The Chimney-Graft Technique for Preserving Supra-Aortic Branches: a Review
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Perspective The chimney-graft technique for preserving supra-aortic branches: a review Konstantinos G. Moulakakis1,2, Spyridon N. Mylonas1,2,3, Ilias Dalainas1, George S. Sfyroeras1, Fotis Markatis1, Thomas Kotsis3, John Kakisis1, Christos D. Liapis1 1Department of Vascular Surgery, Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece; 2The Systematic Review Unit, The Collaborative Research (CORE) Group, Sydney, Australia; 3Vascular Unit, 2nd Clinic of Surgery, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece Corresponding to: Konstantinos G. Moulakakis, MD, Ph.D, MSc, FEBVS. Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece, Rimini 1 Str, Haidari, Athens, 12462 Greece. Email: [email protected]. Evolution in the endovascular era has influenced the management of aortic arch pathologies. “Chimney” or “snorkel” graft technique has been used as an alternative in high risk patients unfit for open repair. We reviewed the published literature on the chimney graft technique for preservation of the supra-aortic branches in order to provide an extensive insight of its feasibility and efficacy and investigate its outcomes. 18 reports were identified, with a total of 124 patients and 136 chimney. Primary technical success was achieved in 123/124 patients (99.2%). The perioperative mortality rate was 4.8% and the stroke rate was 4%, while events of spinal cord ischemia were rare. The overall endoleak rate was 18.5%; 13 patients (10.5%) developed a type I endoleak and 10 (8%) patients a type II endoleak. During a median follow-up period of 11.4 months (range, 0.87-20.1 months) all implanted chimney grafts remained patent. From this, we conclude that endovascular aortic arch repair with chimney grafts is associated with a lower mortality rate compared to totally open or hybrid reconstruction. However, the stroke rate remains noteworthy, and requires longterm data to elucidate. Keywords: Chimney; snorkel; endovascular; aortic arch Submitted May 06, 2013. Accepted for publication May 24, 2013. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2225-319X.2013.05.14 Scan to your mobile device or view this article at: http://www.annalscts.com/article/view/2006/2736 Introduction by Greenberg and associates (4) and was applied over the last decade for visceral debranching (5), could be a Open surgical repair of pathologies of the aortic arch or the reasonable alternative for preserving supra-aortic branches proximal descending aorta is associated with considerable in patients with pathologies involving the aortic arch. periprocedural risks (1). Evolution in the endovascular era We reviewed the published literature on the “chimney” has influenced the management of aortic arch pathologies. or “snorkel” graft technique for the preservation of supra- Hybrid approaches for these patients have been proposed aortic branches in order to provide an extensive insight of as alternative options (2,3). Despite the fact that its feasibility and efficacy and investigate its outcomes. following a hybrid strategy the need for sternotomy and cardiopulmonary by-pass is eliminated, the mortality and morbidity rates still remain relatively high (2). In addition, Material and methods total endovascular techniques (i.e., fenestrated, branched Definition devices) have been developed. However they need to overcome several anatomic and logistic limitations. The “chimney technique” involves deployment of stents/ The chimney-graft technique, which was first described stent-grafts into the supra-aortic branches, with the © AME Publishing Company. All rights reserved. www.annalscts.com Ann Cardiothorac Surg 2013;2(3):339-346 340 Moulakakis et al. Review of chimney-graft technique 33 citations identified by electronic literature search 33 studies retrieved 15 studies rejected after inclusion criteria application 18 studies included in the final sample Figure 1 Study flow chart proximal parts placed parallel to the main thoracic aortic included in the present study. Reports on hybrid procedures endoprosthesis (between the aortic stent and the aortic wall) and branched or fenestration stent-grafts were excluded as and extended above it to ensure perfusion. well as those detailing the chimney technique for visceral revascularization alone. Articles in languages other than English were also eliminated from further analysis. In cases Search strategy - eligibility criteria of duplicated or metachronous publications from the same Multiple electronic health database searches were center, only the latest was included. Furthermore, several performed that included Medline, Embase, Ovid, the studies included patients with chimney graft implantation Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the among other populations; they were included in the present Cochrane Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness review if separate data for this patient subgroup were (DARE), aiming to identify studies on “chimney technique” provided. for the treatment of aortic arch pathologies. The search All selected full-text articles were independently evaluated strategy was unrestricted and used exploded MeSH (medical by two authors (S.M. and H.D.). From the attained articles subject heading) terms ‘double-barrel’, ‘triple-barrel’, the baseline patient data (mean age); indication of chimney ‘thoracoabdominal’, ‘aortic aneurysm’, ‘endovascular’, technique application (aortic pathology or endoprosthesis- ‘chimney graft’, and/or ‘endovascular aortic arch related complications after prior TEVAR); applied main debranching’. In addition, the references of all included aortic stent-graft design; number of chimney grafts and articles were examined for further relevant series. All studies adjacent by-pass procedures were extracted and analyzed. were independently assessed, and the full texts of the studies Finally, the postoperative outcomes (primary technical were retrieved. success; mean follow-up period (months); endoprosthesis- Studies were included in the present review if (I) supra- related complications; post-procedural complications; and aortic branches [left subclavian (LSA), left common carotid 30 d-/in-hospital mortality) were evaluated. (LCCA) and innominate arteries (IA)] revascularization during endovascular treatment of aortic pathologies was Results achieved via a chimney graft (CG) implantation; and (II) the basic outcome criteria (complications rate; chimney The electronic literature search yielded 18 reports that graft patency, endoprosthesis related complications, and fulfilled the inclusion criteria (6-23) (Figure 1, Table 1). A primary technical success rate; and the total mortality rate) total of 124 patients (79% male; mean age: range, 36-81.5) were stated. Cases of prior thoracic endovascular aortic were analyzed. The aortic pathology was described in 108 repair (TEVAR) failure treated with chimney grafts are also patients: 28 (26%) had a degenerative aneurysm, 61 (56.5%) © AME Publishing Company. All rights reserved. www.annalscts.com Ann Cardiothorac Surg 2013;2(3):339-346 Annals ofcardiothoracicsurgery,Vol2,No3May2013 Table 1 Characteristics of the eligible studies on chimney-graft technique preserving supra-aortic branches Age Revascularized N of Gender Aortic pathology N of chimney Aortic endoprosthesis Study (mean, branches Chimney graft design patients (M/F) (An/Dis/other)* grafts (total) design years) (IA/LCCA/LSA) Shahverdyan et al., 2013 (6) 6 6/0 73 1/1/4 12 6/6/0 Gore CTAG® Viabahn® Samura et al., 2013 (7) 2 2/0 82 2/0/0 4 2/2/0 Gore TAG® Excluder Iliac Extender®, Atrium V12® Zhu et al., 2013 (8) 34 26/8 66 0/34/0 34 3/8/23 Talent®, Zenith®, Fluency®, Express®, Hercules-T®, Ankura® Scuba®, S.M.A.R.T Control® Chang et al., 2013 (9) 1 1/0 41 0/0/1 1 0/1/0 Talent®, Zenith®, Zilver stent® Hercules-T®, Ankura® Zhou et al., 2013 (10) 1 1/0 45 0/0/1 2 0/1/1 Valiant® Fluency® Vallejo et al., 2012 (11) 8 NR NR NR 8 3/5/0 Gore TAG®, Talent®, AneuRx®, Palmaz®, Valiant® Express® Akchurin et al., 2012 (12) 10 NR NR 6/4/0 10 0/0/10 NR NR Cires et al., 2011 (13) 9 6/3 64 3/1/5 9 2/2/5 Gore TAG®, Talent® Bare stents Yoshida et al., 2011 (14) 2 1/1 77 1/1/0 5 2/2/1 Zenith® Viabahn® Shu et al., 2011 (15) 8 7/1 49 0/8/0 8 0/8/0 Hercules®, Relay®, Fluency®, Passenger® Zenith® Feng et al., 2011 (16) 1 0/0 36 0/0/1 1 0/1/0 Relay®, Hercules cuff ® Sinus® Gehringhoff et al., 2011 (17) 9 7/2 57 5/1/3 9 0/3/6 ZentithTX2®, Valiant® Advanta®, Palmaz®, S.M.A.R.T®, Fluency® Sugiura et al., 2009 (18) 11 10/1 NR 4/5/2 11 3/7/1 Zenith®, Gore TAG® Various Baldwin et al., 2008 (19) 7 4/3 70 1/4/2 7 3/3/1 Gore TAG® Fluency®, Luminex®, Wallstent®, Zilver, Biliary Express® OhrlaNRer et al., 2008 (20) 4 NR 70 2/2/0 4 1/2/1 Zenith®, Gore TAG® Luminex®, Advanta®, Zenith® TFLE® Criado et al., 2007 (21) 8 NR NR NR 8 0/6/2 Talent® Bare stents Hiramoto et al., 2006 (22) 1 1/0 70 1/0/0 1 0/1/0 Gore TAG® Fluency® Larzon et al., 2005 (23) 2 2/0 73 2/0/0 2 0/2/0 Gore TAG® Symphony®, Zilver®, Palmaz® Total 124 74 28/61/19 136 25/60/51 *An/Dis/other, Aneurysm/Dissection/other (type I endoleak, traumatic transection, penetrating ulcer, pseudoaneurysm); N, number; NR, not reported; Talent (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) 341 © AME Publishing Company. All rights reserved. www.annalscts.com Ann Cardiothorac Surg 2013;2(3):339-346 342 Moulakakis et al. Review of chimney-graft technique had aortic dissection, and 19 (17.5%) had other pathologies causes (Table 2). (type I endoleak, traumatic transection, penetrating ulcer, pseudoaneurysm). Discussion Various aortic endoprosthesis (Zenith®, Gore®, Talent®, etc.) were used for the thoracic aorta and Treatment of aortic arch pathologies represents one of the numerous variable bare-stents or covered stents were greatest challenges in cardiothoracic surgery. So far there selected for chimney-grafts. A total of 136 chimney grafts are four options: were implanted: 25 to the IA, 60 to the LCCA and 51 to the (I) Open aortic arch reconstruction; LSA.