Surgical resection and graft replacement for primary inferior vena cava leiomyosarcoma: A multicenter experience.

Objective: Primary leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava (IVC) is best managed with surgical resection when technically feasible. However, consensus is lacking regarding the best choice of conduit and reconstruction technique. The aim of the present multicenter study was to perform a comprehensive assessment through the VLFDC (Vascular Low Frequency Disease Consortium) to determine the most effective method for caval reconstruction after resection of primary leiomyosarcoma of the IVC.

A Multinational, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of Cyclical Topical Wound Oxygen (TWO2) Therapy in the Treatment of Chronic Diabetic Foot Ulcers: The TWO2 Study.

Objective: Topical oxygen has been used for the treatment of chronic wounds for more than 50 years. Its effectiveness remains disputed due to the limited number of robust high-quality investigations. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of multimodality cyclical pressure Topical Wound Oxygen (TWO2) home care therapy in healing refractory diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) that had failed to heal with standard of care (SOC) alone.

Subclavian carotid transposition: immediate and long-term outcomes of 126 surgical reconstructions.

Background: Subclavian carotid transposition (SCT) is a safe, effective, and durable treatment in atherosclerotic disease of the proximal subclavian artery. We report about our experience in SCT in a retrospective study with a long-term outcome in 126 cases and discuss our results with the current literature.

Methods: From January 1995 to December 2013, we treated 126 patients (51 men, 75 women; mean age, 60.

Systemic inflammation after aortic cross clamping is influenced by Toll-like receptor 2 preconditioning and deficiency.

Background: The perioperative morbidity and mortality of abdominal aortic aneurysm repair is linked to systemic inflammation. Important triggers of the latter are Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which play a central role in innate immunity. Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury can be influenced by either TLR stimulation before I/R (preconditioning) or TLR dysfunction (deficiency or polymorphism).

Renal artery revascularization after unsuccessful percutaneous therapy: a single centre experience.

Purpose: This retrospective review describes the long time effect of surgical revascularization after unsuccessful early or mid-term failure of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA).

Methods: From January 1995 to January 2005, 60 out of 696 patients operated due to renal artery occlusive disease (17 fibromuscular dyplasia (FMD): mean age, 33.4 years; 43 atherosclerotic disease (ASD): mean age, 62.

Genetic variation of TLR4 influences immunoendocrine stress response: an observational study in cardiac surgical patients.

Introduction: Systemic inflammation (for example, following surgery) involves Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling and leads to an endocrine stress response. This study aims to investigate a possible influence of TLR2 and TLR4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on perioperative adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol regulation in serum of cardiac surgical patients. To investigate the link to systemic inflammation in this context, we additionally measured 10 different cytokines in the serum.

Gadofosveset-enhanced MR imaging for the preoperative evaluation of potential living kidney donors: correlation with intraoperative findings.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the blood pool contrast agent gadofosveset for MR angiography (MRA) of the renal vasculature in living kidney donors (LKD).

Materials And Methods: Of the 28 consecutive potential LKDs (13 men, 15 women; mean age 55.14 years ± 11.

[Occlusive aortic disease as coral reef aorta--experience in 80 cases].

Background: Coral reef aorta (CRA) is described as rock-hard calcifications in the visceral part of the aorta. These heavily calcified plaques grow into the lumen and can cause significant stenoses, leading to malperfusion of the lower limbs, visceral ischaemia or hypertension due to renal ischaemia.

Patients/methods: From 1/1984 to 11/2008, 80 patients (26 m, 54 f, mean age 61.

Surgical treatment for agenesis of the vena cava: a single-centre experience in 15 cases.

Objective: Agenesis of the inferior vena cava (IVC) is a rare vascular malformation. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and bilateral pelvic thrombosis develop quite frequently, making surgical therapy necessary.

Patients And Methods: Between 1982 and 2006, 15 patients (nine male, six female, mean age 28 standard deviance 9 years) with agenesis of the IVC (IVCA) were treated surgically because of acute or subacute DVT.

Analysis of calcifications in patients with coral reef aorta.

Background: Coral reef aorta is a rare vascular disease with intraluminal calcifications of the dorsal part of the visceral aorta. The pathogenesis of this disease with its topographic and morphologic characteristics is unknown. The aim of our study was to investigate calcification inhibitors and the ultrastructure of calcifications in patients with coral reef aorta.

Renal cysts in living donor kidney transplantation: long-term follow-up in 25 patients.

Introduction: The acceptance of a living donor kidney bearing cysts might implicate complications after the transplantation due to the natural history of renal cysts. We have presented our experience with transplantation of living donor kidneys containing cysts but not polycystic disease.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed donor and recipient records of all living kidney transplants performed between January 1997 and April 2008.

[Development of neointimal matrix after incorporation of modern alloplastic prostheses: comparison between ePTFE and Dacron].

Background: In the therapy for peripheral arterial occlusive disease there remain inadequacies in the use of alloplastic material concerning thrombogenicity and biological compliance. In the 1960s, Sparks tried to combine the advantages of alloplastic prostheses with those of autologous reconstructions by using incorporated prostheses. No extensive myointimal hyperplasia was noted, but besides infections aneurysmatic dilatation were limiting factors in clinical practice.

[Functional MRI of transplanted kidneys using diffusion-weighted imaging].

Purpose: Contrast-enhanced MRI is considered problematic in renal allograft recipients due to the association of gadolinium administration and the development of NSF. Therefore, we assessed the clinical value of mono- and biexponential analysis of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

Materials And Methods: A total of 32 patients were divided into four groups: (a) patients with stable function of renal allograft for at least 6 months, (b) patients with acute deterioration of allograft function, patients who recently underwent transplantation (< 14 days) with good (c) or decreased (d) renal function.

Median arcuate ligament syndrome: vascular surgical therapy and follow-up of 18 patients.

Introduction: The median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) or celiac artery compression syndrome is a rare vascular disorder caused by an extrinsic compression of the celiac artery from the median arcuate ligament, prominent fibrous bands, and ganglionic periaortic tissue. Clinical symptoms are postprandial abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, unintentional weight loss, and sometimes, abdominal pain during body exercise caused by an intermittent visceral ischemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the operative management of patients with MALS in our institution, especially in consideration of various vascular reconstructive techniques.

[Dignity of carotid body tumors. Review of the literature and clinical experiences].

Introduction: Tumors of the carotid body are rare paragangliomas (incidence 0.012%) originating from sympathetic fibres of the carotid bifurcation. Growth is slow and they frequently become symptomatic through local mechanical compression of neighboring vascular and neural structures.

Fibromuscular dysplasia in living renal donors: still a challenge to computed tomographic angiography.

Background: Computed tomographic angiography has become the standard evaluating method of potential living renal donors in most centers. Although incidence of fibromuscular dysplasia is low (3.5-6%), this pathology may be relevant for success of renal transplantation.

[Retrograde aortomesenteric loop bypass behind the left renal pedicle ("French bypass") in the treatment of acute and chronic mesenteric ischemia. Clinical experiences and long-term follow-up in 27 patients].

Background: In 2001 Leschi et al. published a new method to improve perfusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) in operative therapy of acute and chronic visceral ischemia. They presented a retrograde aorto-mesenteric bypass following an arcuate course behind the left renal pedicle.

Visceral artery aneurysms--follow-up of 23 patients with 31 aneurysms after surgical or interventional therapy.

Purpose: Visceral artery aneurysms (VAA) are rare forms of vascular pathology, with an incidence of 0.1% to 0.2% in routine autopsies.

[Paradigm shift in the therapy of Wilkie's syndrome. From bowel reconstruction to transposition of the superior mesenteric artery].

The superior mesenteric artery syndrome--also known as Wilkie's syndrome or as arteriomesenteric obstruction of the duodenum--is a rare condition of upper intestinal obstruction in which the third part of the duodenum is compressed by the overlying, narrow-angled superior mesenteric artery against the posterior structures. It is characterized by early satiety, recurrent vomiting, abdominal distention, weight loss and postprandial distress. When nonsurgical management is not possible or the problem is refractory, surgical intervention is necessary.

[Esophageal necrosis following endovascular treatment of a ruptured thoracal aortic aneurism: caused by mediastinal compartment syndrome].

We report a case of acute esophageal necrosis after endovascular stenting for acute rupture of a thoracic aortic aneurysm into the mediastinum caused by mediastinal compartment syndrome and overstenting of intercostal arteries.

Rosiglitazone is cardioprotective in a murine model of myocardial I/R.

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) is a regulator of anti-inflammatory genes. One of its agonists, rosiglitazone-widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus-has recently been reported to increase the risk for myocardial infarction. In contrast, various studies provide evidence for a rosiglitazone-induced cardioprotection in different models of acute myocardial I/R.

[Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm : perioperative indicators for the clinical course following conventional open surgery].

Objectives: Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA) still represent a life-threatening vascular disease, with high mortality despite improved diagnostic tools and perioperative patient management. The aim of this study was to reveal predictors of perioperative mortality and survival after open (conventional) rAAA repair.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed data from our department containing 67 patient histories and clinical notes which were collected between January 1984 and December 2004.