Cardiopulmonary fitness predicts postoperative major morbidity after esophagectomy for patients with cancer.

Surgery for radical treatment of esophageal cancer (EC) carries significant inherent risk. The objective identification of patients who are at high risk of complications is of importance. In this study the prognostic value of cardiopulmonary fitness variables (CPF) derived from cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) was assessed in patients undergoing potentially curative surgery for EC within an enhanced recovery program. OC patients underwent preoperative CPET using automated breath-by-breath respiratory gas analysis, with measurements taken during a ramped exercise test on a bicycle. The prognostic value of V˙O2Peak , Anaerobic Threshold (AT) and VE/VCO2 derived from CPET were studied in relation to post-operative morbidity, which was collected prospectively, and overall survival. Consecutive 120 patients were included for analysis (median age 65 years, 100 male, 75 neoadjuvant therapy). Median AT in the cohort developing major morbidity (Clavien-Dindo classification >2) was 10.4 mL/kg/min compared with 11.3 mL/kg/min with no major morbidity (P = 0.048). Median V˙O2Peak in the cohort developing major morbidity was 17.0 mL/kg/min compared with 18.7 mL/kg/min in the cohort (P = 0.009). V˙O2Peak optimum cut-off was 17.0 mL/kg/min (sensitivity 70%, specificity 53%) and for AT was 10.5 mL/kg/min (sensitivity 60%, specificity 44%). Multivariable analysis revealed V˙O2Peak to be the only independent factor to predict major morbidity (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.75-0.97, P = 0.018). Cumulative survival was associated with operative morbidity severity (χ2  = 4.892, df = 1, P = 0.027). These results indicate that V˙O2Peak as derived from CPET is a significant predictor of major morbidity after oesophagectomy highlighting the physiological importance of cardiopulmonary fitness.

In vitro evaluation of osteoblastic differentiation on amorphous calcium phosphate-decorated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffolds.

Calcium phosphate-decorated polyester matrices are promising scaffolds for bone tissue engineering that combine the tunable degradation of synthetic polymers and the osteoconductivity of calcium phosphate minerals. In this study, scaffolds decorated with stabilized amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) minerals-which exhibit sustained dissolution and release of calcium and phosphate ions-were tested for their ability to support osteoblast proliferation and stimulate differentiation. The two ACPs tested were zirconia-hybridized ACP (ZrACP), which releases ions over a few days and converts in aqueous solution to hydroxyapatite (HAP), and zinc-hybridized ACP (ZnACP), which has a longer period of sustained ion release. MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts were cultured in these scaffolds for up to 21 days, and cell number, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and expression of osteogenic and bone-specific proteins were measured. Cell number, prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2) ) synthesis and osteopontin (OPN) mRNA expression were elevated on calcium phosphate-decorated scaffolds relative to PLGA controls, while mRNA expression of osteocalcin (OCN), bone sialoprotein and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-4 were suppressed. Although MC3T3-E1 responses to the two ACPs were not statistically different, ZrACP-which converts more quickly to HAP-gave rise to slightly higher levels of mRNA expression for BMP-4, osterix, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, OCN and OPN, but slightly lower levels of PGE(2) synthesis, ALP activity and cell number. These results indicate that sintered PLGA microsphere scaffolds decorated with 0.5 wt% ZnACP or ZrACP support cell attachment and elicit a series of biological responses, but these responses do not appear to accelerate osteoblast differentiation.

Anderson-Fabry disease: long-term echocardiographic follow-up under enzyme replacement therapy.

AIMS: Anderson-Fabry disease affects various organ systems due to glycosphingolipid accumulation. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) has been reported to decrease left ventricular wall thickening (LVWT) and to improve diastolic dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS: This prospective study included 29 patients (patients; mean age 37 +/- 13 years) with genetically, enzymatically and/or biopsy-proven Anderson-Fabry disease and long-time ERT. Data on symptoms, cardiac medications and history of hypertension were collected and all patients had comprehensive echocardiographic examination prior to ERT and at follow-up. Disease was at an early stage with a total mean Mainz severity score index of only 18.6 +/- 13.0. Prior to ERT, 79% of patients reported acroparesthesia. The median creatinine level was 121 +/- 108 mcmol/L and LVWT was present in nine patients (31%). Binary appearance of the interventricular septum was found in 20% and posterobasal fibrosis in 83%. At median follow-up of 37 months, acroparesthesia decreased to 55% (P = 0.016). There was no change in creatinine levels. The incidence of LVWT was unchanged, only an increase in interventricular septal wall thickness from 11.7 +/- 0.4 to 12.5 +/- 0.5 was observed (P = 0.009). Left atrial size and the percentage of patients with binary appearance and posterobasal fibrosis were unchanged. There was a small improvement in diastolic function (29% decrease of E/Ea; P < 0.002). CONCLUSION: Our Anderson-Fabry cohort had successful long-time ERT with impressive amelioration of subjective symptoms. Although there was not much improvement in cardiac changes apart from a slight improvement of diastolic function, at least, there was no progression of cardiac disease. For complete reversibility of cardiac changes in Anderson-Fabry disease, ERT might have to be started earlier in life and/or prescribed for a longer time.

Effect of soluble zinc on differentiation of osteoprogenitor cells.

Amorphous calcium phosphates (ACPs) are attractive fillers for osseous defects and are stabilized through the incorporation of transition metals such as zirconium and zinc. As ACP converts in solution to hydroxyapatite (HAP) in a manner marked by a transient release of calcium and phosphate ions, it is capable of stimulating osteoblastic differentiation. Zinc is known to retard ACP conversion to HAP, and--when incorporated into ceramic biomaterials--has been shown to stimulate osteoblastic differentiation. Because zinc deficiency in vivo is marked by skeletal defects, we postulated that zinc ions released from ACP and other minerals could stimulate proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of progenitor cells. To test this hypothesis, rat bone marrow stromal cells were cultured in osteogenic medium containing basal (3 x 10(-6) M) or supplemented Zn(2+) concentrations (1 x 10(-5) and 4 x 10(-5) M) for up to 3 weeks. No significant effects of zinc concentration on cell number, alkaline phosphatase activity, total protein content, collagen synthesis, or matrix mineralization were found.

Simple criteria for differentiation of Fabry disease from amyloid heart disease and other causes of left ventricular hypertrophy.

AIMS: Fabry disease may be difficult to differentiate from other causes of left ventricular hypertrophy such as other myocardial storage diseases (including amyloidosis), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), or hypertensive heart disease (HHD). We sought to determine simple criteria to best differentiate the above mentioned cardiac diseases. METHODS AND RESULTS: All patients in a six-year time period with left ventricular hypertrophy due to Fabry disease (13 patients), biopsy proven cardiac amyloidosis (16 patients), non-obstructive HCM (17 patients), and 22 randomly selected patients with advanced HHD were compared. Retrospective analysis of clinical characteristics, findings of electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiography by blind review was performed. RESULTS: No single clinical characteristic or findings of ECG or echocardiography could reliably differentiate between the various diseases. Increased echogenicity/granular sparkling, valvular abnormalities, abnormal renal function, and diastolic function were not helpful discriminators. In a univariate analysis, four criteria (acroparesthesia, anhydrosis, absence of hypertension and presence of Sokolow criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy in the ECG) were significant for Fabry disease. By logistic regression analysis, the following most suitable discriminative parameters were identified: hypertension in HHD (specificity 82%), orthostasis and/or pericardial effusion for amyloidosis (specificity 93%), papillary muscle anomaly in non-obstructive HCM (specificity 92%), and Fabry disease if neither hypertension orthostatis, pericardial effusion nor a papillary muscle anomaly was present (specificity 87%). CONCLUSION: A combination of symptoms, echocardiographic findings and ECG in unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy may help to differentiate amyloidosis, non-obstructive HCM and hypertensive heart disease from Fabry disease. The results of this preliminary study will have to be confirmed in a prospective study.

Predictors of adverse outcome in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy: long term experience of a tertiary care centre.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictors for adverse clinical outcome in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) during long term follow up. METHODS: 61 patients with ARVD/C were studied to assess the impact of family history, clinical findings, surface ECG parameters, echocardiographic findings, and electrophysiological findings on clinical outcome. The prevalence of these risk factors were compared in two patient groups: group A (patients with adverse clinical outcome: sudden cardiac death, death from heart failure, or heart transplant) and group B (survivors excluding patients who received a heart transplant). RESULTS: Mean age at first diagnosis was 44 (14) years. The mean follow up duration was 55 (47) months. Ten patients (16%) died during follow up. The cause of death of eight of these patients was probably arrhythmic. Two patients died of advanced heart failure. Five patients underwent heart transplantation because of terminal heart failure. Risk factors significantly associated with adverse outcome were history of congestive heart failure (p < 0.001), the presence of left ventricular involvement on echocardiography (p < 0.001), left atrial dilatation (p < 0.05), prolonged PR duration (p < 0.01), prolonged QRS in V1 (p < 0.05), and bundle branch block (p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, history of congestive heart failure and presence of left ventricular involvement were identified as independent risk predictors for an adverse outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Congestive heart failure and left ventricular involvement are independently associated with adverse outcome in patients with ARVD/C during long term follow up.

Transoesophageal echocardiography is unreliable for cardiac output assessment after cardiac surgery compared with thermodilution.

This randomised, single-blind, double-control study compared and established prospectively the best transoesophageal echocardiography methods for determining cardiac output in patients after cardiac surgery. Thirty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were included. Measurements were taken postoperatively, after stabilisation in the intensive care unit. Cardiac output was determined by transoesophageal echocardiography in randomised order through the aortic, mitral, and pulmonary valves, right and left ventricular outflow tracts, transgastric surface areas of the left ventricle and left ventricle two-dimensional volumes (Simpson's rules). 'Eyeball guessing' was done off-line. The best results were transaortic measurements using the triangular shape assumption of valve opening, but some values deviated considerably, and none of these approaches reached the limit of agreement set at 30% when compared to thermodilution. Eyeball guessing was comparable to the best transoesophageal echocardiography measurements. We conclude that transoesophageal echocardiography is an unreliable tool for determination of cardiac output in intensive care after cardiac surgery.

Intravenous iloprost bridging to orthotopic liver transplantation in portopulmonary hypertension.

Portopulmonary hypertension (PPHTN) is associated with poor prognosis and high perioperative mortality after orthotopic liver transplantation. This study documents the first case of a patient with PPHTN who was successfully bridged to orthotopic liver transplantation with i.v. iloprost, a stable prostacyclin analogue. The PPHTN had resolved completely 4 months after successful transplantation. In conclusion, portopulmonary hypertension is a relative contraindication to orthotopic liver transplantation, which should be attempted only if pulmonary haemodynamics improve with prostanoids. In this context, iloprost may be a valuable alternative to epoprostenol.

Aberrant tendinous chords with tethering of the tricuspid leaflets: a congenital anomaly causing severe tricuspid regurgitation.

OBJECTIVE: To define the entity of tricuspid regurgitation caused by tethering of the tricuspid valve leaflets by aberrant tendinous chords. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Tertiary care centre (university teaching hospital). PATIENTS: 10 patients with unexplained severe tricuspid regurgitation. METHODS: The last 13 500 echocardiographic studies from our facility were reviewed to identify patients with severe unexplained tricuspid regurgitation. Tethering was defined by the presence of aberrant tendinous chords to the tricuspid valve leaflets limiting the mobility of the tricuspid leaflet and resulting in incomplete coaptation and apical displacement of the regurgitant jet origin. Aberrant tendinous chords were defined as those inserting at the clear zone of the tricuspid leaflet and not originating from the papillary muscle. Patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for Ebstein's anomaly were excluded. RESULTS: 10 patients with aberrant tendinous chords tethering one or more tricuspid valve leaflets were identified. There were short non-aberrant tendinous chords in seven patients, five of whom also had right ventricular or tricuspid annulus dilatation. CONCLUSIONS: Tethering of the tricuspid valve leaflets by aberrant tendinous chords can be the sole mechanism of congenital tricuspid regurgitation. It is often associated with short non-aberrant tendinous chords, which may develop secondary to right ventricular or tricuspid annulus dilatation. Awareness of tethering as a cause of tricuspid regurgitation may be important in planning reconstructive surgery.

Indications and impact of postoperative transesophageal echocardiography in cardiac surgical patients.

OBJECTIVE: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has gained widespread acceptance among intensivists as a tool to facilitate decision-making in the management of critically ill patients. This observational study analyzes the indications and impact of TEE and the outcome in patients following cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Standardized reports containing indication, main diagnosis, and impact on patient management were completed during TEE. SETTING: Intensive care unit in a university hospital. PATIENTS: Postoperative cardiac surgery patients requiring TEE. INTERVENTION: TEE in sedated and mechanically ventilated patients. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Reports were obtained in 301 adult patients between June 1996 and June 2000. Indications were postoperative control of left ventricular function in 102 (34%) cases; unexplained, sudden hemodynamic deterioration in 89 (29%); suspicion of pericardial tamponade in 41 (14%); cardiac ischemia in 26 (9%); and "other" in 43 (14%). In 136 patients (45%), a new diagnosis was established or an important pathology was excluded. Pericardial tamponade was diagnosed in 34 cases (11%) and excluded in 36 cases (12%). Other diagnoses included severe left ventricular failure, large pleural effusion, and others. Therapeutic impact was found in 220 cases (73%): change of pharmacologic treatment and/or fluid therapy in 118 cases (40%), resternotomy in 43 (14%), no reoperation necessary in 39 (13%), and various in 20 (7%). No impact was found in 81 cases (27%). In a subgroup of patients in whom preoperative risk scores were evaluated, the indication for a postoperative TEE was significantly associated with a prolonged stay in the intensive care unit: 7 (5.6, 8.4) days vs. 1 (0.8, 1.2) day (median, [95% confidence interval]) (p <.0001), more neurologic complications (18/137 = 13.1% vs. 21/680 = 3.0%) (p <.0001), and increased mortality (34/153 = 22.2% vs. 18/709 = 2.5%) (p <.0001). Corrected for preoperative risk scores, these differences were still significant. CONCLUSION: Although TEE provided important findings and therapeutic impact in postoperative cardiac surgical patients, patients with comparable preoperative risk who had postoperative TEE examinations had a significantly worse outcome than those without the need for postoperative TEE.

Transoesophageal echocardiography in cardiac and vascular surgery: implications and observer variability.

Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) has gained widespread acceptance among cardiac anaesthetists as a tool to facilitate peri-operative decision-making. This observational study analyses the impact of TOE and its inter-observer variability on intra-operative patient management during cardiac and major vascular surgery. From June 1996 to December 1998, standardized reports were obtained from 11 anaesthetists in 1891 adult cardiac and vascular surgery patients undergoing routine biplane or multiplane TOE. Inter-observer variability and the difference between variables of interest were tested using the chi-squared test or factorial analysis of variance as appropriate. TOE examinations were performed before and after the operation; 1,673 (88.5%) patients underwent cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and 218 (11.5%) patients had surgery without CPB, including 42 (2.2%) coronary revascularizations. In 923 patients (49%), TOE provided additional information that influenced the patient's therapy. In 968 patients (51%), TOE had only minor or no impact on clinical decision-making. In two patients (0.10%) the scheduled operation was not performed, and in another two patients the TOE examination led to major complications. Observer-dependent variables were: implications of TOE for intraoperative decision-making (P<0.0001), estimation of image quality (P < 0.0001), pre-operative left ventricular fractional area change (FAC) (P = 0.0026), difference between pre-operative FAC and post-operative FAC (P = 0.033), and requests for supervision (P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in the case mix between observers. TOE had an important impact on intraoperative patient management. Inter-observer variability was significant for several variables but not for the frequency of additional surgical procedures.

Symptomatic mechanical heart valve thrombosis: high morbidity and mortality despite successful treatment options.

BACKGROUND: Recommendations for treatment of mechanical prosthetic heart valve thrombosis (PVT) include systemic thrombolysis and/or reoperation. Data on complications and outcome are limited. METHODS: Clinical and echocardiographic findings of 17 patients with mechanical PVT were reviewed. Complications and outcome of surgery and/or thrombolysis were analysed. Prospective follow-up was obtained. RESULTS: Symptomatic PVT occurred 8.4 +/- 7.2 years after mechanical valve replacement at mean age 55 +/- 15 years. Thrombosis involved the mitral valve in 12 patients (71%), the aortic valve in 4 (24%) and the tricuspid valve in one (6%). The reason for PVT was inadequate anticoagulation in 11 patients (65%), endomyocardial fibrosis in 2 (12%) and unknown in 4 (24%). Prior to diagnosis, systemic emboli occurred in 6 patients (35%). Thirteen patients (76%) presented in functional class NYHA IV. Haemodynamic valve obstruction was documented by echocardiography in 15 patients (88%). Treatment included primary reoperation in 12 patients (71%), thrombolysis with urokinase in 3 (18%) (with reoperation in 1), reinstitution of adequate anticoagulation in one (6%); death occurred before treatment in one (6%). Intraoperatively, both pannus and thrombus were found in 5 of 13 patients (38%). Treatment-related emboli occurred in 5 patients (29%), to the brain in 3, to the legs in one and to a coronary artery in one. Five patients died (mortality 29%) within 30 days due to multiorgan failure/septicaemia (3 patients), congestive heart failure (1), or cerebral emboli (1). Follow-up after 28 +/- 28 months in the 12 surviving patients was unremarkable. CONCLUSIONS: The most common aetiology for obstructive PVT is thrombus formation due to inadequate anticoagulation. PVT remains a serious complication with high morbidity and mortality despite aggressive treatment by thrombolysis and/or surgery. Surgery is often needed due to the frequent presence of pannus and/or large thrombi. However, long-term prognosis after successful treatment of PVT is excellent.

A primary cardiac sarcoma with unusual histology and clinical course.

A left atrial tumor, in which radical resection was impossible, demonstrated two processes: An inflammatory pseudotumor and cellular atypia suggestive of a sarcoma. Immunohistochemistry (proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA], MIB-1 [Ki-67 antibody], bcl-2 positive; p53 negative, focal loss of nm23) was supportive for a malignant tumor. Despite no further therapy because of uncertainty in tumor classification, the patient remained in remission for 28 months. Thereafter, spine metastases and local regrowth were found, and the patient died 15 months later, after temporary remission by radiotherapy. This case stresses the impact immunohistochemistry may have on diagnosis of malignancy and the difficulty in predicting the biological behavior of cardiac sarcomas.

Chronic beta-blocker therapy improves outcome and reduces treatment costs in chronic type B aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the medical treatment of chronic type B aortic dissection with beta-blockers versus other antihypertensive treatments in terms of their requirement for surgical intervention and treatment costs. METHODS: Case records of the 130 patients treated for aortic dissection type B in this unit between 1988 and 1997 were reviewed. Seventy-eight of 130 patients with chronic dissection have received isolated medical treatment. Seventy-one of 78 patients were discharged alive. Fifty-one of 71 received beta-blocker treatment, 20/71 were treated with other antihypertensive drugs. RESULTS: Surgery for aortic dissection became necessary in 20/71 patients (28%) during follow-up (mean, 4.2 years): 10/51 in the beta-blocker group and 9/20 in the other antihypertensive drug group. The freedom from subsequent aortic operation was 80 and 47%, respectively (P=0.001). Indications for emergency surgery were increased aortic diameter (79%), symptomatic aortic aneurysm (11%), and renal artery hypoperfusion (5%). The median hospitalization time during follow-up (dissection-related) was 2 days for patients who received beta-blockers and 16 days for patients who received other antihypertensive drug treatments (P=0.001). The cost of treatment/patient per year amounted to 644 and 12748 euros, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of patients with chronic type B dissection who receive initial medical management will later need surgery. Long-term treatment with beta-blockers reduces the progression of aortic dilatation, the incidence of subsequent hospital admissions, as well as the incidence of late dissection-related aortic procedures and the cost of treatment. Patients with chronic type B dissection need, in addition to frequent follow-up of aortic diameter, continuous treatment with beta-blocking agents.

Left ventricular pressure-area relations as assessed by transoesophageal echocardiographic automated border detection: comparison with conductance catheter technique in cardiac surgical patients.

The aim of this study was to validate measurements of intraoperative left ventricular (LV) area by transoesophageal echocardiography against simultaneous measurements of LV volume by conductance catheter (CC) in cardiac surgical patients with normal systolic LV function. Echo area was compared with CC volume during steady state and during acute changes of pre- and afterload by partial clamping of the inferior vena cava and the ascending aorta in eight patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting. At steady state, Bland-Altman analysis of 32 recordings revealed a bias (SD) of 0.6% (2.5%) between echo area and CC volume, related to the initial values of end-diastolic area (100% area) and volume (100% volume), respectively. During loading interventions, bias between the two methods, as assessed by 112 measurement sequences, was 0.5% (3.7%) during aortic occlusion and -3.9% (4.4%) during cava occlusion at end-systole (P < 0.0001); at end-diastole, this bias was 1.3% (4%) during aortic occlusion and 0.2% (5.7%) during cava occlusion (P < 0.0001). Intraoperative area measurements with transoesophageal echocardiography in cardiac surgical patients with normal systolic LV function show good correlation with CC volume measurements under steady-state conditions. During acute unloading by vena cava occlusion, the resulting small end-systolic echo area measurements differ significantly more from CC volume measurements than during acute increase in afterload by aortic occlusion.

Resolution of protein-losing enteropathy with standard high molecular heparin and urokinase after Fontan repair in a patient with tricuspid atresia.

At 6 years of age, a girl with tricuspid atresia underwent a Björk modified Fontan procedure with implantation of a Carpentier Edwards bioprosthesis between the right atrium and the right ventricle. Ten years later she developed increasing edema, ascites and pleural effusions. The work-up showed severe stenosis of the bioprosthesis and protein losing enteropathy with a massive decrease of the albumin level to 14 g/l (normal 40-50 g/l). At 17 years of age, the bioprosthesis was replaced with a direct anastomosis between the cavoatrial junction and the right pulmonary artery. Within one month post-operatively, extensive thrombosis of the superior vena cava, anonymous and subclavian veins occurred. Protein-losing enteropathy persisted with an albumin level of 17 g/l. Parallel to the successful treatment of these thrombi with high molecular heparin and urokinase, protein losing enteropathy and hypoalbuminemia resolved completely as long as the antithrombotic treatment with high molecular heparin was continued. Oral anticoagulation was ineffective. Chronic antithrombotic treatment with high molecular heparin may thus be the treatment of choice in these forms of protein-losing enteropathy associated with venous thrombosis.

Surgical treatment of acquired left ventricular pseudoaneurysms.

BACKGROUND: We present a review of our experience with acquired pseudoaneurysms of the left ventricle in order to establish the risk of surgical repair. METHODS: Ten patients operated upon for a left ventricular pseudoaneurysm in our clinic between 1984 and 1999 were reviewed. The pseudoaneurysm, a complication of myocardial infarction (four acute and three chronic) or previous cardiac surgery (three chronic), was resected in all patients and the ventricular wall defect closed with direct sutures (five cases) or a patch (five cases). Coronary artery bypass graft was performed in 6 patients. RESULTS: Three patients died (postoperative mortality 30%) after repair of an acute postinfarction (2 patients) or a chronic postsurgical (1 patient) pseudoaneurysm. Three patients died during follow-up (median 4 years) of a carcinological (2 patients) or cardiac (1 patient) cause. Two years after repair, 5 patients were in New York Heart Association class I or II, and 1 patient was in class III. CONCLUSIONS: Repair of left ventricular pseudoaneurysms can be performed with acceptable results, although mortality is significant in acute myocardial infarction and redo operations. Propensity for fatal rupture, however, is higher than the surgical risk in acute pseudoaneurysms or in large or expanding chronic ones and warrants surgical repair. The best approach to small asymptomatic chronic pseudoaneurysm is unsettled.