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Introduction: We aimed to substantiate the benefit of postoperative handgrip exercises (HGEs) in enhancing the maturation of an arteriovenous wrist fistula., Methods: We randomly assigned 119 patients aged 20 to 80 years who had wrist arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) to undergo either a basic HGE program (group A), an advanced program (group B), or an advanced-plus upper arm banding program (group C). Outcomes were assessed by ultrasonographic evaluation of the diameter and flow at each follow-up. The attending nephrologist decided the clinical use of the fistula., Results: We identified no significant differences among the HGE groups in the mean diameter and blood flow 14, 30, 60, and 90 days after the creation of the wrist AVF ( P  = 0.55, 0.88, 0.21, and 0.19 for the diameter; 0.94, 0.81, 0.49, and 0.56 for the flow, respectively). The intent-to-treat analysis also found no difference in the clinical use of fistulas for hemodialysis (HD) ( P  = 0.997)., Conclusion: In patients with a newly created wrist AVF, advancing frequency, with or without adding intensity using an upper arm tourniquet, of postoperative HGEs did not enhance the growth of the fistula or increase the rate of clinical use over 3 months. (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03077815)., (© 2022 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the International Society of Nephrology.)

Objective: The current treatment for acute retrograde type A intramural haematoma (IMH) remains challenging. Aortic remodelling in both the ascending aorta (AA) and descending thoracic aorta (DTA) was evaluated and the 30 day and mid term outcomes were determined in patients who underwent thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) for retrograde type A IMH with a primary intimal tear or ulcer like projection in the DTA METHODS: This was a retrospective, multicentre observational study. Clinical data, including post-operative mortality and adverse event, aorta related re-intervention, aortic remodelling, and the survival rate of 18 non-consecutive patients with acute retrograde type A IMH undergoing TEVAR between June 2006 and March 2018 were reviewed., Results: The median age at repair was 58.1 years (range 38-86) and 14 (78%) were men. Eight patients (44%) presented with haemopericardium, and 10 (56%) underwent TEVAR within 24 h. The mean IMH thickness and AA diameter were 10.4 ± 3.6 and 45.7 ± 4.6 mm, respectively. Among all patients with acute retrograde type A IMH, 11 patients presented with classical type B aortic dissection and seven with type B IMH. All procedures were technically successful. The median follow up was 28.7 months (range 7-78). No 30 day mortality was observed. Three patients developed post-procedure adverse events. Of these, two patients had neurological events, with one each having cerebrovascular and spinal cord infarction individually, and the third patient required long term haemodialysis with ventilator support. The overall survival rate was 100%. The maximum diameter of the AA and the IMH in the AA significantly decreased after TEVAR. Aortic remodelling was also observed in the DTA along the length of TEVAR coverage., Conclusion: In selected patients with acute retrograde type A IMH, TEVAR offered a treatment alternative to open surgical grafting and medical follow up., (Copyright © 2020 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Sutureless repair is an effective procedure for acute left ventricular free wall rupture; however, it may be complicated with a left ventricular pseudoaneurysm during the late postoperative period. We present a case of a large ventricular pseudoaneurysm that occurred after the sutureless repair of an inferior myocardial infarction with oozing left ventricular free wall rupture. The patient underwent aneurysmectomy successfully. Serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicated that the necrotic left ventricular wall, which was covered by Teflon felt, had ruptured and developed a pseudoaneurysm. Therefore, after simple gluing for a left ventricular free wall rupture, patients should undergo careful follow-up evaluation for potential pseudoaneurysm. Moreover, early detection by MRI and prompt surgical repair of the complication are important in patients with left ventricular free wall rupture., (Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Taiwan.)

Background: Open repair of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. This study reviewed the midterm outcomes of hybrid TAAA repair in high-risk patients at our institution., Methods: The clinical data of patients undergoing 1-stage hybrid repair of a TAAA between June 2007 and June 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. This study represents our experience with 10 patients at a single center who underwent 1-stage visceral hybrid procedures for complex thoracoabdominal aortic pathologies. There were 9 men and 1 woman with a median age of 65.7 years. The average preoperative European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II score was 34.1%., Results: The technical success rate with completion was 100%. No procedure was abandoned because of any aortic event. The 30-day mortality rate in this study was 10%. Overall major perioperative complication rates were 20%. Major complications included renal impairment requiring permanent support in 1 patient (10%) and paraplegia in 1 patient (10%). At a median follow-up of 20.1 months (range, 0.3-39 months), the overall survival rate was 70%. The primary graft patency rate was 96.8% (32/33). Only 1 renal artery graft was occluded., Conclusions: The midterm results in selected high-risk patients with TAAA undergoing 1-stage hybrid repair were encouraging. When open repair is hazardous and branched stent grafting is not an option, hybrid repair is a viable treatment alternative. However, larger study cohorts and longer durations of follow-up are necessary to provide data on the durability of aortic stent grafts and visceral artery reconstruction., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Infected aneurysm of the suprarenal abdominal aorta is rare and can be fatal without surgery. There have been only sporadic case reports or small case series. We review our experience with 14 patients over 13 years., Methods: Retrospective chart review., Results: Between 1997 and 2010, 14 cases of infected aneurysms of the suprarenal abdominal aorta were treated at our hospital. There were 11 men with median age of 75.5 years (range, 35-88). Of the 13 pathogens isolated, the most common responsible microorganism was nontyphoid Salmonella in eight (62%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus in three (23%) and Streptococcus in two patients (15%). At the first admission, six patients had medical treatment alone, five patients underwent early open in situ graft repair, and three patients underwent hybrid endovascular stenting and visceral debranching. Of the six medically treated patients, two patients died in the hospital because of aneurysm rupture, and two patients underwent late open in situ graft repair because of aneurysm progression or rupture. Of the five open surgically treated patients, one patient died in the hospital because of nosocomial sepsis, and four patients were alive without major postoperative complication. Of the three endovascularly treated patients, one patient died in the hospital because of intestinal ischemia, one patient died 6 months later because of postoperative complication, and one patient was alive with complications of paraplegia, renal failure, and permanent dialysis. The aneurysm-related mortality rate was 33% (2/6) in medical treatment alone, 20% (1/5) in open in situ grafting, and 67% (2/3) in hybrid endovascular stenting., Conclusions: Infected aneurysm of the suprarenal abdominal aorta was rare. Nontyphoid Salmonella was the most common responsible microorganism. Open in situ graft repair remained a preferred and durable treatment strategy., (Copyright © 2011 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Sciatica is defined as pain or discomfort along the regions innervated by the sciatic nerve. Compression or irritation of lumbar spinal roots, most commonly because of lumbar disc herniation or spinal stenosis, causes sciatica in the vast majority of cases. Although it is rather uncommon, many pathologies have reported to cause nondiscogenic sciatica. A 70-year-old woman presented with intractable sciatic pain which was not elicited by posture change or cough. Sitting on the affected side provoked more pain than standing or walking. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed both spondylolisthesis with lumbar stenosis and compression of the gluteal portion of the sciatic nerve by varicotic gluteal veins. Given the atypical presentation of spinal root compression, gluteal vascular compressive neuropathy was suspected. Ligation and resection of varicotic vein resulted in relief of the patient's pain. To our knowledge, cases with varicosity-caused sciatica were limited in the literature review., (Copyright © 2010 Annals of Vascular Surgery Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Infected aneurysm of the aorta is almost always fatal without undergoing aortic resection. Medical treatment was attempted selectively in patients who were considered too high risk for surgery. We review our experience with 22 patients treated without undergoing aortic resection over 12 years., Methods: Retrospective chart review., Results: Between 1995 and 2007, 22 cases of infected aortic aneurysms treated without undergoing aortic resection during the first admission were included. There were 17 men with a median age of 76 years (range, 35 to 88 years). Of 18 pathogens isolated, the most common responsible microorganism was nontyphoid Salmonella in 11 followed by Staphylococcus aureus in five. The site of infection was thoracic in eight and abdominal in 14. The hospital mortality rate was 50%, and the aneurysm-related mortality rate after long-term follow-up was 59%. The event-free survival rate at one year was 32%. Of 11 patients with Salmonella infection, eight patients have lived beyond 30 days and six were event-free after one year. Of 11 patients with non-Salmonella, four patients have lived beyond 30 days and only one was event-free after one year. The overall aneurysm-related mortality rate was 36% in Salmonella infected patients and 82% in non-Salmonella infected patients., Conclusion: Clinical results of medical treatment using current antibiotics in patients with infected aortic aneurysm were poor. Traditional surgical excision of infected aortic aneurysms with revascularization remains the gold standard and should be attempted except in high risk patients.

We developed a risk factor-scaling score (RFSS) to select which patients supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) were suitable for ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation or heart transplantation (HTx). A total of 78 patients supported with ECMO for more than 48 h due to cardiac origin were included in this study. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the outcomes: the poor outcome group (n = 33) consisted of for those who later died or were later excluded from VAD or HTx; the favorable outcome group (n = 45) consisted of those who were weaned off ECMO finally and survived or were deemed suitable candidates for VAD or HTx. Seven risk factors were significant according to univariate analyses. Based on the regression coefficients of multivariate analysis, the RFSS was developed: (lung dysfunction x 7) + (systemic infection x 3) + (peak lactate > 3 mmole/L x 3) + (kidney dysfunction x 2) + (creatine kinase > 10,000 U/L x 1). Patients with an RFSS of 7 or more were be allocated to the poor outcome group. The RFSS was validated by another group of 30 patients with good correlation. The RFSS provides a way to predict which ECMO-supported patients are suitable candidates for VAD implantation or HTx.