Guía para el estudio no invasivo de la isquemia crónica de los miembros inferiores / Guide for the non-invasive study of lower extremity chronic ischemia

Nuevamente, desde el Capítulo de Diagnóstico Vascular de la Sociedad Española de Angiología y Cirugía Vascularnos proponemos la actualización de una guía de diagnóstico. Concretamente, la Guía de estudio de la isquemiade miembros inferiores. Creemos que la elaboración, la difusión y la utilización de guías de todo tipo permitiráuna mayor homogenización en el uso y en la difusión de las técnicas de diagnóstico que utilizamos en nuestroquehacer diario. La homogenización permitirá una mayor fiabilidad y prestigio en estas exploraciones. Por otra parte, la naturaleza de las guías de diagnóstico requiere mucha menos renovación que otro tipo de guíasy de documentos: las exploraciones que configuran nuestro motivo de ser no suelen variar de forma profundaa lo largo del tiempo. Ahora bien, es cierto que las explicaciones pueden darse de otro modo y complementarlas ya existentes, en absoluto obsoletas. Con este espíritu hemos abordado la elaboración de esta actualización. Se ha respetado completamente la guía previa publicada en 2009. Solo nos hemos permitido reescribir, por suimportancia y por su papel como piedra angular en el estudio de la isquemia de miembros inferiores, el capítulodedicado al estudio con ecografía Doppler arterial de las extremidades inferiores, aunque siempre con una visióncomplementaria, no excluyente, a lo ya publicado hace tantos años. El resto de la guía expone tres exploracio-nes emergentes, no tratadas previamente, pues casi no existían, que pueden suponer un avance, una mejora sicabe, en el estudio arterial de las extremidades isquémicas. Se trata del tiempo de aceleración pedal, tema derabiosa actualidad, de la determinación de la presión transcutánea de oxígeno, tan importante en la patologíaisquémica del diabético, y, finalmente, de la angiografía de perfusión, técnica de diagnóstico emergente y coninfinidad de posibilidades, muchas de ellas ni siquiera estudiadas...(AU)

Once again, from the Vascular Diagnosis Chapter of the Spanish Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery, wepropose to update a diagnostic guide. Specifically, the Lower Limb Ischemia Study Guide. We believe that theelaboration, diffusion, and use of guides of all kinds will allow a greater homogenization in the use and diffusion ofthe diagnostic techniques that we use in our daily work. Homogenization will allow greater reliability and prestigein these explorations. On the other hand, the nature of diagnostic guides requires much less renewal than other types of guides anddocuments: the examinations that make up our reason for being do not usually vary profoundly over time. Now, it istrue that the explanations can be given in another way and complement the existing ones, which are by no meansobsolete. It is in this spirit that we have approached the making of this update. The previous guideline publishedin 2009 has been fully respected. Due to its importance and its role as a cornerstone in the study of lower limbischemia, we have rewritten the chapter dedicated to the study with arterial Doppler ultrasound of the lower limbs,although always with a complementary vision, not exclusive, to what was already published so many years ago. The rest of the guide exposes three emerging explorations, not previously treated, since they hardly existed, whichmay represent an advance, an improvement, if possible, in the arterial study of ischemic extremities. It deals withpedal acceleration time, a high topic, with the determination of transcutaneous oxygen pressure, so important inthe ischemic pathology of diabetics, and, finally, with perfusion angiography, an emerging diagnostic techniquewith infinite possibilities, many of them not even studied. To carry out this work we have turned to proven professionals in each treated section. We believe that the guidewill help to better carry out our daily explorations in ischemia of the lower limbs.(AU)

Guía de la exploración venosa de los miembros inferiores del capítulo de diagnóstico vascular de la SEACV / Guidelines on lower limb venous system vascular assessment from SEACV vascular diagnosis chapte

Las guías de práctica clínica se han posicionado como una herramienta extremadamente útil, accesible y necesaria para llevar a cabo de forma adecuada el trabajo diario. El Capítulo de Diagnóstico Vascular de la Sociedad Española de Angiología y Cirugía Vascular viene desarrollando este instrumento de difusión, consolidación y homogenización del saber en la vertiente del diagnóstico vascular, que es la que le incumbe. La insuficiencia venosa de las extremidades inferiores es uno de los campos de estudio y diagnóstico clásicos más ricos y defendidos desde el Capítulo de Diagnóstico Vascular. Esta entidad ya ha publicado dos excelentes guías sobre este tema. Aunque a un ritmo menor y con una filosofía diferente a otro tipo de guías clínicas, las guías de diagnóstico también deben actualizarse para incorporar nuevas áreas de saber, cambiar puntos de vista o, simplemente, explicar los mismos hechos desde otras perspectivas. Con este ánimo presentamos esta nueva actualización de la Guía de la exploración venosa de los miembros inferiores, teniendo muy claro que no tratamos, ni mucho menos, de sustituir las ya publicadas, sino de complementarlas y sumarles conocimientos. Desde esta perspectiva, hemos plasmado los hallazgos ecográficos que podemos constar en un estudio venoso, hemos incluido un capítulo sobre la anatomía ecográfica “normal” de las venas de las extremidades inferiores, actualizando su nomenclátor, hemos pormenorizado con todo lujo de detalles lo que sería una exploración ecográfica venosa de miembros inferiores, hemos reservado un espacio para recordar y actualizar protocolos de estudio ecográfico de la trombosis venosa y, finalmente, y como tema estrella, hemos desarrollado todo un capítulo innovador sobre el estudio de la insuficiencia venosa pélvica.(AU)

Clinical practice guidelines have positioned themselves as an extremely useful, accessible, and necessary tool to properly carry out daily work. The Capítulo de Diagnóstico Vascular of Sociedad Española de Angiología y Cirugía Vascular has been developing this instrument of dissemination, consolidation and homogenization of knowledge in the aspect of vascular diagnosis, which is the one that concerns it. Venous insufficiency of the lower limbs is one of the richest and most defended fields of study and diagnosis since the Chapter on Vascular Diagnosis. This entity has already published two excellent guides on this subject. Although at a lower rate and with a different philosophy than other kind of clinical guidelines, diagnostic guidelines must also be updated, incorporating new areas of knowledge, changing points of view, or simply, explaining the same facts from other perspectives. With this spirit we present this new update of the "Guide to the venous exploration of the lower limbs", being very clear that we are not trying, far from it, to replace those already published, but to complement them and add knowledge. From this perspective, we have captured the ultrasound findings that we can record in a venous study; we have included a chapter on the "normal" ultrasound anatomy of the veins of the lower extremities, updating its gazetteer; we have detailed in great detail what would be a venous ultrasound examination of the lower limbs; we have reserved a space to remember and update ultrasound study protocols of venous thrombosis; and, finally, and as a star theme, we have developed an innovative chapter on the study of pelvic venous insufficiency.(AU)

Routinely ultrasound surveillance improves outcome after endovascular treatment of peripheral arterial disease: propensity-matched comparisons of clinical outcomes after ultrasound or clinical-hemodynamic based surveillance programs.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular treatment (EVT) has replaced open repair as the first option in intermittent claudication (IC) and chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) in several centers. However, evidence of the most optimal post-procedural surveillance strategy is sparse. This study aimed to compare two routine surveillance programs after EVT of IC/CLTI: clinical and hemodynamic assessment (CHA) vs. duplex ultrasound (DUS) and clinical/hemodynamic assessment in combination. METHODS: Between February 2012 and December 2015, all patients with EVT of IC/CLTI were allocated to either CHA or DUS-based routine surveillance programs. The allocation-ratio was 1:2 (CHA:DUS), and propensity score matching (PSM) was used to control baseline differences between the groups. Follow-up visits in the CHA group consisted of clinical assessment and ABI at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. Follow-up visits in DUS group consisted of clinical assessment, ABI, and target vessel DUS at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. RESULTS: In total, 340 legs in 305 patients suffering from IC/CLTI were included; 111 (33%) in the CHA-group and 229 (67%) in the DUS group. The two groups were identical except for a significantly lower incidence of diabetes mellitus in the CHA group than the DUS group, 55% vs. 72%, respectively (P=006). Based on PSM, the CHA-group vs. the DUS-group was burdened of an increased risk of amputation (12.5% vs. 8.27%, HR=0.41 [95% CI: 0.17-0.96]), and a higher mortality (21.2% vs. 12.8%, HR=0.37 [95% CI: 0.19-0.72]). The reported differences in reintervention rate (7.5% vs. 12.8%, HR=1.12 [95% CI: 0.44-2.84]) were insignificant. The mean follow-up was 317 days (SD=0.214) in the CHA group and 611 days (SD=0.298) in the DUS group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that DUS-based routine surveillance after EVT of IC/CLTI is superior to CHA-based routine surveillance in improved amputation rate and mortality.

Exploración ecográfica venosa de los miembros inferiores / Venous ultrasound examination of the lower limbs

La metodología de estudio de las venas de las extremidades inferiores está altamente extendida y estandarizada, con la lógica variabilidad entre grupos de trabajo. En este artículo se revisa el sistema de exploración, la configuración básica del aparato de eco Doppler y la imprescindible valoración morfológica y hemodinámica de las venas. Finalmente, el autor nos sugiere su secuencia de exploración para la práctica clínica.(AU)

The methodology for studying the veins of the lower extremities is highly extended and standardized, with the logical variability between hospitals. This article reviews the systematic exploration of the veins of the lower limbs, the basic configuration of the Duplex scan, and the essential morphological and hemodynamic parameters that we have to evaluate. Finally, the author suggests his sequence of examination for the clinical practice.(AU)

Ultrasound Surveillance in Endovascular Revascularization of Lower Limbs.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular surgery has become the initial treatment for most patients with chronic ischemia of the lower limbs. Few studies support ultrasound surveillance (US) of this kind of procedures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the initial efficacy of duplex ultrasound as a surveillance method in endovascular treatment in symptomatic peripheral arterial disease patients in our center. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 113 endovascular procedures performed in 106 patients between February 2013 and June 2015 were included. Follow-up included clinical assessment, physical examination, ankle-brachial index (ABI), plethysmography, and ultrasound at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after surgery. Patients without a minimum follow-up of two controls were excluded. Worsening was defined as follows: (1) in ultrasound, a restenosis >70%; (2) from ABI, a decrease >0.15; (3) clinically, a decrease in claudication distance, reappearance rest pain, or worsening injuries; (4) in plethysmography, flattening in the curve. RESULTS: The average age was 68.3 years, with 72% being men. Twenty-two percent of treated lesions were iliac, 57% were femoropopliteal, and 21% were distal. There were 329 visits, with a mean follow-up of 13.5 months (3-31). The US detected permeability or moderate stenosis in 66 patients (58.4%) and restenosis or occlusion in 47 (41.6%). When compared with clinical status, there was a noncorrelation in 23% and a discrepancy with respect to the ABI of 27% and of 39% with plethysmography. All these differences were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Twenty-one reinterventions were performed (18.6%), six patients died (5.3%), and 11 required major amputation (9.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical status and hemodynamics can detect restenosis or occlusion of the procedure in a large part of the cases, but it can omit more than 20% of these that were only detected by US. The ultrasound follow-up is of great help to increase the reliability of the control in patients with endovascular revascularization of lower limbs.

Contrast-Induced Nephropathy: A Fact or Fiction in Lower Limb Revascularization?

INTRODUCTION: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is defined as an increase >25% of serum creatinine from baseline, occurring in 24-48 hours after exposure to contrast, while alternative explanations for renal impairment have been excluded. The volume administered directly relates to risk, increasing by 12% per 100 mL of contrast. According to the series, its incidence varies between 3.3% and 8% in patients without renal damage and 12-50% in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and/or diabetes mellitus (DM). The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of CIN in endovascular revascularization of lower limbs in our center, where we apply the ALARA concept (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) to the use of contrast. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 163 patients who underwent endovascular revascularization procedures in lower limbs were included in this prospective observational study between February 2013 and April 2015. They were classified according to clinical stage and presence of DM and/or CKD. Data included serum creatinine values preoperative and postoperative, type and volume of contrast used. Patients on hemodialysis and those without sufficient analytical data were excluded. Chi-squared test and Student t-test were used for data analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: 109 patients were enrolled, with 67% of DM and 31.5% of CKD. CIN incidence was 3.7% in patients without DM neither CKD, in DM was 6.8% and 12.5% in CKD. Mean creatinine presurgery was 97.96 and postsurgery 97.07, finding no significant differences between them (P = 0.753). Medium-contrast volume was 37.43 mL ± 22.3. The worsening variable (creatinine postsurgery minus creatinine presurgery) was evaluated according to clinical stage, DM, or CKD, being not significant in either group. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, the dose administered of contrast was not related to the existence of postprocedure CIN, due to the policy of optimizing the use of contrast.

[Long-term treatment with a low-molecular-weight heparin administered subcutaneously compared with a vitamin K antagonist: subanalysis of patients with cancer]. / Tratamiento a largo plazo con una heparina de bajo peso molecular subcutánea comparado con un antagonista de la vitamina K: subanálisis de pacientes con cáncer.

We performed a subanalysis of cancer patients enrolled in a clinical trial that compared long-term (6 months) treatment with a low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) administered subcutaneously or with acenocoumarol. The subanalysis assessed whether the characteristics of the tumor had an influence on the clinical response. A randomized open trial included 69 patients with cancer and symptomatic proximal deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs. The tumor characteristics and treatment type were recorded. The main assessment criterion was the 12-month incidence of recurrent symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE). Sixty-one patients (88.4%) were analyzed. At the time of inclusion, the cancer characteristics and treatment were comparable between the 2 groups. Over the course of 12 months, the recurrent VTE was significantly greater in the elderly patients (71.5 ± 6.4 vs. 62.0 ± 15.1; p=.006). The logistic regression analysis showed no association between VTE recurrence and the location or extent of the tumor. However, the use of thrombogenic chemotherapy (p=.045) was independently associated with VTE recurrence, and longterm treatment with tinzaparin was almost a protective factor (p=.15). In this small sample, we observed an association between thrombogenic chemotherapy and recurrent VTE. The tendency towards a reduction in VTE recurrence at 12 months in patients with cancer in the LMWH group could be attributed to the effect of the full LMWH dosage.

Tratamiento a largo plazo con una heparina de bajo peso molecular subcutánea comparado con un antagonista de la vitamina K: subanálisis de pacientes con cáncer / Long-term treatment with a low-molecular-weight heparin administered subcutaneously compared with a vitamin K antagonist: subanalysis of patients with cancer

Realizamos un subanálisis de los pacientes con cáncer incluidos en un ensayo clínico en el que se comparaba el tratamiento a largo plazo (6 meses) con una heparina de bajo peso molecular (HBPM) subcutánea o con acenocumarol, para evaluar si las características del tumor tenían alguna influencia sobre la respuesta clínica. En un ensayo aleatorizado y abierto se incluyó a 69 pacientes con cáncer y trombosis venosa profunda proximal sintomática de miembros inferiores. Se registraron las características del tumor y el tipo de tratamiento. El criterio de valoración principal fue la incidencia a 12 meses de tromboembolia venosa (TEV) sintomática recurrente. Se analizó a 61 pacientes (88,4%). En el momento de la inclusión, las características y tratamiento del cáncer eran comparables entre ambos grupos. A lo largo del período de 12 meses, la TEV recurrente fue significativamente mayor en los pacientes ancianos (71,5 ± 6,4 frente a 62,0 ± 15,1; p = 0,006). En el análisis de regresión logística no se encontró ninguna asociación entre la recurrencia de TEV y la localización o la extensión del tumor. Sin embargo, el uso de quimioterapia trombogénica (p = 0,045) se asoció de forma independiente a la recurrencia de la TEV y el tratamiento a largo plazo con tinzaparina estuvo cerca de ser un factor de protección (p = 0,15). En esta pequeña muestra se observó una asociación entre la quimioterapia trombogénica y la TEV recurrente. La tendencia a una disminución de la recurrencia de la TEV a los 12 meses en pacientes con cáncer del grupo de la HBPM podría atribuirse al efecto de la dosis plena de HBPM (AU)

We performed a subanalysis of cancer patients enrolled in a clinical trial that compared long-term (6 months) treatment with a low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) administered subcutaneously or with acenocoumarol. The subanalysis assessed whether the characteristics of the tumor had an influence on the clinical response. A randomized open trial included 69 patients with cancer and symptomatic proximal deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs. The tumor characteristics and treatment type were recorded. The main assessment criterion was the 12-month incidence of recurrent symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE). Sixty-one patients (88.4%) were analyzed. At the time of inclusion, the cancer characteristics and treatment were comparable between the 2 groups. Over the course of 12 months, the recurrent VTE was significantly greater in the elderly patients (71.5±6.4 vs. 62.0±15.1; p=.006). The logistic regression analysis showed no association between VTE recurrence and the location or extent of the tumor. However, the use of thrombogenic chemotherapy (p=.045) was independently associated with VTE recurrence, and longterm treatment with tinzaparin was almost a protective factor (p=.15). In this small sample, we observed an association between thrombogenic chemotherapy and recurrent VTE. The tendency towards a reduction in VTE recurrence at 12 months in patients with cancer in the LMWH group could be attributed to the effect of the full LMWH dosage (AU)