Case report: intravascular stenting across a false aneurysm of the popliteal artery.

We present the case of a false aneurysm of the left popliteal artery in which the use of an uncovered metallic intravascular stent produced local aneurysmal thrombosis and maintained arterial blood flow to the distal lower limb. False aneurysms of the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries are uncommon but tend to occur at the adductor canal. We describe such a case and percutaneous management with a metallic stent (Strecker, Meditech, Boston Scientific).

Treatment of hyperlipidaemia retards progression of symptomatic femoral atherosclerosis. A randomised controlled trial.

The effect of plasma lipid reduction on the progression of femoral atherosclerosis was studied in hyperlipidaemic patients with stable intermittent claudication. 24 patients were randomly assigned to treatment and usual-care groups, the former receiving dietary advice and cholestyramine, nicotinic acid, or clofibrate depending on their lipoprotein phenotype. Biplanar arteriography was performed when the study began and after a mean period of 19 months. Angiograms were assessed visually, with blinding, and by computerised image analysis. Therapy reduced mean plasma total cholesterol by 25%, mean low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 28%, and mean plasma triglycerides by 45%. Significantly fewer arterial segments showed detectable progression of atherosclerosis in the treatment group. The mean increase in plaque area (mm2/segment/year) in the treatment group was only one third of that in the usual-care group. The mean increase in edge irregularity index (a measure of the severity of disease) in the treatment group was only 40% of that in the usual care group. Twice as many arterial segments showed improvement in the treatment group. In both groups changes in edge irregularity index were directly related to plasma LDL cholesterol concentration. This study, the first randomised controlled trial of its type, provides evidence that effective treatment of hyperlipidaemia favourably influences the natural history of symptomatic peripheral atherosclerosis.

Treatment of well-differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid based on initial staging.

Sixty-six patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas have been followed up for a minimum of 10 years. A conservative surgical approach was adopted for unsuspected intrathyroid tumours. Twenty-three out of 29 patients (80 per cent) with papillary carcinomas and 18 out of 37 (50 per cent) with follicular carcinomas were alive at the time of review. Although patients with follicular carcinoma have only a moderate overall prognosis, patients with node-negative intrathyroid tumours (unsuspected) treated by conservative resection have a 79 per cent 10-year survival. These survival figures compare favourably with other reported series where all the patients were treated by radical surgery. Early conversion of a conservative resection to a total thyroidectomy for an unexpected tumour does not appear to be warranted since an increased risk of complications is not balanced by an improved outcome. Two patients, with intrathyroid papillary carcinomas who developed tumours in the residual gland more than 5 years after initial lobectomy, successfully underwent further resections of the thyroid remnants, and are disease free more than 9 years later.

Superiority of partial ileal bypass over cholestyramine reducing cholesterol in familial hypercholesterolaemia.

Low density lipoprotein (LDL) turnover studies were conducted on three occasions in each of six patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH)-on diet, after 1 month on cholestyramine 16 g/day, and 2 months after partial ileal bypass. Partial ileal bypass lowered total and LDL cholesterol levels and increased the fractional catabolic rate of LDL to a greater extent than did cholestyramine; this difference presumably reflects the greater increase in bile acid excretion induced by the surgical procedure. Studies in two other heterozygotes showed that partial ileal bypass specifically enhanced receptor-mediated catabolism of LDL. The findings support the concept that therapeutic stimulation of bile acid synthesis increases the rate of receptor-mediated uptake and degradation of LDL by the liver.

Subclavian artery rupture (an unusual seat-belt injury).

A case of blunt injury to the subclavian artery in the absence of bony injury or dislocation sustained while wearing a seat belt is described. Its rarity and diagnostic pitfalls are discussed. The mechanism of the injury is analysed. The value of angiography is emphazided. It is suggested that, even in the presence of collateral circulation, exploration and repair should be undertaken.