Mirizzi syndrome: Problems and strategies

Mirizzi syndrome is a serious complication of gallstone disease. It is caused by the impacted stones in the gallbladder neck or cystic duct. One of the features of Mirizzi syndrome is severe inflammation or dense fibrosis at the Calot's triangle. In our clinical practice, bile duct, branches of right hepatic artery and right portal vein clinging to gallbladder infundibulum are often observed due to gallbladder infundibulum adhered to right hepatic hilum. The intraoperative damage of branches of right hepatic artery occurs more easily than that of bile duct, all of which are hidden pitfalls for surgeons. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are the preferable tools for the diagnosis of Mirizzi syndrome. Anterograde cholecystectomy in Mirizzi syndrome is easy to damage branches of right hepatic artery and bile duct due to gallbladder infundibulum adhered to right hepatic hilum. Subtotal cholecystectomy is an easy, safe and definitive approach to Mirizzi syndrome. When combined with the application of ERCP, a laparoscopic management of Mirizzi syndrome by well-trained surgeons is feasible and safe. The objective of this review was to highlight its existing problems: (1) low preoperative diagnostic rate, (2) easy to damage bile duct and branches of right hepatic artery, and (3) high concomitant gallbladder carcinoma. Meanwhile, the review aimed to discuss the possible therapeutic strategies: (1) to enhance its preoperative recognition by imaging findings, and (2) to avoid potential pitfalls during surgery.

Pharmacological prevention of intimal hyperplasia: A state-of-the-art review

Intimal hyperplasia (IH) occurs in a considerable number of cases of blood vessel reconstruction by stenting or balloon angioplasty, venous bypass grafting, and arteriovenous dialysis accesses. It is triggered by endothelial injury during the vascular intervention and leads to vessel restenosis with life-threatening consequences for patients. To date, the drugs used for IH prevention in clinics-paclitaxel and rapalog drugs-have been focusing primarily on the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation pathway of IH development. Limitations, such as endothelial toxicity and inappropriate drug administration timing, have spurred the search for new and efficient pharmacological approaches to control IH. In this state-of-the-art review, we present the pathways of IH development, focusing on the key events and actors involved in IH. Subsequently, we discuss different drugs and drug combinations interfering with these pathways based on their effect on peripheral circulation IH models in animal studies, or on clinical reports. The reports were obtained through an extensive search of peer-reviewed publications in Pubmed, Embase, and Google Scholar, with search equations composed based on five concepts around IH and their various combinations. To improve vascular intervention outcomes, rethinking of conventional therapeutic approaches to IH prevention is needed. Exploring local application of drugs and drug combinations acting on different pathophysiological pathways of IH development has the potential to provide effective and safe restenosis prevention.

Pseudoaneurysm following ankle arthroscopy: a systematic review of case series

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

Pseudoaneurysms (PA) are rare complications following ankle arthroscopy (AA). Delay in diagnosis is reported to be frequent and could lead to serious complications. Evidence synthesis on the clinical context of such complication lacks in the literature.

METHODS

A systematic review is conducted to locate all relevant papers. In total, 23 case reports were included in the review. Data of 23 patients with a mean of 40.9 ± 10.3 years were extracted and analyzed. Outcomes included comorbidities, portals and procedure types performed during AA, PA location and size, time to diagnosis and treatment, and therapeutic modalities.

RESULTS

The results showed that d-ATA and the dorsal pedis artery (DPA) were involved in 18 and 4 cases, respectively. A single case of PA of the fibular artery was described. The mean PA size was found to be 4.2 × 3.9 × 2.1 cm. Five of the 14 patients (35.7%) with a reported detailed medical history were treated for a cardiovascular or hemostasis condition. Delay in PA diagnosis was found to be at a mean time of 50.45 ± 74.6 days. The most commonly reported surgical indications were anterior synovectomy and removal of anterior osteophytes. Ligation was the most common procedure in treating PA.

CONCLUSION

While portal placement might be a minor factor, the variability of the d-ATA and/or DPA anatomical position and its affection with foot position and distraction during AA could play a role in the arterial injury. Synovectomy and removal of anterior, particularly big-sized, osteophytes could be considered as risk factors as well. A state of hypocoagulability might affect injury healing and consequently PA formation. PA diagnosis should be raised whenever a non-resolving or pulsatile swelling over a portal incision is observed.

Risk of continuing planned surgery after endovascular repair of subclavian artery injury: a case report

Endovascular repair with covered stents has been widely used to treat subclavian and axillary artery injuries and has produced promising early results. The possibility of a thromboembolism occurring in cerebral arteries during an endovascular procedure should be a cause for concern. In the case of endovascular management of arterial traumas, a prompt and sufficient period for check-up of the patient's neurological signs is needed, even if it requires postponing elective intervention for the patient's safety. We report a rare case of liver transplantation immediately after endovascular repair of an iatrogenic subclavian arterial injury to describe the risk of continuing planned surgery without neurologic assessment.