Popliteal Pseudoaneurysm Caused by Stent Fracture

Idiopathic pseudoaneurysm of the popliteal artery with endovascular treatment: A case report

Popliteal pseudoaneurysms are a rare vascular pathology, usually caused by trauma or iatrogenic interventions. Idiopathic cases are exceptionally uncommon. This case report aims to describe the diagnosis and successful endovascular treatment of an idiopathic pseudoaneurysm of the popliteal artery in a 90-year-old bedridden female patient presented with acute pain and swelling in the left knee at the emergency department. The patient underwent successful endovascular treatment with a covered stent and thrombin injection, leading to complete exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm. Popliteal pseudoaneurysms are a rare pathology, and idiopathic cases are even more uncommon. Endovascular therapy for popliteal pseudoaneurysms is associated with lower morbidity and mortality rates compared to open surgical repair. This case report highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists in the management of rare vascular pathologies.

FAK Activation Promotes SMC Dedifferentiation via Increased DNA Methylation in Contractile Genes

Rationale: Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) exhibit remarkable plasticity and can undergo dedifferentiation upon pathological stimuli associated with disease and interventions. Objective: Although epigenetic changes are critical in SMC phenotype switching, a fundamental regulator that governs the epigenetic machineries regulating the fate of SMC phenotype has not been elucidated. Methods and Results: Using SMCs, mouse models, and human atherosclerosis specimens, we found that focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activation elicits SMC dedifferentiation by stabilizing DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A). FAK in SMCs is activated in the cytoplasm upon serum stimulation in vitro or vessel injury and active FAK prevents DNMT3A from nuclear FAK-mediated degradation. However, pharmacological or genetic FAK catalytic inhibition forced FAK nuclear localization, which reduced DNMT3A protein via enhanced ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Reduced DNMT3A protein led to DNA hypomethylation in contractile gene promoters, which increased SMC contractile protein expression. RNA sequencing identified SMC contractile genes as a foremost upregulated group by FAK inhibition from injured femoral artery samples compared to vehicle group. DNMT3A knockdown in injured arteries reduced DNA methylation and enhanced contractile gene expression supports the notion that nuclear FAK-mediated DNMT3A degradation via E3 ligase TRAF6 drives differentiation of SMCs. Furthermore, we observed that SMCs of human atherosclerotic lesions exhibited decreased nuclear FAK, which was associated with increased DNMT3A levels and decreased contractile gene expression. Conclusions: This study reveals that nuclear FAK induced by FAK catalytic inhibition specifically suppresses DNMT3A expression in injured vessels resulting in maintaining SMC differentiation by promoting the contractile gene expression. Thus, FAK inhibitors may provide a new treatment option to block SMC phenotypic switching during vascular remodeling and atherosclerosis.

Pseudo-aneurysm caused by stent fracture in the "sub-acute" phase after endovascular therapy for in-stent restenosis lesions

Despite the reported favorable patency of stents in the treatment of femoropopliteal lesions, concern regarding stent fracture is increasing. Development of pseudo-aneurysm by stent fracture is rare and has been reported to occur in the chronic phase owing to mechanical fatigue. Here, we present the first report of a pseudo-aneurysm caused by stent fracture in the "sub-acute" phase after endovascular therapy for in-stent restenosis lesion. A 79-year-old man underwent endovascular therapy for an in-stent restenosis lesion of the right superficial femoral artery. Echography 48 days after the treatment showed a saccular pseudo-aneurysm at the proximal stent site, suggestive of stent fracture. Angiography confirmed the pseudo-aneurysm caused by stent fracture. A self-expandable endoluminal stent graft was deployed, which showed complete resolution of the pseudo-aneurysm. A pseudo-aneurysm caused by stent fracture can occur in the "sub-acute" phase after endovascular therapy for in-stent restenosis lesions. <Learning objective: Although rare, a pseudo-aneurysm owing to stent fracture can occur in the "sub-acute" phase after endovascular therapy for in-stent restenosis lesions.>.

Symptomatic superficial femoral artery pseudoaneurysm due to late stent fracture

Late formation of pseudoaneurysm related to stent fracture is rarely described in the literature. We describe a case of spontaneous 8-cm femoral superficial artery pseudoaneurysm rupture that had developed from fracture of a stent implanted 3 years previously. Surgical repair was performed with fractured stent removal and reverse saphenous vein bypass.

Fracture of a popliteal nitinol stent and pseudoaneurysm: a case report and review of the literature

There is a lack of reports onr stent fracture with pseudoaneurysm formation in the femoropopliteal artery, which can cause restenosis or occlusion of the treated arterial segment. We present a case of a large pseudoaneurysm of the popliteal artery that was observed 18 months after popliteal stenting using a self-expandable nitinol stent. We describe an endovascular approach to overcome this severe complication. Stent fractures are an often overlooked complication of femoropopliteal stenting and can be associated with serious diseases. The popliteal artery was successfully treated using self-expandable Viabahn endoprosthesis.

Successful Management of Arterial Pseudoaneurysm Caused by Stent Fracture

Pseudoaneurysm is a relatively common complication of arterial injury. Arterial pseudoaneurysms have many different etiologies, including trauma, iatrogenic injury, vascular repair, infection, and vasculitides. In this case report, we present a pseudoaneurysm created by a fracture of superficial femoral artery (SFA) stent secondary to a mechanical fall. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a symptomatic pseudoaneurysm caused by a SFA stent fracture. The large, unruptured pseudoaneurysm in this case was successfully treated with a covered stent and pseudoaneurysm exclusion.

A pooled analysis of common femoral and profunda femoris endovascular interventions

Background

Atherosclerotic disease of common femoral and profunda femoris arteries has been historically treated with surgical endarterectomy. Endovascular treatment of common femoral artery and profunda femoris artery disease is increasingly reported in the recent literature. This review summarizes short- and mid-term outcomes of endovascular interventions to the common femoral artery and common femoral artery.

Methods

All published series in the English language were identified through a systematic PubMed search. Standard descriptive statistics, reported as mean ± SD, were applied to perform the pooled analysis and calculate the overall outcome measures. Combined overall effect sizes were calculated using fixed-effect meta-analysis.

Results

The analysis included 20 studies with a total of 836 patients (897 limbs, mean age of 70.5 ± 4.3 years, critical limb ischemia 39.6%). Technical success was 95%. Angioplasty alone was undertaken in 68.8% of cases and stenting in 22.3%. Access complications occurred in 2.4% of cases. Post-operative major adverse limb events occurred in 2% and major adverse cardiovascular events in 1% of cases. Primary patency at 6, 12 and 24 months was 87%, 77% and 73%, respectively. Subgroup analysis revealed a significantly higher mean primary patency at 12 months for routine stenting compared to a selective stenting strategy (91.4% versus 75%; p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Endovascular interventions to the common femoral artery and common femoral artery can be performed safely with high technical success. Endovascular therapy may be a favored approach over endarterectomy for highly selected patients of poor surgical risk, with limited life expectancy and those with wound-healing considerations such as re-operative fields or prone to infection.

Femoropopliteal Artery Stent Fracture with Recurrent In-Stent Reocclusion and Aneurysm Formation: Successful Treatment with Self-Expandable Viabahn Endoprosthesis

Primary stenting in femoropopliteal lesions of intermediate length has recently shown favorable outcomes. However, stent fractures are a concern after bare metal stent implantation. The incidence of stent fracture varies widely (ranging from 2% to 65%) depending on factors such as the treated lesions or stent type and may potentially lead to various complications. We reported a case of stent fracture with complete dislocation combined with recurrent in-stent reocclusion and aneurysm formation in a patient with occlusive disease of the femoropopliteal artery, which was successfully treated with self-expandable endovascular stent graft.

Treatment of complex atherosclerotic femoropopliteal artery disease with a self-expanding interwoven nitinol stent: Midterm results

OBJECTIVE

To examine the efficacy and durability of an interwoven self-expanding nitinol stent for the treatment of superficial femoral and popliteal arteries.

METHOD

Consecutive patients with severely diseased superficial femoral and popliteal arteries who received SUPERA® stents were retrospectively identified. The patients were followed for 12 months by Doppler ultrasound examinations, stent roentgenograms, and estimation of Rutherford-Becker class and ankle-brachial index.

RESULTS

From July 2012 to May 2014, 42 limbs in 36 patients (mean age, 61.5 ± 7.5 years; 75% male) were treated with angioplasty and primary stenting. Total occlusions were present in 14 limbs, and 63.8% had either moderate or severe calcification. The mean (±SD) lesion length was 105 mm (±28). Primary patency was 91.4% at 6 months and 85.7% at 12 months. The ankle brachial index increased from 0.57 ± 0.19 preoperative to 0.91 ± 0.12 postoperative. There was no procedural or device-related morbidity or mortality after revascularization and only one major amputation was observed on follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Our experience shows that, Supera stents are safe and effective in our cohort of patients, with acceptable patency rates. There were no stent fractures so far even with stenting of the femoropopliteal segments. Stent design provides a viable option for high-grade obstructive disease in the femoropopliteal artery.

Idiopathic popliteal artery pseudoaneurysm: emergency diagnosis and treatment

Pseudoaneurysms or false aneurysms of the popliteal artery are uncommon arterial disorders. These disorders most commonly result from trauma and iatrogenic lesions following orthopedic procedures. The authors report a rare case of popliteal artery pseudoaneurysm in which etiology was unknown. The authors also demonstrate that Doppler ultrasonography may be sufficient for planning vascular surgical procedures and that the open surgical approach is the treatment of choice for cases in which the symptomatic lesion causes local compression.

A symptomatic pseudoaneurysm caused by stent fracture in the external iliac artery

Pseudoaneurysms, as a result of endovascular stent fracture, are a rare yet important vascular surgery complication. A 64-year-old man presented with a painful mass in the left groin with accompanying critical ischemia of the left leg. Diagnostic angiography revealed a pseudoaneurysm caused by stent fracture in the left external iliac artery. The patient was treated with embolization of the left external iliac artery and ultimately above-the-knee amputation. Awareness of this uncommon complication is important due to its potential risk of severe disability.