Vertebral Angiomatosis in a Dog.

A 3 yr old spayed female Cavalier King Charles spaniel was referred for insidious ataxia and paraparesis. A thoracolumbar lesion was suspected. Computed tomography showed focal osteolysis of the vertebral body and pedicles of T5. In addition, a hyperdense, extradural material within the vertebral canal, causing spinal cord compression on the right side, was present. The lesion was confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging. A T4-T5 hemi-dorsal laminectomy was performed to decompress the spinal cord. Histopathological examination was consistent with vertebral angiomatosis. After the surgery, the dog rapidly improved; however, 5 mo later the clinical signs relapsed. Vertebral angiomatosis is a vasoproliferative disorder, rarely reported as a cause of myelopathy in cats. This condition has not previously been reported in dogs. This case report describes the clinical features, the diagnostic findings, and the follow-up of a young dog with vertebral angiomatosis.

Endovenous laser treatment of groin and popliteal varicose veins recurrence.

Objectives Recurrent varicose veins following surgery is a common, complex and costly problem in vascular surgery. Treatment for RVV is technically more difficult to perform and patient satisfaction is poorer than after primary interventions. Nevertheless, traditional vein surgery has largely been replaced by percutaneous office-based procedures, and the patients with recurrent varicose veins have not benefited from the same advantages. In this paper, we propose an endovascular laser treatment that allows reducing the invasiveness and complications in case of SFJ and SPJ reflux after ligation and stripping of the great and small saphenous vein. Methods 8 SFJ and 1 SPJ stumps were treated by endovascular laser treatment in out-patient clinic. Endovascular laser treatment was performed with a 1470 nm diode laser and a 400 µc radial slim™ fiber. Intraoperative ultrasoud was used to guide the fiber position and the delivery of tumescent anesthesia. The gravity of chronic venous disease was determined according to the CEAP classification and the severity of symptoms was scored according to the revised Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS). Results The average linear endovenous energy density was 237 J/cm. Patients return to daily activities after a mean of 1.9 days after. The VCSS improved drastically from a mean of 8 pre-interventional to 1 at day 30 and until one year. During the follow-up period (mean 8 months, range: 5-17 months), all the stumps except one were occluded. All patients were very satisfied or satisfied with the method. No severe complications occurred. Conclusions Office-based endovascular laser treatment of groin and popliteal recurrent varicose veins with 1470 nm diode laser and radial-slim fiber is a safe and highly effective option, with a high success rate in the early post-operative period.

Endovenous ablation of incompetent saphenous veins with a new 1,540-nanometer diode laser and ball-tipped fiber.

BACKGROUND: Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) is an efficient method to treat incompetent saphenous veins with high occlusion rates. The major side effects are postoperative pain and bruising. Laser systems with higher wavelengths, associated with new energy delivery devices, have recently shown excellent short-term results, while reducing the previously reported side effects. The aim of this study is to show the first outcome after EVLA of incompetent saphenous veins with a newly developed ball-tipped fiber and a new wavelength 1,540-nm diode laser. METHODS: Forty-five incompetent saphenous veins in 35 patients (27 women) were treated: 33 great saphenous veins, 6 short saphenous veins, and 6 anterior saphenous veins. The gravity of chronic venous disease was determined according to the clinical-etiology-anatomy-pathophysiology (CEAP) classification, and the severity of symptoms was scored according to the revised Venous Clinical Severity Score. Patient satisfaction was assessed on a 0-3 scale. RESULTS: The average linear endovenous energy density was 63.5 J/cm of vein length. Patients returned to daily activities after a mean of 1.7 days (SD: 2) after treatment. The modified CEAP clinical severity score improved drastically from a preintervention mean of 4.9 (SD: 2.6) to 0.17 (SD: 0.38) at day 30. During the follow-up period (mean: 168 days [range: 90-240 days]), all the veins were occluded. All patients except 1 were satisfied or very satisfied with the method. No severe complications occurred. Two patients (5%) developed mild paresthesia in the treated area, which spontaneously resolved after 3 months. Postoperative ecchymoses are frequent (83%). Sixteen patients (43%) experienced pain, but only 5 patients (14%) described it as quite intense and required analgesic therapy. CONCLUSION: EVLA of saphenous veins with a 1,540-nm diode laser using a ball-tipped fiber is a safe and efficient therapy option, with a high success rate in the early postoperative period.

Endovenous laser ablation of great saphenous veins performed using tumescent cold saline solution without local anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, laser systems with higher wavelengths, associated with new optical fibers, have shown excellent short-term results in treating saphenous veins and reducing the side effects and, in particular, the postoperative pain. However, if the patients are not anesthetized, they may feel pain even when using low energy with the high-wavelength laser; the only tumescent local anesthesia often does not guarantee a complete pain control during endovenous laser ablation (EVLA). Aim of this study was to demonstrate that the local anesthesia during EVLA of great saphenous veins (GSVs) is not essential for the perioperative comfort of the patient if a mild sedation is made. METHODS: Forty-nine incompetent GSVs were treated by EVLA with a cold saline tumescent solution (CSTS) without local anesthetic drugs. EVLA was performed with a 1540-nm diode laser and a 600-µc ball-tipped fiber. Intraoperative ultrasonography was then used to guide delivery of CSTS (cold saline solution 0.9% at 5°C) using a motor pump under intravenous sedation. The gravity of chronic venous disease was determined according to the clinical-etiology-anatomy-pathophysiology classification. Patients rated surgery global pain according to 4 types: "extremely," "rather," "slightly," and "not at all" painful. RESULTS: Twenty-five cases (51%) were classified as C3, 20 (41%) as C2, 6 (13%) as C4, and 1 (2%) as C6. Midazolam 2.5 mg + a mean of 0.16 mg of fentanil (minimum: 0.10; maximum: 0.20; standard deviation [SD]: 0.4) + a mean of 178.21 mg of propofol (minimum: 100; maximum: 300; SD: 47.1) were administrated as intravenous sedation. The total average linear endovenous energy density was 57.7 J/cm. Approximately 250 mL (minimum: 100; maximum: 780) of CSTS was administered. No Patient has had pain during the procedure. All patients were discharged 2.5 hrs after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: EVLA under sedation using CSTS without diluted anesthetic drugs is a suitable technique in an outpatients clinic, especially useful if the ablation of the saphenous vein is combined with an extended phlebectomy or if a bilateral treatment is performed, to eliminate the risks of overdose with local anesthesia and with the aim of improving the comfort of the patient.

Endovenous laser treatment of the small saphenous vein.

PURPOSE: Endovenous laser treatment is a minimally invasive technique for ablation of the incompetent great (GSV) and small saphenous vein (SSV). Compared with the GSV, fewer data are available on SSV laser ablation and are not validated. This multicenter prospective study evaluated the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of endovenous laser ablation to treat SSVs. METHODS: Between January 2003 and January 2007, 204 patients (229 limbs) with CVD and incompetent SSVs (evaluated by the CEAP classification) who were eligible for surgery underwent consecutive laser ablation procedures. Many required additional treatment for varicose tributaries and perforator veins with phlebectomy and foam sclerotherapy, Energy was delivered to the vein wall by a 600-microm optical fiber using 810-nm or 980-nm diode laser. Ablations were performed with duplex ultrasound (DU) guidance and tumescent anesthesia. Follow-up was with clinical examination and DU imaging. RESULTS: DU imaging showed immediate occlusion of the SSV with no thrombosis in the proximal veins. No complications occurred intraoperatively. All patients had postoperative ecchymosis, but it was minimal. Three patients had distal thrombotic complications. Superficial phlebitis after complementary surgery occurred in three cases. Complete occlusion with absence of flow 2 to 3 days postoperatively and persisted in the follow-up. No paresthesia occurred in our last series whenever a larger amount of tumescent cold saline was infused around the vein. CONCLUSION: Endovenous laser ablation of the SSV has excellent early and midterm results. The prevalence of thrombosis and paresthesia is very low. Symptom relief is very good.