[Aneurysms of the popliteal artery. Our experience apropos of 37 cases]. / Gli aneurismi dell'arteria poplitea. Nostra esperienza a proposito di 37 casi.

The authors describe their experience concerning the surgical treatment of aneurysmatic pathology of the popliteal artery. This is the most frequent site for aneurysm after aortic aneurysm. Since 1979 to 1994, 26 patients, 21 men and 5 women (mean age 65.8 years), have been treated at the Institute of Clinical Surgery of the University of Ferrara for a total of 37 popliteal aneurysms. Thirteen patients had more than one aneurysm. Before the operation, all patients underwent DSA, and echo Doppler, 7 with CAT and 4 with RMN. Twenty-nine substitutions, 7 by passes and 1 ligation were performed. Twelve of the 29 substitutions were made by reversed saphenous vein. Fourteen by PTFEe, and 3 by dacron. In 4 cases it was necessary to reimplant either the anterior tibial artery (3 cases) or the posterior tibial artery (1 case) separately. The results obtained were good especially in the post-trauma patients. Only 3 amputations were necessary due to graft obstruction immediately after surgery, and in post-traumatic conditions.

[Acute ischemia of the upper limb. Clinical case and general considerations]. / Ischemia acuta dell'arto superiore. Caso clinico e considerazioni generali.

The authors report a case of acute inveterate right subclavian artery obstruction. The leading role of US vascular investigation and the surgical technique adopted are pointed out. The personal findings are compared with those from the international references.

[Duplex scanner diagnosis of complete extracranial carotid artery obstruction: possibilities and limitations]. / La diagnosi duplex scanner delle ostruzioni complete delle carotidi extracraniche: possibilità e limiti.

The authors enhance the current importance of the hemodynamic evaluation of the vascular carotid territory by means of Doppler-CV although the great development of the "real time" ultra sonographic imaging. Combined US/Doppler-CV technique is really useful in differential diagnosis of the severe obstructive disease of extracranial carotid arteries. The authors report the possibilities of pitfalls in diagnosis due to the limitation of devices employed or to the frequent anatomical variability featured by examination of severe obstruction of vascular carotid territory.

[Takayasu disease in the genesis of cerebrovascular insufficiency. Description and considerations of a clinical case]. / La malattia di Takayasu nella genesi dell'insufficienza cerebro-vascolare. Descrizione di un caso clinico e considerazioni.

The authors in explaining their limited clinical experience relative to one single case, describe the peculiarity of Takayasu's disease and its rare incidence in western populations. The case under observation because of its peculiar rarity had been underestimated and treated in a completely inappropriate manner. Important instrument in its diagnosis is the High Resolution echography which in determining the diagnosis favors and speeds up the diagnostic therapeutic iter.

[Aneurysm of the abdominal aorta and stenosis caused by compression of the celiac tripod in a young woman with tuberous sclerosis and previous mesoblastic nephroma]. / Aneurisma dell'aorta addominale e stenosi da compressione del tripode celiaco in giovane donna con sclerosi tuberosa già trovata affetta da nefroma mesoblastico.

Tuberous sclerosis, first described by Bourneville in 1880, is a syndrome characterized essentially by mental deterioration, seizures and cutaneous sebaceous adenoma; an association with malformative lesions of the kidney and cardiovascular apparatus has been documented. Recently a case of a young woman with tuberous sclerosis has come to our observation; she was also affected by abdominal aortal aneurysm and stenosis due to compression of the truncus coeliacus; previously she operative elsewhere for right nephrectomy for breakage of nephric right arterial aneurysm: the histological examination of the removed kidney manifested the presence of a mesoblastic nephroma and afterward tuberous sclerosis was diagnosed. The angiomyolipomatosis evidence confirmed the suspicion of a notable inclination to polydistrict malformations in tuberous sclerosis.

[Visceral aneurysmal arterial pathology]. / La patologia arteriosa aneurismatica viscerale.

In this paper the Authors report their experience on diagnostic and surgical procedures with respect to aneurysms of the visceral district. The clinical review during the last ten years of surgical activity in the Istituto di Clinica Chirurgica (Università di Ferrara) regards 13 patients with different visceral aneurysms. The study reports the different percentage of localization, the diagnostic approach, the surgical procedure performed and discussion of results obtained. Patients at risk for this disease are pointed out.

[Subrenal coarctation of the aorta. Presentation of a clinical case]. / Coartazione sottorenale dell'aorta. Presentazione di un caso clinico.

Coarctation of abdominal aorta constitutes a rare group of vascular abnormalities, including segmental stenoses and extended hypoplasia below the restriction. Usually hypertension is the only clinical evidence. The natural history of the surgically untreated disease foresees a decline of life expectancy; while surgical operation permit an almost complete "restitutio ad integrum". The Authors report a case of coarctation of the abdominal aorta come to their observation whose particularly was determined by the absence of high blood pressure, the aortic stenoses being located under the renal arteries.

[Aplasia of the internal carotid. A clinical case report]. / Aplasia della carotide interna. Descrizione di un caso clinico.

Among the anomalies of internal carotid artery, agenesis and aplasia recur with a low rate: only about sixty cases are reported in literature. We observed a case of aplasia of the left internal carotid in a 49 year old male suffering from hypertension and showing cerebro-vascular symptoms due to TSA pathology: it was studied with arterial angiography and duplex scanner. The angiographic examination raised a suspicion of left internal carotid thrombosis; on the contrary the duplex scanner revealed a correct diagnosis of carotid aplasia.

[Qualitative ultrasound analysis as a preliminary step in revascularization of the femoro-popliteal axis]. / L'analisi qualitativa ultrasonografica come momento preliminare alla rivascolarizzazione dell'asse femoro-popliteo.

The Authors report on the use of non-invasive techniques in the preliminary evaluation of revascularization of the femoral-popliteal axis. The study of this pathology, for which surgery has become less and less frequent, being limited to the more serious cases, has greatly benefited by the use of H/R echography and of Doppler. These techniques, which remain complementary to angiography, have proved very important and reliable for their capacity to visualize the arterial lumen, an important element for the pre- and post surgical evaluation of vascular recanalization and of the relationship of continuity and continuity with the nearby structures.