Surgery of Renal Artery Aneurysms: A Monocentric Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to report the results of conventional surgery for renal artery aneurysms (RAAs) in our center. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the files of all the patients operated for RAAs between 2009 and 2018 in our center. We collected demographic, biological (renal function), morphological (computed tomography [CT] scan), and functional (ultrasound examination and resistance index) preoperative and postoperative data. Clinical and paraclinical operative data were examined. Results were expressed as average ± standard deviation or median and extremes. RESULTS: A total of 26 aneurysms were operated in 20 kidneys (10 right kidneys) among 19 patients, including 13 (68%) women with an average age of 55 (±12) years. Three (16%) patients presented an aneurysm in a single kidney. The discovery of the aneurysm was fortuitous in 14 (74%) patients. One patient with Marfan syndrome was operated after a postpartum rupture. The median diameter of the operated aneurysms was 22 mm (7-48), and 23 (90%) were hilar aneurysms. Arterial repair was carried out in situ in 16 (80%) kidneys. The surgery consisted of a direct arterial repair in 21 cases (81%), including 4 resections and anastomoses, 12 aneurysmorrhaphies, and 5 complex reconstructions. Four arterial replacements were carried out (one prosthetic graft, 2 femoral grafts, and one internal iliac graft). The average duration of renal clamping was 30.5 (±17.3) min. Postoperative renal function was unchanged in all the patients except for one (5.2%) who required 2 days of postoperative dialysis. The resistance index of all the operated kidneys was normal (0.66 ± 0.08) at discharge. Sixteen (70%) of the 23 aneurysms were examined, and anatomopathology concluded them to be of dysplastic origin. At 3 months, a systematic CT scan objectified the patency of 95% of the arterial reconstructions, with 3 stenoses >50%. One stenosis >80% was treated at 7 months by balloon angioplasty. Only one operated kidney presented a loss of viability of its upper pole. The mean duration of follow-up was 54 ± 35 months. By the end of the follow-up, primary and secondary patency rates evaluated by Doppler ultrasound were 90% and 95%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Conventional surgery generally performed in situ remains a sure and effective treatment for RAAs. This challenging surgery for a rare disease should be performed in experimented centers.

Frequency of the Pectoralis Minor Compression Syndrome in Patients Treated for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Pectoralis minor compression syndrome (PMCS) is a compression of the neurovascular structures in the subpectoral tunnel and remains underestimated in the management of patients with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). Its underdiagnosis may be responsible for incomplete or failed treatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of PMCS in our experience. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients treated for TOS in our department. We selected those in whom PMCS was diagnosed with a systematic dynamic arteriography. Surgery was performed using the Roos axillary approach when a first rib resection was associated or an elective approach when a first rib resection was not associated. RESULTS: From January 2004 to December 2014, 374 surgeries for TOS were performed in 279 patients, which included 90 men (sex ratio = 0.48) with a mean age of 40.1 ± 10 years old. Among these patients, 63 (22.5%) underwent 82 interventions (21.9%) for PMCS, including 26 men (sex ratio = 0.70, P < 0.05) with a mean age of 37.9 ± 9.4 years old. Tenotomy of the pectoralis minor muscle was performed using axillary approach if it was associated with a first rib resection in 74 cases (90.2%) or through an elective approach in 8 cases (9.8%) if it was isolated. Four (4.9%) postoperative complications were found (1 hematoma [1.2%], 1 hemothorax [1.2%], 1 scapula alata [1.2%], and 1 subclavian vein thrombosis [1.2%]), all after an axillary approach. In 63 cases (79.7%), preoperative symptoms were resolved. In 14 cases (17.7%), symptom resolution was incomplete, and 2 patients (2.6%) had recurrent symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of PMCS in TOS is justified by its frequency and the simplicity and low morbidity of the surgical procedure.

Evaluation of the Vascular Surgical Complications of Renal Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Renal transplantation is the treatment of choice of end-stage renal failure. However, vascular surgical complications can compromise the functional prognosis of the transplant or even be life threatening in the short term. Since few data are available in the literature, the objective of this study was to evaluate the vascular surgical complications of renal transplantation. METHODS: In a retrospective and monocentric study, the records of all the patients receiving a kidney transplant between January 2008 and December 2014 were reviewed. The demographic data and the follow-up of the patients who presented a vascular surgical complication in relation to their transplant were collected. Minor, intermediate, or major vascular complications were defined according to the need for monitoring, reoperation, or the risk of transplant loss or a life-threatening situation. Predictive factors of vascular complications were also looked for. RESULTS: Mean age was 50.9 ± 15.0 years, and 312 kidney transplants were carried out (205 men). Fifty vascular surgical complications (16.0%) were found. Among them, 23 vascular complications (7.4%) were major, including 6 (1.9%) which required transplantectomy, after 4 arterial thromboses (1.3%), 1 early venous thrombosis (0.3%), and 1 injury of the inferior vena cava (0.3%). Twelve complications (3.8%) were minor. Surgical revision was necessary in 76% of the vascular complications (n = 38). The average follow-up of the transplanted population was 37.4 ± 24.0 month, 268 kidney transplants (85.8%) were functional and 21 patients (6.7%) returned to dialysis. Surgical complications were more frequent when the recipient had hypertension (P = 0.02, OR = 2.5; 95% CI [1.1-6.1]), in case of right kidney transplant (P = 0.0004, OR = 3.1; 95% CI [1.6-5.8]) and when the kidney hilum consisted of at least arteries (P = 0.02, OR = 10.0; 95% CI [1.3-34]). Male gender (P = 0.03, OR = 0.5; 95% CI [0.3-0.9]) as well as the choice of the common iliac arterial (P = 0.001, OR = 0.4; 95% IC [0.2-0.7]) and venous (P = 0.002, OR = 0.3; 95% IC [0.2-0.8]) axes to carry out the vascular anastomoses appeared as protective factors. CONCLUSIONS: The vascular surgical complications of kidney transplantation, especially thromboses, can be serious and lead to transplant loss. The expertise of vascular surgeons finds its place here and makes it possible to maintain low rates of vascular complications and loss of transplants.

Utility of electrofusion for the femoral approach in vascular surgery: a randomized prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The local complications are frequent after a femoral approach in vascular surgery and are often the cause of a delay in healing. Electrofusion showed its effectiveness to decrease the complications in general surgery but was not tested in vascular surgery. The aim of our study was to evaluate if the use of electrofusion in the approach to femoral vessels improved healing at 1 month by decreasing the local complications. METHODS: This prospective randomized study was conducted in 2 centers from May 1, 2012 to April 30, 2013. All the patients requiring a surgical access of the femoral trigone were included in 2 French teaching hospitals. Femoral artery surgical exposure was carried out using electrofusion or according to the conventional technique (diathermy or cold scalpel) according to a protocol of randomization. The principle criterion of the study was a complete healing at 1 month. The secondary criteria were the appearance of cutaneous, infectious, or lymphatic local complications. RESULTS: Two hundred ninety-two femoral approaches were carried out in 221 consecutive patients. One hundred forty-eight approaches were carried out with electrofusion and 144 according to the conventional technique. The demographic and operative characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. At 1 month, 86.3% of the approaches were healed without statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (88.5% vs. 84%, P = 0.241). There were less local complications (P = 0.012) and seromas (P = 0.012) in the electrofusion group. This difference could be linked with the least quantities (P = 0.036) and durations (P = 0.014) of drainage observed after approaches carried out with electrofusion. On the other hand, the incidence of cutaneous or infectious complications was not different between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, the use of electrofusion decreased the lymphatic complications after a femoral approach. However, the correction of this single parameter was not sufficient to improve the rate of healing at 1 month.

Follow-up of aortic stent grafts: comparison of the volumetric analysis of the aneurysm sac by ultrasound and CT.

BACKGROUND: The long-term follow-up of patients with endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and a normal surgical risk was defined by the French National Authority for Health (Haute Autorité de Santé) in 2009. The monitoring of the volume of the aneurysm sac theoretically avoids the bias related to the measurement of its diameter alone. The objective of this study was to evaluate how reliable and reproducible the volumetric measurement of the aneurysm sac by ultrasound was compared with computerized tomography angiography (CTA). METHODS: We carried out a retrospective diagnosis study of 75 consecutive patients treated with EVAR in our institution who were monitored with 3-dimensional ultrasonography (3DU) and CTA between January 2010 and December 2012. The measurement of the volume (cm(3)) of the aneurysm sac with a Toshiba Aplio XG ultrasound system equipped with a 3-MHz 3-dimensional probe was compared with the volume obtained by CTA. Interoperator reproducibility was studied in the last 45 enrolled patients; 2 different blinded operators made 2 volumetric measurements on the same patients, on the same day. An analysis of a 48-patient subgroup in which at least two 3DU were performed during follow-up was also carried out to determine the threshold value of the increase in the volume of the aneurysm sac, making it possible to suspect the presence of an endoleak. RESULTS: A total of 116 pairs of examinations were compared (the patients who had the longest postoperative follow-up had 4 pairs of compared examinations). The correlation between volumetric ultrasound and CTA measurements was excellent (r = 0.931; P < 0.0001) in the 116 pairs of examinations, and so was the reproducibility of volumetric echography (r = 0.949; P < 0.0001) in 45 patients. The subgroup study highlighted the fact that a 6.5-cm(3) increase of the aneurysm sac made it possible to suspect the presence of an endoleak in comparison with CTA as the gold standard (sensitivity and specificity were 85.7% and 85.3%, respectively). The area under the curve was 0.854 (95% confidence interval, 0.793-0.915). In the 116 examinations, a good correlation between volume and diameter was calculated with CTA (r = 0.733; P < 0.0001) and between ultrasound volumetric and CTA diameter (r = 0.660; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Volumetric echography is comparable with CTA for the evaluation of the aneurysm sac after EVAR, reproducible and inexpensive. When a significant increase of the volume of the sac is detected by ultrasound, the examination can be supplemented by an injection of ultrasound contrast agent or by CTA to visualize an endoleak.

Successful hybrid management of a left vertebral artery aneurysm secondary to type-1 neurofibromatosis.

A 32-year-old man with type-1 neurofibromatosis (NF1) was diagnosed with a left vertebral artery aneurysm of 4 cm maximal diameter. A hybrid procedure was conducted associating the exclusion of the origin of the left vertebral artery with a covered stent in the left subclavian artery and a cervical incision for ligation of the vertebral artery to completely exclude the aneurysm and perform the aneurysm resection. The histologic findings confirmed the diagnosis of NF1 with a vascular localization in the aneurysm. The postoperative course was uneventful. The 1-year clinical and morphologic results were satisfactory.

Carotid artery stenting using a transapical approach for the treatment of radiation-induced carotid stenosis.

Radiation-induced stenosis of the carotid artery is considered a challenging entity for direct revascularization. We performed a carotid artery stenting for a radiation-induced stenosis using a transapical approach on an asymptomatic 63-year-old male patient. Transapical approach, which is often used for cardiac surgery, was not yet described for the endovascular treatment of carotid stenosis. The transapical approach could be an attractive alternative path for patients presenting significant supra-aortic trunks lesions and unfit for direct approach or peripheral access. This case reports the feasibility and the safety of carotid artery stenting using the transapical approach in well-trained teams.

Is early surgical revascularization of symptomatic carotid stenoses safe?

BACKGROUND: The objective of this exploratory study was to determine the rate of the complications of early surgery for symptomatic carotid stenosis, in 2 centers of Western France. METHODS: Between January 2011 and January 2013, we prospectively enrolled all the patients admitted for transient ischemic accident (TIA) or minor stroke (Rankin ≤ 3) associated with an ipsilateral carotid stenosis >50% (North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial) and operated before the 14th day following the neurologic event at the University hospitals of Angers and Tours. The demographic data (gender, age, and medical history) and the characteristics of the procedures were recorded. The rates of stroke, TIA, and postoperative deaths defined the cumulative morbidity and mortality rate (CMMR) of the study. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients were included in the study. They presented 27 TIAs and 64 strokes. The average elapsed time between the neurologic event and surgery was 9.8 days. During this time, 10 patients, that is, 11% of the operated cohort, presented a new ischemic neurologic event while waiting for surgery. Surgical operations consisted of 56 eversions (61.5%), 32 endarterectomies with patch (35.1%), 2 bypasses, and 1 direct closure. The CMMR reached 3.3%. Two patients presented with a stroke and 1 patient died of a cardiologic cause during the postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the interest of an early surgery for symptomatic carotid stenoses with a Rankin score of ≤3. The risk of recurrence of a cerebral ischemic accident during the preoperative period remains high.

The role of the deep femoral artery in the treatment of thigh claudication in case of hypogastric occlusion.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the clinical and functional efficiency of deep femoral artery (DFA) revascularization in treating thigh claudication associated with ipsilateral internal iliac artery (IIA) occlusion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The files of patients presenting with proximal claudication, ipsilateral IIA occlusion, and conventional surgical revascularization of DFA were retrospectively reviewed. Each patient benefited from preoperative and postoperative measurement of dynamic transcutaneous pressure of oxygen (TcPO2) and presented with preoperative proximal stress-related ischemia and with the clinical symptoms of buttock, thigh, or groin pain. RESULTS: Between May 2001 and December 2009, 23 DFA revascularizations were performed on 19 patients. Proximal stress-related pain disappeared in 17 lower limbs (74%). No postoperative thromboses were noted. Mean maximum walking distance (MWD) significantly improved (149±113 vs. 414±257 m; P<0.025), as did the ankle to arm systolic pressure index (0.71±0.17 vs. 0.90±0.19; P<0.005). Disappearance of proximal stress ischemia, revealed through postoperative dynamic TcPO2, measurement, occurred in 6 lower limbs (26%). Patency of ipsilateral superficial femoral artery, ipsilateral to the symptoms, seemed to be a predictive factor of MWD improvement (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: DFA revascularization is an efficient treatment for thigh claudication in case of IIA occlusion, even if the results are less satisfactory than those obtained through direct revascularizations of this artery.

Cancer cachexia: measured and predicted resting energy expenditures for nutritional needs evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer cachexia is associated with weight loss, poor nutritional status, and systemic inflammation. Accurate nutritional support for patients is calculated on resting energy expenditure (REE) measurement or prediction. The present study evaluated the agreement between measured and predicted REE (mREE and pREE, respectively) and the influence of acute phase response (APR) on REE. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with cancer were divided into weight-stable (WS; weight loss <2%) and weight-losing (WL; weight loss >5%) patients. Measured REE was measured by indirect calorimetry and adjusted for fat-free mass (FFM). The Bland-Altman approach was used to assess the agreement between mREE and pREE from the Harris-Benedict equations (HBE). Blood levels of C-reactive protein were assessed. RESULTS: There was no difference in mREE between groups (WS 1677 +/- 273, WL 1521 +/- 305) even when mREE was adjusted for FFM (WS 1609 +/- 53, WL 1589 +/- 53). In WL patients, FFM-adjusted REE correlated with blood C-reactive protein levels (r = 0.471, P = 0.048). HBEs tend to underestimate REE in both groups. CONCLUSION: WL and WS patients with cancer had similar REEs but were different in terms of APR. APR could contribute to weight loss through enhancing REE. In a clinical context, HBE was in poor agreement with mREE in both groups.

Transcutaneous oxygen pressure measurements on the buttocks during exercise to detect proximal arterial ischemia: comparison with arteriography.

BACKGROUND: We sought to identify whether transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcPo2) measurements could be used to noninvasively detect lesions in the arterial network supplying blood flow to the hypogastric circulation. METHODS AND RESULTS: A study was undertaken in vascular patients with suspected (PC, n=43) and not with suspected (NPC, n=34) proximal ischemia. TcPo2 was measured on both buttocks and with a chest reference electrode. Arteriography on the right or left side was positive for stenoses (> or =75%) or occlusion of one or more of the following arteries: the aorta, the common iliac arteries, or the internal iliac arteries. The arteriography was compared with the resting tcPo2 values (REST) and with the minimal value (MIN) and maximal change from rest normalized to eventual chest changes (DROP) recorded during or after a treadmill test. REST, MIN, and DROP were, respectively, as follows in positive versus negative arteriograms (mean+/-SD; in mm Hg): 80.2+/-10.9 versus 78.6+/-11.5 (P>0.05), 55.2+/-20.0 versus 69.9+/-15.8 (P<0.001), and -31.8+/-17.6 versus -9.5+/-6.4 (P<0.0001) in PC and 78.9+/-14.0 versus 80.5+/-14.3 (P>0.05), 64.4+/-21.0 versus 75.1+/-14.6 (P<0.02), and -24.1+/-13.5 versus -8.7+/-4.8 (P<0.0001) in NPC. In PC and NPC respectively, with a cutoff point of -16 and -15 mm Hg, DROP showed, respectively, 83%/82% and 79%/86% sensitivity/specificity in the diagnosis of positive arteriograms. CONCLUSIONS: Proximal ischemia is a frequent finding in vascular patients. TcPo2 measurement on the buttocks during exercise is a sensitive and specific indicator for lesions in the arterial tree toward the hypogastric circulation. Potentially it could objectively assess the response to endovascular or surgical approaches to iliac lesions.

Holter changes resulting from right-sided and bilateral infrastellate upper thoracic sympathectomy.

BACKGROUND: We tested the hypothesis that no right-sided dominance exists after infrastellate surgical upper-thoracic sympathectomy. We aimed to confirm whether a significant bradycardia was constant and only dependent on the right side. METHODS: We performed 24-hour Holter electrocardiographic recordings in 12 patients referred for bilateral sympathectomy. Surgery was performed at two distinct times allowing for the study of the consequences of unilateral right and bilateral sympathectomy. RESULTS: Heart rate was 77 +/- 8 beats per minute before surgery on the 24-hour recording and significantly decreased after bilateral (67.8 +/- 6.5 beats per minute; p < 0.05) but not after unilateral right sympathectomy. Consistently spectral analysis variables significantly changed after bilateral surgery but showed no right-sided dominance. Little effect of sympathectomy was found on the QT interval, which tended to decrease after bilateral sympathectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients should be informed of the bradycardia resulting from sympathectomy. No right-sided dominance can be found consistently with the random distribution of substellate cardiac fibers reported in anatomic studies.

Surgical reconstruction of the superior vena cava system: indications and results.

BACKGROUND: Obstruction of the superior vena cava (SVC) secondary to malignant or benign diseases is rarely treated by surgical reconstruction. The purpose of this retrospective study is to report our experience and compare our results with previous data in the literature. METHODS: From 1993 to 2006, 24 patients underwent operative reconstruction of the SVC. Mean patient age was 58 years. The underlying disease was primary bronchopulmonary malignant neoplasm in 50%, mediastinal malignant neoplasm in 21%, and symptomatic benign disease in 29%. Forty-six percent of patients presented clinical signs of superior vena cava compression (SVCC). Our indications were based on two criterions: clinical symptoms of superior vena caval compression or histological examination of the superior vena caval lesion that indicates potential for complete surgical excision. RESULTS: Median duration of postoperative intensive care was two days. Mortality at 30 days was 12% for malignant diseases. All patients presenting clinical signs of SVCC improved. Mean follow-up was 28 months (range, 1-129). No thrombosis was observed during follow-up. Overall survival was 53% at 1 year and 35% at 5 years. For patients with malignant bronchopulmonary disease, survival was 50% at 1 year and 25% at 5 years. Mortality was 0% for patients with benign disease. CONCLUSION: Review of the literature indicates that replacement of the SVC is an uncommon procedure. Our experience suggests that the need for SVC reconstruction should not, however, be considered as a contraindication for resection of a bronchopulmonary or mediastinal neoplasm in an otherwise potentially curable patient, provided it can be achieved in a single block with clear margins. Replacement of the SVC can also be performed with low mortality and morbidity for effective treatment of SVCC secondary to benign disease that fails to respond to medical therapy.

Primary pulmonary meningioma first suspected of being a lung metastasis.

Primary extracranial and extraspinal meningiomas are rare tumors. We describe a primary pulmonary meningioma first suspected of being a metastasis because it presented as a solitary subpleural pulmonary nodule in a patient with breast cancer. The absence of radiographic change after 6 months of chemotherapy led to resection of the breast and lung lesions. A complete central nervous system evaluation eliminated other locations of meningioma, allowing the diagnosis of primary pulmonary meningioma.

Superficial femoral artery transposition repair for isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection.

Isolated dissection of the superior mesenteric artery is an uncommon event, but many new cases have been reported recently, reflecting the progress of imaging and suggesting that this pathology is not as rare as previously thought. Here we report a case of superior mesenteric artery dissection where we performed, after failure of conservative medical management, an original surgical technique for mesenteric revascularization using a superficial femoral artery transposition. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of this technique for complex mesenteric revascularization.