Traumatic arteriovenous fistula.

Traumatic arteriovenous fistula in the head and neck may present a difficult problem in management. We present a surgical case of traumatic arteriovenous fistula between the right subclavian artery and internal jugular vein with false aneurysm formation. Traumatic injury of the subclavian artery causing arteriovenous fistula with false aneurysm is a serious surgical emergency with appreciable morbidity and mortality that requires early recognition and prompt surgical intervention.

Venous ulcers in chronic venous insufficiency: King Khalid University Hospital experience.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify the anatomical location of the venous disease in C.V.I. patients presented with venous ulcers in addition to discussing the management. DESIGN: Retrospective study, at King Khalid University Hospital. METHODS: Between January 1991 to January 1997, 90 patients (63 females, 27 males) with CVI were evaluated. The evaluation included history, clinical examination, bidirectional ultrasound continuous wave Doppler, Duplex, ambulatory venous pressure (AVP), ascending and descending venography. RESULTS: Forty eight (48) patients (57 limbs) had Stage III with venous ulcers. Out of these 48 patients, fifteen (15) showed deep venous system involvement with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Thirty three (33) patients had venous reflux in the superficial or deep systems without occlusion. Out of these 33 patients, 24 patients had superficial system reflux, while the remaining 9 patients revealed deep system reflux with a competent superficial system. CONCLUSIONS: Superficial venous incompetence plays a major role in venous ulcer formation and that location and type of venous disease should be thoroughly investigated as surgical excision of the superficial system leads to a long standing recurrence free period.

Intraoperative balloon angioplasty: a useful adjunct.

Intraoperative balloon angioplasty is a useful adjunct to a bypass procedure where the latter requires obvious enhancement of either inflow or outflow tracts. This retrospective study reviews experience with 62 patients (72 procedures) managed between January 1990 and January 1997 at UBC and KKUH. There were 36 men and 26 women. The indications were severe claudication in 44 (71%) patients and limb salvage in 18 (29%) patients. There were 42 cases of iliac artery (58%), 22 cases SFA (31%), and 8 cases pop/tibial (11%). The initial technical success for iliac balloon angioplasty was 90% (38 out of 42 cases), for SFA 91% (20 out of 22) and for popliteal/tibial 63%, (5 out of 8 cases). There were eight major complications, five of them treated surgically (7%), three patients needing amputations. The followup period ranged from 6 to 54 months with accumulated patency rate of 90% in iliac, 78% in SFA and 60% in pop/tibial in 12 months. Intraoperative angioplasty is a valuable adjunct to vascular surgery either to improve inflow or outflow in association with a reconstructive vascular procedure.

Groin lymphorrhea postoperative nuisance.

Lymphorrhea is defined as the flow of lymph from disrupted lymphatic channels that drains externally or is contained within a wound. It complicates approximately 2% of vascular incisions in the groin. Of 116 patients who underwent different arterial reconstructions involving 186 groin wounds, lymphorrhea developed in 4 patients (3.4%) including 4 groins (2.1%). They have been managed in the Division of Vascular Surgery at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) in Riyadh, during a 3-year period ending in February 1996. There were 105 (90.5%) males and 11 (9.5%) females. The ages ranged from 32 to 96 years with a mean age of 63 years. All the 4 cases complicated with lymphorrhea were managed conservatively for a period of three to five weeks. In 2 cases, the lymphatic leak stopped and the patients discharged without other local complications. In the other 2 cases, lymphatic leakage stopped immediately and permanently following direct surgical ligation. The use of isosulphane blue for localization of the site of the lymphatic leak was a simple, reliable and accurate method during wound exploration. Follow-up of all cases for 6 months showed no recurrence, no sepsis and patent vascular graft.

Neurobehavioral effects of carotid endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Nineteen patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis (>70%) were subjected to carotid endarterectomy in a prospective study to evaluate neurobehavioral changes before and 6 months following the operation. METHODS: All patients were subjected to neurobehavioral rating scale one week before and 6 months after the operation. RESULTS: There were no significant changes in the 27 items of this scale before and 6 months following the operation. Some patients showed no difference at all in some items of this scale before and after operation such as suspiciousness excitement, speech and articulation using Mann-Whitney rank test, P values were (> 0.05) as regards to all items of neurobehavioral rating scale. CONCLUSION: Uncomplicated carotid endarterectomy does not seem to be associated with significant long time neurobehavioral impairment following the operation.

Neurobehavioral effects of carotid endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Nineteen patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis (>70%) were subjected to carotid endarterectomy in a prospective study to evaluate neurobehavioral changes before and 6 months following the operation. METHODS: All patients were subjected to neurobehavioral rating scale one week before and 6 months after the operation. RESULTS: There were no significant changes in the 27 items of this scale before and 6 months following the operation. Some patients showed no difference at all in some items of this scale before and after operation such as suspiciousness excitement, speech and articulation using Mann-Whitney rank test, P values were (> 0.05) as regards to all items of neurobehavioral rating scale. CONCLUSION: Uncomplicated carotid endarterectomy does not seem to be associated with significant long time neurobehavioral impairment following the operation.

Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome: clinical features, complications, and management.

Klippel-Trénaunay Syndrome (KTS) is rare and not well recognized among most physicians, which has lead to inappropriate management and delayed referral in many cases. Presented herein is the largest series ever reported from a single center in Saudi Arabia, comprised of 18 patients seen between 1990 and 1996, whose clinical features, complications, and management are discussed. All 18 patients had large angiomatous navei, hypertrophy of the soft tissue with bone overgrowth in the lower limbs, and extensive lower limb varicosities, which extended to the buttocks and lower abdomen in 2 patients. There were 4 patients who had undergone at least one operation for lower limb varicose veins prior to referral. The diagnostic workup and treatment for KTS is discussed in detail. It is essential that physicians understand how this complex syndrome presents, and the most appropriate means of investigating and managing it, to avoid unnecessary surgery being performed prior to referral to a specialist center.

Effect of arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis on limb circulation.

The number of patients with end-stage renal disease maintained on chronic hemodialysis is increasing progressively. Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a common vascular access for hemodialysis, however, its effect on limb distal circulation has not been studied well. Palpation of pulse at the wrist is a crude method of clinical assessment. Over one year period, 26 AVFs were created; 16 at the wrist (61.5%) and ten fistulas at the elbow (38.5%). Six of the latter were through the brachio-basilic approach while the other four were performed by basilic vein transposition. Doppler measurement of both wrist-brachial index (WBI) and finger pressure was carried out for all patients pre-operatively and on the first post-operative day. Of the patients with AVF created at the elbow, there was a decrease of WBI in seven patients (70%) and a decrease of finger pressure in three (30%); one patient (14%) had steal syndrome. Creation of AVF at the wrist resulted in a decrease of WBI in one patient (6.25%) and a decrease of finger pressure in another patient (6.25%). WBI changes as a result of creation of AVF at the elbow were significantly greater than the changes of those fistulas performed at the wrist (P < 0.001). On the other hand, the difference between the effect of both procedures on finger pressure was statistically not significant. These results may help to explain the higher incidence of steal syndrome in patients with elbow fistulas compared to patients with wrist fistulas. Further studies on a larger scale are required to determine the value of non-invasive indices at which AVF creation would have future risk of compromised distal limb circulation.

Vascular compromise associated with supracondylar fractures in children.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to study the significance of persistently absent radial pulse, with monophasic doppler flow after close reduction percutaneous pinning of displaced supracondylar fracture of humerus, and the need of early exploration of brachial artery in such cases. METHODS: Between July 1992 and 1999, 86 children with Grade III supracondylar fracture of humerus were treated at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia The history, physical examination, vascular status of limb before and after close reduction percutaneous pinning of fracture were recorded. All children having persistently absent radial pulse and monophasic flow doppler signals after close reduction percutaneous pinning under went exploration of brachial artery. RESULTS: Of the 86 children with Grade III supracondylar fracture of humerus, 6 had persistently absent radial pulse with monophasic flow doppler signals after close reduction percutaneous pinning. Five children had one warm pink well perfused hand and one cold pale poorly perfused hand. All 6 under went exploration of brachial artery and were found to have entrapped artery at the fracture site. There was an immediate return of radial pulse with triphasic Doppler flow on release of brachial artery. CONCLUSION: Persistently absent radial pulse with objectivity, obtained by doppler ultrasound in the form of absent or monophasic flow in radial artery, is a reliable indicator of vascular compromise. Surgical exploration of brachial artery by a competent surgeon is to be carried out to avoid early and late complication, of pulseless limb in children with displaced supracondylar fracture of humerus.

Vascular injuries associated with limb fractures.

The records of 46 patients with vascular injuries of the lower and upper limbs associated with bone fractures and managed in the authors' vascular and orthopaedics divisions were reviewed. All were young men, 26 with blunt and 20 with penetrating vascular injuries; 20 were treated by end to end anastomosis, 12 by vein interposition grafting, six by prosthetic graft, six by vein patches and lateral sutures and two by ligations. The limb salvage rate was 93 per cent. Three patients died (6.5 per cent) of severe associated injuries. Amputations were needed in three patients (6.5 per cent) with popliteal, tibial arteries and vein injuries. An aggressive approach to limb salvage is needed in these extensive injuries.

Central vein stenosis in patients with prior subclavian vein catheterization for maintenance dialysis.

We evaluated the prevalence of central vein stenosis in patients with prior central vein catheterization for vascular access for hemodialysis. A total of 36 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who were referred to the division of vascular surgery at King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh were evaluated. Bilateral ascending venogram was performed in all cases. The patients were divided into three groups: Group I included 38 extremities in 32 patients who were referred for construction of an arteriovenous fistula. All these patients had previous history of subclavian vein catheterization. This included six patients who had bilateral catheter insertion. Venography demonstrated greater than 50% central vein lesions in 13 of the 38 extremities yielding a prevalence of 34%. Group II included four extremities in four patients who were on hemodialysis for many years all of whom presented with features suggestive of venous obstruction in their already existing arteriovenous fistulae. All four patients gave history of prior subclavian vein catheterization for dialysis. Three of these patients had > 50% subclavian vein stenosis while one showed complete occlusion of the vein. Group III included 30 extremities without history of prior central vein cannulation and none of them showed any lesions on venography. Our study further confirms previous reports that show a high prevalence of central vein stenosis following use of subclavian catheter as vascular access. We suggest that the subclavian route should be abandoned in patients with ESRD and temporary venous cannulation, if needed, should be performed in the femoral or internal jugular veins. Also, in individuals with history of prior central vein cannulation, venography is strongly recommended before an arteriovenous fistula is made.