The role of sartorius muscle flaps in the management of complex groin wounds.

A best evidence topic in vascular surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether sartorius muscle flaps (SMF) can be effectively used in the setting of complex groin wounds with exposed prosthetic grafts for graft salvage and limb salvage. The literature review identified 33 articles reporting on the use of SMF for complex vascular wounds. Of these, 7 articles reporting on the use of 539 SMFs were considered the best evidence to answer the clinical question. Indications included surgical site infections with or without wound dehiscence, lymph leaks, graft infection and groin pseudoaneurysms, whereas in 98 of the included 539 cases, the flaps were performed prophylactically. Vacuum-assisted closure systems were used in 25 cases to promote healing. The use of an SMF is associated with low rates of muscle flap and graft complications, whereas outcomes seem to be independent of the presence of occlusive disease in the superficial femoral artery. They can be effectively combined with aggressive debridement strategies and vacuum-assisted closure devices to optimize outcomes. The published literature supports the use of SMF in the management of complex groin wounds following vascular reconstruction and is associated with encouraging flap, limb and graft salvage rates.

Carotid endarterectomy for critical stenosis prior to cardiac surgery: Should it be done? A retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Stroke remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery affecting 2% of patients. Extra-cranial carotid artery disease has been implicated in the aetiology of post cardiac surgery stroke. The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with or without staged carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in a tertiary referral centre. METHODS: A 5 year retrospective study was performed. The primary endpoints were defined as peri-operative stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) with secondary outcome defined as death within 30 days of surgery. RESULTS: In total 5924 cardiac procedures and 29 staged CEA's were performed. The rate of stroke and MI was significantly higher in patients undergoing staged CEA pre-cardiac surgery compared to patients undergoing cardiac surgery with confirmed or presumed normal carotid arteries (10.34% vs 1.43%; P = .008 and 13.79% vs 0.38%; P < .0001, respectively). There was no significant difference in the stroke and MI rate in those patients undergoing cardiac surgery with confirmed or presumed normal carotid arteries compared to those with significant carotid disease undergoing cardiac surgery with no prior carotid intervention (1.43% vs 3.16%; P > .05 and 0.38% vs 1.05%; P > .05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Carotid disease is associated with an increased risk of stroke post cardiac surgery. Staged carotid intervention cannot be justified based on these results. Increased risk of stroke post cardiac surgery in patients with significant carotid disease needs to be accepted, as the risk of stroke and MI during carotid intervention pre cardiac surgery is significantly higher.

Transperitoneal repair of a juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm and co-existent horseshoe kidney with division of the renal isthmus.

The co-existence of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and horseshoe kidney (HSK) is rare. We report a 67-year-old man with an expanding juxtarenal AAA associated with a HSK. The aneurysm had a severely angulated neck and contained a significant amount of mural thrombus. The isthmus of HSK closely lied over the aneurysm, making its exposure extremely difficult. The aneurysm was successfully repaired using transperitoneal approach with division of the renal isthmus and without any need for the renal artery reconstruction. Despite the potential complications, particularly renal insufficiency, associated with division of the renal isthmus and suprarenal cross-clamping of the abdominal aorta, in our case, post-operative period was uneventful and the patient's recovery was satisfactory.

Non-union of a clavicle fracture: lateral fragment excision for brachial artery embolism.

A 67-year-old motorcyslist was admitted to hospital following a high-speed road traffic collision and found to have a left midshaft clavicle fracture and multiple ipsilateral rib fractures. He was treated conservatively and went on to have non-union of the clavicle. The non-union was managed non-operatively. The patient then re-attended the hospital with an acute ischaemic left hand 3 years after the original injury date. An arterial duplex scan confirmed a embolus to the brachial artery. A brachial embolectomy was urgently performed. A computed tomography scan showed non-union of the clavicle fracture and an inflammatory mass compressing the left subclavian artery, which was the focus of the embolic event. The clavicle non-union was managed operatively with lateral half claviculectomy. Immediately after clavicle excision, the vascular team performed reconstruction of the brachial artery. At follow-up,there was normal shoulder and hand function at outpatient clinic. A duplex scan confirmed good triphasic waveforms throughout the arteries of the left upper limb.