Functional repair of the great saphenous vein by external valvuloplasty reduces the vein's diameter: 6-month results of a multicentre study.

Objectives: External valvuloplasty (eVP) is a reconstructive surgical method to repair the function of the terminal and preterminal valves. We evaluated the 6-month outcomes of eVP regarding the diameter of the great saphenous vein (GSV).

Methods: Patients from five vein centres were included in this observational study.

External valvuloplasty of the saphenofemoral junction in insufficient great saphenous veins - six weeks results of a prospective multicentre trial.

: Varicosis of the great saphenous vein (GSV) is a common disease. Most of the therapeutic concepts attempt to remove or destroy the truncal vein. However, the absence of the GSV could be harmful for further treatments of artherosclerotic disease as the GSV is often used as bypass graft in lower extremity or coronary artery revascularisations.

Barrier Patch Implantation during Redo Surgery for Varicose Vein Recurrences in the Groin: 1-Year Results.

Background: Rerecurrences after redo surgery for recurrent varicose veins in the groin are a common problem. The present report looks at the efficacy of an additional barrier patch implantation in reducing these rerecurrences.

Methods: A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database was conducted.

Transcranial ultrasound perfusion imaging and perfusion-MRI--a pilot study on the evaluation of cerebral perfusion in severe carotid artery stenosis.

Severe internal carotid artery stenosis can cause constriction of cerebral perfusion. Different techniques of measuring brain perfusion are currently available. Ultrasound perfusion imaging (UPI) can differentiate hypoperfused and nonperfused cerebral tissue.

Validity of duplex-ultrasound in identifying the cause of groin recurrence after varicose vein surgery.

Introduction: Often groin recurrences after varicose vein surgery are diagnosed and classified with the help of a duplex ultrasound scan. There are, however, no studies indicating if duplex ultrasound scans can reliably distinguish between the different forms of recurrent vessels, ie, neovascularization or a residual stump. To address this issue, we have conducted a prospective study in which ultrasound scan assessment of groin recurrences was compared to the histological classification of the recurrent groin veins.

Exocrine pancreas disfunction in severely traumatised patients and early enteral nutrition.

Background: We investigated exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in severely traumatised patients with enteral nutrition using the fecal elastase-1 concentration.

Methods: The fecal elastase-1 levels of critically ill patients after major trauma (n=18) were determined in a prospective study. Early enteral nutrition was started with a high molecular diet via a naso-duodenal tube, starting 24-36 hours after admission to the intensive care unit.

A case of contained ruptured aortitis due to Clostridium septicum infection in a patient with a colon malignancy.

We discuss a case of contained ruptured aortitis due to Clostridium septicum infection in a 71-year-old man, who had undergone a right hemicolectomy and cholecystectomy to treat an ascending colon carcinoma. Computed tomography identified a juxtarenal abdominal aneurysm with gas formation in the right psoas muscle. Emergency abdominal exploration revealed a ruptured aortitis.

Reflux patterns in the ovarian and hypogastric veins in patients with varicose veins and signs of pelvic venous incompetence.

Patients with varicose veins who also had clinical and/or duplex ultrasound findings suspicious of pelvic venous incompetence (PVI) underwent selective retrograde catheter phlebography of the pelvic veins. One hundred and one patients (all female, mean age 49.3 years) underwent selective phlebography of the pelvic veins.

Different approaches in the treatment of cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery.

Three cases of cystic adventitial disease (CDA) of the popliteal artery and the results of a literature review are described in order to identify the treatment of first choice of this rare clinical entity. Three male patients (mean age 56,3 years) presented at our Institution due to a sudden abrupt of disabling claudication of the lower limb. The eco-color-Doppler examination showed multiple hypoechoic and anechoic masses arising in the wall of the artery consistent with CAD.

Supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids in parenteral nutrition beneficially alters phospholipid fatty acid pattern.

Background: The clinical safety and the uptake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) into the serum phospholipids and erythrocyte membranes after administration of fish-oil-supplemented parenteral nutrition (PN) was investigated in colorectal surgical patients.

Methods: Forty patients undergoing colorectal surgery (n = 40) and with an indication for PN were enrolled in a prospective, double-blind, randomized study to receive an omega-3 PUFA-supplemented 20% lipid emulsion (Lipoplus; B. Braun Melsungen, Melsungen, Germany; test group, n = 19) for 5 days postoperatively.

Factors influencing early results and complication rates of the thrombolytic treatment of lower limb ischemia with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator.

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of comorbidity conditions on the early outcome and complication rates of thrombolytic treatment of lower limb ischaemia with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). Clinical and procedural data of 82 patients treated for acute/subacute arterial/graft occlusion were analysed retrospectively. Early results and adverse events were recorded and evaluated statistically.

[Management of infected vascular grafts. Are there any factors predictive of early clinical success?].

The aim of the study was to define mortality and limb loss rates and to identify factors predictive of early clinical success in the management of infected vascular grafts. Clinical data of 40 patients were reviewed, evaluating comorbidity factors, laboratory findings, ischaemic symptoms, graft material and time of onset of infections. Diabetes and chronic renal insufficiency were reported in 15% of cases, malignancy in 10%, pathological C-reactive protein in 77.

Central perineal hernia mimicking rectocele: a case report.

Background: A perineal hernia is a very rare clinical finding. Three forms are distinguished: anterior, posterior, and central. Diagnosis of the last one is difficult, and sometimes, it is falsely named a posterior rectocele.

Ultrasound elastography for the age determination of venous thrombi. Evaluation in an animal model of venous thrombosis.

The exact age determination of venous thrombi is important if thrombolytic therapy or surgical thrombectomy is considered. Clinical symptoms as well as duplex-ultrasound and phlebography are unreliable in this respect and do not allow an exact age estimation. Ultrasound elastography can provide information about the elastic properties of thrombi.

Validity of the macroscopic identification of neovascularization at the saphenofemoral junction by the operating surgeon.

Purpose: The intraoperative classification of recurrent veins at the saphenofemoral junction as neovascularization is based on certain macroscopic criteria. The validity of this neovascularization identification by the surgeon was evaluated by histologic and immunohistochemical examinations of the resected veins as the gold standard.

Methods: One hundred-four patients (mean age 57 +/- 10.

Comparison of laparoscopic aortic clamps in a pulsatile circulation model.

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the fatigue characteristics and the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic aortic clamps in a pulsatile circulation model.

Methods: A heart-lung machine was used to create a pulsatile circulation model with bovine aortas resembling the vessels being cross-clamped. Four different models (A-D) of laparoscopic aortic clamps were investigated, and three identical probes of each model underwent testing.

Regional hyperthermic fibrinolytic perfusion after unsuccessful venous thrombectomy of extensive deep venous thrombosis.

Objective: Because of the dose-dependent increase in bleeding complications, the intraoperative administration of fibrinolytic agents is limited. This limitation impairs the efficacy of fibrinolytic therapy because low-dose fibrinolysis often fails in the treatment of complex deep venous thrombosis (DVT). The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of intraoperative high-dose fibrinolytic therapy for extended DVT, which was performed with the regional hyperthermic fibrinolytic perfusion (RHFP) technique.