A Case Report: Successful Management of an Aortic Saddle Embolism in a 28-Year-Old Female.

The obstruction of blood flow at the aortic bifurcation by an embolus defines aortic saddle embolism (ASE). This rare entity occurs preferentially in individuals with cardiovascular diseases such as the middle aged and the elderly. Conversely, its occurrence is sporadic in younger patients.

Chylothorax after blunt trauma.

Presented is a 50-year-old female who sustained a rare blunt traumatic chylothorax. Traumatic chylothoracies are usually the result of penetrating trauma and disruption of the thoracic duct. Diagnosis and treatment are discussed.

Mesoaortic compression of the left renal vein (nutcracker syndrome): case reports and review of the literature.

Compression of the left renal vein between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery has been termed the nutcracker syndrome. Obstruction of left renal vein outflow results in venous hypertension with the formation of intra- and extrarenal collaterals and/or the development of gonadal vein reflux. To date, a variety of clinical symptoms due to mesoaortic compression of the left renal vein (nutcracker syndrome) have been described.

Screening for carotid artery disease in the general public.

BACKGROUND: Screening for various diseases is now being offered to the public in settings other than their physicians' office, often using expensive and sophisticated technology. Little is known about how patients decide to participate in such programs, whether they understand the implications of a positive or negative test, or if their primary care physician is involved in the decision to screen. METHODS: We surveyed a cohort of patients who participated in a free carotid artery screening using Doppler ultrasound at a tertiary care academic medical center.

Standardizing vascular surgery residency: merger of two programs to create one model.

The practice of vascular surgery has been transformed in the last decade. It is now necessary to change the way we train vascular surgeons, to keep pace with this rapidly evolving specialty.

Revisiting the appropriateness of carotid endarterectomy.

Background And Purpose: In the 1980s, carotid endarterectomy was controversial because proof of efficacy was lacking, complication rates were high, and one third of cases were reported to be inappropriate. Since publication of several randomized controlled trials (RCTs), rates of carotid endarterectomy have doubled nationwide. This study assesses the appropriateness and use of carotid endarterectomy since publication of the RCTs.

Reduced protease inhibitory capacity in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms is reversed with surgical repair.

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) disease is a complex degenerative process that is associated with elevated proteolytic activity. This increased proteolytic activity may be linked to an imbalance in the protease regulatory mechanisms. We hypothesize that reduced AAA plasma inhibitory capacity is related to increased elastolytic activity observed in patients with AAA, which promotes matrix degradation in the aortic wall and AAA expansion.

Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection is the treatment of choice for femoral pseudoaneurysms.

Hypothesis: Ultrasound-guided injection of thrombin is the treatment of choice for femoral pseudoaneurysms.

Design: A prospective study of patients undergoing a single form of treatment for femoral pseudoaneurysms.

Setting: Patients were treated at 2 tertiary care, university-affiliated hospitals.