Clinical Analysis of the Treatment of Iliac Limb Occlusion Following Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To explore the cause and the treatment strategies of iliac limb occlusion after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair(EVAR). Methods The patients receiving EVAR in PUMC Hospital from January 2015 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.Sixteen(2.7%)cases of iliac limb occlusion were identified,among which 6,9,and 1 cases underwent surgical bypass,endovascular or hybrid procedure,and conservative treatment,respectively. Results Fifteen cases were successfully treated.During the 10.6-month follow-up,2 cases receiving hybrid treatment underwent femoral-femoral bypass due to re-occlusion of the iliac limb. Conclusions Iliac limb occlusion mostly occurs in the acute phase after EVAR,and endovascular or hybrid treatment can be the first choice for iliac limb occlusion.It is suggested to focus on the risk factors for prevention.

Treatment of Concomitant Intra-abdominal Malignancy and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To explore the outcomes in patients who receive the endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair(EVAR)and have concomitant intra-abdominal malignancy.Methods Between January 2014 and December 2019,all the patients who underwent surgery for malignancy and/or EVAR were retrospectively reviewed.Results Twenty-eight abdominal aortic aneurysm(AAA)patients with concomitant intra-abdominal malignancy were included.The patients were treated by two-stage operation and the priority was given for EVAR in 21 patients.There was no perioperative death or major complications.In the follow-up,one patient developed graft thrombosis and one had type Ⅱ endoleak.There was no AAA-associated death.Conclusions It is preferred that EVAR should come first followed by operation for malignancy.Details of treatment strategy still need further investigation.

Leiomyosarcoma of the Great Saphenous Vein:Report of One Case and Meta-analysis / 中国医学科学院学报

Leiomyosarcoma(LMS)of the great saphenous vein(GSV)is a rare condition that is often misdiagnosed due to the lack of typical clinical manifestations.This article reported a GSV-LMS case diagnosed and treated in Peking Union Medical College Hospital.Meta-analysis of the current case and 41 cases derived from CNKI,WANFANG DATA,and MEDLINE database was also conducted,which revealed that the male to female ratio of GSV-LMS was 11:10;the median age of disease onset was 59.5 years;the most commonly affected region was thigh.Due to lack of specific clinical features,42.9% of GSV-LMS patients were misdiagnosed at presentation.Radical resection is the most effective therapy,and the indications,effectiveness and protocols of adjuvant radiochemotherapy remain unclear.The 3-and 5-year overall survival rate was 86.1% and 77.5%,respectively.Recurrence and metastasis occurred in 31.0% of patients after surgery.

Interval-spaced Sessions of Partial Splenic Artery Embolization in Juvenile Patients with Hypersplenism / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To determine whether interval-spaced sessions of partial splenic artery embolization(PSE) is a safe and effective alternative treatment for hypersplenism in juvenile patients. Methods Eight patients(3 males and 5 females) were included in this retrospective study.All patients were diagnosed as hypersplenism and underwent PSE in 2-3 sessions separated by 1-2 month intervals.Immediate,short,and long term follow-up were done.The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated.Results No major postoperative complication was noted.No patient developed septic shock,splenic abscess,or spleen rupture.Postoperative pain and fever were common and manageable;only two patients developed loculated pleural effusions,which were well alleviated after conservative treatment.All patients showed significant increase in thrombocytes and white blood cells count after the first session of embolization.The cell counts became remarkable after the last session and remained at normal levels during the follow-up period.Conclusions PSE using 2-3 interval-spaced sessions can effectively decrease spleen size and reverse hypersplenism in juvenile patients.Also,it may reduce the postoperative complications commonly seen in traditional PSE.

A Literature Review of Antithrombotic Therapy for Patients of Venous Thromboembolic Events with Comorbidity of Coronary Heart Disease / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

Patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) and concurrent coronary heart disease (CHD) are not rare in clinic. The main challenge in the treatment for these patients is that the antithrombotic therapies for VTE and CHD are different from each other, but the combination of the two therapeutic strategies would increase the risk of bleeding. There is a need to optimize the antithrombotic therapeutic scheme on the basis of individual conditional, in order to balance the therapeutic effects and the bleeding risk. This article discussed the appropriate antithrombotic therapy when balancing the effectiveness and the risk in different circumstance of concurrence of VTE and CHD, such as combining anticoagulation therapy, dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT), thrombolytic therapy and extending therapy, in order to provide safe, standard and effective therapeutic schemes for the clinical management of these patients. In the meantime, this article also provides perspectives regarding the application of novel non-vitamin K anticoagulants (NOACs) and the assessment tools of bleeding risk.

Effect of Adequate Anticoagulantion Therapy on the Outcome of Spontaneous Isolated Dissection of Superior Mesenteric Artery / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To investigate the optimal treatment strategy of spontaneous isolated dissection of superior mesenteric artery (SIDSMA) and the effect of anticoagulation therapy on the prognosis of SIDSMA. Methods The clinical data of 29 patients presented with acute or subacute mesenteric ischemia (a history of less than 14 days) due to SIDSMA admitted to the Department of Vascular Surgery of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1st 2003 to December 31th 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Results In this study,28 cases were male and the remaining one was female,with an average age of (49.1±7.6) years. The emergency endovascular treatment were performed on 4 cases with severe mesenteric intestinal ischemia,and the symptoms were relieved postoperatively. The remaining 25 cases were treated with conservative treatment. Among 13 cases who were received adequate anticoagulantion therapy,symptoms were relieved or disappeared in 9 cases (69.2%),whereas conservative treatment was ineffective in 4 cases (30.8%),for whom surgical intervention were performed. Among 12 cases who received conservative treatment without sufficient anticoagulation,the abdominal pain was relieved in only 2 cases (16.7%) and the remaining 10 cases (83.3%) were converted to surgical intervention. The success rate of conservative treatment for patients with adequate anticoagulant therapy was significantly higher than that of patients who had not received adequate anticoagulant therapy (P=0.015). Conclusions Adequate anticoagulation therapy has good therapeutic effect in most SIDSMA cases with acute or subacute mesenteric ischemia. For patients with severe mesenteric ischemia or those fail to respond to initial conservative treatment,endovascular treatment may be a more reasonable option.

Outcomes of Chimney and/or Periscope Techniques in the Endovascular Management of Complex Aortic Pathologies / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The chimney/periscope technique has been used to address complex aortic pathologies. This study aimed to report the outcomes and experiences of chimney and/or periscope grafts (CPGs) used in the endovascular management of complex aortic pathologies.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-two patients with complex aortic pathologies were retrospectively studied from January 2013 to August 2016 in two vascular centers of teaching hospitals. All patients were diagnosed using computed tomography angiography (CTA). The patients were followed up at postoperative 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and yearly thereafter with X-ray, ultrasound, and/or CTA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-two cases (17 males; mean age 60.7 ± 16.3 years) with complex aortic pathologies were analyzed. Nineteen patients underwent CPGs only, and the other three cases underwent the simultaneous implantation of chimney/periscope and fenestrated/scallop grafts. Twenty-six arteries were managed with forty CPGs during the procedures. Complete angiographies revealed two Type I endoleaks, one Type III endoleak, and one Type IV endoleak. Other intraoperative complications included brachial thrombosis, external iliac artery rupture, and left renal stenosis. The 30-day mortality was 0. The mean follow-up was 26.1 ± 10.1 months with a range of 2-39 months. During the follow-up, two Type I endoleaks and one Type IV endoleak were observed. One right renal stent occlusion occurred in the 5th month and turned patent after reintervention. Three patients died during the follow-up, one due to an aneurysm rupture as a Type I endoleak, and two due to myocardial infarction. The instant technical success was 96%. The primary and secondary patencies were 92% and 96%, respectively. The overall survival rates were 95%, 84%, and 84% at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. Stent migration was not observed in any patient.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Chimney/periscope techniques could be used to tackle complex aortic pathologies, but the indications must be strictly controlled, and additional experiences are required.</p>

Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound in Detecting Endoleaks with Failed Computed Tomography Angiography Diagnosis after Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is one of the first-line therapies of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Postoperative endoleak is the most common complication of EVAR. Computed tomography angiography (CTA), which is routine for follow-up, has side effects (e.g., radiation) and also has a certain percentage of missed diagnosis. Preliminary studies on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) have shown that the sensitivity of CEUS for detecting endoleak is no lower than that of CTA. To investigate the advantages of CEUS, we conducted CEUS examinations of post-EVAR cases in which CTA failed to detect endoleak or could not verify the type of endoleak.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Post-EVAR patients, who were clinically considered to have endoleak and met the inclusion criteria were enrolled between March 2013 and November 2014. All of the patients underwent color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and a CEUS examination. Size, location, microbubble dispersion, and hemodynamic characteristics of leaks were recorded. Comparison between the diagnosis of CEUS and CDFI was conducted using Fisher's exact test and clinical outcomes of all patients were followed up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sixteen patients were enrolled, and 12 (75%) had endoleaks with verified types by CEUS. Among 12 cases of endoleaks were positive by CEUS, 10 were CDFI-positive, and the four CEUS-negative cases were all negative by CDFI. The diagnostic values of CEUS and CDFI were statistically different (P = 0.008). Six patients with high-pressure endoleaks received endovascular re-intervention guided by CEUS results. One patient with type III endoleak had open surgery when endovascular repair failed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CEUS is a new, safe, and effective means for detection of endoleaks post-EVAR. This technique can be used as a supplement for routine CTA follow-up to provide more detailed information on endoleak and its category.</p>

Prospective Randomized Study of Sarpogrelate Versus Clopidogrel-based Dual Antiplatelet Therapies in Patients Undergoing Femoropopliteal Arterial Endovascular Interventions: Preliminary Results / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Sarpogrelate is a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor subtype 2A antagonist which blocks 5-HT induced platelet aggregation and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. We compared the efficacy of sarpogrelate-based dual antiplatelet therapies for the prevention of restenosis and target lesion revascularization (TLR) rates comparing with that of clopidogrel after percutaneous endovascular interventions (EVIs) of femoropopliteal (FP) arterial lesions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This prospective, multicenter, randomized clinical trial recruited a total of 120 patients with successful EVI of FP lesions at seven centers across China between January 2011 and June 2012. Patients were randomized to receive either sarpogrelate (100 mg trice daily for 6 months, n = 63) or clopidogrel (75 mg once daily for 6 months, n = 57). All patients also received oral aspirin (100 mg once daily for 12 months). Clinical follow-up was conducted up to 12 months postprocedure.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference between the two groups in basic demographic data. The restenosis rate was higher in the clopidogrel group (22.80%) than in sarpogrelate group (17.50%), but there was no significant difference between these two groups (P = 0.465). The TLR rate, ipsilateral amputation rate, mortality in all-cause and bleeding rate were also similar in the two groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Aspirin plus sarpogrelate is a comparable antithrombotic regimen to aspirin plus clopidogrel after EVI of FP arterial lesions. Dual antiplatelet therapies might play an important role in preventing restenosis after successful EVI of FP lesions.</p>

Clinical analysis of two carotid endarterectomy procedures in treating carotid artery stenosis / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the effectiveness and costs of the eversion carotid endarterectomy (eCEA) and the carotid endarterectomy with patch angioplasty (pCEA) in treating carotid artery stenosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients with carotid artery stenosis who underwent the carotid endarterectomy in the vascular surgery department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from October 2009 to October 2012 were enrolled in this study. According to the two different surgical procedures, the patients were divided into eCEA group and pCEA group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The two groups were not significantly different in terms of gender ,age ,risk factors, stenosis degree of carotid artery, and the ratio of bilateral lesions (all P>0.05).The ratio of shunt and antibiotics application, operative time, hospitalization cost, and length of hospital stay in the eCEA group were significantly lower than those in pCEA group (P<0.05).The therapeutic effectiveness, complications, surgery-related death, restenosis, and ipsilateral stroke were not significantly different between these two groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both surgical procedures are safe and effective in treating the carotid artery stenosis;however, eCEA has lower cost when compared with pCEA and therefore can be used as the first choice.</p>

Pulse-spray catheter directed thrombolysis in patients with recent onset or deterioration of lower extremity ischemia / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The recent onset or deterioration of lower extremity ischemia is highly associated with intravascular thrombus. Treatment of these thrombotic occlusions is challenging. Pulse-spray catheter directed thrombolysis (PS-CDT) refers to the technique of intermittent forcefully injecting the thrombolytic agent into the thrombus to fragment it and increase the surface area available for enzymatic action. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PS-CDT in patients with recent onset or deterioration of lower extremity ischemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From August 2008 to March 2009, 44 patients with acute or chronic lower extremity ischemia were recruited in this prospective study, which included 37 men and 7 women ranging from 15 to 83 years old (mean age (51.1 ± 17.4) years). PS-CDT through a multi-side-hole thrombolytic catheter by using urokinase was conducted in all patients. The progression of thrombolysis was assessed and graded by angiography. Adjunctive therapies were used to correct underlying lesions. The follow-up period was 12 months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the 44 patients, the average total dose of urokinase for each patient was (2 120 000 ± 1 100 000) IU (median 2 000 000 IU), with a median duration of lysis of 48 hours. The rate of initial technical success was 97.7%. The rate of clinically successful lysis was 81.8%. Early (≤ 30 days) and late (from 30 days to 12 months) amputation rates were both 4.5% (2/44). The overall amputation rate was 9.1% (4/44). No mortality was recorded during thrombolysis and follow-up period (12 months). No major bleeding or allergic reaction was seen during thrombolytic therapy. 11.4% had symptoms of distal embolization. The primary patency rate for the arteries that were clinically successfully thrombolyzed as compared with those that failed to lysis was 83.3% vs. 57.1%, respectively, at 1 year.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PS-CDT, combined with adjunctive therapies, is associated with good safety and efficacy in recent-onset or deterioration of lower extremity ischemia. Successful thrombolysis may be accompanied by better outcomes.</p>

Investigation of endovascular aneurysm repair of complex abdominal aortic aneurysm in high-risk patients / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the results of a variety of alternative endovascular techniques applied to patients with complicated abdominal aortic aneurysm complex abdominal aortic aneurysm (cAAA) and unsuitable for open surgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2001 to December 2010, charts of all patients having an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) were reviewed. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) was done in 138 patients, in which 9 patients were defined as cAAA such as juxta-renal AAA, short or angulated AAA neck, AAA with bilateral iliac artery aneurysms. There were 8 male and 1 female patients, aged from 26 to 87 years with a mean of 67 years. All these patients at high risk for open surgery were offered a modified EVAR technique including fenestrated technique, scallop technique, chimney technique, balloon assisted U-turn stenting and reverse-U stent-graft in 2, 5, 1 and 1 patients respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All techniques were successful and without severe postoperative complications. An intraoperative endoleak was found in 4 patients and was corrected immediately. One patient with type I and III endoleaks underwent dilatation with a compliant balloon. Two patients with type I endoleak underwent coil embolization (1 patient) and bare stent (1 patient). During follow-up, one patient with a type II endoleak who demonstrated no increase in sac diameter during follow-up was observed. Mean follow-up was 25.9 months (ranging from 4 to 79 months). No rupture occurred and 8 aneurysms shrink significantly. In 7 patients, critical vessels (renal and mesenteric arteries) were protected during the initial procedure and remained patent except in one patient who was performed reverse "U" stent graft with thrombosis in hypogastric artery.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High-risk patients with cAAA inappropriate for traditional EVAR can be successfully treated by using simple ancillary endovascular techniques with acceptable short or mid-term results.</p>

Endovascular repair of descending aortic pseudoaneurysms / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluated the feasibility, efficacy, and outcome of endovascular repair for descending aortic pseudoaneurysms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From April 2007 to November 2010, 20 patients of descending aortic pseudoaneurysm were treated. There were 18 male and 2 female, aged from 28 to 82 years with a mean of (58 ± 16) years. In this group, 4 patients were diagnosed as Behçet's syndrome, 6 patients as mycotic pseudoaneurysms with positive blood culture, 6 patients as suspected mycotic pseudoaneurysms, 1 patient with iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm and 1 patient with chronic grain-mononuclear cell leukemia, the other 3 patients with unknown reasons. The 88.5% of aortic pseudoaneurysms were located at abdominal aorta. Fifteen patients underwent endovascular therapy and 2 patients were treated by traditional open surgery. The other 3 patients underwent conservative treatments. The data of treatments and follow-up in the 15 patients who received endovascular repairs were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Endovascular therapy was performed successfully on the 15 patients, and the technique successful rate was 15/15. Total 15 stents were transluminal placed including 6 bifurcate stent-grafts, 6 abdominal straight stent-grafts, 2 thoracic straight stent-grafts and 1 abdominal bare stent. One patient was treated by stent assisted embolization. Perioperative mortality rate was 0. Only 2 primary type IV endoleaks were found. Fourteen patients were successfully followed up. During a mean follow-up of 538 days, 8 (57.1%) patients were uneventful. Six (42.9%) patients were complicated by aneurysm related events, including 4 (28.6%) aneurysm-related deaths, 1 (7.14%) with delayed endoleak and 1 (7.14%) with recurrent pseudoaneurysm which was retreated by another stent-graft.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Endovascular therapy for descending aortic pseudoaneurysms is a feasible and mini-invasive option with high technique success rate and low perioperative mortality rate. However, risk of recurrence and rupture to death of pseudoaneurysm remains high during follow-up. Treating the underlying reasons and intensively follow-up may be good for improving the prognosis of descending aortic pseudoaneurysms treated by endovascular therapy.</p>

A clinical study of infrapopliteal balloon angioplasty for patients with critical lower limb ischemia / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy of infrapopliteal angioplasty as the first-choice procedure in patients with critical lower limb ischemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From December 2005 to May 2009, infrapopliteal angioplasty was considered as the first-choice method in consecutive patients with infrapopliteal occlusive disease hospitalized for critical ischemia. Fifty-four patients (61 limbs) with a mean age of 66 years old (37 male and 17 female) underwent infrapopliteal balloon angioplasty. The preoperative ankle branchial index (ABI) was 0.43 + or - 0.27.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Iliofemoral artery revascularization (stenting in 28 limbs and bypass in 5 limbs) were successful. Infrapopliteal balloon dilation was success in 57 limbs, the technical success rate was 93.4%. The major complications were calf hematoma in 3 cases (4.9%), and below-the-knee amputation in 2 cases (3.3%). Postoperative ABI increased to 0.86 + or - 0.21(P < 0.01). Mean follow-up time was (16 + or - 11) months. The primary patency rate was 61.1%, restenosis rate was 38.9% (21 of 54 limbs), and surgical intervention were performed for 10 limbs, the secondary patency rates was 75.9%. Major amputation in 3 limbs during follow-up period, the limb salvage rate was 91.8%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Infrapopliteal balloon angioplasty as the first-choice method is feasible, safe and effective for limb salvage in patients with critical lower limb ischemia.</p>

Advancement of diagnosis and surgical intervention of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome: 11 cases reports / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize advancement of diagnosis and surgical intervention of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From March 2006 to August 2009, 11 patients (14 limbs) underwent surgical procedures, including 9 males (81.8%), with a median age of 22 years old (arranged from 15 to 56 years old). Three cases (27.2%) had both limbs involved. The chief complaint contained intermittent claudication in 8 cases and rest pain in 3 cases. The time from onset to admission arranged from 3 weeks to 10 years. 14 limbs were diagnosed as PAES through multidetector spiral computed tomography. Eleven cases were diagnosed as Delaney's type II or III, 1 case as type V and 2 cases as type I. Two limbs underwent popliteal artery release only, 8 limbs underwent popliteal artery release, thromboendarterectomy and angioplasty with a venous or prosthetic patch, 2 patients complaining acute limb ischemia underwent catheter-based thrombolysis and popliteal artery release subsequently, 2 patients with a occlusive segment longer than 5 cm in popliteal artery underwent below-knee femoral-popliteal artery bypass with in-situ greater saphenous vein graft. All the patients undertook anticoagulation treatment with coumadin after the operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the patients had their clinical symptoms released after the operation. One patient (1 limb) was recurrent 20 months after the operation and underwent embolectomy successfully. At a median follow up of 13 months (range 1 to 36 months), the primary patency rate was 92.9% (13/14), the total patency rate was 100% (14/14) and limb salvage rate was 100%. The ankle brachial index at neutral position improved significantly after the surgery in the 12 occluded limbs (1.11 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.62 +/- 0.14, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Multidetector spiral computed tomography is much helpful in diagnose and typing of PAES. Surgery should be performed as soon as the PAES is diagnosed. Appropriate surgical intervention can achieve satisfying effect according to different character of popliteal artery occlusions.</p>