Long-term outcomes of bovine pericardial patch angioplasty for recurrent stenosis in vascular access: A UK single-centre experience.

INTRODUCTION:: Stenosis of an arteriovenous fistula or arteriovenous graft for dialysis is a common problem. Stenosis may lead to a number of problems including failure of the fistula. Treatment of stenosis is commonly with percutaneous angioplasty or surgical patch angioplasty with autologous vein or synthetic graft or patch. Here we report the use of bovine pericardial patch angioplasty as an alternative mode of patch angioplasty when percutaneous intervention has failed. METHODS:: Patients with fistulae treated with bovine patch angioplasty between 2013 and 2016 were identified from a prospectively maintained renal access database (Cyberren®). Patient records were reviewed, noting type and location of access, patency, re-interventions and complications post bovine pericardial patch. RESULTS:: A total of 40 patients were identified as having undergone bovine pericardial patch angioplasty between January 2013 and April 2016. The median time from fistula formation to bovine pericardial patch was 15 months (interquartile range (IQR): 5-43). Median duration of follow-up was 14 months (IQR: 5-18). Primary patency at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months was 91%, 66%, 61% and 54%, respectively. Secondary patency was 94%, 91%, 80% and 77% at the same time points, respectively. In total, 15 patients required 23 re-interventions post bovine pericardial patch. There has been no report of infection or aneurysm formation. CONCLUSION:: Bovine pericardial patch angioplasty for recurrent stenosis in arteriovenous fistulae for dialysis access provides a robust alternative to other surgical patches with the added advantage of allowing early needling and relative resistance to infection. Rates of restenosis and failure post bovine pericardial patch are low.

Simultaneous Iliac Vein Bovine Pericardial Patch Venoplasty and Creation of PTFE Lower Limb Arteriovenous Fistula Graft for Rescue Vascular Access.

BACKGROUND: We present a case of external iliac vein patch venoplasty to accommodate rescue vascular access via a polytetrafluoroethylene loop arteriovenous fistula graft (AVG) for a patient with multiple central venous stenoses. METHODS: A 35-year-old female with anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody disease required rescue vascular access for hemodialysis. Repeated occlusion and/or thrombosis of long-term central venous access cannulae, to facilitate dialysis, had caused stenosis of brachiocephalic veins: right external iliac vein and occlusion of the left common iliac vein. A previous right brachiobasilic fistula had occluded within 1 year. No other upper limb options for arteriovenous fistula (AVF) were available. A right external iliac vein bovine patch angioplasty concurrently with a polytetrafluoroethylene AV graft between common femoral artery and common femoral vein was performed to restore venous patency and allow rescue dialysis access. RESULTS: At 3-year follow-up, the fistula remains widely patent with 2 L/min flow rates and no recurrent stenosis to the treated iliac vein. She has not required any further surgical or interventional radiological procedures to maintain fistula or central venous patency. Central venous stenosis or occlusion is common for patients requiring dialysis, especially those with multiple previous long-term central venous cannulations. If restriction of outflow is present, AVF may fail. Venous patch angioplasty in these cases is a successful technique, allowing AVF formation and long-term patency. CONCLUSION: Central venous stenosis can be treated successfully with patch venoplasty to accommodate AVF/AVG formation for rescue vascular access; this is a potentially lifesaving intervention for patients requiring dialysis.

Vascular access in the obese: superficialisation of native radio-cephalic and brachio-cephalic fistulae.

PURPOSE: The Department of Health estimates that currently in the UK, 61.3% of the population are overweight or obese (BMI >25 kg/m2). Fistulae in the obese often fail to mature or prove inadequate to needle due to excessive depth (>6 mm). This study is a summary of our experience with brachio and radio-cephalic vein superficialisation in the obese. METHODS: From May 2008 to October 2012, 22 patients underwent superficialisation of the cephalic vein following radio-cephalic or brachio-cephalic Arterio-venous fistula (AVF) creation. Data were obtained from a prospective database (Cyberen®) and retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: The study included 23 AVFs in 22 patients (seven males, 15 females), of which 13 were brachio-cephalic and 10 radio-cephalic. The mean age of the patients was 56 years (median 60, range 19-78 years). The mean BMI was 36.7 kg/m2 (median 32, 25-58 kg/m2). Six-week post procedure duplex ultrasonography recorded the mean fistula depth to be 7.7 mm (median 8 mm, 5-15 mm) and mean flow rates were 961 ml/min (median 800 ml/min, 320-1968 ml/min).Of the 23, 21 fistulae matured successfully. There were no procedure-related complications. During follow-up, two patients underwent transplantation prior to fistula use and three patients died of unrelated causes. The remaining 16 fistulae remain in use and under access surveillance. CONCLUSIONS: Superficialisation of brachio/radio-cephalic fistulae is an excellent option to optimise the cephalic vein for needling, assisting primary patency. Superficialisation of the cephalic vein helps maintain long-term functional access in overweight and obese patients.

Frostbite: a practical approach to hospital management.

Frostbite presentation to hospital is relatively infrequent, and the optimal management of the more severely injured patient requires a multidisciplinary integration of specialist care. Clinicians with an interest in wilderness medicine/freezing cold injury have the awareness of specific potential interventions but may lack the skill or experience to implement the knowledge. The on-call specialist clinician (vascular, general surgery, orthopaedic, plastic surgeon or interventional radiologist), who is likely to receive these patients, may have the skill and knowledge to administer potentially limb-saving intervention but may be unaware of the available treatment options for frostbite. Over the last 10 years, frostbite management has improved with clear guidelines and management protocols available for both the medically trained and winter sports enthusiasts. Many specialist surgeons are unaware that patients with severe frostbite injuries presenting within 24 h of the injury may be good candidates for treatment with either TPA or iloprost. In this review, we aim to give a brief overview of field frostbite care and a practical guide to the hospital management of frostbite with a stepwise approach to thrombolysis and prostacyclin administration for clinicians.

Deficiencies persist in the experience of UK vascular trainees: a survey of Rouleaux Club members.

AIMS: To evaluate the training experience of the current United Kingdom (UK) vascular trainees. METHODS: A Web-based questionnaire was administered to 217 members of the Rouleaux Club, which represents UK vascular and endovascular trainees, between May and June 2011. RESULTS: A total of 153 trainees (71% response rate) completed the survey; 52% were in posts that do not offer endovascular training, 88% performed <10 peripheral angiograms, and 67% performed part or all of <10 endovascular aneurysm repairs in the last year. Half had no access to formal ultrasound training; 85% believe that vascular access will play a role in their future practice, but 49% performed no vascular access procedures in the past year. No experience of endovenous laser, radiofrequency ablation, or foam sclerotherapy was reported by 33%, 49%, and 46%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Trainee experience is insufficient for a modern specialist practice. Separate specialty training in the United Kingdom must address these deficiencies.

Skin-reducing mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction as an indispensable tool in the provision of oncoplastic breast services.

BACKGROUND: Skin-reducing mastectomy (SRM) is a method of immediate breast reconstruction derived from a Wise breast reduction incision pattern that enables immediate subpectoral implant placement after mastectomy. Its virtue lies in the manner it provides for adequate implant coverage using muscle and a deepithelialized dermal flap, thus reducing the risk of implant extrusion and providing good inframammary contour. Our experience with this technique is elaborated. METHODS: Data was collected from a prospective database in our unit from January 2006 to August 2009. Information was analyzed on indications, complications, cosmetic outcomes, and recurrence rates. RESULTS: A total of 89 SRMs were performed in 72 patients during the study period. This included 65 SRMs for invasive breast cancer, 7 for in-situ disease, and 17 for risk reduction. Median patient age was 44 years, and follow-up ranged from 5 to 42 months. Complications included capsular contracture in 14 patients, 2 implant infections, and 1 hematoma requiring surgical evacuation. Cosmetic outcomes were graded by patients as good to excellent in 66 (92%). No local recurrences have been detected to date. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations support the use of this technique as a safe, valid, and useful tool in an oncoplastic breast service.