A multicenter study of emergency endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta: indications and outcomes. / Estudio multicéntrico de la reparación endovascular urgente de la aorta torácica: indicaciones y resultados.

OBJECTIVE: Endovascular techniques have become an essential tool for the treatment of descending thoracic aortic disease (thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair [TEVAR]). The aim is to analyze the indications and outcomes of emergency TEVAR at national level in relation to elective surgery. STUDY DESIGN AND SCOPE: A retrospective multicenter registry of patients with descending thoracic aortic disease treated on an emergency basis using endovascular techniques between 2012-2016, in 11 clinical units. PATIENTS, INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1) Ruptured descending thoracic aortic aneurysms; 2) Blunt traumatic thoracic aortic injury; and 3) Complicated acute type B aortic dissections (TBADc). PRIMARY VARIABLES: Patient mortality, survival and reoperation rate. SECONDARY VARIABLES: Demographic data, cardiovascular risk factors, specific data by indication, technical resources and postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 135 urgent TEVARs were included (111 men, mean age 60.4 ± 16.3 years): 43 ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysms (31.9%), 54 type B dissections (40%) and 32 traumatic aortic injuries (23.7%), and other etiologies 4.4%. The overall mortality rate at 30 days was 18.5%, and proved higher in the ruptured descending thoracic aortic aneurysms group (27.9%). The mean actuarial survival rate was 67± 6% at 5 years. The postoperative stroke rate was 5.2%, and the paraplegia rate was 5.9%. Aortic reoperations proved necessary in 12 patients (9%). CONCLUSIONS: Emergency descending thoracic aortic diseases can be treated by endovascular techniques with optimal results and low morbidity and mortality - though the figures are slightly higher than in elective cases. This registry provides, for the first time, real information on the daily clinical practice of emergency TEVAR in Spain.

A multicenter study of emergency endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta: Indications and outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Endovascular techniques have become an essential tool for the treatment of descending thoracic aortic disease (thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair [TEVAR]). The aim is to analyze the indications and outcomes of emergency TEVAR at national level in relation to elective surgery. STUDY DESIGN AND SCOPE: A retrospective multicenter registry of patients with descending thoracic aortic disease treated on an emergency basis using endovascular techniques between 2012-2016, in 11 clinical units. PATIENTS, INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1) Ruptured descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (RTAA); 2) Blunt traumatic thoracic aortic injury (TAI); and 3) Complicated acute type B aortic dissections (TBADc). PRIMARY VARIABLES: Patient mortality, survival and reoperation rate. SECONDARY VARIABLES: Demographic data, cardiovascular risk factors, specific data by indication, technical resources and postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 135 urgent TEVARs were included (111 men, mean age 60.4 ±â€¯16.3 years): 43 ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysms (31.9%), 54 type B dissections (40%) and 32 traumatic aortic injuries (23.7%), and other etiologies 4.4%. The overall mortality rate at 30 days was 18.5%, and proved higher in the RTAA group (27.9%). The mean actuarial survival rate was 67 ±â€¯6% at 5 years. The postoperative stroke rate was 5.2%, and the paraplegia rate was 5.9%. Aortic reoperations proved necessary in 12 patients (9%). CONCLUSIONS: Emergency descending thoracic aortic diseases can be treated by endovascular techniques with optimal results and low morbidity and mortality - though the figures are slightly higher than in elective cases. This registry provides, for the first time, real information on the daily clinical practice of emergency TEVAR in Spain.

Safety and efficacy of therapeutic angiogenesis as a novel treatment in patients with critical limb ischemia.

BACKGROUND: In some patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) the possibility of revascularizing treatment does not exist. In this case therapeutic angiogenesis (TA) using autologous endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) transplantation could be an alternative. The objective of our study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TA using EPC. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with CLI who were not candidates for surgical or endovascular revascularization were included in a prospective study. To mobilize EPCs from the bone marrow, granulocyte colony-stimulating growth factor was injected subcutaneously at doses of 5 microg/kg/day for 5 days. Apheresis was performed, obtaining 50 mL of blood with a high rate of EPCs (CD34(+) and CD133(+) cells were counted). EPCs were implanted in the ischemic limb by intramuscular injections. Primary end points were the safety and feasibility of the procedure and limb salvage rate for amputation at 12 months. Other variables studied were improvement in rest pain, healing of ulcers, ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI), and digital plethysmography. All procedures were done pretreatment and every 3 months for a year on average. Postransplantation arteriography was done in selected cases. RESULTS: No adverse effects were observed. Mean follow-up was 14 months. Before treatment, mean basal ABI was 0.35+/-0.2 and at 18 months postimplantation, 0.72+/-0.51 (p=0.009). There was a mean decrease of five points in pain scale: basal 8.7+/-1, after TA 3.8+/-2.9 (p=0.01). Seven patients required major amputation. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a limb salvage rate of 74.4% after 1 year. CONCLUSION: Implantation of EPCs in CLI is a safe alternative, improves tissue perfusion, and obtains high amputation-free rates. Nevertheless, this is a small cohort and results should be tested with long randomized trials.

Prospective study of the functional recovery after surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the functional recovery after Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) surgery, by the application of Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective study of all patients operated on for TOS from January 1998 to December 2005. The DASH questionnaire was administered pre- and postoperatively. The scores were analysed according to TOS type, the associated comorbidity and the type of surgery performed. Results were assessed with Wilcoxon Test for continuous variables, and the Fisher Test for categories. RESULTS: Twenty-three consecutive patients were included in the study, the average age was 37 years (range: 22-54). Fourteen patients presented with venous TOS and 9 with neurogenic TOS. Patients with venous TOS had a preoperative score of 14.9 (SD 18.31) and a postoperative score of 14.8 (SD 15.6) (p>0.05). The preoperative score in patients with neurogenic TOS was 53.96 (SD 15.6) and the postoperative score was 17.8 (SD 15.3) (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: DASH questionnaire is a valid and objective test for evaluating the functional state after TOS surgery. Venous TOS is clinically less incapacitating than neurogenic. Surgically decompression of thoracic outlet leads to significant benefit in patients with neurogenic TOS.

[Primary aortoenteric fistula: a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding in young adults]. / Fístula aortoentérica primaria, causa infrecuente de hemorragia digestiva en el adulto joven.

Aortoenteric fistula is defined as a communication between the native aorta and any portion of the gastrointestinal tract. Depending on previous aortic grafting it can be classified as primary, without previous grafting, or secondary. Primary aortoenteric fistula is less frequent and usually arises from an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Clinical presentation is usually gastrointestinal bleeding. The main diagnostic procedures are gastroscopy and computed tomography. We report the case of a 46-year-old man who presented to the emergency room with gastrointestinal bleeding and an abdominal pulsatile mass. Although complementary tests and clinical signs suggested a diagnosis of primary aortoenteric fistula, the communication was not observed on gastroscopy and was confirmed by exploratory laparotomy. Despite aggressive surgical treatment, the prognosis of this entity is poor.

[Buerger's disease with intestinal ischemic involvement]. / Isquemia intestinal en la enfermedad de Buerger.

Buerger's disease is uncommon arterial disease that affects mainly young people with heavy smoking history. Ischemic symptoms of upper and lower extremities are clearly defined as the most common kind of presentation. Visceral arteries are rarely affected. We report a case of a 44 year old young female with Buerger's disease and mesenteric ischemic involvement, and a revision of the literature about Buerger's disease with visceral affection. Due to the extreme rarity of the intestinal involvement of Buerger's disease, the early diagnosis is difficult, for this reason all patients affected by Buerger's disease who present intestinal symptoms should be carefully evaluated. Aortography and early laparoscopic revision are very important to limit ischemic intestinal injury and later complications. If hemodynamic instability is present emergency laparotomy at the operating theatre is recommended.

[Carotid endarterectomy]. / Endarterectomía carotídea.

Carotid endarterectomy has been a controversial matter since its introduction more than 40 years ago. In the last decade several clinical trials were performed to determine the efficacy of this operation in patients with carotid estenosis and hemispheric or ocular ischemic symptoms. In 1991 the interim results of the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial and the European Carotid Surgery Trial were reported, both trials demonstrating the beneficial effects of surgery in symptomatic patients with stenosis of greater than 70%. In 1994 the Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Study reported their interim results in patients who have stenosis of greater than 60% in favor of endarterectomy, in centers with documented perioperative mortality and morbidity of less than 3%. The Asymptomatic Carotid Surgery Trial is still in progress. All this trials have restored the confidence on carotid endarterectomy.

[Arterial steal via an arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis. A clinical case and review of the literature]. / Robo arterial por fístula arterio-venosa para hemodiálisis. Caso clínico y revisión de la literatura.

We related a case of arterial atrappment in the left upper limb by an arteriovenous humerus-cephalic hyperfunctioning fistula. Surgical procedure consisted on the insertion of a PTFE's banding around the arterialized vein obtaining satisfactory clinic and functional results. We review in the literature, the frequency the pathogeny and the therapeutics possibilities.

Comprehensive pharmaceutical care in a vascular surgery department.

OBJECTIVE: The pharmacist must work with the clinical team across the continuum of care to develop and therefore improve the patient's quality of life. In this study, we present the results from a continuous pharmaceutical care programme for patients admitted to an angiology and vascular surgery department. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 5-month prospective study to evaluate the results of a pharmaceutical care programme in an angiology and vascular surgery department. The pharmacist went on the rounds with the clinical team from Monday to Friday and helped make decisions on treatment, and detect and resolve conciliation discrepancies upon admission and discharge, and drug-related problems during the hospital stay. RESULTS: We detected and resolved 273 conciliation discrepancies in 99 patients and 76 drug-related problems in 46 patients. Global acceptance of pharmacist interventions was 96%. CONCLUSIONS: Seventy-four percent of patients presented conciliation discrepancies. Efficiency of pharmaceutical activity across the continuum of care is demonstrated by the high acceptance of the interventions.

Inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone: a rare complication after carotid endarterectomy.

The syndrome of inadequate secretion of the antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) is a very rare complication after carotid endarterectomy, characterized by hyponatremia, decrease of serum osmolarity as well as an increase in urinary osmolarity. We report the case of an 80-year-old woman who developed, 24 hours after the surgery, a picture of drowsiness and lethargy without neurological focality. The diagnosis of SIADH was suspected. We conclude that is important to have in mind this clinical entity in the differential diagnosis of non-focal neurological deficit after carotid endarterectomy.

[Vascular complications in the transplanted kidney: detection with Doppler ultrasonography]. / Complicaciones vasculares en el riñón transplantado: detección mediante Eco-Doppler.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the utility of renal duplex sonography in the detection of vascular complications in renal grafts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 45 patients with a median post-transplant follow-up of 39.3 +/- 28.8 months were evaluated. The renal artery maximum systolic velocity (SVmax) and the renal artery/iliac artery Svmax ratio (RIR) were utilized to detect stenosis. RESULTS: The SVmax was > 200 cm/sec in 6 cases, indicating renal artery stenosis (RAS). Angiographic evaluation of 5 patients revealed 3 had RAS > 60% and 2 had RAS < 60%. The 3 patients with RAS > 60% had RIR > 2. Increased vascular resistance in renal parenchyma was detected in 8 patients (1 acute rejection, 1 acute tubular necrosis, 6 histopathologically confirmed chronic rejection). Seventeen patients had one or more biopsies done during the follow-up. Six patients had a Doppler pattern compatible with arteriovenous fistula; two were confirmed by arteriography and one of these was embolized. CONCLUSIONS: Duplex sonography is no substitute for the other methods utilized in the early detection of vascular complications in the renal graft, but it can identify those patients requiring angiographic assessment and can therefore reduce the number of biopsies for posttransplant evaluation.