Anatomical and clinical factors associated with infrapopliteal arterial bypass outcomes in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia.

The aim of this study was to identify anatomical and clinical factors associated with limb-based patency (LBP) loss, major adverse limb events (MALEs), and poor amputation-free survival (AFS) after an infrapopliteal arterial bypass (IAB) surgery according to the Global Limb Anatomic Staging System. A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing IAB surgery between January 2010 and December 2021 at a single institution was performed. Two-year AFS, freedom from LBP loss, and freedom from MALEs were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Anatomical and clinical predictors were assessed using multivariate analysis. The total number of risk factors was used to calculate risk scores for subsequent categorization into low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups. IABs were performed on 103 patients. The rates of two-year freedom from LBP loss, freedom from MALEs, and AFS were 71.3%, 76.1%, and 77.0%, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that poor run-off beyond the ankle and a bypass vein caliber of < 3 mm were significantly associated with LBP loss and MALEs. Moreover, end-stage renal disease, non-ambulatory status, and a body mass index of < 18.5 were significantly associated with poor AFS. The rates of freedom from LBP loss and MALEs and the AFS rate were significantly lower in the high-risk group than in the other two groups (12-month low-risk rates: 92.2%, 94.8%, and 94.4%, respectively; 12-month moderate-risk rates: 58.6%, 84.6%, and 78.3%, respectively; 12-month high-risk rates: 11.1%, 17.6%, and 56.2%, respectively; p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). IAB is associated with poor clinical outcomes in terms of LBP, MALEs, and AFS in high-risk patients. Risk stratification based on these predictors is useful for long-term prognosis.

Efficacy of Fusion Imaging in Endovascular Revascularization of the Superficial Femoral Artery.

BACKGROUND: The demand for endovascular revascularization (ER) to treat peripheral artery disease (PAD) has steadily increased. However, ER comes at the cost of increased contrast and radiation exposure, particularly in more complex cases. Fusion imaging is a new technology that may address these issues. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of fusion imaging in ER of the superficial femoral artery (SFA). METHODS: Patients with PAD undergoing ER of the SFA from February 2016 to July 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. A group of patients treated using fusion imaging was compared with a control group treated without fusion imaging. The primary end points were the contrast dose, fluoroscopy time, radiation dose, and operative time. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients (fusion group, n = 26; control group, n = 25) underwent ER during the study period. Significantly lower iodinated contrast doses were observed in the fusion than in the control group (56.1 ± 23.7 vs. 87.9 ± 44.9 mL; P = 0.003), as well as significantly shorter fluoroscopy times (21.2 ± 11.1 vs. 44.9 ± 31.4 min; P = 0.001), lower radiation exposure (29.9 ± 8.9 vs. 122.2 ± 223.1 mGy; P = 0.04), and shorter operative times (88.3 ± 32.1 vs. 126.1 ± 66.8 min; P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: The use of fusion imaging technology during ER of the SFA can significantly reduce the contrast dose, fluoroscopy time, radiation dose, and operative time.

Early evaluation of the infrainguinal revascularization strategy selection tool of the Global Vascular Guidelines for chronic limb-threatening ischemia patients.

OBJECTIVE: The Global Vascular Guidelines (GVG) propose a novel Global Anatomic Staging System (GLASS) with the Wound, Ischemia, and foot Infection (WIfI) classification system as a clinical decision-making tool for interventions in chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). We assessed the validity of clinical staging and the relationship between the treatments recommended by the GVG and the outcomes of the actual procedures. METHODS: This retrospective, single-center, observational study included 117 patients with CLTI undergoing infrainguinal revascularization in our hospital between 2015 and 2019. Of those patients, 55 underwent open bypass (OB) and 62 underwent endovascular revascularization (EVR). Femoropopliteal, infrapopliteal, and inframalleolar GLASS grades were assigned based on angiographic images. These grades were combined to determine the revascularization strategy recommended by the GVG: "endovascular," "indeterminate," and "open bypass." The indeterminate category includes three subcategories: GLASS stage III, WIfI stage 2; GLASS stage II, WIfI stage 3; and GLASS stage II, WIfI stage 4. For the purposes of this study, we labeled these subcategories A, B, and C, respectively. The primary outcome was the correlation between the revascularization strategies recommended by the GVG and the actual procedures performed. The relationships between the actual procedures and overall survival, limb salvage, and patency were also examined. RESULTS: The femoropopliteal and infrapopliteal GLASS grades were higher in the OB group. EVR was performed more often for GLASS stages I and II and was more often classified as indeterminate B and C, whereas OB was performed more often in GLASS stage III and was more often classified as indeterminate A. There were no statistically significant differences in the inframalleolar/pedal disease descriptor or in the 30-day postoperative complication rates between the two groups. In higher GLASS stages, the technical success rate of EVR was lower, and lesion complexity was more severe. Patients for whom the recommended strategy according to the GVG would have been OB but who underwent EVR were associated with low limb salvage and patency rates. CONCLUSIONS: The GVG provide good guidance for the selection of the revascularization strategy. When the GVG indicate OB, it should be the treatment of choice, rather than EVR, for patients who are fit to undergo the procedure.

Deep Circumflex Iliac Artery as an Inflow Alternative for Surgical Revascularization: A Case Report.

The common femoral artery (CFA) is the most widely used inflow in all types of surgical revascularization in patients with peripheral artery disease. However, the CFA cannot always be used because of calcification, obstruction, or previous dissection. Here, we report a rare case of selecting the deep circumflex iliac artery (DCIA) as a source of inflow to perform a surgical revascularization in a patient with chronic limb-threatening ischemia. A 62-year-old man was admitted to our hospital due to necrotized third and fifth toes with pain at rest. Computed tomography showed severe stenosis of the CFA, superficial femoral artery, and deep femoral artery, and an entirely stented external iliac artery. The DCIA was identified as the only patent artery. Considering the condition of the other arteries, we selected the DCIA as a source of inflow. Deep circumflex iliac-popliteal bypass was performed with a saphenous vein. The bypass graft was patent 9 months after surgery and limb salvage had been achieved.

A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial to Determine the Preventive Effect of Hangekobokuto on Aspiration Pneumonia in Patients Undergoing Cardiovascular Surgery.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess whether hangekobokuto (HKT) can prevent aspiration pneumonia in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. METHODS: We performed a single-center, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study of HKT in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. JPS HKT extract granule (JPS-16) was used as HKT. The primary endpoint was defined as the prevention of postoperative aspiration pneumonia. The secondary endpoints included complete recovery from swallowing and coughing disorders. RESULTS: Between August 2014 and August 2015, a total of 34 patients were registered in this study. The rate of subjects with postoperative aspiration pneumonia was significantly lower in the HKT group than in the placebo group (p = 0.017). In high-risk patients for aspiration pneumonia, the rate was significantly lower in the HKT group than in the placebo group (p = 0.015). The rate of subjects with swallowing disorders tended to be lower in the HKT group than in the placebo group (p = 0.091), and in high-risk patients, the rate was significantly lower in the HKT group than in the placebo group (p = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: HKT can prevent aspiration pneumonia in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. In high-risk patients for aspiration pneumonia, HKT can prevent aspiration pneumonia and improve swallowing disorders.

Clinical Significance of the Serotonin Release Assay and Platelet Count Monitoring After Cardiac Surgery.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is one of the serious complications in patients who undergo cardiac surgery. However, there remains a major problem in diagnosing HIT because the current immunological assays for detection of HIT antibody have limitations. Furthermore, the clinical course of thrombocytopenia in this surgery makes it increasingly difficult to diagnose HIT. We investigated the relationship between platelet count and HIT antibody in 59 patients who underwent cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The number of postoperative HIT antibody-positive patients evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (polyanion IgG/IgA/IgM complex antibodies/antiplatelet factor 4 enhanced) was 37 (62.7%). In contrast, platelet activation by HIT antibody was evaluated using the serotonin release assay (SRA). More than 20% and 50% release of serotonin was obtained from 12 patients (20.3%) and 8 patients (13.6%), respectively. The levels of d-dimer were significantly different on postoperative day 14 between SRA-positive and SRA-negative groups; however, postoperative thrombus complication was not detected using sonography in the patients with positive serotonin release at all. After being decreased by the operation, their platelet count recovered within 2 weeks in both groups equally. In our study, although the patients were positive in the platelet activating HIT antibody assay, they remained free from thrombosis and their platelet count recovered after early postoperative platelet decrease. Therefore, in addition to the SRA, monitoring of platelet count might be still considered an indispensable factor to facilitate the prediction of HIT thrombosis prior to manifestation in the patients undergoing cardiac surgery using CPB.

The Effect of Hachimi-Jio-Gan (Ba-Wei-Di-Huang-Wan) on the Quality of Life in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease - A Prospective Study Using Kampo Medicine.

Objective: To assess whether Hachimi-jio-gan (HJG), a preparation of Kampo medicine (traditional Japanese medicine), improves quality of life (QOL) in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Materials and Methods: Among the patients with PAD being followed in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at Tokyo Medical University Hachioji Medical Center, those with intermittent claudication (IC) and in stable condition regarding PAD severity were registered. We registered the patients from April 2014 to March 2015. We administered HJG extract for 6 months to the patients. The primary endpoint was Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ) score, which was approved as an indicator of QOL of the patient with PAD. We assessed WIQ score both before and after administration of the HJG. Results: We analyzed 14 patients. WIQ items of pain, distance, and speed improved significantly. Furthermore, the median of the total score of WIQ improved significantly from 162.5 points to 308.0 points. All patients showed improvement in the total score and 7 patients out of 14 patients (50%) showed a remarkably effective improvement in score of more than 100 points. Conclusion: HJG might improve the QOL in patients with IC due to PAD.

Spontaneous Evacuation of a Vascular Metallic Stent through a Graft-Duodenal Fistula with Concomitant Non-Surgical Fistula Closure.

We report a patient who developed ileus caused by vascular stent migration into the duodenum with periprosthetic retroperitoneal abscess. The patient previously underwent removal of an infected abdominal aortic aneurysm with concomitant axillobifemoral arterial reconstruction. An occlusion of the graft leg was treated by a unilateral aortoiliac bypass where endovascular surgery with a metallic stent was later needed. The abscess and ileus were vigorously drained. Following the spontaneous evacuation of the metallic stent via the digestive tract, the abscess was completely drained and fistula closure was achieved without surgical intervention. The patient has remained healthy 6 years thereafter.

Hybrid procedures for an infant with hypoplastic left heart syndrome with intact atrial septum.

A boy, prenatally diagnosed as hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) with intact atrial septum (IAS) was successfully treated by hybrid procedures. He underwent emergent catheter atrial septostomy and stent insertion in the atrial septum on Day 1 and then underwent bilateral pulmonary artery banding, ductal stent insertion, modified Norwood operation, bidirectional Glenn's operation and finally Fontan type operation at 2 years of age. Considering the presence of decompression pathway from the left atrium in HLHS with IAS, we should organize a treatment team for collaborative work and plan an appropriate treatment strategy before delivery. Although his clinical course has been uneventful until now, closer medical observation is warranted because he may have coexisting pulmonary disease.

A successful treatment for concomitant injury of the coronary artery and tricuspid valve after blunt chest trauma.

A 63-year-old woman involved in an automobile accident was brought to our hospital with thoracic injury sustained by the impact of her vehicle's steering wheel. Cardiac auscultation revealed a grade III/VI systolic murmur and the electrocardiogram showed ST elevation in leads 2, 3 and aVF. A 2D echocardiogram revealed severe tricuspid regurgitation and a hypokinetic right ventricle. Coronary angiography revealed dissection of the proximal right coronary artery (RCA) with 90 % stenosis. Urgent CABG for the RCA and tricuspid valvuloplasty were performed, as the anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve had prolapsed as a result of chordal rupture. Blunt thoracic trauma causing both tricuspid insufficiency and coronary artery dissection is a very rare and life-threatening situation. Prompt diagnosis and timely surgery enabled us to save this patient's life.

Production of Anti-platelet Factor 4/Heparin Complex Antibodies After Cardiovascular Surgery.

To study the production of anti-platelet factor 4 (anti-PF4)/heparin complex antibodies of Ig (immunoglobulin) G/IgA/IgM using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; heparin-induced thrombocytopenia [HIT] antibodies) in 79 patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery, we employed Δoptical density (OD) as a marker of HIT-antibody production. The ΔODs were calculated from the differences in the ODs using ELISA. Patient were classified into 3 ΔOD ranges: ΔOD ≥ 1.0, ΔOD ≥ 0.4 to <1.0, and ΔOD < 0.4. The underlying disease, time course of the postoperative platelet count, D-dimer level, postoperative brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), use of cardiopulmonary bypass and postoperative thrombocytosis were not considered for the 3 ΔOD classifications. None of the 6 patients with ΔOD ≥ 1 .0 and a positive functional assay was diagnosed with HIT due to the absence of HIT-derived thrombocytopenia. In conclusion, HIT-antibody production increased until day 7 after heparin cessation and reached a trace level on day 14. It was demonstrated that HIT-antibody production is in remission unless there is any evidence of a further increase during the second week postsurgery.

Surgical techniques for implanting implantable cardioverter defibrillators in children and infants.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are now being used in children. ICDs can be used to prevent sudden cardiac death caused by not only congenital heart defects, but also various non-structural diseases, such as long QT syndrome. However, a standard implantation technique for children, especially infants, has not yet been established. As the surgical implantation in infants is not amenable to transvenous lead placement, it was necessary to choose from epicardial, subcutaneous and pericardial ICD systems. However, many of these systems are associated with high rates of late complications. Lead fracture, insulation breakage, migration, buckling or crinkling of the patch lead and constrictive pericarditis have been reported as the most common lead-related complications. An increase in the defibrillation threshold is another issue that must be considered when using an ICD in a child or infant. Further studies on the outcomes, psychosomatic impact and other specific complications in the pediatric population need to be considered. The clinical use of ICDs in infants is still limited. Therefore, it is important to have many surgical options available so that the treatment can be custom-tailored to suit individual patients.

Interindividual variations in aprepitant plasma pharmacokinetics in cancer patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy for the first time.

The pharmacokinetics of aprepitant, a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist, have not been fully evaluated in clinical settings. The aim of this study was to characterize the plasma pharmacokinetics of aprepitant and reveal their influence of laboratory tests and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A5 gene polymorphisms in cancer patients. Forty-four Japanese cancer patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy for the first time following oral aprepitant (125 mg on day 1 and 80 mg on days 2 and 3) were enrolled. The patients did not have gastrointestinal disease and the clinical laboratory values were within their normal reference levels. The plasma concentrations of aprepitant 24 (day 2 predose), 72, and 120 h after the first aprepitant administration were determined using LC-MS/MS. The relationships between plasma exposure to aprepitant and body weight, clinical laboratory values, age, gender, or CYP3A5*3 were investigated. The median and interquartile ranges of the 120-h area under the plasma concentration time curve (AUC)(0-120) of aprepitant were 73215 and 55518-91121 ng h/mL. The coefficient of variation value for aprepitant AUC(0-120) was 53%. The AUC(0-120) of aprepitant was correlated with the levels of total bilirubin and serum albumin, respectively (r=0.454, p<0.01 and r=0.287, p=0.06), but not with other non-genetic factors and CYP3A5 genetic variants in a univariate analysis. The AUC(0-120) of aprepitant was significantly correlated with the level of total bilirubin (adjusted R(2)=0.187, p<0.01) in a multivariate analysis. In conclusion, the plasma pharmacokinetics of aprepitant varied markedly in cancer patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy for the first time and were correlated with the level of total bilirubin.

[Comparison of 1 mg/body and 3 mg/body of intravenous granisetron for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and adverse events in hematological malignancy patients].

Granisetron is a selective 5-hydroxy tryptamine3 receptor antagonist and widely used for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). Recommended dose of intravenous granisetron in the USA and Europe has been set at 0.01 mg/kg (1 mg/body) in the antiemetic treatment guidelines established by the American Society of Clinical Oncology and National Comprehension Cancer Network. In contrast, the approved dose in Japan is 0.04 mg/kg (3 mg/body). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which compared 1 mg/body with 3 mg/body of intravenous granisetron for CINV had been reported in Japan. In these RCTs, however, hematological malignancy patients were excluded. We performed observational retrospective study to compare 1 mg/body with 3 mg/body of intravenous granisetron for the prevention of CINV and adverse events in hematological malignancy patients. Number of the patients and chemotherapy courses were 15 and 30 in the 1 mg/body group, and 15 and 27 in the 3 mg/body group, respectively. No nausea rates in the 1 and 3 mg/body group were 83% and 89% of courses, respectively. No vomiting rates in the 1 and 3 mg/body group were 97% and 100% of courses, respectively. The incidences of constipation in the 1 and 3 mg/body group were 34% and 45% of courses, respectively. Anaphylaxis and headache did not occur in both groups. Our findings suggested that 1 mg/body of intravenous granisetron can prevent from CINV in hematological malignancy patients, as well as 3 mg/body.

A case of rectal obstruction caused by bilateral internal iliac artery aneurysms.

In this article, we report a rare case of rectal obstruction caused by bilateral internal iliac artery aneurysms that required open surgical repair. A 73-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of abdominal pain and persistent constipation for >1 month. Computed tomography demonstrated bilateral internal iliac artery aneurysms, 5.0 and 7.0 cm each in diameter, which occupied the intrapelvic space. An urgent surgery was performed to reduce the volume of the aneurysms and release the obstructed rectum. The postoperative course was uneventful, in which he had good evacuation. Aneurysms in the iliac region can be a good indication for the use of newly developed endovascular devices; however, open surgery should be considered without delay to avoid ileus or subileus symptoms when the aneurysms cause space-occupying complications.

Coated prostheses are associated with prolonged inflammation in aortic surgery: a cost analysis.

This prospective study was conducted to compare inflammatory responses between patients receiving coated and uncoated vascular prostheses, and to examine their effect on length of stay and cost of patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy. Patients undergoing elective vascular reconstruction of an abdominal aortic aneurysm were assigned randomly to coated-graft or uncoated-graft groups (n = 20, for each group). Interleukin (IL)-6, granulocyte elastase, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein (CRP), and body temperature (BT) were prospectively recorded preoperatively and on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 3, 7, and 14. In-hospital stay and hospitalized costs were also analyzed. IL-6 and CRP concentrations in the coated-graft group were higher than those in the uncoated-graft group (P = 0.01 and 0.05). BT was more frequently elevated >37 degrees C at POD 14 in the coated-graft group than in the uncoated-graft group (P =0.03). Discharge was delayed, and overall hospitalization cost was higher in the coated-graft group than in the uncoated group (17.6 vs. 13.5 days, and 2 010 000 vs. 1 780 000 yen, P = 0.006 and P = 0.002, respectively). Coated vascular prosthesis demonstrated more profound inflammatory reaction than noncoated prosthesis, postoperatively.

Treatment of abdominal malignancy invading the vena cava: a report of seven cases.

Retroperitoneal tumors and other abdominal malignancies invading the inferior vena cava can be treated surgically when no metastases are present. We resected four retroperitoneal tumors, two renal cell carcinomas, and one gastrointestinal stromal tumor with a concomitant caval resection. Although meticulous care is required when manipulating the major vessels, long-term survival with an improvement in the quality of life was achieved. These cases are described, with particular focus on the management of the major vessels.

Delayed femoral pseudoaneurysm formation after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Five femoral pseudoaneurysms were treated among 573 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary interventions. Four of the five patients suffered from diabetes mellitus and four patients needed regular hemodialysis due to chronic renal failure. One patient's course was complicated by infection. One patient was healed by compression therapy and four patients were treated successfully by surgery, which included an extraanatomic bypass and a thromboendoarterectomy. Diabetes and regular hemodialysis are major risks for the formation of femoral pseudoaneurysm after catheter intervention at present.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: complete resolution of an occluding inferior vena caval thrombus.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is a rare acquired autoimmune disease, and is frequently associated with venous thrombosis. A patient who developed thrombotic occlusion of the inferior vena cava is described. Treatment with heparin and urokinase, followed by oral anticoagulant, was effective in resolving abdominal symptoms. The venous thrombosis resolved completely, but the patient died during treatment of aplastic anemia.