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Purpose: This study was performed to compare endovascular repair with conventional open repair of isolated iliac artery aneurysms (IAAs). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients who underwent repair of isolated IAAs between January 2008 and June 2012. Patients with infected, mycotic and ruptured iliac aneurysms and those with concurrent infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms greater than 30 mm in diameter were excluded from this analysis. Results: A total of 32 patients were treated with isolated IAAs. There were 20 open and 12 endovascular repairs. A comparison of the length of the operation (238 ± 84 min in the open group vs 176 ± 72 min in the endovascular group, P = 0.03) and intraoperative blood loss (1,735 ± 1,177 ml in the open group vs 503 ± 711 ml in the endovascular group, P = 0.01), revealed significant differences in favor of the endovascular procedure. Postoperative complications were less common in the endovascular group, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: The management of isolated IAAs with both endovascular and open repair can be accomplished with very low morbidity rates. Therefore, endovascular repair can be considered an alternative treatment for isolated IAAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes correlated with our treatment strategy for prosthetic graft infection. Methods: Seventeen patients were treated for prosthetic graft infections between 1997 and 2009. Initially, total graft excision was applied in five cases, partial graft excision was applied in six cases and graft preservation with drainage and irrigation was applied in six cases. Among the graft-preserved cases, four patients were infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and treated with gentian violet (GV). Results: The overall survival rate was 88 % at 30 days and 82 % at 1 year in this series. Of the excised cases, nine patients survived; however, two patients died. Among the cases in which MRSA-infected grafts were preserved, three patients survived; however, one patient died under a septicemic state. Infected graft preservation was applied at a high rate of 36 %, and the mortality rate remained at 16 %, without any signs of graft reinfection. Conclusions: In the treatment of infected grafts, the patient's condition should be considered in order to select the appropriate treatment in each case. Graft preservation should be considered as an alternative treatment option, especially in high-risk patients, and GV can be effective for conservative treatment of prosthetic graft infections, including MRSA infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor resection and caval tumor thrombectomy, with or without cavotomy and inferior vena cava (IVC) replacement are sometimes performed in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) extending into the IVC or liver tumors invading the IVC. Two such cases were treated. Case 1: a 68-year-old female was transferred with a diagnosis of right RCC with tumor thrombus extending into the IVC. A plication was performed to prevent extension into the right atrium before the nephrectomy and cavotomy with removal of the tumor thrombus was accomplished, because the IVC was almost completely obstructed and the hemodynamics were stable during cross-clamping of the IVC. Case 2: a 37-year-old female was transferred with a diagnosis of a giant metastatic liver tumor. A trisegmentectomy with resection of the invaded IVC and IVC replacement was performed while the abdominal aorta was cross-clamped to maintain the hemodynamics. Therefore, abdominal aortic cross-clamping was convenient to maintain the hemodynamics when the IVC replacement was performed during IVC cross-clamping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The treatment guidelines for isolated superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection have not been established. We assessed 14 cases of SMA dissection and reviewed the literature on this entity. Methods: The subjects were 11 men and 3 women (average age 64 years), with SMA dissection diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) scan or digital subtraction angiography, between 2001 and 2009, at our institution. Eight patients presented with symptoms such as abdominal pain, but SMA dissection was diagnosed incidentally during investigations of another illness in six patients. Thirteen patients were treated conservatively with anticoagulation and/or antiplatelet drugs, but one underwent exploratory laparotomy. The median follow-up period was 22 months. Result: The symptoms did not worsen, and ultimately resolved in the eight patients who had symptoms. Isolated dissection improved dramatically in two of the six patients with obstruction of the false lumen and was not seen on computed tomography (CT) scans 1 and 3 months after its onset. Conclusion: We recommend conservative treatment as the first choice for isolated SMA dissection, even if the patient has abdominal pain and tenderness, given that there are no signs of peritonitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is generally accepted that clinical symptoms give the only clue to the presence of atheroemboli in patients with blue toe syndrome (BTS). We report a case of atheroemboli originating from the abdominal aortic aneurysm in which Doppler ultrasound successfully detected atheroembolic signals, which vanished immediately after surgery. To our knowledge, this is the first such case to be documented. When a 67-year-old man was given warfarin after aortocoronay bypass, digital cyanosis suddenly developed, which became worse and was very painful. Angiography and computed tomography scanning revealed an infrarenal aortic aneurysm with mural thrombus. Doppler ultrasound detected atheroemboli as high-intensity transient signals in the bilateral tibioperoneal trunks. After aneurysmectomy and a bifurcated graft replacement, the cyanotic and painful toes improved immediately. Microscopically, cholesterin crystals were seen in the arterioles of the amputated digits. Thus, Doppler ultrasound could be a valuable test to determine the appropriate treatment for patients at risk of atheroembolic BTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report the outcomes of below-the-knee (BK) bypass surgery using heparin-bonded expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts, performed in two centers since its launch in Japan.We conducted a retrospective analysis of databases from two medical centers, evaluating 51 limbs in 42 consecutive patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), who underwent BK bypass surgery using heparin-bonded ePTFE grafts between October, 2013 and April, 2023.Thirty-three limbs (64.7%) were classified as Rutherford category 4–6 and 33 limbs (64.7%) had a history of ipsilateral revascularization. Technical success was achieved in 98% of the patients. The 30 day mortality rate was 2.4% (n = 1) and the overall 30 day complication rate was 9.5% (n = 4). The median follow-up period was 38 (interquartile range 13–67) months. Three patients required major amputation and 14 died during follow-up. Primary patency rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 67.8%, 57.5%, and 46.5%, respectively, while secondary patency rates for these periods were 84.6%, 70.0%, and 66.0%, respectively. Overall survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 90.1%, 74.5%, and 70.9%, respectively.BK bypass surgery using heparin-bonded ePTFE graft is a viable and durable option for patients with PAD, who are deemed unsuitable for autologous vein bypass surgery.Methods: To report the outcomes of below-the-knee (BK) bypass surgery using heparin-bonded expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts, performed in two centers since its launch in Japan.We conducted a retrospective analysis of databases from two medical centers, evaluating 51 limbs in 42 consecutive patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), who underwent BK bypass surgery using heparin-bonded ePTFE grafts between October, 2013 and April, 2023.Thirty-three limbs (64.7%) were classified as Rutherford category 4–6 and 33 limbs (64.7%) had a history of ipsilateral revascularization. Technical success was achieved in 98% of the patients. The 30 day mortality rate was 2.4% (n = 1) and the overall 30 day complication rate was 9.5% (n = 4). The median follow-up period was 38 (interquartile range 13–67) months. Three patients required major amputation and 14 died during follow-up. Primary patency rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 67.8%, 57.5%, and 46.5%, respectively, while secondary patency rates for these periods were 84.6%, 70.0%, and 66.0%, respectively. Overall survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 90.1%, 74.5%, and 70.9%, respectively.BK bypass surgery using heparin-bonded ePTFE graft is a viable and durable option for patients with PAD, who are deemed unsuitable for autologous vein bypass surgery.Results: To report the outcomes of below-the-knee (BK) bypass surgery using heparin-bonded expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts, performed in two centers since its launch in Japan.We conducted a retrospective analysis of databases from two medical centers, evaluating 51 limbs in 42 consecutive patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), who underwent BK bypass surgery using heparin-bonded ePTFE grafts between October, 2013 and April, 2023.Thirty-three limbs (64.7%) were classified as Rutherford category 4–6 and 33 limbs (64.7%) had a history of ipsilateral revascularization. Technical success was achieved in 98% of the patients. The 30 day mortality rate was 2.4% (n = 1) and the overall 30 day complication rate was 9.5% (n = 4). The median follow-up period was 38 (interquartile range 13–67) months. Three patients required major amputation and 14 died during follow-up. Primary patency rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 67.8%, 57.5%, and 46.5%, respectively, while secondary patency rates for these periods were 84.6%, 70.0%, and 66.0%, respectively. Overall survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 90.1%, 74.5%, and 70.9%, respectively.BK bypass surgery using heparin-bonded ePTFE graft is a viable and durable option for patients with PAD, who are deemed unsuitable for autologous vein bypass surgery.Conclusions: To report the outcomes of below-the-knee (BK) bypass surgery using heparin-bonded expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts, performed in two centers since its launch in Japan.We conducted a retrospective analysis of databases from two medical centers, evaluating 51 limbs in 42 consecutive patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), who underwent BK bypass surgery using heparin-bonded ePTFE grafts between October, 2013 and April, 2023.Thirty-three limbs (64.7%) were classified as Rutherford category 4–6 and 33 limbs (64.7%) had a history of ipsilateral revascularization. Technical success was achieved in 98% of the patients. The 30 day mortality rate was 2.4% (n = 1) and the overall 30 day complication rate was 9.5% (n = 4). The median follow-up period was 38 (interquartile range 13–67) months. Three patients required major amputation and 14 died during follow-up. Primary patency rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 67.8%, 57.5%, and 46.5%, respectively, while secondary patency rates for these periods were 84.6%, 70.0%, and 66.0%, respectively. Overall survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 90.1%, 74.5%, and 70.9%, respectively.BK bypass surgery using heparin-bonded ePTFE graft is a viable and durable option for patients with PAD, who are deemed unsuitable for autologous vein bypass surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to elucidate whether the ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) or transfer function index (TFI) was useful as an alternative parameter to the treadmill-walking test using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in evaluating muscle ischemia for patients with intermittent claudication (IC)., Methods: In 155 claudicants, the treadmill-walking test using NIRS was performed to calculate the recovery ability index (=recovery time/walking time). The ABPI and TFI were measured at the calf (TFI(calf)) and ankle (TFI(ankle)) using pulse volume recording. The area under the curve (AUC) was calculated from the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and cutoff value was determined using crossing point of the ROC curve with a diagonal line., Results: In the nondiabetics, AUCs were 77.3%, 80.0%, and 76.0% in the ABPI, TFI(calf), and TFI(ankle), respectively, which were not different significantly. In the diabetics, the AUC of TFI(calf) was 77.9%, which was different significantly from those of the other indices such as the ABPI or TFI(ankle) showing 66.2% or 68.1%. The cutoff value of ABPI indicating moderate or severe IC was 0.75 in the nondiabetics whereas that of TFI(calf) was 0.85 in the diabetics., Conclusion: TFI(calf) was useful to distinguish moderate or severe IC from mild IC in diabetic patients even if the ABPI was sufficient in nondiabetic patients.