Vascular and Endovascular Surgery - Mauriziano Hospital - Turin
emaferrero@libero.it
Emanuele Ferrero From 21/12/2008 is a reviewer of "Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine" From 30/06/2011 is a reviewer of the journal "Updates in Surgery" From 16/12/2011 is a reviewer of “ International Journal of Stroke” From 26/01/2012 is a reviewer of “Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology” From 11/02/2012 is a reviewer of “Journal of Clinical Imaging Science” From 26/03/2012 is a reviewer of “European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EJCTS)” From 26/03/2012 is a reviewer of "Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery (ICVTS)”
Abstract: Thoracic, arch, and proximal descending thoracic aorta diseases are still considered an enormous challenge. The hybrid approach developed in recent years (supra-aortic trunks debranching and thoracic endovascular repair aortic repair; TEVAR) may improve the morbidity and mortality of the population at risk. The aim of this study was to analyze retrospectively our experience in the hybrid treatment of aortic-arch aneurysms and dissections.
Abstract: A 48-year-old woman was referred to us for a pulsatile and painful mass on the right leg after a trauma occurred 2 months earlier. The duplex scan revealed the presence of an aneurysm of the perforating peroneal artery. The patient underwent an endovascular coil embolization of the aneurysm. The duplex-scan follow-up showed the patency of the peroneal vessel and the complete aneurysm thrombosis. The patient was discharged in good condition without pain. In literature, only four cases of aneurysm of perforating peroneal artery aneurysm, all with a clear traumatic etiology, are reported. In this case, the endovascular treatment was safe and effective.
Abstract: The aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) aneurysm is rare; however, the risk of rupture and thromboembolism is high, with a postrupture mortality rate of 50%. In this report, we have described two cases of this anomaly. In the first case, a 62-year-old male patient presented with a symptomatic aneurysm of ARSA (maximum diameter of 4 cm) causing chest pain with dyspnea during moderate physical effort. Surgical treatment was performed with aneurysmal exclusion and direct anastomosis of the two heads of the subclavian artery. In the second case, a 72-year-old male patient presented with a symptomatic aneurysm (maximum diameter of 5.1 cm) of ARSA causing dysphagia and dysphonia. In this case, a one-stage hybrid treatment was performed: a bilateral carotid-subclavian bypass was associated with intentional occlusion of both subclavian arteries (by plug positioning) during thoracic endovascular stent-grafting procedures. In both cases, the peri/postoperative course was uneventful and the technical results in our series were excellent at long-term follow-up. Surgical treatment can be safely performed in patients with low operative risk or whenever endovascular technique is not suitable. The ARSA aneurysm, with appropriate anatomy, can be successfully treated by hybrid treatment (combined surgical and endovascular approach). We reckon that this minimally invasive technique helps avoid thoracotomy and could be the treatment of choice in high-risk patients.
Abstract: Congenital vascular malformations represent a wide number of diseases with a great variability of clinical features. The association between congenital vascular malformations and peripheral aneurysms is very rare. The present study reports a case of giant superficial femoral artery aneurysm (7-cm-long) associated with Parkes-Weber syndrome (capillary malformation, multiple arteriovenous fistulas [AVFs], skeletal hypertrophy of the affected limb) treated by positioning two covered self-expandable endoprostheses after embolization of AVFs with Gianturco coils. The peri- and postoperative course was uneventful and the postprocedural angiography showed the complete exclusion of the aneurysm sac. At last follow-up, after 87 months, the duplex scan and computed tomography scan showed regular patency of the vessels with thrombosis of the aneurysm sac and the presence of a large number of AVFs. The association between Parkes-Weber syndrome and peripheral aneurysms represents a very unusual entity. The lack of evidence does not allow the establishment of the most suitable treatment for this disease. Endovascular approach associated with previous embolization of AVFs may represent a valid alternative to traditional surgical repair, which is still burdened by a high percentage of complications and failures.
Abstract: Five patients were treated for ruptured visceral artery aneurysms during the last 9 years, including two splenic and three pancreaticoduodenal aneurysms. The average size of aneurysm was 2.6 cm (range: 1.5-5 cm). All patients underwent open surgical treatment. There was one operative death. After a mean follow-up of 46.6 months, there were no cases of mortality or secondary complications. The authors conclude that operative treatment of ruptured visceral artery aneurysms is durable.
Abstract: Free-floating thrombus in the internal carotid artery (FFT-ICA) is a rare condition and its real incidence is unknown. The most common etiology is a complication of an atherosclerotic plaque, but several medical conditions can be responsible. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze our experience with carotid endarterectomy in the management of FFT-ICA and also to analyze the patient outcome.
Abstract: A 69-year-old man was referred to our facility owing to the sudden onset of a compression-like pain in the right leg, without limb-threatening acute ischemia. The duplex scan examination, followed by a selective leg angiography, showed the presence of a peroneal artery aneurysm. AÂ diagnosis of mycotic aneurysm was made on the basis of the patient's clinical condition, positive blood cultures, and the unusual location of the lesion. Endovascular repair was performed by using a coil embolization and covered stent release. The patient was discharged in good general condition with complete pain relief. In previously published data, only four cases of peroneal artery aneurysm with a mycotic etiology have been reported. In this case, the endovascular treatment was safe and resolutive.
Abstract: Between 2000 and 2010, 32 patients (17 males; mean age: 64.7 [range: 18-85] years) with visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs) were treated in our center. The site of aneurysmal disease was: splenic artery (18), hepatic artery (5), superior mesenteric artery (3), pancreaticoduodenal artery (3), celiac axis (2), and gastroduodenal (1). Six patients (18.75%) presented with an aneurysm rupture. Nine cases received an endovascular treatment. Primary technical success was achieved in six patients. Failures included one case of immediate stent occlusion, one stent migration, and one failed attempt of embolization. In 24 cases, the surgical treatment was performed successfully. The total survival rate was 90.6% (in urgency: 75%; in election: 95.8%). A follow-up period of 34.7 months (range: 2-117 months) showed good results. Because of the potential risk of rupture, VAAs should be treated. A new endovascular technology based on a multilayer stent could provide us with a new alternative to VAA treatment, guaranteeing both aneurysmatic sac thrombosis and the correct perfusion of the organs. However, this new technology is not suitable for all aneurysms and requires a specific training and learning curve. In subjects with a low surgical risk, surgery guarantees a definitive and long-lasting repair with a good organ perfusion.
Abstract: Aortoesophageal fistula is rare but fatal if untreated. Open thoracic surgery is associated with high operative mortality and morbidity. We report a case of a 77-year-old man who, treated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for descending thoracic aneurysm in another center, after an acute episode of hematemesis and melena was referred to our center. The total body computed tomography scan showed the presence of reperfusion of the descending thoracic aneurysm sac (8.8 cm in diameter) in the proximal and distal TEVAR landing zone (endoleak type I) without clear signs of fistulous tract with the esophageal lumen. The patient underwent new TEVAR inside previous implantation with proximal landing very close to left subclavian artery and distal landing just above celiac trunk. For the presence of a tracheoesophageal fistula, an esophageal endoprosthesis was implanted few days later, and a jejunostomy was performed. At 30 days, patient was in good general condition, but he died at 3 months' follow-up. Aortoesophageal fistula is a rare and usually fatal condition; early recognition and TEVAR treatment prevent immediate exsanguination in patients, but after deployment of the endograft, most patients are at risk for infectious complications. Cessation of bleeding and restoration of circulation is of paramount urgency, but infectious diseases and esophageal repair remain open problems.
Abstract: We wished to analyze our initial experience with the Cardiatis Multilayer Stent for visceral artery aneurysms. Two males with a hepatic artery aneurysm (34 mm and 48 mm in diameter, respectively) were treated, via a percutaneous femoral approach, with multilayer stents. We deployed the stent in front of the aneurysm neck, covering the hepatic artery branches. At 12 months, a computed tomography scan showed thrombosis of the aneurysmal sac and patency of all the branches of the hepatic artery. The Multilayer Stent appears to be a viable alternative for the treatment of visceral artery aneurysms in patients at high surgical risk, but long-term follow-up is needed.
Abstract: We treated two patients with asymptomatic high grade internal carotid artery stenosis, by carotid artery stenting (CAS) with embolus protection filters 75% and 70%, respectively (North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy criteria). The immediate cranial and carotid angiogram showed a good result with regular patency of carotid and cerebral vessels. In both cases, the CAS procedure was complicated with symptomatic embolism, in one case 6 h after CAS and the other one occurring after seven days. The duplex scan (DS) control revealed the presence of plaque protrusion intra-stent in both cases. An early treatment with stent removal and carotid surgery was performed <24 h after the presenting symptoms (in one case a standard endarterectomy in the other and a carotid bypass was performed). Both patients were discharged without neurological deficit. At neurological follow-up at 30 days the patients were in good general condition without neurological symptoms or deficit and the DS follow-up at 30 days and six to 12 months show the patency of carotid vessels. These two cases demonstrate that plaque protrusion is a possible complication of CAS, where symptoms which may occur either immediately or later and can be managed successfully with urgent surgical intervention of carotid stent removal.
Abstract: The early risk of stroke after transient ischemic attack (TIA)/stroke is of the order of 5-10% at 1 week and 10-20% at 3 months. Even if carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is the treatment of choice in symptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis, the timing of carotid intervention after acute stroke is not yet codified. The authors want to determinate whether early CEA is safely carried out in the first few hours (<48 hours) successive to the nondebilitating neurological event and whether the outcome (TIA/stroke/death) in these cases is comparable with the results of those treated by delayed/deferred surgery (range, 48 hours-24 weeks).
Abstract: The rate of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing open repair for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) still remains too high, ranging from 2% to 40%. In recent years "hybrid" techniques have been developed (EVAR and retrograde surgical revascularization) for the treatment of TAAA. This procedure has proved to be more effective to reduce the high risks of complication related to this kind of operation resulting in a lower morbidity and mortality rates when compared to traditional surgical techniques. A 77-year old patient who had previously been undergone surgical exclusion of a TAAA by using a straight aorto to aortic bypass graft (end to end fashion) with visceral patch, was referred to our behalf for the presence of a recurrent Crawford Type IV aortic aneurysm expansion of 10.5 cm length on diameter. Considering the serious co-morbidities of the patient and the high risk of mortality related to the traditional redo surgery, the hybrid technique was considered to repair this recurrent aneurysm by using a surgical debranching of the visceral and renal arteries from the aorta associated to the their retrograde revascularization before to perform the endovascular exclusion of the aneurysm at the same time in a single operation. Over a period of 12 months the patient was alive in good health, a follow-up by computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed the correct position of the endograft, without endoleaks, the patency of the bypasses and the reduction on diameter of the aneurysmal sac. The combined hybrid procedure (endovascular and open surgical approach) for treatment of complex TAAA is to be considered a feasible and effective surgical technique, but a larger number of cases and a longer follow-up are required either to validate this procedure or to get a more significant and statistical comparison to the traditional approach.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Health outcomes and costs are both important when deciding whether general (GA) or local (LA) anaesthesia should be used during carotid endarterectomy. The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of carotid endarterectomy under LA or GA in patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic carotid stenosis for whom surgery was advised. METHODS: Using patient-level data from a large, multinational, randomized controlled trial (GALA Trial) time free from stroke, myocardial infarction or death, and costs incurred were evaluated. The cost-effectiveness outcome was incremental cost per day free from an event, within a time horizon of 30 days. RESULTS: A patient undergoing carotid endarterectomy under LA incurred fewer costs (mean difference pound178) and had a slightly longer event-free survival (difference 0.16 days, but the 95 per cent confidence limits around this estimate were wide) compared with a patient who had GA. Existing uncertainty did not have a significant impact on the decision to adopt LA, over a wide range of willingness-to-pay values. CONCLUSION: If cost-effectiveness was considered in the decision to adopt GA or LA for carotid endarterectomy, given the evidence provided by this study, LA is likely to be the favoured treatment for patients for whom either anaesthetic approach is clinically appropriate.
Abstract: This study evaluated the feasibility of open infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery under peridural and spinal anesthesia (vigil patient) alone in high-risk patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ineligible for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) or open surgery in general anesthesia. Between January 2005 and July 2007, seven patients underwent open AAA surgery with combined spinal and epidural anesthesia ([CSEA] without intubation) alone. Regional abdominal anesthesia was established by spinal anesthesia at L2-3 (levobupivacaine plus fentanyl) associated with peridural anesthesia at T7-8 (levobupivacaine). In this series (6 males and 1 female) the average age was 76.5 years (70-87); the AAA measured 7 cm in diameter on average (range 6-12.2). The survival rate was 100% (7/7 patients) at 6-12 months postoperative; no morbidities occurred during the postoperative phase. Owing to the small size of the series, no statistically significant conclusions can be drawn; even so, repair surgery was found to be effective, without the occurrence of morbidities or mortalities. In high-risk patients (severe COPD), open surgical repair of infrarenal AAA may be done with CSEA alone without intubation when, because of the patient's health, general anesthesia would pose too high a risk or when EVAR is unfeasible. Furthermore, the authors believe that surgical AAA repair under CSEA in vigil patients is a valid treatment option in those subjects with a high operative risk (severe COPD) and untreatable by either open AAA surgery under general anesthesia or EVAR.
Abstract: AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate early and long term results obtained with a retrospective review in 8-year experience with surgical/endovascular treatment of visceral artery aneurysm (VAA) in a single center. METHODS: Between 2001 and 2008 in our vascular surgery unit visceral artery aneurysms were diagnosed with CT and/or angiography in 17 patients (9 male), mean age 66 years old (range: 18 to 78). All patients underwent surgical or endovascular treatment of splanchnic artery aneurysm. In 14 patients the localization was single, in 3 it was multiple. The arteries involved were: splenic artery 53%, superior mesenteric artery 17.7%, pancreaticoduodenal artery 17.7%, celiac axis 5.8% and hepatic artery 5.8%. The 29.4% of the patients presented with aneurysm rupture. Coil embolizzation was used in 11.6% of the cases while surgery was used in 88.4% of the cases. RESULTS: Total survival rate was 94.2%, the survival rate in emergency cases was 80% while it was 100% in elective cases. Follow-up revealed excellent results after an average of 46 months (range: 8-102). CONCLUSION: The worst prognosis for ruptured cases associated with the good result of the surgical/endovascular treatment in elective cases, suggests active interaction for such pathologies; in emergency cases the mortality incidence is too high. Today endovascular treatment presents lower morbidity and mortality rates and shorter hospitalization, but surgery is still a good therapeutic option for the treatment of the VAA, in subjects with low surgical risk, determining a definitive and long-lasting correction of the aneurysmal pathology and guaranteeing the correct perfusion of the organs, by grafts; moreover many aneurysms are not suitable for endovascular treatment.
Abstract: True aneurysms of tibial artery are rare occurrences and their rupture is really rare. We report the case of a 59-year-old man who, after an episode of bacterial endocarditis, presented a posterior tibial aneurysm formation evolved in rupture. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a true giant aneurysm rupture of the posterior tibial artery (diameter, 6 cm). The treatment consisted of aneurysmectomy and surgical arterial ligation. A follow-up of 24 months was performed with good results.
Abstract: Aim. Published data regarding learning curve in carotid stenting (CAS) reported a mortality/stroke rate higher than 5%. Starting a CAS experience with low rate of complication, comparable to those of surgery, is possible and Authors prove it.
Methods From 28/02/07 to 30/04/09 two vascular surgeons performed 297 CAS (41.9% of all carotid treatments) with an expert proctor. We have identified three essential aspects of CAS: a) patients selection; b) choice of devices and length of procedures; c) postoperative medical treatment.
Results. 297 procedures were performed (301 intention to treat); we reported 2 major strokes (0.67%) followed by death in 1 case. In 3.7% of cases we reported post-procedural TIAâs. 4 patients required a surgical treatment of common femoral artery.
Conclusion This study proves that it is possible start CAS experience in a centre with high volume of carotid surgery with a low rate of adverse events.
Abstract: Aim. Retrospective study describing the surgical strategies adopted in treatment of RAA and the medium and long-term results, with regard to renal functionality and hypertension.
Methods. Between 01/01/1997 and 31/12/2008, 15 patients (10F/5M) with RAA underwent surgical reconstruction of the renal artery. Median age 55 years (range 29-82 years). Average RAA diameter: 2.7 cm (range 1.5 - 4 cm). The 93.4% of cases was performed in election, 1 in emergency for the rupture of a concomitant iuxtarenal aortic aneurysm. In 60% of cases the left renal artery was involved; in 6.6% of cases the localization of the aneurysm was at the origin of the renal artery while in 93.4% of cases the localization of RAA was in the mean-distal region (8 cases at the bifurcation, 4 cases in the mean-distal segment, 2 cases in a primary branch of the renal artery and hilus). All RAAs were monolateral (in 13 cases it was single, in 2 cases multiple). The 73.3% of patients suffered from high blood pressure; in 4 cases a renal artery stenosis was associated.
Results. Surgical technique: 5 aneurysmorraphy, 1 aneurysmorraphy associated with end-to-end reno-renal anastomosis (double RAA), 1 ex vivo repair and renal autotransplantation (RAA in the ilar branches of renal artery), 4 bypasses, 4 aneurysmectomy and end-to-end anastomosis. No nephrectomy was performed. Total survival rate was 93.4% , one patient died for the rupture of a concomitant iuxtarenal aortic aneurysm treated in emergency. Follow-up consisted in clinical and ultrasound examinations at 1, 6, 12 months and yearly thereafter; early and long term results showed the patency of the renal artery treated in 100% of cases (alive patients), blood pressure levels improved or totally normalized in 45.4% of the 11 patients suffering from hypertension, creatinine level improved in 40% of cases (50% of cases with previous renal artery stenosis).
Conclusion. Elective surgical treatment of RAA still remains an adequate therapeutic option and confirms its effectiveness in the long term follow-up in the absence of morbidities or mortality, in 45.4% arterial hypertension improved and in the 40% of cases serum creatinine level improved.
Abstract: We report the case of a 54-year-old man with acute stroke caused by left internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion secondary to pleural mesothelioma, discovered later. The cranial computed tomography scan revealed a left hemisphere ischemic lesion. At neurological examination, the modified National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (mNIHSS) score was 9. The carotid duplex scan (DS) showed a complete thrombotic occlusion of the left ICA. The patient underwent emergency carotid thrombectomy. The screening tests revealed thrombocytosis, hyperfibrinogenemia, increased C-reactive protein values, and multiple left pleural mesothelioma nodularity confirmed at the immunohistochemical investigation. After surgery, the patient's neurological symptoms improved, with an mNIHSS score of 3. At 30 and 120 days, the DS follow-up showed regular patency of the ICA.
Abstract: We report the cases of two patients with mobile floating carotid plaques (MFCP). Two men were referred to us for carotid investigation after trauma. The duplex ultrasonography scan (DUS) showed the presence of a mobile floating plaque into the internal carotid artery associated with a stenosis of 40% and 65%, respectively (ECST criteria). Both patients were asymptomatic. Early CEA was performed (<24 h after admission). Intraoperatively it was confirmed the presence of MFCP. The patients were discharged without neurological symptoms two days postoperatively. At the follow-up the DUS showed the patency of the CEA without restenosis or residual flap.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The effect of carotid endarterectomy in lowering the risk of stroke ipsilateral to severe atherosclerotic carotid-artery stenosis is offset by complications during or soon after surgery. We compared surgery under general anaesthesia with that under local anaesthesia because prediction and avoidance of perioperative strokes might be easier under local anaesthesia than under general anaesthesia. METHODS: We undertook a parallel group, multicentre, randomised controlled trial of 3526 patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic carotid stenosis from 95 centres in 24 countries. Participants were randomly assigned to surgery under general (n=1753) or local (n=1773) anaesthesia between June, 1999 and October, 2007. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with stroke (including retinal infarction), myocardial infarction, or death between randomisation and 30 days after surgery. Analysis was by intention to treat. The trial is registered with Current Control Trials number ISRCTN00525237. FINDINGS: A primary outcome occurred in 84 (4.8%) patients assigned to surgery under general anaesthesia and 80 (4.5%) of those assigned to surgery under local anaesthesia; three events per 1000 treated were prevented with local anaesthesia (95% CI -11 to 17; risk ratio [RR] 0.94 [95% CI 0.70 to 1.27]). The two groups did not significantly differ for quality of life, length of hospital stay, or the primary outcome in the prespecified subgroups of age, contralateral carotid occlusion, and baseline surgical risk. INTERPRETATION: We have not shown a definite difference in outcomes between general and local anaesthesia for carotid surgery. The anaesthetist and surgeon, in consultation with the patient, should decide which anaesthetic technique to use on an individual basis. FUNDING: The Health Foundation (UK) and European Society of Vascular Surgery.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Recent meta-analyses confirm an advantage to patch angioplasty during carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and suggest a benefit from routine shunting. GALA Trial (RCT: general [GA] versus local [LA] anaesthesia for CEA) collaborators (non-UK [European] and UK) were surveyed to assess current practice techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Postal questionnaires determined: shunt usage, monitoring techniques dictating shunt deployment, criteria for patching and the influence of anaesthetic technique upon these decisions. RESULTS: 157/216 surgeons (73%) replied. For UK surgeons (n=76) performing GA CEA a shunt was always, never, or selectively used by 73.6%, 4.2% and 22.2% respectively. Figures for non-UK surgeons (n=77) were 20.8% (p<0.0001), 26% (p<0.0002) and 53.2% (p<0.0001). When shunting selectively, fewer UK surgeons relied on stump pressure (26.4% v 48.1%; p<0.0064) with TCD more widely used (38.9% v 11.7%; p<0.0001). Shunting criteria during LA CEA were the same for both groups (impaired awake-testing). Routine patching was commoner amongst UK surgeons (GA: 76.4% v 34.2%, p<0.0001; LA: 70.1% v 31.9%, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that more UK surgeons have adopted current suggestions for improving CEA outcomes. Future analysis of unblinded GALA Trial data may provide further information about the impact of different policies for shunting and patching.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Patients who have severe narrowing at or near the origin of the internal carotid artery as a result of atherosclerosis have a high risk of ischaemic stroke ipsilateral to the arterial lesion. Previous trials have shown that carotid endarterectomy improves long-term outcomes, particularly when performed soon after a prior transient ischaemic attack or mild ischaemic stroke. However, complications may occur during or soon after surgery, the most serious of which is stroke, which can be fatal. It has been suggested that performing the operation under local anaesthesia, rather than general anaesthesia, may be safer. Therefore, a prospective, randomised trial of local versus general anaesthesia for carotid endarterectomy was proposed to determine whether type of anaesthesia influences peri-operative morbidity and mortality, quality of life and longer term outcome in terms of stroke-free survival. METHODS/DESIGN: A two-arm, parallel group, multicentre randomised controlled trial with a recruitment target of 5000 patients. For entry into the study, in the opinion of the responsible clinician, the patient requiring an endarterectomy must be suitable for either local or general anaesthesia, and have no clear indication for either type. All patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic internal carotid stenosis for whom open surgery is advised are eligible. There is no upper age limit. Exclusion criteria are: no informed consent; definite preference for local or general anaesthetic by the clinician or patient; patient unlikely to be able to co-operate with awake testing during local anaesthesia; patient requiring simultaneous bilateral carotid endarterectomy; carotid endarterectomy combined with another operation such as coronary bypass surgery; and, the patient has been randomised into the trial previously. Patients are randomised to local or general anaesthesia by the central trial office. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients alive, stroke free (including retinal infarction) and without myocardial infarction 30 days post-surgery. Secondary outcomes include the proportion of patients alive and stroke free at one year; health related quality of life at 30 days; surgical adverse events, re-operation and re-admission rates; the relative cost of the two methods of anaesthesia; length of stay and intensive and high dependency bed occupancy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN00525237.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The effect of carotid endarterectomy in lowering the risk of stroke ipsilateral to severe atherosclerotic carotid-artery stenosis is offset by complications during or soon after surgery. We compared surgery under general anaesthesia with that under local anaesthesia because prediction and avoidance of perioperative strokes might be easier under local anaesthesia than under general anaesthesia. METHODS: We undertook a parallel group, multicentre, randomised controlled trial of 3526 patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic carotid stenosis from 95 centres in 24 countries. Participants were randomly assigned to surgery under general (n=1753) or local (n=1773) anaesthesia between June, 1999 and October, 2007. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with stroke (including retinal infarction), myocardial infarction, or death between randomisation and 30 days after surgery. Analysis was by intention to treat. The trial is registered with Current Control Trials number ISRCTN00525237. FINDINGS: A primary outcome occurred in 84 (4.8%) patients assigned to surgery under general anaesthesia and 80 (4.5%) of those assigned to surgery under local anaesthesia; three events per 1000 treated were prevented with local anaesthesia (95% CI -11 to 17; risk ratio [RR] 0.94 [95% CI 0.70 to 1.27]). The two groups did not significantly differ for quality of life, length of hospital stay, or the primary outcome in the prespecified subgroups of age, contralateral carotid occlusion, and baseline surgical risk. INTERPRETATION: We have not shown a definite difference in outcomes between general and local anaesthesia for carotid surgery. The anaesthetist and surgeon, in consultation with the patient, should decide which anaesthetic technique to use on an individual basis. FUNDING: The Health Foundation (UK) and European Society of Vascular Surgery.
Abstract: A 68-year-old female patient with a suspected aneurysm of the inferior thyroid artery was admitted to the authors' Unit of emergency after an accident. The echography of the thyroid revealed a ''suspected'' aneurismal dilation of the inferior thyroid artery (max. diameter 30 mm.). The patient underwent an angiograph of the supra-aortic trunk, which detected a small round formation at the base of the left inferior thyroid artery (found to be unaffected by aneurismal pathologies), the aneurysm was excluded by coil embolization. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged in one day without complications. The follow-up with colour Duplex, at 4-8 months, showed the normal vascularization of the neck arterial vessels and was confirmed the absence of aneurysmal dilations. Aneurysms of the inferior thyroid artery are extremely rare, in scientific literature only 28 cases have been reported of which 32.9% regard ruptured aneurysms in the thyroid artery and 10.7% led to mortality. They may cause dysphagia and/or respiratory difficulties. Therefore, treatment is always recommended, even in asymptomatic cases, by surgical exclusion or coil embolization.
Abstract: A male patient was admitted for a pulsating mass in the region of the right groin. The colour Duplex showed an aneurysm in the right profunda femoris artery (diameter 9 cm x 7cm). Surgery was performed with the exclusion of the femoral aneurysm and it was carried out a ligation of the proximal and distal osti of the artery above and below the aneurysm. In the post-operative phase there were wound complication (cicatrization delay for suffering of the cutaneous margins without infection) and a modest lymphorrea that stopped after 2 day. The patient was discharged 7 days after the operation. The follow up with Colour Duplex, at 6 â 12 â 18 â 24 months, showed the normal vascularization of the arterial vessels of the right lower limb and was confirmed the absence of new aneurysmal dilations. In scientific literature, only 0.5-1% of arteriosclerotic aneurysms in peripheral vessels occur in the profunda femoris artery. Generally the aneurysms of the profunda femoris artery are characterised by a rapidly growing pulsating mass, with a high risk of rupture, distal embolization and peripheral ischemia. The standard approach is to use surgery (exclusion of the aneurysm associated with a by-pass or tying of the arterial stumps) or endovascular therapy. True aneurysm of the profunda artery can reach significant dimensions, in literature less than 60 cases have been reported but few cases are reported with this exceptional size.
Abstract: From January 2000 to August 2006, 623 patients were treated for abdominal infrarenal aortic aneurysm (AAA) at the Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Department: 114 patients underwent an endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and 509 an ''open'' surgery under general anesthesia. In nine cases it was necessary to carry out a deferred EVAR conversion to open repair: eigth cases were treated under general anaesthesia, one case by open repair surgery under combined spinal and epidural anaesthesia (CSEA). This article describes the clinical case of a 75-year-old male, treated five years before with a bifurcated aortic endoprosthesis, with an AAA with a maximum diameter of 8 cm, detected at the last computed tomography follow-up. For the high risk of postoperative complications due to respiratory failure (severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD) an endoprosthesis explantation under combined anesthesia was carried out (CSEA: rachianesthesia at the level of L2-3 associated with the placement of an epidural catheter T7-8) in an aware patient. Surgical access was laparotomic trasverse and exclusion of the aneurysm was done through an aorto-aortic bypass in Dacron prothesis. The patient supported the CSEA well and pain was absent both during the operation and in the postoperative phase. He did not develop respiratory complications neither morbidities-mortalities. At 6-12-18 months from discharge, at the follow-up examination, the patient is in good general health and surgical results were good. The authors have used the same anesthetic technique to treat seven other patients with AAA and severe COPD, unsuitable for exclusion of the AAA through EVAR, with analogous results. Even though it is impossible to draw statistically relevant conclusions or carry out comparisons with other techniques, it can be asserted that the surgical method of repair is effective, without complications and without morbid-mortalities. Furthermore, the authors believe that the surgical reconstruction of AAA using combined anesthesia in aware patients is a valid alternative treatment for those subjects with a high operative risk (severe COPD), untreatable either by open repair surgery of AAA, under general anesthesia, or by EVAR.
Abstract: An 83-year-old male was admitted with persistent pain in the abdominal-lumbar region. The patient had been suffering from lumbar pain for about 4 months, which had been treated with analgesic drug therapy without any significant improvement. The patient immediately underwent a thoracic-abdominal contrast-enhanced CT scan, which showed an AAA with a diameter of 18.1 cm and an aneurysm of the common iliac artery (3 cm). During CT the patient went into cardiopulmonary arrest, a cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed and the patient regained vital functions after 5 minutes. Methods The surgical treatment started with severe state of shock of the patient (hemodynamic instability, severe acidosis, anuria; Hb 6 gr/dl, K:6.7 mEq/l; pH .6.9; Base excess. â10 mEq/l; AST: 1210 U/l;ALT: 988 U/l; Creatinemia: 5mg/dl). During the operation an inflamed infrarenal AAA was detected, with a plugged rupture and the presence of aortocaval fistulae associated with degeneration of the posterior aortic wall. Surgical exclusion of the aneurysm was performed and it was insertion of an aorta-bisiliac by-pass in Dacron prosthesis 16 x 8 mm. The post-operative phase, in the general intensive care unit, was characterised by progressive multiple organ failure which determined the exitus of the patient on post-operative day 2. Aneurysms of the sub-renal AAA can reach remarkable dimensions, but this case must be considered exceptional.
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of iloprost, in addition to surgery, on the outcome of acute lower limb ischemia (ALLI). DESIGN: Post-hoc analysis of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. METHODS: In the context of the ILAILL (ILoprost in Acute Ischemia of Lower Limbs) study, 192 elderly patients (>70 years old) undergoing surgery for ALLI were assigned to receive perioperative iloprost (intra-arterial, intra-operative bolus of 3000 ng, plus intravenous infusion of 0.5-2.0 ng/kg/min for six hours/day for 4-7 days following surgery), or placebo (iloprost: n=100; placebo: n=92). Patients were followed-up for three-months following surgical revascularization. RESULTS: The combined incidence of death and amputation (primary study end-point) was significantly reduced in patients treated with iloprost (16.0% vs 27.2% in the placebo group; hazard ratio 1.99, 95% confidence interval 1.05-3.75, p=0.03). A statistically significant lower mortality (6.0%) was reported in patients receiving iloprost, compared to controls (15.2%) (hazard ratio 2.93, 1.11-7.71, p=0.03). The overall incidence of death and major cardiovascular events was lower in patients receiving iloprost compared to those assigned placebo (24.0% and 35.9%, respectively), at the limits of statistical significance (relative risk 1.64, 0.97-2.79, p=0.06). CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm the poor outcome in elderly patients with ALLI. Based on a subgroup analysis iloprost, as an adjuvant to surgery, appears to reduce the combined end-point of death and amputation.
Abstract: Left axillary artery occlusion due to complicated humerus fracture in a patient affected by subclavian artery chronic occlusion: case report. The authors hereby describe a case report of left axillary artery thrombosis linked to humerus fracture in a 87-year-old patient affected by homolateral chronic occlusion of the pre-vertebral subclavian artery with chronic respiratory failure and chronic myocardial infarction With relation to the serious peripheral ischaemia and despite the high surgical risk, a surgical operation was advised: humerus osteosynthesis and left carotid common arterya left omeral artery ePTFE graft. In the period following the surgical operation, the angiography showed that the patient presented a regular by-pass patency and a normal arm sensibility and motility. During the hospitalisation, which was prolonged due to the delayed transfer in a rehab structure, twenty days after the surgical operation, the patient began to show respiratory insufficiency linked to the insurgence of bronchopulmonary infection which, despite the convenient treatment, caused a progressive and ineluctable deterioration of the patient general conditions, who died 30 days after the surgery.
Abstract: SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: High rate of complications has been reported following revascularization for acute limb ischemia (ALI). No adjuvant pharmacologic treatment, apart from anticoagulation and standard perioperative care, has been shown clinically effective. OBJECTIVE: Aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the prostacyclin analog iloprost as adjuvant to surgery for ALI. METHODS: A total of 300 patients were randomly assigned to receive perioperative iloprost (intra-arterial, intraoperative bolus of 3000 ng, plus intravenous infusion of 0.5-2.0 ng/kg/min for 6 hours/day for 4-7 days following surgery), or placebo. The primary endpoint was the combined incidence of death and amputation at 3-month follow-up. Secondary endpoints were the incidence of each single major complication, total event rate, symptomatology, and tolerability. RESULTS: The combined incidence of death and amputation was 19.9% in the placebo and 14.1% in the iloprost group (relative risk, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.89-2.75, P = 0.12, Cox regression analysis). A statistically significant lower mortality (4.7%) was reported in patients receiving iloprost, compared with controls (10.6%; relative risk, 2.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-6.37, P = 0.03). The overall incidence of fatal plus major cardiovascular events was 33.1% and 22.8% in placebo and iloprost groups, respectively (relative risk, 1.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-2.49, P = 0.03). No serious adverse reactions occurred after iloprost administration, nor differences in the incidence of bleeding or hypotension between treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although at lower levels than previously reported, our results confirm the severity of ALI. Iloprost as adjuvant to surgery significantly reduced mortality and overall major event rate. Further data are needed to support this finding, and to face a still open medical issue.
Abstract: AIM: Aggressive cardiac assessment before aortic abdominal aneurysm (AAA) surgery is indicated for patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD). Assessment of intermediate and moderate risk patients is still under debate. The purpose of the study was to prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of stress echocardiography (SE) in the detection of CAD in patients undergoing AAA surgery who have no symptoms and/or signs of CAD, but who have risk factors for it. METHODS: Patients with 1 or more risk factors for CAD underwent SE. All patients with positive SE underwent coronary arteriography, and, when indicated, treatment. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were calculated for SE by comparing results to coronary arteriography. Moreover, major perioperative cardiac events were recorded. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients with AAA and risk factors for CAD were studied. SE was positive in 9 cases, including 7 presenting critical CAD on the basis of coronary arteriography. One major cardiac event (1.1%), a nonfatal myocardial infarction, occurred in 1 patient with positive SE and non-critical, single-vessel CAD. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of SE proved to be 100%, 98%, 78%, 100%, and 92%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Positive SE should be considered a valid method for testing high-risk patients for CAD. The low rate of major cardiac events in this series suggests that cardiac assessment by SE and selective coronary arteriography prior to AAA surgery is effective in asymptomatic patients with one or more risk factors.
Abstract: Atherosclerosis can be thought of as a complex process involving many aspects of the patientâs life, ranging from sex, age, and genetics to lifestyle and nutrition. In the last 10 years, there has been a wide expansion of the â-omicsâ sciences. Such sciences have proven very effective and accurate in the analysis of complex systems, where the analysis of many factors might help a better understanding of the system itself. Among all the â-omicsâ sciences, metabolomic and metabonomic are gaining increasing interest. Metabonomics quantitatively measures living systems undergoing the effects of diseases. Unlike genomics and proteomics, metabonomics focuses on the multiparameter evaluation of a living complex system by studying its overall physiological profile. Metabonomics can be thought of as a multiparameter profiling technique of each individual.
We applied metabonomic techniques to the analysis of hematochemical data relative to a population of atherosclerotic patients. Being atherosclerosis a complex disease, we aimed at finding specific correlates of the atherosclerotic outcome by investigating the patientsâ metabolic variables. We coupled hematochemical data to instrumental variables, in order to gain a deeper comprehension of the atherosclerotic process. We considered the plaque type and the surgical treatment as factors and investigated their correlations with the variables in the database. Results showed that by using less than ten variables it is possible to cluster the patients on the basis of their respective factors.
Abstract: Surgical treatment for steno-obstructive pathology of the extracranial carotid artery is today the gold standard for the prevention of cerebral ischemic disease associated to the manifestation of atherosclerosis. During the 1990s, a number of randomised trials incontrovertibly demonstrated the advantages which are derived from carotid endarterectomy with respect to medical therapy alone, in patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic stenosis. As a whole, these Âtrials Âindicated a perioperative rate of major adverse events (stroke, mortality and MACE) of about 9%. Many projects have since been conducted in the field of carotid surgery, and today the reported complication rates are lower than 3%, with excellent long-term results (North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial Collaborators, N Engl J Med 325(7):445â534, 1991; Mayberg et al., JAMA 266(23):3289â945, 1991). The results of new arising techniques, such as carotid stenting, must be compared with these complication rates in order to have a clear benchmark for a more objective future dissemination.
