Does the Routine Skin-Only Closure in Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Safely Diminish Abdominal Compartment Syndrome? A Hypothesis Generating Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) often complicates ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) repair. We report results with routine skin-only abdominal wound closure after rAAA surgical repair. METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective study including consecutive patients undergoing rAAA surgical repair for the duration of 7 years. Skin-only closure was routinely performed, and if possible, secondary abdominal closure was performed during the same admission. Demographic information, preoperative hemodynamic condition, and perioperative information (ACS, mortality, rate of abdominal closure, and postoperative outcomes) were collected. RESULTS: During the study period, 93 rAAAs were recorded. Ten patients were too frail to undergo repair or refused treatment. Eighty-three patients underwent immediate surgical repair. The mean age was 72.4 ± 10.5 years, and the vast majority were male (82:1). Preoperative systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg was recorded in 31 patients. Intraoperative mortality was recorded in nine cases. Overall in-hospital mortality was 34.9% (29/83). Primary fascial closure was performed in five patients, while skin-only closure was performed in 69. ACS was recorded in two cases in whom skin sutures were removed and negative pressure wound treatment was applied. Secondary fascial closure was feasible in 30 patients during the same admission. Among 37 patients not undergoing fascial closure, 18 died and 19 survived and were discharged with a planned ventral hernia repair. Median length of intensive care unit and hospital stay were 5 (1-24) and 13 (8-35) days, respectively. After a mean follow-up of 21 months, telephone contact was possible with 14/19 patients who left the hospital with an abdominal hernia. Three reported hernia-related complications mandating surgical repair, while in 11, this was well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Routine skin-only closure during rAAA surgical repair results in low rates of ACS at the expense of a high rate of patients being discharged with a planned ventral hernia which, however, seems to be well tolerated by the majority of patients.

Revascularization Outcomes in Patients With Acute Limb Ischemia and Active Neoplastic Disease.

PURPOSE: To report the outcomes of surgical (ST), endovascular (ET), and hybrid (HT) treatment in cancer patients with acute limb ischemia (ALI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter retrospective registry collected 139 patients (mean age 72.3±12.4 years; 73 men) with ALI and active malignancy treated by ET (41, 29%), ST (70, 51%), or HT (28, 20%) in 7 European centers between July 2007 and February 2019. In 22 cases (16%) ALI was the first manifestation of the malignancy. Lung cancer was the most common diagnosis (38, 27%). The primary composite outcome was amputation-free survival (AFS). Overall survival, amputation-free time (AFT), and reintervention-free time (RFT) were also assessed. Cox regression analysis was applied to identify independent risk factors for the primary and secondary outcomes. Results are presented as the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: ET was associated with improved 12-month AFS compared with both ST (HR 2.27, 95% CI 1.20 to 4.28, p=0.002) and HT (HR 2.14, 95% CI 1.09 to 4.18, p=0.008). ST (HR 2.50, 95% CI 1.19 to 5.53, p=0.003) and HT (HR 3.10, 95% CI 1.45 to 6.65, p<0.001) were related to an increased risk for mortality compared with ET. At 12 months, the AFT was similar between the 3 groups (ET vs ST: HR 1.52, 95% CI 0.51 to 4.53, p=0.45 and ET vs HT: HR 1.21, 95% CI 0.36 to 4.11, p=0.73). The 12-month RFT also did not differ significantly between the 3 treatment options (ET vs ST: HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.49 to 2.46, p=0.79 and ET vs HT: HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.22 to 1.17, p=0.19). ST and/or HT increased the risk for the major amputation and/or death (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.05, p=0.03), while Rutherford class I ischemia (HR 0.12, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.90, p=0.04) and previous vascular interventions on the index limb (HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.97, p=0.04) showed a protective effect. CONCLUSION: In patients with ALI and active malignant disease, ET was associated with increased AFS and overall survival compared with both ST and HT, while the limb salvage and reintervention rates were comparable among the 3 groups.

Diabetic foot infection and osteomyelitis. Are deep-tissue cultures necessary?

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic foot infections (DFIs) are common and difficult to treat. The objective of this study was to compare swab and tissue cultures as indicators of appropriate treatment of DFIs. METHODS: This is a prospective study conducted during a 4-year period. All patients with DFIs and/or diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO) admitted to the University Hospital of Heraklion, Greece, were included. Clinical data were collected, while cultures taken with swabs and/or tissue biopsies were used as indicators of the microbiological cause and the appropriate treatment. RESULTS: In total, 83 individuals (62.7% males) with mean age of 72 years, were enrolled. Coexisting osteomyelitis was present in 18.1%. From tissue and pus cultures, 131 and 176 pathogens, respectively, were isolated. Gram-positive aerobes were the most common microorganisms, followed by Gram-negatives. Infection was polymicrobial in 40 (70.2%) out of 57 patients with tissue culture and in 54 (75.0%) out of 72 with pus culture. Microbiological results from tissue cultures were compatible with those from pus at a rate of 80%, while in cases of osteomyelitis concordance reached 100%. Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) were isolated from 32 (24.4%) tissue and 44 (25%) pus cultures (p=0.910). Initial empirical antimicrobial treatment was considered inappropriate in 44.6% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: A high concordance between easily taken swab cultures and those taken by biopsy was noted, especially in DFO. This was helpful for early change to appropriate treatment in cases where MDROs were isolated and empirical treatment was inappropriate. Further research is needed to confirm this observation in clinical practice.

In Situ Composite Homograft Utilizing the Femoral Vein and the Occluded Superficial Femoral Artery after Eversion Endarterectomy for the Management of an Iliofemoral Synthetic Graft Infection.

Aortic or iliac graft infection is a serious complication in vascular surgery, which carries significant risks for the patient's limb and life and requires complex treatment. We report a patient who presented sepsis due to a previous ilio(common iliac)-femoral(profunda femoris) graft infection. Taking into account that the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries were occluded (no suitable target vessel, except for the distal profunda femoral) and the fact that he presented methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-positive blood cultures, the patient was scheduled for excision of the contaminated graft and in situ reconstruction. Along with the femoral vein, a segment of the adjacent occluded superficial femoral artery was used after eversion endarterectomy to ensure adequate homograft length to perform the bypass. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this technique which can be particularly useful in similar settings.

Acute Testicular Ischaemia Following Endovascular Aneurysm Repair on the Opposite Side to Intentional Internal Iliac Artery Occlusion.

INTRODUCTION: Testicular ischaemia is a potential complication after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), which has only rarely been reported in the literature. This is the report of a patient who presented with acute testicular ischaemia in the immediate post-EVAR period. REPORT: A 65 year old patient underwent EVAR for an aortic and bilateral iliac aneurysms. During the procedure, the right internal iliac artery was intentionally occluded to facilitate treatment of the common iliac aneurysm; however, the left internal iliac artery was preserved. The procedure was uneventful. On the second post-operative day the patient gradually developed symptoms of acute left testicular ischaemia. Clinical and ultrasonographic findings constituted the bases of diagnosis and the patient received conservative treatment with gradual improvement. To the authors' knowledge, this is the ninth case of testicular ischaemia after endovascular aneurysm repair reported in the literature. CONCLUSION: Testicular ischaemia, although rare, is a possible complication post-EVAR. Acute and chronic testicular damage found in association with an abdominal aortic aneurysm or its treatment has not been well studied in the literature and therefore may be under reported.

Spontaneous Type Ia Endoleak Sealing in Patients Undergoing Endovascular Aneurysm Repair With the Ovation Stent Graft.

BACKGROUND: Type Ia endoleak may lead to continuous sac pressurization and late rupture after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Nevertheless, there have been scarce reports suggesting that these endoleaks may occasionally present spontaneous sealing. Taking into account the original sealing mechanism of the Ovation endograft that exploits 2 polymer-filled O-rings, we hypothesize that spontaneous type Ia endoleak sealing may sometimes incur following implantation of this device. We aim to report our experience with spontaneous type Ia endoleak sealing in patients treated with the Ovation endograft. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study which included all patients undergoing EVAR with the Ovation endograft in a single institution during a 6-year period. Patients with an intraoperative type Ia endoleak were identified. The primary endpoint was rate of spontaneous sealing. Secondary endpoints were migration, sac expansion, need for reinterventions, secondary type Ia endoleaks, and aneurysm-related and overall mortality. Adherence to the instructions for use (IFU) was evaluated to examine relation with occurrence of endoleak and rates of spontaneous sealing. RESULTS: Among 147 patients treated, 8 (5%) left the operation theater with a type Ia endoleak. In 6 patients, the endoleak spontaneously resolved during a maximum of 3 months of follow-up. Among those, 5 cases were treated outside the IFU (2 short necks and 3 with severe angulation), while the sixth was a patient treated inside the IFU but was anticoagulated. In 2 patients, the endoleak did not spontaneously resolve. One presented a conical neck of marginal length and the other circumferential calcifications. Type Ia endoleak was significantly more common among patients treated in an off-label fashion. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous sealing of type Ia endoleak is common after EVAR with the Ovation endograft. Nonadherence to the IFU results in more endoleaks, but it does not seem to reduce possibilities for spontaneous sealing.

Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma to Enhance Healing of Diabetic Foot Ulcers in Patients With Concomitant Peripheral Arterial Disease and Critical Limb Ischemia.

We sought to investigate the effect of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the healing rate of diabetic foot ulcers in patients with diabetes and concomitant peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Diabetic patients with foot ulceration presenting with PAD who were treated with local growth factors in a single center, during a 24-month period from May 2009 to April 2011, were retrospectively reviewed. Based on the severity of PAD, subjects were divided into groups A (Fontaine classification stages I, IIa, and IIb) and B (Fontaine classification stages III and IV), with those included in the latter being considered to suffer from critical limb ischemia (CLI). End points of the analysis were clinical improvement, limb salvage, and amputation rate. Outcome was compared between groups A and B. Overall, 72 patients were evaluated, 30 with CLI. Ulcer area reduction >50% was observed in 58/72 patients while reduction >90% was achieved in 52/72 patients. There were 14 (19%) major and minor amputations, whereas the limb salvage rate was 89%. This variable was significantly different between groups A and B (100% vs. 73%, P < .001), as is rate of reduction in ulcer area >90% (83% vs. 56%, P = .02). Reduction of ulcer area >50% was observed in the majority of patients in both groups (group A 86% vs. group B 73%, P = .23). In conclusion, PRP could serve as a useful adjunct during management of diabetic foot ulcers even in diabetic patients with unreconstructable arterial disease.

Graft inflow stenosis induced by the inflatable ring fixation mechanism of the Ovation stent-graft system: hemodynamic and clinical implications.

PURPOSE: To investigate the observed inflow stenosis at the O-rings of the Ovation stent-graft and evaluate its hemodynamic and clinical impact. METHODS: The study involved 49 consecutive patients (48 men; mean age 71.2 ± 7.7 years) treated successfully with the Ovation abdominal aortic stent-graft between June 2011 and January 2014 at a single center. Cross-sectional area and radius measurements of the infrarenal aorta just proximal to the sealing mechanism, as well at the site of stenosis, were measured from 3D reconstructions of the 1-month postoperative computed tomographic angiograms. Based on Poiseuille's law, the predicted pressure drop was calculated for each patient based on the length of the stenosis. Invasive blood pressure measurements at 3 levels (proximal to the inflatable rings, halfway inside the stenosis, and distal to the stenosis) were obtained in 10 patients intraoperatively. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) values preoperatively were compared to those after the procedure for all patients to assess the clinical impact of this phenomenon. RESULTS: Median internal cross-sectional area at the site of the stenosis was significantly reduced compared to the area just proximal to the O-rings [57% reduction: 123 mm(2) (range 28-254) vs. 283 mm(2) (range 177-531), respectively; p<0.001]. The same was observed for the radius [6.5 mm (range 3-9) vs. 9.5 mm (range 7.5-13), respectively; p<0.001]. Based on the median 15 mm length of the stenosis (range 13-17) observed in the study population, a median pressure drop of 0.13 mmHg (range 0-0.25) along the stenosis was calculated. Invasive blood pressure measurements indicated a non-significant pressure change along the stenosis (e.g., 0.7 mmHg between the proximal level and halfway inside the stenosis). ABI remained practically unchanged postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The advantages of the Ovation device's unique sealing mechanism come at the expense of a median area inflow stenosis of ∼ 60%. This stenosis does not cause a hemodynamically significant pressure drop. Future modification of the graft ring design may be needed in order to reduce this stenosis.

Medical management of acute type a aortic dissection in association with early open repair of acute limb ischemia may prevent aortic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) is a cardiovascular emergency with a high potential for death. Rapid surgical treatment is indicated to prevent fatal complications. Aggressive appropriate medical management starts at first suspicion and is essential to prevent exacerbation or rupture of the dissection. Despite improved surgical techniques, perioperative care and the development of specialized cardiovascular centers, mortality remains high. Organ ischemia is a catastrophic manifestation of aortic dissection, demanding acute surgical intervention in specialized cardiovascular centers. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 62-year-old man with isolated acute limb ischemia due to an acute type A aortic dissection treated in a regional general hospital, without a specialized cardiovascular service, with immediate open malperfusion repair and aggressive medical management. The patient did not undergo further surgical aortic repair, and after a 30-month follow-up he remains symptom free and in good clinical condition, suggesting that although aortic surgery remains the gold standard for treatment of acute Type A dissection, appropriate medical management and early malperfusion repair may offer an initial limb- or life-saving procedure. CONCLUSIONS: This staged approach gives clinicians more time to properly evaluate and transfer the patient to a specialized cardiovascular center, and in some cases may even offer a definite treatment.

A delayed diagnosis that altered the professional orientation of an athlete with upper limb chronic arterial embolization.

BACKGROUND: Vascular disorders of the upper extremity in young and physically active patients present a complex and challenging problem for the treating physician. Initial presentation may often be subtle and the consequences of misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis or mistreatment can be severe. CASE REPORT: In this report, we discuss a case of a young woman with chronic upper limb ischemia due to an arterial thoracic outlet syndrome in whom even though symptoms persisted over a number of years during which she frequently sought medical consultation, remained undiagnosed until finally presenting with limb-threatening ischemia. Furthermore, due to this delay, the patient was forced to withdraw from her professional carrier in athletics. CONCLUSIONS: A thoughtful and through approach combining the history, physical findings, and use of appropriate diagnostic aids will provide the physician and patient with the greatest opportunity for a satisfactory outcome. Furthermore, a delay in definitive treatment may not only cause health deterioration, but may also incur social, economic and occupational consequences.

Vascular endostapling: new concept for endovascular fixation of aortic stent-grafts.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of a new vascular endostapling system in treating infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms using commercially available endografts. METHODS: Eight patients (6 men; mean age 71 years, range 59-82) underwent endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) using Talent or Zenith stent-grafts and the Anson Refix clip, which provides transmural aortic fixation of the endoprosthesis with high pullout force proportional to the number of the clips deployed. RESULTS: Twenty (69%) of the 29 endostaples were successfully implanted and secured with the endostaple system; 9 clips that did not fully penetrate the graft and tissue due to severe calcification of the neck were retracted successfully into the delivery device. The delivery time from insertion of the Refix delivery catheter to its withdrawal was a mean 57 minutes (range 20-102) over and above the regular stent-graft procedure. Notably, the delivery time was reduced as the learning curve was passed: mean 89.75 minutes in the first 4 cases versus 27.5 minutes in the last 4. No endostaple migrated or was lost from the intended deployment site based on radiological imaging. No patients had evidence of perioperative endoleak based on computed tomography. No endograft-related complications have been documented during follow-up at 30 days. CONCLUSION: The initial experience established the safety and feasibility of EVAR using the Anson Refix endostapling system. However, further clinical evaluation is mandatory to draw robust conclusions about the utility of this new concept for fixation of aortic stent-grafts.

Predictors of in-hospital mortality of trauma patients injured in vehicle accidents.

OBJECTIVES: Identification and assessment of predictive factors of in-hospital mortality of trauma patients injured in vehicle accidents. METHODS: We reviewed the Trauma Registry data of Herakleion University Hospital, a level I trauma center in Crete, Greece. All 730 consecutive, adult motor-vehicle trauma patients admitted to our hospital from 1997 to 2000 were included in the study. Variables included in the analysis were: sex, age, mechanism of injury, injuries per anatomic region, initial vital signs, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Injury Severity Score (ISS), and the final outcome. In order to better describe continuous variables, two categories were created: age > or = 60 and <60; ISS > or = 18 and <18. RESULTS: Mortality rate was 4.8% (n=35). Multivariate survival analysis showed that age greater than or equal to 60 years (p=0.0002), ISS greater than or equal to 18 (p=0.003), being a pedestrian (p=0.007), craniocerebral injuries (p=0.01), thoracic (p=0.01), and abdominal injuries (p=0.01) are independent predictors of the in-hospital mortality of the patients. CONCLUSION: Trauma patients after vehicle accidents aged > or = 60, pedestrians, those with an ISS > or = 18 and craniocerebral, thoracic or abdominal injuries are at higher risk of an in-hospital fatal outcome.

Total occlusion of the common carotid artery: a modified classification and its relation to clinical status.

To investigate the hemodynamics and clinical presentation of common carotid artery occlusion (CCAO), we reviewed 6,415 patients with suspected carotid artery disease in whom a color Duplex imaging (CDI) examination was performed. According to distal vessel patency, the following CDI classification of CCAO was adopted: type I (patent both distal vessels); type II (isolated patency of external carotid artery); type III (isolated patency of internal carotid artery); and type IV (both distal vessels occluded). Thirty-five (0.5%) cases met the CDI criteria for CCAO. Twenty-nine of those (83%) had at least one patent distal vessel. Ten patients (29%) presented with stroke, 20 (57%) with transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) and five (14%) were asymptomatic. The incidence of stroke was higher in type IV (50%) vs. type II (30%) and in type II vs. type I (10%) lesions. Similarly, TIAs presented more often in type II (67%) and IV (50%) vs. in type I (40%) lesions (p = 0.002). Retrograde flow in the ophthalmic artery and concomitant severe contralateral carotid artery stenosis were more often related with type II and IV lesions (p = 0.02 and 0.04, respectively). CCAO is usually accompanied by patent distal vessel(s). The proposed CCAO classification correlates well with the patients' clinical status and may help to better clarify the outcome of this rare entity. Among the main arteries of the developed collateral circulation, only the flow direction in the ophthalmic artery may be of clinical value.

Acute lower limb ischemia as the initial symptom of acute myeloid leukemia.

Although coagulatory system disorders are well recognized in patients with acute leukemia, these usually present with either hemorrhagic complications or thrombosis of small vessels. Large vessel thrombosis is a very rare clinical presentation. We present a patient with previously undiagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (M5), who was referred to our hospital with symptoms of acute ischemia of his right lower limb. Occlusion of the right external iliac artery due to a combination of leucostasis and coagulation disorders was noted and successfully treated with urgent leukapheresis, immediate chemotherapy and surgical thromboembolectomy.

Association of subclinical wall changes of carotid, femoral, and popliteal arteries with obstructive coronary artery disease in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To examine the association of occult atherosclerosis of carotid, femoral, and popliteal arteries with the presence and severity of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients without a history or presence of cerebrovascular or peripheral arterial disease using ultrasound examination of peripheral arteries. PATIENTS/METHODS: One hundred eighty-four such individuals underwent routine coronary angiography. Obstructive CAD was found in 103 cases, which comprised the patient group. The remaining 81 individuals comprised the control group. All were blindly examined by duplex ultrasonography in order to assess occult atherosclerosis, as indicated by the estimation of intima-media thickness of the carotid artery (IMTC), intima-media thickness of the femoral artery (IMTF), intima-media thickness of the popliteal artery (IMTP), and ultrasonic biopsy (UB) of the carotid and femoral arteries. For the individuals with positive coronary angiography findings, the severity of CAD was estimated by the number of the diseased vessels. RESULTS: IMTC, IMTF, IMTP, and UB showed significant correlation with the presence of obstructive CAD, but only IMTC and IMTF were independent predictive factors, with specificity of 74% and 60% and sensitivity of 76% and 70%, respectively. Additionally, our analysis yielded a regression model that, for a given value of IMTC and IMTF, may estimate the probability of CAD: p (CAD) = e((- 4.765 + 3.36 IMTC + 1.91 IMTF))/1 + e((- 4.765 + 13.36 IMTC + 1.91 IMTF)). Patients with one-vessel disease had significantly lower IMTC (p < 0.001) and UB (p = 0.011) and lower IMTF (p = 0.057) than those with three-vessel disease. CONCLUSIONS: The assessment of occult atherosclerosis by duplex ultrasonography in both the carotid and the femoral arteries is significantly associated with the presence and severity of CAD.