To Örebro University

Objective: Iatrogenic major vascular injuries at femoral artery access sites are potentially life-threatening complications of endovascular procedures. Although open surgical repair remains the standard treatment, it carries significant morbidity. Endovascular management using covered stent grafts, deployed via a contralateral or ipsilateral approach, presents a minimally invasive alternative in selected cases. This study reports a single-center experience with an endovascular-first strategy and review of relevant published data.

Methods: A retrospective single-center observational study was conducted between 2016 and 2024. Patients treated with covered stent grafts for iatrogenic vascular access site injuries, defined as access site-related hemorrhage or pseudoaneurysm involving the external iliac artery, common femoral artery or superficial femoral artery, were included. The most common mechanism of injury requiring stenting was closure device failure. A literature review of published data on PubMed was performed. The primary outcomes assessed were technical success and stent graft patency during follow-up.

Results: A total of 20 access site-related vascular injuries were treated using covered stent grafts. Technical success was achieved in 95% (19/20). Stent graft patency was maintained in 100% of cases at 30 days (n = 15) and 1 year (n = 11). The literature review identified 15 studies and a total of 585 patients treated with covered stent grafts with technical success in nearly 100% and preserved stent graft patency throughout a follow-up period ranging from 3 months to a maximum of 3 years in all but a handful of cases.

Conclusions: Endovascular repair using covered stent grafts is a viable treatment option for iatrogenic access site vascular injuries of the external iliac, common femoral, and superficial femoral arteries. This approach may be particularly beneficial for frail patients or those with hemodynamic instability. Further studies are needed to confirm long-term outcomes and optimal patient selection. 

Introduction: Endovascular treatment of iliac aneurysms with sparing of the internal iliac arterial circulation is feasible with iliac branch devices. However, insufficient distal seal with the endovascular devices on the market can be challenging. In this case, the anatomy was complex due to the extent of the aneurysms, and the available technical options were limited.

Report: A 65 year old man with aneurysms in the left common iliac (43 mm) and bilateral internal iliac arteries (right 41 mm; left 49 mm) was treated with an aortobi-iliac stent graft and bilateral iliac branch devices with extensions to opposing anterior (right) and posterior (left) branches of the internal iliac artery through staged interventions. At six weeks of follow up all treated aneurysms had decreased or were stable in size. Clinical signs of right sided gluteal claudication were evident at six weeks of follow up but no symptoms remained 20 weeks post-operatively.

Discussion: The presented case illustrates a technique to preserve pelvic circulation in a case of bilateral common and internal iliac arterial aneurysms. Extensions of the internal iliac limb of the iliac branch device, into the opposing anterior and posterior divisions of the internal iliac artery, may offer a strategy to reduce pelvic ischaemia in scenarios where the anatomy limits the use of standard iliac branch devices.

Photon counting computerised tomography angiography (PC-CTA) is a new imaging technique basedon a new detector design, which results in higher spatial resolution than traditional computerisedtomography (T-CTA). The first two examples of in vivo examinations of PC-CTA for 50% or morecarotid stenosis are presented.

PURPOSE: Combining resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) and the inferior vena cava (REBOVC) with open surgery is a new hybrid approach for treating retrohepatic vena caval injuries. We compared endovascular total hepatic isolation with supraceliac REBOA ± suprahepatic REBOVC and no occlusion in experimental retrohepatic vena cava bleeding regarding survival, bleeding volume, hemodynamic stability, and arterial collateral blood flow.

METHODS: Twenty-five anesthetized pigs (n = 6-7/group) were randomized to REBOA; REBOA + REBOVC; REBOA + infra and suprahepatic REBOVC + portal vein occlusion (endovascular Heaney maneuver, four-balloon-occlusion, 4BO) or no occlusion. After balloon inflation, free bleeding was initiated from an open sheath in the retrohepatic vena cava. Bleeding volume, right internal thoracic artery (RITA) blood flow, hemodynamics, and arterial blood variables were measured until death or up to 90 min.

RESULTS: The REBOA group had a longer median survival time (63 min) compared with the 4BO (24 min, P = 0.02) and no occlusion (30 min, P = 0.02) groups, not versus the REBOA + REBOVC group (49 min, P > 0.05). The first 15 min accumulated bleeding was comparable in all groups (P > 0.05); Thereafter, bleeding volume was higher in the REBOA group versus the 4BO group (P < 0.05), not versus the other groups. RITA blood flow and MAP were higher in the REBOA group versus the other groups after 10 min of bleeding (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular Heaney maneuver was not beneficial for survival or hemodynamic stability in this porcine model, whereas supraceliac REBOA was. Anatomical differences in thoracoabdominal collaterals between pigs and humans must be considered when interpreting these results.

OBJECTIVES: In fluoroscopy-free settings, alternative safe and quick methods for placing resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) and resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the inferior vena cava (REBOVC) are needed. Ultrasound is being increasingly used to guide the placement of REBOA in the absence of fluoroscopy. Our hypothesis was that ultrasound could be used to adequately visualize the suprahepatic vena cava and guide REBOVC positioning, without significant time-delay, when compared with fluoroscopic guidance, and compared with the corresponding REBOA placement.

METHODS: Nine anesthetized pigs were used to compare ultrasound-guided placement of supraceliac REBOA and suprahepatic REBOVC with corresponding fluoroscopic guidance, in terms of correct placement and speed. Accuracy was controlled by fluoroscopy. Four intervention groups: (1) fluoroscopy REBOA, (2) fluoroscopy REBOVC, (3) ultrasound REBOA and (4) ultrasound REBOVC. The aim was to carry out the four interventions in all animals. Randomization was performed to either fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance being used first. The time required to position the balloons in the supraceliac aorta or in the suprahepatic inferior vena cava was recorded and compared between the four intervention groups.

RESULTS: Ultrasound-guided REBOA and REBOVC placement was completed in eight animals, respectively. All eight had correctly positioned REBOA and REBOVC on fluoroscopic verification. Fluoroscopy-guided REBOA placement was slightly faster (median 14 s, IQR 13-17 s) than ultrasound-guided REBOA (median 22 s, IQR 21-25 s, p=0.024). The corresponding comparisons of the REBOVC groups were not statistically significant, with fluoroscopy-guided REBOVC taking 19 s, median (IQR 11-22 s) and ultrasound-guided REBOVC taking 28 s, median (IQR 20-34 s, p=0.19).

CONCLUSION: Ultrasound adequately and quickly guide the placement of supraceliac REBOA and suprahepatic REBOVC in a porcine laboratory model, however, safety issues must be considered before use in trauma patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prospective, experimental, animal study. Basic science study.

BACKGROUND: The definition of partial resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (pREBOA) is not yet determined and clinical markers of the degree of occlusion, metabolic effects and end-organ injury that are clinically monitored in real time are lacking. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) targeted pREBOA causes less metabolic disturbance compared to proximal systolic blood pressure (SBP) targeted pREBOA in a porcine model of hemorrhagic shock.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty anesthetized pigs (26-35 kg) were randomized to 45 min of either ETCO2 targeted pREBOA (pREBOAETCO2, ETCO2 90-110% of values before start of occlusion, n = 10) or proximal SBP targeted pREBOA (pREBOASBP, SBP 80-100 mmHg, n = 10), during controlled grade IV hemorrhagic shock. Autotransfusion and reperfusion over 3 h followed. Hemodynamic and respiratory parameters, blood samples and jejunal specimens were analyzed.

RESULTS: ETCO2 was significantly higher in the pREBOAETCO2 group during the occlusion compared to the pREBOASBP group, whereas SBP, femoral arterial mean pressure and abdominal aortic blood flow were similar. During reperfusion, arterial and mesenteric lactate, plasma creatinine and plasma troponin concentrations were higher in the pREBOASBP group.

CONCLUSIONS: In a porcine model of hemorrhagic shock, ETCO2 targeted pREBOA caused less metabolic disturbance and end-organ damage compared to proximal SBP targeted pREBOA, with no disadvantageous hemodynamic impact. End-tidal CO2 should be investigated in clinical studies as a complementary clinical tool for mitigating ischemic-reperfusion injury when using pREBOA.

BACKGROUND: Mortality from traumatic retrohepatic venous injuries is high and methods for temporary circulatory stabilization are needed. We investigated survival, and hemodynamic and metabolic effects of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) and vena cava inferior (REBOVC) in anesthetized pigs.

METHODS: Twenty-five anesthetized pigs in normovolemia or severe hemorrhagic shock (controlled arterial bleeding in blood bags targeting systolic arterial pressure of 50 mmHg, corresponding to 40-50% of the blood volume) were randomized to REBOA zone 1 or REBOA+REBOVC zone 1 (n=6-7/group) for 45 minutes occlusion, followed by 3-hour resuscitation and reperfusion. Hemodynamic and metabolic variables and markers of end-organ damage were measured regularly.

RESULTS: During occlusion, both the REBOA groups had higher systemic mean arterial pressure (MAP) and cardiac output (P<0.05) compared to the two REBOA+REBOVC groups. After 60 minutes reperfusion, there were no statistically significant differences between the two REBOA groups and the two REBOA+REBOVC groups in MAP and cardiac output. The two REBOA+REBOVC groups had higher arterial lactate and potassium concentrations during reperfusion, compared to the two REBOA groups (P<0.05). There was no major difference in end-organ damage markers between REBOA and REBOA+REBOVC. Survival after one-hour reperfusion was 86% and 100% respectively in the normovolemic REBOA and REBOA+REBOVC groups, and 67% and 83% respectively in the corresponding hemorrhagic shock REBOA and REBOA+REBOVC groups.

CONCLUSION: Acceptable hemodynamic stability during occlusion and short-term survival can be achieved by REBOA+REBOVC with adequate resuscitation; however, the more severe hemodynamic and metabolic impacts of REBOA+REBOVC compared to REBOA must be considered.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prospective, randomized, experimental animal study. Basic science study, therapeutic.

INTRODUCTION: It is difficult to estimate the ischemic consequences when using partial resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA). The aim was to investigate if end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) is correlated to degree of aortic occlusion, measured as distal aortic blood flow, and distal organ metabolism, estimated as systemic oxygen consumption (VO2), in a porcine model of normovolemia and hemorrhagic shock.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine anesthetized pigs (25-32 kg) were subjected to incremental steps of zone 1 aortic occlusion (reducing distal aortic blood flow by 33%, 66% and 100%) during normovolemia and hemorrhagic grade IV shock. Hemodynamic and respiratory variables, and blood samples, were measured. Systemic VO2 was correlated to ETCO2 and measures of partial occlusion previously described.

RESULTS: Aortic occlusion gradually lowered distal blood flow and pressure, whereas ETCO2, VO2 and carbon dioxide production decreased at 66% and 100% aortic occlusion. Aortic blood flow correlated significantly to ETCO2 during both normovolemia and hemorrhage (R=0.84 and 0.83, respectively) and to femoral mean pressure (R = 0.92 and 0.83, respectively). Systemic VO2 correlated strongly to ETCO2 during both normovolemia and hemorrhage (R = 0.91 and 0.79, respectively), blood flow of the superior mesenteric artery (R = 0.77 and 0.85, respectively) and abdominal aorta (R = 0.78 and 0.78, respectively), but less to femoral blood pressure (R = 0.71 and 0.54, respectively).

CONCLUSION: End-tidal carbon dioxide was correlated to distal aortic blood flow and VO2 during incremental degrees of aortic occlusion thereby potentially reflecting the degree of aortic occlusion and the ischemic consequences of partial REBOA. Further studies of ETCO2, and potential confounders, in partial REBOA are needed before clinical use.

Purpose: Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) selectively vasodilates the pulmonary circulation but the effects are sometimes insufficient. Available intravenous (iv) substances are non-selective and cause systemic side effects. The pulmonary and systemic effects of iNO and an iv mono-organic nitrite (PDNO) were compared in porcine models of acute pulmonary hypertension.

Methods: In anesthetized piglets, dose-response experiments of iv PDNO at normal pulmonary arterial pressure (n=10) were executed. Dose-response experiments of iv PDNO (n=6) and iNO (n=7) were performed during pharmacologically induced pulmonary hypertension (U46619 iv). The effects of iv PDNO and iNO were also explored in 5 mins of hypoxia-induced increase in pulmonary pressure (n=2-4).

Results: PDNO (15, 30, 45 and 60 nmol NO kg(-1) min(-)(1) iv) and iNO (5, 10, 20 and 40 ppm which corresponded to 56, 112, 227, 449 nmol NO kg(-1) min(-)(1), respectively) significantly decreased the U46619-increased mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) to a similar degree without significant decreases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) or systemic vascular resistance (SVR). iNO caused increased levels of methemoglobin. At an equivalent delivered NO quantity (iNO 5 ppm and PDNO 45 nmol kg(-1) min(-)(1) iv), PDNO decreased PVR and SVR significantly more than iNO. Both drugs counteracted hypoxia-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction and they decreased the ratio of PVR and SVR in both settings.

Conclusion: Intravenous PDNO was a more potent pulmonary vasodilator than iNO in pulmonary hypertension, with no severe side effects. Hence, this study supports the potential of iv PDNO in the treatment of acute pulmonary hypertension.