Navigating Challenges in the Endovascular Treatment of Asymptomatic Aortoiliac Aneurysms: A 10-Year Comparative Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Treating an abdominal aortoiliac aneurysm (AAIA) with endovascular methods can be challenging when the internal iliac artery (IIA) is involved. Embolizing the IIA and extending the limb to the external iliac artery (IIAE + EE) to prevent a type 2 endoleak may lead to pelvic ischemic complications. To avoid these complications, strategies that preserve the IIA, such as the bell-bottom technique (BBT) and the iliac branch device (IBD), have been proposed. This study aims to compare the outcomes of these three endovascular approaches for AAIA. METHODS: Between January 2010 and December 2019, 174 patients with asymptomatic AAIA were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. They were divided into two groups: 81 patients underwent non-IIAE procedures, and 93 patients underwent IIAE procedures. The iliac limb study group consisted of 106 limbs treated with the BBT, 113 limbs treated with the IIAE + EE, and 32 limbs treated with the IBD. The primary outcomes included the 30-day mortality rate and intraoperative limb complications. The secondary outcomes included postoperative pelvic ischemia, freedom from reintervention, and the overall 10-year survival rate. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the perioperative mortality rate between the non-IIAE group (0%) and the IIAE group (2.1%), p = 0.500. The intraoperative limb complications did not differ significantly between the BBT limbs (7.5%), the IIAE + EE limbs (3.5%), and the IBD limbs (3.1%) groups, p = 0.349. The incidence of buttock claudication was significantly greater in the bilateral IIAE + EE group compared to the unilateral IIAE + EE and non-IIAE groups (25%, 11%, and 2.5%, p-value < 0.004), and was similar to the incidence of buttock rest pain with skin necrosis (15%, 0%, and 0%, p < 0.001). During the 10-year follow-up, the BBT limbs group had a significantly lower rate of iliac limb reintervention free time than the IIAE + EE limbs and the IBD limbs groups (88.7%, 98.2%, and 93.8%, p = 0.016). There was no significant difference in the overall 10-year survival rate between the non-IIAE and IIAE groups (51.4% vs. 55.9%, p = 0.703). CONCLUSIONS: The early and late mortality rates were similar between the non-IIAE and IIAE groups. Preserving the IIA is recommended to avoid pelvic ischemic complications. Considering the higher rate of reintervention in the BBT group, the IBD strategy may be preferred for AAIA.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cell transplantation to treat no-option critical limb ischaemia: effectiveness and safety.

OBJECTIVE: Local intramuscular transplantation of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilised peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PB-MNC) has been shown to be effective for treating patients with no-option critical limb ischaemia (CLI) who are not considered suitable to undergo surgical bypass or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of PB-MNCs as a treatment for no-option CLI patients. METHOD: This prospective cohort study was conducted between April 2013 and December 2017. Patients with no-option CLI were treated with G-CSF 5-10 µg/kg/day for 3 days. PB-MNCs (7.1±2.2×1010) with CD34+ cells (2.1±1.2×108) were collected by blood cell separator and then injected into the calf or thigh of ischaemic limbs. Ankle-brachial index, toe-brachial index and transcutaneous oxygen tension were recorded at 1 and 3 months after injection. The amputation rate and the wound healing rate were also recorded. RESULTS: Eight patients took part in the study. Two patients experienced rest pain relief 1 month after PB-MNC therapy. Five patients had healed ulcer at 6 months after PB-MNC therapy. Limb ischaemia did not improve after PB-MNC therapy in one patient. Below-knee amputation was performed in that patient due to extension of gangrene. Two patients required reinjection of PB-MNCs because of recurrence of ischaemic ulcer. The limb salvage rate after 1 year was 87.5%. CONCLUSION: Local intramuscular transplantation of G-CSF-mobilised PB-MNCs might be a safe and effective treatment for no-option CLI patients.

Early and late outcomes of endovascular aneurysm repair to treat abdominal aortic aneurysm compared between severe and non-severe infrarenal neck angulation.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal aortic aneurysm with severe infrarenal neck angle (>60°) has long been thought to be an obstacle to endovascular aneurysm repair. However, some previous studies reported endovascular aneurysm repair to be safe and efficacious for treating abdominal aortic aneurysm in patients with severe neck angulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the early and late outcomes of endovascular aneurysm repair to treat abdominal aortic aneurysm compared between patients with severe and non-severe infrarenal neck angulation. METHODS: Fifty-four severe and 144 non-severe neck angulation patients who were treated at Siriraj Hospital (Bangkok, Thailand) during January 2010-October 2013 were recruited. The primary endpoints were intraoperative neck complications (e.g., type 1A endoleak or proximal graft migration) and immediate adjunct aortic neck procedures. The secondary endpoints included perioperative mortality, overall survival, and the proportion of patients that were reintervention-free at five years compared between the severe and non-severe groups. RESULTS: Severe angulation patients were significantly older than non-severe angulation patients (77 ± 6.3 vs. 74 ± 7.9 years; p = 0.021). The median proximal angle was significantly greater in the severe group (82° vs. 13.5°; p < 0.001). Intraoperative proximal neck complications developed in 29.6% of patients in the severe angulation group compared with 9.0% in the non-severe group (p < 0.001). Significantly more patients in the severe group required intraoperative adjunct procedures (29.6% vs. 7.6%; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in perioperative mortality between groups. At the five-year follow-up, there was no significant difference between groups for overall survival or the proportion of patients that remained reintervention-free. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular aneurysm repair to treat abdominal aortic aneurysm in patients with severe proximal neck angulation is technically feasible and safe Although the severe angulation group had a higher rate of intraoperative neck complications and immediate adjunct neck procedures than the non-severe group, there was no significant difference between groups for 30-day mortality, overall survival or the proportion of patients who remained reintervention-free at five years.

Factors that influence venous leg ulcer healing and recurrence rate after endovenous radiofrequency ablation of incompetent saphenous vein.

OBJECTIVE: Endovenous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is one of the most popular techniques for correcting superficial vein reflux. However, the effectiveness of RFA of superficial vein reflux in patients with active or healed venous leg ulcer (VLU) is unknown. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to evaluate the healing rate, the recurrence rate, and the factors significantly associated with healing and recurrence in patients with active or healed VLU who had superficial venous reflux treated with RFA. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all healed VLU or active VLU patients treated with RFA at the Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, during January 2011 to December 2017 to evaluate the rate of VLU healing and recurrence. Time to healing and time to ulcer recurrence were determined by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Risk factors were assessed to determine their association with VLU healing and recurrence by Cox regression survival analysis. RESULTS: RFA of the great saphenous vein (n = 56), anterior accessory saphenous vein (n = 5), or both (n = 1) was performed on 62 limbs with active (n = 32) or healed (n = 30) VLUs. The mean age of patients was 65.4 ± 9.8 years, and 80% were female. Deep venous insufficiency was present in 10 limbs (16%). Pathologic perforating vein was found in 17 patients (27%). Concomitant ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) of the pathologic perforating vein was performed in 12 limbs (19%). Concomitant phlebectomy was performed in 19 limbs (31%). The median follow-up time was 753 days after RFA. VLU healed in 31% of patients at 3 months, in 56% at 6 months, and in 66% at 1 year after RFA. Concomitant UGFS of the pathologic perforating vein was the only factor significantly associated with VLU healing (hazard ratio, 2.84; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-7.55; P = .037). VLU recurrence was found in 8% of patients at 1 year, in 14% at 2 years, and in 23% at 3 years after RFA. Deep vein reflux was the only identified risk factor for VLU recurrence (hazard ratio, 3.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-13.21; P = .042). CONCLUSIONS: UGFS of the pathologic perforating vein at the time of RFA of saphenous vein reflux improved VLU healing. VLU recurrence was more frequent in patients with concomitant deep vein reflux. The authors suggest performing UGFS of the pathologic perforating vein at the time of RFA to improve VLU healing and monitoring of patients with associated deep vein reflux for ulcer recurrence.

Prevalence, risk factors, and evaluation of iliocaval obstruction in advanced chronic venous insufficiency.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and clinical predictors of >50% iliocaval venous obstruction (ICVO) in Thai patients with lipodermatosclerosis and healed or active venous ulcers and the diagnostic accuracy of duplex ultrasound (DUS) compared with computed tomography venography (CTV). METHODS: Limbs with lipodermatosclerosis, healed venous leg ulceration, or active venous leg ulceration were prospectively evaluated by DUS and CTV. Loss of respiratory variation in the common femoral vein (CFV) and reversed flow in the superficial epigastric vein (SEV) were evaluated by DUS. Percentage of venous obstruction was measured by CTV. The prevalence and clinical predictors of >50% ICVO were determined, and the accuracy of DUS for diagnosis of >50% ICVO was compared with the diagnostic accuracy of CTV. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients (135 limbs) were enrolled. The mean age was 58 ± 12 years, and 57 (54%) patients were female. Previous history of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the symptomatic leg was documented in 21 (15.6%) limbs; >50% ICVO by CTV was found in 38 (28.1%) limbs. Independent predictors of >50% ICVO included left leg (P = .001) and previous history of DVT in the affected leg (P = .001). For diagnosis of >50% ICVO, the sensitivity and specificity of loss of respiratory variation in the CFV were 23.7% and 100%, respectively; the sensitivity and specificity of reversed flow in the SEV were 7.9% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Limbs with lipodermatosclerosis or with healed or active venous ulceration, especially in the left limb or in limbs with a history of DVT in the affected limb, had a high prevalence of ICVO; these limbs should be routinely studied with DUS. Limbs with an abnormal finding on DUS, including loss of respiratory variation in the CFV or reversed flow in the SEV, should be routed for venous intervention, and those with normal DUS findings should be referred for CTV.

Incidence, Risk Factors, Progression, and Treatment of Endovenous Heat-Induced Thrombosis Class 2 or Greater After Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation.

BACKGROUND: Endovenous heat-induced thrombosis (EHIT) is a thrombus that extends from an ablated saphenous vein into the common femoral vein after endovenous radiofrequency ablation (RFA). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence, progression, treatment, and risk factors associated with EHIT-2 or greater after RFA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with symptomatic superficial venous incompetence that were treated by RFA of the great saphenous vein or anterior accessory saphenous vein during the July 2012 to December 2016 study period. Duplex ultrasound scanning was performed at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and every year after RFA to detect EHIT. RESULTS: A total of 317 legs from 274 patients were included. The incidence of EHIT-2 or greater was 7.0%, including 5.4% EHIT-2, 1.3% EHIT-3, and 0.3% EHIT-4. No symptomatic pulmonary embolism was found. The independent risk factors for EHIT-2 or greater were vein diameter (p = .027) and concomitant sclerotherapy (p = .037). CONCLUSION: The risk factors found to be independently associated with EHIT-2 or greater were large vein size and concomitant sclerotherapy. Screening for EHIT should be performed in patients with one or both of these risk factors within 1 week after RFA and in patients with postoperative symptoms suggestive of venous thromboembolism.

Outcomes of Open Repair, Fenestrated Stent Grafting, and Chimney Grafting in Juxtarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Is It Time for a Randomized Trial?

BACKGROUND: The well-established, gold standard treatment for juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (JAAAs) is open repair (OR). However, endovascular treatment with fenestrated or chimney grafts has been increasingly performed in the past decade. This study compared the outcomes of OR with 2 endovascular methods in JAAA. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with JAAA who underwent OR (n = 32), repair with fenestrated stent grafts (fenestrated endovascular aortic aneurysm repair [FEVAR], n = 20), or chimney grafts (Ch-EVAR, n = 23) during the period from January 2011 to December 2016 at a single center. Our primary end point was perioperative mortality. Secondary end points included renal function impairment, new-onset dialysis, procedural details, and postoperative complications. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate freedom from late reintervention, primary patency of target vessel stent grafts, and overall survival. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups in baseline characteristics. Perioperative mortality was similar in all the 3 groups (3.1% (1/32) in the OR group, 0% in the FEVAR group, and 4.3% (1/23) in the Ch-EVAR group. Mean follow-up duration was 36.7 months (range 1-75 months). There were no significant differences between groups regarding any of the secondary end points, except for blood loss (which was significantly greatest in the OR group), and there was no significant difference in overall survival. Estimated target vessel stent patency at 1 and 4 years was 93.8% and 93.8% in the FEVAR group, and 89.5% and 89.5% in the Ch-EVAR group. There was no significant difference between groups in estimated freedom from late reintervention (96.4% in the OR group, 77.2% in the FEVAR group, and 82.3% in the Ch-EVAR group). CONCLUSIONS: Open surgery is an acceptable and effective treatment for JAAA. However, FEVAR and Ch-EVAR also showed high technical success rates and low perioperative mortality, with acceptable reintervention rates during follow-up.

Customizing elastic pressure bandages for reuse to a predetermined, sub-bandage pressure: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective A randomized clinical trial was performed to compare the effectiveness of unmarked bandages and customized bandages with visual markers in reproducing the desired sub-bandage pressure during self-bandaging by patients. Method Ninety patients were randomly allocated to two groups ("customized bandages" and "unmarked bandages") and asked to perform self-bandaging three times. The achievement of a pressure between 35 and 45 mmHg in at least two of the three attempts was defined as adequate quality. Results Adequate quality was achieved by 33.0% when applying the unmarked bandages, and 60.0% when applying the customized bandages ( p = 0.02). Use of the customized bandage and previous experience of bandaging were independent predictors for the achievement of the predetermined sub-bandage pressure ( p = 0.005 and p = 0.021, respectively). Conclusion Customized bandages may achieve predetermined sub-bandage pressures more closely than standard, unmarked, compression bandages. Clinical trials registration ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02729688). Effectiveness of a Pressure Indicator Guided and a Conventional Bandaging in Treatment of Venous Leg Ulcer. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02729688.

Midterm Outcomes From a Pilot Study of Percutaneous Deep Vein Arterialization for the Treatment of No-Option Critical Limb Ischemia.

PURPOSE: To report the initial clinical experience with percutaneous deep vein arterialization (PDVA) to treat critical limb ischemia (CLI) via the creation of an arteriovenous fistula. METHODS: Seven patients (median age 85 years; 5 women) with CLI and no traditional endovascular or surgical revascularization options (no-option CLI) were recruited in a pilot study to determine the safety of PDVA. All patients were diabetic; 4 had Rutherford category 6 ischemia. Six were classified at high risk of amputation based on the Society for Vascular Surgery WIfI (wound, ischemia, and foot infection) classification. The primary safety endpoints were major adverse limb events and major adverse coronary events through 30 days and serious adverse events through 6 months. Secondary objectives included clinical efficacy based on outcome measures including thermal measurement, transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen (TcPO2), clinical improvement at 6 months, and wound healing. RESULTS: The primary safety endpoints were achieved in 100% of patients, with no deaths, above-the-ankle amputations, or major reinterventions at 30 days. The technical success rate was 100%. Two myocardial infarctions occurred within 30 days, each with minor clinical consequences. All patients demonstrated symptomatic improvement with formation of granulation tissue, resolution of rest pain, or both. Complete wound healing was achieved in 4 of 7 patients and 5 of 7 patients at 6 and 12 months, respectively, with a median healing time of 4.6 months (95% confidence interval 84-192). Median postprocedure peak TcPO2 was 61 mm Hg compared to a preprocedure level of 8 mm Hg (p=0.046). At the time of wound healing, 4 of 5 of patients achieved TcPO2 levels of >40 mm Hg. There were 2 major amputations, 1 above the knee after PDVA thrombosis and 1 below the knee for infection. Three patients died of causes unrelated to the procedure or study device at 6, 7, and 8 months, respectively. Limb salvage was 71% at 12 months. CONCLUSION: PDVA is an innovative approach for treating no-option CLI and represents an alternative option for the "desert foot," potentially avoiding major amputation. Our results demonstrate its safety and feasibility, with promising early clinical results in this small cohort.

The anatomical study of the major signal points of the court-type Thai traditional massage on legs and their effects on blood flow and skin temperature.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the relationship between major signal points (MaSPs) of the lower extremities used in court-type Thai traditional massage (CTTM) and the corresponding underlying anatomical structures, as well as to determine the short-term changes in blood flow and skin temperature of volunteers experiencing CTTM. METHODS: MaSPs were identified and marked on cadavers before acrylic color was injected. The underlying structures marked with acrylic colors were observed and the anatomical structures were determined. Then, pressure was applied to each MaSP in human volunteers (lateral side of leg and medial side of leg) and blood flow on right dorsalis pedis artery was measured using duplex ultrasound while skin temperature changes were monitored using an infrared themographic camera. RESULTS: Short-term changes in the blood flow parameters, volume flow and average velocity, compared to baseline (P < 0.05), were observed on MaSP of the lower extremity, ML4. Changes in the peak systolic velocity of the area ML5 were also observed relative to baseline. The skin temperature of two different MaSPs on the lateral side of leg (LL4 and LL5) and four on the medial side of leg (ML2, ML3, ML4 and ML5) was significantly increased (P < 0.05) at 1 min after pressure application. CONCLUSION: This study established the clear correlation between the location of MaSP, as defined in CTTM, and the underlying anatomical structures. The effect of massage can stimulate skin blood flow because results showed increased skin temperature and blood flow characteristics. While these results were statistically significant, they may not be clinically relevant, as the present study focused on the immediate physiological effect of manipulation, rather than treatment effects. Thus, this study will serve as baseline data for further clinical studies in CTTM.

Use of customised pressure-guided elastic bandages to improve efficacy of compression bandaging for venous ulcers.

Compression bandaging is a major treatment of chronic venous ulcers. Its efficacy depends on the applied pressure, which is dependent on the skill of the individual applying the bandage. To improve the quality of bandaging by reducing the variability in compression bandage interface pressures, we changed elastic bandages into a customised version by marking them with circular ink stamps, applied when the stretch achieves an interface pressure between 35 and 45 mmHg. Repeated applications by 20 residents of the customised bandage and non-marked bandage to one smaller and one larger leg were evaluated by measuring the sub-bandage pressure. The results demonstrated that the target pressure range is more often attained with the customised bandage compared with the non-marked bandage. The customised bandage improved the efficacy of compression bandaging for venous ulcers, with optimal sub-bandage pressure.

A new pretest probability score for diagnosis of lower limb deep vein thrombosis in unselected population of outpatients and inpatients.

Objective To develop a new pretest probability score for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in unselected population of outpatients and inpatients. Methods The new score was developed using independent factors from 500 patients clinically suspected of leg DVT. The new score was validated in a second group of 315 patients. Results The score consists of four components: unilateral leg pain, confinement to bed, calf enlargement >3 cm compared with the other side, and previous venous thromboembolism. A score ≥2 indicated a high probability while a score <2 indicated low probability. The sensitivity and specificity of the new score were 71.60% and 79.49%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the new score was 0.79. The combination of a new score <2 and D-dimer level <500 µg/L had a negative predictive value of 96.43%. Conclusions Our new score was valid in an unselected population of outpatients and inpatients.

The effects of the court-type Thai traditional massage on anatomical relations, blood flow, and skin temperature of the neck, shoulder, and arm.

BACKGROUND: Court-type Thai traditional massage (CTTM) has specific major signal points (MaSP) for treating musculoskeletal conditions. The objectives of this study are to investigate the anatomical surfaces and structures of MaSPs, and to examine blood flow (BF) and skin temperature (ST) changes after applying pressure on the MaSPs on neck, shoulder, and arm areas. METHODS: In the anatomical study, 83 cadavers were dissected and the anatomical surfaces and structures of the 15 MaSPs recorded. In human volunteers, BF, peak systolic velocity (PS), diameter of artery (DA), and ST changes were measured at baseline and after pressure application at 0, 30, 60, 180, and 300 s. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in anatomical surfaces and structures of MaSP between the left and right side of the body. The 3 MaSPs on the neck were shown to be anatomically separated from the location of the common carotid arteries. The BF of MaSPs of the neck significantly and immediately increased after pressure application for 30 s and for 60 s in the arm (p < 0.001). ST increased significantly and immediately after pressure application for 300 s (p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between BF and ST at any of the MaSPs. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that MaSP massages were mainly directed towards muscles. MaSPs can cause significant, but brief, increases in BF and ST. Further studies are suggested to identify changes in BF and ST for all of the MaSPs after actual massage treatment sessions as well as other physiological effects of massage.

Outcomes and factors influencing prognosis in patients with vascular pythiosis.

OBJECTIVE: Vascular pythiosis, caused by Pythium insidiosum, is associated with a high mortality rate. We reviewed the outcomes and established the factors predicting prognosis of patients treated in our institution with surgery, antifungal therapy, or immunotherapy. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective record review of patients with vascular pythiosis treated in Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, between January 2005 and January 2015. Patient characteristics, type of surgery, adjunctive antifungal treatment, adjunctive immunotherapy, and disease status of surgical arterial and surrounding soft tissue margins were recorded. We calculated the mortality rate and established factors predicting prognosis. RESULTS: The records of 11 patients were reviewed. All patients had thalassemia. Nine patients (81.8%) had a history of contact with contaminated water. The clinical presentations were chronic ulcers (45.5%), toe gangrene (27.3%), pulsatile mass (27.3%), and acute limb ischemia (27.3%). Above-knee amputation was required in 10 patients (90.9%). The mortality rate was 36.4%. Independent variables between survivors and nonsurvivors were lack of an arterial disease-free surgical margin (P = .003), lack of a surrounding soft tissue disease-free surgical margin (P < .05), a suprainguinal lesion (P < .05) and duration of symptoms (P < .05). Adjuvant itraconazole, terbinafine, and Pythium vaccine have a role to play in patients with a disease-free arterial surgical margin but in whom infected surrounding soft tissue could not be completely excised. CONCLUSIONS: Achieving adequate disease-free surgical margins-especially the arterial margin-at amputation or débridement is the most important prognostic factor in patients with vascular pythiosis. Early detection combined with a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, including surgery, antifungal agents, and immunotherapy, allows the best possible outcome to be obtained.

Carotid Endarterectomy in Symptomatic Extracranial Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis: A Result of the First 100 Consecutive Cases in a University Hospital.

Background: Extracranial carotid artery stenosis has been recognized in 9.2% of ischemic stroke patients by duplex ultrasonography in Thailand. The treatment program of this disease has not been established countrywide. Objective: Carotid endarterectomy in our institute was firstly evaluated for safety and long-term efficiency in order to assess the possibility of expanding this treatment throughout the country. Material and Method: An observational study with long-term follow-up was carried out in 100 consecutive symptomatic patients with severe stenosis (70-99% diameter stenosis) of extracranial internal carotid artery that underwent carotid endarterectomies. All carotid endarterectomies were performed under general anesthesia, with routine use of intravascular shunts during carotid cross clamps and saphenous vein patches for arteriotomy closures. Perioperative mortality and morbidity were evaluated for the safety of this procedure. The long-term stroke-free survival was assessed to announce the efficiency of this treatment. Results: One hundred consecutive patients (68% male and 32%female) with the mean age of 69.9 years were included in the present study. Mean duration of neurological symptoms prior to surgery was 2.5 months. Hemiplegia (64%) was the most common symptom leading to surgery. Hypertension (87%) was the most common comorbidity in the present series. Mean duration of surgical procedure was 210 minutes. Mean durations of total carotid shunting and carotid cross clamp during shunt removal were 75 minutes and 4.5 minutes respectively. Mean length of ICU stay was 1.4 days. The perioperative mortality rate was 1%. The perioperative major stroke rate was also 1%. Ten-year follow-up of the patients revealed no death related to neurovascular event and no evidence of recurrent ipsilateral stroke in the present series. The cumulative 5- and 10-year stroke-free survivals were 86.1% and 73.7% respectively. Duplex ultrasonography in all survivors demonstrated no recurrent stenosis in the affected carotid artery. Conclusion: Carotid endarterectomy with a consistent technique in the present series had a comparable outcome of safety and long-term efficiency with the standard surgical practice. The information may initiate the treatment guideline for the patient with extracranial carotid artery stenosis in Thailand.

Risk factors for endovenous heat-induced thrombosis after endovenous radiofrequency ablation performed in Thailand.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the incidence of and associated risk factors for endovenous heat-induced thrombosis (EHIT) after endovenous radiofrequency ablation (RFA). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 82 patients with 97 great saphenous veins undergoing RFA from 2012 to 2014. RESULTS: The incidence of EHIT was 10.3%. Class 1, 2, and 3 EHIT was found in 50%, 30%, and 20% of legs, respectively. No class 4 EHIT, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary emboli occurred. Univariate analysis revealed that the associated risk factors for EHIT were a vein diameter of >10 mm, operative time of >40 min, and Caprini score of >6. Multivariate analysis revealed that the independent risk factors associated with EHIT were a vein diameter of >10 mm and operative time of >40 min. CONCLUSIONS: A vein diameter of >10 mm and operative time of >40 min might be predictive factors for EHIT following RFA.

The Influence of VKORC1 Polymorphisms on Warfarin Doses in Thai Patients with Deep Vein Thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 2C9 and vitamin K epoxide reductase complex, subunit 1 genes (CYP2C9 and VKORC1, respectively) were previously shown to affect the warfarin dose required in anticoagulant therapy of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, little is known about the role of these genetic variants in the Thai population. OBJECTIVE: To identify the effect of CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genetic variants on warfarin dosage in the Thai population with DVT. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Genotyping of CYP2C9 (*2 and *3) and VKORC1 promoter (-1 639G>A) variants were carried out in 97 Thai DVT patients receiving constant warfarin therapy and with a stable international normalized ratio using real-time PCR assays. RESULTS: VKORC1 AA, GA, and GG genotype frequencies were found to be 49.5%, 46.4%, and 4.1%, respectively, while those of CYP2C9 genotypes were 88.7% for *1/*1 and 11.3%for *1/*3. The CYP2C9*2 variant was not present in the patients studied. The mean daily warfarin dose required to maintain a therapeutic INR differed significantly according to VKORC1 genotype, with 3.6 mg/day required for AA, 4.7 mg/day for GA, and 7.4 mg/day for GG (p-value < 0.001). The CYP2C9 genotype did not significantly affect the warfarin dosage requirement (p-value = 0.29). CONCLUSION: These findings underline the impact of VKORC1 genotypes on the wide variation in warfarin maintenance dosing in Thai patients with DVT.

Ascending thoracic aortobipopliteal bypass for extensive aortoiliac and femoropopliteal arterial occlusive disease.

This report describes a patient with disabling intermittent claudication resulting from the complex combination of a heavily calcified abdominal aorta, extensive aortoiliac occlusion, bilateral femoropopliteal arterial occlusion, and thrombosis of a previous right axillobifemoral bypass graft, followed by revision of the graft to the left proximal popliteal artery and subsequent graft removal because of chronic infection. The patient underwent successful ascending thoracic aortobipopliteal bypass surgery and had an uneventful postoperative recovery, with ankle pulses palpable bilaterally. After 6 years of follow-up, he could walk unlimited distances, and computed tomography angiography showed patent grafts.

Outcomes of abdominal aortic aneurysm with aortic neck thrombus after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) has increasingly been performed for the last two decades. One of the anatomical exclusion criterion of EVAR is the presence of thrombus within the infrarenal neck of an aneurysm. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of proximal aortic neck thrombus morphology on clinical outcomes after EVAR. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The subjects were retrospectively recruited from all the patients whom undergone EVAR in our institution between January 2010 and December 2012. The patients with apparent thrombus of more than 40% at proximal aortic neck were included Primary endpoints consisted of technical success and perioperative mortality. Secondary endpoints included adjuvant procedures at neck, procedural details, perioperative adverse events, ICU, and hospital stay. The late outcomes of stent grafts related complications were the presence of endoleak, aneurysm expansion, stent graft migration, stent graft thrombosis, AAA rupture, secondary intervention rate, and conversion to open repair RESULTS: Twenty-one out of 145 patients having thrombus of more than 40% of circumferential aortic neck underwent EVAR. The mean follow-up was 15.4 months (range, 2-36 months). There was 100% technical success with no perioperative death. Adjuvant of aortic neck procedure was required in three patients. One patient developed graft limb occlusion. In addition, one patient developed renal infarction requiring long-term hemodialysis and two patients presented with blue toe syndrome and trash feet. During late follow-up, three, five, and two patients had a type II endoleak at one, six, and 12 months, respectively without AAA sac expansion. There was no stent graft migration, stent graft thrombosis, or ruptured AAA. Three patients expired during the late follow-up. In addition, there was neither conversion to opened repair nor secondary intervention. CONCLUSION: The presence of aortic neck thrombus may not be a contraindication for EVAR in selected patients. However, it seems to negatively influence the outcomes in the aspect of renal and peripheral embolization, which could be prevented during EVAR procedure. There was no adverse graft-related complication, secondary intervention, or aneurysm-related mortality during mid-term follow-up period.

Suprainguinal vascular pythiosis: effective long-term outcome of aggressive surgical eradication.

Vascular pythiosis, a vascular infectious disease in hemoglobinopathy patients, caused by Pythium insidiosum, has an endemic area in tropical and subtropical countries. According to literature review, suprainguinal vascular pythiosis leads to 100% of mortality. The authors report a 35-year-old thalassemic patient who presented with a right inflammatory pulsatile groin mass and right limb ischemia. The computerized tomography angiography indicated a false aneurysm at the right external iliac artery and thrombosed entire right leg arteries. The management comprised antifungal agent, immunotherapy, and surgical removal of all infected arteries (high up to the right common iliac artery and above-knee amputation). The patient was found in a good condition at 36 months after the follow-up period.