Evaluating the Effectiveness and Clinical Outcomes of Endovascular Aneurysm Repair-First Approach for Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Japan.

PURPOSE: To verify the validity of an endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR)-first strategy for treating patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) in Japan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 2 groups of patients with rAAA who underwent surgical treatment at 3 hospitals in the Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, between January 2007 and September 2016. The open surgical treatment group comprised patients with rAAA who underwent open surgical treatment before January 2012; their data were retrospectively collected from their medical records. The EVAR-first strategy group comprised patients with rAAA who underwent treatment based on the Shonan rAAA protocol (SRAP; the standard protocol-based EVAR-first strategy) in or after February 2012; their data were collected prospectively. The short- and long-term treatment outcomes of both groups were compared. In addition, a risk score-based sensitivity analysis (one-to-one matching) was conducted on both groups using a caliper with 0.2 standard deviations of the score. RESULTS: Of the 163 patients with rAAA, the open surgical and EVAR-first strategy groups comprised 53 and 110 patients, respectively (EVAR: 91.8%, open repair: 8.2%). The 30-day postoperative mortality rate differed significantly, being 42% for the open surgery group and 25% for the EVAR-first strategy group (odds ratio: 0.44, 95% confidence interval: 0.20-0.97). The postoperative survival rates at 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years were 66%, 48%, and 58% for the EVAR-first group, respectively, and 51%, 66%, and 48% for the open surgery group, respectively (p=0.072). In a matched cohort analysis (n=50), the 30-day postoperative mortality rate was 22% for the EVAR-first group and 44% for the open surgery group (odds ratio: 0.35, 95% confidence interval: 0.14-0.90). The postoperative survival rates at 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years were 76%, 76%, and 63% for the EVAR-first group, respectively, and 48%, 45%, and 45% for the open surgery group, respectively (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: The SRAP-based EVAR-first strategy for rAAA yielded significantly better treatment outcomes than the open surgical strategy. These findings suggest that EVAR should be considered the primary treatment option for rAAA, given its potential to reduce early mortality rates. CLINICAL IMPACT: Multicenter retrospective analysis of prospectively collected registry data was done to compare treatment outcomes of two groups of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm patients open surgery and endovascular-aneurysm-repair (EVAR)-first strategy (Shonan ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm protocol). EVAR-first group showed better outcomes: lower 30-day mortality (25% vs. 42%), higher survival rates at 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years. Take home Message: The study supports the use of the EVAR-first strategy with the Shonan Protocol for treating ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms in Japan, showing improved outcomes, reduced 30-day postoperative mortality, and better long-term survival rates compared to the conventional approach.

Long-Term Outcomes of a Japanese Prospective Multicenter Registry Using a Heparin-Bonded Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Graft for Above-the-Knee Femoropopliteal Bypasses.

BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread use of PROPATEN®, a bioactive heparin-bonded expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft, in bypass surgery, there are only a few reports of long-term results. We evaluated the long-term results of PROPATEN®use for above-knee femoropopliteal bypass (AKFPB).Methods and Results: After PROPATEN®-based AKFPB, patients were prospectively registered at 20 Japanese institutions between July 2014 and October 2017 to evaluate long-term results. During the median follow-up of 76 months (interquartile range 36-88 months) for 120 limbs (in 113 patients; mean [±SD] age 72.7±8.1 years; 66.7% male; ankle-brachial index [ABI] 0.45±0.27; lesion length 26.2±5.7 cm; chronic limb-threatening ischemia in 45 limbs), there were 8 major amputations; however, clinical improvement was sustained (mean [±SD] ABI 0.87±0.23) and the Rutherford classification grade improved in 105 (87.5%) limbs at the latest follow-up. At 8 years, the primary patency, freedom from target-lesion revascularization, secondary patency, survival, and amputation-free survival, as estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, were 66.3±4.8%, 71.5±4.4%, 86.5±3.4%, 53.1±5.0%, and 47.4±5.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This multicenter prospective registry-based analysis showed sustained excellent clinical improvement and secondary patency for up to 8 years following PROPATEN®-based AKFPB. PROPATEN®constitutes a durable and good revascularization option for complex superficial femoral artery lesions, especially when endovascular treatment is inappropriate or an adequate venous conduit is unavailable.

Midterm Results of a Japanese Prospective Multicenter Registry of Heparin-Bonded Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Grafts for Above-the-Knee Femoropopliteal Bypass.

BACKGROUND: This study prospectively analyzed the midterm results of above-the-knee femoropopliteal bypass (AKb) using bioactive heparin-bonded expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (HB-ePTFE) graft in patients with femoropopliteal occlusive disease.Methods and Results:This prospective, multicenter, non-randomized study reviewed limbs undergoing AKb with HB-ePTFE graft for femoropopliteal lesion in 20 Japanese institutions between July 2014 and October 2017. Primary efficacy endpoints were primary, primary assisted, and secondary graft patency. Safety endpoints included any major adverse limb event and perioperative mortality. During the study period, 120 limbs of 113 patients (mean age, 72.7 years) underwent AKb with HB-ePTFE grafts. A total of 45 patients (37.5%) had critical limb ischemia and 17 (15.0%) were on hemodialysis (HD). Median duration of follow-up was 16 months (range, 1-36 months). Estimated 1- and 2-year primary, primary assisted, and secondary graft patency rates were 89.4% and 82.7%, 89.4% and 87.2%, and 94.7% and 92.5%, respectively. On univariate analysis of 2-year primary graft patency, having 3 run-off vessels, cuffed distal anastomoses, no coronary artery disease, and no chronic kidney disease requiring HD were significantly associated with favorable patency. CONCLUSIONS: AKb using HB-ePTFE grafts achieved favorable 2-year graft patency. AKb using HB-ePTFE grafts may therefore be an acceptable, highly effective treatment option for femoropopliteal artery lesions.

The impact of epidural catheter insertion level on pain control after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although the effectiveness of epidural anesthesia on pain control after esophagectomy has been reported, the appropriate insertion level of the epidural catheter remains unclear for adequate postoperative pain control. We investigated the relationship between the epidural catheter insertion level and postoperative pain control after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively 63 patients who underwent McKeown esophagectomy for esophageal cancer between October 2014 and November 2018. The epidural catheter was inserted at the T4-T10 level before general anesthesia induction, and epidural anesthesia was started during the operation. In the analysis, the epidural catheter insertion level was divided into three groups (over T6/T7, T7/T8, and under T8/T9) and determined. Postoperative pain was evaluated a numeric rating scale (NRS) for at least 7 postoperative days, and the first NRS after extubation was used to evaluate the impact of the epidural catheter insertion level on pain control. RESULTS: Ten patients (15.9%) failed pain control. The χ2 test and a forward stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that only the epidural catheter insertion level affected pain control (P < 0.05). The T7/T8 insertion level significantly decreased postoperative pain after esophagectomy. In the subgroup analysis, epidural catheter insertion under T8/T9 significantly increased postoperative pain after esophagectomy when thoracoscopy/laparoscopy was assisted. No significant differences were observed in the incidence of postoperative complications among the epidural catheter insertion levels. CONCLUSIONS: The T7/T8 epidural catheter insertion level contributed to postoperative pain relief and could lead to enhanced recovery after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Type IIIb Endoleak Is Not Extremely Rare and May Be Underdiagnosed after Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

PURPOSE: To investigate the real incidence of type IIIb endoleaks associated with the Zenith stent graft, currently the most widely used third-generation polyester stent graft, in a Japanese multicenter database. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis was conducted of 433 patients who underwent endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of aortoiliac aneurysms with the use of Zenith stent grafts from 2007 to 2016. The mean age of patients was 75.6 y ± 7.8, and 85.2% of patients were men. Mean transverse diameters of abdominal aortic aneurysms and common iliac artery aneurysms were 50.8 mm ± 9.9 and 42.2 mm ± 10.3, respectively. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up period of 41.9 mo, 7 type IIIb endoleaks (1.6%) were identified. Four patients were definitively diagnosed during repeat intervention, and 3 were diagnosed based on postoperative CT images. Three patients were treated surgically, 2 were treated by relining with an additional stent graft, and 2 were conservatively followed with CT imaging. Only 1 of 5 patients who underwent repeat intervention had a preoperative diagnosis of type IIIb endoleak, reflecting the difficulty in its diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of type IIIb endoleak in Zenith stent grafts was 1.6% in this study, suggesting that type IIIb endoleaks are not extremely rare. In addition, type IIIb endoleak may be underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed as a different type of endoleak. Type IIIb endoleaks should always be considered in patients with sac expansion after EVAR.

Impact of Stent Graft Design on External Iliac Artery Limb Occlusion Rates After Endovascular Aneurysm Repair: Post-hoc Analysis of a Japanese Multicentre Database.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: It was hypothesised that a helical stent with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts could provide a preventive effect for external iliac artery (EIA) limb occlusion following endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). Therefore, a post-hoc analysis of a Japanese multicentre database was conducted to assess the impact of the stent graft design on EIA limb occlusion rates. METHODS: Patients who underwent EVAR with EIA limb deployment between 2008 and 2016 were evaluated. The stent graft limbs were divided into two groups: group A comprised stent graft limbs made of a helical stent with ePTFE grafts (Excluder; n = 255), and group B comprised stent graft limbs made of a Z stent with polyester grafts (Zenith, Flex and Endurant; n = 173). The main outcome was the incidence of limb occlusion and severe limb stenosis (EIA related limb complications). The risk factors for EIA related limb complications were analysed and the midterm results between groups A and B compared. Fine-Gray generalisation of the proportional hazards model was used after propensity score matching to calculate the hazard ratio (HR). RESULTS: One complication occurred in group A and 10 complications occurred in group B. The risk factors for EIA related limb complications for the entire group were a stent graft limb size ≤10 mm (HR 5.41; p = .01) and inclusion in group B (HR 14.9; p = .009). After propensity matching, group A (n = 159) was matched with group B (n = 159). The cumulative incidence function of EIA related limb complications at five years was 0.66% in group A and 7.8% in group B (HR 8.67; p = .039). CONCLUSION: Stent graft design can affect limb patency in EIA limb deployment. When EIA limb deployment is necessary for patients with a small EIA, such as Japanese patients, stent graft limbs made of a helical stent with ePTFE should be used to reduce the risk of limb occlusion.

A Hybrid Technique to Manage a Large Perigraft Seroma after an Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: A Case Report.

Perigraft seroma (PGS) is a relatively rare complication of aortoiliac reconstructive surgery. We, herein, describe a case of a large PGS that was managed by using a hybrid technique of relining the original graft with simultaneous open drainage. An 86-year-old man with a 17.3-cm diameter PGS after prosthetic bifurcated graft replacement for abdominal aortic aneurysm was admitted to our hospital. He presented with abdominal distension and discomfort and had difficulty in taking food. The entire relining of the original covered stent graft with GORE® EXCLUDER® using aortic extension cuff and iliac extenders and simultaneous open evacuation of PGS were successfully performed. The symptoms of the patient totally improved, and no recurrence was detected at 2 years after the operation. This technique would be a feasible treatment option for this rare complication.

[A Case of Giant Hematogenous Left Quadricep Muscle Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma].

The patient was a 62-year-old man with no specific medical history. Lateral segmentectomy was performed for hepatocellular carcinoma with a tumor size of approximately 14×13 cm. The histopathological diagnosis was moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma: Fc(-), Fc-Inf(-), Sf(-), S0, N0, Vp2, Vv1, Va0, B0, P0, SM(-), CH. Five years after the first surgery, computed tomography(CT)revealed a left lung tumor in segment 9/10 and left lymph nodes; thus, left pneumonectomy was performed, and these tumors were identified to have metastasized from the primary tumor. Six years after the first surgery, his serum alpha-fetoprotein level was remarkably elevated from 254.9 ng/mL to 3,143.0 ng/mL for three months, and at the same time, he developed left meralgia and swelling of the left femur. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a high-density mass(30×14 cm)in the left quadriceps, and positron emission tomography-CT revealed high uptake in the left quadriceps with a maximum standardized uptake value of 12.3. A needle biopsy of the left femur tumor confirmed metastasis from the primary tumor. Radiotherapy was administered because general anesthesia can prove to be hazardous due to the patient having undergone left pneumonectomy.

Early sac shrinkage is a good surrogate marker of durable success after endovascular aneurysm repair in Japanese patients.

OBJECTIVE: The applicability of early sac shrinkage as a predictor of a low risk of late complications after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in Asian populations has not been validated. This study aimed to analyze early sac shrinkage and its relationship with late complications in Asian people using a Japanese multicenter database. We also assessed the impact of endoleaks. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 697 patients who had undergone EVAR of abdominal aortic aneurysms from 2008 to 2015 and were followed up for at least 1 year was conducted. Late complications were defined as any aneurysm-related events occurring >1 year after EVAR, including >5-mm aneurysm sac enlargements and any reinterventions performed. Endoleaks without any evidence of sac enlargement or a requirement for additional treatment were not considered late complications. RESULTS: Early sac shrinkage, defined as a >5-mm-diameter decrease within 1 year of EVAR, occurred in 335 patients (48.1%); type I endoleaks (T1ELs) and isolated type II endoleaks (iT2ELs; type II endoleaks without evidence of other endoleaks) were observed in 4.0% and 29.4%, respectively. During the mean follow-up period of 45.5 months, 93 late complications (13.3%) occurred. Kaplan-Meier curve and log-rank analyses showed that early sac shrinkage was a significant predictor for a lower risk of late complications (P < .001). Multivariate analysis revealed that early sac shrinkage was independently associated with a lower risk of late complications (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.425; P = .004). Conversely, T1ELs and iT2ELs were positively associated with late complication (adjusted hazard ratio, 11.774 and 5.137, respectively; both P < .001). Subsequent multivariate analysis demonstrated that T1ELs and iT2ELs were negatively associated with early sac shrinkage (adjusted odds ratio, 0.102 and 0.285, respectively; both P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Early sac shrinkage was associated with a low risk of late complications in Asian people and may be a good surrogate marker of durable success after EVAR. T1ELs and iT2ELs were negatively associated with early sac shrinkage and positively associated with late complications. Along with the high incidence of iT2ELs observed, T2ELs may be an important condition to consider after EVAR in the Asian population.

Retroperitoneal hematoma volume is a good predictor of perioperative mortality after endovascular aneurysm repair for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to validate the usefulness of retroperitoneal hematoma volume as a predictor of perioperative mortality after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with rAAA who underwent the unified EVAR first protocol between 2012 and 2016 at any one of three participating institutions in Japan and were prospectively registered in a dedicated database. Only patients with preoperative computed tomography scans adequate for three-dimensional volumetric analysis were included. Volumetry was used to measure the retroperitoneal hematoma volume. To adjust for body size differences between patients, the retroperitoneal hematoma volume was divided by the abdominal cavity volume, and the predictive power of this ratio was validated using appropriate statistical methods. RESULTS: Of 114 patients with rAAA managed during the study period, 101 (88.6%) underwent EVAR, 9 (7.9%) underwent open surgical repair, and 4 (3.5%) did not undergo any repair. Finally, 82 of 101 patients treated with EVAR were included in the analysis. Within 30 days after EVAR, the mortality rates for the 82 patients included in the analysis and the 19 excluded patients were 24.4% and 31.6%, respectively, without statistically significant differences (P = .518). The retroperitoneal hematoma volume ratio was 3.59% ± 2.46% and 7.63% ± 3.45% in survivors and nonsurvivors, respectively (P < .001). Univariate analysis of other preoperative demographic and anatomic factors revealed that a Glasgow Aneurysm Score >85, systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg, loss of consciousness, and mean minimum right external iliac artery diameter were statistically significant. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for the prediction of perioperative mortality revealed that retroperitoneal hematoma volume ratio was the best predictor of perioperative mortality in patients with rAAA of type >III in the Fitzgerald classification (area under the curve: retroperitoneal hematoma volume ratio, 0.880; Glasgow Aneurysm Score, 0.587; P < .001). Based on the Youden index, the optimal cutoff for the retroperitoneal hematoma volume ratio was 6.97%, providing a sensitivity of 0.833 and specificity of 0.860. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that retroperitoneal hematoma volume may be a good predictor of perioperative mortality after EVAR for rAAA, especially for patients with Fitzgerald classification >III and a best cutoff value of 6.97%.

A Rare Surgical Case of Giant Jejunal Artery Aneurysm in a Young Patient.

Aneurysms of the abdominal visceral arteries are infrequently encountered. Jejunal artery aneurysm (JAA) is one of the rarest visceral aneurysms, especially in young patients. Endovascular surgery tends to be an effective treatment for visceral artery aneurysms. Here, we report a case of symptomatic JAA with a peripheral dilated vessel in a young patient. However, in consideration of the patient's anatomic suitability and young age, we chose open surgical intervention with intraoperative angiography. Thus, we could resect the aneurysm and the peripheral dilated vessel, preserve the bowel, and leave no devices that could cause further complication. The choice of the most appropriate treatment should depend on aneurysm characteristics and the background of the patient.

Postoperative Delirium in Patients after Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Postoperative delirium (POD) is one of the most common complications after various types of surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors for delirium after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 146 consecutive patients who underwent PD between April 2007 and June 2015 at Saiseikai Yokohamashi Tobu Hospital. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients (19.9%) were diagnosed with delirium. Patients who were >70 years were divided into a delirium group (n = 24) and a non-delirium group (n = 41). Multivariate analysis showed that only the Charlson Age Comorbidity Index (CACI) (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.067-3.036; p = 0.028) was an independent risk factor of delirium for patients >70 years. The receiver operating characteristic curve revealed an optimal cutoff value of 4.5 for the CACI score in all patients (sensitivity 62.1%; specificity 82.9%; area under the curve 0.782). The higher CACI score (≥5) is significantly different from the lower CACI score (p < 0.0001) with respect to POD occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The CACI, especially in elderly patients, was associated with the incidence of POD. Therefore, utilizing this validated and practical tool preoperatively might be useful for POD.

Characteristics and Risk Factors for Type 2 Endoleak in an East Asian Population From a Japanese Multicenter Database.

BACKGROUND: Clinically distinct differences exist between East Asian and Caucasian subjects, but data for type 2 endoleak (T2EL) are limited in the East Asian population. The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of East Asian T2EL using a Japanese multicenter database. METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospective analysis of 832 endovascular aneurysm repairs performed from 2008 to 2014 were conducted. T2EL was observed in 234 cases (28.1%), and in 32 cases (3.8%) it led to sac expansion >5 mm caused by isolated T2EL (median follow-up, 35.6 months). On univariate and multivariate analysis, non-smoker status (odds ratio [OR], 2.216; P<0.001), Excluder stent graft (OR, 2.027; P<0.001), and T2EL at final angiogram (OR, 2.080; P<0.001) were risk factors for T2EL. On multivariate analysis for isolated T2EL with sac expansion, only non-smoker status remained (OR, 2.671; P<0.001). Other than T1EL, isolated T2EL was the most significant risk factor for sac expansion (OR, 18.486; P<0.001). Furthermore, out of 11 transarterial embolization procedures initiated, 4 led to rupture during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: East Asian T2EL had a strong relationship with non-smoker status. Also, T2EL was a significant risk factor for sac expansion, which sometimes led to rupture even after intervention. Along with the high prevalence of T2EL observed, East Asian T2EL may not always be benign.

Evolution of Computed Tomographic Characteristics of Spontaneous Isolated Superior Mesenteric Artery Dissection During Conservative Management.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection is a rare condition, and its clinical and angiographic courses are poorly defined. We aimed to monitor the morphological characteristics of spontaneous isolated SMA dissection using computed tomography (CT) over 2 years of follow-up, including the recovery process via vascular remodeling, and identify the factors that affect vascular remodeling using univariate analysis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and morphological findings of 59 consecutive patients with spontaneous isolated SMA dissection between October 2007 and July 2014, which included 36 symptomatic and 23 asymptomatic patients. Surgical intervention with open laparotomy was required in 3 patients during the follow-up period; 41 patients who received conservative treatment were followed up over 2 years with regular CT. Complete remodeling was achieved in 16 of 25 symptomatic patients who were treated conservatively (64.0%). A patent false lumen and aneurysmal formation on an initial CT scan were identified as negative factors that affected remodeling in patients with spontaneous isolated SMA dissection. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative management of spontaneous isolated SMA dissection is associated with a good prognosis, both clinically and morphologically. Surgical intervention is only required in patients with severe intestinal ischemia or rapid aneurysmal enlargement. (Circ J 2016; 80: 1452-1459).

[Local Control of Advanced Breast Cancer with Mohs Paste and Systemic Therapy].

Unresectable locally advanced breast cancer results in a decline in patient quality of life because of the presence of bleeding, exudates, and strong odor. The clinical application of supportive care using Mohs paste for improving quality of life has become widespread. We report 2 cases of locally advanced breast cancer treated with systemic therapy and chemosurgery. Case 1 was a Japanese woman in her fifties who had a locally advanced left breast cancer. She had continuous bleeding and exudates, and received Mohs chemosurgery and endocrine therapy. One month later, the surface healed and dried up. The bleeding, exudates, and strong odor disappeared almost completely. Case 2 was a Japanese woman in her forties who had a locally advanced left breast cancer with massive exudates and oozing blood. She underwent Mohs chemosurgery 20 times, but the exudates and bleeding were not controlled. According to pathological findings, we confirmed her breast cancer to be of the triple negative subtype. After 2 courses of therapy with 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide, the tumor immediately decreased in diameter by 65%. The bleeding, exudates, and strong odor disappeared. Although Mohs chemosurgery is useful for local control of locally advanced breast cancer, this alone is insufficient to treat the disease. Early introduction of systemic therapy is considered essential in breast cancer treatment.

Utility of Intraductal Ultrasonography as a Diagnostic Tool in Patients with Early Distal Cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It is difficult to diagnose cholangiocarcinoma in the early stages because most patients present with jaundice, which is generally thought to be the most important symptom at diagnosis. Despite improvements to surgical instruments and techniques, these rates are not quite satisfactory. Intraductal ultrasound (IDUS) is easy to handle due to the wire-guided, thin-caliber, and high-frequency probe. The purpose of the present study was to assess the efficacy of IDUS as a diagnostic tool for patients with early distal cholangiocarcinoma. METHODOLOGY: We enrolled 23 with early distal cholangiocarcinoma. The cholangiography and IDUS findings were retrospectively analyzed. The morphology of the tumors detected by IDUS was also classified including localized wall thickening, polypoid lesion, and sessile tumor. RESULTS: The morphologies on IDUS were as follows: five (21.7%) localized wall thickenings, five (21.7%) polypoid lesions, and 13 (56.5%) sessile tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Since forceps biopsy complemented by IDUS can substantially improve the diagnostic rate, pathological investigations should be performed simultaneously after detection by IDUS. We believe that noninvasive modalities should be followed by IDUS and used as a decisive approach to distinguish between benign and malignant status.

Rapid development of aneurysmal formation after successful endovascular treatment of chronic total occlusion of a persistent sciatic artery.

Persistent sciatic artery (PSA) is a rare congenital anomaly that is frequently complicated by atherosclerotic changes, such as occlusion and aneurysmal formation. This report describes a case of a chronic total occlusion (CTO) of a unilateral, complete-type PSA in the right thigh of a 74-year-old woman that was treated successfully with endovascular angioplasty and stent placement. Within 3 months, however, a PSA aneurysm developed in the gluteal region. This aneurysm was repaired endovascularly through placement of a stent graft. To the authors' knowledge, rapid formation of a PSA aneurysm and successful endovascular treatment of both CTO of a PSA and of a PSA aneurysm have not been reported previously.

[A case of metachronous ovarian metastasis after curative surgery of colon cancer with simultaneous hepatic metastasis].

The patient was a 51-year-old woman who presented with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Detailed examination revealed a carcinoma of the descending colon with simultaneous hepatic metastasis. Because the carcinoma comprised a circumferential stenotic lesion and resection of the hepatic metastasis was feasible, combined left hemicolectomy and hepatectomy were initially performed. During postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, the hepatic metastasis was observed to increase in size, and therefore, a second hepatectomy was performed approximately 2 years and 6 months after the initial surgery. Adjuvant chemotherapy was subsequently continued for approximately 1 year. A metastatic ovarian tumor was identified on abdominal computed tomography (CT) approximately 1 year after chemotherapy was discontinued. Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed approximately 3 years and 6 months after the initial surgery. Histopathological examination revealed the lesion to be a colon carcinoma metastasis.

Nonanastomotic pseudoaneurysm with complete disruption of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene axillofemoral bypass graft.

Rupture of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) vascular graft is rare. We report a nonanastomotic pseudoaneurysm associated with complete disruption of an ePTFE graft that occurred 6 years after an axillofemoral bypass. The 81-year-old patient had undergone neither trauma nor infection. The aneurysmal segment was resected, and a new ePTFE graft was interposed. The patient recovered uneventfully and was well 4 years later. Histologic analysis revealed a torn graft edge, consistent with a rupture due to excessive force, but scanning electron microscopy showed that the internal structure of the prosthesis was intact. The cause of the midgraft rupture remains unknown.

Complete removal of infected abdominal aortic stent-graft with suprarenal fixation.

Stent-graft infections after endovascular aneurysm repair are rare but can have devastating consequences. Open surgery to treat such infections is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Removal of the stent-graft is technically challenging, especially when it has a suprarenal fixation. Several in situ reconstructions have been described, with varying results. We report a case in which a Zenith stent-graft became infected after endovascular aneurysm repair to treat an abdominal aortic aneurysm and blue toe syndrome. The endoprosthesis was removed completely, and in situ reconstruction was performed successfully and without complications by using a rifampin-soaked Dacron graft.