Management of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis

The management of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis is controversial. Although it may appear intuitive that restoring normal blood flow to the kidney(s) is the treatment of choice, there are no data showing an obvious advantage of interventional therapy compared with medical therapy. In this article, we discuss the most recent advances in the treatment of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis with a focus on randomized studies comparing medical treatment with angioplasty/stenting, particularly in patients with underlying renal dysfunction. The available data are still of limited quality but provide support against indiscriminate use of interventions, as these treatments appear no better than best medical treatment that focuses on blood pressure control, use of blockers of the renin–angiotensin system, and aggressive cardiovascular risk management.     

Aortic counterpulsation in cardiogenic shock during acute myocardial infarction

Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation is the most widely used form of mechanical hemodynamic support in the setting of cardiogenic shock due to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is also strongly recommended (class 1b) in the current European guidelines for treatment of STEMI. The evidence of a possible benefit of IABP in this setting is based mainly on registry data and a few randomized trials. Cardiogenic shock and subsequent death due to STEMI result from three factors: hemodynamic deterioration, occurrence of multiorgan dysfunction and systemic inflammatory response. IABP does not cause an immediate improvement in blood pressure, but the recent SHOCK II trial shows positive effects on multiorgan dysfunction. Some experimental and clinical studies have indicated that IABP results in hemodynamic benefits as a result of afterload reduction and diastolic augmentation with improvement of coronary perfusion. However, the effect on cardiac output is modest and may not be sufficient to reduce mortality. Furthermore we can say that the use of IABP before coronary revascularization in the setting of STEMI complicated with cardiogenic shock may make the interventional procedure safer by improving left ventricular unloading. The purpose of the present review is to clarify the state of the art on this topic.     

Pseudo-aneurysm of mitral aortic intervalvular fibrosa: Two case reports

The fibrous body between the mitral and aortic valve, known as mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (MAIVF) is prone to infection and injury resulting in pseudo-aneurysm formation. Because of its relative rarity, we are far from making any conclusion regarding the natural history and appropriate therapeutic strategy for this condition. We report two cases of this condition with two different and rare etiologies with strikingly different natural courses, providing insight into the natural course and timing of surgery in this rare entity.     

血管内支架成形术治疗症状性弓上颅外动脉狭窄9例

 目的 探讨血管内支架成形术治疗症状性弓上颅外动脉狭窄的临床效果和安全性.方法 应用血管内支架成形术治疗症状性弓上血管狭窄9例.结果 治疗狭窄动脉10支,狭窄程度均明显改善,狭窄程度由原来的(81.4±14.11)%下降至(4.9±3.73)%,无死亡病例,术后患者症状均明显改善,无围术期并发症.随访1～8个月,颈动脉超声检查治疗血管无再狭窄.结论 血管内支架成形术治疗症状性弓上颅外动脉狭窄具有安全性高、临床效果好的特点,但由于例数较少,缺乏长期随访效果,值得进一步随访研究.     

冷冻联合氩气刀介入治疗恶性气道狭窄的临床观察

目的：探讨冷冻联合氩气刀介入治疗恶性气道狭窄的临床疗效及安全性。方法根据介入治疗方法的不同,将40例恶性气道狭窄患者分为两组。 A组(22例)使用冷冻联合氩气刀治疗,B组(18例)使用单纯冷冻治疗,评价两组治疗方法的临床疗效及并发症情况。结果 A组患者再通有效率为95．45%,明显高于B组(66．67%),差异有统计学意义( P<0．05);两组患者未见严重不良反应及并发症。结论冷冻联合氩气刀治疗恶性气道狭窄疗效可靠并安全,优于单纯冷冻治疗,值得临床推广应用。     

中老年缺血性卒中患者脑血管造影联合腹主动脉造影的影像学研究

目的：探讨中老年缺血性卒中患者发生脑血管狭窄和周围血管狭窄的影像学特点。方法：回顾性总结1060例在我科同期行脑血管造影和腹主动脉造影患者的检查结果,并记录可能引起动脉粥样硬化的相关参数,分析脑血管狭窄和周围血管狭窄的相关性,探索发生多支动脉狭窄和动脉溃疡性斑块的危险因素。结果：周围血管狭窄与脑血管狭窄有关(r=0.236,P<0.01),且与脑血管狭窄的程度(r=0.228,P<0.01)和数量(r=0.231,P<0.01)呈正相关关系;年龄(OR=1.059,95% CI：1.015~1.117,P<0.05)、吸烟(OR=3.423,95% CI：1.524~7.780,P<0.01)及糖尿病(OR=3.651,95% CI：1.536~8.425,P<0.01)是多支动脉狭窄的危险因素。单因素分析未发现动脉溃疡性斑块的危险因素。结论：脑卒中患者往往合并有周围血管狭窄,对缺血性卒中患者脑血管造影同时联合腹主动脉造影具有重要意义;年龄、吸烟和糖尿病是多支动脉狭窄的独立危险因素。     

急性主动脉夹层患者血清儿茶酚胺质量浓度与氧合指数的 相关性研究

目的 探索急性主动脉夹层（acute aortic dissection,AAD）患者是否存在血清儿茶酚胺质量浓度的升高,以及患者血清儿茶酚胺质量浓度与氧合指数（oxygenation index,OI）的关系。HTH]方法 2013年4~12月期间,纳入3组患者（A组38例AAD患者、B组28例升主动脉瘤患者、C组22例心绞痛患者）为研究对象,收集所有患者一般临床资料,测定OI并采集血液标本测定肾上腺素（adrenaline,AD）、去甲肾上腺素（noradrenaline,NA）、内毒素（endotoxin,ET）的血清质量浓度。通过对3组患者上述指标的对比分析,观察AAD患者血清儿茶酚胺质量浓度是否升高;采用直线相关分析AAD患者血清儿茶酚胺质量浓度与ET质量浓度以及OI的关系。HTH]结果 3组患者一般临床资料差异无统计学意义。A组患者血清AD、NA、ET质量浓度均高于B组和C组（ P<0.001),OI低于B组和C组（ P<0.001)。采用直线相关分析发现AAD患者血清AD及NA质量浓度均与ET质量浓度存在正相关性,而与OI呈负相关性。结论 血清儿茶酚胺浓度的升高可能与AAD患者急性肺损伤有关。     

Endoluminal stent graft repair for acute and chronic type B aortic dissection and atherosclerotic aneurysm of the thoracic aorta: an interdisciplinary task

Objective: Endoluminal thoracic aortic stenting is a new therapeutic tool in reducing the operative trauma of the patient. However, the inherent risks of aortic stent grafting are perivascular leakage, stent dislocation, blunt rupture of the aorta, side branch occlusion and neurological sequelae. To reduce these risks, in our institution all stent implantations were performed in close collaboration with our fellow cardiologists under biplane X-ray control supported by simultaneous intravascular and transoesophageal ultrasound imaging. Methods: Between August 1999 and August 2001, endovascular stent graft repair was performed in 34 patients (27 male, seven female) with a mean age of 68.6±7 years (range 58–84). Indication for treatment was an acute Type B aortic dissection in six patients (18%), a symptomatic chronic Type B dissection in 12 patients (35%), a true aneurysm of the descending aorta in seven patients (21%) and an atherosclerotic contained rupture of the descending aorta in nine (26%) patients. Out of six acute type B dissections three patients (8.8%) and one patient (2.9%) out of the chronic dissection group were in severe haemorrhagic shock, ventilated and required high-dose adrenergic support. The others (30 patients, 88.3%) remained symptomatic despite maximum medical treatment. In a special case a combined surgical and endoluminal stent graft repair was performed. Individually manufactured Talent, Medtronic AVE (33), and Gore (1) stents were used. Follow-up examination was performed 1 week after implantation and repeated every 3 months (mean follow-up 8 months, range 1–24). Results: In all patients the aneurysm or the entry of the dissection could be excluded. The observed hospital mortality was 2.9% (one patient). No perivascular leakage, no stent dislocation, no neurological deficit or perfusion impairment was observed. All patients except four were extubated immediately after the procedure and discharged from hospital on postoperative day 2–3. The late procedure-related mortality was 5.8% (two patients) resulting in an overall mortality of 8.8% (three patients). Conclusion: Stent graft repair is a safe and feasible treatment option for selected patients, especially in emergency situations, if the aortic lesions can be clearly identified and localized. The use of biplane X-ray control combined with simultaneous intravascular and transoesophageal ultrasound imaging in an interdisciplinary approach enables a more precise targeting of the stent landing zone, resulting in low morbidity and mortality rates.