Acute Thrombosis of an Aneurysm of the Small Saphenous Vein: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: A venous aneurysm (VA) is a focal dilatation of a nonvariceal vein (diameter increased by at least 1.5 times compared to the adjacent upstream or downstream venous segment), which carries a risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) when located in the deep veins of the lower limbs but also when it affects the veins above the muscle fascia. CASE: We report the case of a 40-year-old woman who presented with a painful and disabling mass-like lesion of the upper third of the right calf. A Doppler ultrasound (DUS) examination revealed a small saphenous vein (SSV) dilated at the saphenopopliteal junction (SPJ) and thrombosed along its entire length. Anticoagulant treatment was initiated but although the thrombosis regressed on DUS, the functional impotence and the persistence of pain prompted a stripping of the SSV. Histology allowed the diagnosis of SSV's primary aneurysm. DISCUSSION: Dilated segments of the saphenous vein are not always varicose veins (VVs). True VAs can develop on veins located above the muscular fascia and, like deep VAs, may trigger VTE. Small saphenous vein aneurysms have seldom been reported, and only a few clinical observations have described the thrombosis of a SSV aneurysm. Any mass in the popliteal fossa or upper part of the calf should be examined by DUS to look for an SSV aneurysm. Excision of the saphenous vein with junctional ligation is advised if thrombosis is present at the time of diagnosis.

Bilateral superficial temporal vein thrombosis after acute carbon monoxide poisoning and prolonged immobilisation: a case report.

A prolonged stay on the ground after acute carbon monoxide poisoning (COP) is a high-risk situation for venous thromboembolism (VTE), but unusual-site venous thrombosis is rare in this setting. An 81-year-old woman with no personal or family history of VTE who lied on the ground for several hours following massive COP had painful and oedematous temples, so a Doppler ultrasound was prompted and revealed a bilateral superficial temporal vein (STV) thrombosis. There was no heart failure, trauma, inflammatory disease, infection, or vascular malformation. The thrombosis regressed on fondaparinux 2.5 mg given as a daily subcutaneous injection for 45 days. Our observation emphasizes the need to look not only for arteritis but also for venous thrombosis before any temporal pain. STV thrombosis has been reported four times to date. We report the first case of bilateral STV thrombosis in the setting of massive COP and prolonged immobilisation in an elderly patient.

Coronary-subclavian steal syndrome causing myocardial infarction after arteriovenous fistula creation: a case report.

Coronary subclavian steal syndrome (CSSS) caused by left subclavian artery (LSA) stenosis is a rare cause of myocardial infarction in patients having coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and it has also been observed after an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) was made. A 79-year-old woman who had undergone CABG years earlier and an AVF creation 1 month before experienced a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). While selective catheterization of the left internal thoracic artery graft was impossible, a computed tomography scanner showed patency of all bypasses and proximal subocclusive LSA stenosis, and the digital blood pressure measurements objectified a haemodialysis-induced distal ischaemia. LSA's angioplasty and covered stent placement were successfully performed, resulting in symptom remission. A CSSS-induced NSTEMI due to a LSA stenosis aggravated by a homolateral AVF several years after CABG has been documented only infrequently. If vascular access is required in the presence of CSSS risk factors, the contralateral upper limb should be preferred.

Rapidly spreading deep dissecting hematoma occurring 1 month after a minor trauma: A case report.

A deep dissecting hematoma is the most serious complication of dermatoporosis, consisting of a rapidly expanding blood collection that splits the hypodermis from the muscle fascia. A several-week time lapse between a minor trauma-induced superficial hematoma and its sudden evolution into a rapidly spreading deep dissecting hematoma is unusual. We report the case of a 70-year-old woman with long-term oral anticoagulation and dermatoporosis who suddenly developed a rapidly spreading right-leg deep dissecting hematoma 1 month after minor trauma, for which a surgical debridement and drainage were performed. Only local care and absorbent dressings were used to manage the post-operative wound, and within 4 months, the wound had healed. In this report, we emphasize the importance of preventing deep dissecting hematoma in patients who are at risk as well as the need to weigh the benefits and risks of anticoagulants when dermatoporosis cutaneous signs are present. A limb-threatening deep dissecting hematoma may develop suddenly, even weeks after a minor impact. In order to prevent skin necrosis from occurring, caregivers, patients, and carers must be able to identify this condition early on.

Upper-limb acute superficial lymphatic thrombosis: A case report.

Upper-limb acute superficial lymphatic is a rare phenomenon that has received little attention in the medical literature to date, yet it mimics superficial venous thrombosis and may also complicate a skin punch biopsy.

Scapular renal cell carcinoma metastasis as a cause of high-output heart failure: a case report.

BACKGROUND: High-output heart failure is a rare condition that occurs when the heart is unable to respond to a sustained increase in blood demand. On echocardiography, a cardiac index of > 4 L/min/m2 (or 6 L/min) is a clear indicator of this disorder. The causes of high-output heart failure vary, but they all involve peripheral vasodilation or arteriovenous shunting. Renal cell carcinoma is well known for producing high levels of angiogenic growth factors that induce arteriovenous shunts. The decrease in peripheral arterial resistance and the increase in venous return result in a permanent high cardiac output, followed by congestive heart failure. Single bone metastases of renal clear cell carcinoma tumours causing high cardiac output and heart failure symptoms have been reported less than ten times in the medical literature. CASE PRESENTATION: Before a right-shoulder painful lump with a murmur when auscultated, magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large scapular mass, which was biopsied and found to be a bone metastasis of renal cell carcinoma. Two months later, the patient developed heart failure for the first time. There was no evidence of cardiac disease on echocardiography. The cardiac output was 9.8 L/min and the cardiac index was 5.1 L/min/m2. Doppler ultrasound revealed numerous arteriovenous shunts in the large scapular metastasis and a right axillary artery flow of 24% of cardiac output. Sustained lower cardiac output was obtained following lesion-focused radiotherapy and systemic antiangiogenic treatment with axitinib and pembrolizumab. CONCLUSIONS: Herein, we present a unique case of high-output heart failure in a 70-year-old man diagnosed by echocardiography and upper-limb Doppler ultrasound in the context of metastatic renal cell carcinoma without pre-existing cardiac disease. We stress the potentially life-threatening hemodynamic consequences of hypervascularity associated with arteriovenous shunts within a single metastatic renal cell carcinoma implant, the importance of auscultating any progressing bone mass, and the utility of non-invasive Doppler ultrasound assessment in this setting.