Analysis of Determinants for Suture-mediated Closure Device Failure During EVAR Procedures.

OBJECTIVE: Endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) for elective and emergency infrarenal aortic pathologies is the primary approach for treatment nowadays. During such procedure, the suture-mediated closure device (SMCD) (Perclose ProGlideTM, Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, IL, USA) is commonly used. This study aimed to identify potential contributors for SMCD failure in a patient cohort of elective and emergency EVAR. METHODS: Archived medical records from patients who underwent EVAR for aortic pathologies in elective and emergency setting at the University Hospital Düsseldorf, Germany were included. Patient's co-morbidities, access vessel morphologies and hemostasis-related blood parameters were evaluated on their association with SMCD failure applying different statistical methods. RESULTS: A total of 71 patients (139 femoral accesses) was included. The mean age was 73.5 ± 8.4 years. Overall SMCD failure rate was 4.3%, 4.1% for elective and 5.9% for emergency cases, respectively. Total procedure time was longer for the SMCD failure group (323 ± 117.8 min vs 171 ± 43.7 min). The calcification status of the common femoral artery (CFA), the diameter of the aortic bifurcation, and dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT) on the medication plan prior to the procedure were associated with SMCD failure. Univariate binary logistic regression analysis nominated several potentially relevant predictors for SMCD failure who underwent subsequent multivariable binary logistic regression analysis. Here, DAPT on the medication plan was identified as being promising in predicting SMCD failure (OR 30.5), while anterior plaque formation in the CFA maintained as only statistically relevant determinant (OR 44.9). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the CFA calcification status to be associated with SMCD failure. Although discontinued prior to endovascular treatment, DAPT was also found to be associated with SMCD failure. Our results may advocate to perform obligatory platelet testing prior to EVAR to maximize patient safety.

Crosstalk of platelets with macrophages and fibroblasts aggravates inflammation, aortic wall stiffening and osteopontin release in abdominal aortic aneurysm.

AIMS: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a highly lethal disease with progressive dilatation of the abdominal aorta accompanied by degradation and remodelling of the vessel wall due to chronic inflammation. Platelets play an important role in cardiovascular diseases but their role in AAA is poorly understood. METHODS AND RESULTS: The present study revealed that platelets play a crucial role in promoting AAA through modulation of inflammation and degradation of the ECM. They are responsible for the up-regulation of SPP1 (osteopontin, OPN) gene expression in macrophages and aortic tissue, which triggers inflammation and remodeling but also platelet adhesion and migration into the abdominal aortic wall and the intraluminal thrombus (ILT). Further, enhanced platelet activation and pro-coagulant activity results in elevated gene expression of various cytokines, Mmp9 and Col1a1 in macrophages and Il-6 and Mmp9 in fibroblasts. Enhanced platelet activation and pro-coagulant activity was also detected in AAA patients. Further, we detected platelets and OPN in the vessel wall and in the ILT of patients who underwent open repair of AAA. Platelet depletion in experimental murine AAA reduced inflammation and ECM remodeling, with reduced elastin fragmentation and aortic diameter expansion. Of note, OPN co-localized with platelets, suggesting a potential role of OPN for the recruitment of platelets into the ILT and the aortic wall. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our data strongly supports the potential relevance of anti-platelet therapy to reduce AAA progression and rupture in AAA patients.

[Update on neck trauma]. / Update Halstraumata.

BACKGROUND: Important organs and structures are located in the cervical region. In case of blunt and penetrating trauma, emergency situations may arise. OBJECTIVE: Emergency management as well as diagnostic and therapeutic steps pertaining to neck injuries are presented. CONCLUSION: Shock therapy and airway management are essential, fast management of neck injuries highly relevant.

Use of the AFX Stent Graft in Patients with Extremely Narrow Aortic Bifurcation: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: This study analyzed the patient outcomes following endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) for infrarenal aortic pathologies with very narrow aortic bifurcations using the AFX stent graft. METHODS: The data was retrieved from the archived medical records of 35 patients treated for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) (48.6%) or penetrating aortic ulcer (PAU) (51.4%) with very narrow aortic bifurcation between January 2013 and May 2020. Patient survival, freedom from endoleak (EL), and limb occlusion were estimated applying the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 20.4 ± 22.8 months. The mean aortic bifurcation diameter was 15.8 ± 2.2 mm. Technical success was 100%, and no procedure-related deaths occurred. Two type II ELs occurred within 30-day follow-up. We observed one common iliac artery stenosis at four months and one type III EL at 54 months in the same patient, both of which required re-intervention. Overall patient survival was 95 ± 5% (AAA: 100%; PAU: 89 ± 10%), freedom from limb occlusion was 94 ± 5% (AAA: 91 ± 9%; PAU: 100%), freedom from type II EL was 94 ± 4% (AAA: 88 ± 8%; PAU: 100%), and freedom from EL type III was 83 ± 15% (AAA: 80 ± 18%; PAU: 100%) at the end of the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Very narrow aortic bifurcations may predispose patients to procedure-related complications following EVAR. Our results suggest a safe use of the AFX stent graft in such scenarios. The overall short- and long-term procedure-related patient outcomes are satisfying albeit they may seem superior for PAU when compared to AAA.

[Intravenous leiomyomatosis]. / Die intravenöse Leiomyomatose.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVLM) is an unusual neoplasm derived from uterine smooth muscle cells seen in patients with uterine leiomyomas. The typical histological features of IVLM consist of benign smooth muscle cells present within venous vascular spaces of the uterine wall. Increasing intravascular and intracardial spread of IVLM may lead to life-threatening clinical complications. Thorough pathological study of routine hysterectomy specimens may lead to the diagnosis of IVLM. Most affected patients will be cardiologically asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. Herein, the relatively unknown clinical and morphological aspects of IVLM are presented and discussed.

Pathophysiology of chronic limb ischemia.

Chronic ischemia of the lower extremities is an everyday problem in vascular surgery clinics. In Germany, approximately 3% of all hospitalizations are due to peripheral artery disease (PAD), with critical limb ischemia (CLI) in particular showing a rapid increase. The consequences of chronic undersupply range from reduced walking distance to loss of limbs. At the beginning there are stress factors, such as hyperlipidemia (LDL), free radicals, arterial hypertension, infections or subclinical inflammation that interfere with endothelial homeostasis and cause endothelial dysfunction with increased permeability. Cells of the immune system are attracted and migrate into the vascular wall, where they lead to the degradation of matrix components and destabilization of the plaque. By changing the phenotype of smooth muscle cells and macrophages towards osteoclast-like cells, bone-like hardening of the vessel wall takes place. Above a vessel wall thickness of approximately 100 µm, hypoxia-induced factor (HIF-1α) is intensified by the lack of oxygen, which leads to an increase in growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This promotes angiogenesis, but it is not sufficient to compensate for a stenosed artery. Arteriogenesis refers to the growth of existing collateral vessels. The driving forces are the pressure gradient before and after the stenosis and the shear forces acting on the vessel walls. In the case of progressive stenosis, the compensatory capacities can be overtaxed and a manifest hypoxia in the tissue with regression of the obtained vascular structures and tissue atrophy occurs.

Oxidized (non)-regenerated cellulose affects fundamental cellular processes of wound healing.

In this study we investigated how hemostats such as oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC, TABOTAMP) and oxidized non-regenerated cellulose (ONRC, RESORBA CELL) influence local cellular behavior and contraction of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Human stromal fibroblasts were inoculated in vitro with ORC and ONRC. Cell proliferation was assayed over time, and migration was evaluated by Live Cell imaging microscopy. Fibroblasts grown in collagen-gels were treated with ORC or ONRC, and ECM contraction was measured utilizing a contraction assay. An absolute pH decline was observed with both ORC and ONRC after 1 hour. Mean daily cell proliferation, migration and matrix contraction were more strongly inhibited by ONRC when compared with ORC (p < 0.05). When control media was pH-lowered to match the lower pH values typically seen with ORC and ONRC, significant differences in cell proliferation and migration were still observed between ONRC and ORC (p < 0.05). However, in these pH conditions, inhibition of matrix contraction was only significant for ONRC (p < 0.05). We find that ORC and ONRC inhibit fibroblast proliferation, migration and matrix contraction, and stronger inhibition of these essential cellular processes of wound healing were observed for ONRC when compared with ORC. These results will require further validation in future in vivo experiments to clarify the clinical implications for hemostat use in post-surgical wound healing.

The importance of open emergency surgery in the treatment of acute mesenteric ischemia.

OBJECTIVE: Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is a complex disease with a high mortality rate. A patient's chance of survival depends on early diagnosis and rapid revascularization to prevent progression of intestinal gangrene. We reviewed our experience with open surgery treatment in 54 cases of AMI. METHODS: A monocentric retrospective study was conducted between 01/01/2001 and 04/30/2014; 54 AMI patients with a mean age of 56.6 years underwent surgery (26 women and 28 men). Retrospectively, the risk factors, management until diagnosis, vascular therapy and follow-up were evaluated. RESULTS: The symptom upon admission was an acute abdominal pain event. The delay time from admission to surgery was, on average, 13.9 h (n = 34). The therapeutic procedures were open surgical operations. The complication rate was (53.7 %) (n = 29). The 30-day mortality was 29.6 % (n = 16). The late mortality rate was 24.1 % (n = 13), and the cumulative survival risk was 44.6 %. Survival was, on average, 60.54 months; however, in the over 70-year-old patient subgroup, the survival rate was 9.5 months (p = 0.035). The mortality rate was 27 % (n = 22) in the <12 h delay group, 20 % (n = 5) in the 12-24 h delay group, and 50 % (n = 7) in the > 24 h delay group. CONCLUSIONS: The form of therapy depends on the intraoperative findings and the type of occlusion. Although the mortality rate has decreased in the last decade, in patients over 70 years of age, a significantly worse prognosis was seen.

Long-term results of open repair of popliteal artery aneurysm.

INTRODUCTION: Popliteal artery aneurysms (PAA) are rare. Different surgical techniques for open surgical repair are possible. This study presents a single centre experience using open surgical repair with a medial approach (MA) and outlines differences between symptomatic (SLS) and asymptomatic (ALS) legs. METHODS: Data collection was performed retrospectively. The investigation period was from 1 January 1996 to 1 January 2013. Patients presented in the Outpatient Department and received a questionnaire concerning their quality of life. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Mann-Whitney test and Cochran-Armitage test for trend was used for data analysis. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate limb salvage rates. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: We analyzed 16 ALS and 26 SLS with an average age of 63.5 ± 10 years. Preoperative ankle-brachial index (ABI) was 1.0 ± 0.2 for ALS (on control examination: 1.12 ± 0.24) and 0.08 ± 0.18 for SLS (on control examination 0.94 ± 0.14) (p < 0.05). Limb salvage rate was 100% for ALS and 86.7% for SLS (overall 93.3%). Primary patency rate for SLS was 85%, for ALS rate of 100%, respectively (overall 92.5%). ALS reached an average of 13.1 ± 2.7 points (SLS 11.4 ± 2.8) on a numeric point scale. CONCLUSION: Open surgery is therapy and prevention of acute ischaemia all in one, especially for asymptomatic patients and delivers good long-term results. Endovascular therapies offer an alternative but long-term results are pending. Open surgery should still be considered as a gold standard therapy.

Novel effects of adenosine receptors on pericellular hyaluronan matrix: implications for human smooth muscle cell phenotype and interactions with monocytes during atherosclerosis.

Hyaluronan (HA) is responsive to pro-atherosclerotic growth factors and cytokines and is thought to contribute to neointimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis. However, the specific function of the pericellular HA matrix is likely depend on the respective stimuli. Adenosine plays an important role in the phenotypic regulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and is thought to inhibit inflammatory responses during atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to examine the regulation and function of HA matrix in response to adenosine in human coronary artery SMC (HCASMC). The adenosine receptor agonist NECA (10 µM) caused a strong induction of HA synthase (HAS)1 at 6 h and a weaker induction again after 24 h. Use of selective adenosine receptor antagonists revealed that adenosine A2(B) receptors (A2(B)R) mediate the early HAS1 induction, whereas late HAS1 induction was mediated via A2(A)R and A3R. The strong response after 6 h was mediated in part via phosphoinositide-3 kinase- and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways and was inhibited by Epac. Functionally, NECA increased cell migration, which was abolished by shRNA-mediated knock down of HAS1. In addition to HA secretion, NECA also stimulated the formation of pronounced pericellular HA matrix in HCASMC and increased the adhesion of monocytes. The adenosine-induced monocyte adhesion was sensitive to hyaluronidase. In conclusion, the current data suggest that adenosine via adenosine A2(B)R and A2(A)R/A3R induces HAS1. In turn a HA-rich matrix is formed by HCASMC which likely supports the migratory HCASMC phenotype and traps monocytes/macrophages in the interstitial matrix.

[Endovascular treatment of traumatic ruptures of the thoracic aorta]. / Endovaskuläre Versorgung der traumatischen thorakalen Aortenruptur.

Traumatic rupture of the descending aorta is an acute life-threatening event. The most common cause is deceleration trauma resulting in a sudden stretching of the aortic isthmus as for example in car and motorcycle accidents and falls from a great height. Exemplified by a case report of a multiply injured 57-year-old male the diagnostic pathways, therapy and postoperative complications are presented.

[Influence of fixation mechanism on changes of the supra- and infrarenal segment of the aorta after endovascular treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysm]. / Einfluss des Verankerungsmechanismus auf Veränderungen des supra- und infrarenalen Aortensegments nach endovaskulärer Ausschaltung infrarenaler Bauchaortenaneurysmen.

INTRODUCTION: Dilatation of the infrarenal aortic segment determines the long-term outcome after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. This segment is crucial for sealing and preventing stent-graft migration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate influence of fixation mechanism on changes of supra- and infrarenal aortic diameters over a 10-year period. METHODS: We reviewed all our endovascular procedures for abdominal aortic aneurysms and follow-up CT scans between 1998 and 2008. Only patients with the three most frequently implanted self-expandable stent-graft types and a minimal follow-up of three months were included in this study. Further inclusion criteria were elective repair and follow-up at our department to consistent data formats. A total of 103 patients, 35 with suprarenal fixation without hooks (Medtronic Talent®, Medtronic World Medical, Sunrise, FL, USA), 29 with suprarenal fixation with hooks (Cook Zenith®, Cook Inc. Bloomington, IN, USA) and 39 with infrarenal fixation with anchors (Gore Excluder®, W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, Ariz, USA) met the inclusion criteria. All measurements were performed in duplicate by two different investigators to determine intra- and interobserver errors. Based on this error a minimal change of 2 mm of infrarenal aortic neck diameter was determined as aortic neck dilatation. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up time of 39.4 (3-108.8) months, infrarenal aortic neck dilatation was found in 28.57% in the Medtronic group, 10.26% in the Gore group and 31.03 in the Cook group. Suprarenal changes were 17.14%, 20.51% and 17.24%, respectively. Reduction of the maximal diameter could be achieved in 74.3% (Medtronic), 79.5% (Gore), and 75.8% (Cook). Seven of 23 patients with a notable dilatation of the infrarenal neck required reintervention. All of them were stent-grafts with suprarenal fixation. No statistical significance was found between the 3 groups regarding changes of suprarenal or infrarenal diameters or migration rates. CONCLUSION: Although no statistical significance was found among the groups, infrarenal fixation showed the lowest rate of infrarenal dilatation.

Hybrid procedures for complex thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms: early results and secondary interventions.

BACKGROUND: Hybrid procedures for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA) have been previously described as an attractive alternative to open reconstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1999 and 2009, 16 patients with a median age of 67years underwent hybrid repair of a TAAA (Crawford type I: 3, type II: 3, type III: 1, and type IV: 9). In 94%, 3 and more severe comorbidities were present, with previous aortic surgery in 56% of the patients; elective/urgent repair was done in 10 and emergent surgery in 6 patients. RESULTS: Primary technical success was 100%, with 31 vessels grafted. Elective/urgent mortality was 20% (2 of 10) and emergent mortality 50% (3 of 6). During follow-up time (median: 12 months) 2 patients died and 2 patients had to undergo secondary interventions. CONCLUSION: In high-risk patients especially after prior aortic surgery hybrid repair of TAAA is feasible. However, due to high mortality rates especially in the emergent situation this procedure should be reserved only for decidedly selected patients.

PEPE II--a multicenter study with an end-point heparin-bonded expanded polytetrafluoroethylene vascular graft for above and below knee bypass surgery: determinants of patency.

AIM: The Propaten European Product Evaluation (PEPE II) study was a product evaluation intended to characterize the performance of the GORE PROPATEN vascular graft in above-knee (AK) and below-knee bypass (BK) surgery. METHODS: This prospective multicenter trial enrolled 142 patients with peripheral arterial disease. In 87 patients AK and in 52 patients BK bypasses (including 15 femorocrural) were implanted (67.6% males, 32.4% females). RESULTS: The one-year overall primary and secondary patency rates were 80% and 84.7%, respectively. Overall limb salvage rate at 12-months was 96.2%. The primary patency rate for AK bypasses was 82.7%, for BK femoro-popliteal bypasses 74.2% and for BK tibial-peroneal bypasses 79.4%. Secondary patency rates were 87.3%, 78.8% and 85.1%, respectively. Primary patency rates decreased depending on the number of patent run-off vessels (three 84.3%, two 80.8%, one 73.3%). Subgroup analysis showed that female patients had a significantly higher primary patency rate for BK bypasses (95.5% vs. 67.8%, P=0.037 ) compared to male patients. Subgroup analysis comparing patients younger and older than 70 years did not show a statistically significant difference in patency rates. Twenty-one patients underwent 42 reinterventions after bypass surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Present data show that the end-point heparin-bonded polytetrafluoroethylene graft yields patency rates comparable to those obtained with other graft material in above-knee locations. The encouraging results for BK bypasses suggests that this graft is an excellent option for small diameter vascular reconstructions when autologous vein is unavailable.

Evaluation of acute mesenteric ischemia: accuracy of biphasic mesenteric multi-detector CT angiography.

The purpose of this study was to explore the accuracy of multi-detector row helical CT (MDCT), using a biphasic mesenteric angiography protocol for evaluation of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI). In total, 79 consecutive patients with clinical signs of AMI underwent contrast enhanced 16- or 40-channel MDCT. MDCT findings were correlated with surgery, endoscopy and clinical outcome. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated using the patients in which AMI had been excluded as a control group. In 28 patients the final diagnosis was AMI. In 27 patients (96.4%) MDCT correctly diagnosed AMI (specificity of 97.9%). A sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 100%, and positive and negative predictive values of 100% and 94%, respectively were achieved for the CT findings of visceral artery occlusion, intestinal pneumatosis, portomesenteric venous gas or bowel wall thickening in combination with either portomesenteric thrombosis or solid organ infarction. Our findings suggest that mesenteric MDCT angiography is an accurate tool for fast diagnostic work-up of patients with suspected AMI.

Integrated FDG PET-CT imaging improves staging in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

UNLABELLED: AIM of this study was to investigate, how often TNM staging is changed in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) by the application of integrated PET-CT compared to computed tomography alone and how often these changes are clinically relevant. PATIENTS, METHODS: We studied 17 patients (68 +/- 6 years, 8 women) with MPM. Integrated PET-CT scan and histological confirmation were performed in all patients. RESULTS: Final histological diagnosis confirmed 9 epithelial type, 2 sarcomatoid type and 6 biphasic type MPM. Mean standardized uptake value (SUV) was 5.9 +/- 1.9 in epithelial MPM and 15.1 +/- 10.2 in sarcomatoid MPM. CT and PET-CT revealed discordances in 8/17 (47%) patients in TNM classification with 4/8 (50%) being clinically relevant. PET-CT led to downstaging in 5 (29%) and upstaging in 3 (18%) patients. Mean survival time tended to be higher in the subgroup of patients with lower mean SUV. CONCLUSIONS: PET-CT seems to be a valuable tool in staging of MPM and leads to discordant findings in almost every second patient compared to CT alone. In many cases these differences are clinically relevant and have therapeutic consequences.

Endovascular treatment (EVT) of acute traumatic lesions of the descending thoracic aorta--7 years' experience.

OBJECTIVES: To present a single centers' 7-year experience in the endovascular treatment of acute traumatic lesions of the descending thoracic aorta (ATL of the DTA). MATERIALS & METHODS: Between March 1999 and December 2006, 34 consecutive acute traumatic lesions of the descending aorta (23 men, mean age 44 years) were treated endovascularly. Stentgrafts used were TAG Excluder, Zenith TX2 and Talent. In 23 patients the Left Subclavian Artery (LSA) was covered. Mean procedural duration was 20 to 75 minutes. RESULTS: Exclusion of the rupture site was achieved in all cases with no conversion to open surgery. Overall 30-day mortality was 8.8%. Two patients died on post operative day (pod) 1 and one on pod 22 from cranial injuries. No death or neurological deficit related to the endovascular treatment was reported. Four type I endoleaks required treatment either by balloon reexpansion (n=2) or by additional stentgraft implantation (n=2). In two patients the stentgraft collapsed totally several days postoperatively. Two patients required secondary surgical procedures (iliac access complication and revascularisation of the left subclavian artery n=1). The average follow-up was 43.8 months (1-93 months). No stentgraft related abnormality has been subsequently documented. CONCLUSIONS: The endovascular treatment of ATL of the DTA may offer the best means of therapy in a polytrauma patient.

Endovascular repair of symptomatic penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer of the thoracic aorta.

BACKGROUND: In this study we evaluate published and personal experience of Endovascular Repair (EVAR) of penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers (PAU). PATIENTS AND METHOD: In 12 patients (mean 74 years, 58-87 years) PAU was diagnosed with computer tomography (CT). Symptomatic ulcers were treated by vascular surgeons using stentgrafts via a femoral access route. Patients were followed up clinically and with CT for an average of 849 days (186-1968 days). RESULTS: 11 patients had severe acute thoracic pain, one patient presented with hemoptysis. CT showed well outlined ulcer, intramural hematoma, and contrast enhancement of the aortic wall (n=12), pseudoaneurysm (n=11), intimal calcification adjoining the ulcer (n=10), pleural (n=9) and mediastinal fluid (n=4). Mean duration of surgery was 68min (32-120min). Primary technical success was achieved in all patients. There was no perioperative complications except one acute hemorrhage from an intercostal artery and one iliac dissection. 3 months after stentgraft application owing to a severe stenosis of the right common femoral artery, an iliofemoral bypass was performed in one patient. All patients were free of symptoms after the procedure. There was incomplete sealing of PAU in 2 of 12 patients, but no re-intervention was needed. All patients were alive during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Symptomatic PAU is a potentially fatal lesion. Considering the low morbidity and mortality of EVAR, this option might be first choice.

Use of integrated FDG PET/CT imaging in pulmonary carcinoid tumours.

BACKGROUND: Integrated positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scanners have been recently introduced in the diagnostic work-up of suspected pulmonary malignancy and demonstrate encouraging results in the staging of nonsmall-cell lung cancer. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of integrated FDG PET/CT in pulmonary carcinoid tumours. SETTING: University hospital. METHODS: We studied 13 patients (mean age +/- 1 SD, 57 +/- 11 years) with pulmonary carcinoid tumours. All patients demonstrated a single pulmonary lesion. Integrated PET/CT scan and surgical resection were performed in all patients. RESULTS: The pulmonary lesion size ranged from 1.1 to 5.0 cm. Final histological diagnosis confirmed 12 typical and one atypical pulmonary carcinoid. Mean proliferation rate of the typical carcinoids was 1.7 +/- 1.4%. None of the patients had recurrent carcinoid disease or died during follow-up (864 +/- 218 days). Mean standardized uptake value (SUV) of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in typical carcinoids was 3.0 +/- 1.5 (range 1.2 - 6.6); SUV in the atypical carcinoid was remarkably high with a value of 8.5. The SUV was lower than 2.5 in 6 of 12 patients (50%). Mediastinal lymph node metastases or extrathoracic metastases were not detected in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT imaging improves accurate localization of metabolic activity and thus the interpretation of pulmonary lesions on CT. FDG uptake in pulmonary carcinoid tumours is often lower than expected for malignant tumours. Therefore, surgical resection or biopsy of lesions suspected to be carcinoids should be mandatory, even if they show no hypermetabolism on FDG PET images.

[The vascular surgeon's role in intensive care]. / Intensivmedizin aus Sicht des Gefässchirurgen.

The role of vascular surgeons in the intensive care unit includes two major tasks: (1) consultant activity in complications of different operative specialties, for instance postoperative venous thrombosis after Wertheim's operation, mesenteric superior artery embolus, or arterial injury after total prosthetic replacement of the hip, (2) postoperative care following vascular surgery in order to identify and treat specific complications such as limb ischemia after reconstructive surgery, compartment monitoring after reperfusion injury of the aorta or extremities, carotis monitoring after postoperative apoplexy, and subsumed identification and treatment of ischemic and postischemic states in organs and tissues. Keeping vascular reconstructive options open is particularly important for polytrauma patients with blunt or open vascular injuries beginning from the thoracic aorta ending with subtotal amputation of the lower leg. Vascular surgeons in an intensive care setting play the central role in setting diagnostic course and therapy measures, while organ substitute therapy is within the administrative jurisdiction of the intensivist. Considering the complexity of morbidity in vascular patients, consultation by the intensivist, cardiologist, and neurologist is warranted.