Citations

Videoscopic surgical techniques have been developed to reduce morbidity of open aortic reconstructions. The advantage of hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) technique is the introduction of the surgeon's hand into the peritoneal cavity. The aims of this study were to assess the feasibility and to examine the learning curve, limitations, and pitfalls of the HALS technique to perform aortic reconstruction in a porcine model for training purposes. HALS aorto-aortic 8 mm polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) interposition grafts were placed in 12 pigs. Proficiency was judged by measuring operative time points, satisfactory completion of the operation, and the need to convert to open procedure. The strength of the relationship between order number in which a procedure was performed and the various surgical time point measures was described with the Spearman rank correlation. HALS aortic grafting was successful in the last 8 pigs. The first 2 pigs required conversion to open repair, and the graft of the third and fourth animals occluded early. Median operative time was 115 minutes (range: 75 to 205), median intestinal retraction time was 28 minutes (range: 10 to 40), median aortoiliac dissection time was 30 minutes (range: 20 to 60), and median aortic cross-clamp time was 48 minutes (range: 35 to 82). The Spearman rank correlations and p values between the order of the procedure and the intestinal retraction time, aortoiliac dissection time, clamping time, and total operative time were –0.62 (0.06), –0.47 (0.17), –0.69 (0.03), and –0.83 (0.03), respectively. HALS facilitates intestinal retraction and completion of laparoscopic aortoiliac dissection. It offers adequate exposure in pigs for aortic grafting and allows open sutured aortic anastomosis. The learning curve for HALS aortic surgery in a porcine model is short and within reach of surgeons with standard laparoscopic surgery skills, since no laparoscopic suturing is required. Training on this porcine model may be an efficient and safe way to introduce surgeons to HALS for aortoiliac reconstruction.

Axillary artery injury from blunt trauma to the shoulder is uncommon. Fracture of the neck of the humerus is a rare cause of injury to the axillary artery. Four cases of axillary artery thrombosis from humeral neck fracture are reported. Each of the first 2 patients presented with a pulseless and acutely ischemic limb after a trivial fall. A repair of the axillary artery with saphenous vein interposition graft was performed in the first patient. The extremity was salvaged, but a residual radial and ulnar neurologic deficit persisted. The second patient presented with a pulseless insensate upper extremity accompanied by motor loss. He underwent primary axillary artery repair. Still early in his postoperative course, he has had global brachial plexopathy and is undergoing intensive physical therapy. The third patient had a delayed presentation of brachial plexopathy and sympathetic reflex dystrophy. Arterial reconstruction was not required owing to excellent collateralization. The fourth patient presented with a cool pulseless extremity. His recovery is nearly complete after bypass of the axillary artery with a reversed saphenous vein graft. In addition, a review of the literature revealed 24 cases of axillary artery injury associated with humeral neck fracture. The mean age was 66.6 years. The most common mechanism of injury was a fall (79%). Thirteen patients (46%) presented with a neurologic deficit. Acute ischemia was present in 68%. Physical examination predicted the arterial injury in all but 1 patient. The injured axillary artery was repaired in 26 cases. Revascularization by an interposition graft was the most common procedure. All grafts and reanastomoses were patent and led to limb salvage. Of 9 primary repairs, 3 amputations were performed. Although limb salvage rate was 89%, a good functional outcome was obtained in only half of the patients. A high index of suspicion is required for early diagnosis of axillary artery injury. Despite excellent results of vascular reconstruction, the outcome remains determined by the excessive neurologic morbidity. Recognition of the associated brachial plexus injury is essential to improve the functional outcome of this unusual arterial injury.

Background:There has been increasing recognition of the detrimental effect of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) on the health of Americans, and yet there is no common national program of public PAD education designed to diminish this effect. Format:To heighten awareness of this problem, a 2-day PAD Public Education Strategy Meeting was recently attended by representatives of 17 professional societies and public health associations whose missions support the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of vascular diseases. This Public Education Strategy Meeting was intended to provide the rationale and structure to create a national PAD public awareness campaign to diminish the health effect of PAD and to improve cardiovascular outcomes in the United States. This document (1) provides the rationale for creation of a national PAD public education program; (2) reviews the development and success of national hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and Women's Heart Health public education programs as models of educational efficacy; (3) elucidates how the work of many vascular professionals has led to a national consensus for creation of a national PAD public educational program; (4) provides an overview of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute PAD education meeting; and (5) outlines the “next steps” required to accomplish these goals. Outcome:This meeting achieved consensus that we share responsibility for developing accurate, unified messages to promote PAD awareness and improved care. Participants agreed that the creation of such messages should be linked to plans to disseminate them to all Americans at risk. A consensus was reached that such messages, when commonly created and offered to the public, are most likely to achieve the rewards in better health that all Americans deserve. The Vascular Disease Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation whose mission includes public education about the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of PAD, will devote its resources to guide a new coalition in this process and to create a national PAD awareness campaign. During 2003 and 2004, the coalition will create the organizational underpinnings and time line for what will undoubtedly be a multiyear effort. Conclusion:Participants of the Public Education Strategy Meeting agreed to create a broad coalition to develop a National PAD Public Awareness Program, with the objectives to develop and disseminate public education messages on PAD. A successful national PAD education program will contribute to creation of a broader mandate to improve global cardiovascular health in the United States.

Stent-grafts are ideally terminated within the common iliac artery (CIA). However, CIA ectasia may require hypogastric artery occlusion, with stent-graft extension to the external iliac artery. Alternatively, the diameter of the distal stent-graft may be increased, or flared, to allow exclusion of the abdominal aortic aneurysm. This report details the authors’ experience with this technique. Forty-one patients received bifurcated stent-grafts (BSG): 20 received an AneuRx device, and 21 received a Zenith device. CIA ectasia (diameter 15–25 mm) was treated with a distal flare of 2–4 mm greater than the CIA diameter. Patients were followed up with computed tomography scan at 1, 6, and 12 months. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA within groups and unpaired two-tailed t test between groups. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant. Eight of 20 patients (40%) (11 CIA) received an AneuRx device and 13/21 (62%) (17 CIA) received a Zenith device, with a distal flare. Values are (n) mean (mm) ± SE. There were no deaths, endoleaks, migrations, or conversions to open repair. Follow-up mean was 24.7 and 20.6 (range 15–28) months for AneuRx and Zenith groups, respectively. In comparing initial and 12-month CIA diameters, AneuRx grafts 20 ±0.8 vs 21.5 ±1.0 were not significantly different, p= 0.2, nor was the same comparison for Zenith, 17 ±0.5 vs 19.1 ±0.4, significant, p= 0.57. At a mean follow-up of 12 months, distal flare of iliac limbs with either AneuRx or Zenith devices affords a seal for CIA ectasia and/or aneurysms complicating EVAR.

Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) is often cited as an extreme phenotype of vasculopathy and tobacco dependence. Although tobacco exposure is essential to progression of arterial ischemia in TAO, expert opinion differs regarding the degree of tobacco dependence in this population. The authors designed a prospective, case-control study to test the hypothesis that subjects with TAO have a greater degree of tobacco dependence than control subjects with coronary atherosclerosis (coronary artery disease [CAD]) do. Subjects with TAO (n=218, confirmed by angiography, biopsy, or noninvasive arterial testing) or CAD (n=343, diagnosed by coronary angiography) were mailed a standardized questionnaire regarding tobacco use, to which 103 and 273 responded, respectively. The degree of tobacco dependence in each group was ascertained by several methods, including the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence Questionnaire. The TAO group was younger at index date (year of first diagnosis for TAO patients, year of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty [PTCA] for CAD patients) (TAO 37.6 ±9.0 vs CAD 43.3 ±4.9 yr, p<0.0001), but the groups did not differ in age at first tobacco exposure (TAO 16.7 ±3.1 vs CAD 17.3 ±4.2 yr, p=0.67), current tobacco use at time of survey (TAO 54% vs CAD 46%, p=0.17), or Fagerström score (TAO 4.7 ±2.3 vs CAD 5.1 ±2.3, p=0.24). Kaplan-Meier curves showed no significant difference in time to stopping tobacco use after first diagnosis (p=0.076). TAO subjects smoked fewer cigarettes per day than CAD subjects (TAO 22.3 ±10.7 vs CAD 27.7 ±15.3 cigarettes/day, p=0.003). Among current smokers (n=170), TAO subjects also smoked fewer cigarettes/day (20.2 ±8.2 vs 24.6 ±12.7, p=0.03), and were more likely to have made a serious attempt to stop (97% vs 90%, p=0.03). In contrast to case reports of extreme tobacco dependence in the TAO population, the degree of tobacco dependence in subjects with TAO is similar to that in subjects with CAD.

Ischemic vascular ulcerations of the upper extremities are an uncommon and frequently painful condition most often associated with scleroderma and small vessel inflammatory diseases. Digital amputation has been advocated as primary therapy because of the poor outcome with medical care. Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) pump therapy can improve ulcer healing in lower extremity ischemic ulcerations; however, the value of this treatment in upper extremity ischemic ulcerations is not known. This observational pilot study consisted of a consecutive series of 26 patients with 27 upper extremity ischemic vascular ulcers seen at the Mayo Gonda Vascular Center from 1996 to 2003. Inclusion criteria were documented index of ulcer size and follow-up ulcer size and use of the IPC pump as adjunctive wound treatment. Twenty-six of 27 ulcers (96%) healed with the use of the IPC pump. Mean baseline ulcer size was 1.0 cm 2 (SD=0.3 cm 2 ) and scleroderma was the underlying disease in 65% (17/26) of cases. Laser Doppler blood flow in the affected digit was 7 flux units (normal greater than 100). The mean ulcer duration before IPC treatment was 31 weeks. The average pump use was 5 hours per day. The mean time to wound healing was 25 weeks. Twenty-five of 26 patients reported an improvement in wound pain with pump use. Intensive IPC pump use is feasible and associated with a high rate of healing in upper extremity ischemic ulcers. A prospective, randomized, sham-controlled study of IPC is needed to determine whether IPC treatment improves wound healing compared to standard medical care.

Abstract Previous studies have suggested that the proinflammatory cytokine, TNF-α, contributes to airway hyperresponsivness by altering airway smooth muscle (ASM) Ca2+ responses to agonist stimulation. The present study examined the effects of TNF-α on Ca2+ influx pathways in cultured human ASM cells (HASMCs). Proteins encoded by the transient receptor potential (TRP) gene family function as channels through which receptor-operated and store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) occur. In the present study, the presence of TRPC1, TRPC3, TRPC4, TRPC5, and TRPC6 mRNA and protein expression was confirmed in cultured HASMCs using RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. TNF-α treatment significantly increased TRPC3 mRNA and protein levels in HASMCs as well as SOCE. TNF-α treatment also increased both the peak and plateau intracellular Ca2+ concentration responses in HASMCs elicited by acetylcholine and bradykinin. The effects of TNF-α treatment on SOCE and agonist-induced intracellular Ca2+ concentration responses were attenuated using small interfering RNA transfection, which knocked down TRPC3 expression. Thus, in inflammatory airway diseases, TNF-α treatment may result in increased myocyte activation due to altered Ca2+ influx pathways. These results suggest that TRPC3 may be an important therapeutic target in inflammatory airway diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.