Antonio Eduardo Zerati

Totally implantable venous catheters for chemotherapy: experience in 500 patients

CONTEXT Totally implantable devices are increasingly being utilized for chemotherapy treatment of oncological patients, although few studies have been done in our environment to analyze the results obtained from the implantation and utilization of such catheters. OBJECTIVE To study the results obtained from the implantation of totally implantable catheters in patients submitted to chemotherapy. TYPE OF STUDY Prospective. SETTING Hospital do Cancer A.C. Camargo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. METHODS 519 totally implantable catheters were placed in 500 patients submitted to chemotherapy, with preference for the use of the right external jugular vein. Evaluations were made of the early and late-stage complications and patient evolution until removal of the device, death or the end of the treatment. RESULTS The prospective analysis showed an average duration of 353 days for the catheters. There were 427 (82.2%) catheters with no complications. Among the early complications observed, there were 15 pathway hematomas, 8 cases of thrombophlebitis of the distal stump of the external jugular vein and one case of pocket infection. Among the late-stage complications observed, there were 43 infectious complications (0.23/1000 days of catheter use), 11 obstructions (0.06/1000 days of catheter use) and 14 cases of deep vein thrombosis (0.07/1000 days of catheter use). Removal of 101 catheters was performed: 35 due to complications and 66 upon terminating the treatment. A total of 240 patients died while the catheter was functioning and 178 patients are still making use of the catheter. CONCLUSION The low rate of complications obtained in this study confirms the safety and convenience of the use of totally implantable accesses in patients undergoing prolonged chemotherapy regimes.

Vena cava filters in cancer patients: experience with 50 patients

OBJECTIVE To study the immediate and late results obtained from the implantation of vena cava filters in cancer patients with deep vein thrombosis concomitant with neoplasia. METHODS This was a retrospective evaluation of 50 patients with an association of cancer and deep venous thrombosis who underwent interruption of the inferior vena cava and the insertion of permanent vena cava filters. The indications for the procedure, filter implantation technique, early and late complications related to the operation, and the clinical evolution were evaluated. RESULTS The most frequent indication for filter implantation was the contraindication for full anticoagulant treatment (80%). The femoral vein was the preferred access route (86% of the patients). There were no complications related to the surgical procedure. During the follow-up, the following complications were observed: 1 episode of nonfatal pulmonary thromboembolism, 2 cases of occlusion of the inferior vena cava, and 1 case of thrombus retained in the device. Twenty patients (40%) died due to progression of the neoplasm. CONCLUSIONS Interruption of the inferior cava vein using an endoluminal filter is a procedure with a low rate of complications. It is a safe and efficient measure for preventing pulmonary embolism in cancer patients who have deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients With Intermittent Claudication and its Correlation With the Segment of Arterial Obstruction

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Intermittent claudication reflects the presence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of the MetS in claudicants and its correlation with age, gender, localization of arterial obstruction, and symptomatic coronary disease. Patients (n = 170) with intermittent claudication were studied. The mean age was 65 years (33-89). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 98 patients (57.6%). The mean age of patients with MetS was 63.5 years compared with 67.0 years for patients without MetS (P = .027). Considering patients aged ≥65 years, MetS was present in 46 (48.9%) individuals and in 52 (68.4%) patients younger than 65 years (P = .011). Metabolic syndrome must be actively searched for in claudicant patients.

Vascular reconstruction in limbs with malignant tumors.

Patients with tumors in limbs who undergo surgical treatment may present involvement of major vessels. Major arteries must be reconstructed for limb salvage. Major veins may be reconstructed to avoid the onset of venous hypertension. The objective of this study is to analyze the results from surgical treatment of malignant tumors associated with vascular reconstruction in limbs. A prospective follow-up was made of 20 patients with malignant tumors involving major vessels in limbs who underwent vascular reconstruction. Arterial and venous reconstructions were performed in 11 patients, arterial reconstruction in 7, and venous reconstruction in 2. The vascular substitutes utilized were: greater saphenous vein (21), expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) prosthesis (5), and Dacron prosthesis (5). Vascular complications occurred in 9 patients: 1 rupture of the arterial graft, 4 occlusions of the venous graft, and worsening of previous edema in 4 patients. Nonvascular complications occurred in 6 patients: infection (2), neurologic deficit (2), partial necrosis of the flap (1), and enteric fistula (1). Four patients presented local recurrence, and 1 of them underwent transfemoral amputation. Seven patients presented pulmonary metastases, of whom 4 died. Arterial revascularization in association with the resection of limb neoplasm is a safe procedure with a low rate of complications. Venous revascularization should be performed using an autologous substitute.

Impact of Endovascular Technique in Vascular Surgery Training at a Large University Hospital in Brazil

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine the impact of endovascular surgery versus open vascular technique training in a Brazilian teaching service. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Hospital das Clinicas-Faculty of Medicine-University of Sao Paulo, a tertiary institutional hospital-Brazil. PARTICIPANTS We reviewed 1,040 arterial operations performed during 2 distinct time periods: January 1995 to December 1996, and January 2006 to December 2007. Based on the disease treated, the procedures were classified into the following 5 groups: abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), aorto-iliac obstructive disease (AI), obstructive disease of the femoropopliteal-tibial segment (FP), carotid disease (C), and others (O). The operations were also divided into an endovascular surgery (ES) group and an open surgery (OS) group. We compared the number of open and endovascular procedures for each arterial disease group during both periods. RESULTS During the 2006-2007 period, 654 patients were treated surgically, whereas over the 1995-1996 period, 386 arterial operations were performed. A significant increase in endovascular procedures (p < 0.001) was found from the 1995-1996 period to the 2006-2007 period (35 vs 351, respectively) in all groups, whereas open surgery showed a slight increase in the number of procedures in the AAA and O groups only. In the 1995-1996 period, OS was the primary surgical method for all groups, but in the 2006-2007 time frame, OS was performed more frequently than ES only in the AAA and O groups. Considering all vascular disease groups, OS was the technique used in 90.9% (351 of 386) of the operations during 1995-1996, whereas in 2006-2007, OS was performed in only 46.3% (303 of 654) of the procedures. CONCLUSIONS The increase in the number of ES observed over the past decade has had little impact on OS procedures performed at our medical center, not bringing harm to open surgical training.

Carotid reconstruction in patients operated for malignant head and neck neoplasia.

CONTEXT Patients with malignant head and neck neoplasia may present simultaneous involvement of large vessels due to the growth of the tumoral mass. The therapeutic options are chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery or combined treatments. OBJECTIVE To analyze the result of surgical treatment with carotid reconstruction in patients with advanced malignant head and neck neoplasia. DESIGN Prospective. SETTING Hospital do Câncer A.C. Camargo, São Paulo, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS Eleven patients operated because of advanced malignant head and neck neoplasia that was involving the internal and/or common carotid artery. MAIN MEASUREMENTS By means of clinical examination, outpatient follow-up and duplex scanning, we analyzed the patency of the carotid grafts, vascular and non-vascular complications, disease recurrence and survival of the patients. RESULTS Six patients (54.5%) did not present any type of complication. There was one vascular complication represented by an occlusion of the carotid graft with a cerebrovascular stroke in one hemisphere. Non-vascular complications occurred in five patients (45.5%). During the follow-up, eight patients died (72.7%), of whom seven had loco-regional tumor recurrence and one had pulmonary and hepatic metastases (at an average of 9 months after the operation). Seven of these patients presented functioning grafts. The three patients still alive have no tumor recurrence and their grafts are functioning (an average of 9 months has passed since the operation). CONCLUSIONS Patients with advanced malignant head and neck neoplasia involving the carotid artery that are treated surgically present a prognosis with reservations. When the internal and/or common carotid artery is resected en-bloc with the tumor, arterial reconstruction must be performed. The long saphenous vein is a suitable vascular substitute.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein and ankle-brachial pressure index in patients with clinically evident peripheral arterial disease

OBJECTIVES To investigate whether oxidized low-density lipoprotein is a suitable predictor of peripheral arterial disease severity. The role of oxidized low-density lipoprotein in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis has already been investigated. Its relevance as a predictor of the appearance and worsening of coronary arterial disease is also well known. However, the same is not true regarding peripheral arterial disease. METHOD Eighty-five consecutive patients with an ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) < 0.9 and the presence of either intermittent claudication or critical lower leg ischemia were included. The plasma level of IgG autoantibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein was evaluated through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results were categorized into quartiles according to the ankle-brachial pressure index (a marker of peripheral arterial disease severity), and significant differences were investigated with the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS There was no significant difference between the quartiles for this population (p = 0.33). No correlation was found between the ankle-brachial pressure index and oxidized low-density lipoprotein levels in subjects with clinically evident peripheral arterial disease with a wide range of clinical manifestations. CONCLUSIONS Oxidized low-density lipoprotein is not a good predictor of peripheral arterial disease severity.

Infection Related to Implantable Central Venous Access Devices in Cancer Patients: Epidemiology and Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE To describe the epidemiology of infections related to the use of implantable central venous access devices (CVADs) in cancer patients and to evaluate measures aimed at reducing the rates of such infections. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Referral hospital for cancer in São Paulo, Brazil. PATIENTS We prospectively evaluated all implantable CVADs employed between January 2009 and December 2011. Inpatients and outpatients were followed until catheter removal, transfer to another facility, or death. METHODS Outcome measures were bloodstream infection and pocket infection. We also evaluated the effects that the creation of a multidisciplinary team for CVAD care, avoiding in-hospital implantation of CVADs, and limiting CVAD insertion in neutropenic patients have on the rates of such infections. RESULTS During the study period, 966 CVADs (mostly venous ports) were implanted in 933 patients, for a combined total of 243,792 catheter-days. We identified 184 episodes of infection: 154 (84%) were bloodstream infections, 21 (11%) were pocket infections, and 9 (5%) were surgical site infections. During the study period, the rate of CVAD-related infection dropped from 2.2 to 0.24 per 1,000 catheter-days ([Formula: see text]). Multivariate analysis revealed that relevant risk factors for such infection include surgical reintervention, implantation in a neutropenic patient, in-hospital implantation, use of a cuffed catheter, and nonchemotherapy indication for catheter use. CONCLUSIONS Establishing a multidisciplinary team specifically focused on CVAD care, together with systematic reporting of infections, appears to reduce the rates of infection related to the use of these devices.

Comparison of ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging with intraoperative measurements in the evaluation of abdominal aortic aneurysms

PURPOSE To study the imaging exams more commonly used for abdominal aortic aneurysms evaluation - ultrasonography, conventional computerized tomography, helical computerized tomography and nuclear magnetic angioresonance - comparing the preoperative measurements reached by those radiological methods with the measurements made during the surgical procedures. METHODS Patients who had indication of elective transperitoneal surgical treatment for their abdominal aortic aneurysms were included in the study. The initial diagnosis of the aortic dilatation was made by ultrasonography and, after the surgical treatment was indicated, the patient was submitted to another imaging method. Sixty patients were divided into 3 groups according to the complementary imaging method (conventional computerised tomography, helical computerized tomography, nuclear magnetic angioresonance). The ultrasonography of the first 20 patients were joined in a fourth group. There were considered in the study the measurements of the transversal diameter of the proximal neck, maximum transversal diameter of the aneurysm, straight-line length and transversal diameter of the common iliac arteries given by the imaging methods. The same measurements were made by using a caliper during the surgical procedure, and then compared to the values obtained from the radiological exams. RESULTS The maximum transverse diameter had a range measurement variation of 4.5 to 13.6 cm in the intraoperative, with no statistically significant differences when compared with all the imaging tests. The ultrasonography, however, overestimated the measurements of the proximal neck and the common iliac arteries, in comparison with intraoperative measures. The length of the aorta aneurysm obtained by the conventional computerized tomography was significantly lower if compared to the measures done with the calliper during the operation. The helical computerized tomography and the nuclear magnetic angioresonance provided measurements with no significant differences in the statistic view when compared to the intraoperative measures. CONCLUSIONS Ultrasonography is a reliable method for the diagnosis and follow-up of the aorta abdominal aneurysms, but insufficient for endovascular surgery planning. The conventional computed tomography can provoke distortion in the length measurements of the aorta dilatation. Helical computed tomography and nuclear magnetic angioresonance provided precise measurements of all the studied parameters, being of great utility for surgical planning.

Remote ischemic preconditioning in patients with intermittent claudication

OBJECTIVE: Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) is a phenomenon in which a short period of sub-lethal ischemia in one organ protects against subsequent bouts of ischemia in another organ. We hypothesized that RIPC in patients with intermittent claudication would increase muscle tissue resistance to ischemia, thereby resulting in an increased ability to walk. METHODS: In a claudication clinic, 52 ambulatory patients who presented with complaints of intermittent claudication in the lower limbs associated with an absent or reduced arterial pulse in the symptomatic limb and/or an ankle-brachial index <0.90 were recruited for this study. The patients were randomly divided into three groups (A, B and C). All of the patients underwent two tests on a treadmill according to the Gardener protocol. Group A was tested first without RIPC. Group A was subjected to RIPC prior to the second treadmill test. Group B was subjected to RIPC prior to the first treadmill test and then was subjected to a treadmill test without RIPC. In Group C (control group), both treadmill tests were performed without RIPC. The first and second tests were conducted seven days apart. Brazilian Clinical Trials: RBR-7TF6TM. RESULTS: Group A showed a significant increase in the initial claudication distance in the second test compared to the first test. CONCLUSION: RIPC increased the initial claudication distance in patients with intermittent claudication; however, RIPC did not affect the total walking distance of the patients.