Editor's Choice -- Survival, Limb Salvage, and Management of Patients with Lower Limb Acute Ischaemia: A French National Retrospective Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to describe the baseline characteristics of French patients referred with acute limb ischaemia (ALI), and their clinical management and outcome (death, amputation). METHODS: This retrospective observational cohort study used the National Health Data System. All adults hospitalised for ALI who underwent revascularisation with an endovascular or open surgical approach between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2020 were included and followed up until death or the end of the study (31 December 2021). A one year look back period was used to capture patients' medical history. The risks of death, and major and minor amputations were described using Kaplan-Meier and Aalen-Johansen estimators. A Cox model was used to report the adjusted association between groups and risk of death and Fine-Gray models for the risk of amputations considering the competing risk of death. RESULTS: Overall, 51 390 patients (median age 70 years, 69% male) were included and had a median follow up of 2.7 years: 39 411 (76.7%) were treated with an open approach and 11 979 (23.3%) with a percutaneous endovascular approach. The preferred approach for the revascularisation varied between French regions. The one year overall survival was 78.0% and 85.2% in the surgery and endovascular groups, respectively. The surgery group had a higher risk of death (hazard ratio [HR] 1.17, 95% CI 1.12 - 1.21), a higher risk of major amputation (sub-distribution HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.10 - 1.30) and lower risk of minor amputation (sub-distribution HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.60 - 0.71) than the endovascular group. Diabetes and dialysis increased the risk of major amputation by 52% and 78%, respectively. Subsequent ALI was the third most common cause of hospital re-admission within one year. CONCLUSION: ALI remains a condition at high risk of death and amputation. Individual risk factors and ALI severity need to be considered to choose between approaches. Continued prevention efforts, improved management, and access to the most suitable approach are necessary.

Predictive Factors of Amputation in Infrainguinal Vascular Trauma: A Monocentric Experience.

BACKGROUND: Infrainguinal vascular injuries (IIVIs) are emergencies involving both functional and vital prognosis. The choice between saving the limb or doing a first-line amputation is difficult even for an experienced surgeon. The aims of this work are to analyze early outcomes in our center and to identify predictive factors for amputation. METHODS: Between 2010 and 2017, we reviewed retrospectively patients with IIVI. The main criteria for judgment were as follows: primary, secondary, and overall amputation. Two groups of potential risk factors of amputation were analyzed: Those related to the patient: age, shock, ISS score and those related to the lesion: mechanism, above or below the knee, bone lesions, venous lesions and skin decay. A univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to determine the risk factor(s) independently associated with the occurrence of amputation. RESULTS: Fifty-seven IIVIs were found in 54 patients. The mean ISS was 32,3 ± 21. A primary amputation was performed in 19%, and secondary in 14% of cases. Overall amputation rate was 35% (n = 19). Multivariate analysis reveals that the ISS is the only predictor of primary (P = 0.009; odds ratio (OR):1.07; confidence interval (CI):1.01-1.12) and global (P = 0.04; OR:1.07; IC:1.02-1.13) amputation. A threshold value of 41 was selected as a primary amputation risk factor with a negative predictive value of 97%. CONCLUSIONS: The ISS is a good predictor of the risk of amputation in IIVI. A threshold of 41 is an objective criterion helping to decide for a first-line amputation. Advanced age and hemodynamic instability should not be important in the decision tree.

Predictive Factors of Stent Patency in Iliofemoral Venous Diseases in a Multicentre Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed primary stent patency predictive factors in three groups of patients with history of lower limb (LL) vein thrombosis: non-thrombotic iliac vein lesion (NIVL), acute deep vein thrombosis (aDVT), and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). METHODS: Consecutive patients from January 2014 to December 2020 with history of LL vein stenting from seven hospitals were included. All patients received an iliac or common femoral venous stent and had at least a six month follow up available with stent imaging. Anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy strategies employed after venous stenting are reported and compared between groups. RESULTS: This study included 377 patients: 134 NIVL, 55 aDVT, and 188 PTS. Primary patency was statistically significantly higher in the NIVL group (99.3%) compared with the PTS group (68.6%) (p < .001) and the aDVT group (83.6%) (p = .002). PTS patients received a statistically significantly greater number of stents (p < .001) and had more stents below the inguinal ligament (p < .001). Median follow up was 28.8 months (IQR 16, 47). Discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy at the last assessment was 83.6% for NIVL, 100% for aDVT, and 95.7% for the PTS group (p < .001). Discontinuation of anticoagulation therapy at the last assessment was 93.2% for NIVL, 25.0% for aDVT, and 70.3% for the PTS group (p < .001). The only predictor of worse primary patency in the aDVT group was long term anticoagulation before stenting. CONCLUSION: Patients with NIVL have better primary patency after venous stenting than patients with venous thrombotic disorders. Long term anticoagulation before stenting was the only factor associated with poorer primary patency in patients with aDVT.

Current results of left gonadal vein transposition to treat nutcracker syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Nutcracker syndrome can cause disabling chronic pain requiring surgical intervention. At present, data describing a straightforward management approach are lacking. Transposition of the left gonadal vein is one of the surgical therapeutic alternatives. The aim of the present study was to describe our clinical results with gonadal vein transposition. METHODS: All 11 patients from three centers who had undergone left gonadal vein transposition for nutcracker syndrome from 2016 to 2019 were retrospectively included. The surgical cases were mainly selected according to the morphologic criteria of the left gonadal vein. The diameter and length dictated the type of approach (laparotomy or retroperitoneal) and the transposition level. A minimally invasive retroperitoneal approach was preferred. Pain was assessed using a numeric rating scale. RESULTS: We included 11 patients (10 women) with a median age of 35 years (range, 25-69). Preoperative computed tomography angiography showed anterior nutcracker syndrome in 10 patients (91%). All 11 patients had experienced lower back and/or pelvic pain, which was associated with pelvic congestion syndrome in 6 patients (55%) and hematuria in 5 patients (45%). The median preoperative numeric rating scale score for pain was 7.0 (range, 3.5-10.0) and 6.0 (range, 3.5-8.0) for lower back pain and pelvic pain, respectively. At the level of the iliac vein crossing (external or common), the median diameter of the left gonadal vein was 7.87 mm (range, 6.45-11.28). The left gonadal vein was transposed to the inferior vena cava in one case (9%), the left external iliac vein in five (45%), and the left common iliac vein in five cases (45%). The median in-hospital stay was 4 days (range, 2-20 days). Two early complications (18%) requiring surgical revision occurred: one of active bleeding and one hematoma. The median follow-up was 15 months (range, 6-44 months). The median postoperative pain score was 1.0 (range, 0.0-4.0) and 0.0 (range, 0.0-6.0) for lower back and pelvic pain, respectively. Incisional and/or neuropathic pain was noted, with a median score of 3.5 (range, 1.0-6.0) in seven patients (64%). Two late complications (18%) were observed: one case of thrombosis and one case of anastomotic stenosis. The hematuria had disappeared in all patients who had presented with it initially. CONCLUSIONS: Left gonadal vein transposition can be proposed as a first approach if the diameter of the left gonadal vein is sufficient to perform the anastomosis. It is an easily achievable, minimally invasive alternative that achieves satisfactory results without the use of foreign material.

The persistent sciatic artery: Report of ten cases.

OBJECTIVE: The persistent sciatic artery (PSA) is a rare congenital anomaly with a high rate of aneurysm formation, occlusion and stenosis. It may lead to severe complications including thrombosis, distal embolisation, or aneurysm rupture. We reported herein our experience in the management of PSA and its complications, and discuss the therapeutic options. METHODS: Eight patients with 10 PSA were managed in our institutions between 1985 and 2017. An analysis was done for the clinical data, surgical technique, and results. RESULTS: The series included six women and two men. The median age of the patients was 66,5 years (37-80 years). Physical examination found a pulsatile gluteal mass in five patients, sciatic neuropathy in two cases. Four patients had an acute ischemia of the lower limb. Cowie's sign was described in only two patients (diminished or absent femoral pulse but presence of popliteal pulse). Digital subtraction angiography was performed in all patients, and was completed with a computed tomography angiography (CTA) with a diagnosis of PSA, associated with a symptomatic aneurysmal lesion in seven cases and with an occlusion in one case. The treatment was surgical in all cases: bipolar exclusion of the aneurysm and bypass between the iliac artery and the PSA distal to the aneurysm was performed in four cases, only proximal and distal ligation was done in 2 other cases. A Chopart amputation was necessary in 2 cases. CONCLUSION: We consider that the treatment of PSA is usually surgical in symptomatic cases. Surgical techniques depend on symptoms and classification describing anatomy of the PSA. However, future studies should compare the open versus the endovascular approach to optimize patient selection criteria and identify the most safe and effective strategy. In an asymptomatic patient, PSA does not require any intervention; continued follow-up is required because of the high incidence of aneurysmal formation and the risk of thromboembolic events.

Endovascular Treatment for Venous Diseases: Where are the Venous Stents?

There is a growing need for dedicated endovascular devices to treat pathologies affecting the venous system. However, because of a lack of research into venous diseases and treatments, the optimal design, material, and mechanical properties of venous stents remain unknown. Development of the ideal venous stent should be based on a thorough understanding of the underlying venous pathology. There are multiple venous diseases that differ from each other depending on their location (iliocaval, superior vena cava), mechanism (thrombotic versus nonthrombotic lesions), and chronicity. Thus, it is likely that stent material, design, and features should differ according to each underlying disease. From a mechanical point of view, the success of a venous stent hinges on its ability to resist crushing (which requires high global and local radial rigidity) and to match with the compliant implant environment (which requires high flexibility). Device oversizing, textile coverage, and drug coating are additional features that should be considered in the context of venous diseases rather than directly translated from the arterial world. This review examines the unique forces affecting venous stents, the problems with using arterial devices to treat venous pathologies, preliminary results of a study comparing crush resistance of commercially available laser-cut stents with a novel braided stent design, and its applicability to venous interventions.

Aortic Anatomy and Complications of the Proximal Sealing Zone after Endovascular Treatment of the Thoracic Aorta.

BACKGROUND: Technical and clinical success of thoracic aortic endovascular procedures relies mainly on the choice of the proximal sealing zone (PSZ). The latter can be affected by multiple complications, all of them having a potential gravity and a direct link with the quality of the PSZ. The objective of this study was to analyze the risk factors of PSZ complications occurrence. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2015, all the patients treated by a thoracic stent graft in zones 2, 3, or 4 were retrospectively reviewed, with analysis of the preoperative and postoperative angio-computed tomography. Proximal sealing zone complications are type Ia endoleaks, bird beak ≥20 mm, malposition ≥11 mm, migration ≥10 mm, and retrograde dissection. Three types of potential risk factors were analyzed: (1) related to the patients (age, gender, pathology, urgency, hybrid surgery); (2) related to the stent graft (bare or covered proximal stent, degree of oversizing, number of stents, generation); (3) related to the morphology (radius of curvature, diameter, degree of conicity, calcifications and thrombus of the neck, depth of the arch, angulation of the proximal sealing zone, and tortuosity index of the arch and the thoracic aorta. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients (mean age: 54 years, 17-93 years) were treated for traumatic aortic rupture (n = 27, 35.5%), aortic dissection (n = 26, 34%), aneurysm (n = 15, 20%), and other diseases (floating thrombus, aortoesophageal fistula) (n = 8, 10.5%). A hybrid surgery was carried out in 18 patients (24%). Primary technical success was 93.5% (n = 71). With a mean follow-up of 29 months, 30 PSZ complications were observed in 21 patients (28%): type Ia endoleaks (n = 3, 4%), bird beak (n = 7, 9%), malposition (n = 3, 4%), migration (n = 1, 1.5%), retrograde dissection (n = 1, 1.5%), or several complications (n = 6, 7.8%). Among the morphological factors, 2 parameters were significantly associated with the occurrence of complications: tortuosity index (group without PSZ complications 1.62 ± 0.2 vs. group with PSZ complications 1.72 ± 0.2, P = 0.042), and the diameter of the proximal neck (group without PSZ complications 25.7 ± 5 vs. group with PSZ complications 31 ± 6.0, P = 0.001). Neither the demographic factors nor those related to the stent graft presented a statistically significant relation with the occurrence of complications. CONCLUSIONS: This work clearly highlights the relation between PSZ complications, independently of their type, and the local and global aortic morphology. A wide proximal neck, > 34 mm, and an important aortic tortuosity, > 1.8, are situations at risk.

Outcomes analysis of stent-graft repair for thoracic aorta emergencies.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify patient, pathology and procedure-related factors affecting perioperative and mid-term mortality of thoracic aorta emergencies. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2014, patients treated emergently with thoracic stent-graft were retrospectively reviewed. Variables analyzed were: age, renal insufficiency, shock, cardiac arrest, transfer status, pathology, debranching procedures, operation duration, vascular access and European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE). Seventy-four patients (54.5±22 years) were treated for traumatic rupture (N.=31), aneurysm (TAA) (N.=16), acute aortic syndrome (N.=18), aorto-esophageal fistula (N.=2), floating thrombus (N.=7). Thirty-four patients (46%) were in shock, including 3 suffering preoperative cardiac arrest. Proximal landing zones were: zone 0 (N.=4), zone 1 (N.=4), zone 2 (N.=37), zone 3 (N.=21) and zone 4 (N.=8). Debranching procedures were performed in 16 cases (22%). RESULTS: Perioperative all-cause- mortality was 18.9% (N.=14). Univariable analysis identified age, renal insufficiency, shock, transfer status, cardiac arrest, debranching procedures in zones 0 or 4 and EuroSCORE as predictors of death (P=0.002, P=0.001, P=0.002, P=0.05, P=0.006, P=0.028, P<0.001 respectively). Multivariable analysis pinpointed shock and renal insufficiency as independent risk factors. Over a mean 41 months follow-up, survival was 72% at both 1 and 3 years and was impacted by pathology and debranching procedures. Aortic re-intervention rate was 12% (N.=9), significantly higher in TAA group (P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Hemorrhagic shock remains highly lethal for endovascular repair. Hybrid procedures in zones 0 or 4 should be avoided to improve short and mid-term outcomes. TAA groups require close surveillance to detect late events.

Atheromatous occlusive lesions of the popliteal artery treated with stent grafts: predictive factors of midterm patency.

BACKGROUND: Because of its location, the popliteal artery is exposed to important biomechanical constraints, inducing a specific risk of thrombosis of stents, little studied in the literature. The objective of this monocentric retrospective study was to evaluate the patency of stents implanted in the popliteal artery to treat atheromatous lesions and the risk factors predisposing to thrombosis. METHODS: Between January 2009 and July 2013, all the patients receiving stents for a residual stenosis or a complication of angioplasty in the popliteal artery or the distal anastomosis of a femoropopliteal bypass were included retrospectively and in an intention to treat. Forty-six patients (17 women), with a 71.5 years median age (range, 45-90 years), including 17 diabetic patients (37%) and 7 hemodialysis patients (15%), were operated in 51 limbs for claudication (n = 25, 49%), critical ischemia (n = 18, 35%), or acute ischemia (n = 8, 16%). Thirty stenoses >70% (59%) and 21 thromboses (41%) were treated with 56 autoexpandable stents, with an average diameter of 6 mm (range, 5-8 mm) and an average length of 5 cm (range, 4-15 cm), including 39 lesions in P1 (above the patella), 8 in P2 (articular), and 4 in P3 (distal popliteal artery). The following factors were analyzed according to univariate and multivariate models: age, gender, Society for Vascular Surgery score, symptomatology, type and location of lesion, number of stents deployed, and dimension of stents. RESULTS: Technical success was of 98% (n = 50), including 1 insufficient result of the endovascular treatment. At 30 days, one patient treated for critical ischemia died (2%) and one residual popliteal stenosis was treated by bypass (2%). After a 27.6 ± 10.07 month follow-up, restenosis (>50%) was detected in 5 cases including 4 asymptomatic and a popliteal thrombosis occurred in 9 cases, including 3 asymptomatic cases. Eight secondary interventions were necessary, including 4 endovascular procedures, 3 bypasses, and only 1 major amputation (thigh). The primary and secondary patencies at 12 months and 24 months were 80% and 65%, and 90% and 74%, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that the type of lesion (stenosis versus occlusion; odds ratio [OR], 5.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-22.9, P = 0.032) and the number of stents implanted (1 vs. 2 stents; OR [95% CI], 12.7 [1.8-88.5]; P = 0.011) were independent predictive factors of secondary thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: The endovascular treatment of the atheromatous popliteal lesions appears to be a satisfactory alternative. The implantation of 1 stent in the popliteal artery is recommended in the event of popliteal occlusion, whereas for a stenosis, it must be reserved for patients with residual stenosis or in the event of complications of angioplasty, such as dissection or elastic recoil. Stent must be single, with deployment of a long stent in the event of long lesion.

Endovascular management of severe bleeding after major abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND: In this study we analyzed embolization and stent-graft results. METHODS: Demographics, indications, procedures, and outcomes of patients treated with embolization or stent grafting for late postoperative bleeding after major abdominal surgery were retrospectively recorded. Outcomes were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. RESULTS: Between 2004 and 2008, 14 consecutive patients (11 men and 3 women, mean age 64 years) were treated for hemorrhage responsible for shock in 6 patients (43%), occurring after pancreaticoduodenectomy (n=13) or subtotal gastrectomy (n=1). Mean onset occurred at 23 days postoperatively (range 7-75 days). Bleeding site included: the stump of the gastroduodenal artery (n=10), splenic artery (n=2), common hepatic artery (n=1), and right gastric artery (n=1). Initial success was obtained in 13 patients (93%); the only failure of stent-graft deployment required re-laparotomy. Treatment included embolization in 8 patients and stent grafting in 5 patients. In the embolization group, 5 complications (62%) occurred: 4 rebleeding and 1 gastric perforation, compared with no early complications in the stent-graft group. One patient died in each group. The mean follow-up was 25 months (range 6-57 months). CONCLUSIONS: Stent grafting seems to provide definitive hemostasis and fewer complications compared with embolization.

Emergency stent graft implantation for ruptured visceral artery pseudoaneurysm.

BACKGROUND: Literature series that include visceral artery pseudoaneurysms rarely separate them from true aneurysms, although they address different issues. Guidelines for optimal management of these lesions are lacking. We report our experience of stent graft treatment of these lesions with midterm results. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients with a visceral pseudoaneurysm who were treated with a stent graft in our institution. Patient history, clinical characteristics, procedure details, and outcome were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: From March 2004 to June 2009, 10 consecutive patients (9 men), who were a mean age of 59 years, were treated for symptomatic visceral artery pseudoaneurysm, with hemorrhagic shock in 8 patients (80%), after pancreaticoduodenectomy in 8, gastrectomy in 1, and abdominal trauma in 1. A mean of 24 days (range, 7-60 days) passed between the initial surgery or trauma and pseudoaneurysm diagnosis. Septic complications were associated in six patients (60%). The pseudoaneurysm was in the hepatic artery in 8 patients, the splenic artery in 1, and the superior mesenteric artery in 1. Technical and clinical success was achieved in 80% of patients. Two failures of catheterization were followed by redo surgery and death (20%). No patients died postoperatively, and no complications among the patients who were treated successfully. Mean follow-up was 37 months (range, 10-63 months). All stent grafts were patent, with no signs of infection. Two patients died secondary to neoplasm. No rebleeding or recurrent aneurysms were noted. CONCLUSION: Stent graft exclusion of visceral artery pseudoaneurysm seems to be a valid therapeutic approach regardless of the patient's septic or hemodynamic status.

Management of angiomyolipoma vena cava thrombus during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Angiomyolipoma can worsen during pregnancy. Inferior vena cava thrombus of renal angiomyolipoma during pregnancy is rare, and threatens to cause massive emboli. We report a case of vena cava tumor thrombectomy during the second trimester of pregnancy with delayed renal tumorectomy. CASE: A 34-year-old woman with bilateral known angiomyolipomas presented asymptomatic at 30 weeks of gestation with an inferior vena cava thrombus at renal follow-up ultrasonography. Retro-hepatic thrombus had fatty signal on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The woman had renal vein and vena cava tumor initial thrombectomy, and had normal cesarean delivery at 39 weeks of gestation. The tumor was treated by postpartum right partial nephrectomy. CONCLUSION: Successful angiomyolipoma isolated thrombectomy during pregnancy with delayed partial nephrectomy is possible. Angiomyolipoma needs follow-up during pregnancy with repeated renal ultrasonography.

Results of stenting for postthrombotic venous obstructive lesions.

Venous obstructive lesions represent a therapeutic challenge. Postthrombotic lesions are the most complex and very prone to rethrombosis. Technical success can be achieved in more than 85% of the cases (100% when recanalization with thrombolysis is not needed) with a low rate of periprocedural complications and no mortality. The overall rate of thrombotic events after stenting is around 5%. Patency rates depend on multiple criteria, including the need for thrombolysis and the involvement of the common femoral vein and of the inferior vena cava. Primary, assisted-primary, and secondary patency rates were 67%, 89%, and 93%, respectively, at 6 years in the study by Neglén and 66%, 70%, and 77%, respectively, in the intention-to-treat European multicentric study, at 5 and 10 years. Stenting is a minimally invasive and safe technique with good long-term clinical results and patency rates. It represents the method of choice for the treatment of postthrombotic iliofemoral venous obstructions.

Unstable patients with retroperitoneal vascular trauma: an endovascular approach.

BACKGROUND: In hemodynamically unstable patients, the management of retroperitoneal vascular trauma is both difficult and challenging. Endovascular techniques have become an alternative to surgery in several trauma centers. METHODS: Between 2004 and 2006, 16 patients (nine men, mean age: 46 years, range: 19-79 years) with retroperitoneal vascular trauma and hemodynamic instability were treated using an endovascular approach. The mean injury severity score was 30.7 ± 13.1. Mean systolic blood pressure and the shock index were 74 mm Hg and 1.9, respectively. Vasopressor drugs were required in 68.7% of cases (n = 11). Injuries were attributable to road traffic accidents (n = 15) and falls (n = 1). The hemorrhage sites included the internal iliac artery or its branches (n = 12) with bilateral injury in one case, renal artery (n = 2), abdominal aorta (n = 1), and lumbar artery (n = 1). RESULTS: In all, 14 coil embolizations and three stent-grafts were implanted. The technical success rate was 75%, as early re-embolization was necessary in one case and three patients died during the perioperative period. Six patients died during the period of hospitalization (37.5%). No surgical conversion or major morbidity was reported. CONCLUSION: In comparison with particulates, coil ± stent-graft may provide similar efficacy with regard to survival, and thus may be a valuable solution when particulate embolization is not available or feasible.

Renal artery thrombosis caused by stent fracture: the risk of undiagnosed renal artery entrapment.

We report a case of renal artery thrombosis resulting from a stent fracture in a patient with a solitary functional kidney. It was successfully revascularized by surgical repair despite renal ischemia lasting more than 48 hours. This article illustrates the danger of generalizing endovascular stenting in renal artery disease regardless of the etiology. Renal artery entrapment must be kept in mind as a possible cause of renal artery stenosis. Treatment of compressive pathologies with stenting can lead to stent failure. Surgery remains the best approach for the treatment of this type of lesion.

A comparison of the standard bolia technique versus subintimal recanalization plus Viabahn stent graft in the management of femoro-popliteal occlusions.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential benefit of the addition of a covered stent to a subintimal recanalized artery in patients with femoro-popliteal occlusions. METHODS: From September 2003 to October 2005, we retrospectively analyzed all patients admitted for severe claudication or critical limb ischemia related to long femoro-popliteal occlusions and treated with subintimal recanalization. Patients were divided into two groups depending on whether they received a stent or not. All patients in the group treated with stent received a stent graft, and the entire length of the recanalized artery was covered in each case. Demographic data, indications, procedure, and outcomes were examined using survival analysis statistical techniques. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients (54 limbs) were treated consecutively for severe claudication (n=19) or critical limb ischemia (n=34). Thirty-four (64%) had a stent placed, while 19 (35.8%) did not. The mean length of the lesions treated was 20.11 cm (range, 5-35 cm). Statistically, there was no significant difference in lesion length, Rutherford stage of peripheral-artery disease, Transatlantic Inter-Society Consensus classification, and distal run-off between the two groups. The technical success rate was 94.5%, and two out of the three failures were treated with surgical bypass in one case and major amputation in the other. The third patient received only medical treatment. Combined procedures were required in the treatment of 68.2% of limbs in the no-stent group and 55.8% in the stent group. Mean follow up was 16.9 months (range, 1-35 months). At 1 year, primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency for the stent vs no-stent groups was, respectively, 61.8% vs 78.9% (P=.49), 70.6% vs 78.9% (P=.78), and 88.2% vs 78.9% (P=.22). The 1-year limb salvage rate for the stent vs no-stent group was 94.1% vs 100% (P=.7). CONCLUSION: Combining subintimal angioplasty with a stent graft in femoro-popliteal lesions does not improve patency. The limb salvage rate remains high after addition of a stent graft. Rigorous monitoring is recommended to diagnose and treat restenosis early in order to improve patency.

Laparoscopic transposition of the left renal vein into the inferior vena cava for nutcracker syndrome.

Reimplantation of the left renal vein into the infrarenal inferior vena cava is the standard surgical procedure for nutcracker syndrome. A 40-year-old woman with a solitary left kidney suffered from left lumbar pain and hematuria. Imaging techniques found a large kidney with nutcracker syndrome. A totally laparoscopic transposition of the left renal vein was performed. Twelve months later, the patient is improved and has no more hematuria. Duplex scan showed no residual stenosis. Laparoscopic transposition of the left renal vein into the inferior vena cava is feasible with short length of stay and good short-term result.

Management of pregnancy in women with previous left ilio-caval stenting.

BACKGROUND: Ilio-caval stenting now represents the first line treatment for disabling obstructive ilio-caval lesions. Most patients are young women of child-bearing age. We herein report our experience of pregnancy in women who have a history of ilio-caval stenting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 1995 to April 2008, 119 patients had ilio-caval stenting for obstructive venous disease in our department. Of these, 62 women were able to become pregnant. When pregnancy occurred, they received preventive treatment with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) from the 3rd month of pregnancy to 1 month after delivery and had to wear elastic stockings. Patients also had to sleep on their right side if possible. They were followed during the pregnancy by duplex scanning at 3, 6, and 8 months, and then 1 month after delivery. RESULTS: Eight pregnancies occurred in 6 patients (mean age 26.5 years) who had a patent self-expanding stent (1 patient had 3 pregnancies). They had stenting for May-Thurner disease in 3 patients, for post-deep venous thrombosis (DVT) left common iliac vein occlusion in 1 patient, and during venous thrombectomy in 2 patients. All stents were self-expanding metallic stents located on the left common iliac vein. One patient had unrelated spontaneous abortion after 2 months of pregnancy. No DVT or symptomatic pulmonary embolism occurred during pregnancy, delivery, or during the postpartum period. Four patients needed cesarean delivery and none had hemorrhagic complications. None of the patients had adverse effects from the treatment. Duplex scan showed compression of the stent(s) at 8 months in 4 patients with inflow obstruction in 3 patients. Postpartum duplex-scan showed no remaining stenosis in all patients. No stents had structural damage. CONCLUSION: Ilio-caval stent compression can occur during pregnancy but does not lead to structural damage to the self-expanding stents. Despite this, no cases of DVT occurred with preventive LMWH treatment.