Minimally invasive vein harvesting in femoropopliteal bypass surgery: does using an old technique give new perspectives? Short report of five patients.

BACKGROUND: Femoropopliteal bypass surgery is the most commonly performed type of peripheral bypass in vascular surgery. The great saphenous vein (GSV) is the preferred bypass conduit. Commonly used methods of GVS harvesting are related to morbidity, such as wound infection, skin necrosis, hematoma, and edema. METHODS: In this feasibility study we present an "old-new" way of harvesting of the GSV by inversion stripping, which is significantly less invasive than conventional GSV harvesting, resulting in less morbidity. RESULTS: All patients recovered uneventfully and all lower limb wounds healed with conventional wound management. No excessive bruising was seen in the VSM trail nor were there any surgical wound infections. CONCLUSIONS: The inversion stripping of the GSV is an easy, safe, and minimally invasive harvesting technique for bypass surgery.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging of carotid atherosclerotic plaque: model selection, reproducibility, and validation.

PURPOSE: To compare four known pharmacokinetic models for their ability to describe dynamic contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of carotid atherosclerotic plaques, to determine reproducibility, and to validate the results with histologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was approved by the institutional medical ethics committee. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Forty-five patients with 30%-99% carotid stenosis underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging. Plaque enhancement was measured at 16 time points at approximately 25-second image intervals by using a gadolinium-based contrast material. Pharmacokinetic parameters (volume transfer constant, K(trans); extracellular extravascular volume fraction, v(e); and blood plasma fraction, v(p)) were determined by fitting a two-compartment model to plaque and blood gadolinium concentration curves. The relative fit errors and parameter uncertainties were determined to find the most suitable model. Sixteen patients underwent imaging twice to determine reproducibility. Carotid endarterectomy specimens from 16 patients who were scheduled for surgery were collected for histologic validation. Parameter uncertainties were compared with the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Reproducibility was assessed by using the coefficient of variation. Correlation with histologic findings was evaluated with the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The mean relative fit uncertainty (±standard error) for K(trans) was 10% ± 1 with the Patlak model, which was significantly lower than that with the Tofts (20% ± 1), extended Tofts (33% ± 3), and extended graphical (29% ± 3) models (P < .001). The relative uncertainty for v(p) was 20% ± 2 with the Patlak model and was significantly higher with the extended Tofts (46% ± 9) and extended graphical (35% ± 5) models (P < .001). The reproducibility (coefficient of variation) for the Patlak model was 16% for K(trans) and 26% for v(p). Significant positive correlations were found between K(trans) and the endothelial microvessel content determined on histologic slices (Pearson ρ = 0.72, P = .005). CONCLUSION: The Patlak model is most suited for describing carotid plaque enhancement. Correlation with histologic findings validated K(trans) as an indicator of plaque microvasculature, and the reproducibility of K(trans) was good.

In situ preservation of kidneys from donors after cardiac death: results and complications.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the results and complications of in situ preservation (ISP) of kidneys from donors after cardiac death (DCD). BACKGROUND: DCD donors are increasingly being used to expand the pool of donor kidneys. ISP reduces warm ischemic injury which is associated with DCD donation. METHODS: Insertion of a double-balloon triple-lumen catheter allows selective perfusion of the abdominal aorta to preserve the kidneys in situ. From January 2001 until August 2005, 133 ISP procedures were initiated in our procurement area. RESULTS: Fifty-six (42%) ISP procedures led to transplantation; in the remaining 77 cases (58%), the donation procedure was abandoned or both kidneys were discarded because of ISP complications (n = 31), poor graft quality (n = 23), no consent for donation (n = 13), medical contraindications (n = 8), or unknown cause (n = 2). Increasing donor age (odds ratio (OR) 1.06 per year, P < 0.001) and uncontrolled DCD donation (OR 5.4, P < 0.001) were independently correlated with ISP complications. After transplantation, prolonged double-balloon triple-lumen catheter insertion time was an independent predictor of graft failure (OR 2.0, P = 0.05). Selected controlled DCD donors were managed by rapid laparotomy and direct aortic cannulation; graft survival of these kidneys was superior to kidneys from controlled DCD donors managed by ISP. CONCLUSIONS: A minority of initiated ISP procedures led to transplantation, resulting in a high workload compared with donation after brain death. The association between increasing catheter insertion time and inferior graft outcome emphasizes the need for fast and effective surgery. Therefore, rapid laparotomy with direct aortic cannulation is preferred over ISP in controlled DCD donation. Despite these limitations, we have expanded our donor pool 3- to 4-fold by procuring DCD kidneys that were preserved in situ.

Assessment of human atherosclerotic carotid plaque components with multisequence MR imaging: initial experience.

PURPOSE: To prospectively determine, by using a stepwise logistic regression model, the optimal magnetic resonance (MR) weighting (ie, pulse sequence) combinations for plaque assessment and corresponding cutoff values of relative signal intensities (rSIs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval and patient consent were obtained. Eleven patients (seven men, four women; mean age +/- standard deviation, 68 years +/- 4) with symptomatic carotid disease and stenosis of more than 70% were investigated at MR imaging before carotid endarterectomy. The MR images were matched with histologic features of the endarterectomy specimens (reference standard). The rSIs (compared with that of muscle tissue) from regions of interest were assessed qualitatively and semiquantitatively. For all major components (calcification, lipid core, intraplaque hemorrhage, and fibrous tissue), optimal cutoff points for the rSIs were determined for five MR weightings by means of receiver operating characteristic curves. The best predicting combinations of these five dichotomized MR weightings were selected by means of stepwise logistic regression analysis. The potential sensitivity and specificity of MR imaging for vulnerable plaque with hemorrhage and/or lipid core were determined. RESULTS: The same optimal MR weighting combinations for identifying the four plaque components were found with qualitative and semiquantitative analysis. Sensitivity and specificity for vulnerable plaque were 93% (95% confidence interval: 77%, 99%) and 96% (95% confidence interval: 86%, 100%), respectively, for the qualitative analysis and 76% (95% confidence interval: 56%, 90%) and 100% (95% confidence interval: 93%, 100%) for the semiquantitative analysis. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the potential of a systematic approach of atherosclerotic plaque assessment with multisequence MR imaging by using the information provided from five different MR weightings in a stepwise logistic regression model.

Ruptured AAA in a patient with a horseshoe kidney: emergent treatment using the talent acute endovascular aneurysm repair kit.

PURPOSE: To report emergent endovascular repair of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in a patient with a horseshoe kidney. CASE REPORT: A 78-year-old man with a horseshoe kidney presented with a contained rupture of a 72-mm AAA. After urgent computed tomographic angiography (CTA) documented the blood supply to the kidney and the suitability of the aneurysm for endovascular repair, the patient was given a local anesthetic. An aortomonoiliac stent-graft constructed from components provided in a Talent Acute Endovascular Aneurysm Repair Kit was inserted successfully. The procedure was completed with placement of a contralateral common iliac artery occluder and a femorofemoral bypass graft. No complications were encountered, and the patient was discharged with an excluded aneurysm on the fourth postoperative day. At 3 months, aneurysm exclusion was confirmed by CTA, and no endoleak was present; the retroperitoneal hematoma had disappeared. The patient remains in good general condition 8 months after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The advantages of endovascular aneurysm repair in the emergency setting can facilitate rapid recovery in patients with symptomatic or ruptured aneurysms, especially those having a horseshoe kidney.