Isquemia aguda del canal anal / Acute Ischemia of the Anal Canal

Introducción: La isquemia anal aguda con gangrena es una entidad infrecuente, con escasa literatura publicada al respecto, cuyas cifras de mortalidad descritas se sitúan en un 20 por ciento - 40 por ciento de los casos. Debe considerarse en ancianos con enfermedad aterosclerótica que presenten síntomas gastrointestinales inferiores y shock hipotensivo. Puede ser causada por oclusión vascular aguda, enfermedad vascular grave o un estado de bajo flujo, aunque en algunos casos se presenta sin enfermedad vascular preexistente. Objetivo: Presentar la literatura existente acerca del manejo diagnóstico y terapéutico de la isquemia de canal anal en base a un caso clínico diagnosticado y tratado de urgencia en el hospital "Marina Baixa". Caso clínico: Se presenta un caso de isquemia espontánea de canal anal en paciente de 76 años de edad con morbilidad cardiovascular asociada. Debuta como cuadro séptico sin evidencia de causa desencadenante. Conclusiones: Las pruebas endoscópicas y radiológicas deben realizarse con urgencia y la valoración quirúrgica está siempre justificada en estos pacientes debido a la alta tasa de mortalidad descrita en el manejo conservador del cuadro. En casos graves, la reanimación preoperatoria y cirugía urgente para resecar el segmento gangrenoso es necesaria. Sin embargo, el tratamiento de la proctitis isquémica aguda es controvertido y depende, en parte, del estado basal del paciente y los hallazgos clínicos, siendo importante examinar otras posibles etiologías de proctitis isquémica y así determinar qué pacientes necesitan intervención quirúrgica temprana en comparación con una actitud más conservadora(AU)

Introduction: Acute ischemic gangrene of the anus is an infrequent entity, with little published literature, whose reported mortality figures are 20-40 percent of cases. It should be considered in elderlies with atherosclerotic disease who present lower gastrointestinal symptoms and hypotensive shock. It can be caused by acute vascular occlusion, severe vascular disease, or a low-flow state, although in some cases it presents without pre-existing vascular disease. Objective: To present the existing literature on diagnostic and therapeutic management of ischemia of the anal canal upon the base of a clinical case diagnosed and treated as an urgency at Marina Baixa hospital. Clinical case: The case is presented of a 76-year-old patient with spontaneous ischemia of the anal canal and associated cardiovascular morbidity. It debuts as a septic condition without evidence of a triggering cause. Conclusions: Endoscopic and radiological tests should be performed urgently. Surgical assessment is always justified in these patients, due to the high mortality rate described in the conservative management of the condition. In severe cases, preoperative resuscitation and urgent surgery to resect the gangrenous segment is necessary. However, managment of acute ischemic proctitis is controversial and depends, in part, on the patient's baseline status and clinical findings, while it is important to examine other possible etiologies of ischemic proctitis and thus determine which patients need early surgical intervention compared to a more conservative attitude(AU)

Management of lower limb ischemia during operative repair of acute type a aortic dissection by distal crossover grafts: a case series

Abstract Objective: To describe our experience of nine patients with extra-anatomical bypass for clinically ischemic distal limb during repair of acute Type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). Methods: We retrospectively examined a series of nine patients who underwent surgery for ATAAD. We identified a subset of the patients who presented with concomitant radiographic and clinical signs of lower limb ischemia. All but one patient (axillobifemoral bypass) underwent femorofemoral crossover grafting by the cardiac surgeon during cooling. Results: One hundred eighty-one cases of ATAAD underwent surgery during the study period with a mortality of 19.3%. Nine patients had persistent clinical evidence of lower limb ischemia (4.9%) and underwent extra-anatomical bypass during cooling. Two patients underwent additional fasciotomies. Mean delay from symptoms to surgery in these nine patients was 9.5 hours. Two patients had bilateral amputations despite revascularisation and, of note, had long delays in presentation for surgery (> 12 hours). There were no mortalities during these inpatient episodes. Outpatient radiographic follow-up at the first opportunity demonstrated 100% patency. Conclusion: Our experience suggests that, during complicated aortic dissection, limb ischemia may have a devastating outcome including amputation when diagnosis and referral are delayed. Early diagnosis and surgery are crucial in preventing this potentially devastating complication.

Isquemia de extremidades inferiores secundaria a arteritis de la arteria temporal

Giant cell arteritis is more common in women older than 60 years, is associated with systemic inflammation symptoms and mainly involves the aortic arch and cranial arteries, specially the temporal artery. Symptomatic lower extremity arterial stenosis or occlusion is uncommon and can lead to limb loss. We report a 73-year-old woman presenting with a one-month history of lower extremity intermittent claudication of sudden onset. She also complained of fever, malaise, headache and weight loss. A non-invasive vascular study showed moderate femoral popliteal occlusive disease, with and abnormal ankle-brachial index (0.68 and 0.83 on right and left sides, respectively). An angio-computed tomography showed thickening of the aortic wall and severe stenosis in both superficial femoral arteries. Steroidal treatment was started, and a temporal artery biopsy was performed confirming giant cell arteritis. Six weeks after steroid therapy the patient had a complete remission of symptoms. A serologic exacerbation was subsequently treated with a humanized monoclonal antibody against the interleukin-6 receptor Tocilizumab, obtaining long time remission.

No dejemos morir al hueso: interiorizándonos con los procesos óseos avasculares / Do not let the Bone Die: Interiorizing with the avascular Bone Processes

Resumen El objetivo de este artículo es realizar una revisión de las localizaciones, causas y hallazgos radiológicos específicos de los procesos avasculares óseos. Se define como isquemia ósea a las alteraciones ocasionadas por déficit de irrigación, llevando a la destrucción del hueso. Existen diferencias entre necrosis isquémica e infarto óseo, en base al sitio óseo de afectación. La etiología traumática es la más frecuente y suele ser unilateral. Los sitios de presentación más frecuentes son: cabeza femoral y humeral, rodilla y semilunar. La resonancia magnética (RM) es considerada la modalidad de imagen más sensible y específica, tanto para el diagnóstico temprano como estadificación y control. El conocimiento de las causas, características radiológicas y sus diferentes fases evitan el diagnóstico erróneo de otras etiologías, como las primarias o infecciosas, facilitando un correcto algoritmo terapéutico.

Abstract The aim of this article is to review the locations, causes and specific radiological findings of avascular bone processes. Bone ischemia is defined as the alterations caused by irrigation deficit, leading into the bone destruction. However, there are differences between ischemic necrosis and bone infarction, based on the bone site of involvement. The most frequent etiology is traumatic and is usually unilateral. The most frequent sites of presentation are: femoral and humeral head, knee, and lunate. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the most sensitive and specific imaging modality for early diagnosis, staging and control. The knowledge of the causes, radiological findings and their different phases avoid the erroneous diagnosis of other lesions, such as primary or infectious, facilitating a correct therapeutic algorithm.

Intra-arterial fibrinolysis for the management of acute ischemia on a below-knee amputation stump. Case report / Fibrinólise intra-arterial para tratamento da isquemia aguda em coto de amputação infrapatelar. Relato de caso

ABSTRACT Preservation of the knee joint has enormous advantages in terms of mobility and rehabilitation of an amputee. Any cause of breakdown requiring revision to an above-knee amputation is a major setback because it reduces the patient's rehabilitative potential. We report a case of intra-arterial thrombolysis use to save a below-knee amputation stump with acute ischemia. A 56-year-old man who sought the emergency department with 1-day history of acute pain on his right below-knee stump. The angiography confirmed popliteal artery occlusion. Pharmacomechanical thrombectomy, with Aspirex (rotational catheter to restore blood flow in occluded vessel, by removing occlusion material from the vessel) and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, was performed. After 9 years of follow-up the patient remained asymptomatic, capable of independent ambulation with prosthetic limb. Intra-arterial fibrinolysis seems to be a safe and effective treatment for cases of acutely ischemic amputation stump.

RESUMO A preservação da articulação do joelho tem grandes vantagens para a mobilidade e a reabilitação de um amputado. Qualquer causa que exija revisão para uma amputação acima do joelho é um grande revés, porque reduz o potencial de reabilitação do paciente. O objetivo aqui foi descrever o uso de trombólise intra-arterial para salvar um coto de amputação abaixo do joelho com isquemia aguda. Homem, 56 anos, procurou pronto atendimento de nosso hospital com histórico de 1 dia de dor aguda em seu coto de amputação infrapatelar direito. A angiografia confirmou oclusão da artéria poplítea. Foi realizada trombectomia farmacomecânica com Aspirex (cateter rotativo para restabelecer o fluxo sanguíneo em vasos ocluídos, removendo material de oclusão do vaso) e ativador do plaminogênio tecidual recombinante. Após 9 anos de seguimento, o paciente permanecia assintomático, capaz de deambulação independente com membro protético. A fibrinólise intra-arterial parece ser um tratamento seguro e eficaz para casos selecionados de coto de amputação com isquêmica aguda.

Distorsión morfológica isquémica de la onda T en la centellografía de perfusión miocárdica con estrés vasodilatador / Ischemic T wave distortion associated with vasodilator-stress myocardial perfusion imaging

Los protocolos que utilizan vasodilatadores para inducir isquemia en la centellografía de perfusión miocárdica han demostrado una exactitud diagnóstica elevada e incidencia muy baja de complicaciones graves. Sin embargo, el significado fisiológico y valor diagnóstico de diversas alteraciones electrocardiográficas asociadas al estrés vasodilatador ha sido escasamente evaluado más allá del segmento ST. Describimos cinco pacientes que presentan distorsión morfológica de la onda T en derivaciones electrocardiográficas torácicas asociada a diversos defectos de perfusión, discutiendo los potenciales aportes de estos cambios al diagnóstico y cuantificación de la isquemia miocárdica en los estudios de imagen que utilizan estrés con vasodilatadores.

The protocols using vasodilators to induce ischemia on myocardial perfusion scintigraphy have shown a high diagnostic accuracy and a very low incidence of serious complications. However, the physiological significance and diagnostic value of various electrocardiographic changes associated with vasodilator stress has not been deeply evaluated beyond the ST-segment. Five clinical cases presenting morphological distortion of the T-wave in electrocardiographic chest leads associated with varying degrees of perfusion defects are described, discussing potential contributions of these changes to the diagnosis and quantification of myocardial ischemia in imaging studies using vasodilator stress.

Imaging Features of Gray-Scale and Contrast-Enhanced Color Doppler US for the Differentiation of Transient Renal Arterial Ischemia and Arterial Infarction

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the imaging features on gray-scale and contrast-enhanced color Doppler US images which differentiate renal ischemia from renal infarction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The segmental renal arteries of eight healthy rabbits were surgically ligated. In four of these rabbits, the ligated renal artery was released 60 minutes after arterial occlusion to cause transient ischemia. In the remaining four rabbits, the arterial ligation was retained to cause a permanent infarction. The gray-scale and contrast-enhanced color Doppler US imaging features of the involved renal parenchyma of both ischemia and infarction groups were compared with respect to the presence or absence of parenchymal swelling, echogenicity changes, tissue loss and perfusion defects. RESULTS: Parenchyma swelling, echogenic changes, tissue loss and perfusion defects were found to be more extensive in the infarction than the ischemia group. The hyperechoic areas reperfused with blood flow recovered normal echogenicity and perfusion, whereas the hyperechoic areas without reperfusion became renal infarcts. CONCLUSION: Gray-scale and contrast-enhanced color Doppler US showed that the hyperechoic areas with reperfusion may reverse to normal parenchyma and allow the differentiation of renal ischemia from renal infarction.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for ischaemic arterial disease of the lower extremities.

We attempted percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in 43 patients with limb-threatening ischaemia (rest pain, nonhealing ulcer or gangrene) or lifestyle-limiting claudication. Of the 51 lesions dilated, 31 were in iliac, 12 in femoral, 6 in popliteal and 2 in tibial arteries. Overall primary success rate was 90.2 percent (46/51); 96.8 percent (30/31) in iliac, 83.3 percent (10/12) femoral, 66.7 percent (4/6) popliteal and 100 percent (2/2) in tibial arteries. Marked relief of ischaemic symptoms and increase in ankle-arm pressure index from 0.45 +/- 0.14 to 0.94 +/- 0.23 (P less than 0.005) were seen in the 39 patients with initial technical success. Three (6.9%) patients had minor complications. On 1-33 (mean 13.4 +/- 7.5) months follow up, 89.5 percent patients showed continued clinical improvement as well as improvement in noninvasive parameters of lower limb perfusion. We conclude that angioplasty of iliac, femoral, popliteal and tibial arteries is a highly effective and safe procedure to revascularize the ischaemic lower extremity.