Non-contrast-enhanced MR angiography at 3 Tesla in patients with advanced peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of ECG-gated non-contrast-enhanced quiescent interval single-shot (QISS) magnetic resonance angiography at a magnetic field strength of 3 Tesla in patients with advanced peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD).

Method And Materials: A total of 21 consecutive patients with advanced PAOD (Fontaine stage IIb and higher) referred for peripheral magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) were included. Imaging was performed on a 3 T whole body MR.

A comparison between contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging and multislice computed tomography in detecting and classifying endoleaks in the follow-up after endovascular aneurysm repair.

Background: This study compared contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging and multislice computed tomography (MS-CT) angiography in detecting and classifying endoleaks in the follow-up of patients after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Methods: This retrospective study consisted of 171 patients with CEUS imaging and MS-CT angiography follow-up examinations after EVAR. During follow-up, 489 CEUS and 421 MS-CT examinations were assessed.

Prolonged overall survival after pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with breast cancer.

Background: We investigated whether overall survival (OS) in patients with primary breast cancer (BC) is prolonged by pulmonary metastasectomy and which prognostic criteria may facilitate the decision in favor of thoracic surgical intervention.

Methods: We assessed the median OS of 81 women after resection of pulmonary primary BC metastases by means of Kaplan-Meier estimators. Statistical interferences regarding prognostic factors were based on univariate log-rank tests and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression.

Combined resection of colorectal hepatic-pulmonary metastases shows improved outcome over chemotherapy alone.

Background: The objective of this retrospective study was to assess the survival of patients after resection of hepatic and pulmonary colorectal metastases to identify predictors of long-term survival.

Methods: Patients receiving chemotherapy alone were compared to patients receiving surgery and chemotherapy in a matched-pair analysis with the following criteria: UICC stage, grading, and date of initial primary tumor occurrence.

Results: A total of 30 patients with liver and lung metastases of colorectal carcinoma underwent resection.

Temporary intraoperative porto-caval shunt: useless or beneficial in piggy back liver transplantation?

The role of intraoperative porto-caval shunts in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is controversial. Aim of this study was to analyze the effects of an intraoperative, porto-caval catheter-shunt on graft function and survival following cava sparing OLT. Four hundred and forty-eight piggy back liver transplantations with or without a temporary spontaneous porto-caval shunt between 1997 and 2010 were analyzed (shunt n = 274 vs.

oxLDL downregulates the dendritic cell homing factors CCR7 and CCL21.

Introduction: Dendritic cells (DCs) and oxLDL play an important role in the atherosclerotic process with DCs accumulating in the plaques during plaque progression. Our aim was to investigate the role of oxLDL in the modulation of the DC homing-receptor CCR7 and endothelial-ligand CCL21.

Methods And Results: The expression of the DC homing-receptor CCR7 and its endothelial-ligand CCL21 was examined on atherosclerotic carotic plaques of 47 patients via qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence.

Management of thoracic aortic lesions--the future is endovascular.

Open surgical repair of lesions of the descending thoracic aorta, such as aneurysm, dissection and traumatic rupture, has been the "state-of-the-art" treatment for many decades. However, in specialized cardiovascular centers, thoracic endovascular aortic repair and hybrid aortic procedures have been implemented as novel treatment options. The current clinical results show that these procedures can be performed with low morbidity and mortality rates.

Evaluation of a new prognostic score (Munich score) to predict long-term survival after resection of pulmonary renal cell carcinoma metastases.

Background: The aim of this single-center study was to analyze factors predicting long-term outcomes following surgical resection of pulmonary metastases in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Methods: Two hundred two consecutive patients entered the study. Overall survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method.

Endovascular versus open treatment of degenerative aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta: a single center experience.

Multiple reports could show a reduced risk for thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) compared with open treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate our twelve-year TEVAR experience for thoracic aortic aneurysms and compare these results with open repair. All patients who had received either open or endovascular surgery for a degenerative aortic aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta in our center were evaluated retrospectively.

Arterial blood flow predicts graft survival in liver transplant patients.

Proper liver perfusion is essential for sufficient organ function after liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of portal and arterial blood flow on liver function and organ survival after liver transplantation. The arterial and portal venous blood flow was measured intraoperatively by transit time flow measurement after reperfusion for 290 consecutive liver transplants.

Tumor infiltrated hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes are an independent prognostic factor for decreased survival after pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Surgical resection remains the most effective treatment in patients with pulmonary metastasis of renal cell carcinoma. To our knowledge the prognostic significance of mediastinal and hilar lymph node metastasis during pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with renal cell carcinoma is unknown. We analyzed the value of computerized tomography to predict mediastinal/hilar lymph node involvement as well as the impact of systematic lymphadenectomy on survival in patients with pulmonary renal cell carcinoma metastasis.

First experience using intraoperative contrast-enhanced ultrasound during endovascular aneurysm repair for infrarenal aortic aneurysms.

Background: Endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) has become an additional treatment option for patients with infrarenal aortic aneurysms and suitable aortic morphology. However, endoleaks are commonly encountered and represent a relevant risk for secondary treatment failure. In addition, impaired renal function or allergic reactions to intravascular iodine application might represent exclusion criteria for conventional infrarenal endovascular aortic repair using intraoperative angiography with iodine contrast media.

Ischemic preconditioning-induced hyperperfusion correlates with hepatoprotection after liver resection.

Aim: To characterize the impact of the Pringle maneuver (PM) and ischemic preconditioning (IP) on total blood supply to the liver following hepatectomies.

Methods: Sixty one consecutive patients who underwent hepatic resection under inflow occlusion were randomized either to receive PM alone (n = 31) or IP (10 min of ischemia followed by 10 min of reperfusion) prior to PM (n = 30). Quantification of liver perfusion was measured by Doppler probes at the hepatic artery and portal vein at various time points after reperfusion of remnant livers.

High resolution carotid black-blood 3T MR with parallel imaging and dedicated 4-channel surface coils.

Background: Most of the carotid plaque MR studies have been performed using black-blood protocols at 1.5 T without parallel imaging techniques. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a multi-sequence, black-blood MR protocol using parallel imaging and a dedicated 4-channel surface coil for vessel wall imaging of the carotid arteries at 3 T.

Combined supra-aortic extra-anatomic revascularization and endovascular hybrid procedure for recurrent hemoptysis caused by a symptomatic aneurysm of the right subclavian artery.

Acute hemoptysis might be caused by aneurysms of the subclavian artery. We report a 75-year-old female patient presenting with recurrent hemoptysis, dyspnea, fever, and episodes of unclear pneumonia. Further examination revealed a large intrathoracic aneurysm of the right subclavian artery.

Does surgical resection of pulmonary metastases of head and neck cancer improve survival?

Background: The prognosis of patients with metastasized head and neck cancer is poor. Limited experience exists with the benefit of resection of lung metastases and systematic mediastinal and hilar lymph node dissection on survival of patients with head and neck carcinoma.

Methods: Eighty patients undergoing metastasectomy for pulmonary metastases of primary head and neck cancer entered the study.

Predictors of general complications after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical procedures.

Background: The video-assisted thoracoscopic approach has become the preferred method for many procedures due to the reduced trauma, complication rate and morbidity. The aim of this study was a risk evaluation of patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) procedures.

Methods: Between 1991 and 2004, 1,008 patients were included in this single-center retrospective analysis.

Surgical and endovascular treatment of symptomatic aberrant right subclavian artery (arteria lusoria).

Right aberrant subclavian artery, also called arteria lusoria, is one of the most common intrathoracic arterial anomalies. Although mostly asymptomatic, the retroesophageal and retrotracheal course of the lusorian artery might result in unspecific thoracic pain, dysphagia, dyspnea, arterioesophageal or arteriotracheal fistulae with hematemesis or hemoptysis, and aneurysmal formation with relevant risk of rupture. The purpose was to present our experience with six patients with a symptomatic aberrant right subclavian artery, two patients with dysphagia or dyspnea caused by a nonaneurysmal lusorian artery, and four patients with arteria lusoria aneurysms.

Characterization of immune responses in gastric cancer patients: a possible impact of H. pylori to polarize a tumor-specific type 1 response?

Recently, we were able to show that Helicobacter pylori-positive gastric cancer (GC) patients have a significantly better survival after the complete resection of their tumor compared to H. pylori-negative GC patients. H.

Immediate endovascular treatment of an aortoiliac aneurysm ruptured into the inferior vena cava.

An aortocaval fistula is a severe complication of an aortoiliac aneurysm, usually associated with high perioperative morbidity and mortality during open operative repair. We describe the successful endovascular treatment of a symptomatic infrarenal aortic aneurysm ruptured into the inferior vena cava with secondary interventional coiling of a persistent type II endoleak because of retrograde perfusion of the inferior mesenteric artery. Endovascular exclusion of ruptured abdominal aneurysms seems to be a valuable treatment option for selected patients even with complicated vascular conditions like an aortocaval fistula.

Stent versus open surgery for acute and chronic traumatic injury of the thoracic aorta: a single-center experience.

Background: Traumatic injuries of the thoracic aorta have a high morbidity and mortality. Treatment options include either open surgery or endovascular stent graft implantation.

Methods: We have reviewed retrospectively all our patients treated for acute and chronic traumatic injury of the thoracic aorta and compared the outcome of the endovascular versus open therapy.

Helicobacter pylori as a prognostic indicator after curative resection of gastric carcinoma: a prospective study.

Background: The effect of Helicobacter-pylori status on survival after curative resection for gastric adenocarcinoma is unknown. We aimed to follow-up patients who were positive or negative for infection with H pylori who had curative (ie, R0) resection for gastric adenocarcinoma to assess differences in relapse-free survival and overall survival.

Methods: Before surgery, we assessed the H pylori status of 166 patients who had R0 resection for gastric adenocarcinoma between 1992 and 2002 with bacterial culture, histological analyses (ie, staining with haematoxylin and eosin and with Warthin-Starry), and serological analyses.

Long-term results after pulmonary resection of renal cell carcinoma metastases.

Background: Until now no conclusive data exist regarding the factors influencing long-term survival after pulmonary resection of renal cell carcinoma metastases. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to discover definitive prognostic factors for survival using a large and homogeneous single center patient cohort.

Methods: Between 1980 and 2000, 105 patients, after curative resection of lung metastases from renal cell carcinoma, were followed in this long-term study.