Interposition grafting of large extracranial carotid aneurysm.

Extracranial carotid aneurysms are a rare entity and carry an inherent risk of thromboembolic complications. Treatment options consist of endovascular and conventional surgical techniques. We describe the cases of 3 patients who were treated with an interposition graft for a large extracranial carotid aneurysm.

The relevance of aortic endograft prosthetic infection.

Background: Vascular prosthetic graft infection is a severe complication after open aortic aneurysm repair. Reports of infected endografts are scarce. General treatment consensus with infected graft material is that it should be removed completely.

Reducing vividness and emotional intensity of recurrent "flashforwards" by taxing working memory: an analogue study.

Several studies have found that making eye movements while retrieving visual images about past negative events reduces their vividness and emotional intensity. A working memory account states that eye movements tax working memory and interfere with visual imagery, thus degrading images. This study examined whether eye movements also affect recurrent, intrusive visual images about potential future catastrophes ("flashforwards") in a sample of female undergraduates who had indicated on a screening-scale that they suffer from such intrusions.

Dutch randomized trial comparing standard catheter-directed thrombolysis versus ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis for thromboembolic infrainguinal disease (DUET): design and rationale.

Background: The use of thrombolytic therapy in the treatment of thrombosed infrainguinal native arteries and bypass grafts has increased over the years. Main limitation of this treatment modality, however, is the occurrence of bleeding complications. Low intensity ultrasound (US) has been shown to accelerate enzymatic thrombolysis, thereby reducing therapy time.

Carotid endarterectomy: current consensus and controversies.

Stroke is the third most common cause of mortality, and carotid artery stenosis causes 8% to 29% of all ischemic strokes. Best medical treatment forms the basis of carotid stenosis treatment, and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has an additional beneficial effect in high-grade stenosis. Carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) has challenged CEA as a primary carotid intervention.

Decreased peritoneal expression of active transforming growth factor ß1 during laparoscopic cholecystectomy with heated carbon dioxide.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery involves the establishment of a pneumoperitoneum, mostly using carbon dioxide. Cooling of the peritoneum, due to insufflation, may traumatize the peritoneum and disturb local biological processes. The current study was performed to assess the effect of the temperature of carbon dioxide on peritoneal transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) expression.

Does extracranial arterial pathology play a role in late-onset psychiatric disorders?

Introduction: Carotid interventions are commonly performed to reduce the risk of disabling stroke and stroke-related death. Carotid interventions may also have an effect on cognitive functions. Mental disorders in the elderly have been related to structural brain pathology.

Peritoneal transforming growth factor beta-1 expression during prolonged laparoscopic procedures.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery may affect peritoneal physiology. Short-term laparoscopic surgery does not affect peritoneal transforming growth factor beta (TGF-b1) expression. The current study was conducted to evaluate the hypothesis that prolonged laparoscopic surgery may affect peritoneal TGF-b1 expression.

Peritoneal changes due to laparoscopic surgery.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery has been incorporated into common surgical practice. The peritoneum is an organ with various biologic functions that may be affected in different ways by laparoscopic and open techniques. Clinically, these alterations may be important in issues such as peritoneal metastasis and adhesion formation.

Conventional surgery and endovenous laser ablation of recurrent varicose veins of the small saphenous vein: a retrospective clinical comparison and assessment of patient satisfaction.

Objectives: Recurrences of varicosities of the small saphenous vein (SSV) are common. Surgical reintervention is associated with increased complication rates. The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) in recurrent varicose veins of the SSV and to compare this technique with surgical reintervention.

Changing profiles of diagnostic and treatment options in subclavian artery aneurysms.

Background: Subclavian artery aneurysms (SAAs) are rare and may cause life- and limb-threatening complications. Therapeutic options greatly differ as do access alternatives. The aim of the study was to assess its clinical presentation, diagnostics and therapeutic options as reported in the literature.

Endovascular treatment of a hepatic artery aneurysm causing chronic abdominal pain; a case report.

Background: Aneurysms of the visceral arteries are rare but potentially lethal lesions. We describe a case of a successful endovascular exclusion of a hepatic artery aneurysm in a patient that suffered from chronic abdominal pain.

Case Report: A 68-year old man presented with chronic abdominal pain that had existed for 10 months.

Treatment of recurrent varicose veins of the great saphenous vein by conventional surgery and endovenous laser ablation.

Objective: Varicose vein recurrence of the great saphenous vein (GSV) is a common, costly, and complex problem. The aim of the study was to assess feasibility of endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) in recurrent varicose veins of the GSV and to compare this technique with conventional surgical reintervention.

Methods: Case files of all patients treated for GSV varicosities were evaluated and recurrences selected.

Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in nonagenarians--beyond limits?

Herein, we report a single institution's experience with endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in nonagenarians, over a 4-year period of time. We performed a retrospective study of cases, in which we documented patient demographics, symptoms, physical findings, surgical interventions, complications, and deaths. The survivors answered a questionnaire.

The peritoneal fibrinolytic response to conventional and laparoscopic colonic surgery.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery is considered to induce less peritoneal trauma than conventional surgery. The peritoneal plasmin system is important in the processes of peritoneal healing and adhesion formation. The present study assessed the peritoneal fibrinolytic response to laparoscopic and conventional colonic surgery.

Endovenous laser therapy of the small saphenous vein: patient satisfaction and short-term results.

Objective: Conventional surgical treatment for small saphenous vein (SSV) reflux is associated with high recurrence rates and complications. Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) is a treatment modality with promising results. This study reports patient satisfaction and short-term results after EVLA of SSV reflux.

The Rotarex® and Aspirex® mechanical thrombectomy devices.

The Rotarex® and Aspirex® are newly developed over-the-wire rotational thrombectomy catheters. These devices combine mechanical clot fragmentation and active negative-pressure removal of thrombus particles to prevent distal embolization. Several successful in vitro studies have been followed by the pursuit of different applications, and the device has been used successfully in the treatment of acute to chronic thrombo-embolic arterial occlusions in the limbs, hemodialysis access grafts, bypasses, stents, pulmonary artery occlusion, and inferior vena cava and aortohepatic bypass occlusions.

Conventional or endovascular treatment of ongoing mycotic aortic aneurysmal disease?

We report a case in which conventional and endovascular exclusion techniques were used to treat ongoing mycotic aortic aneurysmal disease. A 51-year-old man presented with an infrarenal mycotic aortic aneurysm that was excluded and reconstructed with a superficial femoral vein. Two years later, he developed a symptomatic mycotic aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta, which required emergent treatment with a stent graft.

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and gelatinase expression in human peritoneal mesothelial cells during propagation in culture.

Mesothelial cells are involved in a variety of biological processes, which include the formation of peritoneal adhesions. The cultures of human peritoneal mesothelial cells comprise an important tool to investigate the behavior and functions of mesothelial cells. Very little is known about the differences among mesothelial cells isolated from different sources and about the changes in specific functions as caused by cell propagation in vitro or that result from storage of cells at low temperatures.

The persistent sciatic artery.

Background: A persistent sciatic artery (PSA) is a rare vascular anomaly with an estimated incidence of 0.03-0.06%.

External-to-internal iliac artery endografting for the exclusion of iliac artery aneurysms: an alternative technique for preservation of pelvic flow?

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe an alternative endovascular procedure to exclude iliac artery aneurysms, preserving perfusion to the internal iliac artery.

Cases: Two patients, considered unfit for open repair, underwent endovascular repair of iliac artery aneurysms. One of these occurred after previous placement of a bifurcated prosthesis.

Tc-99m-PEG-liposomes target both adhesions and abscesses and their reduction by hyaluronate in rats with fecal peritonitis.

Background: Abdominal adhesions and abscesses are a major source of morbidity and mortality after abdominal surgery and peritonitis. Adhesions are hard to detect with standard imaging techniques. Liposomes, coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG), represent an agent developed for infection imaging.

Right middle lobe torsion: evaluation with CT angiography.

A case of right middle lobe torsion occurring after a right upper lobectomy is described. HR-CT angiography was successful in identifying the obstructed right middle lobe bronchus and the avascular nature of the infected and displaced right middle lobe. This detailed information, obtainable from present day multislice HR-CT scanners with the right CT protocols, seems to diminish the need for further confirmation by other methods.

Decreased peritoneal tissue plasminogen activator during prolonged laparoscopic surgery.

Background: Peritoneal fibrinolysis is crucial in the peritoneal healing processes and subsequent adhesion formation. During conventional surgery, the peritoneal fibrinolytic system is rapidly disturbed. Short-term laparoscopy does not seem to affect peritoneal fibrinolysis.

Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair complicated by spondylodiscitis and iliaco-enteral fistula.

Infections of abdominal aortic endografts are rare. There are no reports on the association with spondylodiscitis. We report a case of a 74-year-old man who underwent endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and subsequently femorofemoral bypass placement due to occlusion of the right limb of the endograft.