[Phenomenon of unstable tcpO2 level in transcutaneous oximetry in patients with diabetes mellitus]. / Fenomen nestabil'nogo urovnia tcpO2 pri transkutannoi oksimetrii u bol'nykh sakharnym diabetom.

The back of the foot is a standard region for measuring transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcpO2) with a reliably determined threshold of ischaemia, but such measurement reflects blood supply of only a portion of angiosomes of the foot. Determining the reference values of tcpO2 in other regions of the lower extremity is of current importance. However, measuring the tcpO2 level on the plantar surface and in some other regions not uncommonly reveal a phenomenon of its steady decrease instead of formation of a plateau. The purpose of the present study was to analyse the frequency of the phenomenon of a steady decrease in ptcO2 level while performing transcutaneous oximetry in various zones of the lower extremity. We retrospectively analysed the results of a total of 160 measurements of tcpO2 in 35 patients with diabetes mellitus. The patients' mean age amounted to 68 (47-87) years, with the duration of diabetes mellitus averaging 14 (1-24) years. The male-to-female ratio was 60:40. Seventy-seven percent of patients had foot ulcers/wounds, 34% of patients had a history of previously endured revascularization. The examination was carried out in the dorsal, plantar, medial plantar regions of the foot, on the medial surface of the crus and in the subclavian region, using the TCM 400 monitoring device (Radiometer, Denmark). The measurements were performed by an experienced operator in strict accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. We evaluated the average value of tcpO2 between the 15th and 19th minutes of measurement and the peculiarities of the tpcO2 curve (plateau/increase/decrease of the value) within this time interval. The mean tcpO2 value in the medial plantar region was significantly higher than that on the back of the foot: 34 (3-70) versus 22 (1-59) mm Hg, p=0.003. A portion of measurements demonstrated a steady decrease in the tpcO2 during the measurement up to the 40th minute. Complying with the stable plateau phase criteria we had developed were 92% of measurements in the subclavian region, 100% - in the middle third of the crus, 76% - on the back of the foot, 77% - in the medial plantar region and 43% - on the plantar surface of the foot. CONCLUSIONS: 1) the revealed phenomenon of a steady decrease of tcpO2 in some patients needs to be taken into consideration in clinical practice and deserves further study; 2) the nature of this phenomenon is unclear, with a possible effect of skin creams on the results of the measurements; 3) it is advisable to include into the functions of the devices for transcutaneous oximetry an algorithm for confirmation of the true phase of the plateau and calculation of the mean tcpO2 value for a chosen period; 4) despite the need for measurement of tcpO2 in the 'alternative zones' it is necessary to thoroughly study the reliability of the data in these zones and to determine the normal values of the parameter separately for each of them.

[Chiari network and pulmonary embolism].

We present the case of a patient with acute pulmonary embolism, Chiari network thrombus, and deep vein thrombosis in lower extremities. Chiari networks are present in the right atrium in a minority of population and are usually of no clinical significance. On the other hand it may be associated with such pathological changes as patent foramen ovale, intraatrial thrombus, or atrial arrhythmias. In our case thrombus was trapped by a Chiari's network.

[Clinical and ultrasonic predictors of postoperative complications after carotid endarterectomy].

For the period from 2007 to 2012 carotid endarterectomy was performed in 150 patients with cerebrovascular insufficiency I-IV degrees and atherosclerotic lesion of carotid arteries. Dynamic observation was performed by using of duplex scanning of brachiocephalic arteries, transcranial duplex scanning, multislice CT with contrast study of extracranial and intracranial arteries. Different degrees of vascular wall thickening of operated internal carotid artery including neo- and myointimal hyperplasia, restenosis and other complications were observed in 19 (12.6%) patients after carotid endarterectomy on background of cerebrovascular insufficiency progressing. It was revealed that transient ischemic attack or stroke, acute heart failure in early postoperative period, arterial hypertension with crisis course predominantly, diabetes mellitus 2 type, obesity, male sex, elderly age and smoking were clinical markers for complications after carotid endarterectomy. Ultrasonic markers of complications after carotid endarterectomy included terms of development and degree of vascular wall thickening in case of neointimal hyperplasia and restenosis, hyperperfusion syndrome and stroke, significant changes of blood flow velocity and indexes of peripheral vascular resistance.

[Chiari Network and Pulmonary Embolism].

We present the case of a patient with acute pulmonary embolism, Chiari network thrombus, and deep vein thrombosis in lower extremities. Chiari networks are present in the right atrium in a minority of population and are usually of no clinical significance. On the other hand it may be associated with such pathological changes as patent foramen ovale, intraatrial thrombus, or atrial arrhythmias. In our case thrombus was trapped by a Chiaris network.

[Mini-invasive operations in patients with vessels diseases].

Hybrid operations combining open and endovascular surgeries are used in cardio-vascular surgery for the last 10-15 years. It leads to decrease complications frequency and mortality in case of pronounced comorbidities and severe heart, aorta and its branches disease. Authors have experience in performing of 10 hybrid surgeries and 7 aneurysms endoprosthesis of abdominal aorta. All operated patients had severe comorbidities which significantly increase risk of open surgery. These comorbidities were contraindication for open surgery in patients with abdominal aorta aneurysm. Thanks to introduction into practice hybrid operations and aorta aneurysms endoprosthesis the authors decreased complications frequency and avoided deaths in operated patients.

[Surgical treatment of hemodynamically significant kinking of internal carotid arteries].

38 patients with different forms of vascular cerebral insufficiency, caused by kinking and atherosclerotic changes of internal carotid arteries were operated on. Various types of reconstructive operation on extracranial carotid arteries were performed. The color duplex ultrasound scanning and computed tomography proved to be highly informative noninvasive means for detecting carotid pathology in patients with vascular cerebral insufficiency. Reconstructive operations on internal carotid arteries can serve as prophylactic and treatment measure of chronic cerebral insufficiency. Authors propose the principle of "six types" of reconstructive operations which individualizes the surgical approach. Carotid surgery for asympomatic patients should be performed on strict indications.

[The risk factors and predictors of the clinically significant progression of atherosclerosis in patients with chronic lower extremity ischemia].

AIM: To define the risk factors and predictors of atherosclerosis progression leading to clinical worsening in patients with chronic lower extremity ischemia (CLEI). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and forty patients with lower extremity arterial (LEA) atherosclerosis were examined. All the patients underwent color duplex ultrasound scanning of the great arteries supplying blood to the brain and LEA. Later on an annual observation was made for 11 months to 11 years (mean 45.6 months). To evaluate the influence of various factors on the progression of LEA atherosclerosis, the authors estimated overall survival without progression of CLEI. RESULTS: The one-year overall CLEI progression-free survival was 93.5% (SE = 0.016); 5- and 7-year survival was 66.9% (SE = 0.040) and 53.7% (SE = 0.054), respectively. Over 5 years, a clinically significant progression of CLEI was noted in 32% of the smokers and in 8% of the non-smokers, also in 26% of the patients with grade 1 or 2 hypertensive disease (HD) and in 43% of those with grade 3 HD. The overall CLEI progression-free survival did not depend on the severity of type 2 diabetes mellitus (patients with the severe course were excluded from the analysis). LEA atherosclerosis showed a significantly rapider progression in patients with increased common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) (p = 0.004). During 5 years, CLEI progression occurred in 18% of the patients with an IMT of < or = 1.0 mm and in 38% of those with an IMT of more than 1.0 mm, in 15% of the patients without hemodynamically significant stenosis (HDSS) of brachiocephalic arteries (BCA) and in 52% of those with HDSS of BCA, as well as in 20% of the patients without ischemic heart disease (IHD) and in 36% of those with symptoms of IHD. CONCLUSION: Smoking that increases the risk of CLEI progression by 2.1 times and severe hypertension are the most important factor influencing the progression of atherosclerosis. The IMT index is a universal predictor of progressive atherosclerosis. It may be presumed that there is a higher process development rate in the detection of HDSS of one of the arterial beds (LEA, BCA, and symptoms of IHD) at the first examination.

[Peculiarities of atherosclerotic damage of brachiocephalic arteries in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].

The state of vascular bed of brachiocephalic arteries was studied by the method of color duplex scanning in 250 patients (116 men and 134 women) with atherosclerosis of various vascular basins which in 62 of them took place at the background of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Two hundred five patients had atherosclerosis of brachiocephalic arteries, 45 patients without atherosclerotic plaques in carotid arteries comprised control group. Mean age of patients was 65.3 +/- 7.6 years. A correlation was revealed between parameters of carotid artery stenosis and age of patients, level of arterial pressure, blood plasma concentration of total cholesterol. Degree of interrelation of these parameters was closer in patients with type 2 DM. Among patients with IHD with class I-III effort angina severity of carotid artery stenoses increased with elevation of functional class of angina. This dependence was most pronounced in patients with type 2 DM. Unstable and calcinated plaques were significantly more frequent in patients with type 2 DM than in patients without DM.

[Noninvasive diagnosis of the state of lower extremities arterial vascular bed in patients with diabetes of type 2].

Complex noninvasive investigation of arterial vascular bed and microcirculation of lower extremities was carried out in 87 patients with diabetes and 47 patients with atherosclerosis obliterans of lower extremities without diabetes. Color duplex scanning allowed to detect occlusive-stenotic and nonocclusive changes of arterial vascular bed in patients with type 2 diabetes. Calcinated atherosclerotic plaques in patients with type 2 diabetes more often localize in superficial femoral, popliteal arteries and arteries of the calf. Such plaques are twice as frequent among patients with atherosclerosis obliterans with diabetes compared with those without diabetes. Laser Doppler flowmetry with test of reactive postocclusion hyperemia and positional test in patients with atherosclerosis obliterans and type 2 diabetes allows to reveal more pronounced disturbances of microcirculation compared with patients without diabetes. In patients with type 2 diabetes with hemodynamically insignificant stenoses of arteries of lower extremities laser doppler flowmetry and transcutaneous measurement of oxygen tension in skin of a foot reveal disturbances of microcirculation.

[Clinical manifestations and characteristics of vascular bed involvement in atherosclerosis of lower extremities in patients with type 2 diabetes]. / Klinicheskie proiavleniia i kharakter porazheniia sosudistogo rusla pri ateroskleroze arterii nizhnikh konechnostei u bol'nykh sakharnym diabetom 2-go tipa.

Clinical manifestations of arterial insufficiency and characteristics of vascular damage were compared in 68 patients (54 men, 14 women, mean age 64.5+/-1.1 years) with atherosclerosis of arteries of lower extremities including 40 patients with type 2 diabetes. Color duplex scanning was used for assessment of severity of vascular wall involvement. Ankle blood pressure was measured by Doppler technique with calculation of ankle-brachial index. Atherosclerosis of arteries of lower extremities in patients with diabetes manifested clinically as neuropathy while intermittent claudication was more characteristic of patients without diabetes. Severity of medial calcinosis and vascular wall rigidity were related to duration of diabetes. Ankle-brachial index in patients with diabetes was 20-30% and 1.5-2 times higher compared with those without diabetes with similar occlusive and nonocclusive changes of arteries of lower extremities, respectively. Color duplex scanning did not reveal differences between patients with and without diabetes in frequency of large multiple atherosclerotic plaques in abdominal aorta, iliac, popliteal arteries.

Peripheral macrohemodynamics in patients with lower limb arteriosclerosis obliterans and type II diabetes mellitus.

The paper presents characteristic features of lower limb atherosclerotic lesions in patients with diabetes mellitus: more prominent calcification of vascular wall (involving media), frequent involvement of distal vascular segments and a symmetry of lesions. Typical variants are shown in images obtained with duplex angioscanning. The authors conclude that there are no principal differences in the course of lower limb arteriosclerosis obliterans between diabetics and non-diabetics. Nevertheless some special features were mentioned, particularly in clinical manifestation of intermittent claudication that can be attributed to concurrent diabetic neuropathy. Difficulties in clinical interpretation of lower limb arterial insufficiency for patients with diabetes mellitus determine the necessity of obligatory examination of peripheral vasculature. The authors advocate the discrete subclinical stage of the disease with increased rate of vascular accidents. The data may be interesting for angiologists, vascular surgeons, endocrine legists and other medical professions.