Long-Term Outcome for Covered Endovascular Reconstruction of Aortic Bifurcation for Aortoiliac Disease: A Single-Center Experience.

PURPOSE: The gold standard for the treatment of complex (TASC II C and D) atherosclerotic aortoiliac lesions is still open surgical repair. Endovascular techniques have a lower mortality and morbidity rate but this comes at the cost of worse patency rates when compared with open repair. Improved short- and mid-term results have been reported using the covered endovascular reconstruction of aortic bifurcation (CERAB) technique. The aim of this study was to report our initial experience with the CERAB technique and report long-term patency rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients treated with the CERAB technique between 2012 and 2018 were prospectively registered in an institutional database and included in this study. Patient demographics, characteristics, symptoms, procedural, and follow-up details were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Perioperative complications and reinterventions were also identified. The Kaplan-Meier survival method was used to assess cumulative rates of patency. RESULTS: A total of 44 patients were treated with the CERAB technique and included in this study. The majority of the treated aortoiliac occlusions were classified as complex: TASC II C (n=7; 15.9%) or TASC II D (n=25; 56.8%). Primary patency rate at 60 months was 83.3%, assisted primary patency was 90.9% and secondary patency 95%. No significant differences were found in patency rates comparing noncomplex (TASC II A and B) and complex (TASC II C and D) aortoiliac lesions. Seven patients (15.9%) required at least one additional procedure to maintain either assisted primary patency or secondary patency during follow-up. The 30-day complication rate in this series was 20.5% (n=9), of which 55.6% (n=5) were minor complications. All major 30-day complications (n=4) occurred during or directly after the CERAB procedure. Thirty-day mortality was 0%. No limb occlusions occurred within 30 days of the procedure. CONCLUSION: Good long-term patency rates can be achieved with the CERAB technique to treat aortoiliac stenosis or occlusions while maintaining advantages associated with endovascular interventions. This remains true even when a CERAB is used to treat complex aortoiliac lesions. An endo-first approach to treat complex aortoiliac lesions seems viable.

[Elevated CA19-9 levels; not always cancer]. / Verhoogde CA19-9-concentratie.

BACKGROUND: The levels of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) are often tested to stage pancreatobiliary tumours or to monitor the effects of treatment of such tumours. Benign diseases can also be associated with elevated CA 19-9 levels, but extreme elevation is rare in such cases. CASE DESCRIPTION: An 84-year-old man was diagnosed with cholecystitis at the emergency department and received conservative treatment with antibiotics for this. After 5 weeks, the patient came to the outpatient clinic with unexplained icterus. Additional imaging revealed indications of malignancy and the CA19-9 concentration was 4240 kU/l. We suspected pancreatobiliary malignancy. However, ERCP revealed obstructive choledocholithiasis and we subsequently performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Based on histopathology examination of the gallbladder, a diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis was made. After surgery, CA19-9 levels decreased and the patient swiftly recovered. CONCLUSION: Significantly elevated CA19-9 levels are not proof of pancreatobiliary malignancy. Our case underscores that CA19-9 is not an ideal tumour marker and that the results of CA19-9 tests should therefore be interpreted with some caution.

[Proximal humeral fractures in children: large remodeling capacity, conservative treatment]. / Proximale humerusfracturen bij kinderen.

Proximal humeral fractures affect 1.5-3% of all childhood fractures. Usually, these fractures can be treated conservatively depending on age and fracture displacement. The proximal growth plate has a great potential for remodeling. The aim of this article is to clarify which degree of displacement can be accepted in case of non-operative treatment. A 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy presented at the ER after falling from a pony and a climbing frame, respectively. Both had a severely displaced proximal humeral fracture with 80-90 degrees angulation of the humeral head relative to the shaft. Both patients were treated conservatively and follow-up x-rays of the shoulder showed complete remodeling of the humeral head with full functional recovery of the shoulder. Due to the remodeling capacity the proximal humerus, severely displaced fractures in children can be treated nonoperatively in most cases. Unnecessary surgical interventions should be avoided.