Pantelis Kraniotis

Sirolimus-Eluting versus Bare Stents for Bailout after Suboptimal Infrapopliteal Angioplasty for Critical Limb Ischemia: 6-Month Angiographic Results from a Nonrandomized Prospective Single-Center Study

Purpose: To report the 6-month angiographic results from a prospective single-center study investigating the efficacy and outcome of sirolimus-eluting stents used for bailout after infrapopliteal revascularization of patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). Methods: Twenty-nine patients (21 men; mean age 68.7 years) underwent infrapopliteal revascularization with bare metal stents (group B) implanted for bailout in 65 lesions (38 stenoses and 27 occlusions) in 40 infrapopliteal arteries. Another 29 patients (21 men; mean age 68.8 years) underwent infrapopliteal bailout stenting with sirolimus-eluting stents (group S) in 66 lesions (46 stenoses and 20 occlusions) in 41 vessels. Preliminary 6-month angiographic and clinical results were analyzed. Results: Hyperlipidemia and symptomatic cardiac and carotid diseases were more pronounced in group S (p < 0.05). Technical success was 96.6% (28/29 limbs) in group B versus 100.0% in group S (p=0.16). Six-month primary patency was 68.1% in group B versus 92.0% in group S (p < 0.002). Binary in-stent and in-segment restenosis rates were 55.3% and 66.0%, respectively, in patients with bare stents versus 4.0% and 32.0%, respectively, in patients treated with the sirolimus-eluting stents (both p < 0.001). The target lesion reintervention rate at 6 months was 17.0% in group B versus 4.0% in group S (p=0.02). Limb salvage was 100% in both groups. Six-month mortality and minor amputation rates were 6.9% and 17.2%, respectively, in group B versus 10.3% and 3.4%, respectively, in group S (p=0.32 and p=0.04, respectively). Conclusions: Sirolimus-eluting stents seem to restrict neointimal hyperplasia in the infrapopliteal vascular bed.

Sirolimus-eluting versus bare stents after suboptimal infrapopliteal angioplasty for critical limb ischemia: enduring 1-year angiographic and clinical benefit.

Purpose: To report the 1-year angiographic and clinical outcome from a prospective single-center study investigating the infrapopliteal application of sirolimus-eluting versus bare metal stents in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) who underwent below-the-knee endovascular revascularization. Methods: Stenting was performed as a bailout procedure for suboptimal angioplasty results (flow-limiting dissection, elastic recoil, or postangioplasty residual stenosis >30%). In the first 29 patients, infrapopliteal stenting was performed with bare metal stents (group B) and with sirolimus-eluting stents in the other 29 patients (group S). Results: Below-the-knee angioplasty and stenting involved 65 lesions in 40 infrapopliteal arteries of 29 limbs in group B and 66 lesions in 41 infrapopliteal arteries of 29 limbs in group S. Baseline comorbidities (hyperlipidemia and symptomatic cardiac and carotid disease) were more pronounced in group S (p<0.05). At 6 months, sirolimus-eluting stents demonstrated significantly higher primary patency (OR 5.625, 95% CI 1.711 to 18.493, p=0.004) and decreased in-stent binary restenosis (OR 0.067, 95% CI 0.021 to 0.017, p<0.001) and in-segment binary restenosis (OR 0.229, 95% CI 0.099 to 0.533, p=0.001). After 1 year, sirolimus-eluting stents were steadily associated with increased primary patency (OR 10.401, 95% CI 3.425 to 31.589, p<0.001) and significantly less in-stent (OR 0.156, 95% CI 0.060 to 0.407, p<0.001) and in-segment (OR 0.089, 95% CI 0.023 to 0.349, p=0.001) binary restenosis. In addition, sirolimus-eluting stents were associated with significantly fewer cumulative target lesion reinterventions at 6 months (OR 0.057, 95% CI 0.008 to 0.426, p=0.005) and 1 year (OR 0.238, 95% CI 0.067 to 0.841, p=0.026). No significant differences between groups B and S were noted at 1 year with respect to mortality (10.3% versus 13.8%, respectively), minor amputation (17.2% versus 10.3%), or limb salvage (100% versus 96%). Conclusion: The application of sirolimus-eluting stents reduces the restenosis rate in the infrapopliteal arteries and the rate of repeat endovascular procedures the first year after treatment.

Ureteral stents: new ideas, new designs:

Ureteral stents represent a minimally invasive alternative to preserve urinary drainage whenever ureteral patency is deteriorated or is under a significant risk to be occluded due to extrinsic or intrinsic etiologies. The ideal stent that would combine perfect long-term efficacy with no stent-related morbidity is still lacking and stent usage is associated with several adverse effects that limit its value as a tool for long-term urinary drainage. Several new ideas on stent design, composition material and stent coating currently under evaluation, foreseen to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks of ureteral stent usage. In this article we review the currently applied novel ideas and new designs of ureteral stents. Moreover, we evaluate potential future prospects of ureteral stent development adopted mostly by the pioneering cardiovascular stent industry, focusing, however, on the differences between ureteral and endothelial tissue.

Extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysms: report of a ruptured case and review of the literature.

Aneurysms of the extracranial carotid arteries (ECAA) are extremely rare. Schechter et al. [1] documented 835 cases in the literature up to 1977. One hundred and sixteen cases of ECAA have been documented in the Chinese literature since 1981, suggesting a higher prevalence of carotid aneurysmal disease in China than in the West. Four percent of all peripheral artery aneurysms are reported to be ECAA [2]. Those arising from the internal carotid artery (EICAA) are even more rare. Two recent reviews [3, 4] reported 24 and 25 cases of EICAA during 21 and 17 years, respectively, the majority of them is treated surgically. Our literature review revealed only a few true EICAA managed endovascularly, but none of them with a covered stent. We describe a rare such case of ruptured atherosclerotic EICAA which was treated percutaneously.

A case of a giant pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia of the breast: magnetic resonance imaging findings

Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) of the breast is a benign myofibroblastic process. We present the case of a 17-year-old girl who underwent diagnostic work-up due to an enlargement of her left breast. She was submitted to ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which depicted a 14 cm lesion in her left breast. The patient was later operated and histology revealed PASH. Although PASH may range from 0.6–12 cm, a few lesions over 12 cm have been described, the largest being 20 cm. Large series present mammographic and ultrasonographic features of PASH in the literature, but little has been reported on the MR characteristics of PASH up to today. Signal on the T1-weighted image (T1WI) and T2-weighted image (T2WI) may vary. Curves generated from dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) studies are mainly type I or less frequently type II. There are no reports about diffusion-weighted imaging and corresponding apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values for PASH in the literature. ADC values in our case lie within the range of values reported for other benign breast lesions. The presence of slit-like spaces within the lesion on MR imaging along with DCE-MRI type I curve and ADC values consistent with a benign lesion may favour the diagnosis of PASH. Tissue biopsy is necessary, however for the final diagnosis. This case report will further contribute to the understanding of MR imaging features of PASH, especially in cases where mammography is not indicated.

Brucellosis presenting as piriformis myositis: a case report

IntroductionMyositis is a rare bacterial muscle infection. Involvement of the piriformis muscle has been rarely reported in the literature. In this report we describe a case of piriformis myositis due to Brucella melitensis, which to the best of our knowledge is the first such case presented in the literature.Case presentationWe report the case of a 19-year-old Caucasian man who presented to our institution with fever and right hip pain. Brucellosis was suspected, but the clinical suspicion was for spondylodiscitis. A pelvic magnetic resonance imaging scan allowed prompt diagnosis of inflammatory involvement of the right piriformis muscle. Blood culture results were positive for B. melitensis. Our patient was treated with antibiotics, and follow-up magnetic resonance imaging scans showed resolution of the inflammation.ConclusionBrucellosis can present as piriformis myositis. The clinical diagnosis of piriformis myositis is difficult, as it can mimic other common entities such as referred back pain from spondylodiscitis. Magnetic resonance imaging is the method of choice for establishing the diagnosis in the early stages of the disease, as late diagnosis can lead to abscess formation and the need for drainage.

Giant ileocolic intussusception in an adult induced by a double ileal lipoma: a case report with pathologic correlation

Intussusception in adults is rare, accounting for less than 5% of all cases. Unlike the childhood variant, adult intussusception is often associated with a small bowel lesion acting as the “lead point.” We herein report an uncommon case of giant intussusception secondary to 2 separate lipomatous lesions located in the ileum, in an adult admitted to our hospital for acute severe abdominal pain.

Listeriosis infection of an abdominal aortic aneurysm in a diabetic patient

A rare case of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) infected by Listeria monocytogenes in a 72-year-old male diabetic farmer, is reported. Our patient had a history of a recent pneumonia that could have been caused by Listeria too. Aneurysm infection was manifested by fever and abdominal and back pain, which prompted investigation with CT scanning that revealed a 4.9 cm AAA with typical signs of infection. He underwent urgent AAA repair with aortobifemoral bypass grafting and had an uneventful course. Aneurysm content microbiology revealed Listeria monocytogenes and following a 9-week course of antibiotics our patient remains asymptomatic 11 months later.

The role of CT-guided percutaneous gastrostomy in patients with clinically severe obesity presenting with complications after bariatric surgery.

Purpose To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous gastrostomy in patients presenting with complications after bariatric surgery. Materials and Methods From January 2003 up to today, 25 patients (20 women), formerly operated for severe obesity, were referred for gastrostomy, after presenting with a complication. The mean age and body mass index were 38±9.3 years and 46±7.1 kg/m2, respectively. A gastrostomy tube was placed under CT in all patients. Results The procedures technical success rate was 96%, with mean interventional time of 80±42 minutes. In 14 of 25 (56%) cases submucosal spread of air was noticed during air insufflation into the stomach. No major complications were recorded. There was a statistically significant improvement of both albumin and prealbumin values compared with the initial ones (P<0.005). Conclusions CT-guided gastrostomy in patients with complications after bariatric surgery, provides a reliable alternative for nutritional support. It restores the normal absorption route, reversing metabolic deficiencies.

Extent of Silent Cerebral Infarcts in Adult Sickle-Cell Disease Patients on Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Is There a Correlation with the Clinical Severity of Disease?

The aim of this paper is to correlate the extent of silent cerebral infarcts (SCIs) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the clinical severity of sickle cell disease (SCD) in adult patients. Twenty-four consecutive adult asymptomatic SCD patients (11 male and 13 female) with a mean age of 38.4 years (range 20-59) were submitted to brain MRI on a 1 Tesla Gyroscan Intera, Philips MR scanner with a dedicated head coil. The protocol consisted of TSE T2-weighted and FLAIR images on the axial and coronal planes. MRI readings were undertaken by two radiologists and consensus readings. Patients were compound heterozygotes (HbS/β-thal). The extent of SCIs was classified from 0-2 with 0 designating no lesions. Clinical severity was graded as 0-2 by the hematologist, according to the frequency and severity of vaso-occlusive crises. There was no statistically significant correlation between the severity of clinical disease and the extent of SCIs on MR imaging. The extent of SCI lesions did not differ statistically between younger and older patients. Patients receiving hydroxyurea had no statistically significant difference in the extent of SCI lesions. The extent of SCIs in heterozygous (HbS/β-thal) SCD patients is not age related and may be quite severe even in younger (<38.4 years) patients. However the extent of SCIs is not correlated with the severity of clinical disease.