Between January 1988 and December 1997 a total of 22 patients (age: 8 days-46 years) were operated for vascular airway compression syndromes with respiratory insufficiency. Vascular anomalies in tracheal compression were double aortic arch in 7 patients, (2 previously operated elsewhere), right aortic arch + left ligamentum arteriosum in 1, and pulmonary artery sling in 3. Three of these patients had secondary long-segment tracheomalacia. Compression of trachea and a main bronchus existed in 2 patients with right aortic arch + left ligamentum. Isolated main bronchus obstruction was present in 9 patients (abnormal insertion of ligamentum arteriosum in 1, status post (s.p.) previous operation for PDA in 4, s. p. surgery for coarctation in 1, right aortic arch + left ligamentum arteriosum in 2, and right lung aplasia + left ligamentum in 1). 3 of these cases had secondary long-segment bronchomalacia. All patients had a complex respiratory anamnesis [long-term intubation in 7, s.p. tracheostomy in 2 (over 3 months - 3 years), and progressive respiratory insufficiency in 13). In tracheal compression, surgical correction included transsection of the underlying ring or sling components (with additional anterior aortic arch translocation in 5 patients resection-reimplantation of left pulmonary artery in 3, segmental tracheal resection in 1, and external tracheal suspension in 2). In the 2 cases with compression of the trachea and a main bronchus, aortic "extension" by a prosthetic tube was necessary. In isolated main bronchus obstruction, surgical decompression basically consisted of transsection of the ligamentum arteriosum or resection of its scarry remnant forming the "corner point" of a compression between aorta and pulmonary artery. In 3 patients with secondary long-segment malacia, additional external bronchus suspension was performed. Effective decompression and re-expansion of the airway segment concerned was achieved, and was demonstrated by intraoperative endoscopy in all patients. There were 3 postoperative deaths (sepsis 2; massive, irreversible edema of the tracheal mucosa 1). Of the 19 surviving patients 16 could be extubated between the 1st and 17th (mean = 7.5) postoperative day. In 1 case the preoperative long-term tracheostomy had to be left in place for inoperable additional laryngeal stricture. 2 patients had to be reoperated (segmental cervical tracheal resection after 5 months for primary long-term intubation-related subglottic stenosis in 1, esophageal decompression for residual dysphagia after 57 months related to a traction phenomenon at the right descending aorta in the other), both with gratifying results. In all other patients clinical, endoscopic, and radiographic examinations (follow-up = 2 months - 6 years) demonstrate good results.

The occurrence of paravalvular abscesses in the course of an acute endocarditis of the aortic valve indicates an advanced stadium of the disease. The infection has spread beyond the limits of the valve leaflets, and ongoing destruction of the paravalvular tissue is to be expected, if the endocarditis is continually treated by antibiotics alone. Surgery of acute endocarditis with paravalvular abscess, however, supposedly carries an increased risk of early mortality and late morbidity. The following prospective study was carried out to determine whether a radical surgical approach together with aggressive postoperative antibiotic therapy could help to improve results. Between 1988 and 1995, 138 patients were operated during the acute phase of infective endocarditis; in 102 the aortic valve was involved. Among these, 44 had paravalvular abscesses at the time of surgery. The mean age of both groups was the same, but there was a higher rate of concomitant coronary artery disease, multiple valve involvement, advanced NYHA-class, and staphylococcal disease among the patients with abscesses. All interventions were carried out with cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest. The aortic valve was resected, abscesses were removed, and each part of potentially infected or necrotic tissue was resected as complete as possible, irrespective of the possibility to jeopardize the conduction system or to create large tissue defects. The aortic valve was replaced with a mechanical prosthesis in each case. The postoperative antibiotic regimen was specifically directed against the microorganisms isolated preoperatively; therapy was only modified, if signs of systemic infection did not disappear three days after surgery. The operative mortality was 10% among patients without an abscess and 11% in patients with a paravalvular abscess. Early recurrent endocarditis was recorded in two patients without and in only one patient with an abscess. Late recurrent endocarditis was noted in three patients; none of them had abscesses at the time of surgery. We conclude that the operative risk of acute endocarditis of the aortic valve with a paravalvular abscess does not have to be inevitably higher compared to cases without paravalvular involvement. To achieve these results, it is necessary to use a radical surgical approach and to adjust postoperative antibiotic therapy, if infectious signs do not disappear shortly after surgery.

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has emerged as a promising therapeutic alternative to conventional open aortic replacement but it requires suitable proximal and distal landing zones for stent-graft anchoring. Many aortic pathologies affect in the immediate proximity of the left subclavian artery (LSA) limiting the proximal landing zone site without proximal vessel coverage. In patients in whom the distance between the LSA and aortic lesion is too short, extension of the landing zone can be obtained by covering the LSA's origin with the endovascular stent graft (ESG). This manoeuvre has the potential for immediate and delayed neurological and vascular symptoms. Some authors, therefore, propose prophylactic revascularisation of the LSA by transposition or bypass, while others suggest prophylactic revascularisation only under certain conditions, and still others see no requirement for prophylactic revascularisation in anticipation of LSA ostium coverage. In this review about LSA revascularisation in TEVAR patients with coverage of the LSA, we searched the electronic databases MEDLINE and EMBASE historically until the end date of May 2010 with the search terms left subclavian artery, covering, endovascular, revascularisation and thoracic aorta. We have gathered the most complete scientific evidence available used to support the various concepts to deal with this issue. After a review of the current available literature, 23 relevant articles were found, where we have identified and analysed three basic treatment concepts for LSA revascularisation in TEVAR patients (prophylactic, conditional prophylactic and no prophylactic LSA revascularisation). The available evidence supports prophylactic revascularisation of the LSA before ESG LSA coverage when preoperative imaging reveals abnormal supra-aortic vascular anatomy or pathology. We further conclude that elective patients undergoing planned coverage of the LSA during TEVAR should receive prophylactic LSA transposition or LSA-to-left-common-carotid-artery (LCCA) bypass surgery to prevent severe neurological complications, such as paraplegia or brain stem infarction.