Overestimation of moderate carotid stenosis assessed by both Doppler US and contrast enhanced 3D-MR angiography in the CARMEDAS study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the agreement and diagnostic accuracy of Contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA), Doppler ultrasound (DUS) and Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the assessment of carotid stenosis. METHODS: DUS, CE-MRA and DSA were performed in 56 patients included in the Carotide-angiographie par résonance magnétique-échographie-doppler-angioscanner (CARMEDAS) multicenter study with a carotid stenosis ≥ 50%. Three readers evaluated stenoses on CE-MRA and DSA (NASCET criteria). Velocities criteria were used for stenosis estimation on DUS. RESULTS: CE-MRA had a sensitivity and specificity of 96-98% and 66-83% respectively for carotid stenoses ≥ 50% and a sensitivity and specificity of 94% and 76-84% respectively for carotid stenoses ≥ 70%. The interobserver agreement of CE-MRA was excellent, except for moderate stenoses (50-69%). DUS had a sensitivity and specificity of 88 and 75% respectively for carotid stenoses ≥ 50% and a sensitivity and specificity of 83 and 86% respectively for carotid stenoses ≥ 70%. Combined concordant CE-MRA and DUS had a sensitivity and specificity of 100 and 85-90% respectively for carotid stenoses ≥ 50% and a sensitivity and specificity of 96-100% and 80-87% respectively for carotid stenoses ≥ 70%. The positive predictive value of the association CE-MRA and DUS for carotid stenoses ≥ 70% is calculated between 77 and 82% while the negative predictive value is calculated between 97 and 100%. CE-MRA and DUS have concordant findings in 63-72%, and the overestimations cases were recorded only for carotid stenosis ≤ 69%. CONCLUSION: Combined DUS-CE-MRA is excellent for evaluation of severe stenosis but remains debatable in moderate stenosis (50-69%) due to the risk of overestimations.

Diabetic critical ischemia of lower limbs: distal arterial revascularisation.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the outcomes of ischemic diabetic foot lesions for which distal arterial bypass grafting was considered as the first-line vascular procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between November 2004 and November 2006, 19 lower limbs of 17 diabetic patients with lower limb critical ischemia were operated in our department. The bypass grafts included five femoro-popliteal bypass grafts below knee and 14 distal bypass grafts. The 14 distal bypass grafts included; seven venous grafts on the dorsalis pedis artery, four femorotibial PTFE grafts and three femoroperoneal grafts. Arterio-venous fistula was applied to the distal anastomosis site in three limbs. RESULTS: At the time of discharge, the graft patency rate was 93.75%. The mean follow up period was 24 months. The primary cumulative patency rate was 63% at 2 year. The corresponding secondary patency rate was 87%. Among six ischemic ulcers, four ulcers healed within 2 to 12 months (66.6%). At 24 months, the cumulative rate of limb salvage was 76% and that of survival was 74%. CONCLUSION: Distal arterial bypass in diabetic lower limb ischemia improves blood circulation that accelerates foot ulcer healing. It can also avoid amputation or lower its level, and thus improving the patient's quality of life.

Multi-detector row computed tomography angiography: an alternative imaging method for surgical strategy in lower extremity arterial occlusive disease.

In order to show the value of CT angiography in the pretherapeutic assessment of lower leg ischemia, we studied 93 CT angiographies in 85 patients. Two groups were defined according to the level of revascularization: 52 angioscanner were made prior to suprainguinal revascularization and 41 prior to infrainguinal reconstruction. Two decision attitudes were chosen by two different physicians, a radiologist and vascular surgeon, members of the same team. The attitudes where then compared in order to evaluate the value of CT angiography. The first attitude was a pragmatic strategy based on the images as interpreted by the first physician and on the intraoperative information including surgical treatment and, if necessary, angiography. This indicates that the results of this attitude cover the performed revascularizations. The second attitude determined a virtual strategy and was chosen by the second physician a posteriori, based solely on the medical file with the same CT angiography images. These two strategies were compared in order to assess the agreement on the level of the lesion and the choice of revascularization. In 84 CT angiographies (90.3%), the analysis of the lesions and the choice of lesions to be treated were identical. In 9.6% of scans the strategies were not comparable because the lesions were interpreted differently or the scans were difficult to read. The sensitivity of CT angiography in detecting lesions and guiding the therapeutic strategy was 96% and its positive predictive value was 93%. Follow-up was reported according to the life-table method to assess the overall outcome and the results in both groups. The overall survival rate at 12 months for 85 patients was 90%. Secondary patency rates at 12 months in the group of patients who underwent a suprainguinal and infrainguinal revascularization were 98% and 71% respectively. Overall limb salvage at 12 months was 94%. In this setting, CT angiography allowed us to select adequate treatment in the majority of cases. These results obtained after a strategy based on CT angiography images are comparable with the results as published in the literature after the strategy based on conventional angiography.

Below-knee bypass using fresh arterial allografts for limb salvage: early results.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate early results of below-knee bypass using fresh arterial allografts as arterial substitutes for limb salvage. From April 1991 to September 1993, we performed 28 below-knee bypass procedures using fresh arterial allografts in patients without a suitable autologous vein. Allografts were obtained by multiorgan harvesting from brain-dead subjects and preserved at 4 degrees C. Histologic examination of grafts was carried out. Secondary patency at 2 years calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method was 64% (confidence interval [CI] 45%-79%). No signs of graft deterioration or rejection were noted. These preliminary results are encouraging but long-term assessment is needed before expanding the range of application.

[Popliteal aneurysm and leg ischemia: surgery first]. / Anévrisme poplité et ischémie de jambe: chirurgie première.

The treatment of symptomatic popliteal aneurysms is debated should local fibrinolysis or surgery first be used first? The authors report their experience in the treatment of 90 popliteal aneurysms in 66 patients. In this series were only examined those aneurysms with either acute ischaemia 12 (27%) or sub-acute ischaemia 21 (45%). The treatment of those cases with acute ischaemia was surgical for all, allowing salvage in all cases. Sub-acute ischaemia was treated with either: a surgical bypass with exclusion of the aneurysm in 7 cases, or lumbar sympathectomy in 7 cases, or medical treatment in 6 cases or local fibrinolysis for distal ischaemia in one case only. There was no peri-operative mortality, only one amputation was required (5%) (J Mal Vasc 1994; 19, Suppl. A: pages 150-153).