Case report: ultrasound assisted catheter directed thrombolysis of an embolic partial occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery.

Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is a severe medical condition defined by insufficient vascular supply to the small bowel through mesenteric vessels, resulting in necrosis and eventual gangrene of bowel walls. We present the case of a 64-year-old man with recrudescence of prolonged epigastric pain at rest of few hours duration, cold sweating and episodes of vomiting. A computed tomography scan of his abdomen revealed multiple filling defects in the mid-distal part of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and the proximal part of jejunal branches, associated with small intestine walls thickening, suggesting SMA thromboembolism and initial intestinal ischemia. Considering the absence of signs of peritonitis at the abdominal examination and the presence of multiple arterial emboli was decided to perform an endovascular treatment with ultrasound assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis with EkoSonic Endovascular System-EKOS, which resulted in complete dissolution of the multiple emboli and improved blood flow into the intestine wall. The day after the procedure the patient's pain improved significantly and 5 days after he was discharged home asymptomatic on warfarin anticoagulation. After 1 year of follow-up the patient is fine with no further episodes of mesenteric ischemia or other embolisms.

EVAR Solution For Acutely Thrombosed Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in a Patient with COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Acute thrombosis of an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (ATAAA) represents an uncommon but catastrophic pathology, which can lead to life threatening complications. This is a report of the infrequent use of an endovascular solution to successfully treat ATAAA in a patient with COVID-19 viral pneumonia and ischaemia induced lower extremity neurological deficits. REPORT: An 89 year old white male, with a history of cardiovascular comorbidities was admitted to the emergency room with dyspnoea associated with the sudden onset of abdominal and back pain followed by partial motor and sensory deficits in both legs. The CT scan showed both an 8 cm infrarenal AAA with middle (inferior mesenteric artery patent) and distal thrombotic occlusion of the sac and non-aneurysmal but thrombosed common iliac arteries. An additional finding was imaging features typical of interstitial pneumonia. After the molecular test detected active COVID-19 infection, the patient was treated as an emergency with an aorto-uni-iliac stent graft and femorofemoral crossover graft. The post-operative course was uneventful with AAA exclusion and disappearance of ischaemic symptoms. There were no vascular complications. At three month follow up the patient remained asymptomatic and was looking after himself. DISCUSSION: This case supports the feasibility and safety of a minimally invasive endovascular procedure to treat ATAAA in selected patients with favourable anatomy and high risk of respiratory complications in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Single-Stage Localization and Thoracoscopic Removal of Nonpalpable Pulmonary Nodules in a Hybrid Operating Room.

OBJECTIVE: We report our experience with simultaneous localization and thoracoscopic removal for nonpalpable undiagnosed pulmonary nodules. METHODS: All patients with nonpalpable lesions requiring video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) wedge resection underwent localization of the targets and surgical removal in a hybrid operating room. Lesions were considered nonpalpable if they were small (<1 cm), deep (>1 cm from the surface), subsolid, or located within a dystrophic area. In all cases, intraoperative cone-beam computed tomography was performed for nodule localization and targeting, metal hookwires, or coils were alternatively used for intraoperative marking. RESULTS: From April 2016 to November 2019, 39 image-guided VATS (iVATS) were performed. The mean lesion size was 12 ± 6 mm. The mean distance from the deep edge of the lesion to the pleural surface was 24 ± 9 mm. The localization was performed with 20 hookwires and 19 coils. iVATS localization was successful in 36 patients (92.3%). Thirty-seven wedge resections were completed by VATS, 2 (5%) required conversion to thoracotomy. In 9 patients with intraoperative diagnosis of lung cancer, a lobectomy was performed (7 VATS and 2 thoracotomies). Mean length of iVATS localization was 30 ± 13 minutes. Median postoperative length of stay was 4 days (IQR 3 to 5). CONCLUSIONS: iVATS seems to be a helpful tool for simultaneous localization and removal of nonpalpable nodules. A versatile approach using different devices seems advisable for the removal of targets in every clinical scenario reducing VATS conversion rate. Future research is required to compare iVATS with traditional preoperative localization techniques.

Giant saccular aneurysm of the innominate artery.

We report a rare case of a saccular aneurysm of innominate artery without any apparent causative history. Although the treatment choice remains debatable, due to the poor condition of the patient, the lesion was excluded by using a balloon-expandable covered stent with a satisfactory early-term outcome.