The mortality and morbidity of extensive thoracoabdominal aorta replacement has improved markedly in recent years [1]. However, postoperative paraplegia from spinal cord infarction remains the most devastating complication that faces patients undergoing surgery on the thoracoabdominal aorta because loss of lowerlimb function imposes severe constraints on the quality of life. Additionally, parap...

A 66-year-old gentleman presents with extent II thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) secondary to chronic dissection with a maximal diameter of 6 cm. Partial thrombosis of false lumen in thoracic and abdominal aorta was present. Intimal tear was detected at the origin of the left subclavian artery and the dissection extended down to the aortic bifurcation. The left femoral artery, ascending ...

BACKGROUND Endovascular aortic repair was first performed nearly two decades ago and has become a well-established alternative therapy for many thoracoabdominal aortic diseases. Early survival results with the endovascular aortic repair were impressive, but it also brought many complications. Aortoesophageal fistula is little-known and may be underestimated because it is an unusual complication...

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage is a routinely used adjunct in thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) surgery which may reduce the incidence of perioperative paraplegia by improving the spinal cord perfusion. However, a small but evident complication rate of lumbar drainage should be considered. We present two rare cases of intracerebellar hematoma possibly due to excessive CSF drainage aft...

Open surgical repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms has evolved significantly over the last decades thanks to technical improvements, especially in the area of organ protection. However, despite adjunctive strategies, morbidity and mortality rates are still not negligible. Repair of the thoracoabdominal aorta represents a formidable challenge for surgeons, anesthesiologists and patients a...

Aneurysms that extend from the descending thoracic aorta into the abdomen, which can also involve the visceral segments of the upper abdominal aorta, are traditionally classified as thoracoabdominal. Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm reconstruction is very complex vascular surgery associated with high postoperative morbidity and mortality and related postoperative complications. In addition to t...

Introduction: Postoperative neurological deficit is the most devastating complication after thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Despite demonstrated neuroprotective effects of estradiol, its protective efficacy against spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion and underlying mechanisms are not yet elucidated. Methods: Two groups, each of 10 New Zealand white male rabbits, were studied. Control grou...

High operative mortality of infected thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (ITAA) is partly attributable to ischemic injury during aortic clamping. We report a 62-year-old man with biliary cirrhosis, who developed a rapidly enlarging ITAA secondary to thoracolumbar osteomyelitis. Additional infectious foci were found in the pubic and ischial bones and in the left lung. Blood cultures gave growth of...