Infections of intravascular bare metal stents: a case report and review of literature.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the paper is to present a case of an infected bare metal stent in the left common iliac artery that was removed by an urgent operation, and to review the literature on diagnosis and outcome of infected coronary and non-coronary metal stents. METHODS: A systematic search of the Medline database was performed with the purpose of identifying risk factors, signs and symptoms, imaging strategies, and treatment modalities of bare metal stent infections, both coronary and peripheral. RESULTS: In total, 76 additional studies/case reports (48 non-coronary; 29 coronary) were included and analyzed. Intravascular bare metal stent infections are a rare but serious complication, often leading to emergency surgery (overall: 75.3%; non-coronary cases: 83.3%; coronary cases: 62.1%). In 25.0% of the non-coronary cases, infection led to amputation of an extremity or removal of viscera. Reported mortality was up to 32.5% of the cases (non-coronary: 22.9%; coronary 48.3%). Physicians should always be suspicious of a stent infection when patients present with aspecific symptoms such as fever and chills after stent placement. Additional imaging can be used to detect the presence of a pseudoaneurysm. A PET-CT is an ideal medium for identification of a stent infection. CONCLUSIONS: Intravascular stent infection is associated with a high risk of morbidity and mortality. Surgery is the preferred treatment option, but not always possible, especially in patients with a coronary stent. In selected cases, bare metal stent infections may be prevented by the use of prophylactic antibiotics at stent placement.

Removal of a Bent Humeral Intramedullary Nail: A Case Report and Review of Removal Techniques.

CASE: We present a case of a (65°) bent intramedullary nail (IMN) in a humerus after a pseudoarthrosis in a 65-year-old man. Bent IMNs have been described in femurs and tibias, but are considered rare. Possibly even rarer is the bending of a humeral IMN. This report provides an overview of removal techniques and our approach to this uncommon complication: open sectioning of the bent IMN and 2-piece extraction through the fracture site. CONCLUSION: Removal of a bent or broken IMN is a rare and challenging surgical problem. A bent humeral IMN requires a different and more careful approach for extraction than bent nails in the lower extremity, given the greater potential for neurovascular disruption.

Thrombogenicity of a new injectable biocompatible elastomer for aneurysm exclusion, compared to expanded polytetrafluoroethylene in a human ex vivo model.

OBJECTIVES: Customized aortic repair (CAR) is a new concept for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair in which a non-polymerised elastomer is injected to fill the aneurysm sac around a balloon catheter. Amongst other variables, the thrombogenicity of the elastomer should be tested, before further clinical experiments can take place. The aim of this human ex vivo study was to measure the thrombogenicity of the elastomer and to compare it to expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). DESIGN AND MATERIALS: In a validated ex vivo model, non-anticoagulated blood was drawn from the antecubital veins of 10 healthy donors with a 19-gauge needle. It was drawn through elastomer tubes and through ePTFE Gore-Tex vascular grafts, both 60 cm long and with an inner diameter of 3 mm. METHODS: Fibrinopeptide A (FPA) and P-selectin expression was measured in blood samples, collected at the end of the grafts. After the experiments, the deposition of platelets and fibrin onto the grafts was visualised by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: For these graft types, a progressive increase in FPA production was observed in time. No significant difference was observed between the elastomer and ePTFE grafts (p > 0.05). No increase in P-selectin expression, and thereby no platelet activation, was observed in the perfusate of either grafts (p > 0.05). By scanning electron microscopy, numerous platelet aggregates were observed on the ePTFE grafts, whereas just a few adhered platelets and no aggregates were observed in the elastomer grafts. CONCLUSIONS: The elastomer in its current formulation has a low thrombogenicity, comparable to ePTFE, making it an ideal substance for endovascular aneurysm sac filling. Further research should clarify the feasibility of CAR in vivo.

The proximal fixation strength of modern EVAR grafts in a short aneurysm neck. An in vitro study.

OBJECTIVES: The study aims to measure the strength of the proximal fixation of endografts in short and long necks. DESIGN: Three types of endografts were compared: Gore Excluder, Vascutek Anaconda and Medtronic Endurant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The proximal part of the stent grafts was inserted in bovine arteries and the graft was then attached to a tensile testing machine. The force to obtain dislodgement (DF) from the aorta was recorded for each graft at proximal seal lengths of 10 and 15 mm. RESULTS: The median DF (interquartile range, IQR) for the Excluder, the Anaconda and the Endurant with a seal length of 15 mm was: 11.8 (10.5-12.0) N, 20.8 (18.0-30.1) N and 10.7 (10.4-11.3) N. With the shorter proximal seal of 10mm, DF was, respectively: 6.0 (4.5-6.6) N, 17.0 (11.2-36.6) N and 6.4 (6.1-12.0) N. CONCLUSIONS: The proximal fixation of the Anaconda is superior to the Excluder and the Endurant at short necks of 10 and 15 mm in an experimental set-up. There is a statistically significant decrease of proximal fixation for the Excluder stent graft, when decreasing the length of the proximal neck from 15 to 10 mm.

Aortic Customize: an in vivo feasibility study of a percutaneous technique for the repair of aortic aneurysms using injectable elastomer.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to test a percutaneous technique for aneurysm-sac filling by means of in situ polymerisation in an in vivo model. DESIGN: Aortic Customize is a new endovascular treatment concept for aortic aneurysms: a non-cross-linked liquid elastomer is injected to fill the aneurysm sac around a balloon-catheter. With this method, a compliant elastomer mould with a patent lumen is created. MATERIAL: The formulation used in the experiments consisted of a two-component addition-cure liquid-silicone formulation, based on vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). METHODS: The concept of aneurysm-sac filling was tested in vivo in porcine experiments (n = 3). RESULTS: In vivo porcine experiments with the sac-filling application showed successful exclusion of the created aneurysms with patent lumens and absence of endoleaks. The aneurysms were excluded successfully in the in vivo model, injecting elastomer through a 7-French catheter, filling up the entire aneurysm sac. CONCLUSIONS: These in vivo experiments demonstrate that the principle of aneurysm-sac filling by means of in situ curing is feasible, excluding the aneurysm and creating a new lumen. Further long-term animal experiments must be done prior to consideration of clinical application.

[A boy with a twisted knee]. / Een jongen met een verdraaide knie.

A 14-year-old boy presented with a painful knee following a distorsion. He was unable to actively extend his lower leg. Conventional radiography showed no signs of a fracture. Both ultrasound imaging and MRI, however, demonstrated haemarthrosis and an osteochondral defect of the lateral femoral condyle. Apparently, an osteochondral lesion had developed due to patellar luxation. The osteochondral fragment was fixated using absorbable compression screws.

[Complete triceps tendon rupture; a rare tendon injury]. / Complete tricepspeesruptuur.

Only 1% of all tendon injuries affect the triceps tendon, making triceps ruptures very rare. An acute rupture can therefore easily be missed due to a low degree of suspicion. A palpable gap, inability to flex the elbow against resistance and a positive modified Thompson test are indicative for a complete triceps tendon rupture. The mechanism of injury is most commonly a sudden eccentric muscle contraction. We present the case of a 48-year-old man with an acute complete triceps tendon rupture, after a fall from an unstable chair while performing a one arm push-up. The rupture was surgically treated with Krackow sutures tunneled through drill holes in the olecranon. Postoperative treatment consisted of gradually increasing elbow flexion for six weeks with a brace. Three months following the operation, 150 degree flexion was possible with a 5 degree extension limitation. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score was 10.5. We demonstrate that early diagnosis and treatment facilitate excellent functional outcome.

A Peculiar Case of a Floating Angio-Seal.

PURPOSE: To show a complication of the use of an Angio-Seal™ closure device. CASE: We present a patient with a systolic murmur in his femoral artery after PCI. The murmur was caused by a dislocated Angio-Seal™, a vascular closure device. This was diagnosed by Doppler Ultrasound. The device was surgically removed. CONCLUSION: Vascular complications, such as lower limb ischemia, requiring surgical intervention tend to be higher after use of a vascular closure device. We advise routine physical examination of the puncture site after percutaneous closure with a vascular closure device, such as an Angio-Seal™. The removal of the device can be performed via an open or endoscopic approach, based on available experience.

Necrotising fasciitis due to an infected sebaceous cyst.

The current case presents a patient who was admitted to our hospital with the diagnosis of cellulitis of the right groin. In the following days, the patient's condition deteriorated and developed a septic shock. Exploration in the operating room showed a necrotising fasciitis of the adductor muscles, with an infected sebaceous cyst in the inguinal crest as port d'entrée. After extensive surgical debridement, antibiotic therapy, haemodynamic and respiratory support, the patient recovered. Necrotising fasciitis is a rare but very lethal condition, which necessitates aggressive surgical therapy and antibiotic support. The current case report is the first report to show a necrotising fasciitis due to an infected sebaceous cyst.

Influence of aneurysm wall stiffness and the presence of intraluminal thrombus on the wall movement of an aneurysm - an in vitro study.

The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the influence of aneurysm wall stiffness and of the presence of intraluminal thrombus (ILT) on aneurysm wall movement. Three latex aneurysms were used with different wall stiffness. The aneurysms, equipped with 20 tantalum markers, were attached to an in vitro circulation model. Fluoroscopic roentgenographic stereo photogrammetric analysis was used to measure marker movement during six cardiac cycles at three different systemic pressures. To investigate the influence of ILT on wall movement, we repeated the same experiment with one of the aneurysms. The aneurysm sac was then filled with one of two E-moduli differing thrombus analogues (Novalyse 8 and 20) or with perfusate as a control. It was noted that the amplitude of the wall movement (mm) increased significantly (P < 0.05) as the compliance of the wall increased. The mean amplitude of the wall movement decreased (P < 0.05) as the stiffness (E-modulus) of the ILT increased. In conclusion, ILT has a 'cushioning effect'. Wall movement (and theoretically wall stress) diminishes when the stiffness of the ILT increases. Compliance of the aneurysm wall influences wall movement. When the stiffness of the wall increases, the wall movement diminishes.