Predictors of Occlusion after Carotid Stenting.

BACKGROUND: Carotid artery stent (CAS) occlusion is a rare complication not well studied. We used a national dataset to assess real world CAS experience to determine the rate of stent occlusion. The purpose of this study was to 1) Identify risk factors associated with CAS occlusion on long-term follow-up (LTFU) and 2) Determine the adjusted odds of death/transient ischemic attack (TIA)/stroke (cerebrovascular accident (CVA)) in patients with occlusion. METHODS: The national Vascular Quality Initiative CAS dataset (2016-2021) comprised the sample. The primary endpoint was occlusion on LTFU (9-21 months postoperatively as defined by the Vascular Quality Initiative LTFU dataset) with secondary endpoint examining a composite of death/TIA/CVA. Descriptive analyses used chi-square and Wilcoxon tests for categorical and continuous variables respectively. Adjustment variables were selected a priori based on clinical expertise and univariate analyses. Multivariable logistic regression was used to model the odds of occlusion and the odds of death/TIA/CVA. Generalized estimating equations accounted for center level variation. RESULTS: During the study period, 109 occlusions occurred in 12,143 cases (0.9%). On univariate analyses, symptomatic indication, prior stroke, prior neck radiation, lesion calcification (>50%), stenosis (>80%), distal embolic protection device (compared to flow reversal), balloon size, >1 stent and current smoking at time of LTFU were predictive for occlusion. Age ≥ 65, coronary artery disease (CAD), elective status, preoperative statin, preoperative and discharge P2Y12 inhibitor, use of any protection device intraoperatively and protamine were protective. On multivariable analyses, age ≥ 65, CAD, elective status and P2Y12 inhibitor on discharge were protective for occlusion, while patients with prior radiation and those taking P2Y12 inhibitor on LTFU were at increased odds. The adjusted odds of death/TIA/CVA in patients with occlusion on LTFU were 6.05; 95% confidence interval: 3.61-10.11, P < 0.0001. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides an in-depth analysis of predictors for CAS occlusion on LTFU. On univariate analyses, variables related to disease severity (urgency, degree of stenosis, nature of lesion) and intraoperative details (balloon diameter, >1 stent) were predictive for occlusion. These variables were not statistically significant after risk adjustment. On multivariable analyses, prior neck radiation was strongly predictive of occlusion. Elective status, patient age ≥ 65, CAD, and P2Y12 inhibitor upon discharge (but not on LTFU) were protective for occlusion. Additionally, patients who developed occlusion had high odds for death/TIA/CVA. These findings provide important data to guide clinical decision-making for carotid disease management, particularly identifying high-risk features for CAS occlusion. Closer postoperative follow-up and aggressive risk factor modification in these patients may be merited.

Treatment of a contained rupture of a splenic artery pseudoaneurysm with direct thrombin injection.

Splenic artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare and potentially fatal condition. In the present report, we describe the case of a 50-year-old woman with chronic pancreatitis who presented with worsening abdominal pain. Computed tomography demonstrated a 3.5-cm splenic artery pseudoaneurysm of the mid-splenic artery. The patient underwent attempted endovascular repair of the pseudoaneurysm that was unsuccessful. Open conversion revealed an inaccessible splenic artery due to chronic pancreatitis that resulted in dense retroperitoneal fibrosis, and repair was achieved via direct thrombin injection under ultrasound guidance of the pseudoaneurysm and splenectomy. The patient recovered well, and computed tomography at 3 days postoperatively revealed complete thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm.

Triple Threat: Three Primary Malignancies Simultaneously Involving Three Genitourinary Organs.

Statistically, the chance of having concurrent renal cell carcinoma (RCC), urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UC), and a neuroendocrine tumor (NET) of the renal parenchyma is less than one in a trillion. Herein, we describe an unusual case of a 67-year-old female who presented with bilateral flank pain and severe gross hematuria. Cross-sectional imaging revealed two large heterogeneous, endophytic renal masses with a single enlarged paracaval lymph node. Diagnostic cystoscopy was performed for completion of gross hematuria evaluation and revealed a concurrent papillary bladder tumor. Percutaneous biopsies of bilateral renal masses revealed clear cell RCC involving the left kidney and well-differentiated NET involving the right kidney, and transurethral resection of the bladder tumor revealed high-grade nonmuscle invasive urothelial carcinoma. The patient elected to undergo bilateral nephroureterectomy, radical cystectomy, and retroperitoneal and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Final pathology confirmed the presence of three different malignancies: noninvasive high-grade papillary UC of the bladder (pTaN0), left renal clear cell RCC (pT2bN0), right renal well-differentiated NET, and a single paracaval lymph nodes positive for metastatic NET (pT2aN1).

Ruptured juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm managed with endosuture aneurysm repair.

The use of Heli-FX EndoAnchors (Medtronic CardioVascular, Santa Rosa, CA) with the Endurant II stent graft (Medtronic CardioVascular) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms with neck lengths ≤4 mm. The use of this technique of endosuture aneurysm repair has not been previously described in the setting of rupture. We have presented two cases of successful endosuture aneurysm repair of ruptured juxtarenal AAAs.

Percutaneous access of the superior vena cava in patients with bilateral jugular-subclavian vein occlusion using wire-target access for placement of tunneled hemodialysis catheters: An important new tool for gaining upper body vascular access.

This study presents the technique of percutaneous wire-target access of the superior vena cava (SVC) in patients with bilateral jugular-subclavian vein occlusion requiring a tunneled hemodialysis catheter. A 3-year retrospective review of five patients was performed. The femoral vein is accessed percutaneously and a 5F sheath inserted. This is followed by placement of a pigtail catheter (wire-target) in the SVC with cavography. The SVC is percutaneously cannulated at the level of the pigtail under fluoroscopy, and a guidewire is passed into the vena cava with confirmation by injection of contrast material. A tunneled hemodialysis catheter is then placed. The wire-target technique of SVC access can be used safely and effectively to establish upper body catheter access when traditional techniques are not possible.

Feasibility of Cryopreserved Conduits for Complex Vascular Reconstruction in the Pediatric Population: The Case of a 3-Year-Old With Femoral Vessels Transections.

This report presents an unusual case of traumatic iliofemoral vessel transection in a 3-year-old patient successfully reconstructed using a cryopreserved greater saphenous conduit. Five years after injury, the patient continues to do well with normal ambulation. An arterial duplex demonstrated graft patency free of aneurysmal dilatation. These encouraging results suggest that the natural history of cryopreserved conduits may differ in the pediatric population and cryopreserved conduits could be used for complex vascular reconstructions.

Primary Endovascular Repair of Ilio-Caval Injury Encountered during Anterior Exposure Spine Surgery: Evolution of the Paradigm.

BACKGROUND: Rates of major venous injury are now being reported at between 1% and 15%. Risk factors for injury include the previous spine surgery, level of exposure, and number of retractors used. To review and describe the evolution of our use of stent grafts for repair of life-threatening ilio-caval injuries encountered during anterior exposure lumbosacral (L-S) spine surgery from rescue utilization after failed direct repair to preferred modality using occlusion balloons and covered stents akin to the modern management of the ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with endovascular aneurysm repair. METHODS: Five-year retrospective review of all anterior and retroperitoneal spine procedures was performed at our institution. RESULTS: One hundred two procedures were done. Major ilio-caval injury occurred in 3/102 (2.9%) cases. Average blood loss per case decreased as our approach evolved from unsuccessful direct open repair with percutaneous endovascular rescue to primary percutaneous endovascular repair. All treated patients had patent venous repair in short-term follow-up with computed tomography angiography. CONCLUSIONS: Identification and rapid direct repair of major ilio-caval injuries during anterior approach spine surgery can be extremely challenging. When control of these potentially fatal injuries is required, our choice is primary endovascular repair using the modern techniques for endovascular management of ruptured AAA with endovascular aneurysm repair.

Endovascular repair of blunt extremity arterial injury: case report.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical revascularization is the standard treatment of complex blunt traumatic extremity vascular injuries. Limb salvage may be improved with minimally invasive endovascular therapies because of the ability to perform diagnostic and therapeutic intervention simultaneously. Two cases of acute limb-threatening arterial injuries successfully treated with percutaneous endovascular therapy are reported. RESULTS: A skier suffered hemodynamic instability after shoulder reduction. An axillary arterial injury was suspected and confirmed with angiography. A covered stent successfully controlled the hemorrhage. A morbidly obese female sustained anterior dislocation of her left knee 7 years previously requiring repair. She developed recurrent knee dislocation with acute leg ischemia. Emergent fixation was performed followed by percutaneous angiography. Short segment thrombosis of the popliteal was noted. Wire recanalization of the thrombosed artery and stent placement restored 3-vessel runoff. CONCLUSION: Endovascular therapy can offer faster, easier access to the extremity vascular injury facilitating revascularization and avoiding long incisions and dissections.