Nei Rodrigues Alves Dezotti

A prospective study of venous hemodynamics and quality of live at least five years after varicose vein stripping

PURPOSE To assess venous hemodynamics and quality of life at lest five years after varicose vein stripping. METHODS We conducted a prospective study with 39 patients (63 limbs) with primary lower limbs varicose veins. Preoperatively, all patients were subjected to clinical evaluation, duplex ultrassound, air plethysmography (APG), and CIVIQ questionnaire of quality of life. By APG, venous filling index (VFI), ejection fraction (EF), and residual volume fraction (RVF) were determined. CIVIQ addresses four domains in course of 20 questions, including states of physical, social, and psychological well-being, and pain level. Varicose veins were treated by standard venous stripping. At least five years after surgery (77.9 ± 10.9 months), patients were reassessed and had clinical examination, duplex ultrasound, APG, and CIVIQ repeated. No late follow-up data was available for 24 patients. RESULTS Preoperative and late postoperative VFI levels were similar, whereas EF (P=0.05) and RVF (P=0.01), as hemodynamic variables, significantly improved following surgery. In the late postoperative period, overall CIVIQ scores were significantly lower (P=0.005), as were scores in all four domains: pain (P=0.001), physical (P=0.007), social (P=0.008), and psychological (P= 0.05). CONCLUSION In a small prospective cohort, improvements in venous hemodynamics and in quality of life of patients submitted to standard varicose veins stripping were maintained five years after the procedure.

Estudo da hemodinâmica venosa por meio da pletismografia a ar no pré e pós-operatório de varizes dos membros inferiores

Metodo:Foram estudados 63membros inferiores em 39 pacientes (35 mulheres e quatro homens), commedia de idade igual a 46,3 anos, operados no Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirao Preto da Universidade de Sao Paulo, no periodo de janeiro de 2001 a dezembro de 2004.Osmembros inferiores foram classificados de acordo com a classificacao CEAP, em criterio clinico = C2 a C6 (C2 = 6, C3 = 32, C4 = 15, C5 = 7 e C6 = 3), criterio etiologico = Ep, criterio anatomico = As e criterio fisiopatologico = Pr. Os pacientes foram avaliados por exame clinico pre e pos-operatorio, mapeamento duplex pre-operatorio e pletismografia a ar pre e pos-operatoria.Background: Surgical treatment of primary varicose veins of the lower limbs might contribute to venous stasis relief by preventing evolution of the venous disease to worse severity stages. Objective: To study venous hemodynamic changes in patients with primary varicose veins of the lower limbs during the pre- and postoperative period using air plethysmography. Method: Sixty-three lower limbs of 39 patients (35 females and four males, mean age of 46.3 years) were evaluated. They were all operated at Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo, between January 2001 and December 2004. Lower limbs were classified according to the CEAP classification: clinical criteria = C2 to C6 (C2 = 6, C3 = 32, C4 = 15, C5 = 7 and C6 = 3), etiologic criteria = Ep, anatomic criteria = As, and pathophysiological criteria = Pr. The patients were submitted to pre- and postoperative clinical examination, preoperative duplex scan and pre- and postoperative air plethysmography. Results: Improvement in venous hemodynamics was observed after surgery, confirmed by reduction in the venous filling index and residual volume fraction and increase in the ejection fraction in the lower limbs submitted to varicose vein surgery. Conclusion: Superficial varicose vein stripping contributed to venous stasis relief and provided appropriate treatment, preventing pathophysiological evolution of chronic venous disease independently of clinical severity.

Correlation between the hemodynamic gain obtained after operation of primary varicose veins and chronic venous disease classification

CONTEXT Previous studies have demonstrated improvement of venous hemodynamics after surgical treatment of primary varicose veins of the lower extremities using air plethysmography (APG). PURPOSE To correlate the venous hemodynamics obtained by APG with the CEAP classification after surgical treatment of primary varicose veins. METHODS We studied 63 limbs of 39 patients (35 women and 4 men) aged on average 46.3 years, operated upon at the University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, during the period from January 2001 to December 2004. The 63 limbs were divided into the three following groups according to CEAP classification: group C2 + C3 (38 limbs), group C4 (15 limbs) and group C5 + C6 (10 limbs). The patients were evaluated clinically before and 30 to 40 days after surgery by preoperative duplex ultrasonography and pre- and postoperative APG. RESULTS There was an apparent hemodynamic improvement after surgical treatment of the varicose veins in the two groups of lower severity, but the improvement was significant in the most severe group based on venous filling index. CONCLUSION Surgical treatment was beneficial for all three groups, but the greatest hemodynamic gain was observed in the group of highest clinical severity (group C5 + C6).

Aortogastric Fistula Due to a Penetrating Atherosclerotic Aortic Ulcer

Penetrating aortic ulcer (PAU) is an atherosclerotic lesion with ulceration that penetrates the internal elastic lamina of the aortic wall. PAUs are classified as a category of acute aortic syndrome and have a reported rupture rate of up to 38%. To our knowledge, there is no prior published report of a PAU causing an aortogastric fistula. With the goal of raising awareness of this potentially catastrophic complication, we present herein a case of a PAU that ruptured into the gastric fundus, resulting in massive bleeding. The diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography angiography, and thoracic endovascular aortic repair was used to control bleeding. Unfortunately, the patient did not survive the severe hypovolemic shock.

Influência da altura do salto de sapatos na função venosa da mulher jovem

Background: The influence of shoe heel height on venous function is still a controversial subject in the international literature. The importance of ergonomics for quality of life is a universally accepted factor, and situations that impair it, such as prolonged permanence in the supine position, shoe quality and workplace conditions may interfere with the individual’s health.

Lower limb venous diameters and haemodynamics during pregnancy and postpartum period in healthy primigravidae

Objective Analyse venous haemodynamics in healthy primigravidae during pregnancy and in the postpartum. Methods Cohort with primigravidae evaluated in the three trimesters of pregnancy and postpartum. Duplex evaluated venous diameters and reflux; air plethysmography evaluated venous filling index, ejection fraction, residual volume fraction and outflow fraction in both limbs. Results During pregnancy, diameters increased in bilateral common femoral and right infravalvar great saphenous, but returned to first trimester values after delivery. Reflux developed in one woman (5%) in the second trimester and in two more women (15%) in the third trimester. No reflux was detected in postpartum. Bilateral venous filling index was higher during pregnancy. Bilateral ejection fraction and residual volume fraction did not change. Bilateral outflow fraction increased progressively. The right limb outflow fraction in left lateral decubitus was similar. All changes returned to first trimester values after delivery. Conclusions Healthy primigravidae presented changes in lower limbs’ veins during pregnancy: diameters in bilateral common femoral and infravalvar great saphenous veins increased; new reflux was developed in 15% of women, but there was no venous hypertension. Calf muscular pump function did not change. All changes returned to first trimester values after delivery.

Reparo de aneurisma de artéria ilíaca roto em criança

Resumo Relatamos o caso de uma menina de 12 anos que deu entrada na unidade de emergência com quadro de abdome agudo hemorrágico, massa abdominal pulsátil e instabilidade hemodinâmica. Confirmado o diagnóstico de aneurisma roto de artéria ilíaca direita, foi realizada correção cirúrgica de emergência por reparo aberto com reconstrução extra-anatômica, utilizando enxerto sintético de fino calibre, compatível com a anatomia. O tratamento foi bem-sucedido e a criança apresentou evolução favorável em curto prazo.

The clinical importance of air plethysmography in the assessment of chronic venous disease

Abstract Air plethysmography is a non-invasive test that can quantify venous reflux and obstruction by measuring volume changes in the leg. Its findings correlate with clinical and hemodynamic measures. It can quantitatively assess several components of venous hemodynamics: valvular reflux, calf muscle pump function, and venous obstruction. Although clinical uses of air plethysmography have been validated, it is used almost exclusively for medical research. Air plethysmography can be used to assess chronic venous disease, to evaluate improvement after venous surgery, to diagnose acute and past episodes of deep venous thrombosis, to evaluate compression stocking therapy, to study the physiological implications of high-heeled shoes in healthy women, and even to evaluate the probability of ulcer healing.

Endovascular treatment of endotension with dacron stent graft reinforcement and femorofemoral crossover bypass: therapeutic challenge

A 54 year-old man with an asymptomatic 5.9 cm AAA was treated with an Excluder® 26 mm/14.5 mm/16 cm endoprosthesis (Gore, USA). Initial aortic morphology showed a proximal neck of 2.0 cm of extension by 23 mm of diameter. The common iliac arteries measured 13 mm in right diameter and 12 mm in left diameter. No endoleak was detected immediately after the procedure. One month after the procedure, computed tomography (CT) scan showed maintenance of aneurysmal diameters without evidence of endoleak (Figure 1). After one year, follow-up duplex ultrasound and CT scan showed no endoleak, but a small growth of the aneurysmal sac to 6.2 cm was observed (Figure 2). Aortography with selective visceral and hypogastric arteries showed no endoleak (Figure 3). We decided to observe the outcome of the condition with a second CT scan within six months. The patient only returned after one year, when CT scan found the aneurysmal diameter had increased to 7.5 cm, but without evidence of endoleak. The case was interpreted as endotension, and intervention was considered. Since the patient presented class II heart failure, poorly controlled cardiac arrhythmia and a previous left pneumonectomy for a neoplasm, an endovascular approach was chosen.