Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Open Heart 2019 28;6(1):e000862. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

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

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of thoracic aortic disease (TAD) and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) among patients with simple renal cyst (SRC) and bovine aortic arch (BAA).

Methods: Through a retrospective search for patients who underwent both chest and abdominal CT imaging at our institution from 2012 to 2016, we identified patients with SRC and BAA and propensity score matched them to those without these features by age, gender and presence of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

Results: Of a total of 35 498 patients, 6366 were found to have SRC. Read More

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2018 Dec 22. Epub 2018 Dec 22.

Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Objectives: Our objective was to examine the role of the provisional extension to induce complete attachment (PETTICOAT) aortic dissection repair technique with bare metal stents (BMSs) in abdominal remodeling of residual DeBakey type I aortic dissection.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with chronic aneurysm formation and residual DeBakey type I aortic dissection (ie, original acute aortic dissection DeBakey type I after primary surgical open repair) who underwent arch reoperation with frozen elephant trunk replacement or endovascular debranching with or without an abdominal BMS between December 2006 and December 2016. We analyzed diameters and volumes in 3 dimensions for the true and false lumens of the thoracic and abdominal aorta as well as the thrombosis percentage of the false lumen between the non-BMS (non-PETTICOAT) and BMS (PETTICOAT) groups. Read More

Aorta (Stamford) 2018 Apr 15;6(2):70-74. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The authors describe a technique of treating patients with aortic arch aneurysm using surgeon-modified fenestrated stent graft (SMFSG). The technique is demonstrated in a 80-year-old patient whose aneurysm was successfully excluded with a SMFSG using Cook Alpha thoracic stent graft. The device was deployed, removed from its delivery system, and a fenestration created before being mounted back on the delivery system and constrained. Read More

Ann Vasc Surg 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Division, Padua University - School of Medicine. Electronic address:

Purpose: To describe a single-center experience with the Conformable GORE Thoracic Endoprosthesis (C-TAG) with Active Control System, specifically designed to evaluate the accuracy of proximal and distal deployment and its capability to adapt to the aortic wall.

Methods: This is a single-center prospective study including all patients treated with the C-TAG with Active Control System for thoracic aorta pathologies from September 2017 to May 2018. Proximal and distal accuracy of deployment was measured as the distance between "intended" and "actual landing" zone measured on the DSA images. Read More

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Vascular Surgery, University Aortic Center of the Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany.

Objectives: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has emerged as a safe procedure in the treatment of a wide spectrum of descending thoracic aortic pathologies, with satisfactory results both in elective and urgent settings. We investigated the results of our elective, urgent and emergency TEVAR interventions.

Methods: A single-centre retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients undergoing TEVAR from 2010 to 2016 was performed. Read More

Circ Res 2019 Feb;124(4):470-471

From the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (R.A.Q., W.R.T.), Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.

Circ Res 2019 Feb;124(4):588-606

From the Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School; University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (A.P., D.M.M.).

Dissections or ruptures of aortic aneurysms remain a leading cause of death in the developed world, with the majority of deaths being preventable if individuals at risk are identified and properly managed. Genetic variants predispose individuals to these aortic diseases. In the case of thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissections (thoracic aortic disease), genetic data can be used to identify some at-risk individuals and dictate management of the associated vascular disease. Read More

Circ Res 2019 Feb;124(4):607-618

From the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (R.A.Q., W.R.T.), Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.

Aortic aneurysms are a common vascular disease in Western populations that can involve virtually any portion of the aorta. Abdominal aortic aneurysms are much more common than thoracic aortic aneurysms and combined they account for >25 000 deaths in the United States annually. Although thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms share some common characteristics, including the gross anatomic appearance, alterations in extracellular matrix, and loss of smooth muscle cells, they are distinct diseases. Read More

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Department of Vascular Medicine, University Heart Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.

Objectives: SPIDER-graft for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair avoiding thoracotomy and extracorporeal circulation was modified, enabling reimplantation of lumbar arteries to prevent spinal cord ischemia and compared with open aortic repair (control) in a pig model.

Methods: Graft implantation was performed in 7 pigs per group (75-85 kg). For SPIDER-graft (groups I and II), the infra-diaphragmatic aorta was exposed through retroperitoneal access. Read More

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2019 Feb 11:218492319825971. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kindai University, Osaka, Japan.

Purpose: We performed antegrade thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair via the ascending aorta in selected high-risk patients scheduled for open surgery, in whom an iliofemoral or abdominal aortic approach was not feasible. We present our initial experience with this approach.

Methods: Of 16 consecutive patients who underwent antegrade endovascular aneurysm repair via the ascending aorta at our institution, 3 had an emergency intervention for rupture and 3 had an urgent intervention for impending rupture or complicated aortic dissection. Read More

J Card Surg 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Sapporo Medical University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan.

A 74-year-old man had undergone two-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 19 years ago, with the left internal mammary artery (LITA) to the left anterior descending artery and the saphenous vein graft (SVG) to the posterior descending artery. In outpatient care, a thoracic aortic aneurysm was suspected by the chest X-ray. In the computed tomography, appeared the distal arch aortic aneurysm, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), and giant right coronary artery aneurysm (rCAA). Read More

Biomed Mater Eng 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Japan.

Objectives: We aimed to develop a novel ultrasound system and examine its feasibility for noninvasively detecting thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) in clinical settings.

Methods: We developed a novel ultrasound system consisting of a modified console and data analysis algorithm. The exploratory study included 100 patients hospitalized for elective cardiovascular surgery. Read More

Ann Transl Med 2018 Dec;6(Suppl 2):S123

Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019 Jan 11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Republic of Korea; Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University and Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Ann Vasc Surg 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Vascular and Thoracic surgeon, Department of General, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, Centre Hospitaliere Regional du Val de Sambre, Sambreville, Belgium.

Objective: Inflammatory aortic abdominal aneurysm (IAAA) remained a rare cause of aneurysmal aortic disease with incidences between 5-10%. The current treatment of IAAA consists of open surgical repair (OSR) and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Avoiding an inflamed, fibrotic retroperitoneum is the driving force behind the desire to repair IAAA endovascularly. Read More

Ann Vasc Surg 2019 Feb 4. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, B6/387 CSC 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792.

Introduction: We report long-term survival in open surgical and endovascular patients treated for descending thoracic aortic aneurysms at a single tertiary center from 1984 - 2014 to study the impact of transition to TEVAR for thoracic aortic aneurysm repair.

Methods: Using a prospectively maintained registry, all patients (N=202) having open or endovascular repair (TEVAR) of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) were studied. Date of last contact or death was obtained on all patients from hospital records, Social Security Death Database, and verified online records. Read More

Ann Vasc Surg 2019 Feb 4. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Angiology and Vascular Surgery Service, University and Polytechnic La Fe Hospital, Valencia Spain.

Neoplasias affecting the aorta are usually due to a variety of thoracic and abdominal tumours, which are more common than primary tumours of the aortic wall. Those tumors that can invade the abdominal aorta are usually sarcomas, which are able to mimic, both clinically and radiologically, an aortic disease such as an aneurysm or a dissection. There are few clinical scenarios where surgical resection and aortic repair needs to be performed, and indications have not still been clearly established in the literature. Read More

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg 2019 Feb 4. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.

Objectives: Surgery of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is associated with blood loss and coagulopathy and a high need for red blood cell (RBC) volume. Retrograde autologous priming (RAP) decreases haemodilution during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The aim of this study was to show the effect of RAP during surgery of TAA repair on haemodilution, the need for RBC transfusion and the postoperative course compared to conventional CPB (cCPB). Read More

Ann Vasc Surg 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery,. Electronic address:

We present the case of an 89-year-old man with 3-month history of hoarseness and no other significant clinical manifestations. Flexible laryngoscopy revealed a paralyzed left vocal cord, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a thoracic dissecting aortic aneurysm of the distal aortic arch and proximal descending aorta. The aortic aneurysm was repaired through implantation of an endovascular stent graft and the patient was discharged uneventfully after a week. Read More

Aging (Albany NY) 2019 Jan;11(2):836

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital and Institute for Cardiovascular Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.

Ann Vasc Surg 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Division of Vascular Surgery, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA; Division of Vascular Surgery, Long Beach Memorial Heart & Vascular Institute, Long Beach, CA.

Introduction: Dynamic compliance (Cd) of the adult thoracic ascending and arch aorta has had limited evaluation in vivo in patients with aortic disease. This study evaluates aortic compliance using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) across a range of thoracic aortic diseases.

Methods: Seventy-nine patients undergoing thoracic aortic endovascular procedures had Cd measurements of the ascending aorta proximal to the origin of the brachiocephalic trunk and distal to the origin of the left common carotid artery using IVUS prior to endograft deployment. Read More

Ann Biomed Eng 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Mines Saint-Etienne, Univ Lyon, Univ Jean Monnet, INSERM, U 1059 Sainbiose, Centre CIS, 158, cours Fauriel, 42023, Saint-Étienne, France.

Total endovascular repair of the aortic arch represents a promising option for patients ineligible to open surgery. Custom-made design of stent-grafts (SG), such as the Terumo Aortic RelayBranch device (DB), requires complex preoperative measures. Accurate SG deployment is required to avoid intraoperative or postoperative complications, which is extremely challenging in the aortic arch. Read More

J Vasc Surg 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

German Aortic Center Hamburg, Department of Vascular Medicine, University Heart Center of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.

Objective: Fenestrated or branched endovascular aortic repair (FB-EVAR) usually represents the last stage in endovascular treatment of postdissection aneurysm after thoracic endograft coverage of entry tear and false lumen embolization.

Methods: The study was a retrospective analysis of all patients with postdissection thoracoabdominal aneurysm treated with FB-EVAR in a single center. Short-term outcomes included technical success, operative mortality, and morbidities. Read More

J Biomech 2019 Jan 19. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address:

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has been introduced as a less invasive approach to the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA). However, the effectiveness of TEVAR in the treatment of TAA is often limited due to the complex anatomy of aortic arch. Flow preservation at the three supra-aortic branches further increases the overall technical difficulty. Read More

Kardiologiia 2018 Nov 18;58(4):96-100. Epub 2018 Nov 18.

ФГБУ «Институт хирургии им. А. В. Вишневского» Минздрава России.

We present here a case of successful staged treatment of a patient with para-aortic abscess that arose 5 years after thoracic endovascular aortic repair because of thoracic aortic aneurysm. After stabilization of the patient's condition by intensive antibiotic therapy we performed left-subclavian extra-thoracic debranching as the first stage of the surgical treatment. In 2 weeks via median sternotomy and on-pump we removed the infected endograft and performed extraanatomical ascending-to-descending aortic bypass with good postoperative result. Read More

Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2019 Feb 31;144(3):146-151. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Abteilung für Gefäßchirurgie, Vaskuläre und Endovaskuläre Chirurgie, Aortenzentrum des Klinikums der Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität, München.

Thoracic aortic aneurysms are a relatively uncommon disease, with an incidence of 10.4/100 000, with an increase in the last decades, due to the increased quality of vascular screening. Several imaging techniques like thoracic radiography, echocardiography, magnetic resonance (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET) can be used for the diagnosis of such condition, whose first diagnosis is usually incidental. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Grand Hôpital de Charleroi, Gilly, Belgium.

We present the off-label use of a Thoraflex Hybrid Plexus Prosthesis (Vascutek, Scotland, UK) to treat a post-dissection type IV thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA) in a high-risk patient previously treated with a thoracic stent-graft for a chronic type B aortic dissection. The Thoraflex graft was used in a "reversed frozen elephant trunk" fashion: the stent graft portion deployed in the previously placed thoracic stent, and the branched portion used to revascularize visceral arteries and lower limbs. Our off-label use of the Thoraflex graft was technically successful. Read More

J Clin Med Res 2019 Feb 5;11(2):145-150. Epub 2019 Jan 5.

Department of Clinical Pathology, Asahi General Hospital, Chiba, Japan.

Hemoptysis is occasionally experienced in patients with hematological malignancies who have respiratory tract infection and severe thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia due to hematological disease is one cause of hemoptysis. Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a clonal hematopoietic malignancy characterized by both a myeloproliferative neoplasm and a myelodysplastic syndrome. Read More

J Vasc Surg 2019 Jan 25. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Severance Cardiovascular Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Objective: With the increasing use of endovascular aortic repair, open repair after aortic stent grafting is of increasing interest. We retrospectively reviewed cases of late open conversion for complications after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).

Methods: TEVAR due to aortic aneurysm and dissection was performed in 538 patients between 1994 and 2017. Read More

Korean J Gastroenterol 2019 Jan;73(1):35-38

Department of Gastroenterology, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea.

Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is an extremely rare but lethal cause of massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Characteristic symptoms are mid-thoracic pain, sentinel minor hemorrhage, and massive hemorrhage after a symptom-free interval. Prompt diagnosis and immediate treatments are necessary to reduce mortality. Read More

Ann Vasc Surg 2019 Jan 25. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Dept. of Vascular Medicine, German Aortic Center, University Heart Center, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.

Purpose: To introduce the new generation Candy-Plug II with a self-closing channel construction inside the plug.

Technique: The technique of the Candy-Plug II was demonstrated in a 50 year-old patient with residual chronic aortic dissection and thoracic false lumen aneurysm with false lumen back-flow following open surgical repair of the ascending aorta for acute Type A aortic dissection. The Candy-Plug technique was applied in addition to a branched arch procedure using a new generation Candy-Plug II for false lumen occlusion. Read More

North Clin Istanb 2018 Sep;5(3):261-263

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has been widely accepted as a safe and effective treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Endoleaks are the most common complication after EVAR and require urgent interventions. Usually endoleaks can be treated with endovascular procedures using a variety of techniques. Read More

Ann Vasc Surg 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Vascular Surgery, University of Perugia, Azienda Ospedaliera di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.

Purpose: To evaluate the early safety and clinical performance of the new low-profile RelayPro Thoracic Stent-Graft System in patients with thoracic aortic disease.

Methods: This was an international, prospective, single-arm study in patients diagnosed with thoracic aorta disease (aneurysm, pseudoaneurysm, dissection, penetrating aortic ulcer [PAU], or intramural hematoma) and treated with a RelayPro stent-graft (in bare stent and/or non-bare stent configurations). The primary endpoints were freedom from aneurysm or dissection-related mortality and stent-graft performance. Read More

Ann Vasc Surg 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Departement of Vascular Surgery, San Camillo- Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy. Electronic address:

Objective: To report the Destino guided BEVAR (De-BEVAR) approach as a valid alternative to catheterization downward branches in complex aortic arch/descending thoracic anatomies.

Technique & Case Report: A 53 years-old woman with Marfan syndrome underwent a TAAA repair for a type III dissecting aneurysm. A custom repair with an endograft having 3 fenestrations (for renal arteries and superior mesenteric artery) and one branch for the celiac trunk was planned. Read More

Ann Vasc Surg 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

PET/CT center, OHS Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.

Background: To date, clinical and experimental studies of stent-graft migration have focused on aortic morphology and blood flow. However, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is not an instant fixation of the stent-graft in the aortic lumen, but rather a continuous process of deformation and three-dimensional change in the configuration and the geometry of the stent-graft. The aim of this study was to analyse the geometric evolution of the aortic stent-graft in the proximal attachment zone at mid-term follow-up and its impact on the stent-graft (SG) migration. Read More

Toxicol In Vitro 2019 Apr 21;56:156-162. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shangqiu the First People's Hospital, Shangqiu, Henan Province 476000, China.

Aortic aneurysm (AA) is a common disease that is associated with the proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). VSMC cells can be directly exposed to environmental endocrine disruptors (EEDs) such as bisphenol A (BPA). However, the effects of BPA on the biological functions of VSMC are not well studied. Read More

JCI Insight 2019 01 24;4(2). Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine.

Patients with heterozygous missense mutations in the ACTA2 or MYH11 gene are known to exhibit thoracic aortic aneurysm and a risk of early-onset aortic dissection. However, less common phenotypes involving arterial obstruction are also observed, including coronary and cerebrovascular stenotic disease. Herein we implicate the HDAC9 complex in transcriptional silencing of contractile protein-associated genes, known to undergo downregulation in stenotic lesions. Read More

Surg Case Rep 2019 Jan 23;5(1):12. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Division of Digestive and General Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata, 951-8510, Japan.

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant disease of the skin and soft tissue. Aneurysms associated with NF1 can occur, but a secondary aneurysm rupture is very rare, with very few cases reported in literature.

Case Presentation: We describe the case of a 67-year-old female with NF1 who underwent endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture. Read More

Ann Biomed Eng 2019 Jan 22. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Mines Saint-Étienne, Univ Lyon, Univ Jean Monnet, INSERM, U 1059 Sainbiose, Centre CIS, 42023, Saint-Étienne, France.

It was recently submitted that the rupture risk of an ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) is strongly correlated with the aortic stiffness. To validate this assumption, we propose a non-invasive inverse method to identify the patient-specific local extensional stiffness of aortic walls based on gated CT scans. Using these images, the local strain distribution is reconstructed throughout the cardiac cycle. Read More

Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019 Jan 22. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.

Background:  This study aimed to evaluate the significance of serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) level as a predictor of neurologic injury in thoracic aortic surgery.

Methods:  We neurologically assessed 60 consecutive patients who underwent thoracic aortic surgery for thoracic aortic aneurysm ( = 26) and aortic dissection ( = 34). Using moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest with antegrade cerebral perfusion, total arch replacement and hemiarch replacement were performed in 37 and 23 patients, respectively. Read More

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

University Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.

Objectives: Minimally invasive staged segmental artery coil- and plug embolization (MIS2ACE) has been introduced for spinal cord injury prevention prior to open or endovascular thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. To date, no optimal pattern has been developed. The aim of this study was to identify the optimal MIS2ACE occlusion pattern. Read More

Cardiovasc Pathol 2018 Dec 21;39:61-66. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Tokyo Medical Examiner's Office, Tokyo 112-0012, Japan; Department of Legal Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan.

The mortality rate of aortic aneurysm/dissection is low in Japan. Two surgical procedures, the thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and the open stent-grafting have contributed much in survival of such aneurysmal patients. We encountered with two autopsy cases of death by aortic rupture with fistula formation after these procedures. Read More

Case Rep Oncol Med 2018 19;2018:9851397. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Gastroenterology Medicine Center, Shonan Kamakura General Hospital, 1370-1 Okamoto, Kamakura City, Kanagawa 247-8533, Japan.

Background: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair of an aortoesophageal fistula is an effective emergency treatment for patients with T4-esophageal cancer, as it prevents sudden death, and is a bridge to surgery. However, the course of unresectable malignant aortoesophageal fistula treated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair alone is not well-known.

Case Presentation: We report a 67-year-old Japanese man with T4-esophageal cancer who experienced a chemoradiation-induced aortoesophageal fistula and was rescued with thoracic endovascular aortic repair. Read More

J Med Genet 2019 Jan 19. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA.

Background: Pathogenic variants in cause thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections, along with aneurysms and rupture of other arteries. Here, we examined differences in clinical presentation of aortic events (dissection or surgical repair of an aneurysm) with respect to age and variant type in an international cohort of individuals with variants.

Methods: Aortic status and events, vital status and clinical features were abstracted through retrospective review of medical records of 212 individuals with 51 unique variants, including haploinsufficiency (HI) and missense substitutions in the MH2 domain, as well as novel in-frame deletions and missense variants in the MH1 domain. Read More

J Hum Hypertens 2019 Jan 18. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Section of General Medicine and Hypertension, Verona, Italy.

A genetic risk score (GRS) based on 29 single nucleotide polymorpysms (SNPs) associated with high blood pressure (BP) was prospectively associated with development of hypertension, stroke and cardiovascular events. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of this GRS on the incidence of aortic disease, including aortic dissection (AD), rupture or surgery of a thoracic (TAA) or abdominal (AAA) aortic aneurysm. More than 25,000 people from the Swedish Malmo Diet and Cancer Study had information on at least 24 SNPs and were followed up for a median ≥ 18 years. Read More

Acad Radiol 2019 Jan 15. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Disease, Shandong University, #324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, Shandong 250021, PR China. Electronic address:

Background: Little is known about the influence of intima dynamic motion on organ ischemia and related outcomes. The purpose of this study is to quantitatively evaluate intima oscillation by CT angiography (CTA), determine its impact on acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with type B acute aortic dissection (TB-AAD) before thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), and further analyze its association with early adverse events postoperatively.

Methods: Totally, 108 patients with TB-AAD who underwent retrospective ECG-gated CTA and received TEVAR were enrolled. Read More

CVIR Endovasc 2018 22;1(1):10. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

1Department of Radiology, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Nagasaki, Japan.

Background: Massive hemoptysis is a life-threatening condition and can arise as a complication of conditions. Conversely, hemoptysis rarely occurs as a complication of a ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA).

Case Presentation: A 76-year-old male had a history of surgical replacement of the whole aortic arch due to a TAA. Read More

Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2019 Feb;39(2):126-136

Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (F.R.).

Thoracic aortic aneurysms that progress to acute aortic dissections are often fatal. Thoracic aneurysms have been managed with treatment with β-adrenergic blocking agents (β-blockers) and routine surveillance imaging, followed by surgical repair of the aneurysm when the risk of dissection exceeds the risk for repair. Thus, there is a window to initiate therapies to slow aortic enlargement and delay or ideally negate the need for surgical repair of the aneurysm to prevent a dissection. Read More

Ann Card Anaesth 2019 Jan-Mar;22(1):24-29

Department of Cardiology, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Background: We reviewed our experience with ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysms (RSOV) to determine a correlation with preexisting heart failure (HF) and coexisting cardiac lesions (aortic regurgitation [AR] and ventricular septal defect [VSD]) to postoperative left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and postoperative outcomes.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective review of RSOV cases over 15 years showed that RSOV repair was done in 87 patients. We looked for patients who presented with HF and patients having AR and/or VSDs. Read More

JAMA Netw Open 2018 Aug 3;1(4):e181281. Epub 2018 Aug 3.

Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Importance: The natural history of ascending aortic aneurysm (AsAA) is currently not well characterized.

Objective: To summarize and analyze existing literature on the natural history of AsAA.

Data Sources: A search of Ovid MEDLINE (January 1, 1946, to May 31, 2017) and Embase (January 1, 1974, to May 31, 2017) was conducted. Read More