomy. Cerebral embolization is the most devastating complication of CAS, and the echogenicity of carotid plaque has been indicated as one of the risk factors involved. This is the first study to analyze the role of a computer-assisted highly reproducible index of echogenicity, namely the gray-scale median (GSM), on the risk of stroke during CAS.

Incidence of renal infarctions after endovascular AAA repair: relationship to infrarenal versus suprarenal fixation.

Purpose: To analyze the incidence and etiology of renal infarctions following endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair detected on computed tomography (CT) and determine any association with infrarenal versus suprarenal fixation.

Methods: Between August 1994 and October 2001, 663 patients (604 men; mean age 68.5 years, range 40-98) underwent endovascular AAA repair with predominately bifurcated (505, 77%) stent-grafts.

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm after endovascular repair.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to present the experience with aneurysm rupture after deployment of Guidant/EVT (Guidant) endografts and review previously reported cases with other devices.

Methods: Records from Guidant/EVT clinical trials and postmarket approval databases from February 1993 to August 2000 were analyzed to identify patients with rupture and to extract pertinent data. Previously reported cases were obtained with a Medline search.

Surgical conversion after endovascular grafting for abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Purpose: To analyze the indications, results, and technical problems associated with conversion after endoluminal repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) based on a 6-year experience in endovascular grafting.

Methods: From August 1994 to May 2000, 520 patients with AAA were deemed candidates for endovascular therapy based on data from contrast-enhanced computed tomography and aortography. Any conversions were performed using an open operation modified according to the indication for conversion, elapsed time from the endoluminal repair, and type of endograft (tube, bifurcated, infra-/suprarenal fixation).