Aneurysm sac pressure monitoring: does the direction of pressure measurement matter in fibrinous thrombus?

Purpose: This study was conducted to clarify the effect of the direction of pressure measurement on the pressure readout in fibrinous thrombus of the abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Methods: Three weights of 468 g (weight 1), 578 g (weight 2), and 675 g (weight 3) were molded. A specimen of human fibrinous thrombus was positioned under the weights.

Age-related differences in invasive treatment of peripheral arterial disease: disease severity versus social support as determinants.

Objective: Social support may influence the seeking of appropriate treatment. We examined social support and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) severity as determinants of treatment for PAD in younger and older patients.

Methods: Consecutive PAD patients (N=203) completed the Perceived Social Support Scale.

Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis: an accurate tool to assess stent-graft migration.

Purpose: To evaluate in an in vitro model the feasibility and accuracy of Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA) versus computed tomography (CT) for the ability to detect stent-graft migration.

Methods: An aortic model was constructed from a 22-mm-diameter Plexiglas tube with 6-mm polytetrafluoroethylene inlays to mimic the renal arteries. Six tantalum markers were placed in the wall of the aortic tube proximal to the renal arteries.

Development of fibrinous thrombus analogue for in-vitro abdominal aortic aneurysm studies.

Purpose: To develop different thrombus analogues, with mechanical properties similar to those of human fibrinous thrombus, for in-vitro aneurysm sac pressure studies.

Methods: Using dynamic mechanical analysis we determined the E-modulus (/E(*)/) at 0.8, 1.

Clinical indicators and psychosocial aspects in peripheral arterial disease.

Hypothesis: Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) often experience substantial impairment in health status and quality of life (QOL), but factors associated with these outcomes are unknown. We hypothesized that subjective pain symptoms in the legs and social support and stress (the degree to which situations are appraised as stressful) are associated with impaired health status and QOL.

Design: Cross-sectional observational study.

Role of disease status and type D personality in outcomes in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) often experience diminishing quality of life (QOL) in many domains of their lives. However, factors associated with impaired QOL and perceived stress in these patients are not completely understood. The relative effects of disease status and type D ("distressed") personality (tendencies to experience negative emotions and be socially inhibited) on these patient-based outcomes were examined.

[Retroperitoneal haematoma seen on CT scan in 2 patients with abdominal symptoms, aneurysm of the abdominal aorta and normal haemodynamics].

In 2 patients, men aged 73 and 66 undergoing physical and ultrasound examinations for complaints of abdominal pain, an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta (AAA) with a diameter of 7-8 cm was discovered. Both their blood pressure and heart rate were normal. The older man then underwent a CT scan as did the younger man after being observed overnight.

Assessment of disease impact in patients with intermittent claudication: discrepancy between health status and quality of life.

Objective: To describe similarities and differences between health status and quality of life in patients with intermittent claudication.

Methods: This was an observational study in the vascular outpatient department of a teaching hospital; it concerned 200 consecutive patients with intermittent claudication. Health status was assessed with the RAND-36, and quality of life was assessed with a reduced version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment instrument-100.

Impaired health status and invasive treatment in peripheral arterial disease: a prospective 1-year follow-up study.

Objective: It has been argued that health status and quality of life (QOL) should be taken into account in the treatment policy of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). In cardiac patients, it has been shown that poor perceived health status is an independent predictor of mortality and hospitalization. We therefore examined (1) the role of health status, QOL, and clinical indices of disease severity as determinants of invasive treatment in patients with PAD and (2) the effect of invasive treatment on health status and QOL.

[Non-incarcerated inguinal hernia in children: operation within 7 days not necessary].

Objective: To assess the necessity to operate on non-incarcerated inguinal hernia in children within 7 days of diagnosis.

Design: Retrospective.

Method: Data on 360 children, 0-10 years old (104 girls and 256 boys) who were operated on for inguinal hernia between 1 January 1993-31 December 2001 at the St.

Is the perceived association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and vascular diseases biased by methodology?

Inter- and intralaboratory inconsistencies in detection rates of Chlamydia pneumoniae in vascular specimens have been demonstrated. In this study, 66 vascular tissue specimens from 66 patients with vascular disease were tested by three PCR assays: a 16S PCR-based reverse line blot (RLB) assay, a single-step PCR, and a nested PCR. Also, we explored the impacts of different DNA polymerase enzymes on the results based on gel electrophoresis and hybridization.

Comparison of CT and sonography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis: a blinded prospective study.

Objective: Our objective was to compare the accuracy of CT and sonography in a general community teaching hospital for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in patients with suspected acute appendicitis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. In this prospective study, 199 consecutive patients with clinical signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis were examined with sonography (graded compression technique) and CT (focused unenhanced single-detector helical CT [5-mm section thickness].

[Chylous ascites following surgical repair of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm].

Two patients, a man aged 65 years and a woman aged 75 years, developed chylous ascites after emergency abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Both patients were still on artificial ventilation at the time of diagnosis. The first symptoms were high ventilation pressure, elevated diaphragm and abdominal distension.

Reduction of blood pressure, plasma cholesterol, and atherosclerosis by elevated endothelial nitric oxide.

In the vascular system, nitric oxide is generated by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). NO has pleiotropic effects, most of which are believed to be atheroprotective. Therefore, it has been argued that patients suffering from cardiovascular disease could benefit from an increase in eNOS activity.

The impact of walking impairment, cardiovascular risk factors, and comorbidity on quality of life in patients with intermittent claudication.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of walking impairment, cardiovascular risk factors, and comorbidity on quality of life (QOL) in patients with intermittent claudication (IC).

Material And Methods: The prospective observational study was conducted in the setting of a vascular outpatient department of a teaching hospital. QOL was assessed in 200 consecutive patients with IC, with a reduced version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument-100.

The additional value of angiography after colour-coded duplex on decision making in patients with critical limb ischaemia. A prospective study.

Objective: to investigate prospectively the additional value of intra arterial digital subtraction arteriography (IADSA) for decision making in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). Treatment plans based on colour-duplex imaging (CDI) were compared with treatment plans based on IADSA.

Methods: ninety-eight consecutive patients with 112 legs with CLI were investigated by CDI and IADSA.

[Surgery and referral for subsequent 131I therapy for patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma in the south-east of the Netherlands, 1983-1996, compared to the consensus guidelines from 1987].

Objective: To evaluate the treatment of patients with differentiated (papillary or follicular) thyroid cancer in general hospitals in the south-east of the Netherlands during the period 1983-1996, in relation to the 1987 national consensus recommendations.

Design: Population-based, retrospective, descriptive.

Method: For the period 1 January 1983-31 December 1996, data on the histology, TNM-stage and treatment (hospital, specialist, type of operation, referral for 131I therapy) of all 236 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer were obtained from the cancer registry of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre South, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.

Successful emergency stenting of acute ruptured false iliac aneurysm.

A 75-year-old man complaining of acute abdominal pain, 1 month after elective surgical repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm by an aortabi-iliac bypass graft, was referred and admitted to the emergency room. Imaging by sonography and computed tomography scan revealed a ruptured iliac pseudoaneurysm at the right iliac anastomotic site with associated large retroperitoneal hematoma. We inserted a self-expanding covered Z-stent graft by a transfemoral approach and the iliac anastomotic pseudoaneurysm was successfully excluded.

Irradiated versus nonirradiated endothelial cells: effect on proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Purpose: Endovascular radiation therapy is a promising strategy for the prevention of restenosis. Radiation prevents proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, thereby reducing the incidence of restenosis, but may also affect the remaining endothelial cells. For this reason, a comparison was made between irradiated and nonirradiated endothelial cells and their effects on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells in a coculture system was evaluated.

Totally extraperitoneal endoscopic repair of recurrent inguinal hernia.

Background: Conventional repair of recurrent inguinal hernia is associated with a re-recurrence rate as high as 35 per cent. Endoscopic mesh repair has promising results regarding both recurrence and complication rates.

Methods: In a retrospective review, the results of endoscopic totally extraperitoneal repair were evaluated in 104 patients with 108 recurrent hernias.