Viviane Kazan

Celiac artery compression syndrome: a radiological finding without clinical symptoms?

The aim of the paper is to determine the incidence of celiac artery compression (CAC) based on computed tomography (CT) scan and correlate the findings to the clinical presentation of patients presenting for CT scan in a hospital. Abdominal CT scans of patients were reviewed between September 2010 and November 2010. CAC was diagnosed if the celiac axis appeared to have a hook or U-shaped appearance with stenosis. The medical records of the patients were reviewed for gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea), as well as food fear and weight loss. Patients with CAC had lower incidence of symptoms compared with those without CAC (42.1 versus 65.3%, P = 0.042). A total of 450 patients were evaluated. In the end, 284 had both complete medical records and CT scans. The mean age for all patients was 51.3 ± 1.2 years. There were 124 men (42.6%) and 160 (57.4%) women. Nineteen (6.7%) patients had radiological evidence of CAC. CAC is not an uncommon CT finding in patients presenting for CT scan.

A single center experience with retrievable IVC filters

Objective To evaluate retrievable IVC filters in our institution and assess their retrieval following a well-structured follow up program. Design Retrospective cohort study. Materials The medical records of patients implanted with retrievable IVC filters were reviewed. Methods All retrievable filter insertions between July 2007 and August 2011 at our institution were reviewed. Data was analyzed for age, gender, indication, complications, retrieval rate, and brand of filter inserted. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software v19. Chi-square was used to compare discrete data and t-test for continuous data. P < 0.05 was significant. Results A total of 484 patients were reviewed of which 258 (53.1%) had a complete medical record. And 96 (37.2%) filters were placed as permanent at the time of insertion. An additional 40 (15.5%) filters were converted to permanent (total permanent filters 136; 52.7%). Death was reported in 26 (10%) patients and 96 (37.2%) out of the remaining 232 patients presented for potential retrieval. Also, 73 (28.2%) had an attempt to retrieve the filters, 69 (94.5%) were successful and 4 (5.4%) failed to retrieve. The remaining 23 (8.9%) patients declined retrieval. Filters studied include Celect (38%), Bard (31.4%), Option (26.2%), Tulip (4.1%), and Recovery (0.2%). Bard was more commonly used as a retrievable filter (80.9%). Retrieval on the first attempt was 90.4% (n = 66) successful. Of the remaining seven filters, three were successfully retrieved on a second attempt, and four failed to retrieve due to filter tilt. The success rates of retrieval for Celect and Tulip were significantly lower than for Bard (p = 0.04 and 0.023, respectively). Conclusion Our study showed that a variety of IVC filters can be retrieved successfully with minimal complication rates. In more than half of our patients, IVC filters were used as permanent. Failure of retrieval was most frequently due to filter tilting.

Home treatment of deep venous thrombosis in the era of new oral anticoagulants.

This is a retrospective cohort study of adults with a primary diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) unaccompanied by pulmonary embolism (PE), seen in 4 emergency departments in 2013 and part of 2014. The purpose was to assess the prevalence of home treatment of DVT in the present era of new oral anticoagulants. Among 96 patients with DVT and no PE, 85 (88.5%) were hospitalized and 11 (11.5%) were discharged to home. Most of the patients discharged to home received low-molecular-weight heparin, 9 (81.8%) of 11. None were prescribed new oral anticoagulants. Early discharge in ≤2 days occurred 28 (32.9%) of 85 patients. Most (64.3%) received enoxaparin and/or warfarin at early discharge. Rivaroxaban was prescribed in 7 (25.0%) of those discharged in ≤2 days. We conclude that in some emergency departments, patients with DVT are uncommonly discharged to home even though new oral anticoagulants are available.

Penetrating abdominal aortic ulcers: case reports and review of the literature.

Atherosclerotic abdominal aortic ulcers are uncommon in contrast to those of the thoracic aorta. They present with a variety of symptoms. Computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the methods of diagnosis. Treatment is made easier with the use of endovascular techniques, which have less mortality and morbidity than open repair. In this paper, we present three cases of penetrating aortic ulcers presenting with abdominal pain. In two of those cases, the diagnosis was made by MRI and missed by CT scan. We present a review of the literature.

Incidence and clinical significance of iliac vein compression.

Objectives To determine the frequency of left common iliac vein (CIV) compression by the right common iliac artery (CIA) based on CT scan images. Methods CT scan images were reviewed and the diameter of CIV was measured at the area of minimal diameter and compared to the distal adjacent segment and the contralateral CIV at the same level. Medical records were reviewed for symptoms, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and risk factors that might be associated with DVT. Data were analyzed with SPSS program using both Chi square and t test. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Linear regression (R2) was used to evaluate correlation. Results A total of 300 complete records were reviewed. The mean age was 51.89 years, with 126 (42%) males. Comparison between the two groups (>70% vs <70%) showed similar clinical factors such as history of DVT, surgery, immobilization, malignancy, limb trauma, pregnancy, obesity, CHF, and smoking. There were more females with CIV compression of 70% or more than males (19.5% vs 11.1% P < .049). Conclusion Diameter stenosis more than 70% was present in 30.6% of cases with higher incidence in females. The presence of stenosis was not associated with the presence of clinical symptoms.

Salivary protein changes in response to acute stress in medical residents performing advanced clinical simulations: a pilot proteomics study

Abstract Context: Quantitative changes of salivary proteins due to acute stress were detected. Objective: To explore protein markers of stress in saliva of eight medical residents who performed emergency medicine simulations. Materials and methods: Saliva was collected before the simulations, after the simulations, and following morning upon waking. Proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), identified by mass spectrometry (MS), and relatively quantified by densitometry. Results: Salivary alpha-amylase and S–type cystatins significantly increased, while the ∼26 kDa and low-molecular weight (MW) (<10 kDa) SDS-PAGE bands exhibited changes after stress. Discussion and conclusion: Alpha-amylase and cystatins are potential salivary markers of acute stress, but further validation should be performed using larger sample populations.

Internal Jugular Vein Hemangioma

Primary tumors of the major body veins arising intraluminally are rare clinical entities. As such, few cases have been reported in the literature. As a primary tumor, hemangiomas arising in the internal jugular vein are extremely rare, while those arising in the external jugular vein are only slightly more common. We present a case of an internal jugular vein hemangioma that was incidentally discovered during an ultrasound examination performed for the evaluation of the internal carotid arteries. We believe that this is the second case of internal jugular vein hemangioma reported in the English literature.

Popliteal Artery Aneurysm: Endovascular Surgery

Popliteal artery aneurysms are the most common peripheral aneurysms. This chapter was written to provide the reader with background information regarding the popliteal artery aneurysm and its anatomy. A literature review is provided summarizing studies that have been done comparing endovascular treatment to open surgical repair. Endovascular treatment is discussed in-depth including stent types, progression of technology, advantages and disadvantages of stents, in addition to providing information in choosing patients for procedures. Empirical evidence for endovascular treatment is provided as well as information regarding the technique utilized by the author and colleagues.