Jetstream Atherectomy System for Treatment of Femoropopliteal Artery Disease: A Single Center Experience and Mid-term Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to assess our experience and mid-term outcomes using Jetstream atherectomy system for treatment of femoropopliteal artery disease (FPAD). METHODS: Data of 30 patients with FPAD treated at our center between 2013 and 2016 were analyzed. Two subgroups of patients were identified: Group A included patients (n = 18) with de novo lesions; Group B (n = 12) included those with in-stent restenosis. The primary study end points assessed were technical success, perioperative mortality, and major adverse event (MAE) rate at 30 days (distal embolization, major amputation, and target lesion revascularization). Other outcomes measured were survival, primary, and secondary patency, and freedom from amputation at 1 and 3 years of follow-up, respectively. RESULTS: Technical success was 100% for both groups. The MAE rate was 8.7%. No distal filter was adopted during intervention. Angioplasty was associated with 93.3% of cases (93.3% vs. 100%; P = 0.15), drug-eluting balloon (DEB) in 12 cases (22.2% vs. 66.6%; P = 0.008), drug-eluting stent and bare metal implantation in 1 (5.6% vs. 0%; P = 1) and 4 cases (11.1% vs. 16.7%; P = 1), respectively. The cumulative primary and secondary patency rates were 75.1% and 95.5% at 1 year, and 70.4% and 84.8% at 3 years of follow-up, respectively. The survival and freedom from amputation were 96.4% and 85.8% at 1 and 3 years of follow-up, respectively. The freedom from target lesion revascularization was 91.7% and 83.4% at 1 and 3 years from intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the Jetstream appears to be safe and feasible with no distal embolization and low rate perioperative complications. Moreover, encouraging outcomes were observed when atherectomy was associated to DEB angioplasty.

Operating room environment assessment and biofilm risk for breast implants. A case series.

AIM: Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, is a rare cancer. Several theories are speculated that may constitute its etiological factors. None of them has been clearly proven. The case report we present is intended to indicate the leading cause of this disease entity. CASE PRESENTATION: Air samples taken in varying conditions at appropriate intervals by the MicroFlow Alfa 90 device in the operating room during five breast implant surgery were analyzed. Samples were taken four times during each operation. After the air was taken and delivered to the laboratory, the plates were immediately incubated under aerobic conditions. The incubation was carried out for up to 7 days. It has been shown that there is a significant difference between the total number of microorganisms during air intake carried out without and with the supply of air to purify the area in a given area by air recirculation of the operating block and cleaning it from bacteria and particles. No air colony-forming units were grown from air samples taken in the supply. However, from air samples taken without blowing, they were raised in various quantities. CONCLUSION: Laminar free airflow used in operating room conditions significantly reduces the risk of infection of the surgical site, and thus may reduce the risk of developing breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma. KEY WORDS: BIA-ALCL ethiological factors, Biofilm, Breast implants, Laminar air flow, Surgical site infections.

Clinical Significance of Peritoneal Fluid Examination for Free Cancer Cells in Patients Qualified for Surgery for Gastric Cancer.

Background: Peritoneal lavage cytology in patients with gastric cancer may correlate with an unfavorable prognosis. This study evaluated the presence of free cancer cells in the peritoneal lavage of a population of patients with gastric cancer and its correlation with the outcome of surgical treatment. Methods: One hundred patients diagnosed with gastric or gastrointestinal junction adenocarcinoma underwent surgery. In all patients, a cytological and immunohistochemical analysis of peritoneal lavage was performed. Based on the presence of free cancer cells (fcc) at the cytological and immunohistochemical examination of peritoneal lavage, patients undergoing surgery for gastric cancer were divided into two groups: fcc (+) and fcc (-). Results: A total of 100 patients, 37 women, and 63 men with a median age of 65 years were included in the study. In the entire study group, 16 (16%) patients were positive for the presence of free cancer cells (fcc +) at peritoneal lavage examination. However, in the group of patients who underwent gastrectomy, fcc (+) was found in 10 out of 77 (13%) patients. The presence of cancer cells in peritoneal lavage was a strong predictive factor in an unfavorable outcome after surgery, and 1-year and 2-year patient survival was 34 and 0% in fcc (+) patients and 79 and 59% in fcc (-), respectively. Moreover, the presence of free cancer cells was associated with a five-fold increased risk of death within 2 years after surgery. When analyzing the group of patients undergoing R0/R1 surgery, this difference was even more significant (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The presence of free cancer cells in peritoneal lavage may significantly affect the outcome of patients with gastric cancer. Radical surgery in patients with free cancer cells in the peritoneal lavage did not result in a survival advantage. Identification of free cancer cells could help for a better stratification of gastric cancer patients, identifying those patients who could better benefit from a radical surgical treatment, finally improving long-term survival.

Aortic surgery and laparoscopy: still a future in the endovascular surgery era?

Laparoscopic surgery (LS) is the minimally invasive alternative to open surgery and endovascular approach for treating major aortic diseases. Only few reports in the literature describe the long-term outcomes of the laparoscopic approach for major vascular diseases. Furthermore, the widespread use of endovascular techniques has limited the use of LS to wellselected patients. This review evaluated the results of LS for aortic disease and compared the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic technique with those of open and endovascular surgery. A systematic review was performed by using the MEDLINE database, along with a meta-analysis of the reported studies on the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and/or aorto-iliac occlusive disease (AIOD). Forty-three studies were analyzed (17 for AAA and 26 for AIOD), with a total of 1197 patients with AAA and 1307 patients with AIOD. Laparoscopic surgery, when performed in experienced centers, is a feasible and safe technique for the treatment of AAA and AIOD in patients unfit for open and endovascular repair. Assisted laparoscopic approach has shown better outcomes than totally laparoscopic repair, with a lower rate of mortality and morbidity. Endovascular repair, however, remains the gold standard in the treatment of AAA. KEY WORDS: Abdominal aortic aneurysm, Aorta, Aneurysm, Aorto-iliac occlusive disease, Endovascular aneurysm repair, EVAR, Laparoscopy, Endovascular, Repair, Laparoscopic Assisted, Laparoscopy Vascular, Laparoscopic surgery, Totally.

Aortic surgery and laparoscopy: still a future in the endovascular surgery era?

Laparoscopic surgery (LS) is the minimally invasive alternative to open surgery and endovascular approach for treating major aortic diseases. Only few reports in the literature describe the long-term outcomes of the laparoscopic approach for major vascular diseases. Furthermore, the widespread use of endovascular techniques has limited the use of LS to wellselected patients. This review evaluated the results of LS for aortic disease and compared the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic technique with those of open and endovascular surgery. A systematic review was performed by using the MEDLINE database, along with a meta-analysis of the reported studies on the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and/or aorto-iliac occlusive disease (AIOD). Forty-three studies were analyzed (17 for AAA and 26 for AIOD), with a total of 1197 patients with AAA and 1307 patients with AIOD. Laparoscopic surgery, when performed in experienced centers, is a feasible and safe technique for the treatment of AAA and AIOD in patients unfit for open and endovascular repair. Assisted laparoscopic approach has shown better outcomes than totally laparoscopic repair, with a lower rate of mortality and morbidity. Endovascular repair, however, remains the gold standard in the treatment of AAA. KEY WORDS: Abdominal aortic aneurysm, Aorta, Aneurysm, Aorto-iliac occlusive disease, Endovascular aneurysm repair, EVAR, Laparoscopy, Endovascular, Repair, Laparoscopic Assisted, Laparoscopy Vascular, Laparoscopic surgery, Totally.