Aortic aneurysm and dissection are critical cardiovascular diseases that threaten human life and health seriously. No pharmacological treatment can effectively prevent disease progression. The imbalance of aortic wall cells and non-cellular components leads to structural or functional degeneration of the aorta, which is a prerequisite for disease occurrence. As the important non-cellular component, extracellular matrix (ECM) is crucial to maintain the aortic structure, function, and homeostasis. Abnormal production of elastin and collagen, destruction of cross-linking between elastic fibers and collagen fibers, and the imbalance of metalloproteinase and inhibitors leads to excessive degradation of ECM proteins, all of which have destroyed the structure and function of aorta. It will provide more ideas for disease prevention and treatment by learning ECM proteins and their metabolic mechanism. Here, we focus on the ECM proteins that have been reported to be involved in aortic aneurysm and dissection, and discuss the regulatory mechanism of metalloproteinase and inhibitors.
Objective To investigate pathogenesis and therapeutic prospect of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Methods Relevant literatures about pathogenesis and ways of treatment for AAA in recent years were reviewed. Results The formation of AAA are associated with heredity, anatomy, environment and biochemistry and other factors. All factors influence and interact with each other. The metabolic disequilibrium of aortic intermediate extracellular matrix plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AAA. The main reasons for the formation of AAA may be the increase of activity of matrix metalloproteinases and the disequilibrium of genetic expressions of elastin and collagen. The therapy of AAA includes surgical and medical treatment. The methods of medical treatment are still in the process of exploration and research. Conclusion The formation of AAA is a synergistical result of multiple factors, and medical treatment is an important supplement of surgical treatment.
Objective To explore the method of surgical treatment and endoluminal repairs of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)so as to improve the safety of surgical treatment. Methods The information of surgical treatment was analysed restrospectively in 195 cases of infrarenal AAA treated from January 1981 to December 2004. Of the patients, 155 were males, 40 were females with a mean age of 56.5 years. The diametersof the aneurysm were larger than 5 cm in 183 patients (93.8%) and 4 to 5 cm in12 patients (6.2%). Of the 175 patients who underwent selective operation, graft replacements were performed in 139 and endovascular aneurysmal repairs in 36. Twenty patients (10.3%) suffering from aneurysm rupture were given emergency operation. Results There were 6 deaths in the patients underdingselective operation(6/175, 4.3%) and in those undergoing emergengcy surgery (6/20, 30%) respectively within 30 days. The other patients were followed up from 1 month to 21 years ( 8.7 years on average), and there were 16 deaths (8.9%) during the follow-up. Nodeath was found in the endoluminal repaired group. Endoleak occurred in 8 patients, including 5 cases of type Ⅰand 3cases of type Ⅱ. After 6 months, CT scan showed that endoleak disappeared in 6 and rernained in 2. Late type Ⅱ endoleak occurred in 1 and endoleak disappearedafter endoluminal embolization. Conclusion With improvement of vascular surgical technique and development of endogafting, the safety of AAA both on surgicaland interventional means would be improved.
ObjectiveTo explore the progresses of diagnosis and treatment for endoleaks after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (EVAR). MethodsThe literatures on studying the classification, diagnosis and management, risk factor, and treatment for the endoleaks after EVAR were reviewed and analyzed. ResultsEndoleak was a common and particular complication after EVAR and its represented persistence meant failure of the EVAR treatment. Accurate detection and classification were essential for the proper management and the treatment method for the endoleak was determined by the different source. Type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ endoleak required urgent treatment， type Ⅱ and type Ⅴ were considered less urgently but may be observed continuously. A variety of techniques including extension endografts or cuff, balloon angioplasty, bare stents, and a combination of transvascular and direct sac puncture embolization techniques were allowed to treat the vast majority of these endoleaks. ConclusionsEndoleak after EVAR is still the main clinical problem to be solved. The characters of endoleak still are not fully revealed. The diagnosis and treatment remained equivocal, which requires further study.
ObjectiveTo summarize the current advancement of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) participating in formation of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and to find out the potential treatment strategy of AAA. MethodsRelevant literatures about PPARs and formation of AAA were reviewed. ResultsAAA involved inflammation of all the layers of aorta, and the formation of AAA needed many kinds of inflammatory cells and cytokines. Many researches in vitro or in vivo had shown that PPARs could reduce the expression of inflammatory cytokines, to reduce formation of AAA. However, PPARγ was also confirmed to participate in the formation of AAA and the mechanism might be the transformation of macrophage from type 1 macrophage (M1) to type 2 macrophage (M2). According to the existing studies, the assumption could be that PPARγ can suppress the inflammatory function of M1 to reduce formation of AAA at the initiating stage, and promote formation of AAA by inducing the transform of macrophage to M2 at the late stage. ConclusionPPARs may be a potential targeting point for the prevention of AAA. More studies are needed to show the feasibility and to decide the application timing.
Objective To discuss feasibility and effectivity of intraoperative ultrasound (US) during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Methods A radiographic contrast nephropathy patient of abdominal aortic aneurysm and left internal iliac artery aneurysm was treated by EVAR without iodine contrast media assisted by US. Then summarized the data of this patient. Results The precise placement of the stent-graft was performed for abdominal aortic aneurysm. The left internal iliac artery aneurysm was successfully treatment with the stent-graft and coils. Intraoperative Ⅱ type endoleak from inferior mesenteric artery and Ⅰ b type endoleak from right iliac stent were identified by using US. The operative duration was 120 min and the blood loss was only 20 mL. Ⅱ type endoleak was still detected and the Ⅰ b type of endoleak was loss on postoperative a week. Conclusion Intraoperative US-assisted EVAR in patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm represents a new option for intraoperative visualization of aortoiliac segments required as proximal or distal fixation zones and identification of endoleaks, especially in those patients with contraindications for usage of iodine-containing contrast agents.
ObjectiveTo discuss the risk factors of type Ⅱ endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair(EVAR). MethodsThe clinical data of 197 cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm who underwent EVAR in our hospital from Jan. 2006 to Mar. 2011 were analyzed retrospectively, and risk factors of type Ⅱ endoleak were explored by logistic regression. ResultsOf the 197 cases, 18 cases suffered from type Ⅱ endoleak. Result of logistic regression showed that the risk of type Ⅱ endoleak increased per 1 of the increase of lumbar artery number(OR=1.822, P=0.010) and per 1 mm of the increase of lumbar artery diameter(OR=1.256, P=0.040). All of the cases were followed up for 1-36 months(median value of 16.8 months). Only 1 case was intervened by inferior mesenteric artery embolism for the growth rate larger than 5 mm during half a year, who was not found growth of diameter after the embolism. The type Ⅱ endoleaks of other 17 cases closed ultimately or keeping stable. ConclusionsType Ⅱ endoleak after EVAR is affected by the number and diameter of lumbar artery. Persistent type Ⅱ endoleak without enlargement of diameter of aneurysm sac needs to beclosely followed-up instead of re-intervention.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of fast track surgery (FTS) on clinical parameters and postoperative complications in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). MethodFifty Patients with AAA treated in our hospital between December 2009 and May 2015 were enrolled in this study. Ten patients between December 2009 and December 2012 received conventional standard care (conventional group), while 50 between January 2013 and May 2015 received FTS (FTS group). The first exhaust time, the first time of off-bed activities, the duration of hospital stays, and the complications after AAA surgery were analyzed. ResultsThe first exhaust time of patients in the FTS group and conventional group was (2.5±0.9) and (4.0±1.1) days; the first time of off-bed activities was (2.9±1.0) and (4.1±0.9) days; and the duration of hospital stays was (13.5±2.1) and (17.9±2.8) days. All those differences were significant (P<0.05). The incidences of incision infection, renal inadequacy, lower limb swelling, and weakened gastric function in the FTS group were significantly lower than those in the conventional group (P<0.05). On the third day after surgery, C-reactive protein in the FTS and conventional group was respectively (57.5±9.0) and (65.0±13.1) mg/L, and interleukin-6 was respectively (10.2±3.9) and (15.5±5.1) pg/L, both of which were significantly different between the two groups (P<0.05). ConclusionsFast track surgery is effective and safe in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm, and it may lower trauma stress after surgery and incidence of postoperative complications.
Objective To summarize the efficacy of aortic arch 1 zone clamping technique in the procedure of ascending aortic aneurysm involving the proximal aortic arch. Methods The clinical data of patients with ascending aortic aneurysm involving the proximal aortic arch who underwent surgical treatment with aortic arch 1 zone clamping technique in our hospital from 2017 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsA total of 35 patients were enrolled, including 21 males and 14 females, with an average age of 63.9±10.8 years. According to different lesions, the proximal aorta underwent Bentall/Carbrol procedure in 8 patients, Wheat in 4 patients, David in 3 patients, and ascending aorta replacement in 20 patients. Distal lesions were completely resected under aortic arch 1 zone clamping technique, and anastomotic reconstruction was performed under hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. Distal anastomosis was performed with interrupted suture in 7 patients, and continuous suture with intermittent reinforcement of the posterior wall in 28 patients. All patients successfully completed the procedure. The average cardiopulmonary bypass time was 121.5±28.2 min, the aortic clamping time was 78.1±21.3 min, and the distal anastomosis time was 15.2±3.6 min. One patient underwent a second thoracotomy for hemostasis, and the remaining patients were drained 330.6±108.1 mL on the first day following the procedure. The postoperative mechanical ventilation time of 2 patients exceeded 24 hours, and the main complications were pulmonary infection in 1 patient and acute renal injury in 2 patients. Transient delirium occurred in 2 patients and no transient or permanent neurological dysfunction occurred. The average follow-up time was 2.6±1.1 years. The maximum diameter of the ascending aorta after operation was 30.4±0.9 mm, the diameter of zone 1 aortic arch was 39.8±3.1 mm, and the diameter of the distal aortic arch was 32.3±4.3 mm. There was no lesion in the artificial blood vessels of all patients, and no aneurysms occurred at the proximal or distal anastomosis. No reoperation or intervention was needed for the aorta. ConclusionThe aortic arch 1 zone clamping technique can simplify the procedure of ascending aortic aneurysm involving the proximal aortic arch, reduce or avoid the use of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, reduce the surgical trauma, and has good short-term and medium-term efficacy.
Objective To review and compare the literatures on studying endoleak via intra-sac pressure (Psac) measurement in order to reveal the characters of all types of endoleak. Methods Measured the intra-sac pressure with miscellaneous pressure transducers in vitro and in vivo endoleak models or patients afflicted with endoleak. Compared the difference of Psac among no endoleak and all types of endoleak. Results Psac＞0 but was obviously lower than Psys in no endoleak. Psac approached Psys in type Ⅰ and type Ⅳ endoleaks. Some researches showed that Psac in type Ⅱ endoleak was higher than that in no endoleak and even approached Psys, however the other researches showed that Psac in type Ⅱ endoleak was lower than that in no endoleak. Conclusion Postoperative Psac dropping greatly eliminated the risk of aneurysm rupture, which symbolized the success of endovascular therapy. Even if the type Ⅰ endoleak of small size might lead to obvious elevation of Psac, which necessitates management. The impairment and management tactics of type Ⅱ endoleak remained equivocal, which required further study.