Preoperative White Blood Cell Count in Patients with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms and Its Relation to Survival following Surgery.

Background: The aim of the present study was to explore whether preoperative white blood cell (WBC) count may predict 30-day mortality and long-term survival following surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Secondarily, we wanted to assess the potential sex differences in WBC in these patients.

Methods: The study was carried out as a retrospective cohort study.

Endovascular treatment of descending thoracic aortic disease. A single center experience.

Aim: Aim of the study was to assess if endovascular treatment is a feasible alternative in patients with descending thoracic aortic disease.

Methods: Seventy-three patients were admitted for stent-grafting of descending thoracic aortic disease during the period 1997-2008. The majority of the patients had aneurysm (35) or type B dissection (21), but also traumas, penetrating ulcers and other conditions were treated.

Surgery for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm and early mortality in women. Risk factors and complication profile.

Aim: Repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) is reported to have a higher mortality in women than in men. The aim was to study whether this difference could be verified in our institution and secondary if difference in risk- and complication profiles could explain the higher 30 day mortality after surgery for rAAA in women.

Methods: During the period 1983-2009 1649 patients, 1348 men and 301 women, were operated consecutively for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA); 430 patients had rAAA, 98 women and 332 men.

Aortic graft infection and mycotic aneurysm with Streptococcus equi zooepidemicus: two cases with favorable outcome of antibiotic treatment.

Infections with Streptococcus equi zooepidemicus are rare and are associated with contact with animals or animal products. There are very few reports about infected vascular grafts or aneurysms with this etiology. We present two patients.

DynaCT in pre-treatment evaluation of aortic aneurysm before EVAR.

Objective: DynaCT(®) is a method for obtaining computed tomography (CT)-like images using a C-arm system. Our aim was to compare the accuracy of these images to multidetector CT (MDCT) images prior to endovascular aortic repair (EVAR).

Methods: A non-consecutive group of 20 elective patients were prospectively exposed to MDCT and one additional DynaCT before EVAR.

Early results after treatment of open abdomen after aortic surgery with mesh traction and vacuum-assisted wound closure.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the use of vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAWC) and mesh traction to repair an open abdomen after aortic surgery.

Design: Prospective clinical study.

Material And Methods: From October 2006 to April 2009, nine consecutive patients were treated; seven of the patients received laparostomy following abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS), while two wounds were left open initially.

Endovascular treatment of calcified plaque in the thoracic aorta after recurrent massive embolization.

A 65 year old female patient was admitted with acute onset of severe intermittent claudication in the right lower extremity. Angiography revealed embolic material in the right femoral artery and peripheral arterial thrombosis in the right leg. She was treated with thrombolysis first, thereafter calcified embolic material was removed by open embolectomy.

Causes of cancellations on the day of surgery at two major university hospitals.

Cancellations of elective cases on the day of surgery waste valuable operating-room time. The authors studied cancellations at an American hospital and a Norwegian university hospital to test (a) whether the quality of hospital administrative data on cancellations is sufficient for meaningful comparative analysis and (b) whether causes of cancellations at these 2 major academic hospitals are comparable. Large retrospective cause-of-cancellation data sets were obtained from each hospital.

DynaCT during EVAR--a comparison with multidetector CT.

Objectives: We have explored the usefulness of an on-table, cross-sectional radiological imaging (DynaCT) in endovascular aortic repair (EVAR). DynaCT images were compared to images from a regular multidetector (16 slice) CT. In the comparison, we tested the accordance of firstly 5 relevant clinical measurements and secondly the visibility of 9 anatomical areas in the two different types of images.

The association between diabetes mellitus and the prevalence of intermittent claudication: the HUNT study.

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and the prevalence of intermittent claudication (IC). Between 1995 and 1997, all residents aged 20 years or older in Nord-Trøndelag County, Norway were mailed an invitation to participate in a health survey (HUNT 2). A total of 19,712 participants aged 40-69 years old completed and returned the questionnaire included with the invitation.

Reduced strain in abdominal aortic aneurysms after endovascular repair.

Purpose: To compare in vivo strain in abdominal aortic aneurysms before and after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), thereby obtaining a quantitative measure of changes in mechanical burden on the aneurysm wall.

Method: Transabdominal ultrasound was acquired from 10 patients (9 men; median age 76 years, range 61-83) 1 day before and 2 days after elective EVAR. Strain was estimated as the relative cyclic elongation and contraction of the wall tissue in a number of connected segments along the aneurysm circumference.

Improved long-term survival following infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Background: The aim was to investigate early and long-term results following AAA repair during a 20-year period.

Method: One thousand and forty one patients with AAA were treated with open surgery (905) or EVAR (136) during the period 1983-2002. Comorbidity and factors influencing early and long-term results were investigated.

The durability of EVAR--what are the evidence and implications on follow-up?

Background And Aims: To investigate the durability of EVAR and to explore the evidence for follow-up investigations. Furthermore, to study the patients' impressions of followup investigations, and how complications and secondary procedures influence cost-effectiveness.

Material And Methods: 263 patients were treated by EVAR from February 1995-February 2007.

The prevalence of carotid artery stenosis in an unselected hospitalized stroke population.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the number and severity of carotid artery stenosis in an unselected stroke population in hospital.

Methods: The carotid arteries were investigated consecutively with color-coded duplex scanning in patients suspected of having stroke and admitted to a stroke unit during a 6-month period. Percent internal carotid artery stenosis by diameter reduction was described.

Regional distribution of blood flow during proximal aortic cross-clamping: an experimental study using coloured microspheres.

Objective: To investigate the effect of thoracic aortic cross-clamping on blood perfusion of the brain, spinal cord, heart, muscular tissue and visceral organs.

Material And Methods: Nine pigs underwent 30 min cross-clamping of the descending thoracic aorta. Multiple coloured microspheres (15.

The inflammatory response to stent grafting of the thoracic aorta.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the inflammatory reactions in patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms before, during and after stent graft treatment and to relate markers of leukocyte activation to the use of radiographic contrast media.

Methods: Blood samples were drawn from 7 patients undergoing elective stent graft treatment for thoracic aneurysms. The samples were analyzed for leukocyte and platelet counts and the concentrations of iohexol (radiographic contrast medium), myeloperoxidase, lactoferrin, neutrophil activating peptide-2 (NAP-2), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), the complement activation products C3bc and the terminal complement complex (TCC).

Infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: time-trends during a 20-year period.

Background: The goal of the present study was to investigate the number of operations for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) including time-trends in treatment during a 20-year period. Operating time and anesthesia time were also studied.

Method: During the period 1983-2002, a total of 1,041 patients with AAA were treated with open surgery (905) or EVAR (136).

Amplification of TOP2A and HER-2 genes in breast cancers occurring in patients harbouring BRCA1 germline mutations.

BRCA1 associated tumours are found to express an oestrogen receptor negative "basal epithelial-like" phenotype. In contrast to ER negative tumours in general, such tumours rarely harbour amplification of the HER-2 gene. However, little is known about TOP2A gene amplification status in BRCA1-associated tumours.

Dacron or PTFE for above-knee femoropopliteal bypass. a multicenter randomised study.

Objectives: To compare polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) and polyester grafts (Dacron) for above knee femoropopliteal bypass.

Design: Multicenter randomised clinical trial.

Material And Methods: 427 patients were randomised between 6mm Dacron (Uni-Graft, B.

Initial observations of endovascular aneurysm repair using Dyna-CT.

Purpose: To examine the feasibility of a new technology that provides images resembling computed tomographic (CT) slices on the operating table during elective endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair (EVAR).

Technique: Commercially available Dyna-CT equipment was used in conjunction with Voxar 3D software for image reconstruction. During the preliminary evaluation of 9 patients (7 men; median age 73 years, range 67-84) with non-ruptured AAA undergoing elective EVAR with the Zenith Trifab stent-graft under regional anesthesia, the equipment functioned sufficiently well to produce the planned image dataset in 8 of 9 patients.

Is insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) playing a role for aneurysm formation in patients with pituitary gland tumor?

The combination of pituitary gland tumor and aneurysmal disease has previously been described. Most of these aneurysms have affected intracranial arteries. The purpose is to present 2 patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm and pituitary gland tumor and further to discuss the mechanism behind this combination of diseases.