[Quality standards for ultrasound assessment (CW-Doppler, Duplex US) of the lower limb arteries in vascular medicine. Report of the French Society for Vascular Medicine]. / Standards de qualité pour la pratique des examens Doppler et écho-Doppler artériel des membres inférieurs en médecine vasculaire. Rapport de la Société française de médecine vasculaire (SFMV).

The quality standards of the French Society of Vascular Medicine for the ultrasound assessment of lower limb arteries in vascular medicine practice are based on the principle that these examinations have to meet two requirements: technical know-how (knowledge of devices and methodologies); medical know-how (level of examination matching the indication and purpose of the examination, interpretation and critical analysis of results). OBJECTIVES OF THE QUALITY STANDARDS: To describe an optimal level of examination adjusted to the indication or clinical hypothesis; to homogenize practices, methodologies, terminologies, results description and report; to provide good practice reference points and to promote a high quality process. THEMES OF THE QUALITY STANDARDS: The three levels of examination, indications and objectives for each level; the reference standard examination (level 2) and its variants according to indications; the minimal content of the exam report, the medical conclusion letter to the corresponding physician (synthesis, conclusion and management suggestions); commented glossary (anatomy, hemodynamics, signs and symptoms); technical basis. Device settings. Here, we discuss CW-Doppler and Duplex ultrasound in various indications for lower limbs arteries assessment.

[What are the guidelines for using a venous segment for an arterial bypass? General review]. / Sur quels arguments un segment veineux est-il utilisable pour un pontage? Revue générale.

Since the first femoropopliteal bypass, performed by J. Kunlin, in 1950, the saphenous vein has remained the material of choice for arterial bypass in a wide variety of localizations. Harvesting must be adapted to vein quality and the length necessary for the bypass. A thorough knowledge of the histological structure of the graft and the impact of the harvesting process on endothelial cells is needed to understand early and late complications related to saphenous harvesting. Several experimental studies and clinical series, particularly for aortocoronary bypass, have shown the role of atraumatic harvesting, removing the perivenous fat, and/or papaverine infusion in the perivascular tissues. A venous graft can be used in six localizations. For femoropopliteal bypass, the venous graft can be used reversed or in situ, after valvular section. For bypass to tibial vessels and bypass to the ankle and the foot, the graft can be the greater saphenous vein or the lesser saphenous vein, or veins from the arm. These bypasses can be done reversed or in situ or transposed reversed or after valvular disruption. This technique has the advantage of placing the largest portion of the vein at the level of the proximal anastomosis, but with the risk of endothelial cell desquamation during vein harvesting, which can lead to late fibrosis of the graft. For aorto-iliac bypass, new prosthetic grafts and the development of endovascular techniques have overshadowed the former advantages of the saphenous vein grafts. Surgical renal revascularisations have become less frequent since the development of endovascular techniques. Nevertheless, the venous graft remains useful for some revascularisations - hepatic-renal bypass, iliorenal bypass, difficult nephrologic situations (solitary kidney, chronic occlusion). For aortocoronary bypass, long-term outcome has been studied in many studies. It is recommended to use the grafts with a no touch technique, using a portion without valves. The carotid venous graft is a useful technique when endarterectomy is difficult or not satisfactory. The graft must be harvested from the calf, without valves, have a diameter of 5mm and be harvested without injury.

Prevalence of peripheral arterial disease in high-risk patients using ankle-brachial index in general practice: a cross-sectional study.

AIMS: The deleterious nature of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is compounded by a status of underdiagnosed and undertreated disease. We evaluated the prevalence and predictive factors of PAD in high-risk patients using the ankle-brachial index (ABI). METHODS: The ABI was measured by general practitioners in France (May 2005-February 2006) in 5679 adults aged 55 years or older and considered at high risk. The primary outcome was prevalence of PAD (ABI strictly below 0.90). RESULTS: In all, 21.3% patients had signs or symptoms suggestive of PAD, 42.1% had previous history of atherothrombotic disease and 36.6% had two or more cardiovascular risk factors. Prevalence of PAD was 27.8% overall, ranging from 10.4% in patients with cardiovascular risk factors only to approximately 38% in each other subgroup. Prevalence differed depending on the localization of atherothrombotic events: it was 57.1-75.0% in patients with past history of symptomatic PAD; 24.6-31.1% in those who had experienced cerebrovascular and/or coronary events. Regarding the classical cardiovascular risk factors, PAD was more frequent when smoking and hypercholesterolemia history were reported. PAD prevalence was also higher in patients with history of abdominal aortic aneurysm, renal hypertension or atherothrombotic event. Intermittent claudication, lack of one pulse in the lower limbs, smoking, diabetes and renovascular hypertension were the main factors predictive of low ABI. CONCLUSIONS: Given the elevated prevalence of PAD in high-risk patients and easiness of diagnosis using ABI in primary care, undoubtedly better awareness would help preserve individual cardiovascular health and achieve public health goals.

Peripheral arterial disease and isolated systolic hypertension: the ATTEST study.

Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) diseases, either coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD) or cerebrovascular disease (CVD). The relationships between those different localizations of CV disease and the haemodynamic features of hypertension have been poorly evaluated in the past. In the ATTEST study, a geographically representative panel of 3020 general practitioners recruited 8316 consecutive patients with CV diseases (PAD, CAD or CVD, alone or in association). Blood pressure, which was not an inclusion criterion, was then measured and related to the different forms of CV diseases. Blood pressure classification involved 20% normotensive subjects, 24% subjects with controlled hypertension, 42% subjects with isolated systolic hypertension and 14% subjects with systolic-diastolic hypertension, all hypertensives with or without antihypertensive therapy. From multiple regression analysis, it appeared that subjects with systolic hypertension were characterized by the presence of PAD, with little or no presence of CAD and/or CVD. Subjects with systolic-diastolic hypertension were characterized by the presence of CAD and/or CVD, but without PAD. Although the former was only influenced by age, dyslipidaemia and diabetes mellitus influenced the latter. This study confirms the high prevalence of hypertension (80%) in a large population of patients with CV diseases selected in primary care. Analysis of different features of hypertension revealed that isolated systolic hypertension was the most prevalent form of hypertension in this treated population. Finally, one of the predominant goals of secondary prevention in subjects with PAD should be the treatment of isolated systolic hypertension.

[Peripheral arterial disease: what management practices for general practitioners?]. / L'artériopathie des membres inférieurs en médecine générale. Quelle prise en charge?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of the ATTEST study in order to evaluate general medicine management practices for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Our analysis was based on the guidelines for good practice which recommend measurement of the systolic pressure index (SPI), search for other localizations of atherothrombosis, treatment of risk factors including smoking, walking exercises, and long-term prescription of anti-platelets. METHODS: ATTEST is a cross-sectional multicentric observational epidemiologic study conducted in metropolitan France. The study has recruited 8.475 analyzable patients with symptomatic PAD alone (3811 patients) or associated with other atherothrombotic localizations (2416 patients) or other cardiovascular diseases (2248 patients). These patients were followed by 3020 physicians. The current analysis thus included 6227 patients (81.2% men, 18.8% women, mean age 67.2 years), including 78.8% who had reached the stage of intermittent claudication. Risk factors included current or past smoking (61%), hypercholesterolemia (66.3%), hypertension (63.1%) and diabetes mellitus (26%). RESULTS: Arterial duplex Doppler exams of the lower limbs were performed in 91.2% of the patients but measurement of the SPI for diagnostic purposes had been performed in only 17%. The majority (85.8%) of the patients with proven coronary artery disease or cervico-encephalic involvement had had an ECG and 69.3% had had a duplex Doppler of the supra-aortic trunks. Smoking continued in 39% of the patients and an aid to cease smoking had been prescribed for only 7% of the patients who were non-smokers for less than one year. Nearly two-thirds of the patients analyzed had received advice concerning physical activities. Finally, anti-platelets had been prescribed for 92.2% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The general practitioner plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and treatment of PAD. Although measurement of the SPI is recommended as an early diagnostic tool and for evaluation of severity, it had been performed in less than one-third of the patients. Search for another localization of atherothrombosis had been performed in more than half of the patients. The physicians generally delivered advice on physical exercise and prescribed anti-platelets. The fight against smoking was however largely insufficient. The results of this study warrant further optimization of the collaboration between general practitioners and vascular disease specialists.

Carotid stenting with cerebral protection: first clinical experience using the PercuSurge GuardWire system.

PURPOSE: To study the feasibility and safety of carotid angioplasty and stenting using a new cerebral protection device that temporarily occludes the distal internal carotid artery (ICA). METHODS: Forty-eight high-risk patients (39 men, mean age 69.1 +/- 8 years, range 54 to 86) with 53 ICA stenoses underwent percutaneous angioplasty and stenting via the femoral approach under cerebral protection afforded by a 0.014-inch GuardWire balloon occlusion device. Mean stenosis was 82.1% +/- 9.65% (range 70 to 96) and mean lesion length was 16.0 +/- 7.5 mm (range 6 to 50). Thirty-three (62%) lesions were calcified, and 38 (72%) were ulcerated. Thirty-two (60%) of the lesions were asymptomatic. With the occlusion balloon inflated in the distal ICA, the lesion was dilated and stented. The area was cleaned by aspiration and flushed via an aspiration catheter advanced over the wire. Blood samples were collected from the external carotid artery (ECA) and analyzed to measure the size and number of particles collected. Computed tomography and neurological examinations were performed the day after the procedure. RESULTS: Immediate technical success was achieved in all patients with the implantation of 38 Palmaz stents, 8 Expander stents, and 11 Wallstents. Carotid occlusion was well tolerated in all patients but 1 who had multiple, severe carotid lesions and poor collateralization. Mean cerebral flow occlusion time was 346 +/- 153 seconds during predilation and 303 +/- 143 seconds during stent placement. Total mean flow occlusion time was 542 +/- 243 seconds. One immediate neurological complication (transient amaurosis) occurred in a patient who had an anastomosis between the external carotid (EC) and ICA territories. Debris was removed in all patients with a mean 0.8-mm diameter catheter. CONCLUSION: Cerebral protection with the GuardWire device is easy, safe, and effective in protecting the brain from cerebral embolism. Larger studies are warranted.

Reproducibility in ultrasonic characterization of carotid plaques.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Echolucent carotid plaques compared with echogenic plaques could carry a significant risk of transient ischemic attacks and strokes, but the reproducibility of new ultrasonic methods has not yet been proved. The objective was to evaluate interobserver and intraobserver agreement in characterizing the carotid plaques studied by both B mode imaging and color Doppler imaging, which is the only ultrasonic method available for recognizing anechoic lesions. METHODS: Fifty-three carotid plaques greater than 40% in diameter were selected from four centers and simultaneously analyzed by 9 observers. Five types of plaques were defined by their echo structure: class I = uniformly anechogenic, class II = predominantly hypoechogenic with >50% hypoechogenic area, class III = predominantly echogenic with >50% echogenic area, class IV uniformly echogenic, class V = unclassified plaques. The luminal surface was characterized as either 1 = regular, 2 = recess of more than 2 mm in depth and width, or 3 = unclassified. Agreement of these variables was calculated by using the kappa index, agreement proportion and an intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Interobserver reproducibility was only fair for type I (kappa = 0.47) and for the luminal surface (class 1, kappa = 0.52 and class 2, kappa = 0.41). Agreement proportion was 0.51 in hypoechoic plaques and 0.64 in the determination of the regular surface. Mean intraobserver agreement was fair (kappa = 0.47 +/- 0. 1) for plaque echogenicity to good (kappa = 0.63 +/- 0.19) for surface. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the semiquantitative classification, first developed by Gray-Weale, then by Nicolaides, could be improved, thus giving rise to a new outlook in the debated field of ulcerations.

[Prevalence of anatomic renal artery stenosis in hypertensive patients with arteritis]. / Prévalence des sténoses anatomiques des artères rénales chez les hypertendus artéritiques.

Atherosclerosis is a diffuse disease that can affect renal arteries. An important point for the management of hypertensive patients is the prevalence of anatomical renal stenosis when lower-limb peripheral vascular disease coexists with hypertension. From Sept 1, 1987, to Aug 31, 1990, 252 consecutive hypertensive adults with peripheral vascular disease were referred to our clinic. For each patient a standardised collection of information was checked and registered with a computerised system. The evaluation included the search for a curable cause of hypertension, the investigation of cardiovascular risk factors, and a complete clinical review. Peripheral vascular disease was confirmed at least by clinical observation, including and ankle/brachial systolic blood pressure ratio of less than 0.90 at rest. In 117 patients (73 males, 44 females, mean age 66), renal arteriography was performed because clinical history, initial diagnostic work-up, or duplex Doppler examination suggested renal artery stenosis. Finally, 89 anatomical renal artery stenoses were detected in 64 patients (54.7%). Stenosis was judged mild (25 to 50%) in 12 patients and severe (> 50%) in 52 patients including 5 occlusions of the renal arteries. Artery stenosis was found bilateral in 23 patients. Even if none patient without renal arteriography would have an anatomical renal artery stenosis, the prevalence of anatomical renal stenosis in this study would reach 25.4% (64/252). These results confirm that lower-limb peripheral vascular disease is an excellent marker for the presence of anatomical artery renal stenosis in hypertensive patients.

[A new contribution of Doppler echography of renal arteries: follow-up studies of angioplasties. A retrospective study of 50 cases]. / Une nouvelle application de l'échographie Doppler des artères rénales: le suivi des angioplasties. Etude rétrospective de 50 cas.

OBJECTIVE: analysis of Doppler Duplex (DD) contribution to renal artery percutaneous angioplasty (ATL) follow-up. METHOD: between 1983 and 1989, SO ATL were performed in 47 subjects with renovascular hypertension. Their average age was 50 +/- 12 years. The lesions were fibromuscular dysplasia (n = 20) and atherosclerosis (n = 27). The DD was performed simultaneously with arteriography (A degrees) (considered the gold standard), when the stenosis was discovered (n = 32), before (n = 32) and after (n = 39) ATL, and during the follow-up between the 6th and 12th month (n = 38). RESULTS: during the initial exploration, the concordance between DD and A degrees is 78% and the sensitivity of DD for the diagnosis of stenosis is 90%. ATL was performed once on the basis of DD alone, that showed a tight and significant stenosis with dysplasia, when A degrees failed to detect it. ATL confirmed the lesion and was successful, and hypertension cured. The concordance DD-A degrees before and after ATL is respectively 88% and 77%. At the late control, the concordance is 92%, the sensitivity 73% and the specificity 85% for all stenosis. While maintaining a good specificity, DD recognized the 3 tight found by the A degrees control. The complications encountered during ATL were diagnosed by DD most of the time: all the local complications at the site of entry (n = 5), all the dissections with obliteration (n = 2) and 5 of the 8 dissections without obliteration of the renal artery. CONCLUSION: the detection and the lesional assessment of post-ATL complications are facilitated by DD. The good sensitivity of DD combined with satisfactory specificity will allow the reduction of angiographic surveillance by taking advantage of a non-invasive method.

[Thrombosis of renal veins]. / Thromboses des veines rénales.

According to whether they are acute or progressive, complete or partial, uni- or bilateral, renal venous thromboses have quite various clinical expressions and biological consequences. The diagnosis is readily suggested by acute pain in the side with an increase in the size of one or both kidneys, associated with hematuria, proteinuria, or in case of renal failure, which is characteristic of acute bilateral thrombosis. On the other hand, chronic thrombosis of a renal vein is sometimes suggested only when complications such as pulmonary embolism occur. This explain why it is often discovered on autopsy. The diagnosis is confirmed on the basis of radiology, with ultrasound combined with vascular Doppler becoming increasingly important. Renal venous thrombosis may have various causes: disorders in renal blood flow, especially in the acute forms in newborns; hypercoagulability, in particular in nephrotic syndromes and above all in extramembranous glomerulonephritis; extension of vena cava thrombosis; retroperitoneal diseases involving the renal pedicle or extension of a renal tumor. The treatment of renal vein thrombosis is mainly medical and based on anticoagulants. The role of fibrinolytic treatment is controversial. Surgery is exceptional.

[Ultrasonic tomography of the abdominal vessels]. / Exploration échotomographique des vaisseaux de l'abdomen.

For a long time echotomography just was interested in big vessels as precious anatomic guide, to delimit pancreas, to cut up liver or to situate ganglion or tumour. The improvement of technics, and particularly real time sonography coupled with continuous wave or pulsed doppler, have permitted to step over the next stage which is to recognize the proper lesions of the vessels. The probes available to perform abdominal vessels investigations have a frequency between 3 and 7.5 MHZ, and are chosen according to the morphology of the patient; in our experience in most cases sectorial probes are preferred. Except emergency situations simple preparation as diet is desirable. Aorto-iliac and visceral arteries, vena cava, renal veins, subhepatic and portal veins are generally seen. The diagnosis of stenosis, obliteration or aneurysm of big abdominal arteries, thrombosis or compression of veins are permitted by association of the morphological information given by real time and hemodynamic findings of doppler.

[A method of venous study by real time ultrasonography associated with directional and continuous Doppler ultrasonography]. / Une méthodologie d'exploration veineuse par échotomographie en temps réel associée à l'ultrasonographie Doppler directionnelle et continue.

The authors propose a method of investigation of the superficial and deep venous axes of the limbs, neck, abdomen and pelvis by using successively directional and continuous wave Doppler and real time high resolution echotomography. The principle is to recognise normal and pathological venous flow by the Doppler technique and to detect the intrinsic (thrombus, agenesis) or extrinsic abnormalities causing local haemodynamic disturbances or distal emboli even in the absence of flow disturbance by echotomography. If the suggested protocol is strictly observed, the method allows diagnosis of the majority of pathologies, not only their haemodynamic consequences but also the underlying causes.

[Popliteal artery entrapment. Contribution of ultrasonography]. / Artère poplitée piégée. Apport de l'exploration ultrasonographique.

Ultrasounds contribute significantly to the diagnosis of popliteal artery entrapment. The haemodynamic data obtained by Doppler's velocimetry and the parietal and morphological data obtained by ultrasonography make it possible to proceed beyond a diagnosis of "presumption" based on clinical and arteriographic findings and to reach directly a positive diagnosis of entrapment, even in cases with arterial obstruction. Between December, 1979 and December, 1983, 12 cases of popliteal artery entrapment (5 of type I, 1 of type II and 6 of type III) were diagnosed by ultrasonic methods in 8 patients. In each of these patients the data thus obtained concerning the diagnosis, the type of lesion and the arterial complications were fully confirmed by a subsequent arteriography and at surgery.

[Reimplantation of the subclavian artery into the common carotid artery]. / Réimplantation de la sous-clavière dans la carotide primitive.

Since 1973, transposition of the subclavian artery into the common carotid artery has been the technique of choice to treat prevertebral occlusive subclavian lesions. However, the haemodynamic results in the vertebral artery were far from perfect, as shown by immediate post-operative ultrasonic examinations. This has been corrected by a technical modification: the subclavian artery is severed flush with the vertebral artery lying obliquely downward and medially, which is equivalent to reimplanting a "double-barrelled" vessel (the vertebral and subclavian arteries) into the common carotid artery.

[Ultrasonic diagnosis of aneurysmal polydystrophies]. / Diagnostic ultrasonore des polydystrophies anévrysmales.

Two methods are available for establishing a positive diagnosis of aneurysmal polydystrophies: the use of hemodynamic data from Doppler recordings to obtain details of the degree of parietal elasticity and the effect of parietal lesions on circulatory rate, and the application of real time ultrasound imaging to visualize the structure of the wall, the contents of the lumen and the level and extent of variations in caliber.