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Biomedical subjects

J Brunkwall

Publications and source records attributed to J Brunkwall.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Postoperative fever, bowel ischaemia and cytokine response to abdominal aortic aneurysm repair--a comparison between endovascular and open surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To study bowel ischaemia in transfemorally placed endoluminal grafting (TPEG) for abdominal aortic aneurysms, and any relation to cytokine response or postoperative fever. DESIGN: Prospective not randomised. University hospital setting. MATERIAL: Fourteen cases of conventional surgery and 23 cases of endovascular technique for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. METHODS: Tonometry was used for sigmoid colon pH, and ELISAs for serum IL-6. RESULTS: Mucosal pH in the sigmoid colon fell significantly during clamping and reperfusion in both groups. Lowest measured sigmoid colon pH was 7.10 in the open group, compared to 7.22 in the TPEG group (p < 0.05). The IL-6 levels in serum peaked after 4 h of reperfusion; 249 pg/ml in the open group, compared to 89 pg/ml in the TPEG group (p < 0.05). High levels of IL-6 in the postoperative period and persisting low sigmoidal pH were associated with serious complications. Postoperative temperature did not differ significantly between the groups, and no significant correlation could be found with sigmoid colon pH or IL-6 levels. CONCLUSIONS: The less pronounced perioperative bowel ischaemia in TPEG patients indicates an advantage of the TPEG technique. Splanchnic ischaemia was not related to postoperative fever, nor the IL-6 or TNF response.

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PubMed1998

Late aortic arch perforation by graft-anchoring stent: complication of endovascular thoracic aneurysm exclusion.

PURPOSE: To describe a fatal case of late aortic perforation by an endograft-anchoring stent. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 69-year-old woman presented 2 years after thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair with a 9-cm dilatation of the descending thoracic aorta proximal to the conventional aortic graft. A 38-mm Dacron graft with multiple Gianturco Z-stents sutured inside was placed transluminally across the aortic arch such that part of the uncovered portion of the proximal stent was partially across the left subclavian orifice. Four months later, the patient died from massive hemorrhage. Autopsy showed that the uncovered portion of the proximal stent had perforated the aortic arch. CONCLUSIONS: This case stresses the need for low-profile stent-grafts and smaller, more flexible introducer systems. Anchoring stents must be flexible, less traumatic, and strong enough to create a watertight seal even in tortuous vessels. To avoid aortic arch damage by thoracic stent-grafts, the proximal stent should be fully covered by the fabric.

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PubMed1998

Endovascular AAA exclusion: will stents with hooks and barbs prevent stent-graft migration?

PURPOSE: To investigate if stents with hooks and barbs will improve stent-graft fixation in the abdominal aorta. METHODS: Sixteen- to 24-mm-diameter Dacron grafts were deployed inside cadaveric aortas. The grafts were anchored by stents as in endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. One hundred thirty-seven stent-graft deployments were carried out with modified self-expanding Z-stents with (A) no hooks and barbs (n = 75), (B) 4 5-mm-long hooks and barbs (n = 39), (C) 8 10-mm-long, strengthened hooks and barbs (n = 19), or (D) hooks only (n = 4). Increasing longitudinal traction was applied to determine the displacement force needed to extract the stent-grafts. The radial force of the stents was measured and correlated to the displacement force. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) displacement force needed to extract grafts anchored by stent A was 2.5 N (2.0 to 3.4), stent B 7.8 N (7.4 to 10.8), and stent C 22.5 N (17.1 to 27.9), p < 0.001. Both hooks and barbs added anchoring strength. During traction, the weaker barbs were distorted or caused intimal tears. The stronger barbs engaged the entire aortic wall. The radial force of the stents had no impact on fixation, while aortic calcification and graft oversizing had marginal effects. CONCLUSIONS: Stent barbs and hooks increased the fixation of stent-grafts tenfold, while the radial force of stents had no impact. These data may prove important in future endograft development to prevent stent-graft migration after aneurysm exclusion.

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PubMed1998

Dilatation of the infrarenal aneurysm neck after endovascular exclusion of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

PURPOSE: To determine the fate of the infrarenal aneurysm neck and suprarenal aorta after endovascular exclusion of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). METHODS: Thirty-four patients underwent endovascular AAA repair between January 1994 and December 1995 using custom-made stent-grafts constructed from polyester graft material and modified self-expanding Gianturco Z-stents sutured to the graft orifices. Thirty-one patients were available for follow-up. Pre- and postimplantation diameters were measured using spiral computed tomography in the infrarenal aneurysm neck and the suprarenal aorta at the level of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 25 months. There was a significant increase of the diameter of the infrarenal aneurysm neck (+ 1.65 mm, p = 0.002), but not in the aorta at the level of the SMA (+0.52 mm, p = 0.100). There was no difference in the change in diameter in the infrarenal neck in the group with a stent adjacent to the level of measurement (n = 20) compared with the group without an adjacent stent (n = 11, p = 0.790). There was no correlation between preimplantation size of the infrarenal neck and its diameter change (r = 0.14, p = 0.488). There was no correlation (r = 0.10, p = 0.603) or association (chi-square test, p = 0.211) between aortic diameter change at the level of the SMA and the infrarenal neck. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation shows a significant dilatation of the infrarenal aneurysm neck, but not in the suprarenal aorta, after endovascular AAA repair with this device. The clinical significance of these findings is unclear. Whether such a dilatation in the infrarenal aneurysm neck may affect the long-term attachment of stent-grafts remains to be shown in the future.

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PubMed1997

Attenuation of contractile responses to sympathetic co-transmitters in veins from subjects with essential hypertension.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), noradrenaline (NA) and ATP are cotransmitters of the sympathetic nervous system and exert vasocontractile effects. The aim of this study was to determine the role of these sympathetic co-transmitters in human hypertension. Subcutaneous vessels from 12 patients with essential hypertension and 12 matched controls were studied in vitro. Vascular contractile responses to NPY, NA, alpha,beta-methylene ATP (alpha,beta-mATP) and potassium were studied in isolated arteries and veins (diameter 0.1-1.1 mm) with intact endothelium. The dilatory effect of acetylcholine was used to test the endothelial function. There was no difference in potency (pD2) or contractile response to NPY, NA or alpha,beta-mATP between hypertensive and control arteries. In veins, however, the contractile response to NPY was significantly reduced in hypertensives and the responses to NA were unchanged. Furthermore, the sensitivity (pD2) to alpha,beta-mATP was significantly reduced in veins from hypertensives. There was no difference in the dilatory response to acetylcholine between the hypertensives and the controls, neither in the arteries nor in the veins, indicating that the observed changes in vascular reactivity to NPY, NA and alpha,beta-mATP were not endothelium-dependent. In conclusion, the postjunctional contractile effect of NPY and sensitivity (pD2) to alpha,beta-mATP, co-transmitters of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system, are attenuated in veins in essential hypertension.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1997

The effect of endovascular aortic stents placed across the renal arteries.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate renal artery patency and renal function after deployment of aortic stents covering the orifices of renal arteries. DESIGN: Prospective open animal study. SETTING: Department of Experimental Surgery at a university hospital. MATERIALS: Twenty-three pigs were used. METHODS: Ten pigs were observed for 1 h after graft-anchoring aortic stents, Gianturco (5) and Palmaz (5), were placed so that the stents covered the renal arterial orifices. In 13 pigs, Gianturco (6) and Palmaz (7) stents without grafts were placed over the renal arteries and left in situ for 7 days. Renal function and blood flow were measured by renograms, iohexol clearance and ultrasonic blood flow meter and patency was verified by angiograms. The kidneys were microscopically examined for signs of ischaemia and microemboli. RESULTS: One renal artery covered by a graft-anchoring Gianturco stent occluded. The remaining renal arteries remained patent without any significant decrease in renal blood flow after stent deployment. Normal renal function and histology was maintained. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic stents placed at the level of the renal arteries do not affect renal blood flow within 1 week in this experimental model. This may prove valuable in endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysms and in other procedures involving stents.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

A telescopic stent-graft for aortoiliac implantation.

OBJECTIVES: To test a new delivery system for a telescopic stent-graft. MATERIALS: Variable overlap between the components of this stent-graft combination allows length adjustment. This device differs from other multi-component stent-grafts in that both components are contained within a single delivery system. METHODS: The stent-graft was implanted in the distal thoracic to suprarenal aorta of five pigs (35-50 kg), where the arterial diameter falls by almost 50%. The proximal and distal components of the stent-graft were targeted to bony landmarks in the vertebral column. RESULTS: Inspection of completion angiograms showed both proximal and distal stent-grafts to be within 1 mm of their target locations in all five experiments. Overall combined stent-graft length varied from 13.5 cm to 16.1 cm depending on the location of the bony landmark chosen as the distal target, and on the size of the pig. CONCLUSIONS: This system may be useful for the repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm whenever preoperative sizing is difficult due to aortic tortuosity, or precluded due to the urgency of the procedure.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Aneurysm pressure following endovascular exclusion.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of stent-graft implantation on the pressure within an abdominal aortic aneurysm. METHODS: Aneurysm exclusion was performed using an aorto-uniiliac stent-graft in eight patients. Following stent-graft implantation, pressure measurements were performed through a catheter adjacent to the graft in the aneurysm. This "aneurysm pressure" was compared with radial arterial pressure. RESULTS: The pressure was lower in the aneurysm than in the radial artery, in all cases. Mean aneurysm pressure was 36.5/33.8 mmHg, while mean radial arterial pressure was 118.5/50.5 mmHg (p < 0.05, for both systolic and diastolic pressures). These findings corresponded with a reduction in the palpable abdominal pulse, and an absence of perigraft perfusion on follow-up computerised tomography. CONCLUSION: Stent-graft implantation produces a fall in the pressure within an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal↗
PubMed1997

The use of intravascular ultrasound as control procedure for the deployment of endovascular stented grafts.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), used systematically in a series of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), is a feasible control procedure to ensure correct transfemoral placement of endovascular stent grafts (TPEG). DESIGN: Descriptive study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients with infrarenal aortic aneurysms were treated by the placement of one tube graft, 10 aorto-uni-iliac and three aorto-bi-iliac grafts. Arteriography and IVUS were performed before, during and after deployment of the graft to ensure correct placement in relation to side branches, and proper adaptation of the stents to the aortic wall. Postoperative CT-scan and arteriography served as control procedures. RESULTS: IVUS identified both renal arteries before graft deployment in eight of 13 (62%) patients. In the remaining patients only one renal artery was visualised due to interference from guidewires or the introducer system. Imaging during stent deployment was abandoned after IVUS catheter damage in two of three cases. Postprocedural IVUS was able to evaluate the expansion of the stents and the adaptation to the aortic wall in all instances. In four (29%) cases a leak was identified. Additional intervention included deployment of a further stent (n = 2) or redilation (n = 2). Covering of the renal arteries could only be indirectly determined by IVUS. CONCLUSION: IVUS can provide important decisive information before and after stented graft deployment, with the limitations that guidewires, introducer system and stents may cause interference. Contemporary IVUS designs are unsuitable for monitoring stent deployment.

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PubMed1997

Renal arteries covered by aortic stents: clinical experience from endovascular grafting of aortic aneurysms.

OBJECTIVES: During the endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), effective anchoring of the stent-graft is difficult in the presence of a short infrarenal aneurysm neck. The aim of this study was to investigate renal artery patency and renal function after deployment of graft anchoring stents across the renal arteries. DESIGN: Retrospective open study. PATIENTS: Twenty-five renal arteries, in 18 patients treated by endovascular exclusion of an AAA, were intentionally covered with the Gianturco Z-stent to ensure stent graft attachment. METHODS: Renal artery patency was assessed by repeated spiral computed tomography (CT) scans and angiography. Creatinine levels, blood pressure and antihypertensive medication were recorded. Follow-up was a median 6 months (2-9). RESULTS: All 25 stent-covered renal arteries remained patent. CT showed a small infarct in one kidney. Creatinine was 108 mumol/l (89-133) before intervention and 98 mumol/l (87-127) at follow-up. Blood pressure was 150/80 mmHg on both occasions. Antihypertensive therapy was intensified in one patient whose creatinine level remained stable and whose separate renin sampling was normal. CONCLUSIONS: Covering the renal arteries with the Gianturco Z-stent does not seem to affect renal function within 6 months. Further follow-up is needed before suprarenal stent deployment can be advocated.

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PubMed1997

Concentrations of prostaglandin F2alpha in follicular fluid from women with endometriosis.

Previous data have indicated that prostaglandins (PG) play an important role in the ovulation process and significant quantities have been found in follicular fluid. The synthesis of PG is influenced by ovarian steroids as well as inflammatory processes. Increased PG has been shown in peritoneal fluid from women with endometriosis. The aim of this study was to see whether PGF2alpha concentration in follicular fluid varies according to the presence or absence of remaining endometriotic lesions in the pelvis of women with endometriosis. Follicular fluid was collected at visual puncture of the follicles at laparoscopy of 26 women with diagnosed endometriosis. Visible lesions were found in 10 women and in 16 women no lesions could be seen macroscopically. PGF2alpha was determined using radioimmunoassay. The results showed no significant difference in the concentrations of PGF2alpha between women with visible and not macroscopically visible endometriotic lesions and there was no significantly linear correlation with endometriotic lesions in the follicle punctured. These data are in accordance with clinical results showing that fertility rate does not increase in endometriotic women even if the lesions disappear after treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Abdominal aortic aneurysms: experience with the Ivancev-Malmö endovascular system for aortomonoiliac stent-grafts.

PURPOSE: To describe a component-based aortomonoiliac stent-graft system and the first clinical results achieved with this device in endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. METHODS: From November 1993 to October 1996, 45 patients aged 60 to 86 years underwent endoluminal exclusion of true AAAs (median diameter 60 mm) involving the common iliac arteries (median diameter 16 mm right and 15 mm left) using unilimb stent-grafts deployed with the Iancev-Malmö system. RESULTS: Six immediate conversions occurred in the beginning of the series due to endografts that were too short. Complications, including 2 inadvertent renal artery occlusions, 7 kinked grafts, 6 iliac artery dissections, and 3 perioccluder leaks, were prominent features in the first 15 patients. Five patients died in the postoperative period, four of whom were nonsurgical candidates. There were five significant stent-graft migrations: one 3 weeks after surgery due to mechanical injury of the proximal stent and four after 1 year owing to continuous dilation of a wide proximal neck, stent-graft placement in a conical, thrombus-lined proximal neck, and two instances of proximal extension separation from the main graft. Translumbar aneurysm perfusion required embolization in 3 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite early complications associated with a learning curve, exclusion of large AAAs using unilimb stent-grafts is feasible. Strict inclusion criteria are necessary in order to improve mortality among nonsurgical candidates and minimize the risk for late migration.

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PubMed1997

Changing aneurysmal morphology after endovascular grafting: relation to leakage or persistent perfusion.

PURPOSE: To relate changing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) morphology after endovascular grafting to the presence of leakage, collateral perfusion, and other factors. METHODS: Thirty-five patients who underwent successful AAA endovascular grafting were evaluated. Self-expanding Z-stents and Dacron grafts were applied in bifurcated and aortomonoiliac systems. Postoperative diameter changes were calculated from repeated spiral computed tomographic scans, angiograms, and ultrasonic phase-locked echo-tracking scans during a median 6-month follow-up (interquartile range [IQR] 3 to 12). RESULTS: At 12 months, the diameters of completely excluded aneurysms had decreased 6 mm (IQR 2 to 11; p = 0.006). The proximal graft-anchoring stents had dilated 2 mm (IQR 0.5 to 3.3; p = 0.01). The aortic diameters immediately below the renal arteries but above the stents had not changed. Endoleakage and collateral perfusion (n = 13) were each associated with preserved aneurysm size and a 12 times higher risk of aneurysm dilation. After the leakage or the collateral perfusion had been treated, the aneurysm size decreased. Aneurysms with extensive intraluminal thrombi presented a reduced risk of leakage or perfusion. CONCLUSIONS: The diameters of endovascularly excluded AAAs decrease, except in cases of leakage or perfusion. Careful follow-up of patients with aortic endografts is necessary.

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PubMed1996

Are self-expanding stents superior to balloon-expanded in dilating aortas? An experimental study in pigs.

OBJECTIVE: To study the stent/vessel interaction and distensibility following the natural increase in vascular diameter using self-expanding and balloon-expanded stents. DESIGN: Open experimental study. SETTING: Animal laboratory, university hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight Palmaz (P) and eight Gianturco (G) stents were transluminally placed in the infrarenal aortas of 16 pigs. Pulsatile diameter changes above, at and below the stents were non-invasively monitored with an ultrasound phase-locked echo-tracking system before and immediately after stenting and at 4 and 18 weeks. Blood pressure was registered intra-arterially and stiffness (beta) was calculated. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was performed at 18 weeks. RESULTS: Median weight increased from 20 kg (19-26) to 93 kg (62-130). Diameter of the aorta increased 60%. In group P no pulsatile diameter change could be measured at the stent (beta = infinity). In group G stenting increased stiffness from beta 20.7 (9.2) to 43.2 (8.0) (p < 0.05). After 18 weeks stiffness returned to beta 20.1 (12.4). Expanded, median diameter of the P stents was 7.4 (0.8) mm, not increasing after 18 weeks. Initial diameter of the G stents was 7.8 (1.0) mm, increasing 56% to 12.2 (2.3) mm (p < 0.05). IVUS revealed the G stents to be well attached to the vascular wall, but five P stents were detached within half of the circumference. CONCLUSION: Self-expanding stents follow the pulsatile diameter change of the vessel wall, not adversely affecting distensibility after 18 weeks. They show good attachment despite 56% dilation. In contrast, the balloon-expanded stents do not show pulsatile movement and may detach during vessel diameter increase. This may be of importance when choosing stents for endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Recovery of endothelial cells and prostanoid production in endothelial cell-seeded grafts.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the function and morphology of endothelial cell (EC) seeded grafts. DESIGN: Experimental, open study. CHIEF OUTCOME MEASURES: Endoluminal release of prostacyclin (6-Keto-PGF1 alpha) and thromboxane B2 (TxB2), patency, EC coverage and cell identity. MATERIALS: In 12 sheep, segments of both carotid arteries were excised. On one side a seeded and on the other an unseeded dacron graft were inserted. After 3 months the grafts were excised. In grafts and arteries, the endoluminal release of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TxB2 was determined in a perfusion system. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy were used to determine the EC coverage and cell identity. RESULTS: Eight animals survived. Three seeded and two unseeded grafts were occluded. Prostacyclin release did not differ significantly between seeded and unseeded grafts and arteries, when the arteries were looked upon as one group. When the graft was compared with its corresponding artery, i.e. the artery it replaced, a significantly lower release was found in the unseeded group. Thromboxane release was undetectable in arteries but significantly higher in both graft groups. SEM revealed a cellular coverage of 75% in the seeded grafts and 50% in the unseeded (not significant). Light microscopy showed a patchy staining for Factor VIII-related antigen in some grafts in both groups. CONCLUSION: Prostacyclin release in unseeded and seeded dacron grafts did not differ 3 months after implantation in sheep, except when the graft was compared with its corresponding artery. The significance of this remains to be settled. Seeded grafts did not have a higher proportion of endothelial coverage than unseeded grafts.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗