Relationship Between 'Immediate' Resistive Index Measurement After Renal Transplantation and Renal Allograft Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The arterial resistive index, also referred to as the resistive index (RI) or Pourcelot Index, is a measure of pulsatile blood flow. Previous studies have demonstrated the usefulness of the RI as a predictor of allograft outcomes based on RI measurement in the later stages after transplantation. However, there is little evidence of the predictive value of "immediate" RI measurement within 24 hours after transplantation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 305 adult renal transplants carried out between 2003 and 2013. The associations between immediate RI measurement (within 24 hours after transplantation) and donor, recipient, and surgical factors were analyzed. In addition, the correlations between immediate RI measurement and renal allograft outcomes, including delayed graft function (DGF) and transplant failure (TF), also were evaluated. RESULTS: From a cohort of 305 patients, 52 were excluded on the basis of on confounding factors. Of the remaining 253 patients, the mean age was 48.4 years, 57.5% were male, and approximately one-third had diabetes. Two hundred twenty-six patients had an RI < 0.8, whereas only 27 had an RI ≥ 0.8. Significant associations were found between elevated RI (≥0.8) and both DGF (odds ratio = 3.22, P = .006) and TF (odds ratio = 3.54, P = .008). CONCLUSIONS: Immediate RI measurement after renal transplantation is a strong predictor of both DGF and TF.

Endovascular graft limb occlusion after an anterior resection for rectal cancer: report of a case.

An endovascular aneurysm repair has become an important therapeutic option for the management of patients with aortic aneurysms. Early advantages of the endovascular technique have been well documented. Patients with aortic aneurysms undergoing these procedures are usually elderly, which increases the likelihood of comorbidities. With the increased use of vascular devices, potential complications such as graft limb occlusion need to be widely understood, so they can be recognized and treated early. We recently treated an 85-year-old man with acute endovascular graft limb occlusion after an elective anterior resection for rectal cancer, and we discuss some factors that may have contributed to this complication.

Calciphylaxis: emerging concept in vascular patients.

Calciphylaxis is a small vessel vasculopathy with medial calcification associated with intimal proliferation, fibrosis and thrombosis. This study discusses the clinical features and treatment of calciphylaxis and assesses the prognosis of patients with calciphylaxis. All patients admitted to vascular or renal wards from January 2003 to December 2004 at Royal Perth Hospital, with diagnosis of calciphylaxis confirmed histologically were included in the study. Five patients were included in the study; four male and one female. Three patients had end stage renal failure on haemodialysis and two had normal renal function. All three patients with end-stage renal failure had secondary hyperparathyroidism associated with elevated parathormone and corrected ionised calcium. The two patients with normal renal function had normal calcium, phosphate, and parathormone levels. The diagnosis of calciphylaxis was confirmed in all patients. The wounds of four patients healed and one patient died 8 months after the diagnosis of calciphylaxis had been made. Calciphylaxis is a condition mostly present in patients with end-stage renal failure and can occur in patients with normal renal function. It usually carries a poor prognosis, but in this small series the outcome of patients was good with satisfactory healing of wounds.

Ischemic steal syndrome: a case series and review of current management.

BACKGROUND: Currently over 5000 patients are receiving hemodialysis in Australia, which is an increase by approximately 7% each year. Distal ischemia secondary to the steal syndrome (ISS) is an uncommon but recognized complication. Several methods are now available to manage this problem including ligation, banding, and distal revascularization with interval ligation (DRIL). The aim of this report is to review the experience of the authors on this complication and its management at Royal Perth Hospital. METHODS: The Vascular Physiology Laboratory Database was used to identify those patients referred for investigation of ISS. Data were collected retrospectively from these patients' files concerning their demographics, graft particulars, and type of interventional procedure. Patients were then recalled to assess long-term patency and current venous access and for postoperative vascular studies. RESULTS: Eighteen people were identified with ischemic symptoms. The mean age was 66 (range, 44 to 82). Fourteen (77.8%) were men, and 15 (83.3%) were diabetic. Renal failure was secondary to diabetes in 8 patients, hypertension in 3, and a combination of both in 7 patients. Intervention was via the DRIL procedure in 12, ligation in 5, and banding in 1. One patient underwent angioplasty of the ulnar artery before DRIL. At follow-up (between 1 and 12 months), all DRIL bypass were patents. The 5 ligated patients all improved, and the patient who underwent banding thrombosed their graft. CONCLUSION: The DRIL procedure should be considered the standard operation to manage ISS in that it manages the ischemia while maintaining the functional fistula. It is, however, still necessary to ligate some fistulae and seek alternative access. There are still no preoperative indicators as to who will suffer ISS.

A review of the current treatment of renal artery stenosis.

PURPOSE: Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) is associated with morbidity and mortality consequent to progressive ischemic renal failure and the cardiovascular consequences of hypertension. There is considerable uncertainty concerning the optimal management of patients with this condition. This review considers the aetiological factors and the physiologic consequences of ARAS and compares the results of clinical studies of medical and endovascular therapies on blood pressure control and preservation of renal function. RESULTS: Although, in patients with fibromuscular disease the results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) are clearly superior to medical therapy and surgery, in asymptomatic patients with ARAS the antihypertensive benefits and preservation of renal function of endovascular, surgical and medical therapies appear similar. In selected symptomatic patients interventions may, however, be life-saving. Surgery is generally reserved for arterial occlusions with preserved renal parenchyma and function. CONCLUSIONS: The results of larger, multicentre, randomised, controlled trials are required to clearly clarify the role of interventional therapy in asymptomatic patients.

Von Willebrand disease associated with superficial temporal artery pseudoaneurysm.

We report on two patients with von Willebrand disease (vWD) that presented with superficial temporal artery pseudoaneurysms following minor blunt trauma. We discuss the possible pathophysiological link between vWD and blood vessel abnormalities. The cases highlight the importance of considering the diagnosis of vWD in patients presenting with pseudoaneurysm.

Transmetatarsal amputation: three-year experience at Groote Schuur Hospital.

Transmetatarsal amputation (TMA) for peripheral vascular disease has the reputation of being an operation with a poor outcome. This retrospective study reviewed a 3-year consecutive series of TMA in diabetic and nondiabetic patients. All amputations performed for peripheral vascular disease at Groote Schuur Hospital from January 1999 to December 2002 were reviewed. Data were obtained from hospital records and operating theatre books. The following groups were defined for the purpose of this retrospective study: group 1, TMAs performed in diabetic patients; group 2, TMAs done in nondiabetic patients. Altogether, 43 TMAs were performed: 27 in group 1 and 16 in group 2. Perioperative mortality rates were 7% and 4%, respectively. Overall, the healing rate was 67%: 62% (17/27) in group 1 and 75% (12/16) in group 2. The median times to healing were 8 months in group 1 and 7 months in group 2. Toe pressure and the presence of advanced tibioperoneal disease influenced the outcome of TMA in diabetic patients. Transmetatarsal amputation with a healed stump provided our patients with good mobility. Prediction of healing after operation is unreliable. There was no statistical difference in outcome in diabetic (group 1) versus nondiabetic (group 2) patients.

Femoro-distal bypass surgery at Groote Schuur hospital--4-year retrospective study.

UNLABELLED: An analysis of the demographics and outcome of femoro-distal bypass in patients presenting with defined critical limb ischaemia at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, is presented. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted between January 1998 and December 2001. During this period, 65 patients underwent femoro-distal bypass. Of these, 57 patients were analysed and 8 patients were excluded from the study because of incomplete medical records RESULTS: The median age of the patients in this study was 62 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 34:23. Twenty-eight patients (49%) were diabetic. An overall 2-year mortality of 19.2% was recorded. Reversed saphenous vein graft (RSVG) was used in 29 legs (50.9%) and in situ vein graft (ISVG) in 19 legs (33.3%). There was no statistically significant difference in the graft patency between the two methods (p = 0.39); the 2-year cumulative patency was 40% for the RSVG and 39% for the ISVG. In our unit only 2 factors influenced the outcome of femoro-distal bypass--local sepsis in the foot and an increased early postoperative ankle-brachial index (p < 0.05). Diabetes mellitus, gender, age and race had no influence on the outcome. This study showed that the site of the distal anastomosis had no effect on graft patency or limb salvage. At 2 years, the cumulative patency and limb salvage rates were 40% and 56% respectively. Of the 11 grafts with stenotic lesions requiring intervention, 6 were detected between 18 and 24 months. CONCLUSION: Management of critical limb ischaemia is a major part of the workload in our unit, with most patients undergoing primary amputation. The surgical outcome of femoro-distal bypass was largely influenced by local sepsis and early postoperative ABI. We found that more than half the stenotic lesions detected during graft surveillance occurred beyond 18 months postoperatively. This suggests that a graft surveillance programme should continue beyond 18 months.

Comparison of short-term clinical postoperative outcomes in patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy: intensive care unit versus the ward high-dependency unit.

The objective of this research was to examine the routine postoperative management of patients who have undergone carotid endarterectomy and compare the intensive care unit (ICU) with the ward high-dependency unit (HDU) in terms of the number, type, severity, or management of postoperative clinical events within a 48-hour time frame. Two of the vascular surgeons routinely admitted patients to the ICU, and 1 vascular surgeon routinely admitted patients to the ward HDU. This research determines whether there was a difference in outcomes between the 2 groups with the intention of changing the practice of the 2 vascular surgeons who routinely admitted their patients to the ICU. This was a nonexperimental, descriptive, prospective study of all patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy during an 18-month period between August 1999 and January 2000. A total of 104 patients were recruited to the study. There were 84 patients in the ICU cohort; 59 were male and 25 were female, with a mean age of 72 years. There were 20 patients in the ward HDU cohort; 12 were male and 8 were female, with a mean age of 66 years. Major complications occurred in 3 patients. One patient from the ICU group was returned to the operating room for evacuation of a hematoma, and 2 patients from the ward HDU group were transferred to the ICU for an inotropic infusion. During the first 24 hours, hypertension developed in 37 patients in the ICU cohort, 12 of whom did not require intervention. Hypertension requiring intervention developed in 3 patients in the ward group. Chi-square cross-tabulation revealed a chi 2 value of 1.4 and a P value of.01, which is a significant difference in the number of hypertensive events in the ICU versus the ward HDU. Hypotension occurred in 41 patients in the ICU group and in 9 patients in the ward cohort. The same chi 2 test was used to reveal a chi 2 value of 0.026 and a P value of.87, which are nonsignificant results. There was no difference in the number of hypotensive events in the ICU versus the ward HDU. There were no reported incidents of tachycardia. Bradycardia was reported in 64 patients in the ICU group and in 12 patients in the HDU group. There was no significant difference in the number of patients with bradycardia in either group of patients. Chi-square analysis revealed a chi 2 value of 1.4 and a P value of.23 during the first 24 hours postoperatively. We believe that careful selection of patients to the ward HDU is safe and cost-effective.

Management of extra-cranial vertebral artery injuries.

OBJECTIVES: To review the management of vertebral artery injuries, and the impact of pre-operative angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of all patients with vertebral artery (VA) injuries admitted to Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town between January 1987 and December 2002. Patients presenting with uncontrolled active bleeding or haemodynamic instability with a poor response to resuscitation were taken immediately to surgery. Stable patients, including those who stabilised after simple resuscitation, with evidence of a vascular injury (a bruit or a large haematoma) or trans-cervical gunshot wounds, underwent routine aortic arch and selective angiography. RESULTS: One hundred and one patients with vertebral artery injuries were included in the study. Ninety-two patients sustained penetrating injuries (41 gunshot, 51 stab), three were iatrogenic and six due to blunt trauma. Angiography was performed as the primary investigation in 88 patients, while seven patients had angiography following surgery. Thirty-nine vertebral artery occlusions, 11 arteriovenous fistulae, two intimal injuries and 36 false aneurysms were identified. Thirty-three radiological interventions were performed. There were 22 associated vascular injuries in 16 patients, 27 nerve injuries in 25 patients, 11 osseous injuries in nine patients and eight aerodigestive injuries. Seven patients died. CONCLUSIONS: Angiography and intervention is of great benefit in the diagnosis and management of traumatic vertebral artery injuries. Angiography often avoids unnecessary exploration and permits endovascular treatment.