Antony R. Graham

Comparison of saphenous vein patch, polytetrafluoroethylene patch, and direct arteriotomy closure after carotid endarterectomy. Part I. Perioperative results

To evaluate the perioperative outcomes and the immediate increases in size after patch closure, 140 carotid endarterectomies were randomized into one of three groups: direct no-patch closure, saphenous vein patch closure, and polytetrafluoroethylene patch closure. Seven patients (4.4%) experienced signs of cerebral ischemia in the immediate postoperative period. In three cases this was transient and reversible. In the other four reexploration was undertaken and carotid thrombosis was corrected by thrombectomy. The condition of one of these patients deteriorated to a permanent stroke, whereas the other patients made a complete recovery. Neurologic complications were more frequent in the no-patch group, but the differences between the groups were not significant. The incidence of perioperative internal carotid stenosis, aneurysmal dilatation, and other morphologic abnormalities was assessed in 131 intravenous digital subtraction angiograms taken before the patient was discharged from the hospital. Eight (17.0%) of the endarterectomies in the no-patch group were narrowed by 30% to 50% diameter stenosis, whereas none of the patched arteries had more than 30% stenosis. In contrast, dilatation of the common or internal carotid artery to more than twice the measured diameter was absent in non-patched arteries but was present in seven (17.0%) saphenous patch closures and four (9.23%) polytetrafluoroethylene patch closures. We conclude that patch closure after carotid endarterectomy is less likely to cause stenosis in the perioperative period. Poly-tetrafluoroethylene patches resist dilatation better than do saphenous vein patches and are less likely to become aneurysmal.

Ludwig's Angina: Report of a Case and Review of Management Issues

Ludwigs angina, although uncommon, remains a potentially life-threatening condition because of the risk of impending airway obstruction. Effective treatment is based on early recognition of the clinical process, with the appropriate use of parenteral antibiotics, airway protection techniques, and formal surgical drainage of the infection. We present a case of Ludwigs angina together with a brief review of the relevant literature.

Prospective Randomized Trial of Polytetrafluoroethylene and Dacron Aortic Prosthesis. I. Perioperative Results

Over a two year period 80 patients were entered into a prospective randomized trial comparing polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and Dacron infrarenal aortic reconstructions. Fifty-four patients were treated for aneurysm (30 single tubed grafts; 24 bifurcation grafts), and 26 patients were treated for occlusive disease (26 bifurcation grafts). The groups were matched for age, sex and preoperative risk factors. Five patients died after operation (6.3%) including two from hemorrhage, but there were no significant differences in mortality and morbidity between the PTFE and Dacron groups. The volume of blood lost at operation (1930 +/- 1340 ml, all patients); the volume of blood transfused (2.98 +/- 2.43 units); the volume of crystalloids infused (3050 +/- 1390 ml); the intraoperative heparin dosage (67.9 +/- 20.5 mg); the clamp time (71.6 +/- 34.5 min); and the total operating time (228.1 +/- 78.3 min) also showed no significant differences between PTFE and Dacron. The ankle systolic pressure index rose more for PTFE (0.96 +/- 0.24) than for Dacron (0.82 +/- 0.20; P less than 0.002) at the time of discharge. This partially reflects a difference in the index between the groups before operation (PTFE 0.79 +/- 0.30; Dacron 0.72 +/- 0.32), but it may also indicate that PTFE is less thrombogenic than Dacron.

Carotid endarterectomy, siphon stenosis, collateral hemispheric pressure, and perioperative cerebral infarction

To determine whether moderate stenosis (50% to 80%) of the intracranial segment of the internal carotid artery increases the risk of cerebral infarction after carotid endarterectomy, the arteriograms, ocular pneumoplethysmograms, internal carotid back pressure, and clinical outcome after 169 operations were reviewed. Siphon stenoses less than 50% were not included because of their doubtful anatomic and hemodynamic significance. No patients with stenosis greater than 80% underwent operation. Moderate siphon stenosis affected 37 vessels, 24 (14.2%) ipsilateral and 13 (7.6%) contralateral to the side of operation. Eight patients had bilateral siphon stenosis. Three patients had stroke after operation; none of these cases had siphon stenosis. Moderate siphon stenosis did not increase the risk of perioperative cerebral infarction. Stroke only occurred in those patients in whom there was arteriographic or functional evidence that the affected hemisphere was isolated from effective collateral vessels.

Rationale for Simultaneous Carotid Endarterectomy and Aortocoronary Bypass

Seventy-eight patients were treated for coexistent carotid and coronary stenosis by simultaneous reconstructions. Five patients died (6.4%), one from a stroke contralateral to the carotid reconstruction. Four others suffered a perioperative stroke (total stroke incidence 6.4%). Three myocardial infarctions occurred (3.8%) including one fatal infarct. Analysis of the most recent 36 combined reconstructions indicates that the extramorbidity in this group increased the stroke or death rate for all carotid endarterectomies carried out in the same period by only 1%. Alternatively if these patients had been operated upon by aortocoronary grafting alone the mortality would have increased by 0.1% assuming no neurologic complications. Since these 36 patients had severe carotid stenosis and would have been refused carotid endarterectomy as an isolated procedure the results seem better than would have been achieved by staged operations.

Sandal strap trauma and atherosclerosis are dual pathologies leading to bilateral true aneurysms of the dorsalis pedis arteries.

True aneurysm of the dorsalis pedis artery is rare. To our best knowledge, only 19 cases have been reported in the literature with one case of bilateral involvement. We describe an unusual case of simultaneous, bilateral true aneurysms of the dorsalis pedis arteries due to chronic mild trauma from dorsally positioned sandal straps with secondary atherosclerotic change. This is the first such case reported. Symptomatic aneurysms are at risk for thrombosis or embolization, and surgical management is recommended. In our case, both aneurysms were resected and repaired with interposition graft of saphenous vein. The patient was symptom free at 6-month follow-up.

Isolated Grade 5 Renal Trauma in a Hemodynamically Stable Patient

Isolated grade 5 renal trauma in a hemodynamically stable patient is rare. It is therefore unsurprising there are conflicting recommendations on management of these injuries from authorities including the AUA, EAU and SIU. We present a 26-year-old male with flank pain following a 3-m fall whilst bicycle riding off a ramp, who was found to have an isolated grade 5 renal injury (shattered kidney). He was managed with early angio-embolization and subsequent nephrectomy due to ongoing bleeding. Further reports of clinician experience with this type of renal injury are needed to clarify best practice in management.

Venous Thromboembolism Secondary to Penile Prosthesis

We report the case of a 65-year-old male who presented with an extensive iliofemoral venous thrombosis, which computed tomography demonstrated was secondary to compression of the right common and external iliac veins by a 5-cm diameter penile prosthesis reservoir. A similar occurrence has only been reported a handful of times previously, and only in urological journals, never in vascular literature. It is a potentially serious complication of penile prosthesis surgery, the risk of which can be minimized by ready awareness of this postoperative event.