Prognostic value of left ventricular systolic function before vascular surgery: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Vascular surgery carries a high risk of post-operative cardiac complications. Recent studies have shown an association between asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction and increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). This systematic review aims to evaluate the prognostic value of left ventricular function as determined by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) measured by resting echocardiography before vascular surgery. METHODS: This review conformed to PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. PubMed, OVID Medline and Cochrane databases were searched from inception to 27 October 2022. Eligible studies assessed vascular surgery patients, with multivariable-adjusted or propensity-matched observational studies measuring LVEF via resting echocardiography and providing risk estimates for outcomes. The primary outcomes measures were all-cause mortality and congestive heart failure at 30 days. Secondary outcome included the composite outcome MACE. RESULTS: Ten observational studies were included (4872 vascular surgery patients). Studies varied widely in degree of left ventricular systolic dysfunction, symptom status, and outcome reporting, precluding reliable meta-analysis. Available data demonstrated a trend towards increased incidence of all-cause mortality, congestive heart failure and MACE in patients with pre-operative LVEF <50%. Methodological quality of the included studies was found to be of moderate quality according to the Newcastle Ottawa Checklist. CONCLUSION: The evidence surrounding the prognostic value of LVEF measurement before vascular surgery is currently weak and inconclusive. Larger scale, prospective studies are required to further refine cardiac risk prediction before vascular surgery.

A systematic review on nutcracker syndrome and proposed diagnostic algorithm.

OBJECTIVE: Nutcracker syndrome (NCS) is an increasingly recognized venous compressive disease. Although people with NCS can experience debilitating symptoms, making an accurate diagnosis can often be challenging owing to the broad spectrum of clinical presentations and radiologic findings. In the present systematic review, we assessed the most frequent clinical and radiologic criteria used in establishing a diagnosis of NCS and have proposed a comprehensive framework for clinical decision-making. METHODS: We performed a systematic review to identify all observational studies or case series conducted within the previous 10 years that had studied patients with a clinical and radiologic diagnosis of NCS. The extracted data included details related to the study design, participant demographics, presenting clinical features, and radiologic criteria. These details were compared between studies and synthesized to establish a comprehensive diagnostic framework that would be applicable to clinical practice. RESULTS: In the present review, we included 14 studies with a total of 384 patients with NCS. The most common clinical features of NCS were hematuria (69.5%), left flank or abdominal pain (48.4%), pelvic pain (23.1%), and varicocele (15.8%). Computed tomography and ultrasound were the most commonly used imaging modalities, with a threshold for left renal vein stenosis of >80% the most frequently used diagnostic parameter. Eight studies had used venography, with the renocaval pressure gradient the most commonly measured parameter. Two studies had reported using intravascular ultrasound. The findings from our review have shown that a thorough clinical workup of NCS should include critical evaluation of the presenting clinical features and exclusion of alternative diagnoses. All patients should undergo duplex ultrasound with or without the addition of computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Any patient considered for therapeutic intervention should also undergo diagnostic venography with measurement of the renocaval pressure gradient and, if available, intravascular ultrasound with measurement of the left renal vein diameters. CONCLUSIONS: NCS is a challenging condition in terms of the diagnosis and management both. We have proposed a comprehensive diagnostic framework based on the currently available literature to aid in clinical decision-making.

Delayed presentation of a rare and complex multi-vessel pulmonary arteriovenous fistula following penetrating chest-wall trauma.

The formation of a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) following penetrating chest trauma is a rare occurrence, often rapidly fatal or requiring emergency surgery. Even rarer still, is for the malformation to formed by an entangled and grossly tortuous network of multiple arteries and veins, with symptoms and eventual presentation to a medical facility taking place years after the initial injury. Without substantial literature available, and nil regarding instances of more than one involved artery and vein, we present the case of a complex left-sided PAVM, becoming symptomatic 15 years after a chest-wall stabbing. Clinical examination revealed hypoxia, tachycardia and an extracardiac bruit-prompting delineation with a computed tomography pulmonary angiogram and revealing the PAVM. Subsequent attempt at endovascular embolization was unsuccessful, though interrogation provided vital planning information for workup of urgent open-surgical ligation and resection. Surgery carries high morbidity and mortality, as does natural progression if left undealt.

A rare case of post-traumatic high-flow priapism requiring endovascular salvage with bilateral superselective microcoil embolization.

Post-traumatic high-flow priapism is a rare occurrence, with potentially debilitating long-term erectile dysfunction if left unaddressed. Even rarer, however, is for the priapism symptoms to be caused by a single cavernosal arterial pseudoaneurysm, with feeding vessels from the distal branched vessels of 'both' the left and right internal pudendal arteries. To the best of our knowledge, we present the first documented case of endovascular salvage utilizing superselective microcoil embolization in the treatment of high-flow priapism caused by a singular pseudoaneurysm with bilateral inflow. Timing of symptoms, interpretation of imaging, multidisciplinary discussions, procedural risk, arterial anatomy and choice of embolic agent were all careful considerations in this case. Following embolization, this young gentleman ultimately had a successful angiographic result, normalization of his cavernosal artery peak systolic velocity on ultrasound and a full return to normal erectile function by 6 months.