Surgical removal of a foreshortened right innominate vein Wallstent causing venous outflow obstruction.

OBJECTIVES: Stenting of central venous stenosis to preserve upper extremity hemodialysis access is well-described, though upper extremity complications secondary to these stents are less frequently discussed. METHODS: We present the case of a 43-year-old male with a right brachiocephalic fistula who developed symptoms of venous hypertension following placement of a Wallstent for central venous stenosis. Workup demonstrated venous outflow obstruction secondary to stent foreshortening into the right subclavian vein. RESULTS: The Wallstent was removed in a piecemeal fashion using an open surgical technique and a HeRO graft was placed for dedicated fistula outflow with complete relief of the patient's symptoms. CONCLUSION: In situations where a stent has migrated and endovascular removal is not possible, individual Wallstent fibers can be removed through a limited venotomy.

Timing of Hospital-acquired Venous Thromboembolism and Its Relationship with Venous Thromboembolism Prevention Measures in Immobile Patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to describe the timing of venous thromboembolism (VTE) diagnosis in patients with cerebral or spinal trauma and stroke and describe the relationships between VTE prophylaxis and timing of VTE diagnosis at a community hospital. METHODS: Retrospective cohort observational study over a span of 10 years from 2006 to 2016 was conducted. RESULTS: Lower extremity ultrasound surveillance identified 138 patients who developed VTE during their hospital stay (mean age 62 years, 61.6% males). Mechanical prophylaxis was used in 79.7% and pharmacologic prophylaxis in 78.3% of patients. The average time of admission to administration of mechanical prophylaxis was 1.92 and 7.7 days for pharmacologic prophylaxis. In patients who received pharmacologic prophylaxis within 2 days, 51.5% of all VTE events occurred during the first week, 73.5% by the second week, and 91.2% by the third week of the hospital stay. In patients who started pharmacologic prophylaxis after 2 days in the hospital, 85% of all VTE events occurred within the first week and 90% within 10 days of the hospital stay (P < 0.001). The timing of initiation of mechanical prophylaxis did not influence the timing of VTE events. CONCLUSIONS: In immobilized patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury, or spinal cord injury, VTE screening should be performed at different schedules based on the timing of initiation of pharmacologic prophylaxis. In patients who did not start prophylaxis during the first 2 days of admission to the hospital, the majority of the VTE events occurred during the first 10 days.

Emergent carotid endarterectomy versus stenting in acute stroke patients with tandem occlusion.

OBJECTIVE: Acute stroke due to tandem cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) and intracranial large-vessel occlusion (ILVO) has a high rate of morbidity and mortality. The most appropriate treatment strategy for the extracranial culprit lesion remains unclear. In this study, we report our institutional outcomes with two approaches: emergent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS). METHODS: Patients with tandem ICA-ILVO were identified in a prospective mechanical thrombectomy (MT) database between July 2012 and April 2016. Patients had a concomitant complete ICA origin occlusion and occlusion of the intracranial ICA or M1 or M2 middle cerebral artery segment. Baseline characteristics, procedural data, and treatment times were reviewed. End points included good recanalization of both ICA and ILVO, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (defined by clinical decline of >4 points on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale), and functional outcome at 90 days. RESULTS: Forty-five patients had tandem ICA-ILVO occlusion; 27 patients underwent emergent CAS and 12 patients underwent emergent CEA after MT. Successful Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction grade 2B/3 recanalization was achieved in 92% of the CEA and 96% of the CAS patients (P = .53). Three CAS patients (11%) and none of the CEA patients had symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (P = .54). At 90 days, 75% (9/12) of the CEA patients were functionally independent compared with 70% (19/27) in the CAS group (P = 1.0). No deaths were noted in the CEA group compared with five (18.5%) in the CAS arm (P = .30). CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that early recanalization with MT followed by emergent CEA is safe and feasible, which suggests that both CAS and CEA should be considered in the emergent treatment of patients with tandem occlusion.

Salvage of a megafistula causing high-output cardiac failure in a young adult with aneurysmorrhaphy and banding.

We present the case of a 21-year-old male with significant lengthening and aneurysmal degeneration of his brachiocephalic arteriovenous fistula resulting in a megafistula and high-output cardiac failure. A computed tomography angiogram showed narrowing at the cephalic arch. Further evaluation during the operation revealed kinking and elongation of the fistula in addition to compression of the cephalic arch in the deltopectoral groove leading to outflow obstruction. The aneurysmal fistula was treated successfully with aneurysmorrhaphy of the remaining conduit and banding of the inflow. This case demonstrates a unique etiology of venous outflow obstruction for a fistula and describes the surgical approach to its treatment in a young patient suffering from cardiac failure.

Interface pressure changes under compression bandages during period of wearing.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes in pressure over time under three different compression bandages and compare the temporal patterns of pressure changes among them. METHODS: The 4-hour changes in interface pressure were investigated in 10 volunteers with no venous disease or leg swelling. In 20 patients with venous ulcers, the change in interface pressure was measured after 4 hours, 1 day, and 7 days of bandage wearing. The three bandages tested were the Smart Sleeve compression system (SSB; Carolon, Rural Hall, NC), Coban 2 (C2; 3M, St Paul, Minn), and Profore Lite (PL; Smith & Nephew, London, United Kingdom). Pressure measurements were performed using the PicoPress transducer (Microlab, Padua, Italy) and the Juzo Pressure Monitor (Juzo, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio). RESULTS: In the 10 volunteers, the mean pressure loss during the first 4 hours under the SSB, C2, and PL were 4.5, 3.7, and 6.6 mm Hg, respectively. No significant differences were seen in the pressure loss among the three bandages, whether in the supine (P = .59) or standing (P = .47) position. In the 20 patients with venous ulcers, the pressure had decreased gradually over 7 days under the C2 bandages. For the SSB and PL bandages, however, the interface pressure was relatively stable during the first day but decreased significantly afterward. The mean pressure loss during the 7 days was 4.7, 7.7, and 8.6 mm Hg for the SSB, PL, and C2, respectively (P = .017). Only the SSB maintained a desirable mean pressure >30.0 mm Hg on the seventh day in the patients with venous ulcers. CONCLUSIONS: The interface pressure had decreased over time under all three studied bandages. However, the temporal pattern of the pressure changes varied among the different bandages. Therefore, monitoring the interface pressure, allowing for adjustment or changes of the bandage at an accurate point, is essential to maintain a desirable interface pressure during compression therapy.

Cilostazol May Improve Maturation Rates and Durability of Vascular Access for Hemodialysis.

Cilostazol is effective in controlling pathophysiological pathways similar or identical to those involved in nonmaturation and failure of the arteriovenous access. This case-control study examined whether cilostazol would improve maturation rates and durability of vascular access for hemodialysis. The treatment group included 33 patients who received cilostazol for ≥30 days prior to creation of a dialysis access and continued with cilostazol therapy for ≥60 days after surgery. The matched (gender, age, race, diabetes, and the year of surgery) control group included 116 patients who underwent the same procedure but did not receive cilostazol prior to and at least 3 months after surgery. Primary outcomes were maturation and, for those that matured, time of functioning access, defined as the time from the first use to irreparable failure of the access. Secondary outcomes were time to maturation, complications, and time to first complication. Study group patients were 3.8 times more likely to experience fistula maturation compared to the controls (88% vs 66%, RR = 3.8, 95% confidence interval: 1.3-11.6, P = .016). Fewer patients in the study group had complications (76% vs 92%, P = .025), and the time from construction of the fistula to the first complication was longer (345.6 ± 441 days vs 198.3 ± 185.0 days, P = .025). Time to maturation was similar in both groups (119.3 ± 62.9 days vs 100.2 ± 61.7 days, P = .2). However, once matured, time to failure was significantly longer in the treatment group (903.7 ± 543.6 vs 381.6 ± 317.2 days, P = .001). Multivariate analysis confirmed that the likelihood of maturation was significantly higher in the treatment group patients. These results suggest that dialysis access patients may benefit from preoperative and postoperative cilostazol therapy. If confirmed by a randomized trial, this treatment will have a major beneficial impact on patients dependent on a well-functioning access for their hemodialysis.

Chronic venous insufficiency due to great saphenous vein incompetence treated with radiofrequency ablation: an effective and safe procedure in the elderly.

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) with the resultant clinical sequelae significantly reduces quality of life. Most elderly patients with CVI are treated nonoperatively owing to concerns of increased operative risk and therefore suffer more advanced disease. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has emerged as a minimally invasive procedure to treat patients with superficial venous insufficiency (SVI) due to great saphenous vein (GSV) incompetence. The purpose of this study was to review our experience using RFA of the GSV to treat CVI due to superficial disease in elderly patients compared to younger patients in terms of procedure-related morbidity and severity of disease at time of treatment. RFA treatment of the GSV was performed in 490 extremities of 421 patients with SVI between March 2001 and December 2002. Indications, medical history, and outcome (operative complications and hospital stay) were compared between 2 groups: Group I:41 extremities of 35 patients, 70 years if age or older (mean 75 +/-4); and Group II:449 limbs of 386 patients younger than 70 years (mean 47 +/-11). The incidence of skin pigmentation and healed/nonhealed ulcers (CEAP 4-6) was significantly higher in the elderly than in the younger group (41% vs 16%, p <0.05). Hypertension, diabetes, and previous myocardial infarction were 2.8, 5.4, and 6.7 times more prevalent in the elderly (p <0.05), respectively. There were no major postoperative complications in either group; 97% of all patients were discharged on the day of operation and there was no difference between the 2 groups in overnight hospital stay. There is a treatment bias against operative management in elderly patients with SVI, as evidenced by their more advanced disease at the time of definitive treatment than their younger cohort. However, operative morbidity is no different compared to the younger subset. RFA is a safe and effective procedure for older patients; therefore, the threshold for operative management of older patients should be lowered.

Fate of great saphenous vein after radio-frequency ablation: detailed ultrasound imaging.

Radio-frequency ablation (RFA) of the great saphenous vein (GSV) is an endovascular alternative to stripping. To determine long-term effectiveness, the fate of GSV treated for valvular insufficiency with RFA was evaluated in detail with ultrasound imaging (US). One hundred lower extremities were examined with high-resolution color flow US, an average of 8 months after RFA treatment of an incompetent GSV. For every cm of the RFA-treated segment, the US observation was classified as follows: absent, occluded, or recanalized. Lengths of vein segments in each class were added and percentages of absent, occluded, or recanalized segments were calculated. Five groups were identified. Group I (n = 15): segment of treated GSV was absent. Group II (n = 4): segment of treated GSV was visualized and occluded (these vein segments had no flow and were shrunk and "fibrotic" or thrombosed without clear evidence of significant shrinkage). Group III (n = 1): segment of treated GSV was recanalized. Group IV (n = 27): segment of treated GSV was obstructed (absent or occluded). Group V (n = 53): segment of treated GSV was partially recanalized, on average being 53% absent, 32% occluded, and 15% recanalized. Maximum recanalization was 50% of treated segment. RFA was successful in obliterating all of the GSV treated segment in 46% of veins (groups I, 15%, plus II, 4%, plus IV, 27%) and obliterated more than half of the treated vein segment in 53% of the cases (group V). A dynamic process of recanalization and thrombosis warrants further evaluation to determine if and how a collateral network may develop.

Factors related to short length of stay after carotid endarterectomy.

In the past decade, expected in-hospital length of stay (LOS) after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has decreased from 4 days to 1. Long LOS is associated with known complications and factors affecting severity of the patient's condition. Factors affecting an intermediate stay of 2 to 4 days need further clarification. The vascular registry at Jobst Vascular Center includes data on manifestation of disease; cardiovascular history; operation and discharge dates; surgeon; surgical details such as patching, shunting, and completion arteriography; and complications. Univariate chi-square and ANOVA and multivariate logistic regression were applied to analyze 635 CEAs performed in 1998, 1999, and 2000. Statistical significance was at a p value less than 0.05 (two-sided). Overall morbidity rate was 8.2% with three (0.5%) in-hospital neurologic complications and one death for a 0.16% mortality rate. Fifty-eight percent of the patients were discharged in 1 day. Patients staying 1 day were 3 years younger. Female gender and prior cerebrovascular accident were factors extending LOS to 2 and 3 days. History of angina, heart failure, valve disease, and vein patch or no patch contributed to LOS of 3 or 4 days. Completion arteriography had an association with LOS of 2 days. The relative percentage of patients with complications increased with LOS. No significant relationship was found for symptoms, smoking, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, cardiac revascularization, or surgeon. Insulin-treated diabetes mellitus, cardiac risk factors, cerebrovascular accident, and vein patch or no patch correlated with prolonged hospitalization. Factors were identified that may alter a clinical pathway designed for discharge 1 day after CEA. Focused management of patients with cardiac and cerebrovascular accident history or requiring vein patch and a better understanding of CEA in women may further increase the percentage of patients discharged 1 day after CEA.

Ultrasound findings after radiofrequency ablation of the great saphenous vein: descriptive analysis.

OBJECTIVE: As an emerging endovascular alternative to ligation and stripping of the incompetent greater saphenous vein (GSV), radiofrequency ablation was monitored with ultrasound scanning to evaluate anatomic results. Neovascularization and inflammation are potential consequences that lead to the appearance of small vessels. The natural history of the below-knee untreated GSV segment may be important in our understanding of ongoing chronic venous disease. An ultrasound follow-up study was conducted to determine the prevalence of small vessel networks, defined as veins and arteries less than 2 mm in diameter, adjacent to the saphenofemoral junction (SFJ); prevalence of small vessel networks adjacent to the treated GSV in the thigh; and fate of the below-knee untreated GSV distal to the ablated segment. METHODS: One hundred six extremities with radiofrequency ablation of the GSV for treatment of superficial venous insufficiency were followed up with high-resolution ultrasound imaging 4 to 25 months (median, 9 months) after the procedure. Ninety-three limbs had concomitant ligation and division of the SFJ and its tributaries, and 13 limbs underwent radiofrequency ablation without SFJ ligation. Ultrasound was used to evaluate patients for small vessel networks, and concomitant findings of small vessel networks and recanalization at the SFJ and adjacent to the treated GSV. The status of the below-knee segment of untreated GSV was evaluated for patency and reflux. Data analysis compared the findings in the ligation group with those in the no-ligation group, with the chi 2 test and Fisher exact test. RESULTS: We found small vessel networks in 65% (n = 69) of extremities: 15% (n = 16) at the SFJ only, 26% (n = 28) in the thigh only, and 24% (n = 25) at both the SFJ and thigh, resulting in a small vessel network prevalence of 39% (n = 41) at the SJF and 50% (n = 53) in the thigh. The prevalence of small vessel networks at the SFJ was significantly less after radiofrequency ablation with SFJ ligation (34%, 32 of 93) than after radiofrequency ablation without ligation (69%, 9 of 13; P = .035). Small vessel networks and GSV recanalization at the SFJ was more common in patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation without ligation (46%, 6 of 13) than after radiofrequency ablation with ligation (14%, 13 of 93; P = .014). The prevalence of small vessel networks in the thigh was not affected by SFJ ligation. The below-knee GSV was patent in 79% (84 of 106), and 58% (61 of 106) demonstrated reflux, a decrease from the pre-radiofrequency ablation rate of 71% (75 of 106), possibly because thrombosis extended distally beyond the ablated segment in 16% (17 of 106) of the legs. CONCLUSIONS: Small vessel networks were detected adjacent to or in connection with most of the radiofrequency ablation-treated GSVs. SFJ ligation was associated with fewer small vessel networks and proximal GSV recanalization. Most below-knee untreated GSV segments remained patent, and most exhibited reflux.