Peripheral blood mononuclear cell transplantation to treat no-option critical limb ischaemia: effectiveness and safety.

OBJECTIVE: Local intramuscular transplantation of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilised peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PB-MNC) has been shown to be effective for treating patients with no-option critical limb ischaemia (CLI) who are not considered suitable to undergo surgical bypass or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of PB-MNCs as a treatment for no-option CLI patients. METHOD: This prospective cohort study was conducted between April 2013 and December 2017. Patients with no-option CLI were treated with G-CSF 5-10 µg/kg/day for 3 days. PB-MNCs (7.1±2.2×1010) with CD34+ cells (2.1±1.2×108) were collected by blood cell separator and then injected into the calf or thigh of ischaemic limbs. Ankle-brachial index, toe-brachial index and transcutaneous oxygen tension were recorded at 1 and 3 months after injection. The amputation rate and the wound healing rate were also recorded. RESULTS: Eight patients took part in the study. Two patients experienced rest pain relief 1 month after PB-MNC therapy. Five patients had healed ulcer at 6 months after PB-MNC therapy. Limb ischaemia did not improve after PB-MNC therapy in one patient. Below-knee amputation was performed in that patient due to extension of gangrene. Two patients required reinjection of PB-MNCs because of recurrence of ischaemic ulcer. The limb salvage rate after 1 year was 87.5%. CONCLUSION: Local intramuscular transplantation of G-CSF-mobilised PB-MNCs might be a safe and effective treatment for no-option CLI patients.

Early and late outcomes of endovascular aneurysm repair to treat abdominal aortic aneurysm compared between severe and non-severe infrarenal neck angulation.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal aortic aneurysm with severe infrarenal neck angle (>60°) has long been thought to be an obstacle to endovascular aneurysm repair. However, some previous studies reported endovascular aneurysm repair to be safe and efficacious for treating abdominal aortic aneurysm in patients with severe neck angulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the early and late outcomes of endovascular aneurysm repair to treat abdominal aortic aneurysm compared between patients with severe and non-severe infrarenal neck angulation. METHODS: Fifty-four severe and 144 non-severe neck angulation patients who were treated at Siriraj Hospital (Bangkok, Thailand) during January 2010-October 2013 were recruited. The primary endpoints were intraoperative neck complications (e.g., type 1A endoleak or proximal graft migration) and immediate adjunct aortic neck procedures. The secondary endpoints included perioperative mortality, overall survival, and the proportion of patients that were reintervention-free at five years compared between the severe and non-severe groups. RESULTS: Severe angulation patients were significantly older than non-severe angulation patients (77 ± 6.3 vs. 74 ± 7.9 years; p = 0.021). The median proximal angle was significantly greater in the severe group (82° vs. 13.5°; p < 0.001). Intraoperative proximal neck complications developed in 29.6% of patients in the severe angulation group compared with 9.0% in the non-severe group (p < 0.001). Significantly more patients in the severe group required intraoperative adjunct procedures (29.6% vs. 7.6%; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in perioperative mortality between groups. At the five-year follow-up, there was no significant difference between groups for overall survival or the proportion of patients that remained reintervention-free. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular aneurysm repair to treat abdominal aortic aneurysm in patients with severe proximal neck angulation is technically feasible and safe Although the severe angulation group had a higher rate of intraoperative neck complications and immediate adjunct neck procedures than the non-severe group, there was no significant difference between groups for 30-day mortality, overall survival or the proportion of patients who remained reintervention-free at five years.

Outcomes of Open Repair, Fenestrated Stent Grafting, and Chimney Grafting in Juxtarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Is It Time for a Randomized Trial?

BACKGROUND: The well-established, gold standard treatment for juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (JAAAs) is open repair (OR). However, endovascular treatment with fenestrated or chimney grafts has been increasingly performed in the past decade. This study compared the outcomes of OR with 2 endovascular methods in JAAA. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with JAAA who underwent OR (n = 32), repair with fenestrated stent grafts (fenestrated endovascular aortic aneurysm repair [FEVAR], n = 20), or chimney grafts (Ch-EVAR, n = 23) during the period from January 2011 to December 2016 at a single center. Our primary end point was perioperative mortality. Secondary end points included renal function impairment, new-onset dialysis, procedural details, and postoperative complications. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate freedom from late reintervention, primary patency of target vessel stent grafts, and overall survival. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups in baseline characteristics. Perioperative mortality was similar in all the 3 groups (3.1% (1/32) in the OR group, 0% in the FEVAR group, and 4.3% (1/23) in the Ch-EVAR group. Mean follow-up duration was 36.7 months (range 1-75 months). There were no significant differences between groups regarding any of the secondary end points, except for blood loss (which was significantly greatest in the OR group), and there was no significant difference in overall survival. Estimated target vessel stent patency at 1 and 4 years was 93.8% and 93.8% in the FEVAR group, and 89.5% and 89.5% in the Ch-EVAR group. There was no significant difference between groups in estimated freedom from late reintervention (96.4% in the OR group, 77.2% in the FEVAR group, and 82.3% in the Ch-EVAR group). CONCLUSIONS: Open surgery is an acceptable and effective treatment for JAAA. However, FEVAR and Ch-EVAR also showed high technical success rates and low perioperative mortality, with acceptable reintervention rates during follow-up.

Incidence, Risk Factors, Progression, and Treatment of Endovenous Heat-Induced Thrombosis Class 2 or Greater After Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation.

BACKGROUND: Endovenous heat-induced thrombosis (EHIT) is a thrombus that extends from an ablated saphenous vein into the common femoral vein after endovenous radiofrequency ablation (RFA). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence, progression, treatment, and risk factors associated with EHIT-2 or greater after RFA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with symptomatic superficial venous incompetence that were treated by RFA of the great saphenous vein or anterior accessory saphenous vein during the July 2012 to December 2016 study period. Duplex ultrasound scanning was performed at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and every year after RFA to detect EHIT. RESULTS: A total of 317 legs from 274 patients were included. The incidence of EHIT-2 or greater was 7.0%, including 5.4% EHIT-2, 1.3% EHIT-3, and 0.3% EHIT-4. No symptomatic pulmonary embolism was found. The independent risk factors for EHIT-2 or greater were vein diameter (p = .027) and concomitant sclerotherapy (p = .037). CONCLUSION: The risk factors found to be independently associated with EHIT-2 or greater were large vein size and concomitant sclerotherapy. Screening for EHIT should be performed in patients with one or both of these risk factors within 1 week after RFA and in patients with postoperative symptoms suggestive of venous thromboembolism.

Midterm Outcomes From a Pilot Study of Percutaneous Deep Vein Arterialization for the Treatment of No-Option Critical Limb Ischemia.

PURPOSE: To report the initial clinical experience with percutaneous deep vein arterialization (PDVA) to treat critical limb ischemia (CLI) via the creation of an arteriovenous fistula. METHODS: Seven patients (median age 85 years; 5 women) with CLI and no traditional endovascular or surgical revascularization options (no-option CLI) were recruited in a pilot study to determine the safety of PDVA. All patients were diabetic; 4 had Rutherford category 6 ischemia. Six were classified at high risk of amputation based on the Society for Vascular Surgery WIfI (wound, ischemia, and foot infection) classification. The primary safety endpoints were major adverse limb events and major adverse coronary events through 30 days and serious adverse events through 6 months. Secondary objectives included clinical efficacy based on outcome measures including thermal measurement, transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen (TcPO2), clinical improvement at 6 months, and wound healing. RESULTS: The primary safety endpoints were achieved in 100% of patients, with no deaths, above-the-ankle amputations, or major reinterventions at 30 days. The technical success rate was 100%. Two myocardial infarctions occurred within 30 days, each with minor clinical consequences. All patients demonstrated symptomatic improvement with formation of granulation tissue, resolution of rest pain, or both. Complete wound healing was achieved in 4 of 7 patients and 5 of 7 patients at 6 and 12 months, respectively, with a median healing time of 4.6 months (95% confidence interval 84-192). Median postprocedure peak TcPO2 was 61 mm Hg compared to a preprocedure level of 8 mm Hg (p=0.046). At the time of wound healing, 4 of 5 of patients achieved TcPO2 levels of >40 mm Hg. There were 2 major amputations, 1 above the knee after PDVA thrombosis and 1 below the knee for infection. Three patients died of causes unrelated to the procedure or study device at 6, 7, and 8 months, respectively. Limb salvage was 71% at 12 months. CONCLUSION: PDVA is an innovative approach for treating no-option CLI and represents an alternative option for the "desert foot," potentially avoiding major amputation. Our results demonstrate its safety and feasibility, with promising early clinical results in this small cohort.

Use of customised pressure-guided elastic bandages to improve efficacy of compression bandaging for venous ulcers.

Compression bandaging is a major treatment of chronic venous ulcers. Its efficacy depends on the applied pressure, which is dependent on the skill of the individual applying the bandage. To improve the quality of bandaging by reducing the variability in compression bandage interface pressures, we changed elastic bandages into a customised version by marking them with circular ink stamps, applied when the stretch achieves an interface pressure between 35 and 45 mmHg. Repeated applications by 20 residents of the customised bandage and non-marked bandage to one smaller and one larger leg were evaluated by measuring the sub-bandage pressure. The results demonstrated that the target pressure range is more often attained with the customised bandage compared with the non-marked bandage. The customised bandage improved the efficacy of compression bandaging for venous ulcers, with optimal sub-bandage pressure.

Outcomes and factors influencing prognosis in patients with vascular pythiosis.

OBJECTIVE: Vascular pythiosis, caused by Pythium insidiosum, is associated with a high mortality rate. We reviewed the outcomes and established the factors predicting prognosis of patients treated in our institution with surgery, antifungal therapy, or immunotherapy. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective record review of patients with vascular pythiosis treated in Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, between January 2005 and January 2015. Patient characteristics, type of surgery, adjunctive antifungal treatment, adjunctive immunotherapy, and disease status of surgical arterial and surrounding soft tissue margins were recorded. We calculated the mortality rate and established factors predicting prognosis. RESULTS: The records of 11 patients were reviewed. All patients had thalassemia. Nine patients (81.8%) had a history of contact with contaminated water. The clinical presentations were chronic ulcers (45.5%), toe gangrene (27.3%), pulsatile mass (27.3%), and acute limb ischemia (27.3%). Above-knee amputation was required in 10 patients (90.9%). The mortality rate was 36.4%. Independent variables between survivors and nonsurvivors were lack of an arterial disease-free surgical margin (P = .003), lack of a surrounding soft tissue disease-free surgical margin (P < .05), a suprainguinal lesion (P < .05) and duration of symptoms (P < .05). Adjuvant itraconazole, terbinafine, and Pythium vaccine have a role to play in patients with a disease-free arterial surgical margin but in whom infected surrounding soft tissue could not be completely excised. CONCLUSIONS: Achieving adequate disease-free surgical margins-especially the arterial margin-at amputation or débridement is the most important prognostic factor in patients with vascular pythiosis. Early detection combined with a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, including surgery, antifungal agents, and immunotherapy, allows the best possible outcome to be obtained.

The effects of the court-type Thai traditional massage on anatomical relations, blood flow, and skin temperature of the neck, shoulder, and arm.

BACKGROUND: Court-type Thai traditional massage (CTTM) has specific major signal points (MaSP) for treating musculoskeletal conditions. The objectives of this study are to investigate the anatomical surfaces and structures of MaSPs, and to examine blood flow (BF) and skin temperature (ST) changes after applying pressure on the MaSPs on neck, shoulder, and arm areas. METHODS: In the anatomical study, 83 cadavers were dissected and the anatomical surfaces and structures of the 15 MaSPs recorded. In human volunteers, BF, peak systolic velocity (PS), diameter of artery (DA), and ST changes were measured at baseline and after pressure application at 0, 30, 60, 180, and 300 s. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in anatomical surfaces and structures of MaSP between the left and right side of the body. The 3 MaSPs on the neck were shown to be anatomically separated from the location of the common carotid arteries. The BF of MaSPs of the neck significantly and immediately increased after pressure application for 30 s and for 60 s in the arm (p < 0.001). ST increased significantly and immediately after pressure application for 300 s (p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between BF and ST at any of the MaSPs. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that MaSP massages were mainly directed towards muscles. MaSPs can cause significant, but brief, increases in BF and ST. Further studies are suggested to identify changes in BF and ST for all of the MaSPs after actual massage treatment sessions as well as other physiological effects of massage.

Carotid Endarterectomy in Symptomatic Extracranial Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis: A Result of the First 100 Consecutive Cases in a University Hospital.

Background: Extracranial carotid artery stenosis has been recognized in 9.2% of ischemic stroke patients by duplex ultrasonography in Thailand. The treatment program of this disease has not been established countrywide. Objective: Carotid endarterectomy in our institute was firstly evaluated for safety and long-term efficiency in order to assess the possibility of expanding this treatment throughout the country. Material and Method: An observational study with long-term follow-up was carried out in 100 consecutive symptomatic patients with severe stenosis (70-99% diameter stenosis) of extracranial internal carotid artery that underwent carotid endarterectomies. All carotid endarterectomies were performed under general anesthesia, with routine use of intravascular shunts during carotid cross clamps and saphenous vein patches for arteriotomy closures. Perioperative mortality and morbidity were evaluated for the safety of this procedure. The long-term stroke-free survival was assessed to announce the efficiency of this treatment. Results: One hundred consecutive patients (68% male and 32%female) with the mean age of 69.9 years were included in the present study. Mean duration of neurological symptoms prior to surgery was 2.5 months. Hemiplegia (64%) was the most common symptom leading to surgery. Hypertension (87%) was the most common comorbidity in the present series. Mean duration of surgical procedure was 210 minutes. Mean durations of total carotid shunting and carotid cross clamp during shunt removal were 75 minutes and 4.5 minutes respectively. Mean length of ICU stay was 1.4 days. The perioperative mortality rate was 1%. The perioperative major stroke rate was also 1%. Ten-year follow-up of the patients revealed no death related to neurovascular event and no evidence of recurrent ipsilateral stroke in the present series. The cumulative 5- and 10-year stroke-free survivals were 86.1% and 73.7% respectively. Duplex ultrasonography in all survivors demonstrated no recurrent stenosis in the affected carotid artery. Conclusion: Carotid endarterectomy with a consistent technique in the present series had a comparable outcome of safety and long-term efficiency with the standard surgical practice. The information may initiate the treatment guideline for the patient with extracranial carotid artery stenosis in Thailand.

The Influence of VKORC1 Polymorphisms on Warfarin Doses in Thai Patients with Deep Vein Thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 2C9 and vitamin K epoxide reductase complex, subunit 1 genes (CYP2C9 and VKORC1, respectively) were previously shown to affect the warfarin dose required in anticoagulant therapy of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, little is known about the role of these genetic variants in the Thai population. OBJECTIVE: To identify the effect of CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genetic variants on warfarin dosage in the Thai population with DVT. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Genotyping of CYP2C9 (*2 and *3) and VKORC1 promoter (-1 639G>A) variants were carried out in 97 Thai DVT patients receiving constant warfarin therapy and with a stable international normalized ratio using real-time PCR assays. RESULTS: VKORC1 AA, GA, and GG genotype frequencies were found to be 49.5%, 46.4%, and 4.1%, respectively, while those of CYP2C9 genotypes were 88.7% for *1/*1 and 11.3%for *1/*3. The CYP2C9*2 variant was not present in the patients studied. The mean daily warfarin dose required to maintain a therapeutic INR differed significantly according to VKORC1 genotype, with 3.6 mg/day required for AA, 4.7 mg/day for GA, and 7.4 mg/day for GG (p-value < 0.001). The CYP2C9 genotype did not significantly affect the warfarin dosage requirement (p-value = 0.29). CONCLUSION: These findings underline the impact of VKORC1 genotypes on the wide variation in warfarin maintenance dosing in Thai patients with DVT.

Suprainguinal vascular pythiosis: effective long-term outcome of aggressive surgical eradication.

Vascular pythiosis, a vascular infectious disease in hemoglobinopathy patients, caused by Pythium insidiosum, has an endemic area in tropical and subtropical countries. According to literature review, suprainguinal vascular pythiosis leads to 100% of mortality. The authors report a 35-year-old thalassemic patient who presented with a right inflammatory pulsatile groin mass and right limb ischemia. The computerized tomography angiography indicated a false aneurysm at the right external iliac artery and thrombosed entire right leg arteries. The management comprised antifungal agent, immunotherapy, and surgical removal of all infected arteries (high up to the right common iliac artery and above-knee amputation). The patient was found in a good condition at 36 months after the follow-up period.

Balloon assisted valsalva maneuver in the diagnosis of saphenofemoral junction incompetence.

BACKGROUND: Conventional Valsalva maneuver (CV) is a standardprocedure to exhibit reverse venous flow atsaphenofemoral junction (SFJ) by duplex ultrasonography (DUS). However some patients could not undergo CV during examination. OBJECTIVE: Compare blowing party balloon assisted Valsalva (PBAV) with CV for exhibiting the reverse venous flow at SFJ incompetence. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Forty patients who had symptoms and signs of suspected saphenofemoral junction incompetence were examined for venous reflux by DUS with two techniques of Valsalva maneuver PBAV and CV The design was a 2x2 cross-over study. The patients were randomized to two sequences. The first sequence performed CV before PBAV The second sequence performed PBAV before CV The timing for the instruction, reflux time, and total timing of examination were compared between the two sequences. RESULTS: There was neither period effect nor treatment-period interaction. Both PBAV and CV could equally identify SFJ reflux, but teaching time and total examination time in PBAV was shorter than CV. CONCLUSION: PBAV is a new option to exhibit reverse venous flow at SFJ by DUS. PBAV is easier and spend less time than CV

Outcomes of abdominal aortic aneurysm with aortic neck thrombus after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) has increasingly been performed for the last two decades. One of the anatomical exclusion criterion of EVAR is the presence of thrombus within the infrarenal neck of an aneurysm. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of proximal aortic neck thrombus morphology on clinical outcomes after EVAR. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The subjects were retrospectively recruited from all the patients whom undergone EVAR in our institution between January 2010 and December 2012. The patients with apparent thrombus of more than 40% at proximal aortic neck were included Primary endpoints consisted of technical success and perioperative mortality. Secondary endpoints included adjuvant procedures at neck, procedural details, perioperative adverse events, ICU, and hospital stay. The late outcomes of stent grafts related complications were the presence of endoleak, aneurysm expansion, stent graft migration, stent graft thrombosis, AAA rupture, secondary intervention rate, and conversion to open repair RESULTS: Twenty-one out of 145 patients having thrombus of more than 40% of circumferential aortic neck underwent EVAR. The mean follow-up was 15.4 months (range, 2-36 months). There was 100% technical success with no perioperative death. Adjuvant of aortic neck procedure was required in three patients. One patient developed graft limb occlusion. In addition, one patient developed renal infarction requiring long-term hemodialysis and two patients presented with blue toe syndrome and trash feet. During late follow-up, three, five, and two patients had a type II endoleak at one, six, and 12 months, respectively without AAA sac expansion. There was no stent graft migration, stent graft thrombosis, or ruptured AAA. Three patients expired during the late follow-up. In addition, there was neither conversion to opened repair nor secondary intervention. CONCLUSION: The presence of aortic neck thrombus may not be a contraindication for EVAR in selected patients. However, it seems to negatively influence the outcomes in the aspect of renal and peripheral embolization, which could be prevented during EVAR procedure. There was no adverse graft-related complication, secondary intervention, or aneurysm-related mortality during mid-term follow-up period.

Prevalence of perioperative asymptomatic proximal deep vein thrombosis in Thai gynecologic cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Thromboprophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis in gynecologic cancer surgery in Thai patients is not routinely performed. OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of perioperative asymptomatic proximal deep vein thrombosis of 100 patients with gynecologic cancer was identified. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Duplex ultrasonography of proximal vein of legs was performed in each patient, seven to 14 days, before and after surgery. RESULTS: The prevalence of perioperative asymptomatic proximal deep vein thrombosis was 7%. The prevalence of preoperative asymptomatic proximal deep vein thrombosis of legs was 5% and postoperative incidence of asymptomatic proximal deep vein thrombosis of legs was 2.11%. Acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism was found in only one patient. All patients who developed deep vein thrombosis had adenocarcinoma of ovary or uterus, but not cervical cancer The other risk factors of venous thromboembolism were comparable between deep vein thrombosis and non-deep vein thrombosis group. CONCLUSION: The patients with adenocarcinoma of ovary and uterus seem to be the greatest risk of perioperative deep vein thrombosis. High prevalence of venous thromboembolism in gynecologic cancer surgery of Thai patients should be concerned.

Catheter-directed thrombolysis for acute limb ischemia caused by native artery occlusion: an experience of a university hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficiency and complications of catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) of acute limb ischemia (ALI) resulting from thromboembolic occlusion. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study of CDT was carried out in patients with acute thromboembolic arterial occlusion and marginally threatened ischemia of the extremities between February 2006 and December 2011. After the tip of the angiographic catheter was placed within the blood clot, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) was used for thrombolysis. The CDT procedure included an initial bolus injection of high dose rt-PA (5-15 mg) followed by a tapering of infusion rate (1-2 mg/hour) through the catheter Primary outcome was 1-year amputation free survival rate and mortality rate. Secondary outcome included technical and clinical success rates, time to lysis, and complication rate. The complete reestablishment of the occluded arteries without major amputation and death was considered successful treatment. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients (30 males and 7 females) with the mean age of 55.6 years (range, 27-86 years) were enrolled in the present study. The number of acute arterial occlusion was 23 (62.2%) of acute arterial embolism and 14 (37.8%) of acute arterial thrombosis. Embolism involved two aortic bifurcations, two iliac arteries, five femoral arteries, 13 popliteal arteries, and one both popliteal arteries. The sites of thrombosis were one of aorto-iliac segment, three of iliac artery, five of femoral artery, three of popliteal artery, one of bilateral popliteal, and one of tibio-peroneal artery. The mean duration of completed infusions was 21.29 hours (range, 2-58 hours). Successful adjunctive percutaneous intervention or arterial bypass was performed in seven patients (18.9%) whose stenotic lesions were disclosed following CDT The 30-day perioperative mortality and 30-day amputation-free survival rates of the patients treated by CDT were 10.8% (4 of 37 patients) and 86.5% (32 of 37 patients) respectively. Both 6-month and 1-year amputation free survival rate were 78.4% (29/37). Technical success rate was 75.7% (28/37) whereas clinical success was 86.5% (32/37). Technical success rate was 80.0% (28/35) if ischemic symptom onset was no longer than six weeks. The 30-day major complications included two patients (5.4%) requiring more than four units of blood transfusion for access site hematoma, two (5.4%) large fatal intracerebral hemorrhages, one (2.7%) small intracerebral hemorrhage, one (2.7%) acute embolic stroke, and one (2.7%) death of multiple organ failure following conversion to surgical revascularization. Minor complications were distal thromboembolization in one patient (2.7%), small hematoma in seven patients (18.9%), and pseudoaneurysm in one patient (2.7%). CONCLUSION: CDT is an effective armamentarium to salvage the ischemic limb resulting from acute embolism and acute thrombosis of native artery. However bleeding complication is a major problem of this treatment. Although CDT is usually applied for ALI patients with ischemic symptom onset less than 14 days, it also provides technical success for those with the symptom onset between the second and the sixth weeks.

Transfemoral temporary aortic balloon occlusion assisting open repair for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.

UNLABELLED: The mortality rate of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) is still high despite an advance in surgical technology and critical care. The authors report three patients who had successful open repairs of rAAA assisted by transfemoral temporary aortic balloon occlusion. Before the operation, these patients had severe abdominal pain with hypotension. An aortic balloon occlusion catheter was introduced into the abdominal aorta under fluoroscopy at pararenal level, which was accessed from the right common femoral artery under local anesthesia. After balloon inflation, a rapid increase in arterial blood pressure was found and general anesthetic induction was started. Finally, open repair of rAAA was successfully carried out with rapid proximal neck control by aortic balloon palpation. All the patients made an uneventful recovery during the postoperative period and were discharged on day 16, day 8, and day 17 respectively. CONCLUSION: Transfemoral temporary aortic balloon occlusion is an effective strategy in rapid proximal aortic control before a conventional open repair of rAAA. It provides immediate hemostasis resulting in stabilized blood pressure before and during anesthetic induction, and facilitated aortic neck identification.

Navigating Challenges in the Endovascular Treatment of Asymptomatic Aortoiliac Aneurysms: A 10-Year Comparative Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Treating an abdominal aortoiliac aneurysm (AAIA) with endovascular methods can be challenging when the internal iliac artery (IIA) is involved. Embolizing the IIA and extending the limb to the external iliac artery (IIAE + EE) to prevent a type 2 endoleak may lead to pelvic ischemic complications. To avoid these complications, strategies that preserve the IIA, such as the bell-bottom technique (BBT) and the iliac branch device (IBD), have been proposed. This study aims to compare the outcomes of these three endovascular approaches for AAIA. METHODS: Between January 2010 and December 2019, 174 patients with asymptomatic AAIA were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. They were divided into two groups: 81 patients underwent non-IIAE procedures, and 93 patients underwent IIAE procedures. The iliac limb study group consisted of 106 limbs treated with the BBT, 113 limbs treated with the IIAE + EE, and 32 limbs treated with the IBD. The primary outcomes included the 30-day mortality rate and intraoperative limb complications. The secondary outcomes included postoperative pelvic ischemia, freedom from reintervention, and the overall 10-year survival rate. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the perioperative mortality rate between the non-IIAE group (0%) and the IIAE group (2.1%), p = 0.500. The intraoperative limb complications did not differ significantly between the BBT limbs (7.5%), the IIAE + EE limbs (3.5%), and the IBD limbs (3.1%) groups, p = 0.349. The incidence of buttock claudication was significantly greater in the bilateral IIAE + EE group compared to the unilateral IIAE + EE and non-IIAE groups (25%, 11%, and 2.5%, p-value < 0.004), and was similar to the incidence of buttock rest pain with skin necrosis (15%, 0%, and 0%, p < 0.001). During the 10-year follow-up, the BBT limbs group had a significantly lower rate of iliac limb reintervention free time than the IIAE + EE limbs and the IBD limbs groups (88.7%, 98.2%, and 93.8%, p = 0.016). There was no significant difference in the overall 10-year survival rate between the non-IIAE and IIAE groups (51.4% vs. 55.9%, p = 0.703). CONCLUSIONS: The early and late mortality rates were similar between the non-IIAE and IIAE groups. Preserving the IIA is recommended to avoid pelvic ischemic complications. Considering the higher rate of reintervention in the BBT group, the IBD strategy may be preferred for AAIA.

Successful outcome of obturator bypass surgery in infected femoral pseudoaneurysm: three cases report and literature review.

The authors report a successful management of obturator bypass surgery in three patients with infected femoral pseudoaneurysm. This bypass reconstruction is an uncommon operation due to the difficult surgical technique and infrequent indications. In the present report, the authors reviewed the literature published between 1988 and 2008 consisting of 78 cases with the claim of obturator bypass surgery for this condition. It is important to note that this type of extra-anatomical bypass together with debridement and excision of infected femoral pseudoaneurysm might be another option to decrease the risk of vascular conduit infection and increase successful limb salvageability.

Chronic arterial embolism of the lower extremities: an unusual etiology of critical limb ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Chronic arterial embolism of the lower extremities, the unusual cause of critical limb ischemia (CLI), is not well recognized in the medical practice. OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical problem of chronic arterial embolism in the aspects of the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between January 2000 and December 2004, 411 consecutive patients with chronic limb ischemia, including 16 (3.8%) patients with chronic arterial embolism were included in the present study. The diagnosis of chronic arterial embolism was confirmed by angiography, operative finding, and histopathology of amputated specimen. The clinical characteristics and management outcomes were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 16 patients with chronic arterial embolism, the mean duration of clinical manifestation was 2.4 months (range, 1-6). Femoral artery was the most common site of arterial occlusion (63.1%). Atrial fibrillation was the most common clinical risk factor (25.0%). Of the 14 patients (87.5%) suffering from CLI, nine patients (56.25%) underwent the various types of revascularization. In five patients (31.25%), the authors could not perform revascularization due to the fibrotic arteries. Successful limb salvage and disappearance of rest pain with complete healing of ulcer in patients with CLI were only 50%. One patient (6.25%) expired after major amputation. CONCLUSION: Chronic arterial embolism of the lower extremities is the unusual cause of CLI with a high rate of major amputation. Early detection and appropriate management of arterial embolism at the initial stage may reduce this serious vascular problem.

Early experience of catheter directed thrombolysis for acute limb ischemia of native vessels and bypass graft thrombosis in Thai patients.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the efficacy and safety of catheter directed thrombolysis in the patients with acute limb ischemia who have been treated with catheter directed thrombolysis. BACKGROUND: From the ACC/AHA 2005 Practice Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease, Catheter-based thrombolysis is an effective and beneficial therapy and is indicated for patients with acute limb ischemia (Rutherford categories I and IIa) of less than 14 days'duration. To date, there is no data concerning such treatment in Thai patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed data of 66 patients with acute limb ischemia who underwent catheter directed thrombolysis (CDT) at Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital between January 2005 and January 2010. RESULTS: Sites of target vessel for CDT were at vascular bypass graft thrombosis (59%) followed by the native vessels artery (41%). Overall technical success rate was 92%. Re-establishment of blood flow was successful from catheter only directed thrombolysis in 41 patients (65%). The other 22 patients needed additional mechanical thrombectomy. Five patients (8%) could not reestablish blood flow after catheter directed thrombolysis with mechanical thrombectomy and underwent bypass surgery. After successful CDT ulcer improvement occurred in 71.42%. ABI improved from 0.45 to 0.93. Major bleeding complications occurred in 4 cases (6%), 1 case due to retroperitoneal bleeding and the other 3 cases due to hemorrhagic stroke (4.5%). The predictor for hemorrhagic stroke was being in the higher age group (72 +/- 1.2 vs. 66.7 +/- 1.8, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Catheter directed thrombolysis for treatment of acute limb ischemia in native artery occlusion or bypass graft thrombosis in Thai population has a 92% success rate with an acceptable bleeding complication rate similar to prior published studies. However, the incidence of hemorrhagic stroke is higher in patients older than 70 years.