Journal of vascular surgery
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This is a report of the operative findings and results of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) when the conventional arteriogram demonstrates an internal carotid artery with a high-grade origin stenosis and a small or poorly visualized distal extracranial segment with an apparent diameter of 2 mm or less. ⋯ Patients with symptoms with these findings on arteriograms should undergo CEA. However, the success of CEA in this setting depends on the internal carotid artery anatomy and disease, which is difficult to determine before CEA. Patients with a truly normal extracranial internal carotid artery have an excellent probability of a successful CEA, but this is not the case when the artery is small or fibrotic. Low internal carotid artery flow after a technically satisfactory CEA is a harbinger of thrombosis and should be managed by internal carotid artery ligation and external CEA.
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Comparative Study
Pulmonary risk factors of elective abdominal aortic surgery.
The purpose of this study was to retrospectively identify risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic surgery via a midline incision. ⋯ The presence of these pulmonary risk factors, notably increased age and weight, decreased forced vital capacity and forced expiratory flow rate (25 to 75), and expected prolonged operative time, influences our decision not to proceed with surgery for small aortic aneurysms or for AIOD causing claudication. Patients at high pulmonary risk with AIOD who require revascularization for limb salvage would be more likely to undergo extraanatomic bypass. Pulmonary risk factors may play as important a role as cardiac factors in elective aortic surgery.
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Lymphoscintigraphy has emerged as the diagnostic test of choice in patients with suspected lymphedema. To assess the lymphatic circulation of 386 extremities in 188 patients, we prospectively recorded a semiquantitative index of lymphatic transport in addition to visual evaluation of lymphoscintigraphy image patterns. ⋯ Semiquantitative evaluation of the lymphatic transport with lymphoscintigraphy reliably depicts abnormalities in the lymphatic circulation. Lymphoscintigraphy excluded lymphedema as a cause of leg swelling in one third of our patients.
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Vascular clamps, vessel loops, and intraluminal occluding devices used to control tibial and pedal vessels can be injurious and may fail to occlude heavily calcified arteries. In an effort to prevent injury to these small arteries, we have investigated the safety and efficacy of thigh pneumatic tourniquet occlusion for distal vascular control during infrapopliteal reconstruction. ⋯ Tourniquet occlusion simplifies the infrapopliteal dissection, lessens operating time, improves visualization of the distal anastomosis, and removes the potential for arterial injury to the target vessel. Arterial calcification and noncompressible tibial arteries do not contraindicate the use of thigh tourniquet occlusion. This technique is preferred for all patients undergoing tibial or pedal artery reconstruction.
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Massive pulmonary embolism (PE), defined by systemic hypotension and need for inotropic support, has a high mortality rate. Transvenous catheter pulmonary embolectomy performed with the patient receiving local anesthetic provides an expeditious alternative to lytic therapy or open embolectomy on cardiopulmonary bypass. ⋯ Successful embolectomy was most likely for categories of major PE (4 of 4, 100%) and massive PE (27 of 33, 82%) and least likely for chronic PE (5 of 9, 56%) (p < 0.03). Successful embolectomy also predicted long-term survival (p < 0.01), which was 89 months for the series (range 1 to 237 months). Catheter pulmonary embolectomy by surgeon and radiologist is of maximal benefit for major or massive PE but less likely to benefit patients with chronic recurrent PE.