Successful paraclavicular surgical decompression for recurrent venous thoracic outlet syndrome following transaxillary first rib resection in an elite athlete.

OBJECTIVES: Recurrent effort thrombosis after prior surgical intervention for venous thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is an uncommon problem, and there are multiple alternative surgical approaches in the management of recurrent venous TOS. METHODS: We present a case of a 23 year-old female professional athlete who presented with arm swelling, pain, and recurrent effort thrombosis after prior transaxillary rib resection. Imaging at our institution revealed subclavian vein thrombosis, confirmed with dynamic venography, as well as a remnant first rib. RESULTS: Thrombolysis of the subclavian vein and balloon angioplasty was followed by paraclavicular thoracic outlet decompression with complete first rib resection. Success was confirmed with intraoperative dynamic venography demonstrating a patent subclavian vein and resulted in complete elimination of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Additional surgical decompression with complete medial first rib resection of remnant rib, which was potentially causing compression of the subclavian vein, may be necessary to prevent recurrent venous compression and thrombosis for venous TOS.

Efficacy and utilization of intravascular ultrasound in office-based lower extremity endovascular interventions for peripheral arterial disease.

OBJECTIVES: Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a uniquely objective but underutilized imaging modality in the interventional treatment of peripheral arterial disease treatment. IVUS has been shown to improve device size selection and diagnose occult pathology difficult to see with routine angiography. We hypothesize that the use of IVUS in lower extremity endovascular intervention improves accuracy in stent and balloon size selection and minimizes contrast use. METHODS: This is a retrospective case series performed at a single-institution outpatient center by two vascular surgeons from July 2016 through July 2017. We identified 94 total IVUS-assisted procedures. We collected data regarding demographics, balloon and stent size, IVUS-determined vessel diameter, pre-procedure and post-procedure ABI values, and contrast used during the procedure. An independent core laboratory was further utilized to characterize all IVUS and angiographic size vessel measurements. RESULTS: For the 94 lower extremity IVUS-assisted interventions, the average patient age was 70±9 years old, with an average contrast use of 37.1 mL of Omnipaque 300. There was substantial improvement in pre- and post-procedure ABI (0.7±0.23 to 0.94±0.21). On analysis of average intraluminal IVUS vessel diameter to balloon angioplasty used, we had a correlation in size of 0.96±0.16 in our series. Additionally, in eight instances IVUS allowed for identification of a flow-limiting dissection with subsequent stenting. CONCLUSIONS: Routine use of IVUS offers a powerful diagnostic paradigm that has the potential to significantly decrease contrast use and to improve objectivity in choosing appropriate vascular tools to maximize intra-procedural efficacy. The discovery of adverse findings not initially noticed on angiography further reinforces the value of IVUS utilization.

Safety considerations in learning new procedures: a survey of surgeons.

BACKGROUND: There exists a tension between surgical innovation and safety. The learning curve associated with the introduction of new procedures/technologies has been associated with preventable patient harm. Surgeon's perceptions regarding the safety of methods for learning new procedures/technologies are largely uncharacterized. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey was designed to evaluate surgeons' perceptions related to learning new procedures/technologies. This included clinical vignettes across two domains: (1) experience with an operation (e.g., colectomy) and (2) experience with a technology (e.g., laparoscopy). This study also focuses on a surgeon's perceptions of existing credentialing/privileging requirements. Participants were faculty surgeons (n = 150) at two large Midwestern academic health centers. RESULTS: Survey response rate was 77% (116/150). 69% of respondents believed the processes of credentialing/privileging is "far too relaxed" or "too relaxed" for ensuring patient safety. Surgeons most commonly indicated a mini-fellowship is required to learn a new laparoscopic procedure. However, that requirement differed based on a surgeon's prior experience with laparoscopy. For example, to learn laparoscopic colectomy, 35% of respondents felt a surgeon with limited laparoscopic experience should complete a mini-fellowship, whereas 3% felt this was necessary if the surgeon had extensive laparoscopic experience. In the latter scenario, most respondents felt a surgeon should scrub in cases performed by an expert (38%) or perform cases under a proctor's supervision (33%) when learning laparoscopic colectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Many surgeons believe existing hospital credentialing/privileging practices may be too relaxed. Moreover, surgeons believe the "one-size-fits-all" approach for training practicing surgeons may not protect patients from unsafe introduction of new procedures/technologies.

A pilot study of venous duplex ultrasound parameters in healthy children.

OBJECTIVE: The spectrum of chronic venous disease (CVD) in adults is well documented, whereas there is a paucity of data published commenting on pediatric CVD. We previously identified that there is often venous reflux present in cases of pediatric lower extremity edema despite an alternative confirmed diagnosis. To further assess the clinical significance of this venous reflux, this study aimed to elicit venous parameters in healthy pediatric controls. METHODS: Healthy pediatric volunteers aged 5 to 17 years were recruited for venous reflux study. A comprehensive venous reflux study was performed with the patient standing. Vein diameter, patterns of valvular reflux, and accessory venous anatomy were examined in the deep and superficial venous systems. RESULTS: Eighteen children including 10 boys and 8 girls were studied. Five volunteers were aged 5 to 8 years, six volunteers were aged 9 to 12 years, and seven volunteers were aged 13 to 17 years. Great saphenous vein (GSV) diameter at the saphenofemoral junction significantly increased with age. Deep vein valve closure time (VCT) did not differ significantly between groups, whereas GSV VCT was significantly higher in the 9- to 12-year age group. Incidental venous insufficiency was identified in 60% of children aged 5 to 8 years (n = 3), 50% of children aged 9 to 12 years (n = 3), and 57% of children aged 13 to 17 years (n = 4). All superficial venous reflux was confined to the GSV; there were no cases of isolated deep venous reflux. Reflux was identified at multiple GSV stations in 60% of children. There was no significant difference in incompetent GSV VCT in comparing children with and without deep venous reflux. Accessory superficial veins were identified in 20% of children aged 5 to 8 years (n = 1), 50% of children aged 9 to 12 years (n = 3), and 43% of children aged 13 to 17 years (n = 3). The presence of an accessory saphenous vein was not associated with deep venous reflux in any patient, and only 29% of those with accessory saphenous venous anatomy had evidence of superficial venous (GSV) reflux. CONCLUSIONS: The GSV continues to grow in diameter through the teenage years. Incidental valvular incompetence and GSV reflux are common. The presence of accessory saphenous veins is similarly common and not associated with venous reflux. The clinical significance and natural history of this incidental venous reflux remain unclear. Future research should determine whether these changes seen in the pediatric age group lead to CVD during later years of life.

Strategies for New Skill Acquisition by Practicing Surgeons.

OBJECTIVE: To understand how practicing surgeons utilize available training methods, which methods are perceived as effective, and important barriers to using more effective methods. DESIGN: Online survey designed to characterize surgeon utilization and perception of available training methods. SETTING: Two large Midwestern academic health centers. PARTICIPANTS: 150 faculty surgeons. METHODS: Nominal values were compared using a McNemar's Test and Likert-like values were compared using a paired t-test (IBM SPSS Statistics v. 21.0; New York, NY). RESULTS: Survey response rate was 81% (122/150). 98% of surgeons reported learning a new procedure or technology after formal training. Many surgeons reported scrubbing in expert cases (78%) and self-directed study (66%), while few surgeons (6%) completed a mini-fellowship. The modalities used most commonly were scrubbing in expert cases (34%) and self-directed study (27%). Few surgeons (7%) believed self-directed study would be most effective, whereas 31% and 16% believed operating under supervision and mini-fellowships would be most effective, respectively. Surgeons believed more effective methods "would require too much time" or they had "confidence in their ability to implement safely." CONCLUSIONS: Practicing surgeons use a variety of training methods when learning new procedures and technologies, and there is disconnect between commonly used training methods and those deemed most effective. Confidence in surgeon's ability was cited as a reason for this discrepancy; and surgeons found time associated with more effective methods to be prohibitive.