Crural artery bypass with adjunctive arteriovenous fistula. A modification in distal anastomosis.

We carried out crural artery bypass with an adjunctive arteriovenous fistula in 8 lower extremities of 7 patients with severe ischemic symptoms and poor distal run-off. Mean blood flow rates in the implanted grafts ranged from 43 to 340 ml/min and those of the reconstructed crural arteries from 20 to 100 ml/min. A stenotic lesion was noted on postoperative angiogram in one patient and stasis symptoms caused by downward blood flow into the distal veins in another. The other patients have remained well with good function of the grafts 1-5 years after surgery. We modified the distal corner of the anastomosis as follows: three additional interrupted simple sutures were made on the anterior wall of the concomitant arteriotomy and venotomy incisions after making the common posterior wall of the vessel incisions. A vascular pocket formed at the distal corner of the anastomosis prevents stricture at the anastomosis. The vein is finally ligated just distal to the fistula to intercept downward blood flow into the distal veins. This modification in technique is recommended to prevent stricture of the distal anastomosis and postoperative stasis symptoms.

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome. Report of two cases.

We treated two patients with popliteal artery entrapment syndrome. In one, the popliteal artery was entrapped and obstructed in its abnormal course around the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle, which was inserted into the femur laterally and cephalad (type II in Delaney's classification). In the other patient, the popliteal artery followed a normal course but was compressed laterally by the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle, which was aberrantly inserted into the femur considerably higher and more lateral than usual, and was occluded. This could not be fitted into Delaney's or Insua's classification. Arterial reconstruction was successful with an autovein graft in the former case and an in situ bypass graft in the latter. We suggest a modification of type IV in Delaney's classification, so that when the popliteal artery is compressed by an aberrant muscular or tendinous structure in the popliteal fossa it can be included.

Antithrombotic and vasodilating effects of OP-41483, a prostacyclin derivative.

Anti-platelet and vasodilating actions of OP-41483, a derivative of prostacyclin, were studied experimentally and clinically. The ADP-induced human platelet aggregation was significantly inhibited in vitro, the rate being 59% with a dose of 3 micrograms/ml, 75% with 6 micrograms/ml and over 90% with 18 micrograms/ml or more. A significant reduction in deposition of platelet and mural thrombi on the chemically injured luminal surface of the canine femoral vein was observed by treatment with topical administration of the solution (10 micrograms/ml) and/or intravenous infusion (10 ng/kg/min). The blood flow rate of the normal canine femoral artery and the anterior or posterior tibial artery of patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease at the ankle was moderately increased in cases of intravenous infusion of the compound at a rate of 10 ng/kg/min.

[Estimation of daily dietary intake of aluminum].

The daily dietary intake of aluminum was estimated through a total diet study from 1996 to 1998. In ten institutes, total diet study samples were prepared and their aluminum concentration was determined. The average daily intake of aluminum was 3.5 mg and the range was 1.8-8.4 mg. The validity of the analytical result was supported by analyses of certified reference materials.

[The anesthetic management for adrenalectomy of a patient with Cushing's syndrome in pregnancy].

The anesthetic management for left adrenalectomy of a pregnant patient with Cushing's syndrome caused by adrenal adenoma during pregnancy was reported. At 21 week gestation, anesthesia was induced with modified NLA and maintained with nitrous oxide-enflurane-oxygen combined with continuous lumbar epidural anesthesia. Postoperatively, she was delivered a normal, 1990 g infant at 37 week gestation. The present case is believed to be the first reported case of general anesthesia in detail for adrenalectomy in a patient with Cushing's syndrome during pregnancy. The anesthetic management including choice of anesthetics, anesthetic method, intraoperative monitoring, influence of catecholamine, and fetal as well as maternal complication was reviewed from literatures.

Ultrastructural features of progressive intimal hyperplasia at the distal end-to-side anastomosis of vein grafts.

The features of intimal hyperplasia at the distal end-to-side anastomosis of arterially implanted autovein bypass grafts in dogs were examined using light and transmission electron microscopy. The bypass grafting was done under conditions of reduced blood flow with an abnormal flow wave and high peripheral resistance. Anastomotic intimal hyperplasia was evident 14 to 31 days after implantation, then gradually increased, particularly at the toe portion of the anastomosis. From 6 to 12 months after implantation, the intimal hyperplasia was excessively increased and severe luminal stenosis had developed. The hyperplastic neointima consisted of two layers; a laminated superficial layer and a randomly arranged deeper layer. The superficial layer had three to four layers of smooth muscle cells, while the deeper layer was mostly fibrocollagenous tissues. Thus, the intimal hyperplasia at the distal end-to-side anastomosis of the arterially implanted autovein graft developed as a result of infiltration of fibroblast-like cells, presumably tissue-synthesizing mesenchymal cells. The neointima at the distal anastomosis, under conditions of reduced blood flow with high peripheral resistance, remained in an active phase of intimal hyperplasia even 12 months after bypass grafting.

Microscopic and immunohistological studies on intimal hyperplasia of the arterially implanted autovein graft and its anastomosis in dogs.

The fate of intimal hyperplasia of arterially implanted autovein bypass grafts and their distal end-to-side anastomoses in dogs was studied microscopically and immunohistologically. The bypass grafting was done under conditions of abnormal blood flow and high peripheral resistance. Intimal hyperplasia of the graft first became evident 7 days after implantation and the thickness increased to about 500 microns 3 months or more after the implantation. The intimal hyperplasia was related to an active proliferation of smooth muscle cells which proved positive for alpha-smooth muscle actin staining. Moreover, it was more dominant at the toe and heel of the anastomosis and moderately apparent on the floor of the host artery. The constituent elements of the hyperplastic intima at the anastomosis were fibroblast-like cells and extracellular collagen fibers which were negative for alpha smooth muscle actin staining. This study revealed that the features of intimal hyperplasia at the distal anastomosis in autovein bypass grafting differed from those of the implanted autovein graft itself; the former being related to excessive proliferation of fibroblasts and collagen fibers while the latter displayed an active proliferation of smooth muscle cells.

Clinical studies on the vasodilating and anti-platelet effects of OP-41483, a prostacyclin derivative.

The vasodilating and anti-platelet actions of OP-41483 was studied to determine the effective dose of this drug for the treatment of ischemic lower limbs. The compound was given to 11 patients intravenously at rates of 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 ng/kg/min. Infusion at a rate of 10 ng/kg/min increased the mean flow rate of the tibial arteries from 3.15 +/- 1.77 ml/min before the infusion, to 7.89 +/- 2.51 ml/min (p less than 0.001) and to 6.38 +/- 3.19 ml/min (p less than 0.001), at the time of, and 60 minutes after the cessation of the infusion, respectively. The peripheral flow resistance of the tibial arteries was reduced from 2.1 +/- 1.12 X 10(5) dyne.sec/cm5 before the infusion to 0.9 +/- 0.33 X 10(5) dyne.sec/cm5 (p less than 0.001) and to 1.2 +/- 0.78 X 10(5) dyne.sec/cm5 (p less than 0.05), at the time of, and 60 minutes after the cessation of the infusion. ADP-induced platelet aggregation was reduced from 73.3 +/- 17.6% before the infusion to 50.7 +/- 24.5% (p less than 0.01) and to 64.0 +/- 23.5% (p less than 0.05), at the time of, and 60 minutes after the cessation of the infusion, respectively. Collagen-induced platelet aggregation was also reduced from 71.4 +/- 24.0% to 66.6 +/- 21.5% before and after the infusion (p less than 0.05).

[A two staged extending graft replacement for dissecting aortic aneurysm with Marfan's syndrome].

We experienced four cases of dissecting aortic aneurysms with Marfan's syndrome, in which two staged operations were performed with satisfactory results. The operations performed in the four patients were the replacement of the ascending aorta, transverse aortic arch and the entire descending thoracic aorta in DeBakey type I dissecting aortic aneurysm, replacement of the entire descending thoracic and abdominal aorta in type IIIb, replacement of the aortic valve, ascending aorta, transverse aortic arch, the entire descending thoracic and upper abdominal aorta in type I, and replacement of the total aorta including the aortic valve in type II + IIIb, respectively. There were no operative deaths, but a 42-year-old woman with DeBakey type IIIb died suddenly 2 years 11 months after the second operation. The cause of death was presumed to be due to rupture of a dissecting aneurysm (DeBakey type II). Dissecting aortic aneurysm with Marfan's syndrome must be observed carefully and corrected surgically, because the lesion is progressive and the residual dissecting aneurysm usually dilates eventually. In view of our clinical results, we conclude that the operation for dissecting aortic aneurysm with Marfan's syndrome should be performed as extensively as possible.

[Extravascular lung water in patients after cardiac surgery].

Extravascular lung water (EVLW) measured by a double indicator dilution method using thermal-dye indicator was evaluated in 204 patients after cardiac surgery during last 7 years. The measurement of EVLW was done at 2, 4, 8, 24 and 48 hours after extracorporeal circulation (ECC), EVLW showed no significant change except transient decrease at 4 hours after ECC, average of that was 7.62 +/- 3.58 ml/kg, EVLW of group I (MVR) and group III (AVR + MVR) were significantly higher than those of group II (AVR), group IV (noncyanotic congenital heart disease) and group V (A-C bypass). EVLW of 7 patients with postoperative pulmonary edema was 14.47 +/- 4.44 ml/kg, and that was significantly higher than those of others (7.54 +/- 3.06 ml/kg). EVLW of the patients using bubble oxygenator (8.60 +/- 3.90 ml/kg) was significantly higher than those of membrane oxygenator (7.15 +/- 3.40 ml/kg). Postoperative EVLW correlated with mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), mean left atrial pressure (LAP) and microvascular hydrostatic pressure (PMV), and showed inverse correlation with cardiac index (CI). But there was no correlation of EVLW with duration of ECC. In the preoperative parameter, EVLW correlated with age, mPAP, mean pulmonary wedge pressure (mPAWP), PMV, serum BUN and serum creatinine, and showed inverse correlation with CI, %VC, FEV%, PSP test and creatinine clearance. We concluded that the patients with mitral valve disease who have high mPAP and LAP, respiratory and renal dysfunction and old aged preoperatively showed upward trend of EVLW. In perioperative management, care must be taken in such patients and membrane oxygenator was thought useful for prevention of pulmonary edema.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)