Neoplastic thrombosis of the inferior vena cava and right atrium due to kidney cancer. Three surgically treated cases.

Extension into vena cava and right atrium of tumor thrombus from a renal cell carcinoma presents a surgical challenge. The use of cardiopulmonary by-pass, hypothermia and cardiac arrest with temporary exsanguination has allowed the successful surgical excision of this tumor. During 1986 and 1987 3 patients with cancer of kidney invading the vena cava were operated on with this surgical technique. No deaths occurred. The possibility of curing this type of cancer with minimal operative risk and good results is discussed.

Ruptured aneurysms of the thoracoabdominal aorta: a case series.

Fifteen cases of ruptured thoracoabdominal aneurysm (-TAA) were encountered in 1987-July 1994. These patients included 13 males (86.6%), 2 females (13.4%) with a mean age of 66.3 years (range 58-78). Surgery was performed on 13 patients of whom 6 (46.1%) died within 30 days. The two other patients had died of heart failure prior to surgery. In 8 of these patients (53.4%) the condition was not diagnosed until clear symptoms had appeared. The ruptured aneurysms were thoracic in 9 cases (60%), abdominal in 6 (40%). The maximum aneurysm diameter in the most frequently ruptured group was 6.1-8 cm (in 9 patients-60%)./ For 5 cases (33.4%) the maximum diameter of ruptured aneurysms included dorsolumbar pain. In one patient a concomitant aortobronchial fistula had produced rupture. Low blood pressure was found in 9 cases (60%). In 5 cases (38.4%) curative surgery was performed within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms. In this group, the mortality rate was 40% (2 patients). In the remaining 8 cases, on whom surgery could not be performed within 24 hours (range 25 hours-4 months) the mortality rate was 50% (4 cases). All four cases of paraplegia (30.7%) were encountered among patients in the second group, 2 of whom died. Follow-up revealed a 5-year mortality rate of 71.4%.

Traumatic pathology of the thoracic aorta. Personal experience based on 42 cases.

Between 1974 and 1989, 42 patients have been operated on at the Istituto di Chirurgia Generale e Cardiovascolare of University of Milan, for traumatic pathology of the thoracic aorta: in 14 cases it occurred an acute rupture at the level of aortic isthmus and in 28 cases a posttraumatic fals aneurysm. We had an operative mortality of 28% (4 cases) in the acute rupture: 3 patients died for neurological complications which were present at hospitalization. In one case appeared a serious ARDS. We had no surgical deaths in patients operated on for the posttraumatic false aneurysm. In 15 cases, the patients suffered for a postoperative paraplegia. Surgical indications are discussed, overall for the posttraumatic false aneurysms. The authors consider the advantage and the risks of the use of ECC and of total heparinization of the patients.

Surgical treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm. A ten-year experience (1980-1989) referred to 1725 patients operated on.

The authors' experience of surgical management of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), in 1725 consecutive patients, operated on in a ten years period (1980-1989) is presented. Surgical indications, operative technique, and outcome of elective and emergency procedures are analyzed. A ten years follow-up period is also presented. This shows a significantly better survival rate in surgically treated patients than in nonoperated cases.

Metabolic factors influencing indications and results of reconstructive surgery in peripheral atherosclerosis.

The incidence of risk factors at the time of operation and in the late postoperative course was evaluated in a series of patients operated upon for reconstruction of the aorto-iliac and femoro-popliteal tracts. The data reported seem to indicate a direct correlation between the long term patency rates of the arterial reconstructions and the incidence of the risk factors.

Evaluation of spinal cord function by means of lower limb somatosensory evoked potentials in reparative aortic surgery.

A group of patients undergoing aortic replacement of thoracic and abdominal aneurysms were studied by intraoperative recording of Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SEPs). Lower limb nerves were stimulated and SEPs recorded at spinal and cortical level. Progressive changes of cortical SEPs until their disappearance were observed. In operations on the thoracic aorta, the spinal response was essentially unmodified, so that the observed alterations reflected true dysfunction of the spinal cord. The only patient who developed an intraoperative anterior spinal infarct had the longest period of absent SEPs and a striking latency prolongation when they returned. Postoperative recordings were absolutely normal. When the abdominal aorta was occluded, SEP alterations involved both cortical and spinal responses, so that it is difficult to distinguish between the relative roles of peripheral nerve and spinal cord ischemia. These findings indicate that SEPs can be reliably applied to spinal cord monitoring in the course of aortic surgery, even though they are mainly conducted in the posterior cord tracts.

Occlusive arterial disease in young patients.

All the young patients (under 40 years) affected by occlusive arterial disease observed at the Istituto di Clinica Chirurgica II, University of Milan, during the last eleven years have been reviewed. About one third of these patients is affected by a form of arteritis; the others demonstrate the typical pattern of early atherosclerosis or an indeterminate condition which may represent an atherosclerotic complication superimposed on a basic arteritic lesion. The available therapeutic procedures are examined. They show that atherosclerotic disease more frequently permits a surgical reconstruction. The average rate of amputation is about the same in the two considered forms, ranging close to 7-8%. The 10 year follow up of these groups of young patients allowed us to analyze the rate of progression and evolution of these morbid conditions and the influence of the most important risk factors.

Influence of the rupture site of abdominal aortic aneurysms with regard to postoperative survival rate.

This study presents an analysis of the influence of the site of rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms on the postoperative survival rate. A series of 226 patients, who underwent emergency operations for ruptured aneurysms, is examined. The three most important methods of rupture are: (1) Retroperitoneal rupture: this type is associated with a very high mortality (52.8% in our experience), which reaches almost 75% when the posterior parietal peritoneum tears and massive intraperitoneal bleeding occurs. This mortality is related to the amount of blood loss, hypovolemic shock, the number of transfused blood units and, especially, to increasing renal insufficiency. (2) Rupture into the inferior vena cava: in this event the mortality rate it less severe (38.4% in our experience) and it is mostly related to the occurrence of an high output cardiac failure, as well as to oliguria or anuria following renal venous hypertension. (3) Enteric rupture: this is, in our experience, the most uncommon event. It carries a high mortality rate (50%). The copious bleeding, which is unrestricted in hollow organs, explains the dangerous hypovolemic shock, while massive blood reabsorption from the enteric tract leads to a renal insufficiency.

Nineteen year experience on the treatment of aneurysms of the abdominal aorta: a survey of 832 consecutive cases.

832 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm were admitted to our Hospital, at the University of Milan, from 1965 to 1983. 238 patients were operated on as an emergency for rupture of the aneurysm while 541 underwent elective surgery. The overall postoperative mortality was 7% for the patients operated on electively and 54.3% for the ruptured aneurysm operated on as an emergency.

Acute aortic dissection. Personal experience.

Aortic dissection is a catastrophic event with a high mortality rate for untreated patients. One hundred and thirteen patients with acute aortic dissection were observed in the IInd Surgical Department of Milan University from 1974 to 1985; 55 had type I and II aortic dissection and 58 had type III aortic dissection. All patients with type I and II and about 50% of patients with type III aortic dissection underwent surgical correction. In the second type III group the aortic lesion was surgically corrected only when visceral ischaemia or ischaemia of the lower limb was recognized. In the other type III cases, medical treatment was preferred. The mortality rate was lower after medical treatment (15%) than after surgical treatment (37%). Follow-up was performed for the majority of patients and was recently completed with non-invasive techniques like Magnetic Resonance. It accurately shows the residual dissection and follows, the development of occlusion of the false lumen without any risk to the patients.

Internal mammary artery to pulmonary artery fistula.

A rare case of arteriovenous fistula between an internal mammary artery and a pulmonary artery is presented. The clinical history of recurrent bronchitis and dyspnoea during exercise, the presence of right parasternal murmur with normal heart size and normal blood gases justified the execution of an arteriovenous thoracic angiography which revealed the presence of a cirsoid aneurysm supplied by the internal and external mammary arteries. Diagnostic investigation and surgical indication in patients with the rare fistulous communication between the internal mammary artery and the systemic or pulmonary circulation are analysed.

Intracavitary heart fibroma. A case of successful total excision.

Tumors of the heart are relatively rare events and fibromas represent no more than 5% of these. A central source of peripheral embolization suggests the possibility to kept in mind in the absence of other causes and is therefore worthy of closer investigation.

Splanchnic artery aneurysms.

From 1970 to October 1991, 26 patients affected by splanchnic artery aneurysms were observed and treated at the Department of General and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Milan, Italy. Three splanchnic artery aneurysms were operated on in emergency. Visceral artery aneurysms are often completely silent and are generally detected during diagnostic procedures performed in order to clarify some diagnostic questions. When symptomatic they present a characteristic clinical picture of the involved vascular district. Two patients affected by aneurysmal disease of the proper hepatic artery died after operation. All the other splanchnic aneurysms underwent a successful surgical procedure. This study is aimed at analyzing some characteristic clinical pictures, diagnostic methods, therapeutic procedures and postoperative results.

Rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms into the major abdominal veins.

Over the period January 1965-July 1992 26 spontaneous fistulas between an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and the major abdominal veins were observed and surgically treated. Twenty-two were aorto-caval, one iliaco-iliac and 3 aorto-iliac; since clinical features, pathophysiology, principles of surgical treatment and postoperative care are similar, both the conditions are considered as a single disease (aorto-caval fistula: ACF). The incidence among 373 ruptured AAA operated in emergency conditions in the same period was 6.97%, with an operative mortality rate of 34.61% compared to an overall mortality for ruptured AAA of 34.85%. All subjects were males with a mean age of 67.3 years. Twelve subjects showed shock at admission (46.1%): the mortality rate in this subgroup was 50% compared to 21.4% among the non-shocked patients. Pain was always present, oedema of one or both of the lower limbs in 9 cases (34.6%) and abdominal bruit or murmur and thrill in 16 (61.5%). One patient died at laparotomy for irreversible cardiac arrest; the 25 completed procedures consisted of endoaneurysmal repair of the fistula under venous bleeding control by digital compression and prosthetic replacement of the abdominal aorta (7 straight and 18 bifurcated grafts). Intraoperative mean blood losses exceeded 4,000 ml, but autotransfusion, available only in 12 procedures, allowed significant sparing of heterologous blood units. The mortality rate was not clearly improved by autotransfusion, but among these 12 patients shock was present in 7 instances (58.3%), compared to 5 out of 14 subjects (35.7%) operated on before autotransfusion devices were available.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Morphological aspects of the human intimal surface at scanning electron microscope. A preliminary approach in surgical material (iliac arteries).

Human iliac arteries, obtained at surgery, were examined at SEM. The ultrastructural aspects has evidenced pathological pictures, quite unexpected. The material observed resulted very adapt for scanning electron microscope.

Critical evaluation of limb salvage concept and indication for infrapopliteal reconstructive surgery.

A large number of surgical procedures aimed at revascularizing the popliteal and infrapopliteal arteries has been reported in patients affected by rest pain or gangrene of the extremities as well as intermittent claudication. In consideration of the high incidence of early and late unsuccessful results following this type of surgery as reported in the literature, we believe that peripheral reconstructions should be restricted to those patients presenting a clinical picture of such severity that major amputation is unavoidable in the short run. In these patients our choice of the appropriate surgical procedure is strictly related to the patency or not of the popliteal artery. The role of the above knee femoropopliteal bypass is discussed. A series of patients that we have operated upon according to these criteria is analyzed. The low number of cases in our group of patients and the high rate of postoperative failures reflect our policy on this matter.

Acute ruptures of the thoracic aorta. Personal experience.

The statistical incidence, etiopathogenesis, diagnostics and surgical treatment of acute ruptures of the thoracic aorta are described. A personal series of 7 cases is reported; surgical techniques, benefits and risks of extracorporeal circulation during surgical treatments are analysed and discussed.

Surgical treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms. Personal experience.

A series of 262 observed cases of aneurysm of the thoracic aorta is examined in which 216 cases of surgical correction were performed between 1974 and 1987. Dissecting aneurysms and post-traumatic pseudoaneurysms, although of different aetiology and morbid anatomy, are also included since the surgical technique adopted is similar in all groups. Clinically different aspects of acute and chronic lesions are analyzed. Of all preoperative examinations, angiography is preferred as it gives the most precise definition of the aortic lesion. This is especially necessary in the case of acute dissection or rupture of thoracic aorta although the role of CAT scan is becoming progressively more important. In cases of aortic dissection with massive aortic valve insufficiency, the substitution of the ascending aorta and aortic valve with reimplantation of coronary arteries, in accordance with Bentall's technique is also indicated. The improvement in surgical results is emphasized, since surgical mortality has decreased from 30.6% to 22% in the last eight years. This is due to improvement in surgical technique, to extra corporeal circulation and myocardial protection.

Pathological patterns and surgical treatment of renal artery stenosis in renovascular hypertension.

Atherosclerosis and dysplasia are the most common lesions affecting the renal artery, causing stenosis and renovascular hypertension. Surgical revascularization of the ischemic kidney in properly selected patients has proved to be the treatment of choice. The different pathological characters of dysplastic lesions are examined and compared with the ones of atherosclerotic disease, in surgically treated patients. Correlations between angiographic and histological aspects are also considered. The recognition of these different pathological patterns is important for the selection of the most suitable surgical procedures. The results of a personal technique of arterial reconstruction and angioplasty are reported.

Aneurysms of the renal artery.

The detection of renal artery aneurysms has greatly increased in the last years with the use of angiographic procedures and nowadays thanks to digital subtraction angiography routinely adopted in the diagnostic evaluation of patients affected by lesions at the renal artery level. This study reports the data of 31 renal artery aneurysms observed in 30 patients admitted to our Institute from 1970 to 1986. All the aneurysms were demonstrated by means of selective renal angiographies. Twenty-two patients out of 30 presented hypertension. In order to establish the possible role of the aneurysm in the genesis of hypertension, in all these cases the PRA was determined. In 27 patients a surgical procedure was adopted. This paper reviews our series of patients, analyzing the diagnostic procedures, the symptomatology presented with particular regard to the presence and the type of the associated hypertensive condition, the adopted therapeutic procedures and the results.