Clinical outcomes of bypass-first versus endovascular-first strategy in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia due to infrageniculate arterial disease

Background

Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), defined as ischemic rest pain or tissue loss secondary to arterial insufficiency, is caused by multilevel arterial disease with frequent, severe infrageniculate disease. The rise in CLTI is in part the result of increasing worldwide prevalence of diabetes, renal insufficiency, and advanced aging of the population. The aim of this study was to compare a bypass-first with an endovascular-first revascularization strategy in patients with CLTI due to infrageniculate arterial disease.

胫神经腓肠肌内侧头肌支切断的小腿减肥术

目的探索缩小小腿腓肠肌改善小腿外形的手术方法。方法通过窝皮肤皱襞4~5cm横切口,切断胫神经腓肠肌内侧头肌支,使腓肠肌内侧头失神经萎缩,达到小腿减肥的目的。测量并记录小腿周径和外形的变化。结果本组16例患者行胫神经腓肠肌内侧头肌支切断术后,小腿最大周径平均缩小(3.5±1.1)cm。小腿内侧曲线变得平缓。患者术后可立即下地行走,无明显肿胀。随访半年,站立、行走等日常活动未受影响。结论行胫神经腓肠肌内侧头肌支切断术,可缩小小腿,改善小腿外形,方法简便、安全,效果明显,同时不影响患者的行走功能。     

Lumbar Spinal Cord Stimulation Can Improve Muscle Strength and Gait Independently of the Analgesic Effect: A Case Report

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is widely used for pain relief in patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), and muscle weakness is a common finding in patients with chronic pain. We present here a single case report of a 47‐year‐old woman, who, after SCS for FBSS, had continuous improvement in lower leg muscle strength and gait, but only transient and minimal pain relief. To the authors’ knowledge, this is only the second published case report of significant improvement in “motor” function, independent of the analgesic effect following SCS in FBSS. If SCS, in fact, does improve muscle strength, new strategies for the management of patients with chronic pain might be opened up. Further studies are needed to verify this hypothesis.     

When should patients begin ambulating following lower limb split skin graft surgery? A systematic review

Pretibial lacerations and lower limb wounds are referred to plastic surgery teams for split skin graft surgery. Traditionally, these patients have been immobilised on bedrest following surgery. More recently, patients have commenced ambulation earlier to avoid medical complications and facilitate discharge. The objective of this literature review was to determine when such patients should begin walking. A literature search was undertaken using the electronic databases AMED, Cinahl, Embase, Medline (via Ovid), PEDro and Pubmed. Clinical trials using human subjects, written in English, were included. Seventeen (of 1137) papers met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. The literature suggested that patients should begin walking immediately or at the earliest possible opportunity after lower limb skin graft surgery. Although the literature advocated early ambulation, the evidence base presented with a number of recurrent methodological limitations, including small sample sizes, lack of a control sample, and limited follow-up. Accordingly, further research employing large, well-designed, randomised controlled trials is recommended. It will then be possible to understand with greater certainty when patients should begin walking after lower extremity split skin graft surgery.     

Improvements in healthcare and cost benefits associated with botulinum toxin treatment of spasticity and muscle overactivity

Spasticity is a widespread, disabling form of muscle overactivity affecting patients with central nervous system damage resulting in upper motor neurone syndrome. There is a range of effective therapies for the treatment of spasticity (e.g. physical, anaesthetic, chemodenervation and neurolytic injections, systemic medication and surgery), but all therapies must be based on an individualized, multidisciplinary programme targeted to achieve patient goals. Appropriate therapy should be based on the extent and severity of spasticity, but spasticity and its consequences, regardless of presentation or cause, are commonly treated with systemic agents. This may be ill-advised as systemic treatment is associated with many undesirable effects. In particular, elderly patients with post-stroke spasticity are at risk from the central adverse effects of systemic medication (e.g. sedation and gait disturbance), which make them more susceptible to falling, with an associated increased risk of fracture. The rising costs of fracture care and its sequelae are fast becoming an international problem contributing to high healthcare expenditure. Botulinum toxin type-A (BoNT-A) treatment is highly effective for some of the more common forms of spasticity and muscle overactivity, and has a favourable profile when compared with systemic agents and other focal treatments. Therefore, the clinical benefits of BoNT-A treatment outweigh the apparent high costs of this intervention, showing it to be a cost-effective treatment.     

64层CT下肢动脉成像技术研究

目的探讨64层CT下肢动脉成像强化质量的对比剂注射方式。方法前瞻性地选择60例疑诊下肢动脉病变的病人,利用64层螺旋CT行下肢动脉CT血管成像。采用不同的扫描和重建参数,应用370mgI/100ml浓度的对比剂100ml团注或采用先70ml的对比剂后50ml的0.9%生理盐水用双筒高压注射器分别以4.0ml/s的注射速度团注入肘静脉,应用对比剂追踪触发扫描方式待腹主动脉CT阈值达120HU时延迟7s开始扫描;利用MIP和VR方式重建CTA图像;对比不同参数和不同对比剂应用方式的CT血管成像图像质量。结果最佳的扫描与重建参数为准直64×0.6mm,螺距1.5,层厚1.0,重建间隔50%;最佳的对比剂应用方式为(浓度为370mgI/100ml)对比剂70ml、生理盐水50ml以4.0ml/s注射速度按先后顺序团注。结论选择合适的准直、螺距以保证适当的扫描速度,选择合适的对比剂浓度、用量和注射速度以保证血管内足够的对比剂峰值浓度及峰值持续时间,此二者是64层CT下肢动脉成像成功的关键。     

大鼠缺血后肢骨骼肌血管内皮生长因子及其受体的表达

目的 研究大鼠缺血后肢侧枝代偿和血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）及其受体表达的动态变化。为外源性VEGF治疗下肢缺血性疾病提供理论依据。方法 切除SD大白鼠右后肢全长股动脉，随机分为9个时间组：造模后1、3d、1、2、3、4、6、8及12周，各组5只动物。分别于造模前后和观察期末检测双后肢大、小腿肌肉Fit-1、Flk-1蛋白及mRNA表达，各组观察期末实验动物后肢动脉DSA检查。结果 （1）缺血后3d，5只大鼠右后肢出现溃疡（11．11％）；2周后，4只大鼠后肢溃疡愈合，而1只趾端坏疽（2．22％）。（2）缺血后2周，患肢侧枝形成达到高峰，12周时仍可见侧支血管显影。（3）缺血早期（3周内），VEGF及其受体的表达均较健侧显著增强（P〈0．05）；缺血中期（3～8周）。VEGF和Flt-1表达迅速下降，Flk-1仍表达；缺血后期（8周后），VEGF及其受体的表达均低至极低水平，与对侧差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论（1）肢体缺血后自身的血管新生不能完全满足缺血组织的需要。（2）缺血早期外源性的VEGF补充是不必要的；缺血中期补充VEGF是适宜的；缺血后期在应用VEGF治疗的同时，也需要干预受体的表达。     

Hemodynamic analysis of descending versus ascending aortomyoplasty, and comparison with intra-aortic balloon pump

Objective: Descending and ascending aortomyoplasty are two surgical procedures intended to induce hemodynamic benefits similar to those of the intra-aortic-balloon-pump (IABP). To date, there have been no studies comparing the two surgical techniques. The objective of this study was to compare coronary blood flow augmentation and afterload reduction as produced by descending and ascending aortomyoplasty counterpulsation Methods: Twenty-two mongrel dogs (18–35 kg) underwent IABP application (n=7), descending (n=8), or ascending (n=7) aortomyoplasty. Left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery blood flow was measured using a Transonic Doppler flow probe. Left ventricular pressure as well as aortic pressures proximal and distal to either the aortomyoplasty site or the IABP position were monitored continuously. Results: Descending aortomyoplasty induced higher elevation in the LAD blood flow during assisted beats (27% from 10.8±4 to 13.8±6 ml/min, P<0.001) than that induced by either ascending aortomyoplasty (19% from 11.7±5 to 14±5 ml/min, P<0.001) or IABP counterpulsation (18% from 8.6±3 to 10.2±4 ml/min, P<0.001). Conversely, while ascending aortomyoplasty reduced the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure by 16% (from 60±18 to 50±22 mmHg, P<0.001), similar to the 16% after load reduction achieved by the IABP counterpulsation, descending aortomyoplasty failed to induce afterload reduction. Conclusions: Descending aortomyoplasty produces higher coronary blood flow augmentation than either ascending aortomyoplasty or IABP. However, afterload reduction comparable to that achieved by IABP was observed only with ascending aortomyoplasty and not with descending aortomyoplasty.