Faculty Bibliography

Aortoenteric fistulas (AEFs) are a rare complication of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. They occur in <1% of aortic grafting procedures, result from graft defects, foreign bodies, and trauma, and are associated with a high mortality rate. We report a complex AEF associated with vertebral body osteomyelitis, likely secondary to tuberculous infection. A 78-year-old man presented with a 2-week history of abdominal pain, fever, and anemia. Past surgical history is significant for open repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm followed later by an endovascular repair of a proximal para-anastomotic aneurysm. Computed tomography angiography revealed air in the aneurysm sac, without evidence of endoleak. The posterior aspect of the aneurysm was noted to be in continuity with a destructive osteomyelitis of the second lumbar vertebral body and an adjacent psoas abscess. Percutaneous drainage revealed purulent fluid containing mixed enteric flora. With fluoroscopic guidance, injection of contrast in the aortic sac drainage catheter demonstrated complex fistulous communications from the aortic sac to the overlying small intestine. After a course of drainage, antibiotic therapy, and parenteral nutrition, the patient underwent a transperitoneal repair of the AEF with duodeno-duodenectomy and wide debridement of the aortic sac and Dacron graft. Pathology revealed giant cell granulomas, highly suggestive of tuberculosis.

Background: The treatment of venous insufficiency using endovenous laser ablation or radiofrequency ablation may result in endothermal heat induced thrombosis (EHIT), a form of deep venous thrombosis. This study sought to assess the effect of ablation distance peripheral to the deep venous system on the incidence of EHIT. Methods: This study was a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database from 4/2007 to 7/2011. Consecutive patients undergoing great saphenous vein (GSV) or small saphenous vein (SSV) ablation were evaluated. Previous to 2/2011, all venous ablations were performed 2cm peripheral to the saphenofemoral or saphenopopliteal junctions (Group I). Subsequent to 2/2011, ablations were performed 2.5cm peripheral to the respective deep system junctions (Group II). The primary outcome was the development of EHIT II or greater, i.e. thrombus protruding into the deep venous system. Secondary outcomes included procedure-site complications such as hematomas and saphenous nerve injury. Chi-square tests were performed for all discrete variables, and unpaired Students t-tests were performed for all continuous variables. P<.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 3,526 procedures were performed, Group I (N=2672) and Group II (N=854). General demographics and CEAP classification did not differ significantly between the two groups. EHIT demonstrated a trend towards diminished frequency in Group II (Group I: 2.8% vs Group II: 1.6%, P=.077). There were no reported cases of EHIT III or IV in this patient cohort. Patients in Group I were treated using anticoagulation 56% of the time, and patients in Group II were treated using anticoagulation 100% of the time. The frequency of procedure site complications was low and did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusions: This study suggests that changing the treatment distance from 2cm to 2.5cm peripheral to the deep venous junction may result in a diminished incidence of EHIT. Ongoing evaluation is required to validate these results and to reaffirm the durability of the technique

In 2001, the use of endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) was introduced to the United States to treat superficial venous insufficiency. EVLA has subsequently undergone a rapid rise in popularity and usage with a concomitant decrease in traditional operative saphenectomy. Since its inception, the use of EVLA to treat superficial venous insufficiency has advanced significantly. The efficacy of treatment has been validated using both hemoglobin-specific laser wavelength and water-specific laser wavelength lasers. Currently, laser optimization is focusing on reducing postprocedural sequelae. The clinical parameters that correlate best with improved postoperative recovery use lower power/energy settings, water-specific laser wavelength lasers, and jacket or radial-emitting tips. Future study is still required to assess the durability of treatment at lower power and energy settings coupled with jacket or radial-emitting tip fibers. Long-term follow-up using duplex imaging is recommended to ensure persistent treatment success

BACKGROUND: The benefit of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in female patients has been questioned by various randomized, prospective trials, particularly in asymptomatic cases; several have noted an increase in perioperative stroke among women after CEA. The outcome of carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) has not been extensively examined in women. This study examined the outcome of CEA and CAS in women vs men by using a national database. METHODS: Outcomes of CEA and CAS were stratified by sex using discharge data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The NIS was used to identify patient discharges that occurred during 2004 and 2005. Appropriate International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9) procedure and diagnosis codes were used to identify CEA and CAS cases. Outcome measures included in-hospital perioperative stroke and death. Comparisons of demographics, procedures, and outcome were performed between men and women. Additional analysis was performed among women alone to attempt to identify whether improved outcome was noted with either procedure. RESULTS: Of 54,658 procedures, 94.2% were CEA and 5.8% were CAS. Women comprised 42.3% of the analyzed cases. Women and men were equally likely to be symptomatic (5.3% vs 5.3%, P = .8). Women were significantly less likely to undergo CAS than men (5.4% vs 6.1%, P < .001). Women and men had equivalent rates of perioperative stroke when undergoing CEA (1.0% vs 1.0%, P = .9) and CAS (2.7% vs 2.0%, P = .2). Symptomatic women had a significantly higher rate of perioperative stroke overall than did symptomatic men (3.8% vs 2.3%, P = .03). Asymptomatic women had a significantly lower perioperative stroke rate after CEA than after CAS (0.9% vs 2.1%, P < .001). Rates of perioperative showed a trend favoring CEA vs CAS among symptomatic women (3.4% vs 6.2%, P = .1). CONCLUSIONS: The concern regarding an increased perioperative stroke rate after CEA among asymptomatic women appears to be unfounded. The perioperative stroke rate among symptomatic women was higher than that of symptomatic men, but still well within the acceptable range for symptomatic patients undergoing a cerebrovascular intervention. Nationally, women underwent CAS significantly less frequently than did men. Outcome among women for perioperative stroke favored CEA over CAS, particularly in asymptomatic patients. CEA may be the preferred treatment in women seeking intervention for cerebrovascular disease, unless compelling reasons exist to perform CAS

We report the use of mechanical and pharmacologic catheter-directed thrombolysis in treating deep vein thrombosis with congenital absence of the inferior vena cava The patient presented with disabling bilateral lower extremity swelling and pain and was found to have extensive bilateral iliofemoral deep vein thromboses. Genetic testing revealed a factor V Leiden mutation. The patient underwent thrombolysis using a Possis (MEDRAD Inc, Warrendale, Pa) catheter and overnight infusion of tissue plasminogen activator. The patient tolerated the procedure well, with prompt return to daily activities. He remains free of symptoms at 3 years on oral anticoagulation, with a patent venous architecture

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to evaluate the duplex results of endovenous laser ablation in the treatment of incompetent great saphenous veins (GSV) and small saphenous veins (SSV) with at least 1-year follow-up. METHODS: A retrospective registry was entered by 11 centers from Europe and America, organized by the International Endovenous Laser Working Group. Data concerning 1,020 limbs in patients with incompetence of the GSV and/or SSV, treated with the Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) procedure, were collected. EVLA failures were defined on duplex imaging as reflux confined to the saphenofemoral or saphenopopliteal junction, reflux confined to the main saphenous trunk, or reflux of both junction and main trunk (totally patent saphenous vein) were analyzed at one or more years postoperatively. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 54 +/- 5 years (range: 18-91 years). The average body mass index was 25. There was a paucity of severe complications: One case of third-degree skin burn, six patients with postsurgical deep vein thrombosis (0.6%), and 27 cases of sensory nerve damage (2.7%). At 1-year, the rate of complete occlusion of the saphenous trunk was 93.1%. There were 79 cases of treatment failures as evidenced by duplex: 22 isolated junction failures (2.2%), 44 isolated trunk failures (4.4%), and 13 totally patent veins (1.3%). Two-year duplex results were reported for 329 limbs with the identification of 19 new cases of failure. No new cases of failure were reported at 3-year follow-up of 130 limbs. Cumulative failure rates estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis were 7.7% at 1-year and 13.1% at 2- and 3-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of a duplex scan performed at least 1-year post-treatment, this multicenter registry confirms the safety and efficacy of the EVLA procedure in the treatment of GSV and SSV reflux. Considering the continued failure rate documented in the present study, an annual follow-up by duplex is recommended to 2 years after EVLA