Prevalence, clinical characteristics, and predictors of peripheral arterial disease in hemodialysis patients: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is common in patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis, but is frequently underdiagnosed. The risk factors for PAD are well known within the general population, but they differ somewhat in hemodialysis patients. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PAD and its risk factors in patients on hemodialysis. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 156 hemodialysis patients. Comorbidities and laboratory parameters were analyzed. Following clinical examinations, the ankle-brachial index was measured in all patients. PAD was diagnosed based on the clinical findings, ankle-brachial index < 0.9, and PAD symptoms. RESULTS: PAD was present in 55 of 156 (35.3%; 95% CI, 27.7-42.8%) patients. The patients with PAD were significantly older (67 ± 10 years vs. 62 ± 11 years, p = 0.014), more likely to have diabetes mellitus (p = 0.022), and anemia (p = 0.042), and had significantly lower serum albumin (p = 0.005), total cholesterol (p = 0.024), and iron (p = 0.004) levels, higher glucose (p = 0.002) and C-reactive protein (p < 0.001) levels, and lower dialysis adequacies (p = 0.040) than the patients without PAD. Multivariate analysis showed higher C-reactive protein level (odds ratio [OR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-1.06; p = 0.030), vascular access by Hickman catheter (OR, 4.66; 95% CI, 1.03-21.0; p = 0.045), and symptoms of PAD (OR, 5.20; 95% CI, 2.60-10.4; p < 0.001) as independent factors associated with PAD in hemodialysis patients. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of PAD was high among patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis. Symptoms of PAD, higher C-reactive protein levels, and Hickman vascular access were independent predictors of PAD in patients on hemodialysis.

Eversion carotid endarterectomy versus best medical treatment in symptomatic patients with near total internal carotid occlusion: a prospective nonrandomized trial.

BACKGROUND: We sought to prospectively evaluate clinical effects of eversion carotid endarterectomy (ECEA) versus best medical treatment of symptomatic patients with near total internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion. METHODS: From January 2003 to December 2006, a total of 309 recently (within 12 months) symptomatic patients with near total ICA occlusion who were eligible for surgery were identified in our institution. Patients were nonrandomly divided into group A (259 patients), who underwent ECEA surgery, and group B (50 patients), who refused surgery. Patients in group B received the best medical treatment based on the opinion of the attending vascular surgeon and/or angiologist. Patients were followed for ipsilateral stroke, transient ischemic accident, and neurologic mortality for 12 months. RESULTS: There were no intraoperative and perioperative deaths and strokes in patients who were subjected to surgery. TIA was noted in 4 (1.5%) of these patients. There were no differences between the groups with respect to medications on discharge. Cumulative 12 month incidence of TIA, ipsilateral stroke and neurologic mortality was lower in patients who underwent ECEA than in patients on medical therapy (13 [5%] versus 12 [24%], p < 0.001; 4 [1.5%] versus 7 [14%], p < 0.001; and 4 [1.5%] versus 4 [8%], p = 0.034, respectively). Restenosis of the operated ICA was noted in 7 (3%) patients, and progression of near to total occlusion was seen in 15 (37%) patients in group B. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that recently (within 12 months) symptomatic patients with near total ICA occlusion who underwent ECEA have lower incidence of TIA, ipsilateral stroke, and neurologic death during follow-up than medically treated patients. It appears that, at least in high-volume centers, ECEA should be favored over medical treatment for the management of these patients.

Jugular vein aneurysm.

Jugular vein aneurysm is a rare morphologic entity. This report describes a case of an asymptomatic internal jugular vein aneurysm that presented as an enlarging mass in the neck. Diagnosis was established with duplex ultrasonography and venography. No thrombus was diagnosed in the aneurysm, but since the patient was uncomfortable with having a tumor in his neck, surgery was performed with resection of the aneurysm and lateral venorrhaphy of the jugular vein.

Temporal trends in eversion carotid endarterectomy for carotid atherosclerosis: single-center experience with 5,034 patients.

The aim of this article is to review our experience in surgical treatment of carotid atherosclerosis using eversion carotid endarterectomy (ECEA) in 5,034 patients, with particular attention to temporal changes in patients' characteristics, diagnostic approach, surgical technique, medical therapy, and outcome in the early (group A, 1991-1997) versus late (group B 1998-2004) period of ECEA. From January 1991 to December 2004, 5,034 primary ECEAs were performed for high-grade carotid stenosis. Patients treated for restenosis after previous carotid surgery were excluded from the analysis. Group A consisted of 1,714 patients who underwent surgery between 1991 and 1997, and group B consisted of 3,320 patients who underwent surgery between 1998 and 2004. Follow-up included routine clinical evaluation and noninvasive surveillance, with duplex scanning at 1 month after surgery, after 6 months, and annually afterward. Only 3% of patients in group A and 0.6% in group B were asymptomatic, with 23% and 47% of them having preoperative stroke, respectively. In group A, angiography was used for the final diagnosis in 78% of patients. In group B, duplex scanning was performed in 82% of patients and angiography in only 18% (p < .001). Clamping time was shorter in the latter group (12.4 +/- 3.1 vs 14.5 +/- 4.1 min, p < .01). Introperative shunting and regional anesthesia were rarely performed in both groups (1.4% vs. 0.4%, p < .01, and 2% vs 0.3%, p < .001). Total and neurologic morbidity was significantly higher in group A than in group B (6.41% +/- 0.47% vs 4.81% +/- 0.53%, p < .001, and 2.14% +/- 0.31% vs 1.23% +/- 0.29%, p < .001, respectively). Total mortality was also higher in group A than in group B (1.92% +/- 0.24% vs 1.36% +/- 0.50%, p < .05), but although there was a trend toward lower neurologic mortality, it did not reach statistical significance (1.04% +/- 0.5% vs 0.57% +/- 0.25%, p = .074). There was a lower rate of nonsignificant restenosis (< 50%) in group B (2% vs 5%, p < .01), but the incidence of restenosis > or = 50% was identical between the groups (5.5% for both). Our data show that ECEA is a reliable surgical technique for the treatment of atherosclerotic carotid disease. Temporal trends in our patients demonstrated a decline in periopertive mortality and morbidity, despite a higher incidence of preoperative stroke.

Postendarterectomy common carotid artery pseudoaneurysm.

Pseudoaneurysm (PSA) formation is an uncommon complication in carotid surgery. PSA of the carotid artery requires surgical or endovascular treatment to prevent PSA thrombosis, embolization from the thrombotic material within the PSA, hemorrhage after rupture, or compression on the adjacent structures. We present a case of a symptomatic common carotid PSA that occurred 14 months after routinely performed eversion carotid endarterectomy.

Popliteal traumatic arteriovenous fistula.

Popliteal trauma requires particular attention because blood vessel injuries in that zone might cause serious complications. Popliteal traumatic arteriovenous fistula (AVF) should be considered for serious leg amputation, and long-standing fistulae produce cardiac overload. The diagnosis is usually made after clinical examination, finding palpable thrill and audible bruit over the injury site, and is confirmed after duplex ultrasonography and/or angiography. We present a case of popliteal traumatic arteriovenous fistula with false aneurysm (pseudoaneurysm) (PSA), in which duplex ultrasonography and angiography findings proved inconsistent with the findings at surgery, thus resulting in an unnecessary extensive dissection of a major artery and vein, whereas the fistula and the PSA were found in minor vessels (genicular artery and vein).

Coiling of the brachial artery: an uncommon cause of difficult thrombectomy.

Coiling (or looping) of the artery is a rare morphologic entity, most frequently described in the internal carotid artery. In other arteries, coiling is rarely reported because it remains asymptomatic and without clinical relevance unless inadvertently injured, as for diagnostic or monitoring purposes. We present a case of an unusually difficult thrombectomy of the brachial artery after occlusion following withdrawal of the arterial cannula placed for monitoring during cardiac surgery owing to coiling of the distal part of the artery, which produced the "spring-squeeze phenomenon" during balloon catheter thrombectomy.