Comparison of Aortobifemoral Bypass and Endovascular Treatment for Chronic Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Occlusion From the CHAOS (CHronic Abdominal Aortic Occlusion, ASian Multicenter) Registry.

PURPOSE: To directly compare the clinical outcomes of aortobifemoral bypass surgery (ABF) and endovascular treatment (EVT) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the infrarenal abdominal aorta (IAA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective, multicenter study, we used an international database of 436 patients who underwent revascularization for CTO of the IAA between 2007 and 2017 at 30 Asian cardiovascular centers. After excluding 52 patients who underwent axillobifemoral bypass surgery, 384 patients (139 ABFs and 245 EVTs) were included in the analysis. Propensity score-matched analysis was performed to compare clinical results in the periprocedural period and the long-term. RESULTS: Propensity score matching extracted 88 pairs. Procedure time (ABF; 288 [240-345] minutes vs EVT; 159 [100-205] minutes, p<0.001) and length of hospital stay (17 [12-23] days vs 5 [4-13] days, p<0.001) were significantly shorter in the EVT group than in the ABF group, while the proportions of procedural success (98.9% versus 96.6%, p=0.620), complications (9.1% versus 12.3%, p=0.550), and mortality (2.3% versus 3.8%, p=1.000) were not different between the groups. At 1 months, ABI significantly increased more in the ABF group for both in a limb with the lower (0.56 versus 0.50, p=0.018) and the higher (0.49 versus 0.34, p=0.001) baseline ABI, while the change of the Rutherford category was not significantly different between the groups (p=0.590). At 5 years, compared with the EVT group, the ABF group had significantly better primary patency (89.4±4.3% versus 74.8±4.3%, p=0.035) and survival rates (86.9±4.5% versus 66.2±7.5%, p=0.007). However, there was no significant difference between the groups for secondary patency (100.0%±0.0% versus 93.5%±3.9%, p=0.160) and freedom from target lesion revascularization (TLR) (89.3±4.3% vs 77.3±7.3%, p=0.096). CONCLUSION: Even with recent advancements in EVT, primary patency was still significantly better for ABF in CTO of the IAA. However, there was no difference between the groups in terms of secondary patency and freedom from TLR at 5 years. Furthermore, there was no difference in procedural success, complications, mortality, and improvement in the Rutherford classification during the periprocedural period, with significantly shorter procedure time and hospital stay in the EVT group.

An endovascular filter to prevent embolization during aortic stenting.

Endovascular procedures carry an intrinsic risk of distal embolization. A large embolus may occlude major vessels with serious consequences. Endovascular procedures in the thoracic aorta may expose the entire visceral and lower limb circulation to this risk. We describe a method of using an endovascular filter to trap large emboli during thoracic aortic stenting using the Wallstent and describe its use in a case of primary aortic mural thrombus.

Contemporary management of symptomatic primary aortic mural thrombus.

OBJECTIVE: Primary aortic mural thrombus (PAMT) is an uncommon condition but an important source of noncardiogenic emboli with a difficult diagnosis and a high rate of complications, including high mortality. We report our experience of thromboembolic disease from PAMT and review its contemporary management. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of all patients who presented with acute occlusion of a limb or visceral vessels between January 2011 and September 2013 was performed. RESULTS: A total of 88 patients presented with acute occlusion of the extremities or visceral arteries. All underwent extensive evaluation for the possible source of the embolism. Of these 88 patients, 19 patients (mean age, 41.2 years; male:female ratio, 1:2.1) were found to have aortic mural thrombus as the source of distal embolism. Thrombus was located in the thoracic aorta in 10 patients, in the perivisceral aorta in three patients, and in the infrarenal aorta in six patients. Thrombus in the thoracic aorta was treated with stent grafts in four patients, bare metal stents in three patients, and anticoagulation alone in two patients. In the suprarenal abdominal aorta, all three patients underwent trapdoor aortic thrombectomy. Infrarenal aortic thrombus was managed by aortobifemoral embolectomy in two patients, aortic stenting in two patients, surgical thrombectomy in one patient, and anticoagulation alone in one patient. Successful treatment, defined as freedom from further embolic events or recurrence of thrombus, was achieved in 14 of 19 patients (76.4%) with a mean follow-up period of 16.2 months (range, 2-28 months). There were four (21%) thrombus-related deaths, all due to primary thromboembolic insults. One patient needed a below-knee amputation because of a recurrent thrombotic episode. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic PAMT is an uncommon but important source of noncardiogenic embolus. It appears to occur more frequently in young women. Endovascular coverage of the aortic thrombus, when feasible, appears to be an effective and safe procedure with either stent grafts or closed-cell metal stents. When thrombus is located adjacent to visceral vessels, it should be managed with an open trapdoor thromboembolectomy.

Endovascular management of venous ulcer in a patient with occluded duplicated inferior vena cava and review of inferior vena cava development.

Duplication of inferior vena cava (IVC) is the most common IVC anomaly. We report a successful iliac vein and collateral stenting for venous decompression in a patient with an occluded right femorocaval graft with a duplicated IVC. We also review the literature of embryological development of IVC.

Reduction internal valvuloplasty is a new technical improvement on plication internal valvuloplasty for primary deep vein valvular incompetence.

OBJECTIVE: We describe a new technique of valve leaflet closure, reduction internal valvuloplasty (RIVAL), to treat primary deep vein valvular incompetence in patients with C6 venous disease. METHODS: The RIVAL method involves excision of redundant valve and suturing of the freshened edge to the wall of the valve station instead of plication at the commissural junctions. Since January 2008, RIVAL has been successfully performed on 44 incompetent deep vein valves in 18 consecutive patients (25 limbs). All patients had C6 venous ulcers of a minimum 3 months' duration. RESULTS: On mean follow-up of 1 year (clinical assessment of venous ulcer healing and color-coded duplex scans at 1, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months) of the 44 valves repaired by reduction valvuloplasty, all 44 valves (100%) maintained full patency. Forty-two valves (95.4%) were competent, achieving a valve closure time <1 second with no reflux at the target valves on Valsalva maneuver in the reverse Trendelenburg and upright positions, and their intervalvular distances were reduced to >60% of preoperative levels. Eighty-eight percent of all ulcers (22 of 25) healed within 9 weeks of surgery without any recurrence in the follow-up period. There was no valve thrombosis or resorption seen with this method. CONCLUSIONS: The RIVAL technique represents a significant advancement over the traditional existing valve plication techniques. It enables accurate anatomic fashioning and suturing of valve cusps and results in excellent competency and ulcer healing rates with fewer complications in our early experience. Further follow-up is anticipated to define its long-term role in the management of C6 venous disease.

Endovascular exclusion of complex postsurgical aortic arch pseudoaneurysm using vascular plug devices and a review of vascular plugs.

We report the management of a patient presenting with haemoptysis due to aortobronchial fistula. He had previously undergone emergency exclusion bypass of a ruptured pseudoaneurysm developing post-aortic coarctation repair. Computed tomography scan showed persistent filling of pseudoaneurysm sac from proximal and distal aortic ligature sites tied during previous exclusion bypass surgery. Successful exclusion of aneurysm was achieved by using 3 vascular plug devices (1 Amplatzer plug II and 2 Amender patent ductus arteriosus occluder devices). We also review types of Amplatzer vascular plugs and their use in peripheral vascular interventions.

Giant adrenal cyst presenting as a diagnostic dilemma: a case report.

Adrenal cysts >10 cm are rare. They generally present as nonspecific abdominal pain and pose a differential diagnostic dilemma to the treating surgeon. A case of a giant adrenal cyst that had presented with abdominal pain and was initially diagnosed as pancreatic pseudocyst is being described here to draw the importance to this entity and to describe the clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of the disease.

Pancreatitis in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

Records of patients undergoing parathyroidectomy at our institute in the period 1991-2003 were retrospectively analyzed. Pancreatitis was associated in six of 87 patients (6.8%) with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Pancreatitis was the presenting symptom in five patients, while it developed postoperatively in one case. All patients with a past history of pancreatitis had suffered two or more attacks. All patients had a history of renal stone disease. Four patients also had overt bone disease with multiple fractures. Parathyroid adenoma (4) or carcinoma (1) was the cause in all patients. All five patients who underwent successful parathyroidectomy had resolution of pancreatitis on conservative management and no further attacks during a mean follow up of 28 months (3-84 months). Surgical exploration for parathyroid adenoma failed in one patient; this patient has had further attacks of pancreatitis. Repeat surgical exploration for parathyroidectomy has been advised. Hyperparathyroidism is a rare but treatable cause of pancreatitis. Parathyroidectomy has a salutary effect on the course of pancreatitis.

Histopathological assessment of the liver in cholelithiasis with cholecystitis.

Liver function and histology were studied in 62 patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy. Data from 50 of the cases was subsequently analyzed. Liver function was assessed by biochemical parameters and histological examination of intraoperatively obtained core and wedge liver biopsy. There were no complications associated with the procedure of liver biopsy. Seventy-eight percent of liver biopsies showed some form of abnormality, the commonest being mild portal tract infiltration. Eighteen percent of patients had severe histological abnormalities. Fourteen percent of bile samples were infected. No correlation was found among age, symptom duration, liver function tests, and histological appearance. Biliary infection was associated with a significant incidence of fatty change and inflammatory cell infiltration of parenchyma. We observed a high rate of abnormal liver histology of unknown clinical significance in patients of calculous cholecystitis. These changes are not reflected in commonly performed tests of liver function. Intraoperative liver biopsy is a safe and sensitive method to detect liver abnormalities.