1.            Introduction

 Complications of aortic grafts are; hemorrhage, graft occlusion, embolization, infection, ureteral injury, ischemic colitis, spinal ischemia, pseudoaneurysm, material failure and sexual dysfunction.

Ischemic colitis remains a rare entity, after elective open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with a reported incidence ranging from 1% to 3% [1]. When routine postoperative colonoscopy is performed, the incidence reaches 5% to 9% after elective surgery and 15% to 60% following rupture [2,3].e

Colonic ischemia following aortic reconstruction is multifactorial;

depending on the caliber of the occluded vessel, the duration and the degree of ischemia, the rapidity of onset of the ischemic process, the adequacy and efficiency of collateral circulation, the state of general circulation, metabolic requirements of the affected bowel, presence of bacteria within the bowel lumen and associated conditions such as colonic distention.

The IMA ligation during an aortic reconstruction is the most important risk factor in the development of colonic infarction [4]. Although it is safe in the majority of cases:Patients who lack of adequate collateral colonic blood supply are at risk of colonic necrosis. Patients at greatest risk for development of ischemic colitis after aortic reconstruction are those with: ruptured aneurysms, post-aortic reconstruction mean Inferior Mesenteric Arterial Stump Pressures (IMASP) below 40 mmHg, doppler arterial flow signals that cease after division or occlusion of the IMA, damaged meandering mesenteric artery that has gone unrecognized.

On preoperative arteriography, retrograde filling of the Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) from the IMA places the patient at higher risk for postoperative ischemic colitis. IMA reimplantation is important in such cases, as well as in the case of severe bilateral hypogastric artery stenosis.

The case presented here, highlights the importance of considering intraoperative stump pressure measurement together with the evaluation of mesenteric circulation judged by intestinal motility, color and mesenteric arterial pulse palpation. This enables the surgeon to predict when IMA reimplantation is needed in order to avoid colonic ischemia.

We feel that, it is important to share our experience with the successful management of the following case.

2.            Case Report

A 74 year- old male patient with abdominal pain radiating tohis back was referred to our clinic. He had suffered blunt abdominal trauma, three weeks before abdominal pain had occurred. At physical examination a pulsatile mass and a systolic murmur were found. Infrarenal aneurysm extending to both common iliac arteries was detected by Doppler USG and DSA (Figure 1).

The patient was discharged 5 days postoperatively at which time both bifurcation graft and IMA were patent. CTA was repeated six months later confirming the favourable result.

3.            Discussion

 The development of Ischemic Colitis (IC) after Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) repair is one of the most severe postoperative complications, with a prevalence rate of 1% to 3% [1]. Because of potentially high mortalitiy rates exceeding 50%, it is important to identify possible risk factors that may exacerbate this complication as well as identify patients who could benefit from the IMA reimplantation [5,6].

For this reason, several criteria have been proposed in an effort to predict which patients might be at risk for postoperative ischemic colitis. Most assumptions are based on the fact that direct colonic and / or pelvic revascularization at the time of aortic reconstruction might lessen the risk of postoperative ischemic colitis.

Indeed, in one study in which such aggressive revascularization was undertaken, the incidence of endoscopically proven ischemic colitis was reduced to 3% only, being mild and nonfatal [7]. Although various intraoperative methods have been reported to assess sigmoid colonic viability, these methods are not easy to use or not applicable to every patient [8-12]. Intraoperatively, the presence of IMA back-bleeding does not guarantee protection from IC. However, the presence of an IMA stump pressure-to-systemic pressure ratio greater than 0.4 has been reported to be associated with a low likelihood of postoperative colonic ischemia after IMA ligation.

Ernst et al. measured IMASP after aortic reconstruction and found a mean pressure of less than 40 mmHg to be predictive of postoperative Ischemic Colitis (IC) [8]. Intravenous administration of fluorescein has also been reported to help predict benefit from colonic revascularization or immediate colectomy, absence of fluorescence has been reported to be associated with a high risk of IC, whereas “patchy” perfusion has not. Intramural pH measurement by endoluminal tonometry is another method described to detect colonic ischemia intraoperatively. This method measures luminal pCO₂ changes, which are correlated with pH and are in equilibrium with colonic wall pCO₂ values [13]. In one study, a pH lower than 6.86, especially if prolonged, was predictive of postoperative IC [14].

 The major blood supply to the pelvic organs is by IMA. Many authors have proposed re-vascularisation of the IMA, whenever possible. Systematic re-implantation of IMA diminishes the incidence of IC (15,16). Reimplantation of the inferior mesenteric origin as a button from the aorta to the prosthesis (the Carrel patch technique) and anastomosis of a portion of the aneurysmal sac, including the orifice of the artery into the prosthesis (the inclusion technique, popularized by Crawford) are two techniques that are used for IMA reconstruction. Alternative methods include reimplantation of the IMA without an aortic button, interposition grafting of prosthetic material or autogenous tissue from the aortic graft to the artery. 

In our case, we have applied the Carrel patch technique which allows for a wider anastomotic orifice between IMA and Dacron aortic graft and facilitates more precise suturing [17]. ‘Carrel patch technique’ should therefore be preferred for IMA reimplantation.

4.            Conclusion

 It is crucial to consider the preoperative state and condition of the hypogastric artery, SMA and IMA at angiography together with intraoperative stump pressure measurements. If the sigmoid colon is ischemic, an attempt should be made to improve flow. This can be done by reimplanting a patent IMA that had been ligated, and by ensuring that hypogastric arteries are perfused. Preservation of as many collateral circuits and restoration of blood flow to as many vital arterial branches as possible are imperative to prevent IC.

Figure 1: Angiography showing AAA and visualization.

Figure 2: Intraoperative view of the aortic aneurysm sac with detachment.

Figure 3: Intraoperative view of the opened aortic aneurysm sac.

Figure 4: Reimplanted IMA onto a Dacron graft.

Figure 5: Postoperative CTA demonstrates IMA and graft  are patent.

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Citation: Nebigil R.M. (2018) Mesenteric Revascularisation By Carrel Patch Technique in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysmectomy. J Surg 2018: 1106. DOI: 10.29011/2575-9760.001106