Bovine pericardial patch repair in infected fields.

Objective: Bovine pericardial patches (BPP) are frequently used for arterial reconstruction, but little data exist regarding their ability to resist infection. We hypothesize that BPP would provide a reasonable alternative to autologous vein patches in infected fields.

Methods: We used BPP to repair 51 arteriotomies (25 brachial, 23 femoral, three popliteal) in 48 consecutive patients (mean age, 68 years; 65% men, 75% diabetic, 67% dialysis dependent) undergoing removal of infected (33 gram-positive, three gram-negative, eight mixed flora, and four culture-negative) polytetrafluoroethylene grafts (35 arteriovenous grafts, nine femoral-distal bypasses, and four femoral patch angioplasties) between January 2007 and January 2011.

Drug-eluting tibial stents: objective patency determination.

Purpose: Endovascular management of limb-threatening ischemia often requires treatment of tibial occlusive disease. This study was preformed to examine the patency of drug-eluting tibial stents.

Materials And Methods: The medical records of all patients undergoing drug-eluting tibial stent placement for limb-threatening ischemia from June 2004 to June 2008 were retrospectively reviewed.

Endovascular management of iliac artery occlusions: extending treatment to TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus class C and D patients.

Objective: The preferential use of endovascular techniques to treat complex aortoiliac disease has increased in recent years. The purpose of this study was to review the outcomes and durability of recanalization, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, and stenting for iliac occlusions based on the patient's TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) stratification.

Methods: Between 1998 and 2004, more than 628 patients with a clinical diagnosis of aortoiliac atherosclerotic disease underwent arteriography.

Shear force regulates matrix metalloproteinase activity in human saphenous vein organ culture.

Background: Development of vein graft intimal hyperplasia has been related both to shear force and to the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Little data are available regarding the effects of shear on MMP expression and activity. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship among shear force, metalloproteinase activity, and intimal thickening in human saphenous vein segments maintained in organ culture.

All-trans-retinoic acid decreases cell proliferation and increases apoptosis in an animal model of vein bypass grafting.

Background: We have previously demonstrated a decrease in intimal hyperplasia in vein bypass grafts from animals treated with all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA). The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of atRA on proliferation and apoptosis rates in healing vein bypass grafts.

Methods: Interposition jugular vein bypass grafts were placed in the carotid artery of 30 New Zealand white rabbits.