Michael J. Pentecost

Role of routine arteriography in blunt lower-extremity trauma.

During an 18-month period, 53 patients with unilateral blunt lower-extremity trauma were entered into a prospective study designed to determine how often clinically occult arterial injuries are identified by routine arteriography, and how often these injuries are of sufficient magnitude to warrant therapeutic intervention. Patients underwent diagnostic arteriography if one or more of the following abnormal clinical findings were present: distal pulse deficit, nerve deficit, soft-tissue loss, decreased capillary refill, bruit, or a history of hemorrhage or hypotension. In the absence of these findings, arteriography was performed for significant orthopedic injuries, i.e., knee dislocations or complex long-bone fractures. In 31 patients (58%), arteriography was performed because 1 or more abnormal clinical findings were present and 12 arterial injuries were identified, 4 requiring arterial repair. The presence of a knee dislocation or complex long-bone fracture was the only indication for arteriography in 22 patients (42%) and 3 arterial injuries were identified, none requiring operative intervention. For all patients, two variables, pulse deficit and delayed capillary refill, strongly correlated (p less than 0.05) with arteriographic demonstration of an arterial injury. In the absence of these findings, routine diagnostic arteriography will have a low diagnostic yield and will rarely identify a vascular injury in a major artery that will require operative repair. Arteriography should be selectively performed and guided by examination and noninvasive Doppler indices.

Clinical applications of carbon dioxide/digital subtraction arteriography ☆

During an 18-month period 33 patients in whom there were contraindications to the use of iodinated contrast arteriography underwent 40 carbon dioxide/digital subtraction arteriograms for lower extremity ischemia (19), severe hypertension and renal insufficiency (12), or arterial aneurysm (2). Contraindications to iodinated contrast agents included renal insufficiency, congestive heart failure, and contrast hypersensitivity. Sixteen aortic, 15 iliac-femoral-popliteal-tibial, five aorta-iliac-femoral and four aorta-iliac-femoral-popliteal-tibial carbon dioxide/digital subtraction arteriography studies were performed. In 11 studies, imaging of selected arterial segments required the addition of 10 to 60 ml of dilute nonionic contrast. Guided by carbon dioxide/digital subtraction arteriography studies four femoral-tibial bypasses, three aneurysmorrhaphies, two aortorenal bypasses, one aortofemoral bypass and one femoral-femoral bypass were successfully performed in 11 patients. In addition, carbon dioxide/digital subtraction arteriography directed angioplasties of the common iliac (4), superficial femoral (6), popliteal (3), or tibioperoneal trunk (1) were performed in 10 patients. Complications of carbon dioxide/digital subtraction arteriography included transient deterioration in renal function in three patients in whom 20 ml of nonionic contrast was used, a nonfatal myocardial infarction after a popliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in one patient, and transient tachypnea and tachycardia during a carbon dioxide/digital subtraction arteriography study in one patient. Diagnostic arteriograms are obtainable using carbon dioxide as the contrast agent. Carbon dioxide/digital subtraction arteriography permits patients with symptomatic arterial disease at high risk for contrast related complications to safely undergo arteriography and subsequent arterial reconstruction or endovascular intervention.

Carbon Dioxide Digital Subtraction Arteriography: A Pilot Study

To investigate the diagnostic value of carbon dioxide arteriograms in patients with peripheral vascular disease, ten patients in whom standard contrast arteriography was contraindicated underwent carbon dioxide digital subtraction arteriography. Lower extremity ischemia or severe hypertension with renal insufficiency were the indications for arteriography. Standard contrast arteriography was precluded by chronic nondialysis-dependent renal insufficiency, severe congestive heart failure or contrast hypersensitivity. All critical arterial segments were well visualized with the exception of the infrapopliteal arterial tree in three patients. Adequate imaging of this segment required the addition of 20 cc of dilute nonionic contrast. Guided by carbon dioxide digital subtraction arteriography, four percutaneous transluminal angioplasties and three reconstructive procedures were successfully performed. One patient did not have surgically reconstructible disease and two had renal arteries without critical stenoses. Renal function transiently deteriorated in one patient who received 20 cc of nonionic contrast. No adverse events occurred due to carbon dioxide. Clinically useful diagnostic arteriograms are possible using carbon dioxide as the contrast agent.

Incomplete opening of LGM (Vena Tech) filters inserted via the transjugular approach.

Over a 12-month period, 216 LGM vena caval filters were placed in 216 patients at four institutions. The transjugular approach was used in 31 of 216 insertions (14%); 185 of 216 filters (86%) were inserted via the femoral route. Incomplete opening of filters was encountered in 13 of 31 transjugular insertions (41%) and none of 185 transfemoral insertions. Delayed spontaneous filter opening occurred in three of 12 cases (25%) of incomplete opening (in which follow-up was available) at 5 minutes, 4 days, and 2 months after insertion. One filter opened completely after catheter manipulations. Several mechanisms explaining this complication are proposed. In its present form, the LGM filter should not be inserted via the jugular route. Since the filtering capabilities of the incompletely opened LGM device have been shown to be diminished in vitro, it may be advisable to place a second filter cephalad to an incompletely opened LGM filter.

Demonstration of aortic lesions via cine magnetic resonance imaging

Cine-MRI was used to evaluate eight patients with known thoracic aorta disease. Included in this study were three aortic coarctations, two aortic dissections, an aneurysm, a posttraumatic pseudoaneurysm, and a patent ductus arteriosus. Cine-MRI was found to be valuable in the assessment of the pathologic anatomy and associated flow disturbances in these disorders. In seven cases, the images demonstrated the aortic lesion and aberrant blood flow. Our technique was unable to image the structural lesion in the patient with patent ductus arteriosus, but the abnormal blood flow was shown. Angiographic data were available on three of the cases to confirm the MR findings. The MRI images were obtained in axial, coronal, sagittal, and oblique planes using fast field echo acquisition technique of cine-MRI. We found the additional data or benefits provided by cine-MRI, when compared to cardiac gated spin echo images, to be most advantageous in the cases of aortic coarctation and dissection only.

Clinical and angiographic findings in extremity arterial injuries secondary to dog bites

From May 1986 through May 1989, the annual number of patients evaluated for dog-bite injuries in the Los Angeles County Hospital jail ward more than doubled. During this period, the number of annual extremity angiograms increased from two to 42. Forty-six of the 48 angiograms were done to evaluate injuries sustained from police dog bites. Only two angiograms, both negative, were performed to evaluate injuries sustained from nonpolice dog bites. Ten of 48 angiograms (24%) demonstrated significant arterial vascular injuries. A similar incidence has been reported with more common causes of penetrating and blunt trauma (eg, knives, gun shots, and motor vehicle accidents). The majority of injuries (seven of ten) were in the right upper extremity. An absent or decreased pulse was observed in five patients. Three patients had proximity-only injuries. The most common injury was occlusion (six of ten). Three patients required surgical repair. From this study, the first on extremity arterial injuries secondary to dog bites, we conclude that bites can result in significant injury. A careful physical examination and an awareness of the possibility of significant arterial damage in proximity-only trauma will help to eliminate missed arterial injuries.

Limb salvage surgery for bone and soft tissue sarcoma. A phase II pathologic study of preoperative intraarterial cisplatin

Preoperative therapy has been tested as part of limb salvage therapy for localized bone and soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities. The activity of cisplatin (CDDP) by intraarterial (IA) infusion was evaluated in 40 cases of which 36 were evaluable for response. All patients had high‐grade sarcomas. All but 3 patients received 3 or 4 courses (24 patients received 4 courses) of CDDP at a dosage of 120 to 150 mg/m2 given over 6 hours every 2 weeks by IA infusion. Patients younger than 18 years of age received the higher dose of CDDP. Treatment was well tolerated with combination antiemetics. One patient experienced severe hearing loss with the first cycle of the higher CDDP dose. Pathologic evaluation of resected osteosarcoma showed a favorable response (90% or greater necrosis) in 8 of 20 evaluable cases and in 3 of 4 patients with malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of bone (without osteoid). In soft tissue sarcomas, minimal (50% to 89%) necrosis was seen in two of nine cases and none had 90% or greater necrosis. Patients received postoperative chemotherapy based on pathologic response, but the value of this postoperative adjuvant therapy requires further follow‐up and is uncertain in this small study. IA CDDP can often cause significant tumor necrosis in patients with bone sarcomas, whereas soft tissue sarcomas are less sensitive to this therapy.

Magnetic resonance imaging of a post-traumatic arteriovenous fistula in the lower extremity

Currently, magnetic resonance (MR) is most useful as a means of providing distinct images of gross abnormalities in major blood vessels. While new advances and further refinements will continue, MR has proven its value as a convenient and effective diagnostic tool for the recognition and delineation of vascular abnormalities, such as acquired arteriovenous fistulae (AVFs). We report a case of a chronic, post-traumatic AVF, in which MR angiography provided excellent anatomic detail and angiographic correlation.