Sami Asfar

Vascular Injuries Caused by Orthopaedic Screws

Objective: To describe 3 cases of vascular injuries due to orthopaedic procedures. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: Of 242 vascular injuries, 3 were due to orthopaedic screws. The 1st patient presented with a late complication (after 3 years) of an orthopaedic screw placed in close proximity to the axillary artery that with time got eroded and leaked to form a false aneurysm which later caused embolisation to the arm and limb ischaemia. The 2nd and 3rd cases were due acute ischaemia following the orthopaedic procedures. Both were injuries to the popliteal artery, one after a long screw and the other after drilling the tibia. The aneurysm of the 1st case was resected, the screw was removed and a reversed segment of the right long saphenous vein was used to repair the axillary artery. In the 2nd patient, a bypass of the left popliteal artery to the tibio-peroneal trunk was performed using a reversed 12-cm-long saphenous vein graft retrieved from the right thigh. In the 3rd patient, the right popliteal vein was ligated, and a reversed 25-cm-long saphenous vein graft retrieved from the left thigh was used for a femoro-popliteal bypass. For the 3 patients, postoperative recovery was unremarkable. Pulses were present within 6–10 months of follow-up. Conclusions: Whenever limb vascularity is compromised after an orthopaedic procedure, a high index of suspicion for an arterial injury should be exercised and prompt referral to the vascular service is mandatory. Repair of injured vessels with a saphenous vein graft provides excellent long-term results.

Is There a Need for Doppler Vascular Examination for the Diagnosis of Varicose Vein? A Prospective Study

Objective: To compare the validity of a careful clinical examination with venous Doppler studies in the management of patients presenting with varicose veins. Subjects and Methods: Ninety-five consecutive patients presenting with varicose veins from September 1998 to August 1999 were included in this study. Of the 95 patients, 52 were males and 43 females. Eighty-four were expatriate laborers and 11 Kuwaiti nationals. Seventy-one were active workers under the age of 30. All of the patients underwent a full clinical examination for varicose veins, and a management plan was developed for each patient prior to Doppler venous study. The results of the Doppler studies were then compared with the clinical examination results, and the management plan was changed, if necessary, based on the Doppler results. Results: Both clinical and Doppler examinations were equally effective in diagnosing primary varicose vein and identifying sites of venous incompetence. A family history for varicose veins was found in 21% and standing for a long period of time was a risk factor in 51% patients. The most common symptoms were pain and heaviness. Doppler study findings were useful in changing the management plan of 14 (15%) patients, 6 with recurrent varicose vein and 8 obese patients with chronic venous insufficiency. The majority of the patients (n = 82) benefited from surgery and were free of symptoms. Conclusion: This prospective study demonstrated that detailed clinical examination was sufficient to diagnose most patients suffering from primary varicose veins. Doppler vascular studies were useful in changing the treatment modality for those presenting with recurrent varicose vein or obese patients with signs and symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency with no clinically clear varicosity.

Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Breast: A Case Managed without Mastectomy

Objective: To report a rare presentation of necrotizing fasciitis (NF) in the breast and its management. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 61-year-old non-diabetic lady presented with a painful swollen right breast and yellowish discharge associated with fever for the last few days. Based on clinical examination and haematological parameters, a provisional diagnosis of breast abscess was made that later proved to be a case of NF. She was managed conservatively with repeated debridement followed by split-skin grafting with preservation of the breast. Conclusion: This case showed that NF of the breast can present as a simple breast abscess which was managed conservatively.

Vascular aneurysms in Behcet's disease

Background:u2003 Vascular complications are fairly common in patients suffering from Behcets disease. Peripheral arterial aneurysms affect nearly every artery in association with this disease. This report discusses the management of this complication in such patients.

Changes in the diameter and valve closure time of leg veins in primigravida women during pregnancy

OBJECTIVEnThe aim of this study was to monitor the changes that develop in leg veins of primigravida women during pregnancy.nnnMETHODSnSixty primigravida women volunteered to undergo clinical evaluation and duplex ultrasound examination of both lower limb veins to monitor changes in vein diameter and valve closure time (VCT) during pregnancy and 3 months postpartum by duplex ultrasound. A total of four readings were taken for each subject, one reading for each trimester and the last reading at 3 months postpartum.nnnRESULTSnThe mean (± standard deviation) age of participants was 26.82 ± 2.47 years; 39 limbs (32.5%) and 65 limbs (54.2%) developed C1-C3 venous changes during the second and third trimesters, respectively. Three months post partum, 36 limbs (30%) continued to have C1-C2 changes. Only four limbs in four subjects developed varicose veins along the great saphenous vein, and their VCT was more than 1 second. These subjects were found to have a family history of varicose veins. Duplex examinations showed that there was a gradual increase in the diameter and VCT from the second trimester through the third trimester of pregnancy in all examined venous segments. These changes were statistically significant by Friedman and related-samples Wilcoxon signed rank tests within the same legs (P = .001) but not between legs in the same subject (P > .05), even with adjustment for body mass index (P = .001-.049).nnnCONCLUSIONSnIn primigravida women, lower limb veins showed gradual increase in vein diameter and in VCT starting from the second trimester. These changes reverted to baseline in most cases 3 months after delivery.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumour masquerading as a cyst in the lesser sac.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are solid tumours of the gastrointestinal tract, mostly found in the stomach and intestine. They rarely present as cystic lesions. A 74-year-old woman referred to the hepatopancreaticobiliary unit, with 3u2005months history of upper abdominal discomfort. Abdominal ultrasound scan showed a large cystic lesion in the epigastric region suggestive of a pancreatic pseudocyst. The CT-scan showed a 6.6×6×6.3u2005cm size cyst related to the pancreas and extending to the hepatogastric omentum. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) scan was suggestive of a pancreatic pseudocyst. Aspirated Cyst fluid via EUS showed benign cytology with normal amylase, lipase and tumour markers (CEA, CA-19.9 and CA-125). She was referred as a case of pancreatic pseudocyst. After surgical excision, the histopathology confirmed the presence GIST in the wall of the cystic lesion. The possibility of GIST should be kept in mind in the presence of unusual features of a cyst on abdominal imaging.

Diastolic versus systolic ankle-brachial pressure index using ultrasound imaging & automated oscillometric measurement in diabetic patients with calcified and non-calcified lower limb arteries

BackgroundAnkle-brachial pressure index-systolic (ABI-s) can be falsely elevated in the presence of calcified lower limb arteries in some diabetic patients and therefore loses its value in this cohort of patients. We aim at investigating the feasibility of using the diastolic (ABI-d) instead of ABI-s to calculate the ABI in diabetic patients with calcified limb arteries.MethodsA total of 51 patients were chosen from the diabetic foot clinic. Twenty six of these patients had calcified leg arteries by Duplex scan (Group A) and 25 patients did not have calcifications in their leg arteries (Group B). Twenty five healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study for group C and they were matched with other participants from group B and A in age and sex. ABI measurement was performed using “boso ABI-system 100 machine”. Systolic ABI (ABI-s) and diastolic ABI (ABI-d) were calculated based on bilateral brachial and ankle oscillometric pressures. ABI is considered normal when it is ≥0.9. Repeated measures ANOVA test was used to test for comparing mean scores for ABI-s and ABI-d across the three groups. Statistical significance is considered when P < .05.ResultsThe mean age of all participants (±SD) was 64.30 ± 7.1 years (range, 50–82 years). ABI-s mean ± SD was 1.3 ± 0.10 (range, 1.18–1.58) in group A patients, 1.07 ± 0.05 (range, 1–1.16) in group B patients, and 1.06 ± 0.05 (range, 1–1.16) in group C volunteers. While ABI-d mean ± SD was 1.07 ± 0.05 (range, 1.1–1.17) in group A patients, 1.06 ± 0.05 (1–1.14) in group B patients, and 1.05 ± 0.04 (range, 1.01–1.14) in group C volunteers. In group A, repeated measures ANOVA test showed statistical significant difference between ABI-s and ABI-d (P < 0.001) whereas in group B & C was not (P > 0.05).ConclusionsABI-d may be helpful and can be used as a complementary measure instead of ABI-s in falsely elevated ABI caused by partial incompressible vessel.

Repair of Common Carotid Artery Injury with an External Carotid Artery Flap

Objectives: To describe a new technique to repair injuries of the common carotid artery. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 30-year-old man sustained an iatrogenic injury to the left common carotid artery during surgical dissection of a left branchial cyst. The artery was repaired as follows: the left external carotid artery was ligated distally, its stump was longitudinally opened to create an arterial flap, which was then used to repair the defect in the common carotid artery. The patient remained free of any symptoms throughout 1 year of follow-up. Conclusion: Use of an external carotid flap provides an alternative method of repairing an injured carotid artery.

Acute Suppurative Necrotizing Pancholangitis

Objective: To present a case of ascending cholangitis with resulting necrosis of the biliary system with perforation. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 40-year-old male patient presented with upper abdominal pain, fever and jaundice assessed clinically and investigated by laboratory and radiological tests. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiogram and surgery were performed. However, because of extensive suppurative pancholangitis involving most of the intrahepatic radicles, sound surgical drainage could not be accomplished. Unfortunately, the patient died 2 days after surgery. Conclusion: In this case of severe cholangitis, endoscopic and surgical interventions were not successful and might have contributed to the worsening of the condition.

A Case of Yersinia Infection from the Middle East: Case Report and Literature Review

The authors report the first case of yersinia infection of the cecum, appendix and mesenteric lymph nodes from the Middle East, together with a literature review on yersiniosis. The case is unique in that the cecum was affected while the terminal ileum was free from disease.