Endovascular Transvenous versus Open Femoropopliteal Bypass.

Background and Objectives: Lower extremity arterial disease is one of the most prevalent manifestations of atherosclerosis. The results from numerous studies regarding the best revascularization method of an occluded superficial femoral artery have been conflicting. The aim of this study was to compare the patency of transvenous endovascular with open femoropopliteal bypass, both with vein and prosthetic grafts. To our knowledge, a direct patency comparison between transvenous endovascular and open femoropopliteal bypass has not been published. This could help elucidate which method is preferable and in which cases. Materials and Methods: Patients with complex TASC-C and D SFA lesions were offered endovascular transvenous or open bypass. A total of 384 consecutive patients with PAD requiring surgical treatment were evaluated for inclusion in this study. Three-year follow-up data were collected for 52 endovascular procedures, 80 prosthetic grafts, and 44 venous bypass surgeries. Bypass patency was investigated by Duplex US every 6 months. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to analyze primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency for endovascular transvenous, autovenous, and prosthetic bypasses. Results: Primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency in venous group at 3 years was 70.5%, 77.3%, and 77.3%, respectively. In the endovascular transvenous group, primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency at 3 years was 46.2%, 69.2%, and 76.9%, respectively. The lowest patency rates at 3 years were noted in the prosthetic graft group with 22.5% primary, 26.6% primary-assisted, and 28.2% secondary patency. Conclusions: The saphenous vein is the best graft to perform in above-the-knee femoropopliteal bypass. Transvenous endovascular bypass is a viable option with comparable primary-assisted and secondary patency. Primary patency is substantially lower for endovascular transvenous compared to venous bypass. Patients treated with endovascular transvenous bypass will require a significant number of secondary procedures to provide optimal patency. Prosthetic grafts should only be used if no other option for bypass is available.

Surgical Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with a Tumor Thrombus Invading the Right Atrium: A Case Report.

Up to 3% of all hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) present with a tumor thrombus (TT) in the inferior vena cava (IVC) and right atrium (RA). Extensive growth of HCC into the IVC and the RA is associated with a particularly poor prognosis. This clinical condition is related to a high risk of sudden death due to pulmonary embolism or acute heart failure. Therefore, a technically challenging treatment undergoing hepatectomy and cavo-atrial thrombectomy is necessary. We report a 61-year-old man presenting with right subcostal pain, progressive weakness, and periodic shortness of breath for 3 months. He was diagnosed with advanced HCC with a TT extending from the right hepatic vein into the IVC and RA. A multidisciplinary meeting with cardiovascular and hepatobiliary surgeons, oncologists, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, and radiologists was held to determine the best treatment approach. Initially, the patient underwent right hemihepatectomy. As follows, the cardiovascular stage using cardiopulmonary bypass was successfully performed, removing the TT from the RA and ICV. In the early postoperative period, the patient remained stable and was discharged on the 8th postoperative day. A morphological examination revealed grade 2/3 HCC, a clear cell variant with microvascular and macrovascular invasion. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for HEP-1, CD10, whereas negative for S100. The morphological and immunohistochemical results corresponded to HCC. The treatment of such patients requires the cooperation of various specialties. Although the approach of the surgery is extremely complex including specific technical support, as well as high perioperative risks, the result offers favorable clinical outcomes.

Three-Year Patency Results following Endovascular Transvenous Femoropopliteal Bypass.

Background and Objectives: Peripheral artery disease is one of the most common vascular pathologies. There is an ongoing debate among specialists on whether open or endovascular revascularization is preferred in cases of complex superficial femoral artery (SFA) lesions. The purpose of this study was to assess patency results of a relatively new transvenous endovascular bypass device. This could add to existing evidence and aid in comparison between open and endovascular bypass. Materials and Methods: Patients with complex TASC-C and D SFA lesions who had indications for revascularization were identified. Prospective analysis of stent graft patency from 54 transvenous femoropopliteal bypass procedures was performed. Patency was assessed by Duplex ultrasound every six months. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to assess primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency of transvenous bypass. Results: Following endovascular transvenous femoropopliteal bypass, 3-year graft primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency was 43.8%, 66.3%, and 73.9%, respectively. Conclusions: Transvenous endovascular femoropopliteal bypass is a viable option for selected patients who lack adequate saphenous vein or have comorbidities that increase the risk of open femoropopliteal bypass. Strict post-operative follow-up is necessary to improve patency rates.

Long term clinical and functional venous outcomes after endovascular transvenous femoro-popliteal bypass.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral artery disease is widespread in Western societies affecting around 13% of the population above 50 years of age. Despite recent improvements of endovascular treatment, open surgical bypass is still recommended as the treatment of choice for long segment TASC D lesions. The DETOUR procedure was introduced as an endovascular alternative in cases of long-segment superficial femoral artery occlusion. This unconventional technique raises several questions regarding the effect of the bypass graft on femoral venous physiology. METHODS: We conducted a 3-year follow-up study of subjects enrolled and treated in the prospective, multicenter DETOUR study at the Pauls Stradins clinical university hospital, Riga, Latvia. In total, 52 consecutive patients (54 procedures) were enrolled in this study from 2015 until 2019. We performed Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) and Villalta (VS) Score assessments, Duplex ultrasound measuring femoral and popliteal vein diameters, venous occlusion plethysmography and digital photoplethysmography to assess and compare venous physiology at baseline and at follow-up visits every 6 months. RESULTS: At baseline mean femoral vein diameter was 11.1 mm (SD=1.5). At 36-months following intraluminal stent-graft placement, mean femoral vein diameter was 11.1 mm (SD=1.7) with no evidence of enlargement of the femoral vein (P=0.2). Popliteal vein diameter was not significantly changed during 24-months of follow-up (P=0.12) but showed a small (0.02 mm) statistically significant decrease in diameter at 36-months compared to baseline. During the study period, only one patient (1.9%) developed clinically significant ipsilateral DVT 1-month after surgery. Clinically silent femoral venous thrombosis was documented in 8 legs during 36-month follow-up. In one case the thrombus was occlusive and in 7 cases the thrombus was non-occlusive. At baseline, 48 of 52 patients (92%) had no or minor venous symptoms ([VCSS 0-2] with clinically significant venous symptoms in only 4 patients [VCSS≥3]). At one-month follow-up, the venous clinical severity score increased in all patients compared to baseline. At 6-month follow-up, the VCSS had returned to baseline in the majority of patients with no significant changes during the 3-year follow-up period. At baseline, all patients had a VS of 0-2 indicating minor or no venous symptoms (mean 0.4 [SD 0.7]). At the 1-month follow-up visit 3 patients (5.8%) had a VS≥3 (two patients had a score of 3 and one patient a score of 4), indicating significant venous symptoms. At the 6-month visit and thereafter, all the VS in all patients had returned to baseline. Transvenous endovascular procedure did not significantly alter venous physiology in treated leg. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous transvenous femoropopliteal bypass provided safe and effective lower-extremity revascularization with minimal effect on long-term venous function. The femoral and popliteal vein remained patent with no compensatory enlargement in response to the presence of the bypass graft within the femoral vein. During 3-year follow-up there were no significant changes in venous symptom scores or physiologic function.

Diagnosis of silent coronary ischemia with selective coronary revascularization might improve 2-year survival of patients with critical limb-threatening ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Patients with critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) have had poor long-term survival after lower extremity revascularization owing to coexistent coronary artery disease. A new cardiac diagnostic test, coronary computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT), can identify patients with ischemia-producing coronary stenosis who might benefit from coronary revascularization. We sought to determine whether the diagnosis of silent coronary ischemia before limb salvage surgery with selective postoperative coronary revascularization can reduce the incidence of adverse cardiac events and improve the survival of patients with CLTI compared with standard care. METHODS: Patients with CLTI and no cardiac history or symptoms who had undergone preoperative testing to detect silent coronary ischemia with selective postoperative coronary revascularization (group I) were compared with patients with standard preoperative cardiac clearance and no elective postoperative coronary revascularization (group II). Both groups received guideline-directed medical care. Lesion-specific coronary ischemia in group I was defined as FFRCT of ≤0.80 distal to a stenosis, with severe ischemia defined as FFRCT of ≤0.75. The endpoints included all-cause death, cardiovascular (CV) death, myocardial infarction (MI), major adverse CV events (i.MACE; CV death, MI, unplanned coronary revascularization, stroke) through 2 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Groups I (n = 111) and II (n = 120) were similar in age (66 ± 9 vs 66 ± 7 years), gender (78% vs 83% men), comorbidities, and surgery performed. In group I, unsuspected, silent coronary ischemia was found in 71 of 103 patients (69%), with severe ischemia in 58% and left main coronary ischemia in 8%. Elective postoperative coronary revascularization was performed in 47 of 71 patients with silent ischemia (66%). In group II, the status of silent coronary ischemia was unknown. The median follow-up was >2 years for both groups. The 2-year outcomes for groups I and II were as follows: all-cause death, 8.1% and 20.0% (hazard ratio [HR], 0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18-0.84; P = .016); CV death, 4.5% and 13.3% (HR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.11-0.88; P = .028); MI, 6.3% and 17.5% (HR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.14-0.79; P = .012); and major adverse CV events, 10.8% and 23.3% (HR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.22-0.88; P = .021), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The preoperative evaluation of patients with CLTI and no known coronary artery disease using coronary FFRCT revealed silent coronary ischemia in two of every three patients. Selective coronary revascularization of patients with silent coronary ischemia after recovery from limb salvage surgery resulted in fewer CV deaths and MIs and improved 2-year survival compared with patients with CLTI who had received standard cardiac evaluation and care. Prospective controlled studies are required to further define the role of FFRCT in the evaluation and treatment of patients with CLTI.

Pre-operative Diagnosis of Silent Coronary Ischaemia May Reduce Post-operative Death and Myocardial Infarction and Improve Survival of Patients Undergoing Lower Extremity Surgical Revascularisation.

OBJECTIVE: Patients undergoing peripheral vascular surgery have increased risk of death and myocardial infarction (MI), which may be due to unsuspected (silent) coronary ischaemia. The aim was to determine whether pre-operative diagnosis of silent ischaemia using coronary computed tomography (CT) derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT) can facilitate multidisciplinary care to reduce post-operative death and MI, and improve survival. METHODS: This was a single centre prospective study with historic controls. Patients with no cardiac symptoms undergoing lower extremity surgical revascularisation with pre-operative coronary CTA-FFRCT testing were compared with historic controls with standard pre-operative testing. Silent coronary ischaemia was defined as FFRCT ≤ 0.80 distal to coronary stenosis with FFRCT ≤ 0.75 indicating severe ischaemia. End points included cardiovascular (CV) death, MI, and all cause death through one year follow up. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between CT angiography (CTA-FFRCT) (n = 135) and control (n = 135) patients with regard to age (66 ± 8 years), sex, comorbidities, or surgery performed. Coronary CTA showed ≥ 50% stenosis in 70% of patients with left main stenosis in 7%. FFRCT revealed silent coronary ischaemia in 68% of patients with severe ischaemia in 53%. The status of coronary ischaemia was unknown in the controls. At 30 days, CV death and MI in the CTA-FFRCT group were not statistically significantly different from controls (0% vs. 3.7% [p = .060] and 0.7% vs. 5.2% [p = .066], respectively). Post-operative coronary revascularisation was performed in 54 patients to relieve silent ischaemia (percutaneous coronary intervention in 47, coronary artery bypass graft in seven). At one year, CTA-FFRCT patients had fewer CV deaths (0.7% vs. 5.9%; p = .036) and MIs (2.2% vs. 8.1%; p = .028) and improved survival (p = .018) compared with controls. CONCLUSION: Pre-operative diagnosis of silent coronary ischaemia in patients undergoing lower extremity revascularisation surgery can facilitate multidisciplinary patient care with selective post-operative coronary revascularisation. This strategy reduced post-operative death and MI and improved one year survival compared with standard care.

Systemic and local inflammation in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the world. The cornerstone of CRC treatment is surgical resection. However, patients in the same TNM stage show different recurrence rates and survival. Of patients with a local disease without lymph node or a distant metastasis, 20-25% still develop recurrence. There is evidence that inflammatory reaction is one of the key elements in tumour development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed literature on colorectal cancer and its relationships with the immune system, with special focus on local and systemic inflammatory reaction. The Pubmed and ClinicalKey databases were searched using the key words colorectal cancer, local inflammation, systemic inflammation, markers of inflammation. The relevant literature was reviewed and included in the article. RESULTS: The immune system has two-sided relationships with cancer, so it not only performs anti-tumour activities, but can also promote tumour growth and spread. Research has shown that signs of local inflammation are associated with a better prognosis in CRC. Systemic inflammation has been associated with more aggressive behaviour and a worse prognosis for patients with several cancers, including CRC. CONCLUSIONS: Recent findings in tumour biology have improved our understanding of colorectal cancer and of the natural course of this disease. Several markers of local and systemic inflammatory reaction have been identified. The next step is to find the most accurate and applicable marker, so that this promising tool can be used in clinical practice and aid in decision making.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for a Patient with a Lumboperitoneal Shunt: A Rare Case.

A rare factor that can complicate the perioperative course of laparoscopic cholecystectomy is previous placement of a lumboperitoneal (LP) shunt. Thus far, only two articles describing this situation have been published. Here, we report on a 41-year-old female patient with gallstone disease and a LP shunt placement in the preceding year due to idiopathic intracranial hypertension. It is a syndrome of increased intracranial pressure without any known cause that mainly affects young obese women. The patient was operated upon using standard port placement and peritoneal insufflation. The postoperative period was uneventful and the patient was discharged shortly after the procedure. Due to the increasing incidence and prevalence of obesity, the number of general surgical patients with a LP shunt will likely increase. Based on our experience and evidence in the literature, we conclude that performing a laparoscopy for a patient with a LP shunt is safe.