The Structure and Compression of Medical Compression Stockings.

This paper lays out standards of compression stockings and their classification into classes. The analysis of knitted fabric structure parameters, elongation and compression of moderate- and high-compression stockings was conducted. Stocking compression on specific parts of the stocking leg was measured on three sizes of a wooden leg model. For moderate-compression stockings, compression above the ankle was 32 hPa. For high-compression stockings, compression above the ankle was 60 hPa. Both groups of the analyzed compression stockings were made on modern one-cylinder hosiery automats. The legs of the stockings were made in single inlaid jersey 1 + 1. Both yarns were elastane covered. The finer yarn formed loops and its knitting into a course was significantly larger than in the other yarn, which was much coarser and does not form loops but "lay the weft in a bent way". The smallest elongation of knitted fabric was above the ankle, where the highest compression was achieved, while the largest elongation was under the crotch, where the stocking leg exerted the smallest compression on the surface. The leg of the compression stocking acted as a casing that imposed compression on the leg and often reinforced it to be able to sustain compression loads.

Role of Doppler Ultrasound Analysis of Blood Flow Through the Ophthalmic and Intracranial Arteries in Predicting Neurologic Symptoms During Carotid Endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is frequently performed under locoregional anesthesia. The intraoperative clamping of the internal carotid artery (ICA) leads to cerebral hypoperfusion, which may in some patients result in the development of neurologic symptoms (NS). The objective of our study was to investigate whether there is an association between the preoperative ultrasound (US) Doppler flow in the ophthalmic artery (OA) and intracranial artery and the occurrence of these intraoperative NS. METHODS: We compared 50 patients with NS and 150 patients without NS during CEA. We analyzed their preoperative blood flow characteristics by Doppler US and their clinical and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: The contralateral ICA occlusion increased the likelihood of intraoperative NS (odds ratio [OR], 8.4; P < .001). Abnormal contralateral OA flow also increased the likelihood of NS (OR, 1.84; P < .001), whereas ipsilateral abnormal OA flow reduced it (OR, 0.73; P = .06). Increased flow in the ipsilateral anterior cerebral artery (ACA) increased the likelihood of NS (OR, 3.3), whereas reversed flow decreased it (OR, 0.1; P = .03). Inverse flow in the contralateral ACA increased the risk (OR, 5.4), whereas increased flow reduced it (OR, 0.2; P = .02). Male patients had a higher risk of NS (P = .09) as well as older patients (P = .05). Eight percent of the patients with NS developed a transient ischemic attack or stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Doppler US analysis of the OA and ACA in combination with analysis of ICA stenosis may be a promising predictor of NS during ICA clamping. This, in turn, may warn the patient and the surgeon of an increased risk during surgery.

Assessment of apoptosis in the native vein used for hemodialysis access.

AIM: To determine whether apoptosis is more common in previously punctured native veins than in non-punctured native veins among patients who undergo surgical creation of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for dialysis access. METHODS: Cephalic vein specimens were obtained from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014 from 60 patients, 30 with previously punctured native veins and 30 with non-punctured native veins. Before AVF placement, a 1-cm vein segment was excised from distal part of the vein for histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical analysis. Vein specimens were divided into two portions along the longitudinal axis and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for routine histological evaluation. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to localize Bax, p53, caspase 3, and Bcl-2 expression. RESULTS: The group with previously punctured veins showed significantly increased caspase 3 (P<0.001, two-sided Fisher`s Exact Test) and Bax expression (P=0.002, two-sided Fisher`s Exact Test) and significantly decreased Bcl-2 expression (P<0.001, two-sided Fisher`s Exact Test) compared with the control group. There were no significant differences between the groups in p53 expression (?2=0.071, df=1, P=0.791). Fistula failure was significantly more common in the study group (26.7% vs 6.7%, ?2=4.32, df=1, P=0.038). CONCLUSION: Our study indicates a possible role of venipuncture in apoptosis development and a possible role of apoptosis in fistula failure, but we do not have sufficient evidence to conclude that it represents its main cause.

Serum levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin in early postoperative period and three months after eversion carotid endarterectomy.

AIM: To determine the influence of eversion endarterectomy on circulating adhesion molecules (CAMs): E-selectin, intercellular circulating adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular circulating adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). METHODS: Forty patients underwent carotid endarterectomy. Venous blood samples have been gathered before operation, one hour and six hours after the operation and three months after the procedure. Levels of CAMs have been determined by sandwich ELISA test. RESULTS: Statistically significant decrease of the ICAM-1 levels one hour and six hours after the endarterectomy compared to levels before the operation have been found. There were no statistically significant changes in concentration of VCAM-1 and E-selectin. Three months after the operation levels of CAMs where similar to those before the operation. There was a statistically significant decrease of systolic arterial blood pressure levels within early postoperative period. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that decrease of ICAM-1 could be a possible marker of endothelial de-activation after plaque removal. Endarterectomy has a positive influence on systolic arterial blood pressure in early postoperative period. Further investigations are necessary to better understand and prevent the development of atherosclerotic plaque.

Orthostatics and chronic venous insufficiency in Croatian doctors of dental medicine.

The purpose of the study was to point to occupational exposure of dental medicine doctors in Croatia and to the effect of static performance on developing venous disease. The study included 120 subjects, 60 of them doctors of dental medicine and 60 from other professions. The study was focused on finding a way to upgrade preventive measures against developing chronic venous insufficiency and the quality of life of dental medicine doctors. Study subjects underwent verbal testing (questionnaire), clinical examination and ultrasonography (color Doppler).

Increased expression of endothelial lipase in symptomatic and unstable carotid plaques.

The aim of this study was to evaluate endothelial lipase (EL) protein expression in advanced human carotid artery plaques (HCAP) with regard to plaque (in)stability and the incidence of symptoms. HCAP were collected from 66 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). The degree of plaque (in)stability was estimated by ultrasound and histology. In HCAP sections, EL expression was determined by immunostaining and the intensity was assessed on a semi-quantitative scale (low: <25%, high: >25% positive cells). Monocytes and macrophages in adjacent HCAP sections were stained with a CD163 specific antibody. High EL staining was more prevalent in histologically unstable plaques (in 33.3% of fibrous plaques, 50% of ulcerated non-complicated plaques and 79.2% of ulcerated complicated plaques; χ(2) test, p = 0.004) and in the symptomatic group (70.8 vs. 42.9% in the asymptomatic group; χ(2) test, p = 0.028). The majority of EL immunostaining was found in those HCAP regions exhibiting a strong CD163 immunostaining. EL in HCAP might be a marker and/or promoter of plaque instability and HCAP-related symptomatology.

Renal replacement therapies after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair--a review.

The objective of this review is to assess the incidence of postoperative acute renal failure that necessitates the application of hemofiltration and to determine the factors that influence the outcome in patients undergoing surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm. In addition, the review aims to assess the outcomes of postoperative early hemofiltration as compared to late intensive hemofiltration. Different forms of renal replacement therapies for use in abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery patients are discussed. Electronic literature searches were performed using Pubmed, Medline, Embase, Sumsearch, Cinahil, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Excerpta Medica. The search identified 419 potentially eligible studies, of which 119 were excluded based on the title and abstract. Of the remaining 300 studies, full articles were collected and re-evaluated. Forty-five articles satisfied our inclusion criteria, of which only 12 were of the IA Level of evidence. The search results indicated that the underlying disease, its severity and stage, the etiology of acute renal failure, clinical and hemodynamic status of the patient, the resources available, and different costs of therapy might all influence the choice of the renal replacement therapy strategy. However, clear guidelines on renal replacement therapy duration are still lacking. Moreover, it is not known whether in acute renal failure patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery, renal replacement therapy modalities can eliminate significant amounts of clinically relevant inflammatory mediators. This review gives current information available in the literature on the possible mechanisms underlying acute renal failure and recent developments in continuous renal replacement treatment modalities.

True aneurysm of brachial artery.

True upper extremity peripheral artery aneurysms are a rarely encountered arterial disorder. Following computer-tomography angiographic (CT-a) imaging examination, true saccular aneurysm, originating from the left brachial artery was diagnosed in the 77-year-old female without history of trauma. The aneurysm was resected by surgical intervention, and primary repair of the brachial artery was performed by interposition of a part of great saphenous vein harvested from the left groin and creation of two end-to-end anastomoses between interposition graft and previously resected part of brachial artery. No complication was observed during the follow-up. Surgical intervention for upper extremity aneurysms should be initiated without delay. Factors combined with minimal morbidity associated with repair suggest that surgical repair should be performed routinely for true upper extremity arterial aneurysms.

Recommendations for the management of patients with carotid stenosis.

These are evidence based guidelines for the management of patients with carotid stenosis, developed and endorsed by Croatian Society of Neurovascular Disorders, Croatian Society of Neurology, Croatian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, Croatian Society for Radiology, Croatian Society of Vascular Surgery and Croatian Society of Neurosurgery. They consist of recommendations for noninvasive screening of patients with carotid stenosis, best medical treatment and interventions such as carotid endarterectomy and stent placement based on international randomized clinical trials.

Subclinical neurocognitive dysfunction after carotid endarterectomy-the impact of shunting.

BACKGROUND: Subclinical neurocognitive deficit after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has been reported in 25% of patients. The influence of the type of anesthesia and shunting on early postoperative neurocognitive function remains unclear. Therefore, we analyzed the cognitive function after CEA using a battery of psychometric tests before surgery and on the first postoperative day. METHODS: Twenty nine patients under regional and 28 under general anesthesia were included in the study. Regional anesthesia was administered inducing a superficial cervical block, and the general anesthesia was induced using a standardized manner. Then cognitive function was tested using a battery of psychometric tests before and 24 hours after surgery. S 100 beta was determined at the same time points. RESULTS: A statistical difference was found between the results of the testing before and after CEA: decline in digit symbol test (9%), perceptual speed (6%), and spatial working memory (44%) and improvement in verbal fluency (6%) and attention (5%). The only intraoperative factor that correlated with the cognitive dysfunction was shunt insertion; patients with a shunt had a lower perceptual speed (P=0.005) and worse spatial working memory (P=0.004). No correlation was found between the type of anesthesia or S 100 beta level and any psychometric test, but these results might be influenced by the small sample size in our study. CONCLUSIONS: Shunt insertion was the only parameter correlated with cognitive decline on the first day after CEA. Regional anesthesia might offer indirect benefit because of a reduced need of shunting in wakeful patients. Larger studies are required to clarify the role of shunting and type of anesthesia in early neurocognitive deficit after CEA and its impact on the quality of life.

Postoperative internal carotid artery restenosis after local anesthesia: presence of risk factors versus intraoperative shunt.

Published data suggest that the regional anesthetic technique used for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) increases the systolic arterial blood pressure and heart rate. At the same time local anesthesia reduced the shunt insertion rate. This study aimed to analyze risk factors and ischemic symptomatology in patients with postoperative internal carotid artery restenosis. The current retrospective study was undertaken to assess the results of CEA in 8000 patients who were operated during a five-year period in six regional cardiovascular centers. Carotid color coded flow imaging, medical history, clinical findings and atherosclerotic risk factors were analyzed. Among them, there were 33 patients (0.4%) with postoperative re-occlusion after CEA. The patients with restenosis were re-examined with carotid color coded flow imaging and data were compared with 33 consecutive patients with satisfactory postoperative findings to serve as a control group. In the restenosis group eight risk factors were analyzed (hypertension, smoking, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, history of stroke, transitory ischemic attack, heart attack and coronary disease), and compared with risk factors in control group. Study results suggested that early postoperative internal carotid artery restenosis was not caused by atherosclerosis risk factors but by intraoperative shunt usage.

In situ cephalic vein bypasses from axillary to the brachial artery after catheterization injuries.

The need to bypass to the brachial artery is rare. Over a five-year period, 16 patients had suffered iatrogenic post-catheterization injuries of the upper extremity. We have performed 16 bypasses, in 16 patients, mean age was 65 years (range 47-75), to the brachial artery originating from an artery proximal to the shoulder joint. In all cases, the axillary artery was the donor artery. All bypasses were created by using the cephalic vein with the in situ technique and distal anastomoses were made to a distance-free section of brachial artery. No operative mortality, neurological complications or major upper-extremity amputation was associated with the procedure. Life-long-conduit analysis showed 75% patency in the five-year period. After iatrogenic post-catheterization trauma of arterial system of upper extremity, bypasses from axillary to brachial artery with the cephalic vein with the in situ technique is a safe operation with satisfactory long-term patency.

The vascular hybrid room--operating room of the future.

The last two decades have seen a paradigm shift in the treatment of vascular related diseases from once traditional open surgical repairs to the entire vascular tree being amenable to percutaneous interventions. Neither the classic operating room nor the conventional angiography suite is optimal for both open surgery and endovascular procedures. Important issues for the vascular hybrid operating room include quality of the imaging equipment, radiation burden, ease of use of the equipment, need for specially trained personnel, ergonomics, ability to perform both open and percutaneous procedures, sterile environments, as well as quality and efficiency of patient care. The most important feature of working in a dedicated hybrid vascular suite should be the ability to attain best treatment of vascular patients. Whether the interventional radiologist or the vascular surgeon uses the facilities is of less importance. Establishment of an endovascular operating room suite has the benefit of a sterile environment, and the possibility of performing hybrid procedures and conversions when necessary. Moreover, angiography immediately before treatment gives contemporary anatomical information, and after treatment provides quality control. Consequently, better quality and service can be provided to the individual patient. These changes in the treatment of vascular disease require that a new type of vascular specialist, named 'vascular hybrid surgeon', trained to perform both endovascular and open surgical procedures in this highly complex patient group.

Development of postoperative internal carotid artery occlusion due to the presence of risk factors.

Postoperative internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion is a rare condition with few data on the risk factors. The aim of the study was to analyze risk factors and ischemic symptomatology in patients with postoperative ICA occlusion. During one year period, 33 patients with postoperative ICA occlusion were examined at Cerebrovascular Laboratory. Medical history, clinical findings and atherosclerosis risk factors were compared with data on 33 patients with satisfactory postoperative finding. Student's t-test was used on data comparison (P < 0.05). In 31 of 33 patients, ICA occlusion was recorded on the first postoperative examination, 3 months after carotid endarterectomy (18 right and 15 left). In 8 patients, combined occlusion of the common carotid artery and ICA was found (4 right, 4 left). One patient ICA developed occlusion during the first and third postoperative year each. Clinically, three patients presented with ischemic symptoms (one stroke and two transitory ischemic attacks (TIA)). The following risk factors were present in the group with postoperative ICA occlusion: hypertension in 18, smoking in 10, hyperlipidemia in 8, diabetes mellitus in 9, history of stroke in 13, TIA in 3, heart attack in 4 and coronary disease in 3 patients; the respective figures in the control group were as follows: 25, 11, 16, 7, 7, 3, 4 and 3. There was no significant between-group difference in the presence of risk factors. Study results suggested that postoperative ICA occlusion was not caused by atherosclerosis risk factors but by perioperative complications.

[Dynamics of the internal carotid artery postoperative occlusion development]. / Dinamika nastanka postoperativne okluzije karotidne arterije.

The incidence of postoperative occlusion of carotid artery is low (0.5%-0.6%) and is rarely symptomatic. The aim of this study was to analyze the dynamics of the internal carotid artery (ICA) postoperative occlusion development. During one-year period, 8 000 patients were examined at Cerebrovascular Laboratory, University Department of Neurology. Among them, 33 patients (25 male and 8 female) with postoperative ICA occlusion were detected by color Doppler. We retrospectively analyzed the dynamics of ICA occlusion development from the first postoperative follow-up. The risk factors for atherosclerosis were analyzed. In 31 of 33 patients, postoperative ICA occlusion was recorded on the first follow-up examination, 3 months of carotid endarterectomy (18 right and 15 left). In 8 patients, combined occlusion of the common and ICA was detected (4 right and 4 left). One patient developed occlusion during the first year of follow-up, and in one patient it was detected 3 years after the surgery. Eight patients had also had surgery on the contralateral ICA and showed satisfactory findings. In 19 patients, mild atherosclerotic changes were found contralaterally, 5 had moderate stenosis, and 1 patient had subtotal ICA stenosis. The early onset of postoperative ICA occlusion most likely is not caused by atherosclerosis risk factors but by perioperative complications.

Superficial versus combined (deep and superficial) cervical plexus block for carotid endarterectomy.

It is not clear if any technique of regional anesthesia for carotid endarterectomy has an advantage over another. Therefore, we analyzed analgesic efficacy side effects and complication rate in patients undergoing carotid surgery either under combined (deep and superficial) or superficial cervical block alone. Data on 324 patients that received either combined (n = 107) or superficial (n = 216) cervical block were prospectively analyzed. Data were collected on the intraoperative Verbal Analog Score (VAS), arterial pressure and heart rate. Analgesic efficacy was additionally assessed by the dose of supplemental 1% lidocaine and fentanyl and time before the first analgesic was administered at Intensive Care Unit. During surgery, VAS was slightly higher in the superficial group (median 0.6, range 0-3.9) than in the combined group (median 0.4, range 0-2.4; p < 0.001). The median supplemental lidocaine dose during the operation was higher in the superficial block group (2.4 mg/kg, range 1.1-3.5) than in the combined group (2.1, range 0.5-3.4 mg/kg; p < 0.001). Supplemental fentanyl was also higher in the superficial block group. There were no between-group differences in the time before the first postoperative analgesic, postoperative VAS and block-related complication rate. Accordingly combined block provided a slightly better analgesia during the surgery which was probably clinically irrelevant. There was no difference in postoperative analgesia and hemodynamic stability. So far, this is the largest prospective study in which superficial cervical block was found to be as efficacious as combined block which is associated with a considerably higher risk of complications.

Biological value of melanoma inhibitory activity serum concentration in patients with primary skin melanoma.

Melanoma inhibitory activity (MIA) protein was identified in significant quantities in primary and metastatic malignant melanomas, where it has an important role in promoting tumor development and progression. Our hypothesis was that MIA serum level will be elevated in patients with metastases or local spreading of the disease before any symptom of such progression is clinically apparent. We compared MIA serum levels in two groups of patients with primary melanoma; those with positive as opposed to those with negative sentinel lymph nodes. In addition, MIA serum levels were studied in two control groups; patients with dysplastic nevi and patients with basal cell carcinoma. A blood sample was obtained from each patient included in the study and MIA levels were assessed using standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Patients with histologically positive sentinel lymph nodes, meaning that tumor cells were found in the lymph nodes, had much higher mean MIA values than any other patient group considered in this study. With mean value of 14.53 ng/ml, it was almost twice as high as mean MIA value in patients with histologically negative sentinel lymph nodes (7.32 ng/ml) and more than twice as high than any of the two control groups (P<0.001). However, neither the classification by Clarke nor the classification by Breslow could be used to distinguish patients with positive sentinel lymph nodes from those with negative sentinel lymph nodes. In our opinion, MIA serum level is the ideal test for screening the tumor spread to sentinel lymph nodes.

Carotid bifurcation position and branching angle in patients with atherosclerotic carotid disease.

Carotid artery bifurcation (CB) is the preferred site for development of atherosclerosis (AS) in extracranial cerebral arteries; internal carotid artery stenosis is the most common cause of ischemic stroke. The frequent atherosclerotic disease of CB may best be explained by the hemodynamic influence of complex blood flow that results from the unique geometry of the bifurcation. Few papers analyze all possible geometric structural characteristics of this bifurcation. While performing many carotid endarterectomies, we noticed that a certain correlation between CB height in the neck and its angle existed, that a larger angle is accompanied with increased frequency of elongation and kinking and that CB shape influences distribution of atherosclerosis. The purpose of this paper is to quantify and evaluate these clinical observations. Radiogrametric analysis of 154 bi-plane orthogonal aortic arch arteriograms of patients with symptomatic atherosclerotic carotid artery disease was performed and a total of 289 CBs were analyzed. The CB height in relation to cervical spine segments was measured and real angles of each bifurcation were calculated. A positive linear correlation between CB height and angle exists: the CB angle increases /decreases 3.34 degrees for each third of the cervical vertebral body height or intervertebral space height. The CB is positioned a little higher on the left side. The proximal border of the atherosclerotic process is found at the level of intersection of the axes of the common carotid artery branches in 92.6% of examined CBs. In lower CBs (with smaller angles) the proximal border was located in the last segment of the common carotid artery, while in high bifurcations (wider angles) the proximal border of the AS process is more distally in the blood flow, in the beginning of the internal carotid artery, and the process was more extensive. High CBs are more suitable for eversion endarterectomy while normal and low CBs are more suitable for open (classic) carotid endarterectomy. The influence of the geometric risk factor demands further investigation.