Arterial spasm mimicking superficial femoral artery trauma. Case report.

The existence of traumatic arterial spasm in large arteries is questionable in current literature. We report a case of a 19-year old man with comminuted unstable femur fracture who presented with an ischemic foot. Localized arterial spasm was revealed in the middle portion of the superficial femoral artery triggered by the external pressure of a spicular bone segment was revealed by arteriography.

Transposed brachial-basilic arteriovenous fistulas versus prosthetic upper limb grafts: a meta-analysis.

Background: Controversy exists regarding the best type of arteriovenous (AV) fistula to be formed in secondary and tertiary access procedures when primary fistulas have failed. This meta-analysis aimed to compare transposed brachial-basilic AV fistulas (BBAVFs) with upper limb AV prosthetic grafts.

Methods: A literature search of the MEDLINE and SCOPUS databases was performed to identify comparative studies reporting outcomes for both BBAVFs with upper limb AV prosthetic grafts.

Surgical revision of complicated false and true vascular access-related aneurysms.

Purpose: This prospective observational study examined the effect of revision surgery in patients who present solely with complicated arteriovenous access (AVA)-related aneurysms.

Methods: The demographics and comorbid conditions of 44 hemodialysis access patients who presented with complicated true or false AVA-related aneurysms and underwent revision surgery during a 7-year period were prospectively entered into our AVA database. Also recorded were AVA characteristics before and after revision.

Carotid body tumor in a 13-year-old child: Case report and review of the literature.

Carotid body tumor (CBT), an extra-adrenal paraganglioma, represents an uncommon entity arising in chemoreceptor tissue located at the carotid bifurcation. Only a few cases have been reported in the literature in the pediatric age group less than 14 years of age, primarily as case reports. Surgical excision is advisable in almost all ages, however, in childhood, it is known to carry risks and difficulties due to the smaller size of the involved anatomical structures.

Reversal of deep vein reflux after successful stenting in a patient with venous hypertension after thigh access graft creation.

Presented here is a case of reversal of deep vein reflux after successful stenting in a patient with venous hypertension and valve incompetence after thigh angioaccess creation. The patient with exhausted upper-extremity access sites underwent a loop graft in the upper thigh. Six months later, the patient developed leg edema and significant femoral vein reflux on duplex ultrasound.

Infected false aneurysms of the limbs secondary to chronic intravenous drug abuse: analysis of perioperative considerations and operative outcomes.

Purpose: To discuss the perioperative considerations and operative outcomes of 26 intravenous (i.v.) drug abusers who presented with infected false aneurysms of the limbs.

Publications in vascular journals: contribution by country.

The geographical origin of all published papers in four major vascular journals as well as the "vascular papers" in two high impact "general" surgical journals during a four year period (2003-2006) were examined by search of their electronic editions. As an index of high quality papers, the randomized controlled trials (RCT's) by country were also examined. A total of 3422 papers were searched in the four vascular journals (115 RCT's) while 144 "vascular" papers (19 RCT's) were located in the two "general" surgical journals.

Adventitial cystic disease of the popliteal artery: a potential cause of intermittent claudication.

Adventitial cystic disease (ACD) is an uncommon and rare vascular entity characterized by a highly viscous and mucinous cyst located in the adventitia of an artery. Although first described in the external iliac artery, the disease is more frequently sited in the popliteal artery. ACD characteristically occurs in young adults, mostly male, with intermittent claudication as the initial presenting symptom.

A meta-analysis of dialysis access outcome in elderly patients.

Background: Many authors report inferior patency rates of distal arteriovenous fistulas in elderly patients and others present contradictory results. A meta-analysis of available evidence was performed to assess (1) whether non-elderly adults have the same risk of forearm arteriovenous fistula failure as elderly patients with end-stage renal disease and (2) whether such a distal access has the same risk of failure as more proximal access procedures or grafts in elderly patients.

Methods: A literature search was performed using the MEDLINE and SCOPUS electronic databases.

Inferior epigastric artery false aneurysms: review of the literature and case report.

A case report is presented of a IEA false aneurysm successfully embolized in a 50-year old man following a blunt abdominal injury. A literature review revealed another 15 cases. Most cases were iatrogenic (13/16) complicating abdominal wall procedures.

Diagnostic criteria and treatment of Buerger's disease: a review.

Buerger's disease is an inflammatory occlusive disorder affecting the small and medium-size arteries and veins of young, predominantly male, smokers. The disorder has been identified as an autoimmune response triggered when nicotine is present. Tobacco abuse is the major contributing risk factor; however, smoking seems to be a synergistic factor rather than the cause of the disease.

Operative and nonoperative management of children aged 13 years or younger with arterial trauma of the extremities.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that open repair of arterial injuries in very young children often leads to less satisfactory outcomes. The aim of this study is to describe a decade's experience in the management of pediatric arterial trauma of the limbs, with an additional specific objective to evaluate the long-term outcome of arterial traumas in preschool children treated conservatively.

Methods: Hospital charts were reviewed for all children aged < or =13 years with arterial trauma of the extremities who underwent operative or nonoperative treatment.

The significance of medial sural artery integrity in popliteal artery trauma: a case report.

Two patients with popliteal artery trauma who underwent secondary amputations due to refractory calf sepsis despite a patent arterial repair are presented in this case report. The medial sural artery, the main arterial supply of the medial head of the gastrocnemius, was surgically severed in both patients owing to the use of a continuous medial incision from the supra level to infragenicular level. The compromised arterial supply of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle may have contributed to the devitalization of the muscle and the subsequent calf sepsis, and it is speculated that this was related to the unfavorable outcome.

Gelatinases [matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9] induce carotid plaque instability but their systemic levels are not predictive of local events.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) appear to play a central role in atherosclerotic plaque remodeling; however, the relationship of increased MMP levels in inducing carotid plaque instability remains controversial. We investigated whether gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) are implicated in carotid intraplaque hemorrhage and whether their serum levels may predict local carotid events. Nineteen carotid specimens obtained by endarterectomy of 18 patients were studied.

Onset of arterial 'steal' following proximal angioaccess: immediate and delayed types.

Background: Critical hand ischaemia following angioaccess is a potentially devastating complication and timely surgical repair is necessary to prevent permanent sequelae. However, the duration of the post-operative surveillance needed to exclude its occurrence has not been determined.

Methods: A retrospective review conducted over a 10-year period revealed 28 patients with critical hand ischaemia following access and surgical repair.