Rare Vascular Anomalies in the Femoral Triangle During Varicose Vein Surgery

BACKGROUND: We observed several cases of rare vascular anomalies within the femoral triangle during varicose vein operations. METHODS: From among 2,093 patients who underwent stripping operations of the great saphenous vein between January 2002 and June 2016, 14 cases of rare vascular anomalies were enrolled in this study. RESULTS: Twelve cases of femoral artery and vein transposition (0.57%), 1 case of separate entrance of the great saphenous vein trunk and its tributaries (0.05%), and 1 case of separate entrance with femoral artery and vein transposition (0.05%) were observed. The preoperative diagnosis rate was 71% (10 of 14) using duplex ultrasound. In all cases of femoral artery and vein transposition, the saphenofemoral junction was located at the lateral or posterolateral side of the superficial femoral artery, corresponding to complete or incomplete transposition, respectively. Among the 12 cases of femoral artery and vein transposition, 5 cases were complete transposition and 7 cases were incomplete transposition. In 2 cases of separate entrance of the great saphenous vein trunk and its tributaries, the separated tributaries formed a common trunk before connecting to the femoral vein. CONCLUSION: The anatomy of the saphenofemoral junction may infrequently be altered in some individuals. Detailed preoperative sonographic examinations and meticulous groin dissection during the operation are necessary to prepare for unexpected anatomical variations.

Distal Femoral Arteriovenous Fistula with Iliac Vein Thrombosis after Blunt Trauma

A 39-year-old woman arrived at our emergency department, complaining of severe pain and swelling of her left leg. She had slipped down stairs and injured on her left leg about 3 months ago. Computed tomography angiography showed left distal superficial femoral artery’s pseudoaneurysm with arteriovenous fistula and thrombotic occlusion of left common iliac vein. We decided to do endovascular intervention due to severe venous hypertension and chronic inflammation around the fistula. The femoral arteriovenous fistula was closed via stent-graft (7 mm×5, 9 mm×5 cm) deployment. The occluded left iliac vein was reopened by nitinol metal stenting (12 mm×4 cm, 14 mm×4 cm). The authors report a very rare case of femoral arteriovenous fistula combined with iliac vein thrombosis developed after a blunt trauma.

Clinical Analysis of Resuscitation in Victims of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research is to estimate the overall survival rate and to understand the factors influencing hospital discharge when cardiopulmonary resuscitaion is attempted on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims. METHODS: From March 2000 to February 2001, we studied prospectively 71 consecutive victims with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. We used the same record based on the "Utstein Style". RESULTS: Fifty-three of the 71 patients were transported by 119 ambulance; the remainder were transported by non-119 ambulance. An initial rhythm of pulseless electrical activity(PEA) was present in 66.2% of the patients, ventricular fibrillation(VF)/ventricular tachycardia in 22.5%, and asystole in 11.3%. Fifty-five of the 71 (77.5%) were cardiac arrest cases witnessed by a layman. The number of cardiac etiologies was 24 (33.8%), non-cardiac etiologies 36 (50.7%), and unknown causes 11 (15.5%). There were no statistical differences in return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survival rate related to the causes of cardiac arrest, initial EKG rhythm, and method of transportation. Of the 71 patients, 29 patients (40.2%) experienced ROSC; seven patients survived. CONCLUSION: With the increase in cardiovascular disease and traffic accidents, the number of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests has risen accordingly. However, the survival rate has not changed much compared to the past. Major factors contributing to the unchanged survival rate are lack of bystander CPR, defibrillation in the prehospital stage, inappropriate CPR by EMT, early pronouncement of death, and unskilled CPR by the physician, and improvement in these areas are necessary in order to bring about a change .