Clinical results of endovenous LASER ablation (EVLA) using low linear endovenous energy density (LEED) combined with high ligation for great saphenous varicose veins.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to analyze the efficacy and complications in endovenous LASER ablation (EVLA) with 1470 nm diode lasers using low linear endovenous energy density (LEED) combined with high ligation for varicose veins of the great saphenous vein (GSV). METHODS: One hundred and sixteen limbs of 102 patients were analyzed using 6 W with 2 mm/s constant pullback speed delivered by 30 J/cm LEED. The SFJ was ligated with a small inguinal incision. The complications and status of the GSV were checked at 1 and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The occlusion rates for the GSV were 98 (84.5 %) at 1 month and 116 (100 %) at 6 months, postoperatively. The rate of partial occlusion was higher in males than in females (p = 0.004). There were 2 DVT, 27 feelings of the cord (23.3 %), and 36 numbness at the knee area (31.0 %) at 1 month, and 3 feelings of the cord (3.4 %) and 6 numbness of the knee (8.6 %) at 6 months postoperatively. The diameter and depth of the GSV did not affect the rates of feeling of the cord or numbness (p = 0.728, 0.208, 0.247, 0.884, respectively). CONCLUSION: EVLA with a 1470-nm diode laser using low LEED combined with high ligation for the GSV has lower complication rates and higher occlusion rates of GSV.

Usefulness of intraopertive ultrasonography during directional atherectomy using SilverHawk/TurboHawk system.

PURPOSE: Directional atherectomy (DA) was introduced for the management of infrainguinal arterial stenosis or occlusive lesions. The procedure success rate in the DEFINITIVE LE study was determined using radiologic imaging. The aim of our study was to determine the usefulness of intraoperative ultrasonography (USG) during DA for evaluating the early results of this procedure. METHODS: Patients who underwent DA from January to December 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Twenty lesions from 14 patients with femoral artery stenosis (>70% stenosis) with short segment occlusive lesions (<2 cm in length) were treated. Among 20 lesions, 3 were treated with the TurboHawk system with a protective device due to lesion calcification. The percentage of stenosis during and after DA was determined with USG. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 5.1 months, and the procedural success rate (<30% stenosis at the end of the procedure) was 100% on angiography, but only 30% on intraoperative USG. On USG, median residual stenosis was 40% (range, 28%-42%) at the end of DA, 40% (range, 30%-55%) at 1 month, 55% (range, 35%-85%) at 6 months, and 64% (range, 60%-100%) at 1 year. There was one dissection, but no cases of perforation, pseudoaneurysm, or thrombosis. Primary patency, which was defined as a peak systolic velocity ratio ≤3.5 with no reintervention at 6 months, was found in 18 lesions (90%), and 11 of 14 patients (78.6%) were free of ischemic symptoms such as claudication at 6 months. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that DA with intraoperative USG is an effective treatment option for short segment occlusive lesions of the femoral artery.

Early Results of Clinical Application of Autologous Whole Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplantation for Critical Limb Ischemia with Buerger's Disease.

Our goal was to evaluate early results of the clinical application of autologous whole bone marrow stem cell transplantation (AWBMSCT) for critical limb ischemia (CLI) in patients with Buerger's disease. We retrospectively analyzed the data of 58 limbs of 37 patients (mean age, 43.0 years; range, 28-63 years; male, 91.9%) with Buerger's disease with CLI who were treated with AWBMSCT from March 2013 to December 2014. We analyzed Rutherford category, pain score, pain-free walking time (PFWT), total walking time (TWT), ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI), and toe brachial pressure index (TBPI), and investigated wound healing and occurrence of unplanned amputations. The mean follow-up duration was 11.9 ± 7.2 months (range, 0.9-23.9 months) and 100%, 72.4%, and 74.1% of patients were available to follow-up 1, 3 and 6 months after AWBMST, respectively. At 6 months, patients demonstrated significant improvements in Rutherford category (P < 0.0001), pain score (P < 0.0001), PFWT (P < 0.0001) and TBPI (P < 0.0001). ABPI was increased compared to baseline, but the difference was not significant. A total of 76.5% ischemic wounds achieved complete or improved healing. AWBMSCT is a safe and effective alternative or adjunctive treatment modality to achieve clinical improvement in patients with CLI.

Experience of direct percutaneous sac injection in type II endoleak using cone beam computed tomography.

Cone beam CT, usually used in dental area, could easily obtain 3-dimensional images using cone beam shaped ionized radiation. Cone beam CT is very useful for direct percutaneous sac injection (DPSI) which needs very precise measurement to avoid puncture of inferior vena cava or vessel around sac or stent graft. Here we describe two cases of DPSI using cone beam CT. In case 1, a 79-year-old male had widening of preexisted type II endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). However, transarterial embolization failed due to tortuous collateral branches of lumbar arteries. In case 2, a 72-year-old female had symptomatic sac enlargement by type II endoleak after EVAR. However, there was no route to approach the lumbar arteries. Therefore, we performed DPSI assisted by cone beam CT in cases 1, 2. Six-month CT follow-up revealed no sign of sac enlargement by type II endoleak.