Predicting Factors Associated with Postoperative Hypotension following Carotid Artery Stenting.

Background: Prolonged hemodynamic instability after carotid artery stenting (CAS) has been associated with increased incidence of stroke and other major adverse events. The objective of this study is to determine the factors associated with hypotension following CAS. In particular, this study evaluates whether involvement of the carotid bifurcation/bulb and degree of calcification can predict postoperative hypotension.

Hybrid Revascularization Combining Iliofemoral Endarterectomy and Iliac Stent Grafting for TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus C and D Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease.

Background: This study examines the outcome of hybrid revascularization combining iliofemoral endarterectomy and iliac artery stenting using covered stents in TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) C and D aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) involving the common femoral artery (CFA).

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted in patients with TASC C and D AIOD involving the CFA and undergoing hybrid revascularization. Covered stents were used primarily.

Endovascular treatment of TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus D aortoiliac occlusive disease using unibody bifurcated endografts.

Objective: Aortobifemoral bypass has been the gold standard treatment for extensive aortoiliac occlusive disease. Endovascular therapy and stenting of aortic and iliac occlusive lesions has proven to be efficacious, especially when dealing with short segment lesions. Endovascular treatment of TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus II (TASC) D aortoiliac occlusive lesions remains a challenge, but a valuable treatment option in poor surgical candidates.

Extra-anatomic endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm with a horseshoe kidney supplied by the aneurysmal aorta.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm complicated by a horseshoe kidney (HSK, fused kidney) represents a unique challenge for repair. Renal arteries arising from the aneurysmal aorta can further complicate intervention. Reports exist describing the repair of these complex anatomies using fenestrated endografts, hybrid open repairs (debranching), and open aneurysmorrhaphy with preservation of renal circulation.

Endovascular treatment of an aortic saddle embolism resulting in full neurologic recovery.

Aortic saddle embolism (ASE) and aortic saddle thrombosis are rare and occasionally associated with spinal ischemia and paraplegia. Patients have traditionally been treated with transfemoral balloon thromboembolectomy. In the following case report, we present a patient with suspected ASE and paraplegia, who was successfully treated by an endovascular approach using covered stents.

"Cheese wire" fenestration of a chronic aortic dissection flap for endovascular repair of a contained aneurysm rupture.

A 70-year-old man presented with a contained aortic rupture above the aortic bifurcation in the setting of a chronic type B aortic dissection. The celiac and right iliac arteries were supplied by the false lumen, and the superior mesenteric, left iliac, and bilateral renal arteries were supplied by the true lumen. An open repair was not possible due to right-sided heart failure.

Hyperbaric oxygen for chronic wounds.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), the administration of pressurized 100% oxygen, is used as an adjunct to aid healing in selected chronic wounds. Though the therapy has had a controversial history, research is now elucidating the mechanisms by which HBOT helps to heal wounds. HBOT increases growth factors and local wound signaling, while also promoting a central stem cell release of endothelial progenitor cells from the bone marrow via nitric oxide pathways.

Modified use of the Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow (HeRO) graft for salvage of threatened dialysis access.

The Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow (HeRO) graft (Hemosphere Inc, Eden Prairie, Minn) offers a new option to provide upper extremity arteriovenous (AV) dialysis access in patients with central venous occlusive disease. Creative use of this device can allow for salvage of failing or threatened AV fistulas and grafts. We present two patients who underwent a modified implantation of the HeRO device for immediate salvage of a malfunctioning AV access.

Aortic aneurysmal repair with surtureless visceral revascularization using novel hybrid vascular graft and a gradual funneling technique.

This article details a novel technique in the treatment of a symptomatic thoracoabdominal aneurysm (TAA) involving the visceral segment and an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. The patient was treated in a 2-staged hybrid approach combining an endovascular repair of the infrarenal segment, followed by open TAA repair. The large visceral arteries were revascularized using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene GORE Hybrid Vascular Graft (GHVG) and a Gradual Funneling Technique with Dacron graft.

The use of gadolinium for arterial interventions.

Background: Gadolinium (Gd) has been traditionally used as a non-nephrotoxic alternative to iodinated contrast for digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in patients with chronic renal insufficiency. However, its use has been questioned on the basis of reports of nephrotoxicity and its recent association with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), a potentially lethal complication. Recently available data are conflicting with respect to the true safety profile of intra-arterial Gd.

Endovascular aneurysm repair in nonagenarians is safe and effective.

Objectives: Advanced age is a significant risk factor that has traditionally steered patients away from open aneurysm repair and toward expectant management. Today, however, the reduced morbidity and mortality of aortic stent grafting has created a new opportunity for aneurysm repair in patients previously considered too high a risk for open surgery. Here we report our experience with endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in nonagenarians.

Delayed permanent paraplegia after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Spinal cord ischemia is a rare complication after abdominal aortic surgery and has been attributed to surgical devascularization of the spinal cord, atheroembolization of the cord circulation, or hypoperfusion of cord structures secondary to hypotension or cord edema. We present a diabetic, hypertensive 75-year-old male with endstage renal disease who presented with a 5.5 cm asymptomatic infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm, and concomitant 3.

Successful revascularization for delayed presentation of radiation-induced distal upper extremity ischemia.

Despite several reports of proximal arm ischemia due to radiation therapy, there are no reports of hand ischemia, presumably due to the rarity of radiation treatment of the distal upper extremity. We present a case of a 42-year-old male presenting with acute hand ischemia 36 years after being treated with forearm radiation for Ewing's sarcoma. Angiography demonstrated a patent brachial artery, occluded radial and ulnar arteries in the forearm, and a normal-caliber reconstituted radial artery at the anatomical snuffbox feeding a patent palmar arch.

Carotid artery stenting is safe and associated with comparable outcomes in men and women.

Objective: Historically, large randomized controlled studies looking at carotid endarterectomy (CEA) have indicated an increased perioperative risk for women when gender subgroup analysis was performed. However, the outcomes of carotid stenting in women as compared to men have not been adequately investigated. We sought to compare the safety and efficacy of carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) when performed in women as compared to men.

Diabetic impairments in NO-mediated endothelial progenitor cell mobilization and homing are reversed by hyperoxia and SDF-1 alpha.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are essential in vasculogenesis and wound healing, but their circulating and wound level numbers are decreased in diabetes. This study aimed to determine mechanisms responsible for the diabetic defect in circulating and wound EPCs. Since mobilization of BM EPCs occurs via eNOS activation, we hypothesized that eNOS activation is impaired in diabetes, which results in reduced EPC mobilization.

Hyperbaric oxygen and bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells in diabetic wound healing.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are the key cellular effectors of postnatal vasculogenesis and play a central role in wound healing. In diabetes, there is a significant impairment in the number and function of circulating and wound-tissue EPC. Recent evidence indicates, that tissue-level hyperoxia achieved by therapeutic hyperbaric oxygen protocols (HBO2) can increase the mobilization of EPC from the bone marrow into peripheral blood.

Endothelial progenitor cell release into circulation is triggered by hyperoxia-induced increases in bone marrow nitric oxide.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are known to contribute to wound healing, but the physiologic triggers for their mobilization are often insufficient to induce complete wound healing in the presence of severe ischemia. EPC trafficking is known to be regulated by hypoxic gradients and induced by vascular endothelial growth factor-mediated increases in bone marrow nitric oxide (NO). Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) enhances wound healing, although the mechanisms for its therapeutic effects are incompletely understood.

The bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cell response is impaired in delayed wound healing from ischemia.

Objective: Vasculogenesis relies on the recruitment of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (BMD EPCs) and is stimulated by tissue-level ischemia. We hypothesized that the BMD EPC response is impaired in ischemic wounds and studied the relationship between BMD EPCs and wound healing.

Methods: We used transgenic Tie-2/LacZ mice, which carry the beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) reporter gene under Tie-2 promoter control.

Stem cell mobilization by hyperbaric oxygen.

We hypothesized that exposure to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO(2)) would mobilize stem/progenitor cells from the bone marrow by a nitric oxide (*NO) -dependent mechanism. The population of CD34(+) cells in the peripheral circulation of humans doubled in response to a single exposure to 2.0 atmospheres absolute (ATA) O(2) for 2 h.

Normal human fibroblasts enable melanoma cells to induce angiogenesis in type I collagen.

Background: We previously reported that fibroblasts induce human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) to differentiate from monolayer to capillarylike morphology. We now test the hypothesis that fibroblasts modulate angiogenesis in melanoma cells.

Methods: We tested 12 human melanoma lines (2 radial growth phase (RGP), 3 vertical growth phase (VGP), and 7 metastatic (MM)) for ability to induce HMVECs to invade/migrate into collagen and form capillarylike networks.

Yearly rupture or dissection rates for thoracic aortic aneurysms: simple prediction based on size.

Background: Prior work has clarified the cumulative, lifetime risk of rupture or dissection based on the size of thoracic aneurysms. Ability to estimate simply the yearly rate of rupture or dissection would greatly enhance clinical decision making for specific patients. Calculation of such a rate requires robust data.