Femorotibial Bypass Sutured on Bovine Pericardium Patch of the Femoral Artery for Bypass Inflow: A Case Report

A 72-year-old man presented with intermittent claudication and a foot ulcer. Computed tomography revealed severe calcification and occlusion of the left femoral artery and calcification and stenosis from the superficial femoral artery to the popliteal artery. Thromboendarterectomy (TEA) and anterior reconstruction of the femoral artery with a bovine pericardium patch were performed. We sutured the great saphenous vein on the bovine pericardium patch for bypass inflow after creating an anastomosis hole with a puncher and performed an in situ femorotibial bypass. This technique helped us achieve a smooth and clean anastomosis. In situ vein graft anastomosis might be difficult on severely atherosclerotic femoral artery after TEA and difficult anastomosis increases the risk of bypass occlusion. Anastomosis on the bovine pericardium patch for bypass inflow might ensure smooth and clean anastomosis in patients with severe atherosclerosis of the femoral artery.

Stent Implantation and Thromboendarterectomy for the Common Femoral Artery in Real-World Practice

PURPOSE

To compare the outcomes of thromboendarterectomy (TEA) and endovascular therapy (EVT) with stenting for patients with atherosclerotic common femoral artery (CFA) occlusive disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From a retrospective registry of 1193 consecutive patients with CFA treatment performed between 2018 and 2020 at 66 institutions in Japan, we identified patients who underwent TEA (n=432) or stent implantation (n=157). The primary outcome measures were the 1-year primary patency of TEA versus stenting with propensity score matching. The secondary outcome measures were perioperative complications, length of hospital stay, any reintervention, limb salvage, and overall survival. Interaction analysis for primary patency was performed with propensity score stratification to determine the appropriate target population for CFA stenting.

RESULTS

Propensity score matching extracted 101 pairs (101 patients in the EVT group and 253 patients in the TEA group). The 1-year primary patency rate was significantly higher in the TEA cohort (92.8% vs 84.6%, p=0.006). The freedom from reintervention rate was also significantly higher in the TEA cohort (94.0% vs 89.9%, p=0.030). However, the 1-year limb salvage (98.7% vs 100.0%, p=0.32), 1-year overall survival (90.8% vs 85.0%, p=0.14), and frequency of perioperative complications were not significantly different between the cohorts (6.9% vs 14.2%, p=0.10). Based on interaction analysis, the superiority of TEA over EVT in terms of patency was less apparent in patients with advanced age and chronic heart failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Thromboendarterectomy was superior to stenting in terms of primary patency and freedom from revascularization at 1 year. There was no significant difference in the incidence of perioperative complications between both groups. Thromboendarterectomy may be recommended as the standard treatment strategy for patients with atherosclerotic CFA disease, whereas stenting may be considered for patients with advanced age and chronic heart failure.

CLINICAL IMPACT

Thromboendarterectomy compared to stenting was the preferred revascularization strategy for patients with CFA disease in terms of primary patency and freedom from target lesion revascularization during the 1st year. The difference was attenuated in subgroups with advanced age (85 years or older) or chronic heart failure, thus stenting may be considered in patients with these backgrounds.

Mid-term results of surgical interventions of high-grade vena cava tumor thrombus

Background

This study aims to investigate whether the coexistence of advanced renal cell carcinoma and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus could be treated with a multidisciplinary approach and teamwork and to evaluate early and mid-term results.

Methods

Between January 2017 and December 2020, a total of 33 patients (28 males, 5 females; mean age: 55.8±13.2 years; range, 27 to 76 years) who underwent radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy of the inferior vena cava were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic characteristics of the patients, types of operations, postoperative data, mortality and morbidity rates were recorded.

Results

Of the patients, 12% (n=4) had Stage 2 tumor thrombus, 60.6% (n=20) had Stage 3 tumor thrombus, and 27% (n=9) had Stage 4 tumor thrombus. A total of 55% (n=19) of the patients had right-sided renal cell carcinoma, while 45% (n=14) of them had a left-sided mass. Totally, 66% (n=22) of the patients underwent primary inferior vena cava repair. The thrombectomy procedure and a Dacron® patch was applied with patch plasty in 24% (n=8) of the patients, and Dacron® graft interposition was applied to the inferior vena cava in 9% (n=3) of the patients. The mean follow-up was 20.3±13.0 (range, 2 to 70) months. Deep vein thrombosis was detected in the follow-up of seven (21%) patients, and no pulmonary thromboembolism was observed during the postoperative follow-up period. The mean length of stay in the intensive care unit was 1.39±0.6 (range, 1 to 3) days. The 30-day mortality rate was 3%, due to the loss of one patient from massive pulmonary embolism intraoperatively.

Conclusion

Vascular surgical procedures performed regardless of the stage of the tumor thrombus provide satisfactory mid-term results in patients with advanced renal cell cancer.

1-Year Outcomes of Thromboendarterectomy vs Endovascular Therapy for Common Femoral Artery Lesions: CAULIFLOWER Study Results

BACKGROUND

Thromboendarterectomy (TEA) is the gold-standard treatment for common femoral artery (CFA). However, because of its low invasiveness and short hospitalization duration, CFA endovascular therapy (EVT) is performed in real-world practice. However, the clinical benefits and appropriate target population for CFA EVT remain unclear.

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to compare the clinical outcomes of TEA with those of EVT in patients with symptomatic CFA diseases and to identify the adequate target population for CFA EVT.

METHODS

A total of 1,193 consecutive patients who underwent EVT (n = 761) or TEA (n = 432) for CFA were identified and retrospectively reviewed from a registry of 66 institutions. The primary outcome was 1-year primary patency compared between EVT and TEA using propensity score matching. An interaction analysis was performed to explore the appropriate target population for CFA EVT.

RESULTS

After propensity score matching, the 1-year primary patency rate was significantly higher in the TEA group (82.3% vs 96.6%; P < 0.001), whereas perioperative complications were more frequently observed in the TEA group (P = 0.047). Nonambulatory status attenuated the HR of EVT vs TEA for restenosis risk (P = 0.021), whereas the presence of nodular calcification significantly increased the HR (P = 0.040). In the EVT subgroup analysis for restenosis risk, stent use showed the lowest HR compared with plain balloon angioplasty and drug-coated balloon angioplasty (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

TEA showed superior 1-year patency compared with EVT in a nationwide multicenter study. Nonambulatory status attenuated the superiority, whereas the presence of nodular calcification enhanced it.

Calcification patterns in femoral and carotid atheromatous plaques: A comparative morphometric study

This comparative study was designed to focus on the mineral patterns in human atherosclerotic plaques based on quantitative measurements of calcium deposits through the morphometric method. A total of 101 atherosclerotic plaques were harvested by conventional transluminal angioplasty from the carotid artery (CA) and different segments of the femoral-popliteal axis (FPA), fixed in formalin and sent for histological processing. The histological grade of the atherosclerotic plaque and the calcification pattern were evaluated, followed by a morphometric analysis of the mineral deposits. Regarding the localization, the advanced plaques (VII and VIII types) developed predominantly at the level of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) compared to the CA (P<0.001). This significant difference was maintained even if they were divided into low grade (IV and V) and high grade categories (VI, VII and VIII) (P<0.05). Compared with that in the carotid plaques, in the FPA plaques the mineralized surface increased in parallel with the narrowing of the vascular lumen diameter. The image analysis of the total pathological calcification score (pCS) showed a significant difference between the CA plaques and distal SFA (dSFA) plaques (P=0.038) and between the proximal SFA (pSFA) and dSFA plaques (P=0.013). In the case of the simple nodular pattern, calcification occupied significantly larger areas in the plaques developed in the dSFA and popliteal artery (PA) in comparison with the CA plaques (P=0.0007 and P=0.0009). pCSs calculated in plaques with extensive calcification pattern showed a lower value in the CA vs. the pSFA plaques (P=0.004). A less pronounced, but significant difference was observed between the pCS of pSFA and dSFA plaques (P=0.017). Femoral and carotid plaques exhibited different morphology and tendency for calcification. In parallel with the narrowing of the vascular lumen diameter, the mineralized surface increased at the level of different FPA segments. These results suggest that the mechanism is site-specific, and wall structure-dependent.

Case report: Pulmonary artery thrombosis in cyanotic congenital heart disease

Cyanotic congenital cardiac anomalies increase the risk of thrombosis. In pediatric congenital heart disease, the diagnosis of pulmonary artery thrombosis is rare. We reported an 11-year-old male child who developed progressive shortness of breath over six months. He was subsequently referred to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi, Pakistan. The child was diagnosed as a case of double outlet left ventricle, levo-transposition of the great arteries, pulmonary stenosis, ventricular septal defect and thrombus in the main pulmonary artery with extension into the branch pulmonary arteries. He underwent thromboendarterectomy with a Glenn shunt and made an uneventful postoperative recovery.

Hybrid approach in tandem high-grade carotid stenoses: A case report

A 79-year-old male patient who presented with dizziness and several syncopal episodes was admitted to our clinic. Medical history of the patient revealed arterial hypertension and multifocal atherosclerosis with a history of two ischemic left middle cerebral artery strokes within the last year, without residual deficits, two coronary artery bypass grafts 22 years ago, and Stage IIB peripheral artery disease. The imaging studies revealed severe stenosis of the left internal carotid artery and high-grade ostial stenosis of the left common carotid artery. After clamping of the internal carotid artery and endarterectomy with patch angioplasty, before the patch was completely sutured, a sheath was placed through it and dilation and retrograde stenting of the proximal segment of the left common carotid artery were performed. The neurological symptoms of the patient disappeared and on postoperative computed tomography angiography, there was no residual carotid stenosis.

Red-cell distribution width is associated with higher risk of vascular complications after carotid thromboendartherectomy

Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in subjects with clinically manifested vascular diseases as well as predicts cardiovascular incidents and different types of cancer in a healthy population.

AIM

The aim of the study was to evaluate relationship between clinical outcomes in patients after carotid thromboendarterectomy and initial RDW values.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from 115 subsequent patients who underwent carotid thromboendartherectomy (TEA) were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had complete blood count measured including RDW and were observed for 18 months post-operatively. On each visit doppler ultrasound of carotid arteries was performed to evaluate the development of restenosis and progression of atherosclerosis.

RESULTS

Primary endpoint defined as cardiovascular death, new cerebrovascular incidents (stroke or TIA), any new revascularization procedure (carotid, coronary or peripheral) and restenosis of the operated artery occurred in 28 patients. They differed from subjects with uneventful course with increased prevalence of previous cerebrovascular incidents (75.0% and 42.5%, respectively; p=0.0028) and higher RDW values (14,37±1.55% and 13.77±0.96%, p=0.0155).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with high risk for cerebrovascular incidents, RDW identifies population at increasingly high probability of vascular complications which should be subjected to intensive therapeutic regimen.

Management of Pulmonary Hemorrhage Complicating Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy

Airway management during pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) can prove challenging, especially in the face of unexpected intraoperative pulmonary hemorrhage. Utilization of proper airway equipment on induction is crucial for the successful management of intraoperative pulmonary hemorrhage. Our case series describes the preoperative risk factors that can lead to intraoperative pulmonary hemorrhage, the preinduction airway equipment considerations for PTE, and the intraoperative management of pulmonary hemorrhage. We summarize the lessons learned at our institution from four cases of post perfusion pulmonary hemorrhage.

Surgical Embolectomy for Massive and Submassive Pulmonary Embolism and Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy for Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

Surgical therapy for massive acute pulmonary embolism has improved with the use of rapid response teams and selective bedside extracorporeal membrane oxygenation initiation. The chronic consequence of unresolved pulmonary embolism is a treatable form of pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy is a curative operation in selected cases, operated upon in an experienced center with the multidisciplinary team including imaging, pulmonary medicine, and cardiothoracic surgery.

A chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension catch-22 situation: inferior vena caval filter plays a pivotal role in an unlikely situation

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare clinical entity that occurs in a small subset of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) cases and is surgically cured by pulmonary endarterectomy. We report a case of a 44-year-old female with a complex history of CTEPH treated by thromboendarterectomy who presented with a subdural hematoma while on warfarin. The patient eventually recovered by a multidisciplinary approach, use of inferior vena caval filter, and effective anticoagulation management.

Clip reconstruction of an 8 cm giant internal carotid artery bifurcation aneurysm: microsurgical technique

Thrombosed giant intracranial aneurysms usually present with symptoms and signs from their mass effect. Although multiple treatment options are available, direct clip reconstruction with thromboendarterectomy remains the gold standard. Here we present a 66-year-old man with seizure, aphasia and hemiparesis. Work-up revealed a giant partially thrombosed aneurysm of the internal carotid artery bifurcation with surrounding vasogenic edema. He underwent clip reconstruction of the aneurysm via a cranio-orbital approach. Although we prepared for bypass with the radial artery and/or the superficial temporal artery, we were able to clip-reconstruct the aneurysm without bypass. The patient improved upon his pre-morbid state after surgery and made an excellent recovery. The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/P_10hRQFuPo .