Mortality, morbidity, and costs of ruptured and elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (RAAA) have a 78-94% mortality rate. If cost-effectiveness of screening programs for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are to be assessed, direct costs for RAAA repairs and elective AAA (EAAA) repairs are required. This study reports mortality, morbidity, and direct costs for RAAA and EAAA repairs in Nova Scotia in 1997-1998 and also compares Nova Scotia and U.S. costs. We performed a retrospective study of 41 consecutive RAAA and 48 randomly selected EAAA patients. Average total costs for RAAA repair were significantly greater than those for EAAA repair (direct costs: $15,854 vs. $9673; direct plus overhead costs: $18,899 vs. $12,324 [pricing in 1998 Canadian dollars]). Intensive care unit length of stay and blood product usage were the most substantial direct cost differentials ($3593 and $2106). Direct cost for preoperative testing and surveillance was greater in the EAAA group ($839 vs. $33). Estimates of U.S. in-hospital RAAA and EAAA repair costs are more than 1.5 times Nova Scotia costs. Direct in-hospital RAAA repair costs are $6181 more than EAAA repair costs. These in-hospital cost data are key cost elements required to assess the cost-effectiveness of various screening strategies for earlier detection and monitoring of AAA within high-risk populations in Canada. Further studies are required to estimate cost per quality-adjusted-life-year gained for various AAA screening and monitoring strategies in Canada.

Swan-Ganz catheter-induced pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm: a case of complete resolution without intervention.

Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm is a well-recognized and potentially lethal complication of pulmonary artery catheterization. A surgical or interventional radiologic approach has been advocated as the treatment of first choice. A pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm developed in 70-year-old woman after the insertion of a Swan-Ganz catheter for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Over a 4-month period the pseudoaneurysm regressed and disappeared radiologically. This represents the first report of such an occurrence. The radiographic findings and review of the literature are discussed.

Immunologic changes after blood transfusion in patients undergoing vascular surgery.

Immunologic changes after blood transfusions cannot be studied ethically in normal individuals. We therefore studied two comparable groups of patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who received similar drug treatment and experienced a similar degree of surgical trauma, except that one group received an average of 2.5 units of packed red cells at one time period during surgery. We conducted immunologic tests preoperatively and 5, 10, 45 to 60, 90, 180, and 360 days postoperatively. There was no significant difference in all indices tested preoperatively between the two groups. Five and 10 days postoperatively, the absolute numbers of CD3, CD4, CD8, and B cells decreased in both groups; however, the decrease was significantly greater in the transfused group than in the nontransfused group 5 days postoperatively. There was no significant difference in these parameters between the two groups at other time periods tested. At 5 and 10 days postoperatively, the lymphocyte responses to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, and allogeneic lymphocytes in autologous serum were decreased in both groups. However, at 60 days postoperatively, the responses of the nontransfused group became significantly increased, whereas those of the transfused group remained relatively unchanged. By days 90, 180, and 360, the lymphocyte responses of the nontransfused group had dropped to levels seen at earlier time intervals and were comparable to responses in the transfused group. There were no significant differences between the groups in the number of T-cell colonies formed, the number of immunoglobulin-producing cells obtained, and the lymphokine responses (migration inhibitory factor/migration stimulation factor) at all times tested. The major immunologic perturbations attributed to blood transfusions were an exaggerated decrease in the numbers of circulating lymphocytes, particularly those with markers associated with T-helper cells, and failure to demonstrate a rebound increase in the proliferative response 45 to 90 days later.

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome: a review.

The Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome is a triad of congenital anomalies characterized by a vascular nevus, varicose veins and bony and soft-tissue hypertrophy. Although the syndrome is uncommon, initially the condition appears as a skin blemish or varicose veins. To avoid errors in management, it is important to recognize the syndrome. In this paper the authors outline the presentation, investigation and management of Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome and describe four cases of their own. One form of Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, in which all the anomalies of the triad are important, in which direct signs of a large arteriovenous shunt are present and for which the surgical approach is difficult, is Parkes-Weber syndrome. Lack of reports in the world literature on long-term follow-up leaves many unanswered questions regarding prognosis and management.

Analysis of 29 cases of pancreatic pseudocyst treated surgically.

Twenty-nine cases of pancreatic pseudocyst requiring operative management were reviewed to determine the method of diagnosis and to analyse the results of internal and external drainage. Pain and the presence of an intra-abdominal mass were the two most common clinical features in the 29 patients. Serum amylase values were elevated in 50%. Diagnosis was confirmed by barium contrast roentgenography and abdominal ultrasonography in 60% of cases. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was a valuable diagnotic technique in four problem cases. The most common form of surgical treatment was internal drainage of the pseudocyst (18 patients). Th mortality resulting from internal drainage was 6% and there was an overall complication rate of 44%. External drainage was carried out in seven patients (six required emergency operation). The mortality associated with external drainage was 43% and the overall complication rate 86%.