Tumor hypoglycemia: deficient splanchnic glucose output and deficient glucagon secretion.

Fasting hypoglycemia occurred in a patient with a histologically benign mesothelioma; the serum insulin was low (2-4 muU./ml.), as was the glucose utilization rate. Splanchnic glucose output was markedly decreased on direct measurement (21 mg./min.; normal: 108-180 mg./min.). Splanchnic uptake of gluconeogenic substrates plasma glucagon was low normal during hypoglycemia and responded poorly to oral and intravenous alanine. The nonsuppressible insulin-like (NSILA-s) and somatomedin-like activities of the serum were not elevated, and the tumor did not release insulin-like activity on incubation nor did it contain somatostatin. The marked decrease in splanchnic glucose output was the principal cause of hypoglycemia, was associated with an apparent decrease in glycogenolysis, and was at least partly due to deficient glucagon secretion. The relationship of the tumor to these defects is unclear. The tumor may have secreted an unknown insulin-like material affecting primarily the liver and/or pancreatic alpha cell. The approach used here may serve as a paradigm for the analysis of hypoglycemia not caused by excessive insulin.

Central venous septic thrombophlebitis--the role of medical therapy.

Suppurative thrombosis of a central vein is a serious complication of central venous catheter use. Surgical removal of the vein, the treatment usually recommended for peripheral vein suppuration, is technically difficult. We describe six patients with central venous septic thrombophlebitis. Four patients were receiving TPN; three from this group were successfully treated medically with removal of the catheter, intravenous antibiotics, and anticoagulants. The fourth patient improved clinically with 2 weeks of medical therapy prior to surgery, which showed the clot to be sterile. In contrast, two patients with suppuration adjacent to and secondarily involving a large vein required surgical drainage of the perivenous collection. Patients with central venous septic thrombophlebitis can be successfully managed with prompt catheter removal, intravenous antibiotics, and anticoagulation, but surgery should be considered when there is a suppurative focus around the vein.

Gelfoam and autologous clot embolization: effect on coagulation.

An episode of disseminated intravascular coagulation following therapeutic gelfoam embolization to control bleeding from esophageal varices in a patient with liver disease is presented. We have since followed 13 patients prospectively (six control and seven gelfoam/autologous clot) to determine the effect of this procedure on clotting. We were unable to show significant differences between the two groups as measured by the prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, fibrinogen and platelet count. However, fibrin (ogen) degradation products were significantly elevated (p less than .01) in the gelfoam/autologous clot group. We suspect this occurred secondary to clot lysis at the site of embolization. No subsequent bleeding diathesis attributable to this abnormality occurred in any of the patients.

Perforation of the inferior vena cava by the Kim-Ray Greenfield filter.

Perforation of the inferior vena cava has been reported following insertion of the Kim-Ray Greenfield filter. This report describes this complication as a consequence of a preventable technical error. However, the clinical implications of such a malpositioned filter may extend beyond the possible obvious complications of retroperitoneal hemorrhage or paracaval organ injury. Inadequate protection against pulmonary embolism may result. A three-dimensional concept is presented to illustrate the loss of equal "compartmentalization" of the cava.

Flow and pressure characteristics of the portal system before and after splenorenal shunts.

The technique of percutaneous transhepatic portal vein cannulation provides a valuable means for determining portal pressure, direction of blood flow, and visualization of the entire portal system in the nonanesthetized patient. This technique, along with selective celiac arterial, superior mesenteric arterial, and renal venous catheterization, was used in the evaluation of a series of 17 splenorenal venous shunts [eight nonselective and nine selective (modified) distal splenorenal shunts]. As a result of these studies it is concluded that (1) prograde portal flow is maintained in the majority of patients following nonselective or selective (modified) distal splenorenal shunts; (2) bidirectional flow occurs in various branches of the portal system before and after splenorenal shunts; (3) a significant drop in portal pressure occurs following the establishment of either type of shunt; and (4) esophageal varices are decompressed by the trans-splenic route following either type of procedure used in this study.

Direct venous surgery for venous valvular insufficiency of the lower extremity.

Seven patients had severe deep venous insufficiency and recurrent ulceration in eight lower extremities. All incompetent perforating veins had been previously ligated. All limbs were evaluated by dynamic venous pressure measurements. The venous pressure reduction with exercise was recorded, as well as the recovery time. The most accurate indicator of venous valvular incompetence was a short postexercise recovery time. Abnormal hemodynamic findings were correlated with ascending and descending venographic findings. Based on these anatomic and pathophysiologic abnormalities, patients underwent valvular transposition, superficial femoral vein valvuloplasty, or superficial femoral vein ligation. Immediate postoperative recovery time (mean +/- SEM) was improved to 34.5 +/- 18.3 s from 7.9 +/- 2.9 s preoperatively. Postoperative venography demonstrated patency of all anastomoses and absence of reflux into previously incompetent venous systems. All limbs were symptomatically improved after operation, and no venous thrombosis or pulmonary emboll developed. Persistent ulceration, however, continued in one limb.

Venous stasis ulceration. Effectiveness of subfascial ligation.

Forty-seven extremities with recurrent venous ulceration were treated by subfascial ligation of incompetent perforating veins. The limbs were observed for an average of 8.5 years (range, 0.5 to 13 years). The risk for recurrence was 22%, 41%, and 51% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Patients with bilateral ulceration or prior venous ligation were at the highest risk for recurrence, while those with prior excision of prominent varicose veins had a reduced risk. There has been no loss of limbs or life secondary to this venous problem during the 398 cumulative years of observation.

Esophagogastric variceal hemorrhage: its treatment by percutaneous transephatic coronary vein occlusion.

The angiographic technique percutaneous transhepatic coronary vein occlusion was used to treat esophagogastric variceal bleeding in 38 patients. There were two categories of patients: those actively bleeding who had not been controlled by continuous vasopressin infusion and/or Blakemore tube tamponade, and those with portal hypertension who were not actively bleeding at the time of transhepatic portal venography but who were at high risk for recurrent variceal hemorrhage. Coronary vein occlusion was achieved in 33 patients by (1) metal clip and cotton devices(one); (2) balloon catheter occlusion (two); (3) heat-treated autogenous clot and powdered absorbable gelatin sponge (Gelfoam) (13); and (4) Gelfoam strips soaked in sodium tetradecyl sulfate (17). Percutaneous coronary vein occlusion was effective in controlling 81% of the patients with actively bleeding varices. In patients who were not actively bleeding, percutaneous transhepatic coronary vein occlusion seemed to afford good protection for recurrent variceal hemorrhage.

Combined operative angiodilation and arterial reconstruction for limb salvage.

Fifteen high-risk patients with threatened limb loss underwent combined operative iliac angiodilation and infrainguinal vascular reconstruction for iliac and femoropopliteal occlusive disease. The patients were poor candidates for combined surgical inflow and outflow reconstruction because of associated cardiopulmonary disease. The mean systolic pressure gradient across the iliac stenosis was 34 +/- 5 mm Hg. Iliac artery angiodilation was accomplished intraoperatively and reduced all gradients to zero. Stenoses in the distal portion of the deep femoral artery were endarterectomized in nine patients, and six cross-femoral and six distal popliteal or tibial grafts were constructed. Life-table analysis at 36 months showed iliac patency in 86% of cases and successful distal reconstruction in 76%. Our limb salvage rate of 86% suggests that combined intraoperative angiodilation by the angiographer and arterial reconstruction by the vascular surgeon may provide effective therapy for high-risk patients.

Bile duct varices.

The diagnosis of biliary duct varices and portal vein occlusion should be considered when nodular or notched defects in the wall of the biliary duct system are shown by cholangiography or when pedunculated vascular structures in the bile ducts are seen at surgery. We present two cases of common hepatic and common bile duct varices due to portal vein occlusion.

Lethal complications associated with nonrestrictive treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Five high-risk patients received nonresective treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). This treatment included ligation of the iliac arteries to induce acute thrombosis of AAA and a simultaneous axillobifemoral bypass for restoration of arterial flow to the lower extremities. Of these five patients, lethal complications associated with this procedure developed in four. The complications included rupture, infection of the thrombotic aortic aneurysm, visceral ischemia, and consumptive coagulopathy. This high incidence of lethal complications and the unacceptably high patient mortality in these five patients indicates extreme precaution in the application of nonresective treatment for AAA.

Interventional radiology of the liver and related structures.

Although noninvasive CT scanning and ultrasonography have assumed a prominent position in the armamentarium of the radiologist, invasive procedures still play a complementary role in diagnosis and a primary role in the interventional management of liver diseases. Among the procedures detailed are hepatic artery embolization, transhepatic occlusion of bleeding esophageal varices, transhepatic cholangiography, and the removal of stones from the common bile duct.

Efficacy of selective splanchnic arteriography and vasopressin perfusion in diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Vasopressin infusion initially controlled 80 per cent of patients bleeding from portal hypertension, and 53 per cent did not rebleed after removal of the catheter. This figure is significantly greater than the 28 per cent of patients totally controlled by esophageal tamponade (p less than 0.075). Similar rates of success were achieved by vasopressin infusion for gastric, duodenal, and colonic bleeding sites. These results suggest that visceral arterial infusion of vasopressin is the method of choice for the short-term therapeutic management of massive gastrointestinal bleeding from portal hypertension. Vasopressin infusion also appears to be a valuable means of treating patients with massive gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to shallow gastric ulcers, gastritis, Mallory-Weiss tears, colonic bleeding and "poor risk" patients with deep gastric, marginal, or duodenal ulcers when conventional medical therapy has failed. The presence of a coagulation abnormality in patients with portal hypertension significantly reduced the complete control of bleeding to only 27 per cent ( p less than 0.010) and survival rate to 14 per cent (p less than 0.050). Visceral arterial perfusion proved to be an effective means of arresting hemorrhage, but the overall improvement in hospital mortality in this group of poor risk patients remains unproved.

Cause of wound complications in elderly patients with above-knee amputation.

Seventy-six above-knee amputations performed on elderly debilitated patients were reviewed. Fifty-one wounds healed without complications; 25 amputation wounds developed postoperative complications. The quality of the femoral pulse has a significant effect on wound healing after an above-knee amputation. Other significant conditions that appear to influence the frequency of wound complications are hypertension, a failed bypass procedure to the groin, and angiographic evidence of stenosis or occlusion of the common femoral or the profunda femoral artery. Multiple variable analysis suggests a beneficial effect of antibiotics in patients with a diminished or absent femoral pulse. Age, presence of cardiac disease, diabetes, associated diseases and the use of drains have no significant effect on the outcome. Before an above-knee amputation, patients with a diminished femoral pulse should undergo arteriography and perhaps reconstructive surgery. Primary hip disarticulation may be the initial procedure of choice in the presence of multiple risk factors.

Computed tomographic angiography.

Computed tomographic angiography performed by the intravenous administration of contrast medium was evaluated in 86 vascular patients. This experience demonstrates a new approach to the evaluation of patients with symptomatic aortic aneurysms, in whom computed tomographic angiography will aid in evaluating the need for emergency surgery. Nonoperative patients are serially evaluated by computed tomographic angiography to detect significant changes in the geometric configuration of their aneurysms. Computed tomographic angiography was beneficial in the evaluation of the patency of vascular reconstructive procedures such as femoropopliteal bypass, aortoiliac bypass and application of a vena caval device. More clinical experience and possibly a rapid sequence technique are needed to evaluate patients with portasystemic shunts.

The use of intra-arterial lidocaine to control pain due to aortofemoral arteriography.

Intra-arterial lidocaine has been utilized to decrease pain by administration prior to contrast material injections during aortofemoral arteriography in over 600 patients. Because this observation was uncontrolled, a double-blind study was performed in 15 patients comparing the effectiveness of intra-arterial lidocaine and saline in the control of pain from contrast material injections (methylglucamine iothalamate) in pelvic and peripheral arteriography. Two per cent lidocaine was compared with 1% lidocaine in the same manner in an additional 10 patients. Peripheral vein blood samples were obtained in 4 patients to measure the plasma concentration of lidocaine. Intra-arterial lidocaine is safe and effective in reducing pain from intra-arterial contrast agent injections.

Transhepatic embolization of varices.

Percutaneous transhepatic embolization of varices (PTEV) has proved to be effective in the control variceal bleeding, particularly in Child's Class C Category patients whose bleeding was not adequately controlled by pitressin perfusions. PTEV, using Gel-Foam soaked in sodium tetradecyl sulfate, controlled acute variceal bleeding in 71--95% of patients and appears to be more effective as an embolizing agent than bucrylate, which controlled 43--57%. Considering the poor condition of the patients particularly during acute bleeding episodes, PTEV is a relatively safe therapeutic procedure that buys time for the surgeons to perform a decompressive shunt electively as definitive surgery. A one-year recurrent bleeding rate of 30% and a two year recurrence of 37.5% was noted. Thus, for long term control of variceal bleeding, a surgical decompressive shunt is recommended in addition to PTEV.

Renal toxicity of contrast agents: iopamidol, iothalamate, and diatrizoate.

As part of a general safety study of iopamidol, a nonionic iodinated contrast agent, urine N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase enzyme assays were done to compare the renal toxicity of iopamidol with that of iothalamate and diatrizoate. In a randomized study of 30 patients for computed body tomography and another 30 patients for angiography, 10 in each group were injected with iopamidol, 10 with iothalamate, and 10 with diatrizoate. After computed tomography or angiography with the three agents, there was no significant difference in urinary enzyme levels among the groups. The nephrotoxicity of iopamidol appears equivalent to that of diatrizoate and iothalamate.