Leriche Syndrome with Digital Gangrene: Is Aortic Bypass Grafting Safe in Intravenous Drug Abusers? A Case Report and Literature Review.

A 47-year-old male with Leriche syndrome presented with digital gangrene due to TASC II type-D occlusion of the distal aorta and common iliac arteries. Open revascularization was performed using a Dacron aorto-biiliac bypass graft; however, the postoperative course revealed a nondisclosed history of intravenous opioid abuse as he went into withdrawal psychosis. Our report highlights ways to mitigate infection risk associated with prosthetic aortic grafts in suspected or confirmed intravenous drug abusers. The literature review suggests alternative strategies like aortoiliac endarterectomy, total endovascular approach using non-covered stents, or a hybrid approach. The primary use of autologous venous grafts should be considered as a last resort so that the veins are retained for future use in case of graft infection. Patient factors like comorbidities, fitness to undergo surgery, anatomical extent of occlusion, and availability of facilities/expertise can further guide the management plan owing to a lack of evidence-based guidelines.

Second-trimester prediction of severe placental complications in women with combined elevations in alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotrophin.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of uterine artery Doppler and placental ultrasound to identify adverse clinical outcomes attributable to severe placental dysfunction in women with second-trimester unexplained elevated maternal serum screening of alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin. STUDY DESIGN: Fifty singleton pregnancies with elevated alpha-fetoprotein (3.5 multiples of median [range 2.1 to 10.5]) and human chorionic gonadotropin (5.3 multiples of median [range 2.5 to 21.7]) and a normal fetal anatomical ultrasound were prospectively evaluated with placental ultrasound and uterine artery Doppler at referral between 19 and 23 weeks' gestation. RESULTS: Abnormalities in both placental ultrasound and uterine artery Doppler (n = 24) predicted preterm delivery less than 32 weeks from any cause (n = 24) (75% sensitivity, 75% positive predictive value; likelihood ratio positive 3.3 [1.6 to 6.8]), intrauterine fetal death (n = 12) (100% sensitivity, 50% positive predictive value; likelihood ratio positive 3.1 [2.0 to 5.0]), and intrauterine growth restriction with absent/reversed end-diastolic flow (n = 17) (sensitivity 94%, positive predictive value 67%, likelihood ratio positive 3.9 [2.0 to 6.2]) . Ischemic-thrombotic pathology was present in 88% of placentas examined (n = 32). CONCLUSION: Uterine artery Doppler and placental morphology identified most pregnancies with combined abnormal maternal serum screening destined to result in extremely premature delivery and/or perinatal death. Abnormal maternal serum screening reports could include a recommendation for placental ultrasound testing when no fetal explanation has been identified.