Background: The benefit of prophylactic left ventricular (LV) unloading during venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in selected patients at risk of developing LV distension remains unclear. Methods: We enrolled 136 patients treated with Impella pump decompression during VA-ECMO therapy for refractory cardiogenic shock. Patients were stratified by specific indication for LV unloading in the prophylactic vs. bail-out group. The bail-out unloading strategy was utilized to treat LV distension in VA-ECMO afterload-associated complications. The primary endpoint was all-cause 30-day mortality after VA-ECMO implantation. The secondary endpoint was successful myocardial recovery, transition to durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS), or heart transplantation. Results: After propensity score matching, prophylactic unloading was associated with a significantly lower 30-day mortality risk (risk ratio 0.38, 95% confidence interval 0.23–0.62, and p < 0.001) and a higher probability of myocardial recovery (risk ratio 2.9, 95% confidence interval 1.48–4.54, and p = 0.001) compared with the bail-out strategy. Heart transplantation or durable MCS did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusions: Prophylactic unloading compared with the bail-out strategy may improve clinical outcomes in selected patients on VA-ECMO. Nevertheless, randomized trials are needed to validate these results.

Introduction. Splenic artery aneurysms are potentially lethal lesions. We report two illustrative cases and discuss etiology, diagnosis and treatment of these aneurysms. Outline of Cases. Both patients, age 31 and 80 years, were biparous women. The younger woman, otherwise healthy, was referred from a local hospital 3 weeks after she underwent a left subcostal laparotomy and exploration for symptomatic abdominal mass diagnosed by CT. Angiography established the diagnosis of a large, non-ruptured splenic artery aneurysm. Elective aneurysmectomy with splenectomy was performed using the approach through the upper median laparotomy and bursa omentalis. Postoperative course was uneventful. Histopathology demonstrated cystic medial necrosis with chronic dissection. The other patient, elderly woman, presented urgently with acute abdominal pain and syncope and was diagnosed by computed tomography with a huge, ruptured splenic artery aneurysm. She underwent immediate aneurysmectomy with splenectomy using the same, above-mentioned approach. External pancreatic fistula and pancreatic pseudocyst complicated the postoperative course, requiring open pseudocyst drainage and cystojejunostomy. After a protracted hospitalization patient eventually recovered. The pathological diagnosis was atherosclerotic aneurysm. Conclusion. Splenic artery aneurysms are infrequent lesions, with varied etiology and clinical presentation. Timely diagnosis and adequate treatment prevent life-threatening rupture and lessen the risk of operative morbidity and mortality.

Although mural thrombosis frequently accompanies aneurysmal disease, complete thrombosis is distinctly unusual complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). A case study of a patient with chronic, asymptomatic complete thrombosis of a large juxtarenal AAA is presented along with a literature review and discussion of the potential secondary complications, mandating aggressive management of this condition. A 67-year-old man with multiple atherogenic risk factors and unattended complaints consistent with a recent episode of a transient right hemispheric ischemic attack was referred to our clinic with a diagnosis of a thrombosed AAA established by computed tomography. Duplex ultrasonography and aortography confirmed the referral diagnosis and also revealed near occlusion of the left internal carotid artery. The patient underwent a two-stage surgery, with preliminary left-sided carotid endarterectomy followed three days later by an aneurysmectomy and aortobifemoral reconstruction. He had an uncomplicated recovery and was discharged home on postoperative day 7, remaining asymptomatic at the 42-month follow-up. Complete thrombosis is an uncommon presentation of AAA and may be clinically silent. It is frequently associated with other manifestations of generalized atherosclerosis. Radical open repair yields durable result and is the preferred treatment modality.

Background: The effect of atmospheric pressure (AP) on the onset of abdominal aorta aneurysm rupture (RAAA) remains an unanswered question. We have investigated the seasonal variation and the effect of AP dynamics on RAAA by analysing the largest series of intraoperatively confirmed RAAA. Patients and methods: To realize this study we have performed a retrospective analysis of 546 patients with RAAA, operated within 503 days at the Clinic for vascular and endovascular surgery CCS between 1.1.2003 and 31.12.2012. AP data for Belgrade city were obtained from meteorological yearbooks published by the Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia measured at the hydrometeorological station “Belgrade Observatory”. Only patients with a residence within the extended Belgrade region, exposed to the similar AP values, were included in the analysis of the AP effect on RAAA. Results: RAAA were observed more frequently during winter and autumn months but without significant difference in comparison to other seasons. Months with higher AP values were associated with a higher RAAA rate (p = 0.0008, R2 = 0.665). A similar trend was observed for the monthly AP variability (p = 0.0311, R2 = 0.374). Average AP values did not differ between days with and without RAAA. However, during the three and seven days periods preceding RAAA AP variability parameters were greater and AP was rising. Conclusions: Although these pressure differences are very small, higher AP values over longer periods of time as well as greater variability are associated with RAAA. The exact mechanism behind this association remains unclear. The postulation that low AP may precipitate RAAA based on the Laplace law should be discarded.