Revealing digital nerve lesions-A comprehensive analysis of 2084 cases of a specialized center.

BACKGROUND: Finger nerve injuries have a significant impact on hand function and can result in reduced sensation, pain and impaired coordination. The socioeconomic implications of these injuries include decreased workplace productivity, reduced earning potential, and financial burdens associated with long-term medical treatment and rehabilitation. However, there is a lack of comprehensive literature regarding the incidence, mechanisms, and associated injuries of finger nerve lesions. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients treated at our institution from January 2012 to July 2020. Cases of peripheral finger nerve lesions were identified using the digital hospital information system and ICD-10 Classification. Exclusion criteria included injuries to the median nerve at the carpal tunnel level or superficial branch of the radial nerve. Data were collected using a pseudonymized approach, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Statistics (Version 27). RESULTS: A total of 2089 finger nerve lesions were analyzed, with a majority of cases occurring in men. Most injuries97.4 % were caused by trauma, predominantly cut/tear injuries. Isolated finger nerve injuries were more common than multiple nerve injuries, with the index finger being the most frequently affected. Concomitant tendon and vascular injuries were observed in a significant proportion51.7 % of cases. Surgical management included direct nerve coaptation, interposition grafting and neurolysis. DISCUSSION: Finger nerve injuries are the most prevalent type of nerve injury, often resulting from small lacerations. These injuries have substantial societal costs and can lead to prolonged sick leave. Understanding the epidemiology and etiology of finger nerve injuries is crucial for implementing effective preventive measures. Accompanying tendon injuries and the anatomical location of the nerve lesions can impact sensory recovery and treatment outcomes. Proper management of peripheral finger nerve lesions is essential for optimizing functional outcomes and minimizing the impact on daily activities. Treatment options should be tailored to the severity and underlying cause of the nerve injury.

[Nerve Transfers in Peripheral Nerve Lesions]. / Nerventransfers bei peripheren Nervenläsionen.

BACKGROUND: Lesions of peripheral nerves of the upper extremities often lead to persistent, serious limitations in motor function and sensory perception. Affected patients suffer from both private and professional restrictions associated with long-term physical, psychological and socioeconomic consequences. INDICATION: An early indication for a nerve transfer shortens the reinnervation distance and improves the growing of motor and sensory axons into the target organ to facilitate early mobility and sensitivity. When planning the timepoint of the surgical procedure, the distance to be covered by reinnervation as well as the morbidities of donor nerves must be considered individually. RESULTS: Nerve transfers can achieve earlier and safer reinnervation to improve motor and sensory functions after nerve injuries in the upper extremity.

Hopeless Neuroma-The Neurotized Free Flap Tissue Augmentation as Salvage Therapy-A Concept and Clinical Demonstration.

Therapy-resistant neuroma pain is a devastating condition for patients and surgeons. Although various methods are described to surgically deal with neuromas, some discontinuity and stump neuroma therapies have anatomical limitations. It is widely known that a neurotizable target for axon ingrowth is beneficial for dealing with neuromas. The nerve needs "something to do". Furthermore, sufficient soft tissue coverage plays a major role in sufficient neuroma therapy. We aimed, therefore, to demonstrate our approach for therapy of resistant neuromas with insufficient tissue coverage using free flaps, which are sensory neurotized via anatomical constant branches. The central idea is to provide a new target, a new "to do" for the painful mislead axons, as well as an augmentation of deficient soft tissues. As indication is key, we furthermore demonstrate clinical cases and common neurotizable workhorse flaps.

The traveling pelvic bullet: a case of retrograde ballistic migration through the venous system.

Migration of a ballistic missile through the vasculature is rare but important to recognize. It can lead to diagnostic confusion and seemingly unexplainable bullet trajectories. We have described the case of a young man with a gunshot wound to the axillary vein and initial embolus to the inferior vena cava. The bullet subsequently migrated to the right common iliac vein, allowing for straightforward retrieval.

Endovascular repair of traumatic axillosubclavian artery injuries.

Gun violence reached a 20-year peak in 2020, with the first-line treatment of axillosubclavian vascular injuries (SAVIs) remaining unknown. Traditional open exposure is difficult and exposes patients to iatrogenic venous and brachial plexus injury. The practice of endovascular treatment has been increasing. We performed a retrospective analysis of SAVIs at a level I trauma center. Seven patients were identified. Endovascular repair was performed in five patients. Technical success was 100%. The early results suggest that endovascular treatment of trauma-related SAVIs can be performed safely and effectively. However, complications such as stent thrombosis or occlusion can occur, demonstrating the need for surveillance.

A large series of true pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms.

INTRODUCTION: True pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms (PDAAs) are rare, and prior reports often fail to distinguish true aneurysms from pseudoaneuryms. We sought to characterize all patients who presented to our health system from 2004 to 2019 with true PDAAs, with a focus on risk factors, interventions, and patient outcomes. METHODS: Patients were identified by querying a single health system picture archiving and communication system database for radiographic reports noting a PDAA. A retrospective chart review was performed on all identified patients. Patients with pseudoaneurysm, identified as those with a history of pancreatitis, abdominal malignancy, hepatopancreaticobiliary surgery, or abdominal trauma, were excluded. Continuous variables were compared using t-tests, and categorical variables were compared using Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: A total of 59 true PDAAs were identified. Forty aneurysms (68%) were intact (iPDAAs) and 19 (32%) were ruptured (rPDAAs) at presentation. The mean size of rPDAAs was 16.4 mm (median size, 14.0 mm; range, 10-42 mm), and the mean size of iPDAAs was 19.4 mm (median size, 17.5 mm; range, 8-88 mm); this difference was not statistically significant (P = .95). Significant celiac disease (occlusion or >70% stenosis) was noted in 39 aneurysms (66%). Those with rupture were less likely to have significant celiac disease (42% vs 78%; P = .017) and less likely to have aneurysmal wall calcifications (6% vs 53%; P = .002). Thirty-seven patients underwent intervention (63%), with eight (22%) undergoing concomitant hepatic revascularization (two stents and six bypasses) due to the presence of celiac disease. Eighteen patients with occluded celiac arteries underwent aneurysm intervention; of those, 11 were performed without hepatic revascularization (61.1%). Those with rPDAAs experienced an aneurysm-related mortality of 10.5%, whereas those with iPDAAs experienced a rate of 5.6%. One patient with celiac occlusion and PDA rupture who did not undergo hepatic artery bypass expired postoperatively from hepatic ischemia. rPDAAs showed a trend toward the increased need for aneurysm-related endovascular or open reintervention, but this was not statistically significant (47% vs 28%; P = .13). CONCLUSIONS: These findings support previous reports that the rupture risk of PDAAs is independent of size, their development is often associated with significant celiac stenosis or occlusion, and rupture risk appears decreased in patients with concomitant celiac disease or aneurysm wall calcifications. Endovascular intervention is the preferred initial treatment for both iPDAAs and rPDAAs, but reintervention rates are high in both groups. The role for hepatic revascularization remains uncertain, but it does not appear to be mandatory in all patients with complete celiac occlusion who undergo PDAA interventions.

Retrograde Superior Mesenteric Artery Stenting in Case of SMA Shuttering.

This case describes a patient who underwent endovascular repair for an extent V thoracoabdominal aneurysm with planned coverage of the celiac artery. Following deployment of the stent graft, the superior mesenteric artery was shuttered, and the patient subsequently developed signs and symptoms of bowel ischemia. The patient underwent successful retrograde open superior mesenteric artery stenting with resolution of her symptoms. Although retrograde open mesenteric artery stenting (ROMS) has been primarily shown to be effective in acute mesenteric ischemia, this case demonstrates that ROMS can be used as a salvage option for shuttering during endovascular procedures.

The Hyperattenuating Crescent Sign Is Not Necessarily a Sign of Impending Aortic Aneurysm Rupture.

BACKGROUND: The "crescent sign" is a hyperattenuating crescent-shaped region on CT within the mural thrombus or wall of an aortic aneurysm. Although it has previously been associated with aneurysm instability or impending rupture, the literature is largely based on retrospective analyses of urgently repaired aneurysms. We strove to more rigorously assess the association between an isolated "crescent sign" and risk of impending aortic rupture. METHODS: Patients were identified by querying a single health system PACS database for radiology reports noting a crescent sign. Adult patients with a CT demonstrating a descending thoracic, thoracoabdominal, or abdominal aortic aneurysm and "crescent sign" between 2004 and 2019 were included, with exclusion of those showing definitive signs of aortic rupture on imaging. RESULTS: A total of 82 patients were identified. Aneurysm size was 7.1 ± 2.0 cm. Thirty patients had emergent or urgent repairs during their index admission (37%), 19 had elective repairs at a later date (23%), and 33 patients had no intervention due to either patient choice or prohibitive medical comorbidities (40%). Patients without intervention had a median follow up of 275 days before death or loss to follow up. In patients undergoing elective intervention, 6,968 patient-days elapsed between presentation and repair, with zero episodes of acute rupture (median 105 days). Patients undergoing elective repair had smaller aneurysms compared to those who underwent emergent/urgent repair (6.2 ± 1.3 vs. 7.7 ± 2.1 cm, P = 0.008). No surgical candidate with an aneurysm smaller than 8 cm ruptured. There were 31 patients with previous axial imaging within 2 years prior to presentation with a "crescent sign," with mean aneurysm growth rate of 0.85 ± 0.62 cm per 6 months [median 0.65, range 0-2.6]. Those with aneurysms sized below 5.5 cm displayed decreased aneurysm growth compared to patients with aneurysm's sized 5.5-6.5 cm or patients with aneurysms greater than 6.5 cm (0.12 vs. 0.64 vs. 1.16 cm per 6 months, P= 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The finding of an isolated radiographic "crescent sign" without other signs of definitive aortic rupture (i.e., hemothorax, aortic wall disruption, retroperitoneal bleeding) is not necessarily an indicator of impending aortic rupture, but may be found in the setting of rapid aneurysm growth. Many factors, including other associated radiographic findings, aneurysm size and growth rate, and patient symptomatology, should guide aneurysm management in these patients. We found that patients with minimal symptoms, aneurysm sizes below 6.5 cm, and no further imaging findings of aneurysm instability, such as periaortic fat stranding, can be successfully managed with elective intervention after optimization of comorbid factors with no evidence of adverse outcomes.

Geographic and Socioeconomic Disparities in Major Lower Extremity Amputation Rates in Metropolitan Areas.

Background Rates of major lower extremity amputation in patients with peripheral artery disease are higher in rural communities with markers of low socioeconomic status, but most Americans live in metropolitan areas. Whether amputation rates vary within US metropolitan areas is unclear, as are characteristics of high amputation rate urban communities. Methods and Results We estimated rates of major lower extremity amputation per 100 000 Medicare beneficiaries between 2010 and 2018 at the ZIP code level among ZIP codes with ≥100 beneficiaries. We described demographic characteristics of high and low amputation ZIP codes, and the association between major amputation rate and 3 ZIP code-level markers of socioeconomic status-the proportion of patients with dual eligibility for Medicaid, median household income, and Distressed Communities Index score-for metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural ZIP code cohorts. Between 2010 and 2018, 188 995 Medicare fee-for-service patients living in 31 391 ZIP codes with ≥100 beneficiaries had a major lower extremity amputation. The median (interquartile range) ZIP code-level number of amputations per 100 000 beneficiaries was 262 (75-469). Though nonmetropolitan ZIP codes had higher rates of major amputation than metropolitan areas, 78.2% of patients undergoing major amputation lived in metropolitan areas. Compared with ZIP codes with lower amputation rates, top quartile amputation rate ZIP codes had a greater proportion of Black residents (4.4% versus 17.5%, P<0.001). In metropolitan areas, after adjusting for clinical comorbidities and demographics, every $10 000 lower median household income was associated with a 4.4% (95% CI, 3.9-4.8) higher amputation rate, and a 10-point higher Distressed Communities Index score was associated with a 3.8% (95% CI, 3.4%-4.2%) higher amputation rate; there was no association between the proportion of patients eligible for Medicaid and amputation rate. These findings were comparable to the associations identified across all ZIP codes. Conclusions In metropolitan areas, where most individuals undergoing lower extremity amputation live, markers of lower socioeconomic status and Black race were associated with higher rates of major lower extremity amputation. Development of community-based tools for peripheral artery disease diagnosis and management targeted to communities with high amputation rates in urban areas may help reduce inequities in peripheral artery disease outcomes.

The status quo of early burn wound excision: Insights from the German burn registry.

BACKGROUND: There is a common, well-known and established recommendation to excise burn wounds within 24-72 h in order to mitigate the systemic inflammatory and immunomodulatory response, shorten length of hospitalization through early grafting and optimize patient survival. Despite this apparent consensus, surprisingly few systematic studies have evaluated the actual adherence to this practice and its implications on patient outcomes. In this registry study, we sought to objectify the current status of early burn wound excision, its influencing factors and impact on patient outcomes for all German burn centers. METHODS: The German burn registry ('Deutsches Verbrennungsregister') was queried for 3 consecutive years for all patients, who received at least one surgical intervention. Patients were stratified based on whether the first surgical procedure was performed early (EE, within 72 h) or late (LE, after 72 h) post-burn. Descriptive statistics and univariate regressions were performed to quantify fraction of EE vs. LE and to evaluate factors which might favor one over the other (i.e. age, inhalation injury, burn severity by total body surface area (TBSA), scald vs. other burns, obesity, time of admission). Key patient outcomes were analyzed for each group (i.e. mortality, length of hospitalization, number of surgeries) and multifactorial regression analyses were carried out to model the impact of EE on mortality. Statistical significance was accepted at p < 0.05. RESULTS: After initial screening, 1494 complete records were included for final analysis and were stratified into EE and LE. Only 670 (44%) underwent EE within 72 h. Increasing TBSA burned (i.e. [TBSA > 30%]: 53.8% EE, [TBSA < 30%]: 43.5% EE, p < 0.01) and admission on a weekday between Sunday and Wednesday were associated with higher probability of EE (51.5% EE) versus Thursday to Sunday (37.3%, p < 0.001). Age, inhalation injury, cause of burn, and obesity had no effect on EE vs. LE. Patients with EE had significantly shorter median lengths of hospitalization (EE: 18 d, LE: 21 d, p < 0.01). The median number of operations was comparable for both groups. Gross mortality appeared higher in the EE group, but turned out to be comparable to LE after correction for age, TBSA and sex in multifactorial regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Despite apparent consensus among burn physicians, early excision of burn wounds is performed in less than 50% of cases in German burn centers. The relationship of EE to TBSA burned is expected and clinically sound, while a dependence on admission weekday raises administrative and infrastructural questions, especially when patients who receive EE have significantly shorter hospital stays. More analyses from other burn repositories are needed to compare and benchmark the international status quo of early burn wound excision.

Symptomatic duodenal perforation by a Bird's Nest vena cava filter.

This case describes a patient with a permanent Bird's Nest inferior vena cava filter in the setting of spinal cord injury and paraplegia who presented with epigastric pain resulting from duodenal perforation of his filter. After confirming that the patient was stable hemodynamically with normal laboratory values, he underwent open exploration with trimming of the extraluminal struts and wires, leaving the intact filter in place, with resolution of his pain. Although percutaneous removal of inferior vena cava filters is preferred for retrievable filters, this case demonstrates the safety and efficacy of open surgical management for permanent filters, not designed for retrieval.

Unique characteristics of the type B aortic dissection patients with malperfusion in the Vascular Quality Initiative.

OBJECTIVE: Type B aortic dissection (TBAD) complicated by malperfusion carries high morbidity and mortality. The present study was undertaken to compare the characteristics of malperfusion and uncomplicated cohorts and to evaluate the long-term differences in survival using a granular, national registry. METHODS: Patients with TBAD entered into the thoracic endovascular aortic repair/complex endovascular aortic repair module of the Vascular Quality Initiative from 2010 to 2019 were included. The demographic, radiographic, operative, postoperative, in-hospital, and long-term reintervention data were compared between the malperfusion and uncomplicated TBAD groups using t tests and χ2 analysis, as appropriate. Overall survival was compared using Cox regression to generate survival curves. RESULTS: Of the 2820 included patients, 2267 had uncomplicated TBAD and 553 had malperfusion. The patients with malperfusion were younger (age, 55.8 vs 61.2 years; P < .001), were more often male (79.7% vs 68.1%; P < .001), had a higher preoperative creatinine (1.8 vs 1.1 mg/dL; P < .001), had more often presented with an American Society of Anesthesiologists class of 4 or 5 (81.9% vs 58.4%; P < .001), and had more often presented with urgent status (77.4% vs 32.8%; P < .001). In contrast, the uncomplicated TBAD group had had more medical comorbidities, including coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and a larger aortic diameter (4.0 cm vs 4.9 cm; P < .001). The malperfusion group more frequently had proximal zones of disease in zones 0 to 2 (38.6% vs 31.5%; P = .002) and distal zones of disease in zones 9 and above (78.7% vs 46.2%; P < .001), with a greater number of aortic zones traversed (7.7 vs 5.1; P < .001) and a greater frequency of dissection extension into branch vessels (61.8% vs 23.1%; P < .001). Patients with malperfusion also exhibited greater case complexity, with a greater need for branch vessel stenting and longer procedure times. The overall incidence of postoperative complications was greater in the malperfusion group (39.4% vs 17.1%; P < .001) and included a greater rate of spinal cord ischemia (6.3% vs 2.2%; P < .001), acute kidney injury (10.4% vs 0.9%; P < .001), and in-hospital mortality (11.6% vs 5.6%; P < .001). In-hospital reintervention was also greater for the malperfusion patients (14.5% vs 7.4%; P < .001), although the incidence of long-term reinterventions was similar between the two groups (8.7% vs 9.7%; P = .548). A proximal zone of disease in zone 0 to 2 was associated with decreased survival. In contrast, a distal zone of disease in 9 and above, in-hospital reintervention, and long-term follow-up were associated with increased survival. Despite these differences, long-term survival did not differ between the malperfusion and uncomplicated groups (P = .320.) CONCLUSIONS: Patients presenting with TBAD and malperfusion represent a unique cohort. Despite the greater need for branch vessel stenting and in-hospital reintervention, they had similar long-term reintervention rates and survival compared with those with uncomplicated TBAD. These data lend insight with regard to the observed differences between uncomplicated and malperfusion TBAD.

Effects of dual antiplatelet therapy on graft patency after lower extremity bypass.

OBJECTIVE: Current guidelines recommend single-agent antiplatelet therapy for patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease and consideration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after surgical revascularization. The objective of this study was both to explore prescribing patterns of single antiplatelet therapy vs DAPT after lower extremity bypass surgery and to investigate the effects of antiplatelet therapy on bypass graft patency. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected nonemergent infrainguinal lower extremity bypass operations entered in the national Vascular Quality Initiative (2003-2018) with captured long-term follow-up was performed. Patients discharged on aspirin monotherapy or DAPT were identified. Linear regression investigated temporal trends in antiplatelet use. Multivariable Cox regression investigated predictors of primary, primary assisted, and secondary patency. RESULTS: Of the 13,020 patients investigated, 52.2% were discharged on aspirin monotherapy and 47.8% on DAPT. The proportion of patients discharged on DAPT increased from 10.6% in 2003 to 60.6% in 2018 (P < .001). The DAPT cohort was younger, had higher rates of medical (hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and atherosclerotic (coronary artery disease, prior coronary artery bypass graft or percutaneous coronary intervention, prior lower extremity intervention) comorbidities, and had higher risk bypass procedures (more distal targets, prior inflow bypass procedure, prosthetic conduit use). Multivariable Cox regression analysis did not show any difference between the DAPT and aspirin cohorts in primary patency (hazard ratio [HR], 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88-1.10; P = .78), primary assisted patency (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.80-1.07; P = .30), or secondary patency (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.74-1.06; P = .18). On subgroup analysis based on bypass conduit, DAPT was found to have a protective effect on patency only in the prosthetic bypass cohort (primary patency: HR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.66-1.00; P = .05]; primary assisted patency: HR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.58-0.94; P = .01]; and secondary patency: HR, 0.60 [95% CI, 0.44-0.82; P < .001]). No patency differences were observed on adjusted subgroup analysis for the other bypass conduits. CONCLUSIONS: A significant and increasing proportion of patients are discharged on DAPT after lower extremity bypass revascularization. These patients represent a higher risk cohort with more medical comorbidities and higher risk bypass features. After controlling for these differences, DAPT therapy had no beneficial effect on overall bypass graft patency or major adverse limb events. However, on subgroup analysis, DAPT was associated with improved bypass graft patency in patients receiving prosthetic bypass conduits. Further study is warranted to investigate optimal duration of DAPT therapy and its possible bleeding complications in prosthetic bypass patients.

Review of Type III Endoleaks.

Endoleak remains a significant challenge to endovascular aneurysm repair, particularly as evolving techniques and devices have allowed treatment of increasingly complex aneurysm anatomy with increasing number of device components. Intervention is recommended for both type I and III endoleaks due to their risk of rupture, and endovascular techniques are the favored modality with placement of a bridging endograft over the endoleak defect. Conversion to open surgical repair remains the definitive option in cases where less invasive methods have failed or are precluded. In this article, the authors review evidence on the etiology, incidence, diagnosis, and current techniques for type III endoleak management.

Natural History of Nonoperative Management of Grade II Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury.

BACKGROUND: The morbidity and mortality of thoracic blunt aortic injury (BAI) has been both diminished and revolutionized by the advent of endovascular repair. Nevertheless, the question remains as to what severity of injury requires endovascular repair. We therefore conducted a retrospective analysis of our experience with nonoperative grade II BAI of the thoracic aorta. METHODS: The records of patients with BAI from 2007 to 2017 at a Level I trauma center were retrospectively reviewed. Images were reviewed and graded by a radiologist according to the Society of Vascular Surgery Guidelines (grade I-IV). Demographics, injury severity, and outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: We identified 111 patients with BAI. Of these, 15 were deemed grade II injuries and were managed nonoperatively. Mean patient age was 45 ± 21 years; 60% of patients were male. The mean injury severity scale was 36 ± 13. No patients had progression of BAI to a more severe grade requiring intervention. Until now, the survival rate is 86.7% with a mean follow-up of 69 months (range 7-138). CONCLUSIONS: Within the grade II BAI cohort, injury progression did not occur, nor were any operative interventions performed. We conclude that grade II BAI can be managed nonoperatively. However, given that progression of the BAI is possible, follow-up aortic imaging is encouraged as well as appropriate blood pressure control and exercise restriction.

Endovascular Therapy of Vascular Trauma-Current Options and Review of the Literature.

OBJECTIVE: To review the current use of endovascular techniques in trauma. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Multiple studies have demonstrated that, despite current guidelines, endovascular therapies are used in instances of arterial trauma. METHODS: The existing literature concerning arterial trauma was reviewed. Studies reviewed included case reports, single-center case series, large database studies, official industry publications and instructions for use, and society guidelines. RESULTS: Endovascular therapies are used in arterial trauma in all systems. The use of thoracic endografts in blunt thoracic aortic trauma is accepted and endorsed by society guidelines. The use of endovascular therapies in other anatomic locations is largely limited to single-center studies. Advantages potentially include less morbidity due to smaller incisions as well as shorter operating room times. Many report using endovascular therapies even with hard signs of injury. Long-term results are limited by a lack of long-term follow-up but, in general, suggest that these techniques produce acceptable outcomes. The adoption of these techniques may be limited by resource and surgeon availability. CONCLUSIONS: The use of endovascular therapies in trauma has gained acceptance despite not yet having a place in official guidelines.

Common femoral vein stent placement in a frozen abdomen causing acute limb ischemia.

A 73-year-old woman was admitted for left groin bleeding through an open wound near a fungating left inguinal mass from advanced anal carcinoma. The interventional radiology service placed left iliac vein and common femoral vein stents as there was concern for communication and involvement of the left common femoral vein with the open wound, contributing to groin hemorrhage. After the procedure, the patient developed limb ischemia related to mass effect of the stent on the left common femoral vein stent artery. She was revascularized by placement of a left common femoral vein stent artery stent. This report describes a viable option for revascularization in the rare occurrence of limb ischemia related to venous stenting.

Using temporal artery biopsy to diagnose giant cell arteritis in a patient with bilateral arm ischemia.

INTRODUCTION: Bilateral upper extremity ischemia is an unusual presentation of vascular disease. Aetiologies include atherosclerosis as well as rheumatologic diseases. History and physical examination are often, but not always, enough to distinguish between aetiologies and guide treatment. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present the case of a female patient with findings neither typical for atherosclerotic or for rheumatologic disease who was ultimately found to have giant cell arteritis affecting her bilateral upper extremities. She underwent bilateral upper extremity bypasses using saphenous vein grafts. DISCUSSION: This patient presented without symptoms and laboratory findings often seen with GCA, however, biopsy revealed a definitive diagnosis. Treatment options for ischemia secondary to giant cell arteritis are not well-documented in the literature. CONCLUSION: Giant cell arteritis can present in atypical forms, and should remain on the differential when atypical-appearing lesions are found, even in the absence of features usually associated with GCA.

Retrievable inferior vena cava filters can always be removed using "fall-back" techniques.

OBJECTIVE: Retrievable inferior vena cava filters (IVCFs) left in place for a prolonged period can lead to complications including filter migration, fracture, and caval thrombosis. "Fall-back" techniques for IVCF retrieval that can be used when standard snaring is unsuccessful have been recently described. The purpose of this study was to analyze how incorporation of these new techniques affected the outcomes of IVCF retrievals at our institution during the past 5 years. METHODS: Data were collected of all patients undergoing IVCF removal by vascular surgeons at a tertiary academic medical center between 2009 and 2013, including demographics and procedural and filter characteristics. A standard technique of snaring the retrieval hook was attempted first in all cases; if this was unsuccessful, a number of fall-back techniques were employed, including the use of endoscopic graspers, 18F sheaths, and snaring a second wire below the collar of the filter to collapse it into the sheath. RESULTS: IVCF retrieval was attempted in 275 patients; 3 were excluded intraoperatively because of thrombus in the filter. Most filters (97%) were Günther Tulips (Cook Medical, Bloomington, Ind); 70% had been placed prophylactically before bariatric surgery. A total of 268 filters (98.5%) were retrieved successfully, 213 (79%) by standard snaring and 55 (21%) with fall-back techniques. In patients undergoing fall-back techniques, technical success was achieved 100% of the time. The median time since insertion was significantly longer in the fall-back group (173 days vs 83 days; P < .0001). Four intraoperative complications occurred; fractured wires embolized to the right atrium or pulmonary artery and were successfully removed endovascularly. The majority of the procedures (80%) were performed under sedation in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Incorporation of fall-back techniques may allow 100% technically successful and safe removal of retrievable IVCFs and is especially useful in removing filters with prolonged dwell time.