Pre-discharge duplex ultrasound scans detect endoleaks not seen on completion angiography after endovascular aneurysm repair.

Purpose: To determine whether a pre-discharge duplex ultrasound scan detects early endoleaks that would not otherwise have been identified.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all patients undergoing elective infrarenal endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) at our center. These patients underwent intraoperative completion angiography, had a duplex ultrasound scan prior to hospital discharge, and were followed at 1, 3, and 6 months and at 6-month intervals thereafter.

The interleukin-10-1082 'A' allele and abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are caused by inflammatory processes in the wall of the aorta resulting in degradation of structural proteins. This inflammatory process is mediated, in part, by cytokines, and interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a predominantly anti-inflammatory cytokine. A single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter region of the IL-10 gene that affects transcription has been associated with AAA in a small study.

Scoring systems do not accurately predict outcome following abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This study aims to evaluate the efficiency of scoring systems in a group of patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Methods: A prospective study of 152 patients undergoing aneurysm repair was conducted.

Laparoscopic ligation of splenic artery aneurysm.

Splenic artery aneurysms are rare and often asymptomatic; however, rupture may prove fatal. Although many can be treated with percutaneous embolization, tortuosity of the artery may render this approach impossible. Presented is a case report describing laparoscopic ligation of a splenic artery aneurysm after failed attempt at embolization.