Duplex sonography of lower extremity arteries

Although indirect noninvasive tests continue to play a role in the evaluation of patients with lower extremity arterial disease, the direct approach of duplex scanning provides both anatomic and physiological information directly from the involved arterial sites. Experience has shown that the results of duplex scanning are comparable with those of arteriography. The addition of color Doppler imaging to standard duplex scanning expedites the examination by helping to identify vessels and localize flow disturbances. However, precise classification of disease severity still requires spectral waveform analysis. Initial screening of patients with duplex scanning can determine the severity of arterial occlusive disease, the location of the lesions, and which interventional techniques are most appropriate. Arteriography can then be reserved for those patients who are being considered for therapeutic interventions. Duplex scanning has become the primary diagnostic test for follow-up of patients after radiological or surgical procedures and should be considered as an essential component of care for patients with infrainguinal bypass grafts. It has also proven to be valuable for intraoperative assessment and the initial evaluation of suspected vascular trauma in the extremities. Finally, new applications such as compression therapy for pseudoaneurysms continue to evolve and expand the role of duplex scanning in the management of patients with vascular problems.     

Duplex surveillance of lower extremity endovascular interventions

Endovascular techniques have been rapidly implemented into the surgical armamentarium for the treatment of infrainguinal arterial occlusive disease. Despite high initial technical success rates, all endovascular interventions in the femoropopliteal- tibial arterial distribution are associated with a significant restenosis and failure rate. Strategies to improve the durability of endovascular therapy need to be developed and should include medical therapy and surveillance testing to detect hemodynamic failure that typically precedes thrombotic occlusion. Duplex ultrasound can accurately identify the abnormal, stenosed angioplasty site, but the threshold criteria that predict thrombosis have not been defined. Duplex ultrasound surveillance protocols are designed to identify residual stenosis, which is associated with lower patency rates, and by serial testing, the development of a progressive, high-grade stenosis. The decision to reintervene and correct the angioplasty site lesion should be individualized based on patient characteristics, the clinical implication of angioplasty failure, and efficacy of secondary interventions in prolonging functional patency.     

Risk factors associated with acute lower extremity ischemia after coronary revascularization.

Acute lower extremity ischemia (ALEI) is a recognized complication of coronary revascularization that can lead to emergent lower extremity revascularization, amputation, and death. Patients with correctable coronary artery disease have a high incidence of lower extremity arterial occlusive disease (AOD). But, despite the known high correlation between AOD and coronary artery disease, the status of the lower extremity vasculature in patients undergoing coronary revascularization may be overlooked until the lower extremity becomes profoundly ischemic. Data from a retrospective review of 35,000 coronary revascularization procedures identified 55 patients who developed ALEI, subsequent to their cardiac procedures. Risk factors for ALEI included femoral artery instrumentation, previous coronary revascularization, hemodynamic instability, and documented AOD. Means of identifying patients at risk for ALEI are discussed.     

下肢动脉硬化闭塞症腔内治疗的疗效分析及2年内的随访观察

目的：探讨腔内治疗的疗效及2年内的随访结果。方法：回顾性分析我院2006年7月—2011年6月的222例下肢动脉硬化闭塞症患者的资料,共274条患肢。本组病例中男162例,女60例,平均年龄（67.5±11.2）岁。根据不同的病变部位分为：主髂动脉病变92条肢体,股腘动脉101条肢体,膝下动脉31条肢体,多节段病变50条肢体;根据不同的病变程度分为：Rutherford 3级116条肢体,Rutherford 4级87条肢体,Rutherford 5级37条肢体,Rutherford 6级34条肢体。用超声、CTA及DSA等辅助检查方法,进行腔内治疗术后2年内随访。结果：269条肢体技术成功,265条肢体临床成功,单纯球囊扩张86条肢体,球囊成形+支架植入183条肢体。术后30 d内因心衰、重度感染及休克死亡4例,膝上截肢2例。本组病例中完成随访患肢235条,随访9～24月,平均（20.8±4.7）月。2年时血管初次通畅率为71.5％,二次通畅率为75.7％。踝关节以上截肢9例,保肢率96.2％。结论：腔内治疗下肢动脉硬化闭塞症通畅率较好,2年内十分有效。     

The role of the deep femoral artery in revascularization of the lower extremity.

The deep femoral artery is often peculiarly resistant to atherosclerosis when the common and superficial femoral arteries are severly affected. At the Mayo Clinic between 1964 and 1972, 43 patients had aorta-deep femoral artery bypass as the definitive revascularization procedure for arteriel insufficiency of the lower extremities. Of the patients with grade 1 ischemia, 82% became asymptomatic as did 44% of those with grade 2 ischemia and 43% of those with ulceration and incipient gangrene. After 2 years, 25 of 40 (62%) previously symptomatic lower extremities had remained asymptomatic (in 31 patients available for follow-up evaluation). The rates were 68% and 55% after 3 and 4 years, respectively.     

The lower extremity activity profile: a health status instrument for measuring lower extremity disability

The Lower Extremity Activity Profile (LEAP) is a comprehensive measure of lower extremity function. It measures the client's perception of difficulty and satisfaction with performance in the following areas: self care, mobility, household activities, work, leisure activities, and social activities. The development and initial reliability and validity testing of LEAP was conducted with 32 osteoarthritis clients undergoing total knee replacement. Using a one-group repeated measures design, the LEAP, knee range of motion and self-paced walk measures were administered pre-operatively and 3 months post-operatively. The internal consistency of the LEAP using Cronbach's Alpha was 0.73. All LEAP scores showed significant improvement (p<0.01) between the two administration times demonstrating responsiveness of the measure. Correlations of LEAP with the clinical measures were moderate. LEAP is recommended for use as an outcome measure in similar populations, if used in conjunction with clinical and physical performance measures. Further testing of the LEAP is warranted for use in evaluating outcomes of rehabilitation programs addressing lower extremity musculoskeletal impairment and disability.     

通塞脉片对糖尿病下肢动脉闭塞患者介入术后的影响

目的探讨通塞脉片在糖尿病下肢动脉闭塞患者接受下肢动脉介入术后的治疗效果。方法收集78例糖尿病下肢动脉闭塞严重肢体缺血患者的临床资料,根据患者术后是否服用通塞脉片分为观察组和对照组,对照组介入术后接受抗血小板药物治疗,观察组在抗血小板药物基础上加用通塞脉片。比较2组临床治疗效果。结果总体手术成功率94%,观察组和对照组的手术成功率、补救性支架植入率、开通的膝下动脉支数比较差异均无统计学意义(P均> 0.05)。随访6个月时,观察组2例(5%)患者分别死于心肌梗死和脑梗死,对照组1例(3%)患者死于心肌梗死。观察组和对照组的总体保肢率分别为81%和67%,临床症状驱动的靶血管再血管化率分别为17%和14%。2组患者总体保肢率、再血管化率和全因死亡率比较差异均无统计学意义(P均> 0.05)。观察组患者小截肢率低于对照组(14%vs. 33%,P <0.05)。对术前患者肾功能进行分层分析,肾功能正常患者中观察组的小截肢发生率低于对照组(11%vs. 35%,P <0.05)。结论糖尿病下肢动脉闭塞患者接受下肢动脉介入手术效果确切,通塞脉片有助减少患者术后小截肢的风险...     

Recurrent lower extremity pseudocellulitis

The term "Pseudocellulitis" can be used to describe an uncomplicated nonnecrotizing inflammation of the dermis and hypodermis from a noninfectious etiology. Chemotherapeutic agents have been associated with a variety of cutaneous reactions, including radiation recall dermatitis, hypersensitivity reactions, and erysipeloid reactions. Gemcitabine (2,2-difluorodeoxycytidine) is currently being used for treatment of a variety of solid malignancies, including carcinoma of the lung. The dermatitis involved with gemcitabine is typically a radiation recall reaction whereby an inflammatory reaction occurs in the area previously treated with radiotherapy. We describe here a case of Gemcitabine-induced pseudocellulitis that was unrelated to radiation exposure and manifested in an area of lymphedema. The pseudocellulitis in such cases could be related to the drug's pharmacokinetics and may last until the drug is displaced from the subcutaneous tissue of the affected area. Antibiotics have no role in the treatment, and diphenhydramine with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories may be used for symptomatic management.     

下肢动脉硬化闭塞症的介入治疗

介入治疗已经成为下肢动脉硬化闭塞症的主要治疗方法之一,近年来,长球囊和药物支架等的应用明显改善了介入治疗的疗效,内膜下成形术以及多种新技术、新器械的问世,显著提高了长段闭塞性病变的开通率。本文就下肢动脉硬化闭塞症的临床表现,常用的血管检查方法、TASC II分型、介入技术(包括穿刺入路的选择、闭塞段的开通、经导管溶栓、PTA、支架植入、内膜下成形术和机械性辅助技术等)以及治疗策略等方面进行综述。