[Acquired von Willebrand's disease type 2A following arteriovenous fistula for haemodialysis?]. / Erworbenes von-Willebrand-Syndrom Typ 2A als Begleiterscheinung eines Dialyseshunts?

Acquired von Willebrand's disease (aVWD) is considered to be an underestimated cause of unexplained bleeding. Adsorption of von Willebrand factor (VWF) to tumour cells or hydroxyethyl starch and elimination of VWF by autoantibodies as well as shear stress-induced mechanical alteration of VWF with concomitant cleavage by enzymes may lead to an acquired deficiency of VWF and a bleeding disorder. We report a 39-year-old woman who developed spontaneous bleeding five years after surgical creation of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for haemodialysis treatment. AVWD type 2A was diagnosed after successful renal transplantation. One year after surgical closure of the AVF, the aVWD could not be verified again. Thus, the aVWD may have developed because of altered blood flow and shear stress inside the arteriovenous fistula.

[Distal femoro-popliteal bypass using Esmarch tourniquet ischemia]. / Der distale femoro-popliteale Bypass unter Verwendung der Esmarchschen Blutleere.

The Esmarch bandage is an effective substitute for vascular clamps in distal femoro-popliteal or tibial bypass surgery. Intimal trauma caused by clamping is avoided, vasa vasorum are preserved due to only semicircumferential dissection of vessels. This method is particularly suitable for heavy calcified rigid vessel walls. We demonstrate this technique, which was employed in 8 patients (10 bypasses). The use of this technique requires neither a longer operation- nor clamping time. The postoperative course of all but one patients develops normally and the technique does not provoke any pathological results in the area of operation. Advantages of the procedure compared to conventional techniques will be discussed.