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Aorta (Stamford) 2018 Dec 24;6(6):145-146. Epub 2019 Apr 24.

Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Tunis, Rabta Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.

Iatrogenic aortic dissection after cardiac surgery is a rare and serious complication, the management of which involves many therapeutic modalities and whose prognosis is associated with high rate of morbidity and mortality. The authors report the case of a 61-year-old man presented with aortocaval fistula and aortic dissection 5 years after aortic valve replacement. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Apr 19. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address:

Background: The purpose of this study was to redefine indications of open descending and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (D/TAAA) repair in the younger population.

Methods: Between 1991 and 2017, 2012 patients undergoing D/TAAA at our institution were divided into two groups for comparison: younger (<50-year-old, N=276, 14%) and older (≥50-year-old, N=1736, 86%). Patient demographics and perioperative outcomes were retrospectively reviewed. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Apr;98(16):e15306

Department of Orthopedic Surgery.

Rationale: The coexistence of a tuberculous aortic pseudoaneurysm and Pott disease in patients with a history of tuberculosis (TB) is relatively rare, and the treatment strategies remain still controversial.

Patient Concerns: A 57-year-old female patient with a history of primary pulmonary TB presented with symptoms of breathlessness, chest pain, weight loss, and fever. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) showed a thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm secondary to Pott disease at T11/12 level. Read More

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2019 Apr 21. Epub 2019 Apr 21.

Department of Surgery, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.

Objectives: Thoracic endovascular techniques for aneurysm repair offer less invasive alternatives to open strategies. Both approaches, however, are associated with the risk for neurological complications. Despite adjuncts to maintain spinal cord perfusion, ischaemia and paraplegia continue to occur during thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair. Read More

J Mol Cell Cardiol 2019 Apr 15;130:205-215. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department for the Treatment and Study of Cardiothoracic Diseases and Cardiothoracic Transplantation, IRCCS-ISMETT, Via Tricomi n.5, 90127 Palermo, Italy.

Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) can present an asymmetrical aortic dilatation compared with patients with tricuspid aortic valve (TAV). This pattern of aneurysm dilatation led us to hypothesize that biomechanical differences likely induced by regional heterogeneity of material properties can underlie the observed asymmetric enlargement discrepancies between BAV ATAA and TAV ATAA. This study aimed to characterize the mechanical properties and associated aortic tissue stiffness changes along the circumferential direction of aortic rings collected from surgically-repaired patients with ATAA. Read More

Angiol Sosud Khir 2019 ;25(1):169-174

Department of Aorta and Coronary Arteries Surgery, National Medical Research Centre named after Academician E.N. Meshalkin under the RF Ministry of Public Health, Novosibirsk, Russia.

Presented herein is the remote (more than 15-year follow up) result of successful surgical treatment of aortic coarctation complicated by septic aortitis and a false aneurysm of the anastomosis between the graft and the aortic arch. In 2002, after correction of aortic coarctation the woman was admitted to our Clinic with an incompetent proximal anastomosis and an infected aortic pseudoaneurysm. Taking into consideration the general and local septic process, repeat reconstruction of the thoracic aorta was impossible due to the risk for generalization of the infectious process and fatal complications. Read More

Angiol Sosud Khir 2019 ;25(1):164-167

Research Department of Vascular and Interventional Surgery, Research Laboratory of Vascular and Hybrid Surgery, National Medical Research Centre named after V.A. Almazov under the RF Ministry of Public Health, Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Presented in the article is a clinical case report regarding hybrid surgical management of a saccular aneurysm of the aortic arch: simultaneous right-left-carotid-left-subclavian bypass grafting and endovascular isolation of the aneurysm. Taking into consideration the findings of multislice computed tomography-aortography (MSCT aortography) prior to surgery, the anatomical location of the aneurysm with the involvement of the ostium of the left subclavian artery, close location of the proximal branches of the aortic arch at an acute angle relative to each other required performing simultaneous debranching in order to enlarge the proximal zone of fixation of a stent graft at the level of the brachiocephalic trunk (BCT). The postoperative period proved uneventful, with as rapid rehabilitation as possible. Read More

Pathog Immun 2019 15;4(1):105-123. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Genomic Medicine Institute; Lerner Research Institute; Cleveland Clinic; Cleveland, Ohio.

Objective: We sought to characterize microbiomes of thoracic aortas from patients with non-infectious aortitis due to giant cell arteritis (GCA) and clinically isolated aortitis (CIA) and to compare them to non-inflammatory aorta aneurysm controls. We also compared microbiomes from concurrently processed and separately reported temporal arteries (TA) and aortas.

Methods: From 220 prospectively enrolled patients undergoing surgery for thoracic aorta aneurysm, 49 were selected. Read More

Clin Sci (Lond) 2019 Apr 2;133(7):805-819. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Università degli Studi della Campania 'L. Vanvitelli', Naples, Italy.

Autophagy is a conserved process by which cytoplasmatic elements are sequestered in vesicles and degraded after their fusion with lysosomes, thus recycling the precursor molecules. The autophagy-mediated removal of redundant/harmful/damaged organelles and biomolecules plays not only a replenishing function, but protects against stressful conditions through an adaptive mechanism. Autophagy, known to play a role in several pathological conditions, is now gaining increasing attention also in the perspective of the identification of the pathogenetic mechanisms at the basis of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), a localized or diffused dilatation of the aorta with an abnormal widening greater than 50 percent of the vessel's normal diameter. Read More

J Cell Biochem 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Vascular Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China.

The main aim of our study was to investigate the roles and molecular basis of long noncoding RNA myocardial infarction associated transcript (MIAT) in the development of thoracic aortic aneurysm. RT-qPCR assay was performed to measure the expressions of MIAT, microRNA-145 (miR-145), along with Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl messenger RNAs. Western blot assay was conducted to determine protein levels of Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt), and total Akt (t-Akt). Read More

Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019 Apr 10. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). Electronic address:

Background: The management of the aortic arch aneurysm is becoming increasingly complex and multidisciplinary. It has evolved since the first successful repair by DeBakey and colleagues in 1957. After these initial repairs, the improvement in open surgical techniques, cardiopulmonary bypass, anesthesia, and perioperative care were the primary drivers of the decrease in morbidity and mortality associated with repair. Read More

Can J Neurol Sci 2019 Apr 12:1-2. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

From theDepartment of Radiology,University of Michigan,Ann Arbor, Michigan,USA.

A specific mutation (Arg179) of the ACTA2 gene has previously been described to cause a syndrome of multisystemic smooth muscle dysfunction with an extremely characteristic cerebrovascular appearance.1 Accurate neuroimaging diagnosis of this entity is important as this syndrome predisposes to complications such as early-onset ischemic stroke and ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm.2,3 The following case demonstrates a previously undescribed ACTA2 mutation (Met46) with an identical cerebrovascular imaging appearance to that of Arg179 mutations, but a less severe overall phenotype. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2019 Apr;8(8):e010885

3 Division of Cardiology University of Ottawa Heart Institute Ottawa Ontario Canada.

Background Bicuspid aortic valve ( BAV ) is the most common congenital cardiac abnormality. A thoracic aortic aneurysm ( TAA ) is present in ≈50% of BAV patients, who also have an 8-fold higher risk of aortic dissection than the general population. Because the health of the aorta is directly reflected in its stiffness and pulsatile hemodynamics, we hypothesized that measures of aortic stiffness and arterial load would be associated with TAA growth in BAV . Read More

Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Objective: Whether mild to moderate and moderate aortic regurgitation should be corrected surgically during other cardiovascular surgeries remains controversial. We evaluated the effectiveness of external suture annuloplasty in such cases.

Methods: Among 95 patients undergoing aortic valve repair between December 2013 and March 2018, five patients with mild to moderate and moderate aortic regurgitation due to aortic annulus dilatation (type Ic lesion) underwent surgery for mitral regurgitation and/or thoracic aortic aneurysm. Read More

Ann Biomed Eng 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a vascular disease characterized by the enlargement of the infrarenal segment of the aorta. A ruptured AAA can cause internal bleeding and carries a high mortality rate, which is why the clinical management of the disease is focused on preventing aneurysm rupture. AAA rupture risk is estimated by the change in maximum diameter over time (i. Read More

Hum Genet 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.

Rare heterozygous variants in SMAD6 have been identified as a significant genetic contributor to bicuspid aortic valve-associated thoracic aortic aneurysm on one hand and non-syndromic midline craniosynostosis on the other. In this study, we report two individuals with biallelic missense variants in SMAD6 and a complex cardiac phenotype. Trio exome sequencing in Proband 1, a male who had aortic isthmus stenosis, revealed the homozygous SMAD6 variant p. Read More

Yonago Acta Med 2019 Mar 28;62(1):24-29. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

||Division of Organ Regeneration Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago 683-8504, Japan.

Background: Left subclavian artery (LSA) embolization is occasionally required to prevent type II endoleak in the thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) procedure. This is a retrospective study comparing compressed Amplatzer Vascular Plug II embolization (CAE) and conventional coil embolization (CCE) in preventing retrograde flow into the aneurysmal sac through the LSA after TEVAR.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who underwent CAE or CCE of the LSA during TEVAR from June 2013 to March 2016 in our hospital. Read More

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019 Feb 27. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany. Electronic address:

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Aortic Center Hamburg, University Heart Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.

Objectives: This study aims to analyse the impact of a simplified frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique on early outcome.

Methods: Between October 2010 and August 2018, 92 consecutive patients (mean age 64.4 ± 12. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2019 Apr;8(8):e011671

2 Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery Baylor College of Medicine Houston TX.

Background Thoracic aortic aneurysm ( TAA ) and dissection ( TAD ) are characterized by progressive disorganization of the aortic wall matrix, including elastin, a highly immunogenic molecule. Whether acquired autoimmune responses can be detected in TAA / TAD patients who are smokers is unknown. The objectives of this study were to determine whether TAA / TAD smokers have increased T-cell responses to human elastin fragments, and to determine whether autoimmune responses in TAA / TAD smokers are dependent on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Read More

Ann Vasc Surg 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan.

Objective: Perioperative stroke is a major complication after debranching thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), with a reported incidence of 7.0% to 26.9%. Read More

Panminerva Med 2019 Apr 3. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Department of Thoracic Surgery/Huiqiao Medical Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China -

Int J Stroke 2019 Apr 2:1747493019840944. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

1 Department of Neurology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien.

Background: Aneurysm of proximal thoracic aorta (pTAA) is an often indolent, yet fatal disease. Although advancements in aneurysmal repair techniques have increased long-term survival rates, studies have proven that there are increases in perioperative risk for stroke incidence after pTAA surgery. Conversely, there is little evidence regarding the long-term stroke incidence in pTAA individuals, which strongly influences the morbidity, mortality, and usage of antithrombotic agents. Read More

Int Angiol 2019 Apr 1. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Departament of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine of Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Introduction: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has been increasingly adopted in the treatment of intact thoracic aorta aneurysms (iTAA), offering a less invasive approach with good effectiveness. Women usually present with smaller aorta's, while having greater aneurysm growth rates. How sex can affect mortality and re- interventions after TEVAR for iTAA is the aim of this review. Read More

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2019 Apr 1. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Cardiac Surgery Unit, Cardio-Thoracic-Vascular Department, S. Orsola Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

Objectives: We compared the results of 2 groups of patients who underwent aortic arch replacement with the frozen elephant trunk technique. In the first group, the distal anastomosis was performed in arch zone 2; in the second control group, the distal anastomosis was performed in arch zone 3.

Methods: Between January 2007 and April 2018, the frozen elephant trunk technique was used in 282 patients. Read More

Ann Vasc Dis 2019 Mar;12(1):105-108

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Chiba Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Ichihara, Chiba, Japan.

The authors report a 71-year-old male with descending thoracic aortic aneurysm and multiple risk factors (aortoiliac occlusive disease, obesity, ascending aorta dilatation, and history of left ventriculoperitoneal shunt for hydrocephalus) who was treated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) via left common carotid artery (LCCA) access and left axillary-carotid artery (Ax-CA) bypass; this approach shortened the LCCA clamp time during the procedure. The patient was discharged without any complications. TEVAR via LCCA access with left Ax-CA bypass is a useful and safe procedure for patients in whom conventional femoral artery access is not feasible. Read More

Ann Vasc Dis 2019 Mar;12(1):91-94

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan.

The patient had an infected abdominal aortic aneurysm. Aneurysmectomy and in situ reconstruction of the abdominal aorta using the bilateral superficial femoral veins with omentopexy were performed. On postoperative day 18, hematemesis and melena occurred. Read More

Ann Vasc Dis 2019 Mar;12(1):69-73

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Ise Red Cross Hospital, Ise, Mie, Japan.

Treating mycotic aortic aneurysm with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) remains controversial because of sustained infection post-treatment. In this study, an 83-year-old man, who had a ruptured mycotic thoracic aortic aneurysm, underwent salvage TEVAR. However, because an abscess appeared in the aneurysm on follow-up computed tomography, video-assisted thoracoscopic debridement (VATD) followed by continuous drainage was performed next and was successful in eliminating the infection from the abscess. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Mar 28. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Imaging, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Introduction: Radiculo-medullary arteries aneurysms are rare, with only few cases previously reported.

Case Report: We report the case of a 54-year-old woman with sudden onset of upper thoracic back pain. MRI/MRA of the spine showed a cervico-thoraco-lumbar hematoma, with no evidence of underlying vascular malformations. Read More

Kyobu Geka 2019 Mar;72(3):173-177

Department of Endovascular Surgery, Tokushima Red Cross Hospital, Komatsushima,Japan.

We experienced 2 cases with distal stentgraft-induced new entry (distal SINE) after thoracic endovascular aortic repair( TEVAR) for type B aortic dissection and 1 case after total arch replacement and frozen elephant trunk method for type A dissection. We successfully performed additional TEVAR in all cases. If the stent graft is bent at deployment, distal SINE may occur on the great curvature side of the aorta by the spring back force. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Mar 25. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University.

Pediatric thoracic aortic aneurysms are very rare, and almost all patients with such aneurysms have inflammatory or connective tissue diseases. We describe a case involving 10-year-old girl who had an arch and descending thoracic aortic aneurysm. Preoperative F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography showed an inflammatory lesion corresponding to the aneurysm's location. Read More

J Vasc Surg 2019 Mar 25. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Arnaud de Villeneuve Hospital, Montpellier, France.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the outcomes of physician-modified double fenestrated stent grafts for total endovascular aortic arch repair: one proximal large fenestration for the brachiocephalic trunk and the left common carotid artery and one distal fenestration for the left subclavian artery (LSA).

Methods: From January 2017 through February 2018, 17 patients (88.2% elective) underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) with double homemade fenestrated stent graft for total endovascular aortic arch repair to maintain supra-aortic trunk patency. Read More

BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2019 Mar 29;19(1):72. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Tumor Etiology and Screening Department of Cancer Institute and General Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, No.155 Nanjing Bei Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China, 110001.

Background: A cross-talk between Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) plays a vital role in aortic pathophysiology. The objective of this study was to evaluate the interactions between TLR4 and MMP9 polymorphisms in the risk of aortic aneurysm (AA) and its subtypes.

Methods: KASP method was used to detect polymorphisms of TLR4 (rs11536889 and rs1927914) and MMP9 (rs17576) in 472 AA patients and 498 controls. Read More

J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) 2019 May;20(5):290-296

Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin.

Aim: An underlying atrial vulnerability or a preexisting misdiagnosed atrial fibrillation in some patients who are candidates for patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure may lead to an unnecessary percutaneous intervention. The aim of this work was to define paroxysmal atrial fibrillation rate, through a 6-month insertable loop-recorder monitoring, in patients over 55 years old with cryptogenic stroke and PFO.

Methods: PFO closure criteria: significant right-to-left shunt and at least one high-risk feature (permanent right-to-left shunt, atrial septal aneurysm, prominent Eustachian valve, recurrent brain ischemia, previous deep vein thrombosis, thrombophilia). Read More

Br J Surg 2019 Mar 27. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Elitary Research Centre of Individualized Medicine in Arterial Disease (CIMA), Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.

Background: The challenge of managing age-related diseases is increasing; routine checks by the general practitioner do not reduce cardiovascular mortality. The aim here was to reduce cardiovascular mortality by advanced population-based cardiovascular screening. The present article reports the organization of the study, the acceptability of the screening offer, and the relevance of multifaceted screening for prevention and management of cardiovascular disease. Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2018 4;31:10. Epub 2018 Sep 4.

Programme PAC-CI, site ANRS de Côte d'Ivoire, CHU de Treichville, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

We here report the case of a 35-year old man with HIV-1 but with no previous medical-surgical history hospitalized in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, due to fever, cough, dyspnea, chest pain and unfolding of the aortic arch observed on chest x-ray a week after having started antiretroviral therapy (ART). CT angiography of the thoracic aorta showed overall, extended aortic ectasia with mural thrombus. Transesophageal echocardiography objectified type A ascending aortic dissection (Stanford classification). Read More

J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino) 2019 Mar 22. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium -

Background: Concomitant malignant disease and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) represent a challenging issue in terms of treatment priority, timing and perspectives. This narrative review provides an overview of the available literature managing AAA and concomitant malignant disease.

Methods: We conducted a literature search of all the English-language medical literature in Medline (through PubMed), Embase, Clinical Trial databases and the Cochrane Library up to December 31st, 2018. Read More

Braz J Cardiovasc Surg 2019 Mar-Apr;34(2):233-236

Departments of Anesthesiology, Istanbul Mehmet Akif Ersoy Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are an important technological development for patients with end-stage heart failure, and approximately 50% of these patients require various additional cardiac procedures. Here we presente the case of a patient suffering from severe aortic insufficiency, aortic root dilatation, and an ascending aortic aneurysm with end-stage decompensated heart failure. We performed the Bentall procedure combined with a left VAD implantation during the same session. Read More

Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2019 Mar 22. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Department of Vascular Surgery, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address:

Objective: The purpose of this multicentre study was to analyse the outcome of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in patients with ruptured descending thoracic aortic aneurysm (rDTAA).

Methods: This is a nationwide retrospective study including all patients who underwent TEVAR for rDTAA at six major vascular university centres in Sweden between January 2000 and December 2015. Outcome measures were analysed using Kaplan-Meier estimator and multivariable Cox regression. Read More

J Vasc Interv Radiol 2019 Apr;30(4):539-545

Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire (C3M), Université Côte d'Azur, CHU, Inserm, Nice, France.

Purpose: To evaluate impact of polar renal artery coverage on early renal function after chimney endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Materials And Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent chimney EVAR for treatment of asymptomatic juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm were retrospectively included. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was recorded before the intervention and at 1-, 5-, 7-, and 30-day follow-up. Read More

J Vis Exp 2019 Mar 8(145). Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Kentucky; Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky;

Contemporary high-resolution ultrasound instruments have sufficient resolution to facilitate the measurement of mouse aortas. These instruments have been widely used to measure aortic dimensions in mouse models of aortic aneurysms. Aortic aneurysms are defined as permanent dilations of the aorta, which occur most frequently in the ascending and abdominal regions. Read More

Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019 May 21;512(3):498-504. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Department of Vascular Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, 100044, China. Electronic address:

Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is fatal diseases, which leads to aortic rupture and sudden death. Blood pressure-lowering drugs are ineffective for most of the patients. Our previous study demonstrated the inhibition of endothelial secreted miR-126-3p by rapamycin ameliorate the aneurysmal phenotype of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in vitro. Read More

J Card Surg 2019 Mar 21. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Aortic Institute at Yale-New Haven Hospital, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.

Background: The fate of the spared bicuspid aortic valve in patients undergoing ascending aortic aneurysm surgery is relatively unknown. Our institutional policy has been to replace all aortic valves with significant abnormalities, as evidenced by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography or direct visual inspection. In this study, we elaborate our experience regarding the long-term fate of preserved bicuspid aortic valves after ascending aortic aneurysm extirpation. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Mar 18. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Arnaud de Villeneuve Hospital, Montpellier, France.

Background: This study evaluates the outcome of physician modified thoracic stent-grafts for the treatment of dissecting aortic arch aneurysms after surgical treatment of acute type A dissection.

Methods: From August 2016 through February 2018, 13 patients underwent TEVAR using physician modified thoracic stent-grafts to treat dissecting aortic arch aneurysms after surgical treatment of acute type A dissection. There were 8 men and 5 women (mean age, 70. Read More

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2019 Mar 20. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.

Objectives: The presence of collateral network circulation to the spinal cord, which is reflected in the repair of a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm (dAo) and a thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAo), has been demonstrated in clinical and animal experimental data. The latissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) including the thoracodorsal artery might be one of the major sources of this collateral network. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact on spinal cord safety of a left anteroaxillary thoracotomy with minimal muscle division including preservation of the LDM in surgery for dAo and TAAo. Read More

J Forensic Sci 2019 Mar 20. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Department of Legal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, 216-8511, Japan.

Syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema palladium, is experiencing a worldwide resurgence. The risk of syphilis infection is particularly high in men who have sex with men (MSM), especially those who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive. Untreated syphilis can lead to rare but severe late-stage complications, including syphilitic aortitis. Read More

Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther 2019 Apr 21;17(4):251-266. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

a Department of Cardiology , Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam , Rotterdam , The Netherlands.

Introduction: Current guidelines recommend patients with thoracic aortic disease (TAD) including inherited aortopathies to avoid heavy exercise. However, evidence supporting the negative advice on exercise is scarce. We aimed to provide an up-to-date systematic review of the available evidence on risks and benefits of exercise and sports participation in TAD patients. Read More

J Surg Case Rep 2019 Mar 12;2019(3):rjz058. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Department of Vascular Surgery, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, Italy.

Type II endoleak following hybrid treatment of aneurysms of aberrant subclavian arteries (AARSA) and requiring reintervention is rare. A retroesophageal AARSA with a 70 mm diameter was treated with left and right carotid to subclavian bypasses and thoracic endografting to exclude its ostium. The distal neck was embolized with a vascular plug. Read More

A A Pract 2019 Mar 14. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a rescue treatment for respiratory or cardiac failure. Its use is limited in patients predisposed to bleeding due to heparin administration. We present 2 patients with deranged coagulation after liver rupture successfully treated by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Mar;98(11):e14727

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.

Rationale: An aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA), arising from the proximal descending aorta, is a common aortic arch anomaly, with an incidence of 0.5% to 2%. However, coexistence of dissection and an ARSA is extremely rare. Read More