Open surgery for chronic limb ischemia: a review.

This review considers the role of the different revascularization strategies in patients with chronic limb ischemia (CLI) and reveals that clinical evidence guiding therapeutic decision-making in CLI is poor and only careful basic recommendations can be made. For diffuse aortoiliac disease with occlusion of the aorta, aortobifemoral bypass remains the best option if the patient is fit for open surgery. Unilateral iliac occlusion should be treated by primary stenting, but an iliofemoral bypass may be the best option when the disease extends down to the common and deep femoral arteries. For infrainguinal revascularisation, bypass using the saphenous vein remains the best option for patients with occlusion of the superficial femoral artery >25 cm and for patients with multiple occlusions of the infrapopliteal arteries. In the absence of leg veins, arm veins should be used. Prosthetic grafts are the last option. Endovascular techniques are recommended in patients with short arterial lesions and limited life expectancy <2 years. Finally some patients with CLI are best treated by primary amputation. In conclusion, this review demonstrates that neither an endo- first nor a bypass-first attitude is appropriate in patients with CLI and suggests that these patients should be cared for by specialists in a multidisciplinary center in order to preserve their life and limbs, to conduct clinical trials and to control costs.

The diabetic foot: a review.

Diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) is among the most frequent complications of diabetes. Neuropathy and ischaemia are the initiating factors and infection is mostly a consequence. We have shown in this review that any DFU should be considered to have vascular impairment. DFU will generally heal if the toe pressure is >55 mmHg and a transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2) <30 mmHg has been considered to predict that a diabetic ulcer may not heal. The decision to intervene is complex and made according to the symptoms and clinical findings. If both an endovascular and a bypass procedure are possible with an equal outcome to be expected, endovascular treatments should be preferred. Primary and secondary mid-term patency rates are better after bypass, but there is no difference in limb salvage. Bedridden patients with poor life expectancy and a non-revascularisable leg are indications for performing a major amputation. A deep infection is the immediate cause of amputation in 25% to 50% of diabetic patients. Patients with uncontrolled abscess, bone or joint involvement, gangrene, or necrotising fasciitis have a "foot-at risk" and need prompt surgical intervention with debridement and revascularisation. As demonstrated in this review, foot ulcer in diabetic is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Early referral, non-invasive vascular testing, imaging and intervention are crucial to improve DFU healing and to prevent amputation. Diabetics are eight to twenty-four times more likely than non-diabetics to have a lower limb amputation and it has been suggested that a large part of those amputations could be avoided by an early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach.

Impact of routine completion angiography on the results of primary carotid endarterectomy: a prospective study in a teaching hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of completion angiography in the prevention of stroke, carotid occlusion and residual stenosis after primary carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in the setting of a teaching hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January 1995 to August 2009, 1055 consecutive patients having 1179 CEAs were entered in a prospective study excluding patients with severe renal insufficiency, allergy to contrast media and patients with repeat CEA or carotid bypass. In this cohort, 552 patients (52.3%) were asymptomatic, 318 (30.2%) had a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and 185 (17.5%) had a stroke. Routine completion angiography was obtained in all 1055 patients. The decision to perform a surgical revision was decided for any of the following defects: (1) a residual stenosis of more than 50% of the internal carotid artery (ICA) or common carotid artery (CCA) and of more than 70% of the external carotid artery (ECA), (2) any flap and (3) any intraluminal-filling defect. A postoperative duplex scan was obtained within a week after surgery and thereafter on a yearly basis. Median follow-up was 7 years. RESULTS: CEA was performed by a senior surgeon as first operator in 812 cases (69%) and by a trainee, with a scrubbed senior surgeon, in 367 cases (31%). Completion angiography revealed significant defects in 72 cases (6.1%) warranting revision for ECA flap (n = 30), thrombus in contact with the patch (n = 7), distal ICA flap or stenosis (n = 20) and CCA flap or residual plaque (n = 15). Logistic regression analysis showed that total length of the carotid plaque >6 cm (p = 0.02, Odds ratio: 2.31; 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.21-3.72)), eversion endarterectomy of the ECA (p = 0.01, Odds ratio 3.41; 95%CI (2.10-5.94)) and trainee as first operator (p = 0.02, Odds ratio 2.42; 95%CI (1.81-4.23)) were independent predictors of operative defects seen on completion angiography. No complication in relation to carotid catheterisation or injection of contrast media occurred in this series. The 30-day combined stroke and death rate was 1.5%, comparable between senior surgeons and trainees (p = 0.60). There was no significant difference in the combined stroke and death rate observed in patients with normal completion angiography (1.4%) compared with that of the patients with a defect corrected (2.8%) (p = 0.28, Odds ratio: 0.67; 95%CI (0.22-2.09)). But there was an increased incidence of postoperative TIA in the group with revision (p = 0.001, odds ratio: 5.8, 95%CI: 1.8-18.9). At 7 years, the freedom rate from >50% carotid restenosis or occlusion was 87.5 ± 6.7% in patients with normal completion angiography and 92 ± 5.4% in patients, who undergo a surgical revision. CONCLUSION: In a single centre, CEA with routine completion angiography resulted in good perioperative outcome. Plaque length, technique for external carotid artery (ECA) endarterectomy and trainee as first operator were independent predictors of operative defects seen on completion angiography.

[Helicobacter pylori: 14C urea breath test in clinical practice at a general hospital]. / Helicobacter pylori: prueba de la respiración con 14C urea en la práctica clinica de un hospital general.

Using isotope methods we studied in 125 patients the absence or presence of gastric urease. Carbon 14 urea was given orally, breath samples were collected over a 30 min period, and the amount of 14CO2 excreted every 10 min was determined. The patients were divided in two groups: 1) uninfected with Helicobacter pylori (HP) (n = 64), 2) infected (n = 41), depending on whether the excretion of the 14CO2 in the breath was greater o lower that 1% of the administered dose. Compared with the infected patients the uninfected patients have shown a mean values of 14CO2 in the breath significantly lower at 10-20-30 min. Among 38 patients who underwent both the 14C urea breath test and endoscopy biopsy of the antral mucosa for histological examination, 22 (58%) and 16 (42%) showed positive or negative HP on biopsy respectively. Among these HP-positive patients, 16 (73%) had chronic gastritis, 3 (14%) gastritis acute and 3 (14%) had duodenal ulcer. Excretion of 14CO2 in breath, lower than 1% and higher than 1% has a specificity of 81% and sensitivity accuracy, positive predictive power of 86%, 84% and 86% respectively. In conclusion 14C urea breath test is a simple noninvasive and easy way to detect with high degree of confidence the presence or absence of gastric urease.

[Closed hepatic injuries. Role of computerized axial tomography in the non-surgical therapy]. / Traumatismos hepáticos cerrados. Rol de la tomografía axial computada en la terapéutica no quirúrgica.

We studied 33 patients with acute abdominal trauma, hepatic lesions and intraperitoneal hemorrhage. No surgical attitude was adopted, analyzing the CT appearance of the intraparenchymal lesions as well as the associated hemoperitoneum. One of the patients who had suffered left hepatic laceration did not have a good evolution. The most frequent lesions were intraparenchymal hematoma, lobar lacerations and subcapsular hematoma. In two cases, drainage of the intrahepatic collections were needed. The presence of hemoperitoneum was not an indication for emergency surgery. These results confirm the present tendency of conservative management with clinical, CT and ultrasound control of the different hepatic injuries, when the patients are hemodynamically stable.

Traumatismos hepaticos cerrados: rol de la tomografia axial computada en la terapeutica no quirurgica / Close hepatic injuries: role of computerized axial tomography in the non-surgical therapy

Se estudiaron 33 pacientes con traumatismo abdominal que tuvieron compromiso hepático y presencia de hemoperitoneo, en quienes se adoptó una actitud no quirúrgica, analizando la evolución tomográfica de las imágenes intraparenquimatosas y del hemoperitoneo. Salvo un paciente, con estalido del lóbulo izquierdo hepático el hematoma centrohepático, las fracturas lobares y los hematomas subcapsulares. En 2 casos se necesitó realizar drenaje de colecciones intrahepáticas persistentes. La presencia de hemoperitoneo fue motivo de indicación quirúrgica. Los resultados confirman las actuales tendencias sobre el tratamiento conservador con control evolutivo, tomográfico y ecográfico, de las diferentes lesiones intrahepáticas, en pacientes hemodinámicamente estables (AU)

Traumatismos hepaticos cerrados: rol de la tomografia axial computada en la terapeutica no quirurgica / Close hepatic injuries: role of computerized axial tomography in the non-surgical therapy

Se estudiaron 33 pacientes con traumatismo abdominal que tuvieron compromiso hepático y presencia de hemoperitoneo, en quienes se adoptó una actitud no quirúrgica, analizando la evolución tomográfica de las imágenes intraparenquimatosas y del hemoperitoneo. Salvo un paciente, con estalido del lóbulo izquierdo hepático el hematoma centrohepático, las fracturas lobares y los hematomas subcapsulares. En 2 casos se necesitó realizar drenaje de colecciones intrahepáticas persistentes. La presencia de hemoperitoneo fue motivo de indicación quirúrgica. Los resultados confirman las actuales tendencias sobre el tratamiento conservador con control evolutivo, tomográfico y ecográfico, de las diferentes lesiones intrahepáticas, en pacientes hemodinámicamente estables

Traumatismos hepáticos cerrados. Rol de la tomografía axial computada en la terapéutica no quirúrgica. / [Closed hepatic injuries. Role of computerized axial tomography in the non-surgical therapy]

We studied 33 patients with acute abdominal trauma, hepatic lesions and intraperitoneal hemorrhage. No surgical attitude was adopted, analyzing the CT appearance of the intraparenchymal lesions as well as the associated hemoperitoneum. One of the patients who had suffered left hepatic laceration did not have a good evolution. The most frequent lesions were intraparenchymal hematoma, lobar lacerations and subcapsular hematoma. In two cases, drainage of the intrahepatic collections were needed. The presence of hemoperitoneum was not an indication for emergency surgery. These results confirm the present tendency of conservative management with clinical, CT and ultrasound control of the different hepatic injuries, when the patients are hemodynamically stable.

Duplicación útero-vaginal total con hematocolpos: diagnóstico por imágenes por resonancia magnética (IRM) / Utero-vaginal duplication with hematocolpus: diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Se presenta una paciente de 21 años, con duplicación utero-vaginal completa obstrucción de una hemivagina y genesia renal ipsilateral. La ecografía objetiva la duplicación uterina con una masa quística [parauterina. La IRM confirma la duplicación uterina y muestra una massa para e infra uterina con señal hiperintensa en T1 y T2, revelando su naturaleza serohemática. La intervención quirúrgica confirma los hallazgos do IRM (AU)

Duplicación útero-vaginal total con hematocolpos: diagnóstico por imágenes por resonancia magnética (IRM) / Utero-vaginal duplication with hematocolpus: diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Se presenta una paciente de 21 años, con duplicación utero-vaginal completa obstrucción de una hemivagina y genesia renal ipsilateral. La ecografía objetiva la duplicación uterina con una masa quística [parauterina. La IRM confirma la duplicación uterina y muestra una massa para e infra uterina con señal hiperintensa en T1 y T2, revelando su naturaleza serohemática. La intervención quirúrgica confirma los hallazgos do IRM

[Utero-vaginal duplication with hematocolpus. Diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)]. / Duplicación útero-vaginal total con hematocolpos. Diagnóstico por imagenes por resonancia magnética (IRM).

A 21-year-old woman with complete uterus-vaginal duplication, hemivaginal obstruction and ipsilateral renal agenesis is presented. Ultrasonography shows uterus duplication with a parauterine cystic mass. MRI demonstrated uterus duplication and also a para/infra uterine mass with T1 and T2 weighted high-signal-intensity disclosing its serohematic nature. Surgical procedure confirmed the MRI findings.

Duplicación útero-vaginal total con hematocolpos. Diagnóstico por imagenes por resonancia magnética (IRM). / [Utero-vaginal duplication with hematocolpus. Diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)]

A 21-year-old woman with complete uterus-vaginal duplication, hemivaginal obstruction and ipsilateral renal agenesis is presented. Ultrasonography shows uterus duplication with a parauterine cystic mass. MRI demonstrated uterus duplication and also a para/infra uterine mass with T1 and T2 weighted high-signal-intensity disclosing its serohematic nature. Surgical procedure confirmed the MRI findings.

[Renal angiomyolipoma]. / Angiomiolipoma renal.

Five cases of angiomyolipoma with acute renal symptomatology have been studied using different diagnostic methods such as intravenous urogram, ultrasound, computed axial tomography. These procedures permit an adequate diagnosis of angiomyolipoma. This benign tumor may produce important symptomatology when bleeding reaches into the perinephral as well as retroperitoneal space. The identification of fat tissue within the renal tumoral lesion confirms the diagnosis of angiomyolipoma.

Angiomiolipoma renal / Renal angiomyolipoma

Five cases of angiomyolipoma with acute renal symptomatology have been studied using different diagnostic methods such as intravenous urogram, ultrasound, computed axial tomography. These procedures permit an adequate diagnosis of angiomyolipoma. This benign tumor may produce important symptomatology when bleeding reaches into the perinephral as well as retroperitoneal space. The identification of fat tissue within the renal tumoral lesion confirms the diagnosis of angiomyolipoma.

Angiomiolipoma renal. / [Renal angiomyolipoma]

Five cases of angiomyolipoma with acute renal symptomatology have been studied using different diagnostic methods such as intravenous urogram, ultrasound, computed axial tomography. These procedures permit an adequate diagnosis of angiomyolipoma. This benign tumor may produce important symptomatology when bleeding reaches into the perinephral as well as retroperitoneal space. The identification of fat tissue within the renal tumoral lesion confirms the diagnosis of angiomyolipoma.

Angiomiolipoma renal. / [Renal angiomyolipoma]

Five cases of angiomyolipoma with acute renal symptomatology have been studied using different diagnostic methods such as intravenous urogram, ultrasound, computed axial tomography. These procedures permit an adequate diagnosis of angiomyolipoma. This benign tumor may produce important symptomatology when bleeding reaches into the perinephral as well as retroperitoneal space. The identification of fat tissue within the renal tumoral lesion confirms the diagnosis of angiomyolipoma.

[Extracellular fluid, plasma and interstitial volume in cirrhotic patients without clinical edema or ascites]. / Determinación del volumen extracelular, plasmático, e intersticial en pacientes cirróticos sin ascitis ni edema clínico.

Extracellular fluid volume (E.C.F.) and plasma volume (P.V.), were measured with sodium sulfate labeled with 35I and 131I human serum albumin, respectively, by the dilution technique in control subjects and in cirrhotic patients without clinical ascites or edema, renal or hepatic failure, gastrointestinal bleeding or diuretics. Results are expressed as mean +/- DS in both ml/m2 and ml/kg. In normal subjects E.C.F. (n = 8) was 7,533 +/- 817 ml/m2 (201.3 +/- 182 ml/kg), P.V. (n = 11) 1,767 +/- 337 ml/m2 (47.2 +/- 9.3 ml/kg), and interstitial fluid (I.S.F.) (n = 7) 5,758 +/- 851 ml/m2 (Table 2). In cirrhotic patients E.C.F. (n = 11) was 10,318 +/- 2,980 ml/m2 (261.7 +/- 76.8 ml/kg), P.V. (n = 12) 2,649 +/- 558 ml/m2 (67.7 +/- 15.6 ml/kg) and I.S.F. (n = 11) 7,866 +/- 2,987 ml/m2 (Table 3). Cirrhotic patients compared with normal subjects have hypervolemia due to a significant E.C.F. and P.V. expansion (p less than 0.02 and less than 0.001 respectively) (Fig. 1). Reasons for E.C.F. and P.V. abnormalities in cirrhotic patients may reflect urinary sodium retention related to portal hipertension which stimulates aldosterone release or enhanced renal tubular sensitivity to the hormone. However, it is also possible that these patients, in the presence of hypoalbuminemia (Table 1), have no clinical edema or ascites due to increased glomerular filtration, suppressed release of vasopressin, increased natriuretic factor, and urinary prostaglandin excretion, in response to the intravascular expansion, all of which increased solute and water delivery to the distal nephron and improved renal water excretion. We conclude that in our clinical experience cirrhotic patients without ascites or edema have hypervolemia because of a disturbance in E.C.F.

Determinacion del volumen extracelular, plasmatico, e intersticial en pacientes cirroticos sin ascitis ni edema clinico / Extracellular fluid, plasma and interstitial volume in cirrhotic patients without clinical edema or ascitis

En el presente trabajo se estudió con técnicas de dilución isotópica los volumenes intravbasculares y extravasculares, en 2 grupos: Grupo I: controles sanos, Grupo II: pacientes cirróticos, sin evidencia clínica de edema o ascitis, insuficiencia renal, hepática, hemorragia gastrointestinal o tratamiento diurético. El volumen del líquido extracelular (V.L.E.) se determinó con sulfato de sodio (355 Na**2), y el volumen plasmático (V.P.) con albúmina marcada con I 131 (Risah), calculándose posteriormente el volumen de líquido intersticial (V.L.I.). En el Grupo I, los valores fueron: Vd.L.E. (n = 8) 7 533 ñ 817 ml/m**2 (201 ñ 182 ml/kg(), V.P. (n = 11), l 767 ñ 337 ml/m**2 *(47,2 ñ 9,3 ml/kg), V.K.I. (n = 7) 5 758 ñ 851 ml/ml**2. En el Grupo II el V.L.E. (n = 11) fue de 10318 ñ 2980 ml/m2 (261,7 ñ 76,8 ml/kg), el V.P. (n = 12) fue de 2649 ñ 558 ml/m**2 (67,7 ñ l5,6 ml/kg(), y el V.L.I. (n = 11) de 7866 ñ 2987 ml/m[[2. Comparados con los controles, los pacientes cirróticos tienen significativa expansión de los volúmenes extracelular e intravascular (p<0,l02 y <0,001 respecitivamente). El V.L.I. no mostró cambios significativos. Concluimos que los pacientes cirróticos sin ascitis o edema clínico, tienen hipervolemia por alteración del V.L.E (AU)

Determinacion del volumen extracelular, plasmatico, e intersticial en pacientes cirroticos sin ascitis ni edema clinico / Extracellular fluid, plasma and interstitial volume in cirrhotic patients without clinical edema or ascitis

En el presente trabajo se estudió con técnicas de dilución isotópica los volumenes intravbasculares y extravasculares, en 2 grupos: Grupo I: controles sanos, Grupo II: pacientes cirróticos, sin evidencia clínica de edema o ascitis, insuficiencia renal, hepática, hemorragia gastrointestinal o tratamiento diurético. El volumen del líquido extracelular (V.L.E.) se determinó con sulfato de sodio (355 Na**2), y el volumen plasmático (V.P.) con albúmina marcada con I 131 (Risah), calculándose posteriormente el volumen de líquido intersticial (V.L.I.). En el Grupo I, los valores fueron: Vd.L.E. (n = 8) 7 533 ñ 817 ml/m**2 (201 ñ 182 ml/kg(), V.P. (n = 11), l 767 ñ 337 ml/m**2 *(47,2 ñ 9,3 ml/kg), V.K.I. (n = 7) 5 758 ñ 851 ml/ml**2. En el Grupo II el V.L.E. (n = 11) fue de 10318 ñ 2980 ml/m2 (261,7 ñ 76,8 ml/kg), el V.P. (n = 12) fue de 2649 ñ 558 ml/m**2 (67,7 ñ l5,6 ml/kg(), y el V.L.I. (n = 11) de 7866 ñ 2987 ml/m[[2. Comparados con los controles, los pacientes cirróticos tienen significativa expansión de los volúmenes extracelular e intravascular (p<0,l02 y <0,001 respecitivamente). El V.L.I. no mostró cambios significativos. Concluimos que los pacientes cirróticos sin ascitis o edema clínico, tienen hipervolemia por alteración del V.L.E

Determinación del volumen extracelular, plasmático, e intersticial en pacientes cirróticos sin ascitis ni edema clínico. / [Extracellular fluid, plasma and interstitial volume in cirrhotic patients without clinical edema or ascites]

Extracellular fluid volume (E.C.F.) and plasma volume (P.V.), were measured with sodium sulfate labeled with 35I and 131I human serum albumin, respectively, by the dilution technique in control subjects and in cirrhotic patients without clinical ascites or edema, renal or hepatic failure, gastrointestinal bleeding or diuretics. Results are expressed as mean +/- DS in both ml/m2 and ml/kg. In normal subjects E.C.F. (n = 8) was 7,533 +/- 817 ml/m2 (201.3 +/- 182 ml/kg), P.V. (n = 11) 1,767 +/- 337 ml/m2 (47.2 +/- 9.3 ml/kg), and interstitial fluid (I.S.F.) (n = 7) 5,758 +/- 851 ml/m2 (Table 2). In cirrhotic patients E.C.F. (n = 11) was 10,318 +/- 2,980 ml/m2 (261.7 +/- 76.8 ml/kg), P.V. (n = 12) 2,649 +/- 558 ml/m2 (67.7 +/- 15.6 ml/kg) and I.S.F. (n = 11) 7,866 +/- 2,987 ml/m2 (Table 3). Cirrhotic patients compared with normal subjects have hypervolemia due to a significant E.C.F. and P.V. expansion (p less than 0.02 and less than 0.001 respectively) (Fig. 1). Reasons for E.C.F. and P.V. abnormalities in cirrhotic patients may reflect urinary sodium retention related to portal hipertension which stimulates aldosterone release or enhanced renal tubular sensitivity to the hormone. However, it is also possible that these patients, in the presence of hypoalbuminemia (Table 1), have no clinical edema or ascites due to increased glomerular filtration, suppressed release of vasopressin, increased natriuretic factor, and urinary prostaglandin excretion, in response to the intravascular expansion, all of which increased solute and water delivery to the distal nephron and improved renal water excretion. We conclude that in our clinical experience cirrhotic patients without ascites or edema have hypervolemia because of a disturbance in E.C.F.