Hybrid Percutaneous Brachiofemoral Shunt and Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair in a Kidney Transplant Recipient

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair in kidney transplant recipients may cause ischemia in the transplanted kidney. As a result, various techniques have been described for protection of the renal allograft during AAA repair including temporary shunt, extracorporeal bypass, cold renal perfusion, endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR), and operation without renal allograft protection. We successfully treated a 56-year-old man, a case of kidney transplantation with AAA, using a temporary hybrid percutaneous brachiofemoral shunt using vascular prosthesis with a long 7-French (Fr) catheter sheath introducer (CSI) in the aortic arch via the right brachial artery and 8 Fr CSI in the right femoral artery that were connected together with a 7 Fr guiding catheter, before aortic cross-clamping and repair of AAA using a Dacron tube graft. The patient recovered well from the surgery without any complication and was discharged on the 6th postoperative day. To our knowledge, this is the first report of using a temporary hybrid percutaneous brachiofemoral shunt for renal allograft protection in AAA repair surgery in a patient with kidney transplantation, and we think that this temporary shunt is an easy, safe, and rapid method for renal allograft protection from ischemia.

Ventriculosubgaleal shunting in the treatment of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus of premature infants: case series

Introduction: Posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus(PHH) comprises the most common complication in preterm infants (PTI) who suffered germinative matrix hemorrhage (GMH), and its treatment is still matter of controversies. These infants usually weigh less than 1,500g and a temporary CSF diversion is needed. VSGS is preferred in those cases because it is a simple and rapid method, no need for repetitive aspiration for the evacuation of CSF, gives a permanent decompression without causing electrolyte and nutritional losses, and still protects the cerebral development of newborns with GMH. Methods: We analyzed a series of 22 PTI who underwent VSGS for PHH, between July 2015 and April 2019, and minimum follow-up 6 months. The median gestation age was 28 weeks (range 23-32). The median weigh was 985g (range 625-1615). The mean period harboring de VSGS was 61,8 days (range 35-80). Results: The cases were studied for: 1) Shunt dependency: 11 children (50%) showed persistent hydrocephalus at further investigation and underwent to VP shunt after stable clinical condition. 2) Infection: 6 subjects (27,2%) showed positive cultures, and were converted to External Ventricular Device (EVD), and further VP shunt; 3) Outcome: the results were separated in Excellent/Good (GOS 5-4) 12 subjects (54%); Poor (GOS 3-2): 8 subjects (36%) and Death (GOS 1): 2 subjects (10%). Conclusions: VSGS is a good alternative method to treat PHH, especially in a preterm infant who needs a temporary shunt device. The low rate of severe complications and encouraging results about persistent hydrocephalus should guide further investigation and larger cases series.

Off-pump hypoplastic aortic arch ± aortic coarctation repair via median sternotomy using a temporary shunt

An off-pump technique was developed to surgically manage the problem of aortic arch hypoplasia frequently associated with coarctation of the aorta and borderline size left-sided structures. The technique was successfully utilized in 5 patients adequately repairing the arch without any side effects.

A temporary bypass used in end-to-end anastomosis of major vessels without stopping blood flow in the segment under repair

The authors developed an original set of tools and a method of carrying out end-to-end anastomosis on major vessels, without stopping blood circulation in the vascular segment being repaired. The proposed set of tools includes 10 tubes (temporary vascular grafts) made of medical silicone with external diameters from 8 to 26 mm. The length of each tube is not less than 10 cm, and the wall thickness is 1.2 mm. A spiral notch with a step of 1.2 mm is made on the outer surface of the tubes, to a depth of 1 mm. The set of tools also includes a set of metal hollow half cylinders with a through hole made in the middle, designed to extract the temporary shunt of the appropriate diameter. Before the formation of a vascular anastomosis, a silicone tube is selected, the outer diameter of which corresponds to the inner diameter of the damaged vessel. It is necessary to cut off a length of the tube, so that 23 cm of it could be introduced into the lumen of the proximal and distal segments of the damaged vessel. A stay-suture is laid in the center of the temporary bypass, on a site of its wall between two neighboring spiral notches. The ends of the temporary bypass, pre-filled with saline solution, are introduced into the distal and proximal ends of the divided vessel and are firmly fixed in the lumen of the vessel with two elastic bands. After placing the temporary bypass in the lumen of the damaged vessel, the blood flow is restored. Using the intraluminar temporary shunt as a scaffold, the edges of the vessel are approximated and stitched to its entire circumference, tying the first and last stitches of this seam. The last additional suture is placed in the area of the stay-suture overlying the wall of the temporary vascular shunt and is not tightened. A half-cylinder is placed above the untightened vascular suture and a stay-suture is placed at its opening. After that, tightly pressing the metal hollow half-cylinder to the vascular wall, and applying traction to the ends of the stay-suture the mechanical destruction of the silicone tube along the line of the spiral incision ensues. As a result, the tube is transformed into a double silicone rod, which is pulled through a through hole in the metal half-cylinder floor. After the extraction of the tube, the anastomosis is completed by tying a knot on the provisional suture. To simulate the proposed method, 10 operations were performed using a closed experimental circuit that completely simulates the real situation of restoring a damaged major vessel. The time of the operation, the technical features of the intervention, as well as the volume of blood loss, which was estimated by reducing the volume of blood circulating in the experimental circuit, were evaluated. Experimental testing with the use of a model simulating the situation of restoring a damaged major vessel, demonstrated the effectiveness of the developed method of applying a vascular end-to-end anastomosis with the use of a destructible temporary bypass; the average time of the operation was 10 minutes, and the volume of blood loss did not exceed 5 ml. The proposed set of tools and method can be effectively used in case of major vessels injury. The technique completely excludes the need for interrupting blood flow through the sutured vessel; it allows to reduce the volume of blood loss in vascular trauma, minimizes the time of ischemia in the area of blood supply to the damaged artery or venous stagnation of the drained segment (when suturing a vein), as well as to facilitate the imposition of a vascular suture to surgeons who do not have sufficient qualification in vascular surgery.

TM3-8 Use of adjustable anti-gravity devices in NPH patients with delayed post-shunt deterioration

ObjectivesA subset of idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) patients respond to VP shunt insertion temporarily. Adjustable anti-gravity devices are designed to control position-induced CSF drainage changes; we aim to assess to effect of using these devices to achieve controlled overdrainage in temporary shunt responders.DesignA single-centre retrospective study of patients undergoing VP shunt valve revision from an adjustable differential pressure valve with fixed anti-siphon (ProGAV +Shuntassistant) to a system incorporating an adjustable anti-siphon valve (ProGAV +ProSA) (April 2013-April 2018).Subjects21 patients diagnosed with temporary shunt-responsive NPH who improved on high volume shunt reservoir tap (10M: 11F). Mean age at first VP shunt insertion was 74.5±7.87 years.MethodsMedical records were retrospectively reviewed for demographics, interventions and clinical outcomes.ResultsMean duration until revision with a ProSA valve was 31.5±16.8 months (mean ±SD). Mean follow up was 31.4±15.9 months. Of 20 patients with sufficient follow-up, 12 made objective improvements in walking and/or neuropsychological test outcome. 15 patients made subjective improvements in mobility or cognitive impairment.ConclusionsVP shunting with adjustable differential pressure valves and fixed antigravity devices may not drain sufficient CSF for optimum management of low pressure hydrocephalus. Addition of adjustable anti-gravity devices at lower shunt settings in temporary shunt responders may improve outcome.

First-in-Human Experience With Integration of a Hydrocephalus Shunt Device Within a Customized Cranial Implant

BACKGROUNDImplantable shunt devices are critical and life saving for hydrocephalus patients. However, these devices are fraught with high complication rates including scalp dehiscence, exposure, and extrusion. In fact, high shunt valve profiles are correlated with increased complications compared to those with lower profiles. As such, we sought a new method for integrating shunt valves for those challenging patients presenting with scalp-related complications.OBJECTIVETo safely implant and integrate a hydrocephalus shunt valve device within a customized cranial implant, in an effort to limit its high-profile nature as a main contributor to shunt failure and scalp breakdown, and at the same time, improve patient satisfaction by preventing contour deformity.METHODSA 64-yr-old male presented with an extruding hydrocephalus shunt valve and chronic, open scalp wound. The shunt valve was removed and temporary shunt externalization was performed. He received 2 wk of culture-directed antibiotics. Next, a contralateral craniectomy was performed allowing a new shunt valve system to be implanted within a low-profile, customized cranial implant. All efforts were made, at the patient's request, to decrease the high-profile nature of the shunt valve contributing to his most recent complication.RESULTSFirst-in-human implantation was performed without complication. Postoperative shunt identification and programming was uncomplicated. The high-profile nature of the shunt valve was decreased by 87%. At 10 mo, the patient has experienced no complications and is extremely satisfied with his appearance.CONCLUSIONThis first-in-human experience suggests that a high-profile hydrocephalus shunt device may be safely integrated within a customized cranial implant.

Use of a temporary shunt to preserve the patency of a hemodialysis graft while performing ipsilateral axillo-femoral bypass

Increased blood flow in the subclavian artery feeding a vascular access for hemodialysis can rarely induce steal phenomena in the vertebral and internal mammary artery leading to potentially life-threatening conditions. On the contrary, transient interruption of blood flow in the subclavian artery feeding a dialysis arteriovenous fistula can theoretically induce access thrombosis. Here, we describe a technical maneuver preserving continuous ipsilateral upper arm access flow when constructing a unilateral axillo-femoral polytetrafluoroethylene bypass operation for critical limb ischemia in a hemodialysis patient.