Combined popliteal and posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh blocks for short saphenous vein stripping in outpatients: an alternative to spinal anesthesia.

Study Objective: To compare a combination of peripheral nerve blocks with spinal anesthesia in ambulatory patients undergoing short saphenous vein stripping.

Design: Prospective, randomized study.

Setting: University hospital.

Femoral and genitofemoral nerve blocks versus spinal anesthesia for outpatients undergoing long saphenous vein stripping surgery.

Long saphenous vein stripping (LSVS) surgery is often used to treat varicose veins. We tested the hypothesis that femoral nerve block (FNB) with genitofemoral nerve infiltration provides sufficient analgesia and superior recovery characteristics to spinal anesthesia for LSVS procedures in the ambulatory setting. Thirty-six patients were randomized to receive FNB with 30 mL of 3% alkalinized chloroprocaine, and 32 patients received spinal anesthesia with 65 mg of 5% hyperbaric lidocaine.

Analysis of the connective tissue matrix and proteolytic activity of primary varicose veins.

Purpose: Valvular incompetence and venous wall abnormalities have been suggested as primary etiologic factors responsible for the development of varicose veins. This study was conducted to evaluate the connective tissue constituents of greater saphenous varicosities. Proteolytic activity, a factor that can lead to matrix degradation and cause weakening and dilation of the venous wall, was also assessed.

Pseudoaneurysm after carotid endarterectomy.

An unusual case of recurrent infected pseudoaneurysm seven years following carotid endarterectomy is described. The initial pseudoaneurysm was treated with resection and Dacron patch angioplasty. Recurrence one year later was caused by infection of the patch.

The value of cardiac monitoring during peripheral arterial stress testing in the surgical management of peripheral vascular disease.

Eighty-six patients presenting with lower extremity pain on exertion underwent treadmill peripheral arterial stress testing with simultaneous cardiac monitoring. Of these patients 19 went on to have vascular reconstruction. Cardiac monitoring of peripheral arterial stress testing is a sensitive method of revealing occult cardiac disease in these high risk patients.