Predilation technique with balloon angioplasty to facilitate percutaneous groin access of large size sheath through scar tissue.

Purpose Percutaneous remote access for endovascular aortic repair is an advantageous alternative to open access. Previous surgery in the femoral region and the presence of synthetic vascular grafts in the femoral/iliac arteries represent major limitations to percutaneous remote access. The aim of this study was to evaluate an original technique used for enabling percutaneous remote access for thoracic or abdominal endovascular aortic repair in patients with scar tissue and/or a vascular graft in the groin. Methods Twenty-five consecutive patients with a thoracic (11/25; 44%) or an aortic aneurysm (14/25; 66%) and with a synthetic vascular graft in the groin (16/25; 64%) or a redo groin access (9/25; 36%) were managed through the percutaneous remote access. In all patients, a percutaneous transluminal angioplasty balloon was used to predilate the scar tissue and the femoral artery or the synthetic vascular graft after preclosing (ProGlide®; Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA, USA). In 10 patients, requiring a 20 Fr sheath, a 6 mm percutaneous transluminal angioplasty balloon was used; and in the remaining 15, requiring a 24 Fr sheath, an 8 mm percutaneous transluminal angioplasty balloon. Preclosing was exclusively performed using ProGlide®. Mean follow-up was 15 months. Results In all cases, stent-graft deployment was successful. There was one surgical conversion (4%; 1/25) due to bleeding from a femoral anastomosis. Two cases required additional percutaneous maneuvers (postclosing with another system in one patient and endoluminal shielding with stent-graft in the other patient). No pseudoaneurysm or access complication occurred during the follow-up. Conclusions Percutaneous access in redo groins with scar tissue and/or synthetic vascular graft using ultrasound-guided punction, preclosing with ProGlide® system and predilation with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty balloon to introduce large size sheath as used for endovascular aortic repair showed to be feasible, safe and with few local complications.

A Rare Case of Bilateral Posterior Tibial Artery Aneurysm Presenting as Unilateral Acute Limb Ischemia.

True aneurysms of the tibial arteries are extremely rare. Of the few previously described tibial artery aneurysms, there are scant reports of isolated true aneurysms of the posterior tibial artery (PTA). In this report, we describe the second documented case of bilateral true PTA aneurysms. Unique aspects of this case are that the aneurysmal PTA were the only patent tibial arteries bilaterally, the aneurysms were degenerative in nature, and initial patient presentation was due to aneurysm thrombosis causing acute foot ischemia. The clinical and radiological features of this case, as well as surgical decision making and management, are discussed.

Age of transfused red cells and early outcomes after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Red blood cells (RBC) undergo many changes during storage. Such changes are associated with reduced oxygen-carrying capacity and transfusion-related inflammatory reactions. The clinical significance of these changes in the cardiac surgical setting is unclear. This observational cohort study investigates the association between age of transfused RBC and early outcomes after cardiac surgery. METHODS: The cardiac surgery database at St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne was cross-referenced with the Blood Transfusion Services database. In all, 670 consecutive patients who had nonemergency coronary artery bypass grafting or aortic valve replacement, or both, between June 2001 and June 2007 and had at least 2 RBC units transfused were studied. The storage variables studied were mean age of RBC, age of oldest RBC unit transfused, and transfusion of RBC stored longer than 30 days. Age of transfused blood was analyzed using logistic and linear regression analysis to determine an independent association with clinical outcomes: postoperative early mortality, renal failure, pneumonia, intensive care unit stay, and ventilation hours. Patient preoperative risk profile (EuroSCORE) and total number of RBC units transfused were adjusted for. RESULTS: The storage age of RBC was not independently associated with any of the endpoints studied. The total quantity of RBC transfused was significantly associated with all studied endpoints. CONCLUSIONS: Under current transfusion practice, the age of transfused RBC is not associated with early mortality and morbidity after cardiac surgery.