Impact of ventilation/perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography on treatment duration of pulmonary embolism.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to establish whether the duration of anticoagulant (AC) therapy can be tailored, on an objective basis, by using ventilation/perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (V/P SPECT) and to assess the extent of residual perfusion defects over time. In particular, we addressed the following: (a) is the extent of perfusion recovery at 3 months of initial pulmonary embolism (PE) diagnosis a satisfactory criterion for deciding the duration of oral AC? (b) Is it safe to withdraw AC at 3 months if perfusion recovery is complete? PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 269 consecutive patients with suspected PE, 100 patients were diagnosed with PE using V/P SPECT. Sixty-seven patients with acute PE were followed up clinically and with V/P SPECT at 3 months. Sixty-four patients were subject to review and examination using V/P SPECT for a period of 6 months and 33 were followed up only clinically. Therapy was terminated after 3 months if perfusion was normalized, and patients were free of symptoms and the risk of hypercoagulability. Initial extension of PE did not have an impact on decision making. RESULTS: PE extension varied from 10 to 70% in the acute stage. After 3 months, complete resolution of PE was found in 48 patients. The treating pulmonologist decided to terminate therapy in 35 (73%) patients and to continue AC in 13 patients because of persistent risk factors. Six months later, at the second control stage, 53 patients had complete recovery of pulmonary perfusion. Eleven patients still had perfusion defects at 6 months. No recurrence was identified at 6 months in the 35 patients whose therapy was terminated after 3 months. No bleeding effects were observed in any of the patients during the 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study shows that AC therapy can be tailored, on an objective basis, by using V/P SPECT. Normalization of perfusion at 3 months of initial PE diagnosis was a reliable indicator that AC could be safely withdrawn in patients who were without hypercoagulability risk.

Epidemiological aspects of atherosclerosis in patients treated for acute atherothrombosis of extremity arteries.

INTRODUCTION: Risk factors for development of extremity artery atherosclerosis are the same as for coronary and cerebrovascular atherosclerosis namely, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, arterial hypertension, age and smoking. Atherosclerosis is polyarterial disease that clinically manifests itself most frequently in the form coronary, cerebrovascular or peripheral arterial disease (PAD). All of them have common, ominous and final pathologic step - atherosclerotic plaque rupture that might eventually lead to atherothrombosis and signs of ischemia. There are few studies of risk factor for peripheral artery disease (PAD). AIM OF STUDY: To identify prevalence of known risk factors for atherosclerosis in patients treated for acute atherothrombosis of extremity arteries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty patient were analyzed with regard to the prevalence of five risk factors for atherosclerosis (diabetes mellitus, smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and age). 80 patients were divided into two groups (Group A and B) depending on country i.e. hospital where they received treatment for acute atherothrombosis of extremity artery. Group A consisted of patients treated at Clinic for vascular surgery in Sarajevo, while patients in Group B were treated in Trollhattan in Sweden at NAL hospital. This study was clinical, comparative, retrospective-prospective. RESULTS: In group A, 20% of patients had diabetes mellitus while in group B prevalence of diabetics was lower (12,5%) but difference was not statistically significant p>0.05. Sixty percent of patients (60%) in group A were smokers. In Sweden, habit of smoking is not as common as in Balkan countries and consequently only 22,5% of patients were smokers in Group l, difference was statistically significant, p<0.05. In patients assigned to group A, 42.5% of them had diagnosis of hypertension while in Group B, 35% of patients were hypertensive. Difference was not statistically significant, p>0.05. 37.5% of patients in group A and 20% of patients in group B had hyperlipidemia. Difference was not statistically significant, p>0.05. In Group A mean age of patients was 67.85 years while mean age in Group B was 73.63. Age difference was statistically significant, p<0.05. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of risk factors of atherosclerosis in peripheral artery disease were evaluated in this study. Significant difference in prevalence of two risk factors were determined namely, smoking and mean age of occurrence of atherothrombosis. Quiting smoking and adopting healthier life habits may lead to reduction of prevalence PAD in younger patients in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Evaluation of medical and surgical management of critical extremity ischemia caused by atherothrombosis.

AIM: To assess efficacy of surgical and medical (conservative) treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic extremity ischemia by evaluating their early therapeutic outcomes in terms of mortality, extremity amputation and reamputation rate, limb salvage rate and length of hospitalization period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were divided into two groups based on method used for the treatment of critical ischemia. Group A consisted of 40 patients that were subjected to surgical treatment of critical extremity ischemia during period 2004-2009. All patients were subjected to thrombectomy in local anesthesia (2% lidocaine) as initial step of treatment protocol. Urgent Seldinger angiography was performed for all patients that have undergone thrombectomy regardless of successfulness of thrombectomy. Based on angiography findings decision was made about further definitive treatment. It consisted of either using antiaggregating drugs (acetyl salicylic acid; 150 mg/day) if no significant postthrombectomy stenotic lesion was found or subjecting patients to further surgical revascularization in the form of bypass were significant stenosis or occlusion was identified. Group B consisted of 40 patients; all of them received conventional heparin anticoagulation therapy supplemented with vasoactive infusion treatment (Pentoxyohylline 300 mg/day) during period 1998-2004. On the third day of hospitalization oral anticoagulation (Sintrom) was included in the therapy protocol using dosage 2-8 mg/day in order to achieve INR 2-4, once therapeutic INR was obtained heparin was withdrawn. Study was clinical, designed as retrospective prospective and was conducted at the Clinic for vascular surgery in Sarajevo. RESULTS: Mean age in group A was 66,5 years and in group B it was 65,78 years. Lenght of hospital stay in group A was 13,78 days while in group B it was 34,25 days (P value < 0,001). Limb salvage rate was 70% in group A and 17,5% in group B (P value < 0,001). In group A, nine amputations were performed (22,5%) while in group B we had to perform 38 amputations (95%), P value < 0,001. Only one reamputation was performed in group A (2,5% of patients) while in group B ten reamputations were performed (25% of patients). Mortality rate between groups was not statistically significant (P value < 0,077). CONCLUSION: Surgical thrombectomy as introduction to definitive treatment of critical limb ischemia caused by atherothrombosis gives statistically superior results in comparison to conservative treatment.