A Case Report of an Extra Anatomical Cartico-iliac Bypass

We describe an extra-anatomical bypass from the right common carotid artery to a patent ilio-femoral crossover bypass in a high risk patient with an occluded aorta, bilateral subclavian artery disease, and a critical ischaemic left leg. An occluded right internal carotid artery allowed us to use the right common carotid artery as a donor vessel for carotico-iliac bypass without risking steal syndrome.     

Diagnosis of early Takayasu arteritis with sonography

OBJECTIVE: Takayasu arteritis is a large-vessel vasculitis that occurs predominantly in young females. The diagnosis is not usually established before arterial stenoses or occlusions are present. The aim of the study was to find out if sonography can aid in the diagnosis of the disease in earlier stages. METHODS: We describe three patients with early disease who had no haemodynamically relevant stenoses. They are compared with nine patients who were diagnosed in the stenotic/occlusive stage of the disease. All patients were German Caucasian females. Colour Doppler sonography and angiography were performed in all cases. RESULTS: Patients with early disease had general symptoms of fatigue and arthralgia and laboratory signs of inflammation, but neither bruits nor decrease of pulse rate. Sonography of the carotid and subclavian arteries demonstrated a characteristic, homogeneous, midechoic, circumferential thickening of the wall. At this stage of the disease it was difficult to get unequivocal results with angiography. In all nine remaining patients, sonography also demonstrated inflammation of the subclavian or carotid arteries, as did angiography in eight of these patients. CONCLUSION: Sonography of the carotid and subclavian arteries aids in the detection of early Takayasu arteritis. In young females with unclear symptoms and laboratory findings of generalized inflammation, the primary extracranial branches of the aortic arch should be investigated by sonography to detect early Takayasu arteritis.     

Cerebrovascular manifestations of Takayasu arteritis in Europe

Objectives. Takayasu arteritis is well known as a cause of strokein Asia but has rarely been described in the Western world.Here we report the clinical and neuroimaging follow-up of aseries of patients with Takayasu arteritis from Europe. Methods. Seventeen consecutive patients who fulfilled the diagnosticcriteria for Takayasu arteritis of the American College of Rheumatologywere evaluated on follow-up by standardized neurological examination,sonography and MRI. Results. At follow-up almost 20 yr after onset of symptoms,the subclavian artery and the common carotid artery were oftenaffected. In addition, evidence of intracranial pathology wasfound in seven patients. In contrast to the severe vessel involvement,the neurological state was stable. Two patients had sufferedfrom stroke before the diagnosis was made and therapy was initiated,and one patient had recurrent transient ischaemic attacks. Intermittentdizziness was associated with pathology of the vertebral andbasilar arteries. However, clinical symptoms of subclavian stealsyndrome were rare. Conclusion. This case series shows that the clinical neurologicalcourse of Takayasu arteritis on treatment is benign in mostcases despite the severe vascular involvement. KEY WORDS: Takayasu arteritis, Vasculitis, Stroke, Cerebral ischaemia, Sonography, MRI * These authors contributed equally to this work.     

Concomitant aortoaxillary bypass and coronary artery bypass grafting

The optimal revascularization strategy for patients with subclavian and coronary artery disease has not been established. This study assessed the mid-term clinical outcome of concomitant aortoaxillary bypass and coronary artery bypass grafting in 5 patients. A ring-reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene graft was attached to the ascending aorta and led to the proximal segment of the axillary artery via the pleural cavity. Patients were followed up for 2-10 years (mean, 5.4 +/- 3.4 years). Postoperative aortography and angiography demonstrated patent aortoaxillary and coronary bypass grafts in the short-term follow-up of all patients. Two patients with Takayasu aortitis needed re-operations for recurrent angina and annuloaortic dilatation. Another patient required removal of the aortoaxillary bypass graft because of infection, and subsequently underwent a left femoroaxillary bypass one year after the original procedure. Subclavian steal phenomenon did not occur. Aortoaxillary bypass with coronary artery bypass may be an effective option for patients with co-existing subclavian and coronary artery disease.     

Unprotected left main stent placement in a patient with Takayasu's arteritis: an unusual solution for an unusual disease

We describe the case of a young woman with Takayasu's arteritis that initially manifested as heart failure due to left main coronary artery stenosis. The patient's occluded subclavian artery and the active inflammatory process of Takayasu's arteritis precluded coronary artery bypass grafting with the use of arterial grafts. Therefore, a drug-eluting stent was placed in the unprotected left main artery. This procedure resulted in the resolution of symptoms, with a patent stent and no new coronary lesions observed on 3-month angiography, and normal left ventricular function on 9-month echocardiography. We conclude that the use of drug-eluting stents may be an important treatment option for Takayasu's arteritis patients with life-threatening coronary artery disease for whom coronary artery bypass grafting is not an option.     

支架置入术治疗头臂型多发性大动脉炎

目的探讨头臂型大动脉炎支架置入的治疗方法及疗效。方法回顾性分析19例经支架置入术治疗的重型头臂型多发性大动脉炎患者的临床资料。本组患者均为女性,年龄为18～37岁,平均27．8岁。发病时间0．7～5．0年,平均3．4年。结果对19例患者的24支目标血管进行介入治疗,22支目标血管开通成功后,进行了支架置入术治疗,技术成功率为91．7％（22／24）;其中双侧颈总动脉支架置人术2例,单侧颈总动脉或颈内动脉支架置入术6例,单侧颈总动脉合并单侧锁骨下动脉一椎动脉支架置人术1例,单侧锁骨下动脉一椎动脉支架置入术10例。术后18例（2支完全闭塞的颈动脉未开通成功,但随后成功开通了闭塞的锁骨下动脉一椎动脉）缺血症状均明显缓解,头晕、头痛等症状明显缓解,视力明显恢复。有效率为94．7％（18／19）。17例患者得到随访,随访时间为8～36个月,平均19．4个月,其中1例患者术后22个月突发枕叶梗死。8例患者偶有头痛、头晕发生。结论血管内介入手术是治疗重型头臂型多发I生大动脉炎的一种安全和有效的方法。     

Takayasu arteritis with multiple cardiovascular complications

A 60-year-old Japanese woman first presented in 1990 with effort angina. She underwent coronary angiography and was diagnosed with bilateral coronary ostial stenosis and Takayasu arteritis. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) for multiple vessels was attempted, but the blood flow in the bilateral internal thoracic and gastroepiploic arteries was to poor for a donor artery, and the calcification of the ascending aortic wall was too severe for anastomosis of saphenous vein grafts. Therefore, the proper hepatic artery was connected to the left anterior descending artery using a vein graft. In April 2000, the patient's angina worsened. Occlusions of both subclavian arteries, bilateral coronary ostial stenosis and vein graft occlusion, aortic valve regurgitation, and two severe stenoses of the descending aorta were observed. Aortic valve replacement, and coronary and aorta revascularization were desirable, but the severe aortic wall calcification and thickening rendered these interventions impossible. Treatment with medication was chosen. The patient was discharged without severe angina. A combination of these serious cardiovascular complications which do not allow any surgical intervention is very rare. Received: May 21, 2001 / Accepted: August 24, 2001     

Injuries to arterial branches of the aortic arch

Exposure of arch branches for repair following trauma can be difficult. Seven patients with blunt injuries and 5 with penetrating injuries underwent repair of the innominate, common carotid and subclavian arteries. Common associated injuries included head injury, hemopneumothorax, lung contusion, long bone fractures and brachial plexus injury. Widened mediastinum was seen in 5 patients. Six patients with innominate, right subclavian and right common carotid injuries were approached through sternotomy with extension into the right side of the neck. Posterolateral thoracotomy was used to reach the proximal left subclavian artery in 2. Combined supra- and infraclavicular incision were utilized for the distal subclavian artery in 4. Eleven patients are alive, one to 7 years after surgery. One died of an unrelated cause. Head injuries complicated the postoperative management in 4 of the 7 patients with blunt trauma. Two patients with brachial plexus injury continued to have neurologic deficits. All arterial repairs have remained patent and there have been no graft infections.     

Patient with Takayasu arteritis presented as cardiogenic shock

Takayasu arteritis is a chronic inflammatory disease involving the aorta, its main branches and affects particularly young women. Symptomatic coronary artery disease and cardiogenic shock are rare signs of Takayasu arteritis. We describe a 47-year-old male patient in whom cardiogenic shock was the initial presentation of Takayasu arteritis with coronary, subclavian, celiac and total abdominal aortic occlusion.     

Takayasu arteritis of subclavian artery in a Caucasian

Takayasu arteritis, an inflammatory and obliterative disease of medium and large arteries, is classified as a giant cell arteritis. It has a predilection for the aortic arch, its main branches, and coronary and pulmonary arteries. The early symptoms of Takayasu arteritis may be mainly systemic and may resemble polymyalgia rheumatica. The etiology is unknown but autoimmunity has been suggested to play a role. Diagnosis is based on symptoms, physical findings, and imaging, because tissue diagnosis is rarely feasible. Unlike atherosclerotic vascular disease, Takayasu arteritis affects primarily, but not exclusively, young women. Contrary to earlier reports, it is not limited to the women of Japanese origin but is present worldwide. The current report is of a Caucasian woman who presented with nonspecific complaints of upper back pain, weakness, malaise, and fatigue. Her physical examination revealed absent left radial pulse and a blood pressure differential, later confirmed by radiological imaging studies to be due to left subclavian artery stenosis consistent with Takayasu arteritis. The presentation and management of the patient is described, and Takayasu arteritis is succinctly reviewed.     

Composite venous allograft for femoro-pedal bypass grafting in critical limb ischaemia

BackgroundWe report a series of four patients with critical limb ischaemia and lack of autologous conduits, treated with composite (end-to-end anastomosis) allogenic fresh/or cryopreserved saphenous vein bypass grafting. This technique may be necessary in case of femoro-pedal artery bypass grafting, which is an extreme situation if there is shortage in length or inadequate quality of the venous allograft. Such a long reconstruction requires two donor saphenous veins.Case reportFour patients were indicated for “I-composite” fresh venous allograft for femoro-pedal bypass grafting. One composite graft occluded 4 months postoperatively, one 21 months postoperatively, two other remained patent with median follow-up 23 months. No amputation was required in any of the patients during the follow-up.ConclusionMidterm patency of the reconstruction may be satisfactory provided that the ABO compatibility, short cold ischaemia time of the graft, adequate immunosuppressive therapy and proper follow-up protocol of the patient after vascular allograft transplantation are observed. Surgeons should keep in mind possibility of this technique mainly in diabetic patients with critical limb ischaemia and occluded crural vessels.     

Intraarterial digital subtraction angiography for evaluation of internal mammary artery graft in coronary bypass surgery

Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed to evaluate graft patency in 60 patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting with the internal mammary artery (IMA). Sixty IMA grafts with 62 distal anastomoses, and 84 saphenous vein grafts with 85 distal anastomoses were evaluated by intraarterial DSA with an image frequency of 4 frames/sec. A No. 4 Fr. angiography catheter was introduced percutaneously into the left brachial artery and contrast medium was injected both into the subclavian artery for opacification of the IMA grafts and into the ascending aorta for opacification of aortocoronary saphenous vein grafts. Bypass grafts were defined as patent when grafts were opacified through their entire course, including anastomotic sites. Fifty-nine IMA grafts with 61 distal anastomoses (98%) and 76 saphenous vein grafts with 77 distal anastomoses (91%) were patent. The overall patency rate for total grafts was 94%. In 4 patients, DSA showed a "string sign" in the IMA graft which was patent but narrowed at its distal segment. In 5 patients, large first intercostal branches were opacified. Intraarterial DSA with the retrograde brachial approach is not difficult, and is an excellent low risk method of evaluating the patency of IMA and saphenous vein grafts. DSA provided information about functional patency as well as anatomical patency of the IMA graft.     

Cerebral hyperperfusion after angioplasty and stenting of a totally occluded left subclavian artery: a case report

Cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome is documented after angioplasty of carotid and vertebral artery lesions. The authors report the first instance of cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome in the posterior cerebral circulation after angioplasty and stenting of a totally occluded left subclavian artery.     

Progression from stenosis to occlusion in the proximal native coronary artery after coronary artery bypass grafting

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is an established treatment for multivessel coronary artery disease. However, problematic situations are occasionally encountered after CABG, such as disease progression in the native coronary artery with graft occlusion, which causes difficulty in revascularization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in the native coronary artery after CABG. Between 2009 and 2012 in our institution, 351 patients underwent CABG, and 768 bypass grafts were anastomosed to non-occluded coronary arteries. Of these, 489 bypass grafts had available early postoperative angiographic results (≤6 months) suitable for assessment in this study. We defined malignant graft failure after CABG to be bypass graft occlusion and de novo complete occlusion of the target native coronary artery proximal to the graft anastomosis site. In the early angiographic results, 17 grafts were occluded (17/489; 3.5 %). Two of the grafts displayed malignant graft failure (a saphenous vein graft to the right coronary artery and a saphenous vein graft to the diagonal branch) (2 of 17 occluded grafts, and 2 of 489 studied grafts). Of the patent bypass grafts, 24 involved progression to occlusion in the proximal native coronary artery (19 saphenous vein grafts, 4 left internal thoracic artery grafts, and 1 right internal thoracic artery graft). Malignant graft failure was uncommon during short-term follow-up after CABG. At the same time, disease progression in the proximal native coronary artery from stenosis to occlusion following patent bypass grafting was relatively common, especially for vein grafts.     

头臂血管成形术治疗成人主动脉弓及头臂血管发育不良

目的:总结并探索主动脉弓及头臂血管发育不良的手术治疗方式。方法:2009年2月至2011年12月,北京安贞医院大血管中心对4例主动脉弓及头臂血管发育不良的患者行主动脉弓成形术治疗,手术均采用右侧腋动脉和股动脉及右心房插管建立体外循环,在深低温停循环选择性脑灌注下进行,沿主动脉弓长轴靠近头臂血管根部横行切开主动脉弓,切口两端达正常段,再纵形剖开3枝头臂血管开口及近段(狭窄段)前壁,分别将无名动脉和左颈总动脉、左颈总动脉和左锁骨下动脉相邻血管壁连续缝合在一起,将3枝血管融合成一个共同腔的后壁,再用人工血管片作为前壁补片加宽主动脉弓及头臂血管共同腔,以完成对发育不良的主动脉弓和头臂血管的手术矫治。结果:患者术后均恢复顺利,复查结果显示主动脉弓及头臂血管形态良好,上下肢压差<20 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)。结论:将发育不良的头臂血管近段剖开融合成一个共同腔,再用人工血管片加宽可理想地矫正主动脉弓及头臂血管发育不良。     

Arterial reconstruction in Buerger's disease: by-pass to disease-free collaterals.

BACKGROUND: Arterial reconstructions for ischemia in patients with Buerger's disease are technically challenging. This retrospective review was conducted to identify the critical factor for a successful outcome in bypass surgery for Buerger's disease. METHODS: Design of study: retrospective review. Setting: University hospital, hospitalized patients. Patients: since 1993, we performed 10 arterial reconstructions in 8 patients with Buerger's disease. There were 8 tibial artery bypasses and 2 collateral artery bypasses. One bypass was performed in the upper extremity. Interventions: bypass surgery with autogenous vein graft. Main outcomes measurements: graft patency. RESULTS: Over a mean follow-up period of 41.8 months, there were 3 graft occlusions. Of these, 2 were of bypasses to a patent but diseased tibial artery. One graft was occluded due to a toe stenosis which had been previously detected. The 2 collateral artery bypasses were patent at the last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In Buerger's disease, distal arterial reconstruction is frequently necessary to prevent ischemic limb loss. Collateral artery bypass is an option when the main arteries are affected by the disease. A patent but diseased artery should be avoided as a target for reconstruction.     

Stent-Supported Recanalization of Supra-Aortic Vessels in Takayasu Arteritis—A Case Report

The aim of our article was to describe the use of transluminal recanalization supported by endovascular stenting in the case of multiple stenosis/occlusion of the supra-aortic vessels as a result of Takayasu arteritis. A 43-year-old male, suffering from upper-limb claudication and dizziness, was found to have severe stenosis of the right innominate artery and total occlusion of the left subclavian artery, leading to flow reversal in the left vertebral artery with consequent subclavian steal. The clinical picture was consistent with Takayasu arteritis in a quiescent stage. Dilatation and stenting of the innominate artery and recanalization and stenting of the left subclavian artery were performed without complication. At one-year followup the patient was asymptomatic; angiography disclosed full patency of the vessels treated, right common carotid ostium included, with no sign of restenosis.Transluminal percutaneous revascularization with stenting was successful and long-lasting in this patient with complex, nonatherosclerotic great vessels disease.     

Usefulness of ultrasonography in carotid arteries and combined positron emission tomography/ computed tomography for diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis with unusual presentation as acute myocardial infarction: a case report

This unusual case of Takayasu arteritis presenting as acute myocardial infarction could be defined by ultrasonography and 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) coregistered with computed tomography (CT). A 55-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with continuous chest pain and left-side neck pain. After primary percutaneous coronary intervention, elevation of inflammatory markers persisted and dull pain in the left side of the neck continued. Ultrasonography revealed characteristic wall thickening of the left common carotid artery and subsequent 18F-FDG PET with CT depicted positive uptake in the left common carotid artery and the vessel wall of the ascending aorta, confirming the diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis. Three months after angioplasty, follow-up cardiac catheterization was performed. Coronary angiography showed no restenosis. During the catheterization, angiography confirmed the mild stenosis in the long segment of the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery as well as the focal narrowing and the dilation of the abdominal aorta. This case shows that ultrasonography in the cervical region and combined 18F-FDG PET with CT may be useful in the diagnosis and evaluation of Takayasu arteritis. In addition, we should pay attention to underlying disease even in middle-aged or older male patients with acute myocardial infarction.     

Endovascular repair of a thoracic arch aneurysm with a fenestrated stent-graft

Purpose: To report a new endovascular technique for thoracic aortic arch aneurysm repair with a fenestrated stent-graft. Case Report: A 75-year-old man presented with a 5.5-cm thoracic aneurysm involving the inner curve and left anterior lateral aspect of the aortic arch. The innominate and left carotid arteries shared a common trunk, and the right vertebral artery was dominant. Endovascular repair was performed utilizing a fenestrated stent-graft that allowed perfusion of the innominate and left carotid arteries but occluded the left subclavian artery. At 8 months post procedure, the patient is well; imaging documented the continued exclusion of the aneurysm and perfusion of the common trunk branches. Conclusion: Fenestrated endovascular grafts for specific thoracic aortic arch aneurysm can be used safely in the high-risk patient.     

Evaluation of aortocoronary bypass graft status by computed tomography

The efficacy of contrast-enhanced computed tomography to define graft patency status was studied in 42 patients with 100 aortocoronary vein grafts. The status of each graft had been determined earlier by anglography. A rotary fan beam whole body scanner with a 2 second scan duration was used. Initial scans determined the optimal level for study of the graft; patency was assessed by computed tomographic enhancement of the graft after intravenous bolus injection of 30 ml meglumine and sodium diatriazoate. The computed tomographic studies were evaluated without knowledge of the anglographic findings; graft status by computed tomography was interpreted as patent, occluded or equivocal.Overall, computed tomography correctly defined graft patency status in 79 of the 100 grafts and incorrectly identified it in 9; in 12 grafts, the computed tomographic diagnosis was equivocal. Computed tomography correctly identified 61 of 74 patent grafts and 18 of 26 occluded grafts. Patency status was correctly defined by computed tomography in 35 of 37 grafts to the left anterior descending artery, 23 of 30 grafts to circumflex branches and 19 of 31 grafts to the right coronary artery. These data indicate that computed tomography is a promising noninvasive method of determining patency of aortocoronary bypass grafts, especially of grafts to the left anterior descending artery.