Extensive scalp necrosis and subepicranial abscess in a patient with giant cell arteritis

in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (2004), 52(1), 165-166

La prise en charge cardiaque preoperatoire du patient vasculaire

in Revue Médicale de Liège (2003), 58(6), 409-14

Peripheral vascular surgery (carotid, infrainguinal or aortoiliacal) is characterised by an increased cardiac risk with an infarction rate of 1 to 4%. Sixty percent of the vascular patients present a ... [more ▼]

Peripheral vascular surgery (carotid, infrainguinal or aortoiliacal) is characterised by an increased cardiac risk with an infarction rate of 1 to 4%. Sixty percent of the vascular patients present a concomitant coronary artery disease, often infraclinically. Preoperative cardiac risk stratification aims at reducing cardiac related morbidity and mortality. A clinical risk profile (patient's past history) and non-invasive cardiac tests allow subdividing the vascular patients into three categories: high risk, intermediate risk, and low risk. High-risk patients (unstable angina, recent infarction, overt congestive heart failure and critical aortic valve stenosis) require immediate intensive management of their underlying cardiac disease. This means delay or annulation of the planned vascular operation. For intermediate risk patients, a clinical cardiac risk index based on patient's past history (stable angina, previous infarction or episode of congestive heart failure, age of 70 years or more and diabetes) offers a rough orientation. These clinical markers lack specificity, since they are found in almost all vascular patients. The adjunction of a non-invasive cardiac testing allows to optimise the cardiac risk evaluation. Stress echocardiography with dobutamine has become a very popular test, with a negative predicting value exceeding 90%, but with a lack of specificity (many vascular patients have an uneventful postoperative outcome, despite a positive dobutamine test). These inconsistent results of cardiac risk evaluation render their routine use questionable. Nowadays, the management of patients requiring vascular surgery is based on the concept that every vascular patient should be considered as suffering from coronary artery disease. A certain degree of myocardial protection should be offered to every vascular surgery candidate. A preoperative treatment with betablockers provides myocardial protection against the operative stress and lowers myocardial oxygen requirement. There are arguments to continue or start aspirin treatment in the preoperative period, in order to lower the risk of sudden coronary thrombosis. [less ▲]

Revascularisation arterielle et transfert de lambeau libre pour le sauvetage des membres ischemiques avec perte de tissus mous: une alternative a l'amputation

in Revue Médicale de Liège (2002), 57(7), 453-4455-8

Severe limb ischemia is a common problem encountered in medical practice. Aggressive attempts at revascularization have extended the limits of limb salvage. However, in certain cases, extended tissue loss ... [more ▼]

Severe limb ischemia is a common problem encountered in medical practice. Aggressive attempts at revascularization have extended the limits of limb salvage. However, in certain cases, extended tissue loss compromises the healing process. It often results in amputation despite bypass graft patency. Microvascular free tissue transfer combined with arterial revascularization allows healing of these wounds and limb preservation. This combined approach is the ultimate alternative to amputation. [less ▲]

Positron emission tomography (PET) evaluation of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)

in European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery (2002), 23(5), 431-436

Background: aneurysmal disease is associated with all inflammatory Cell infiltrate and enzymatic degradation of the vessel wall. Aim of the study: to detect increased metabolic activity in abdominal ... [more ▼]

Background: aneurysmal disease is associated with all inflammatory Cell infiltrate and enzymatic degradation of the vessel wall. Aim of the study: to detect increased metabolic activity in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) by means of positron emission tomography (PET-imaging). Study design: twenty-six patients with AAA underwent PET-imaging Results: in tell patients, PET-imaging revealed increased, fluoro-deoxy-glucose (18-FDG) uptake at the level of the aneurysm. Patients with positive PET-imaging had one or more of the following elements in their clinical history: history Of recent non-aortic surgery (n = 4) a painful inflammatory aortic aneurysm (n = 2). moderate low back pain (n = 2), rapid (>5 mm in 6 months) expansion (n = 4), discovery by PET-scan of a previously undiagnosed lung cancer (n = 3) or parotid tumour (n = 1). Five patients with a positive PET scan required urgent surgery within two to 30 days. Among the 16 patients with negative PET-imaging of their aneurysm, only one had recent non-aortic surgery, none of them required urgent surgery, only two had a rapidly expanding AAA, and in only one patient, PET-imaging revealed an unknown lung cancer. Conclusion: these data suggest a possible association between increased 18-FDG uptake and AAA expansion and rupture. [less ▲]

Chronic rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm manifesting as crural neuropathy.

in Annals of Vascular Surgery (2001), 15(3), 405-11

Chronic rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) resulting in unusual clinical manifestations can occur if the resistance of structures surrounding the aorta is sufficient to contain hemorrhage. In this ... [more ▼]

Chronic rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) resulting in unusual clinical manifestations can occur if the resistance of structures surrounding the aorta is sufficient to contain hemorrhage. In this report, we describe five cases of chronic ruptured AAA in which the presenting feature was crural neuropathy. All patients were male with a mean age of 74 +/- 1.8 years. At the time of presentation, crural neuropathy had been ongoing for 3 to 9 weeks. In three cases, AAA was not initially suspected because an inadequate clinical examination was performed (not in the vascular surgery department) and because of the small diameter of the aorta in relation to the patient's morphology. Two patients had one episode of hypotension that was wrongly attributed to vagal attack. Abdominal CT scanning was always diagnostic of chronic rupture. In two cases, rupture was associated with erosion of the body of one or more vertebrae and laboratory evidence of inflammation, i.e., increase in sedimentation rate and fibrinogen level. The mean diameter of the AAA was 7.1 +/- 0.9 cm (range 5-10 cm). All patients underwent midline laparotomy, which was performed under emergency conditions in two cases, under semi-emergency conditions in one case, and electively in two cases. Perforation was consistently located on the posterolateral wall of the aorta and varied from 1 to 3 cm in length. Repair was performed using an aortobifemoral prosthesis in four cases, and a straight tube in one case. The patient who underwent emergency surgery died 4 days after the procedure. The remaining four patients recovered uneventfully and were discharged after 10 days. In the elderly, ruptured AAA should be included in the differential diagnosis of crural neuropathy. An episode of hypotension, regardless of its duration, in an elderly patient should be given serious consideration as a possible sign of ruptured AAA with ongoing retroperitoneal hemorrhage. [less ▲]

Amputations in Diabetic Patients: A Plea for Footsparing Surgery

in Acta Chirurgica Belgica (2001), 101(3, May-Jun), 123-9

The authors observed a rather high rate of primary major amputation (above-knee or below-knee) performed for diabetic foot problems as well as an important revision rate for minor amputations (forefoot or ... [more ▼]

The authors observed a rather high rate of primary major amputation (above-knee or below-knee) performed for diabetic foot problems as well as an important revision rate for minor amputations (forefoot or toe) in diabetics. They reviewed their experience in order to compare it with more recent data from the literature, pleading for foot-sparing surgery. From 1993 to 1998, 186 amputations were performed on 146 diabetic patients. The cause of foot ulcers was neuropathy in 43 of them (51 episodes of diabetic foot problems) while in the remaining 103 patients (135 episodes of diabetic foot problems), diabetic macroangiopathy (absent ankle pulses) was on cause. For neuropathic foot problems, amputations were almost minor, resulting in a limb salvage rate of 90%. Only five of these patients (12%) had primary major limb amputation versus 43 of the dysvascular patients (42%). The reasons for major amputation by first intention were extensive tissue loss, intractable infection or non-reconstructible occlusive vessel disease, as judged by the surgeon. A foot-sparing surgery was attempted in 92 dysvascular cases. In only 44 of them, a preliminary vascular repair was performed. Twenty eight percent of the primary toe amputations and 24% of the forefoot amputations required secondary revision to a more proximal level. Minor amputations in case of diabetic neuropathy were characterized by a more favourable outcome: only 14% of the toe and 9% of the forefoot amputations failed. During follow-up, only 63% of the major amputations regained an autonomic walking capability with their prosthesis. Wound healing problems in diabetic foot are mainly due to infection and poor tissue perfusion. An aggressive control of the infection and distal revascularization of calf- or foot arteries, whenever possible, could improve the results of diabetic foot surgery. The poor functional recovery after major amputation (only 63% autonomic gait with limb prosthesis) argues for foot-sparing surgery whenever possible. [less ▲]

Ischaemic Colitis Following Aortoiliac Surgery

in Acta Chirurgica Belgica (2000), 100(1), 21-7

Ischaemic colitis following aortoiliac surgery is a feared complication. Its frequency varies from 7% after repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) to 0.6% after bypass for aortoiliac occlusive ... [more ▼]

Ischaemic colitis following aortoiliac surgery is a feared complication. Its frequency varies from 7% after repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) to 0.6% after bypass for aortoiliac occlusive disease (AOD). In order to analyse predisposing factors and outcome of ischaemic colitis, the authors reviewed their clinical experience from 1988 to 1998. It concerns 28 cases (16 ruptured AAA, 7 elective AAA, 5 OAD) of clinically evident colonic ischaemia. This means an incidence of 7% after repair of ruptured AAA, 0.6% after elective AAA repair, and 0.8% after bypass for AOD. Transmural necrosis (grade 3) was observed in 21 patients, grade 2 ischaemia in 5 patients, and grade 1 ischaemia in 2 patients. Fifteen patients with grade 3 ischaemia underwent colectomy (Hartmann's procedure) with a mortality rate of 66%. All non operated grade 3 patients died. Overall, 16 of the 28 patients died at hospital (57% mortality rate). None of the patients with mild (grade 2 or 1) colonic ischaemia died. Profound hypovolaemic shock and inflammatory AAA were the only significant predisposing factors leading to colonic ischaemia. Associated colon revascularization could not avoid the evolution to colon necrosis in four patients. Reimplantation of a patent inferior mesenteric artery or an internal iliac artery was performed in only 4.8% of all aortoiliac reconstructions, and did not influence the development of ischaemic colitis. The authors conclude that a more liberal use of postoperative sigmoidoscopy could allow detecting colonic ischaemia at an earlier stage and reduce ensuing mortality. A reinforced effort to restore or preserve colonic vascularization could lower the incidence of colonic ischaemia following aortoiliac surgery. [less ▲]

Femoral Anastomotic Aneurysms: Pathogenic Factors, Clinical Presentations and Treatment. A Study of 142 Cases

in Cardiovascular Surgery (1999), 7(3), 315-22

In this study, the files of 112 patients with a total of 142 femoral anastomotic aneurysms were reviewed. Eighty-five patients (76%) were initially operated upon for obstructive aorto-iliac disease, while ... [more ▼]

In this study, the files of 112 patients with a total of 142 femoral anastomotic aneurysms were reviewed. Eighty-five patients (76%) were initially operated upon for obstructive aorto-iliac disease, while the remaining 27 (24%) had abdominal aortic aneurysms repaired. The majority of the patients (104/112) were male and their mean age was 64.5 years (range 45-88). Ninety-three per cent of the subjects were smokers prior to the first operation and 43% continued to smoke at the time of their femoral anastomotic aneurysms operation. The mean delay between the initial surgery and the repair of the femoral anastomotic aneurysms was 74.5 months (range 1-228). The diagnosis was made because of a painless pulsatile mass (91/142), acute leg ischaemia (27/142), a painful pulsatile mass (12/142), haemorrhage (10/142), pseudo-post-phlebitic oedema (1/142) and microemboli of the toes (1/142). The operative mortality was 2.7% (3/112) of which two-thirds were patients with infected grafts. Two subgroups were distinguished: 10 patients with an infected femoral anastomotic aneurysm and 12 patients with recurrent femoral anastomotic aneurysms, 11 with a single recurrence and one with a double recurrence. In the infected group, the time to development of anastomotic aneurysm was shorter than for the group with non-infected femoral anastomotic aneurysms (41 versus 74.5 months) and the operative mortality was 20% (2/10). One patient developed a recurrent femoral anastomotic aneurysm and another was lost to follow-up. Two subsequent deaths occurred, which were unrelated to the femoral anastomotic aneurysms. In the group of recurrent femoral anastomotic aneurysms one patient was lost to follow-up and two patients died, but not as a result of recurrent femoral anastomotic aneurysms. A total of 122 cases underwent interposition of a new prosthetic segment between the proximal prosthesis and the distal artery (89 at the common femoral, 21 at the femoral profundis, eight at the superficial femoral and four at an existing femoro-popliteal graft). [less ▲]

Fibromuscular dysplasia of the internal carotid artery. Personal experience with 13 cases and literature review.

in Acta Chirurgica Belgica (1999), 99(4), 163-8

From January 1990 to December 1997, the authors observed 13 cases of fibromuscular dysplasia of the internal carotid artery. Four patients presented transient ischemic attacks, one amaurosis fugax, two ... [more ▼]

From January 1990 to December 1997, the authors observed 13 cases of fibromuscular dysplasia of the internal carotid artery. Four patients presented transient ischemic attacks, one amaurosis fugax, two suffered from a minor stroke, four had non-focalized ischemic cerebral symptoms and two were asymptomatic. At angiography, all patients showed a typical image of "string of beads". Seven patients were operated on. Six had endoluminal graduated dilatation, with rigid dilators up to 4.5 mm, associated with thrombendarterectomy of the bifurcation in three and to correction of a kink in one case. In one case a venous interposition graft was done to exclude a saccular microaneurysm of the dysplasic internal carotid artery. In another case, backflow was insufficient after endoluminal dilatation, and a long venous patch allowed to restitute a normal vascular lumen. There was neither postoperative mortality nor stroke. Six patients, asymptomatic or with non focalized symptoms, were treated medically. During a mean follow-up of 47 months, only one of the 13 patients developed a transient ischemic attack; the patient had not been operated on and received only medical treatment. Prevalence, etiopathology, diagnosis and management of fibromuscular dysplasia of the internal carotid artery are discussed. Fibromuscular dysplasia is a rare cause of cerebral ischemia. For asymptomatic lesions, a conservative approach seems appropriate. Surgery is only to be considered for symptomatic lesions. Surgical graduated endoluminal dilatation, where necessary combined with standard endarterectomy of the carotid bifurcation, is a safe, efficient and durable operation. Some complex cases of fibromuscular dysplasia may necessitate patch insertion or excision and graft interposition. [less ▲]

Les agents antiplaquettaires en chirurgie vasculaire périphérique

in Revue Médicale de Liège (1999), 54(2), 109-17

Prescription of platelet inhibitors after arterial surgery is common use. The major concern of the vascular surgeon is to maintain patency of arterial reconstructions. Major causes of graft failure or ... [more ▼]

Prescription of platelet inhibitors after arterial surgery is common use. The major concern of the vascular surgeon is to maintain patency of arterial reconstructions. Major causes of graft failure or arterial thrombosis are the non-thromboresistant nature of the grafts and of the endarterectomised or balloon-dilated surfaces, restenosis due to intimal hyperplasia and progression of atherosclerotic disease in in- or outflow vessels. Platelet adhesion and intimal injury are the primary causes in both processes of graft thrombosis and intimal hyperplasia. To understand how antiplatelet drugs can interfere with these processes, a brief review of platelet function, and of the main platelet inhibitors (aspirin, dypiridamole, ticlopidine) is given. The pathophysiology of intimal hyperplasia is discussed. From clinical trials of peripheral vascular surgery or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with or without periprocedural antiplatelet therapy, it appears that platelet inhibitors reduce early failure rate by 50% (thrombosis rate at one year reduced from 40 to 20%). There is also evidence that antiplatelet drugs allow to slow down the progression of the atherosclerotic degenerative process in the outflow vessels and in other vascular territories. For the polyvascular patients with charged passed history, platelet inhibitors reduce the risk of myocardial or cerebral infarction by 30% (secondary prevention). Today, there is a general consensus that antiplatelet drugs, started the day before the procedure, are beneficial for early and late patency of peripheral vascular reconstructions (carotid endarterectomy, infrainguinal bypass grafts or endovascular procedures). [less ▲]