Calcium Score Predicts Mortality After Revascularization in Critical Limb Ischemia.

PURPOSE: The calcium score is a measure of vessel wall calcification and has clinical applications when studied in different vascular beds. The presence of vascular calcification in the arteries of the lower limbs is very common in patients with peripheral arterial disease; however, its relationship with the postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing lower limb revascularization is still poorly studied. The aim of this study is to evaluate association between the calcium score of lower limbs and the postoperative outcomes in patients with peripheral arterial disease undergoing revascularization procedures. METHODOLOGY: We retrospectively analyzed 88 lower limb revascularization procedures in 72 patients with critical limb ischemia who had enhanced computed tomography for preoperative evaluation. The calcium score was calculated, from the angiographic phase of preoperative computed tomography, in the segments of the aorta, iliac, femoropopliteal, and infrapopliteal. It was also calculated the calcium score of the operated limb, and the total calcium score using a standardized method. The outcomes evaluated were the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction, amputation, patency, technical success, and death from any cause. Patients were followed up through a 12 month period. RESULTS: Among the 88 procedures performed, 31 (43.1%) lesions were classified as Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus Document II D. There were 66 (75%) endovascular procedures, 16 (18.2%) open surgery, and 6 (6.8%) hybrid interventions. No statistically significant relationship was found between the calcium score of the segments (aorta, iliac, femoropopliteal, infrapopliteal, the operated limb, and total calcium score) and the outcomes of acute myocardial infarction, amputation, patency, and technical success in any of the periods analyzed. The calcium score of the operated limb was higher in patients who died within 30 days and 6 months (6571 vs 2590.6; p=0.026) and (5227.8 vs 2335.3; p=0.036). CONCLUSION: A standardized calcium score calculation method with the angiographic phase of the computed tomography is feasible and reproducible. Higher values of the calcifications of the operated limb are related to a greater chance of death in the postoperative period. The calcium score of the operated limb can be considered as a marker of clinical severity and prognosis in this group of patients.

A medical epopee: recurrent fungal endocarditis, heart transplantation and chylopericardium.

BACKGROUND: Candida prosthetic endocarditis is associated with high mortality rates and valve replacement surgery, together with antifungal treatment, play a major role in eradicating the fungal infection. Valve reoperations in these scenarios may be relatively common due to the high infection relapse rates and, in some cases, heart transplantation may be an imposing therapy for infection resolution and for the heart failure related to the myocardial reoperation injury. Among the many postoperative complications related to heart transplantation, chylopericardium is a rare but challenging example. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 55-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital with a 1-month history of progressive dyspnea and fatigue. His past medical history included four open-heart surgeries for aortic and mitral valve replacement due to recurrent Candida parapsilosis infective endocarditis. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed a markedly reduced left ventricular systolic function and normofunctioning bioprosthetic valves. An inotropic dependency condition led to heart transplantation surgery. In the early postoperative period, a persistent chylous fluid started to drain from the pericardial tube, compatible with the diagnosis of chylopericardium. The lack of clinical response to total parenteral nutrition and intravenous infusion of octreotide imposed the need of interventional radiology with diagnostic lymphography through cisterna chyli puncture and thoracic duct catheterization, confirming the presence of a lymphatic fistula. A successful treatment outcome was achieved with percutaneous thoracic duct embolization using coils and n-butyl-cyanoacrilate glue, possibiliting hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Fungal endocarditis requires combined treatment (surgical and antimicrobial) for eradication. Valve replacement, while necessary, may lead to severe ventricular deterioration and heart transplantation may be the only viable therapeutic solution. Among the several postoperative complications of heart transplantation, chylopericardium is an uncommon and defiant example. Advances in interventional radiology like the percutaneous embolization allow a less invasive and highly efficient approach for this complication.

Use of carbon dioxide for therapeutic decision-making in endoleaks: a case report.

Endovascular aneurysm repair is currently the most frequently treatment modality for infrarenal aortic aneurysms. Endoleaks are the most common cause of reintervention after endovascular aneurysm repair. It is often unclear which type of endoleak is the correct diagnose, making the treatment decision difficult. We report the case of a 72-year-old man with an endoleak two years after endovascular aneurysm repair. Images suggested a type III endoleak, but this was not confirmed by contrast aortography. We proceeded with the investigation using aortography with carbon dioxide and observed a type IA endoleak. This was successfully treated by implantation of a proximal cuff. A review of the literature shows that the role of carbon dioxide in endoleak management is still unclear. We present a case in which carbon dioxide was essential to both diagnosis and therapeutic decision-making in a type IA endoleak.

O tratamento endovascular dos aneurismas de aorta abdominal é atualmente a modalidade de tratamento mais comum. Os endoleaks representam a causa mais frequente de reintervenção após o tratamento endovascular. O diagnóstico do tipo de endoleak frequentemente é incerto, tornando o tratamento desafiador. Apresentamos o caso de um paciente de 72 anos, com endoleak após 2 anos de tratamento endovascular de aneurisma de aorta abdominal. Os exames de imagem pré-operatórios sugeriam um endoleak tipo III; entretanto, durante aortografia com contraste iodado, não foi possível identificá-lo. Optamos por realizar aortografia com dióxido de carbono (CO2), sendo, então, identificado um endoleak tipo IA, que foi tratado com sucesso com o uso de uma extensão (cuff) proximal. O papel do CO2 no diagnóstico de endoleaks ainda não está claro. Relatamos um caso em que o uso do CO2 foi essencial para o diagnóstico e para a decisão de tratamento do endoleak tipo IA.

Pressurized hydrodissection for CT-guided percutaneous peritoneal navigation: The hydro jet technique.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of a new technique of hydrodissection for peritoneal structures displacement during preoperative localization markers placement. We retrospectively reviewed two cases of percutaneous fiducial marker placement prior rescue retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy. In both cases pressurized 5% dextrose in water (D5W) was used to hydrodissect the peritoneal space and securely reach the lymph nodes. Two patients were submitted to water jet technique for transperitoneal trespassing to reach the retroperitoneum. The volume of fluid used to navigate was 125-200 mL and the mean time to cross the peritoneum was 6 min 47 s (ranging from 3″26' to 10″24'). In conclusion, Bowel and small vessels displacement using pressurized D5W is a safe method to reach retroperitoneal space during percutaneous procedures.

Use of carbon dioxide for therapeutic decision-making in endoleaks: a case report / Uso de CO2 na tomada de decisão terapêutica de endoleak: relato de caso

Abstract Endovascular aneurysm repair is currently the most frequently treatment modality for infrarenal aortic aneurysms. Endoleaks are the most common cause of reintervention after endovascular aneurysm repair. It is often unclear which type of endoleak is the correct diagnose, making the treatment decision difficult. We report the case of a 72-year-old man with an endoleak two years after endovascular aneurysm repair. Images suggested a type III endoleak, but this was not confirmed by contrast aortography. We proceeded with the investigation using aortography with carbon dioxide and observed a type IA endoleak. This was successfully treated by implantation of a proximal cuff. A review of the literature shows that the role of carbon dioxide in endoleak management is still unclear. We present a case in which carbon dioxide was essential to both diagnosis and therapeutic decision-making in a type IA endoleak.

Resumo O tratamento endovascular dos aneurismas de aorta abdominal é atualmente a modalidade de tratamento mais comum. Os endoleaks representam a causa mais frequente de reintervenção após o tratamento endovascular. O diagnóstico do tipo de endoleak frequentemente é incerto, tornando o tratamento desafiador. Apresentamos o caso de um paciente de 72 anos, com endoleak após 2 anos de tratamento endovascular de aneurisma de aorta abdominal. Os exames de imagem pré-operatórios sugeriam um endoleak tipo III; entretanto, durante aortografia com contraste iodado, não foi possível identificá-lo. Optamos por realizar aortografia com dióxido de carbono (CO2), sendo, então, identificado um endoleak tipo IA, que foi tratado com sucesso com o uso de uma extensão (cuff) proximal. O papel do CO2 no diagnóstico de endoleaks ainda não está claro. Relatamos um caso em que o uso do CO2 foi essencial para o diagnóstico e para a decisão de tratamento do endoleak tipo IA.