Saccular renal artery aneurysm as a cause of hypertension.

The case of a patient with renovascular hypertension related to an arterial kink is reported. The arterial kink was caused by a renal artery aneurysm and was not apparent with angiography. This is the first reported case in which renin-mediated hypertension was clearly related to a correctable mechanical problem from a saccular renal artery aneurysm. Indications for surgical repair of renal artery aneurysms and angiographic findings indicative of a functionally significant renal artery stenosis are reviewed.

Bright-light amaurosis fugax: an unusual symptom of retinal hypoperfusion corrected by external carotid revascularization.

The eye often serves as an important monitor of carotid artery disease by manifesting visual disturbances before cerebral events. The most typical ocular symptom complex is amaurosis fugax characterized by loss of vision in one eye that occurs suddenly and clears within seconds to minutes. This symptom is a hallmark of carotid artery disease and is usually caused by an embolic event. Although monocular visual disturbance on a hemodynamic basis is a more unusual manifestation of carotid artery disease, significant stenosis in combination with a low-flow state can cause transient, unilateral telescoping of vision. This report describes another visual disturbance associated with carotid artery disease in which unilateral visual loss occurred upon exposure to bright light. We term this syndrome bright-light amaurosis fugax and document successful treatment by external carotid artery revascularization in two patients.

Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty of the iliac artery for contralateral ischemia.

The cases of three patients with lower extremity ischemia from ipsilateral iliac artery occlusion and contralateral iliac artery stenosis are presented. Planned treatment was percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of the contralateral iliac artery, rendering it an adequate donor vessel for subsequent femorofemoral bypass. Because of adequate collateral vessels across the pelvis, cross-femoral bypass was unnecessary following PTA. Current technology allows simultaneous intraoperative PTA and femorofemoral bypass. We do not recommend this on the basis of our experience.

Dilation of knitted Dacron aortic prostheses and anastomotic false aneurysms: etiologic considerations.

Five patients with knitted Dacron aortic bifurcation prostheses developed prosthetic dilation and anastomotic false aneurysms. The interval between placement of prostheses and secondary presentation ranged from 4 to 10 years. Three patients presented with femoral false aneurysms (one ruptured) and two presented with aortic false aneurysms (one ruptured). In all cases, anastomotic sutures remained intact on the prosthesis and there was no evidence of infection. The mean (+/- SEM) increase in diameter of prostheses was 85.7 +/- 19.1% (range 76% to 137%). Dilated prostheses were removed in four cases and were tested for tensile strength and studied with scanning electron microscopy. These were compared to normal, nondilated knitted Dacron prosthetic fabric from the same manufacturer. There was no loss of breaking strength in dilated prostheses. Furthermore, on examination with scanning electron microscopy, there was no evidence of degeneration or fracturing of individual Dacron filaments. However, dilated prostheses were found to have a greatly expanded knit. The distance between loops was significantly increased and the number of fibers per 1000 microns was significantly less in comparison to normal knitted Dacron fabric. These studies confirm an association between prosthetic dilation and false aneurysm formation. Further, they suggest that the cause of prosthetic dilation is loss of compactness of the knit not associated with intrinsic Dacron fiber deterioration. A fabrication defect is most likely responsible.

Etiologic factors for recurrent carotid artery stenosis.

Since 1966, 29 patients with recurrent carotid artery stenosis have been encountered. The mean (+/- SEM) internal between initial carotid endarterectomy and secondary presentation was 67.5 +/- 9.2 months (range 6 to 180 months). There was a disproportionate number of women with recurrent stenosis. The mean age at initial endarterectomy in patients with recurrent stenosis, 54.6 +/- 1.4 years, was significantly less (P less than 0.001) than that of all patients who had endarterectomy. To define the etiologic factors for recurrence, 21 of these patients were matched with case-control patients of the same age and sex who had undergone endarterectomy the same year but did not develop recognized recurrent stenosis. There was no significant difference in the incidence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, bilateral carotid disease, other vascular operations, or family history for atherosclerosis in patients with recurrent stenosis compared to control patients. The indications for primary endarterectomy, angiographic distribution of disease, and operative details were similar in both groups. There was no difference in the incidence of regular, therapeutic aspirin ingestion following initial endarterectomy (52.5% in both groups). There was a striking difference in smoking habits. Ninety-five percent of patients with recurrent stenosis continued to smoke following initial endarterectomy, compared to 23.8% of control patients (P less than 0.001). Lipid fractionation studies were performed in both groups, and there were no significant differences in levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, and total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio. Dose-response platelet aggregometry detected no differences between groups in the sensitivity of platelets to adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen, and epinephrine. Reoperation in patients with recurrent stenosis was associated with minimal morbidity, no deaths, and generally excellent results.

Asymptomatic cervical bruit and abnormal ocular pneumoplethysmography: a prospective study comparing two approaches to management.

Fifty-seven patients with cervical bruits and abnormal ocular pneumoplethysmography but without symptoms were followed prospectively. Mean follow-up was 32 months and all patients were followed for at least 1 year. Twenty-nine patients consented to join a randomized study comparing treatment with aspirin, close follow-up, and no intervention unless symptoms developed [( NI: ASA] n = 14) versus intervention with arteriography and prophylactic surgery [( I: A/S] n = 15). Among patients who refused randomization, 14 were treated with NI: ASA and 14 with I: A/S. Endpoints for analysis included all unfavorable outcomes related to both management plans and included stroke, death of stroke, major angiographic and perioperative complications, asymptomatic carotid occlusion, and recurrent carotid artery stenosis. In both the randomized and nonrandomized portions of the study unfavorable outcomes were more frequent in patients treated with I: A/S, and by combining the results of both studies a significant difference was observed (N: ASA - 3.6% versus I: A/S - 31%; X:2 = 4.78; p less than 0.05). Among patients treated with NI: ASA, a single minor stroke occurred without warning. In patients from all groups who underwent arteriography, advanced carotid stenosis was found in 78% (mean percent diameter stenosis = 72% +/- 2%; mean residual lumen = 1.3 +/- 0.1 mm). We conclude that, despite the probability of underlying severe carotid stenosis, most patients with cervical bruit and abnormal ocular pneumoplethysmography but without symptoms are appropriately managed without intervention unless symptoms develop.

Focal motor seizures complicating carotid endarterectomy.

We studied four patients with focal motor seizures complicating carotid endarterectomy and compared them with 14 other cases reported previously. Seventeen of the 18 patients had high-grade carotid stenoses. A severe unilateral headache usually preceded seizure activity, which was followed by prolonged Todd's paralysis. Eight patients had histories of ipsilateral stroke. There was no association with perioperative hypertension. Two patients who were receiving heparin sodium had intracerebral hemorrhages that caused one of the two postoperative deaths. The patency of all endarterectomized carotid arteries was recorded by arteriography or noninvasive studies. These data suggest that patients who have severe unilateral headaches following ipsilateral carotid endarterectomy for high-grade stenoses are at risk for focal motor seizures. The roles of antithrombotic agents and anti-seizure medication in this setting are unclear.

Carotid duplex overestimation of stenosis due to severe contralateral disease.

BACKGROUND: In the quest to use carotid duplex to assess carotid occlusive disease, it has been reported that the current velocity criteria to calculate stenosis tends to overestimate the severity when there is a contralateral highly stenotic or occluded carotid artery. METHODS: Patient records were reviewed for 592 consecutive carotid endarterectomies performed from 1987 to 1994. Preoperative and postoperative duplex scan results were compared in a subset of patients in whom duplex overestimated the degree of stenosis, as compared to preoperative angiography. RESULTS: A total of 146 patients were identified in whom duplex overestimated the degree of stenosis contralateral to a high grade stenosis or an occlusion. Of 76 arteries, 18 (23.7%) contralateral to an occluded artery were overestimated by duplex, and 128 (27.0%) of 474 arteries contralateral to a high grade stenosis were overestimated. Following endarterectomy 44 (51.8%) of 128 nonoperated contralateral stenoses decreased by at least one duplex category. The average peak systolic frequency (PSF) decreased by 1175 Hz (P = 0.0018), and the average end diastolic frequency (EDF) decreased by 475 Hz (P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with high grade stenosis have a significant decrease in PSF and EDF in the unoperated carotid after endarterectomy, supporting a compensatory flow phenomenon. This often results in a decrease in the postoperative duplex defined stenosis by at least one category. The clinical significance of these findings is of increasing importance as carotid surgery is being performed more frequently without angiography.

Physician work effort and reimbursement for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Two major flaws have been previously identified in the resource-based relative value scale (RBRVS): (1) inaccurate estimation of physician work effort; and (2) RBRVS compression, which results in undervaluation of major surgical procedures. The impact of RBRVS for physicians treating patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (RAAAs) has not been previously reported and is important owing to the severity of the illness, the potential to quantitate actual work effort, and the high percentage of these patients covered by Medicare. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients were studied who underwent surgery for RAAAs during a 5-year period encompassing the implementation of RBRVS. Analysis included all physician services including vascular surgeons, anesthesiologists, and all other medical specialists. Total work effort was quantitated for each specialty in minutes/patient. The financial data were obtained by reviewing all professional bills and reimbursements. Cost of service was calculated to include physician compensation, practice overhead costs, and malpractice expenses. RESULTS: In all, 84 patients underwent repair of a RAAA with a mortality rate of 42%. Medicare was the primary insurance for 87% of patients. The cost of service exceeded the reimbursement by 50% for vascular surgeons, resulting in an average loss of $1,593/patient. Actual operative time represented only 24% of total surgical work effort. Early death and a length of stay (LOS) < or = 1 day for 24 patients resulted in a reimbursement rate of $5.98/minute for surgeons. This gain was significantly offset by 30 patients with a LOS > or = 14 days, resulting in a reimbursement rate of $1.94/minute for vascular surgeons. Over the 5-year period there was a trend of decreasing reimbursement for vascular surgeons (P <0.005) but not other physicians. Vascular surgeons incurred a 28% decrease in reimbursement over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Physician reimbursement under RBRVS for the treatment of patients with RAAAs is inadequate to cover the costs of providing this care. Reimbursement trends and potential changes to the practice component of the RBRVS will further aggravate the losses involved in caring for these very ill patients. Vascular surgeons must continue to provide input to the Health Care Financing Administration to help correct inequities built into RBRVS.

Peter B. Samuels Award. Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: the financial analysis.

BACKGROUND: Denial of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) repair has been advocated based upon historically poor surgical outcome and a perceived lack of cost effectiveness. Although the repair intuitively seems expensive, the actual cost of care, adequacy of reimbursement, and cost per additional life-year gained for RAAA repair are poorly defined. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective clinical and financial chart review of 119 consecutive patients undergoing operation for RAAA from 1986 to 1993. RESULTS: Overall in-hospital mortality was 45%. Mean institutional charge per patient in 1993 dollars was $40,763 (range $4,473 to $284,374), with an actual mean cost for service of $22,420 and an average reimbursement of $21,360, resulting in a loss of $1,060 per patient. Losses were higher in Medicare patients. Survivors (n = 65) had an average length of stay of 20 days, cost $41,045 each, and incurred an institutional loss of $298,405. Mean cost per additional (adjusted) life-year was $3,953. One-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates following hospital discharge were 97%, 85%, and 77%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency repair of RAAA is relatively inexpensive when compared to other commonly used health maintenance protocols and effectively restores survivors to their former health. Since no clinical or physiologic parameter can predict poor outcome, operative intervention should not be denied.

Intraoperative local anesthetic injection of the carotid sinus nerve. A prospective, randomized study.

One hundred patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy under general anesthesia were prospectively randomized to receive either a local anesthetic injection of their carotid sinus nerve with bupivacaine (Marcaine) or no injection. Systolic blood pressure and pulse rate were recorded before injection and at 5 and 30 minutes after injection. The need for intraoperative and postoperative use of systemic vasopressor and vasodilator medications was recorded for each group as was the incidence of arrhythmias, neurologic complications, and myocardial infarctions. Intraoperative local anesthetic injection of the carotid sinus nerve did not significantly influence the intraoperative pulse rate or incidence of hypotension. It did, however, significantly increase the incidence of intraoperative hypertension and the need for systemic vasodilator medications intraoperatively. The incidence of postoperative hypotension (6 percent of patients), hypertension (34 percent), arrhythmias (6 percent), cerebrovascular accidents (1 percent), transient ischemic attacks (3.1 percent), and myocardial infarctions (2 percent) were not significantly influenced by intraoperative local anesthetic injection of the carotid sinus nerve. Intraoperative and postoperative hypotension did not cause morbidity in this series, however, local anesthetic injection was associated with a significant incidence of perioperative hypertension. Routine prophylactic local anesthetic injection of the carotid sinus nerve cannot be recommended in view of its detrimental effects in relation to the development of hypertension.

A reappraisal of a modified through-knee amputation in patients with peripheral vascular disease.

BACKGROUND: Through-knee amputation provides a longer lever arm and improved muscle control of the limb compared with above-knee amputation. Through-knee amputation also allows use of a total end-bearing prosthesis, which avoids the ischial pressure and suspension belts required of the above-knee amputation prosthesis. Several reports in the European literature tout the superiority of the through-knee amputation over the above-knee amputation in the patient with vascular disease. Through-knee amputation has received little attention in the United States, however, owing to the belief that the long flaps necessary to close a standard through-knee amputation are associated with an unacceptable rate of wound problems and offer no functional ambulatory advantage to above-knee amputation. We reviewed our experience with a modified technique of through-knee amputation in a group of patients with severe lower extremity ischemia who were not candidates for below-knee amputation to determine the incidence of wound complications and their functional outcome. METHODS: Since 1996, 12 patients with severe lower extremity arterial insufficiency have undergone through-knee amputation utilizing a technique designed to limit flap length and facilitate the fit of a suction prosthesis. Two patients died of myocardial infarction in the immediate postoperative period and were excluded from the study. In the remaining 10 patients (1 man, 9 women; mean age 63 years (range 40 to 86), the below-knee amputation level was precluded because of gangrene or nonhealing wounds of the mid leg in 5 patients, failure of a previous below-knee amputation attempt in 4 patients, and severe ischemia that would compromise below-knee amputation healing in 1 patient. Nine patients had at least one failed vascular reconstruction procedure. RESULTS: Mean follow-up is 25 months (range 6 to 41). Six (60%) patients had primary healing of their amputations. Two (20%) patients had delayed healing (6 weeks and 8 weeks). Two (20%) patients developed wound infections, which required amputation revision to the above-knee level. Seven (70%) patients were fitted with a suction socket prosthesis and are fully ambulatory. One patient healed but has not ambulated because of ischemia and subsequent ulceration of the contralateral limb. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that through-knee amputation is associated with an acceptable primary healing rate (80%) and satisfactory functional outcomes (70% ambulation) in a high-risk vascular population. The functional advantages of through-knee amputation over above-knee amputation make it the preferred alternative for patients with vascular disease.

Vascular trauma secondary to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures: 1974 through 1982. A comparative review.

One-hundred nineteen patients with 125 iatrogenic vascular injuries requiring surgical intervention were treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center from 1974 through 1982. This experience was compared with that from 1966 through 1973 [1]. A decrease in the proportion of cases resulting from cardiac catheterization was partially offset by an increase in injuries from invasive monitoring and injuries from percutaneous transluminal dilation procedures. A threefold increase in cases resulting from urologic surgery was related to the evolution of an aggressive approach toward retroperitoneal metastatic tumor. Over half of the arterial injuries are now iliofemoral in location because of the routine use of the femoral approach for angiographic and cardiac catheterization procedures. The need for complex reconstruction in addition to thrombectomy increased fourfold. Delayed surgical intervention was a factor in 9 of the 12 patients with permanent disability. There was no death attributable to vascular reconstruction.

Dilemmas in dealing with the blue toe syndrome: aortic versus peripheral source.

Six patients with unilateral blue toe syndrome presented a diagnostic dilemma with regard to the source of embolization: central aortic versus peripheral. Two patients had moderately severe aortoiliac atherosclerosis associated with focal stenoses in the superficial femoral arteries, and four patients had mild aortoiliac disease associated with localized plaques confined to either the superficial femoral or popliteal arteries. In all patients, it was elected to explore the peripheral lesions first. At operation, ulcerated plaques or focal stenoses were found, and all lesions had adherent white thrombi on their surfaces. All patients were treated either by localized thromboendarterectomy or short reversed saphenous vein grafting. There was no morbidity or mortality. Recurrent embolization did not occur during a follow-up of 8 to 24 months. Distal atherosclerotic lesions should be sought to explain distal embolization before more complex aortoiliac disease is incriminated. In the presence of concomitant aortoiliac disease, it is mandatory to directly explore the peripheral lesion, open the artery, and carefully examine the lesion in situ. Thrombus adherent to the surface of an ulcerated plaque is evidence of an embolizing source. This approach is associated with minimal morbidity and may be curative. If these findings are not present, it would be appropriate to proceed with staged correction of aortoiliac disease.

Long term follow-up of descending thoracic aorto-iliac/femoral bypass.

A prospective study of 26 patients undergoing descending thoracic aorto-iliac/femoral (DTAI/F) bypass was conducted over a 13-year period with an average follow up of 53 months. Reasons for selecting the procedure were occluded aortic bifurcation grafts (9 patients), hostile abdomen (6), infected aortic graft (1), microaorta (10, and surgeons preference in 8 patients who had juxtarenal aortic occlusion. The operative mortality was 3.8% (1 patient). A late mortality of 36% was due to myocardial infarction (1), lung carcinoma (2), renal failure (4), stroke (1) and pulmonary insufficiency (1). Graft failure occurred in 4 patients at 23, 26, 54 and 109 months respectively. Primary cumulative patency was 86% statistically valid at 42 months. DTAI/F bypass is recommended in selected patients when conventional approaches to the aorta are considered unduly hazardous.

An algorithm for the surgical management of chronic abdominal aortic occlusion and occluded aortofemoral grafts.

An algorithm for the surgical management of chronic abdominal aortic occlusion is presented based upon experience of treating 60 consecutive patients. Of 33 patients with juxtarenal aortic occlusion, 17 underwent aortofemoral bypass (AFB), 10 descending thoracic aortofemoral (DTAF), 5 axillofemoral (AxF) bypass, and 1 ascending thoracic aortofemoral bypass. Of 11 patients with mid or distal aortic occlusion, 8 underwent AFB, 2 DTAF and 1 AxF. Of 16 patients with aortic graft occlusion, 1 underwent AFB, 10 DTAF and 5 AxF. Acceptable risk patients were selected for AFB (26). DTAF (22) was frequently preferred for patients with occluded aortic grafts or other hazardous intraabdominal pathology. AxF (11) was used for patients with severe cardiopulmonary risk, limited life expectancy from malignancy, or when emergency procedures were required for salvage of severely ischemic limbs in debilitated patients with chronic aortic occlusion. In the AFB, DTAF and AxF groups the perioperative mortality was 8%, 5% and 36% respectively, the late mortality was 15%, 36% and 45%, and the 5-year primary cumulative graft patency was 92%, 89% and 15%.

Simultaneous idiopathic chylopericardium and chylothorax.

We have reported the first described case of idiopathic simultaneous chylopericardium and chylothorax and discussed its diagnostic and therapeutic considerations. Efficacy of thoracic duct ligation, pericardiectomy, and pleurodesis for this entity is established.

Implantation of the distal aorta: a technique for preservation of pelvic blood flow in aortofemoral reconstruction.

We report our initial experience with a previously undescribed variation of aortofemoral bypass. This technique is an alternative to end-to-side aortic anastomosis for preservation of pelvic blood flow. It involves an end-to-end proximal aortic anastomosis with implantation of the distal aorta into the posterior wall of the bifurcation graft. This approach has been used selectively for nine patients. Seven patients operated on using this technique had bilateral external iliac artery disease preventing retrograde perfusion of the pelvis. We used this procedure in two other young patients to preserve large inferior mesenteric and distal aortic lumbar vessels proximal to common iliac artery occlusions. Mean follow-up has been 20 months. There have been no deaths and no major complications. This technique provides the hemodynamic benefit of a proximal end-to-end aortic anastomosis while maintaining patency of the distal aorta and its branches. Additional technical advantages may include better suture line protection from the duodenum and a decreased potential for graft limb kinking. These factors may ultimately result in superior long-term graft patency.