OBJECTIVES: Carotid artery aneurysms, although rare, are increasing in frequency due to their association with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. Our institution serves a population with a high HIV prevalence and we wished to document our growing experience with this aneurysmal pathology in a setting of an ever-increasing burden of ...

Abstract  A case of pulmonary valve endocarditis in a patient with a ductus arteriosus (PDA) is reported. The PDA was ligated, the septal leaflet of the pulmonary valve was excised, and a pericardial monocusp reconstruction was performed. (J Card Surg 2011;**:1-3).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of a hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) approach for the treatment of left main (LM) coronary artery stenosis. BACKGROUND: The recommended therapy for significant LM stenosis is coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of unprotected LM lesions is reserved for patients at high ...

OBJECTIVES: To determine the most comprehensive imaging technique for the assessment of pulmonary arteries in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). METHODS: 24 patients with CTEPH were examined by ECG-gated multi-detector CT angiography (MD-CTA), contrast-enhanced MR angiography (ce-MRA) and selective digital subtraction angiography (DSA) within 3 days. Two readers in ...

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of concurrent intra-arterial infusion chemoradiotherapy for adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) has been described in only a few reports. Herein, we report on 2 patients with unresectable ACC of the maxillary sinus treated with this approach. METHODS: Patients received concurrent chemoradiotherapy. External beam radiation was administered 5 times ...

OBJECTIVE: It is hypothesized that an altered turnover of extracellular matrix mediated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is present in thoracic aortic aneurysms. Here, we analyzed the occurrence of MMPs and MMP inhibitors in ascending aortic aneurysms in patients with bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves. METHODS: Expression of 23 MMPs and ...

Our aim in this observational study was to utilize ultrasound, as well as anatomic dissection, to document the frequency with which branches of the subclavian vessels are found in close association with the brachial plexus at the locations of supraclavicular and interscalene brachial plexus block. Ultrasound was utilized to document ...

Object The goal of this study was to demonstrate feasibility and evaluate technical aspects of early endovascular access through extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass grafts. Methods Patients undergoing endovascular interventions through the graft in the acute postoperative period following EC-IC bypass are presented. Results, complications, and technical nuances are reviewed. Results Fourteen ...

OBJECTIVES: There are few long-term follow-up studies about the result of revascularization surgery for the treatment of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES). We performed this retrospective study to analyze the long-term result of revascularization surgery in patients with advanced PAES during the last 16 years. METHODS: Twenty-two limbs in 18 ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Limited data are available concerning the outcome of angioplasty/stenting for subacute atherosclerotic intracranial artery occlusion, which is often associated with progressive symptom development in the salvageable brain under ischemic threat due to poor collateral blood supply. METHODS: Among 177 patients who underwent angioplasty and/or stenting for severe ...

Femoral-anterior tibial artery bypasses with autogenous grafts are difficult to perform when sufficiently long saphenous veins are not available. We performed 12 bypasses on patients with Buerger disease during a 20-year period using a new intermuscular tunneling technique. The graft is passed from the thigh between the muscle compartments without ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe typical ultrasonographic findings of vertebral arteries in patients affected by giant cell arteritis. METHODS: Color duplex sonography was used to asses the cervical arteries within 24 hours from stroke onset in 1237 patients. Vertebral arteritis was considered if concentric, ...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and report our treatment policies in the management of nonpulmonary arterial aneurysms in Behçet disease and to assess the prognosis in a cohort of 25 patients diagnosed between 1996 and 2007 by formally reassessing their outcome at the present time. METHODS: ...

OBJECTIVE: The feasibility of a fluoride positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scan for imaging atherosclerosis has not been well documented. The purpose of this study was to assess fluoride uptake of vascular calcification in various major arteries, including coronary arteries. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the imaging data and cardiovascular history ...

INTRODUCTION: Anastomotic pseudoaneurysms and true para-anastomotic aneurysms after initial open abdominal aortic prosthetic reconstruction often need reintervention because they are at risk for rupture. However, open surgical reinterventions are technically challenging procedures with high mortality and morbidity rates. In the present multicenter study, we describe the long-term clinical course in ...

BACKGROUND:: The purpose of this study is to review our experience with late reoperations after the arterial switch operation (ASO) and to introduce reparative solutions adapted from previous techniques. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 23 patients who underwent late reoperations after ASO between 1983 and 2010. Eighteen patients ...

AimsThis study aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics of massive air embolism occurring during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.Methods and resultsOf 2976 patients undergoing AF ablation, 5 patients complicated by serious air embolism were examined. Atrial fibrillation ablation was performed with the use of three long sheaths for circular mapping and ...

BACKGROUND: The treatment of ruptured dissecting aneurysms of the intracranial vertebral artery (VA) with parent vessel preservation is a challenge for neurosurgeons and interventional neuroradiologists. OBJECTIVE: To propose an indication of flow diversion treatment for the reconstruction of a dissecting VA with acute subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: 2 male patients ...

A 41-year-old woman, who had no thrombotic risk factors and past history except congenital scoliosis, underwent central venous catheterization (CVC) before correction of the scoliosis. When internal jugular vein (IJV) catheterization using the anatomical landmark technique failed, CVC under ultrasound guidance was tried. As a consequence, thrombosis and hypoplasia of ...

INTRODUCTION: Intracranial arterial stenosis is an important factor in the development of cerebral infarction; however, no effective treatment has been established. A phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3) inhibitor, cilostazol, has been reported to suppress progression of symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis in combination with aspirin, but the study used magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) ...

BACKGROUND: The treatment of ruptured dissecting aneurysms of the intracranial vertebral artery (VA) with parent vessel preservation is a challenge for neurosurgeons and interventional neuroradiologists. OBJECTIVE: To propose an indication of flow diversion treatment for the reconstruction of a dissecting VA with acute subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: 2 male patients ...

High brachial artery bifurcation (HiBAB) is not a rare occurrence. Recent data have emphasized that HiBAB can have major clinical implications including high failure rate and decreased functional patency of an arteriovenous (AV) fistula. In this retrospective study, we investigated the incidence of HiBAB. Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease ...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Despite their apparent benefits, statins remain underutilized after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. To summarize the literature regarding statin therapy and CABG, we performed a systematic review of the Medline database from 1987-2011 to assess the benefits of statins in CABG patients, including the role of ...

We investigated the short-term and medium-term results in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated with atrial septal defect (ASD) undergoing transcatheter closure. Fifteen patients with severe PAH associated with ASD who underwent successful occluder implantation from 2007 to 2010 were included. Clinical, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic data were reviewed. Severe ...

A 52-year-old woman with Takayasu arteritis and a known history of multiple sclerosis had been treated with subcutaneous interferon (IFN) beta-1α. After the re-introduction of the IFN beta-1α, the patient had a gradual worsening of the arteritis, with claudication symptoms in the left arm and increased inflammation markers. An evaluation ...

BACKGROUND: In transposition of the great arteries (TGA), the right ventricle (RV) is subaortic and abnormal aortic structure or function could adversely affect the capacity of the RV to supply the systemic circulation. Our aim was to assess aortic dimensions and distensibility and RV function in patients with palliated TGA ...

Little attention has been given to the fetal-type posterior circle of Willis (FTP) in the literature; also symptomatic basilar artery (BA) hypoplasia has been rarely reported. We aimed to illustrate that the association of a hypoplastic vertebrobasilar system (VBS) with the FTP may lead to posterior circulation ischemia. Magnetic resonance ...

Object Chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spine is a known cause of craniocervical arterial dissections. In this paper, the authors describe the patterns of arterial injury after chiropractic manipulation and their management in the modern endovascular era. Methods A prospectively maintained endovascular database was reviewed to identify patients presenting with ...

Fenestrated endografts require 6 to 8 weeks for device customization, and off-the-shelf devices are not yet available and may not be of easy access for urgent repair of complex aneurysms. We describe a technique of stent graft modification in a high-risk male patient with two prior open aortic repairs, end ...

Periodontitis has been associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular lesions. There may be a link between periodontopathic bacterial infection and atherosclerosis. In 53 patients with atherosclerosis, periodontal disease was classified according to the probing depth of the periodontal pocket. To compare the detection rate in different arterial lesion, specimens of diseased arteries ...

Purpose: Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is optimally treated by creating a dual coronary system. Our aim was to review the results of operations performed in these patients and determine the intermediate-term outcomes for left ventricular function and mitral regurgitation.Methods: Between July 2004 and ...

In experiments turbulence has previously been shown to occur in intracranial aneurysms. The effects of turbulence induced oscillatory wall stresses could be of great importance in understanding aneurysm rupture. To investigate the effects of turbulence on blood flow in an intracranial aneurysm, we performed a high resolution computational fluid dynamics ...

OBJECTIVE: To correlate CTA pulmonary artery obstruction scores (OS) with right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) and clinical outcome in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective study of 50 patients (66±12.9 years) with PE pulmonary artery OS (Qanadli, Mastora, and Mastora central) were assessed by two ...

Mabrut J-Y, Abdullah SS, Rode A, Bourgeot J-P, Eljaafari A, Baulieux J, Ducerf C. Cryopreserved iliac artery allograft for primary arterial revascularization in adult liver transplantation. Clin Transplant 2011 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2011.01518.x. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract:  Arterial allograft represents a material of choice for primary arterial revascularization ...

Advanced age, arbitrarily defined as over 80 years, has been an exclusion criterion in many clinical trials for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. The oldest person, to our knowledge, treated for acute ischemic stroke with intra-arterial therapy is presented and, importantly, this patient was excluded from intravenous tissue plasminogen ...

We investigated the association of periodontitis and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) as verified using coronary angiography. Participants were recruited among those attending coronary angiography at Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland, in 2007 and 2008. Detailed clinical periodontal examination [number of teeth, bleeding on probing, periodontal probing depth (PPD)] ...

The great saphenous veins are gaining wide popularity as acceptable native vascular grafts, but in terms of flow capacity, their small caliber may be unsuitable for immediate replacement of arterial flow. Ten peripheral vascular or central venous reconstructions were performed using superficial femoral vein free grafts for re-establishment of immediate ...

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), the most common congenital heart defect, has been thought to cause frequent and severe aortic complications; however, long-term, population-based data are lacking. To determine the incidence of aortic complications in patients with BAV in a community cohort and in the general population. In this retrospective cohort ...

The pathophysiology of coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is still unknown. Inflammation and degradation of connective tissue may have a role in the development of coronary ectasia. In the present study, the authors examined neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels in isolated CAE patients. Thirty-five patients with isolated CAE (25 males; mean ...

Arterial wall stiffness is a recognized complication in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Vascular abnormalities in these patients are shown to predate cardiac abnormalities such as left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction. The etiology of vascular abnormalities in these patients currently is not clear. This study explored the relationship ...

BACKGROUND: Type B aortic dissections are being successfully treated by thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Postoperative false lumen patency has been associated with aneurysmal dilatation and rupture of the thoracic aorta, necessitating further intervention. This is the first volumetric analysis of type B aortic dissections comparing patients with and without ...

OBJECTIVE: Published reports of robotic-assisted aortic surgery involve a combination of laparoscopy for aortic dissection and a robotic system for vascular reconstruction. The objective of this study is to determine the feasibility and advantage of a total robotic-assisted aortic dissection and vascular reconstruction vs robotic-assisted aortic procedures for aortoiliac occlusive ...

OBJECTIVE: There is no optimal substitute for right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction in congenital heart defects. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) valved conduits and patches may be a good alternative to homografts and bovine jugular veins. We have developed a fan-shaped ePTFE valve and an ePTFE valved conduit and patch with ...

BACKGROUND: A healthy endothelium maintains vascular tone and structure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate endothelial function in corkscrew collateral arteries in Buerger disease. METHODS: We measured flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) in corkscrew arteries in 26 patients with Buerger disease, in control arteries in 26 healthy subjects, and in ...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical correlation between arterial and venous blood gas (VBG) values in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: A prospective study of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease presenting to the ...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes of the endovascular treatment of splenic artery aneurysms (SAAs) and pseudoaneurysms (SAPAs). From April 2003 to December 2009, 12 patients (mean age 46.8 years, range 29-58) with SAAs (n = 9) or SAPAs (n = 3) underwent endovascular treatment. Four patients ...

A rare anatomic variant of the right vertebral artery is reported as an incidental finding in a 78-year-old female patient. The vessel originated from the aortic arch distal to the origin of the left subclavian artery and presented an unusual retroesophageal course, thus was named "vertebral arteria lusoria". As multi-detector ...

OBJECTIVE:To examine whether risk factor profile, baseline features, and outcome of cervical artery dissection (CEAD) differ according to the dissection site. METHODS:We analyzed 982 consecutive patients with CEAD included in the Cervical Artery Dissection and Ischemic Stroke Patients observational study (n = 619 with internal carotid artery dissection [ICAD], n ...

Few studies have investigated the relationship between the degree of stenosis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and cerebrovascular reserve (CVR). This study examined that relationship. A total of 56 ICAs in 43 patients were included. Computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging showed no evidence of infarction in any ...

BackgroundThe rates of recanalization and reinterventions after endovascular treatment (EVT) of intracranial aneurysms are unknown. Various risk factors have been suggested including the configuration of the aneurysm and the endovascular technique. Recently, an increasing number of patients have received antiplatelet (AP) drugs periprocedurally, possibly inhibiting early thrombus formation.ObjectiveTo assess the ...