Timing of clopidogrel loading dose on peripheral blood endothelial progenitor cells, SDF-1α and neointimal hyperplasia in carotid stenting.

Background: Carotid stenting stimulates intimal proliferation through platelet and stem cell activation.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the administration before or after carotid stenting of clopidogrel loading dose may play a role on circulating endothelial progenitor cells, stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) and neointimal hyperplasia.

Methods: We recruited 13 patients (aged 74.

Aortocaval fistula mimicking an acute coronary syndrome.

A 75-year-old man complained of episodes of chest pain and dyspnea. An acute coronary syndrome was suspected but coronary angiography showed only mild stenosis (less than 50% reduction of vessel diameter) of the left anterior descending artery. We performed an aortography that showed a large infrarenal aneurysm with direct communication from the aorta to the inferior vena cava, forming an aortocaval fistula (ACF).

Endovascular treatment of the descending thoracic aorta in a patient with a hydatid pseudoaneurysm.

We present a patient affected by systemic hydatidosis with an unusual localization in the thoracic aorta. The pseudoaneurysm, which was treated 8 years ago with conventional surgery, was retreated with an endovascular procedure. The particular evolution of the pathology needed further endovascular intervention.

The ILAILL study: iloprost as adjuvant to surgery for acute ischemia of lower limbs: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study by the italian society for vascular and endovascular surgery.

Summary Background Data: High rate of complications has been reported following revascularization for acute limb ischemia (ALI). No adjuvant pharmacologic treatment, apart from anticoagulation and standard perioperative care, has been shown clinically effective.

Objective: Aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the prostacyclin analog iloprost as adjuvant to surgery for ALI.

Endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm in a patient with horseshoe kidney: report of a case.

A horseshoe kidney poses special problems during treatment of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), and there is much controversy about the most suitable method of repair. We report the case of a 65-year-old man with a horseshoe kidney, in whom an AAA was treated with a unibody bifurcated endograft. During the procedure, the two anomalous renal arteries were sacrificed.

A variant deployment technique for the powerlink bifurcated endograft.

Purpose: To report an alternative technique to the dual-lumen catheter for deployment of the Powerlink stent-graft in patients with angulated sacs and calcified aortic bifurcations. A maneuver is also presented to retrieve the delivery system when it is snagged on the stent.

Technique: After cutdown of the right common femoral artery (CFA), a 9-F introducer sheath is placed percutaneously into the left CFA.