Guy Fishwick

Subintimal angioplasty of isolated infragenicular vessels in lower limb ischemia: long-term results.

Purpose: To assess the outcome of subintimal angioplasty in treating isolated infragenicular arterial disease in patients with severe lower limb ischemia. Methods: A retrospective study reviewed 67 consecutive patients (39 men; mean age 76 years, range 41–96) who underwent infragenicular subintimal angioplasty between March 1997 and May 2000 for ischemia in 70 limbs. The median length of occlusion was 6 cm (range 1–10) in the below-knee popliteal arteries, 4 cm (range 1–4) in the tibioperoneal trunk, 21 cm(range 1–35) in the anterior tibial artery, 10 (1–30) in the posterior tibial artery, and 5 (range 1–20) in the peroneal artery. Results: The technical and clinical success rates were 86% and 80%, respectively. In the 10 (14%) patients with a technical failure, 3 underwent successful bypass, 4 had an amputation, 1 had a lumbar sympathectomy, and 2 were treated conservatively. Of the 4 (6%) limbs that did not achieve clinical success, 2 patients required femorodistal bypass and their ulcers improved; in the other 2, ulcerations did not heal completely. The cumulative limb salvage rate and freedom from critical limb ischemia (CLI) quantified by Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis were 94% and 84% at 36 months. Mortality rates were 19% at 1 year, 43% at 2 years, and 51% at 3 years. In a subgroup analysis, the rate of CLI was significantly lower in nondiabetics (4%) and than in diabetics (24%, p=0.02), but neither survival nor amputation rates were significantly different. Conclusions: Subintimal angioplasty is a safe and effective procedure for treating isolated crural vessels in patients with severe lower limb ischemia.

Clinical Outcome of Primary Infrainguinal Subintimal Angioplasty in Diabetic Patients with Critical Lower Limb Ischemia

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcome of subintimal angioplasty in diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) compared to nondiabetics irrespective of the patency status of the treated arteries. Methods: The records of 99 consecutive patients (53 men; median age 78.5 years, range 42–92) suffering from CLI who underwent primary infrainguinal subintimal angioplasty in 112 limbs within a 6-month period were studied retrospectively. A third of the patients (n=33) were diabetic. The technical success, perioperative morbidity/mortality, and clinical success were compared between the diabetic and nondiabetic patients. Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis was used to analyze clinical success, limb salvage, and survival for both groups. Results: The overall technical success was 89% (81% in diabetics, 93% in nondiabetics, p=0.05). Perioperative morbidity was 8% (16.7% in diabetics, 3.9% in nondiabetics, p=0.03). The perioperative mortality was zero. The clinical success at 12, 24, and 36 months was 74%, 72%, and 65% in nondiabetics and 69%, 63%, and 54% in diabetics, respectively (p=0.17). The limb salvage rate at 36 months was 88% overall (90% in nondiabetics, 82% among diabetics, p=0.20). The 36-month survival rate was 61% in nondiabetics and 57% in diabetics (p=0.29). Conclusions: In terms of clinical outcome, infrainguinal subintimal angioplasty is almost equally effective in diabetics as in nondiabetics suffering from CLI.

Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty in the Treatment of Critical Limb Ischemia

Purpose: To assess the role of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) to treat critical limb ischemia (CLI) and to relate the changing experience with endovascular treatment of this condition in a major vascular unit. Methods: A prospective study was performed involving 110 consecutive patients (57 women; mean age 76 years, range 57–99) undergoing balloon angioplasty for critical limb ischemia in 133 limbs. Outcome at 1 year was examined by case note review or questionnaire to determine survival, amputation-free survival, limb salvage, and CLI recurrence. Results: Technical success was achieved in 105 (79%) of 133 limbs; the overall complication rate was 20% (3.8% major, 16.2% minor). The median follow-up was 15 months (minimum 12). The 12-month limb salvage rate by life-table analysis was 88%. Patients with an initially successful angioplasty had an extremely good outcome (95% 1-year limb salvage). In contrast, the 28 patients with failed angioplasty fared very poorly; a major amputation was required in 10, and death occurred in another 9, leaving only 9 survivors with limbs intact at 1 year. Conclusions: The results of this study justify the continuing use of PTA as first-line treatment for critical limb ischemia.

Endovascular Repair of an Innominate Artery False Aneurysm following Blunt Trauma

Purpose: To describe a case of endovascular graft exclusion of an innominate artery pseudoaneurysm arising from blunt trauma. Methods and Results: A 21-year-old patient was admitted following a major road accident. Computed tomography (CT) and aortography on admission disclosed an isolated innominate artery pseudoaneurysm. The lesion was stable, so an elective endoluminal repair was undertaken once the patient was treated for his other injuries. The right carotid artery was exposed and controlled, and the aneurysm was excluded by transluminal implantation of a customized stent-graft consisting of predilated polytetrafluoroethylene graft material covering a balloon-expandable Palmaz stent. A CT scan at 1 month and duplex scans at 6-month intervals documented good stent-graft positioning and aneurysm exclusion over a period of 18 months. Conclusions: This case illustrates the potential durability of endoluminal repair of innominate artery lesions and highlights the potential role of this minimally invasive alternative to surgery in these clinical situations.

A comparison between colour duplex ultrasonography and arteriography for imaging infrapopliteal arterial lesions

OBJECTIVE To investigate the agreement between colour duplex ultrasonography and digital subtraction arteriography of the infrapopliteal arteries. DESIGN Retrospective, blinded study. SETTING Vascular laboratory and Radiology Department, University Hospital. METHODS The infrapopliteal vasculature was examined in a total of 51 limbs by both colour duplex ultrasound and digital subtraction angiography. By examining all arteries from the distal popliteal to the pedal arteries, a total of 204 individual arterial segments were available for analysis. Each segment was graded as 0-49%, 50-99% diameter reduced or occluded by both modalities. Using ultrasound, classification of stenoses was achieved by observing peak systolic velocity ratios; a doubling of peak systolic velocity indicating a > or = 50% diameter reducing stenosis. Where no Doppler signal could be obtained, the vessel was assumed to be occluded. From angiographic studies, two radiologists separately and blindly assessed the extent of disease for each infrapopliteal artery noting areas of > or = 50% diameter reduction and occlusion. The Kappa statistic was used to examine the level of agreement between angiography and ultrasound as well as between both radiologists. RESULTS The Kappa level (95% confidence interval) of agreement between ultrasound and angiographic assessments for distinguishing patent from occluded segments was 0.61 (0.49-0.74) for all segments. The equivalent agreement between radiologists was 0.80 (0.70-0.89). Poorest agreement was observed from ultrasound assessments of the peroneal and tibioperoneal trunk arterial segments. CONCLUSION Since agreement between colour duplex scanning and angiography never fell significantly below levels achieved between two radiologists, we conclude that colour duplex ultrasound can be used to assess infrapopliteal artery patency.

Cerebral protection during open retrograde angioplasty/stenting of common carotid and innominate artery stenoses.

This was a retrospective study of the effectiveness of open, retrograde angioplasty/stenting of supra‐aortic arterial stenoses combined with transcranial Doppler‐directed dextran therapy in preventing perioperative embolization.

Torsion and Kinking of Unsupported Aortic Endografts: Treatment by Endovascular Intervention

PURPOSE To describe the management strategies used to deal with twisted aortic endografts. METHODS AND RESULTS Two patients with successfully excluded aortic aneurysms developed symptoms referable to previously undetected twists in their endografts (one EndoVascular Technologies [EVT] and one customized aortomonoiliac device). The limb graft occlusion in the EVT graft was treated surgically with a femorofemoral bypass, but the aortomonoiliac endograft was salvaged with percutaneous implantation of a Wallstent. During another aortomonoiliac procedure, suboptimal flow through the endograft was traced to contortion of the endograft as it passed over an angulated proximal aneurysm neck. An X-large Palmaz stent was deployed to support the graft at this point. CONCLUSIONS Unsupported aortic endografts may develop twists and kinks during deployment that can lead to low outflow and graft occlusion. Endovascular techniques are available to repair these defects postoperatively, although more precise intraoperative assessment tools may identify these problems so that they can be corrected at the initial intervention.

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided thrombin injection for the treatment of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysms.

PURPOSE To audit our experience with ultrasound-guided thrombin injection for the treatment of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysms. METHODS A retrospective study of 85 consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous ultrasound-guided thrombin injection of post-catheterization femoral pseudoaneurysms during the period January 2002 to May 2007. RESULTS Pseudoaneurysms had a mean maximum diameter of 3.3 cm (range 1.0-7.6 cm) and a mean neck width of 3.4mm (range 1.0-7.0mm). No statistically significant correlation existed between maximum diameter and neck width (Kendalls rank correlation tau b=-0.09, p=0.5). The median dose of thrombin injected was 425 U (range 100-1500 U). The procedure resulted in complete sac thrombosis in 81 (95%) patients. Seventy-nine pseudoaneurysms thrombosed immediately after one injection, whereas two required a second thrombin injection. There were no procedural complications. The maximum diameter of the pseudoaneurysm was predictive of procedural success (Wilcoxons rank sum test, p=0.001) and of the 5 patients with a pseudoaneurysm measuring ≥6 cm, ultrasound-guided thrombin injection was unsuccessful in 4 (4/5 versus 0/80, p<0.0001, Fishers exact test). Three of these necessitated implantation of a stent-graft, whereas one required repeated thrombin injection and coil placement. In contrast, the pseudoaneurysm neck width did not seem to relate to the success of the procedure. CONCLUSION Percutaneous ultrasound-guided thrombin injection of is a quick, effective and safe treatment for iatrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysms. For larger pseudoaneurysms, although it is worth attempting more than one thrombin injection, endovascular repair may eventually be required.

Arterial perforation during infrainguinal lower limb angioplasty does not worsen outcome: results from 1409 patients.

Purpose: To assess the prevalence and clinical significance of arterial perforation during lower limb angioplasty and determine the outcome of patients suffering this complication. Methods: The radiology department records of 1409 patients (878 men; mean age 69.6 years) undergoing peripheral angioplasty in 1532 limbs between January 1996 and December 1998 were studied to identify patients with a perforated vessel. Results: Fifty-two (3.7%) perforations occurred. Patients with a perforation were significantly older (median 74.8 years versus 69.6, p=0.03) and were more likely to be diabetic (p=0.01). The median age of a smoker with a perforation was 68 years versus 78 years for nonsmokers (p=0.02). Among the perforations, 29 resolved without intervention, 6 required temporary balloon occlusion, 15 were coil embolized, and 2 needed both balloon and coil treatment. Twenty-four (46%) of the 52 patients had a clinically successful angioplasty despite the perforation. No patient needed further urgent intervention. Seven patients underwent subsequent surgery to treat the underlying vascular disease that had prompted treatment initially; no one was treated for complications of the perforation. Due to the more extensive nature of the procedure, subintimal angioplasty was associated with an unsurprising increase in the rate of perforation (RR, 2.06;95% CI, 1.19–3.56;p=0.01). In no case did the perforation prejudice the eventual outcome of the patient. Conclusions: Arterial perforation during angioplasty is more common in the elderly and in diabetics. The perforation itself does not influence the ultimate outcome of the case; rather, it is the underlying vascular pathology.

Indwelling Bowel Management System as a Cause of Life-Threatening Rectal Bleeding

A 79-year-old male was transferred to the intensive care unit for postoperative respiratory support. An indwelling bowel management system was inserted for containment of noninfective diarrhoea. Following only 11 days of continual use the patient developed life-threatening rectal bleeding. Preoperative normal rectal mucosa and anatomy were documented. There was no evidence of postoperative coagulopathy. Mesenteric angiography identified bleeding from a branch of the superior rectal artery. Rectal mucosa pressure necrosis secondary to the indwelling Flexi-Seal® Fecal Management System was diagnosed. The patient required an 11-unit transfusion of packed red cells. Following intraarterial coil embolization of the superior rectal artery the bleeding abated. Indwelling bowel management systems are commonly used in immobile and critically ill patients with diarrhoea or faecal incontinence. This is the first report of this important complication in the literature.