[Ischemic colitis following AAA procedures]. / Ischemická kolitída po operáciách pre AAA.

INTRODUCTION: Bowel ischemia following the AAA operation is a rare complication. However, it is the most common reason of death after elective AAA operation with the incidence of 5-9% and 30-60% following RAAA operation with mortality rate around 60%. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 207 patients undergoing elective and emergent AAA operation between 1st January 2007 and 31st July 2010 was made. We evaluated clinical and para clinical symptoms leading to the observed diagnosis. RESULTS: During the observed period we have treated 207 patients with the AAA. 174 (84%) patients were elective, 33 (16%) were urgent (RAAA). Postoperative mortality of the entire group was 19 patients (9.2%). The most common reason of death was found to be ischemic colitis--8 patients (42%). Ischemic colitis was diagnosed in 17 patients (8.2%) with the mortality 41.2%. Diagnosis was made by colonoscopy in 58.8% of patients, the rest was operated on following the clinical finding of an acute abdomen. In a group of patients with an early diagnosis and treatment of ischemic colitis (until the 4th post operative day) the mortality rate was 20%, increasing till 71.4% when the diagnosis was done later than on 4th postoperative day. DISCUSSION: Nevertheless the ischemic colitis is a rare complication following AAA operation the surgeon must be proactive regarding this severe complication especially in high risk patients. Clinical symptoms are not specific, most often too early peristaltic and diarrhoea with addition of blood is apparent. Procalcitonine and D-lactate seem to be promising among the blood markers. Colonoscopy is a method of choice if there is any doubt in postoperative process. The need of relaparotomy is given by colonoscopy finding together with clinical, biochemical symptoms, signs and the clinical status of the patient. The resection of diseased part of bowel with the colostomy is mandatory. CONCLUSION: The final diagnosis of ischemic colitis is difficult and the decision for reoperation is a matter of surgeons' experience despite of clinical and paraclinical findings. Only fast and adequate treatment can be successful. Any delay in diagnosis is fatal for the patients.

[Successfully combined management of the abberant retroesophageal arteria subcalvia dextra aneurysm (arteria lusoria)]. / Uspesné kombinované riesenie aneuryzmy aberantnej retroezofageálne prebiehajúcej arteria subclavia dextra (arteria lusoria). Kazuistika.

INTRODUCTION: Aberrant right subclavian artery arising from the distal part of the aortic arch and passing behind the oesophagus (arteria lusoria) is a rare congenital vascular anomaly, it is the 4th most common aortic arch anomaly. At the site of the orifice there is the Kommerell's diverticulum, which is the locus minoris resistentiae with the possible arise of the aortic aneurysm. Aneurysmatic dilatation of the anomalous artery and of the aorta may be the cause of distal embolism or rupture. Less frequently there is also the possibility of aortic dissection or traumatic rupture. CASE REPORT: 54-old man with a symptomatic aberrant aneurysmatic dilated right subclavian artery (arteria lusoria) and an anerurysmatic dilatation of the Kommerell's diverticulum was indicated to staged combined management. Firstly we performed open surgical debranching of two supraaortic trunks (both subclavian arteries). Thereafter we excluded the orifice of the aberrant artery with the Kommerell's diverticulum by use of the endovascular techniques. There have been no complications during the perioperative period and the effect of surgery was optimal. DISCUSSION: It is generally accepted that the presence of aneurysm of the aberrant right subclavian artery is an indication for surgery, whether symptomatic or not. The conventional surgery is usually staged. Firstly there is a carotid-subclavian bypass or transposition on the right side and thereafter a transthoracic resection of the Kommerell's diverticulum and aortic angioplasty. The combined management with supraaortic revascularization followed with the stentgraft exclusion of the aneurysm is a sophisticated alternative. CONCLUSION: Experiences with the combined treatment published in the literature and ours are excellent, this technique is miniinvasive with a low complication rate. In our opinion it is the management of choice.

Detection of antibodies to Chlamydophila pneumoniae by immunoblotting in patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Chlamydophila pneumoniae, one of the most prevalent human pathogens worldwide, is not only a significant cause of pneumonia, but may also be associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as suggested by multiple studies. A total of 228 sera from CVD patients with hypertension, ischemic heart disease or previous reconstructive vascular surgery were screened for the presence of anti-C. pneumoniae IgG and IgA antibodies by ELISA. Out of 150 positive serum samples, 80 with similar IgG and IgA levels were investigated by immunoblot (IB). IgG antibodies were directed predominantly against the 35 kDa and 39 kDa proteins as well as 50-54 and 56-60 kDa proteins of C. pneumoniae. IgA antibodies reacted most frequently with the 50-54 and 56-60 kDa proteins.

Endothelaemia--a marker of vascular damage.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine the amount of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) in patients with an advanced cardiovascular (CV) disease, compare the values with a control group and finally to ascertain if there are statistically significant differences within the studied patient groups. BACKGROUND: Endothelaemia has been intensively studied as a marker of vascular injury. Clinical studies have demonstrated an increased endothelaemia in patients at high CV risk but also in certain non-cardiovascular disorders. Its possible usage in the diagnostics of the acute coronary syndrome and for CV risk assessment needs further investigations. METHODS: Thirty six hospitalized patients were studied. Quantitative measurement of endothelaemia was performed by the method developed by J. Hladovec. It is based on ECs counting in Bürker's chamber after their isolation with platelets and the removal of the latter by an addition of adenosine-diphosphate. RESULTS: The mean baseline endothelaemia was significantly higher in patients with increased cardiovascular risk when compared with the control group (1.38 +/- 0.899): ACS (4.9 +/- 1.59, p < 0.05) and PAOD (3.74 +/- 0.61, p < 0.05). When comparing the mean endothelaemia values in patients with PAOD before (2.67 +/- 0.86) and after (3.88 +/- 0.77) surgery, a significant increase of endothelaemia was observed (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our pilot study, though limited by a relatively small number of patients, proved a significant increase of endothelaemia in patients at high CV risk, which is consistent with other available data. The introduction of newer specific methods based on immunomagnetic principles may provide a wider use of endothelaemia measurement in clinical settings (Fig. 3, Ref. 17). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

[Clinical significance of venoplasties in infragenicular prosthetic bypass grafts]. / Klinický význam zilovej plastiky distálnej anastomózy pri infragenikulárnych protetických bypassoch.

AIMS: Analysis of medium-term patency of prosthetic infragenicular bypass grafts with venoplasty of distal anastomosis and evaluation of venoplasties in patients with critical limb ischemia. STUDY DESIGN: A single centre, retrospective, non-randomised study. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 1998-2005, 42 patients with critical limb ischemias were surgically managed at our clinic using infragenicular prosthetic bypass graft implantation with distal anastomosis venoplasty. 3 types of plasty were employed: Linton's, St. Mary's boot and Taylor's plasty. Mean follow-up period was 25 months and primary functionality was 69%. Long-term functionality (over 5 years) was 35% and limb salvage rate was 38%. Functionality was assessed using life table analysis. 19% of patients exited during the follow-up period. In up to 30% patients, thrombolytic therapy was indicated for late bypass occlusion with a success rate of 63%. CONCLUSION: Prosthetic crural bypass is a relevant alternative to proximal level limb amputation. Venoplasty of distal anastomosis increases volume of the anastomosis and compensates for incongruencies of the graft and recipient vein lumen. Based on our experience, not a type of venoplasty, but a fact of increasing the anastomosis volume is most important. Whenever crural reconstructions are indicated, patient's quality of life, expected survival period, degree of patient's independence prior to surgery and patient's compliance must be considered.

[Arthroscopy of the ankle joint--A rare cause of a pseudoaneurysm of the dorsalis pedis artery--A case review]. / Artroskopia clenkového klbu--zriedkavá prícina pseudoaneuryzmy pedalnej artérie--case report.

The arthroscopy is an attractive method for the diagnosing and treatment of injured joint structures in contemporary sport medicine. Vascular complications of this technique are very rare but generally extremely dangerous for the extremity salvage. We describe a rare case of the pedal artery pseudo aneurysm after ankle arthroscopy and the treatment of this complication.

[Post-catheterization pseudoaneurysm of the femoral artery--an unusual cause of femoral vein thrombosis--case report and review of the literature]. / Postkatetrizacná pseudoaneuryzma femorálnej tepny--nezvyklá prícina femorálnej zilnej trombózy--kazuistika a prehlad literatúry.

Invasive diagnostic procedures cause considerable increase of local arterial complications. Common femoral artery represents the most frequently used access artery. Our short report describes indications for treatment and treatment modalities of postcathterization false aneurysms with review of the literature. We present a case report of the patient with iliofemoral venous thrombosis related to external compression due to postcathterization false arterial aneurysm.

[The influence of chloroquine on some biochemical and hematological parameters in patients with critical limb ischemia]. / Vplyv chlorochinu na niektoré biochemické a hematologické parametre u pacientov s kritickou koncatinovou ischémiou.

CLI represents a major medical and social problem. The incidence is increasing and currently it was estimated 500-1000 per 1 million inhabitants. We carried out a clinical study (2000-2004) concerning monitoring of some hematological and biochemical markers during reperfusion in patients with CLI. The subject of our interest included possibilities to influence PMNL elastase by medical means and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio which is considered a reliable and simple parameter to assess severity of clinical conditions.

[Cystic degeneration of the adventitia of the popliteal artery--case report]. / Cystická degenerácia adventície a. poplitea--case report.

Cystic adventitial disease (CAD) is a rare diagnosis with a higher number of the patients in recent years. The article gives a brief of the pathology and etiolopathogenesis of adventitial cystic disease and two case reports of the patients with CAD of the popliteal artery treated in our department between 1997 and 2001. Successful results are achieved only with surgical treatment.

[Regional biochemical and hematologic changes in patients after revascularization of the lower extremities in ischemia of the extremities]. / Regionálne biochemické a hematologické zmeny u pacientov po revaskularizácii dolných koncatín pre koncatinovú ischémiu.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical treatment of PAOD is related to iatrogenic ischaemia caused by arterial clamping and ischaemia which is result of natural development of the disease. The pathway of skeletal muscle reperfusion injury is complex and one of the most important factors related to injury is endothelial damage. The expected reason of endothelial damage is increased production of oxygen free radicals by prematurely activated PMN (polymorphonuclear) leukocytes (direct injury). Non-specific tissue injury is related to releasing of PMN elastase. Endothelial dysfunction, hypercoagulable state and microcirculation stasis are responsible for indirect injury and no-reflow fenomena. STUDY DESIGN: Observational pilot study. METHODS: 10 patients underwent surgery because of PAOD (all suffering from critical limb ischaemia). During reperfusion period in defined intervals following parameters were measured (samples were taken from ipsilateral femoral vein): PMN elastase, lactate, total antioxidant status, malondialdehyd, minerals, acid-base balance, blood count, APTT, prothrombin time, fibrinogen and HTI (heparin tolerance index). RESULTS: Patients with PAOD are threatened by hypercoagulable state with its clinical and surgical consequences. Maximal grade of local acidosis is reached 2 hours from the beginning of reperfusion. Tissue damage is expressed by maximum activity of PMN elastase 18-24 hours during reperfusion and represents non-specific tissue damage. Low total antioxidant status reveals high sensibility to oxygen free radicals. MDA does not achieve the pathological range in observed series. CONCLUSION: Our results confirmed inevitable importance of prevention of hypercoagulability, oxygen free radical tissue damage and PMN elastase activation to avoid of non-specific tissue damage.

[The popliteal artery entrapment syndrome--personal experience]. / Entrapment syndróm popliteálnej artérie--nase skúsenosti.

OBJECTIVE: In a retrospective study we analyze 5 patients with popliteal artery entrapment syndrome who were treated since 1999 to 2000 in our department. METHODS AND RESULTS: 5 patients were found to have popliteal vascular entrapment during a two-year period. From the total number of 5 patients, we performed surgery in 3 patients (5 operations). One patient rejected proposed surgical therapy, in another case the morphological lesion of the popliteal artery was not suitable for revascularisation. 3 patients underwent interposition of the diseased popliteal artery using a venous graft from a dorsal approach. Twice the decompression (myotomy) of the medial head of gastrocnemius muscle was sufficient. The study group is included in our follow up programme (median follow up 12.8 months, range from 3 to 24 months), primary and long term patency has been 100%. RESULTS: On the basis of our experience, we advice total replacement of the diseased popliteal artery. A dorsal approach (Hamming's "S" shaped incision) with interposition of the popliteal artery with autogenous venous graft, end to end anastomosis on both sides, seems to be the optimal solution. In case, the arterial wall is not irreversibly changed, surgical decompression (myotomy) is sufficient to prevent the development of symptomatic disease, also using the dorsal approach.

Diagnostic importance of magnetic resonance angiography in arterial reconstructive surgery.

Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) permits the non-invasive visualisation of blood flow in arteries and veins. It has an enormous potential in imaging of various vascular pathologies and it has been establishing itself as a reliable alternative to widespread contrast X-ray methods explaining morphology of vascular system. This advanced and safe diagnostic method is very rarely used in the clinical practice of vascular surgeons in Slovak republic. The aim of this report is to outline a clinical importance of MRA for arterial reconstructive surgery, its advantages, limitation as an imagine technique and its practical application in different anatomical areas of the human body which are related to operative activity of vascular surgeons. It is intended for briefly comparing MRA with other vascular imagine techniques more common used in clinical practice of our surgical and vascular surgery departments and outpatient clinics.

[Surgical treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms in severe ischemic coronary disease]. / Operacná liecba aneuryziem abdominálnej aorty pri závaznej ischemickej chorobe srdca.

BACKGROUND: The abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is one of the most serious problems of vascular surgery and general medicine, as well. Endovascular methods of treatment have been developing very rapidly, however, the conventional treatment of the AAA still predominates. The results of operative treatment have been influenced besides the delayed diagnostics of the AAA resulting in a high rate of ruptured AAA by the high comorbidity of the AAA patients population. The accentuation of the proper preoperative and perioperative management of patients could therefore significantly influence the results of the surgery. MAIN PURPOSE AND STARTING POINTS: Striking difference between the mortality of elective and emergent surgery of AAA has been unchanged despite the intensive effort of many centers. One of the main factors of mortality is the concomitant serious coronary heart disease (CHD), predominantly the acute myocardial infarction (MI). The paper analyses the possibilities to improve the results of AAA surgery by means of the patients selection and effective preparation before the elective surgery. The risk factors and concomitant diseases of patients suffering from the AAA, the elective and emergent surgery ratio and the operative mortality are referred. The results of surgical treatment before and after accepting the modern CHD management algorithm are compared. METHODS: The present study is a retrospective analysis of the data of 343 consecutive patients with AAA operated on during the 20-years period from 1 January 1979 to 31 December 1998. The 1st group of 249 patients operated on during the 18-years period from 1. January 1979 to 31 December 1996 was not subjected to special attention concerning the CHD and was compared with the 2nd group of 93 patients operated on from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 1998. In this group of patients special attention was focused on the improvement of surgical techniques, intensive care and comprehensive diagnostics, evaluation and proper management of the concomitant CHD. RESULTS: The mortality rate of the elective surgery in the 1st group was 5.5%, in the 2nd group decreased to 3.6%, the difference was not statistically significant. Evident improvement of the results was apparent in emergency operations for ruptured AAA. The mortality rate in the 1st group of 76% dropped to 40% in the 2nd group (p < 0.05). The improved policy in the management has lead to statistically significant decrease of the MI incidence in the perioperative period (87.2% to 28.5%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The improved diagnostics, selection of patients with special concern to the CHD and management of the patients before surgery, improved surgical techniques and intensive care lead to evident improvement of the results in the surgical management of the AAA. This fact is confirmed by improved results of the 2nd group of patients because of improved CHD management algorithm. (Tab. 5, Fig. 1, Ref. 35.)

[Prevention and treatment of prosthesis-related sepsis in vascular surgery]. / Prevencia a liecba protetickej sepsy v cievnej chirurgii.

BACKGROUND: The first synthetic vascular prosthesis have been implanted 47 years ago. 5 years after have been referred the first aortoenteric fisula in connection with the synthetic vascular prosthesis implantation. MAIN PURPOSE AND STARTING POINTS (OBJECTIVES): The incidence of the infection and septic postoperative complications after vascular surgery was relatively high in the past. Several authors note a reduction in the incidence with experience. Another change has been widely noted recently concerning the incidence of various strains of bacteria isolated from the infected tissue and infected prostheses. The most common strain at present is St. epidermidis, known in the past as a saprophyte. There have been also changed the methods of diagnosis and the management policy. The authors of the present paper has been tried to summarize the knowledge in this field on the background of their own experience. They have summarized the clinical classification, bacteriology and the pathophysiologic mechanism of the infection, the most common clinical features, basic diagnostic possibilities, prophylactic and therapeutic policy in the postoperative septic complications, as well.