Recurrent varicose veins of the legs: a single centre experience.

AIM: The aim of our study is to report our experience on the surgery for recurrent varicose veins of the legs over the period 2007-2012. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of 480 consecutive surgical procedures for varicose veins of the legs was reviewed; among a total of 480 cases, 65 procedures were for recurrent varicose veins. Data collected included clinical characteristics, surgical techniques, cause of recurrence and surgical outcomes. We analyzed the causes of recurrences in order to determine factors that influence recurrence itself. RESULTS: Sixty-five procedures for recurrent varicose veins were analized. The main causes of recurrence were: persistence of collaterals at the saphenofemoral junction (27.7%), inadequate stripping of the long saphenous vein (18.5%), perforating veins insufficiency (66.1%), sapheno-femoral junction neovascolarisation (12.3%), inguinal or popliteal cavernoma (27.7%), recurrence after short saphenous venous surgery (4.5%). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that, as is clear from our study, the main cause of recurrence is inadequate surgery. This can only be due to inadequate preoperative assessment (lack of rigorous clinical and US Doppler rigorous evaluation) and not correct surgical technique, as it may occur if the surgery is performed by a surgeon inexperienced in this type of surgery.

Computed tomography imaging of vena cava filter complications: a pictorial review.

Caval filters are widely used in the prevention of pulmonary embolism. Filters have proved to be effective, but the complication rate is not negligible. Computed tomography (CT) provides a complete evaluation of the filter, including both caval and extracaval complications. In this review, we describe the normal CT aspect of cava filters, the classification of complications and their CT findings. Technical considerations for adequate CT imaging are also highlighted.

Squamous cell carcinoma arising in a venous ulcer as a complication of the Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome.

Klippel-Trenaunay (KT) syndrome is a vascular malformation characterized by a port-wine stain, varicose veins and hypertrophy of the affected limb. Ulceration is considered an uncommon complication of KT syndrome and occurrence of skin cancer has been previously reported only in one case. We observed a case of KT syndrome in a 48-year-old woman who developed a large ulcer and a squamous cell carcinoma on the affected leg.

Adrenal insufficiency as the first clinical manifestation of the primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

We describe a 60-year-old man who developed clinical symptoms and signs of Addison's disease, which was subsequently confirmed biochemically; no cause was apparent. Several months later the patient represented with a fit, followed by a large and extensive venous thrombosis in the right iliac vein and in the veins of the right leg. He had strongly positive antibodies to cardiolipin, strongly suggesting a diagnosis of primary antiphospholipid syndrome. While Addison's disease is a well-recognized, albeit rare, manifestation of the antiphospholipid syndrome, the Addison's disease preceded other clinical evidence of the syndrome by several months, in our patient, at variance with previous cases described in the literature. The antiphospholipid syndrome should be considered as a possible pathogenetic process in patients presenting with Addison's disease where the aetiology is not obvious.

Percutaneous intravascular retrieval of embolised fragments of long-term central venous catheters.

Embolisation of a catheter fragment is a rare mechanical complication of long-term central venous access devices. From 1995 to 1999 we observed 10 cases: the cause of embolisation was the 'pinch-off syndrome' in half of the cases, and in 8 cases out of 10 the fragment had embolised in the pulmonary arterial vessels. Percutaneous transvenous retrieval was successful in all cases; it was performed mainly (8 cases out of ten) through the left transfemoral route, using a single-snare-loop device sometimes associated with a pig-tail catheter. We had no mortality and no major complications. On the basis of our experience, we believe that catheter embolisation of long-term central venous devices can be effectively prevented by adequate insertion technique, proper management of the device during its clinical use, and accurate removal technique. Nonetheless, should catheter em-bolisation occur, the patient should be referred to a Centre with adequate experience in the field of interventional radiological techniques. Should the radiological retrieval procedure fail, evidence from the literature suggests that leaving the fragment in embolisation site might be safer than open extraction by surgical thoracotomy, particularly in oncological patients with reduced life expectancy.

Syphilitic aneurysm of the abdominal aorta.

A case of syphilitic aneurysm of the abdominal aorta is described. This unusual finding may be misdiagnosed as "inflammatory" abdominal aortic aneurysm, another condition associated with an intense periaortic inflammatory reaction. The authors discuss the differential diagnostic problems and the surgical technique advisable in these cases.

Extensive resection in pancreatic cancer: review of the literature and personal experience.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The surgical treatment of pancreatic carcinoma, and particularly the decision to resect locally advanced non-metastatic cancer is extremely controversial. The aim of this study is to report our experience in extensive pancreatectomy and draw conclusions regarding its effectiveness in treating locally advanced pancreatic cancer. METHODOLOGY: In our Department of Surgery, 12 patients underwent pancreatic resective surgery extended to the portal vein (6 cases), to the superior mesenteric vein (1 case) or to other peripancreatic organs (5 cases). RESULTS: The procedure was considered curative in 7 cases. The mortality rate was 16.6% and the morbidity 25%. Four out of the five patients who had undergone vascular resection and had not died in the postoperative period survived for more than 12 months, while the 5 cases in whom the resection was extended to other organs survived from 9 to 93 months. In all cases, the quality of life was satisfactory until tumor recurrence, which occurred in 8 cases (66.7%). Two of the cases with vascular resection are still alive after 17 and 22 months. CONCLUSIONS: In all of these 12 cases, we were forced to perform "extensive" resective surgery, which was apparently curative, although we were not able to prevent recurrence in a high percentage of cases. Moreover, aggressive surgery seems justified in particular histotypes, such as in the carcinoid case reported in our study; debulking enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy and permits relief of the endocrine symptoms eventually induced by the tumor.

Arterial injuries following diagnostic, therapeutic, and accidental arterial cannulation in haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Incidence of iatrogenic arterial lesions is currently increasing and patients undergoing dialysis represent a group at high risk since they require repeated cannulation of the vascular access and intermittent heparinization during maintenance haemodialysis. CLINICAL REPORTS: Between 1992 and 1995 we treated four vascular lesions (two pseudoaneurysms and two arteriovenous fistulae) with surgery in three patients undergoing dialysis at our centre. No postoperative morbidity and mortality was observed; in all cases surgery was effective. CONCLUSIONS: Although conservative treatment (US guided compression) of arterial lesions shows promising results, in patients undergoing dialysis combined with heparinization it seems less suitable. In these patients, early detection of post-cannulation pseudoaneurysms or arteriovenous fistulae allows surgical treatment, with low morbidity rate and satisfactory long-term outcome.

Epidemiology, pathophysiology and natural history of venous thromboembolism.

Venous thromboembolism is a relevant social and health care problem for its high incidence, pulmonary embolism-related mortality, and long-term sequels which may be disabling. In the United States, there are at least 100,000 deaths per year from pulmonary embolism, found in over 10% non selected autopsy findings. The use of noninvasive diagnostic procedures has improved our knowledge on venous thromboembolism, with reference to surgery in particular. Deep vein thrombosis represents one of most common postoperative complications. Fatal pulmonary embolism is observed at least in one over thousand operated patients. From data of literature and in the authors' experience, the incidence of pulmonary embolism is decreasing in last years. Deep vein thrombosis is caused by several factors associated with Virchow's triad. Its evolution is site-related. While deep vein thrombosis of the calf can be considered a "benign" pathological condition for the incidence and severity of the embolic complication, as well as for the long-term outcomes, when the proximal venous trunks are involved, it is related to a high incidence of severe pulmonary embolism and relevant postphlebitic sequels. Pulmonary embolism is often the first manifestation of thromboembolism. Mobilization of thrombi is easier in the first phases, when they do not adhere as yet to the venous wall. Of 52 consecutive cases of pulmonary embolism, 21% occurred in the absence of signs or symptoms of deep vein thrombosis. In rare cases, thrombosis may be massive with total block of venous return flow and onset of ischemia. These forms have a severe prognosis apart from the embolic complication.

Clinical and instrumental diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary embolism shows a high mortality especially for the difficulty in establishing an early correct diagnosis. The pathophysiology and thus the clinical manifestations of pulmonary embolism (PE) are essentially conditioned by three factors: the size of the embolus, the pre-existing cardiorespiratory condition, the release caused by the embolus, of some substances or the activation of reflexes which tend to worsen the purely mechanical consequences of PE. The clinical manifestations resulting from the combination of these factors result in three clinical patterns: acute cor pulmonare, pulmonary infarction, acute dyspnea. PE symptoms may be absent in a moderate percentage of cases and if present, they are nonspecific. Some laboratory tests were shown to be of no diagnostic accuracy, as enzyme determination, a sign of necrosis, blood gas analysis, and determination of alveolar arterial oxygen gradient. Among blood coagulation tests, D-dimer determination was shown to be of some relevance. However, at present, it cannot be used to confirm the diagnostic suspicion of PE. Among the instrumental cardiologic procedures, while ECG has a poor diagnostic reliability, transesophageal echocardiography in central embolism may be able to visualize the embolus and to accurately assess the hemodynamic effects, supplying sufficient information for PE therapy. Even if imaging procedures as pulmonary angiography and more recently CT or MRI are the most reliable diagnostic tools, the diagnostic suspicion of PE in subjects at risk, the use of the examined methods and the search in these patients for the presence of lower limb deep vein thrombosis, often asymptomatic, may increase the number of treated patients thus decreasing the mortality of this disease.

Treatment of deep vein thrombosis.

At present, most common initial treatment of deep vein thrombosis is anticoagulant therapy with i.v. heparin. Recently, some reports in literature suggest the efficacy of low molecular weight heparin fractions administered also to outpatients. Thrombolytic therapy as compared to heparin seems to be favorable as for the valvular integrity and function with minor postphlebitic sequels. It is however burdened with a higher incidence of hemorrhagic complications. Probably, it should be reserved for those patients with massive phlebothrombosis or phlebothrombosis associated with relevant clinical signs. At present, it has not definitely been proved that one of the commonly used drugs, streptokinase, urokinase and r-TPA affords substantial advantages in terms of efficacy and safety. Locoregional administration by a catheter inserted into the thrombus with the protection of a caval filter enhances the efficacy of thrombolytic agents, even if data on long-term results of this method are still lacking. Discordant opinions exist on the validity of thrombectomy. As a prophylaxis of pulmonary embolism, thrombus removal has been replaced by caval filters. At present it is commonly indicated for phlegmasia coerulea dolens. In the other forms, even if the vascular patency is restored in a good percentage of cases, it is not similarly effective in preventing the postphlebitic syndrome. For these reasons it should be applied in selected cases.

Multidisciplinary approach to venous thromboembolism.

Venous thromboembolism shows a high incidence and a significant mortality. Even if valid methods are available, thromboembolism is underdiagnosed. There are a number of diagnostic difficulties. They concern the time of the diagnostic suspicion, the patient selection for the various procedures and their combination. These difficulties may be overcome by team work where specialists of different disciplines (surgeons, internists, experts in nuclear medicine, radiologists) integrate their competence to attain the established objectives. The integration results in "synergism", namely an added value greater than the sum of competences of the team components. Thus, an operational unit active 24 hours over 24 must be formed to diagnose and treat the largest number of cases of thromboembolism. To establish the clinical suspicion of thromboembolism is the first indispensable step for patient selection. Thromboembolism should be investigated in all patients with chest pain, dyspnea and tachypnea in the absence of preexisting cardiorespiratory disease. The team should evaluate the impact of signs and symptoms to establish a definitive clinical probability which can direct towards the suitable, least invasive imaging procedure. Perfusion scanning, when highly suggestive or normal, is conclusive. However in 70% of cases it is indeterminate. Thus it should be combined with other procedures and with the clinical assessment. In practice, many dubious cases remain unsolved. The team work represents an organizational response to this diagnostic and therapeutic inadequacy. The real change in strategy which has revolutionized the diagnosis of thromboembolism was the widespread use of color Doppler US in the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis. Since pulmonary embolism as well as deep vein thrombosis are treated with the same therapy, it is adequate to document the thrombosis also in the absence of a definitive demonstration of embolism. The old-fashioned approach should be reversed and the investigation should be centered on the assessment of deep vein thrombosis: site, emboligenic potential, floating extremity and extension. The integration of the clinical assessment, scanning finding and color Doppler US lowers by about 20% the number of indeterminate cases and indicates the patients for whom pulmonary spiral CT or pulmonary angiography is required. In all patients with cardiorespiratory insufficiency still unsolved after the combination of noninvasive exams, pulmonary angiography or spiral CT is mandatory because of the high risk for death. The remaining ones can be followed with serial color Doppler US exams. The cost/benefit ratio shows that the noninvasive strategy is the least expensive, the least hazardous and the most effective. At present, effective therapies are available for thromboembolism. Standard heparin and low molecular weight heparin fractions, fibrinolytic agents, surgery and recently caval filters are playing a major role in secondary prophylaxis of pulmonary embolism. The therapeutic approach is conditioned by various factors: the features of thrombosis, the presence and entity of pulmonary embolism, the patient cardiorespiratory condition, possible contraindications for anticoagulant and fibrinolytic agents. The presence of such a number of variables makes the use of a therapeutic algorithm, difficult. In this phase, based on our experience we believe that the present solution lies in the activity of an operational team of experts who establish the treatment to be performed.

Risk factors and prevention of venous thromboembolism.

In the last 20 years within the clinical research on venous thromboembolism a major objective was to identify and develop increasingly effective and safe methods of prevention. This trend is justified by the high incidence of thromboembolism as well as by the relevant mortality for acute pulmonary embolism and postphlebitic sequels of difficult treatment. A significant contribution to the rational application of methods of prevention was given by the knowledge of risk factors. Together with acquired risks, as surgery, age, malignant tumors, in the last 30 years some conditions of thrombophilia were identified. They are caused by deficiencies in coagulation inhibitors (antithrombin III, protein C, protein S) or other alteration of the anticoagulation system as resistance to activated protein C or antiphospholipid antibodies. The primary prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism is aimed at the prevention of thrombosis by pharmacologic methods able to oppose the procoagulant alterations while avoiding hemorrhagic complications. The physical methods tend to reduce the stasis in the veins of the lower extremities. Subcutaneous calcium heparin at the dose of 5000 U twice or three times a day is the most common pharmacologic method used. It was shown to be safe and effective especially in postoperative prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in general surgery. More recently, low molecular weight heparin fractions have been introduced. As compared to standard heparin they have the advantage of a single daily dose and a better efficacy in some groups of patients, as those undergoing hip replacement. Among the substances under clinical experimentation, dermatan sulfate seems promising. Most common physical prevention methods consist in the use of elastic graduated compression stockings and systems of intermittent pneumatic calf compression. The former can be used also in presence of a hemorrhagic risk as in neurosurgery. The latter have shown a good efficacy in increasing flow velocity and probably also in enhancing the fibrinolytic activity. The combination of physical and pharmacologic methods seems to be able of enhancing the efficacy of prophylaxis.

[Aorto-iliac aneurysms and associated gastrointestinal neoplasms. Treatment problems]. / Aneurismi aorto-iliaci e neoplasie gastrointestinali associate. Problemi di trattamento.

In patients affected by aortoiliac aneurysm the concurrent presence of a gastrointestinal tumor is a not infrequent occurrence which poses problems of therapeutic approach (one step operation or prior treatment of one of the two diseases; in the latter case definition of timing and sequence of the surgical treatment). Three cases are reported where an eclectic therapeutic approach has enabled satisfactory results. A patient with an isolated aneurysm of right hypogastric artery associated with rectal cancer was treated with percutaneous embolization of the aneurysm and subsequent excision of the tumor. In a patient with a neoplasm of the left colon and aortic aneurysm, the aneurysm was treated first and after about a month the tumor was resected. In a patient with gastric cancer and aortic aneurysm subtotal gastrectomy was first performed and subsequently, after about 3 months, the aneurysm was treated by extraperitoneal route. Even if an unidirectional approach cannot be defined, it is thought that the two-step treatment of the associated diseases is preferable. In the presence of non stenosed non bleeding colorectal tumors it seems more suitable to treat the aneurysm first (increased postoperative risk for rupture of the aneurysm; more difficult preparation of subrenal aorta in the presence of cicatricial outcomes of colonic surgery; persistence of perianastomotic infections after colonic resection). Gastric tumors should be treated first for their higher biological aggressiveness and unfeasible correct preoperative staging. In particular cases (single unilateral aneurysm of a hypogastric artery associated with gastrointestinal cancer), non surgical treatment of the vascular lesion (embolization during angiography) is the treatment of choice.

[Pulmonary thromboembolism and diagnostic imaging: integration of techniques and methods]. / Tromboembolia polmonare e diagnostica per immagini: integrazione di tecniche e metodiche.

Thromboembolism is presently the third most frequent cardiovascular disease, with an incidence of deep venous thrombosis of 800,000 cases a year in the USA. The clinical diagnosis of the condition is difficult and noninvasive procedures are poorly reliable, which makes the diagnosis and treatment of deep venous thrombosis appropriate in the patient with clinically suspected pulmonary embolism. Color-Doppler US is now replacing phlebography in the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis. Proximal deep venous thrombosis is always at high risk for embolism (50%). Isolated calf thrombi may spread into proximal veins and thus cause severe embolism. Therefore, the early detection of thrombus site and extent and a timely treatment before embolism are of the utmost importance. Color-Doppler US is a noninvasive technique which can show deep venous thrombosis with 95% sensitivity in the proximal and 55% sensitivity in the distal districts in asymptomatic patients. This examination must be used not only to confirm a diagnostic suspicion of deep venous thrombosis, but also to screen high-risk patient and to monitor distal thrombosis. In the secondary prophylaxis of pulmonary embolism, the radiologist must perform a mechanical interruption of inferior vena cava by positioning a caval filter. Caval filters can be temporary or definitive; standard indications for caval filter positioning are a contraindication to anticoagulant therapy and the onset of pulmonary embolism in spite of anticoagulant drugs. A further indication is the presence of floating thrombi in the femoroiliac-caval trunk. Multidisciplinary groups including the hematologist, the radiologist and the clinician should plan the diagnostic and therapeutic approach and participate in the decision-making process. In our department, from January, 1992, to June, 1995, sixty-five caval filters were positioned in 62 patients selected out of 260 candidates. Three complications only were observed; one patient had recurrent pulmonary embolism and three patient had caval thrombosis spreading beyond the filter. In 198 patients in whom no caval filter was implanted, pulmonary embolism did not recur. At present, the role of the radiologist is markedly changing, especially in the management of this condition. On the one hand, radiologists must diagnose thromboembolism as a whole and not only its pulmonary evidence; on the other hand, they play a major operational and interventional role in the treatment of thromboembolism patients.

[Physical training and low-dose heparin-calcium in patients suffering from chronic obliterating arteriopathy of the lower limbs with intermittent claudication]. / Training fisico ed eparina calcica a basse dosi in pazienti affetti da arteriopatia obliterante cronica degli arti inferiori con claudicatio intermittens.

In the treatment of peripheral obliterating arteriopathy (POA) physical training provides clear results in terms of increased walking autonomy; it is still not fully clear whether the positive effects of physical training can be further improved by concomitant back-up drug therapy. For this purpose 374 patients of both sexes, with a mean age of 64 years, suffering from chronic peripheral obliterating arteriopathy of the lower limbs were enrolled in a controlled open clinical trial, instructed to follow a programme of physical training and randomly allocated to low dose treatment with heparin calcium (12,500 IU/day) for 6 months. An improvement in the claudicometric parameters (free gait interval, absolute gait interval and recovery time) measured at constant speed and in the resting Winsor ankle/arm index of the most severely damaged limb were observed in both groups. These improvements were significantly greater in the group receiving pharmacological treatment (p < 0.01) and efficacy increased in line with basal deambulatory impairment. The results obtained and the good tolerance of the drug underline the clinical efficacy of heparin calcium at low doses in association with a physical training programme in patients suffering from Fontaine's stage II peripheral obliterating arteriopathy.

[Ovarian varicocele: percutaneous treatment. A preliminary note]. / Varicocele ovarico: trattamento percutaneo. Nota preliminare.

Incontinence of ovarian veins and development of adnexal varicosities (pelvic varicocele) seems to cause pelvic pain syndrome in about 50% of the cases. Whereas the diagnosis of male varicocele is usually clinical, the same diagnosis in a woman needs instrumental methods; therefore the number of diagnosed cases is lower than the real incidence of the disease. In the last 18 months 2 patients with ovarian varicocele and chronic pelvic pain have been successfully treated by percutaneous sclerotization of the gonadal veins with resolution of the pelvic pain syndrome. We preferred this interventional procedure to the surgical one, as is usually the case with male varicocele, where percutaneous therapy is considered the treatment of choice on the basis of long-term results, since its first attempt in 1977. Considering the effectiveness of this simple and non-surgical therapy for chronic pelvic pain, we stress the importance of correct and early diagnosis of pelvic varicocele.

Treatment of intraosseous arteriovenous fistulas of the extremities.

Intraosseous arteriovenous fistulas of the extremities are rare malformations frequently associated with severe systemic hemodynamic alterations. In many cases, it is quite difficult to eliminate these anomalous vascular structures, but the possibilities for successful treatment are much greater when surgery is combined with interventional radiology. Selective embolization of the malformed vessels can be produced with a variety of agents that are injected into afferent arteries, via percutaneous puncture or through direct surgical access. The intraosseous portion of the fistula should be resected at the time of embolization or later. The authors describe the successful treatment of three patients having intraosseous arteriovenous fistulas of the upper extremities, who have had follow-up for 2 to 10 years.