Prevalence of visceral artery involvement in patients with peripheral artery disease found on run-off MRA.

BACKGROUND: In patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), run-off MR-angiography (MRA) is a commonly performed diagnostic test to obtain high-resolution images for evaluation of the arterial system from the aorta through the distal run-off vessels. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of visceral artery involvement (VAI) in patients with PAD and leg symptoms examined with run-off MRA. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 145 patients (median age 68 years, range 27-91) who underwent MRA due to known or suspected PAD at our institution between 2012 and 2018. MRA examinations were re-evaluated for visceral artery stenosis. Patient dossiers were reviewed to determine cardiovascular risk factors, kidney function and Fontaine stage of PAD. RESULTS: Involvement of at least one visceral artery with ≥ 50% diameter stenosis was found in 72 (50%) patients. There were no differences in age, gender, MRA indication, Fontaine stage, levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), cardiovascular risk factors or vascular comorbidities between patients with and without VAI. Renal artery (RA) involvement with ≥ 50% diameter stenosis was observed in 28 (20%) of patients. Patients with involvement of the RA were more likely to suffer from hypertension (79 vs. 54%, p = 0.019) and reduced renal function (glomerular filtration rate 70 vs. 88 mL/min/1.73m2, p = 0.014). CONCLUSION: Visceral artery stenosis can be seen in half of patients with known or suspected PAD and leg symptoms on run-off MRA. Investigating for RA stenosis in patients with PAD and hypertension and/or impaired renal function may have high diagnostic yield.

Chronic mesenteric ischemia: Diagnosis and management.

Chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) is an uncommon, potentially underdiagnosed clinical condition. Although there is a high prevalence of mesenteric artery stenoses (MAS), an abundant collateral network in the mesenteric circulation mitigates occurrence of ischemia. The most common etiology of CMI is atherosclerosis. CMI is a clinical diagnosis, based upon typical and atypical symptoms and consistent anatomic findings. Typical symptoms of CMI are postprandial abdominal pain, unintended weight loss and food avoidance. The main modalities to diagnose MAS are duplex ultrasound, CT angiography or MR angiography, although high resolution CTA is preferred. Endovascular therapy with balloon expandable stents has become the preferred treatment for MAS.

Risk factors for ischemic antiphospholipid syndrome: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify clinical and laboratory risk factors for ischemic stroke (IS) in primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a case-control study with consecutive primary APS patients divided into two groups, those who presented with IS, vs. those with no history of stroke. Demographics, vascular risk factors, therapeutic approaches, laboratory, imaging and functional outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Fifty-three confirmed primary APS patients with IS and sixty-six non-stroke primary APS controls were recruited. Most patients were female (65.5 %), with a median age of 33 years. The main vascular risk factors for primary APS-associated stroke were hypertension (11.3 %), diabetes (11.3 %) and hypercholesterolemia (9.4 %). Among patients with stroke, median NIHSS score was 6; 15.1 % of these patients presented a recurrent stroke, and 88.8 % had a good functional outcome at the final follow-up. Positive lupus anticoagulant (OR = 6.1, 95 %CI 2.7-13.5), anti-ß2 glycoprotein IgG (OR = 3.6, 95 %CI 1.7-7.9), and anticardiolipin IgG (OR = 2.8, 95 %CI 1.3-5.9) were more prevalent in non-stroke primary APS, with a triple-positive antibody presence in 46.4 % of controls vs. 22.2 % of patients with stroke (OR = 3.0, 95 %CI 1.3-6.7). At the time of the index event (arterial or venous), 14 known primary APS patients were using vitamin K antagonists, but only 35.7 % of them had achieved therapeutic INR. CONCLUSION: Patients with primary APS and IS have similar vascular risk factors and lower antibody positivity than those with extracranial thrombosis.

Results of free flap reconstruction for patients aged 80 years or older with head and neck cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Free flap reconstruction in elderly patients is one of the most challenging surgeries in the treatment of head and neck cancers. The aim of this study was to examine the oncological and functional outcomes of free flap reconstruction for elderly patients with head and neck cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed elderly patients who underwent free flap reconstruction for the treatment of head and neck cancers. All patients were 80 years or older. Clinicopathologic features, surgical procedures, oncological and functional outcomes were obtained from medical records. RESULTS: Free flap reconstructions were performed in 13 patients (3 female, 10 male). The mean age was 82.6 ± 3.4 years (range: 80-91). The mean follow-up period was 23.3 months (range 4-41 months). The mean disease-free survival was 49 ± 6 months (range 4-60 months). All patients had been alive more than one year after surgery. Reconstruction was performed using free jejunum in 10 patients and radial forearm flap in 3 patients. Graft necrosis occurred in 2 patients. Other two patients experienced major postoperative medical complications. CONCLUSION: Free flap reconstruction in well-selected older adults is safe and effective. Advanced age should not preclude consideration of free flap reconstruction in those patients.

Risk of Hospitalization for Serious Adverse Gastrointestinal Events Associated With Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate Use in Patients of Advanced Age.

Importance: Sodium polystyrene sulfonate is commonly prescribed for the treatment of hyperkalemia. Case reports of intestinal injury after administration of sodium polystyrene sulfonate with sorbitol resulted in a US Food and Drug Administration warning and discontinuation of combined 70% sorbitol-sodium polystyrene sulfonate formulations. There are ongoing concerns about the gastrointestinal (GI) safety of sodium polystyrene sulfonate use. Objective: To assess the risk of hospitalization for adverse GI events associated with sodium polystyrene sulfonate use in patients of advanced age. Design, Setting, and Participants: Population-based, retrospective matched cohort study of eligible adults of advanced age (≥66 years) dispensed sodium polystyrene sulfonate from April 1, 2003, to September 30, 2015, in Ontario, Canada, with maximum follow-up to March 31, 2016. Initial data analysis was conducted from August 1, 2018, to October 3, 2018; revision analysis was conducted from February 25, 2019, to April 2, 2019. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to examine the association of sodium polystyrene sulfonate use with a composite of GI adverse events compared with nonuse that was matched via a high-dimensional propensity score. Additional analyses were limited to a subpopulation with baseline laboratory values of estimated glomerular filtration rate and serum potassium level. Exposure: Dispensed sodium polystyrene sulfonate in an outpatient setting. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was a composite of adverse GI events (hospitalization or emergency department visit with intestinal ischemia/thrombosis, GI ulceration/perforation, or resection/ostomy) within 30 days of initial sodium polystyrene sulfonate prescription. Results: From a total of 1 853 866 eligible adults, 27 704 individuals were dispensed sodium polystyrene sulfonate (mean [SD] age, 78.5 [7.7] years; 54.7% male), and 20 020 sodium polystyrene sulfonate users were matched to 20 020 nonusers. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate use compared with nonuse was associated with a higher risk of an adverse GI event over the following 30 days (37 events [0.2%]; incidence rate, 22.97 per 1000 person-years vs 18 events [0.1%]; incidence rate, 11.01 per 1000 person-years) (hazard ratio, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.10-3.41). Results were consistent in additional analyses, including the subpopulation with baseline laboratory values (hazard ratio, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.38-6.12), and intestinal ischemia/thrombosis was the most common type of GI injury. Conclusions and Relevance: The use of sodium polystyrene sulfonate is associated with a higher risk of hospitalization for serious adverse GI events. These findings require confirmation and suggest caution with the ongoing use of sodium polystyrene sulfonate.

Prevalence and Impact of Malnutrition in Patients Surgically Treated for Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Patients suffering from chronic mesenteric ischemia are at risk of malnutrition due to the fear of food and weight loss. However, the impact of malnutrition on the morbidity and mortality at the time of surgery is not studied extensively, just as its prevalence. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of malnutrition on the survival of the patients operated for chronic mesenteric ischemia. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the prevalence of malnutrition in this population and to evaluate the early complications after surgery according to the nutritional condition of the patients. METHODS: We conducted a monocentric retrospective observational study including consecutively all the patients operated for chronic mesenteric ischemia between 2005 and 2016. The nutritional status was determined a posteriori according to the criteria of the French High Health Authority using body mass index, the percentage of weight loss, and albumin. We thus divided the patients into 2 groups, "malnourished" and "non-malnourished." We compared the survival of the patients of the 2 groups with a log-rank test. RESULTS: We enrolled 54 patients including 35 men (65%), with a mean age of 68.1 years (±12.3). The prevalence of malnutrition was 70% (38 patients), including 9 severely malnourished patients (23.6%). Twenty-nine patients (53.7%) were treated by endovascular technique, and twenty-five had conventional surgery (46.3%). The type of management was not different between the 2 groups: 20 patients of the malnourished group (52.6%) and 9 patients of the non-malnourished group (56.3%) were treated by endovascular technique (P = 0.8). The 30-day mortality was null in the non-malnourished group, whereas ten patients (26.3%) died in the malnourished group (P = 0.02). The short-term complications were not significantly different between the malnourished and the non-malnourished groups (37% vs. 19%, P = 0.32). The mean duration of follow-up was 639 days (±660). The 3-year survival was not different between the endovascular group and the open surgery group (43% vs. 52%, P = 0.7). The 3-year survival was statistically higher in the non-malnourished group (87%) than in the malnourished group (49.6%) (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, preoperative malnutrition is a factor significantly decreasing the survival of the patients treated with open surgery or with endovascular technique for chronic mesenteric ischemia. A more optimal preoperative management of this malnutrition could improve the results of these procedures.

Right-Side Colon Ischemia: Clinical Features, Large Visceral Artery Occlusion, and Long-Term Follow-Up.

CONTEXT: Large visceral artery occlusion (LVAO) could underlie right-side colon ischemia (RSCI) but is little known. OBJECTIVE: To assess patients with RSCI through long-term follow-up, including features and management of LVAO. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mesenteric ischemia and mortality. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study in an integrated health care system. RESULTS: Of 49 patients (30 women [61.2%]; mean [standard deviation] age, 69.4 [11.9] years), 19 (38.8%) underwent surgery­that is, 5 (83.3%) of 6 who developed RSCI in hospital following surgical procedures and 14 (32.6%) of 43 who had RSCI before hospitalization (p value = 0.03); overall, 5 (10.2%) died. Among 44 survivors with a median (range) follow-up of 5.19 (0.03-14.26) years, 5 (11.4%), including 3 (20.0%) of 15 operated cases, had symptomatic LVAO and underwent angioplasty and stent placement: 2 for abdominal angina that preceded RSCI, 1 for acute mesenteric ischemia 1 week after resection of RSCI, 1 for RSCI 6 weeks after resection of left-side ischemia, and 1 for abdominal angina that began 3 years after spontaneous recovery from RSCI. None had further mesenteric ischemia until death from nonintestinal disease or the end of follow-up (1.6 to 10.2 years later). Kaplan-Meier survival estimates for all 44 survivors at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years were 88.6%, 72.3%, 57.6%, and 25.9%, respectively. Thirty-one patients (70.4%) died during follow-up, 19 (61.3%) of a known cause; the 39 patients not treated for LVAO lacked mesenteric ischemia. CONCLUSION: Patients with RSCI may have symptomatic LVAO; therefore, we advise they undergo careful query for symptoms of abdominal angina and routine visceral artery imaging.

Surgical and endovascular interventions for chronic mesenteric ischemia.

The aim of this manuscript was to describe and discuss the rationale and conduct of currently available endovascular and open surgical techniques to treat chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) and thus support the process of decision-making in mesenteric revascularization.

Postoperative portomesenteric venous thrombosis: lessons learned from 1,069 consecutive laparoscopic colorectal resections.

BACKGROUND: Portomesenteric venous thrombosis (PVT) is a known complication after open and laparoscopic colorectal (LCR) surgery. Risk factors and the prognosis of PVT have been poorly described. METHODS: This study is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database. Patients with new-onset postoperative abdominal pain were evaluated with a computed tomography scan of the abdomen. Patients found to have PVT were analyzed. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictors of PVT. RESULTS: A total of 1,069 patients undergoing LCR surgery for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or nonmetastatic cancer between June 2002 and June 2012 were included. Altogether, 37 (3.5 %) patients experienced symptomatic postoperative PVT. On univariate analysis, IBD (p < 0.001), ulcerative colitis (p = 0.016), preoperative therapy with steroids (p = 0.008), operative time ≥220 min (p = 0.004), total proctocolectomy (TPC) (p < 0.001), ileoanal pouch anastomosis (p = 0.006), and postoperative intraabdominal septic complications (p < 0.001) were found to be significant risk factors. By multivariate analysis, TPC (p = 0.026) and postoperative intraabdominal septic complications (p < 0.001) were independent predictors of PVT. In the PVT group, postoperative length of stay was longer (14.8 vs. 7.4 days, p < 0.001). Of the patients evaluated with a hematologic workup, 72.7 % were found to have a hypercoagulable condition. All patients were managed with oral anticoagulation for at least 6 months. No death or complications related to PVT occurred. CONCLUSIONS: PVT is a potentially serious complication that is more likely to occur after TPC and in the presence of postoperative intraabdominal septic complications, particularly in patients with a coagulation disorder. Prompt diagnosis and treatment with oral anticoagulation are recommended to avoid long-term sequelae.

Chronic mesenteric ischemia: time to remember open revascularization.

Chronic mesenteric ischemia is caused by stenosis or occlusion of one or more visceral arteries. It represents a therapeutic challenge and diagnosis and treatment require close interdisciplinary cooperation between gastroenterologist, vascular surgeon and radiologist. Although endovascular treatment modalities have been developed, the number of restenoses ultimately resulting in treatment failure is high. In patients fit for open surgery, the visceral arteries should be revascularized conventionally. These patients will then experience long term relief from the symptoms, a better quality of life and a better overall survival.

The clinical importance in differentiating portal from mesenteric venous thrombosis.

AIM: To relate the extent of portomesenteric thrombosis to the risk of intestinal infarction, concomitant venous thromboembolism and underlying diseases. METHODS: Identification of patients with mesenteric (MVT) and portal vein thrombosis (PVT) at Malmö University Hospital from a clinical series from 2000 - 2006 as well as an autopsy cohort of 24000 consecutive autopsies from 1970 - 1982. RESULTS: In the clinical comparative study, MVT (n=51) was associated with more thrombophilic disorders (P=0.040) and intestinal infarctions (P=0.046), whereas patients with PVT without extension to the superior mesenteric vein (n=20) more often had liver disease (P<0.001). At autopsy, 270 patients with portomesenteric venous thrombosis were found; twenty-nine out of the 31 cases with MVT had intestinal infarction. None (0%) of the 239 patients with PVT without extension into the superior mesenteric vein had intestinal infarction. Portomesenteric venous thrombosis and intestinal infarction was associated with concomitant venous thromboembolism (O. R. 6.1 [95% CI 1.8-21]). CONCLUSION: MVT carries a high risk of developing intestinal infarction and is associated with concomitant venous thromboembolism, whereas PVT is associated with liver disease.

Mesenteric venous thrombosis.

First differentiated from arterial causes of acute mesenteric ischemia 75 years ago, acute mesenteric venous thrombosis (MVT) is an uncommon disorder with non-specific signs and symptoms, the diagnosis of which requires a high index of suspicion. The location, extent, and rapidity of thrombus formation determine whether intestinal infarction ensues. Etiologies, when identified, usually can be separated into local intra-abdominal factors and inherited or acquired hypercoagulable states. The diagnosis is most often made by contrast-enhanced computed tomography, though angiography and exploratory surgery still have important diagnostic as well as therapeutic roles. Anticoagulation prevents clot propagation and is associated with decreased recurrence and mortality. Thrombectomy and thrombolysis may preserve questionably viable bowel and should be considered under certain circumstances. Evidence of infarction mandates surgery and resection whenever feasible. Although its mortality rate has fallen over time, acute MVT remains a life-threatening condition requiring rapid diagnosis and aggressive management. Chronic MVT may manifest with complications of portal hypertension or may be diagnosed incidentally by noninvasive imaging. Management of chronic MVT is directed against variceal hemorrhage and includes anticoagulation when appropriate; mortality is largely dependent on the underlying risk factor.

Transplant renoportal vein conduit for complete mesenteric thrombosis: a case report.

Portal vein thrombosis, which is present in up to one quarter of patients with end-stage liver disease, presents a technical challenge at the time of liver transplantation. Thromboendovenectomy when feasible has been advocated in these patients. However, in patients with complete mesenteric thrombosis where this technique is typically not successful, a number of alternative techniques have been attempted including caval transposition, portal arterialization, and multivisceral transplantation often with discouraging results. We present herein a single case where transplant renal vein outflow was used to provide portal vein inflow in a patient with complete mesenteric thrombosis undergoing simultaneous liver-kidney transplant.

[Ways for optimization of treatment of patients with mesenterial thrombosis in municipal medical institutions of small towns and rural area].

An analysis of 199 cases has shown that verification of mesenterial thrombosis in municipal medical institutions is 5.6% at the prehospital period, 23% in the admission rooms of hospitals, 30%--in surgical departments before operation. The index of postoperative lethality remains high reaching 91.3% in municipal hospitals of Leningrad oblast. In order to improve results of treatment of patients with mesenterial thrombosis in municipal medical institutions of small towns and rural area it is necessary to develop technology and organization of medical aid in municipal medical institutions.

Epidemiology of mesenteric vascular disease: clinical implications.

The overall incidence rate of acute mesenteric ischemia between 1970 and 1982, diagnosed at either autopsy or operation, in the population of Malmö, Sweden was estimated at 12.9/100,000 person-years. Autopsy rate was 87%. Acute superior mesenteric artery (SMA) occlusion (embolus/thrombus ratio = 1.4), mesenteric venous thrombosis (MVT), and nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) were found in approximately 68%, 16%, and 16%, respectively. Acute SMA occlusion was found to be more common than ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. The incidence increased exponentially with age, equally distributed among men and women after adjusting for age and gender in the population. Thrombotic occlusions were located more proximally than embolic occlusions and intestinal infarction was more extensive, whereas patients with embolus had a higher frequency of acute myocardial infarction, and had cardiac thrombi in 48% and synchronous emboli in 68% of the patients. The proportion of patients with symptoms inherent with chronic mesenteric ischemia prior to onset of acute thrombotic occlusion has been reported to occur in 73%. Cardiac failure, history of atrial fibrillation, and recent surgery have all been associated with fatal NOMI. MVT is either caused by thrombophilia, direct injury, or local venous congestion or stasis. Multidetector row computed tomography with intravenous contrast enhancement and imaging in the arterial phase for suspicion of acute SMA occlusion and imaging in the venous phase for MVT has become the diagnostic method of choice. In-hospital mortality is highest for NOMI, lower for acute SMA occlusion, and lowest, around 20%, for MVT.

Acute mesenteric ischemia: diagnostic approach and surgical treatment.

Mortality related to acute mesenteric arterial occlusion remains very high. Patient survival is dependent on prompt recognition and revascularization before ischemia progresses to intestinal gangrene. Biphasic computed tomography angiography has surpassed angiography as the diagnostic test of choice due to its ability to define the arterial anatomy and to evaluate secondary signs of mesenteric ischemia. Unlike chronic mesenteric ischemia, the treatment of acute arterial mesenteric ischemia, either embolic or thrombotic, remains largely surgical. This is due to the emergent need for revascularization combined with a careful evaluation of the intestines. Endovascular techniques remain useful, however, and can save precious time in the treatment of these challenging patients if integrated into a treatment pathway combined with definitive surgical treatment. A new hybrid endovascular-surgical treatment for the treatment of acute mesenteric thrombosis is described.

Epidemiology and prognostic factors in acute superior mesenteric artery occlusion.

BACKGROUND: Reports on trends in incidence and mortality of acute superior mesenteric artery (SMA) occlusion and evaluation of prognostic factors in recent years are lacking. METHODS: Patients with acute SMA occlusion were identified through the in-patient and autopsy registry between 1970 and 1982 (n = 270), 1987 to 1996 (n = 135), and 2000 and 2006 (n = 100) in Malmö, Sweden. RESULTS: The overall incidence rate decreased from 8.6 to 5.4/100,000 person years and the autopsy rate from 87% to 25% over time. A higher serum creatinine level was associated with a lower probability of undergoing multi-detector row computed tomography with intravenous contrast (MDCTiv) (p = 0.006). Not performing a MDCTiv (odds ratio 4.0; 95% confidence interval [1.0-16.0]) remained as independent prognostic factor for in-hospital mortality. General and vascular surgeons collaborated in 25 out of 61 patients that underwent an intervention, of which 21 (84%) (p < 0.001) survived. CONCLUSIONS: A close collaboration between radiologists and general and vascular surgeons seems to be most important to lower the mortality in patients with acute SMA occlusion.