Postoperative antiplatelet and/or anticoagulation use does not impact complication or reintervention rates after vein repair of arterial injury: A PROOVIT study.

INTRODUCTION: The use of antiplatelet (AP) and anticoagulation (AC) therapy after autogenous vein repair of traumatic arterial injury is controversial. The hypothesis in this study was that there is no difference in early postoperative outcomes regardless of whether AC, AP, both, or neither are used. METHODS: The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) PROspective Observational Vascular Injury Treatment (PROOVIT) registry was queried from November, 2013, to January, 2019, for arterial injuries repaired with a vein graft. Demographics and injury characteristics were compared. Need for in-hospital reoperation was the primary outcome in this four-arm study, assessed with two ordinal logistic regression models (1. no therapy vs. AC only vs. AC and AP; 2. no therapy vs. AP only vs. AC and AP). RESULTS: 373 patients (52 no therapy, 88 AP only, 77 AC only, 156 both) from 19 centers with recorded Injury Severity Scores (ISS) were identified. Patients who received no therapy were younger than those who received AP (27.0 vs. 34.2, p = 0.02), had higher transfusion requirement (p < 0.01 between all groups) and a different distribution of anatomic injury (p < 0.01). After controlling for age, sex, ISS, platelet count, hemoglobin, pH, lactate, INR, transfusion requirement and anatomic location, there was no association with postoperative medical therapy and in-hospital operative reintervention, or any secondary outcome, including thrombosis (p = 0.67, p = 0.22). CONCLUSIONS: Neither AC nor AP alone, nor in combination, impact complication rate after arterial repair with autologous vein. These patients can be safely treated with or without antithrombotics, recognizing that this study did not demonstrate a beneficial effect.

Immediate breast reconstruction using the free lumbar artery perforator flap and lateral thoracic vein interposition graft for recipient lateral thoracic artery anastomosis.

The lumbar artery perforator (LAP) flap, which contains excess skin and fat tissue, love handles, that extends from the lower back to upper buttock, may provide an alternate tissue source for autologous breast reconstruction. However, LAP flap use during this procedure frequently requires vessel interposition grafts to correct the short flap pedicle length and mismatched recipient vessel calibre. A 46-year-old patient underwent a right nipple-sparing mastectomy using a lateral approach for ductal carcinoma in situ and immediate LAP flap breast reconstruction. The lateral thoracic vessel served as the recipient vessel, and a lateral thoracic vein interposition graft from the distal remnant was performed to adjust the arterial length and size discrepancy between the recipient lateral thoracic artery and pedicle artery. This procedure facilitates microsurgical anastomosis and medialisation of LAP flap to make a natural decollete line and create a cleavage for the reconstructed breast.

Surgical treatment of a rare brachial artery aneurysm post-arteriovenous fistula closure after kidney transplant: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Brachial artery aneurysms are defined as dilations greater than 50% of the normal diameter, which are rare among all peripheral arterial aneurysms. While they are often present as pseudoaneurysms, true brachial artery aneurysms are also detected rarely. In this case report, the surgical repair method of true brachial artery aneurysms, which is a rare condition, is explained. CASE SUMMARY: Herein, we present a 61-year-old male patient with complaints of swelling and pain in the right arm antecubital region that had been progressing over 6 mo. Upon the diagnosis of a true brachial artery aneurysm associated with arteriovenous fistula, the aneurysm was surgically repaired with an autologous saphenous vein graft. The patient was discharged without any neurovascular complications postoperatively. CONCLUSION: True brachial artery aneurysms are rare and there are not any recommendations for their management in the current literature. Even though the treatment of true aneurysms in this artery is primarily based on a surgical treatment, endovascular repair also might be an option.

Successful Use of Direct Splenic Vein Anastomosis to the Interposition Internal Jugular Vein Graft after Extended Pancreatoduodenectomy to Avoid Sinistral Portal Hypertension.

Splenic vein (SV) ligation may be needed during portomesenteric junction resection, in pancreatoduodenectomy. Sinistral portal hypertension is a concern if the SV is not drained. Various techniques are described to reconstruct SV to avoid the variceal formation and sinistral portal hypertension which may lead to GI bleed. We describe a case of a 19-year-old female who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for solid pseudopapillary neoplasm with portal-superior mesenteric vein junction resection and splenic venous was anastomosed into the interposition graft. We here share our unique experience of using an interposition internal jugular vein graft for a long venous defect and diverging morbidity of sinistral portal hypertension.

Trans-cervical carotid artery stenting associated with open surgical repair of carotid artery pseudoaneurysm.

Pseudoaneurysm post carotid artery endarterectomy is uncommon but with employment of a combined technique of trans-cervical carotid artery stenting with open repair can lead to a successful outcome.

Management of Combat Related Vascular Injuries in a Zonal Hospital.

BACKGROUND: The extremity gunshot wound (GSW) and penetrating splinter injuries from mine blast present a surgical challenge in the treatment of arterial trauma especially at non-vascular surgery centre. Adherence to specific principles of management is required for optimal limb salvage. METHODS: Fourteen vascular injuries in patients of GSW and mine explosions were managed at a zonal military hospital with successful outcome in two years. The diagnosis of arterial injury was done clinically. RESULTS: The commonest site of vascular injury was femoral. The methods of choice for repair were autogenous vein interposition or end-to-end anastomosis. All except for two patients retained a functional limb. CONCLUSION: All surgeons in peripheral hospitals should be trained in vascular injury repair to save life and limb. Our series shows that right timing and prompt treatment of vascular injuries in a peripheral hospital, can give satisfactory results.