Reduced Muscle Mass and Muscle Quality in Patients with Intermittent Claudication due to Peripheral Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with reduced muscle mass and quality, but the effects of leg ischemia caused by PAD on muscle quality remain poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate leg muscle mass and muscle quality in patients with intermittent claudication due to PAD using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). METHODS: One hundred forty-one patients with intermittent claudication due to PAD who visited Tokyo Medical University Hospital from April 2019 to April 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Leg ischemia was assessed using ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI). The skeletal muscle mass (SMM) assessed leg muscle mass, while the phase angle (PhA) assessed leg muscle quality using BIA. RESULTS: A total of 282 legs in 141 patients were included in the analysis. Leg PhA and SMM showed a decreasing trend according to the severity of leg ischemia (borderline/no ischemia: 2.80 ± 0.50 kg/m2, 4.38 ± 0.94°; mild ischemia: 2.83 ± 0.49 kg/m2, 4.33 ± 1.03°; moderate/severe ischemia: 2.50 ± 0.40 kg/m2, 3.89 ± 0. 88°; P < 0.001 and P = 0.020, respectively). The ABI was moderately correlated with leg SMM (B = 0.347, ß = 0.134, P < 0.001) and leg PhA (B = 0.577, ß = 0.111, P = 0.013) after adjustment for all significant covariates. Leg PhA was moderately correlated with leg SMM (r = 0.318, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Leg ischemia, especially when moderate or severe, has an adverse effect on both muscle mass and quality in the lower extremities and is associated with skeletal muscle myopathy.

Serious Adverse Events with Cyanoacrylate Closure of Varicose Veins: An Initial Report from a Large-Scale National Survey in Japan.

Objective: Cyanoacrylate closure (CAC) is a minimally invasive technique for the treatment of varicose veins. A recent paper reported serious adverse events (AEs) associated with this use. This triggered an urgent survey to determine the incidence of AEs in Japan. Methods: The CAC-AE survey was sent to all 1,030 institutions authorized for CAC treatments. Cases performed between January 2020 and October 2023 were surveyed. Data on serious AEs and mortality were collected. Results: There were 623 surveys returned. There were 16 cases of proximal deep vein thrombosis, 3 cases of pulmonary embolism (PE), and 0 cases of stroke. Deep vein occlusion due to cyanoacrylate extension was observed in 1 case. Vein resection due to infection was observed in 4 cases. There were 299 cases of localized phlebitis and/or allergic reactions requiring steroid administration. Systemic allergic reactions requiring steroid administration were observed in 66 cases. There was no anaphylaxis associated with cyanoacrylate. There was one postoperative death from PE. Conclusion: This report's intent is to provide real world data on serious AEs following CAC from Japan given current concern over these events. An extensive report investigation of individual complications with analysis including causality will be provided following a full investigation separately.

The Preoperative Lymphocyte-To-Monocyte Ratio Predicts Mortality Among Patients Undergoing Endovascular Aortic Repair for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the preoperative lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) as a potential surrogate biomarker predictive of overall mortality in patients undergoing endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). METHODS: Data on patients with AAA treated by EVAR between March 2012 and December 2016 were obtained from a prospectively maintained EVAR database at Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. The LMR was calculated by dividing the absolute lymphocyte count by the absolute monocyte count. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-six patients were included in this study after selection based on the exclusion criteria. The subjects consisted of 148 males and 28 females with a mean age of 78.5 years (range, 51-89 years). The median follow-up period was 4.98 years (range, .03-9.28). A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis determined the optimal cut-off value of the preoperative LMR for predicting overall mortality with 3.21 (area under the curve, .71; 95% confidence interval [CI], .62-.79; sensitivity, 57.4%; specificity, 77.0%; P < .001). On univariable and multivariable analyses, octogenarian (hazard ratio [HR], 1.89; 95%CI, 1.10-3.22; P = .020), poor nutritional status (HR, 2.95; 95%CI, 1.73-5.03; P < .001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR, 1.79; 95%CI, 1.06-3.03; P = .031), active cancer (HR, 2.60; 95%CI, 1.53-4.41; P < .001), and low preoperative LMR (HR, 2.56; 95%CI, 1.53-4.30; P < .001) were identified as independent predictors for overall mortality. CONCLUSION: This study showed that a low preoperative LMR (<3.21) is an independent predictor of overall mortality after EVAR for AAA. The LMR may help in decision-making regarding the prediction of poor prognosis after EVAR.

Autologous angiogenic therapy with cultured mesenchymal stromal cells in platelet-rich plasma for critical limb ischemia.

Introduction: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing globally, including in Japan. Patients with diabetes often experience microangiopathy and macroangiopathy, which lead to difficult-to-treat foot ulcers and diabetic gangrene. Conventional cellular therapies have limited safety and are invasive. In this study, we investigated the use of cultured autologous mesenchymal stromal cells derived from the bone marrow and grown in platelet-rich plasma as a potential treatment for diabetic complications. Methods: A prospective clinical trial was conducted to assess safety as the primary endpoint and efficacy as the secondary endpoint of the aforementioned therapy in five patients with critical limb ischemia, with or without hemodialysis. Results: Five patients with critical limb ischemia were enrolled between 2016 and 2019, three of whom underwent hemodialysis. Platelet-rich plasma was obtained from 288 ± 39.6 mL of blood/patient, yielding 31.6 ± 1.67 mL of platelet-rich plasma. Bone marrow aspiration yielded 18.4 ± 4.77 mL/patient, and 4.64 ± 1.51 × 107 cells were incubated for 16 ± 2.8 days to obtain 3.26 ± 0.33 × 107 mesenchymal stromal cells. Although several adverse events were observed, none were directly attributed to cell therapy. Clinical severity, as assessed by both the Fontaine stage and Rutherford category, improved significantly following therapy. This improvement was accompanied by enhancements in the 6-min walking distance, dorsal skin perfusion pressure, ankle transcutaneous partial oxygen pressure, and ankle brachial pressure index. Conclusion: Autologous angiogenic therapy with cultured mesenchymal stromal cells derived from the bone marrow and grown in platelet-rich plasma is a safe and feasible, and was expected as a potential treatment for critical limb ischemia.

Prognostic Value of Nutritional Markers for Long-Term Mortality in Patients Undergoing Endovascular Aortic Repair.

Objective: The relationship between nutritional status and morbidity and death in a number of diseases and disorders has garnered considerable attension. In patients having endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), we assessed the prognostic value of nutritional markers of albumin (ALB), body mass index (BMI), and geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) for long-term mortality. Materials and Methods: Retrospective data analysis was done on patients who had undergone elective EVAR for AAA more than 5 years earlier. Results: A total of 176 patients underwent EVAR for AAA between March 2012 and April 2016. The optimal cutoff value of ALB, BMI, and GNRI for predicting long-term mortality was calculated as 3.75 g/dL (area under the curve [AUC] 0.64), 21.4 kg/m2 (AUC 0.65), and 101.4 (AUC 0.70), respectively. Low ALB, low BMI, and low GNRI as well as age ≥75 years, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, and active cancer were independent risk factors for long-term mortality. Conclusion: Malnutrition, which is measured by ALB, BMI, and GNRI, is an independent risk factor for long-term mortality in patients receiving EVAR for AAA. Of the nutritional markers, the GNRI can be the most reliable nutritional indicator to identify a potentially high-risk group of mortality after EVAR.

Association of simple renal cysts to aneurysm sac shrinkage in true thoracic aortic aneurysms after thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

BACKGROUND: An increased prevalence of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) has been demonstrated in patients with simple renal cysts (SRC); patients with SRC have a less elastic aortic wall than those without SRC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate aneurysm sac shrinkage after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for true TAA in patients with and without SRC. METHODS: One hundred three patients with true aneurysms of the thoracic aorta who underwent TEVAR at our university hospital from November 2013 to December 2021 were included in this study. Aneurysm sac size was compared between that on baseline preoperative computed tomography and that on postoperative computed tomography scans at 1 year. A change in aneurysm sac size ≥5 mm was considered to be significant, whether due to expansion or shrinkage. RESULTS: The patients were divided into two groups: those with SRC (46 patients [45%]) and those without SRC (57 patients [55%]). At 1 year, there was a significant difference in the proportion of aneurysm sac shrinkage between patients with SRC and those without SRC (23.9% vs 59.6%; P < .001). Patients with SRC showed significantly less aneurysm sac shrinkage than those without SRC (-1.8 ± 5.6 mm vs -5.1 ± 6.6 mm; P = .009). Univariable and multivariable analyses showed that the initial sac diameter (odds ratio, 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.14; P = .002) and the presence of SRC (odds ratio, 0.15; 95% confidence interval, 0.06-0.40; P < .001) were positively and negatively associated with aneurysm sac shrinkage after TEVAR, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a SRC was independently associated with failure of aneurysm sac shrinkage after TEVAR for true TAA. This suggests that the presence of a SRC may be a predictor for the failure of aneurysm sac shrinkage after TEVAR.

Influence of Lower Limb Ischemia on Skeletal Muscle Mass Depletion in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine the change in skeletal muscle mass over time by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). METHODS: Patients with symptomatic PAD visiting Tokyo Medical University Hospital between January 2018 and October 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. PAD was diagnosed based on ankle brachial pressure index (ABI) < 0.9 with either leg and confirmed by duplex scan and/or computed tomography angiography as needed. Patients undergoing endovascular treatment, surgery, or supervised exercise therapy were excluded before and during the study period. Skeletal muscle mass of the extremities was measured using BIA. The sum of skeletal muscle masses in the arms and legs was calculated as skeletal muscle mass index (SMI). Patients were scheduled to undergo BIA at an interval of 1 year. RESULTS: Of 119 patients, 72 patients were included in the study. All patients were ambulatory and had symptoms of intermittent claudication (Fontaine's stage II). SMI significantly decreased from 6.98 ± 1.30 at baseline to 6.83 ± 1.29 at 1-year follow-up. Individual skeletal muscle mass of the ischemic leg was significantly reduced after 1 year, but not in the nonischemic leg. A decrease in SMI (defined as SMI ≥0.1 kg/m2 per year) was independently associated with low ABI. The optimal cut-off value of ABI for the decrease in SMI was 0.72. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that lower limb ischemia due to PAD, especially if ABI is < 0.72 or less, may result in a decrease in skeletal muscle mass that affects health and physical function.

Significance of perioperative intrasac pressure in sac shrinkage after endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) results in a marked reduction of intrasac pressure, which is the likely cause of aneurysm sac shrinkage. We evaluated the change of intrasac pressure during operation and its association with aneurysm sac shrinkage one year after EVAR. METHODS: This study included 113 patients undergoing EVAR using the Gore C3 Excluder at our university hospital between March 2016 and December 2020. A direct intrasac pressure was measured before and after stent deployment. The Pressure Index (PI) was defined as the ratio of intrasac pressure to systemic blood pressure. RESULTS: Patients were divided into two groups: patients with aneurysm sac shrinkage (N.=33, 29%) and those without (N.=80, 71%). Systolic and diastolic PI after stent graft deployment were significantly higher in patients with aneurysm sac shrinkage than those without, respectively (systolic PI, 64.6±13.9% vs. 58.1±12.0%, P=0.014; diastolic PI, 103.8±24.7% vs. 96.4±12.9%, P=0.039). Multivariable analysis revealed post-deployment systolic PI as an independent risk factor predictive of aneurysm sac shrinkage (odds ratio 1.04; 95% CI 1.01-1.08; P=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Although systolic intrasac pressure, described as systolic PI, was an independent risk factor for aneurysm sac shrinkage, contrary to our expectation, it was significantly higher in patients with aneurysm sac shrinkage than those without. This seemingly contradictory result may be explained by the properties of an aneurysm sac, which influence the change of intrasac pressure.

Complete Resection of a Cavoatrial Metastatic Liposarcoma under Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest.

A patient underwent surgical resection twice for primary and metastatic dedifferentiated liposarcomas. Computed tomography revealed a tumor mass at the cavoatrial junction. Prompt surgical resection of the tumor with thrombectomy was successfully performed using cardiopulmonary bypass with hypothermic circulatory arrest. Despite the poor prognosis of metastatic or recurrent liposarcoma, the patient has survived for 8 years since the first tumor resection.

The Presence of Simple Renal Cysts Is Associated With Increased Arterial Stiffness in Patients With Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

Simple renal cysts (SRC) are associated with the development of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). We hypothesized that patients with AAA and SRC have increased arterial stiffness (AS) compared with patients without SRC. Patients (n=223) with an infrarenal AAA undergoing pulse wave analysis were recruited. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured (automated oscillometric method) as an index of AS. Participants were categorized into those with increased AS and those with normal/borderline AS (threshold: 1800 cm/s); 134 patients (60.1%) had increased AS and 89 (39.9%) patients had normal/borderline AS. Multivariable analyses showed that age ≥75 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.51-5.72; P=.002), systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg (OR, 5.05; 95% CI, 2.35-10.83; P<.001), hypertension (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.08-4.79; P=.030), and presence of SRC (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.03-3.46; P=.040) were independent risk factors for increased AS. The presence of SRC is an independent risk factor for increased AS in patients with an AAA. This association suggests that patients with SRC may have severe aortic wall degeneration and thus the presence of SRC may be pathologically linked to the development of AAA.

Association of lower limb ischemia with loss of skeletal muscle mass in patients with peripheral artery disease.

PURPOSE: The influence of lower limb ischemia on the loss of skeletal muscle mass, which is a prerequisite for sarcopenia, remains poorly studied in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). We determined whether or not lower limb ischemia correlates with a loss of skeletal muscle mass in patients with PAD. METHODS: The data of 101 patients (202 legs) with PAD were retrospectively analyzed. Body composition was measured using a bioelectrical impedance analysis. Based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia, low muscle mass (LMM) was defined as skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) < 7.00 kg/m2 (male) and < 5.70 kg/m2 (female). Both univariable and multivariable analyses of the risk factors for LMM were performed. RESULTS: There were significant differences in age, ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) per patient, and the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), between patients with and without LMM. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed age (odds ratio [OR], 1.09; p = 0.009), GNRI (OR, 0.93; p = 0.003), and ABI per patient (OR, 0.02; p = 0.027) as independent risk factors for LMM. CONCLUSION: These data show a detrimental effect of lower limb ischemia on skeletal muscle mass loss, suggesting that PAD may affect the development of secondary sarcopenia.

Type IIIb endoleak due to stent suture line fabric breakage in the Endurant stent graft: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Early type IIIb endoleak is a very rare complication of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). CASE PRESENTATION: An 87-year-old man was diagnosed with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. The patient underwent EVAR using the Endurant stent graft. Postoperative color duplex ultrasound revealed a regular row of pulsatile blood flow from the main body and left leg. The blood flow appeared to be bleeding from the stent suture lines because of its regularity. Type IIIb endoleak was suspected due to stent suture line fabric breakage but was not treated surgically or endovascularly because of the patient's poor general health status. Six months later, contrast-enhanced CT demonstrated a deformation and enlargement of the aneurysm sac as well as an oozing of the contrast medium on the main body and left limb. Thereafter, he died of a subdural hematoma due to a fall. Autopsy showed no visible abnormal erosion or holes on the graft fabric, suggesting that suture line fabric breakage may have existed during the manufacturing process. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, type IIIb endoleaks can occur even in the perioperative period after EVAR. Early type IIIb endoleaks may not resolve spontaneously and should be treated promptly, if possible.

Association of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio to overall mortality after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive ability of neutrophilia, lymphocytopenia, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for overall mortality after EVAR for AAA. METHODS: Data on patients with AAA treated by EVAR between March 2012 and December 2016 were obtained from a prospectively maintained EVAR database at Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. The NLR was calculated by dividing the absolute neutrophil count by the absolute lymphocyte count. A cut-off value of total WBC count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, and NLR was determined according to a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazard analyses to account for the time at risk. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-eight patients were included in this study after selection based on the exclusion criteria. The subjects consisted of 150 men and 28 women with a mean age of 77.5 years (range: 51-89 years). A ROC curve analysis determined the optimal cut-off values of preoperative total WBC, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and NLR for predicting overall mortality with 7,050 /µL, 4,012 /µL, 1,312 /µL, and 3.19, respectively. On univariate and multivariate analyses, octogenarian, obesity, COPD, active cancer, and lymphocytopenia or NLR were detected as independent predictors for overall mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Specific leukocyte populations, such as lymphocyte count and NLR, are useful biomarkers to predict overall mortality in patients undergoing EVAR for AAA, suggesting that WBC count and its subsets, which are easy to perform a test, may be used to stratify patients at risk for poor prognosis following EVAR.

Association of High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein With Aneurysm Sac Shrinkage in Patients Undergoing Endovascular Abdominal Aneurysm Repair.

PURPOSE: The factors associated with aneurysm sac shrinkage after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) are not well established. As inflammation is implicated in aneurysm pathophysiology, we hypothesized that high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was associated with aneurysm sac shrinkage after EVAR and compared the preoperative level of hsCRP between patients with and without postoperative aneurysm sac shrinkage after EVAR. METHODS: From November 2013 to April 2019, 143 patients undergoing EVAR using Gore C3 Excluder (W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc, Flagstaff, Arizona) at our university hospital were included in this study. Aneurysm sac size was compared between that on baseline preoperative computed tomography (CT) and that on postoperative CT scans. A change in aneurysm sac size ≥5 mm was considered to be significant, whether due to enlargement or shrinkage. RESULTS: Aneurysm sac size showed a significant decrease from 50.6 ± 9.8 mm to 47.1 ± 10.3 mm at 1 year. At 1 year postoperatively, aneurysm sac shrinkage (≥5 mm) was observed in 48 patients (34%), a stable aneurysm sac was noted in 93 patients (65%), and aneurysm sac enlargement was noted in 2 patients (1.4%). The mean preoperative hsCRP was 0.33 ± 0.54 mg/dL. Univariable analysis showed that preoperative hsCRP (p=0.029) and the presence of a renal cyst (p=0.002) were associated with aneurysm sac shrinkage. Multivariable analysis showed that preoperative hsCRP [>0.19mg/dL] (odds ratio [OR] = 0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.05-0.96; p=0.042), and the presence of a renal cyst (OR = 0.31; 95% CI = 0.15-0.67; p=0.002) were independent risk factors for aneurysm sac shrinkage after EVAR. CONCLUSIONS: The level of preoperative hsCRP was independently associated with aneurysm sac shrinkage after EVAR in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms. These data suggest that the high level of hsCRP can be a negative predictor for aneurysm sac shrinkage after EVAR.

Spinal Cord Ischemia in the Setting of Acute Type B Aortic Dissection: Successful Rescue with Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair.

We report 2 cases of successful thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for acute type B aortic dissection (ABAD) complicated with spinal cord ischemia (SCI). Case 1. A 70-year-old gentleman found with an uncomplicated ABAD with false lumen occluded, developed SCI shortly after admission during the initial medical management. Cerebrospinal fluid drainage (CSFD) was initiated followed by emergent TEVAR. SCI improved, and the patient was discharged. Case 2. A 52-year-old gentleman developed uncomplicated ABAD with patent false lumen. 5 hours after admission, he developed SCI during the initial medical management. Emergent TEVAR was performed followed by CSFD, and the SCI improved before discharge. These cases prompted us to address prompt TEVAR for primary entry closure and true lumen dilatation with postoperative hypertensive management to relieve the dynamic obstruction of the segmental arteries responsible for the compromised spinal cord circulation in complicated ABAD.

Association of preoperative pulse wave velocity to aneurysm sac shrinkage after endovascular aneurysm repair.

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness may be the underlying cause of divergent sac behavior after endovascular aortic repair (EVAR). We evaluated arterial stiffness using pulse wave velocity (PWV) in patients undergoing EVAR for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) to determine whether arterial stiffness predicts sac behavior after EVAR. METHODS: One hundred nineteen patients with infrarenal AAA undergoing EVAR between November 2013 and July 2019 were included in this study. Preoperative brachial-ankle PWV was measured using an automated oscillometric method at our Vascular Laboratory. PWV and other risk factors were assessed with respect to being a risk factor for sac shrinkage at 2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: Univariable and multivariable analyses revealed both preoperative PWV (odds ratio [OR]=0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.79-0.98; P=0.045) and the incidence of operative type II endoleak (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.10-0.81; P=0.048) as independent risk factors for sac shrinkage at 2 year postoperatively. The receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the optimal cut-off value for predicting sac shrinkage was 17.79 m/s, and significantly predicted sac shrinkage. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative PWV was independently associated with sac shrinkage after EVAR, suggesting that arterial stiffness may be one of the key factors for determining sac behavior after EVAR.

Coil embolization of renal artery aneurysms: Simultaneous delivery of three microdevices with a novel 6-Fr guiding sheath.

Here, we report the case of a 59-year-old male patient who underwent transcatheter embolization of bilateral renal artery aneurysms, using 2 microballoons and 1 microcatheter, all carried within a single guiding sheath. During coil embolization in a visceral artery, there are situations that can require multiple microdevices. We developed a new 6-Fr Shephard-hook type guiding sheath (Parent Plus 60) with a lumen large enough to deliver three microdevices simultaneously. This technique can be used broadly in different clinical scenarios, and it may provide novel treatment strategies to clinicians in the future.

Time Course of Leg Edema after Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation for Saphenous Varicose Veins.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of the study were to quantitatively evaluate leg edema in patients undergoing endovenous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for saphenous varicose veins using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and to elucidate the time course of leg edema after RFA. METHODS: The data of 87 patients with 128 limbs undergoing RFA for saphenous varicose veins in Eniwa Midorino Clinic from April 2018 to November 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Saphenous vein reflux was evaluated by duplex scan. Extracellular water/total body water ratio (ECW/TBW) of the leg was measured by BIA. Moderate to severe leg edema (ECW/TBW ≥ 0.400) was defined as significant leg edema. Venous reflux was evaluated as a venous filling index (VFI) using air plethysmography. RESULTS: BIA revealed that 26 legs (20.3%) had significant edema and 102 legs (79.7%) did not before RFA. The proportion of patients with significant leg edema increased significantly from preoperative to 1 week after RFA (P < 0.05) and decreased 1 month after RFA (P < 0.01). The ECW/TBW increased significantly from preoperative (0.393 ± 0.008) to 1 week after RFA (0.394 ± 0.008, P < 0.05), whereas it decreased significantly before or 1 week to 1 month after RFA (0.391 ± 0.008, P < 0.05). There was a significant, moderate correlation between the decrease of the VFI and that of ECW/TBW (r = 0.34, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to quantitatively elucidate the time course of leg edema after RFA. Leg edema worsens one week after RFA, but it is improved one month after RFA, compared with that preoperatively.