The recurrent cervical swelling syndrome.

The objective of this study is to report an overlooked cause of cervical swelling linked to a thoracic duct (TD) intraluminal obstruction. Four consecutive patients underwent supraclavicular fossa echo-colour-Doppler assessment (ECD) because of recurrent spontaneous cervical swelling. In all patients, during the swelling period we documented a TD dilation with hyperechogenic content, resulting undetectable during asymptomatic periods; ECD also allowed an effective differential diagnosis with TD cysts, obstructive malignancy or other causes of cervical swelling.

Preaortic left primitive iliac vein: two case studies.

Although congenital abnormalities of the inferior vena cava (IVC) are rare, they can lead to serious hemorrhagic complications, especially during aortoiliac surgery. The most frequent complications include the double IVC, left-sided IVC, and the left retroaortic renal vein isolated or associated with a preaortic renal vein forming a periaortic venous collar. Preaortic primitive iliac vein represents an exceptional anatomic entity and only a few cases have been reported in previously published data (Ruemenapf et al.

Type IV thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair: predictors of postoperative mortality, spinal cord injury, and acute intestinal ischemia.

Our purpose was to identify preoperative and intraoperative predictors of early mortality, spinal cord injury, or acute intestinal ischemia after repair of type IV thoracoabdominal aneurysm (TAA IV) as a basis for optimizing surgical indications and techniques. From January 1991 to June 2006 we operated on 171 patients for TAA IV. There were 149 men (87.

Open surgical repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms in the endovascular era: a 9-year single-center study.

The purpose of this study was to present a single center's experience with elective treatment of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (DTAAs) in the endovascular era. From July 1997 to May 2005, we operated on 173 patients for DTAA. A total of 52 patients (30.

[Actinomyces odontolyticus isolation during prosthetic aortic graft infection with paraprosthetic duodenal fistula].

Introduction: Prosthetic vascular graft infection is a rare complication of vascular surgery. We report a case with graft enteric fistula and Actinomyces odontolyticus bacteremia.

Exegesis: A 73 year-old man with a prosthetic aortic graft and who had a parodontal disease, has been hospitalised for fever of unknown origin.

Descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm in patients with Takayasu's disease.

From June 1974 to December 2001 we performed operative treatment on 33 patients with descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm in association with Takayasu disease. There were 25 men and 8 women with a mean age of 40.2A years (range 16-64A years).

Allograft replacement for infrarenal aortic graft infection: early and late results in 179 patients.

Objectives: We evaluated early and late results of allograft replacement to treat infrarenal aortic graft infection in a large number of patients and compared the results in patients who received fresh allografts versus patients who received cryopreserved allografts.

Methods: From 1988 to 2002 we operated on 179 consecutive patients (mean age, 64.6 +/- 9.

Renal autotransplantation for vascular disease: late outcome according to etiology.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early and late outcomes of renal autotransplantation (RAT) according to the etiology of the underlying renal artery disease.

Material And Methods: Between January 1985 and April 2001, we performed 68 RAT procedures in 57 patients. The surgical indications were fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) for 34 RAT procedures in 30 patients (11 men, 19 women; mean age, 41.

Coronary and carotid artery disease in patients with degenerative aneurysm of the descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aorta: prevalence and impact on operative mortality.

From January 1, 1995 to July 31, 2000, a total of 133 patients underwent elective surgical treatment for degenerative aneurysm of the descending thoracic (n = 45) or thoracoabdominal (n = 88) aorta. There were 116 men (87%) and 17 women (13%) with a mean age of 66.4 +/- 8.

Distal vertebral artery reconstruction: long-term outcome.

Purpose: The purpose of this article was to report our long-term results of distal vertebral artery (DVA) reconstruction.

Method: From 1978 to 2001 we performed 352 DVA reconstructions on 323 patients (177 men, 148 women; mean age, 60.0 +/- 12.

Combined infrarenal aorta and carotid artery reconstruction: early and late outcome in 152 patients.

Between January 1, 1985 and December 31, 1998, we performed combined infrarenal aorta and carotid artery reconstruction in 152 consecutive patients. The mean age of these patients was 65.4 +/- 8.

Spinal cord arteriography: a safe adjunct before descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysmectomy.

Objective: Spinal cord arteriography (SCA) often has been considered difficult, hazardous, and unreliable. In this report, we question these assumptions.

Patients: From August 1985 to June 2000, a total of 480 patients underwent 487 SCA procedures during diagnostic examination for 498 aneurysms, which included 159 that involved the descending thoracic aorta and 339 that involved the thoracoabdominal aorta.

Aneurysms of the innominate artery: surgical treatment of 27 patients.

Purpose: Aneurysms of the innominate artery (AIA) are widely considered to be a rare entity. We describe our experience with AIAs in the last three decades.

Methods: From October 1973 to October 2000, we operated on 27 patients with an AIA.

A new study demonstrates the efficacy of naftidrofuryl in the treatment of intermittent claudication. Findings of the Naftidrofuryl Clinical Ischemia Study (NCIS).

Background: The efficacy and safety of naftidrofuryl were assessed in a double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group study, in patients presenting with intermittent claudication, according to the latest European guidelines.

Methods: The outpatients selected were of both sexes, aged 35 to 85, with moderately severe chronic, stable intermittent claudication and a pain-free (PFWD) and maximum walking distance (MWD) on the treadmill of between 100 and 300 metres. They received naftidrofuryl 200 mg tid or placebo for six months and were then assessed during a six-month follow-up period without treatment.

Treatment of aortic arch dissection using the elephant trunk technique.

The elephant trunk technique was developed to facilitate multiple-stage treatment of extensive aneurysm of the thoracic aorta. However, little information is available concerning its usefulness for aortic dissection. From April 1992 to July 1998, we used the elephant trunk technique for treatment of aortic arch dissection in 22 patients (including 19 men) with a mean age of 58.

Ambulatory conservative hemodynamic management of varicose veins: critical analysis of results at 3 years.

This report describes the results of our 3-year experience using ambulatory conservative hemodynamic management (ACHM) for lower extremity venous insufficiency involving the greater saphenous vein (GSV), with specific analysis of recurrence due to neoformation of vessels. We performed 289 ACHM procedures in 259 consecutive patients with GSV-related varicose veins. Follow-up clinical examination and Doppler ultrasound imaging was carried out at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months in all cases to assess formation of neovessels supplied either by the superficial (A) or deep (B) venous system.

Progress in the management of type I thoracoabdominal and descending thoracic aortic aneurysms.

We reviewed our categorization of patients at high risk for neurologic complications in the repair of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm in which we used cerebrospinal fluid drainage and distal aortic perfusion (adjuncts). A total of 409 patients were operated on by one surgeon for descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm between 1992 and 1997. Of these patients, 232 had total descending thoracic or type I thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm, 131 (56%) of whom were operated on with adjuncts.

[Inflammatory aneurysms of the thoracic aorta. Surgical aspects].

In the Western world, inflammatory aneurysms account for only 1 to 5%, of all operated thoracic aorta aneurysms. Takayasu's disease is by far the commonest cause although all forms of aortitis may result in aneurysm formation. Usually observed in young patients, these aneurysms are suitable for often major surgery with results that are globally better than in degenerative or dissecting aneurysms.

Occlusive fibromuscular disease of arteries supplying the brain: results of surgical treatment.

Occlusive fibromuscular disease (FMD) of arteries supplying the brain is a documented cause of neurologic complications. From September 1976 to December 1994, 70 patients underwent surgery for occlusive FMD involving arteries supplying the brain. Isolated dysplastic aneurysms and coilings or kinkings were not included in this series.

[Ambulatory conservative hemodynamic correction of venous insufficiency. Technique, results].

Ambulatory conservative haemodynamic correction of venous insufficiency (CHIVA) is a surgical treatment of superficial venous insufficiency designed to correct the pathological haemodynamic effects of superficial venous insufficiency apparent on standing. Surgical treatment is based on precise preoperative anatomical and haemodynamic mapping performed by duplex ultrasound, providing preoperative ultrasound-guided marking. Surgical treatment consists of dividing the hydrostatic pressure column and disconnecting venovenous shunts by ligation-section of the superficial venous network at precise points determined by the preoperative ultrasound-guided marking.