Magnetic Resonance Elastography as a Method to Estimate Stiffness of Soft Tissues
Heart FailureLiver Fibrosis2 moreMagnetic resonance elastography is a novel non-invasive MRI technique to obtain stiffness of soft tissues such as liver, heart, kidneys, etc. In this imaging technique a person is laid in an MR scanner and a paddle (plastic drum) is put on the area of interest to send sound vibration via a speaker placed outside the scan room which is connecting plastic drum via a plastic tube. These vibrations are scanned using MRI to estimate the stiffness of soft tissues such as liver, heart, kidneys, breast etc.
Pathogenetic Basis of Aortopathy and Aortic Valve Disease
AortopathiesThoracic Aortic Aneurysm17 moreThe main purpose of this study is to define the complex genetic and pathogenic basis of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and other forms of aortopathy and/or aortic valve disease by identifying novel disease-causing genes and by identifying important genetic modifiers for aortic and aortic valve disease severity.
Mid- and Long-term Outcomes of Custom-made Aortic Devices
Aortic DiseasesThoracic Aortic AneurysmThis study aims to evaluate mid- and long-term outcomes after Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) with custom-made devices.
Endovascular Repair of AAA
On Abdominal Aortic AneurysmsWe study differen t endovascular techniques as an alternative to surgical reconstruction to repair AAAS regarding ; success rates, 30-day mortality, endoleak events secondary intervention rates
AOrtic Surgery: Systemic Inflammatory Response Versus Sepsis
Systemic Inflammatory Response SyndromeInfections3 moreThe goal of the prospective observational study is to evaluate the immunological background of inflammatory response often seen after open thoracic aortic surgery. Patients scheduled for this type of procedure will undergo a series of blood testing (preoperatively, and several times postoperatively). The blood samples will be used for a wide scale of immunological tests to better evaluate potential differential markers against infection. A control group will include patients with active infective endocarditis (preoperatively). The main question is if there is a biomarker able to determine a difference between sterile systemic inflammation and infection after thoracic aortic surgery. The second question is if there is a difference in dynamics of evaluated biomarkers between sterile postoperative inflammation and active endocarditis.
New MRI Techniques for Diagnosis and Treatment of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Without RuptureAn abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a pathological dilatation of the aorta in the belly which can rupture leading to bleeding within the belly. To prevent rupture elective surgery can be performed. Endovascular repair (EVAR) is a surgical intervention whereby a stent is inserted into the AAA to prevent it from further growth and rupture. Standard AAA management has several drawbacks. To start: maximum AAA diameter is used to determine upon timing of elective repair but is imprecise in predicting the risk of rupture resulting in an unmet clinical need. Secondly, EVAR outcome and complication occurrence remain unpredictable due to poor prediction ability of computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US) utilised in the follow-up protocol. Lastly, patients and physicians are being repeatedly exposed to cumulative radiation toxicity. All these drawbacks could be solved by trading the standard imaging modalities by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Within the MARVY, advanced MRI techniques are used to find out if standard imaging techniques could be replaced by MRI in three phases of the AAA management (surveillance, surgery planning and post-operative follow-up). The two most important MRI techniques that will be used are 4D flow MRI and dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI which give respectively information about the blood flow within the AAA and perfusion of the aortic wall.
Trajectory of Neuroinflammatory Markers in Cerebrospinal Fluid Prior to and After Thoracic Aortic...
Postoperative DeliriumPostoperative Cognitive Dysfunction1 moreObservational prospective pilot study to analyze the trajectory of neuroinflammatory protein expression in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in relation to systemic compartment in patients undergoing thoracic aortic surgery. The aim of this study is to identify and unravel the biochemical (neuroinflammatory) pathways involved in postoperative delirium. Patient undergoing thoracic aortic surgery will have an external lumbar drain (ELD) in situ on the day before surgery. This ELD remains in place during and three days after surgery to reduce the risk on periprocedural spinal cord ischemia. Paired measurements of CSF and blood will be analyzed.
Identification of Genetic Causes of Calcific Aortic Valve Disease
Calcific Aortic StenosisCalcific Aortic Stenosis - Bicuspid Valve7 moreThis study aims to identify the molecular genetic causes of the variability in development of calcific aortic valve disease in bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves and their associated aortic dilation.
3D Ultrasound of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Characteristics
Abdominal Aortic AneurysmAAA characteristics are traditionally measured with computed tomography angiography (CTA), however, three-dimensional ultrasound (3D US) is emerging as a novel imaging method for AAAs. With the use of a US contrast agent, the AAA thrombus can also be distinguished from the lumen on the 3D scans. This enables 3D visualization of the AAA and its thrombus without the need for harmful radiation and nephrotoxic contrast agents, as opposed to CTA. In in vitro measurements, 3D US has already been shown to have clinically acceptable error rate with AAA diameter and volume measurement. However, it is unclear whether this is also applicable to in vivo measurements. Therefore, the aim of this prospective study is to compare preoperative 3D US AAA characteristics as measured by 3D US with contrast enhancement (3D CEUS), 3D US without contrast enhancement (3D non-CEUS) and CTA.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Before Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Coronary Artery DiseaseAbdominal Aortic AneurysmCoronary artery disease (CAD) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are two separate entities with common risk factors such as hypertension, advanced age, male sex. Atherosclerosis plays an important role in the etiology of both diseases. It has been reported that AAA is more prevalent in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Despite all the evidence, current guidelines do not recommend routine screening for AAA before CABG. Syntax score shows anatomical significance of CAD and is associated with the degree of atherosclerotic load. The investigators aim to investigate if there were any differences regarding AAA prevalence in high-SYNTAX patients versus intermediate/low-SYNTAX patients.