Subclavian artery occlusion and pseudoaneurysm caused by lung apex mucormycosis: successful treatment with transcatheter embolization.

Subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm and occlusion in young patients are usually post-traumatic. We report the case of a 33-year-old diabetic woman with subclavian artery occlusion and pseudoaneurysm formation caused by pulmonary mucormycosis infection. The patient presented with diabetic ketoacidosis, Horner's syndrome, and absent left arm pulses. A cystic lesion of the left lung apex was found by imaging, was surgically resected, and was histologically diagnosed as mucormycosis infection. Magnetic resonance angiography depicted a left subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm and occlusion adjacent to the mucormycosis lesion. To protect against thromboembolic complications and rupture, the pseudoaneurysm was embolized with coils. The patient is clinically well 1 year after the intervention with no perfusion of the pseudoaneurysm.

Large diameter limbs for dilated common iliac arteries in endovascular aneurysm repair: is it safe?

In this prospective study we examined whether dilated common iliac arteries (CIAs) can provide a safe distal seal in endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) with the use of bifurcated stent grafts with large diameter limbs. Sixteen patients with 26 dilated CIAs with a diameter of > or =6 mm who were offered EVAR using stent grafts with large diameter limbs were included in the study (Group A). Forty-two patients who also underwent EVAR without iliac dilatation, matched for age, sex and surgical risk were used for comparison (controls-Group B). In group A mean CIA diameter was 18.2 mm (16-28) and mean abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) diameter was 6.87 +/- 1.05 cm; mean age was 77.2 +/- 4.8 yrs (67-81). Mean follow-up was 33.6 months (2.8 yrs). CIA diameter changes and development of endoleaks were assessed by CT angiography (CTA). Overall iliac dilatation was present in 16/58 of our patients (27.6%). In 10 patients dilatation was bilateral (17.3%). Partial or complete flow to the internal iliac artery (IIA) territories was preserved in all patients post-EVAR. On follow-up, stable caliber of the dilated CIAs was observed in 21 patients (84%), enlargement of 1mm in 3 (16%), and failure of the distal attachment in 1 (6.2%). Compared to the control group there was no statistical significance in the incidence of complications. Dilated common iliac arteries provide a safe distal seal in patients who have undergone EVAR, thus obviating the need for additional endovascular procedures and sparing flow in the IIA vascular bed.

Percutaneous treatment of complications occurring during hemodialysis graft recanalization.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE: To describe and evaluate percutaneous treatment methods of complications occurring during recanalization of thrombosed hemodialysis access grafts. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective review of 579 thrombosed hemodialysis access grafts revealed 48 complications occurring during urokinase thrombolysis (512) or mechanical thrombectomy (67). These include 12 venous or venous anastomotic ruptures not controlled by balloon tamponade, eight arterial emboli, 12 graft extravasations, seven small hematomas, four intragraft pseudointimal 'dissections', two incidents of pulmonary edema, one episode of intestinal angina, one procedural death, and one distant hematoma. RESULTS: Twelve cases of post angioplasty ruptures were treated with uncovered stents of which 10 resulted in graft salvage allowing successful hemodialysis. All arterial emboli were retrieved by Fogarty or embolectomy balloons. The 10/12 graft extravasations were successfully treated by digital compression while the procedure was completed and the graft flow was restored. Dissections were treated with prolonged Percutaneous Trasluminal Angioplasty (PTA) balloon inflation. Overall technical success was 39/48 (81%). Kaplan-Meier Primary and secondary patency rates were 72 and 78% at 30, 62 and 73% at 90 and 36 and 67% at 180 days, respectively. Secondary patency rates remained over 50% at 1 year. There were no additional complications caused by these maneuvers. DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSION: The majority of complications occurring during percutaneous thrombolysis/thrombectomy of thrombosed access grafts, can be treated at the same sitting allowing completion of the recanalization procedure and usage of the same access for hemodialysis.

Asymptomatic avascular necrosis in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome in the absence of corticosteroid use: a prospective study by magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of avascular necrosis (AVN), using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with or without anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL), who are asymptomatic for AVN and have not taken corticosteroids. METHODS: Seventy-nine subjects who were asymptomatic for AVN were evaluated by MRI of the femoral heads: 30 patients with primary APS who had never received corticosteroids, 19 SLE patients who had never received steroids (divided into 2 groups, aCL positive and aCL negative, in order to examine any association between AVN and aCL), and 30 healthy subjects who were age- and sex-matched with patients with primary APS. Established MRI criteria were used for a diagnosis of AVN. RESULTS: Asymptomatic AVN was evident in 6 (20%) of 30 patients with primary APS: 3 of them (1 man, 2 women) had intermediate bilateral AVN, and 3 (all women) had early AVN (bilateral in 1 patient). Results of hip and pelvis radiography and dynamic scintigraphy were negative. Followup MRI 6 months later revealed no changes. At the time of the initial MRI examination, the mean (+/-SD) age of patients in whom AVN was identified was 31.2 +/- 7.3 years, and that of patients without AVN was 42.4 +/- 11.9 years (P = 0.036). Livedo reticularis occurred significantly more commonly in the group with AVN (P = 0.041). None of the healthy subjects and none of the patients with SLE demonstrated AVN on MRI. CONCLUSION: AVN can be detected by MRI in 20% of patients with primary APS. Younger patients tend to develop AVN more frequently than do older patients, and the presence of livedo reticularis may identify individuals at risk for AVN. Clinicians should be aware of this possible clinical manifestation of primary APS, because early diagnosis can lead to early intervention.

Alteplase for hemodialysis access graft thrombolysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of alteplase, a recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, in hemodialysis access graft thrombolysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 1999 to May 2001, 68 episodes of occlusion in 50 grafts (in 49 patients) were included in the study. Occlusion was treated with pulse-spray (n = 41) or lyse-and-wait (n = 27) thrombolysis with use of alteplase. Balloon angioplasty of all identified stenoses was performed. The arterial plug was mobilized with the Fogarty maneuver. RESULTS: Procedural success was achieved in 64 of 68 episodes (94%) with a dose of 2-10 mg (mean = 4.13 mg) of alteplase, allowing successful hemodialysis within 24 hours. Failures (6%) were the result of PTA perforation (one of 68), nonnegotiable outflow occlusion (one of 68), delayed bleeding (one of 68), and balloon bursting and shearing becoming occlusive within the graft (one of 68). Primary and secondary patency rates were 72% and 87% at 30 days, 57% and 80% at 90 days, and 44% and 72% at 180 days, respectively. Arterial emboli (two of 68) were treated by Fogarty balloon retrieval and alteplase infusion locally over the course of 20 minutes. One of two PTA perforations was controlled by balloon tamponade. CONCLUSION: Alteplase can be used successfully for hemodialysis graft thrombolysis.