The probability of restenosis, contralateral disease progression, and late neurologic events following carotid endarterectomy: a long-term follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Most studies that have reported on the progression of ipsilateral and/or contralateral internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis are restricted to a few years. METHODS: Based on a single-center carotid endarterectomy (CEA) registry, we sought all patients with CEA for symptomatic high-grade ICA stenosis between 1970 and 2002. 361 CEA patients (mean age 66 years, 73% male) with annual carotid ultrasound and clinical follow-up were identified. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate the occurrence of (i) progressive ICA stenosis or restenosis of either the operated or contralateral side, and (ii) cerebrovascular events over time of either the operated or contralateral side. RESULTS: Progressive ICA disease was more likely on the contralateral than on the ipsilateral ICA (hazard ratio 2.71; CI 1.8-4.1, p < 0.001). After 5 years, the probability for progressive ICA disease was 5.2% for the ipsilateral versus 15.8% for the contralateral ICA. After 15 years, the likelihood was 37% for both sides. In the presence of progressive restenosis of the ipsilateral ICA, the 20-year probability of further ischemic cerebrovascular events was 50% compared to 18% in patients without ICA disease progression. For the contralateral ICA, the probability of further ischemic events was 24.5% in patients with ICA disease progression compared to 9.6% without ICA disease progression (15 years). CONCLUSION: 15 years after CEA, one third of the patients can be expected to develop progressive ICA disease. While ICA disease progression seems to be more prominent on the contralateral ICA within the first years, this difference fades out after 15 years. One out of 2 patients with ipsilateral ICA disease progression can be expected to have a recurrent cerebral ischemic event within 15 years. It remains to be determined whether consequent application of high-dose statins, optimal blood pressure management and antithrombotic therapy can reduce this rate.

Endovascular treatment of a post-traumatic thoracic false aneurysm in an adolescent. A case report.

A 17 year old healthy young man suffered a motor-vehicle accident with severe polytrauma. During the rehabilitation a slight hypertension and a blood pressure difference of 30-40 mmHg between arms and legs was recognized. Mindful of a possible aortic lesion, an angio-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 2.7x4.2 cm thoracic false aneurysm at the descending aorta. About 1 month after initial trauma, a Talent stent was implanted. The postinterventional period was uneventful. The patient was discharged on the 5th postoperative day.

Extraanatomic lateral reconstruction to the popliteal vessels.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the lateral approach to the popliteal artery in reconstructions after soft tissue sarcoma resection in the thigh. DESIGN: Case reports. Subjects Four patients with soft tissue sarcoma. METHODS: Extraanatomic reconstruction of the resected artery and vein in the medial part of the thigh was performed. Vessel reconstruction was performed before tumor resection to avoid leg ischemia. RESULTS: In all four patients the artery was replaced by using the contralateral saphenous vein, while the femoral vein was replaced in two cases using e-PTFE. Post-operative complications included one large lymphatic collection and a deep wound infection. Arterial primary graft patency was 100% after 1-7 years. Patency of the e-PTFE-venous graft was 0% without further consequences. CONCLUSIONS: The extraanatomic lateral replacement of the vessels in the thigh is an elegant method in difficult vascular reconstructions after soft tissue sarcoma resection or debridement for deep vascular infections.

Aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen and matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 failed to serve as serum markers for abdominal aortic aneurysm.

OBJECTIVES: Matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 and aminoterminal propeptide of type III collagen (NIIINP) have been reported to be elevated in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The aim of our study was to test NIIINP, MMP-2 and -9 as potential serum markers for AAA in a large population group at risk for AAA. METHODS: Fifty-five to 70 year old men were screened for AAA by abdominal ultrasound. Simultaneously, blood samples were taken and the patients were interviewed for known risk factors for AAA. Patients with a dilatation of the infrarenal aorta of > or =25mm (Group 1, n=76) were compared to randomly assigned patients with normal aortic diameters (Group 2, n=83). A third group consisted of patients scheduled for operation of AAA (n=19). RESULTS: A total of 987 men were investigated with ultrasound. Seventy-six (7.7%) had an aortic dilatation > or =25mm. Aortic dilatation was correlated with age (P=0.0001). However, serum levels of NIIINP and MMP 2 were not different between the three groups of patients. For MMP-9 there was a weak inverse correlation with lower serum levels in patients with aortic dilatation (P=0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Both MMP-2 and -9 and NIIINP failed to show relevance as serum markers for aortic dilatation. Our results are, therefore, in contradiction to previous published results. AAAs cannot be diagnosed with a simple blood test.

The incidence of iliac aneurysms in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms: comparison of four centers in Europe and the USA.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the anatomy of the aortoiliac vessels in patients scheduled for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair in four different countries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Consecutives series of 100 preoperative CT-scans were evaluated at each center. Diameters of the suprarenal aorta, maximal diameter of the aneurysm, right and left common and external iliac artery as well as the hypogastric arteries were recorded and compared between each center. RESULTS: Configuration of the AAA above bifurcation was similar at each center. The dimensions of the aortic bifurcation and the common iliac arteries were different among the centers. Common iliac arteries with diameters over 25 mm were significantly more common at center 1 (p < 0.001, p = 0.002 and p < 0.001). Among centers 2, 3 and 4 there was no significant difference in common iliac diameters. CONCLUSIONS: Configuration of the iliac arteries in AAA was significantly different for Swiss patients compared to American, Austrian and German patients. Reasons for these differences are unclear, epidemiological or genetic factors may be responsible.

Present status of infrainguinal arterial bypass procedures following an all autogenous policy--long-term results of a single center.

OBJECTIVES: The direction of vein grafts for infrainguinal arterial reconstruction is controversial. Long-term results of a single center following an all autogenous tissue policy in infrainguinal arterial reconstruction are reported with special attention to possible advantages for the in situ and non-reversed bypass using angioscopy. METHODS: From 10/88 until 12/00 540 bypasses with autogenous veins were performed on 497 patients. Veins were used in a non-reversed or in-situ direction, valve disruption was performed under angioscopic control. All grafts were prospectively included in our data base and follow-up was scheduled in our vascular lab before discharge and after 3, 6, 9, 12, 24 etc. months. RESULTS: Primary patency of all bypasses after 108 months was 55.2%, primary assisted 76.9% (SE +/- 9.87), survival 58.4% (SE +/- 8.88) and limb salvage 81.3% (SE +/- 9.75). Perioperative mortality was 0.9% (5 pat). Patency rates (primary assisted patency) after 72 months were 81.7% (98.2%) for supragenicular, 61.5% (79.4%) for infragenicular and 56.6% (78.1%) for tibial anastomoses and for pedal reconstructions after 48 months 49.3% (68.6%). CONCLUSION: Reviewing the literature neither the in situ and non-reversed nor the reversed grafts yielded better long-term results. Absence of size mismatch may be an advantage in smaller veins. Angioscopy may detect unsuspected vein disease.

Does fibrin glue reduce complications after femoral artery surgery? A randomised trial.

OBJECTIVES: to determine whether application of fibrin glue before closure of inguinal wounds reduces the incidence of lymphatic complications. DESIGN: we a prospective randomised trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 224 consecutive patients were enrolled. The wounds were randomly assigned to standard closure (group A, n = 134) or closure with application of fibrin glue (group B, n = 132). The incidence of local lymphatic and non-lymphatic complications, the amount of lymphatic fluid collected, and the time to drain removal were compared in the groups. RESULTS: the incidence of lymphatic complications was 19% in group A and 10% in group B (p = 0.027). The average drain output and the time to drain removal did not differ in the two groups. The total incidence of non-lymphatic local complications was 10% and did not differ in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: fibrin glue application is associated with a significant reduction in lymphatic complications.

Infrainguinal arterial reconstruction: female gender as risk factor for outcome.

OBJECTIVES: the effect of gender on the long-term results of infrainguinal arterial reconstruction are poorly investigated. METHODS: all patients undergoing infrainguinal arterial reconstruction with an autogenous vein are as 11 years period was prospectively evaluated. RESULTS: four hundred and fifty reconstructions (292 man, 160 women) were performed as on 416 patients. Thirty-day mortality was 1.1% (n=5). Women were on average older (74 vs 68; p<0.001) and disease was more advanced (81 vs 68%,p =0.013 with stage of critical ischaemia). Primary (58 vs 61%) and primary assisted patency rates (82 vs 84%) were comparable. Limb salvage and survival after 60 months were not different. On multivariate analysis age and stage of the disease were independent variables for patency and survival. Diabetes and gender reached statistical significance as predictors of limb salvage only. CONCLUSION: age and stage of the disease were independent predictors for patency and survival, diabetes and gender for limb salvage.

Athletes with lower limb ischaemia.

The case of a young healthy sportsman and acute exacerbation of chronic infragenicular pain is presented. Further investigation revealed an obstruction of the tibiofibular trunk due to an osteochondroma, arising from the fibula, which was immediately resected. Osteochondroma is observed in 1-2% of the population and may present with vascular complications. In young patients and athletes, leg pain may be of vascular origin due to an entrapment or compression and should always be considered.

[Differential diagnosis of groin pain: isolated, symptomatic dissection of the infrarenal aorta and iliac arteries]. / Zur Differentialdiagnose des Leistenschmerzes: die isolierte, symptomatische Dissektion der infrarenalen Aorta und Beckenarterien.

INTRODUCTION: Pelvic and inguinal pain are a rare manifestation of arterial disease. METHODS: Description of four patients with acute or chronic pelvic or inguinal pain due to symptomatic dissection of the infrarenal aorta and/or iliac arteries. RESULTS: In two cases the dissection was limited to the left iliac artery with an entry at the beginning of the common iliac artery. The re-entry was located in the distal external iliac or common femoral artery. In one patient additionally a infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm was found. In the other two patients the entry of the spontaneous dissection was in the position of the infrarenal aorta, with extension in one iliac artery. In two patients the diagnosis of Erdheim-Gsell media necrosis was histologically confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous arterial dissection should be considered in patients with pelvic or inguinal pain. Absence of thoracic symptoms is possible if the entry of the dissection is distal, within the infrarenal aorta or iliac arteries. Prompt diagnosis with duplex sonography, CT, arteriography or MRA is indicated. The type of reconstruction depends on the extent of the dissection and the concomitant arterial disease.

Cervical nerve injury after carotid endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the extent and direct significance of cervical nerve injury after carotid endarterectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: fifty-two patients (61 operations) were followed by means of patient history and neurological examination between 3 and 55 months following carotid endarterectomy. RESULTS: sixteen operated sites showed normal sensitivity. Patients assessed 3-6 months after surgery showed on average a neurological loss of 3.4 points (scale from 0-4). Patients assessed after 7-12 months had on average a deficit of 2.1 points. After 13-24 months the score was at 1.4 and after the second postoperative year the score yielded only 0.4 points. CONCLUSION: loss of cervical nerve sensation is always present after carotid endarterectomy but tends to improve with time. However, the timing and extent of this improvement is unpredictable. Patients are usually not disturbed by these changes.

Long-term results of infrainguinal arterial reconstruction with spliced veins are equal to results with non-spliced veins.

OBJECTIVES: to determine the long term patency of spliced and non-spliced infrainguinal vein grafts. METHODS: a prospective registry of all patients undergoing infrainguinal arterial reconstruction with autogenous vein material was retrospectively interrogated. RESULTS: between October 1988 and August 2000, 515 infrainguinal arterial reconstructions were performed on 472 patients. A total of 429 bypasses were performed with uninterrupted greater saphenous vein, 86 reconstructions using spliced vein segments. There was no significant difference in primary (63% vs 57%) and primary assisted patency (81% vs 81%) of limb salvage (88% vs 91%) at 5 years. Limb salvage was not different (88% and 91% respectively). CONCLUSION the splicing of vein grafts does not compromise patency of limb salvage.

Infrainguinal arterial reconstruction with autologous vein grafts: are the results for the in situ technique better than those of non-reversed bypass? A long-term follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to answer the question if the in situ technique in infrainguinal arterial reconstruction is better than the non reversed one in long-term follow-up. METHODS: Patients were included in a prospective study at operation. 387 infrainguinal arterial reconstructions in 367 patients performed from 10-88 to 12-98 were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: 280 non-reversed and 107 in situ bypass procedures were performed. Primary patency rates at 60 months were 63.3% for non-reversed and 57.9% for in situ grafts (p=n.s.). Primary assisted patency rates were 81.8% and 84.5% respectively (p=n.s.). Limb salvage rate was not different in either group. The 30-day mortality was 1.9% in the in situ group and 0.7% in the non-reversed group (p=n.s.). CONCLUSIONS: There is no difference in outcome between in situ and non-reversed vein grafting. Absence of statistical difference between the two procedures may be mainly due to the routine use of angioscopic quality control.

Reduction of groin lymphatic complications by application of fibrin glue: preliminary results of a randomized study.

Lymphoceles and lymph fistulas are common complications after exposure of the common femoral artery in the Scarpa triangle because of operative transsection of overlying lymphatics. The purpose of this prospective randomized study was to determine the incidence of groin lymphatic complications and to assess the impact of routine application of fibrin glue on lymphatic structures and subcutaneous tissue prior to closure. All patients undergoing exposure of the common femoral artery in the Scarpa triangle were included in this study. They were divided into two groups according to closure technique. In group A, closure was performed without fibrin glue. In Group B, fibrin glue was applied to lymphatic structures prior to closure. The efficacy of fibrin glue application was estimated on the basis of two criteria: incidence of local complications and amount of lymphatic fluid in the Redon drain. The preliminary findings suggest that application of fibrin glue leads to a significant reduction in the incidence of lymphatic complications after femoral artery exposure in the Scarpa triangle.

Preconditioning with short cycles improves ischemic tolerance in rat fast- and slow-twitch skeletal muscle.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the efficacy of ischemic preconditioning (IP) in rat skeletal muscle depends on the duration of the preconditioning cycles. METHODS: Rats were divided into four groups (n = 10 each). The right hindlimb of rats in group A were subjected to 2.5 h of tourniquet ischemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion (I-R). Thereafter, muscular function was analyzed in vitro and high-energy phosphates (HEP) were determined by HPLC. Before I-R, right hindlimbs of rats in groups B-D subjected to IP with three cycles each consisting of 2.5, 5 or 10 min of ischemia followed by reperfusion for the same duration. RESULTS: Postischemic function of the extensor muscle was significantly improved with all three preconditioning protocols. Postischemic function of the soleus muscle was only improved by IP with three cycles of 5 min of ischemia and 5 min of reperfusion. Postischemic HEP tissue levels were not influenced by IP. CONCLUSION: This study shows for the first time that IP increases ischemic tolerance not only of fast-twitch but also of slow-twitch skeletal muscle. The efficacy of IP seems to be less dependent on the duration of the single preconditioning cycle than on the number of cycles performed. Three cycles each of 2.5, 5 or 10 min ischemia and reperfusion significantly improved postischemic skeletal muscle function. Tissue levels of HEPs, however, were not influenced by IP indicating that preservation of HEPs does not play a major role in the effects of IP on rodent skeletal muscle.

Mechanisms of ischemic preconditioning in skeletal muscle.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic preconditioning (IP) (one or more cycles each consisting of a short period of ischemia and a short period of reperfusion, before the sustained ischemia) reduces ischemia-related organ damage in heart and skeletal muscle but the underlying mechanisms are not clear. This study was intended to assess the possible involvement of K(ATP) channels and of adenosine receptors in IP of skeletal muscle in a rat model of skeletal muscle ischemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Groups of 8-15 rats were given the following in vivo treatments: ischemia-reperfusion (I-R: 2.5 h tourniquet-induced ischemia of the right hindlimb, then 2 h reperfusion); IP (three cycles of 5 min ischemia, then 5 min reperfusion) before I-R; cromakalim and I-R; glibenclamide, cromakalim, and I-R; glibenclamide, IP, and I-R; [R]-N(6)-[1-methyl-2-phenylethyl]adenosine (R-PIA) and I-R; adenosine and I-R; and glibenclamide, IP, and I-R. Parameters of muscle function (postischemic maximal force, performance, contraction index, and force after 1 min of stimulation) were then assessed in vitro in the extensor digitorum longus muscle. RESULTS: Pretreatment with either IP or the K(ATP) channel opener cromakalim significantly improved postischemic muscle function. The protective effect of cromakalim was not seen when the K(ATP) channel blocker glibenclamide was added. Glibenclamide, however, did not block IP-induced protection. Pretreatment with the adenosine A(1) receptor agonist 8-(p-sulfophenyl)-theophyllin (8-SPT) or with adenosine did not improve postischemic muscle function. The adenosine receptor agonist did not block IP-induced protection against ischemic damage. CONCLUSIONS: The results show significant improvements in postischemic skeletal muscle function after IP or cromakalim pretreatment but they do not support a role for K(ATP) channels or for adenosine receptors in IP of skeletal muscle.

Function of fast- and slow-twitch rat skeletal muscle following ischemia and reperfusion at different intramuscular temperatures.

Fast- (peroneal) and slow-twitch (soleus) skeletal muscles of anesthetized Wistar rats were subjected to 3 h of tourniquet ischemia. The intramuscular temperature of the leg was adjusted to 22, 30 or 35 degrees C (n = 12 per group) during ischemia. After 2 h of reperfusion, the muscles were electrically stimulated in vitro and muscular function was analyzed for maximal force, performance, contractility and fatigue. Contralateral nonischemic muscles served as controls. Three hours of ischemia at 30 degrees C did not reduce the function of the peroneal muscles compared to nonischemic controls. The same ischemic stress significantly reduced the function of the soleus muscles compared to nonischemic controls. The postischemic function of the soleus muscles declined with increasing temperature. The postischemic function of the 35 degrees C group of peroneal muscles was significantly reduced compared to the 22 and the 30 degrees C groups, which did not differ. These results provide evidence that fast-twitch muscles are more resistant to ischemia than slow-twitch muscles. They furthermore show a fiber type-specific dependency of postischemic muscle function on intramuscular temperature during ischemia. Hypothermia-sensitive fast-twitch fibers predominate in the skeletal muscles of the extremities. Mild hypothermia could, therefore, reduce tourniquet ischemia-induced injury after surgery of the extremities.