Early Fasciotomy and Limb Salvage and Complications in Military Lower Extremity Vascular Injury.

Background: Military guidelines endorse early fasciotomy after revascularization of lower extremity injuries to prevent compartment syndrome, but the real-world impact is unknown. We assessed the association between fasciotomy and amputation and limb complications among lower extremitys with vascular injury.

Methods: A retrospectively collected lower extremity injury database was queried for limbs undergoing attempted salvage with vascular procedure (2004-2012).

Venovenous bypass using continuous renal replacement therapy and endovascular inferior vena cava reconstruction to treat bilateral massive iliocaval deep venous thrombosis.

Many inferior vena cava (IVC) anomalies remain asymptomatic because of collateral circulation, but thrombosis of these channels can cause acute deep venous thrombosis with serious sequelae. For those with threatened limbs, anticoagulation is the mainstay of treatment, with endovascular pharmacomechanical thrombolysis replacing open surgical thrombectomy. Described is a severe case of massive iliocaval deep venous thrombosis with bilateral lower extremity Rutherford IIb acute limb ischemia in a patient with congenital IVC atresia.

Impact of Staged Vascular Management on Limb Outcomes in Wartime Femoropopliteal Arterial Injury.

Background: By necessity, wartime arterial injuries undergo staged management. Initial procedures may occur at a forward surgical team (role 2), where temporary shunts can be placed before transfer to a larger field hospital (role 3) for definitive reconstruction. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of staging femoropopliteal injury care on limb outcomes.

Long-term durability of a physician-modified endovascular graft.

We present a unique assessment confirming the long-term durability of a physician-modified endograft deployed as part of an Investigational Device Exemption clinical trial (NCT# 01538056). After receiving an intact postmortem aorta 7 years after the index procedure, we performed microcomputed tomography, necropsy, and metallurgical analysis on the specimen. Microcomputed tomography showed a single strut fracture not noted during previous surveillance.

Initial Inoculation Concentration Does Not Affect Final Bacterial Colonization of In vitro Vascular Conduits.

Background: Despite improved peri-operative care, prosthetic graft infections continue to cause substantial morbidity and mortality. Contemporary graft infection models have tested a conduit's infectability using varying concentrations without standardization. Using a static assay in vitro model, we sought to evaluate the impact of inoculation concentration on vascular conduit attachment.

Successful Use of Nellix and Endovascular Aortic Sealing Technology for Treatment of Aortic Rupture in a Porcine Model.

Background: Endovascular aortic sealing (EVAS) represents a recent transformation in approach for treatment of aortic aneurysms. Initial reporting has shown that EVAS using the Nellix device is safe with similar complication rates to standard endovascular aortic repair (EVAR). What remains unknown is how EVAS technology will behave in the ruptured setting.

Antimicrobial-bonded graft patency in the setting of a polymicrobial infection in swine (Sus scrofa).

Background: Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and Dacron are commonly used as arterial conduits in vascular trauma or infection when vein interposition graft may not be available. This study used a previously validated large animal model of polymicrobial infection to assess the patency and infectious resistance of a novel, antibiotic-impregnated graft material compared with PTFE and Dacron.

Methods: Forty-eight animals were placed into five groups for a 21-day survival period.

Evaluation of the learning curve for fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the learning curve for fenestrated endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (FEVAR).

Methods: Data were collected prospectively on all FEVAR procedures conducted by a single surgeon between June 2007 and January 2015. During the study period, 136 FEVARs were performed, and this experience was divided into four quartiles each consisting of 34 cases.

Prosthetic Graft Patency in the Setting of a Polymicrobial Infection in Swine (Sus scrofa).

Background: In the setting of vascular injury, vein interposition graft is the preferred conduit, but may have limited availability. This study seeks to develop a large animal model assessing the graft performance of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and Dacron in the setting of a polymicrobial infection.

Methods: Thirty-seven animals were placed into 4 groups for a 21-day survival period.

A diagnostic evolution: surgical experience with popliteal artery entrapment syndrome at a military tertiary referral center.

Background: Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is an increasingly encountered disorder that typically presents as claudication in young and active individuals. However, despite the increased recognition, accurate preoperative diagnosis can be difficult. The objective of this study was to describe the surgical assessment and outcomes of patients treated for PAES.

Functional outcome after resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta of the proximal and distal thoracic aorta in a swine model of controlled hemorrhage.

Background: Noncompressible torso hemorrhage remains an ongoing problem for both military and civilian trauma. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) has been characterized as a potentially life-saving maneuver. The objective of this study was to determine the functional outcomes, paraplegia rates, and survival of 60-min balloon occlusion in the proximal and distal thoracic aorta in a porcine model of controlled hemorrhage.

Validation of the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment in patients with battlefield-related extremity vascular injuries.

Objective: Vascular extremity injuries can be a significant burden on a patient's long-term quality of life. Currently, no limb-specific surveys have been used to quantify the relation between injury pattern and the resultant physical or psychological impact. The objective of this study was to validate the use of the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA) in the setting of extremity vascular injury.

A technique for endograft relining of a type IV endoleak using a surgeon-modified internal gate.

Type IV endoleaks represent a rare etiology of late endograft failure; however, depending on the location, they can be extremely challenging to repair with endovascular solutions. We present a method of endograft relining that preserves antegrade limb perfusion, avoids extra-anatomic reconstructions, and ensures complete endograft exclusion.

Mechanism of stent failure in a patient with fibromuscular dysplasia following renal artery stenting.

Endovascular techniques used in the management of renal artery stenosis (RAS) have unique complications, to include stent facture, thrombosis, aneurysm formation, migration, and in-stent restenosis. Described here is an unusual complication of renal artery obstruction and recurrent hypertension without progressive loss of renal function, secondary to intermittent arterial kinking with respiratory and cardiac motion in a patient with fibromuscular dysplasia. This mechanical complication has implication not only in successful endovascular treatment of RAS, but raises questions regarding the alterations in dynamic motion with the cardio-respiratory cycle in stented visceral arteries in other vascular pathologies requiring renal artery stenting (i.

Magnetic resonance imaging: occult popliteal artery entrapment syndrome in a young soldier.

Background: Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is frequently misdiagnosed because of symptom overlap with other conditions and lack of a definitive diagnostic modality. The incidence is widely variable, although it should be considered in all patients under 50 years with symptoms of lower extremity claudication. Long-term sequelae of PAES include critical limb ischemia, arterial occlusion, and aneurysm formation caused by repetitive external compression.

Endovascular aortoiliac reconstruction to allow excision of an infected axillobifemoral bypass.

Axillofemoral graft reconstructions were initially intended to restore lower extremity perfusion in high-risk patients with symptomatic aortoiliac atherosclerotic occlusive disease. However, these reconstructions are now relegated to "bailout" procedures for infected grafts or high-risk critical limb ischemia patients that fail endovascular therapy. Infection of an extra-anatomic bypass graft is a challenging complication as it occurs in poor operative candidates with limited revascularization options and failure has a high rate of amputation and mortality.

Combined arteriovenous thrombolytic infusion for refractory renal vein thrombosis.

Acute renal vein thrombosis can rapidly lead to significant impairment and eventual loss of renal function. Classically presenting with flank pain, hematuria, and laboratory markers consistent with acute kidney injury, therapeutic anticoagulation is the mainstay of treatment. However, endovascular surgery offers a safe and effective alternative for renal salvage in the setting of acute renal vein thrombosis.

Endovascular management of a mobile thoracic aortic thrombus following recurrent distal thromboembolism: a case report and literature review.

Sources of lower extremity and visceral arterial thromboembolism most commonly include the heart and proximal aneurysmal disease. Infrequently, further workup of "cryptogenic" emboli will reveal a mural atheroma or thrombus of the descending thoracic aorta. Without prospective data, anticoagulation and open surgical thrombectomy with or without aortic replacement have been the standard approach.

Patient-based outcomes and quality of life after salvageable wartime extremity vascular injury.

Objective: To date, contemporary studies on wartime vascular trauma have focused on acute management strategies and early results, with no characterization of enduring functional limb salvage or its relation to quality of life. The objective of this study was to describe long-term, patient-based quality of life and function after extremity vascular injury (EVI).

Methods: The Joint Theater Trauma Registry was queried for U.

Endovascular management of axillo-subclavian arterial injury: a review of published experience.

Background: The role of endovascular treatment for vascular trauma, including injury to the subclavian and axillary arteries, continues to evolve. Despite growing experience with the utilization of these techniques in the setting of artherosclerotic and aneurysmal disease, published reports in traumatic subclavian and axillary arterial injuries remain confined to sporadic case reports and case series.

Methods: We conducted a review of the medical literature from 1990 to 2012 using Pubmed and OVID Medline databases to search for all reports documenting the use of endovascular stenting for the treatment of subclavian or axillary artery injuries.