Evaluation of the relationship between intercostal muscle oxygenation measured by near-infrared spectroscopy and exercise capacity in group E COPD patients.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can be used to demonstrate muscle metabolism and oxygenation. NIRS-based oximeters enable the noninvasive measurement of static and dynamic muscle oxygenation. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between NIRS readings and exercise capacity in group E COPD patients. The prospective study included 40 patients with group E COPD who presented to our outpatient clinic between May 2021 and June 2022. The patients were evaluated with pulmonary function testing, 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), echocardiography, and dyspnea and quality of life assessments. NIRS muscle oxygen saturation (SmO2) levels at the start and end of the 6MWT were obtained. 6MWT distance was positively correlated with intercostal SmO2 and fingertip SO2 at the start (R = 0.679, p ≤ 0.001 and R = 0.321, p = 0.04, respectively) and end of the 6MWT (R = 0.693, p ≤ 0.001 and R = 0.635, p ≤ 0.001, respectively) and negatively correlated with the number of hospitalizations due to exacerbations in the last year and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (R = - 0.648, p ≤ 0.001 and R = - 0.676, p ≤ 0.001, respectively). SF-36 score was positively correlated with intercostal SmO2 at the beginning of the 6MWT (R = 0.336, p = 0.03). Intercostal SmO2 levels at the start of the 6MWT positively correlated with diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon dioxide (DLCO) (R = 0.388, p = 0.01) and ratio of DLCO to alveolar volume (DLCO/VA) levels (R = 0.379, p = 0.02), and these correlations persisted more strongly after the 6MWT (R = 0.524, p = 0.01; R = 0.500, p = 0.01, respectively). NIRS is a practical and noninvasive method for measuring muscle oxygenation and can be used as an alternative to 6MWT in the evaluation of exercise capacity in patients with group E COPD.

Massive hemothorax caused by intercostal artery pseudoaneurysm:a case report.

BACKGROUND: Intercostal artery pseudoaneurysm is rare and at the risk of rupture. The aetiology is always reported to be iatrogenic and traumatic injury. Embolisation is the most common therapeutic method. Here, we report a case of spontaneous intercostal artery pseudoaneurysm and cured by combining covered stent grafting and surgical management. CASE PRESENTATION: A 60-year-old man complained of acute right back pain for 5 h. Computed tomography showed right massive hemothorax and a giant mass with distinct feeding vessel originated from the thoracic aorta within the right hemithorax. Thoracocentesis was performed, and then a covered stent was positioned across the origin of the feeding vessel. The patient was diagnosed with intercostal artery pseudoaneurysm. Finally, we successfully resected the pseudoaneurysm and ligated the proximal part of the artery. Histologic examination have proved the diagnosis. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 10. There is no recurrence reported during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous intercostal artery pseudoaneurysm is extremly rare. Delayed hemothorax due to rupture of the pseudoaneurysm may occur years after the formation. Early diagnosis is important and a combined treatment of endovascular intervention and surgical management is feasible, especially for the case of ruptured large tumour-like mass presentation of the pseudoaneurysm.

Exercise training decreases intercostal and transversus abdominis muscle blood flows in heart failure rats during submaximal exercise.

Diaphragm muscle blood flow (BF) and vascular conductance (VC) are elevated with chronic heart failure (HF) during exercise. Exercise training (ExT) elicits beneficial respiratory muscle and pulmonary system adaptations in HF. We hypothesized that diaphragm BF and VC would be lower in HF rats following ExT than their sedentary counterparts (Sed). Respiratory muscle BFs and mean arterial pressure were measured via radiolabeled microspheres and carotid artery catheter, respectively, during submaximal treadmill exercise (20 m/min, 5 % grade). During exercise, no differences were present between HF + ExT and HF + Sed in diaphragm BFs (201 ± 36 vs. 227 ± 44 mL/min/100 g) or VCs (both, p > 0.05). HF + ExT compared to HF + Sed had lower intercostal BF (27 ± 3 vs. 41 ± 5 mL/min/100 g) and VC (0.21 ± 0.02 vs. 0.31 ± 0.04 mL/min/mmHg/100 g) during exercise (both, p < 0.05). Further, HF + ExT compared to HF + Sed had lower transversus abdominis BF (20 ± 1 vs. 35 ± 6 mL/min/100 g) and VC (0.14 ± 0.02 vs. 0.27 ± 0.05 mL/min/mmHg/100 g) during exercise (both, p < 0.05). These data suggest that exercise training lowers the intercostal and transversus abdominis BF responses in HF rats during submaximal treadmill exercise.

Massive hemothorax in a pregnant patient with neurofibromatosis type 1.

BACKGROUND: Reports of spontaneous hemothorax in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 are scarce despite the severe complication. We herein present the first case of hemothorax in a neurofibromatosis type 1 patient during pregnancy and discuss the difficulty associated with its diagnosis and treatment. CASE PRESENTATION: A 39-year-old female at 34 weeks gestation presented with sudden left back pain and dyspnea. Chest radiography revealed massive left pleural effusion. Computed tomography showed bleeding from the intercostal artery. Although the patient appeared hemodynamically stable, the fetus was in a critical condition. Emergency caesarean section was performed within 1 hour. Subsequently, we performed endovascular coil embolization of the intercostal artery. While this intensive treatment saved the patient, her fetus could not be rescued. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 may develop massive hemothorax without gross lesions. In late pregnancy, sufficient infusion and quick hemostasis are essential and can be lifesaving.

Intercostal and vastus lateralis microcirculatory response to a sympathoexcitatory manoeuvre in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Patients with COPD present with systemic vascular malfunctioning and their microcirculation is possibly more fragile to overcome an increase in the sympathetic vasoconstrictor outflow during sympathoexcitatory situations. To test the skeletal muscle microvascular responsiveness to sympathoexcitation, we asked patients with COPD and age- and sex-matched controls to immerse a hand in iced water [Cold Pressor Test (CPT)]. Near-infrared spectroscopy detection of the indocyanine green dye in the intercostal and vastus lateralis microcirculation provided a blood flow index (BFI). BFI divided by mean blood pressure (MBP) provided an index of microvascular conductance (BFI/MBP). The CPT decreased BFI and BFI/MBP in the intercostal (P = 0.01 and < 0.01, respectively) and vastus lateralis (P = 0.08 and 0.03, respectively) only in the COPD group, and the per cent BFI and BFI/MBP decrease was similar between muscles (P = 0.78 and 0.85, respectively). Thus, our findings support that sympathoexcitation similarly impairs intercostal and vastus lateralis microvascular regulation in patients with COPD.

Perforator-Based Intercostal Artery Muscle Flap: A Novel Approach for the Treatment of Tracheoesophageal or Bronchoesophageal Fistulas.

SUMMARY: Postoperative tracheoesophageal or bronchoesophageal fistulas represent a major surgical challenge. The authors report the description of an original perforator-based intercostal artery muscle flap, aiming to cover all types of intrathoracic fistulas, from any location, in difficult cases such as postoperative fistulas after esophagectomy in an irradiated field. Between June of 2016 and January of 2019, eight male patients were treated with a perforator-based intercostal artery muscle flap. All had previous surgery for esophageal cancer and developed a tracheoesophageal or bronchoesophageal fistula during the perioperative course. The mean patient age was 55.9 ± 8.8 years. All patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and seven received neoadjuvant radiation therapy. A perforator-based intercostal artery muscle flap, with a mean skin paddle size of 9.86 × 5 cm, was harvested. The median operative time was 426.50 minutes. The tracheoesophageal or bronchoesophageal fistula was successfully and definitively occluded in three patients; two patients experienced recurrence; and one patient underwent re operation. At 1 year, five patients were alive (62.5 percent), and among them, three (37.5 percent) were free from any intrathoracic complications. Three patients died, because of massive digestive bleeding, mesenteric ischemia, and multiorgan failure, respectively. The perforator-based intercostal artery muscle flap, like the Taylor flap in abdominoperineal reconstruction, could become a workhorse flap for all intrathoracic reconstructions, as it can always be harvested, even if a previous thoracotomy has ruined most of the options. This surgical technique, easily feasible, reliable, and reproducible, became our first option for all postoperative tracheoesophageal or bronchoesophageal fistula patients during the postoperative course following esophagectomy. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Filar arteriovenous fistula associated with anomalous common posterior intercostal arterial trunk - A case report and review of literature.

An anomalous common trunk giving rise to bilateral intercostal arteries at multiple levels is exceedingly rare and its association with spinal filar AVF and low-lying cord has not been reported so far. Here, we report this uncommon anatomical variation in a 60-year-old male who presented with paraplegia and on imaging found to have low-lying spinal cord with filar AVF and venous congestive myelopathy and discuss its embryological basis and associated malformations. Although rare, interventional radiologists should be aware of this entity, as these trunks may be a major source of bleeding in patients with hemoptysis, and also may be involved in vital spinal cord supply.

Identification and quantitative analysis of branching networks of the posterior intercostal arteries.

Morphological and anatomical characteristics of the posterior intercostal arteries have revived interest in their branching networks. Collateral supply between intercostal spaces is extensive due to anastomoses, although the data about the quantitative description of the branching networks in the existing literature are rather limited. The presence of collateral network between branches of the posterior intercostal arteries has been studied on forty-three Thiel-embalmed human cadavers. A network-based approach has been used to quantify the measured vascular branching patterns. Connections between branches of the same or adjacent posterior intercostal artery were identified. The non-anastomosing branches coursing in the intercostal spaces were also observed and their abundance was higher in comparison to anastomosing vessels. A quantitative analysis of collateral branching networks has revealed the highest density of vessels located close to the costal angle and most of the anastomosing branches were found between the fourth and tenth intercostal space. Anastomoses within the same posterior intercostal artery were more frequent in higher intercostal spaces, whereas in the lower intercostal spaces more connections were established between neighboring intercostal arteries. Our results indicate that due to abundant collateral contribution the possibility to cause an ischemic injury is rather low unless there is considerable damage to the blood supply of the trunk or surgical complication leading to ischemia or necrosis. Analyzing the proper course of collateral contributions of the posterior intercostal arteries may support further directions regarding the safest place for percutaneous transthoracic interventions, thoracocentesis, and lung biopsy.

Respiratory and locomotor muscle blood flow during exercise in health and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the topic of this review? The work presented here focuses mostly on testing the theory of blood flow redistribution from the locomotor to the respiratory muscles during heavy exercise in healthy participants and in patients with COPD. What advances does it highlight? Studies presented and the direct experimental approach to measure muscle blood flow by indocyanine green dye detected by near infrared spectroscopy, show that exercise interferes with respiratory muscle blood flow especially in COPD, but even in healthy. ABSTRACT: We have developed an indicator-dilution method to measure muscle blood flow at rest and during exercise using the light absorbing tracer indocyanine green dye (ICG) injected as an intravenous bolus, with surface optodes placed over muscles of interest to record the ICG signal by near-infrared spectroscopy. Here we review findings for both quadriceps and intercostal muscle blood flow (measured simultaneously) in trained cyclists and in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). During resting hyperpnoea in both athletes and patients, intercostal muscle blood flow increased with ventilation, correlating closely and linearly with the work of breathing, with no change in quadriceps flow. During graded exercise in athletes, intercostal flow at first increased, but then began to fall approaching peak effort. Unexpectedly, in COPD, intercostal muscle blood flow during exercise fell progressively from resting values, contrasting sharply with the response to resting hyperpnoea. During exercise at peak intensity, we found no quadriceps blood flow reduction in favour of the respiratory muscles in either athletes or patients. In COPD at peak exercise, when patients breathed 21% oxygen in helium or 100% oxygen, there was no redistribution of blood flow observed between legs and respiratory muscles in either direction. Evidence of decrease in leg blood flow and increase in respiratory muscle flow was found only when imposing expiratory flow limitation (EFL) during exercise in healthy individuals. However, because EFL caused substantial physiological derangement, lowering arterial oxygen saturation and raising end-tidal PCO2 and heart rate, these results cannot be projected onto normal exercise.

Effect of a nondominant perforator on multiterritory perforator flap survival in rats.

BACKGROUND: During flap surgery, the dominant perforator is usually selected as the pedicle. This study investigated the effect of a nondominant perforator on multiterritory perforator flap survival. METHODS: The deep circumflex iliac artery perforator flap (DCIA flap) and intercostal artery perforator flap (ICA flap) were performed (n = 12). Only the pedicle was different between the two flaps. The DCIA flap was based on the right and peripheral DCIA with three dynamic and two potential perforasomes. The ICA flap was based on the right and central ICA with five dynamic perforasomes. All adjacent perforators were ligated except the pedicle. On postoperative day 7, flap viability, angiography findings, and perfusion were compared. RESULTS: Even though the diameter of DCIA (mm) was larger than that of ICA (0.49 ± 0.03 vs. 0.4 ± 0.04; p < .05), the ICA flap survival rate (%) was higher than that of DCIA flap (99.5 ± 0.7 vs. 83.8 ± 3.9; p < .001). Based on a dominant perforator, a necrotic area was observed in the potential perforasomes of the DCIA flap. The choke vessels between the anatomical and dynamic perforasomes dilated postoperatively in the two flaps, whereas the others did not. The perfusion (PU) differences between the DCIA and ICA flaps in the dynamic perforasomes were nonsignificant (average, 342.4 ± 9.1 vs. 347.3 ± 7.3; p > .05). CONCLUSION: Increasing the number of dynamic perforasomes had no effect on flap survival, even based on a nondominant perforator. And the pedicle position affected flap survival.

Spontaneous massive haemothorax in the peri-partum period of an undiagnosed neurofibromatosis type 1 patient - A surgical perspective.

Acute massive haemothorax is a life-threatening situation, which is often associated with a preceding trauma. However, spontaneous haemothorax is a rare occurrence, especially in pregnancy. Spontaneous haemothorax in the immediate post-partum period secondary to a ruptured intercostal AVM is extremely rare more so in the background of an undiagnosed neurofibromatosis. This is a report of a young lady presenting with pleuritis and breathlessness after the delivery of her 1st child. Her management is discussed.

Intercostal muscle blood flow is elevated in old rats during submaximal exercise.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory muscle blood flows (BF) increase substantially during exercise in younger adult rats. As aging is associated with altered pulmonary function, we hypothesized that old rats will have greater intercostal muscle BF and vascular conductances (VC) than young rats during submaximal exercise. METHODS: Mean arterial pressure and respiratory muscle BFs (via carotid artery catheter and radiolabeled microspheres, respectively) were measured at rest and during submaximal exercise in young (n = 9) and old (n = 7) Fischer 344 X Brown Norway rats. RESULTS: At rest, diaphragm, intercostal, and transversus abdominis BFs and VCs were not different between groups (all, p > 0.10). During submaximal exercise, old compared to young rats had greater intercostal BF (40 ± 6 vs 25 ± 2 mL/min/100 g) and VC (0.30 ± 0.05 vs 0.18 ± 0.02 mL/min/mmHg/100 g) (both, p ≤ 0.01). Diaphragm and transversus abdominis BFs and VCs were not different between groups during exercise (all, p > 0.24). CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that intercostal muscle BF and VC are increased in old compared to young rats during submaximal exercise.

The ideal intercostal space for internal mammary vessel exposure during total rib-sparing microvascular breast reconstruction: A critical evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Total rib-preserving free flap breast reconstruction (RP-FFBR) using internal mammary vessel (IMV) recipients usually involves vessel exposure in the second or third intercostal spaces (ICS). Although the third one is more commonly used, no direct comparisons between the two have hitherto been performed. OBJECTIVES: To compare the in-vivo topography and vascular anatomy of second and third ICSs in patients undergoing FFBR using the rib-preservation technique of IMV exposure. METHODS: An analysis of prospectively collected data on intercostal space distance (ISD), number and arrangement of IMVs, location of venous confluence, and vessel exposure time was conducted on a single surgeon's consecutive RP-FFBRs. RESULTS: A total of 296 RP-FFBRs were performed in 246 consecutive patients. The second, third, or both second and third spaces were utilized in 282, 28, and 22 cases, respectively. The ISDs were 20.6 mm ±â€¯3.52 for the second ICS and 14.0 mm ± 4.35 for the third ICS (p<0.0001, CI = 5.17-7.97, t-test). The second versus third ICS vein content was as follows: single 81.4% vs. 74%, dual 18.6% vs. 26%, and confluence 3.7% vs. 13%. The second ICS single vein was medial to the artery in 92.6%. The third ICS single vein was medial to the artery in 88.2% Vessel exposure times for second (47.2 mins ±â€¯26.7) and third (46.5 mins ±â€¯31.4) spaces were similar (p = 0.93). The overall intraoperative anastomotic revision rate was 9.1%, and the postoperative flap re-exploration rate was 4.0%, with 99.7% overall flap success. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Preferential use of the second ICS is supported by its more predictable vascular anatomy, a broader space for performing the microanastomoses and a higher frequency of a single postconfluence (and thus larger) vein facilitating the microsurgery.

Differential selective hypothermic intercostal artery perfusion: a new method to probe spinal cord perfusion during thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: To prevent paraplegia in patients undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair, the importance of preoperative identification of the Adamkiewicz artery and reconstruction of critical intercostal artery have been advocated. Conversely, significance of collateral network for spinal cord perfusion has been recognized. We invented a new system consisting of a direct monitoring of cerebrospinal fluid temperature (CSFT) and differential selective hypothermic intercostal artery perfusion (D-HIAP). METHODS: After exposing a critical intercostal artery, a 10-mm prosthetic graft was anastomosed in an end to side fashion. A balloon-tipped catheter was inserted into the graft to perfuse with 15 °C blood. Neighboring intercostal arteries were also perfused in the same fashion. Serial monitoring of CSFT was performed. Between January 2011 and January 2015, D-HIAP was employed in 50 patients with Adamkiewicz artery that located within a reconstructed area. RESULTS: Significant CSFT drop was recorded after initiation of D-HIAP in 42 (84%) patients. Of those, 34 (68%) patients showed significantly lowered CSFT with D-HIAP into a single critical intercostal artery. Perfusion into plural intercostal arteries was necessary for CSFT drop in 2 cases (4%), and plural intercostal artery perfusion further enhanced CSFT drop that had been modestly achieved by single intercostal artery perfusion in 6 cases (12%). Eight (16%) patients did not exhibit a significant drop in CSFT even when D-HIAP was employed for the critical and neighboring intercostal arteries. CONCLUSIONS: The detection of a disparity in temperature between the intrathecal space and blood generated by D-HIAP revealed individual variability in CSFT changes, which may imply a complexity in spinal cord perfusion. Intraoperative D-HIAP may help to identify a major blood supply for spinal cord perfusion and underlying collateral network.

Near-infrared spectroscopy using indocyanine green dye for minimally invasive measurement of respiratory and leg muscle blood flow in patients with COPD.

Reliability of near-infrared spectroscopy, measuring indocyanine green (ICG) for minimally invasive assessment of relative muscle blood flow during exercise has been examined in fit young individuals but not in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Here we ask whether it could be used to evaluate respiratory and locomotor muscle perfusion in COPD patients. Vastus lateralis muscle blood flow (MBF, the reference method calculated from arterial and muscle ICG concentration curves) and a blood flow index [BFI, calculated using only the (same) muscle ICG concentration curves] were compared in 10 patients (forced expiratory volume in 1 s: 51 ± 6% predicted) at rest and during cycling at 25, 50, 75, and 100% of peak work rate (WRpeak). Intercostal muscle MBF and BFI were also compared during isocapnic hyperpnea at rest, reproducing ventilation levels up to those at WRpeak. Intercostal and vastus lateralis BFI increased with increasing ventilation during hyperpnea (from 2.5 ± 0.3 to 4.5 ± 0.7 nM/s) and cycling load (from 1.0 ± 0.2 to 12.8 ± 1.9 nM/s), respectively. There were strong correlations between BFI and MBF for both intercostal ( r = 0.993 group mean data, r = 0.872 individual data) and vastus lateralis ( r = 0.994 group mean data, r = 0.895 individual data). Fold changes from rest in BFI and MBF did not differ for either the intercostal muscles or the vastus lateralis. Group mean BFI data showed strong interrelationships with respiratory and cycling workload, and whole body metabolic demand ( r ranged from 0.913 to 0.989) simultaneously recorded during exercise. We conclude that BFI is a reliable and minimally invasive tool for evaluating relative changes in respiratory and locomotor muscle perfusion from rest to peak exercise in COPD patient groups. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We show that noninvasive near-infrared spectroscopic (NIRS) detection of indocyanine green dye (ICG) after peripheral venous injection adequately reflects intercostal and locomotor muscle perfusion during exercise and hyperpnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Mean, individual, and fold change responses from rest to exercise or hyperpnea correlated closely with the reference method, which requires arterial sampling. NIRS-ICG is a reliable, robust, and essentially noninvasive tool for assessing relative changes in intercostal and locomotor muscle perfusion in COPD patient groups.

[Severe Hemorrhagic Shock in a 93-Year Old Patient due to a Diagnostic Thoracocentesis]. / Schwerer hämorrhagischer Schock bei einem 93-jährigen Patienten nach diagnostischer Pleurapunktion.

An intercostal artery laceration is a rare iatrogenic complication following thoracocentesis and concerns especially elderly patients. We report a case of a severe hemorrhagic shock in a 93-year old patient due to diagnostic thoracocentesis.

[Interventional Radiological Treatment of Intercostal Artery Bleedings - a Retrospective Analysis]. / Interventionell-radiologische Behandlung von Interkostalarterienblutungen ­ eine retrospektive Analyse.

Background Intercostal artery bleedings are potentially fatal injuries. Apart from conservative and surgical treatment options, emergency interventional radiological treatment can also be performed. We report our experience with emergency intercostal artery embolisation. Materials and Methods Patients with acute arterial bleedings from the intercostal artery who were treated interventionally over a period of 7 years were identified retrospectively. Technical and clinical success, clinical and procedural parameters as well as overall survival were analysed. Results Between 2010 and 2017, a total of 27 embolisation procedures was performed in 24 patients (14 male, mean age 65.7 ± 13.9 years). The majority of patients suffered from iatrogenic intercostal artery bleedings (n = 17; 70.1%; especially after thoracocentesis). In five cases, thoracoscopic surgery was attempted prior to intervention but was unsuccessful. Primary technical success was obtained in 25/27 interventions. In two cases, there was re-bleeding via collateral arteries so that re-intervention became necessary (secondary technical success). In 15 cases, secondary surgery after successful interventional treatment was necessary to evacuate the haematoma/haemothorax. Intercostal artery embolisation was clinically successful in 23/24 patients. One patient died despite technically successful embolisation, due to extensive haemothorax. One case of spinal ischaemia was observed as a major complication. Conclusion Intercostal artery embolisation is an effective interventional radiological emergency measure in patients with acute bleeding and is an alternative to surgical treatment even after attempted, unsuccessful surgery. Because of potentially severe complications, the interventional procedure should be performed by an experienced interventionalist.

Spontaneous intercostal artery bleeding in a hemodialysis patient.

Spontaneous rupture of an intercostal artery (ICA) is a rare but could be a life-threatening emergency requiring prompt diagnosis and intervention for optimal outcome. We report a patient presented with swelling in his right-side back which started immediately after scheduled hemodialysis and continued to increase in size. Contrast computed tomography scan revealed soft tissue attenuated lesion with internal enhancing dots which suggested expanding hematoma with active bleeding. Arteriography detected focal contrast extravasation from seventh ICA, and transcatheter arterial embolization was successfully done. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing spontaneous bleeding of ICA in a hemodialysis patient.