A. David Drezner

Magnetic resonance venography in the diagnosis and management of May-Thurner syndrome.

Isolated left lower extremity swelling secondary to left iliac vein compression was first described by McMurrich in 1908, and defined anatomically by May and Thurner in 1957 and clinically by Cockett and Thomas in 1965. The left iliac vein is usually located posterior to the right iliac artery and can be compressed between the artery and the fifth lumbar vertebrae. Symptoms include left lower extremity edema, pain, varicosities, venous stasis changes, and deep venous thrombosis. Evaluation of these patients historically included a venous duplex scan to rule out deep venous thrombosis and an abdominal computed tomography scan to rule out pelvic mass. This paper describes the use of magnetic resonance imaging and venography in the evaluation of patients with isolated left lower extremity swelling. A retrospective analysis of a series of 24 patients who presented with symptomatic left lower extremity edema was performed. Infrainguinal deep venous thrombosis and valvular reflux was evaluated by duplex scan. The presence of suprainguinal deep venous thrombosis and pelvic mass was evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to define the anatomic characteristics of the May-Thurner syndrome. Patients identified with the syndrome were treated either conservatively with lower extremity compression and elevation or with angioplasty and stenting. Follow-up of this subset of patients was performed with clinical assessment of the resolution of their symptomatic lower extremity edema as well as quality of life assessments via phone interviews. Twenty-four patients were evaluated for isolated left lower extremity swelling. Seven patients had positive results on duplex scans for deep venous thrombosis. Magnetic resonance imaging results demonstrated 1/24 (4%) had a pelvic mass compressing the iliac vein; 2/24 (8%) patients had iliac vein thrombosis; 1/24 (4%) patients with a history of deep venous thrombosis demonstrated a long stenotic segment of the left iliac vein unrelated to its association with the right iliac artery; 9/24 patients (37%) had anatomic evidence of May-Thurner syndrome; and 2/24 patients (8%) had isolated left lower extremity swelling of unknown etiology. Five patients diagnosed with May-Thurner syndrome were treated conservatively with compression stockings and leg elevation. Four patients with May-Thurner syndrome underwent iliac vein angioplasty and stenting. Technical success was 100%. On clinical follow-up, the patients with May-Thurner syndrome have had improvement/resolution of their symptoms. There have been no complications from either therapy. May-Thurner syndrome is a clinical entity of left iliac vein compression by the right iliac artery, resulting in isolated left lower extremity swelling and may be a precipitating factor for iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis. Magnetic resonance imaging is the best modality for diagnosis of this entity as it can rule out the presence of pelvic masses and deep venous thrombosis while simultaneously demonstrating the anatomy characteristic of this syndrome.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis in the critically ill patient

Nine cases of acute acalculous cholecystitis were diagnosed in the surgical intensive care unit at Hartford Hospital during a 2 year period after abdominal, cardiovascular, and traumatic surgery. A tender mass in the right upper quadrant was suggestive but not diagnostic of the condition. Hyperamylasemia was seen in all patients. Ultrasonography is the most useful diagnostic tool; serial studies reveal progressive gallbladder dilatation and edema. Tube cholecystostomy was used in five patients and cholecystectomy in four. Cholecystostomy led to resolution of the inflammatory process in all five patients. Cholecystectomy should be reserved for those patients with extensive gallbladder necrosis. Six of the nine patients in the series died, all from multiple systems failure with concomitant sepsis. Hypotension is probably central to the development of acute acalculous cholecystitis. In the face of elevated intraluminal gallbladder pressure caused by ampullary edema and increased bile viscosity, hypotension may result in mucosal ischemia and necrosis with subsequent bacterial colonization. Acute acalculous cholecystitis represents another organ failure in critically ill patients who are experiencing progressive failure of multiple organ systems. An aggressive approach to the manifestations of organ failure, including acalculous cholecystitis, must be employed.

Endovascular stent-graft placement for nonaneurysmal infrarenal aortic rupture: a case report and review of the literature

Penetrating atheromatous ulceration of the infrarenal aorta is a rare entity. There are few reported cases of this lesion, and most of the published data is in regards to the thoracic aorta. Spontaneous rupture of a nonaneurysmal noninfected atherosclerotic infrarenal aorta is a rare event. We report the eleventh case of this occurrence and present the first reported case of endovascular stent-graft placement in treating this entity. We review the literature regarding ulcerative disease of the aorta and specifically discuss the published data on spontaneous rupture of the nondilated, noninfected infrarenal aorta secondary to penetrating atheromatous ulceration.

Intra-Arterial Thrombolytic Therapy in the Initial Management of Thrombosed Popliteal Artery Aneurysms

Case reports of three patients presenting with acute limb-threatening lower extremity ischemia as a result of thrombosed popliteal artery aneurysms are described. Intra-arterial urokinase was administered to each patient prior to definitive surgery. This improved the infrapopliteal runoff in each case, allowing for successful arterial reconstruction without limb loss.

Clinical impact of chronic renal insufficiency on endovascular aneurysm repair

Endovascular aneurysm repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms has become a viable alternative to open repair. A significant proportion of this patient population has chronic renal insufficiency. The surgical outcomes associated with endovascular repair in 342 patients, with and without chronic renal insufficiency, are reported. Perioperative mortality, length of admission, length of intensive care unit admission, and rates of acute renal failure, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, conversion to open surgery, progression to hemodialysis, and incidence of endoleaks were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Endovascular repair demonstrated higher rates of acute renal failure, longer length of stay, and longer intensive care unit admissions in patients with chronic renal insufficiency. Patients with severe renal dysfunction demonstrated markedly elevated mortality and morbidity. These results indicate that chronic renal insufficiency is not an absolute contraindication to endovascular repair in patients with moderate renal dysfunction, but patients with severe renal dysfunction perform poorly after aortic reconstruction.

Posterior Tibial Artery Aneurysm: A Case Report

Aneurysms of tibial vessels are extremely rare. The majority are pseudoaneurysms caused by trauma. Those that are true aneurysms have been associated with an inflammatory process or were mycotic in origin. We are reporting on a patient with a true posterior tibial artery aneurysm without any causative history. The aneurysm was repaired by resection and interposition of a reversed saphenous vein segment.

Popliteal aneurysm presenting as acute thrombosis and ischemia in a middle-aged man with a history of Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease is known to cause a vasculitis of small and medium-sized vessels, with subsequent aneurysm formation. Most of the severe manifestations of the disease occur as a result of coronary aneurysm formation. However, many other arteries have been documented to be involved. A case is presented of a middle-aged man with a history of Kawasaki disease who had an acute ischemic limb from a thrombosed popliteal aneurysm that formed as a result of the disease. This is the first known case report of Kawasaki disease resulting in delayed lower extremity ischemia. Typical findings of patients with Kawasaki disease are presented, along with a case report and review of the literature. A history of Kawasaki disease is an extremely rare but possible cause of peripheral aneurysms, even in middle-aged patients.

Morbidity and Mortality Associated with Renal Insufficiency and Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A 5-Year Experience

To evaluate the outcome of patients with renal insufficiency undergoing endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), data were prospectively collected between 1998 and 2003 on patients undergoing elective repair of their AAA with a stent graft. The patients were divided into 2 groups: those with serum creatinine (Crs) concentrations <1.2 (Group A) and those with Crs = 1.2 mg/dL not requiring hemodialysis (Group B). The outcomes of the procedure for these 2 groups were compared. Different variables that existed between the 2 groups and contributed to mortality included estimated blood loss (EBL), volume of contrast used in the operating room, incidence of diabetes (DM), tobacco use, and history of myocardial infarction (MI). In total, 213 patients underwent elective repair of their AAA with use of a stent graft: 61% who had a Crs <1.2 mg/dL (Group A) and 39% who had a Crs =1.2 mg/dL not requiring dialysis (Group B). Among 129 patients with normal renal function there was an 18.6% complication rate and 1.6% mortality rate. Of 83 patients with renal insufficiency not on hemodialysis 30.1% (Fishers Exact Test = 0.076) had 1 or more complications and there was a 6% (Fishers Exact Test = 0.166) mortality rate. One patient in Group A (0.8%) progressed to hemodialysis and 5 (6%) patients in Group B progressed to end-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis (p=0.068). A statistically significant higher proportion of the patients in Group B had a history of MI (p<0.001). There was no difference in the amount of EBL between the 2 groups, but a significantly lower amount of contrast (p<0.05) was used in patients with renal insufficiency.

Accuracy of carotid duplex examination to predict proximal and intrathoracic lesions

BACKGROUND There is growing enthusiasm for doing carotid endarterectomy based on duplex examination alone, avoiding the risks of arteriography. Duplex cannot directly visualize proximal carotid or arch lesions. This study evaluates the prevalence of such lesions and the ability of duplex to predict their presence. METHODS A retrospective review was conducted of 650 consecutive carotid duplex examinations followed by arteriography. RESULTS Twenty-seven proximal lesions (10 occlusions and 17 stenoses) were predicted by duplex and confirmed by arteriography. One lesion was missed by duplex, for a sensitivity and specificity of 96% and 100%, respectively. The accuracy was 99%, and the negative predictive value was 99%. Prevalence of proximal lesions was 4% overall, but only 3% for stenotic lesions. CONCLUSIONS Proximal carotid and intrathoracic lesions are rare and can be predicted by duplex scan, thus avoiding arteriography. The absence of such lesions can be inferred with confidence from a negative duplex examination.

Decreasing morbidity after liver trauma.

Abstract Fifty-one patients with significant recognized hepatic trauma were treated at Hartford Hospital during a four year period ending May 1973. Seventy-five per cent of the injuries were the result of blunt trauma. Many patients had severe associated injuries and three died in the emergency room before operation could be undertaken. Forty-eight patients underwent laparotomy and various types of repair including sixteen resections of significant volumes of nonviable liver. Three patients died in the operating room, but no patient who left the operating room alive after resection died. Hematologic, pulmonary, renal, and gastrointestinal complications are analyzed in detail. There were no postoperative intrahepatic or subphrenic abscesses in patients undergoing resection and we believe that this is attributable to changes in technic. This review stresses the technical details of the operations as they may relate to the apparent improvement in morbidity and mortality.