1.Current Clinical Knowledge on GORE EXCLUDER Conformable Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Endoprosthesis: A Case Series and Literature Review
Christos F. PITROS ; Fotios O. EFTHYMIOU ; Andreas L. TSIMPOUKIS ; Christos P. DIMITROUKAS ; Petros E. ZAMPAKIS ; Konstantinos G. MOULAKAKIS ; George S. PANAYIOTAKIS ; Stavros K. KAKKOS
Vascular Specialist International 2023;39(2):15-
The GORE EXCLUDER Conformable abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) Endoprosthesis (CEXC), is currently the newest stent-graft system for treating patients with AAA. CEXC is approved for patients with proximal aortic neck angles ≤90° with a ≥15 mm aortic neck length or proximal aortic neck angles ≤60° with ≥10 mm aortic neck length. The present study describes a clinical series of 5 males with AAA, one of whom had a ruptured infrarenal AAA and a 90° proximal aortic neck angle. All patients were treated with 100% technical success using the CEXC device. Dosimetric data were recorded regarding the total kerma-area product and total fluoroscopy time. During the 30-day follow-up, no device migration or failure was detected, whereas type Ib and II endoleaks were observed in two patients. The type Ib endoleak required re-intervention with limb extension placement, and the type II endoleak was treated with lumbar artery embolization. This clinical series showed that CEXC has no technical defects or AAA-related mortality. We also reviewed the current knowledge on CEXC’s clinical outcomes, showing promising technical and clinical results in some studies, even outside the instructions for use. CEXC expands the vascular surgeons’ armamentarium against hostile neck anatomy, as it is the only repositionable endovascular aneurysm repair device available. Multicenter, long-term outcome studies should confirm the promising preliminary results of our case series and the literature review.
2.Vacuum-Assisted Thrombo-Aspiration for Paradoxical Embolism in Left Renal Artery:A Case Report and Literature Review
Dimitrios DIAMANTOPOULOS-KOGKAS ; Pavlos GEORGIOU ; Christos PITROS ; Chrysanthi PAPAGEORGOPOULOU ; Marios PAPASOTIRIOU ; Nikolaos KARYDIS ; Nikolaos KOUTSOYIANNIS ; Athina MOUGIOU ; Konstantinos KATSANOS ; Spyros PAPADOULAS
Vascular Specialist International 2024;40(2):21-
Paradoxical embolism through the foramen ovale is a rare and devastating event requiring urgent treatment. Herein, we present the case of a 23-year-old male who presented with a pulmonary embolism complicated by a left renal artery paradoxical embolism. Urgent vacuum-assisted thrombo-aspiration restored normal perfusion of the left kidney within 5 hours. The patient had a patent foramen ovale and heterozygous thrombophilia. However, a radioisotopic scan performed 2 years later revealed an unexpected decrease in left renal perfusion. Therefore, despite the angiographic success, functional evaluation using a renal scan should be performed to assess renal function.