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Aquired diverticula of the small bowel (not Meckel?s diverticulum) have a prevalence of 1 to 5 % and are relatively common. They are usually asymptomatic. However, in rare cases they can cause unspecific abdominal symptoms and even critical complications that require surgical intervention. Patients with diverticula of the small bowel were selected from all patients treated at an university hospital of maximal care in a retrospective study covering nine years. In 72 patients with diverticula, 47 % were asymptomatic, 47 % had unspecific abdominal symptoms and 6 % presented acute complications. In 83 % diverticula were localised in the duodenum and proximal jejunum. More distal parts of the small intestine were affected with decreasing frequency. A disseminated affection of the entire small bowel was found in 4 % of all patients. Diagnosis was made by endoscopic techniques in most cases (87 %) and to a smaller extent by CT- and MR-imaging and by other methods. The pattern of complications found is similar to earlier studies. Endoscopic techniques have replaced enteroclysis as the most widespread diagnostic technique in diagnosis of small bowel diverticula., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Background: Central retinal artery occlusion with persistent amaurosis as the only focal symptom caused by dissection of the internal carotid artery has occasionally been reported. Central retinal artery occlusion due to a common carotid artery dissection has been diagnosed only very rarely., Case Report: We describe a patient presenting with cervical pain, headache and unilateral amaurosis due to a thrombosis of the central retinal artery caused by a common carotid artery dissection, as demonstrated on MR imaging. No other neurological deficits could be detected. The patient underwent an anticoagulative treatment without improvement of his vision, but also without the appearance of further neurological symptoms., Conclusion: In monocular visual loss combined with cervical pain or headache, carotid artery dissection should be considered. Early treatment might be of crucial importance for the prevention of a devastating hemispheric stroke.

The dissection of the internal carotid artery is a rare complication of acceleration traumas of the upper spine. 30% of these dissections are caused by road accidents and again less than 30% of these occur bilateral as shown here. The symptoms are fronto-temporal and periorbital starting headaches spreading out to the occiput and Horner's syndrome. Complete hemiplegia as in our case is an impressive exception but the doctor in attendance should think of the carotid dissection. The exclusion of this complication is obligatory because treatment and outcome depend on it.The dynamic effects of bilateral carotid dissections may, as shown here, lead to relapsing cerebral infarctions with persisting neurologic deficits up to manifest hemiparesis. But restitution can be accomplished if early diagnosed by DSA and/or MRI. Therapy of choice is early prevention of persisting neurologic deficits using effective dosed heparin and depending on the residual lumen of the vessel oral anticoagulants or platelet antagonists for one year.

Purpose: To evaluate TOF 3D magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the intracranial arteries in patients with vasculitis or vasculitis-like benign angiopathy of the central nervous system (CNS)., Method: The results of MRA in 20 patients with clinically and radiographically proven vasculitis (17/20) or vasculitis-like benign angiopathy (3/20) of the CNS were retrospectively analysed. Patients with hyperintense lesions of more than 3 mm on T2-weighted MRI images were included in this trial. An inflammatory, embolic, neurodegenerative or metastatic origin of these lesions was excluded by extensive clinical studies. For the MR-examination a TOF 3D FISP sequence was used on a 1.5 T imager., Results: MRA showed characteristic changes for vasculitis or angiopathy in 15 of 20 patients (75%)., Conclusions: In patients suspected of having a vasculitis or vasculitis-like angiopathy, MRA is recommended as a non-invasive modality. If the results of MRI and extensive clinical studies are carefully correlated, MRA may substitute conventional angiography in cases with typical vascular changes.

Purpose: In the context of quality control, the results of balloon angioplasty of iliac and leg vessels in patients with vascular occlusive disease were investigated pertaining to the technical and clinical success., Methods: 197 conventional balloon angioplasties were evaluated regarding their success over a period of 1-4 years, retrospectively. The localisations of the primary obstructions and the existence of further obstructions, especially in the lower limb, the risk factors, and the technical and clinical results were compared. The clinical stage and the results of duplex ultrasound during follow-up examinations were recorded over a period of 1-4 years., Results: The technical success of PTA was 95% for stenotic lesions and 80% for occlusions. In the long-term (up to 4 years) PTA of the iliac arteries achieved the best results with a success rate of 88%. The long-term results for the combination of the risk factors nicotine/hyperlipidemia (69%) was better than for the combination of diabetes/hypertonia (54%). The combined PTA of the main obstruction and of lower limb vascular had better results than the PTA without the dilatation of following stenoses 73% to 79% after one year. In our department we achieved a rise in success rate from 84% in 1995 to 96% in 1997. The number of complications during PTA was reduced from 8% in 1995 to 0% in 1997 and 1998., Conclusions: PTA has a high technical success rate and good clinical long-term results at low complication rates. Combined PTA of the main obstruction and an additional lower limb arterial stenosis or occlusion should be discussed because of the better clinical results after one year. By the quality control we achieved a rising technical success rate and a drop in complication rate.

Background: Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is the clinical expression of obstruction of blood flow through the superior caval vein. In more than 80% of patients this complication is due to a malignant tumor, and in 60% of cases the first symptom of this tumor., Diagnosis and Treatment: If the clinical course of SVCS represents an absolute emergency, irradiation may have to be started immediately, even before the histologic diagnosis is established. Alternatively, expandable metallic stents have been used with considerable success for treatment of vena caval obstruction since patients respond immediately after stent implantation. For diagnosis, a chest X-ray and a CT scan should be performed. Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for high-grade lymphomas, germ cell tumors and small-cell lung cancer since this modality is more effective than radiotherapy (response rate: 80%). For less chemotherapy responsive tumors radiotherapy is the primary treatment. Successful experience with thrombolytic agents is limited to treatment of catheter-induced SVCS, in contrast, only 20% of patients respond to thrombolytic therapy in the absence of a central catheter. Surgical resection of SVCS associated tumors has not improved survival rates and should be avoided.

Objective: Clinical signs and symptoms sometimes throw suspicion on functional complications and venous thrombosis due to implantable venous access ports. Objective was to determine frequency of these problems using radiologic imaging., Methods: 61 patients were examined by means of fluoroscopy. If indication was given we injected radiopaque (contrast) medium. In the case of suspected vascular thrombosis the radiological finding was verified by sonography, phlebography or by venous magnetic resonance imaging angiography., Results: Altogether 46 complications were documented in 37 out of 61 examined patients (61%). Occlusions of port-catheter were proved in 24 cases. It was the radiologically most frequently recorded complication (52%;) and found coincident with other problems in 9 patients (37%;). Pain frequently indicates break of catheters. Implantation of catheters into jugular and axillary veins predisposes to break of catheters just as port-catheters lateral implanted into subclavian veins ("pinch-off-sign")., Conclusions: Functional tests of venous access systems using fluoroscopy and phlebography give information that helps to decide if clinically problematic port-systems should be used furthermore. Directions of catheter which are predestined to complications should be avoided.

Unlabelled: A traumatic lesion of the ulnar artery (Hypothenar Hammer Syndrome, HHS) is a very rare cause of acral ischemia of the upper extremity., Aim: Evaluation of the efficacy of ultrasound techniques in the diagnosis of the HSS., Method: Based on the knowledge of the patient's history and clinical examination we investigated forearm, hand and digital arteries by continuous wave Doppler. By means of colour-coded duplex sonography (CCDS) we demonstrated the course of the radial and ulnar arteries to the palmar arch. For comparison we used the results of preintervention angiography., Results: The diameter of the distal ulnary artery measured in healthy women was 1.8 +/- 0.32 and in men 2.2 +/- 0.46 mm. Among 268 patients with ischemia of the hands we diagnosed HHS in four cases. We identified an aneurysm of the ulnary artery in one case and a thrombotic occlusion in three cases. The thrombotic occlusion of the ulnar artery led to a dilatation of the vascular lumen. The occlusion length could be determined. Vessels diameter and echogenecity gave information about the age of the thrombosis., Conclusion: The continuous wave Doppler is a major diagnostic contribution because of its ability to register hemodynamic changes. Additionally, CCDS with its combination of sonomorphology and hemodynamics enables a distinction between HHS and other causes of digital ischemia. The CCDS more precisely refines the indications for preinterventional angiography in acute ischemia syndromes of the hand.

Based on two patients suffering from chronic visceral ischemia, the anatomic and pathophysiologic principles prior to surgery are discussed. Antegrade revascularization is supposed to be better hemodynamically. Complete revascularization of multiple arteries seems to be theoretically superior to one-vessel procedures. Within the bypass procedures the aortic-celiac-mesenteric patch bypass could be an excellent surgical possibility combining antegrade with simultaneous revascularization of celiac and superior mesenteric artery.

Conventional PTA represents the state of the art method for treating arterial occlusive disease of the leg arteries. Rotational angioplasty is an improvement over conventional PTA in treating long proximal occlusions of the SFA. It can also be used as a second treatment in cases that were primarily unsuccessful with PTA, with an initial success of 59%. Stent implantation is mainly indicated in limb-threatening ischemia. It also permits successful management of an aneurysm as a late and rare complication correlated to PTA. Atherectomy produces better initial success in eccentric stenotic lesions than PTA. It also permits the successful management of obstructive intimal flaps after angioplasty. The new techniques only improve on PTA, if they are used in the differential therapeutic strategy mentioned above.