Superficial Femoral Vein and Superficial Femoral Artery as Replacement for Infected Axillofemoral Graft

We report successful replacement of infected axillofemoral bypass with a combined femoral vein and superficial femoral artery graft. The new graft was transferred through the tunnel left after infected prosthesis removal. Good early and long-term results indicate that this may be a sufficient procedure.     

Infected Viabahn Stent Graft in the Superficial Femoral Artery

We present a case of an infected stent graft in the superficial femoral artery (SFA). A 67-year-old woman underwent excision of an infected Viabahn stent graft. At exploration there was no apparent artery around the majority of the stent graft, suggesting that the SFA had been autolysed.Infected stents and stent grafts are rare in the SFA position. The risk of infection is likely minimised with standard treatments including drainage of infection prior to stent graft placement and periprocedural antibiotic administration. Successful management will, in most cases, require excision of the stent graft and adjunctive arterial reconstruction, as necessary.     

Gender Does Not Influence Outcomes after Iliac Angioplasty

The current study was undertaken to evaluate the potential influence of gender on iliac angioplasty outcomes. All iliac angioplasty procedures performed at a tertiary care center from 1994 to 1999 were reviewed. One hundred four angioplasties with or without stenting were performed in 44 women (56 limbs) and 40 men (48 limbs). Age and atherosclerotic risk factors were similar in men and women. Iliac angioplasty was performed for limb salvage in 41% of patients (39% female vs. 44% male; p = 0.65). There were no differences in degree of stenosis, lesion length, or initial angioplasty site. Female iliac arteries were more likely to be occluded (21% vs. 6%; p = 0.03); mean iliac artery luminal diameter was smaller in women than in men (6.5 ± 0.5 mm vs. 8.2 ± 0.6 mm; p <0.001). After a median follow-up of 13 months, there were no significant differences in 2-year primary patency, endovascular primary-assisted patency, or limb salvage rates between women and men. Despite having smaller iliac arteries and a higher incidence of arterial occlusion before treatment, women had outcomes similar to those of men after iliac angioplasty. The current results support the initial use of angioplasty to treat common and external iliac artery occlusive disease in both women and men.     

Spontaneous Superficial Femoral Artery Dissection with Distal Embolization

Primary arterial dissection of the peripheral vessels is a rare condition. We report a case of spontaneous dissection of the distal superficial femoral artery compounded by distal embolization leading to ischemic symptoms. The patient was successfully treated with exploration of the superficial femoral artery over the area of the dissection, distal embolectomy, and reconstruction by way of an interposition graft. Awareness of this condition leads to potentially earlier diagnosis and expands the therapeutic options.     

Psuedoaneurysm of the Superficial Femoral Artery Resulting from Stingray Envenomation

Stingray envenomations usually result in minor injuries with localized symptoms. In some cases the injury incurred is more serious, resulting in significant morbidity if not adequately treated. We report a case of pseudoaneurysm of the superficial femoral artery resulting from a stingray envenomation in a young female. Stingray venom is known to have necrosing properties in human tissues and in this case this led to graft failure requiring surgical repair. This case emphasizes the insidious nature of stingray venom and the necessity of extensive surgical debridement for more significant envenomations.     

Teflon Guide-Wire-Assisted Semi-closed Vollmar Endarterectomy of the Superficial Femoral Artery

In this retrospective study, we analysed 25 guide-wire-assisted Vollmar endarterectomies of an occluded superficial femoral artery. In 96% of the cases, the patient suffered from a Fontaine stage III or IV. After a mean follow-up of 24.7 months, limb salvage is 96%. The patency rate is 84% which is comparable with a femoropopliteal bypass with a reversed greater saphenous vein graft. We advocate the Vollmar endarterectomy as a valuable alternative surgical treatment for occlusive superficial femoral artery in the absence of a greater saphenous vein or in young smoking patients (< 65 years).     

Angioplasty for the Treatment of Buttock Claudication Caused by Internal Iliac Artery Stenoses

A case of buttock claudication due to isolated internal iliac artery stenoses is presented. Although ankle systolic pressure at rest was within normal limits and distal pulses were palpable, an angiogram demonstrated severe stenoses. A computed tomography scan showed no spinal stenosis. The patient was successfully treated with angioplasty. This diagnosis may be elusive if ankle pressure or distal pulses are normal, thereby directing the clinician's suspicion away from vascular pathology.     

腹腔镜下主-双股动脉人工血管旁路移植术治疗髂动脉闭塞

本文报道2011年11月腹腔镜协助下成功治疗1例腹主动脉-股动脉闭塞,完全腹腔镜下使用涤纶Y形人工血管行近端腹主动脉吻合,人工血管远端经腹膜后隧道与双侧股动脉吻合,再使用聚四氟乙烯人工血管吻合涤纶血管至膝下腘动脉。吻合口无漏血,远端血运恢复。术后20天复查CTA,移植血管通畅。术后1个月复查,间歇性跛行症状消失,踝肱指数明显升高,分别由0.61升至0.81(左),0.41升至1.07(右)。     

Stent-assisted Remote Iliac Artery Endarterectomy: An Alternative Approach to Treating Combined External Iliac and Common Femoral Artery Disease

Objective

Stent-assisted remote iliac endarterectomy (SA-RIEA) is a hybrid minimally invasive technique for treating patients with combined external iliac and common femoral disease, when the only alternative would be conventional open revascularisation. Design: This was a retrospective, single-centre study.

Materials and Methods

From January 2004 to April 2010, 155 SA-RIEA procedures were performed. The patients’ mean age was 62 (range, 43–86) years. Indications for surgery were: severe claudication in 79 (51%), rest pain in 43 (28%) and gangrene in 33 (21%) cases. The mean length of follow-up was 21 months.

Result

Initial technical success was achieved in 145 (93.5%) procedures. Ten patients required conversion to a conventional iliofemoral reconstructive procedure. The 1-, 3- and 5-year primary, primary-assisted and secondary patency rates were 80.2%, 74.7% and 69.3%; 84.8%, 82.4% and 78.2%; and 86.8%, 84.2% and 79.6%, respectively. Within the first 30 days, there were no early reocclusions, one (0.6%) perioperative death due to myocardial infarction, five (3.4%) minor wound complications and two (1.3%) limb losses. During follow-up, seven patients underwent open reconstruction due to symptomatic reocclusion, and four were re-operated on due to symptomatic restenosis (three percutaneous transluminal angioplasties (PTAs), one reendarterectomy).

Conclusion

In patients with combined common femoral and external iliac disease, SA-RIEA appears to offer a safe and effective alternative to conventional open surgery.