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Background: Heart failure due to high cardiac output rarely occurs. Few cases of post-traumatic arteriovenous fistula (AVF) as a cause of high-output failure were reported in the literature., Methods: Herein, we report a case of 33-year-old male who was admitted to our institution due to symptoms of heart failure. He reported a gunshot injury of the left thigh 4 months earlier, when he had been shortly hospitalized and discharged 4 days later. Since the gunshot injury he had exertional dyspnea and left leg edema, so the diagnostic procedures were performed., Results: Clinical examination revealed distended neck veins, tachycardia, slightly palpable liver, left leg edema, and thrill over the left thigh. Due to high clinical suspicion, duplex ultrasonography of the left leg was performed that verified femoral AVF. Operative treatment of AVF was made with prompt resolution of symptoms., Conclusions: This case wants to emphasize the importance of proper clinical examination, and duplex ultrasonography in all cases of penetrating injuries., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Iliac and femoral venous injuries represent a challenging dilemma in trauma surgery with mixed results. Venous restoration of outflow (via repair or bypass) has been previously identified as having higher rates of VTE (venous thromboembolism) compared to ligation. We hypothesized that rates of VTE and eventual amputation were similar whether restoration of venous outflow vs ligation was performed at initial operation., Methods: Patients in the 2019-2021 National Trauma Data Bank with iliac and femoral vein injuries were abstracted and analyzed. The primary outcomes of interest were in-hospital lower extremity amputation and VTE., Results: A total of 2642 patients with operatively managed iliac and femoral vein injuries were identified VTE was found in 10.8% of patients. Multivariable logistic regression was performed and identified bowel injury, higher ISS, older age, open repair, and longer time to VTE prophylaxis initiation as independent predictors of VTE. Amputation was required in 4.2% of patients. Multivariable logistic regression identified arterial or nerve injury, femur or tibia fracture, venous ligation, percutaneous intervention, fasciotomy, bowel injury, and higher ISS as independent factors of amputation., Conclusion: Venous restoration was not an independent predictor of VTE. Venous ligation on index operation was the only modifiable independent predictor of amputation identified on regression analysis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Traumatic arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is not a common disorder, and dermatological signs and heart failure caused by AVF are rarely reported. We present the case of a 55-year-old woman who was referred for congestive heart failure symptoms. Echocardiography revealed preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Due to edema of the right leg with a long-standing leg ulcer and palpable femoral thrill, duplex ultrasonography was performed. It showed an AVF between the right superficial femoral artery (SFA) and the right femoral vein (FV). The patient recalled a 32-year-old gunshot injury that was not medically treated. After the diagnosis of AVF she was referred to a surgeon for an AVF ligation, with subsequent resolution of her symptoms. The differential diagnosis of leg ulcer with leg edema should include the possibility of AVF as a cause., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

An 11-year old boy presented with a blunt trauma in the right inguinal area after a bicycle accident. Initial clinical picture was indicative of decreased arterial blood supply to the right lower extremity and the diagnostic confirmation was made with a colour flow Doppler ultrasonography. During operative investigation, a thrombosis of the common femoral artery, 3.5 cm in length, was found. The thrombotic part of the femoral artery was removed and replaced with a venous graft taken from the major saphenous vein, before the saphenofemoral junction. Postoperative course was uneventful. Traumatic thrombosis of the common femoral artery as a result of a blunt trauma is very rare, as only 4 relevant cases have been described previously.

Introduction: Venous air embolism (VAE) from vascular injuries, is of rare occurrence but can result in catastrophic complications during total hip arthroplasty (THA). Early recognition and prompt management of vascular injury are required to avoid severe complications. Especially, bleeding is generally associated with profound hypotension in venous injury. We report an unusual complication of venous air embolism induced by femoral vein rupture during THA., Patient Concerns: A 54-year-old male patient with a history of old left acetabular fracture was scheduled for THA. We experienced massive bleeding and VAE induced by femoral vein rupture during total hip arthroplasty. The BP suddenly dropped from 100/70 mm Hg to 80/50 mm Hg with massive bleeding. ETCO2 and SaO2 decreased profoundly., Diagnosis: The VAE was diagnosed by the change in end- tidal CO2 (ETCO2) and change of vital signs, so we performed ABGA and inserted TEE for confirmination., Interventions: For treatment, patient was managed by oxygen therapy, inotropics, vasopressor, transfusion and surgical repair., Outcomes: Upon consulting with a cardiologist, the patient was extubated the next day and was transferred to the general ward and recovered without serious complications. He stayed for 17 days until finally discharged without complications., Conclusion: Preoperative vascular imaging may be recommended in the revisional case of THA or in patients with the history of hip trauma. The monitoring of ETCO2 and TEE might be helpful to recognize VAE earlier and therefore to avoid catastrophic complications through adequate treatment., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interests to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Central venous catheter (CVC) complication rates reflecting the application of modern insertion techniques to a clinically heterogeneous patient populations are needed to better understand procedural risk attributable to the 3 common anatomic insertion sites: internal jugular, subclavian, and femoral veins. We sought to define site-specific mechanical and duration-associated CVC complication rates across all hospital inpatients., Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted over 9 months at Georgetown University Hospital and Washington Hospital Center. Peripherally inserted central catheters and tunneled or fluoroscopically placed CVC's were excluded. Mechanical complications (retained guidewire, arterial injury, and pneumothorax) and duration-associated complications (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, and central line-associated bloodstream infections) were identified., Results: In all, 1179 CVC insertions in 801 adult patients were analyzed. Approximately 32% of patients had multiple lines placed. Of 1179 CVCs, 73 total complications were recorded, giving a total rate of one or more complications occurring per CVC of 5.9%. There was no statistically significant difference between site-specific complications. A total of 19 mechanical complications were documented, with a 1.5% complication rate of one or more mechanical complications occurring. A total of 54 delayed complications were documented, with a 4.4% complication rate of 1 or more delayed complications occurring. There were no statistically significant differences between anatomic sites for either total mechanical or total delayed complications., Conclusions: These results suggest that site-specific CVC complication rates may be less common than previously reported. These data further inform on the safety of modern CVC insertion techniques across all patient populations and clinical settings.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a disease with high prevalence and morbidity. It can lead to pulmonary embolism with severe respiratory insufficiency and risk of death. Mechanisms behind all stages of DVT, such as thrombosis commencement, propagation, and resolution, remain incompletely understood. Animal models represent an invaluable tool to explore these problems and identify new targets for DVT prevention and treatment. In this review, we discuss existing models of venous thrombosis, their advantages and disadvantages, and applicability to studying different aspects of DVT pathophysiology. We also speculate about requirements for an "ideal model" that would best recapitulate features of human DVT and discuss readouts of various models.

Purpose: The direct anterior approach for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) has become increasingly popular in recent years. Nerve compression or traction with a retractor is a common cause of nerve injury in this approach. The purpose of this cadaveric study was to evaluate the anatomic relationship of the femoral neurovascular bundle to the anterior acetabular retractor during direct anterior approach THA., Methods: Eleven fresh-frozen cadavers underwent a standard direct anterior THA, with placement of an anterior acetabular retractor in the usual fashion between the iliopsoas and acetabulum for visualization during acetabular preparation. Careful dissection of the femoral triangle was performed, and the distances from the anterior retractor tip to the femoral nerve, artery, and vein were recorded and analyzed as mean distance ± standard deviation., Results: In all 11 cadavers, the retractor tip was medial to the femoral nerve. The mean distance from retractor tip to femoral artery and vein was 5.9 mm (SD = 5.5, range 0-20) and 12.6 mm (SD 0.7, range 0-35), respectively., Conclusions: Surgeons should be aware of the proximity of the neurovascular structures in relation to the anterior acetabular retractor in the direct anterior approach, taking care to avoid perforating the iliopsoas muscle during retractor insertion and limit excessive traction to prevent nerve injury.

Background: There are very few animal models of balloon angioplasty injury in arteriovenous fistula (AVF), hindering insight into the pathophysiologic processes following angioplasty in AVF. The objective of the study was to develop and characterize a rat model of AVF angioplasty injury., Methods: Balloon angioplasty in 12- to 16-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats was performed at the arteriovenous anastomosis 14 days post-AVF creation with a 2F Fogarty balloon catheter. Morphometry and protein expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), monocyte-chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), CD68 (macrophage marker), and collagen expression in AVFs with and without angioplasty were assessed., Results: In AVFs with angioplasty versus without angioplasty: (1) angioplasty increased AVF-vein and artery intimal hyperplasia, (2) angioplasty decreased eNOS protein expression in AVF-vein and artery at 21 days post-AVF creation and remained decreased in the AVF-vein angioplasty group at 35 days, (3) angioplasty increased AVF-vein and artery α-SMA expression within the intimal region at 35 days, (4) angioplasty increased the expression of AVF-vein MCP-1 at 21 days and CD68 at 21 and 35 days, and (5) angioplasty increased AVF-vein and artery collagen expression at 35 days., Conclusion: Our findings describe a reproducible rat model to better understand the pathophysiologic mechanisms that ensue following AVF angioplasty., (© 2020 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Deaths from sharp force injuries are a significant cause of violent death. While homicides and suicides caused by sharp force wounds are common, accidental injuries are less often described in forensic literature, so their actual incidence or prevalence is not known. This paper presents an accidental death due to massive blood loss which resulted from lesions to the left femoral vessels by glass fragments. The body was found in a pool of blood surrounded by hundreds of glass fragments. Autopsy revealed a near-total transection of the superficial femoral artery, and two wounds of the superficial femoral vein. In case of accidental sharp force injuries, a thorough medico-legal process, including death scene investigation, autopsy examination and toxicological analyses, is always necessary to determine the manner of death.

We evaluated the course of the femoral blood vessels of patients with acetabular dysplasia. Patients were divided into five groups: those with Crowe type I, II, III, and IV dysplastic hips and those with normal hips. A computed tomography-based hip navigation software was used to measure the distance between the femoral blood vessels and the anterior pelvic wall in four axial planes located 10-40 mm proximal to the pelvic teardrop. In Crowe Groups I through IV, the distance was shortest at a point 20 mm proximal to the pelvic teardrop. Furthermore, the distance decreased as the Crowe classification grade increased. Because the femoral blood vessels pass close to the pelvis in many patients in Crowe III and IV hips, caution is required during surgery in these patients.

Infected pseudoaneurysms are a vascular emergency, necessitating urgent surgical management. Owing to the infected field, a synthetic graft may be inappropriate in patients for whom autografting is impossible. Ligation of the artery is the usual management, often leading to amputation. We report a case of cadaveric allografting of the common femoral artery in a patient with a traumatic, infected pseudoaneurysm, who was taking immunosuppressive therapy for a liver transplant. The patient was followed up with ultrasound at 12 months and was found to have a significant graft stenosis, which was treated successfully with angioplasty. At 18 months, the patient remained well. This case describes the successful implantation of a cadaveric allograft into a patient with an infected pseudoaneurysm, negating the for need primary ligation.

Venous thromboembolism is a condition that includes both deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism. Pulmonary thromboembolism is a condition that is familiar to forensic pathologists for its common cause of sudden unexpected death. Fatal pulmonary thromboembolism following deep vein thrombosis has been previously reported as a consequence of major ankle injury but not following minor ankle injury. Here, I report the case of sudden unexpected death in a 54-year-old female without known underlying risk factors for venous thromboembolism, except for a history of minor injury at her left ankle, which possibly caused local vascular wall damage with subsequent deep vein thrombosis and eventual massive pulmonary thromboembolism., (Copyright © 2018 the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rationale: Double-lumen hemodialysis catheters are commonly used as temporary hemodialysis routes. Complications include infection, thrombosis, cardiac arrhythmia, entrapped guide wire, and malposition. We report a rare complication of delayed hemodialysis catheter malposition that caused retroperitoneal hemorrhage and hypovolemic shock during hemodialysis., Patient Concerns: A 72-year-old female patient who was receiving hemodialysis was referred to our emergency department because of general discomfort and decreased blood pressure (BP) after her regular hemodialysis. She had undergone surgery for a left forearm arteriovenous pseudoaneurysm and received a temporary hemodialysis catheter insertion via the left femoral vein 2 weeks before. The initial blood examination revealed a mildly decreased baseline hemoglobin level (7.2 g/dL) and hyperkalemia (5.9 mmol/L). Her BP recovered after fluid resuscitation. She was administered hemodialysis again, following which her BP reduced and a change in consciousness developed., Diagnosis: Chest and abdominal computed tomographies were performed to exclude acute vascular problems and showed a hemodialysis catheter tip protruding from the left iliac vein and hematoma in the left retroperitoneal space and pelvic cavity., Interventions: Intubation, fluid resuscitation, vasopressor administration, and blood transfusion were performed. She was admitted to the intensive care unit. The left femoral hemodialysis catheter was removed., Outcomes: Follow-up computed tomography revealed resolution of the retroperitoneal space hematoma. She was transferred to the ordinary ward 18 days later with a stable hemodynamic status. Unfortunately, she developed hospital-acquired pneumonia and arteriovenous shunt infection, and died from respiratory failure and sepsis on the 34th day in our hospital., Lessons: Femoral double-lumen catheter malposition is rare and potentially fatal. Emergency physicians should be aware of situations wherein a patient's BP declines markedly soon after a hemodialysis initiation.

Posttraumatic reconstruction of large lower extremity veins is a challenging and rarely performed procedure. We describe a case of an 18-year-old male traffic accident victim presenting with extensive venous injury of the right inguinal region including external iliac vein and common femoral vein requiring immediate ligation. Owing to life-threatening phlegmasia cerulea dolens, venous reconstruction was successfully performed using an femoral vein interposition autograft from the contralateral lower limb., (Crown Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Increasing volume of complex percutaneous endovascular procedures in highly anticoagulated patients generate a not negligible percentage of femoral pseudoaneurysms (PSA) with concomitant arteriovenous fistulas (AVF). While ultrasound-guided thrombin injection (UGTI) is the therapy of choice for PSA, concomitant AVF is regarded as a contraindication for UGTI, as venous thromboembolism is feared. In this retrospective, register-based cohort study, we report on and evaluate the use of UGTI for the treatment of PSA with AFV., Patients and Methods: All patients (n = 523), who underwent UGTI for femoral PSA at the German Heart Centre Munich from January 2011 until January 2018, were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of a concomitant AVF and outcomes were recorded., Results: Forty femoral PSA/AVFs treated by UGTI were identified. The mean enddiastolic arterial-flow-velocity above the AVF, an estimate of the AVF size, was 14.61 ± 1.7 cm/sec. The Majority of patients exhibited flow-velocities < 25 cm/sec (n = 31; 77.5 %) and were on either uninterrupted oral anticoagulation (n = 32; 80 %) or dual antiplatelet therapy (n = 8). Twenty-eight (70 %) PSA/AVFs could be successfully closed by UGTI. In eight multicompartmental PSAs, partial obliteration necessitated combined treatment with manual compression, while one partial occlusion was treated by observation. There were three failures, of which two underwent covered-stent-graft-implantation and one surgical repair. One DVT (2.5 %) occurred two days after UGTI in the by far largest AVF (60 cm/sec) included in the study. Besides two late PSA recurrences treated by surgery, no other complications were observed. AVF persisted in 65 %, all of them asymptomatic. The mean follow-up was 6 ± 15.5 months., Conclusions: UGTI appears to be a treatment option in femoral PSA/AVF, at least under oral anticoagulation in small fistulas with enddiastolic arterial-flow-velocities ≤ 25 cm/sec. However, caution is necessary in larger AVFs, which should remain a contraindication for UGTI.

This report presents an unusual case of traumatic iliofemoral vessel transection in a 3-year-old patient successfully reconstructed using a cryopreserved greater saphenous conduit. Five years after injury, the patient continues to do well with normal ambulation. An arterial duplex demonstrated graft patency free of aneurysmal dilatation. These encouraging results suggest that the natural history of cryopreserved conduits may differ in the pediatric population and cryopreserved conduits could be used for complex vascular reconstructions.

Iatrogenic iliac vein dissection secondary to femoral artery puncture is a rare complication that has not yet been documented. A 55-year-old woman presented to our institution with acute right iliofemoral thrombosis 2 weeks after transfemoral cerebral angiography. She was previously healthy and was not taking any medication. Right iliofemoral vein dissection was diagnosed by computed tomography angiography and confirmed by conventional venography. The patient was treated endovascularly with stent insertion, and the venous outflow was patent on the 6-month follow-up computed tomography angiogram.

Background: Following venous injury, venorrhaphy can restore outflow, although it risks thrombosis and venous thromboembolism (VTE). Vein ligation is a faster option, although it potentially risks extremity edema. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the management of venous injury on VTE and extremity edema in patients with isolated lower-extremity venous injuries., Methods: Patients with common iliac, external iliac, and femoral venous injuries over a 10-year period were stratified by age, shock, management of venous injury, injury severity, and timing and type of anticoagulation. Outcomes included development of extremity edema and VTE (pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis). Outcomes were then evaluated to determine risk factors for symptomatic lower-extremity edema and VTE by the management of venous injuries., Results: Eighty-four patients were identified: 20 common iliac, 27 external iliac, 37 femoral. Forty-nine underwent vein repair and 35 underwent vein ligation. Ninety-three percent were male with a mean Injury Severity Score and Glasgow Coma Scale score of 17 and 14, respectively. Venous thromboembolism occurred in 18 (21%), 15 (18%) deep venous thrombosis, and 4 (5%) pulmonary embolisms. Thirty-two (38%) patients developed lower-extremity edema. Those who underwent vein ligation had a greater degree of shock on presentation (RBC transfusions, 14 vs. 8 units; p = 0.03) and were more likely to receive prophylactic fasciotomies (60% vs. 33%, p = 0.01). There was no difference in time to or type of chemoprophylaxis between patients who underwent vein repair and those who received vein ligation. However, patients with vein ligation had fewer episodes of VTE (9% vs. 31%, p = 0.02) with no difference in symptomatic lower-extremity edema (37% vs. 39%, p = 0.88) or amputation rates (0% vs. 2%, p = 0.99)., Conclusion: Vein repair had a higher incidence of VTE while providing no additional benefit in reducing symptomatic extremity edema compared to ligation in patients suffering venous injury. Ligation of most extremity venous injuries can be performed without increasing patient morbidity., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic study, level IV.

Radiofrequency ablation of the superficial venous systems has become one of the mainstays of minimally invasive approaches to varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency. These procedures have high rates of success with scarce complications. This case report highlights a patient with a common femoral arteriovenous fistula presenting with lower extremity steal after radiofrequency ablation treatment of the great saphenous vein. During operative repair of the arteriovenous fistula, a pseudoaneurysm of the common femoral vein ruptured. We review the current literature and highlight the importance of expanding the scope of complications that can occur from seemingly straightforward minimally invasive venous procedures. Informed consent was obtained for publication of this report., (Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Arteriovenous fistulas secondary to gunshot wounds have been increasing due to military activities, with endovascular treatment showing better results in haemodynamically stable patients., Clinical Case: A 16 year-old male with diagnosis of femoral arteriovenous fistula in the left lower extremity was admitted to general surgery for endovascular management. A procedure with stent was performed without complications, and is currently on anticoagulant and antiplatelet treatment., Conclusion: Arteriovenous fistulas under the inguinal region can be safely treated with endovascular treatment (embolisation or stent) on stable patients. The objective of this therapy is to close the defect between artery and vein. This is the case of a patient with great results due to endovascular treatment, decreasing complications of the surgical treatment., (Copyright © 2015 Academia Mexicana de Cirugía A.C. Publicado por Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.)

Fat embolism is frequent following fractures of long bones, however the development of the clinical syndrome of fat embolism (characterized by progressive respiratory distress, mental status depression and petechial rash) is rare, but relevant because of its potential severity. We report a case of a trauma patient with multiple fractures of the right lower limb in whom an emergency computed tomography scan showed fat emboli within the lumen of the homolateral common femoral vein. The imaging detection of macroscopic fat emboli should alert the clinician to the potential for subsequent fat embolism syndrome.

Introduction: The incidence of pediatric inguinal hernias ranges up to 13 %. Currently, many different techniques are being used to successfully perform herniotomy and risks of complications are minor., Case Report: This case report describes a 4-year-old male patient who underwent routine herniotomy during which the femoral vein was mistaken for hernial sac and thereby the femoral vein was transected. Postoperative vascular duplex ultrasonography revealed a complete transection of the right common femoral vein. Multiple treatment options such as venous reconstruction and interposition were considered, but a conservative treatment was chosen. At 6 months postoperative, the patient only shows minor complaints. Long-term results remain uncertain, especially since no similar case has previously been described in the current literature.

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hemostatic effect of chitosan linear polymer in a sheep model with femoral bleeding., Methods: Following induction of anesthesia and intubation of sheep, groin injury was induced to initiate hemorrhage. Animals were randomly assigned to study and control groups. In the control group, absorbent pads were packed on the wound, and pressure was supplied by a weight placed over the dressing. In the study group, chitosan linear polymer was poured onto the bleeding site; absorbent pads and pressure were applied in the same manner. At 5-min intervals, bleeding was evaluated. Primary endpoint was time to hemostasis., Results: Bleeding had stopped by the 1st interval in 5 members of the study group, and by the 2nd interval in 1 member. One sheep was excluded. The bleeding stopped after the 1st interval in 1 member of the control group and after the 2nd interval in 4 members. Bleeding stopped in 2 cases following ligation of the bleeding vessel. Hemostasis was achieved earlier in the study group, compared to the control group, and the difference was statistically significant., Conclusion: Hemostasis was achieved earlier following application of chitosan linear polymer.

Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are unusual connections between the arterial and venous system that bypass the normal anatomic capillary beds. This case report presents an arteriovenous fistula of the lower extremity caused by a penetrating injury. The patient was diagnosed by Duplex ultrasonography. Diagnostic catheterization of the affected limb showed a high-flow AVF between the left profunda femoris artery and left femoral vein with a deep femoral vein aneurysm measuring 9x4 cm. The AVF was successfully treated with coil embolization.

We describe a case of a 55-year-old male with a remote history of a gunshot wound to the left thigh who presented with a 1-year history of worsening high-output congestive heart failure, left lower extremity edema, and left lower abdominal discomfort. Diagnostic evaluation included a computed tomographic angiography (CTA) that demonstrated a fistulous communication between the left superficial femoral artery (SFA) and vein (SFV) as well as a 7.2-cm external iliac vein aneurysm. Given his symptomatology, an endovascular repair of his AVF was recommended, followed by antithrombotic therapy for his aneurysm. Three-month postoperative CTA confirmed AVF exclusion as well as a significant decrease in maximal diameter of the left external iliac vein aneurysm now measuring 24 mm. This case is the first reported successful mid-term repair of a iliac venous aneurysm in the setting of a traumatic arteriovenous fistula using an endovascular approach., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

Endovenous laser ablation treatment has become the less invasive therapeutic choice for the treatment of superficial venous insufficiency and varicose veins. A 64-year-old woman presented at our hospital with varicose veins and prior endovenous laser ablation treatment. The patient had high-output heart failure caused by a right femoral arteriovenous fistula. She was treated medically and underwent an open repair of the right superficial femoral artery and the right femoral vein with complete resolution of the arteriovenous fistula and heart failure. Here, we have reviewed the literature and discussed possible causes of the complication of arteriovenous fistula after endovenous laser ablation treatment., (© The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.)

Posttraumatic arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are common complications of vascular penetrating trauma. Here we present a case of a 59-year-old woman who had a history of gunshot injury 42 years ago causing AVF between superficial femoral artery (SFA) and superficial femoral vein (SFV). SFV was resected. Ipsilateral SFA was used to restore SFV. SFA was reconstituted using a 7-mm polytetrafluorethylene graft. The patient has normal venous and arterial flow at 3- and 15-month follow-up., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims: Vascular closure device (VCD)-based venous closure has been anecdotally reported, but systematic evaluation of the reparative response of the vessel wall to venous closure is lacking. The need to control groin complications, and minimize risks associated with postponed sheath removal under conditions of persistent anticoagulation, has generated interest in the role of VCDs for venous access closure. We sought to characterize the vessel wall response to venous closure, both acutely and in delayed fashion at 30 days using angiography, ultrasound, and histology., Methods: Ten venous 7 Fr sheaths were deployed in the femoral veins of swine. Bilateral venous access sites were subsequently closed utilizing manual compression (MC; control arm: n = 4) or a closure device utilizing an extravascular polyethylene glycol sealant (MynxGrip treatment arm: n = 6). Acute (post closure), 3-day, and 30-day vascular ultrasound, as well as venography (internal jugular approach) were used to assess outcomes. Gross pathology and histology were obtained at the 30-day endpoint for all femoral venous closure sites., Results: Hemostasis was successfully achieved in all cases without access-site complications. Venography and ultrasound confirmed normal ilio-femoral anatomy and flow at all study time points. Gross pathology and histopathology revealed no evidence of deep vein thrombosis, and no abnormalities were seen in the vena cava, heart, or lungs. Histology at 30 days showed complete healing of the vein wall access site, with a small focus of chronic inflammation and fibrosis in the perivascular adventitial tissue of the access tract. There was no microscopic evidence of the sealant. The tissue tract showed mild discrete inflammation (foamy macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells) with microgranulomas centered on residual red cells in both treatment and control groups., Conclusions: This study characterizes the angiographic, ultrasound, and histopathology outcomes of femoral vein closure, and provides insight into the healing mechanisms following venotomy. The bio-resorptive role of MynxGrip extravascular sealant in achieving effective venous closure and preserved long-term vessel patency without venous thromboembolism is demonstrated.

Aim: To assess the impact of femoral ultrasonography accompanied by explanation of the findings (UFV) on groin-injecting behaviour., Methods: 348 heroin-addicted groin injectors (GIs) on opioid substitution treatment (OST) were included in the study: 174 received UFV (cases), 174 did not (controls). Injecting behaviour among cases and matched controls were compared for both 'persistent GIs' (patients who had injected via the femoral vein in the 28-day period preceding the baseline) and 'former GIs' (patients with a history of previous groin injecting)., Findings: There were no significant between-group differences in gender, mean age, time in treatment, substitute medication and mean dose at baseline or injecting behaviour prior to baseline. After baseline, reduction by a third in the proportion still groin injecting was immediately evident among UFV cases versus controls (number needed to treat: 3, 95% CI: 2, 8; p < 0.001). Marked reduction in groin-injecting behaviour among UFV cases was maintained over 12 months, including fewer relapses among 'former GIs' (number needed to treat: 5, 95% CI: 4, 9; p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Single-session UFV may promote cessation of groin-injecting behaviour among patients receiving OST. This benefit appears to be evident 12 months later. Further evaluation of this novel approach to the management of groin injecting, a particularly harmful behaviour, is now warranted.

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) formation after penetrating trauma is a well-described phenomenon. However, diagnosis of traumatic AVF is frequently delayed as patients often do not have hard signs of vascular injury at the initial presentation. Late complications of traumatic AVF include arterial and venous dilatation, distal ischemia, venous congestion, and congestive heart failure. This case report describes a traumatic femoral AVF causing distal venous ulceration 3 years after the injury. The AVF was treated with open repair. In the operating room, the Nicoladoni-Branham sign was elicited. The ulcer healed at 1 month and has not recurred at 1-year follow-up., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A case of a comminuted trochanteric fracture where the lesser trochanteric fragment had displaced significantly injuring and becoming lodged within the common femoral vein., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Common femoral vein traumatic injuries are rare. Surgical management is controversial and by nature case specific. In this report, we present an unusual case of an isolated common femoral vein injury from a gunshot blast repaired with an interposition internal jugular vein bypass. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an isolated common femoral vein reconstructed in this manner., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Injured veins of the lower limbs may cause massive haemorrhage requiring early control. Operative management of injured veins remains a controversial topic and reconstruction or ligation depends on venous and adjacent tissue damage. Nevertheless, venous reconstruction seems to reduce the complications of venous ligation. The case of a 33 year old women with a venous wound to the right groin is presented. Surgical management consisted of controlling the bleeding and venous revascularisation with an in situ saphenous vein bypass to substitute the injured femoral vein. The patient had an uneventful postoperative period without any complications. The case demonstrates this method of vascular venous repair is the preferable one., (Copyright© Acta Chirurgica Belgica.)

Noncompressible hemorrhage is currently the most common cause of preventable death in battlefield and in civilian trauma injuries. Tourniquets, specialized wound dressings, and hemorrhage-inhibiting biomaterials are not sufficiently effective in arrest of noncompressible hemorrhage and often cause collateral tissue damage. An effective, easy-to-use, portable device is needed to reduce blood loss in trauma patients immediately following injury and to maintain hemorrhage control up to several hours-until the injured is evacuated to a medical facility. We developed a miniature electrical stimulator to induce vascular constriction and, thereby, reduce hemorrhage. Vasoconstriction of the rat femoral arteries and veins was studied with pulse durations in the range of 1 μs to 10 ms and repetition rate of 10 Hz. Pulse amplitude of 20 V, duration of 1 ms, and repetition rate of 10 Hz were found sufficient to induce rapid constriction down to 31 ± 2% of the initial diameter, which could be maintained throughout a two-hour treatment. Within one minute following treatment termination the artery dilated back to 88 ± 3% of the initial diameter, providing rapid restoration of blood perfusion. Histology indicated no damage to the vessel wall and endothelium seven days after stimulation. The same treatment reduced the blood loss following complete femoral artery resection by 68 ± 11%, compared to untreated vessels. Very low power consumption during stimulation (<10 mW per 1.6 mm electrode) allows miniaturization of the stimulator for portable battery-powered operation in the field to control the blood loss following vascular trauma.

A 10-y-old ovariohysterectomized ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) was presented for exacerbation of respiratory signs. The lemur had a history of multiple examinations for various problems, including traumatic lacerations and recurrent perivulvar dermatitis. Examination revealed abnormal lung sounds and a femoral arteriovenous fistula with a palpable thrill and auscultable bruit in the right inguinal area. A diagnosis of congestive heart failure was made on the basis of exam findings, radiography, abdominal ultrasonography, and echocardiography. The lemur was maintained on furosemide until surgical ligation of the fistula was performed. Postoperative examination confirmed successful closure of the fistula and resolution of the signs of heart failure. Arteriovenous fistulas are abnormal connections between an artery and a vein that bypass the capillary bed. Large arteriovenous fistulas may result in decreased peripheral resistance and an increase in cardiac output with consequent cardiomegaly and high output heart failure. This lemur's high-flow arteriovenous fistula with secondary heart failure may have been iatrogenically induced during blood collection by prior femoral venipuncture. To our knowledge, this report is the first description of an arteriovenous fistula in a prosimian. Successful surgical correction of suspected iatrogenic femoral arteriovenous fistulas in a cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) and a rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) have been reported previously. Arteriovenous fistula formation should be considered as a rare potential complication of venipuncture and as a treatable cause of congestive heart failure in lemurs.