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Arterial occlusive disease involving the supra-aortic trunks (SATs) is relatively frequent. Its mere presence does not dictate the need for intervention. Revascularization options include intra and extrathoracic surgical bypasses and transpositions, and percutaneous endovascular approaches with angioplasty and stenting. This paper focuses on a description of the fundamental endovascular techniques and equipment that have proved useful in the senior author's (FJC) 15-year experience with catheter-based intervention for treatment of SAT disease. These procedures have gained in popularity over the years and become the preferred modality for management of most patients today.

Managing patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) requires an accurate assessment of the severity of the condition and the risk factors likely to predict disease progression. The spectrum of patient presentation ranges from asymptomatic to critical limb ischemia. Because about half of patients with PAD have coronary or cerebrovascular disease, the examination of presenting patients should be directed toward the entire cardiovascular system. The main diagnostic goal is to establish whether the symptoms are predominantly caused by PAD and to what degree the presenting problem is compounded by other comorbidities, such as diabetic neuropathy, arthritis, or venous disorders. The diagnostic process includes history taking, physical examination, noninvasive diagnostic testing, differential diagnosis, laboratory studies, and the use of the various imaging modalities, which in general are reserved for those PAD cases in which the clinician has already decided to intervene.

Acute dissection is a uniquely complex, relatively common, and frequently lethal aortic catastrophe. Historically, surgical treatment has been reserved for cases with complications including rupture; the results have been less than optimal because of excessive morbidity and mortality. This is the main reason why conservative management emerged as the standard of care for management of acute type B aortic dissection (TBAD). While more patients would appear to survive with a conservative treatment strategy, the outcome in terms of 30-day mortality (20%) and occurrence of late complications - such as enlarging aneurysms of the thoracic false lumen (30-40%) - leaves (again) much to be desired. Stent-graft endovascular repair has emerged as a very promising, less invasive treatment option. These devices, when used appropriately, can achieve the important therapeutic goals of entry-site coverage, depressurization of the false lumen, and expansion of the compressed true lumen - overcoming ischemic (malperfusion) manifestations. The early results of stent-graft repair of TBAD are encouraging, and even exciting, but much more work needs to be done in various critical areas surrounding this condition. Thoracic endograft technology has lagged behind its abdominal counterpart. The design of acute dissection-specific devices is imperative, reflecting the significant differences between TBAD and degenerative thoracic aortic aneurysm disease. Needs for this and other important developments notwithstanding, it is generally acknowledged that stent-graft intervention does represent an important advance in the treatment of patients with TBAD. Well-designed, controlled clinical trials will be necessary to elucidate the relative value of several endovascular thoracic strategies.

Endovascular repair has emerged as a very important treatment modality in the management of a host of serious and relatively frequent thoracic aortic diseases. This minimally invasive approach is certain to revolutionize the entire field of thoracic aortic surgery in the near future. The technologies, however, can still be considered as a "work in progress." Future refinements, which should be available within the next 1 to 2 years, will address some of the most important needs as yet unmet today: lower profile (<22 F) delivery systems, greater device flexibility, no longitudinal metal bars, and precise deliverability and deployment characteristics that will be conducive to optimal success and safety, especially in the region of the aortic arch.

Perihepatitis or Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome is a complication of pelvic inflammatory disease that usually leaves characteristic violin string adhesions on the anterior liver surface. These adhesions are common incidental findings on subsequent laparoscopy or laparotomy and are considered benign. We present a case of partial mechanical small bowel obstruction as a sequel of this syndrome that was diagnosed and treated laparoscopically.

Purpose: Phase I and phase II trials were conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of the Talent aortic stent-graft (Medtronic World Medical, Sunrise, Fla) in the treatment of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). This is a preliminary report of the technical results and 30-day clinical outcome of these trials., Methods: Multicenter prospective trials were conducted to test the Talent stent-graft in high-risk and low-risk patient populations with AAA, including phase I feasibility and phase II clinical trials. The low-risk study included concurrent surgical controls., Results: In the phase I trial, deployment success was achieved in 92% (23/25 patients), and initial technical success was 78% (18/23 implants without endoleak). The 30-day technical success rate was 96%, with six endoleaks that resolved spontaneously (without need for further intervention); and the 30-day mortality rate was 12% (3/25 patients). The phase II high-risk trial demonstrated a deployment success of 94% (119/127 patients) and an initial technical success of 86% (102/119 implants). The 30-day technical success rate was 96%, and the 30-day mortality rate was 1.5% (2/127 patients). The phase II low-risk trial included a first-generation and a second-generation Talent stent-graft. Deployment success rates were 97% and 99%, respectively, and technical success rates at 30 days were 97% and 96%, respectively. The 30-day mortality rate was 2% in the phase II low-risk first-generation device trial, and the adverse-event rate was 20%. Corresponding figures for the second-generation device were 0% and 1.8%, respectively., Conclusion: The Talent stent-graft can be deployed successfully and achieves endovascular exclusion in a large proportion of patients with AAA. Morbidity and mortality rates are acceptable. One-year clinical results and the comparison with concurrent surgical control subjects remain to be evaluated.

Purpose: Endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) is a technically demanding procedure that is based on the complexity and multiplicity of steps and the guidewire and catheter manipulations required. Brachial artery catheterization is an adjunctive technique that can facilitate the placement of an endoluminal prosthesis., Methods: Brachial access was used during endoluminal AAA repair in 79 of 103 consecutive patients with a modular-design stent-graft prosthesis at two institutions., Results: Left brachial access facilitated (1) angiography to guide juxtarenal device deployment, (2) antegrade contralateral limb access, (3) device delivery through disadvantaged iliac arteries by means of a brachial femoral wire, (4) access to renal arteries when necessary, and (5) catheter exchanges and a reduction in fluoroscopic positional changes. Complications included one puncture-site pseudoaneurysm, seven hematomas, and 29 patients with extensive ecchymosis. The length of stay was not prolonged in any case. There were no embolic, oculocerebral, or ischemic upper extremity events., Conclusions: Brachial artery catheterization, as an adjunctive technique to endoluminal AAA repair, offers noteworthy technical advantages with few, but self-limiting complications.

Purpose: During endovascular grafting of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), iliac limb extension to the external iliac artery may be indicated when the common iliac artery is ectatic or aneurysmal. Preliminary or concomitant coil embolization of the internal iliac artery (IIA) is thus necessary to prevent potential reflux and endoleak. We sought to determine the safety of hypogastric flow interruption in this setting., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 156 patients who underwent stent-graft AAA repair at two institutions between February 1, 1998, and January 31, 1999. Coil embolization of one or both IIAs was undertaken when the diameter of the common iliac artery was more than 20 mm to enable limb endograft extension to the external iliac artery. Bilateral procedures were staged., Results: Thirty-nine (25%) of 156 patients were selected for coil embolization of one (n = 28) or both (n = 11) IIAs. The interventions were performed before (n = 31) or during (n = 8) the stent-graft procedure. Complications included groin hematomas in 3 patients, iliac artery dissection in 1, failure to catheterize the IIA in 2, and transient rise in the serum creatinine level in 3. One patient had erectile dysfunction, and five patients (13%) had buttock claudication after unilateral occlusion. Serious ischemic complications were not observed., Conclusion: Coil embolization of one or both IIAs appears to be safe in the setting of endovascular grafting of AAA. Buttock claudication is a relatively significant problem and may limit applicability of this strategy to patients who are unfit for standard open repair.

Background: Percutaneous femoral arterial access is a most important and difficult aspect of endovascular intervention, and the source of most complications., Methods: A retrospective review was made of the authors' 9-year experience with 755 femoral punctures for the endovascular treatment of occlusive disease. The main focus was the evolving success rate with percutaneous arterial entry and the incidence of access-related complications., Results: Cutdowns were frequent during the first 2 years, 54% and 17%, respectively, decreasing to 5% or lower by the third year. The incidence of femoral hematoma and other complications mirrored the same learning curve. After cutdown, wound infections and lymph leakage occurred in 2.4% each, and prolonged significant pain in 5%., Conclusions: Percutaneous puncture is a crucial skill in endovascular intervention. Practicing vascular surgeons can expect a significant learning curve. Performance can be optimized through intensive basic and advanced training and preceptorship. The cutdown approach is neither necessary nor acceptable for most endovascular procedures.