Embolia colesterínica en miembro superior izquierdo asociado a fístula arteriovenosa / Cholesterol embolism in the left upper limb associated with venous artery fistula

RESUMEN El embolismo por cristales de colesterol (ECC) es una complicación de la enfermedad arterioesclerótica en la que el desprendimiento de fragmentos de placa de ateroma, principalmente de grandes arterias, provoca oclusión de pequeños vasos. Esta entidad, también llamada ateroembolia o síndrome de los dedos del pie azules, es más frecuente en pacientes de edad avanzada y después de procedimientos invasivos intravasculares. Se manifiesta con cianosis, livedo reticularis, necrosis y úlceras asociado a manifestaciones renales y gastrointestinales. Se presenta un paciente trasplantado renal y portador de fístula arteriovenosa trombosada izquierda con ateroembolia localizada en mano homolateral.

ABSTRACT The cholesterol crystal embolism (ECC) is a complication of arteriosclerotic disease in which the detachment of fragments of atheromatous plaque mainly from large arteries, causes occlusion of small vessels. This entity, also called atheroembolism or blue toe syndrome, is more common in elderly patients and after intravascular invasive procedures. It manifests with cyanosis, livedo reticularis, necrosis and ulcers associated with renal and gastrointestinal manifestations. We present a renal transplant patient with a left thrombosed arteriovenous fistula with atheroembolism located in homolateral hand.

Embolización cutánea por microcristales de colesterol: presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Cholesterol cutaneous crystal embolization: a case report and literature review

La embolización de cristales de colesterol genera un síndrome multiorgánico inespecífico, severo, relativamente infrecuente y de difícil diagnóstico. Se produce por la oclusión de pequeños vasos en diferentes sistemas, entre ellos la piel, órgano diana frecuente. Se comunica el caso de un varón de 69 años con múltiples factores de riesgo cardiovascular y varios eventos desencadenantes que presentó embolización por microcristales de colesterol con compromiso cutáneo y renal.

Cholesterol crystal embolization is a rare and severe multiorganic syn-drome of diffi cult diagnosis. It occurs as a result of the occlusion of smallvessels in diff erent organs, being the skin a frequent diana.We present the case of a 69 years-old male with multiple cardiovascularrisk factors and many precipitant events. He developed cholesterol em-bolization syndrome with cutaneous and renal involvement.

Embolias de colesterol: Caso clínico / Cholesterol embolism: Report of one case

We report a 72 year-old male, that after a coronary angiogram presented pain, reduced distal skin temperature of both limbs, cyanosis of toes with preserved peripheral pulses and a rapidly progressive renal failure. Afterwards, the patient suffered a sudden bilateral amblyopia and hematochezia. Cholesterol embolism was confirmed with a skin biopsy and fundoscopy. A colonoscopy showed a possible ischemic colitis. After six months of follow up, the patient lost the distal phalanges of three toes, and renal failure stabilized, with a serum creatinine of 2.5 mg/dl. The diagnosis of cholesterol embolism is often missed, but it has a one year mortality of 80 percent and the presence of renal failure is the main prognostic indicator. Other prognostic indicators are the presence of high blood pressure, previous renal failure and peripheral artery disease.

Push and park: uma opção técnica no tratamento do ateroembolismo agudo dos membros inferiores / Push and park: a technical option for the management of acute lower limb atheroembolism

A aterotrombose é uma doença multissistêmica associada a elevada morbidade e mortalidade. A manipulação das artérias com fios-guia ou cateteres pode gerar trauma mecânico, com conseqüente deslocamento de material ateromatoso da parede vascular. Um paciente de 82 anos, no qual uma ponte fêmoro-poplítea distal com veia safena in situ havia sido realizada por nós há 10 anos, apresentou dor, palidez, hipotermia, diminuição da sensibilidade e força do pé direito 6 horas após coronariografia com acesso pela artéria femoral direita (classe 2b de Rutherford). Arteriografia diagnóstica evidenciou perviedade do enxerto, com múltiplas irregularidades em seu terço distal, compatíveis com material ateroembólico, além de pobreza extrema de circulação distal. Optamos pela revascularização do membro inferior direito em caráter de urgência, associando técnicas convencionais a métodos endovasculares. Empregando a técnica de push and park, cruzamos a lesão ateroembólica com fio-guia e tratamos todo o eixo arterial acometido com manobras de angioplastia. O paciente apresentou boa evolução, boa perfusão distal, adequado enchimento capilar, eliminação da dor e melhora acentuada imediata do déficit motor e sensitivo.

Atherothrombosis is a multisystemic disease associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Management of arteries with guide-wires or catheters may cause mechanical trauma, with consequent detachment of atheromatous material from the vascular wall. An 82-year-old patient, in whom a distal femoropopliteal in situ saphenous vein graft bypass had been performed 10 years before, presented with pain, pallor, hypothermia, loss of sensibility and motor activity on the right lower limb 6 hours after coronary angiography from the femoral artery (Rutherford class 2b). Arteriography demonstrated bypass patency, with multiple irregularities in its distal third, compatible with atheroembolic material, and very poor distal circulation. We indicated lower limb revascularization on an emergency basis, by both conventional and endovascular techniques. Using the "push and park" technique, the atheroembolic obstruction was crossed by guide-wire and the whole affected arterial axis was treated by angioplasty. The patient progressed well, with good distal perfusion, adequate capillary refill, relief of pain and immediate recovery of sensory and motor function.