Hybrid treatment of aortic arch disease.

Introduction: The management of thoracic aortic disease involving the ascending aorta, aortic arch and descending thoracic aorta are technically challenging and is an area in constant development and innovation.

Objective: To analyze early and midterm results of hybrid treatment of arch aortic disease.

Methods: Retrospective study of procedures performed from January 2010 to December 2012.

Left subclavian artery stenting: an option for the treatment of the coronary-subclavian steal syndrome.

Introduction: The subclavian steal syndrome is characterized by the vertebral artery flow inversion, due to a stenotic lesion in the origin of the subclavian artery. The Coronary-subclavian Steal Syndrome is a variation of the Subclavian Steal Syndrome and is characterized by inversion of flow in the Internal Thracic artery that has been used as conduct in a myocardial revascularization. Its diagnosis must be suspected in patients with difference in pulse and arterial pressure in the upper limbs, that present with angina pectoris and that have done a myocardial revascularization.

First-in-man assessment of the InSeal VCD, a novel closure device for large puncture accesses.

Aims: To demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of the novel InSeal VCD for the closure of large puncture holes following percutaneous structural interventions.

Methods And Results: Prospective, non-randomised, single-arm, single-centre study with a series of patients submitted to endovascular treatment of abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysm as well as transcatheter aortic valve implantation in whom the InSeal VCD was used to close the access site. These patients were followed up for one year with clinical examination, ankle-brachial index and Doppler ultrasound.

Randomized comparison of distal and proximal cerebral protection during carotid artery stenting.

Objectives: This study sought to randomly compare cerebral protection with ANGIOGUARD (Cordis Corporation, Bridgewater, New Jersey) with Mo.Ma (Invatec/Medtronic Vascular Inc, Santa Rosa, California) during carotid artery stenting (CAS), using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) to detect new ischemic cerebral lesions. The number, size, and location of lesions were analyzed.

Analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of noninvasive imaging tests for the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis.

Background: Aging and atherosclerosis are related to renovascular hypertension in elderly individuals. Regardless of comorbidities, renal artery stenosis is itself an important cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Objective: To define the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of noninvasive imaging tests used in the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis.

Recanalization of femoropopliteal chronic total occlusions using the ENABLER-P Balloon Catheter System.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a new system to facilitate intraluminal advancement of conventional guidewires through chronic total occlusions (CTO) of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) and popliteal artery.

Methods: The ENABLER-P Balloon Catheter System uses a unique balloon-anchoring mechanism and an automated balloon inflation device for steady, controlled advancement of a standard non-hydrophilic guidewire. The system was evaluated in 37 patients (22 men; mean age 67 years (range 41-87) with femoropopliteal CTOs averaging 86 mm in length (range 10-340).

Intestinal obstruction induced by a giant incarcerated Spigelian hernia: case report and review of the literature.

Context: Spigelian hernia is an uncommon spontaneous lateral ventral hernia with an incarceration ratio of around 20%. However, complications such as intestinal obstruction are extremely rare. We report on a case of giant incarcerated Spigelian hernia with a clinical condition of complete intestinal obstruction that was treated using prosthetic polypropylene mesh.

Short- and midterm follow-up results of valvuloplasty with balloon catheter for congenital aortic stenosis.

Objective: To report short and midtem follow-up results of balloon aortic valvuloplasty to treat congenital aortic stenosis.

Methods: Seventy-five patients (median age: 8 years) underwent the procedure through the retrograde femoral or carotid route.

Results: The procedure was completed in 74 patients (98.