Comparison of covered stents versus bare metal stents for treatment of chronic atherosclerotic mesenteric arterial disease.

OBJECTIVE: To compare outcomes of mesenteric angioplasty and stenting using iCAST covered stents (CS; Atrium, Hudson, NH) or bare metal stents (BMS) in patients with chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI). METHODS: We reviewed the clinical data of 225 patients (65 male and 160 female; mean age, 72 ± 12 years) treated for CMI at two academic centers (2000-2010). Outcomes were analyzed in patients who had primary intervention or reintervention using BMS (n = 164 patients/197 vessels) or CS (n = 61 patients/67 vessels). End points were freedom from restenosis, symptom recurrence, reinterventions, and patency rates. RESULTS: Patients in both groups had similar demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, and extent of disease. In the primary intervention group (mean follow-up, 29 ± 12 months), patients treated by CS had higher freedom from restenosis (92% ± 6% vs 53% ± 4%; P = .003), symptom recurrence (92 ± 4% vs 50 ± 5%; P = .003), reintervention (91% ± 6% vs 56% ± 5%; P = .005), and better primary patency at 3 years (92% ± 6% vs 52% ± 5%; P < .003) than for BMS. In the reintervention group (mean follow-up, 24 ± 9 months), patients treated by CS had higher freedom from restenosis (89% ± 10% vs 49% ± 14%; P < .04), symptom recurrence (100% vs 64%± 9%; P = .001), and reintervention (100% vs 72% ± 9%; P = .03) at 1 year, and a trend toward improved primary patency at 1 year (100% vs 63% ± 9%; P = .054). Secondary patency rates were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this nonrandomized study, CS were associated with less restenosis, recurrences, and reinterventions than BMS in patients undergoing primary interventions or reinterventions for CMI.

Spontaneous vein graft rupture after infrainguinal vascular reconstruction: report of three cases.

We report three cases of spontaneous vein graft rupture within 2 weeks of infrainguinal vein bypass for limb salvage. Two of the three ruptures were in the distal vein graft and the last just beyond the proximal anastomosis. All were longitudinal slits in the vein with no proximity to branches or valves. Endovascular treatment failed in one patient. Surgical correction with graft salvage was possible in all three cases. This may be an ischemic injury analogous to carotid vein patch rupture, nonapparent trauma to the vein, or simply mechanical stress causing vein rupture with arterial flow.

Balloon-expandable covered stent therapy of complex endovascular pathology.

The current study was designed to investigate our hypotheses that balloon-expandable covered stents display acceptable function over longitudinal follow-up in patients with complex vascular pathology and provide a suitable alternative for the treatment of recurrent in-stent restenosis. All stents were Atrium iCast, which is a balloon-mounted, polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent with a 6F/7F delivery system. A retrospective review was performed of 49 patients with 66 stented lesions. Data were analyzed with life tables and t-tests. The most commonly treated vessels were the iliac (61%) and renal (24%) arteries. Indications for covered stent placement were unstable atheromatous lesions (50%), recurrent in-stent restenosis (24%), aneurysm (8%), aortic bifurcation reconstruction (7.5%), dissection (4.5%), endovascular aneurysm repair-related (4.5%), and stent fracture (1.5%). Patency was assessed by angiogram or duplex ultrasonography. The primary end point was patency and secondary end points were technical success and access-site complications. Mean follow-up was 13 months (range 1.5-25). The technical success rate was 97%. Unsuccessful outcomes were due to deployment error (n=1) and stent malpositioning (n=1). The cohort (n=64) 6- and 12-month primary patency rates were 96% and 84%, respectively. Twelve-month assisted primary patency was 98%. Iliac artery stents (n=38) had a primary patency of 97% at 6 months and 84% at 12 months with an assisted primary patency of 100% at 12 months. Renal artery stents (n=16) had a primary patency of 92% at 6 months and 72% at 12 months with an assisted primary patency of 92% at 6 and 12 months. Stents placed for recurrent in-stent restenosis (n=16) had a primary patency of 85%, assisted primary patency of 93%, and a 15% restenosis rate at 12 months. Specifically, stents placed for renal artery recurrent in-stent restenosis (n=10) had a primary patency of 73%, assisted primary patency of 82%, and a restenosis rate of 27%. The restenosis rate included two renal artery occlusions in patients noncompliant with clopidogrel use and resulted in ipsilateral kidney loss in both patients. In-stent peak systolic velocities decreased significantly (p<0.05) from preoperation to 12 months in iliac stents and to 18 months in renal stents. Ankle-brachial index increased significantly in iliac stents from preoperation (0.62+/-0.18) to 18 months (0.86+/-0.16). Successful exclusion of atheromatous lesions and aneurysm/dissection/endoleak was 100%. Access-site complications occurred in 6%: pseudoaneurysm (n=2), dissection (n=1), and bleeding (n=1). Balloon-expandable covered stents have an acceptable primary patency with an excellent assisted patency after salvage angioplasty. The clinical utility of this technology is broad for the treatment of aneurysms, extravasation, unstable atheromatous lesions, and recurrent in-stent restenosis.

Ruptured traumatic ovarian artery pseudoaneurysm in a pregnant patient.

A woman at 36 weeks' gestation was involved in a motor vehicle crash. She required emergency delivery of a healthy infant by cesarean section. She received anticoagulation, despite a splenic injury, for a possible inferior vena cava clot. She re-presented with new retroperitoneal hemorrhage around the juxtarenal aorta. A computed tomography scan suggested a vague contrast blush anterior to the aorta. Arteriography disclosed a right ovarian artery pseudoaneurysm, which was treated with microcoil embolization. The patient has subsequently recovered fully. In major trauma in pregnant patients, ovarian artery pathology needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of post-traumatic hemorrhage.

Pharmacomechanical thrombolysis for phlegmasia cerulea dolens.

Phlegmasia cerulea dolens (PCD) is limb-threatening. Traditional treatments are very morbid. We examine the efficacy of percutaneous treatment of PCD. Between May 2005 and September 2008, we treated 21 limbs in 20 patients with lower extremity PCD who were candidates for thrombolysis. Diagnosis was by clinical examination and duplex ultrasound. Catheter access to the deep venous system was obtained through a popliteal vein. Therapy used pulse spray thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Infusion catheters and adjunctive percutaneous techniques were used as indicated. Postoperatively, patients were treated with systemic anticoagulation, compression hose, and interval follow-up. Limbs were graded according to the CEAP classification. Twenty patients (13 male) were treated with a mean age of 55.8 years. Nine patients had hypercoagulable states, four May Thurner syndrome, three a history of cancer, one postcolon resection, one acute myocardial infarction, and one postfemoral vein puncture. All patients had resolution of PCD without the need for open surgery. The initial tPA dose was 19.5 mg with pulse spray thrombolysis. Infusion catheters were required in 18 patients and used for 16.1 hours (range, 8 to 36 hours) until complete thrombolysis. Venous angioplasty was necessary in 14 patients with nine of these requiring venous stents. One patient required above-knee amputation despite successful treatment of her PCD. Mean follow-up was 10.7 months (range, 1 to 39 months). All patients demonstrated no or minimal residual thrombus and intact valvular function and a mean clinical CEAP score of 2.4. Percutaneous treatment of PCD produced excellent results with minimal morbidity.

Management of chronic mesenteric vascular insufficiency: an endovascular approach.

BACKGROUND: In patients with chronic mesenteric insufficiency (CMI), traditional bypass surgery carries a high operative mortality. Endovascular therapy for reconstruction of the mesenteric vascular system has high technical success but poor long-term patency. Secondary procedures are often mandatory for recurrent disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate an endovascular-first treatment strategy for CMI, reserving open reconstruction for complex disease patterns without an endovascular option. STUDY DESIGN: Data for consecutive adult patients (N = 107) initially treated with endovascular techniques for CMI were reviewed. The management algorithm consisted of postoperative and biannual ultrasound and clinical follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 107 patients with CMI were treated from April 2004 through June 2010. Technical success for endovascular reconstruction was 100%. Long-term follow-up data were available on 90% of patients. After the index procedure, 57% of patients (n = 55) had complete resolution of the preoperative symptoms. During the management phase, 83% of patients had elevated velocities on duplex evaluation. During this interval, 53% of patients required no further intervention after the index procedure, and the remaining patients required an additional 78 procedures. Five patients required open revascularization for recurrent disease, and only 2 patients died from complications of mesenteric insufficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular management for CMI has a high technical success rate with low morbidity and mortality. Regular follow-up is essential to optimize patient outcomes. Ultrasound findings alone are a poor predictor of recurrent disease. Long-term success requires adaptation of a management program to elicit recurrent symptoms and offer prompt treatment.

Encouraging results with endoscopic vein harvest for infrainguinal bypass.

BACKGROUND: Wound complications after infrainguinal vein bypass remain a significant source of morbidity. Endoscopic saphenous vein harvest has emerged as a viable alternative to minimize vein harvest incisions. METHODS: Infrainguinal bypass using endoscopic vein harvest was performed in 214 limbs in 197 consecutive patients between May 1998 and July 2004. The indication for bypass was limb salvage in 88.3%, claudication in 9.3%, and other in 2.4%. Atherosclerotic risk factors were prevalent, with diabetes mellitus in 68% and dialysis-dependent renal failure in 11.7%. RESULTS: The procedure was successful in all but one patient. This patient was early in the series and had a friable varicose vein. Ipsilateral greater saphenous vein was used in 89.7%, contralateral greater saphenous vein in 8.4%, and lesser saphenous vein in 1.9%. Two injuries to the main trunk of the vein occurred early in the series. Assisted primary patency at a mean follow-up of 18 months (range, 1 to 48 months) is 77.2% by life-table analysis. For patients with claudication, rest pain, or minimal gangrene, the average length of stay was 3.15 days (range, 1 to 6 days). Wound complications occurred in 16 patients (7.5%), 10 of these required only local care (class I and II), and 6 had deep wounds threatening the leg or graft (class III). Only 5 patients, all with class III wounds, required readmission to the hospital for graft-related problems. There is no increase in operating room time once the learning curve is overcome. Patient satisfaction is very high. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic saphenous vein harvest is a useful adjunct to infrainguinal vein bypass, with short length-of-hospital stay, few wound complications, and low hospital readmission rates. Endoscopic vein harvest is recommended as the procedure of choice for vein procurement for infrainguinal bypass procedures.