Sarcopenia is a risk factor for major adverse cardiac events after surgical revascularization for critical limb ischemia.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the effect of sarcopenia on early surgical outcomes in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) in terms of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and major adverse limb events (MALE), as well as the value of inflammatory markers of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios (PLR) as indicators of sarcopenia in CLI patients. METHODS: This was an observational retrospective single-center study. Patients who required surgical revascularization for CLI between October 2015 and December 2020 were identified. Psoas muscle areas were calculated from computed tomography images for psoas muscle index (PMI) calculations. Sarcopenia was defined as PMI < 5.5 cm2/m2 for men and PMI < 4.0 cm2/m2 for women. Risk factors for 30-day major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and major adverse limb events (MALE) were analyzed. NLR and PLR were compared between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic patients. RESULTS: The mean age of 217 study patients was 61.5 ± 10.9, and 16 (7.4%) patients were female. 82 (37.8%) patients were sarcopenic. Patients with sarcopenia were older (65.1 ± 9.3 vs 59.4 ± 11.2, p < .001) and history of myocardial infarction was more frequent (23.2% vs 12.6%, p = 0.042) among sarcopenic patients. Sarcopenic patients more frequently encountered MACE (9.8% vs 0.7%, p = 0.002), but not MALE. Sarcopenia increased early postoperative MACE in our cohort with an odds ratio of 11.925. NLR was not different between the two groups, while PLR was higher (127.16 vs 104.06, p = 0.010) among sarcopenic patients. The platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio of 125.11 had a sensitivity of 53.7% and a specificity of 68.1% for differentiating sarcopenia. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia was associated with more frequent 30-day MACE and perioperative mortality after revascularization for CLI. 30-day MALE was not increased in patients with sarcopenia. The use of PLR as a simple marker of sarcopenia is limited by its low sensitivity and specificity.

Is pectoralis muscle index a risk factor for mortality in left ventricular assist device patients?

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate whether sarcopenia measured from pectoralis muscles is a risk factor for long-term mortality in left ventricular assist device patients. METHODS: Patients aged >18 years implanted with a left ventricular assist device in a single center between 2013 and 2019 were retrospectively included. Patients without a thoracic computed tomography scan performed within 3 months of left ventricular assist device implantation and without computed tomography scans appropriate for pectoralis muscle measurement were excluded. Pectoralis muscle measurements were made on thoracic computed tomography slices, and pectoralis muscle indices were calculated for each patient. Sarcopenia was defined as being in the gender-specific lowest tertile of pectoralis muscle index. Survival was compared between patients with and without sarcopenia. RESULTS: The study was conducted on 64 left ventricular assist device patients who met the inclusion criteria. Notably, 21 (32.8%) of the study patients were sarcopenic. Diabetes mellitus and sarcopenia were more common in patients with 2-year mortality in our cohort. Patients with sarcopenia had a worse 2-year survival (p<0.001). Sarcopenia had an adjusted hazard ratio of 4.04 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36-12.02, p=0.012), while diabetes mellitus was associated with an adjusted hazard ratio of 3.14 (95%CI 1.17-8.39, p=0.023). CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia defined by low pectoralis muscle index increases the risk for 2-year mortality in left ventricular assist device patients.

Is pectoralis muscle index a risk factor for mortality in left ventricular assist device patients?

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate whether sarcopenia measured from pectoralis muscles is a risk factor for long-term mortality in left ventricular assist device patients. METHODS: Patients aged >18 years implanted with a left ventricular assist device in a single center between 2013 and 2019 were retrospectively included. Patients without a thoracic computed tomography scan performed within 3 months of left ventricular assist device implantation and without computed tomography scans appropriate for pectoralis muscle measurement were excluded. Pectoralis muscle measurements were made on thoracic computed tomography slices, and pectoralis muscle indices were calculated for each patient. Sarcopenia was defined as being in the gender-specific lowest tertile of pectoralis muscle index. Survival was compared between patients with and without sarcopenia. RESULTS: The study was conducted on 64 left ventricular assist device patients who met the inclusion criteria. Notably, 21 (32.8%) of the study patients were sarcopenic. Diabetes mellitus and sarcopenia were more common in patients with 2-year mortality in our cohort. Patients with sarcopenia had a worse 2-year survival (p<0.001). Sarcopenia had an adjusted hazard ratio of 4.04 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36-12.02, p=0.012), while diabetes mellitus was associated with an adjusted hazard ratio of 3.14 (95%CI 1.17-8.39, p=0.023). CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia defined by low pectoralis muscle index increases the risk for 2-year mortality in left ventricular assist device patients.

Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate as a Predictor of Restenosis After Carotid Stenting Using First-Generation Stents.

This study evaluated the impact of the baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on clinical and angiographic outcomes and long-term in-stent restenosis (ISR) rates in patients undergoing elective carotid artery stenting (CAS) procedures. Consecutive patients who underwent CAS were retrospectively enrolled (n = 456). At the end of 3 years of follow-up, patients who had died or were lost follow-up were excluded from the study and a final analysis was performed using data from the remaining 405 patients. The study population (n = 405) was divided into 3 tertiles based on the tertile values of the eGFR level (T1, T2, and T3); then, clinical and procedural characteristics and 3-year ISR rates were compared between the groups. An ISR of 50% was detected in 49 (12%) surviving patients. The 3-year ISR was higher among patients with the lowest eGFR values (T1) by 3.7 times (95% CI: 2.01-11.38) than that among patients with the highest eGFR values (T3). These significant relationships persisted following adjustment for confounders. A lower baseline eGFR level was significantly associated with an increased ISR rate. Decreased renal function may be a predictor of ISR after CAS using first-generation stents.

Multipolar Left Ventricular Lead Implantation in a Unique Coronary Sinus: Direct Drainage of the Posterior Vein into the Right Atrium.

The coronary sinus, whose electrical features play an important role in cardiac arrhythmias, is the integral part of the cardiac venous system. Here we describe a 67-year-old male patient with congestive heart failure who was referred to our hospital after the failure of the first cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) implantation. During the cannulation of the coronary sinus, the separate orifice of the posterior cardiac vein was demonstrated by the retrograde filling of the coronary sinus via contrast injection into the posterior cardiac vein. Due to the serious tortuosity of the coronary venous sinus, a multipolar left ventricular lead was implanted using the separate ostium of the posterior cardiac vein. In our patient, the posterior cardiac vein directly drained into the right atrium. At 3 months' follow-up with the CRT-D, he was asymptomatic (New York Heart Association functional class I).

Association between high on-treatment platelet reactivity to clopidogrel and hepatosteatosis in patients undergoing elective stent implantation.

OBJECTIVE: The present study is an investigation of the association between high on-treatment platelet reactivity to clopidogrel (HTPRC) and hepatosteatosis in patients who had elective stent implantation due to coronary artery disease. METHODS: A total of 190 consecutive patients who underwent an elective coronary stent implantation due to coronary artery disease were prospectively enrolled in the study. Eligible patients were given a 300 mg loading dose of clopidogrel before percutaneous coronary intervention. All of the patients underwent an ultrasound assessment for fatty liver. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the detection of HTPRC: patients with HTPRC and patients without HTPRC. RESULTS: HTPRC was present in 54.2% (103 of 190 patients) of the total study population. The age and body mass index data were similar between the 2 groups. In all, 111 (58.6%) patients had hepatosteatosis. The HTPRC ratio was statistically higher in female patients (p=0.032). Hepatosteatosis was significantly greater in patients with HTPRC (p<0.001); 84 (81.6%) patients with HTPRC had hepatosteatosis (p=0.001). There was also a statistically significant association between the hepatosteatosis grade and HTPRC (p<0.001). The percentage of HTPRC was greater in patients with ≥grade 2 hepatosteatosis than grade 1 (p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis indicated that hepatosteatosis (odds ratio: 9.403, 95% confidence interval: 4.519-19.566; p<0.001), fasting blood glucose, and hypertension were independent predictors of HTPRC. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate a relationship between hepatosteatosis and HTPRC.

Is real-time elastography helpful to differentiate acute from subacute deep venous thrombosis? A preliminary study.

PURPOSE: To detect and characterize changes in stiffness of thrombus in patients with acute and subacute deep venous thrombosis (DVT) by using real-time elastography (RTE). METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with acute or subacute DVT were prospectively evaluated by B-mode sonography (US), color Doppler US (CDUS), and RTE. Two radiologists evaluated the thrombus echogenicity, compressibility, and recanalization of the affected vein, and thrombus stiffness in consensus. The thrombi were classified into 3 groups as soft, intermediate, and hard on RTE images. RESULTS: The final study group consisted of 30 patients with acute DVT, among whom 10 were women (33%), and 19 patients with subacute DVT, among whom 6 were women (32%). The presence of hypoechoic thrombus, incompressible vein, and absence of recanalization on US and CDUS were significantly associated with acute DVT (P < .001 for all variables). The differences in elasticity pattern of the thrombi between acute and subacute DVT were not significant (P = .202). CONCLUSION: Venous thrombus hardens with age; however, elastography pattern on RTE, in its present form, may not be able to differentiate acute DVT from subacute DVT.

Pulsatile Mass Sensation with Intense Abdominal Pain; Atypical Presentation of the Nutcracker Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Patients with Nutcracker syndrome generally present with nonspecific abdominal pain, with the left renal vein (LRV) lodged between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery. In rare cases this can result in atypical gastrointestinal symptoms, making the diagnosis of Nutcracker syndrome challenging. CASE REPORT: A 28-year-old female patient presented with complaints of severe abdominal pain and palpable pulsatile abdominal mass located in the left epigastric area. Computed tomography angiography revealed that the LRV was lodged in the aortomesenteric region with a dilated left ovarian vein and pelvic varicose veins. The upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy were normal. The patient was diagnosed as Nutcracker syndrome and discharged to be treated with analgesics. CONCLUSIONS: Nutcracker syndrome can be seen with atypical gastrointestinal and vascular symptoms. Computed tomography angiography is a reliable and robust technique to prove the diagnosis of nutcracker syndrome.

Anomalous left pulmonary artery without sling formation.

A case of aberrant left pulmonary artery originating from the right pulmonary artery resembling pulmonary artery sling malformation, but without true sling formation, is presented. Anomalous left pulmonary artery was accompanied with long-segment proximal tracheal stenosis and other congenital malformations typically associated with PAS complex. The anomalous pulmonary artery passed anterior to the trachea; therefore, no true sling was formed. Because no airway compression by the aberrant left pulmonary artery was detected, the proximal tracheal stenosis was thought to be primary.

[Endovascular repair for an acute traumatic aortic transection: a case report]. / Akut travmatik aort transeksiyonunda endovasküler onarim: olgu sunumu.

A thirty-eight-year-old male patient who suffered from 10th and 11th thoracal vertebrae fractures, paraplegia and acute traumatic aortic transection because of accidental fall was referred to our hospital. Open surgical repair carried a very high risk due to severe coexisting injuries. Transection was treated with 30x100 mm Valiant thoracic endograft, which was deployed just distal to the ostium of the left carotid artery. The patient was transferred to the neurosurgery clinic for treatment of paraplegia after an uneventful recovery. Endovascular repair of acute transection confers substantial advantages in mortality and morbidity compared to surgical repair. However, the long-term durability of thoracic endografts remains unknown. If the long-term results are as satisfactory as the promising mid-term results, this technique may become the gold standard approach for the treatment of acute transection.

Follow-up of extracranial vertebral artery stents with Doppler sonography.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to determine the Doppler sonography findings suggestive of restenosis in the follow-up of patients treated by stent placement in the extracranial vertebral artery. CONCLUSION: Follow-up of vertebral artery stents with Doppler sonography may be performed by direct insonation of the stent or by indirect measurements from the V2 segment (the part of the vertebral artery that courses within the intervertebral foramina). The V2 segment Doppler sonography measurements may guide future examinations and provide essential information regarding the proximally deployed stent.

Duplication of the superficial femoral artery diagnosed primarily on the basis of color Doppler ultrasonography.

Variations of the lower extremity venous system are common, and radiologists may frequently be confronted with such variations during daily clinical practice. However, variations in the arterial system of the lower extremity are extremely rare. The profunda femoris artery and arteries of the cruris are mainly subject to variation. This report describes an extremely rare arterial variation, duplication of the superficial femoral artery (SFA), in terms of the radiologic findings, clinical importance, and embryologic basis.