High prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm in older men with cerebrovascular disease: Evaluation of a local screening program.

Introduction: Patients with cerebrovascular disease may suffer from other vascular morbidities, such as abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Previously, a high prevalence of AAA has been demonstrated in men 60 years of age and older who have experienced TIA or stroke. This report evaluates the results of a decade's operation of a local screening program for AAA in this selected neurologic population. Methods: Men aged ≥60 years and admitted to the neurology ward of a community-based hospital in the Netherlands from 2006 to 2017 with a diagnosis of TIA or stroke were selected for screening. The diameter of the abdominal aorta was assessed by abdominal ultrasonography. Patients with detected AAA were referred for evaluation by a vascular surgeon. Results: AAA was detected in 72 of 1,035 screened patients (6.9%). AAAs with a diameter of 3.0-3.9 cm accounted for 61.1% of the total aneurysms found; AAAs with a diameter of 4.0-5.4 cm accounted for 20.8% of the total; and large aneurysms with a diameter of ≥5.5 cm accounted for 18.1% of all aneurysms discovered. A total of 18 patients (1.7%) underwent elective aneurysm repair. Discussion: The detection rate of AAA in older men with cerebrovascular disease was roughly 5-fold the detection rate in known European screening programs in older men from the general population. The proportion of large AAAs (≥5.5 cm) was also substantially higher. These findings reveal a previously unknown co-morbidity in patients with cerebrovascular disease and may be helpful for cardiovascular management of this large group of neurologic patients. Current and future AAA screening programs may also benefit from this knowledge.

Addition of FFRct in the diagnostic pathway of patients with stable chest pain to reduce unnecessary invasive coronary angiography (FUSION) : Rationale and design for the multicentre, randomised, controlled FUSION trial.

BACKGROUND: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is widely used in the diagnostic work-up of patients with stable chest pain. CCTA has an excellent negative predictive value, but a moderate positive predictive value for detecting coronary stenosis. Computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRct) is a non-invasive, well-validated technique that provides functional assessment of coronary stenosis, improving the positive predictive value of CCTA. However, to determine the value of FFRct in routine clinical practice, a pragmatic randomised, controlled trial (RCT) is required. We will conduct an RCT to investigate the impact of adding FFRct analysis in the diagnostic pathway of patients with a coronary stenosis on CCTA on the rate of unnecessary invasive coronary angiography, cost-effectiveness, quality of life and clinical outcome. METHODS: The FUSION trial is a prospective, multicentre RCT that will randomise 528 patients with stable chest pain and anatomical stenosis of ≥ 50% but < 90% in at least one coronary artery of ≥ 2 mm on CCTA, to FFRct-guided care or usual care in a 1:1 ratio. Follow-up will be 1 year. The primary endpoint is the rate of unnecessary invasive coronary angiography within 90 days. CONCLUSION: The FUSION trial will evaluate the use of FFRct in stable chest pain patients from the Dutch perspective. The trial is funded by the Dutch National Health Care Institute as part of the research programme 'Potentially Promising Care' and the results will be used to assess if FFRct reimbursement should be included in the standard health care package.

Systematic review of the safety and efficacy of contrast injection via venous catheters for contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the safety and efficacy of contrast injection through a central venous catheter (CVC) for contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT). METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed. Studies were deemed eligible if they reported on the use of CVCs for contrast administration. Selected articles were assessed for their relevance and risk of bias. Articles with low relevance and high risk of bias or both were excluded. Data from included articles was extracted. RESULTS: Seven studies reported on the use of CVCs for contrast administration. Catheter rupture did not occur in any study. The incidence of dislocation ranged from 2.2-15.4%. Quality of scans was described in three studies, with less contrast enhancement of pulmonary arteries and the thoracic aorta in two studies, and average or above average quality in one study. Four other studies used higher flowrates, but did not report quality of scans. CONCLUSION: Contrast injection via CVCs can be performed safely for CECT when using a strict protocol. Quality of scans depended on multiple factors like flow rate, indication of the scan, and cardiac output of the patient. In each patient, an individual evaluation whether to use the CVC as access for contrast media should be made, while bolus tracking may be mandatory in most cases.

Ultrasound-guided breast-conserving surgery for early-stage palpable and nonpalpable invasive breast cancer: decreased excision volume at unchanged tumor-free resection margin.

Ultrasound guidance (USG) during breast-conserving surgery improves tumor-free surgical resection margins. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether USG reduces resection volumes without compromising margin status. 134 patients with palpable or nonpalpable T1-2N0-1 invasive breast cancer were treated with USG and compared with a historical reference control group (CON) consisting of palpation-guided (PAG) or wire-guided localization (WIG) breast-conserving surgery. Primary outcomes were excess resection volume and clear margin status, and secondary outcome was re-excision rate. 66 patients underwent USG. In the CON group (n = 68), PAG was performed in 24 (35 %) and WIG in 44 (64 %) patients. Median excision volume [39 (IQR 20-66) vs 56 (38-94) cm(3); p = 0.001] and median calculated resection ratio [1.7 (1.0-2.9) vs 2.8 (1.4-4.6) (p = 0.005)] were significantly smaller in the USG than in the CON group. Median minimal distance to the resection margin [4 mm (IQR 2-5 mm) vs 2 mm (1-4 mm), p = 0.004] was significantly larger. Clear resection margins were achieved in 58 of the USG patients (88 %) and in 58 of the CON patients (86 %) (p = 0.91); this was true in patients with palpable as well as nonpalpable lesions. Reexcision was needed in 6.1 and 7.2 % respectively. Relative risk for re-excision in the USG group was 0.82 (95 % CI 0.23-2.93). In patients with palpable and nonpalpable breast cancers, USG allows for lower excision volume and reduced resection of healthy breast tissue, without increased re-excision rate.

Screening for aneurysm of the abdominal aorta: prevalence in patients with stroke or TIA.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Population screening for aneurysms of the abdominal aorta (AAA) is still not implemented in any country, despite proven benefit both in decreased mortality and in cost effectiveness. Detecting a subpopulation with higher prevalence of AAA may alter this situation. METHODS: Between 2002 and 2005, all patients with a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) admitted to the department of Neurology of a community-based hospital were classified according to the Toast criteria and enrolled in a prospective study to assess the diameter of the abdominal aorta. The diameter was assessed by ultrasonography. A written questionnaire and blood tests were used to assess risk factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of AAA amongst the 499 screened patients in the study was 5.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.6-6.0%]. Of the risk factors or Toast criteria, only male gender and age over 59 years correlated significantly with AAA. In the subgroup of 235 men aged over 59 years, the prevalence of AAA was 11.1% (95% CI 10.4-11.8%). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of AAA in men over 59 years of age presenting with a stroke or TIA is nearly twofold increased (11.1%) compared with all patients. Therefore, screening for AAA in this subgroup of patients seems beneficial. However, further studies are needed to confirm this finding and to explore the clinical benefit and cost effectiveness.

[Pneumatosis intestinalis; no disease, but a symptom]. / Pneumatosis intestinalis; geen ziekte, maar een symptoom.

In three patients, men aged 77, 83 and 69 years, pneumatosis intestinalis was detected during CT for abdominal pain occurring in the first patient after an aortic stent had been placed, and during laparotomy because of ileus in the latter two patients. The first patient underwent removal of an ischaemic intestinal segment but died later due to infection around the prosthesis. The other two patients recovered after conservative therapy. Pneumatosis intestinalis is defined as the presence of gas in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract. Often it is detected by accident during abdominal radiographic examination or laparotomy. Pneumatosis intestinalis is a symptom and has been found in a wide variety of diseases. The clinical condition of the patient and the underlying disease determine the clinical significance of pneumatosis intestinalis and the therapy. The main issue is whether surgical intervention is necessary because of intestinal ischaemia or perforation.