International angiology : a journal of the International Union of Angiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Mini-laparotomy for repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm.
In this study, we evaluated the surgical results of minimal incision aortic surgery (MIAS) compared with the transabdominal approach (TPA) and the retroperitoneal approach (RPA) to repair non-ruptured infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). ⋯ MIAS is as safe as retroperitoneal repair and standard transabdominal repair in the treatment of non-ruptured infrarenal AAA, and also more costefficient than retroperitoneal and standard transabdominal repair.
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Multicenter Study
Long-term results of treatments for varicose veins due to greater saphenous vein insufficiency.
The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term recurrence rates of greater saphenous vein (GSV) insufficiency after treatments for primary varicose veins, and to elucidate risk factors for recurrence. ⋯ Stripping surgery may be the treatment of first choice for patients with varicose veins due to GSV insufficiency. Patients who have not received stripping surgery and female patients require closer follow-up.
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The requirement for a safe diagnostic strategy should be based on an overall posttest incidence of venous thromboembolism of less than 1% during 3 month follow-up. Compression ultrasonography (CUS) has a negative predictive value (NPV) of 97% to 98% indicating the need of repeated CUS testing. Serial CUS testing is safe but you have to repeat 100 CUS to find 1 or 2 CUS positive for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is not cost-effective indicating the need to improve the diagnostic work-up of DVT by the use of clinical score assessment and D-dimer testing. ⋯ Single-slice helical CT as the primary diagnostic test in patients with suspected PE in 5 retrospective studies and in 3 prospective management studies indicate that the NPV of a normal helical spiral CT, a negative CUS of the legs together with a low or intermediate pretest clinical probability is 99%. Helical spiral CT can replace both the VP-scan and pulmonary angiography to safely rule in and out PE. The combination of clinical assessment, a rapid ELISA VIDAS D-dimer followed by CUS will reduce the need for helical spiral CT by 40% to 50%.
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Iloprost, usually administered through intravenous infusion for 6 hours per day for at least 21 days, is the main medical treatment for critical limb ischemia in patients unsuitable for surgical or endovascular approach. We evaluated the tolerance and the short-term and long-term effects of a single 1-week treatment in critical limb ischemia patients. ⋯ One-week treatment with iloprost is safe and effective in both Leriche-Fontaine stage III and IV patients. Clinical effects are persistent over time, often lasting up to the 6th month, similarly to the commonly used 28-day treatment, with clear implications in terms of patient's compliance and medical cost containment.
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Comparative Study
Translation and validation of a quality of life questionnaire for chronic lower limb venous insufficiency into greek.
In order to provide a practical instrument for quality of life measures, for researchers and primary care physicians in Greece, we decided to translate and validate the published postal questionnaire CIVIQ (Chronic Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire) into the Greek language. ⋯ CIVIQ seems to be a reliable tool in helping to assess the health status of the Greek general population and could be used to contribute to the identification of the magnitude of the problem of CVI in the Greek setting.