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Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) after an unstable neurological presentation is still a controversial issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes of urgent (≤48 hr) CEA in patients with crescendo transient ischemic attack (cTIA) or stroke in evolution (SIE).A retrospective analysis was performed using prospectively collected data from all consecutive neurologically unstable patients who underwent urgent CEA during the period from January 2013 to November 2018. End points were 30-day any stroke and death rate, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), myocardial infarction (MI), surgical site bleeding requiring intervention, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score variation, and functional outcome at 90 days assessed by the modified Rankin scale (mRS). Patients were evaluated according to clinical presentation (cTIA or SIE).A total of 46 neurologically unstable patients with cTIA (20 patients; 43.5%) and SIE (26 patients; 56.5%) were included. The 30-day risk of any stroke or death was 10.0% (2 of 20) in the cTIA group and 7.7% (2 of 26) in the SIE group. No symptomatic ICH or MI was detected after surgery in either study group. A total of 2 patients (4.3%; 1 cTIA, 1 SIE) underwent reoperation for surgical site bleeding. In patients with SIE, the mean NIHSS score on admission was 9.85 ± 5.12. Postoperatively, 22 (84.6%) of the 26 patients with SIE had clinical improvement of their neurological deficit, 3 (11.5%) patients had no change, and 1 (3.8%) patient died. On discharge, the mean NIHSS score was 4.31 ± 6.09 points and was significantly improved compared with NIHSS scores at admission (P0.001). At 3 months, 21 patients (80.8%) with SIE had a good clinical outcome (mRS ≤ 2).Urgent CEA in neurologically unstable patients can be performed with acceptable perioperative risks. Moreover, in well-selected patients with SIE, urgent CEA may be associated with significantly improved final functional outcomes.

Introduction: Visceral artery aneurysms are rare vascular pathologies. They are usually incidental findings during the examination for other reasons. The most common clinical symptoms are nonspecific abdominal pain and bleeding caused by their rupture, with a severe clinical presentation. Aneurysms of pancreaticoduodenal arcade are more common in patients with well-developed collateral circulation due to the coeliac trunk stenosis or occlusion. Case report: In this case report the authors present a rare case of a patient with incidental finding of pancreaticoduodenal arcade aneurysm in the setting of severe stenosis of coeliac trunk origin caused by medial arcuate ligament compression. The diameter of the aneurysm was 40 mm and endovascular treatment was not possible because of unfavorable anatomical setting. The patient was successfully treated with resection of the aneurysm and the division of medial arcuate ligament during one surgery. Conclusion: There is no correlation between the diameter and the risk of rupture of the pancreaticoduodenal arcade aneurysm. Because of high morbidity and mortality of their rupture, most authors recommend active treatment of these aneurysms. The necessity to treat truncus coeliacus stenosis or occlusion remains a controversial issue.

Background The timing of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is still a controversial issue. The aim of this study was to assess the safety of early carotid interventions in patients treated with thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed using prospectively collected data from consecutive patients who underwent CEA for symptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis within 14 days after the index neurological event during the period from January 2013 to July 2016. Patients who had undergone IVT before CEA were identified. The primary outcome measures were any stroke and death rate at 30 days, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and surgical site bleeding requiring intervention. Results A total of 93 patients were included for the final analysis. Among these, 13 (14.0%) patients had undergone IVT before CEA while 80 (86.0%) patients had CEA only. The median time interval between IVT and CEA was 2 days (range: 0–13). A subgroup of 6 patients underwent CEA within 24 hours of administration of IVT. The 30-day combined stroke and death rate was 7.7% (1 of 13) among patients undergoing IVT before CEA and 5.0% (4 of 80) among those undergoing CEA only (P = 0.690). In the IVT group, there were no cerebral hemorrhages or significant surgical site bleeding events requiring reintervention. Conclusions Our experience indicates that CEA performed early after IVT for acute ischemic stroke, aiming not only to reduce the risk of stroke recurrence but also to achieve neurological improvement by reperfusion of the ischemic penumbra, may be safe and can lead to favorable outcomes.

The aim of present study was to evaluate the impact of primary tumour location and other factors on the outcome of preoperative chemoradiation followed by surgery in adenocarcinomas of distal oesophagus, gastro-oesophageal junction and stomach. We retrospectively reviewed the institutional patient database. The therapeutic response was re-evaluated as a percentage of residual tumor cells in surgical resection specimens. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed. The effect primary tumour location, clinical and pathological TNM stage, and histopathological factors (histological type, grade, angioinvasion, perineural invasion, tumour response) on treatment outcome were evaluated. A total of 108 patients underwent preoperative chemoradiation for adenocarcinoma of distal oesophagus, gastro-oesophageal junction or stomach. The median prescribed dose of radiation was 45 Gy. The concurrent chemotherapy consisted of 5-fluorouracil +/- cisplatin +/- taxanes. R0 resection was achieved in 80 patients (74%). The complete response was observed in 19%. The median follow-up was 50.8 months. Three-year and 5-year OS and DFS were 36.2% and 25.3%; and 28.1% and 23.7%, respectively. Pretreatment T-stage, pathological N-stage, radicality of resection, histological subtype, grade, angioinvasion and perineural invasion, were identified as statistical significant OS predictors in univariate analysis; pathological N-stage, radicality of resection and angioinvasion, in multivariate analysis. The primary tumor location did not influence the prognosis. The pathologic response to chemoradiation had borderline significance. In conclusion, no prognostic impact of primary tumour location, in contrast to other investigated factors, was evident in the present study. The most important predictors of prognosis were angioinvasion status and pN-stage.

Background: Strokes secondary to acute internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion are associated with an extremely poor prognosis. The best treatment approach in this setting is still unknown. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and outcomes of emergent surgical revascularization of acute extracranial ICA occlusion in patients with minor to severe ischemic stroke. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed using prospectively collected data of consecutive patients who underwent carotid thromboendarterectomy for symptomatic acute ICA occlusion during the period from January 2013 to December 2015. Primary outcomes were disability at 90 days assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and neurological deficit at discharge assessed using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Secondary outcomes were the recanalization rate, 30-day overall mortality, and any intracerebral bleeding. Results: During the study period, a total of 6 patients (5 men and 1 woman) with a median age of 64 years (range: 58-84 years) underwent emergent reconstruction for acute symptomatic ICA occlusion within a median of 5.4 hours (range: 2.9-12.0 hours) after symptoms onset. The median presenting NIHSS score was 10.5 points (range: 4-21). Before surgery, 4 patients (66.7%) had been treated by systemic recombinant tissue plasminogen activator lysis. The median time interval between initiation of intravenous thrombolysis and carotid thromboendarterectomy was 117.5 minutes (range: 65-140 minutes). Patency of the ICA was achieved in all patients. On discharge, the median NIHSS score was 2 points (range: 0-11 points). There was no postoperative intracerebral hemorrhage and zero 30-day mortality rate. At 3 months, 5 patients (83.3%) had a good clinical outcome (mRS ≤ 2). Conclusion: Patients presenting with minor to severe ischemic stroke syndromes due to isolated extracranial ICA occlusion may benefit from emergent carotid revascularization. Thorough preoperative neuroimaging is essential to aid in selecting eligible candidates for acute surgical intervention.

Background and Aims Gastric adenocarcinoma and proximal polyposis of the stomach (GAPPS) has to date been recognized in only 8 families worldwide. Recently, different point mutations within the Ying Yang 1 (YY1) binding motif in promoter 1B of the APC gene were assigned as causal in 6 families with GAPPS. Methods We diagnosed GAPPS across 3 generations in a Czech white family. Results The proband's mother died of gastric cancer at 49 years of age. The proband died of gastric cancer at 56 years of age. All 3 of the proband's daughters inherited polyposis, involving exclusively the gastric fundus and body, with relative sparing of the lesser curve. The daughters have all been regularly surveyed endoscopically. Polyposis progressed rapidly with intestinal differentiated low-grade and high-grade dysplasia present on polypectomy specimens 5 years after the original diagnosis. On this basis, all 3 of the proband's daughters were scheduled for prophylactic total gastrectomy. Unfortunately, the middle daughter presented with generalized gastric adenocarcinoma and died at the age of 26 years. The other 2 daughters (aged 30 and 23 years) underwent total gastrectomy within 6 weeks of their sister's death; histology of surgical specimens showed gastric adenocarcinoma stage IA (pT1a, N0, M0) in both cases. Bi-directional Sanger sequencing of promoter 1B revealed a point mutation (c.-191 T>C) in all 3 daughters of the proband. Conclusions Atypical endoscopic progression of the fundic gland polyposis, with the presence of dysplasia on polypectomy specimens and genetic testing with recently discovered mutations in promoter 1B of the APC gene might help clinicians to decide whether prophylactic gastrectomy should be performed.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of endovascular therapy of ruptured abdominal or iliac aneurysms on total mortality. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the mortality of 40 patients from 2005 to 2009, when only surgical treatment was available. These results were compared with the period 2010 to 2013, when endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) was assessed as the first option in selected patients. Results: During 2005 to 2009, the mortality was 37.5%. From 2010 to 2013, 45 patients were treated with mortality 28.9%. Open repair was performed in 35 (77.8%) patients and EVAR in 10 (22.2%) patients. The 30-day and 1-year mortality rates of the EVAR group were 0% and 20%, respectively, and the total mortality rate was 30% during follow-up (median 11 months, range 1-42 months). The 30-day mortality in the surgical group remained unchanged, at 37.1%, and 1-year and total mortality rates were 45.7% and 51.4%, respectively. Conclusion: Following integration in the treatment algorithm, EVAR decreased total mortality in our center by 8.6%.

A one-step supraclavicular approach for the surgical treatment of the aberrant right subclavian artery is described in a case of dysphagia lusoria in a 38-year-old female. The approach allows for safe division of the arteria lusoria and its re-anastomosis to the common carotid artery while the patient benefits from a mini-invasive extrathoracic procedure. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12287 (J Card Surg 2014;29:519-522).

The left renal vein (LRV) reimplantation into the distal inferior vena cava is considered to be the gold standard of care for symptomatic nutcracker syndrome (NCS). The vast majority of these surgical procedures are performed by open surgery. Experiences with minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery in this field are very limited. We present a case of a 17-year-old boy with NCS in whom the transposition of the LRV was done laparoscopically. The patient suffered from left flank pain, painful left-sided varicocele, microscopic hematuria, proteinuria, and oligoasthenospermia. There were no intraoperative complications, and the postoperative course was uneventful. At 12-month follow-up, hematuria, left flank pain, and left testicular pain resolved. Duplex ultrasonography revealed patent LRV. Laparoscopic LRV transposition appears to be safe, feasible, and has favorable postoperative course.

Endoluminal transfemoral repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm by a stent graft placement requires a segment of the nondilated infrarenal aorta of at least 15 mm long for safe stent graft attachment. The possibility of endoluminal treatment of a juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm with partially covered spiral Z stent was assessed in experiment and in three clinical cases. In the experiment, the noncovered spiral Z stent was placed into the abdominal aorta, across the origins of renal arteries and mesenteric arteries, in six dogs. In the clinical cases, a partially covered stent graft was attached in 3 patients with the juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (of the group of 12 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm). The stent grafts were attached with proximal uncovered parts across the origins of the renal arteries. In experiment, the renal artery occlusions or stenoses were not observed 36 months after stent placement, and in clinic, 3 patients with the juxtarenal aortic aneurysm were successfully treated by stent graft placement. There were no signs of flow impairment into the renal arteries 14 months after stent graft implantation. This approach can possibly expand the indications for endoluminal grafting in the treatment of juxtarenal aortic aneurysms in patients who are at high risk for surgery.

Aims To evaluate a modified radiofrequency-assisted approach to right hemihepatectomy. Methods Following a bilateral subcostal incision and intraoperative ultrasonography, the liver was mobilized in the standard manner, and a cholecystectomy was performed. The portal vein was isolated, encircled, and ligated. After demarcating the liver parenchyma, coagulation necrosis was achieved using a radiofrequency-assisted device along the line demarcated for transecting the liver parenchyma. The actual transection of the liver parenchyma and the right portal vein was done using a surgical scalpel along the radiofrequency-coagulated line. The right hepatic vein was coagulated using the radiofrequency sealer or by stitching in the resection plane. The hepatic artery was not dissected and was sealed together with the bile ducts in the resection plane using the radiofrequency instrument. The hepatic vein was not divided. Results Between July 2005 and July 2006, a total of 49 liver resections were performed in our unit. Of these, the radiofrequency-assisted technique was used in 33 cases with metastatic disease; 14 of these cases had right hemihepatectomies, including 2 repeat resections. The mean operation time was 180 min (range, 120–240 min), and the average blood transfusion was 0.14 U (range, 0–2 U). Postoperatively, there was no morbidity, such as bleeding, infection, or biliary fistula, related to the liver resection technique, and no patients died as a result of surgery. In 8 out of the 14 right hemihepatectomies, a right-sided pleural effusion was observed; 3 of them required evacuation. Conclusion This paper describes a modified radiofrequency-assisted hemihepatectomy, which allows one to obtain control of the portal blood flow going into the resected part of liver. The modified approach appears to be simple and safe.