Effect of Peripheral Artery Sympathetic Denervation on Muscle Microperfusion and Macroperfusion in an Animal Peripheral Artery Disease Model Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound and Doppler Flow Measurement.

Purpose: To determine the effects of catheter-based peripheral sympathetic denervation (CPSD) on peripheral artery sympathetic tone and peripheral microperfusion (PMP).

Materials And Methods: The effects of bilateral CPSD in common iliac arteries on PMP of the biceps femoris were determined in pigs using contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and mean transit time (mTT) and wash-in rate (WiR) were calculated during steady-state infusion of INN-sulfur-hexafluoride. Measurements were performed bilaterally at rest and during infusion of adenosine 70 μg/kg/min after unilateral moderate left external iliac artery stenosis.

Assessment of peripheral skeletal muscle microperfusion in a porcine model of peripheral arterial stenosis by steady-state contrast-enhanced ultrasound and Doppler flow measurement.

Objective: Noninvasive measurement of peripheral muscle microperfusion could potentially improve diagnosis, management, and treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and thus improve patient care. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) as a noninvasive diagnostic tool allows quantification of muscle perfusion. Increasing data on bolus technique CEUS reflecting microperfusion are becoming available, but only limited data on steady-state CEUS for assessment of muscle microperfusion are available.

Carbon dioxide-enhanced CT-guided placement of aortic stent-grafts: feasibility in an animal model.

Purpose: To test the feasibility of carbon dioxide (CO(2))-enhanced computed tomography (CT)-guided placement of infrarenal abdominal aortic stent-grafts in an animal model.

Methods: Appearance of a stent-graft mounted on its deployment system and the feasibility of CT fluoroscopy-guided placement were analyzed in an in vitro setting. Five domestic pigs weighing 70 to 80 kg underwent CO(2)-enhanced 64-slice CT arteriography (CTA).

Comparison of dual-source CT angiography and MR angiography in preoperative evaluation of intra- and extracranial vessels: a pilot study.

Besides the assessment of carotid artery stenosis, evaluation of the vascular anatomy and lesions within both the extra- and intracranial arteries is crucial for proper clinical evaluation, treatment choice and planning. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the potential of dual-source CTA and 3T-MRA. In 16 symptomatic CAS patients, contrast-enhanced DSCT and 3T-MRA examinations were performed.

Unmasking pedal arteries in patients with critical ischemia using time-resolved contrast-enhanced 3D MRA.

Objective: To test the diagnostic relevance of fast Gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA) enhanced, time-resolved, three-dimensional magnetic resonance angiography (t3D MRA) of distal calf and pedal vasculature in critical limb ischemia in a prospective comparison with conventional selective digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and high-resolution duplex ultrasound (US) scan.

Methods: From April 2007 to June 2008, 34 feet of 29 consecutive patients suffering from limb-threatening ischemia underwent diagnostic US scan, DSA, and t3D MRA before treatment. The investigations took place within 3 days.

Brain and spinal cord protection during simultaneous aortic arch and thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair.

Objective: We assessed the surgical and neurological outcome of patients undergoing simultaneous repair of aortic arch and descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (DTAA) or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA) via left thoracotomy or thoracolaparotomy.

Methods: During a 6-year period, we performed 32 procedures in 23 male and 9 female patients with DTAA or TAAA with concomitant aortic arch aneurysms. The mean age of the patients was 50.

Functional and structural response of arterialized femoral veins in a rodent AV fistula model.

Background: Neointimal hyperplasia is considered to be the major cause of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) failure, resulting in vein wall thickening, stenosis and, ultimately, occlusion. Ultrasound (US) has been shown to be effective for detecting these morphological changes in patients. The aim of this study was to develop an experimental AVF model in the rat that shows typical features of fistula maturation and allows longitudinal monitoring of fistula veins by high-resolution ultrasound.

Carbon dioxide contrast agent for CT arteriography: results in a porcine model.

Purpose: To test the feasibility of carbon dioxide (CO(2))-enhanced computed tomographic (CT)-arteriography in an animal model.

Materials And Methods: Five domestic swine underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA), conventional CT angiography with iodinated contrast material, and CO(2)-enhanced CT arteriography. For each CO(2)-enhanced DSA image series, 100 mL of pressurized CO(2) was injected at 1.

Surgical correction of failed thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Objective: The number of thoracic aortic endovascular procedures is increasing rapidly, and the clinical outcome largely depends on the underlying aortic pathology. When primary stent grafting is unsuccessful, secondary endovascular solutions are most often feasible. However, in recurrent endovascular failure without further minimally invasive options, conservative treatments or conversion to open surgery are the only remaining therapeutic strategies.

Time-resolved 3D MR angiography of the foot at 3 T in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Objective: The objective of our study was to prove the feasibility and clinical relevance of fast contrast-enhanced time-resolved 3D MR angiography (MRA) with submillimeter spatial resolution at a high magnetic field strength.

Subjects And Methods: Twenty-one patients (five women, 16 men; mean age +/- SD, 65 +/- 14 years) were examined on a 3-T whole-body MR system with an 8-element phasedarray coil for preoperative evaluation of the pedal arterial system and assessment of the visualized vessels to serve as a graft touch-down site in pedal bypass surgery. Time-resolved 3D MRA of the foot was performed after automatic injection of 0.