Revascularization for Iliac-femoral Artery Pseudoaneurysm with Greater Saphenous Vein

Objective To investigate the role of revascularization procedures with autologous greater saphenous vein in surgical management of iliac-femoral artery pseudoaneurysm in parenteral drug abusers. Methods Twenty-one patients with iliac-femoral artery pseudoaneurysm caused by parenteral drug abuse from 2004 to 2007 were enrolled. Among them,15 patients were male and 6 were female; their average age was 31.3 years. The size of pseudoaneurysms ranged from 3.0 cm to 7.5 cm. Common femoral artery and distal external iliac artery were often involved. We performed arterial reconstruction on these patients with autologous greater saphenous vein as a graft after excising iliac-femoral artery pseudoaneurysm through a single curved inguinal incision. All patients were followed up,and the complications were recorded. Results The surgical procedures were finished without intraoperative mortality or perioperative complications. All patients were free of claudication symptoms after the surgery except one case with preoperative popliteal artery stenosis. One case of infection and wound tissue fistula was found later. One case had inguinal incisional hematoma and another complained of numbness in thigh skin. Conclusions The use of autologous greater saphenous venous grafts for arterial reconstruction after pseudoaneurysm excision in drug abusers is safe and effective. This technique offers more advantages than arterial ligation alone without revascularization. An optimal greater saphenous venous graft is a prerequisite for revascularization.

Hybrid Endovascular Aorta Repair with Simultaneous Supra-aortic Branch or Iliac Branch Revascularization

Objective To describe a hybrid endovascular procedure for aorta repair with different kinds of bypass followed by concomitant placement of stent graft in the aorta. Methods From June 2007 to May 2008, 5 consecutive patients who presented with aortic aneurysm or dissection were treated with a new hybrid aorta repair technique. Complete surgical rerouting of supra-aortic vessels was simultaneously created by endovascular repair of aortic arch aneurysm with stent graft. Hybrid left carotid-subclavian bypass with stent graft deployment covering the ostium of the left subclavian artery was performed in a Debakey type III aortic dissection case. The supra-aortic branch was revascularized in 2 cases from ascending aorta to bilateral common carotid arteries using a 16-8 mm bifurcated graft, then total aortic arch and descending artery was occluded with stent-graft. The left carotid artery to the left subclavian artery bypass was created in 1 case, followed by stent-graft deployment. Two cases of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm underwent left external iliac artery to left internal iliac artery bypass by a retroperineal route, then hybrid procedure was performed with bifurcated stent-graft. All stent grafts were deployed via a retrograde femoral artery approach in 5 patients. Results Technical success with complete aneurysmal exclusion was achieved in all patients. There was no incidence of encloleak. During a follow-up period of 2 to 10 months, documented perioperative neurologic events did not occur in all patients. One patient suffered from adult respiratory distress syndrome. After received tracheostomy, he recovered later. There was one death resulting from a postoperative myocar- dial infarction. Conclusion Hybrid arch repair provides an alternative therapy to patients otherwise considered prohibitively high risk for traditional open arch and thoracoabdominal aorta repair.

Thoraco-abdominal Aorta Revascularization through a Retroperitoneal Approach

Objective To investigate the application of the retroperitoneal approach in aortic surgery. Methods We collected and analyzed data of 7 patients in Macao who presented with aortic diseases from 2007 to 2008 and were treated with aorta repair through retroperitoneal approach. Demographic features as well as intraoperative and postoperative data were analyzed. One case of thoracoabdominal aneurysm and 4 cases of abdominal aneurysm received artificial graft, among which hybrid iliac artery reconstruction with Zenith stent covering the ostium of the left subclavian artery was performed in 2 cases of infrarenal abdominal aneurysm. Aortic-iliac artery bypass was performed in 2 cases of aortoiliac occlusion. Results No operative or early postoperative death was observed. No perioperative intestinal adhesion or ureteral obstruction was found. One case reported delayed paraplegia and graft infection as postoperative complications. The complications were partially removed 3 months later after rehabilitation. Conclusion Retroperitoneal approach is a safe and feasible technique, which associated with a low incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications.

SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF PSEUDOANEURYSM COMPLICATING ARTERIOVENOUS FISTULA FOR HEMODIALYSIS

Objective To report surgical experience in pseudoaneurysm (PA) repair of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for renal hemodialysis. Methods Twenty patients undergoing PA repair of AVF for renal hemodialysis were treated in Central Hospital Conde S. Januario of Macao. Sixteen patients had PAs of AVF in upper extremities, 4 in lower extremities. All patients were treated with surgical therapy. Results All operations were finished without death. One patient suffered from acute thrombosis, recovered without any complication through instant thrombectomy. One patient with postoperative incision bleeding recovered after low molecular weight heparin was ceased. And one AVF could not be mature six weeks later, was recovered after ligation of branch vein. And one patient died due to recurrent cerebral infarction. Conclusion Surgical repair is the best choice for PA of AVF for renal hemodialysis.