Surgical treatment of a giant external-iliac-vein aneurysm in a patient with a post-traumatic femoral arteriovenous fistula

Iliac vein aneurysm is a rare vascular abnormality. It has been reported as a primary aneurysm of unknown cause, or, when a cause could be identified, as a secondary iliac vein aneurysm. Occasionally, iliac vein aneurysm develops in association with distal arteriovenous fistula. Although venous aneurysms occur most commonly in the neck and central thoracic veins, they also have been reported in the visceral veins and the extremities.Herein, we present the case of a 34-year-old man in whom a giant external-iliac-vein aneurysm was incidentally found during the investigation of a post-traumatic femoral arteriovenous fistula. The aneurysm was surgically resected, the iliac vein was reconstructed by means of lateral venorrhaphy, and the patient had an uneventful, complete recovery. We discuss the origin of the aneurysm and our choice of surgical techniques.     

Spontaneous rupture of a congenital hepatic artery aneurysm

A 74-year-old woman with new, but vague abdominal pain developed an intra-abdominal hemorrhage. Ultrasound and CT scans before and after this event demonstrated an acute hepatic lesion with hemorrhage into the peritoneal cavity. The patient died, and a ruptured hepatic artery aneurysm was revealed at autopsy. Hepatic artery aneurysm is uncommon, usually extra-hepatic, and, in most cases, is caused by atherosclerosis, medial degeneration, trauma, or infection. In this case, the aneurysm was intrahepatic and no underlying abnormalities of the hepatic vessels were found. We discuss the clinical scenario of patients with hepatic artery aneurysm and stress the importance of considering the diagnosis in the setting of a catastrophic abdominal event. In addition, the various diagnostic and therapeutic options are explored.     

"Kissing aneurysms" of the anterior communicating artery treated with coil embolization.

PURPOSE: To present a case of kissing aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery treated with endovascular coil embolization and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this technique compared with neck clipping. CASE REPORT: A 48-year-old man became drowsy and was admitted to the hospital; he had right hemiparesis and aphasia. Computed tomography revealed diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage; diagnostic angiography identified an aneurysm at the left A1-A2 junction of the anterior communicating artery and another in the distal anterior cerebral artery (ACA). Endovascular coil embolization was performed on the same day. During the procedure, the 3-mm-diameter junctional aneurysm was successfully packed with coils, but an additional aneurysm was suspected; right carotid angiography following embolization of the left aneurysm clearly showed a mirror image aneurysm of the right A1-A2 junction. The right aneurysm was treated using the same technique. The broad-necked ACA aneurysm was unsuitable for embolization, so neck clipping was performed 5 weeks later. The patient was discharged to his home following complete recovery 7 weeks after the coil embolization. CONCLUSIONS: Kissing aneurysms are a rare and specific type of multiple aneurysms that require caution in diagnosis and surgical management. Endovascular treatment may be suitable because it does not involve dissection around the aneurysms.     

顺序动脉钳夹与重要分支复置技术在胸腹主动脉瘤外科治疗中的应用

目的探讨顺序动脉钳夹与重要动脉分支复置技术在胸腹主动脉瘤（TAAA）外科治疗中的应用前景。方法应用顺序性动脉钳夹技术和重要动脉分支复置技术行TAAA人工血管置换治疗TAAA患者27例。结果27例患者中，手术治愈26例（96．30％），术后死亡1例（3．70％）。术后出现急性呼吸窘迫综合征1例，胸腔积液2例，肺部感染1例，总的并发症发生率是18．52％。结论重要动脉分支复置技术治疗TAAA治愈率高，并发症少，是一种很有前景的治疗手段。     

Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair by Means of the Chimney Technique in a Patient with Crossed Fused Renal Ectopia

Crossed fused renal ectopia, a congenital anomaly in 1 of 7,000 individuals, presents a challenge during endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Most treatment approaches in these patients have involved open surgical repair of the aneurysm or endovascular repair with coverage of the ectopic renal artery. We present what we think is the first case of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with use of the chimney technique (parallel stent-grafting) to preserve an ectopic renal artery, in an 88-year-old man who was at high risk for open surgery. In addition to the patient''s case, we discuss the relevant medical literature.     

Surgical Management of Multiple Coronary Artery Aneurysms,Including the Giant Form

Coronary artery aneurysms are clinically relevant, because thromboembolism, rupture, and hemodynamic problems related to compression may occur. Surgical management is not standardized, and an individual approach toward each aneurysm is prudent. Giant coronary artery aneurysms (larger than 20 mm in diameter) originate in different ways and are extremely rare, and their surgical treatment is also not well defined.Herein, we report the case of a 63-year-old man who had 2 aneurysms of the circumflex coronary artery and a 65-mm aneurysm of the right coronary artery. The diagnosis was established by use of transesophageal echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and coronary angiography. An intraoperatively discovered smaller aneurysm of the right coronary artery was ligated. The giant thrombus-filled aneurysm of the right coronary artery was partially resected, because it compressed the right atrium and ventricle. A graft of the greater saphenous vein was constructed to the distal right coronary artery. The smaller, noncompressing aneurysms in the circumflex coronary artery were excluded by means of proximal and distal suture ligation, and bypass grafting was performed with use of skeletonized left internal mammary artery. The procedures were successful. We discuss the reasons behind our individual approach toward our patient''s aneurysms.Key words: Coronary aneurysm/diagnosis/etiology/surgery, coronary artery disease/complications, coronary thrombosis/complicationsCoronary artery aneurysms can portend thromboembolism, rupture, and compression-related hemodynamic problems. Giant coronary artery aneurysm is an extremely rare abnormality of varying origins but with life-threatening complications. Surgical approaches are not well defined. Here, we present the case of a 63-year-old man who had multiple coronary artery aneurysms (one of which was 65 mm in diameter) and discuss our surgical management.     

Inferior mesenteric artery aneurysm: case report and literature review.

A 70 year old man presented with retrosternal and epigastric pain. He was in shock. The diagnosis on admission was acute myocardial infarction. CT scan of the abdomen showed coeliac and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) occlusion. In addition there appeared to be large collateral from the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) with a retroperitoneal collection. He underwent emergency laparotomy and a ruptured IMA aneurysm was detected. The aneurysm was excised and the IMA was ligated. He developed progressive multi-system organ failure post operatively. We discuss the aetiology, presentation, diagnosis and treatment of IMA aneurysms.     

Surgical repair of a syphilitic aneurysm of the distal arch and descending aorta

Cardiovascular syphilis, which used to be a well-recognized manifestation of tertiary syphilis, has become a rarity. In this report we describe a 47-year-old man presenting with an aneurysm of the distal arch and proximal descending aorta, a somewhat unusual presentation for a syphilitic aneurysm, and discuss the clinical features of cardiovascular syphilis.     

Atherosclerotic Left Main Coronary Artery Aneurysm—Case Reports

Coronary artery aneurysm is uncommon and mostly caused by coronary atherosclerosis. Although usually asymptomatic, it may cause catastrophes due to aneurysm rupture, vasospasm, or thromboembolism formation. Coronary artery aneurysm most frequently involves the right coronary artery, followed in frequency by the left circumflex coronary artery and the left anterior descending coronary artery; it rarely involves the left main coronary artery. Herein present two cases with left main coronary artery aneurysm and briefly discuss their treatment.     

Subarachnoid hemorrhages form ruptured aneurysms as the presenting feature of lupus cerebral vasculitis

Cerebral aneurysms secondary to cerebral vasculitis related to systemic lupus erythematosus are rare. We report a 31-year-old woman who presented with a lupus flare associated with inaugural generalized seizures. Computed tomography angiography showed subarachnoid hemorrhage by rupture of a cerebellar artery fusiform aneurysm. Later, despite the initiation of corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide, she presented a second cerebral hemorrhage due to the rupture of a new aneurysm in lenticulostriates arteries. The outcome was fatal. We discuss the frequency and management of this severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus.     

Giant coronary aneurysm culprit of an acute coronary syndrome

A 66-year-old male ex-smoker with hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia was admitted due to a non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. The catheterisation depicted an extensive and calcified disease: chronic total obstruction of the right coronary and severe disease with a giant aneurysm at the first marginal branch as the culprit vessel. After discussion, the right coronary was treated before the circumflex-giant aneurysm was closed with a stent graft and its multiple severe stenosis solved with two drug-eluting stents. We provide a multimodality approach for a complex case and briefly discuss the available options.     

Echocardiographic evaluation of ventricular septal aneurysms.

The spontaneous closure of ventricular septal defects is frequently associated with septal aneurysm formation. In this paper we discuss the M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiographic findings in nine children with aneurysms of the ventricular septum in association with ventricular septal defects. In all patients the diagnosis was confirmed by angiography. The ventricular septal aneurysms were detected by both M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography. With M-mode echocardiography, septal aneurysms could be recognized by a pattern of multiple systolic echoes within the right ventricle. With two-dimensional echocardiography, the protrusion of the septal aneurysm into the right ventricle could be seen from several views and the location and the relative size of the aneurysm assessed. Echocardiographic techniques useful in the detection of ventricular septal aneurysms are discussed and examples presented.     

Early left ventricular dysfunction in acute myocardial infarct. Evaluation using imaging methods

A patient admitted in a Coronary Care Unit with an acute anterior myocardial infarction, is presented. He had initially normal left ventricular function and, on the 11th day he had, suddenly, an acute pulmonary edema. The reason for this episode was detected through imaging techniques--echocardiography and isotopic studies, and consisted on infarct expansion with early evolution for apical aneurysm. Contrast angiography confirmed the presence of a huge aneurysm and two vessels disease. Tallium Scintigraphy showed reversible ischemia beyond necrotic areas. The patient was submitted to aneurysmectomy and received three aorto-coronary bypass. He is now doing well, in class I, NYHA. The discussion emphasizes the actual role of imaging techniques in the diagnosis of infarct expansion and early functional aneurysm. We discuss the prognostic of infarct expansion and the importance of perfusion studies on defining areas of myocardium in jeopardy, enabling a better surgical approach.     

Subclavian Aneurysm Presenting with Massive Hemoptysis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

We present a case of a 70-year-old male with a past medical history of coronary artery bypass grafting and end stage renal disease who presented with massive hemoptysis. He had a history of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis, with infection and removal of endocardial pacing leads. His work-up revealed a 2.9-cm proximal left subclavian artery aneurysm. Bronchoscopy confirmed bright red blood in the left upper lobe bronchus and coronary angiography confirmed a patent left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to left anterior descending bypass. Because of the consideration of maintaining coronary perfusion via the LIMA while excluding the subclavian aneurysm, he underwent a left carotid to left axillary artery bypass graft followed by deployment of an Amplatzer II vascular plug just distal to the aneurysm. A thoracic endograft was then deployed to exclude the origin of the subclavian. A review of the literature reveals hemoptysis as a rare presentation of a subclavian aneurysm. We discuss approaches to this challenging clinical problem, ranging from open repair to hybrid approaches.     

颅内动脉瘤术中破裂的危险因素分析

目的探讨颅内动脉瘤开颅夹闭术中动脉瘤破裂可能的危险因素。方法回顾性分析278例采用显微神经外科技术，行颅内动脉瘤夹闭术的动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血（SAH）患者的临床资料，对可能的影响因素，如年龄、性别、高血压病史、Hunt—Hess分级、Fisher分级、动脉瘤位置、大小、数目、动脉瘤颈宽窄、手术时机、临时阻断夹的应用与否，行单因素和多因素分析。结果278例患者320个动脉瘤中，81例患者81个动脉瘤发生术中破裂，发生率为25．3％。单因素分析显示，Hunt—Hess分级、动脉瘤颈宽窄、高血压病史、动脉瘤大小、手术时机及临时阻断夹的应用与否，是术中破裂的危险因素。多因素分析显示，Hunt—Hess分级（OR=1．549，P=0．029）、动脉瘤大小（OR=1．158，P=0．007）、手术时机（OR：0．699，P=0．038）、宽颈动脉瘤（OR=0．524，P=0．028）是术中存裂的独立危险因素。临时阻断夹的应用是独立的保护因素（OR=2．244，P=0．008）。结论颅内动脉瘤术中破裂主要与Hunt—Hess分级、动脉瘤大小、手术时机、动脉瘤颈宽窄和临时阻断夹的应用与否有关。     

Is insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) playing a role for aneurysm formation in patients with pituitary gland tumor?

The combination of pituitary gland tumor and aneurysmal disease has previously been described. Most of these aneurysms have affected intracranial arteries. The purpose is to present 2 patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm and pituitary gland tumor and further to discuss the mechanism behind this combination of diseases. A 59-year-old male patient was admitted with abdominal pain and a 120 mm thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm type III. He was operated with resection and graft replacement. During the operation, it was noted that his intra-abdominal arteries were extremely enlarged. The diagnosis acromegaly was confirmed in the late 50's and he had received irradiation therapy and underwent partial trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy. His growth hormone values eventually declined while he had elevated insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels. The patient died from stroke 6 years after operation. Patient n. 2 is a 73-year-old female with a type II thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. She was operated for a pituitary adenoma in 1988. There were no clinical or biochemical signs of acromegaly. However, she had elevated serum values of IGF-1. The maximum diameter of the aneurysm was 60 mm. Because of comorbidity the patient has been followed at the outpatient clinic. The mechanism behind the combination of pituitary gland tumor and aneurysm is obscure. One of our patients had classical acromegaly. Growth hormone decreased over the years, while his IGF-1 values were normal or elevated. The other patient had increased levels of IGF-1 without typical acromegaly. This might indicate that IGF-1 could play a role in the development of aneurysm in patients with pituitary tumor. This combination of diagnoses should be kept in mind when dealing with patients having aneurysmal disease.     

Infected aortic aneurysm and inflammatory aortic aneurysm--in search of an optimal differential diagnosis

Infected aortic aneurysm and inflammatory aortic aneurysm each account for a minor fraction of the total incidence of aortic aneurysm and are associated with periaortic inflammation. Despite the similarity, infected aortic aneurysm generally shows a more rapid change in clinical condition, leading to a fatal outcome; in addition, delayed diagnosis and misuse of corticosteroid or immunosuppressing drugs may lead to uncontrolled growth of microorganisms. Therefore, it is mandatory that detection of aortic aneurysm is followed by accurate differential diagnosis. In general, infected aortic aneurysm appears usually as a saccular form aneurysm with nodularity, irregular configuration; however, the differential diagnosis may not be easy sometimes for the following reasons: (1) symptoms, such as abdominal and/or back pain and fever, and blood test abnormalities, such as elevated C-reactive protein and enhanced erythrocyte sedimentation rate, are common in infected aortic aneurysm, but they are not found infrequently in inflammatory aortic aneurysm; (2) some inflammatory aortic aneurysms are immunoglobulin (Ig) G4-related, but not all of them; (3) the prevalence of IgG4 positivity in infected aortic aneurysm has not been well investigated; (4) enhanced uptake of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) by 18F-FDG-positron emission tomography may not distinguish between inflammation mediated by autoimmunity and that mediated by microorganism infection. Here we discuss the characteristics of these two forms of aortic aneurysm and the points of which we have to be aware before reaching a final diagnosis.     

Nonobstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy with Left Ventricular Aneurysm: The Role of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with concomitant left ventricular aneurysm is rare and has important clinical implications, including an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Most patients with this rare combination have obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but we treated a 26-year-old woman who had nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and a family history of probable sudden cardiac death. In our patient, coronary angiograms showed distal occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Late gadolinium-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance images showed scattered fibrosis within and beyond the left ventricular aneurysm. Precautionary therapy with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator yielded an uneventful outcome. Cardiac magnetic resonance has emerged as a promising method for diagnosing these aneurysms and detecting associated myocardial fibrosis, thereby enabling patient risk stratification and the determination of appropriate therapeutic options. We discuss the role of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in the management of this rare clinical entity.Key words: Cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic, familial/complications/pathology/therapy; coronary aneurysm/complications/diagnosis/therapy; death, sudden, cardiac/etiology; defibrillators, implantable; gadolinium/diagnostic use; image enhancement/instrumentation/methods; magnetic resonance imaging; risk assessmentNonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with left ventricular (LV) apical aneurysm is a rare clinical entity for which diagnostic, prophylactic, and therapeutic approaches are evolving. We describe the case of a patient who was diagnosed with this combination of conditions, and we discuss the role of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in the therapeutic management of such patients.     

Successful Aneurysmectomy of a Congenital Apical Left Ventricular Aneurysm

Congenital apical left ventricular aneurysm is a rare clinical entity that is different from congenital left ventricular diverticulum. This aneurysm usually occurs as an isolated anomaly. Its clinical presentation varies, and it is usually diagnosed by exclusion.Herein, we report the case of a 54-year-old man who experienced progressively increasing symptoms of congestive cardiac failure. Through the use of contrast echocardiography and angiocardiography, and upon histopathologic examination, he was diagnosed to have a congenital apical left ventricular aneurysm. He was successfully treated by means of left ventricular aneurysmectomy. We discuss the process of diagnosis and surgical correction of the aneurysm, and we briefly review the pertinent medical literature.Key words: Coronary aneurysm/surgery, diagnosis, differential, echocardiography, heart aneurysm/congenital/diagnosis/radiography/surgery, heart ventricles/abnormalities/radiographyCongenital apical left ventricular (LV) aneurysm, a rare clinical entity that differs from congenital LV diverticulum, usually occurs as an isolated anomaly. The clinical presentation of congenital apical LV aneurysm varies, and the aneurysm is usually diagnosed by exclusion.^1–4 Here, we report the case of a patient who presented with progressively increasing dyspnea. He was diagnosed to have a congenital apical LV aneurysm, for which he underwent aneurysmectomy. The extreme rarity of the disease entity, the use of angiocardiography and contrast echocardiography for diagnosis, the process of surgical correction, and a brief review of the medical literature form the basis of this report.     

Primary aortoenteric fistula: Report of two cases

The authors report 2 cases of primary aortoenteric fistula and discuss a number of interesting features demonstrated by them. The first patient, a fifty-six-year-old woman, underwent a right hemicolectomy for carcinoma in 1986 and presented three years later with massive hematemesis and hematochezia. At emergency laparotomy a fistulous communication was found between the fourth portion of the duodenum and the aorta caused by carcinomatous retroperitoneal nodes. A Dacron tube graft was placed in the aorta, and the duodenum was repaired with limited resection and end-to-end anastomosis. The patient recovered well, but she died on the thirtieth postoperative day in profound hypovolemic shock. The second case, a sixty-seven-year-old man, presented with an abdominal pulsatile mass and a forty-eight-hour history of abdominal pain, weakness, and melena. Ultrasonic and computed tomographic examination indicated a small infrarenal aortic aneurysm communicating with the bowel. At laparotomy a fistulus tract was found between the aneurysm and the jejunum. The aneurysm was replaced by a Dacron tube graft and the jejunum was repaired with resection and end-to-end anastomosis. Recovery was uneventful and the patient remains well fifteen months later.