Detecting complications of direct arterial surgery: the role of intraoperative arteriography.

Intraoperative arteriography was carried out using a specially constructed operating table and long x-ray film changer that permitted rapid serial exposure of the arterial reconstruction and the distal arteries. During a ten-year period, this method was applied in 1,810 arterial reconstructions, with technical problems being detected in 82 (4.6%) of these patients. The incidence of problems was highest in patients undergoing endarterectomy, where 16.7% of the patients were found to have either residual debris in the cleared segment or areas of stenosis. When bypass grafts were used, technical problems were found in 2.2% of patients and included embolism or thrombosis, graft torsion in vein grafts, stenosis of the distal anastomosis, and the creation of an intimal flap. In the entire series, five patients needed reoperation in the early postoperative period. In three of these, the operative arteriograms had been initially misread.

Evaluation of effectiveness of lumbar sympathectomy by non invasive diagnostic techniques.

Out of a total of more than 1,200 patients in whom lumbar sympathectomy was carried out, two groups of 96 and 50 consecutive and non selected patients were evaluated before and after the operation by non invasive physiologic tests (digital plethysmography, post-occlusive reactive hyperemia, segmental blood pressure at rest and after exercise, Strandness test). Results were compared with angiography and clinical data. The statistical study of results corroborates the following points. 1. Lumbar sympathectomy is essentially effective in atherosclerotic arterial disease, but much less so in diabetic patients and in cases of widespread disease. 2. Patients with obstructive disease of the femoral artery had more improvement (t = 4.25) than patients with obstruction of peripheral arteries (t = 2.4). 3. Walking time was significantly improved after sympathectomy (p = 0.02). 4. Only one parameter, rheographic quotient Rq was statistically improved (p = 0.01). 5. The post occlusive reactive hyperemia test is a good method to predict the results of lumbar sympathectomy (correlation r = 0.22). We feel that this operation is indicated in cases of: isolated obstruction of the femoral artery with claudication superior to 200 meters, reconstruction with an associated obstruction of the superficial femoral artery.

In vitro testing of six inferior vena cava filters: filtering efficiency and pressure measurements.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study is to compare in standarddised ex vivo conditions the performances of six percutaneous vena cava filters available on the European Market. METHODS: We use a mock circulation with polyethylene beads simulating clots to objectively determine the filtering efficiency of the different devices. We measured pressure at contact points with the wall of the tube simulating vena cava, and also gradient of pressure induced by the empty and full filter. Statistical analysis of the data obtained (at least 100 measurements for each filter) showed great consistency in the response of a given filter to the different conditions of mock circulation. RESULTS: The Greenfield Filter, which served as the reference, was compared to the other models. Its filtering efficiency was acceptable as was that of the L.G. Filter. The Cardial Filter and Vascor Filter were the most efficient. The Antheor Filter and the Filcard Filter performed poorly. CONCLUSION: The mock circulation give reliable and reproducible data on the filtering efficiency for a device but ease of placement and clinical studies must be taken into account for the choice of the filter.

Long term survival after abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy.

Our series of 100 consecutive patients operated on either electively or in emergency without clinical work, for abdominal aortic aneurysms, estblishes the post operative prognosis up to a ten year follow-up period. The operative mortality of 12% is mainly due to renal coronary complications. All survivors, except one, have been reviewed. 64% 5 year survival and 46% 8 year survival rates were found. These results emphasize the importance of early and systematic surgical management except when major contraindications, which we have outlined, are present. Echotomography appears to be the best method of following up small aneurysms (diameter less than 7 cms) in elderly patients.

The role of omentopexy in the prevention of femoral anastomotic aneurysm.

In our experience the incidence of anastomotic aneurysms (AA) after prosthetic bypass varied from 0.3 to 0.7% depending on location; it was 5 times higher at aortobifemoral anastomoses (77/3146; 2.44%) than aortic anastomosis (8/2173; 0.37%) (p less than 0.005). In the inguinal region the incidence of femoral AA (FAA) is the same as elsewhere when the prosthesis is placed in front of the inguinal ligament (axillo-femoral anastomoses, 1/200; 0.5%; femoro-femoral anastomoses 1/270; 0.37%). However when the prosthesis is placed behind the ligament, the incidence of FAA rises to 2.44% (77/3746). In our opinion, this difference is due to adherence between the prosthesis and the ligament during hip movement. When the hip is in extension, tension is placed on the prosthesis and the adjacent arterial junction causing the wall of the artery to tear. The sutures almost always remain intact. In an effort to avoid this problem, we have developed a technique that consists of enlarging the passage of the prosthesis by partial section of the inguinal ligament and then wrapping the prosthesis with a free non pedunculated segment of omentum from above the femoral anastomosis down to the healthy segment of the femoral artery which, being elastic, can stretch. The omentum acts as sheath that reinforces the anastomosis. To evaluate this technique we assessed our patients operated upon for aortobifemoral (or aortofemoroiliac) bypass into two groups. Group A included 115 patients operated on by the same surgeon using the new technique (October 1981 and December 1984). There were 111 men and 4 women (mean age: 59.7 years). Mean follow-up was 7.36 years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Stroke prevention during carotid surgery in high risk patients (value of transcranial Doppler and local anesthesia).

In a series of 114 cases, carotid surgery was performed under local anesthesia by cervical block in order to assess cerebral status. Preoperative transcranial Doppler was used to select high risk patients for shunting. Intraoperatively brain function was checked by carotid arterial blood pressure monitoring and transcranial Doppler. No stroke occurred during the procedure. Postoperatively two deaths (1.8%) occurred, one due to intracerebral hemorrhage and one to a late myocardial infarct. The predictive value of both transcranial Doppler and stump pressure monitoring for shunting was 97% respectively. In combination, the two methods provided 100% protection. During the same period, 1406 patients underwent carotid surgery under general anesthesia. Carotid surgery stroke can be prevented either by using transcranial Doppler together with carotid stump pressure monitoring when the procedure is performed under general anesthesia or by operating under local anesthesia.

Single staged carotid and coronary arteries surgery. Indications and results.

The frequency of associated carotid and coronary stenosis is estimated to be 40% of cases including asymptomatic patients. The risk of death by myocardial infarction during carotid surgery is in the neighborhood of 1%. With Doppler and ultrasonic imaging, it is now possible to recognize carotid stenosis in 11% of these cases. Depending on the extent of the clinical manifestations caused by one or the other of these lesions, there are several therapeutic options: surgery of the carotid with special protection of the myocardium during and after surgery or simultaneous carotid and coronary surgery in high risk cases. Between 1979 and 1986, simultaneous surgery was performed in 18 cases in our department. During the same period, 1194 carotid endarterectomies and 505 coronary bypasses were performed. These 18 cases included 13 males and 5 females with a mean age of 62 years (range: 43 to 78 years). The procedure performed in these cases were 17 carotid endarterectomies, one bypass of the innominate artery and an average of 2 aorto-coronary bypasses per patient. One death from myocardial infarction occurred in the immediate postoperative period and another patient died suddenly 8 months later. The evolution of arterial disease was evaluated in the other patients. Simultaneous carotid and coronary artery surgery is indicated in high risk carotid and coronary patients. Perusal of the results in the literature allows a better appreciation of the indications and risks of this type of surgery. Our series indicates the necessity for a careful preoperative workup in these patients and the need for more accurate screening to obtain better results.

Carotid restenosis: should they all be reoperated on?

Restenosis of carotid arteries after endarterectomy is a rare complication; in our series 1.2% (19 patients - 20 recurrences out of 1658 operations - Dec. 1985). It usually occurs early, i.e. in the first months (12 cases) with features of myointimal hyperplasia. Peroperative angiography should be routinely performed to rule out technical errors that might be mistaken for restenosis. At the time of reoperation, 12 patients were symptomatic. The operation consisted of 6 second endarterectomies, 13 saphenous vein grafts and 1 PTFE graft. The postoperative period was uneventful in 14 cases, but in the remaining patients there were 2 transient ischemic attacks, 2 monoplegias and 1 dysphasia (with immediate thrombosis of the bypass in 3 cases). Five patients were lost at follow-up. In the remaining 14 patients, the follow-up period varied between 3 and 84 months (mean: 20 months). Presently 11 carotid arteries are patent. In one case involving a venous patch, the artery is dilated. All 12 of these patients are asymptomatic. One thrombosed bypass is also asymptomatic. The two monoplegias occurred in patients whose bypasses occluded immediately. The recurrence rate varied according to the imaging technique. i.e. pulsed Doppler, B-mode scanning or angiography, used to detect restenosis. Restenosis usually remains asymptomatic even in patients with hemodynamically significant lesions. Restenosis due to myointimal hyperplasia does not carry the risk of embolism and atheromatous stenosis does not have the same prognosis. In our experience immediate and long term results of red are not as good the first endarterectomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Carotid surgery under cervical block anesthesia. A simple method of heart and brain protection in high risk patients.

Between January 1, 1985, and December 15, 1987, 60 patients underwent surgery for carotid lesions under local cervical block anesthesia. Sixty-seven reconstruction procedures were performed including 64 endarterectomies and 3 vein bypasses. During the same 3 year period, 938 other reconstruction procedures were carried out under general anesthesia for a total of 1005 procedures. These 60 patients, who accounted for 6.7% of our indications, were selected for surgery under local anesthesia because they were at high risk for cardiac and neurologic complications. As far as staging is concerned, this subgroup of patients included: 14 asymptomatic cases (stage 0), i.e., 21%; 44 transient ischemic attacks (stage I), i.e., 66%; 2 progressive stroke (stage II), i.e., 3%; 7 patients with neurologic sequels (stage III), i.e., 10%. In all 79% of the patients were symptomatic. The asymptomatic patients all presented bilateral tight stenosis sometimes with thrombosis of the contralateral carotid. The technique of local anesthesia and endarterectomy were classic: closing with a bougie to calibrate the lumen, systematic intraoperative arteriography and immediate correction of technical failures (2 times); no death occurred among the patients in stages 0, 1 and II; 1 early asymptomatic occlusion that was not corrected was noted; in one case, a ligation of the carotid was necessary after technical failure, without consequences; one death occurred in stage III after intracerebral hemorrhage. On the basis of our experience local cervical block anesthesia appears to be a simple and reliable method of ensuring intraoperative diagnosis of cerebral ischemia. It eliminates all intraoperative cerebral complications secondary to ischemia and allows a better understanding of the physiopathologic mechanisms underlying perioperative neurologic complications. The absence of neurologic and cardiac complications in this series of very high risk patients enables us to extend eligibility for surgery to include patients with unstable cardiac and cerebral disease.

Current status of vascular grafting in supraaortic trunks. Personal experience.

Two-hundred forty-nine patients underwent prosthesis implantation for supraaortic trunk disease. The most frequently used technique for lesions of the innominate artery was direct repair via sternotomy. Mortality was very low (2.8%) and at 97.3% late patency was excellent (mean follow-up: six years). Extra-anatomical bypasses were reserved for all other lesions of the subclavian and common carotid arteries or contraindications to the direct approach. Patency for carotido-subclavian bypass (81 patients) and subclavio-subclavian bypass (134 patients) was 71% (mean follow-up: 4.6 years) with one operative death. Indications are decided on the basis of the extent and aspect of the lesions.

[Long term results of surgical treatment for aneurysms of the abdominal aorta]. / Résultats à long terme du traitement chirurgical des anévrysmes de l'aorte abdominale.

A series of 100 consecutive patients operated on for an abdominal aortic aneurysm, whether cold or as emergency, but excluding those cases with circulatory collapse, has enabled us to define the post-operative prognosis after a follow-up of a maximum of ten years. The operative mortality of 12% was due essentially to coronary and renal complications. All of the survivors, except one, were available for review. Five years after the operation 64% were still alive, and the figure was 46% at eight years. These figures confirm the indication for systematic surgical treatment as soon as an aneurysm is discovered, unless any of the contra-indications which are discussed are present. The best method of following up small aneurysms (with a diameter of less than 6 cms) discovered in elderly subjects would be by echotomography.

[Atrioventricular "sequential" stimulation by implantable "bifocal" stimulator]. / La stimulation "séquentielle" auriculo-ventriculaire par stimulateur "bifocal" implantable

The "bifocal pacemaker achieves a sequential" stimulation which reproduces the physiological atrio-ventricular sequence. This type of stimulation has the advantages of atrial stimulation without the disadvantages of being inefficient when an atrio-ventricular block exists or supervenes. The pacemaker was used by the endocavity route in 12 patients. The indications included a disease of the sinus node (8 cases), supra-ventricular arrhythmias associated to conduction disorders (3 cases) and a cardiomyopathy with conduction disorders (1 case). The preliminary results were appraised after two to twenty four months. One displacement of the ventricular electrode was noted. On the other hand no displacement of the atrial electrode was reported. One battery was worn out after 19 months. The "bifocal" pacemaker was efficient in the treatment of symptoms which justified its implantation. Or particular interest were the results obtained in patients with no supraventricular arrhythmias. This pacemaker may be of use: 1) in the disease of the sinus node, in particular in the tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome; 2) in supraventricular arrhythmias associated to paroxystic conduction disorders; 3)in patients with an alteration of the myocardial function and for whom the atrial contribution to cardiac output is essential.

[Human cardiac transplantation. Apropos of a case followed for more than 6 years]. / Transplantation cardiaque humaine. A propos d'un cas suivi depuis plus de six ans

A cardiac transplantation was performed on November 28, 1968. This was the only one undertaken at Marseilles. After a survival period, now exceeding 6 years, the patient has had an almost normal activity. The course of this patient, the follow-up elements, the incidents and complications during this period were analysed. It was insisted upon the interest of following up the coagulation tests for the preclinical detection of rejection or menacing rejection. Practically uninterrupted heparin treatment during the 6 years might have been an element for this prolonged survival.

[Results of operative treatment of digestive arteriopathies (author's transl)]. / Résultats de la chirurgie des artériopathies digestives.

Of 51 patients treated for digestive tract arterial lesions, 35 concerned the superior mesenteric artery. Long-term (up to 12 years) results showed that the quality of the reconstruction had not deteriorated. As technical problems have now been resolved, preventive reconstructive surgery can be proposed for those cases in which an ectatic or thrombogenic aorto-iliac lesion requires correction, without increasing operative risks.

[Endovascular treatment of abdominal aorta aneurysms using the Stentor device. Preliminary experience]. / Trattamento endovascolare degli aneurismi dell'aorta addominale con il dispositivo Stentor. Esperienza preliminare.

PURPOSE: The aim of this report is to describe our experience with the Stentor device for endovascular treatment of the abdominal aortic infrarenal aneurysms also extending to the bifurcation and the common iliac arteries. Stentor is a thermal memory (Nitinol) self-expanding graft, covered by an external 0.1 mm Dacron material. METHODS: Between December 1994 and July 1995 endoluminal repair of infrarenal aneurysmal disease was undertaken in 6 patients at high surgical risk. The lesions include 2 infrarenal abdominal aorto-aortic aneurysms, 2 infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms extended to the common iliac arteries and 2 false aortic aneurysms in patients with previous aorto-bifemoral graft. Straight grafts were implanted in 4 patients and bifurcated in 2. Repair was done in the operating room using general anesthesia. The endograft was placed through remote arteriotomies and advanced under fluoroscopic guidance to his predetermined site. Three-dimensionally reconstructed spiral CT scan and arteriography were performed before the procedure for a preoperative accurate measurement for endograft preprocedural adaptation in length and diameter. RESULTS: All endografts were successfully deployed. Intraoperative arteriography at the end of the procedure revealed a distal "leak" into an aneurysmal common iliac artery, due to diameter mismatch, in a bifurcated device. There was no instance of embolism or graft migration. No patient required conversion to an open operation. There were no instances of embolism or graft migration. No patient required conversion to an open operation. There were no coagulative disorders. Minor complications were: groin haematoma (1), fever (1), intestinal paralysis (1), pelvic pain (1). Follow-up with spiral CT-scan and echo color-Doppler confirmed normal blood flow through the graft in 5 patients and persistence of distal leak in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results demonstrate the accuracy of implantation and device's adaptability to the particular anatomy of the aneurysmal aorta and iliac arteries. Proximal fixation to the aortic wall, secure seal at the proximal and distal fixation point present the critical aspects of this new surgical technique. More detailed preoperative measurements of aneurysmal disease are required rather than for traditional surgery. Presently we prefer to treat the no operable patients with this endovascular technique in relation with shortness of the follow-up.

[Associated surgery of the carotid and subclavian arteries: indications and results]. / Chirurgie carotidienne et sous-clavière associée: indications et résultats.

Over a 5 year period (1988-1992), 6 patients were treated by combined carotid and subclavian artery surgery, representing 0.7% of carotid interventions practised during this period. The carotid lesion clinical stage was 0 (2 cases), 1 (2 cases) and 3 (2 cases). While for the subclavian artery 4 patients were asymptomatic and 2 had vertebrobasilar syndromes, one associated with ischemia of upper limb. Only one patient was globally asymptomatic but the diagnosis was a prethrombotic carotid restenosis. Radiographs showed that the atheromatous lesion of the cervical trunks was equivalent to 2.83 stenoses per patient. The decision to use the combined interventions was based on either the clinical condition (combined carotid and vertebrobasilar symptomatology) or hemodynamic data (improvement in subclavian flow during carotid surgery). This hemodynamic component could be determined by transcranial Doppler. Operation consisted always of initial subclavian revascularization (1 reimplantation, 5 bypasses), followed by carotid surgery (2 grafts, 4 endarterectomies). The postoperative course was uneventful in 5 patients, the 6th patient requiring recovery surgery for early carotid thrombosis without worsening of the neurologic state. Mean follow up was 9 months (range 1 to 27 months). Combining these two interventions in this small series did not appear to increase carotid surgery complication. Initial revascularization of the subclavian artery in the patient with multiple trunk lesions corrected the posterior hemodynamic supply to the circle of Willis.

[Pre-occlusive stenosis of the internal carotid artery. Haemodynamic study by Doppler effect, phonoangiography-oculoplethysmography and arteriography (author's transl)]. / Les sténoses pré-occlusives de l'artère carotide interne. Etude hémodynamique par: effet Doppler, phonoangiographie, oculopléthysmographie, artériographie.

The diagnosis of near total occlusion of the internal carotid artery was made on a group of 122 patients (90 symptomatic - 32 asymptomatic) by Doppler examination on one hand and carotid phonoangiography and oculoplethysmography, used together, on the other hand. The angiographic examination, including the study of the extra cranial arteries and the intra cerebral vessels, was performed. It has shown that a stenosis (greater than or equal to 90% of an internal carotid artery was the only lesion on 65 patients (53.3%) and that in 57 cases (46.7%) there were multiple lesions. 96 patients (76 symptomatic - 20 asymptomatic) were operated on. 4 patients (4.2%) died but the mortality was none in the group of 20 asymptomatic patients. 19 patients refused the operation and we have noted 7 occlusions of the internal carotid artery and 2 patients died (10.2%). On 7 patients with a surgical contra indication we have noted 1 secondary occlusion. We have to consider a near total occlusion of the internal carotid artery as an emergency. Its diagnosis by non invasive techniques must be followed by heparin therapy and angiographic examination. The carotid endarterectomy will respect the external carotid artery patency.

[Analysis of arterial microporous teflon prosthesis following surgical excision]. / Analyse de prothèses artérielles en téflon microporeux après exérèse chirurgicale.

Twenty-one prosthetic explants were analysed after being surgically excised from 19 patients whose average age at implantation was 54.8 years. The arterial prosthesis was implanted 19 times for an advanced arteriopathy (stage III and stage IV) and twice for a stage II. The average time that the implants were in place was 14.8 months (with extremes of 19 days and 4 years). Surgical reintervention was caused by thrombosis (18 cases), infection (twice) and one case of degeneration of the prosthesis. The explanted prostheses displayed an irregular capsule, an uneven filling of the wall and a fibrous proliferation adhering to the internal surface. The role of the latter appeared essential to the prevention of the invasion of the prosthesis wall by fibrous tissues. The destruction of the structure of the microporous teflon is also prevented. Furthermore, this prosthesis seemed adversely affected when creased by flexion: the reduction in the caliber of the internal lumen caused thrombosis and a detachment of the external capsule. When such a material is implanted, everything must be done to prevent twisting or damaging the prostheses.

[Current aspects of cerebral protection in carotid surgery: update]. / Aspects actuels de la protection cérébrale en chirurgie carotidienne: mise au point.

The goal of cerebral protection in carotid surgery is to reduce postoperative central neurological complications and thus reduce morbidity-mortality of carotid endarterectomy. With improving understanding of the mechanism leading to neurological complications, means of achieving cerebral protection have been developed. Preoperative evaluation of the ischemic risk is based on the neurological examination and on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings. The possibilities of arterial supply during carotid cross-clamping can be recognized with the help of arteriography, transcranial Doppler or angio-MRI. Selective or systematic use of an intraluminal shunt and preoperative heparin therapy are the main methods used for cerebral protection. The risk of early postoperative stroke can also be reduced by careful preoperative anatomic control to detect any technical failure. Discussion on the usefulness of monitoring cerebral function during the procedure is closely related to the experience of the surgical team. The only method currently accepted by all surgeons is the use of stents during carotid angioplasty to achieve cerebral protection.

[Carotid endarterectomy using eversion. One year radiologic results]. / Endartériectomie carotidienne par éversion. Résultats radiologiques à un an.

A prospective study was done in 100 patients operated on for a stenosis of the carotid artery by the eversion endarterectomy method of Van Maele (section-eversion-anastomosis) between January 1994 and August 1995. Ten patients were operated on bilaterally (thus, 110 procedures). The distribution of the patients was as follows 81 males and 19 females, mean age 71 years. Clinically, 50 patients were asymptomatic, 44 stage I, 2 stage II and 4 stage III. Arteriography of these patients showed 42 stenoses greater than or equal to 90%, 56 stenoses between 70 and 90% and 12 ulcerated plaques (according to the ESCT measurement standards). Concerning the supra-aortic vessels, 24 lesions of the vertebral-subclavian branches and 21 lesions of the intra-cerebral vessels were observed. Five endarterectomies out of the 110 (5.4%) could not be performed by this eversion method because of the immediate poor technical result before angiography. At the end of the procedure digital angiography was performed for all the patients who underwent an eversion endarterectomy (105 cases). Six images of the internal carotid artery presenting stenoses less than 30% were observed at the level of the implantation site. Two narrow stenoses of the distal part of the endarterectomy made the interposition of a PTFE graft necessary in 20% of the cases, a secondary procedure was necessary after the peri-operative angiography 2 implantations of PTFE in the internal carotid artery, 8 additional endarterectomies of the external carotid artery, 11 infiltrations with Papaverine. The immediate post-operative results were 1 death after hemiplegia, 1 hemiplegia with sequelae (mortality/morbidity approximately 2%, i.e. 2/103 eversions), 3 regressive hemipareses. Angiographic follow-ups after 1 year were performed on 100 out of 110 operated carotid arteries. With regard to the internal carotid artery, 4 patients showed a stenosis less than 30%, 1 patient a 50% stenosis, 1 patient a pre-occlusive stenosis making an operation with the interposition of a PTFE graft necessary (restenosis rate after one year 2%). All the patients followed after one year remained asymptomatic. Eversion endarterectomy is possible for the majority of the atheromatous stenoses of the carotid artery (5.4% were not possible for technical reasons). We find this method not appropriate when a shunt must be placed. Immediate results are comparable to those of classical surgical endarterectomy with or without patching. The restenosis rate at 1 year in our series is 2%. This technique provides an excellent anatomic result by peri-operative angiography and can especially be adapted to stenoses with excess of length of the carotid artery.