Contemporary Management of Acute Lower Limb Ischemia: Determinants of Treatment Choice.

The role of endovascular procedures in the treatment of acute lower limb ischemia (ALI) is expanding. For treatment, the choice between surgical or endovascular is still debated. The aim of this study was to identify factors that determine the selection of treatment. This study included 307 ALI patients (209 with thrombosis). Patient details, factors affecting the procedure choice, and outcomes were analyzed. The majority of patients were operated on (52.4%). Surgery was more frequent in embolic patients with embolus (odds ratio (OR) 33.85; 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.22-184.19, p < 0.0001), severe ischemia (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.2-2.66, p = 0.0041), and active cancer (OR 4.99; 95% CI 1.26-19.72, p = 0.02). Tibial arteries involvement was negatively related to surgery (OR 0.25; 95% CI 0.06-0.95, p = 0.04). The complications and amputation rates were comparable. Reinterventions were more common in the endovascular group (19 (20.2%) vs. 17 (8.9%), p = 0.007). The six-month mortality was higher in the operated patients (12.6% vs. 3.2%, respectively, p = 0.001). The determinants of the treatment path are ischemia severity, concurrent cancer, embolus, and peripheral lesion location. Modification of the Rutherford acute lower limb ischemia classification is required to improve the decision-making in patients with profound ischemia.

Catheter-directed thrombolysis is not limited to acute limb ischemia treatment: experience from a division of vascular surgery.

BACKGROUND: Thrombolytic treatment has many potential indications in the era of modern vascular surgery. We aimed to analyze the contemporary experience in the catheter-directed, intraarterial thrombolysis in different clinical scenarios. METHODS: The available data of 121 patients with different types (acute, subacute, complications of vascular procedures) of lower limb ischemia treated by means of the intraarterial, catheter-directed thrombolysis between November 2011 and December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The basic treatment protocol, utilized in 92% of patients, was a catheter-directed infusion of 40 mg of alteplase within 3.5 hours. Pre- and intraprocedural factors (indications, demographic details, comorbidities, the dose of alteplase utilized, underlying lesions procedures), as well as postoperative outcomes (lysis grade, death, complications, reinterventions, and limb loss after 1-month observation), were analyzed. RESULTS: Successful thrombolysis was achieved in 76.1% (92 of 121) patients. The success rate was similar for acute, subacute limb ischemia and thrombotic complications of vascular procedures. Around 67.8% of patients (N.=82) had procedures to correct underlying lesions performed. Overall complication rate was 28.1%, but the major bleeding was observed in only 5% (6 patients). Neither intracranial bleeding nor gastrointestinal bleeding occurred. No mortality, 1.7% reintervention rate and 10.7% amputation rate were recorded during one-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Accelerated intraarterial thrombolysis is an effective measure in the treatment of acute, sub-acute limb ischemia as well as thromboembolic complications of vascular procedures. It carries a low risk of major bleeding. The location of thrombus in the crural arteries adversely affects the treatment results. Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of amputation while complete thrombus lysis is protective.

Symptomatic hilar renal artery aneurysm mimicking renal colic - a word of caution.

An adequate and timely diagnosis is crucial in the treatment of renal artery aneurysms during pregnancy since the risk of rupture and its catastrophic consequences are high. Clinical symptoms, laboratory results, and B-mode abdominal ultrasonography may mimic renal colic. In this report, a case of a pregnant 26-year-old woman with a large, symptomatic renal aneurysm is presented. The diagnostic pathway and the treatment are described. Potential pitfalls in the diagnosis are discussed.

Treatment of acute lower limb ischaemia.

Acute lower limb ischaemia poses a major threat to limb survival. For many years surgical thromboembolectomy was the mainstay of treatment. Recent years have brought an endovascular revolution in the management of acute lower limb ischaemia. A wide range of endovascular procedures can nowadays be employed, providing results at least as good as the traditional surgical approach. This paper is an overview of currently utilised endovascular options as well as recent modifications of standard surgical techniques.

Outcomes of accelerated catheter-directed thrombolysis in patients with acute arterial thrombosis.

Current intra-arterial catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) protocols recommend treatment with small doses of a thrombolytic agent, which excludes patients in need of urgent revascularization. We evaluated the effects of accelerated thrombolysis utilizing increased recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) doses. Forty-one patients with acute, thrombotic limb ischemia (ALI) were treated using accelerated CDT. The treatment consisted of an initial dose of 10 mg rt-PA for 30 minutes followed by a 3-hour course of a continuous intra-arterial 10 mg/hour rt-PA infusion. Simultaneously, intravenous unfractionated heparin (500 IU/hour) was administered. No deaths occurred. Satisfactory lysis was achieved in 37 of the 41 patients (90.2%). All significant underlying lesions were corrected (89.2%). Complications developed in nine patients (22%); the most frequent complication (four patients, 9.8%) was puncture site hematoma. The reintervention rate was 2.6% and 15.4% at the 1 and 6-month follow-ups, respectively. The major amputation rate was 10.3% and 12.8% at the 1 and 6-month follow-ups, respectively. Outflow compromise was adversely related to successful outcome at the 6-month follow-up (p=0.01). In conclusion, this study confirms the effectiveness and safety of the accelerated CDT regimen for treatment of thrombotic ALI at a single center, but requires confirmation in further studies.

Blood vessel matrix seeded with cells: a better alternative for abdominal wall reconstruction-a long-term study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to present abdominal wall reconstruction using a porcine vascular graft seeded with MSC (mesenchymal stem cells) on rat model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Abdominal wall defect was prepared in 21 Wistar rats. Acellular porcine-vascular grafts taken from aorta and prepared with Triton X were used. 14 aortic grafts were implanted in place, of which 7 grafts were seeded with rat MSC cells (Group I), and 7 were acellular grafts (Group II). As a control, 7 standard polypropylene meshes were used for defect augmentation (Group III). The assessment method was performed by HE and CD31 staining after 6 months. The mechanical properties have been investigated by Zwick&Roell Z0.5. RESULTS: The strongest angiogenesis and lowest inflammatory response were observed in Group I. Average capillaries density was 2.75, 0.75, and 1.53 and inflammatory effect was 0.29, 1.39, and 2.72 for Groups I, II, and III, respectively. The means of mechanical properties were 12.74 ± 1.48, 7.27 ± 1.56, and 14.4 ± 3.7 N/cm in Groups I and II and control, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Cell-seeded grafts have better mechanical properties than acellular grafts but worse than polypropylene mesh. Cells improved mechanical and physiological properties of decellularized natural scaffolds.

Synthetic implants in hernia surgery.

Abdominal wall hernia correction is one of the most common surgical procedures. 85,000 hernia operations are performed in Poland each year. Modern techniques of abdominal wall reconstruction utilize surgical implants for fascial defect closure. In the 70s and the 80s of the last century, these techniques gained widespread acceptance among surgeons. Significant improvement of results in terms of recurrences was observed. Treatment of large abdominal wall defects became possible. Three types of surgical implants were developed early: polipropylene (PP), poliethylene (PE) and politetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Unfortunately, negative effects of implanted material soon became apparent. Excessive native tissues inflammatory response to the implanted material, leading to multiple complications was observed. Recurrences due to fibrosis, chronic regional pain, stiffness of the operation site, intestinal adhesions and fistulas, infertility and infections were reported. In some cases the use of standard synthetic implant was contraindicated. Analyzing drawbacks of the standard hernia implants, the medical industry developed new materials to improve treatment results. The most popular, currently utilized synthetic materials, are presented in this review in the context of clinical results.

Collagen/Polypropylene composite mesh biocompatibility in abdominal wall reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Intraperitoneal placement of polypropylene mesh leads to extensive visceral adhesions and is contraindicated. Different coatings are used to improve polypropylene mesh properties. Collagen is a protein with unique biocompatibility and cell ingrowth enhancement potential. A novel acetic acid extracted collagen coating was developed to allow placement of polypropylene mesh in direct contact with viscera. The authors' aim was to evaluate the long-term influence of acetic acid extracted collagen coating on surgical aspects and biomechanical properties of polypropylene mesh implanted in direct contact with viscera, including complications, adhesions with viscera, strength of incorporation, and microscopic inflammatory reaction. METHODS: Forty adult Wistar rats were divided into two groups: experimental (polypropylene mesh/acetic acid extracted collagen coating) and control (polypropylene mesh only). Astandardized procedure of mesh implantation was performed. Animals were killed 3 months after surgery and analyzed for complications, mesh area covered by adhesions, type of adhesions, strength of incorporation, and intensity of inflammatory response. RESULTS: The mean adhesion area was lower for polypropylene mesh/acetic acid extracted collagen coating (14.5 percent versus 69.9 percent, p < 0.001). Adhesion severity was decreased in the experimental group: grades 0 and 1 were more frequent (p < 0.04 and p < 0.002, respectively) and grade 3 was less frequent (p < 0.0001). An association between adhesion area and severity was found (p < 0.0001). Complications, strength of incorporation, and intensity of inflammatory response to the mesh were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Visceral adhesions to polypropylene mesh are significantly reduced because of acetic acid extracted collagen coating. The collagen coating does not increase complications or induce alterations of polypropylene mesh incorporation.

[Abdominal wall reconstruction with collagen membrane in an animal model of abdominal hernia. A preliminary report]. / Zastosowanie implantu kolagenowego w rekonstrukcji powlok jamy brzusznej na modelu zwierzecym. Doniesienie wstepne.

Abdominal hernia repair is one of the most common surgical procedures. Current data indicate that the best treatment results are achieved with use of synthetic material to reinforce weakened abdominal wall. Prosthetic materials utilized for hernia repair induce adhesions with underlying viscera. They should be therefore separated from them by a layer of peritoneum otherwise adhesions may cause to serious complications such as bowel-skin fistulas. The aim of our work was to determine if implantation of our collagen membrane into abdominal wall defect induce adhesions in rat model of ventral hernia. The collagen film was obtained by acetic acid extraction of rat tail tendons and than casting the soluble fraction onto polyethylene shits. Abdominal wall defect was created in 10 Wistar male rats. Collagen membranes were implanted into the defect using interrupted polypropylene stitches. After 3 months of observation all animals were sacrificed. No adhesions between path structure and bowel developed. In one often rats (10%) adhesion between fixating stitch and omentum was observed. Complete mesothelium lining and vascular ingrowth were microscopically observed within implanted structure. Promising result requires further confirmation in a larger series of animals.

[Advances in engineering of blood vessels]. / Postepy w inzynierii naczyn krwionosnych.

Tissue engineered blood vessels are an attractive alternative for synthetic vascular prostheses utilized in vascular reconstructions. Continued for over 20 years in vitro and animal experiments has recently gave an opportunity to utilize this technique in clinical medicine. Satisfying results achieved with this approach in humans encourage wider use of vascular bioprosthesis in the future.

[Tuberculous peritonitis--rare cause of peritonitis]. / Gruzlica otrzewnej--rzadka przyczyna zapalenia otrzewnej.

A case of 73-year-old male patient operated due to tuberculous peritonitis was presented. Diagnostic difficulties in the recognition of this rare site of tuberculosis were discussed. The role of explorative laparotomy and histopathologic evaluation of the material obtained during operation was emphasized.