Early Clinical Outcomes of Hybrid Arch Frozen Elephant Trunk Repair With the Thoraflex Hybrid Graft.

Background: Hybrid aortic arch surgery has evolved to include several technical variations, with most including an off-label use of a conventional thoracic endograft. We describe the early clinical outcomes of the Thoraflex Hybrid graft (Vascutek, Glasgow, Scotland) specifically designed for the treatment of complex arch and proximal descending aortic disease.

Methods: Between January 2014 and April 2017, 40 consecutive patients (66 ± 14 years of age, 45% women) underwent hybrid aortic arch and frozen elephant trunk repair with the multibranched Thoraflex Hybrid graft at 9 Canadian centers.

Hybrid Arch Frozen Elephant Trunk for Persistent Endoleak After Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair.

Aneurysms of the distal aortic arch and proximal descending thoracic aorta remain challenging to treat. Whereas thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) with arch debranching has provided a more minimally invasive option for patients with such aneurysms, recurrent type Ia endoleaks can be difficult or impossible to treat with further endovascular intervention. We report the successful use of a hybrid arch and frozen elephant trunk graft for the treatment of a patient with a recurrent type Ia endoleak after TEVAR and arch debranching.

Dopamine-secreting pheochromocytomas: in search of a syndrome.

Pheochromocytomas rarely produce dopamine as the only catecholamine. Two cases are reported here, and a review of the literature was conducted. Unlike norepinephrine-and epinephrine-secreting tumors, dopamine-secreting pheochromocytomas lack a classic clinical presentation and are often asymptomatic.