Viability of the rectus femoris muscle flap for groin wound coverage after ligation of proximal inflow.

Lower extremity revascularization via groin incisions can be complicated by wound dehiscence associated with infection, seroma and femoral vessel exposure. This may require additional surgical debridement and coverage of vascular structures and grafts. The pedicled rectus femoris muscle flap (RFF) has both bulk and a large arc of rotation, making it useful for reconstruction. Its main pedicle is the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery (DLFCA), a branch of the profunda femoris artery. One could anticipate that ligation of more proximal vasculature could lead to ischemia of the RFF. We present two patients who each underwent vascular surgery involving the common femoral artery and subsequent reconstruction utilizing a pedicled RFF. Both patients then required additional vascular procedures involving the ligation of inflow vessels proximal to the DLFCA. The flaps remained viable, demonstrating the rich collateralization of blood supply that occurs in vascular disease patients.

Outcomes of Transcarotid Artery Revascularization and Carotid Endarterectomy at a Single Institution.

BACKGROUND: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) are accepted revascularization modalities to treat carotid artery stenosis. Higher incidences of perioperative adverse neurological events and death have been reported in patients with transfemoral CAS. Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) is a newer operative technique that involves direct transcervical carotid access, mitigating aortic arch manipulation and minimizing the risk of embolic stroke via cerebral blood flow reversal. Perioperative stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), and death rates have been shown to be similar between TCAR and CEA, with TCAR having fewer complications. The objective of this study was to ascertain the safety and viability of TCAR by evaluating perioperative outcomes. We hypothesized that patients undergoing TCAR and CEA have equivalent outcomes. METHODS: We performed a single-institution retrospective review of a prospectively maintained Vascular Quality Initiative database on patients who underwent TCAR or CEA between 2012 and 2019. A total of 66 TCAR cases from February 2018 to December 2019 and 501 CEA cases from January 2012 to December 2019 were reviewed. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative characteristics as well as perioperative outcomes were captured for the statistical analyses. RESULTS: From 2012 to 2019, 567 patients underwent TCAR or CEA. Patients who underwent TCAR were found to have higher rates of comorbidities compared with CEA. There were no procedure-related strokes in patients who underwent TCAR. There was no statistically significant difference between TCAR and CEA procedure-related strokes (0% vs. 1.0%, P = 0.42). There were 5 CEA procedure-related strokes because of technical problems resulting in thrombosis of the target vessels. Three patients who underwent CEA had strokes unrelated to the operations. Overall, there were no perioperative deaths, MI, cranial nerve injury (CNI), or hematoma in patients who underwent TCAR. There were no complications of surgical site infection, pseudoaneurysm, or arteriovenous fistula among patients who underwent TCAR or CEA. CONCLUSIONS: This single-center retrospective analysis of TCAR and CEA for the treatment of carotid artery disease suggests TCAR can result in equivalent perioperative procedure-related stroke as CEA as well as equivalent incidence of perioperative complications including MI, CNI, hematoma, and death in selected patients or patients with proper anatomy. TCAR may be considered a safe, feasible carotid revascularization option for carotid artery stenosis.

Performance on the Verbal Naming Test among healthy, community-dwelling older adults.

Objective: The Verbal Naming Test (VNT) is a nonvisual measure of word finding with stimuli chosen based on rare frequency of usage in spoken English. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the VNT and test the feasibility of telephone administration. In addition, regression-based normative data were obtained for the VNT as well as other measures.Method: Eighty-one community-dwelling older adults 61-92 years old (mean = 74.19 years) completed the VNT, the Naming subtests of the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB), the WIAT-III Sentence Repetition subtest, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).Results: As evidence of construct validity, the VNT had large correlations with the NAB Naming test and medium correlations with the MoCA and WIAT-III Sentence Repetition test. Cronbach's alpha in this sample was 0.621. Age, education, and gender were entered into linear regression equations and regression-based normative equations are presented. Lastly, administration of the VNT over the telephone was found to be feasible.Conclusions: The VNT is a valid measure of naming among community-dwelling older adults. Regression-based normative data for the measure will enable its use in the neuropsychological assessment of naming with a wide range of older adults.

Vascular Complications in Extracoporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a rescue therapy in patients with severe cardiopulmonary failure. Often, cannulation is done emergently and the femoral vessels are most readily accessible for venous and arterial access. Unfortunately, complications with arterial femoral access can lead to devastating complications, primarily related to limb ischemia. A coordinated protocol of diligent limb examination by trained intensive care unit staff, near infrared spectroscopy monitoring of limbs, and placement of a distal perfusion catheter at the time of femoral cannulation or when signs of ischemia develop, can lead to successful limb salvage.

Arterial protocol including prophylactic distal perfusion catheter decreases limb ischemia complications in patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

OBJECTIVE: Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a salvage therapy in patients with severe cardiopulmonary failure. Owing to the large size of the cannulas inserted via the femoral vessels (≤24-F) required for adequate oxygenation, this procedure could result in significant limb ischemic complications (10%-70%). This study evaluates the results of a distal limb perfusion arterial protocol designed to reduce associated complications. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective institutional review board-approved review of consecutive patients requiring ECMO via femoral cannulation (July 2010-January 2015). To prevent arterial ischemia, a distal perfusion catheter (DPC) was placed antegrade into the superficial femoral artery and connected to the ECMO circuit. Limb perfusion was monitored via near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) placed on both calves. Decannulation involved open repair, patch angioplasty, and femoral thrombectomy as needed. RESULTS: A total of 91 patients were placed on ECMO via femoral arterial cannula (16-F to 24-F) for a mean duration of 9 days (range, 1-40 days). A percutaneous DPC was inserted prophylactically at the time of cannulation in 55 of 91 patients, without subsequent ischemia. Of the remaining 36 patients without initial DPC placement, 12 (33% without DPC) developed ipsilateral limb ischemia related to arterial insufficiency, as detected by NIRS and clinical findings. In these patients, the placement of a DPC (n = 7) with or without a fasciotomy, or with a fasciotomy alone (n = 4), resulted in limb salvage; only one patient required subsequent amputation. After decannulation (n = 7), no patients had further evidence of limb ischemia. Risk factors for the development of limb ischemia identified by categorical analysis included lack of DPC at time of cannulation and ECMO cannula size of less than 20-Fr. There was a trend toward younger patient age. Overall ECMO survival rate was 42%, whereas survival in patients with limb ischemia was only 25%. CONCLUSIONS: Limb ischemia complications from ECMO may be decreased by prophylactic placement of an antegrade DPC. Without DPC, continuous monitoring using NIRS may identify limb ischemia, which can be treated subsequently with DPC and or fasciotomy.

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.

Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome-Review of This Rare Disease.

IMPORTANCE: Median arcuate ligament (MAL) syndrome is a rare disease resulting from compression of the celiac axis by fibrous attachments of the diaphragmatic crura, the median arcuate ligament. Diagnostic workup and therapeutic intervention can be challenging. OBJECTIVE: To review the literature to define an algorithm for accurate diagnosis and successful treatment for patients with MAL syndrome. EVIDENCE REVIEW: A search of PubMed (1995-September 28, 2015) was conducted, using the key terms median arcuate ligament syndrome and celiac artery compression syndrome. FINDINGS: Typically a diagnosis of exclusion, MAL syndrome involves a vague constellation of symptoms including epigastric pain, postprandial pain, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. Extrinsic compression of the vasculature and surrounding neural ganglion has been implicated as the cause of these symptoms. Multiple imaging techniques can be used to demonstrate celiac artery compression by the MAL including mesenteric duplex ultrasonography, computed tomography angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, gastric tonometry, and mesenteric arteriography. Surgical intervention involves open, laparoscopic, or robotic ligament release; celiac ganglionectomy; and celiac artery revascularization. There remains a limited role for angioplasty because this intervention does not address the underlying extrinsic compression resulting in symptoms, although angioplasty with stenting may be used in recalcitrant cases. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Median arcuate ligament syndrome is rare, and as a diagnosis of exclusion, diagnosis and treatment paradigms can be unclear. Based on previously published studies, symptom relief can be achieved with a variety of interventions including celiac ganglionectomy as well as open, laparoscopic, or robotic intervention.

Modified Appleby Procedure with Arterial Reconstruction for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A Literature Review and Report of Three Unusual Cases.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic body and tail ductal adenocarcinomas are often diagnosed with local vascular invasion of the celiac axis (CA) and its various branches. With such involvement, these tumors have traditionally been considered unresectable. The modified Appleby procedure allows for margin negative resection of some such locally advanced tumors. This procedure involves distal pancreatectomy with en bloc splenectomy and CA resection and relies on the presence of collateral arterial circulation via an intact pancreaticoduodenal arcade and the gastroduodenal artery to maintain prograde hepatic arterial perfusion. When the resultant collateral circulation is inadequate to provide sufficient hepatic and gastric arterial inflow, arterial reconstruction (AR) is necessary to "supercharge" the inflow. Herein, we review all reported cases of AR with modified Appleby procedures that we have identified in the literature, and we report our experience of three recent cases with arterial reconstruction including two cases with arterial bypasses not requiring interposition grafting. METHODS: Perioperative and oncologic outcomes from our Institutional Review Board-approved database of pancreatic resections at the Thomas Jefferson University were reviewed. Additionally, PubMed search for cases of distal or total pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection and concurrent AR was performed. RESULTS: From the literature, 12 reports involving 28 patients were identified of distal and total pancreatectomy with AR after CA resection. The most common AR in the literature, performed in 12 patients, was a bypass from the aorta to the common hepatic artery (CHA) using a variety of interposition conduits. In our institutional experience, patient #1 had a primary side-to-end aorto-CHA bypass, patient #2 had a primary end-to-end bypass of the transected distal CHA to the left gastric artery in the setting a replaced left hepatic artery, and patient #3 required an aortic to proper hepatic artery bypass with saphenous vein graft and portal venous reconstruction. All patients recovered from their operations without ischemic complications, and they are currently 16, 15, and 13 months post-op, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The criteria for resectability in patients with locally advanced pancreatic body and tail neoplasms are expanding due to increasing experience with AR in the setting of the modified Appleby procedure. When performing AR, primary arterial re-anastomosis may be considered preferable to interposition grafting as it decreases the potential for the infectious and thrombotic complications associated with conduits and it reduces the number of vascular anastomoses from two to one. Consideration must also be given to normal variant anatomy of the hepatic circulation during operative planning as the origin of the left gastric artery is resected with the CA. The modified Appleby procedure with AR, when used in appropriately selected patients, offers the potential for safe, margin negative resection of locally advanced pancreatic body and tail tumors.

Incidence and severity of pancreatogenic diabetes after pancreatic resection.

BACKGROUND: While many patients experience prolonged survival after pancreatic resection for benign or malignant disease, the long-term risk of pancreatogenic diabetes mellitus (DM) remains poorly characterized. METHODS: One thousand one hundred seven patients underwent pancreatectomy at Thomas Jefferson University between 2006 and 2013. Attempts were made to contact all living patients by telephone and a DM-focused questionnaire was administered. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-nine of 691 (37 %) surviving patients completed the survey, including 179 pancreaticoduodenectomies (PD), 78 distal pancreatectomies (DP), and 2 total pancreatectomies. In the PD group, 44 (25 %) patients reported having DM prior to resection. Of these, 5 (12 %) had improved glucose control after resection and 21 (48 %) reported escalated DM medication requirements post-resection. Of 135 PD patients without preoperative DM, 24 (18 %) had new-onset DM postoperatively. In the DP group, 23 patients (29 %) had DM preoperatively. None had improved glucose control after resection, while six (26 %) had worse control after resection. Seventeen of 55 DP patients (31 %) without preoperative DM developed new-onset DM postoperatively (p = 0.04 vs. PD). Preoperative HgbA1C >6.0 %, glucose >124 mg/dL, and insulin use >2 units per day were associated with an increased risk of new-onset postoperative DM. CONCLUSIONS: The development or worsening of DM after pancreatic resection is extremely common, with different types of resections conveying different risks for disease progression. DP places patients at a greater risk for the development of new-onset postoperative diabetes when compared to PD. In contrast, patients with preoperative diabetes are more likely to experience worsening of their disease after PD as compared to DP. Patients should be screened prospectively, particularly those at highest risk, and informed of and educated about the potential for post-resection DM.

Endothelial differentiation of diabetic adipose-derived stem cells.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic (DM) patients frequently lack autologous vascular tissue required for revascularization procedures and dialysis access creation. We have developed a tissue-engineered graft that uses adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) as endothelial cell substitutes. Here, we compare DM versus nondiabetic (NDM) ASC in terms of isolation efficiency, proliferation, commitment toward endothelial lineage, and seeding onto the luminal surface of a graft. METHODS: ASC were isolated from liposuction specimens of vascular surgery patients. Proliferation was assessed by constructing growth curves over 14 d. ASC were differentiated in endothelial growth medium (EGM2). Endothelial commitment was assessed by measuring endothelial cell-specific gene expression (CD31, von Willebrand factor) and by cord formation on Matrigel. Finally, ASC were seeded onto a vascular scaffold, flow conditioned, and imaged with confocal microscopy. RESULTS: Diabetes did not alter ASC isolation efficiency (224,028 ± 20,231 cells/g adipose for DM (n = 53) versus 259,345 ± 15,441 cells/g adipose for NDM (n = 145; P = 0.21). Growth curves for DM (n = 6) and NDM (n = 6) also appeared similar. After culture in EGM2, upregulation of CD31 and von Willebrand factor message was observed in NDM; these markers were found within the primary cultures of DM but no upregulation was observed after culture in EGM2. Both groups exhibited similar cord formation on Matrigel and retention to vascular scaffolds. CONCLUSIONS: Isolation and proliferation studies suggest that adipose is a promising source of stem cells for tissue engineering in the DM population. The angiogenic potential of DM ASC appears intact; however, differences in acquisition of endothelial cell markers suggest that differentiation may be inhibited or delayed by diabetes.

Venous cystic adventitial disease of the common femoral vein.

Venous adventitial cystic disease is a rare condition with few reports previously described. We report the case of a 39-year-old female who presented with left lower extremity edema, acutely exacerbated by exercise. Imaging revealed a hypoechoic mass posterior to her left common femoral vein. Open surgical excision and evacuation was performed with resolution of symptoms within 24 hours. A review of the literature is discussed, along with presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and pathology of this intriguing condition.

Preparation and technical considerations for percutaneous cannulation for veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

BACKGROUND: The most frequent limb complications from peripheral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) are limb ischemia and localized bleeding. To minimize these risks, perfusion of the distal limb with peripheral percutaneous cannulation was done. TECHNIQUE: Percutaneous cannulation with a distal perfusion port was performed in all patients. During the VA-ECMO, distal limb perfusion was monitored using near-infrared spectroscopy to assess tissue oxygenation. At the decannulation, patch angioplasty was performed to prevent the development of narrowing of the artery at the cannulation site. CONCLUSIONS: Using our standard technique, we have not experienced any limb loss related to ischemia or bleeding.

Full-term pregnancy and vaginal delivery after treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the cervix and lower uterine segment: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Primary gynaecologic non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are rare. We present a case of primary large B-cell lymphoma localized to the lower uterine segment and endocervical stroma that was successfully treated with chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Treatment was followed by a disease-free interval and successful term vaginal delivery. CASE: A 21-year-old nulliparous woman presented with dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Radiologic assessment of a posterior lower uterine segment mass and pathologic evaluation of cervical biopsies demonstrated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma involving the endocervical stroma. The patient was treated with chemotherapy and immunotherapy. She had a normal, uncomplicated full-term pregnancy and spontaneous vaginal delivery six years after treatment. CONCLUSION: Aggressive diagnosis and treatment of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the cervix do not preclude the possibility of a successful pregnancy and term vaginal delivery.

Diagnosing cancer in the symptomatic patient.

Finding cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage gives patients the greatest chance of survival. For a number of cancers, screening tests allow for early detection and treatment, and thereby, reduce cancer-related mortality. However, many cancers are discovered by symptomatic presentation rather than screening. This article addresses several symptoms commonly reported in the primary care setting, including rectal bleeding, a breast lump, cough, lymphadenopathy, and weight loss, and offers an evidence-based approach to the consideration and possibly the diagnosis of cancer.

Cervical spine injuries in American football.

American football is a high-energy contact sport that places players at risk for cervical spine injuries with potential neurological deficits. Advances in tackling and blocking techniques, rules of the game and medical care of the athlete have been made throughout the past few decades to minimize the risk of cervical injury and improve the management of injuries that do occur. Nonetheless, cervical spine injuries remain a serious concern in the game of American football. Injuries have a wide spectrum of severity. The relatively common 'stinger' is a neuropraxia of a cervical nerve root(s) or brachial plexus and represents a reversible peripheral nerve injury. Less common and more serious an injury, cervical cord neuropraxia is the clinical manifestation of neuropraxia of the cervical spinal cord due to hyperextension, hyperflexion or axial loading. Recent data on American football suggest that approximately 0.2 per 100,000 participants at the high school level and 2 per 100,000 participants at the collegiate level are diagnosed with cervical cord neuropraxia. Characterized by temporary pain, paraesthesias and/or motor weakness in more than one extremity, there is a rapid and complete resolution of symptoms and a normal physical examination within 10 minutes to 48 hours after the initial injury. Stenosis of the spinal canal, whether congenital or acquired, is thought to predispose the athlete to cervical cord neuropraxia. Although quite rare, catastrophic neurological injury is a devastating entity referring to permanent neurological injury or death. The mechanism is most often a forced hyperflexion injury, as occurs when 'spear tackling'. The mean incidence of catastrophic neurological injury over the past 30 years has been approximately 0.5 per 100,000 participants at high school level and 1.5 per 100,000 at the collegiate level. This incidence has decreased significantly when compared with the incidence in the early 1970s. This decrease in the incidence of catastrophic injury is felt to be the result of changes in the rules in the mid-1970s that prohibited the use of the head as the initial contact point when blocking and tackling. Evaluation of patients with suspected cervical spine injury includes a complete neurological examination while on the field or the sidelines. Immobilization on a hard board may also be necessary. The decision to obtain radiographs can be made on the basis of the history and physical examination. Treatment depends on severity of diagnosed injury and can range from an individualized cervical spine rehabilitation programme for a 'stinger' to cervical spine decompression and fusion for more serious bony or ligamentous injury. Still under constant debate is the decision to return to play for the athlete.

Development of unilateral cervical and supraclavicular lymphadenopathy after human papilloma virus vaccination.

A 26-year-old woman developed significant unilateral anterior cervical and supraclavicular lymphadenopathy 3 days after receiving her first dose (of a total of three doses) of human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine. She had no history of lymphadenopathy after other previous immunizations, and had received no vaccines other than HPV at that time. The left-sided lymphadenopathy developed after she was vaccinated in the left deltoid muscle. The spatial and temporal relationships between the appearance of the lymphadenopathy and receipt of the vaccine in the absence of other causal agents strongly suggest that the HPV vaccine was the causal agent. Use of the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale indicated that the HPV vaccine was a probable (score of 6) cause of the patient's adverse reaction. The patient received her second dose of the HPV vaccine 2 months later without further lymphadenopathy. To prevent unnecessary lymph node biopsies and patient concern, clinicians should be aware that lymphadenopathy may occur after HPV vaccination.