Endovascular treatment of extracranial carotid artery aneurysms using self-expandable covered stent grafts: A single center retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment of extracranial carotid artery aneurysms (ECAAs) using self-expandable covered stent grafts. METHODS: All patients with ECAA at a single institution were reviewed from February 2014 to February 2020. Eight consecutive patients (three men, mean age 64.5 years) treated with endovascular repair with self-expandable covered stent graft were retrospectively reviewed. Patient characteristics, angiographic results, and follow-up outcomes were retrospectively recorded. Access to ECAA was gained via a femoral approach or a direct puncture of common carotid artery after surgical exposure because of kinking of the aortic arch and common carotid artery. A self-expandable covered stent graft (Viabahn; W. L. Gore, Flagstaff, AZ) was deployed to exclude the aneurysm. RESULTS: Based on imaging features, there were five peudoaneurysms and three true aneurysms. The technical success rate was 100%. Cerebral protection devices were not used in all the patients during the procedures. Immediate absolute obliteration of the ECAA with no endoleak was documented in all the patients. Perioperative complications included one internal carotid-cavernous sinus fistula, one bleeding at the puncture site, and one stroke. The mean follow-up period was 35.5 months (range, 9-72 months). All the patients were alive, with an obligation rate of 100%. No transient ischemia attack, stroke, or reoccurrence of symptoms was identified during the follow-up period. Radiological examinations identified patency of the stent grafts and revealed no endoleaks, stent fracture, stent migration, or aneurysm rupture. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment of ECAAs with self-expandable covered stent grafts appears to be a safe and feasible alternative for traditional open surgery, especially in the challenging anatomy and instable physical conditions. Although cerebrovascular accidents can occur as the result of hemodynamic changes during the perioperative period, the minimal alternative can yield satisfactory midterm follow-up clinical outcomes.

Transbrachial and transfemoral approaches combined with visceral protection for the treatment of juxtarenal aortoiliac occlusive disease: Technical issues and clinical outcomes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transbrachial and transfemoral approaches combined with visceral protection for the endovascular treatment of juxtarenal aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) over an average 19-month follow-up period. METHODS: In this retrospective analysis, all patients with juxtarenal AIOD at a single institution were reviewed from June 2015 to January 2020. Patient characteristics, angiographic results, and follow-up outcomes were retrospectively recorded. The indications for treatment were critical limb threatening ischemia in 12 patients and bilateral claudication in five patients. Percutaneous access via the left brachial artery was first obtained to recanalize the infrarenal occluded lesions. After that, femoral accesses were achieved. A 4-Fr catheter, a 4 mm balloon, or a 6-Fr 90-cm-long sheath was used to complete visceral artery protection. RESULTS: A total of 17 juxtarenal AIOD patients (14 males; mean age, 63.4 ± 8.1 years) underwent endovascular treatment. The technical success rate was 100%. Complete reconstruction was achieved in 15 (88.2%) patients. The infrarenal aorta was reconstructed with kissing covered stent grafts (n = 7), kissing bare-metal stents (n = 2), covered stent grafts (n = 2), bare-metal stents (n = 1), or the off-label use of iliac limb stent grafts (n = 5). Renal embolization was found in 3 (17.6%) patients during intraoperative angiography. There was 1 (5.9%) case of distal runoff embolization after CDT and 1 (5.9%) case of left iliac artery rupture. One (5.9%) death occurred due to acute myocardial infarction 20 days after the operation. The average follow-up period was 19.3 ± 16.7 months (range, 1-54 months) in the remaining 16 cases. The renal artery patency rate was 100%. The estimated cumulative primary patency rates were 92.3% at 12 months and 59.3% at 36 months according to the Kaplan-Meier method. CONCLUSIONS: Transbrachial and transfemoral approaches combined with visceral protection offer a safe and effective alternative to open revascularization for the endovascular treatment of juxtarenal AIOD.

The impact of endovascular treatment on clinical outcomes of stable symptomatic patients with spontaneous superior mesenteric artery dissection.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and clinical outcomes of endovascular treatment for superior mesenteric artery dissection (SMAD) and its effect on superior mesenteric artery (SMA) remodeling compared with medical management alone after successful initial medical management. METHODS: In this retrospective analysis, all patients with spontaneous SMAD at a single institution were identified from March 2007 to August 2019. The primary outcomes were freedom from major adverse events (MAEs, a composite of dissection-related death, the recurrence of mesenteric ischemia symptoms, and a requirement for intervention). The secondary outcomes were morphologic remodeling of the dissections and stenosis or occlusion of the SMA. RESULTS: A total of 94 patients with SMAD who underwent successful initial medical management (91 males; mean age, 50.4 ± 6.3 years) were enrolled in the study. Fifty-seven (60.6%) received medical management alone, and 37 (39.4%) underwent endovascular repair after initial medical management. In the endovascular group, the technical success rate was 86.5% (32 of 37). During a mean follow-up period of 33.6 ± 26.2 months (range, 1-120 months), nine (9.6%) patients experienced a recurrence of abdominal pain, and six had additional interventions for SMAD. The patients in the endovascular group showed more complete or partial remodeling (22 [81.1%] vs 24 [44.4%]; P < .0001) or unchanged dissections (5 [13.5%] vs 23 [42.6%]; P = .0001) than those in the conservative group. Survival analysis showed that the estimated MAE-free survival rates were 95.6%, 88.9%, and 85.4% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. There was a higher freedom from SMA stenosis or occlusion in the endovascular group (log rank P = .046). CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment and medical management alone result in similar MAE-free survival for patients with SMAD after successful initial medical management. Moreover, endovascular therapy is associated with a higher complete remodeling rate and greater freedom from SMA stenosis or occlusion.

Diagnostic value of color Doppler sonography for spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection.

The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of color Doppler sonography (CDS) in the diagnosis of spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (SISMAD). The ultrasonographic images of 19 patients with SISMAD confirmed by computed tomography angiography (CTA) were retrospectively analyzed and the ultrasonographic features were summarized. The paired t-test was used to statistically analyze the differences in parameters determined by CTA vs. CDS, including the minimal inner diameter (MID), cross-sectional area (CSA), diameter and area stenosis rate, and flow rate of the true lumen. Of the 19 patients, 18 (94.7%) were diagnosed with SISMAD with correct classification by CDS. There was no significant difference between CTA and CDS with regard to minimal ID, CSA, diameter stenosis and area stenosis rate, and flow rate of the true lumen (all P>0.05). CDS was indicated to be an effective imaging modality for the diagnosis of SISMAD.

Diagnosis and treatment of acquired arteriovenous fistula after lower extremity deep vein thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a rare cause of arteriovenous fistula (AVF). The pathogenesis of acquired AVF after DVT remains unclear, and publications focusing on therapy and follow-up are also inadequate. In this study, the diagnosis and treatment of 24 patients with acquired AVF in the lower extremity after DVT was reported. METHODS: This is a retrospective study. We studied 24 patients with acquired AVF after DVT who were screened by ultrasound and confirmed by arteriography or computed tomographic arteriography (CTA) in our hospital. Treatments included simple compression therapy (SCT), venous hypertension-relieving therapy (VHRT) and transarterial embolization; VHRT included iliac vein stenting and Palma-Dale surgery (fem-fem bypass). RESULTS: All 24 patients exhibited symptoms in the left lower extremity including swelling (24 cases, 100%), pain (14 cases, 58.33%), pigmentation (13 cases, 54.17%) and ulcers (8 cases, 33.33%). No cardiac enlargement or cardiac insufficiency was reported in any case. The initial ultrasound screening suggested PTS in all 24 cases, with arterialized waveform in veins in 24 cases and high-velocity turbulent flow within the fistulas in 16 cases. The AVF recurrence rate of embolization was 66.7% (4/6). In 7 patients who underwent SCT, the circumference difference of bilateral lower limbs at the 1-year follow-up was not significantly different from that before treatment (thigh, P=0.413; calf, P=0.478). In 14 patients who underwent VHRT, the circumference difference of bilateral lower limbs at the 1-year follow-up was significantly smaller than that before treatment (thigh, P=0.000; calf, P=0.001), and the follow-up difference value of the Venous Insufficiency Epidemiological and Economic Study-Quality of Life (VEINES-QOL) scores was significantly higher than that in the SCT group (1 month, P=0.012; 6 months, P=0.000; 1 year, P=0.000; 2 years, P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound plays an important role in screening and diagnosing AVF. Iliac vein obstruction rather than AVF was most likely the primary cause of the symptoms. Due to the high recurrence rate of DVT, transarterial embolization of AVF is not effective; thus, VHRT should be recommended as the preferred treatment.

Technical issues and clinical outcomes of endovascular repair of isolated iliac artery aneurysms: A single-center experience.

PURPOSE: Isolated iliac artery aneurysms are the relatively uncommon condition. This study aims to evaluate the technical issues and clinical outcomes of endovascular repair in a cohort of isolated iliac artery aneurysms treated. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 22 consecutive patients with isolated iliac artery aneurysms between December 2006 and September 2016. Iliac artery aneurysms were treated in one of the three ways: (1) standard bifurcated aortic stent graft placement with limb extension; (2) coverage of iliac artery aneurysms with covered stent grafts; and (3) embolization of the arterial branches distal to the aneurysms with coils or vascular plugs. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (20 men) with a mean age 64.7 years underwent endovascular repair during the study period. The median diameter of the isolated iliac artery aneurysms was 5.9 ± 1.7 cm (2.9-9.0 cm). Technical success was 95.5%. Conversion to open surgery was performed in one patient with bilateral internal iliac artery aneurysms. Four patients underwent placement of a bifurcated stent graft. A covered stent graft was deployed in 16 patients, with embolization of internal iliac artery in 14 patients. Simple coil embolization of isolated internal iliac artery aneurysm was performed in one patient. There was one sudden cardiac death on day 4 after the procedure due to heart failure. During the follow-up period (range: 1-50 months, mean 19.8 months), five patients died of causes not related to isolated iliac artery aneurysms, and transient buttock claudication was observed in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: Our study documents the safety and effectiveness of endovascular repair of isolated iliac artery aneurysms with low morbidity and mortality.

Multimodality imaging of benign or malignant tumors in the vena cava and its main branches.

Tumors arising from or secondarily involving the vena cava (VC) are broad-spectrum diseases, ranging from benign to malignant. The benign tumors include myxoma, leiomyomatosis and leiomyoma. The primary malignant tumors of the VC are rare, and of these rare entities, leiomyosarcoma is the most frequently encountered. The direct extension of a tumor arising from an adjacent organ such as hepatocellular carcinoma or renal cell carcinoma is more common than primary malignant tumor in the inferior VC. In this article, the authors review the spectrum of VC pathologic processes and the relevant findings from magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography, and computed tomography.

Endovascular repair of a Kommerell diverticulum anomaly.

A Kommerell diverticulum (KD) may predispose toward aortic aneurysm, dissection, or rupture, although they are primarily asymptomatic. We report a case of an aberrant left subclavian artery arising from a KD in a right-side aortic arch. The lesions were successfully treated by an endovascular approach involving Amplatzer vascular plug embolization of the aberrant left subclavian artery and endovascular repair of the KD.

[Clinical analysis of patients with lower extremity deep venous thrombosis complicated with inferior vena cava thrombus].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical profiles of patients with lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) complicated with inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombus and summarize their clinical diagnostic and therapeutic experiences. METHODS: The clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of 20 hospitalized patients with DVT complicated with inferior vena cava thrombus were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: All of them were of proximal DVT. There were phlegmasia cerulea dolens (n = 3), pulmonary embolism (n = 3) and completely occlusion of IVC (n = 5). Clinical manifestations were severe. Retrievable inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) was implanted for 17 cases. Catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) through ipsilateral popliteal vein was applied for 7 cases and systemic thrombolysis therapy for 8 cases. The effective rate of thrombolysis for fresh IVC thrombus was 100%. Among 5 cases with Cockett Syndrome, 3 cases underwent balloon dilatation angioplasty and endovascular stenting of iliac vein. And 17 IVCFs were retrieved successfully within 3 weeks. IVC thrombus disappeared completely in 15 cases. CONCLUSION: Systemic or local thrombolysis with protective IVCF is a safe and effective therapy for nonocclusive IVC thrombus in DVT. And CDT is recommended for symptomatic occlusive IVC thrombus.

Clinical effect of endovascular treatment on blood pressure and kidney function for hypertensive patients with renal artery stenosis.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical effect of endovascular treatment on postoperative blood pressure (BP) control and kidney function of hypertensive patients with renal artery stenosis (RAS). Between January 2004 and December 2011, RAS was diagnosed in 120 renal arteries from 115 hypertensive patients. Preoperative and postoperative BPs and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were monitored. Postoperative oral antiplatelet and antihypertensive agents were administered. Clinical follow-up was available for all patients for at least 6 months. Balloon angioplasty was performed successfully in 110 patients, and stents were deployed in 94 renal arteries from 89 patients. Hypertension was cured and lessened in 19 and 61 patients, respectively. Blood pressure was stable and worsened in 26 and 9 patients, respectively. The renal function was improved and stable in 23 patients and 57 patients, respectively. Deterioration of renal function was observed in 11 patients. Doppler ultrasound after discharge revealed 87 patent renal arteries and fixed stents in 82 patients 6 months after procedure. Balloon angioplasty and stent deployment are effective and feasible procedures for patients with RAS that help in controlling BP and improving renal function moderately.

Catheter-directed thrombolysis with a continuous infusion of low-dose urokinase for non-acute deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremity.

OBJECTIVE: We wanted to evaluate the feasibility of catheter-directed thrombolysis with a continuous infusion of low-dose urokinase for treating non-acute (less than 14 days) deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical data of 110 patients who were treated by catheter-directed thrombolysis with a continuous infusion of low-dose urokinase for lower extremity deep venous thrombosis was analysed. Adjunctive angioplasty or/and stenting was performed for the residual stenosis. Venous recanalization was graded by pre- and post-treatment venography. Follow-up was performed by clinical evaluation and Doppler ultrasound. RESULTS: A total of 112 limbs with deep venous thrombosis with a mean symptom duration of 22.7 days (range: 15-38 days) were treated with a urokinase infusion (mean: 3.5 million IU) for a mean of 196 hours. After thrombolysis, stent placement was performed in 25 iliac vein lesions and percutaneous angioplasty (PTA) alone was done in five iliac veins. Clinically significant recanalization was achieved in 81% (90 of 112) of the treated limbs; complete recanalization was achieved in 28% (31 of 112) and partial recanalization was achieved in 53% (59 of 112). Minor bleeding occurred in 14 (13%) patients, but none of the patients suffered from major bleeding or symptomatic pulmonary embolism. During follow-up (mean: 15.2 months, range: 3-24 months), the veins were patent in 74 (67%) limbs. Thirty seven limbs (32%) showed progression of the stenosis with luminal narrowing more than 50%, including three with rethrombosis, while one revealed an asymptomatic iliac vein occlusion; 25 limbs (22%) developed mild post-thrombotic syndrome, and none had severe post-thrombotic syndrome. Valvular reflux occurred in 24 (21%) limbs. CONCLUSION: Catheter-directed thrombolysis with a continuous infusion of low-dose urokinase combined with adjunctive iliac vein stenting is safe and effective for removal of the clot burden and for restoration of the venous flow in patients with non-acute lower extremity deep venous thrombosis.

[Clinical analysis of 20 pregnant women with venous thromboembolic disease].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical features, diagnostic methods and treatment of venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) during pregnancy. METHODS: From June 2006 to June 2011, a total of 20 pregnant women were diagnosed VTE at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University. Clinical data of these patients were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: (1) Characteristics of patients:the symptoms of all the 20 patients commenced in pregnancy. Of these, 6(30%) happened in the first trimester, 7 (35%) in the second trimester, and 7 (35%) in the third trimester. Twelve (60%) patients went to hospital in one week after they had symptoms, while 8 (40%) went to hospital after one week. (2) Clinical manifestation: 18 patients were diagnosed deep venous thrombosis (DVT), one was diagnosed pulmonary embolism (PE). One patient was diagnosed DVT and PE simultaneously. Among the 19 DVT patients, 16 (16/19)were on the left side, 3(3/19)were on the other. They all came with sudden swelling and pain of the affected lower extremity. In 17 (17/19) patients, the circumference differences between two legs were beyond (4.0 ± 0.5) cm. In all the 20 patients, 12(60%) had elevated plasma level of D-dimmer. The diagnosis of DVT was made mainly by a Doppler ultrasound. Among the 19 DVT events, 7 (7/19) were proximal DVT, 2 (2/19) were distal, and 10(10/19) were mixed type. (3) Anticoagulant therapy: patients with VTE during pregnancy were treated with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (enoxaparin, once 1 mg/kg subcutaneous, twice a day). After delivery, patients were treated with subcutaneous LMWH and warfarin simultaneously for at least 5 days, until the prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR) was > 2.0 for 24 hours. (4) Thrombolytic therapy: for most patients with VTE, we are against the routine use of thrombolytic therapy, especially before delivery. For patients with acute massive PE, urokinase of 600 000 units intravenously daily was recommended for 3 days. For those patients with DVT whose standard anticoagulation therapy was < 30 days, an inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) placement was recommended before delivery or abortion. If it was ≥ 30 days, IVCF was not recommended as a routine, and anticoagulant therapy was used 24 hours after delivery. If there was no recurrent DVT or PE, IVCF was retrieved routinely in 12 days. (5) OUTCOME: among patients treated with LMWH (95%, 19/20). Three received IVCF placement, which was retrieved successfully in 12 days, with no interventional complication. All patients recovered well after 2 weeks, and the circumference differences between two legs were within (2.0 ± 0.3) cm. Of the 18 patients maintained to the third trimester, 17 received anticoagulant therapy, and no abnormal findings were found during antenatal examination. Ten patients received cesarean section (50%, 10/20), while 8 had vaginal delivery (40%, 8/20). Neither neonatal asphyxia nor malformation was observed. The patients were followed-up for 1 - 24 months, no venous thrombus extension was found in 17 cases by Doppler ultrasound, thrombus disappeared in 2 cases of distal DVT after 4 weeks and 8 weeks respectively. By echocardiography, the pulmonary arterial pressure of the 2 patients with PE was found normal 3 months after hospital discharge. There was no maternal death during the study, no recurrent PE or bleeding occured. CONCLUSIONS: LMWH is safe and effective for VTE during pregnancy. Routine use of thrombolytic therapy is not recommended. VTE in pregnancy is not the absolute indication of termination of pregnancy. The indication of an IVCF placement should be stricter, and a retrievable suprarenal IVCF is recommended under certain circumstances.

[Early and mid-term results of endovascular aneurysm repair for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm].

OBJECTIVE: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) has become a viable alternative to open surgical repair in the last decade. We report here our experience on the mid-term results of EVAR and analysis of the outcomes associated with endograft AAA repair. METHODS: Between Nov 2002 and Mar 2007, 26 patients with AAA were enrolled in a single institution. Indications for EVAR included unfavorable condition of body (eg. Heart, lung, or renal dysfunction, etc) for open surgery and maximum diameter of AAA > 5.0 cm. Customized stent-grafts were Talent TM, Zenith and some of products made in China. All of the patients were followed up with ultrasonography or computed tomography angiography every 3 months first year after EVAR and every year after. RESULTS: The mean (SD) follow-up was 38.8 ± 12.7 months (median, 35.0 months; range, 24 to 64 months), and no patients were lost to follow-up. All cause mortality was 15.4% (4/26), with all deaths occurring within the first 2 postoperative year; 30-day mortality was 4.1%. No patient died during the operation. Completion angiography demonstrated successful sealing in 25 of 26 patients. There was no stent occlusion of renal artery. The mid term complication were observed including 2 type I endoleak after 3 months of the operation, 2 sustained type II endoleak caused by lumber artery, 1 aneurysm of left femoral artery after 16 months of operation, 1 proximal neck dilation after 12 month of operation. The aneurysm sac size didn't increase significantly during follow time, except one of the type I endoleak. CONCLUSIONS: The mid-term results of EVAR support the continued use in patients with contraindications for traditional open surgery of AAA. Close surveillance is mandatory for endoleak, especially for type I endoleak. Some proximal neck dilation can be caused by the stent-graft expansion, injury, and aortic pathological changes. Endoleak of type II can not lead to enlargement of aneurysm sac probably.

Lateral subfascial endoscopic perforating vein surgery as treatment for lateral perforating vein incompetence and venous ulceration.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of lateral subfascial endoscopic perforating vein surgery (SEPS). METHODS: Our study was conducted from February 2002 to January 2007. Sixty-three patients with lateral incompetent perforating veins (IPVs) and venous ulceration were allocated to two groups. Group 1 comprised 31 patients (33 limbs) who underwent only routine surgery (saphenofemoral or saphenopopliteal ligation, stripping, phlebectomies, endovascular laser treatment [EVLT], medial SEPS, and skin grafting). Group 2 comprised 32 patients (35 limbs) who underwent our routine surgery with the addition of lateral SEPS. Bidirectional ultrasonography was performed before the operation, and 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. Clinical score and disability score were collected at the same time. RESULTS: Twenty-nine (87.9%) of 33 limbs with active ulcers in group 1 healed, with recurrence in four (12.1%) limbs at follow-up at 25.9 +/- 10.0 months. All 35 limbs in group 2 healed, with recurrence in 0 (0.0%) limbs at follow-up at 25.4 +/- 10.1 months. Lateral SEPS could reduce the rate of recurrence of ulcers (Kaplan-Meier analysis). Patients in group 2 also showed improvement in clinical and disability scores, although they were not statistically significant differences (t test, p > 0.05). A significantly higher proportion of patients in group 1 had IPVs on the lateral aspect of the lower leg on ultrosonography imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Lateral SEPS could contribute to ulcer healing and reduce ulcer recurrence. The addition of lateral SEPS to routine surgery did reduce the number of IPVs. Lateral SEPS may be safe and effective for lateral perforating vein incompetence and venous ulceration.

Intramuscular delivery of antiangiogenic genes suppresses secondary metastases after removal of primary tumors.

The success of surgery to remove primary tumors can be compromised by the subsequent outgrowth of metastases. It is recognized that primary tumors secrete antiangiogenic factors that suppress the outgrowth of their daughter metastases. In accord we show here that surgical removal of primary EL-4 lymphomas led to a marked decrease in the levels of circulating angiostatin and endostatin, and promoted the growth of distant nodular tumors. Expression vectors encoding angiostatin and endostatin, formulated with poly-N-vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), were injected into the tibialis and gastrocnemia muscles, leading to expression of angiostatin and endostatin in muscle fibers. High levels of biologically active exogenous proteins were secreted into the circulation. Intramuscular gene therapy with angiostatin and endostatin plasmids significantly inhibited tumor vascularity and induced tumor cell apoptosis, and thereby suppressed the growth of secondary subcutaneous and disseminated metastatic tumors in the lung and liver. Simultaneous intramuscular delivery of both angiostatin and endostatin plasmids significantly prolonged the survival of mice after removal of primary tumors. These results suggest that intramuscular gene transfer of angiostatin and endostatin might serve as a prophylactic cancer-prevention strategy to combat the recurrence of cancer after surgical resection of primary tumors.