Surgical OFF-LOADING of the diabetic foot.

Diabetic foot ulcer treatment is a challenge for the healthcare world. Widespread infection and the presence of critical ischemia (especially with end-stage renal disease) can lead to major amputation rather than amenable to conservative treatment. Surgical strategies of the diabetic foot have been changing over the past 10 years and are now focused on reconstructive treatment and limb salvage. These goals were achieved, thanks to an evolution of distal revascularization techniques and a distinct approach, which integrates various methods focused on limb salvage. Podoplastic techniques of the diabetic foot are focused on infection clearance, the surgical treatment of corrective deformities, soft tissue coverage and limb ischemia correction along with the management of diabetes and the comorbidities that compromise tissue repair processes. The reconstructive techniques used in diabetic foot treatment owe their effectiveness in part to the results of technological improvements such as the circular external fixator as a tool for stabilization and surgical site protection. In the last decade, many studies have shown that circular external fixation should be considered as the most useful method to protect the reconstructive surgical site in limb salvage of the diabetic foot. The objective of this review is to highlight the role of surgical offloading using circular external fixation as an adjunct to the podoplastic diabetic foot reconstruction procedures.

Patient selection, procedural planning and interventional guidance for transcatheter aortic valve intervention.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an established treatment for severe aortic stenosis across a broad spectrum of patient risk profiles. Preprocedural planning using multislice computed tomography (MSCT) is a fundamental component to ensure acute and long-term procedural success. MSCT can establish the procedural feasibility, the type vascular of approach as well as the device which is more likely to give a good result. Moreover, MSCT is a key tool to estimate the risk of potentially life-threatening complications. In this review, the role of MSCT for preprocedural TAVR planning will be discussed providing a panoramic overview of the key elements that should be considered when performing TAVR. Additionally, the adjunctive role of fluoroscopy and echocardiography to plan and guide a TAVR procedure will also be discussed.

Prolonged high-pressure balloon angioplasty of femoropopliteal lesions: Impact on stent implantation rate and mid-term outcome.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact on stent implantation rate and mid-term outcomes of prolonged high pressure angioplasty of femoropopliteal lesions. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 620 consecutive patients from January 2011 to December 2011 (75.6 ± 12.3 years, 355 males, 76.5% in Rutherford class 5-6), referred for critical limb ischemia and submitted to prolonged high-pressure angioplasty of femoropopliteal lesions. The definition of prolonged high-pressure angioplasty includes dilation to at least 18 atm for at least 120 s. Procedural data, and clinical and instrumental follow-up were analyzed to assess stent implantation rate and mid-term outcomes. RESULTS: The preferred approach was ipsilateral femoral antegrade in 433/620 patients (69.7%) and contralateral cross-over in 164/620 (26.4%) and popliteal retrograde + femoral antegrade in 23/620 (3.7%). Techniques included subintimal angioplasty in 427/620 patients (68.8%) and endoluminal angioplasty in 193/620 patients (31.2%). The prolonged high pressure balloon angioplasty procedure was successful in 86.2% (minor intra-procedural complications rate 15.7 %), stent implantation was performed in 74 patients (11.9%), with a significant improvement of ankle-brachial index (0.29 ± 0.6 vs. 0.88 ± 0.3, P < 00.1) and Rutherford class (5.3 ± 0.8 vs. 0.7 ± 1.9, P < 0.01), a primary patency rate of 86.7%, restenosis of 18.6 % on Doppler ultrasound and a target lesion revascularization of 14.8% at a mean follow-up of 18.1 ± 6.4 months (range 1-24 months). Secondary patency rate was 87.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged high pressure angioplasty of femoropopliteal lesions appears to be safe and effective allowing for an acceptable patency and restenosis rates on mid-term.