BRAVISSIMO: 12-month results from a large scale prospective trial.

The BRAVISSIMO study is a prospective, non-randomized, multi-center, multi-national, monitored trial, conducted at 12 hospitals in Belgium and 11 hospitals in Italy. This manuscript reports the findings up to the 12-month follow-up time point for both the TASC A&B cohort and the TASC C&D cohort. The primary endpoint of the study is primary patency at 12 months, defined as a target lesion without a hemodynamically significant stenosis on Duplex ultrasound (>50%, systolic velocity ratio no greater than 2.0) and without target lesion revascularization (TLR) within 12 months. Between July 2009 and September 2010, 190 patients with TASC A or TASC B aortoiliac lesions and 135 patients with TASC C or TASC D aortoiliac lesions were included. The demographic data were comparable for the TASC A/B cohort and the TASC C/D cohort. The number of claudicants was significantly higher in the TASC A/B cohort, The TASC C/D cohort contains more CLI patients. The primary patency rate for the total patient population was 93.1%. The primary patency rates at 12 months for the TASC A, B, C and D lesions were 94.0%, 96.5%, 91.3% and 90.2% respectively. No statistical significant difference was shown when comparing these groups. Our findings confirm that endovascular therapy, and more specifically primary stenting, is the preferred treatment for patients with TASC A, B, C and D aortoiliac lesions. We notice similar endovascular results compared to surgery, however without the invasive character of surgery.

Pseudoaneurysm of the anterior tibial artery: a complication of ankle arthroscopy.

The authors describe a case of pseudoaneurysm of the anterior tibial artery after ankle arthroscopy that was undiagnosed for more then 10 weeks. The pseudoaneurysm was resected and postoperative recovery was uneventful. Anterior tibial artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication of ankle arthroscopy and should be considered when a patient presents with a local swelling of the anterolateral ankle joint.

Ruptured femoral pseudo-aneurysm through the skin: a rare vexing complication following aortobifemoral reconstruction.

A man, aged 73, presented with a pulsatile mass in his left groin area after an aortobifemoral reconstruction 24 years ago. This case showed a femoral pseudo-aneurysm that evolved very quickly to rupture through the skin requiring emergency operative repair.

Pleuroperitoneal shunts and tumor seeding.

A 76-year-old man with malignant mesothelioma of the left pleura was referred for surgical palliation. He was dyspneic at rest and had anterior chest pain and a persistent cough. Chest x-ray film revealed an extensive left pleural effusion. A thoracoscopy was performed, and 3L of pleural fluid was drained. Both the pleural surfaces and rhe diaphragm were studded with tumors. On maximal inflation of the lung, the parietal and visceral pleura did not oppose, and therefore a Denver shunt was inserted. At 6 weeks follow-up, the shunt was performing satisfactorily. At follow-up 9 weeks postoperatively, the subcutaneous tunnel was infiltrated by mesothelioma over a distance of some 15 cm.