ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Pseudoaneurysms (PAs) are common vascular abnormalities predominantly arising from a disruption in the integrity of the arterial wall. The potential complications of PAs are usually unpredictable and carry high rates of morbidity and mortality. This paper presents our experience with various treatment strategies for PAs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-four patients with 55 PAs were diagnosed by non-invasive imaging examination. The etiology of PAs included trauma (33/55), infection (5/55), iatrogenic (6/55), and idiopathic (11/55). Different procedures including ultrasound (US)-guided compression, endovascular treatment, and surgery were performed depending on the location of PAs, size of the sac and neck, and characteristics of the donor artery. The methods of endovascular treatment included embolization of parent artery, the PA sac, or implantation of a stent-graft. Follow-up was performed using US or CT and ranged from 1 day to 24 months (average 16.7 months).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In all 54 patients, 3 patients with superficial PAs were treated by US-guided compression, while 44 patients with 45 PAs located in the head and neck (n = 20), viscera (n = 10) or extremities (n = 15) were treated by endovascular treatment. Nine patients with PAs located in the head and neck (n = 2) or extremities (n = 7) were treated by surgery. Among them, one patient underwent endovascular treatment combined with surgery and 1 was treated by surgery after unsuccessful US-guided compression. In the 3 patients treated with US-guided compression, 2 were successfully treated while the remaining patient required additional surgery. Primary technical success of endovascular management was 97.7% (43/44) and the cure rate was 95.5% (42/44). In the surgery group, 4 patients recovered well, 1 patient was cured by endovascular treatment combined with surgery, 2 cases underwent amputation, 1 patient died of multi-organ failure and 1 patient was paralysed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Minimally invasive interventional techniques are established treatment methods for PA with favorable success rates and minimal morbidity. The therapeutic options should be tailored to the location, size and rupture risk of PA, condition of the donor artery and existing comorbidity.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Aneurysm, False , Diagnosis , Therapeutics , Embolization, TherapeuticABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect gene mutations associated with autosomal dominant congenital stationary night blindness(ADCSNB) in a large Chinese family.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genomic DNAs were extracted from peripheral blood samples of 16 affected and 14 unaffected family members. According to 5 missense mutations in 3 genes reported previously, 4 pairs of primers were designed and corresponding exons containing the five mutation sites were amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Amplified products were purified and sequenced by MegaBACE1000 capillary array electrophoresis DNA sequencer. Full field electroretinogram (ERG, ISCEV) of patients was recorded and analyzed by Roland Consult System.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Dark-adapted ERG showed a-wave was normal, but b-wave of the patients was markedly decreased. None of the five missense mutations were detected in 16 affected and 14 unaffected family members.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The molecular pathogenesis of ADCSNB in this family does not involve point mutations or deletions of these five sites, which indicates the heterogeneity of ADCSNB.</p>