Penetrating Vascular Injuries of the Lower Limbs after Stab Wounds: Predictive Factors of Limb Loss and Mortality.

BACKGROUND: Penetrating vascular injuries (PVIs) of the lower limbs due to stab wounds are associated with high mortality and limb loss rates. We analyzed the outcomes of a series of patients who underwent surgical treatment of these lesions, assessing the presence of any factor associated with limb loss and mortality; (2) Methods: Data of patients admitted from 01/2008 to 12/2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Primary outcomes were the limb loss and the mortality rate at 30 days postoperatively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed as appropriate. p values < 0.05 were considered significant; (3) Results: Data of 67 male patients were analyzed. Two died (3%) and three (4.5%) had a lower limb amputation after failed revascularization. In the univariate analysis, the clinical presentation significantly affected the risk of postoperative mortality and limb loss. The location of the lesion at the superficial femoral artery (OR 4.32, p = 0.001) or at the popliteal artery (OR 4.89, p = 0.0015) also increased the risk. In the multivariate analysis, the need for a vein graft bypass was the only significant predictor of limb loss and mortality (OR 4.58, p < 0.0001); (4) Conclusions: PVIs of lower limbs due to stab wounds were lethal in 3% of cases and lead to a secondary major amputation in 4.5% more cases. The need for a vein bypass grafting was the strongest predictor of postoperative limb loss and mortality.

Popliteal artery pseudoaneurysms in patients affected by osteochondroma.

Although exostosis or osteochondroma is a common bone tumor, associated vascular complications are rare. Clinical and radiological diagnoses are sometimes challenging, and there is no codification for surgical management. We report two cases of popliteal arterial pseudoaneurysms due to osteochondroma of the distal femur. A review of the current literature about case series and case reports of patients affected by arterial pseudoaneurysm complicating osteochondroma was also performed.

Pseudo-tumeur inflammatoire cardiaque mimant un myxome.

La pseudo-tumeur inflammatoire de localisation cardiaque est une entité rare et bénigne. Elle peut souvent mimer une tumeur maligne dans sa présentation clinique et radiologique, pouvant entrainer un retard diagnostic. Nous rapportons le cas d'un patient âgé de 20 ans, sans antécédents médicaux, admis dans le service pour l'exploration d'une fièvre prolongée. Un myxome du ventricule droit a initialement été suspecté sur l'imagerie. Une résection complète de la masse cardiaque a été effectuée. L'étude histopathologique a conclu à une pseudo-tumeur inflammatoire. Ce cas vise à présenter les caractéristiques cliniques, radiologiques, histologiques ainsi que la prise en charge d'une pseudo-tumeur inflammatoire cardiaque.

Arterial lesions in osteoarticular trauma of the lower limbs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in-hospital mortality and limb salvage of a series of patients presenting with arterial injury of the lower limbs complicating an osteoarticular trauma, and to determine any preoperative predictive factors of limb salvage. METHODS: Data of consecutive patients treated between 01/2007 and 12/2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and limb salvage. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess any variable that could affect limb salvage. P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The postoperative course, death occurred in 2 patients Lower limb amputation was performed in 13 cases (15.6%). The main factors predicting limb amputation were the timing of staged surgery, in particular when bone stabilization was performed first (P<0.001), and a delay Data concerning 74 patients with 83 traumatized lower limbs were analyzed. Most vascular lesions were located at the popliteal artery (47, 63.5%). Surgical bone stabilization was performed as a first step in 45 patients (60.8% of cases), followed by a delayed arterial repair. The median time to revascularization was 14.3 hours (range from 2 hours to 6 days). In 29 patients (39.2%) vascular repair and bone stabilization were performed simultaneously. During to limb revascularization longer than 6 hours (P<0.001). The location of injury at the popliteal artery (P=0.005), the presence of infection (P<0.001), and the severe ischemic signs at presentation (P=0.001) also were factors associated with amputation. CONCLUSIONS: The timing of staged surgical repair and the revascularization delay were the main predictor factors of limb salvage. KEY WORDS: Osteoarticular trauma, Vascular injury, Limb salvage, Orthopedic trauma.

Hypogastric artery coverage during endovascular aneurysm repair in octogenarian and younger patients.

AIM: To report our experience about hypogastric artery coverage during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for aortoiliac aneurysms in patients younger than 80 years (group A) compared with octogenarian patients (group B). METHODS: Data of consecutive EVAR with hypogastric artery coverage from 01/1998 to 12/2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Primary outcomes were the occurrence of ischemic colitis, type II endoleak and buttock claudication both at 30 days and in the long term. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The hypogastric artery was covered in 107 patients. Twenty-three (21.5%) were octogenarian (group B). At 30 days, one type II endoleak occurred in group B, whereas 16 patients of group A experienced buttock claudication. There were no cases of ischemic colitis. During follow-up (median 63.5 months), no cases of ischemic colitis occurred. Six new type II endoleaks were recorded (five in group B and one in group A, P = 0.0001). Buttock claudication persisted in four patients of group A. No new cases of buttock claudication were observed. CONCLUSION: Unilateral hypogastric artery coverage during EVAR for aortoiliac aneurysms can be performed with an acceptable rate of postoperative complication. Postoperative buttock claudication was more frequent in younger patients, whereas a type II endoleak occurred mostly in octogenarian patients during follow-up.

An unexpected etiology of lumbosciatica.

Lumbosciatica is a frequent symptom. When it is hyperalgic and/or deficient, it requires urgent exploration and an eventual surgical procedure. In most of the cases, medullary lumbar (instead of medullary) MRI is required looking in the first place at an intervertebral disc herniation. Other etiologies are rare but must be kept in mind. We report a case of a 37-year-old man with left L5 hyperalgic and deficient lumbosciatica. The conclusion of the etiological research led to pseudoaneurysm of the internal iliac artery compressing the ipsilateral sciatic nerve. The patient was operated on with a good clinical course.

Acute ischemia of the lower limb on ECMO: risk factors and preventive modalities.

The acute ischemia of the lower limb on the veno-arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a frequent and dangerous complication that can put the vital and functional prognosis at risk. Several risk factors have been incriminated and the lack of a sufficient distal perfusion is the most common. We report the case of an 11-year-old girl with veno-arterial ECMO for acute myocarditis complicated by severe acute lower limb ischemia.

Place of endovascular repair in the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

AIM: Open repair for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has a significant morbidity and mortality. Since the introduction of endovascular techniques, much progress has been made. The aim of this study is to clarify the feasibility and the results of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in short and middle terms. METHODS: Between 2008 and 2015, 14 patients underwent EVAR. The average age was 65 years. Comorbidities were found in 7 patients. It was coronary artery disease in 3 cases and severe respiratory failure in 4 cases. The aneurysm was atherosclerotic in 12 cases and inflammatory in 2 cases. The average length of the proximal neck was 29 mm. The mean aneurysm diameter was 65mm. A bifurcated stent graft has been deployed in 12 cases and an aorto-mono-iliac stent graft was deployed in 2 cases. RESULTS: Immediate technical success was achieved in 13 patients. Immediate surgical conversion was performed in 1 case. The average hospital stay was 5 days. We haven't deployed any early death. After a mean follow-up of 3 years, we deployed 3 late deaths; two deaths were not related to the aneurysm and one death was secondary to rupture of the aneurysm caused by a proximal stent graft migration. CONCLUSION: EVAR is actually a therapeutic increasingly used. Its results, especially late, are still being evaluated. Meanwhile, its indications must be selective.

Complex Iatrogenic Dissection Complicating Thoracic Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

BACKGROUND: To report one the most feared complication of thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR); a retrograde aortic dissection who can involve the aortic arch or ascending aorta, which require commonly coextensive open surgical repair. CASE REPORTS: We report 2 cases of combined retrograde and antegrade dissection after endovascular treatment of an aneurysm of the descending aorta. In both cases, a dissection was identified at short-term follow-up; which required open surgical repair in one case and an additional endovascular treatment for the second case. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of extensive iatrogenic dissection after TEVAR is relatively low, open repair should be considered as a primary option in some cases with limited aortic dilatation to avoid such life-threatening complications.

Use of Chimney graft after accidental coverage of the left common carotid artery in TEVAR procedure.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) is currently the therapy of first choice for most thoracic aortic disease. Because aortic stent grafts are placed in the vicinity of aortic side branches, unintentional coverage of these arteries may occur. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 69-year-old male with an asymptomatic penetrating ulcer of the aortic arch, based at the origin of the left subclavian artery. Due to his medical story, we decided to perform an endovascular procedure with placement of a stent graft in the left hemi-ach wit previous left common carotid subclavian bypass. During the deployment of the aortic stent graft, the proximal margin of the stent graft displaced, inadvertly covering the origin of the left common carotid artery. As a bail out procedure, we successfully revascularized the left common carotid artery with the use of the chimney technique. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment of aortic disease has gained popularity over the last decade. Despite increasing experience, these procedures remain technically challenging. Unintentional coverage of main aortic side branches during TEVAR is a serious complication, which requires immediate intervention. The chimney technique offers a minimal invasive procedure in such case, with promising results.

Aberrant right subclavian artery or arteria lusoria: a rare cause of dyspnea in children.

Aberrant right subclavian artery or arteria lusoria (AL) is the most frequent anomaly of the aortic arch, secondary to abnormal embryogenesis. It is usually asymptomatic and fortuitously discovered. It can compress neighboring structures and cause dysphagia or, more rarely, dyspnea. In symptomatic cases or in the presence of an aneurysm of the AL origin, it should be surgically treated. The case herein reported concerns a child presenting with respiratory symptomatology related to an AL that was surgically treated by right supraclavicular approach.