An aortoduodenal fistula as a complication of immunoglobulin G4-related disease.

Most primary aortoduodenal fistulas occur in the presence of an aortic aneurysm, which can be part of immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related sclerosing disease. We present a case who underwent endovascular grafting of an aortoduodenal fistula associated with a high serum IgG4 level. A 56-year-old male underwent urgent endovascular reconstruction of an aortoduodenal fistula. The patient received antibiotics and other supportive therapy, and the postoperative course was uneventful, however, elevated levels of serum IgG, IgG4 and C-reactive protein were noted, which normalized after the introduction of steroid therapy. Control computed tomography angiography showed no endoleaks. The primary aortoduodenal fistula may have been associated with IgG4-related sclerosing disease as a possible complication of IgG4-related inflammatory aortic aneurysm. Endovascular grafting of a primary aortoduodenal fistula is an effective and minimally invasive alternative to standard surgical repair.

[Intrathrombus embolization of giant mesenteric inferior artery to prevent type II endoleak].

INTRODUCTION: One of the most common complications of endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm is type II endoleak - retrograde branch flow. CASE REPORT: A 76-year-old man with abdominal aortic aneurysm, 7.1 cm in diameter and aneurysm of the right common iliac artery, 3.2 cm in diameter was admitted to our Department with abdominal pain. The patient had no chance of having open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm because of high perioperative risk (cardiac ejection fraction of 23%, chronic pulmonary obstructive disease). Multislice computed angiography also revealed a large inferior mesenteric artery, 6mm in diameter with the origin in thrombus of aneurysm. We decided to repair abdominal aortic aneurysm with GORE EXCLUDER stent-graft with crossed right hypogastric, but first we decided to embolize the inferior mesenteric artery. Angiography was performed through the right femoral approach and the good Riolan arcade was found. After that the inferior mesenteric artery was embolized with two coils, 5 mm in diameter, at the origin of artery in aneurysm thrombus. At the end of procedure, abdominal aortic aneurysm was repaired with GORE stent-graft, and the control angiography was performed. There was no endoleak, and the Riolan arcade was very good. The patient was discharged after 5 days. There were no signs of ischemia of the left colon, and peristaltic was excellent. Control multislice computed angiography was done after 1 and 3 months. There were no signs of endoleak. On the control colonoscopy there were no signs of ischemia of the colon. CONCLUSION: Endovascular repair of symptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm in high risk patients with preoperative embolization of large branch is the best choice to prevent rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm and to prevent type II endoleak.

[Elective visceral hybrid repair of type III thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm].

INTRODUCTION: According to the classification given by Crawford et al. type III thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) is dilatation of the aorta from the level of the rib 6 to the separation of the aorta below the renal arteries, capturing all the visceral branch of aorta. Visceral hybrid reconstruction of TAAA is a procedure developed in recent years in the world, which involves a combination of conventional, open and endovascular aortic reconstruction surgery at the level of separation of the left subclavian artery to the level of visceral branches of aorta. CASE REPORT: We presented a 75-years-old man, with elective visceral hybrid reconstruc tion of type III TAAA. Computerized scanning (CT) angiography of the patient showed type III TAAA with the maximum transverse diameter of aneurysm of 92 mm. Aneurysm started at the level of the sixth rib, and the end of the aneurysm was 1 cm distal to the level of renal arteries. Aneurysm compressed the esophagus, causing the patient difficulty in swallowing act, especially solid food, and frequent back pain. From the other comorbidity, the patient had been treated for a long time, due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hypertension. In general endotracheal anesthesia with epidural analgesia, the patient underwent visceral hybrid reconstruction of TAAA, which combines classic, open vascular surgery and endovascular procedures. Classic vascular surgery is visceral reconstruction using by-pass procedure from the distal, normal aorta to all visceral branches: celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery and both renal arteries, with ligature of all arteries very close to the aorta. After that, by synchronous endovascular technique a complete aneurysmal exclusion of thoracoabdominal aneurysm with thoracic stent-graft was performed. The postoperative course was conducted properly and the patient left the Clinic for Vascular Surgery on postoperative day 21. Control CT, performed 3 months after the surgery showed that the patient's vascular status was uneventful with functional visceral by-pass and with good position of a stent-graft without a significant endoleak. CONCLUSION: Visceral hybrid reconstruction represents a complementary surgical technique to that with open reconstruction of TAAA. This approach is far less traumatic to a patient, and is especially important in patients with lot of comorbidities, because there is no need for thoracotomy, and ischemic-reperfusion injury of the body is reduced to a minimum.

[Early inflammatory response following elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: a comparison between endovascular procedure and conventional, open surgery].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Abdominal aorta aneurysm (AAA) represents a pathological enlargment of infrarenal portion of aorta for over 50% of its lumen. The only treatment of AAA is a surgical reconstruction of the affected segment. Until the late XX century, surgical reconstruction implied explicit, open repair (OR) of AAA, which was accompanied by a significant morbidity and mortality of the treated patients. Development of endovascular repair of (EVAR) AAA, especially in the last decade, offered another possibility of surgical reconstruction of AAA. The preliminary results of world studies show that complications of such a procedure, as well as morbidity and mortality of patients, are significantly lower than with OR of AAA. The aim of this paper was to present results of comparative clinical prospective study of early inflammatory response after reconstruction of AAA be tween endovascular and open, conventional surgical technique. METHODS: A comparative clinical prospective study included 39 patients, electively operated on for AAA within the period of December 2008 - February 2010, divided into two groups. The group I counted 21 (54%) of the patients, 58-87 years old (mean 74.3 years), who had been submited to EVAR by the use of excluder stent graft. The group II consisted of 18 (46%) of the patients, 49-82 (mean 66.8) years, operated on using OR technique. All of the treated patients in both groups had AAA larger than 50 mm. The study did not include patients who have been treated as urgent cases, due to the rupture or with simptomatic AAA. Clinical, biochemical and inflamatory parameters in early postoperative period were analyzed, in direct postoperative course (number of leucocytes, thrombocytes, serum circulating levels of cytokine--interleukine (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10). Parameters were monitored on the zero, first, second, third and seventh postoperative days. The study was approved by the Ethics Commitee of the Military Medical Academy. RESULTS: The study showed a statistically significantly shorter time of treatment in the EVAR group (average 90 min) compared to the OR group (average 136 min). Also, there was a statistically significantly less blood loss in the patients operated on by the use of EVAR surgery (average 60 mL) as compared to the patients treated with OR techinique (average 495 mL), as well as a shorter postoperative hospitalization of patients in the EVAR group (average 4 days) compared to the OR group (average 8 days). The OR group was detected with a statistically significant increase of leucocytes and statistically significant fall of the number of thrombocytes in comparison with the EVAR group in all the investigated terms. A significant concentration rise of IL-2 in the OR group and concentration rise of IL-6 in the EVAR group was shown 24 hours after the procedure, whereas on the second postoperative day there was detected a significant fall of IL-6 in the EVAR group. IL-4 concentration in the OR group was significantly higher as of the third postoperative day in comparison to the EVAR group. There was no significant difference in IL-10 concentration between the groups. CONCLUSION: The EVAR techinique is a safer and less invasive and less traumatic procedure for patients than the OR of AAA. Following the EVAR, there are less inflammatory reactions in the early postoperative period as compared to the OR and therefore less possibility of the development of systemic inflammatory respons syndrome in patients treated.

Endovascular repair of posttraumatic multiple femoral-femoral and popliteal-popliteal arteriovenous fistula with Viabahn and excluder stent graft.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic arteriovenous (AV) fistula is considered to be a pathologic communication between the arterial and venous systems following injury caused mostly by firearms, sharp objects or blasting agents. Almost 50% of all traumatic AV fistulas are localized in the extremities. In making diagnosis, besides injury anamnesis data, clinical image is dominated by palpable thrill and auscultator continual sounds at the site of fistula, extremities edemas, ischemia distally of fistula, pronounced varicose syndrome, and any signs of the right heart load in high-flow fistulas. CASE REPORT: We presented a male 32-year-old patient self-injured the region of the right lower and upper leg by shotgun during hunting in 2005. The same day the patient was operated on in a tertiary traumatology health care institution under the diagnosis of vulnus sclopetarium femoris et cruris dex; AV fistula reg popliteae dex; fractura cruris dex. The performed surgery was ligatura AV fistulae; reconstructio a. popliteae cum T-T anastomosis; fasciotomia cruris dex. Postoperatively, in the patient developed a multiple AV fistula of the femoral and popliteal artery and neighboring veins. The patient was two more times operated on for closing the fistula but with no success. Three years later the patient was referred to the Clinic for Vascular Surgery, Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia. A physical examination on admission showed the right upper leg edema, pronounced varicosities and high thrill, signs of the skin induration and initial ischemia with ulceration in the right lower leg, as well as numerous scars in the inner side of the leg from the previously performed operations. Due to the right heart load there were also present easy getting tired, tachypnoea and tachycardia. CT and contrast angiography verified the presence of multiple traumatic AV fistulas in the surface femoral and popliteal artery and neighboring veins of the highest diameter being 1 cm. Also, numerous metallic balls--grains of shotgun were present. After the preoperative preparation under local infiltrative anesthesia, transfemoral endovascular reconstruction was done of the surface femoral and popliteal artery by the use of stent grafts Viabahn 6 x 50 mm and excluder PXL 161 007. Within the immediate postoperative course a significant reduction of the leg edema and disappearance of thrill occurred, and, latter, healing of ulceration, and disappearance of signs of the foot ischemia. Also, patient's both cardiac and breathing functions became normal. CONCLUSION: In patients with chronic traumatic AV fistulas in the femoropopliteal region, especially with multiple fistulas, the gold standard is their endovascular recon struction which, although being minimally traumatic and invasive, offers a complete reconstruction besides keeping integrity of both distal and proximal circulation in the leg.

[Assesment of lower extremities ischemic disease by thallium 201 perfusion scintigraphy in patients with diabetic angiopathy].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Tibial perfusion in diabetic microangiopathy is considered to be a diagnostic problem. A special place in quantifying muscle microcirculatory perfusion belongs to thallium 201 muscle perfusion scintigraphy (201T1 PS). Thallium, showing the characteristics of potassium (K+), enters a cell by means of active cell transportation and follows erythrocyte up to the tissue. The aim of this study was to determine if T1 PS of lower extremities (LE) is a good method for estimating muscle microcirculatory perfusion in diabetic microangiopathy. METHODS: The study included 32 patients of an average age 66.1 +/- 14.9 years with signs of LE ischemia befalling into III and IV stage of ischemic disease according to the Lariche-Fontain classification. Out of that number there were 27 of the patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), while 5 of the patients were with Burger's disease and Raynand's disorder. Lower extremities PS was performed after 3 min of tibial loading by the use of dorsoplantar foot flexion and intravenous 74 MBq 201T1 as a 10-minute dynamic study. A 10 minute static scintigraphy was carried out of the gluteal region, femurs, tibias and feet per a position and repeated after 3 h at rest in the same projections. The results were interpreted visually and by the semiquantitive method using a program for calculating the number of pulses per pixel in the corresponding region over 1-, 2- and 10-minute dynamic study, thus obtaining numerical data for estimating perfusion. Binding ratio in both legs was estimated visually as low (1), medium (2) and significant (3) difference in both legs. The results were compared with doppler hemodynamic indices (PI and RI). RESULTS: Regardless the group, 201T1 binding intensity rising was significantly 2 min after application, as compared to 1 min, and the obtained level of binding was maintained even after 10 min. In the group Fontain III the majority of the patients showed a medium difference in binding 201T1 (2) in regard to the group Fontain IV with the patients having a low difference (1) between both legs and a significant difference between both legs (3). A statistically significant positive corellation was obtained between the values of RI index regarding distal region of a. tibialis posterior (p < 0.05, r = 0.43), as well as a. tibialis anterior (p = 0.05, r = 0.38). There was no corellation for the PI index. Low collateral net development based on the values for the indices PI and RI showed a less muscle perfusion on 201T1 in regard to medium and well developed collateral net with identical perfusion. CONCLUSION: The results of lower extremities perfusion scintigraphy are reliable indice of muscle microcilculatory perfusion. There is a statistically significant correlation between the doppler hemodynamic indices and 201TI perfusion scintigraphy.

[Morbidity and mortality in the early postoperative course following elective reconstruction of abdominal aorta aneurysm using endovascular and open surgical techniques].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Surgical treatment is the only method of abdominal aorta aneurysm (AAA) treatment. According to data of the available literature, elective open, i.e., conservative, reconstruction (OR) is followed by 3%-5% mortality, as well as by numerous comorbide conditions inside the early postoperative course (the first 30 days after the surgery) that occur in 20%-30% of the operated on. The aim of the study was to present preliminar results of a comparative clinical retrospective study of early postoperative morbidity and mortality in AAA reconstruction using endovascular (EVAR) and open surgical techniques. METHOD: This comparative clinical retrospective study included 59 patients, electively operated on for AAA within the period January 2008-March 2009, divided into two groups. The group I counted 29 (49%) of the patients who had been submitted to EVAR by the use of Excluder stent. The group II consisted of 30 (51%) of the patients operated on using OR. All of the patients were males, 50-87 years old (mean 67.6 year in the group I, and 54-86 years (mean 68.3 years) in the group II. All tha patients had AAA larger than 50 mm, in the group I 50-105 mm (mean 68 mm), and in the group II 50-84 mm (mean 65 mm). Preoperative comorbide conditions of any patients were similar (coronary disease, obstructive lung disease, chronical renal insufficiency). Patients operated on as emergency cases due to rupture or due to symptomatic aneurysm (threthening rupture) were excluded. The analysed parameters were the duration of surgical operation, intraoperative and operative blood substitution, postoperative morbidity, the duration of postoperative hospitalization, and hospital mortality. RESULTS: The obtained results showed a statistically significantly shorter time taken by EVAR surgery (average 95 min, ranging 70-180 min) as compared to OR surgery (average 167 min, ranging 90-300 min). They also showed statistically significantly less blood loss in the patients operated on by the use of EVAR surgery (average blood compensation 130 mL, ranging 0-1050 mL) as compared to OR surgery (average blood compensation 570 mL, ranging 0-2.000 mL). Also, general complications as wound infection, no restoration of intestines peristalsis, febrility, proteinic and electolytic disbalance, lung and heart decompensation were statistically significantly less following EVAR than OR surgery. Postoperative hospitalization was also statistically significantly shorter after EVAR than after OR surgery (average 4.2 days, ranging 3-7 days; 10.6 days, ranging 8-35 days, respectively). Finally, within this 13-month study there was no mortality following EVAR surgery, while two patients died after OR surgery. CONCLUSION: In the patients with elective AAA reconstruction endovascular reconstruction is shown to be far more safer and minimally invasive procedure than open conventional aorta reconstruction.

[Hyperbaric oxygenation effects determination in the therapy of chronic occlusive lower extremities arteries disease by the use of perfusion scintigraphy].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) is a medical treatment of a patient with 100% oxygen inspiration under the pressure higher than atmospheric in a special unit designed to let the whole patient's body rest in a chamber. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the application of HBO treatment on the patient's lower extremities with chonic inoperabile occlusive disease by measning the parameters of perfusion scintigraphy (perfusion reserve, relative perfusion). METHODS: This investigation included 22 patients (19 males and 3 famales). Following clinical assessment of lower extremities condition according to the skin appearance and its adnexa, claudication distance was performed. Clinical condition was graded by the use of 5-point nominal scale. In all of the patients 99mTc-tetraphosmine lower extremities scintigraphy was done ten days prior to the treatment start and ten days after the treatment with HBO. Lower legs were imaged from the posterior view. Prior to imaging the patients were obligatory lying approximately half an hour. RESULTS: In 18 (86%) of the patients there was an improvement manifested as better subjective condition and better skin and its adnexa appearance. Following HBO treatment there was a statistically significant change in collecting the radiopharmac at rest. This finding indicates an increased viability of muscles as well as an increased perfusion reserve. Perfusion reserve mean values increased from 39.99 to 50.86%, and from 38.46 to 49.33% for the right and the left lower leg, respectively. This parameter clearly indicates favorable effects of HBO treatment pertaining neoangiogenesis and, consequently, increased viability of the lower leg muscles. It was also obvious in visual analysis of the obtained images. CONCLUSION: The obtained results confirm that muscle perfusion measured by the parameters of perfusion scintigraphy using 9mTc-tetrophosmine (perfusion reserve, relative perfusion) in patients with inoperabile occlusive disease of the lower leg arteries significantly increases after the application of HBO treatment.

Endovascular reconstruction of giant gastroduodenal artery aneurysm with stent graft: case report.

INTRODUCTION: Gastroduodenal artery (GDA) aneurysms are rare and mainly asymptomatic vascular diseases. Endovascular intervention can provide an alternative method of treatment for GDA aneurysms. REPORT: We present a case of endovascular repair of giant GDA aneurysm, with stent graft. A 56-year-old man, smoker, presented with nausea, acute worsening of chronic abdominal pain, and a large, tender, pulsating mass in his right upper abdomen with no previous medical history. Computed tomographic (CT) angiography was performed, and there was GDA aneurysm. Through the left brachial approach, we did the endovascular repair of GDA with Viabahn stent graft. DISCUSSION: Endovascular gastroduodenal aneurysm artery reconstruction with stent graft is a reasonable alternative to open surgical repair and it is safety option in carefully selected patients.

[Comparative analysis of lower extremities tissue perfusion by the use of perfusion scintigraphy method after hyperbaric oxygenation and lumbar sympathectomy].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Lumbar sympathectomy (LS) increases pheripheral blood flow primarily by the arteriolar vasodilatation within the skin vascular net. Increase in tissue nutrition takes place only in the distal blood vessels of the skin. Nevertheless, in some patients sympathectomy brings about improvement in ischemic ulcerations healing. Hyperbaric oxigenation (HBO) is a medical treatment in which a patient breathes 100% oxygen under pressure higher than atmospheric implemented in special units allowing the whole body be in a chamber. The aim of the study was to determine efficacy of the applied therapies for the treatment of inoperable occlussive lower extremities (LE) arteries diseases according to the obtained results. METHODS: The study included 30 patients divided into two grups (15 patients each) in which stenosis level of the lower extremities arteries had been determined using aortography due to further treatment with HBO and LS. All the patients were clinically examined, their objective condition evaluation based on claudication distance, pain in rest, skin and skin adnexa atrophy, and temperature and LE functionality, as well as exposed to perfusion scintigraphy prior to the treatment and within 30 days after the treatment finishing. RESULTS: Analysing patients' status prior to and after the treatments applied the number of patients with obvious improvement was higher in those treated by HBO than those treated by LS. Measuring claudication distance revealed significantly greater changes in patients treated by HBO (from 178.57 m to 754.76 m) than in those treated by LS (from 229 m to 253 m). Other clinical symptoms, such as parasthesia, status of the skin adnexes (hair, nails), skin colour and temperature were also improved after the treatment by HBO. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in this study confirm the advantages of HBO over LS in therapy of inoperable occlussive LE disease, so LS could be definitely abandoned as a choice for treating such disease.

Fournier's gangrene.

BACKGROUND: Fournier's gangrene (FG) represents a necrotizing infection of the skin and subcutaneous soft tissue of the external genitalia and perineum. It arises as a result of propagation of anorectal, urogenital and skin infections. The principles of treatment include improving general condition of a patient, debridement of wound, excision of necrotic tissue, combined antibiotic therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and reconstructive procedures. It is a rare but very serious condition which regardless to aggressive treatment can lead to a lethal outcome in up to 20-30% of patients. CASE REPORT: Since the year 2000 we have treated six patients with FG. We presented the course and positive treatment outcome in a 65-year-old male patient with numerous comorbid conditions, nonregulated insulin-dependent diabetes, hypertension, previous myocardial infarction, chronic viral hepatitis and thrombocytopenia, rehabilitation was complicated with heart failure, atrial fibrillation and pulmonary thromboembolism. The treatment consisted of two extensive debridement of the wound with removing necrotic tissue, drainage, consolidation of state of health, correction of his blood sugar levels and thrombocytopenia, antimycotic and combination of three antibiotics and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. In two delayed surgical procedures reconstruction of a large defect of the urethra was performed. CONCLUSION: A patient with numerous and serious comorbid conditions with FG could recover as a result of teamwork of urologists, infective medicine specialists, cardiologists, endocrinologist, vascular and plastic surgeons.

[Neurolytic blockade of the obturator nerve in the treatment of idiopatic obturator neuralgia].

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic obturator neuralgia is a rare chronic pain condition. It consists of pain radiating from the obturator nerve territory to the inner thigh. However, the symptomatic obturator neuralgia is commonly caused by the obturator canal bowel hernia that causes painful commpressive neuropathy in more than 85% of the cases. CASE REPORT: A 61-year-old female who underwent right femoral amputation due to the occlusion of the aortofemoral vascular graft, complained of the pain characterized by its localization in the inguinal region and anterointernal side of the right inner thigh. Computer tomography and MRI findings excluded obturator canal herniation or lumbar plexopathy. A diagnosis of the obturator neuralgia was confirmed by an analgesic block of the obturator nerve. Thereafter, the neurolitic blockade of the right obturator nerve was done. The complete pain relief was achieved. Pain relief was complete in three-month followup period. CONCLUSION: Neurolitic blockade is an efficacious method in treating chronic pain caused by the idiopathic obturator neuralgia.

[Use of presternal catheters for peritoneal dialysis in obese patients].

INTRODUCTION: Patients with terminal kidney failure represent an important socio-medical problem not only in our country, but also in most countries of the world. There are three options of treatment: transplantation, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages. CASE REPORT: This is a case report of an extremely obese woman on peritoneal dialysis. Due to obesity, we decided to use a presternal catheter. We wished to report our dilemmas, opinions and experiences associated with this problem, as well as opinions from avaliable medical literature.