Duplex Examination Research Articles

Including educational status may improve cardiovascular risk calculations such as SCORE2.

The association between education and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) has been well described for decades. Nevertheless, most cardiovascular risk models, including SCORE2, still do not take educational status into account even if this factor is easily assessed and costs nothing to acquire. Using carotid plaques as a proxy for ASCVD, we analysed educational status as associated with carotid plaque development, to determine if the relationship remains, how it relates to traditional risk factors and, how it impacts the European cardiovascular risk model, SCORE2. Our study also provides further data on plaque development in a well-characterised population nearly equally weighted by gender. 9,083 subjects (51% female, 49% male) from the Paracelsus 10,000 cohort, underwent a carotid doppler duplex as part of thorough screening for subclinical ASCVD. Well over 90% of carotid doppler duplex examinations were performed by the same experienced clinician. Subjects were then classified by educational status using the Generalized International Standard Classification of Education. Plaque absence or presence was dichotomised and variables analysed using regression modelling to examine educational status relative to cardiovascular risk factors and with respect to the SCORE2 model. Using medium educational status as a reference, subjects in our cohort with low educational status had higher odds, while subjects with high educational status had lower odds for carotid plaques compared to subjects with medium education (aOR 1.76 95%CI 1.50-2.06; and 0.0.63 95%CI 0.57-0.70, respectively). Even after adjusting for common risk factors including metabolic syndrome and SCORE2, the relationship was maintained. Furthermore, when comparing the potential predictive power of SCORE2 alone and plus educational status using the Akaike information criterion, we showed a 'better fit' when educational status was added. Measuring educational status is cost-free and easy for clinicians to obtain. We believe cardiovascular risk prediction models such as SCORE2 may more accurately reflect individual risk if educational status is also taken into account. Additionally, we believe clinicians need to understand and appropriately address educational status as a risk factor, to better quantify individual risk and take appropriate measures to reduce risk so that the association may finally be broken.

Popliteal access for iliofemoral occlusive disease in the office-based catheter laboratory

ObjectivePopliteal access as an alternative to conventional femoral access has not been reported in the office-based catheter laboratory setting (OBL) and may be perceived to have higher risks. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of popliteal access for the endovascular treatment of iliofemoral arterial occlusive disease in an OBL setting. MethodsFrom October 2018 to October 2023, a total of 1408 interventions for peripheral artery disease were performed in our OBL. A cohort of 27 popliteal access consecutive procedures for femoral and iliac artery occlusions were studied. All interventions were done using a micropuncture needle under ultrasound guidance. All patients were discharged 1 hour after completion of the procedure. Indications for popliteal access were presence of aortoiliac stent grafts, aortobifemoral or aortoiliac bypasses, difficult contralateral or antegrade femoral access, and flush superficial femoral artery occlusions. Procedures were determined to be successful upon complete resolution of the target lesions and safety was measured perioperatively and at 90 days. Patency was determined clinically, by arterial duplex examination, and by need for reintervention for ≤2 years. ResultsWe performed 27 popliteal access procedures in 25 patients (21 complete femoral artery occlusions, 6 severe stenosis). Iliac disease was present in nine. Indications for popliteal access were existing aortoiliac stent graft in 11, aortobifemiliac bypass in 4, noncrossable iliac occlusions in 3, failed antegrade femoral access in 4, flush superficial femoral artery occlusion in 3, and bilateral common femoral artery disease precluding access in 2. Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus classification preoperatively was B, 4; C, 4; and D, 19. Treatments included atherectomy/balloon angioplasty and stent in 12, balloon angioplasty and stenting in 4, atherectomy/balloon angioplasty in 5, and balloon angioplasty alone in 6. Successful opening of occlusions occurred in 25 of 27 patients (92.5%). No complications or major adverse cardiac events occurred, except one asymptomatic small popliteal arteriovenous fistula. Of the 25 successful procedures, the duplex patency at 3, 6, and 12 months was 19/20 (95%), 11/15 (69.3%), and 11/13 (61%). Rutherford Classification improved from a preoperative value of >4 in 24 of 27 (89%) to a postoperative value of <2 at 1 month in 23 of 23 (100%), at 3 months in 19 of 20 (95%), at 6 months in 11 of 15 (69.3%), and at 12 months in 11 of 13 (61%). Freedom from reintervention at 3 months occurred in 19 of 20 (95%), at 6 months in 13 of 15 (86%), and at 12 months in 12 of 13 (79%). ConclusionsPopliteal artery access for complex iliofemoral disease is safe and effective and should be considered as a valid alternative option in the OBL setting.

Carotid Disease Classification: Impact of the 2021 Intersocietal Accreditation Commission Updated Recommendations vs 2003 Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Consensus Conference Criteria

Introduction: In 2021, the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) introduced modified criteria for carotid duplex interpretation based on peak systolic velocity (PSV) and PSV ratio. The most significant change compared to the 2003 Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound (SRU) criteria involved re-defining the thresholds for &lt;50 and 50% to 69% stenosis ranges. Patients identified in &lt;50% vs 50% to 69% ranges may face different disease severity assignments, variable surveillance protocols, medical management approaches, and recommendations for intervention. Facilities may experience altered payment coverage, issues of staff re-training, and questions from referring physicians regarding patient treatment and disease management expectations. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of re-defining these stenosis ranges using the 2021 IAC criteria vs the SRU criteria. Methods: Anonymized patient data from carotid duplex examinations were collected as part of an internal laboratory quality improvement strategy. These data were analyzed in an electronic database using the IAC and SRU threshold criteria to determine the degree of carotid stenosis. Patients with normal arteries, unilateral studies, or complete occlusions were excluded. Results: Of the 1000 patients considered, 850 met the eligibility criteria. Using PSV: for the right carotid, 242 (28.5%) showed a change and 608 (71.5%) showed no change in stenosis classification; for the left carotid, 228 (27%) showed a change and 622 (73%) showed no change. All changes were a downgrading of disease to &lt;50% stenosis. Using PSV ratio: for the right carotid, re-assignment of 53 (22% of changed, 6% of total cohort); for the left carotid, re-assignment of 48 (21% of changed, 5.6% of total cohort). All changes resulted in re-assignment to the 50% to 69% stenosis category. Conclusions: Implementation of the IAC criteria resulted in patients being re-assigned to lower stenosis categories (27% for PSV and 21% for PSV ratio). The impact of these changes on patient care and facility logistics needs careful consideration.

Outcomes following interval delayed first rib resection for acute axillosubclavian deep venous thrombosis

BackgroundCurrent management of axillosubclavian deep venous thrombosis (DVT) often uses thrombolysis for the DVT, prompt first rib removal, and occasional venoplasty or stenting. Our institution has increasingly used anticoagulation alone followed by interval first rib resection. We sought to analyze the effectiveness of this simplified technique. MethodsBetween September 2012 and April 2021, 27 patients were identified within the institution's electronic medical record as having undergone first rib resection for upper extremity DVT. Seven of these patients had undergone preoperative thrombolysis before referral and were excluded. Among the remaining 20 patients, preoperative clinic charts were evaluated for age, venous segment involvement, contralateral limb involvement, presence of documented hypercoagulable state, duration of preoperative and postoperative anticoagulation, and postoperative outcomes. ResultsOf the 20 patients (mean age, 26.2 years; 13 males) presenting with acute axillosubclavian DVT, all patients had right (n = 8) or left (n = 12) arm swelling. Five patients had extremity pain and four had extremity discoloration. Ten had axillosubclavian vein involvement, 9 had subclavian vein involvement, and 1 had axillary vein involvement. Two patients were on oral contraceptives and no patients had any other diagnosed hypercoagulable conditions. The mean duration of preoperative and postoperative anticoagulation was 3.2 ± 2.6 months and 2.1 ± 2.1 months, respectively. Nineteen patients underwent supraclavicular first rib resection and 1 patient underwent transaxillary resection. Twelve patients (60%) demonstrated complete DVT resolution by venous duplex examination during the postoperative period and 8 patients (40%) demonstrated partial recanalization/chronic DVT. Complications included one hemothorax and one thoracic duct injury. All 20 patients remain asymptomatic without arm swelling, with a mean follow-up of 55.1 ± 34.7 months. ConclusionsAmong patients presenting with acute axillosubclavian DVT, anticoagulation alone followed by interval first rib resection proved to be successful in providing symptomatic relief in the short to medium term. By eliminating the need for preoperative thrombolysis and postoperative venograms, this potentially cost-saving algorithm simplifies our management for acute venous thoracic outlet syndrome while maintaining good clinical outcomes. Because this study only analyzed our management algorithm's effectiveness in the short to medium term, the long-term effectiveness of this treatment will need to be demonstrated.

Assessment of Sperm Morphometry in Evaluating Male Infertility

Background: Infertility is a complex issue affecting 15% of couples of reproductive age, with men accounting for 40%-50% of infertility cases. Semen analysis comprises various descriptive measures of sperm and seminal fluid to determine semen quality. Transforming qualitative descriptions of sperm deformities and shape changes into quantitative terms can aid in identifying sub-visual abnormalities. This study aimed to evaluate sperm morphometry parameters in both infertile and fertile men. Methods and Results: The study enrolled a total of 101 participants, divided into three groups: Group A included 38 subfertile patients with varicocele, Group B included 33 patients with idiopathic infertility (23 with asthenozoospermia and 10 with oligozoospermia), and Group C (the control group) included 30 healthy fertile men. The mean age of patients was 31.6±5.81, 31.3±6.0, and 29.47±4.27 years in Groups A, B, and C, respectively. Scrotal duplex examinations were performed to identify the presence of varicocele. Semen samples were collected following WHO Manual (2010). Semen dynamic and morphological analyses were conducted using CASA (Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis, MIRALAB, ISO9001, ISO13485). We found that sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm progressive motility, and sperm progressive+non-progressive motility were significantly lower in Group A and Group B than in Group C (P=0.000 in all cases); however, there were no differences between Group A and Group B regarding these parameters (Table 5). The sperm morphology index was significantly lower in Group A than in Group C (P=0.0024); no differences were found between Group B and Group C and Group B and Group A. The mean value of the sperm deformity index was significantly lower in Group A than in Group C P=0.004). Conclusion: Our study highlights the significant association between sperm morphology and male infertility in varicocele and idiopathic subfertile males.

Differences in risk profile associated with varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency - results from the Bonn Vein Study 1.

Background: The aim of this publication is to demonstrate similarities and differences in the association of risk factors with the prevalence of different manifestations of chronic venous disease (CVD), like varicose veins (VV), venous oedema (C3) and severe chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) in the population-based cross-sectional Bonn Vein Study 1 (BVS). Patients and methods: In the BVS 1 between 13.11.2000 and 15.3.2002, 3.072 participants, 1350 men and 1722 women, from a simple random sample of the general population of the city of Bonn and two rural townships aged 18-79 years were included. The overall response proportion was 59%. All participants answered a standardized questionnaire including information about socio-economic data, lifestyle, physical activity, medical history, and quality of life. Venous investigations were performed clinically and by a standardized duplex examination by trained investigators. The CEAP classification in the version of 1996 was used to classify the findings. Logistic regression models were performed for the association of possible risk factors with VV, venous edema (C3) and severe CVI (C4-C6). The predictive risk (PR) describes the association of the diseases and the possible influencing factors. Results: VV, venous oedema (C3) and severe CVI (C4-C6) have common risk factors like higher age, number of pregnancies, family history of VV and overweight or obesity. Female gender is significantly associated with VV and C3 but not with severe CVI (C4-C6). High blood pressure and urban living are only associated with C3 and C4-C6 disease whereas prolonged sitting is associated with C3 and lower social class with C4-C6 exclusively. Discussion: In many epidemiological studies risk factors were associated with chronic venous disorders in general. Our data show that VV, venous edema and severe CVI may have different risk profiles. Venous edema is more often associated with arterial hypertension and sedentary lifestyle whereas lower social class seems to be a risk factor for severe CVI including venous ulcers. Conclusions: The differences in the association of risk factors to VV, venous edema and severe CVI should be considered if prevention and treatment of chronic venous diseases are planned. As examples, compression stockings could be proposed in sitting profession to prevent oedema, VV patients with risk factors like obesity might benefit from early treatment for VV and obesity. More longitudinal evaluation of risk factors is necessary to evaluate the true risk profile of CVD.

Duplex Scans Performed Immediately Following Lower Extremity Angioplasty and Stenting are of Limited Utility

ObjectiveTogether with clinical examination, surveillance duplex examination represents the SVS recommendations for follow up after endovascular intervention on the SFA and popliteal arterial segments. Compliance with post-procedural follow-up remains challenging. To establish a post-angioplasty physiologic baseline, our institution began obtaining immediate post-procedural surveillance studies following lower extremity arterial interventions. We reviewed the utility of immediate post-procedural surveillance to determine if these studies enhanced post-operative care. MethodsSerial patients undergoing SFA and popliteal angioplasty and stenting from 1/2014 to 12/2020 were identified from our prospectively maintained Vascular Surgery database. Patient demographic information, procedural details, and procedural outcomes were subsequently analyzed from the EMR. ResultsTwo hundred and sixty-three patients underwent 385 SFA and/or popliteal angioplasty/stenting interventions. Mean patient age was 64.8 ±10 years. Among these 385 procedures, 350 (90.9%) were followed by immediate (< 4 hours) post-procedural lower extremity arterial duplex scans. These 350 procedures included PTA and/or stenting of the SFA (n=236), popliteal artery (n=34), or both (n=80). Of these studies, 25 results (7.1%) were abnormal. One asymptomatic patient was admitted to hospital for immediate thrombolysis; however, the remaining 24 patients were followed clinically with no immediate intervention required. Abnormal results included 13 abnormalities appreciated on the final angiogram with 9 patients with known occlusions or stenoses, and 4 patients with mild to moderate CFA stenosis. Abnormal findings not detected on the final angiogram included 7 patients with mild to moderate stenosis and 5 patients with short occlusions (1.4%). All 5 patients with short segmental occlusions not detected on final arteriogram had pre-procedural anatomy classified as either TASC C (n=1) or TASC D (n=4). ConclusionImmediate post-procedural duplex scans demonstrate significant vessel stenosis or occlusion in approximately 7% of cases but most stenoses and occlusions were noted on final arteriography. Duplex detected short segmental occlusions not noted on final arteriography were rare (1.4%), and occurred among patients with TASC-C or -D occlusive disease. These duplex detected abnormalities rarely changed the patient’s immediate plan of care. The performance of these immediate post-procedural duplex scans demonstrated limited clinical utility.

Ophthalmic artery reversal predicts contralateral body weakness symptoms better than carotid Doppler velocity-preliminary results.

The measurement of blood velocity in the carotid artery has been the most popular noninvasive method of identifying and classifying carotid stenosis for half a century. Carotid stenosis is an indicator of elevated risk of stroke; anatomic revascularization reduces the chance of stroke by more than half. Controversy persists on how patients with severe carotid stenosis should be selected for anatomic revascularization. Patients with a connected circle of Willis (coW) might not benefit from anatomic revascularization; patients with two segments missing in the coW are most likely to benefit from revascularization. Based on this analysis of data from carotid duplex examinations and transcranial Doppler examinations including ophthalmic artery (OA) direction in 28 patients, a refined carotid examination protocol is proposed. This refinement includes Doppler measurement of OA flow direction and documentation of internal carotid artery (ICA) bruit in addition to the adoption of an ICA peak systolic velocity (PSV) criterion exceeding 350 cm/s for identification of the patient most likely to benefit from carotid stenosis treatment. Sensitivity and specificity of OA direction or carotid bruit are 84.6%±5.4%, 71.4%±2.1% and for PSV >350 cm/s are 84.6%±5.4%, 59.5%±2.3% for predicting contralateral body weakness. The proposed examination can be performed with the same duplex scanner and scan head currently used for carotid examinations with little additional time.

Assessment of Pericardial Fat Volume and Carotid Intimal Thickness as Risk Factors for Developing Coronary Atherosclerosis Using Multi Detector Computed Tomography

Background The real visceral fat deposit of the heart is epicardial adipose tissue, which exists directly on the epicardial surface of the myocardium and is totally confined within the pericardial sac. Because the coronary arteries and their major branches are embedded in fat, local contact between a metabolically active epicardial adipose tissue and the coronary vasculature was possible. Carotid artery increased intimal thickness is the initial step within the process of atherosclerosis, which is a major cause of coronary and arterial diseases. Aim of the Work To study the relation between pericardial fat volume measurements in Multi and detector computed tomography ‘MDCT’ with carotid intima-media thickness in duplex study for detecting the risk of developing coronary atherosclerosis. Patients and Methods This retrospective study was carried out at the Radiodiagnosis department; Ain Shams University Hospitals (ASUH) during the period from January 2021 to June 2021 on 30 patients; their ages ranged from 37 to 78 years old, with a mean age of 60 years. Patients were either self-referred or referred by a physician to follow up or investigate CAD. All patients underwent coronary CT angiography. They were evaluated for: (I) Coronary calcium score. (II) Pericardial fat volume. (III) Degree of atherosclerosis, then a carotid duplex study was performed to determine the carotid intimal thickness. Results we demonstrated that pericardial fat volume MDCT has a positive, significant, strong correlation with CAD (P. Value &amp;lt;0.001). In our study, a Post-hoc Bonferroni test was done regarding the obtained data and found a significant difference between (Moderate and Severe) versus all groups. This means a significant difference between the moderate group with minimal or mild, and a significant difference between the severe group with minimal or mild. So it could be considered as a screening test at an early stage for any patient with different degrees of CAD. Conclusion Multi-detector CT and Carotid duplex examination were both considered good non-invasive tools for evaluation of PAT volume (mean for unremarkable to minimal degree, volume of about 94 ± 14.73 cm3) and CIMT (mean for unremarkable to minimal degree, thickness of about 0.67 ± 0.06 mm). Both were found to be significant and positively proportionately correlated risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis, so it is suggested that both tests be used as an evaluating/screening tool for any patient with suspected or confirmed CAD to assess risk and severity.

Stentgraft Limb Occlusion After Endovascular Aneurysm Repair: Incidence and Risk Factors.

Stentgraft limb occlusion (SLO) is a potential complication of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). The purposes of this single centre study are to report the incidence of SLO after EVAR and to detect possible risk factors. All patients who underwent EVAR between June 2001 and February 2020 were included in this retrospective study. Demographic data, cardiovascular risk factors, aneurysm characteristics, arterial anatomy, repair strategy, systemic and stentgraft-related complications, and in-hospital and late mortality were collected. Routine follow-up included duplex examination and/or CT angiography at 3months, 12months and annually thereafter. Logistic regression analysis was performed to detect predictors for SLO. A total of 221 patients (425 stentgraft limbs) were included; of whom 11 patients (5.0%) occluded. Median time to occlusion was 3.3months and most of the patients presented ischemic signs. Two risk factors for SLO could be identified: symptomatic aneurysm (P .015, odds ratio 4.62, 95% confidence interval 1.35-15.86) and length of the infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) (P .021, odds ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval 1.04 - 1.64). The incidence of SLO after EVAR is low, and most occlusions occur within the first year. Predictors for SLO are the symptomatic aneurysm and the length of the infrarenal AAA. Further research is necessary to pool all predictors and to assess the clinical impact of different follow-up strategies for high-vs low-risk patients.

Association between modifiable vascular risk factors and rapid progression of postradiation carotid artery stenosis.

Postradiotherapy carotid vasculopathy is a clinically relevant complication in patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy. In this study, we investigated the factors associated with the development and progression of carotid artery stenosis (CAS) in such patients. Patients who received radiotherapy for head and neck cancers between October 2011 and May 2019 at a medical center in Taiwan were eligible for inclusion in this study. This study included patients who underwent two consecutive carotid duplex examinations within an interval of 1 to 3 years. The factors associated with ≥50% CAS at baseline and follow-up were analyzed. In total, 694 patients (mean age, 57.8 ± 9.9 years; men, 75.2%; nasopharyngeal cancer, 73.3%) were included. The mean interval between radiotherapy and carotid duplex examination was 9.9 ± 5.9 years. At baseline, 103 patients had ≥50% CAS, which was significantly associated with tobacco smoking, hypercholesterolemia, and a prolonged interval between radiotherapy and carotid duplex examination. A total of 586 patients did not have CAS at baseline; of them, 68 developed ≥50% CAS during follow-up. Hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were identified as independent risk factors for CAS progression. Modifiable vascular risk factors, such as hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, appear to be significantly associated with the rapid progression of postradiotherapy CAS in patients with head and neck cancer.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Carotid Artery Stenosis (CAS) Among Cardiac Surgery Patients.

Cardiac disease and carotid atherosclerosis rates have increased in recent years. Carotid artery stenosis (CAS) has been recognized as a high-risk factor of perioperative stroke among cardiac surgery patients. Aims: The aims of the study are to identify the prevalence and common risk factors of CAS among patients undergoing cardiac surgery that include coronary artery bypass surgery or valvular cardiac surgery. This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the radiology department at Medina Cardiac Center, Al Madinah Al-Munawara. The inclusion criteria for the study were patients aged ≥ 20 years who were scheduled for coronary artery bypass surgery or valvular cardiac surgery and had carotid duplex examination before surgery. A Philips X matrix IU22 linear-array ultrasound probe (Philips,Bothell, WA) was used to scan the common carotid artery (CCA), internal carotid artery (ICA), external carotid artery(ECA), and vertebral artery. Results: Of the 261 patients in this study, 78.5% (n= 205) were male. The mean age of patients was 61.6 ± 11.3 years (median: 62.0; range: 55.5-68.0). The overall prevalence of CAS was 71% (n= 187): 52% (n= 136) with bilateral CAS and 19.5% (n= 51) with unilateral CAS. Age group was significantly associated with bilateral CAS and the severity of CAS (p= 0.001). Diabetes mellitus, hypertension and both diabetes mellitus and hypertension together were significantly associated with CAS status (p< 0.05, for all). A significantly higher proportion of smokers had a mild level of CAS on the left side compared to non-smokers (55.8% vs. 46.5%,p= 0.033). Gender and weight status were not linked to severity of CAS. This study shows a high prevalence of CAS among cardiac surgery patients. In addition, older age, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension were found to be major risk factors for CAS. Gender and weight status were not associated with CAS. Preoperative carotid duplex scan is a useful exam to identify CAS among cardiac surgery patients and, therefore,to predict and reduce postoperative neurological complications.

New approach to pathogenesis and treatment of trophycal ulcers

Introduction. Trophic ulcers are one of the most common medical ailments worldwide. Treatment of patients with trophic ulcers is difficult not only because they often recur, but also because they are difficult to treat. Purpose. Study the clinical features and present our own results of combined methods of treatment of trophic ulcers of venous etiology. Materials and methods. The study involved 100 patients with trophic ulcers of the lower extremities of venous, diabetic and atherosclerotic etiology, who had a history and were treated for varicose veins of the lower extremities and post-thrombotic disease. Examination of patients included questionnaires, clarification of complaints, anamnesis data, causes of development, examination and ultrasound diagnostics (duplex examination). The examination of the ulcer included determining the location, size, appearance, base of the wound, the level of exudation and assessment of the condition of the skin around the defect. Results. The etiological factors in the development of trophic ulcers were: varicose disease with chronic venous insufficiency – 25 patients, post-thrombotic disease – 55 patients. All patients underwent only conservative treatment of trophic venous ulcers with the appointment of a placenta compositum. After the treatment of a group of patients, out of 100 patients with venous trophic ulcers, 89% were cured within 4 months, 8% were cured within 2 years, and in 3 % ulcers did not heal for more than two years. The average duration of the course of ulcers was 12 months. The average size of trophic ulcers based on the results of the analysis was 8 cm2. Complete healing of venous ulcers was most often observed in the age group 61–73 years in 30% patients. Conclusion. The use of the compositum placenta contributed to the acceleration of wound healing, which made it possible to obtain more effective results.

СИНДРОМ СРЕДИННОЙ ДУГООБРАЗНОЙ СВЯЗКИ (СИНДРОМ ДАНБАРА) КАК МУЛЬТИДИСЦИПЛИНАРНАЯ ПРОБЛЕМА. КЛИНИЧЕСКОЕ НАБЛЮДЕНИЕ И ЛИТЕРАТУРНАЯ СПРАВКА

Introduction. Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS, Dunbar syndrome) is a rare vascular compression syndrome caused by extravascular compression of the celiac trunk (CT) and celiac plexus by the median arcuate ligament of the diaphragm and is one of the causes of chronic abdominal ischemia and neuropathic pain syndrome. Clinical observation. A woman, 36 years old, was hospitalized with complaints of abdominal pain of moderate intensity, diarrhea up to 10 times a day, weight loss of 11 kg over the past year. Inflammatory bowel disease, gluten enteropathy, lymphoma of the small intestine, malabsorption syndrome, pathology of the endocrine system was excluded. Abdominal high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) angiography was performed. Signs of extravascular compression of CT up to 90% with a thickened median arcuate ligament with the formation of a U-shaped deformation were revealed. Laparoscopic decompression surgery was performed with simultaneous transluminal angioplasty, which led to a decrease in compression and disappearance of clinical symptoms. After 18 months, clinical improvement persisted, diarrhea disappeared. HRCT angiography and ultrasound duplex examination (USDE) showed sufficient blood flow in the CT system. During the follow-up period, the patient had moderate neuropathic pain and anxiety and depressive disorders requiring appropriate correction. Conclusion. The diagnostic and therapeutic approach to MALS should be patient-centered and requires the involvement of a team of specialists. Laparoscopic decompression is an effective treatment and can provide immediate symptoms relief. The results of the intervention can be assessed by HRCT angiography and USDE (methods supplementing each other). Correction of neuropathic pain syndrome and anxiety-depressive disorder is of great importance for improving the patient's quality of life.

Point on the Trans Renal Express Window

Duplex examination of the renal arteries presents technical difficulties due to their depth, the interposition of intestinal gases, movements transmitted to the abdominal wall and kidneys by respiratory movements, and the width of the angle of incidence of the Doppler beam. These difficulties can be considerably reduced by a scanning window called trans-renal express (TREW).

The role of extracranial carotid duplex in predicting functional outcome in first time lacunae strokes

ABSTRACT Background Stroke is the third largest cause of death both worldwide and in Taiwan. Among the various stroke subtypes, lacunae strokes account for 20 to 30% of the total stroke population. Through vigorous risk control factors, the effective prevention and the long-term functional outcome remains are yet to be investigated. Carotid duplex is a non-invasive neuroimaging modality that is routinely applied to stroke patients. In the current research, we correlate baseline carotid duplex examination parameters with functional outcome assessment in an attempt to ascertain important variables for early outcome prediction. Method We retrospectively recruited lacunae ischemic stroke patients from the Department of Neurology, Changhua Christian Hospital. Patient baseline demographics, biochemistry, neuroimaging, and outcome assessments were thoroughly evaluated via a modified Rankin Scale (mRS), NIHSS, and Barthel index scores, both prior and subsequent to patient discharge for a period of up to one year. Patients were divided into two groups based on their functional recovery status. This current study utilizes the Kaplan–Meier method to draw the survival curve and adopts the Cox proportional hazards model to estimate the hazard ratio between the two groups. The risk modeling method is also applied to formulate the best fit in seeking and identifying the variables, which has the most impact on determining theoutcome predictor. All statistical analyses were performed using R for Windows (version 3.6.3), with p < 0.05 meaning statistical significance and 0.05 < p < 0.1 denoting marginal statistical significance. Results One hundred forty-one ischemic lacunae stroke patients are included in the study, of which the follow-ups of 69 patients showed no physical functionality improvement, whereas 72 patients demonstrated favorable functional outcomes. In terms of underlying diseases, more than 80% of the patients suffered from hyperlipidemia upon hospitalization and more than 40% of the patients suffered from diabetes mellitus and heart disease. There was a significant difference in pulmonary disease between improvement and non-improvement in disability (1.4% vs 10.1%, p = 0.034). The average age of the improved group was lower than that of the non-improved group (65.5 vs. 72, p = 0.014), and the WBC was higher (8 vs 6.95, p = 0.005); furthermore, higher NIHSS scores (6.5 vs 3, p = 0.001) and lower Barthel index scores (47.5 vs 80, p < 0.001) were also noted. The group with improved mRS required a longer hospital stay (with a median of 10 days), while their un-improved counterpart required 8 days (p < 0.05). The majority of patients were discharged within 30 days, and there was a slight difference between the two survival curves (marginal statistical significance, 0.05 < p < 0.1). The hazard ratio of the improved group was 0.7188. There was a difference in the end diastolic velocity (EDV) of common carotid artery (CCA) between the lesion and non-lesion sides of the patients (p < 0.05). Risk-stratifying models indicate that diabetes mellitus, peak systolic velocity (PSV) of the internal carotid artery (ICA) on the lesion side, the diameter of the ICA on the non-lesion side, and the pulsatility index (PI) of the ICA and external carotid artery (ECA) were selected as the most important factors affecting the end diastolic velocity (EDV) of the common carotid artery (CCA) in all four models. Conclusion In the current study, the most suitable length of stay in hospital for lacunae stroke patients to fully recuperate is ten days. Additionally, CCA EDV might be the key determinant, with baseline diabetes mellitus acting in a medium role, capable of altering long-term outcome functionality and recovery.

One-year outcomes following primary stenting of infrapopliteal steno-occlusive arterial disease using a non-polymer sirolimus-eluting stent: Results from a prospective single-centre cohort study.

BackgroundClinical outcomes using new generation drug-eluting stents designed specifically for infrapopliteal disease are not widely available, especially in comparison to paclitaxel-based therapies. This series reports 1-year outcomes in patients with diabetes and chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI) undergoing angioplasty, with a sirolimus-eluting tibial stent (Cre8, Alvimedica, Turkey), evaluating the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of this new device. Outcomes were compared to matched patients undergoing infrapopliteal angioplasty using a paclitaxel-coated balloon (DCB).Patients and MethodsPatients with diabetes and CLTI requiring infrapopliteal intervention were recruited prospectively to undergo angioplasty and primary stenting using the Cre8 sirolimus-eluting stent between January 2018 and October 2020 at a single high-volume vascular centre; outcomes were compared to a group of patients with diabetes and CLTI who had undergone infrapopliteal angioplasty using a DCB. All patients were followed up for at least 12 months using a uniform protocol with duplex ultrasound and examination. The primary outcome measure was target lesion patency (<50% restenosis). Clinically driven target lesion revascularisation (CD-TLR), amputations, Rutherford stage, and mortality were also recorded.ResultsA total of 54 patients (61 target lesions; median age: 69 years, 74% male) were included [27 with the Cre8 device (main group) vs. 27 with a DCB (historical controls)]. Primary patency at 12 months was 81% in the Cre8 group vs. 71% in the control group (p = 0.498). Overall, four (15%) patients in the Cre8 group vs. three (11%) patients in the control group underwent a major amputation within 12 months (p = 1.0). CD-TLR (all endovascular) did not differ between groups at 12 months (4% Cre8 vs. 10% control group, p = 0.599). Rutherford stage improvement at 12 months was superior for the Cre8 group (52% vs. 15% improved by at least one stage, p = 0.039). One-year mortality was 15% in the Cre8 group vs. 22% in the control group, p = 0.726.ConclusionsPrimary stenting with the Cre8 stent is feasible and safe in diabetic patients and CLTI. When compared to patients undergoing angioplasty with a DCB, there were no significant differences regarding primary patency, CD-TLR, major amputations, and mortality at 12 months. Those treated with a Cre8 stent were more likely to have an improvement in their Rutherford stage.

Renal Artery Aneurysm Mimicking Nephrolithiasis: A Case Report and Review of Literature

While originally described in the 18th century, the incidental detection of renal artery aneurysms (RAAs) has increased significantly with the advent and increased usage of modern cross-sectional imaging. Although the incidence remains low, RAAs are clinically important, especially if measuring greater than 2 cm in diameter. Therefore, ultrasonographers and radiologists alike should be aware of its features on multiple imaging modalities as well as imaging pitfalls. Renal duplex sonography is widely used for the evaluation of renal arteries stenosis, fibromuscular dysplasia, renal veins patency, and for the status of renal transplants. RAA is another, albeit rare, indication for renal arteries duplex examination. Furthermore, RAAs may be an incidental finding on abdominal or renal ultrasound. Therefore, familiarity with the sonographic presentation of a RAA is important. Diagnosing RAAs with duplex ultrasound may become exceptionally difficult when the aneurysm has peripheral calcification, even more so when the aneurysm is situated by the renal hilum. Those calcified arterial walls may produce strong acoustic shadowing, mimicking a renal calculus.

Adjacent Portal Vein Collateral With Retrograde Flow

A prominent portal vein collateral, detected on duplex examination, confirms the diagnosis of portal vein hypertension (PVHTN). We present a patient referred to the vascular laboratory for a portal vein duplex ultrasound (DUS) examination with elastography. The most significant finding was retrograde (hepatofugal) flow in a prominent portal vein collateral located immediately adjacent to the main portal vein. This DUS examination highlights the techniques that identify spontaneous portosystemic shunts, thus confirming the presence of PVHTN.

A case of successful surgical treatment of compartment syndrome in patient with COVID-19 associated spontaneous calf hematoma

A rare clinical case of surgical treatment of a 60-year-old patient with acute compartment syndrome that developed in connection with a progressive spontaneous hematoma on the right leg is presented. The patient was hospitalized in the infectious diseases department of the Saint Petersburg “City Multidisciplinary Hospital № 2”for the treatment of coronavirus infection, which was complicated by bilateral polysegmental viral pneumonia and respiratory failure. During treatment, the patient complained of a large subcutaneous mass that developed in the area of the right popliteal fossa, which was moderately painful on palpation. Ultrasound duplex examination revealed a spontaneous intermuscular hematoma of the right leg measuring 10x10 cm without clinical signs of acute blood loss. Despite conservative treatment, the volume of the hematoma increased and spread to the muscle sheath of the posterior and anterior muscle groups of the right tibia. An acute compartment syndrome was diagnosed with signs of acute ischemia of the right lower limb of the IIA degree according to the classification of V. S. Saveliev, in connection with which an operative intervention was performed with a good result.