Recurrent High-Flow Arterio-Venous Malformation of the Thyroid Gland.

BACKGROUND: Vascular malformations and hemangiomas of the thyroid gland are rare disorders. The first case of a patient with recurrent high-flow arterio-venous malformation of the right thyroid gland involving the right endolarynx is presented. PATIENT FINDINGS: In June 2013, a 42-year-old female patient presented to the surgical department with recurrent hoarseness and a soft, vibrating mass on the right side of her neck. In 1993, she underwent right subtotal hemithyroidectomy with embolization on the day before surgery for a high-flow arterio-venous malformation of the thyroid gland. Diagnostic work-up in 2013 demonstrated a complex recurrent high-flow arterio-venous malformation on the right side of her neck involving the endolarynx. Full function of the right vocal fold could not be ascertained. The lesion was embolized again and excised the following day. Intraoperative gross bleeding and scar tissue prevented visualization and monitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Gross bleeding was also noted on hemithyroidectomy after embolization in 1993. No therapy was needed for the endolaryngeal part of the lesion. Histology showed large arterio-venous malformations with thyroid tissue. She remains well without signs of recurrence 18 month later but with a definitive voice handicap. SUMMARY: This is the first report of a recurrent high-flow arterio-venous malformation originally developing from the right thyroid gland involving the right endolarynx. Counseling, diagnostic, and therapeutic work-up of the patient was possible only with an interdisciplinary team. The endolaryngeal part of the hemangioma dried out after embolization and completion hemithyroidectomy. Her hoarseness has greatly improved but a definitive voice handicap remains. CONCLUSION: High-flow arterio-venous malformations of the thyroid gland are a rare disease, and recurrent lesions have not been reported. Interdisciplinary management of these patients is mandatory due to the complex nature of the underlying pathology. Recurrence might develop after long free intervals.

Three-year results after directional atherectomy of calcified stenotic lesions of the superficial femoral artery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the 3-year outcome of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and heavily calcified stenotic lesions of the superficial femoral artery after directional atherectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-three patients (mean age 67 ± 10 years; 18 females, 35 males, TASC B and C, mean lesion length 7.9 ± 3.5 cm) with PAD (Rutherford 2-6) were enrolled into this prospective monocentric study. In total, 59 calcified lesions of the superficial femoral artery were treated with the Silverhawk atherectomy device (Covidien, Plymouth, MN, USA). Patients were followed-up for 36 months with a 6-month interval to perform clinical re-evaluation, including measurement of maximum walking distance and ankle-brachial index (ABI) as well as duplex-sonography. RESULTS: The primary success rate of the procedure was 92 %. In five cases (8 %), additional balloon-PTA and/or stent-PTA was necessary. Procedure-related embolization occurred in seven cases (12 %), which were all successfully treated by aspiration. The primary patency rate after 3 years was 55 %. Median Rutherford score decreased significantly from 5 to 0 after 36 months (p < 0.001). At the same time, the ABI increased from 0.65 to 1.12 (not significant). The limb-salvage rate after 3 years was 87 %. CONCLUSION: In this subgroup of patients with POD and calcified stenotic lesions, atherectomy was successfully applied to decrease the plaque burden. Results after 3 years showed a significant decrease of Rutherford score with persistent improvement of ABI and reasonable patency rate.

Mechanical thrombectomy of iliac vein thrombosis in a pig model using the Rotarex and Aspirex catheters.

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy for iliac vein thrombosis using Rotarex and Aspirex catheters in a pig model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Iliac vein thrombosis was induced in six pigs by means of an occlusion-balloon catheter and thrombin injection. The presence of thrombi was verified by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and computed tomography (CT). Thrombectomy was performed using 6F and 8F Rotarex and 6F, 8F, and 10F Aspirex catheters (Straub Medical AG, Wangs, Switzerland). After intervention, DSA and CT were repeated to evaluate the efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy and to exclude local complications. In addition, pulmonary CT was performed to rule out pulmonary embolism. Finally, all pigs were killed, and iliac veins were dissected to perform macroscopic and histological examination. RESULTS: Thrombus induction was successfully achieved in all animals as verified by DSA and CT. Subsequent thrombectomy lead to incomplete recanalization of the iliac veins with residual thrombi in all cases. However, the use of the 6F and 8F Rotarex catheters caused vessel perforation and retroperitoneal hemorrhage in all cases. Application of the Aspirex device caused one small transmural perforation in a vessel treated with a 10F Aspirex catheter, and this was only seen microscopically. Pulmonary embolism was detected in one animal treated with the Rotarex catheters, whereas no pulmonary emboli were seen in animals treated with the Aspirex catheters. CONCLUSION: The Aspirex catheter allowed subtotal and safe recanalization of iliac vein thrombosis. In contrast, the use of the Rotarex catheter caused macroscopically obvious vessel perforations in all cases.

A scoring system for the assessment of angiographic findings in non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI).

PURPOSE: To establish a standardized scoring system for angiographic findings in patients with non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 36 patients (mean age: 72 years), 53 angiographies of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) were performed for suspected NOMI after cardiac or major aortic surgery. All examinations were performed using a standardized DSA technique. Two experienced radiologists performed a consensus reading blinded to the clinical information, on two occasions with an interval of two weeks. In order to investigate the reproducibility of the criteria, the images were assessed once by an intensivist and a medical student. Image analysis was performed with respect to vessel morphology, reflux of contrast medium into the aorta, small bowel parenchymal contrast enhancement and distension and the delay between arterial injection and portal vein filling. RESULTS: Almost perfect intra-observer correlation was obtained for the assessment of the contrast medium reflux (κ = 0.82) and substantial correlation for the time of portal vein filling (κ = 0.66). Moderate correlations were obtained for the vessel morphology (κ = 0.51), small bowel enhancement (κ = 0.63) and distension (κ = 0.53). Contrast medium reflux into the aorta (κ = 0.77 and 0.63) and the time of portal vein filling (κ = 0.42 and 0.58) resulted in the highest inter-observer correlations between the radiologists and the intensivist as well as the radiologists and the student. CONCLUSION: In patients with suspected NOMI, using our scoring system yields high intra- and inter-observer correlations, allowing a standardized evaluation of angiographic findings.

Subintimal revascularization of chronic iliac artery occlusions using a reentry-catheter.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the value of a Reentry-Catheter for true lumen access after subintimal revascularization of chronic iliac artery occlusions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subintimal revascularization was performed in 5 patients (mean age: 67 ± 12 years; female: 3, male: 2) with total iliac artery occlusion (TASC B to D), but without gaining access to the true lumen distal to the occlusion. Subsequently, a Reentry-Catheter was used to establish reentry and a new subintimal tract. Patients were followed up after 6, 12 and 24 months for clinical re-evaluation to determine the Rutherford score and the ankle brachial index (ABI). In addition, duplex ultrasound was performed to evaluate vessel patency. RESULTS: The primary technical success rate was 100 %. In all cases angioplasty was followed by stent placement to establish the subintimal tract. The mean Rutherford score decreased from 3.6 ± 0.9 to 0.33 ± 0.57 after 24 months, while the ABI increased from 0.67 ± 0.06 to 1.2 ± 0. Vessel patency was observed in all patients available for follow-up examinations. CONCLUSION: The Reentry-Catheter reliably allowed access to the true lumen after subintimal revascularization of occluded iliac arteries. Results in this small patient cohort showed a significant reduction in the Rutherford score, increase in the ABI, and a good patency rate after two years.

[Percutaneous mechanical atherectomy for treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease]. / Perkutane mechanische Atherektomie zur Behandlung der peripheren arteriellen Verschlusskrankheit.

Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) is still an extremely important politico-economic disease. Diverse treatment procedures exist but the pillars of therapy are changes in lifestyle, such as nicotine abstinence and walking exercise as well as drug therapy. Further therapy options are considered after conventional procedures have been exhausted. These further options consist of improvement of the blood supply by surgical or minimally invasive procedures. The latter therapy options include balloon dilatation and stenting as the most widely used techniques. More recent techniques also used are cryoplasty, laser angioplasty, drug-coated stents or balloons as well as brachytherapy or atherectomy, whereby this list makes no claims to completeness. The multitude of different treatment methods emphatically underlines the fact that no resounding success can be achieved with one single method. The long-term results of both balloon dilatation and stenting techniques show a need for improvement, which elicited the search for additional methods for the treatment of PAOD. Atherectomy represents such an alternative method for treatment of PAOD. Basically, the term atherectomy means the removal of atheroma tissue. For percutaneous atherectomy, in contrast to surgical procedures, it is not necessary to create surgically access to the vessel but accomplishes the atherectomy by means of dedicated systems via a minimally invasive access. There are two basic forms of mechanical atherectomy: directional and rotational systems.