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J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2006;132:1030-1036
© 2006 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery

Surgery for Acquired Cardiovascular Disease

Midterm results of endovascular treatment of atherosclerotic aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta

Bertrand Marcheix, MDa, Camille Dambrin, MD, PhDa, Jean-Philippe Bolduc, MDb, Catherine Arnaud, MDc, Christophe Cron, MDa, Lucy Hollington, MDd, Antoine Mugniot, MDa, Philippe Soula, MDa, Mehdi Bennaceur, MDb, Valérie Chabbert, MDb, Pierre Massabuau, MDe, Philippe Otal, MDb, Alain Cérène, MDa, Hervé Rousseau, MD, PhDb,*

a Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Rangueil University Hospital, Toulouse, France
b Department of Radiology, Rangueil University Hospital, Toulouse, France
e Department of Cardiology, Rangueil University Hospital, Toulouse, France
c Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
d Department of Cardiology, Montauban General Hospital, Montauban, France.

Received for publication March 4, 2006; revisions received June 24, 2006; accepted for publication July 7, 2006.

* Address for reprints: Hervé Rousseau, MD, Radiology Department, Rangueil University Hospital, TSA 50032, 1 Avenue Jean Poulhès, 31059 Toulouse, Cedex 9, France. (Email: rousseau.h{at}chu-toulouse.fr).


   Abstract
Top
 Abstract
Introduction
 Patients and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Limitations of Our Study...
 Conclusions
 References
 
OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the midterm results of endovascular repair of atherosclerotic aneurysms of the thoracic descending aorta by using second-generation, commercially available stent grafts.

METHODS: Between 1996 and 2005, 45 patients (mean age, 68 ± 11 years) with aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta underwent endovascular repair. Aortic dissections, penetrating ulcers, and traumatisms were excluded. The mean follow-up was 24.7 ± 21.6 months (maximum, 6.7 years).

RESULTS: No patients died, and no conversion to surgical intervention was required during the procedures. Three (6.7%) patients died during the first month, and 6 (14.7%) died later on. The main complications were strokes (13.3%), vascular access complications (8.9%), aortic complications (6.6%), paraplegia (4.4%), and sudden deaths (4.4%). Nineteen (42%) primary endoleaks were encountered: 3 required reinterventions, 15 spontaneously thrombosed, and 1 patient died. Except for 2 sudden unexplained deaths, no aortic complications were observed after 1 month. Actuarial survival estimates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 87.6% ± 5.3%, 76.9% ± 7.4%, and 70.6% ± 9.2%, respectively. Actuarial freedom from death related to the treated aortic disease was 94.3% ± 4.0%, 94.3% ± 4.0%, and 86.4% ± 8.4% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Aspirin status of greater than 3 (P = .005), high aortic diameter (P = .007), and long covered lengths (P = .02) were determinant for mortality. Actuarial freedom from complication was 62.6% ± 7.7%, 58.9% ± 8.1%, and 58.9% ± 8.1% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The location of the aneurysm (P = .05) and a high aortic diameter (P = .04) were both determinants for endoleaks.

CONCLUSIONS: Stent grafting of atherosclerotic aneurysm of the thoracic descending aorta is safe and effective. Further studies are mandatory to determine the most relevant indications and the long-term efficacy of such treatment.


   Introduction
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
Patients and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Limitations of Our Study...
 Conclusions
 References
 
The second half of the 20th century produced significant advances in the management of patients with aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta, and traditional treatment consisted of open surgical graft replacement. Many open surgical techniques were described, but all are associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates, especially in elderly patients with severe comorbidities.1Go

The first stent-grafting procedure in the human thoracic aorta was allotted to Volodos and colleagues in 1991.2Go It quickly offered the promise of a new and less-invasive method of achieving aneurysm exclusion.3Go A restricted number of groups demonstrated technical feasibility with perioperative morbidity and mortality rates lower than those encountered after conventional surgical treatment.4-12Go Even so, the endovascular repair of aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta is less widespread than procedures carried out on the infrarenal aorta. The long-term results are thus not well known.

The objective of this study is to report the midterm results of endovascular repair of aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta with the exclusive use of second-generation stent grafts.


   Patients and Methods
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and Methods
Results
 Discussion
 Limitations of Our Study...
 Conclusions
 References
 
Patients
From February 1996 through September 2005, 45 consecutive patients with an average age of 68 ± 11 years (range, 47-81 years) were included in a monocentric, nonrandomized, prospective study approved by our hospital ethics committee. Informed consent was obtained from all patients or patient families. All patients presented with an atherosclerotic aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta. Chronic or acute aortic dissections, penetrating ulcers, and traumatic ruptures were excluded. The preoperative clinical characteristics are summarized in Table 1. Stent grafting was performed in all cases.


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  		TABLE 1. Preoperative clinical characteristics of the 45 patients with descending thoracic aortic aneurysms treated with endovascular stent grafts
 
Preoperative Imaging
All patients underwent spiral computed tomographic angiography scanning with 3-dimensional reconstruction before stent graft placement so as to determine the location, length, and diameter of the aneurysm and landing zones, as well as to evaluate the suitability of the iliac and femoral arteries for vascular access. The preoperative characteristics of the aortic lesions are summarized in Table 2.


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  		TABLE 2. Preoperative characteristics of the aortic aneurysms
 
Intravascular Device Details, Stent Graft Placement, and Postoperative Care
All intravascular devices used were covered stent grafts: 17 Excluder devices (W. L. Gore & Associates, Elkton, Md), 27 Talent devices (Medtronic, Inc, Minneapolis, Minn), and 1 Baxter device. Stent graft dimensions were oversized by 10% to 15% compared with the landing zone diameters and were at least 30 to 40 mm longer than the aortic lesion to be treated. All the patients received an intravenous bolus of heparin at the dose of 75 UI/kg. The patients were extubated immediately after the procedure and then supervised in the intensive care unit during the first 24 hours. Anticoagulation was maintained for 48 hours (preventive doses of low-weight heparin or calcic heparin according to the blood creatinin level) and then followed by aspirin (250 mg/d).

Follow-up
Follow up consisted of standard chest roentgenography, transesophageal echocardiography, and injected spiral scanner or magnetic resonance before discharge and on the 3rd, 6th, 12th, and 18th months. Standard chest roentgenography and injected spiral scanner or magnetic resonance were performed every subsequent year. One patient was lost from follow-up (2.2%). Mean follow-up was 24.7 ± 21.6 months (range, 6 months-6.7 years).

Definitions
The definitions used in this study are described in the literature.13Go Primary technical success was defined as a complete exclusion of the aneurysm without an additional procedure and without perioperative death or complication. Secondary technical success was defined as a complete exclusion of the aneurysm after an additional endovascular procedure or after spontaneous thrombosis of primary endoleak within the first month. Endoleak was defined as the angiographic, tomodensitometric, or echocardiographic description of blood flow apart from the stent graft. Endoleaks were then classified according to the literature.14,15Go Any perioperative deaths, any primary or secondary endoleaks, any failures of the endovascular device, any reinterventions, any deaths related to an aortic rupture, or any sudden unexplained late deaths were considered as failures of the treatment.

Statistical Analysis
All the statistical studies were carried out with the STATA program (Stata Corp, College Station, Tex). The continuous variables were expressed as means ± standard deviations.

The evaluation of actuarial survivals was carried out according to the Kaplan-Meier nonparametric method. The actuarial rates of survival were reported as 1 ± standard deviation.

The multivariate study was performed by using the log-rank test, and the factors analyzed as potential predictors of adverse events were the age and sex of the patient, aspirin status, comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, previous cerebrovascular accident, coronary disease, renal failure, and chronic pulmonary obstructive disease), emergency operation, location of the aneurysm, locations of the proximal and distal landing zones and their diameters, maximal diameter of the aneurysm, number of stent grafts used, covered length, and coverage of the T9-L1 intercostal arteries.


   Results
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and Methods
 Results
Discussion
 Limitations of Our Study...
 Conclusions
 References
 
Periprocedural Outcome
Briefly, all accesses were at the level of the underinguinal, iliofemoral junction. An average of 1.2 ± 0.5 stent grafts were used (from 1-3). The ostium of the left subclavian artery had to be covered in 6 (13.3%) patients. The T9-T11 portion of the distal part of the descending thoracic aorta was covered in 16 cases (35.5% of the patients). No deaths occurred, and no conversion to open surgical intervention was required during the procedures. One rupture of the external iliac artery was encountered and required an iliofemoral bypass, which was performed in the same operative period.

Early Outcome
Mortality
Three patients died during the 30 days after the procedure. The causes of the deaths were 2 pneumoniae (days 6 and 28) and 1 aortoesophageal fistula, which was a consequence of the aneurysm before stent grafting (day 30). The perioperative death rate was 6.7%. The death rate related to the treated aortic disease was 2.2%. The death rate at 30 days of the patients treated in emergency situations was 12.5%. It was 5.4% for the patients electively treated (P > .05).

Morbidity
In the first 30 days after the intervention, 20 complications were encountered in 15 patients. Five patients presented with vascular complications: 2 with ischemia of the left upper limb, 2 with pseudoaneurysms of the left brachial artery, and 1 with rupture of the iliac artery. Nine patients presented with neurological complications. Cerebrovascular accidents were encountered in 6 patients, and this was the main complication (13.3%). Of the 6 patients with their left subclavian artery covered, one patient presented with an ischemic left frontoparietal cerebrovascular accident. In all the other cases, the encephalic injuries were diffusely positioned intracerebrally and were also consistent with the manipulation of intravascular devices in an atherosclerotic aortic arch. Two (4.4%) patients presented with paraplegia, and one of them had delayed paraplegia caused by a rupture of an external iliac artery with collapse. One patient presented with a transient left recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, which was identified during postoperative fiberoptic laryngeal examination. Two patients presented with severe respiratory complications and died from pneumonia.

Endoleaks, aortic complications, and reinterventions
Nineteen (42.2%) primary endoleaks were encountered: thirteen (28.8%) type I endoleaks, 1 (2.2%) type II endoleak, and 5 (11.1%) type III endoleaks. The primary technical success rate was 58.8%. Two secondary endoleaks (1 type I and 1 type III) were observed, both within the first 30 days (4.4%).

Aortic complications occurred in 4 patients. These complications were always associated with primary or secondary endoleaks. One contained rupture was associated with a secondary type III endoleak (day 23; Figure 1, A and B). Three fistulae were associated with type I endoleak. One patient died on postoperative day 30 with a de novo aortobronchial fistula (primary type I endoleak). One aortoesophageal fistula (primary type I endoleak) and 1 aortobronchial fistula (secondary type I endoleak), which were both consequences of the aneurysm before stent grafting, recurred on postoperative days 9 and 31, respectively, and required reintervention.


Figure 1
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  		Figure 1. A and B, Spiral computed tomogram showing a rupture of the distal part of the descending thoracic aorta caused by a secondary type III endoleak 23 days after the procedure.

 
Four patients underwent endovascular reintervention during the first month (2 primary type I [days 9 and 29], 1 primary type III [day 21], and 1 secondary type III [day 23] endoleaks). Three patients underwent endovascular reintervention because of the persistence of type I primary endoleaks in 2 cases (days 37 and 47) and because of a secondary type I endoleak in 1 case (day 31). The other primary endoleaks spontaneously thrombosed after 1 month. The secondary success rate was 97.8%.

Shrinkage of the aneurysmal sac
During the first month, the aneurysmal diameter increased in 3 cases. In 2 cases the increase in diameter was transitory (5 and 10 mm) without detectable endoleak, and in 1 case an increase in diameter of 30 mm was observed. This latter case was associated with a primary type I endoleak in a patient with 2 major postoperative complications (cerebrovascular accident and renal insufficiency), thus preventing the performance of reintervention. The patient died on postoperative day 30, with no reintervention having been performed. In all the other cases, the aneurysms shrank. The mean shrinkage of the aneurysmal sac was 12.8 ± 10.3 mm at the end of the first month.

Midterm Outcome
No device failure, no migration, no kink or twist, and no secondary endoleak were observed beyond the 30th day after the procedure. No aortic reintervention was required after the second month. Six patients died beyond the 30th day after the procedure. The causes of the deaths were renal insufficiency 62 days after the procedure, digestive hemorrhage in a cirrhotic patient 1.1 years after the procedure, myocardial infarction 1.8 years after the procedure, and cerebrovascular accident 3.1 years after the procedure. Two patients died suddenly 1 and 1.6 years after the procedure without any obvious cause having been highlighted and without any autopsy having been performed.

Survival Analysis
Actuarial survival estimates 1, 3, and 5 years after the procedure were 87.6% ± 5.3%, 76.9% ± 7.4%, and 70.6% ± 9.2%, respectively (Figure 2, A). More specifically, actuarial freedom from death related to the treated aortic disease was 94.3% ± 4.0%, 94.3% ± 4.0%, and 86.4% ± 8.4% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively (Figure 2, B). Actuarial freedom from complication was 62.6% ± 7.7%, 58.9% ± 8.1%, and 58.9% ± 8.1% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively (Figure 2, C).


Figure 2
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  		Figure 2. A, Overall actuarial survival estimates. B, Actuarial freedom from aortic-related death (see text for definition). C, Actuarial freedom from complication. D, Actuarial freedom from aortic reintervention.

 
Actuarial freedom from treatment failure was 90.9% ± 6.1%, 84.8% ± 8.2%, and 84.8% ± 8.2% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Actuarial freedom from reintervention at 1, 3, and 5 years was 71.8% ± 6.9%. Actuarial freedom from aortic reintervention at 1, 3, and 5 years was 77.9% ± 6.5% (Figure 2, D). All the aortic reinterventions were performed during the first year.

Multivariate Analysis
We identified aspirin score equal to or greater than 3 (P = .005), high diameter of the aneurysms (P = .007), more than 1 stent graft deployed (P = .0001), and long covered lengths (P = .02) to portend a significantly higher likelihood of late death.

We identified the location of the aneurysm (P = .05) and a high diameter of the aneurysm (P = .04) to portend a significantly higher likelihood of secondary endoleak. We identified the location of the aneurysm (P = .01) and high diameter of the aneurysm (P = .04) to portend a significantly higher likelihood of treatment failure (P = .01).


   Discussion
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
Limitations of Our Study...
 Conclusions
 References
 
Even in large-volume centers, morbidity from elective open surgical repair is significant, with paraplegia and 30-day mortality rates, respectively, ranging from 3% to 15% and 3% to 12%.16,17Go Endovascular therapies are considered an evolutionary step toward less-invasive treatments for thoracic aortic diseases. The morbidity and mortality associated with the endovascular repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms seem to be less than those of conventional operative treatment, despite the fact that many patients were referred to endovascular treatment because of their high surgical risks.12Go However, in spite of recent advances, endovascular repair of aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta remains challenging. Moreover, very little is known about the long-term results of such procedures. Except for the series from Stanford dealing with the use of first-generation stent grafts in 103 patients, no more than 4 other series with an average follow-up exceeding 2 years are reported in the literature.12,18,19Go Most of the publications are a mix of different indications, making comparisons difficult. For these reasons, only atherosclerotic aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta were considered for this study, the goal of which was to determine the midterm results of endovascular repair in this indication by using second-generation, commercially produced thoracic stent grafts.

Although Dake and coworkers,20Go using homemade devices, reported 58% femoral access and up to 30% aortic approach, we were able to introduce the stent graft through an infrainguinal iliofemoral approach in all the cases. Nevertheless, rupture of the external iliac artery was encountered in 2 patients. In one case this rupture was associated with secondary paraplegia because of a hemodynamic collapse, thus underlining that these vascular complications might have severe consequences.

Accurate placement of the stent graft in the arch is one of the most challenging technical feats, and perioperative stent graft migration is reported to occur in 2% to 20% of cases.21,22Go We avoided this problem with lower blood pressure during deployment, and we did not convert any endovascular procedure to open surgical intervention, which is a major improvement compared with the 4% and 12% conversion rate, respectively, reported by Dake23Go and Greenberg and associates.7Go This can also probably be explained by the technical improvements of the devices used, allowing partial deployment and correct repositioning before complete dropping into place of the devices.

Early mortality is the most important criterion in appraising the results of thoracic aortic aneurysm treatment and in comparing endovascular repair with conventional open surgery. According to the literature, the 30-day mortality rates range between 0% and 15%.4,8,18,19,21,22,24-27Go We report a 30-day mortality rate of 6.6%. Two patients died of severe pneumonopathy (keep in mind that chronic pulmonary disease was the main comorbidity), and 1 patient presented with an aortic-related 30-day death.

Paraplegia is one of the most feared complications after repair of thoracic aneurysms. Although the endovascular repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms shows a promising reduction in operative morbidity compared with open surgery, the risk of spinal cord ischemia still exists. According to the literature, paraplegia occurs in 0% to 6.5% of cases.4,10,18,21,25,27-29Go Two (4.4%) of our patients presented with paraplegia, one immediately. The other patient presented with secondary paraplegia after delayed hemodynamic collapse. Despite appropriate medical treatment, including cerebrospinal fluid drainage, these patients did not recover from their deficit. Because of a limited number of events, we were unable to identify any risk factors for paraplegia.

As reported by other authors,4,10,18,21,25,27-29Go the main postoperative complication of endovascular repair of aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta was cerebrovascular accident (13.3%). Because the encephalic injuries were diffusely positioned, the occurrence of a cerebrovascular accident can easily be explained by the manipulation of wires and catheters in an atherosclerotic aortic arch. We try to minimize the risk of embolic stroke by limiting the manipulation within the aortic arch, particularly when severe atherosclerotic aortic arches are identified: we avoid handling the guides as much as possible at the level of the aortic valve and of the arch, a single guide wire is placed proximally to the aneurysm, we always maintain the rigid part of the guide wire upstream of the dropping device to decrease friction on the wall, and minimal progression of the undeployed stent graft is performed across the arch.

Primary endoleak rates are similar to those encountered in the infrarenal aorta (4.2% to 53%).23Go Forty-two percent of our patients experienced primary endoleak, identified at the end of the procedure by means of angiography, transesophageal echocardiography, or both. We observed type I (28.8%) and type III (11.1%) endoleaks and 1 type II endoleak related to an intercostal artery. Contrary to Greenberg and associates,7Go we do not conclude that the presence of a primary endoleak should always be treated aggressively because most of the primary type I endoleaks (7/13) spontaneously thrombosed during the first month. Of 13 primary type I endoleaks, 7 spontaneously healed during the first month, and 4 required reintervention with a good result. One patient with an aortoesophageal fistula died, and another with an increase of diameter died because of another complication preventing the performance of reintervention. In fact, numbers of type I endoleaks are minor (mostly when identified on transesophageal echocardiography) and spontaneously heal, provided that the choice of the diameter of the stent graft and its positioning are optimal. In these cases we are content to model the prosthesis with a balloon to achieve optimal proximal seal. In case of an evident error in the diameter or in the positioning of the device, it is necessary to consider the use of a proximal long extension with a higher diameter (and not a cuff, which would not present a sufficient overlapping). If the endoleak persists, even remotely, it would be necessary to perform reintervention. Two patients experienced secondary endoleaks, 1 type I and 1 type III, during the first postoperative 30 days. Concerning the secondary type I endoleak, the proximal neck was probably too short, whereas no technical failure was identified in the secondary type III endoleak. Both of the secondary endoleaks were associated with aortic complications. No secondary endoleak was observed beyond postoperative day 30.

Despite a longer follow-up time than most of the references in the literature, we did not observe any increased long-term complication rate. Six patients died, but only 2 deaths were potentially related to the treated aortic disease (2 unexplained sudden deaths).


   Limitations of Our Study and Current Prospects
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Limitations of Our Study...
Conclusions
 References
 
Our work was prospective but monocentric and not randomized. Moreover, the number of complicating events and the total number of patients in the study made statistical analysis challenging. In particular, we could not identify any factor influencing the occurrence of paraplegia or endoleak. The absence of late aortic complications is encouraging but might only be related to follow-up duration, which remains short. Longer follow-up remains necessary, and we cannot exclude the occurrence of more delayed complications because of the evolution of the aortic morphology.30Go Controlled studies comparing conventional surgery and endovascular repair in good surgical candidates and optimal medical treatment versus endovascular repair in bad surgical candidates would also be interesting. From a technical point of view, even if only very few consequences of primary endoleak were observed, we tend to reduce their occurrence rate through a more rigorous selection of the patients. This selection should not only be based on physiologic criteria but also on anatomic criteria. Moreover, we tend to choose longer proximal and distal landing zones, and we tend to perform more and more hybrid procedures associating extra-anatomic bypasses and endovascular repair.


   Conclusions
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Limitations of Our Study...
 Conclusions
References
 
Actually, short-term morbidity and mortality rates from endovascular treatment compare favorably with those from surgical intervention, and stent graft placement is proving to be a safe, minimally invasive, and effective treatment for atherosclerotic aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta. However, the incidence of early and late complications highlights current challenges and underlines the necessity of close follow-up. Taking into account the gravity of the natural evolution without medical treatment and the serious and invasive nature of surgical treatment, endovascular repair of aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta seems to have a central place among selected patients at high surgical risk. Nevertheless, equivalence or superiority of endovascular repair compared with conventional open surgical treatment for patients at low surgical risk has not been proved yet. The potential long-term risks of prosthetic degradation, migration, or surgical conversion remain unknown, as do their effects on survival. Further studies are still required to determine the most relevant indications and the long-term efficacy and durability of this innovative technique.


   Acknowledgments
 
We acknowledge the kind help of Mrs Barbara Hollington in the preparation of the revised version of this manuscript.


   References
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Limitations of Our Study...
 Conclusions
 References
 

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F. G. Bakaeen, J. S. Coselli, S. A. LeMaire, and J. Huh
Continued Aortic Aneurysmal Expansion After Thoracic Endovascular Stent-Grafting
Ann. Thorac. Surg., September 1, 2007; 84(3): 1007 - 1008.
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