Quantification of periaortic adipose tissue in contrast-enhanced CT angiography: technical feasibility and methodological considerations.

To examine the feasibility of the quantification of abdominal periaortic fat tissue (PaFT) (tissue within - 45 to - 195 HU) in enhanced CT-angiographies compared to unenhanced CT-scans and identify methodological issues affecting its clinical implementation. Using OsirixMD, PaFT volume and mean HU value were retrospectively measured within a 5 mm periaortic ring in paired unenhanced and enhanced abdominal aortic CT-scans. The correlation between PaFT values was examined in a derivation cohort (n = 101) and linear regression analysis produced correction factors to convert values from enhanced into values from unenhanced CTs. The conversion factors were then applied to enhanced CTs in a different validation cohort (n = 47) and agreement of corrected enhanced values with values from unenhanced scans was evaluated. Correlation between PaFT Volume und Mean HU from enhanced and unenhanced scans was very high (r > 0.99 and r = 0.95, respectively, p < 0.0001 for both). The correction factors for PaFT Volume and Mean HU were 1.1057 and 1.0011. Potential confounding factors (CT-kilovoltage, slice thickness, mean intraluminal contrast density, aortic wall calcification, longitudinal variation of intraluminal contrast density, aortic diameter) showed no significant effect in a multivariate regression analysis (p > 0.05). Bland-Altman analysis of corrected enhanced and unenhanced values showed excellent agreement and Passing-Bablok regression confirmed minimal/no residual bias. PaFT can be quantified in enhanced CT-angiographies very reliably. PaFT Volume scores are very consistently slightly underestimated in enhanced scans by about 10%, while the PaFT Mean HU value remains practically constant and offers distinct methodological advantages. However, a number of methodological issues remain to be addressed.

Ten-year analyses of the German DRG data about negative pressure wound therapy.

Exact data regarding the clinical role of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for wound care in a specific country are not available. Thus, we analysed the use of NPWT in hospitalised patients in Germany. Detailed lists of all hospitalised cases treated with NPWT in Germany for each of the years from 2005 to 2014 were obtained from the Federal Statistical Office, as well as lists of the 15 most frequent principal and additional diagnoses documented with NPWT in 2014. Within the 10-year time period of the study, the number of cases treated with NPWT increased by 349%, from 37 053 in 2005 to 129 269 in 2014. The rate of all hospitalised cases treated with NPWT increased form 0·22% to 0·66% in Germany. In 2014, wounds affecting skin and subcutaneous tissue (5-916.a0) are the most frequent documented indication for NPWT followed by deep wounds involving bones and joints at the limbs (5-916.a1). Open abdomens (5-916.a3) count for higher numbers than deep wounds of the thorax, mediastinum and sternum (5-916.a2). Fifty percent of all cases hospitalised for stage IV pressure ulcers at sacrum or ischium and around one third (32.2%) of cases with pyothorax received NPWT. Every fourth to fifth case hospitalised for disruption of surgical wounds or infections following a procedure (24·1%), as well as for infections and inflammations because of internal joint prosthesis or because of an internal fixation device was treated with NPWT (22·9%). In cases with diabetic foot syndrome, it is still every tenth case (10·1%). This analysis shows a substantial increase in the use of NPWT in the last decade for hospitalised patients. NPWT has a fixed role in the treatment of stage IV pressure ulcers at sacrum or ischium, pyothorax, infection and inflammation because of internal joint prosthesis or an internal fixation device and diabetic foot syndrome.

Endovascular treatment of chronic mesenteric ischemia.

PURPOSE: Data regarding endovascular treatment of chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) are sparse. Angioplasty is often accompanied by early restenosis and the need of further interventions. Thus we present our own patients' data and review the recent literature. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all endovascular CMI treatments performed from 2008 to 2012 (27 patients, 14 females, mean age 70 ± 9 years). Patients' data were retrieved from electronic health records. Patients' follow-up included routinely performed color-coded ultrasonography, and, if performed for other clinical reasons, computed tomography or angiography. In addition, data extracted from 11 studies focusing on endovascular CMI treatment were analyzed. RESULTS: Procedures were performed without clinical complications in all patients. Seven patients received pure angioplasty and 20 patients stent-assisted angioplasties using bare metal stents, respectively. Three patients died 3, 5 and 32 months after the intervention. Five patients underwent re-intervention (one early restenosis at day 4 after pure angioplasty with stent placement and four because of in-stent restenosis, 5 to 23 months after placement). Another patient was treated surgically because of stent occlusion and reoccurring abdominal angina 15 months after the intervention. The 11 studies found in the literature included 429 cases with 196 treatments of the coeliac trunk (truncus coeliacus = TC), 319 of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and 42 of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA). Patency rates in the more recent studies were high with up to 80% within 1 year. Data of earlier studies report longer follow-up periods and indicate low patency rates after three years. Our 2-year patency rate of 50% is within the range of reported patency data. CONCLUSIONS: The presented data show that endovascular SMA treatment is a suitable and safe procedure in patients suffering from CMI, but long-term results are limited.