Supervised Exercise Training in Patients with Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension as Early Follow-Up Treatment after Pulmonary Endarterectomy: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Data on exercise training in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) after pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) as well as data on clinical and haemodynamic changes shortly after PEA are lacking. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this prospective study was to analyse the safety, feasibility, and the effectiveness of combined supervised inpatient rehabilitation in patients with CTEPH directly after PEA. METHODS: CTEPH patients started a 19-week rehabilitation program (3 weeks as inpatients and continued at home for another 16 weeks) with supervised exercise training as follow-up treatment shortly after PEA. Haemodynamics were assessed by right heart catheterisation before PEA and 22 weeks after PEA. Non-invasive assessments as transthoracic echocardiography and 6-min walking distance (6MWD) were performed before PEA and after 3 (that is, beginning of rehabilitation), 6, and 22 weeks following PEA. Adverse events were recorded throughout the study. RESULTS: Forty-five CTEPH patients were included (49% female, 57.6 ± 12.4 years old, 60% WHO functional class III). Rehabilitation was started 3.3 ± 0.9 weeks after PEA. Exercise training was well tolerated in all patients without severe side effects. Haemodynamics measured by right heart catheterisation significantly improved from pre-PEA to 22 weeks post-PEA in cardiac output (+1.2 ± 1.5 L/min, 33.4%, p = 0.001) and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (-19 ± 13 mm Hg, -39.6%, p < 0.0001). Right heart size measured by echocardiography, 6MWD, quality of life, and oxygen saturation significantly improved not only within the first 3 weeks after PEA but also during the following 19 weeks of exercise training. CONCLUSIONS: Supervised exercise training was feasible as early follow-up treatment after PEA. Further controlled studies are needed to discriminate the effects of PEA and early follow-up rehabilitation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01393327) on July 13, 2011. The study start date was January 2010, and completion date was December 2013.

Caracterización de las variantes quirúrgicas realizadas en dos años a pacientes con enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal / Characterization of surgical varians performed in patients with extracranial cerebrovascular diseases in two years

Objetivo: Caracterizar las variantes quirúrgicas realizadas a los pacientes ingresados con enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en un período de dos años. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo prospectivo en 27 pacientes, sin distinción de edad y sexo, operados por enfermedad cerebrovascular de origen extracraneal. Se tuvieron en cuenta los criterios de cirugía, además del estadio clínico, enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal que motivó la operación, localización de la lesión carotidea, variantes quirúrgicas realizadas, la permeabilidad de estas y las complicaciones poscirugía. Los pacientes fueron seguidos en consulta externa por dos años. Resultados: Se encontró que el 44,4 por ciento tuvo un ataque transitorio isquémico. Fueron más frecuentes las lesiones unilaterales (85,2 por ciento) y las de la carótida derecha (48,1 por ciento). Se halló una asociación significativa entre el sexo masculino con el estadio clínico y la localización de las lesiones carotideas. La endarterectomía por eversión fue la variante quirúrgica más realizada (44,4 por ciento). El 96,3 por ciento de las intervenciones se mantuvo permeable hasta los 18 meses poscirugía, mientras que tres pacientes presentaron reestenosis a los 24 meses. El 40,7 por ciento no desarrolló complicaciones, y entre estas el sangrado fue la de mayor frecuencia (33 por ciento). Conclusiones: Las variantes quirúrgicas realizadas se caracterizaron por altos porcentajes de permeabilidad durante el tiempo de estudio, con un mínimo de complicaciones posquirúrgicas(AU)

Objective: To characterize the surgical variants performed in hospitalized patients with extracranial cerebrovascular diseases in two years. Methods: Prospective and descriptive study of 27 patients, regardless of age and sex, who had been operated on from cerebrovascular disease of extracranial origin. Surgical criteria, clinical condition, extracranial cerebrovascular disease that required surgery, location of the carotid lesion, surgical variants, their permeability and the post-surgery complications were all taken into account. The patients were followed-up in the outpatient service during two years. Results: It was found that 44.4 percent of patients had had a transient ischemic attack. Unilateral lesions (85.2 percent) and right carotid lesions (48.1 percent) were the most common. Significant association was found between the male sex and the clinical staging and the location of carotid lesions. Eversion endarterectomy was the most performed surgical technique (44.4 percent). In the study, 96.3 percent of operations were kept permeable up to 18 months after the surgery whereas three patients presented with re-stenosis after 24 months. In the study group, 40.7 percent did not develop complications, being bleeding the most frequent one (33 percent). Conclusions: The surgical variants performed in the study time were characterized by high percentages of permeability and minimal postsurgical complications(AU)

Caracterización de las variantes quirúrgicas realizadas en dos años a pacientes con enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal / Characterization of surgical varians performed in patients with extracranial cerebrovascular diseases in two years

Objetivo: Caracterizar las variantes quirúrgicas realizadas a los pacientes ingresados con enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en un período de dos años.Métodos: Estudio descriptivo prospectivo en 27 pacientes, sin distinción de edad y sexo, operados por enfermedad cerebrovascular de origen extracraneal. Se tuvieron en cuenta los criterios de cirugía, además del estadio clínico, enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal que motivó la operación, localización de la lesión carotidea, variantes quirúrgicas realizadas, la permeabilidad de estas y las complicaciones poscirugía. Los pacientes fueron seguidos en consulta externa por dos años.Resultados: Se encontró que el 44,4 por ciento tuvo un ataque transitorio isquémico. Fueron más frecuentes las lesiones unilaterales (85,2 por ciento) y las de la carótida derecha (48,1 por ciento). Se halló una asociación significativa entre el sexo masculino con el estadio clínico y la localización de las lesiones carotideas. La endarterectomía por eversión fue la variante quirúrgica más realizada (44,4 por ciento). El 96,3 por ciento de las intervenciones se mantuvo permeable hasta los 18 meses poscirugía, mientras que tres pacientes presentaron reestenosis a los 24 meses. El 40,7 por ciento no desarrolló complicaciones, y entre estas el sangrado fue la de mayor frecuencia (33 por ciento).Conclusiones: Las variantes quirúrgicas realizadas se caracterizaron por altos porcentajes de permeabilidad durante el tiempo de estudio, con un mínimo de complicaciones posquirúrgicas(AU)

Objective: To characterize the surgical variants performed in hospitalized patients with extracranial cerebrovascular diseases in two years.Methods: Prospective and descriptive study of 27 patients, regardless of age and sex, who had been operated on from cerebrovascular disease of extracranial origin. Surgical criteria, clinical condition, extracranial cerebrovascular disease that required surgery, location of the carotid lesion, surgical variants, their permeability and the post-surgery complications were all taken into account. The patients were followed-up in the outpatient service during two years.Results: It was found that 44.4 percent of patients had had a transient ischemic attack. Unilateral lesions (85.2 percent) and right carotid lesions (48.1 percent) were the most common. Significant association was found between the male sex and the clinical staging and the location of carotid lesions. Eversion endarterectomy was the most performed surgical technique (44.4 percent). In the study, 96.3 percent of operations were kept permeable up to 18 months after the surgery whereas three patients presented with re-stenosis after 24 months. In the study group, 40.7 percent did not develop complications, being bleeding the most frequent one (33 percent).Conclusions: The surgical variants performed in the study time were characterized by high percentages of permeability and minimal postsurgical complications(AU)

Dissecção espontânea da aorta abdominal infrarrenal / Spontaneous dissection of the infrarenal aorta

A rotura da camada íntima que marca o início da dissecção aórtica se origina na maioria dos casos na aorta torácica, sendo rara a dissecção espontânea da aorta abdominal infra-renal. As três principais causas são: iatrogênica, traumática ou espontânea. A dor abdominal e a isquemia de membros são os sintomas mais comuns e um número significativo de pacientes e´ assintomatico. O diagnóstico tem sido feito através de métodos de imagem como ultrassonografia, tomografia computadorizada, ressonância nuclear magnética e angiografia aliados ao alto índice de suspeição. Relatamos os casos de duas pacientes que apresentaram dissecção de aorta abdominal infrarrenal com quadro de dor abdominal súbita, sem sinais de irritação peritoneal com pulsos presentes e simétricos ao exame físico que deram entrada no pronto socorro do Hospital e Maternidade Celso Pierro da PUC Campinas e que foram tratadas pela equipe de Cirurgia Vascular. As duas pacientes no momento do exame apresentavam-se hipertensas e ao ultrassom apresentavam alteração da conformidade da aorta abdominal que foram tratada s cirurgicamente. Uma paciente foi tratada cirurgicamente submetida a endarterectomia da placa dissecada da aorta abdominal infrarrenal de 2,2 cm de diâmetro e 2,0 cm de extensão. A outra paciente foi submetida a revascularização da aorta abdominal bi-iliaca com prótese de Dacron 16 × 8 mm por apresentar disseccao da aorta abdominal distal. As duas pacientes apresentaram boa evolução pos-operatoria tendo alta hospitalar em bom estado geral.

The rupture of the intimal layer marks the beginning of the aortic dissection, which usually happens in the thoracic aorta. The spontaneous dissection of the infrarenal aorta is rare. The main causes are: iatrogenic, traumatic and spontaneous. Abdominal pain and limb ischemia are the commonest symptoms, and some patients are asymptomatics. The diagnosis is made by ultrasound, computed tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance and angiography, with a high suspicious index. We describe two cases of spontaneous rupture of the infrarenal aorta that were treated surgically. We report two cases of patients who were admitted to the emergency room of Celso Pierro Hospital with infrarenal abdominal aortic dissection and were treated by the vascular surgery group. They have presented sudden abdominal pain, no signs of peritoneal irritation and pulses were presents and simmetrics in physical examination The two patients during the examination were hypertensive and the ultrasound showed abnormal compliance of the abdominal aorta who were treated surgically. One patient was treated surgically with dissected plaque endarterectomy of infrarenal abdominal aorta of 2.2 cm in diameter and 2.0 cm in length. The other patient underwent revascularization of the abdominal aorta with bi-iliac Dacron graft 16 × 8 mm due to distal abdominal aortic dissection. Both patients had good postoperative evolution and they were discharged in good general condition.

Improved outcomes in medically and surgically treated chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

RATIONALE: The management of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) has changed over recent years with the growth of pulmonary endarterectomy surgery and the availability of disease-modifying therapies. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prognosis of CTEPH in a national setting during recent years. METHODS: All incident cases diagnosed in one of the five pulmonary hypertension centers in the United Kingdom between January 2001 and June 2006 were identified prospectively. Information regarding baseline characteristics, treatment, and follow-up was subsequently collected from hospital records. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 469 patients received a diagnosis, of whom 148 (32%) had distal, nonsurgical disease. One- and three-year survival from diagnosis was 82 and 70% for patients with nonsurgical disease and 88 and 76% for those treated surgically (P = 0.023). Initial functional improvement in patients with nonsurgical disease was noted but did not persist at 2 years. Significant functional and hemodynamic improvements were seen in surgically treated patients with an increase in six-minute-walk distance of 105 m (P < 0.001) at 3 months. Five-year survival from surgery in the 35% of patients who survived to 3 months but had persistent pulmonary hypertension was 94%. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis in nonsurgical disease has improved. We have confirmed the previously described good outcome in surgically treated disease. However, we have also demonstrated that the long-term prognosis for patients who have persistent pulmonary hypertension at 3 months after surgery is good. The observed improvements in outcome during the modern treatment era reinforce the importance of identifying patients with this increasingly treatable condition.

Occupational capacity following surgical revascularization for lower limb claudication.

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about patient's ability to return to work following surgical revascularization for lower limb claudication. A retrospective cohort study was performed to determine the effect of lower limb surgical revascularization on subsequent employment status. DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients who had undergone surgical revascularization between February 2001 and February 2005 and who were aged <65 years, were identified from a prospective database and contacted via a postal questionnaire. RESULTS: Of 139 patients identified 19 had died. Questionnaires were returned by 80/120 patients (66.7%). Of these 8, 36 and 36 patients had undergone aortic, groin or infra-inguinal procedures respectively. Pre-operatively, 59 were employed, 17 unemployed and 4 retired. Post-operatively, 51 returned to work, 16 were unemployed, and 13 retired. Those who retired post-operatively were significantly older (p<0.05) than the remainder. After a median hospital stay of 15 (iqr 4-45) days those returning to work did so after a further 26 (iqr 7-112) days, although this was delayed following aortic procedures (p<0.05) and in patients with non-intermediate occupations (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Two thirds of potentially employable patients with claudication return to work following surgery including all those undergoing lower limb revascularization who were employed pre-operatively. This is influenced by age, the type of procedure and pre-operative occupation. This data can be used to predict return to work in patients requiring surgery for intermittent claudication.

[Principle of treatment of intermittent claudication due to arteriosclerosis obliterans--reconstruction or conservative treatment].

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and one patients of arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) with intermittent claudication (IC) were studied. Improvement of IC, score of return to social life, change of life condition and prognosis were compared between the two groups of reconstructive and conservative treatment. RESULTS: Improvement of IC was seen in 88.0% of the patients in the group of reconstruction and only 30.4% in the conservative treatment group. In the reconstructive group, the score of return to social life improved from 2.10 to 1.31 and the score of life condition also improved from 2.71 to 1.66. However in the conservative treatment group these score showed no significant improvement. Moreover the long term mortality rate was lower in the treatment group of reconstruction. CONCLUSION: The arterial reconstruction for IC is significant for improving the quality of life and exerts a favorable effect on life prognosis.

Quality of life of 50 carotid endarterectomy survivors: a long-term follow-up study.

The quality of life of 50 subjects who underwent carotid endarterectomy was investigated in a follow-up study varying from 81 to 105 months. Subjects were retrospectively classified in either low or medium preoperative risk categories. Risk was determined from the previous medical history and the findings of the carotid angiography. Quality of life was estimated from the functional level and such psychosocial factors as work, leisure, and finances during the follow-up period. All subjects had minimal dysfunction in ADL and cognition. Medium risk subjects, however, had marked dysfunction in home and outside activities and social interaction. Fifty percent of the working subjects were forced to take an early retirement. Quality of life seems more affected by cardiovascular problems in the 22 medium risk patients and by neurologic problems in the 28 low risk patients. This study suggests the importance of long-term rehabilitation goals to preserve the quality of life.