ABSTRACT
The Authors, through a review of their vascular surgery experience in the treatment of PAOD at the III General Surgery Institute directed by Prof. G. Di Matteo (University, of Rome), focus their attention on endovascular surgery. Initially considered as an effective complement to "traditional surgery" rapidly its role has grown as an effective alternative for a number of vascular patients.
Subject(s)
Angioplasty, Balloon/methods , Peripheral Vascular Diseases/therapy , Femoral Artery , Humans , Iliac Artery , Popliteal ArteryABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The authors report an early experience with a new endovascular approach in the treatment of occlusive superficial femoral artery disease to evaluate the efficacy and the feasibility of the new technique. METHODS AND RESULTS: Four patients with disabling claudication or leg rest pain were treated for long segment occlusion of superficial femoral artery (SFA). A remote endarterectomy (EA) of SFAs has been performed using a single groin incision and a conventional Vollmar ring stripper to remove the entire atheroma core for a length of 20, 10, 9 and 8 cm. In 3 cases following complete extraction of intimal core and a guidewire placement across from the distal endpoint, the endarterectomized segment was lined endoluminally by implanting one or more Self-Expanding Coated Stent (Meadox Passager 6-10 mm); the stent was positioned under fluoroscopic guidance to prevent dissection without any further balloon-dilation. In 1 case a 5 mm diameter thin-walled PTFE endoluminal graft was positioned using a Strecker stent for distal fixation. One patient had an immediate post-operative occlusion of distal stent which required a femoro-popliteal autologous vein bypass. In the remaining 3 cases no postoperative complications were observed and the patients are asymptomatic with normal flow through the stent and the endoluminal PTFE graft at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: In this report a combined surgical and endovascular procedure has been proposed. A prospective randomized study is carrying on at our Institute to verify if EA+ endovascular grafting of SFA represents an alternative to traditional femoro-popliteal vein bypass.
Subject(s)
Arterial Occlusive Diseases/surgery , Endarterectomy/methods , Femoral Artery/surgery , Popliteal Artery/surgery , Angiography , Arterial Occlusive Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation , Femoral Artery/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Popliteal Artery/diagnostic imaging , Prospective Studies , Stents , Ultrasonography, DopplerABSTRACT
A correct approach to sexual disorders in vascular patients presupposes an accurate investigation before and after operation. The authors evaluate the reliability of the diagnostic methods used, pre- and postoperatively, to ascertain sexual disorders, and analyse the influence of surgery on sexual function.
