Penetrating Vascular Injuries of the Lower Limbs after Stab Wounds: Predictive Factors of Limb Loss and Mortality.

BACKGROUND: Penetrating vascular injuries (PVIs) of the lower limbs due to stab wounds are associated with high mortality and limb loss rates. We analyzed the outcomes of a series of patients who underwent surgical treatment of these lesions, assessing the presence of any factor associated with limb loss and mortality; (2) Methods: Data of patients admitted from 01/2008 to 12/2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Primary outcomes were the limb loss and the mortality rate at 30 days postoperatively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed as appropriate. p values < 0.05 were considered significant; (3) Results: Data of 67 male patients were analyzed. Two died (3%) and three (4.5%) had a lower limb amputation after failed revascularization. In the univariate analysis, the clinical presentation significantly affected the risk of postoperative mortality and limb loss. The location of the lesion at the superficial femoral artery (OR 4.32, p = 0.001) or at the popliteal artery (OR 4.89, p = 0.0015) also increased the risk. In the multivariate analysis, the need for a vein graft bypass was the only significant predictor of limb loss and mortality (OR 4.58, p < 0.0001); (4) Conclusions: PVIs of lower limbs due to stab wounds were lethal in 3% of cases and lead to a secondary major amputation in 4.5% more cases. The need for a vein bypass grafting was the strongest predictor of postoperative limb loss and mortality.

Popliteal artery pseudoaneurysms in patients affected by osteochondroma.

Although exostosis or osteochondroma is a common bone tumor, associated vascular complications are rare. Clinical and radiological diagnoses are sometimes challenging, and there is no codification for surgical management. We report two cases of popliteal arterial pseudoaneurysms due to osteochondroma of the distal femur. A review of the current literature about case series and case reports of patients affected by arterial pseudoaneurysm complicating osteochondroma was also performed.

Heart Rate Variability as an Indicator of Autonomic Nervous System Disturbance in Behcet's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystemic vasculiti where cardiac involvement is not common. Previous studies have shown that the incidence of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death (SCD) is higher in patients with BD than in the healthy population. Among various possible explanations, autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction has been suggested. Few studies have evaluated ANS function in patients with BD, and the results obtained are controversial. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess cardiac autonomic function by heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with BD; to evaluate circadian changes in HRV; and to study the relationship between HRV parameters and disease parameters. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with Behçet's disease (median age 42 years, 28 men) and 36 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were included. HRV analyses were performed in the time and frequency domains for the entire 24-hour period and for the daytime and nighttime periods. BD activity was studied with Behcet's disease current activity form (BDCAF). RESULTS: Patients with BD had significantly lower values of SDNN compared to controls. PNN50, RMSSD, and HF components mean values were significantly reduced in patients than in controls implying parasympathetic impairment. LF was comparable between the two groups, whereas LF/HF ratio was significantly higher in BD group. The circadian rhythm of HRV was preserved in patient group. There was no significant correlation of CRP or disease duration with HRV indices in Behçet's subjects. BDCAF score was found to be negatively correlated with LF/HF. CONCLUSION: Patients with BD, despite no cardiovascular involvement, have reduced parasympathetic activity compared with controls. However, circadian rhythms of autonomic function were preserved. As known, there is strong evidence for the role of the ANS in the pathogenesis of ventricular arrhythmias. Thus, being a practical tool, HRV can be an interesting approach for the rhythmic follow-up of BD patients.

Alveolar Hemorrhage Following Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Myocardial Infarction: Two Case Reports and Literature Review.

Alveolar hemorrhage (AH) is a heterogeneous clinical syndrome with a high mortality rate, characterized by extensive bleeding into the alveolar spaces. AH secondary to systemic thrombolysis treatment in the setting of acute myocardial infarction is an uncommon complication, but potentially fatal and can lead to acute respiratory failure. This entity is rarely reported in the literature. We report two cases of acute AH after intravenous thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction, which could contribute to the literature on the subject, and discuss the risk factors as well as the clinical and radiological findings supporting the diagnosis. We overview also the rare previous published case reports in this context, and we contrast our findings with those reported in the literature.

Endovascular Management of a Subclavian Arterial Injury During Central Venous Catheter Placement for Hemodialysis.

Subclavian artery injuries after central venous catheter placement constitute a rare but potentially fatal complication. The surgical repair of a subclavian artery trauma is a real challenge, associated with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. The role of endovascular treatment for vascular trauma, including injury to the subclavian artery, continues to evolve. In this manuscript, we report the case of an urgent endovascular repair by a covered stent graft of a subclavian artery perforation following the placement of a central venous catheter for dialysis in a 52-year-old patient, having a chronic kidney failure stage 5, with multiple comorbidities. The present case suggests that attention needs to be paid to preventing iatrogenic arterial cannulation during central vein catheterization to avoid potentially devastating complications. Endovascular treatment using a covered stent should be attempted as a first-line therapeutic option.

Hybrid Management of a Pseudoaneurysm of the Inferior Gluteal Artery Following a Stab Wound.

Aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms of the gluteal artery are rare. They represent less than 1% of the described arterial aneurysms. Those that touch the inferior gluteal artery are even rarer. Only a few cases have been described worldwide. Such cases often present with a variable time course, mode of injury, and associated symptoms, leading to their misdiagnosis and improper treatment. We present the case of a 30-year-old male, who presented to our emergency room one week after a stab wound in the left gluteal region causing a pseudoaneurysm of the left inferior gluteal artery with a sciatic compartment syndrome treated by a hybrid approach.

A True Distal Brachial Artery Aneurysm Treated with a Bifurcated Saphenous Vein Graft.

Brachial artery aneurysms are rare, mostly consisting of false ones secondary to infectious, traumatic, or iatrogenic arterial lesions. True aneurysms of the brachial artery are even more uncommon. Here, we report a case of a 40-year-old fisherman, without any pathological antecedent, who presented with a painful pulsatile mass of the left anterior arm. There was a slight edema with no ischemic signs. The computed tomographic angiography revealed a true 3.7 × 4.2 × 6 cm aneurysm of the distal brachial artery, partially thrombosed, which extended to the bifurcation. A surgical repair was indicated. Intervention consisted of an aneurysmectomy with interposition of an autologous reversed bifurcated saphenous vein graft. Early outcome was good and a 1-year follow-up showed a patent graft with no aneurysmal recurrence. A review of the literature on this rare location of true artery aneurysm and treatment options is outlined in this work.

[Spiral computed tomographic (CT) arthrography versus arthroscopy in internal derangements of the knee]. / Confrontation arthroscanner helicoidal-arthroscopie dans les dérangements internes du genou.

BACKGROUND: The spiral computed tomographic (CT) arthrography of the knee represents an alternative for MRI in the diagnosis of intraarticular lesions of the knee. METHODS: We compared, in our retrospective study relates to fifty knees presenting meniscal or anterior cruciate ligament or cartilage lesions, the data of spiral computed tomographic (CT) arthrography and arthroscopy taken as "Gold Standard". The purpose was to determine the reliability of the spiral CT arthrography in the diagnosis of intraarticular derangements of the knee. RESULTS: We found that sensibility and specificity of spiral CT tomography were respectively 86% and 81% for the detection of meniscal tears. They were respectively 60% and 86% for the detection of the cartilage lesions. The sensibility and specificity were respectively 47% and 94% for the detection of anterior cruciate ligament lesion. CONCLUSION: the spiral CT arthrography, with its submillimeter spatial resolution, was reliable in the diagnosis of the meniscal and cartilage lesions whereas its value in the diagnosis of the anterior cruciate ligament tears remains to be determined.