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The chimney graft (CG) technique, based on the deployment of a covered stent parallel to the aortic endograft, has been proposed to achieve a safe proximal fixation extending the sealing zone. We report our experience with the CG technique in an emergency setting. Between December 2010 and April 2012, 4 patients underwent the CG technique. The mean age was 79 (range 76-82 years) and 3 patients were men. The median aneurysm diameter was 64.7 mm (range 63-68 mm). Indications for CG were painful proximal para-anastomotic aneurysm in 2 cases and symptomatic juxtarenal aneurysm in the other 2. Target vessels were both the renal arteries. Technical success was achieved in 100% and no intraoperative complications occurred. No stent-related complications, or Type I endoleak, were detected. No death occurred during the postoperative course. Creatinine elevation was observed in 2 cases. At follow-up, no endoleaks or rupture occurred. One patient died of myocardial infarction 3 months after the procedure. The primary patency rate of covered stents was 100%. The CG technique seems to be safe and feasible with an excellent patency rate of covered stents and a low incidence of endoleaks. More evidence in the literature is needed to carry out a validation of this technique in an emergency.

Objective: This study evaluated outcomes of remote endarterectomy (RE) vs endovascular (ENDO) interventions on TransAtlantic Inter-Societal Consensus (TASC)-II D femoropopliteal lesions and identified factors predictive of restenosis., Methods: From October 2004 to December 2008, 95 patients with TASC-II D lesions were randomized 1:1 to receive RE of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) with end point stenting (51 patients) or ENDO, consisting of subintimal angioplasty with stenting (44 patients). The groups were balanced for age, sex, atherosclerotic risk factors, and comorbidities. Categoric data were analyzed with χ2 tests, and time to event provided two-sided P values with a level of significance at .05 and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Survival curves for primary patency were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate analysis for diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, and critical ischemia was performed according to the Cox proportional hazards model., Results: The mean follow-up was 52.5 months (range, 35-75 months). Five RE patients and four ENDO patients were lost to follow-up (censored). Primary patency was 76.5% (39 of 51) in RE and 56.8% (25 of 44) in ENDO (hazard ratio [HR], 2.6; 95% CI, 0.99-4.2; P=.05) at 24 months and was 62.7% (32 of 46) in RE and 47.7% (21 of 40) in ENDO (HR, 1.89; 95% CI, 0.94-3.78; P=.07) at 36 months. Assisted primary patency was 70.6% (36 of 51) in RE and 52.3% (23 of 44) in ENDO (HR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.20-5.02; P=.01). Secondary patency overlapped the primary comparison data at 12 and 24 months; at 36 months, there was a slight but significative advantage for RE (HR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.05-4.86; P=.03). Univariate analysis demonstrated that hypercholesterolemia and critical limb ischemia (CLI) were significantly related to patency failure, whereas diabetes was significant only in ENDO. These factors (hypercholesterolemia and CLI) were independent predictors of patency on Cox multivariate analysis., Conclusions: RE is a safe, effective, and durable procedure for TASC-II D lesions. Our data demonstrate a significantly higher primary, assisted primary, and secondary patency of RE vs ENDO procedures. Furthermore, overall secondary patency rates remain within the standard limits, although preoperative CLI and dyslipidemia continue to be associated with worse outcomes. Taken together, these data suggest that RE should be considered better than an endovascular procedure in SFA long-segment occlusion treatment., (Copyright © 2012 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

We report a case of acute limb ischaemia due to unusual upstream stent migration into the aorta 2 years after successful kissing stenting. Angiography showed a misplacement of both common iliac stent into the aorta, upstream migration with a fracture on the left external iliac stent into the iliac common artery, occlusion of the left iliac and femoral artery, dilatation of aortic bifurcation and stent separation on the right side. The patient underwent a successful axillo-bifemoral bypass graft. Vessel wall remodelling due to overestimation of stent size, aortic turbulence and rebound effect may explain this complication.

Celiac trunk aneurysm is one of the rarest forms of splanchnic artery aneurysm. Conventional open vascular surgery is associated with increased rates of morbidity and mortality and can require complex vascular reconstruction.We describe the case of a 42-year-old patient with celiac trunk aneurysm whom we treated by means of a hybrid surgical-endovascular procedure. We performed a left reno-splenic bypass, after which we used a direct splenic artery approach to deploy a self-expandable 6 × 50-mm stent-graft across the splenic and hepatic arteries. One year later, the stability of the repair was confirmed.

Venous aneurysms (VAs) have been described in quite of all the major veins. They represent uncommon events but often life-threatening because of pulmonary or paradoxical embolism. We describe our twelve patients' series with acute pulmonary emboli due to venous aneurysm thrombosis. Our experience underlines the importance of a multilevel case-by-case approach and the immediate venous lower limbs duplex scan evaluation in pulmonary embolism events. Our data confirm that anticoagulant alone is not effective in preventing pulmonary embolism. We believe that all the VAs of the deep venous system of the extremities should be treated with surgery as well as symptomatic superficial venous aneurysm. A simple excision can significantly improve symptoms and prevent pulmonary embolism.

Most peripheral artery emboli originate in the heart, and systemic neoplastic emboli are infrequently associated with bronchogenic carcinoma. To our knowledge, there have been no reports of pulmonary vein infiltration by small cell lung cancer.We describe a highly unusual case of multiple instances of peripheral embolism as the first overt sign of occult primary small cell lung cancer. Tumor emboli infiltrated the pulmonary veins of a 62-year-old man who presented first with a transient ischemic attack and then with other ischemic symptoms. The uncommonly wide distribution of tumor emboli over a short time resulted in death.Improvements in diagnostic imaging have led to the early identification of relatively isolated small cell lung cancers. This patient's case underscores the importance of transesophageal echocardiography in detecting cardiac emboli when the cause of cerebral ischemic attack is unknown or if there might be multiple instances of arterial embolism. Computed tomography also has a role in the investigation of possible sources of emboli and unrecognized, asymptomatic embolization.

Objectives: We prospectively evaluated safety and efficacy from our six-year results of general anesthesia (GA) using remifentanil conscious sedation in carotid endarterectomy (CEA)., Methods: From January 2005 to December 2010, 625 consecutive CEAs were performed on 545 patients (male/female 336/209, age 75 ± 7 years). After a superficial plexus block with ropavacaine, GA was induced with an intravenous infusion of propofol, using local lidocaine during tracheal intubation and a high-dose of remifentanil, in all cases reducing and then stopping the remifentanil infusion at the clamping time so that the patient would be awake and collaborating within a few minutes, as in local anesthesia. Data on postoperative morbidity and mortality, neurological complications, shunt insertions and the responses to one-day and three-month questionnaires on satisfaction were collected for all patients., Results: The 30-day mortality was 0.32% (two patients). Only one major stroke (0.16%) and two minor strokes (0.32%) occurred. A shunt was deployed in 83 cases (13.3%). Eight patients (1.28%) reported cranial nerve injuries, and surgical drainage for postoperative hematoma was performed in 11 patients (1.8%). Thirty-one patients (4.6%) suffered postoperative nausea/vomiting. Almost all patients were satisfied at the 24-h (94.6%) and three-month (>98%) follow-up questionnaire., Conclusions: The six-year results for GA using remifentanil conscious sedation were very satisfactory and highlighted the advantages of both GA (hemodynamic stability and excellent control of ventilation) and local anesthesia (ease of evaluation of neurological status) in a calm and relaxed environment for both patient and surgeon.

The internal carotid artery (ICA) usually, lies posterolaterally to the external carotid artery (ECA). Sometimes a complete carotid transposition can occur, with the ECA in a lateral position and the ICA on the medial side can occur. Our study evaluated the significance and impact that this anomaly may have on cranial nerve injuries. From January 2008 to November 2010, 296 patients underwent 360 consecutive primary carotid endarterectomy (CEA) procedures. During carotid isolation, we detected an unexpected lateral position of the ECA in 11 cases (3.6%). χ(2) analysis and the Student's t-test were used to compare the incidence of cranial nerve injuries between the 11 patients with the lateral ECA who underwent CEA (group A) and 11 randomized patients with a normal bifurcation (group B). Statistical significance was inferred at χ(2)>3.84 and P<0.05. A statistical difference in the incidence of superior laryngeal nerve paralysis was detected between groups A and B (18.1%, 2/11 in group A vs. 0%, 0/11 in group B; χ(2)>3.84; P<0.05). No differences in incidence of injury were detected for the other cranial nerves. A very meticulous mobilization of the ECA and ICA is needed to perform CEA, but superior laryngeal nerve injury can occur despite the use of a safe and meticulous surgical technique.

Arterial percutaneous closure devices (APCD) could lead to severe vascular complications, like acute lower limb ischemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively our personal series of acute lower limb ischemia following the use of APCD. From January 2004 to June 2009 the Angio-Seal percutaneous closure devices was deployed in 198 patients. Eight (4%) acute lower limb ischemia required urgent surgical repair. The device was removed in all cases. A thromboembolectomy was performed in five patients (62.5%) and in three (37.5%) an endarterectomy with patch closure was carried out (two saphenous vein and one Dacron). Limb salvage rate was 87.5%. We compared Angio-Seal complications group (A) with the 190 patients in which the Angio-Seal was successfully used without complications (group B) by means of Student's t-test. At 36-month follow-up with color-coded duplex ultrasounds, no chronic limb ischemia or other complications requiring surgical repair occurred. Diabetes, obesity, severe femoral atherosclerotic involvement, use of sheath size >7 Fr and time-consuming procedures were significant risk factors for ischemic APCD complications. Despite vascular injuries being uncommon after APCD deployment, generally a complex surgical repair is necessary. A more careful patient selection would be advisable.

The association of a retroaortic left renal vein and an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) fistula is an infrequent event. We present two cases of AAA rupture into the retroaortic left renal vein. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) assessment showed retroperitoneal bleeding due to a large AAA rupture with an associated unusual retroaortic left renal vein. Patients underwent successful arteriovenous fistula sutures with abdominal aortoiliac replacement. The patients had uneventful recoveries, and they were discharged on the seventh to ninth postoperative day (POD) without renal complications. The clinical onset was characterized by the unique syndrome: continuous abdominal bruit, abdominal and left flank pain with an associated pulsatile mass (Mansour Triad). Moreover patients presented with haematuria, proteinuria and a large non-functional left kidney on the imaging scan. The CT-scan may suggest the presence of the venous anomaly. Unusual anatomical presentation recommends a careful surgical approach during AAA operations.

Popliteal venous aneurysms (PVA) are rare and in most cases the first sign of their presence is a pulmonary embolus or other thromboembolic events. We report four cases of PVA, in two of these the first sign of their presence was an acute pulmonary embolism; in two remaining cases the diagnosis was fortuitous. Accurate evaluation of venous system of lower limb by duplex scan is important in all cases of pulmonary embolism, the anticoagulation may be ineffective in preventing pulmonary embolism and the surgical repair is the mainstay of therapy of this pathology because it is safe and effective.

We report the case of a 42-year-old man with pleuritic chest pain, shortness of breath, and associated tachycardia. Three months before, he had been treated for similar features with the diagnosis of pulmonary emboli. Computed tomography scan showed multiple bilateral pulmonary emboli. He had no clinical evidence of deep venous thrombosis, but an accurate venous duplex examination revealed a thrombosis of the posterior tibial vein aneurysm. Thrombolysis, a temporary inferior cava filter (ICV filter), and tangential aneurysmectomy and lateral venorrhaphy were performed. Accurate duplex scan evaluation of lower limb venous system is mandatory in all cases of pulmonary embolism; anticoagulation may be ineffective in preventing pulmonary embolism, and the surgical repair is treatment of choice of this pathology because it is safe and effective., (Copyright (c) 2010 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)