A comparative study between cryo-laser cryo-sclerotherapy and sclerotherapy in the treatment of telangiectasia and reticular veins: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Telangiectasias, characterized by dilated venules, are frequently observed in the lower extremities. Sclerotherapy stands out as the predominant treatment of these vascular lesions. The integration of laser therapy with a mild sclerosing agent, serving as an osmotic sclerosant, presents an enhanced cosmetic treatment approach, aiming to optimize outcomes and minimize potential adverse effects. This study sought to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of cryo-laser and cryo-sclerotherapy (CLaCS) and compare it with injection sclerotherapy for the treatment of telangiectasia and reticular veins. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, individuals expressing concerns about telangiectasia and reticular veins were recruited for aesthetic treatment. The enrolled patients were prospectively randomized according to the chosen treatment technique. Group A included patients undergoing CLaCS with 70% dextrose, focusing on a single area measuring 20 cm by 20 cm. Group B included patients receiving polidocanol injection sclerotherapy for a single area of the same dimensions. RESULTS: Group A comprised 195 patients and group B comprised 197 patients. The rates of complete lesion elimination after the first, second, and third treatment sessions were 64.6%, 86.2%, and 100% in group A and 50.3%, 74.1%, and 85.3% in group B, respectively. Group A exhibited a significantly higher complete elimination rate compared with group B at the conclusion of the study (P < .001). Furthermore, group A demonstrated a statistically significant lower incidence of postprocedural pigmentation and other complications compared with group B (P < .001). These findings underscore the enhanced efficacy and safety profile associated with the CLaCS technique using 70% dextrose compared with injection sclerotherapy with polidocanol. CONCLUSIONS: CLaCS, combining cryo-laser and cryo-sclerotherapy, demonstrated superior efficacy and safety compared with traditional polidocanol sclerotherapy for treating telangiectasia and reticular veins.

The outcome of sharp recanalization of chronic central venous occlusions in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients on hemodialysis are particularly vulnerable to central venous occlusion (CVO). Endovascular treatment has gained wide acceptance for the treatment of CVO. However, difficulties in crossing the occluded segment can be encountered during conventional endovascular management. Sharp recanalization has been adopted when conventional endovascular methods could not recanalize the obstructed region. This study aimed to assess the outcome of the sharp venous recanalization technique with angioplasty and stenting in the treatment of CVO in Egyptian patients undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS: This retrospective study is based on data from a prospectively maintained department database of patients under regular hemodialysis who underwent the sharp venous recanalization technique for CVO. Routinely, the patients were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months with a clinical examination. The primary outcomes were technical success and primary patency. Secondary outcomes included complication rates and clinical success. RESULTS: This study included 40 patients. Thirty-six patients (90%) achieved technical and clinical success. Seven patients (17.5%) had immediate postoperative complications. Four cases had minor complications (10%) and three patients had major complications (7.5%): hemothorax in two patients (5.1%) and pneumothorax in one patient (2.6%). At the 1-year follow-up, reintervention was required in nine patients (22.5%), with primary patency rate of 77.5% and a secondary patency rate of 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Sharp recanalization offers a solution for patients undergoing hemodialysis who developed CVO and failed to be recanalized using the conventional endovascular method. It offered promising technical success, clinical improvement, and good primary patency rates.

Management of Buerger's Disease in Endovascular Era.

This study was aimed to report data on the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of endovascular procedures in a thromboangiitis obliterans diagnosed patients presenting with critical limb ischemia (CLI). Prospective study conducted on patients affected by Buerger's disease who presented to our center along 2 years. Clinical, radiological, and patient-based outcomes were recorded at 3, 6, and 12 months after the intervention. Total 39 patients were included in the study. Fifteen (38.5%) patients underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, another 15 patients (38.5%) underwent follow-up on medical treatment, there are four other patients (10.3%) underwent surgical bypass, and five (12.8%) patients underwent lumbar sympathectomy. The 12 months' outcome showed 66.7% technical success in endovascular group with 46.7% patency rate ( p -value = 0.06), 86.7% limb salvage rate (LSR; p -value < 0.04), and 66.7% clinical improvement ( p -value = 0.005). The endovascular management of Buerger's disease is feasible, save, and effective with high rate of LSR and clinical improvement.

Using serum s100-ß protein as a biomarker for comparing silent brain injury in carotid endarterectomy and carotid artery stenting.

BACKGROUND: S100-ß protein has been introduced as a sensitive biomarker of silent cerebral injury. This study compares its serum levels before, during, and 24 hours after carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA). METHODS: We measured serum level of S100-ß in arterial blood before (S100Ba), during (S100Bb), and 24 hours after (S100Bc) CAS and CEA. We assessed differences in S100-ß levels using non-parametric tests. We analyzed the relationship between carotid plaque type (echolucency) and S100-ß protein level. We also examined its relation to the oximetry results in the CEA group (ipsilateral and contralateral). RESULTS: Thirty patients were enrolled, including 15 CAS and 15 CEA patients, with no significant differences in baseline atherosclerotic characteristics. There was no significant difference in S100Ba or S100Bb levels between CAS and CEA patients. However, a significant difference was found in S100Bc: 331.3 pg/mL (IQ range 56.4-583.5) for CAS vs. 76.3 pg/mL (IQ range 29.7-117.4) for CEA (P=0.01). Type I and II plaques were associated with the higher S100Bc levels in CAS (P=0.048). S100Bc was higher in CEA patients when the contralateral cerebral hemisphere had oximetry values less than 60% (P=0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that CAS might produce silent brain injury. Moreover, vulnerable plaques might be associated with higher levels of S100-ß protein, especially in CAS. This pilot study demonstrates that S100-ß is a useful biomarker for silent brain injury in carotid revascularization. Large scale studies are still needed to confirm these findings.