Faculty Bibliography

During endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, aneurysmal involvement of the common or internal iliac arteries occasionally necessitates elective occlusion of one or both internal iliac arteries. Although elective internal iliac artery occlusion is often well tolerated, it can result in complications such as buttock claudication or rest pain, impotence, and colon ischemia. We report a case of gluteal compartment syndrome following elective unilateral internal iliac artery embolization prior to endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. On the first postoperative day, the patient developed sciatic nerve palsy, rhabdomyolysis, and renal failure, which promptly resolved after emergent operative exploration of his left buttock and debridement of all grossly necrotic muscle. This case emphasizes the point that, although elective internal iliac artery interruption is usually benign, it can have serious and unexpected complications that necessitate expeditious treatment for complete recovery

Aneurysms of the subclavian artery are rare. Similarly, congenital absence of the internal carotid artery is an extremely rare vascular anomaly. In this report, we discuss the case of a 54 year-old woman with an unusual aneurysm of the right subclavian artery in association with congenital absence of the right internal carotid artery. The aneurysm was successfully surgically repaired. On the basis of the appearance of the aneurysm and the absence of known atherosclerotic risk factors in this patient, it is hypothesized that the aneurysm is, in fact, congenital and related to anomalous development of the embryonic aortic arch branches

Objectives Limb and pelvic ischemia are known complications after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). The objective of this paper is to present our experience with the incidence, presentation, and management of such complications. Methods Over 9 years 311 patients with aortic aneurysms underwent EVAR. A retrospective review identified 28 patients (9.0%) with ischemic complications. Results Among 28 patients with ischemic complications, 21 had lower extremity ischemia and 7 had pelvic ischemia: colon (n = 4), buttock (n = 2), and spinal cord (n = 2). Of the 21 patients with lower extremity ischemia, 15 had limb occlusions (71.4%), 3 due to embolization (14.7%) and 3 the result of common femoral artery thromboses (14.7%). Limb occlusions were manifested as severe acute arterial ischemia (n = 6), rest pain (n = 3), intermittent claudication (n = 5), and decreased femoral pulse (n = 1). Limb occlusions were managed with thrombectomy and stent placement (n = 4), femorofemoral bypass (n = 7), eventual explantation because of persistent endoleak (n = 1), and expectant management (n = 3). The 3 patients with occlusions managed expectantly all had intermittent claudication, which has subsequently improved. In the 6 patients with lower extremity ischemia due to embolization or common femoral artery injury presentation was acute, and embolectomy was performed, followed by femoral artery endarterectomy and patch angioplasty or placement of an interposition graft. One patient who had a prolonged postoperative course including cardiac arrest subsequently required distal bypass and ultimately above- knee amputation. Among the 7 patients with pelvic ischemia, 2 patients had unilateral hypogastric artery embolization before the original surgery. Among the patients with colonic ischemia, 3 were seen immediately postoperatively, and required colectomy and colostomy. Two patients who required urgent colectomy subsequently had multiple organ failure, and died in the perioperative period. One patient had abdominal pain 1 week after surgery, which was managed with bowel rest, with subsequent improvement. In 2 patients spinal cord ischemia developed immediately after surgery, w hich resulted in persistent paraplegia. Buttock ischemia developed in 2 patients, 1 of whom required fasciotomy because of gluteal compartment syndrome, and had transient renal failure. Conclusions Ischemic complications are not uncommon after EVAR, and may exceed the incidence with open surgical repair. Limb ischemia is most often a result of limb occlusion, and can be successfully managed with standard interventions. Pelvic ischemia often results from atheroembolization despite preservation of hypogastric arterial circulation. Colonic and spinal ischemia are associated with the highest morbidity and mortality

Traumatic STA aneurysm is a rare complication of facial trauma occuring typically in young men. We present the case of a minor league baseball player who developed 2 pseudoaneurysms after being struck by a baseball and review all cases associated with sports activities. Reports associated with sports activities are increasing and may represent an increasing incidence. The team physician should suspect this condition when a player presents with a new temporal mass after facial trauma. Diagnosis is typically made on history and physical examination, but can be confirmed by duplex ultrasound. Definitive treatment is surgical resection of the aneurysm after proximal and distal ligation of the vessel

The objective of this study was to define clinical and imaging characteristics of periaortitis prior to and after therapy with immunosuppressive drugs. Four consecutive patients with periaortitis (two secondary to atherosclerosis and two with rheumatic diseases) were studied with contrast-enhanced CT and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), rheumatologic serologies, and acute-phase reactants. All were treated with corticosteroids and two patients received immunosuppressive agents. Patients were followed with serial MRA scans, CT scans, and clinical exams. Prior to treatment, all patients demonstrated a rind of periaortic tissue, which was enhanced with both contrast-enhanced CT as well as gadolinium-enhanced MRA. Clinical symptoms resolved and rind contracture occurred in all cases following therapy. Enhancement of the rind persisted despite the clinical improvement in all patients. No patient developed an aortic aneurysm or retroperitoneal fibrosis during the follow-up period. Corticosteroid/immunosuppressive treatment was continued for an average of 41 months. At 62 months of total follow-up, there has been no recurrence of periaortitis by clinical and/or radiologic exam. Treatment of periaortitis with corticosteroids and immunosuppression therapy leads to resolution of clinical symptoms and radiologic contracture of the periaortic rind. Patients responded to therapy without developing progressive fibrosis or aneurysm. MRA allows safe and repetitive imaging of periaortitis and provides excellent definition of lumenal abnormalities including plaque rupture

The feasibility of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) in any individual patient remains inherently dependent on the anatomy of the aorta and iliac arteries. There is a great deal of evidence in the literature that poor anatomic patient selection for EVAR will increase the risk of both procedure-related complications and compromised long-term outcomes. Inferior outcomes can include technical failures such as attachment-site endoleak, endograft migration, and ultimately aneurysm growth and rupture. Unfortunately, it is relatively rare to encounter a patient who possesses completely 'ideal' anatomy for this technique. With the broadening spectrum of new devices applicable for the intraluminal treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms, the vascular surgeon is challenged to be aware of individual selection criteria for the ever-widening variety of endoluminal grafts, in order to choose the optimal device for each patient's distinct anatomical situation. In patients who would otherwise be at high risk for traditional abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery based on medical comorbidities, the additional challenge for the practitioner who performs EVAR is to possess excellent judgment regarding just how far the anatomical 'envelope' may be pushed without compromising patient outcomes

Total occlusion of the contralateral internal carotid artery has often been considered to be a predictor of adverse neurologic outcomes following carotid endarterectomy of an ipsilateral carotid stenosis. Results from both the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial and the Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Study have suggested this to be true. However, each of these trials had relatively few patients with contralateral occlusion in the surgical arms of the studies. In contrast to these studies, there are multiple surgical series in the literature demonstrating excellent results of carotid endarterectomy in patients with contralateral total occlusion. Recently, advocates of carotid angioplasty and stenting have suggested that this technique may be preferable in patients with a contralateral occlusion because of the perceived poor outcomes with surgery. As carotid angioplasty and stenting becomes more popular, it is becoming even more crucial to better define those patients who are truly at increased risk following carotid endarterectomy; ultimately, this will help clinicians decide which patients may derive the most benefits from endovascular therapies. With these issues in mind, the purpose of this review is to examine results of carotid endarterectomy in patients with total occlusion of the contralateral carotid artery

Citing the higher perioperative risk of redo carotid surgery, balloon angioplasty and stenting of the carotid artery (CAS) has been advocated for recurrent carotid stenosis (RCS). To examine the impact of CAS on the management and outcome of recurrent stenosis, a retrospective review of a prospectively compiled database was performed. From a registry of patients treated for carotid disease, 105 procedures were performed from 1992 to 2002 for RCS. For comparison, two study groups were examined. Time I consisted of 77 reoperations performed through 1998, before CAS was introduced at our institution. Time II included 12 reoperations and 16 CAS procedures performed for RCS from 1999 through 2002. Using perioperative stroke as a measure of outcome, the results for time II were poorer than for time I (7.2% vs. 5.2%, p = NS). Overall, the risk of perioperative stroke was the same for reoperation (5/89) and CAS (1/16) (5.6% vs. 6.3%, p = NS). Although not statistically significant, there was a trend toward a higher risk of perioperative stroke for patients treated with reoperation during the latter time period (8.3% vs. 5.2%, p = NS). This probably relates to the finding that during time II, CAS was most likely to be used in asymptomatic patients (68.6% vs. 41.7%, p = NS) with early (<3 years) RCS (87.5% vs. 41.7%, p= 0.01). No patient with asymptomatic, early RCS had a perioperative stroke with either surgery or CAS (0/35 cases, 0%). The presence of preoperative neurologic symptoms was significantly predictive of a perioperative stroke among all procedures performed for RCS (13.6% vs. 0%, p = 0.004). Contrary to suggestions that CAS might improve the management of RCS, a review of our data shows the overall risk of periprocedural stroke to be no better since CAS has become available. The bias for using CAS for asymptomatic myointimal hyperplastic lesions, and reoperation for frequently symptomatic late recurrent atherosclerotic disease, makes direct comparisons of the two techniques for treating RCS difficult. It is expected that the overall risk for redo carotid surgery will increase, as fewer low-risk patients will be receiving open procedures. However, the increased risk among symptomatic patients undergoing reoperation suggests that endovascular techniques should be investigated among this group of cases as well

A case is reported of a 28-year-old female who initially presented with a right iliac deep venous thrombosis of unclear etiology. A stenosis in the iliac vein was seen, but no intrinsic or extrinsic mass was noted on multiple imaging studies. The patient presented 2 years later with right hydronephrosis, and at that time a right pelvic mass was discovered. Resection was performed with concomitant reconstruction of the right iliac arterial system, and pathology revealed a malignant epithelioid angiosarcoma

This is a retrospective review of all carotid endarterectomies (CEA) (n=91) done from 1993 to 2002 at an inner-city hospital (Group I). This group was compared to a randomly selected group of patients (n=445) treated at a private hospital (Group II). The same high-volume surgeons performed CEAs at both hospitals. The majority of Group I patients (71.4%) were members of racial minority groups. They were also more likely to be younger (p<0.001), hypertensive (p<0.03), diabetic (p<0.001), and current smokers (p<0.001); have contralateral carotid artery occlusion (p=0.04); and present with stroke (p<0.001) than Group II patients. Despite this, the incidence of postoperative myocardial infarction (2.2% vs 0.2%, p=0.08), stroke (1.1% vs 1.6%, NS), and death (1.1% vs 0%, NS) was comparable between the 2 groups. Aggressive preoperative workup for occult cardiac disease in Group I revealed an incidence of 25.9% (n=15). Of these, 5 (33.3%) were found to have coronary artery disease severe enough to warrant intervention before CEA. In an inner-city population with increased medical comorbidities, more severe cerebrovascular disease, and relatively low volume of carotid surgery, the results of CEA were comparable to those in patients treated at a high-volume private hospital. The presence of high-volume surgeons, operating at the low-volume municipal hospital, may contribute to the low complication rate. Finally, aggressive preoperative cardiac workup in this underserved population revealed a meaningful incidence of occult coronary artery disease requiring intervention before CEA