1/397. Vascular reconstruction in Buerger's disease. In 23 of 148 patients with Buerger's disease, it was possible to undertake 27 arterial reconstructive procedures: bypass in 22 and thrombo-endarterectomy in 5. In a follow-up of 10 months to 8 years, the overall patency rate was 26 per cent. The long term patency rate of bypass grafting was good in obstruction of main vessels, but unsatisfactory with multiple occlusions. Bypass grafting was preferred to thromboendarterectomy. To obtain long term patency of revascularaized segments, complete abstinence from tobacco is absolutely essential. The preparatory manoeuvres for antogenous venous graft should be as atraumatic as possible. A functional diagnosis is indispensable when considering operative indications and for follow-up study of patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease. ( info) |
2/397. Bilateral subclavian steal syndrome through different paths and from different sites--a case report. Cases of cerebro-subclavian steal syndrome have been reported in the medical literature since 1960. This most often occurs on the left side because of the higher rate of involvement of the left subclavian artery in comparison to the other brachiocephalic branches of the aortic arch. With the use of the internal mammory artery as a conduit for coronary artery bypass, in the past three decades increasing numbers of coronary-subclavian steal in addition to the cerebro-subclavian steal have been observed. The authors report a case of bilateral subclavian steal syndrome through both vertebral arteries, the right common carotid artery, and the left internal mammory artery, without significant signs and symptoms of cerebral ischemia or anginal pain. ( info) |
3/397. popliteal artery occlusion as a late complication of liquid acrylate embolization for cerebral vascular malformation. Occlusion of arteriovenous malformations of the brain (BAVMs) by means of an endovascular approach with liquid acrylate glue is an established treatment modality. The specific hazards of this procedure are related to the central nervous system. In the case of unexpectedly rapid polymerization of the cyanoacrylate glue and adhesion of the delivering microcatheter to the BAVM, severing the catheter at the site of vascular access is considered an acceptable and safe management. We present a unique complication related to this technique that has not been described yet. Fragmentation and migration of the microcatheter, originally left in place, had caused popliteal artery occlusion, which required saphenous vein interposition, in a 25-year-old man. Suggestions for avoiding this complication are discussed. ( info) |
4/397. Conservative management of a methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-infected aortobifemoral graft: report of a case. A 63-year-old man was referred to our department for treatment of intermittent claudication in the right lower limb. The preoperative angiogram showed severe stenosis extending from the terminal aorta to the bilateral common femoral arteries, with occlusion of the right superficial femoral artery and the left popliteal artery. He underwent aortobifemoral bypass with thromboendarterectomy of the left common femoral artery, and right graft-popliteal artery bypass. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course; however, 14 days after the operation, a pulsatile mass suddenly appeared in the left groin. Emergency surgery revealed disruption of the left distal anastomosis of the aortobifemoral bypass and therefore, revision, in the form of graft-profunda femoris artery interposition with graft-superficial femoral artery bypass, was performed. Microscopic examination showed colonies of bacteria in the host artery adventitia adjacent to the anastomosis. culture of the discharge from the right groin operative scar revealed methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The discharge resolved following the intravenous administration of vancomycin and the local application of vancomycin ointment. There were no operative complications other than the MRSA infection, and the patient was discharged 20 days after revision surgery. In the 14 months since the revision, all grafts have remained patent and there have been no further symptoms of graft infection. ( info) |
5/397. Major vascular surgery in a patient with sickle cell disease. We report a patient with homozygous sickle cell disease who underwent femoropopliteal bypass for claudication on walking 10m. Isotope studies showed a blood flow in his left femoral artery of only 0.808 ml. 100ml.min-1. The potential problems of sickle cell disease combined with peripheral vascular disease were probably reduced in this patient because he had an increased fetal haemoglobin level of 13%. Despite the femoral artery being clamped for 100 min, no sickling crisis occurred. ( info) |
| Spontaneous arterial dissection of a peripheral artery involving an extremity is a rare event. We report a case of atraumatic, nonaneurysmal dissection of the popliteal artery that occurred in a 62-year-old man who was admitted with progressive right lower-extremity claudication. Preoperative arteriography was suggestive of arterial dissection, and surgical treatment was undertaken before irreversible ischemia developed. Intraoperatively, a dissection of the popliteal artery was observed, and the patient underwent femoral-popliteal bypass grafting with the ipsilateral, greater saphenous vein and the popliteal artery was ligated distal to the dissection. Spontaneous dissection limited to the popliteal artery has not previously been reported in the literature. Successful management depends on consideration of the diagnosis, particularly when other, more common diseases have been excluded. ( info) |
7/397. Surgical treatment of vascular lesions of the spinal cord. Paravertebral block and resection of upper thoracic sympathetic ganglions were performed on cases in which vascular disturbance of the spinal cord was considered partly responsible. Block was performed in 14 cases and clinical improvement was seen in 10 cases out of them while resection was considered effective in 2 out of 3 cases. The evoked EMG of patients was assumed recovery of a part of synaptic function in the ischemic cord after the block. On the other hand, the skin temperature of the lower extremity did not show considerable change and this supports the view that the restoration of clinical picture was not due to the improvement of the periphral circulation of extremities. From these observations, it would be well presumed that favorable effect of sympathectomy consists partly in the improvement of vascular disturbance of the spinal cord. ( info) |
| A case of intermittent claudication in a middle-aged lifelong non-smoker caused by cystic adventitial disease is reported. Etiology, clinical and angiographic findings, modes of operative treatment, and other possible causes of calf claudication in young non-smokers are briefly discussed. ( info) |
| cholesterol embolization syndrome is due to dislodgment of cholesterol crystals from the atherosclerotic plaques lining the walls of major arteries resulting in an occlusion of small arteries. We describe a case of severe cutaneous cholesterol emboli syndrome following repeat coronary angiography showing by our observation that this syndrome is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed and that a better evaluation of risks factors in patients undergoing invasive procedures could prevent this severe complication. ( info) |
10/397. Thermal biofeedback for claudication in diabetes: a literature review and case study. Temperature biofeedback (TBFB) is designed to alter cutaneous temperature in treated extremities by providing information corresponding to minor temperature fluctuations in the context of therapeutic structure and reinforcement. Toe TBFB may improve vascular flow and walking tolerance in patients with peripheral vascular disease. This case study documents improved walking in a diabetes patient with lower extremity complications, and suggests TBFB might increase lower extremity temperature and blood flow volume pulse in uncomplicated diabetes. ankle-brachial index (ABI) and walking function were assessed in a 60-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes and intermittent claudication, before and after five sessions of TBFB applied to the ventral surface of the great toe. Toe temperature increased during feedback phases but not during baseline phases. Improvements were seen in ankle-brachial index, walking distance, walking speed, and stair climbing. This case indicates the need for extended and controlled study of TBFB for improved vascular and ambulatory function in diabetic claudication. ( info) |