Intimal Dissection Research Articles

Isolated internal carotid artery dissection after a motorcycle accident: A case report

Extra cranial carotid artery dissection is one of the most important complications associated with blunt head and neck trauma. It is a major cause of ischemic stroke in young adults. We report a case of internal carotid artery dissection which caused transient hemiparesis, horizontal gaze to right and anisocoria in a 19-year-old male motorcyclist involved in a collision. Unenhanced brain computed tomography scan showed well defined infarction in the right frontotemporoparietal area. Digital subtraction angiography showed complete occlusion of the proximal cervical right internal carotid artery. Moreover, intimal dissection was observed in distal cervical left internal carotid artery which did not limit blood flow to the brain. A stent was placed at the site of dissection in the left internal carotid artery. Intravenous heparin was commenced to avoid further thrombosis. He was discharged home 40 days after the accident with oral anticoagulation. Extra cranial carotid artery dissection is a rare condition which may happen after a non-significant neck trauma. Accordingly, the diagnosis of a cervical vascular dissection requires strong clinical suspicion

Assessing the impact of tear direction in coronary artery dissection on thrombosis development: A hemodynamic computational study

ObjectiveIatrogenic coronary artery dissection is a complication of coronary intimal injury and dissection due to improper catheter manipulation. The impact of tear direction on the prognosis of coronary artery dissection (CAD) remains unclear. This study examines the hemodynamic effects of different tear directions (transverse and longitudinal) of CAD and evaluates the risk of thrombosis, rupture and further dilatation of CAD. MethodsTwo types of CAD models (Type I: transverse tear, Type II: longitudinal tear) were reconstructed from the aorto-coronary CTA dataset of 8 healthy cases. Four WSS-based indicators were analyzed, including time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS), oscillatory shear index (OSI), relative residence time (RRT), and cross flow index (CFI). A thrombus growth model was also introduced to predict the trend of thrombus growth in CAD with two different tear directions. ResultsFor most of the WSS-based indicators, including TAWSS, RRT, and CFI, no statistically significant differences were observed across the CAD models with varying tear directions, except for OSI, where a significant difference was noted (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, in terms of thrombus growth, the thrombus growing at the tear of the Type I (transverse tear) CAD model extended into the true lumen earlier than that of the Type II (longitudinal tear) model. ConclusionsNumerical simulations suggest that: (1) The CAD with transverse tear have a high risk of further tearing of the dissection at the distal end of the tear. (2) The CAD with longitudinal tear create a hemodynamic environment characterized by low TAWSS and high OSI in the false lumen, which may additionally increase the risk of vessel wall injury. (3) The CAD with transverse tear may have a higher risk of thrombosis and coronary obstruction and myocardial ischemia in the early phase of the dissection.

Feasibility of in vitro calcification plaque disruption using ultrasound-induced microbubble inertial cavitation

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is a clinical method in which plaque-narrowed arteries are widened by inflating an intravascular balloon catheter. However, PTCA remains challenging to apply in calcified plaques since the high pressure required for achieving a therapeutic outcome can result in balloon rupture, vessel rupture, and intimal dissection. To address the problem with PTCA, we hypothesized that a calcified plaque can be disrupted by microbubbles (MBs) inertial cavitation induced by ultrasound (US). This study proposed a columnar US transducer with a novel design to generate inertial cavitation at the lesion site. Experiments were carried out using tubular calcification phantom to mimic calcified plaques. After different parameters of US + MBs treatment (four types of MBs concentration, five types of cycle number, and three types of insonication duration; n = 4 in each group), inflation experiments were performed to examine the efficacy of cavitation for a clinically used balloon catheter. Finally, micro-CT was used to investigate changes in the internal structure of the tubular plaster phantoms. The inflation threshold of the untreated tubular plaster phantoms was > 11 atm, and this was significantly reduced to 7.4 ± 0.7 atm (p = 5.2E-08) using US-induced MBs inertial cavitation at a treatment duration of 20 min with an acoustic pressure of 214 kPa, an MBs concentration of 4.0 × 108 MBs/mL, a cycle number of 100 cycles, and a pulse repetition frequency of 100 Hz. Moreover, micro-CT revealed internal damage in the tubular calcification phantom, demonstrating that US-induced MBs inertial cavitation can effectively disrupt calcified plaques and reduce the inflation threshold of PTCA. The ex vivo histopathology results showed that the endothelium of pig blood vessels remained intact after the treatment. In summary, the results show that US-induced MBs inertial cavitation can markedly reduce the inflation threshold in PTCA without damaging blood vessel endothelia, indicating the potential of the proposed treatment method.

Abstract 047: Solumbra ‘PINCHING’ technique for medium vessel occlusions (MeVOs): A Single Center Experience

Introduction Various techniques have been evolved and used by different operators for mechanical thrombectomies for improved procedural performance, lower intraoperative times and better recanalization rates The widely used, isolated stent‐retriever and contact aspiration technique for medium vessel occlusions (MeVOs) carries a high risk for clot fragmentation, spasm and distal migration. The stent–aspiration (Solumbra) technique uses a large bore aspiration catheter with a stent retriever device for potential synergistic effects. However, its use is limited in distal thrombectomies. Hereby, we assess the efficacy and safety of solumbra ‘Pinching’ technique by using a smaller profile aspiration catheter for MeVO thrombectomy. Methods We retrospectively analyzed our prospective institutional database for medium vessel occlusions (M2, M3 MCA/ A2, A3 ACA/ P2 PCA) who underwent endovascular mechanical thrombectomy using stent retriever or aspiration or combined (solumbra) technique. The technique involves deploying a stent retriever through microcatheter and large bore aspiration catheter like ACE 68 (Penumbra, Inc.), followed by both microcatheter and aspiration removal, clot localization and blind navigation of a correctly sized lower profile (3MAX or 4MAX, Penumbra, Inc.) aspiration catheter over stent bare wire to “pinch” the primal end of the clot. Besides various demographic parameters, we collected final recanalization rates with first pass effect [using modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) score]. All the intra‐procedural complications (haemorrhage, vasospasm) were analysed. Clinical outcome was analysed using modified ranking score (mRS) on 7th day post procedure/ discharge(whichever is earlier) and at 90 days. Results Total 26 MeVOs were successfully treated in twenty‐five patients with solumbra ‘Pinching’ technique since January 2022 (Male: female 16:7, mean age 58.6 years, mean NIHSS 9.1). Majority of the procedures were done for primary MeVOs and 72% consisted of M2 MCA occlusions. Whether to use a 3MAX or 4MAX aspiration catheter was determined by eyeballing the appropriate calibre for target vessels. Final first pass mTICI 2c/3 recanalization was achieved in 24 patients (88%). Minor Intra‐procedural complications were observed in 13 patients. Favorable modified ranking score (mRS 0‐2) was achieved in approximately 80% patients at the end of 7 days/discharge and 14 out of 16 follow up patients achieved good clinical outcome at 90 days Conclusion Solumbra ‘Pinching’ technique, using a low profile aspiration catheter like 3 MAX or 4 MAX (Penumbra, Inc.) with a stent retriever, can be effectively used in management of acute ischaemic stroke secondary to a MeVOs with significantly enhancing the first‐pass recanalization with lesser risk of intimal injury, dissection and secondary embolization.

ECG-Gated CCTA in the Assessment of Post-Procedural Complications.

The aim of our study was to assess the role of ECG-gated coronary CT angiography (CCTA) in the diagnosis, imaging follow-up, and treatment guidance in post-procedural/surgical interventions in the heart and thoracic aorta (PTCA, TAVI, PMK/ICD placement, CABGs). We retrospectively evaluated 294 ECG-gated CCTA studies performed in our center from January 2020 to January 2023. CCTA studies were acquired to detect/exclude possible complications related to the endovascular or surgical procedure. There were 27 cases (9.2%) of post-procedural complications. Patients enrolled in the study were 18 males and 9 females (male/female ratio: 2), with age ranging from 47 to 86 years (mean age, 68.3 years). Among percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) complications, coronary intimal dissection with ascending aorta involvement was found to be the most frequent complication after PTCA (22.2%). Vascular wall pseudoaneurysm formation (11.1%) and coronary stent misalignment or displacement (14.8%) were complications less frequently encountered after PTCA. Right atrial or ventricular perforation with associated hemopericardium were the most common complications (18.5%) after pacemaker implantation. Complications encountered after aortic valve interventions were loosening and dislocation of the prosthesis associated with aortic root pseudoaneurysm (7.4%), para-valvular leak (11.1%), and hemopericardium (7.4%). In one patient who underwent transcatheter repair of patent foramen ovale (3.7%), CTTA detected the dislocation of the Amplatzer septal occluder. ECG-gated CCTA is a fundamental diagnostic tool for the detection of post-procedural endovascular/surgical complications to enable optimal patient management. Radiologists must be familiar with the use of cardiac synchronization in the course of CT and must be aware of all possible complications that can occur in the context of acute settings or routine follow-up studies.

Evaluation and management of abnormal liver enzymes in the liver transplant recipient: When, why, and what now?

Evaluation and management of abnormal liver enzymes in the liver transplant recipient: When, why, and what now?

Multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of patients with diabetic foot syndrome. Experience of Almazov National Medical Research Centrе

Objective Evaluate the effectiveness of the multidisciplinary specialists team in Almazov National Medical Research Centrе to the treatment of patients with the neuroischemic form of diabetic foot syndrome in a multi-field hospital.Materials and methods We made retrospective analysis of the multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of patients with a neuroischemic form of diabetic foot syndrome who were hospitalized to Almazov National Medical Research Centrе during the period from January 2018 to July 2020 (inclusively). The patients were treated in the clinic of the Almazov National Medical Research Centrе during one hospitalization period. The investigation includes patients over 18 years old with a diabetes mellitus who were performed revascularization at the vascular surgery clinic Almazov National Medical Research Centrе. Patients with a secondary diabetes mellitus, immunosuppressive therapy were excluded from the study. 51 patients with neuroischemic form of diabetic foot syndrome were specifically selected for analysis. We gathered all information about them till August 2022. So, the period of observation was from 2 years 8 months (32 months) to 4 years 8 months (56 months). The mediana time was 44 months (3.67 years). All inclusive patients had a diabetic ulcer on the foot. The outcomes of this study were the healing or non-healing of diabetic foot ulcers, major amputation or death (from all causes).Results Successful healing of ulcers or postoperative wounds at the time of contact with the patient or his relatives, was with 45 patients (88.3 %). In more than half of the patients (56.86 %) healing of ulcers and wounds was occurred in the 3 months after operation.70.59 % (n = 36) patients were performed orthopedic organ-preserving reconstructions on the feet in the hospital. 6 patients (11.7 %) were performed initially revascularization according to the “less affected pathway” principle which didn’t heal the ulcers in the postoperative period and leaded to repeated surgery to restore blood flow according to the angiosomal principle. For 9 patients (17.64 %) it was required to perform repeated orthopedic intervention on the foot during the current hospitalization. The causes of complications were: stent thrombosis (n=3), intimal dissections (n = 2) and distal embolism (n = 1). The reasons for repeated orthopedic surgery were marginal necrosis in the postoperative wounds. Optimal revascularization wasn’t achieved with 10 (19.6 %) patients. Despite this in 4 (7.84 %) cases ulcers was healed. In two cases, 3.92 % (n = 2) suboptimal revascularization was associated with the lack of technical possibility in revascularization of the lower leg arteries with satisfactory revascularization of the femoral-popliteal segment. Indirect revascularization with no effect was performed in 4 cases (7.84 %). 6 major amputations (11.7 %) were performed during the observation period, 1 major amputation during the current hospitalization and 5 in the long-term period. The Kaplan-Mayer three-year survival rate was 80 %.Conclusion The analysis of the results of a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of patients with diabetic foot syndrome demonstrated an improvement in the preservation of the limbs, reduced of bone-plastic reconstructions, reduсtion of hospitalization time and improving the lives of patients.

Hepatic Artery Intimal Dissection During Living Donor Liver Transplantation: A New Modified Approach

Ensuring optimal arterial flow in solid organ transplantation is very important. Insufficient flow causes important problems such as bile duct problems, intrahepatic abscess formation, and organ loss. Arterial intimal dissection is an important factor that negatively affects organ blood flow. In this study, hepatic artery dissections that we detected in patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation in our clinic were defined, and the microvascular intima-adventitial fixation technique, which can be considered a new approach, was described.

JS-NG-3: UNIQUE IMAGING FINDINGS IN RENAL ARTERY FIBROMUSCULAR DYSPLASIA

A 35-year-old female patient with fluctuating blood pressure was referred to hypertension department for investigation of possible secondary hypertension. Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) of the renal arteries was performed, demonstrating abnormal right renal artery at the medial portion of the vessel with complete tubular narrowing and right kidney atrophy (right 79*35 mm, left 109*45 mm) (Panel A). Subsequent renal arteriography confirmed the long tubular narrowed right renal artery (Panel C) and the established severe tortuosity collateral vessel from the abdominal aorta (Panel B). The etiological diagnosis of the renal artery stenosis in this young woman was challenging and was supposed to be congenital renal dysplasia. Catheter-based angioplasty was not recommended. However, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) revealed that it was not congenital narrowed artery, but concentric intimal-medial thickening caused stenosis of the vessel (Panel E). Therefore, renal artery fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) was diagnosed and considered to be intimal type. Balloon angioplasty was performed, and IVUS showed that the lesion lumen was dilated successfully (Panel F). However, a bailout stent had to be placed because of intimal dissection during angioplasty, and renal blood flow was restored after procedure (Panel D). One month after the procedure, the patient was normotensive without any antihypertensive medication. At 1 year follow-up, the 99mTc-glomerular filtration rate of the right kidney increased from 19.7 to 40.4 ml/min. FMD is a nonatherosclerotic, noninflammatory vascular disease that most commonly affects renal arteries and is recommended to be classified according to angiographic finding as multifocal FMD or focal FMD. Compared with multifocal FMD, focal FMD is less often seen, and the diagnosis of some cases is challenging. In the present case, such a long tubular stenosis of renal artery is rare, and the diagnosis was confirmed by IVUS. IVUS may be a useful tool for the diagnosis of focal FMD.

Role of imaging in penetrating vascular injuries of the craniocervical region.

Penetrating vascular injury has become the topic of interest with increased gun violence in the United States. The radiologist plays a crucial role in establishing and systemizing the signs of vascular injury such as intimal flap, dissection, pseudoaneurysm, rupture, and arteriovenous fistula. Various imaging techniques such as ultrasound Doppler, computed tomographic angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance angiography, and conventional angiography are being employed based on clinical recommendations. Of all the techniques, CTA has been shown to embrace a promising role in identifying vascular injuries with superior sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. An acquaintance of the imaging features has been shown to improve the approach to trauma patients in clinical settings. This article details the imaging modalities and the features of the head-and-neck penetrating vascular injury.

S3212 Very Late Hepatic Artery Thrombosis After Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Introduction: Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) is a serious complication after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and is the most common vascular complication. It is often categorized into early HAT which is defined as occurring < 30 days after liver transplantation & late HAT defined as occurring > 30 days post transplantation. The etiology of HAT is often related to surgical factors, such as vessel kinking, anastomotic stenosis, and intimal dissection, but can factors such as hypercoagulability, elderly donors, and rejection episodes can contribute. Symptoms can often be vague with common complaints being abdominal pain, fever, nausea, & emesis. Case Description/Methods: A 68-year-old male with OLT (20 years prior to presentation) for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), ulcerative colitis presented with 1 month history of nausea, emesis, and weakness. He was afebrile & hemodynamically stable. On physical exam, abdomen was soft, nontender, nondistended, and patient was jaundice. Laboratory data was notable for a two-month elevation of alkaline phosphatase, ALT, AST, direct bilirubin. An ultrasound of the liver with doppler evaluation was obtained that demonstrated an absence of flow in the left and right hepatic arteries within the liver. A computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the abdomen was obtained that confirmed these findings (Figure 1). Due to the history of PSC, a magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography was obtained that showed no biliary dilation or evidence of recurrent PSC. A liver biopsy demonstrated paucicellular ductopenia with cholestasis consistent with chronic arterial insufficiency and no significant fibrosis. Transplant surgery and interventional radiology were consulted for potential recanalization. However, due to prolonged elevations in liver enzymes >4 weeks, both teams determined that recanalization would likely provide no benefit yet held greater risk. Discussion: This case highlights an uncommon, very late presentation of HAT. In the literature, late HAT has been described in the order of months, not years as it was in this case. It is usually associated with a less fulminant presentation and a milder course, in comparison to cases of HAT that present earlier in the post-transplant course. This case highlights the importance of considering HAT as a diagnosis in a patient with history of OLT who presents with abdominal pain, nausea, and emesis.Figure 1.: Focal filling defect in the hepatic artery seen in this venous phase CTA.

Management of difficult hepatic artery reconstructions to reduce complications through continual technical refinements in living donor liver transplantations

BackgroundHepatic artery reconstruction (HAR) for liver transplantation is crucial for successful outcomes. We evaluated transplantation outcome improvement through continual technical refinements. Materials and methodsHAR was performed in 1448 living donor liver transplants by a single plastic surgeon from 2008 to 2020. Difficult HARs were defined as graft or recipient hepatic artery ≤2 mm, size discrepancy (≥2 to 1), multiple hepatic arteries, suboptimal quality, intimal dissection of graft or recipient hepatic artery (HA), and immediate redo during transplantation. Technique refinements include early vessel injury recognition, precise HA dissection, the use of clips to ligate branches, an oblique cut for all HARs, a modified funneling method for size discrepancy, liberal use of an alternative artery to replace a pathologic HA, and reconstruction of a second HA for grafts with dual hepatic arteries in the graft. ResultsDifficult HARs were small HA (21.35%), size discrepancy (12.57%), multiple hepatic arteries (11.28%), suboptimal quality (31.1%), intimal dissection (20.5%), and immediate redo (5.18%). The overall hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) rate was 3.04% in this series. The average HAT rate during the last 4 years (2017–2020) was 1.46% (6/408), which was significantly lower than the average HAT rate from 2008 to 2016 (39/1040, 3.8%) with a statistical significance (p = 0.025). Treatment for posttransplant HAT included anastomosis after trim back (9), reconstruction using alternatives (19), and nonsurgical treatment with urokinase (9). ConclusionCareful examination of the HA under surgical microscope and selection of the appropriate recipient HA are key to successful reconstruction. Through continual technical refinements, we can reduce HA complications to the lowest degree.

Endovascular Treatment of post-traumatic Renal Artery Dissection.

Blunt renal artery injuries are rare, and no single trauma center has accumulated sufficient experience to draw meaningful conclusions or recommendations about optimal therapeutic strategies.[1]&#x0D; The increased use of CT scans to evaluate blunt abdominal trauma identifies more acute renal artery injuries that may have gone undetected.[2]&#x0D; Patients with renal injury have limited options such as open surgical repair or anticoagulation.[3] The use of endovascular stents to treat trauma is a good option treatment. [4] But not every case is successful.&#x0D; The purpose of this case report is to describe the importance of accurate diagnosis and successful repair in emergency traumatic conditions by means of interventional radiology in cases of intimal damage to the renal arteries.&#x0D; We will present a 38-year-old man who shows on the emergency room because of an accident with abdominal and thoracic trauma. The patient complained of pain in the right side of the abdomen…&#x0D; Through Angiography, an intimal dissection localized in the upper pole of the right kidney was confirmed. We inserted an expandable balloon stent using a transfemoral approach to successfully repair the dissection.&#x0D; Conclusion: Blunt renal artery injury is rare. Nonoperative management should be considered an acceptable therapeutic option. Management of blunt renal injuries includes timely evaluation to maximize the preservation of renal function. Recent management trends support the consideration of endoluminal intervention for traumatic renal artery dissections.

Current Concepts in Imaging Diagnosis and Screening of Blunt Cerebrovascular Injuries.

Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) is an often underrecognized injury occurring in the carotid or vertebral arteries, associated with a risk of ischemic stroke and potential for poor neurological outcome or death. Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) is the most common modality for initial screening and diagnosis. Vessel wall intimal injuries, intraluminal thrombus, dissection, intramural hematoma, pseudoaneurysm, vessel transection, and arteriovenous fistula, are potential findings to be considered in approach to imaging. Identification of high-risk trauma patients based on clinical and radiological risk factors can determine patients at risk of BCVI for targeted screening.

Endovascular and Hybrid Open and Endovascular Management of Blunt and Penetrating Zone III Carotid Artery Injuries

Injuries to zone III of the carotid artery, located between the angle of the mandible and the skull base, are uncommon, associated with a high risk of adverse neurologic events and mortality, and challenging to treat. These lesions are difficult to access and treat surgically due to their anatomic location. Therefore, endovascular and hybrid open and endovascular techniques have emerged as a minimally invasive, and in many cases, safer and more effective alternative to open surgery. Endovascular techniques for use in this anatomical region include balloon catheter tamponade, embolization, balloon angioplasty, and endovascular stenting. Selection of the most appropriate treatment strategy is dependent on the: 1) concomitant injuries of the patient, 2) location (external versus internal carotid artery) and nature (intimal tear, dissection, pseudoaneurysm, transection, occlusion, or arteriovenous fistula) of the injury, and 3) whether the operating surgeon believes it is necessary to revascularize or sacrifice the injured carotid artery. The purpose of this article is to review the present endovascular and hybrid open and endovascular therapies available for zone III penetrating and blunt carotid trauma. We begin by describing the clinical presentation and diagnosis of these injuries and then discuss management of an undifferentiated zone III vascular injury. This is followed by a discussion of the management of zone III external and then internal carotid artery injuries. We conclude by describing postoperative management, follow up, and future directions.

Large Coronary Intramural Hematoma Presenting as Acute Coronay Syndrome

Isolated spontaneous coronary intramural hematoma is characterized by a hemorrhage limited to the media–adventitial layers, causing subsequent hematoma formation without visible intimal flaps. Spontaneous isolated intramural hematoma may occur in the absence of associated intimal dissection. It is an infrequent and serious coronary vessel wall pathology with poorly understood underlying pathogenic mechanisms. Affected individuals may present with a broad spectrum of symptoms ranging from acute coronary syndromes (ACS) to cardiogenic shock or even sudden cardiac death. The disease entity causes challenges in terms of both diagnostic and treatment strategy. We report a case of intramural coronary hematoma in a patient presenting with non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Intravascular ultrasound with blood flow visualization to detect pseudo intimal graft dissection as a cause of left ventricular assist device outflow graft stenosis.

Intravascular ultrasound with blood flow visualization to detect pseudo intimal graft dissection as a cause of left ventricular assist device outflow graft stenosis.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection as a marker of undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia: a case report

The article presents a case report of spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) in the young woman with signs of undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia (UCTD). The patient was admitted urgently with a clinical and electrocardiographic signs of acute ST-segment elevation coronary syndrome. The patient underwent a coronary angiography, which revealed a type D linear intimal dissection. The decision was made to perform balloon vasodilation with the placement of a drug-eluting stent. With multicomponent therapy, the patient’s condition improved. Physical examination revealed external markers of UCTD. Therefore, it was quantified by systems and organs. The patient had no other cardiovascular diseases, previous infection, or other trigger factors. She was discharged with recommendations to continue the prescribed therapy. This case report demonstrates SCAD as a rare cause of acute myocardial infarction in a young patient. The background for SCAD development in this case was UCTD. Algorithms for managing patients with SCAD against the background of UCTD have not been defined and require further study.

Torso vascular trauma

Vascular injury within the chest or abdomen represents a unique challenge to the pediatric general surgeon, as these life- or limb-threatening injuries are rare and may require emergent treatment. Vascular injury may present as life-threatening hemorrhage, or with critical ischemia from intimal injury, dissection, or thrombosis. Maintaining the skillset and requisite knowledge to address these injuries is of utmost importance for pediatric surgeons that care for injured children, particularly for surgeons practicing in freestanding children's hospitals that frequently do not have adult vascular surgery coverage. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of torso vascular trauma, with a specific emphasis in rapid recognition of torso vascular injury as well as both open and endovascular management options. Specific injuries addressed include blunt and penetrating mediastinal vascular injury, subclavian injury, abdominal aortic and visceral segment injury, inferior vena cava injury, and pelvic vascular injury. Operative exposure, vascular repair techniques, and damage control options including preperitoneal packing for pelvic hemorrhage are discussed. The role and limitations of endovascular treatment of each of these injuries is discussed, including endovascular stent graft placement, angioembolization for pelvic hemorrhage, and resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) in children.

Culprit lesion characteristics in very young patients with acute coronary syndrome: An optical coherence tomography study.

The concept of managing patients on the basis of culprit lesion characteristics is emerging. Atherosclerotic plaques are reported to be rare in young patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We aimed to assess culprit lesion characteristics in very young patients presenting with ACS by optical coherence tomography (OCT). This was a prospective, single-center, open-label, observational study. Patients aged 35 years or less with ACS who underwent invasive coronary angiography and OCT were studied. Of the 43 patients, 22 (51.2%) had plaque rupture, 16 (37.2%) had plaque erosion, and five (11.6%) had no specific lesion character. Plaque was fibroatheromatous in 34 (79.1%) patients and fibrous in seven (16.3%). Plaque was not found in two (4.7%) patients; of these, one (2.3%) had left anterior descending coronary artery bridging, and one (2.3%) had intimal dissection without any plaque. Plaque rupture was more commonly associated with fibroatheromatous plaques, whereas plaque erosion was more commonly associated with fibrous plaque (p=0.010). Although plaque rupture and plaque erosion occurred at the same rate as seen in patients of all ages, calcified nodule as a culprit lesion was not found in young patients. Majority of the patients had plaque rupture and plaque erosion with fibroatheromatous plaque, signifying the occurrence of established coronary artery disease in very young patients of Southeast Asia.