Endovascular management of takayasu arteritis: is it a durable option?

Interim outcome of endovascular management of Takayasu arteritis (TA) was determined retrospectively to assess the efficacy of angioplasty and/or stenting in 24 patients with 35 lesions in the chronic inactive stage. The renal (n=16), subclavian/innominate (n=11), and carotid (n=5) arteries and abdominal aorta (n=3) were treated. Twenty-six lesions achieved excellent to good target lesion revascularization with no residual or only minimal residual stenosis, whereas five had a moderate result. Thirty lesions achieved satisfactory hemodynamic correction. Restenosis was observed in 8 lesions treated with angioplasty alone (n=18) and in 3 lesions treated with angioplasty and stenting (n=17). All recurrent stenoses underwent successful reintervention without significant complication. Treatment of inactive stage TA lesions with angioplasty alone or with angioplasty and stenting results in excellent to good clinical improvement in the majority of patients (follow-up at 46.8 months). Endovascular therapy is a durable treatment option in patients with chronic inactive stage TA.

Primary chronic venous disorders.

Primary chronic venous disorders, which according to the CEAP classification are those not associated with an identifiable mechanism of venous dysfunction, are among the most common in Western populations. Varicose veins without skin changes are present in about 20% of the population while active ulcers may be present in as many as 0.5%. Primary venous disorders are thought to arise from intrinsic structural and biochemical abnormalities of the vein wall. Advanced cases may be associated with skin changes and ulceration arising from extravasation of macromolecules and red blood cells leading to endothelial cell activation, leukocyte diapedesis, and altered tissue remodeling with intense collagen deposition. Laboratory evaluation of patients with primary venous disorders includes venous duplex ultrasonography performed in the upright position, occasionally supplemented with plethysmography and, when deep venous reconstruction is contemplated, ascending and descending venography. Primary venous disease is most often associated with truncal saphenous insufficiency. Although historically treated with stripping of the saphenous vein and interruption and removal of major tributary and perforating veins, a variety of endovenous techniques are now available to ablate the saphenous veins and have generally been demonstrated to be safe and less morbid than traditional procedures. Sclerotherapy also has an important role in the management of telangiectasias; primary, residual, or recurrent varicosities without connection to incompetent venous trunks; and congenital venous malformations. The introduction of ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy has broadened potential indications to include treatment of the main saphenous trunks, varicose tributaries, and perforating veins. Surgical repair of incompetent deep venous valves has been reported to be an effective procedure in nonrandomized series, but appropriate case selection is critical to successful outcomes.

Delayed treatment and late complications of a traumatic arteriovenous fistula.

An 18-year-old soldier had a gunshot wound to his left thigh during the Mexican Civil War (1910-1917). He presented with persistent bright red bleeding. His wound was treated by compression. A few years after the injury, he noticed a thrill, large varicose veins, limb swelling, and skin changes. A plain film showed an 8 x 10-cm midthigh mass. After a bullfighting incident, the pseudoaneurysm ruptured. Because of increased bulk and discomfort, the patient agreed 3 years later to be treated. Angiography showed a chronically obstructed femoral artery and vein. A 3000-mL hematoma was evacuated. This case illustrates the long-term sequelae of an arteriovenous fistula. This report describes a 51-year delay of treatment for causes unrelated to diagnosis. To our knowledge, this case is the longest delay in treatment of an arteriovenous fistula and its complications reported in the literature.

The military medical school of Mexico: a tradition of excellence.

It is a historical fact that warfare and surgery have been linked together as far back as military history has been recorded. In the 18th century, the tendency of most armies to dismiss their medical services at the end of every major conflict resulted in higher mortality at the beginning of the next war. This became evident in the French and British Armies during the Battle of Waterloo. These countries went to great efforts to mobilize their civilian reserve physicians, only to discover that more than half of the medical personnel declined to serve. The scarcity of physicians and the inexperience of those caring for the wounded resulted in a high casualty rate. The current armed conflicts throughout the world with their high number of victims are living evidence of the need for preparedness of the military medical personnel. In this article, we review the systems of military medical education in several countries, and offer the example of the Escuela Medico Militar (Military Medical School) of Mexico, a prestigious source of military medical physicians for the Mexican armed forces.

Microthrombectomy reduces postsclerotherapy pigmentation: multicenter randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: Postsclerotherapy pigmentation occurs in nearly 30% of patients. Hemosiderin, from degradation of the venous thrombus, is the possible cause. The hypothesis that early removal of the thrombus may eliminate or decrease the incidence of pigmentation has not been proved or documented. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of early microthrombectomy on incidence of postsclerotherapy pigmentation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, controlled study involved 101 patients with varicose veins (100 women, 1 man; mean age, 46 years [range, 25-68 years]). Patients were divided into two groups, with veins 1 mm or less in diameter (group 1, n = 50) or veins 3 mm or less in diameter (group 2, n = 51). Group 1 was treated with Sotradecol (STD) 0.25%, and group 2 with STD 0.50%. In each patient, an area of varicosities was selected and divided into halves. One half was randomized to microthrombectomy and the other half served as control. Microthrombectomy was performed 1 to 3 weeks after treatment in the randomized half. Standard photographs were obtained before and 16 weeks after treatment, and were evaluated by three independent reviewers who were blinded to treatment assignments. Each reviewer received an identical set of pretreatment and posttreatment 10 x 15-cm color photographs of the study area, and completed a scoring sheet. Average of the scores was used to evaluate primary (pigmentation) and secondary (overall clinical improvement) end points. The paired t test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In group 1, microthrombectomized areas had statistically significant less pigmentation (P =.0047) and better overall clinical improvement scores (P =.0002) compared with the control side. In group 2 there was no significant difference between the two areas, but patients reported significant relief of pain and inflammation associated with postsclerotherapy thrombophlebitis. CONCLUSION: In veins 1 mm or smaller, microthrombectomy reduced pigmentation and improved overall clinical results. In veins 3 mm or smaller, statistical significance was not achieved, but thrombectomy resulted in faster resolution of the postsclerotherapy pain and inflammation. On the basis of these results, microthrombectomy after sclerotherapy is recommended.

The pelvic venous syndromes: analysis of our experience with 57 patients.

BACKGROUND: The pelvic venous syndromes comprise a group of poorly understood disorders of the pelvic and gonadal venous circulation. The objective of this paper was to review our experience with the pelvic venous syndromes and, in the light of the current literature, make management recommendations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven female patients (age range, 24 to 48 years; mean, 34 years) with symptoms of pelvic pain, dysuria, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and the presence of vulval and pelvic varices were studied. Diagnosis included physical examination, Doppler scan, duplex ultrasound scan, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and retrograde cinevideoangiography. The symptoms were classified as: 1, mild (n = 15); 2, moderately severe (n = 19); and 3, severe (n = 23). Group 1 was treated with sclerotherapy/local excision of vulval varices. Group 2 had gonadal vein resection (GVR; n = 12) and sclerotherapy or gonadal vein coil embolization (GVE; n = 7) and sclerotherapy. Only the incompetent side was treated. Patients in group 3 with isolated hypogastric vein tributary reflux were treated either with hypogastric vein tributaries division (HVTD) or with embolization (HVTE) as the only procedure. Those with combined gonadal and hypogastric vein reflux were treated with HVTE followed by GVR. The follow-up period ranged from 2.5 to 24 years (mean GVR/HVTD, 12.4 years; mean GVE/HVTE, 2.3 years). Pain improvement was assessed with a visual analog scale and through mailed questionnaires (response rate, 100%). Patient results were classified as excellent (asymptomatic), moderate (mild discomfort), or no improvement. RESULTS: In group 1, 12 patients had excellent results and three had moderate results. In group 2, 10 patients treated with GVR had excellent results, one had moderate results, and one had no improvement. Three patients treated with GVE were asymptomatic, and four had no improvement. In group 3, three patients treated with HVTD were asymptomatic and two had no improvement. Five patients treated with HVTE were asymptomatic, and one had no improvement. Of the 12 patients treated with HVTE and GVR, 10 were asymptomatic, one had moderate results, and one had no improvement. CONCLUSION: Local excision of vulval varices and sclerotherapy were sufficient in patients with mild symptoms. Gonadal vein excision produced better results than GVE. In patients with isolated hypogastric vein reflux, embolization was a better option than surgical treatment. GVR preceded by embolization of the incompetent tributaries of the internal iliac vein was indicated in patients with combined reflux and severe symptoms. Supplemental sclerotherapy of vulval varices is recommended after control of the intrapelvic reflux.

Congenital vascular malformations: when and how to treat them.

Congenital vascular malformations may involve arterial, venous, and lymphatic structures, can present in a variety of forms, and present many diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Two-thirds of all congenital vascular malformations are predominantly venous, and their management will be emphasized in this article, because of the focus of this issue. The majority of the venous malformations are asymptomatic and should be treated conservatively. However, the clinical presentation of venous malformations associated with lymphatic anomalies is variable, and management may be more challenging. The diagnosis and management of arteriovenous malformations is straightforward. Selective catheter-directed embolization of the feeding arteries, occasionally followed by tumor excision, is the treatment of choice. Hemangiomas often will grow rapidly and then begin to regress. When they produce troublesome symptoms and are well localized, they should be excised. Deeply seated or diffuse malformations require a complete diagnostic evaluation to select the most appropriate time and type of intervention. Both our own experience and that of others can provided some basis for therapeutic recommendations in treating the different vascular malformations.