Second-generation treatment of varicose veins: endovenous thermal ablation by laser or radiofrequency ablation

Endovenous thermal ablation (EVTA) is the second-generation treatment of varicose veins in the lower extremities. It has overcome the shortcomings of the first-generation treatment of high ligation and stripping. Further, it is the basis for the development of the third-generation treatment with endovenous glue ablation. It is currently recommended as the first-line treatment for varicose veins accompanied by great saphenous vein incompetence.Current Concepts: EVTA involves obliterating the varicosed veins by applying thermal energy to blood or vein wall. It can be performed by laser or radiofrequency ablation methods, under local anesthesia. The treatment results are excellent and show lesser pain and faster recovery compared to the first-generation treatment. However, complications include endovenous heat-induced thrombosis, deep vein thrombosis, ecchymosis, and phlebitis.Discussion and Conclusion: To enhance the therapeutic effect and reduce the complications of EVTA, sufficient tumescent anesthesia, a controlled number of firing in radiofrequency ablation, and use of the novel highwavelength laser and a radial catheter tip in endovenous laser ablation are recommended. In addition, proficiency in other generations of varicose vein treatments could help in various situations.

Nationwide Epidemiologic Study of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study Using National Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service Data

PURPOSE: The prevalence and treatment patterns of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) vary according to ethnicity and region. This study analyzed nationwide data on the epidemiology, practice patterns, and mortality rates of AAA in Korea.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from patients treated for AAA from 2012 to 2016 were extracted from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA) database.RESULTS: A total of 30,766 patients in Korea had treatment codes for AAA and 2,618 patients were treated for ruptured AAA. Of the 6,356 patients treated surgically, 1,849 and 4,507 underwent open surgical aneurysmal repairs (OSAR) or endovascular aneurysmal repairs (EVAR), respectively. The number of surgical treatments performed annually for AAA increased from 1,129 cases in 2012 to 1,501 cases in 2016. The number of EVAR cases increased from 753 to 1,109 during these five years, while the number of OSAR cases remained similar, at 376 and 392, respectively. The 30-day mortality rates after EVAR and OSAR were 4.2% and 10.6%, respectively. The mortality rates were significantly higher in patients with hypertension, dyslipidemia, chronic renal disease, diabetes mellitus, and congestive heart failure. There were significant differences in the prevalence, proportion of EVAR, and mortality rates according to the regional area.CONCLUSION: The prevalence of AAA and the proportion of EVAR in Korea increased in the past 5 years, while the rupture rate and the proportion of OSAR remained similar. To minimize mortality and regional discrepancies, nationwide registry and treatment standardization are needed.

Outcomes after Arterial or Venous Reconstructions in Limb Salvage Surgery for Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcoma

BACKGROUND: Limb salvage surgery with vascular reconstruction is currently considered as the standard treatment for extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS), showing equivalent oncologic outcome compared with amputation. In this retrospective study, the surgical and functional outcomes after arterial or venous reconstruction in limb salvage surgery for STS were analyzed. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent vascular resection and reconstruction as part of limb salvage surgery for extremity STS from July 2009 to June 2015 were included in this study. Incidence of surgical complication, graft patency, and patients' functional outcome were reviewed. RESULTS: During the study period, 14 arteries and 13 veins were reconstructed in 17 patients (artery only in 4, vein only in 3, artery and vein in 10). Autologous great saphenous vein (GSV) was the most commonly used vascular conduit in both arterial and venous reconstruction (78.6% and 77.0%). The patency of synthetic graft was significantly lower than that of the autologous vein conduit (log rank test, P = 0.001). Among 15 patients with tumors in lower extremity, 13 were ambulatory after limb salvage surgery. During median follow up of 23.3 months (interquartile range 39.9 months), 2 patients (11.7%) needed amputation of the initially salvaged limb due to local recurrence. CONCLUSION: Limb salvage surgery of soft tissue tumor combined with vascular reconstruction showed favorable functional outcome with good local control. Autologous vein conduit is preferred over synthetic graft both in arterial and venous reconstruction.

Proposal of a Selective Prophylaxis Strategy Based on Risk Factors to Prevent Early and Late Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia after Renal Transplantation / 대한이식학회지

BACKGROUND: Currently, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is used for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) prophylaxis, but it is associated with frequent adverse effects. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the current protocol and proposes an individualized risk-based prophylaxis protocol. METHODS: The PJP incidence and risk factors during the first 6 months (early PJP) and afterwards (late PJP) was assessed in renal transplant recipients with (prophylaxis group) and without (no-prophylaxis group) 6-month PJP prophylaxis. RESULTS: In 578 patients, there were 39 cases of PJP during a median follow-up of 51 months. Renal adverse events were encountered frequently during trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis, leading to premature discontinuation. Patients without the prophylaxis had a significantly higher incidence of early PJP (n=27, 6.6%) compared to patients with the prophylaxis (n=0). The incidence of late PJP was 2.2%, without between-group differences. The factors associated with early PJP were preoperative desensitization and acute rejection within 1 month, whereas late PJP was associated with age, deceased donor transplant, and acute rejection requiring antithymocyte globulin treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the simulation results of several risk-based scenarios, the authors recommend universal prophylaxis up to 6 months post-transplant and extended selective prophylaxis in patients aged ≥57 years and those with a transplant from deceased donors.

Late Type 3b Endoleak Mimicking Type 2 Endoleak after Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair has been widely used for the treatment of AAA as a safe and efficient method, but endoleaks causing persistent expansion of aneurysm sac may cause aneurysmal rupture and death. Type 3 endoleak is rare but a predominant cause of late rupture. Type 3b endoleak can be misdiagnosed as type 2 endoleak, which is more frequent. Here we report two cases of type 3b endoleak mimicking type 2 endoleak, which were successfully treated by open surgery of partial explantation of the stent-graft and endoaneurysmal interposition graft replacement.

Validation of the Korean version of the walking impairment questionnaire in patients with peripheral arterial disease

PURPOSE: Intermittent claudication is the most common early symptom of peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Walking impairment questionnaire (WIQ) is a short, inexpensive, easy-to-complete questionnaire to assess intermittent claudication and can provide data of usual walking. The purpose of this study is to validate the new Korean version of WIQ. METHODS: Total 51 patients with claudication were enrolled. While 4 patients were dropped out, 47 patients with claudication into were divided groups based on the treatment received: surgery (n = 33) and medication (n = 14). The surgery group was subdivided into the bypass (n = 13) and intervention (n = 20) groups. WIQ score, ankle-brachial index (ABI), and treadmill test scores were assessed initially and after 12 weeks. RESULTS: The WIQ scores were significantly correlated with ABI and pain-free walking distance (PFWD) and maximum walking distance (MWD) in all groups (except for MWD in the intervention group). Speed and stair-climb scores (2 WIQ domains) were well correlated with ABI, PFWD, and MWD. Distance scores were mostly correlated with ABI, PFWD, and MWD in all groups except ABI in the bypass and intervention groups and MWD in the bypass group. Reproducibility was observed in all groups (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.8). CONCLUSION: The Korean version of the WIQ is valid and reproducible, and can be effectively used to assess Korean patients with intermittent claudication.

Delayed Presentation of Endovenous Heat-Induced Thrombosis Treated by Thrombolysis and Subsequent Open Thrombectomy

Although endovenous heat-induced thrombosis (EHIT) is frequently reported after endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), the incidence and timing of occurrence of EHIT are not fully understood. We present a case of EHIT successfully treated with a combination of surgical and endovascular treatments. A 57-year-old woman, two months post bilateral EVLA, presented with a swollen leg. Deep vein thrombosis was diagnosed by Doppler ultrasonography and computerized tomographic venography. We treated the patient with catheter-directed thrombolysis with urokinase after insertion of an inferior vena cava filter. After thrombolytic treatment, we performed surgical venous thrombectomy, due to the presence of a large thrombus in the femoral vein. During the operation, we found organized old thrombus at the great saphenous vein which connected to the deep femoral vein. From these findings, we confirmed the presence of EHIT despite a long time having passed after EVLA. The patient was placed on anticoagulation therapy with oral rivaroxaban for three months.

Immunosuppression in Pediatric Kidney Transplant Patients / 대한이식학회지

Over the last two decades, newer immunosuppressive agents have been introduced in the field of solid organ transplantation, and provided better graft and patient outcome. A wider range of immunosuppressants available to transplant physicians have resulted in improved therapeutic strategies to offer the combinations of medications with non-overlapping toxicities and more suitable immunosuppression. However, only a few clinical trials of new immunosuppressants have been conducted in pediatric patients. This review will discuss the cutting-edge strategy of immunosuppression in children and the current status of new immunosuppressive agents in pre- and post-transplant management to prevent kidney allograft rejection.

Surgical Treatment of Infected Aortoiliac Aneurysm

PURPOSE: Infected aneurysms of the abdominal aorta or iliac artery (IAAA) are rare but fatal and difficult to treat. The purpose of this study was to review the clinical presentations and outcomes of IAAA and to establish a treatment strategy for optimal treatment of IAAA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electronic medical records of 13 patients treated for IAAA at Seoul National University Hospital between March 2004 and December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Mean age was 64.2 (median 70, range 20-79) years. Aneurysms were located in the infrarenal aorta (n=7), iliac arteries (n=5), and suprarenal aorta (n=1). Seven patients underwent excision and in situ interposition graft, 3 underwent extra-anatomical bypass, and 1 underwent endovascular repair. One patient with endovascular repair in an outside hospital refused resection, and only debridement was done, which revealed tuberculosis infection. One staphylococcal infection was caused by iliac stenting. Mycobacterium was the most common pathogen, followed by Klebsiella, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus. There were 3 in-hospital mortalities and the causes were sepsis in 2 and aneurysm rupture in 1. The 3 extra-anatomic bypasses were all patent after 5-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: IAAA develops from various causes and various organisms. IAAA cases with gross pus were treated with extra-anatomic bypass, which was durable. In situ reconstruction is favorable for long term-safety and efficacy, but extensive debridement is essential.

Open Surgical Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Coexisting with Horseshoe Kidney

Horseshoe kidney (HSK) is the most common congenital abnormality of the urologic system encountered during abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery. Here, the authors report a case of AAA coexisting with HSK that was successfully treated by open surgery. Two accessory renal arteries of 2.5 mm and 3.1 mm were reimplanted. One of the implanted arteries later occluded and infarct of the isthmus developed, but there was no impairment of renal function. The authors discuss the complexity of the surgical treatment of AAA coexisting with HSK, and place focus on which accessory renal arteries should be reconstructed.

Current Status of the Retrieval Rate of Retrievable Vena Cava Filters in a Tertiary Referral Center in Korea

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to review the daily practice of inferior vena cava filters (IVCFs) in a tertiary referral center in Korea and to reveal the retrieval rate and the methods for improving it. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Through the electronic medical record system, a retrospective review was performed on 115 consecutive patients who underwent placement of retrievable IVCFs between February 2000 and January 2011 in Seoul National University Hospital. RESULTS: IVCF placement was done in 115 cases (113 patients). There were 68 men (59.1%), and the mean age was 58.5+/-15.5 years (range, 10-96 years). The affiliated departments were Vascular Surgery (57 cases, 49.6%), and Internal Medicine (20 cases, 17.4%). Advanced malignancy was the most commonly associated disease (n=30, 26%). The indications for IVCF placement were categorized; absolute indications in 36 cases (31.3%), relative indications in 78 cases (67.8%), and prophylactic use in 1 case (0.9%). The most common indications were thrombolysis/thrombectomy for iliocaval deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (n=55, 47.8). Of the 115 filters, 68 were retrieved (retrieval rate, 59%). The most common cause of non-retrieval was chronic high risk of venous thromboembolism in 24 patients (51%), followed by residual proximal DVT (n=7, 15%), and negligence by unknown reasons (n=6, 13%). CONCLUSION: To improve the retrieval rate, the number of follow-up losses to vascular specialists must be decreased, which can be achieved by establishment of a dedicated IVC filter clinic, implementation of a filter registry, and regular education for medical teams and patients along with their families.