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Objective To investigate power of computed tomography venography (CTV) to identify and characterize iliac vein obstruction (IVO) compared with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) examination in highly symptomatic patients with chronic venous disease (CVD). Methods CVD CEAP C3-6 limbs with visual analog scale for pain score of greater than 3 and/or Venous Clinical Severity Scale of greater than 8 were prospectively investigated with CTV and IVUS examination. The segment of maximum IVO was verified and categorically classified: group I, 0% to 49%; group II, 50% to 79%; and group III, 80% or greater. The CTV's screening power to detect the point and degree of maximum IVO was compared with IVUS. Results The CTV point of maximum IVO was 80% in the left limb, 10% in the right limb, 10% bilaterally; 2% in the inferior vena cava; 91% in the common iliac vein (CIV) confluence (41.6% below the CIV confluence, 34.5 at the CIV confluence, and 23.9% above the CIV confluence); 7% at the external iliac vein (kappa index 0.841; P Conclusions CTV is a powerful screening method in determining the precise point of compression and classifying IVO in limbs with symptomatic CVD when compared with IVUS. The prevalence of an obstruction above the iliac vein confluence is significant and should be considered in iliac vein stenting treatment strategy. The tomographic classification system proposed here may help to define the optimum technique of treatment, prognosis, and comparison of outcome results.

Iliac vein thrombectomy is usually performed via access through veins located in the lower limbs, which makes it impossible to treat the deep femoral vein, which in turn is an important inflow route to the iliac vein stent. We describe a clinical case and the previously unpublished technique of percutaneous thrombectomy, angioplasty, and stent implantation performed in a single session and with a single access, obtained via the internal jugular vein.

Acute arterial occlusion remains a major challenge for the vascular surgeon. The therapeutic approach depends mostly upon the severity of the tissue injury and the duration of symptoms. Several techniques are available in the current therapeutic arsenal, however, regardless of the technique chosen, postoperative factors frequently observed, such as poor outflow status, or even low graft flow, can contribute negatively to the outcome of revascularization. We describe a case of acute limb ischemia, in the postoperative period of a femoral-tibial bypass, which was occluded due to outflow limitation and high peripheral vascular resistance. The patient underwent a second tibial revascularization combined with construction of an arteriovenous fistula, followed by forefoot amputation and partial skin graft. An energetic approach to the at-risk limb makes it possible to reduce unfavorable outcomes, such as amputation and death, and accelerates recovery of tissues affected by acute ischemia.

Background Endovascular treatment of iliofemoral occlusive disease is a challenging approach, especially for TransAtlantic Inter-Society C and D lesions. Therefore, the revascularization procedure in such situations is preferably performed by bypass graft surgery with synthetic materials. The purpose of this study is to report the feasibility and mid-term results of eversion endarterectomy of the external iliac artery (EEEIA), as an alternative autologous option. Methods Retrospective study with 18 EEEIA performed between September 2015 and February 2020, exclusively for chronic limb-threatening ischemia treatment in patients with increased risk of postoperative surgical infection and inadvisable for endovascular treatment. Demographic, clinical variables and outcomes were collected from a prospective database. The main end points are: amputation-free survival (AFS) and 30-day mortality. Secondary end points include: primary patency (PP), cumulative patency (CP), overall survival (OS), and postoperative surgical complication. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to estimate cumulative time of outcomes. Results The mean age was 64.8 ± 8.3 years, with predominance of men. The median follow-up period was 1012 days, 95% confidence interval [119, 1365] days. Most had Rutherford 5 (n = 13, 72.2%) and mean ankle brachial index was 0.38 ± 0.22. The PP, CP, AFS, and OS in 730 days were 81%, 92%, 80%, and 88%, respectively. There was no 30-day mortality or postoperative surgical infection. Conclusions Iliofemoral reconstruction through EEEIA is an effective surgical procedure with good patency rates, AFS and OS. In addition, it can be considered an useful and safe option, especially in cases in which a prosthesis should be avoided.

In recent decades, the increasing complexity of arterial bypasses in the management of chronic limb-threatening ischemia has spurred the development of alternative techniques, such as revascularization of genicular arteries. Few publications on this technique can be found in the literature, and its use has been restricted to specialized vascular groups. This article describes the case of a patient with extensive femorotibial occlusive disease who received a collateral artery bypass, using the deep femoral artery as a donor, the cephalic vein as an alternative autogenous substitute, and the descending genicular artery as a recipient. Bypass to the descending genicular artery, although underutilized, is an effective option and increases the possibility of limb salvage in the management of chronic limb-threatening ischemia.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between venous pressure gradients (VPGs) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) for the diagnosis of caval-iliac venous obstructions in patients with advanced chronic venous insufficiency.Fifty patients with advanced chronic venous insufficiency symptoms (Clinical, Etiology, Anatomy, and Pathophysiology class 3 to 6) were prospectively submitted to multiplanar venography (MV) with intravenous pressure measurements and IVUS. The patients' lower limbs were divided accordingly: group I, limbs with 50% obstruction on IVUS (n = 49); and group II, limbs with ≥50% obstruction on IVUS (n = 51). Receiver operating characteristic curves compared the diagnostic performance of the VPGs. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy assessed the performance of VPGs in categories to determine the presence of significant obstruction. Logistic regression assessed the capacity of the VPGs to identify significant obstruction.The most frequent point of venous compression according to IVUS was the proximal left common iliac vein (70%; P .05). Group II showed a greater prevalence of transpelvic (group I, 8.2%; group II, 74.5%; P .001) and paravertebral collaterals (group I, 4.1%; group II, 45.1%; P .001) on MV. The femoral vein pressures at rest and after reactive hyperemia as well as the femorocaval gradient after reactive hyperemia (FCG-rh) and the femoral gradient after reactive hyperemia were significantly higher in group II (P = .001, P .001, P = .002, and P = .006). The FCG-rh and the femoral gradient after reactive hyperemia presented the best diagnostic performance among the VPGs (P = .004 and P = .007) in the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, although no significant differences between them were found. All the gradients presented low values of sensitivity (40%), negative predictive value (60%), and accuracy (30%). Logistic regression showed that FCG-rh was significantly independent of MV (OR, 8.1; P = .011) in identifying significant obstructions.There is correlation between the VPGs and significant obstructions with IVUS. However, this correlation does not translate to a good diagnostic performance of these VPGs. Only the FCG-rh added significant information to MV in identifying significant caval-iliac vein obstructions.

Resumo As fístulas aorto-cava são entidades raras e de etiologia variada, estando frequentemente associadas a significativa morbimortalidade. Acredita-se que o aumento da tensão da parede nos grandes aneurismas resulte em reação inflamatória e aderência à veia adjacente, culminando na erosão das camadas aderidas e na formação da fístula. O tratamento cirúrgico convencional tem altas taxas de mortalidade. Embolia pulmonar paradoxal e o vazamento são complicações temidas do tratamento endovascular. O uso de oclusor vascular associado a endoprótese bifurcada é boa opção no tratamento do aneurisma de aorta abdominal com fístula aorto-cava.

Iliac vein obstruction occurs in 20-30% of the general population. In patients with severe chronic venous insufficiency, this prevalence can be even higher, reaching 50-90% when the obstruction is investigated using intravascular ultrasound. Less invasive methods, such as venous Duplex Scanning, and even invasive ones such as venography may fail to diagnose the condition. Endovascular treatment of these obstructions is effective, safe, and associated with excellent clinical outcomes and stent patency rates, provided that fundamental anatomical and technical principles are considered and applied.

BackgroundAbdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a pathological enlargement of infrarenal aorta close to the aortic bifurcation, and it is an important cause of mortality in the elderly. Therefore, the biomarker identification for early diagnosis is of great interest for clinical benefit. It is known that microRNAs (miRNAs) have important roles via target genes regulation in many diseases. This study aimed to identify miRNAs and their target genes involved in the pathogenesis of AAA.MethodsTissue samples were obtained from patients who underwent AAA surgery and from organ donors (control group). Quantitative PCR Array was applied to assess 84 genes and 384 miRNAs aiming to identify differentially expressed targets (AAA n = 6, control n = 6), followed by validation in a new cohort (AAA n = 18, control n = 6) by regular qPCR. The functional interaction between validated miRNAs and target genes was performed by the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software.ResultsThe screening cohort assessed by PCR array identified 10 genes and 59 miRNAs differentially expressed (≥2-fold change, pConclusionPaired interactions of differentially expressed ALOX5, PTGIS, CX3CL1 genes, and miR-193b-3p, 125b-5p, 150-5p revealed a potentially significant role of the eicosanoid synthesis and metalloproteinase/TIMP pathways in the AAA pathogenesis.

The purpose of this study was to determine the sonographic criteria for diagnosis of iliac venous outflow obstruction by assessing the correlation of this method with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in patients with advanced chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).The evaluation included 15 patients (30 limbs; age, 49.4 ± 10.7 years; 1 man) with initial CVI symptoms (Clinical class, Etiology, Anatomy, and Pathophysiology [CEAP] classification, CEAP1-2) in group I (GI) and 51 patients (102 limbs; age, 50.53 ± 14.5 years; 6 men) with advanced CVI symptoms (CEAP3-6) in group II (GII). Patients from both groups were matched by gender, age, and race. The Venous Clinical Severity Score was considered. All patients underwent structured interviews and duplex ultrasound (DU) examination, measuring the flow phasicity, the femoral volume flows and velocities, and the velocity and obstruction ratios in the iliac vein. The reflux multisegment score was analyzed in both groups. Three independent observers evaluated individuals in GI. GII patients were submitted to IVUS, in which the area of the impaired venous segments was obtained and compared with the DU results and then grouped into three categories: obstructions 50%, obstructions between 50% and 79%, and obstructions ≥80%.The predominant clinical severity CEAP class was C1 in 24 of 30 limbs (80%) in GI and C3 in 54 of 102 limbs (52.9%) in GII. Reflux was severe (reflux multisegment score ≥3) in 3 of 30 limbs (10%) in GI and in 45 of 102 limbs (44.1%) in GII (P .001). There was a moderately high agreement between DU and IVUS findings when they were grouped into three categories (κ = 0.598; P .001) and high agreement when they were grouped into two categories (obstructions 50% and ≥50%; κ = 0.784; P .001). The best cutoff points and their correlation with IVUS were 0.9 for the velocity index (r = -0.634; P .001), 0.7 for the flow index (r = -0.623; P .001), 0.5 for the obstruction ratio (r = 0.750; P .001), and 2.5 for the velocity ratio (r = 0.790; P .001). Absence of flow phasicity was observed in 62.5% of patients with obstructions ≥80%. An ultrasound algorithm was created using the measures and the described cutoff points with accuracy of 86.7% for detecting significant obstructions (≥50%) with high agreement (κ = 0.73; P .001).DU presented high agreement with IVUS for detection of obstructions ≥50%. The velocity ratio in obstructions ≥2.5 is the best criterion for detection of significant venous outflow obstructions in iliac veins.

Background Endovascular interventions in the superficial femoral artery for the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease have increased over the last decades. The first- and second-generation stents in the superficial femoral artery have failed to demonstrate improved patency of the treated vessel due to high fracture rates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, short-term outcomes of using third-generation superflexible nitinol stents in the treatment of atherosclerotic lesions in the superficial femoral artery. Methods This was a retrospective study carried out in a single center, from June 2013 to May 2014. A total of 27 patients underwent angioplasty with third-generation, superflexible nitinol stents in atherosclerotic lesions of the superficial femoral artery. Results The mean age was 68 ± 12 years, 55.6% were females, and 74.1% were diabetics. Patients were classified as TASC B and C in 77.7% of cases. Technical success was 100%. There was an increase in the ankle-brachial index from 0.35 ± 0.1 before the intervention to 0.75 ± 0.2 at hospital discharge. The mean follow-up of patients was 6.7 ± 2.3 months. The primary patency rate was 96.3%. The limb salvage rate was 100%. There were no stent fractures documented by X-rays. Conclusions Angioplasty with third-generation superflexible nitinol stent placement was shown to be effective in the treatment of atherosclerotic lesions of the superficial femoral artery.

Thermoablation has been replacing conventional surgery in the surgical treatment of great saphenous vein (GSV) reflux in patients with lower limb varicose veins; however, thermoablation is expensive. Intravenous electrocoagulation (EC) may, selectively and safely, cause necrosis of the GSV wall, but the clinical results have never been studied. The objective of this study was to compare EC and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of GSV insufficiency, considering efficacy, complications, and effect on quality of life.This was a prospective, double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Patients with lower limb varicose veins and GSV reflux confirmed by duplex ultrasound were randomized into two treatment groups: EC and RFA. Patients were followed up at 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months after the procedure. Occlusion of the GSV confirmed by duplex ultrasound was considered the primary outcome, and the rate of complications and improvement in quality of life, using the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire score, were the secondary outcomes.Fifty-seven patients were included, with a total of 85 treated GSVs; 43 were treated with RFA and 42 with EC. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding age (P = .264), sex (P = .612), Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire score (P = .054), and diameter (P = .880) and depth (P = .763) of the treated GSV. In the intraoperative period, immediately after thermoablation, all GSVs treated with EC presented no flow and incompressibility in the treated segment, whereas 12 limbs still had flow in the treated GSV (P .001) and 9 veins showed compressibility (P .001) when treated with RFA. The main postoperative complication was paresthesia; however, there was no statistical significance between the groups (P = .320) regarding its presence. Time to return to routine activities was lower in the EC group than in the RFA group (P = .026). There was no difference between the groups at the 3-month (P = .157) and 6-month (P = .157) follow-up in occlusion of the GSV and improvement of the quality of life score (P = .786 and P = .401, respectively).EC has been shown to be an effective method for ablation of the GSV, with venous occlusion rate, occurrence of complications, and effect on quality of life similar to those with RFA.

Objective:Iliocaval obstruction is associated with venous hypertension symptoms and may predispose to deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Ultrasonography may fail to achieve noninvasive diagnosis of these obstructions. The possibility of using Computed Tomography Venography (CTV) for these diagnoses is under investigation.Methods:Patients with CVI graded at CEAP clinical classes 3 to 6 and previous treatment failure underwent evaluation with CTV. Percentage obstruction was rated by two independent examiners. Obstruction prevalence and its associations with risk factors and CEAP classification were analyzed.Results:A total of 112 limbs were prospectively evaluated. Mean patient age was 55.8 years and 75.4% were women. Obstructions involved the left lower limb in 71.8% of cases and 35.8% of patients reported a medical history of deep venous thrombosis. Overall, 57.1% of imaging studies demonstrated venous obstruction of at least 50% and 10.7% showed obstruction of >80%. The only risk factor that was found to be independently associated with a significantly higher incidence of >50% venous obstruction was a medical history of DVT (p=0.035) (Fisher's exact test). There was a positive relationship between clinical classification (CEAP) and degree of venous obstruction in the limbs studied (Chi-square test for linear trend; p=0.011).Conclusion:Patients with advanced CVI are often affected by obstructions in the iliocaval venous territory and CTV is able to diagnose the degree of obstruction. There is a positive association between degree of obstruction and both previous history of DVT and severity of symptoms of CVI. Objetivo:A obstrução ilíaco-cava é associada a sintomas de hipertensão venosa e é um fator de risco para a trombose venosa profunda (TVP). A ultrassonografia pode falhar em seu diagnóstico. Não existe método de "sreening" bem estabelecido. A capacidade da Angiotomografia em realizar esse diagnóstico vem sendo investigada.Método:Pacientes portadores de IVC avançada e com falha no tratamento clínico foram submetidos à Angiotomografia. As imagens foram classificadas quanto ao grau de obstrução por dois investigadores independentes. Foram avaliados a prevalência e o grau de obstrução, e a sua relação com dados demográficos, fatores de risco e sintomas clínicos (CEAP).Resultados:Foram avaliados 112 membros. A idade média dos pacientes foi de 55,8 anos e 75,4% eram mulheres. A obstrução acometia o membro inferior esquerdo em 71,8% e havia história de TVP em 35,8% destes. Em 57,1% dos membros, havia obstrução > 50% e, em 10,7%, a obstrução era > 80%. A história de TVP foi o único fator demográfico com associação positiva com o grau de obstrução (p = 0,035) (teste Exato de Fisher). Houve associação positiva entre a classificação clínica (CEAP) e o grau de obstrução venosa (Teste Qui-quadrado para tendência linear; p=0,011).Conclusão:Pacientes portadores de IVC avançada são frequentemente acometidos por obstrução venosa ilíaco-cava e a Angiotomografia é capaz de identificar o grau dessa obstrução. Existe uma relação positiva entre o grau de obstrução e a classificação clínica, e a história de TVP

Context:Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a condition that is usually asymptomatic, but potentially fatal, and has a prevalence in men over 60 years old ranging from 4.3% to 8%. There are two treatment options available: open surgery (OS) and endovascular treatment (ET).Objective:To compare the results of repairs conducted using these two treatment methods from 2008 to 2013 in a tertiary hospital.Methods:A retrospective analysis comparing 119 patients treated with OS and 219 patients who underwent ET for AAA repair.Results:The ET group was older (71.3 vs. 68.2 years; p

Background The long-term primary patency rates for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty using first and second generation stents for the treatment of the popliteal artery have been disappointing. However, results with the new nitinol stents seem promising. Our objective was to evaluate short-term clinical outcomes using the superflexible nitinol stent in the treatment of atherosclerotic lesions in popliteal segments. Methods Retrospective longitudinal study conducted from April to December 2013. Population characteristics, procedure-related data and imaging tests were assessed at 6 months. Stent patency and limb salvage rates were obtained. Results A total of 14 patients with mean age of 73 ± 11 years were included, of which 50% were male and 64.3% diabetic. All patients had trophic lesions in the treated limbs. The arteriographic lesions were classified according to the criteria of the Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) criteria as TASC B and C inequal proportions. In the assessment of below-the-knee runoff, 78.6% of the patients had only one distal pervious artery, of which the fibular artery was the most frequently observed. The stent landing zone was the mid segment of the popliteal artery in 57.1% of the cases and the distal segment, crossing the knee joint, in the remaining patients. During the 6 month follow-up there were no stent fractures. The primary patency rate was 85.7% and the limb salvage rate was 100%. Conclusions In our study, angioplasty using the super flexible nitinol stent demonstrated to be safe and effective for the treatment of atherosclerotic lesions of the popliteal artery.

Introdução: Os aneurismas da artéria renal são raros e constituem um desafio ao tratamento endovascular. Nosso objetivo foi descrever e analisar as técnicas e táticas no tratamento endovascular do aneurisma da artéria renal, verificando os resultados a curto e médio prazos de uma série consecutiva de casos. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo, de procedimentos realizados no período de janeiro de 2010 a dezembro de 2013, em que foram analisados: o sucesso técnico e terapêutico, a morbimortalidade, e a taxa de vazamentos e de reintervenções. Resultados: Em um total de seis pacientes tratados, a idade média foi de 41 ± 5 anos e todos eram do sexo feminino. A maioria apresentou aneurismas saculares tipo II (83,3%). Foram utilizadas técnicas de remodelamento com uso de stent e molas em quatro casos, embolização segmentar renal em um caso e tratamento com endoprótese Multilayer® em outro. O sucesso técnico e terapêutico foi de 100 e 83,3%, respectivamente. Em um paciente, houve isquemia de polo superior renal, que evoluiu para hematúria e dor incontrolável, necessitando de nefrectomia. Não ocorreram óbitos e nem oclusão das artéria renais nativas e de seus ramos durante o acompanhamento de 1 ano. Conclusões: O tratamento endovascular do aneurisma de artéria renal demonstrou ser uma alternativa viável à cirurgia convencional com baixa morbidade. O estudo detalhado da vascularização renal e da localização do aneurisma determina a escolha da técnica endovascular a ser utilizada. O aneurisma da artéria renal do tipo II foi a morfologia mais frequentemente encontrada e pode ser tratado com sucesso por técnicas de remodelamento com o uso de stent e mola.

Introdução: Os aneurismas da artéria renal são raros e constituem um desafio ao tratamento endovascular. Nosso objetivo foi descrever e analisar as técnicas e táticas no tratamento endovascular do aneurisma da artéria renal, verificando os resultados a curto e médio prazos de uma série consecutiva de casos. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo, de procedimentos realizados no período de janeiro de 2010 a dezembro de 2013, em que foram analisados: o sucesso técnico e terapêutico, a morbimortalidade, e a taxa de vazamentos e de reintervenções. Resultados: Em um total de seis pacientes tratados, a idade média foi de 41 ± 5 anos e todos eram do sexo feminino. A maioria apresentou aneurismas saculares tipo II (83,3%). Foram utilizadas técnicas de remodelamento com uso de stent e molas em quatro casos, embolização segmentar renal em um caso e tratamento com endoprótese Multilayer® em outro. O sucesso técnico e terapêutico foi de 100 e 83,3%, respectivamente. Em um paciente, houve isquemia de polo superior renal, que evoluiu para hematúria e dor incontrolável, necessitando de nefrectomia. Não ocorreram óbitos e nem oclusão das artéria renais nativas e de seus ramos durante o acompanhamento de 1 ano. Conclusões: O tratamento endovascular do aneurisma de artéria renal demonstrou ser uma alternativa viável à cirurgia convencional com baixa morbidade. O estudo detalhado da vascularização renal e da localização do aneurisma determina a escolha da técnica endovascular a ser utilizada. O aneurisma da artéria renal do tipo II foi a morfologia mais frequentemente encontrada e pode ser tratado com sucesso por técnicas de remodelamento com o uso de stent e mola. Background: Renal artery aneurysms are rare and constitute a challenge to endovascular treatment. Our objective was to describe and analyze the techniques and strategies for the endovascular treatment of renal artery aneurysms verifying short and medium-term results in a consecutive series of cases. Methods: Retrospective study of procedures performed from January 2010 to December 2013, analyzing technical and therapeutic success, morbidity and mortality, the rate of endoleaks and reinterventions. Results: In a total of six patients treated, mean age was 41± 5 years and all patients were female. The majority of the patients had type 2 saccular aneurysms (83.3%). Remodeling techniques using stent and coils were used in four cases, embolization of renal polar branch was used in one case and treatment with a Multilayer® endoprosthesis in another case. Technical and therapeutic success rates were 100% and 83.3%, respectively. In one patient there was upper renal pole ischemia, which progressed to uncontrollable hematuria and pain, requiring nephrectomy. There were no deaths or occlusion of the native renal artery and its branches during the 1-year follow-up. Conclusions: Endovascular treatment of renal artery aneurysm proved to be a feasible alternative to conventional surgery with low morbidity. A detailed study of renal vasculature and aneurysm location determines the choice of the endovascular technique to be used. Type II renal artery aneurysm was the most frequent morphology observed and may be successfully treated by remodeling techniques using stents and coils.

Embolization due to a firearm projectile entering the bloodstream is a rare event that is unlikely to be suspected during initial treatment of trauma patients. We describe and discuss a case of bullet embolism of the abdominal aortic bifurcation, complicated by a pseudoaneurysm of the thoracoabdominal aorta and occlusion of the right common iliac artery, but successfully treated using a combination of endovascular methods and conventional surgery.

Renal artery fibromuscular dysplasia is a condition of unknown etiology, with non-inflammatory, non-atherosclerotic origin, associated to the development of stenosis and aneurysms. The authors report a case of bilateral renal artery fibromuscular dysplasia associated with a large renal artery aneurysm, treated with balloon angioplasty and a multilayer stent.

Iliac vein stenting has emerged as the procedure of choice in the treatment of iliac vein obstruction (IVO). However, clinical outcomes have never been studied by a randomized clinical trial. Our purpose was to compare medical and endovascular treatment results in symptomatic chronic venous disease (CVD) patients with significant IVO documented by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).Patients with Clinical, Etiology, Anatomy, and Pathophysiology clinical class C3 to C6 and a visual analog scale for pain (VAS pain) score3 were considered eligible. We randomly assigned limbs with ≥50% IVO on IVUS to undergo medical treatment alone or medical treatment plus iliac vein stenting. The patient and clinical physician were blinded. Primary outcomes included change from baseline in VAS pain score, Venous Clinical Severity Score, and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey quality of life questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included stent integrity, migration, and patency rates at 6 months.Of 207 CVD patients, 58 (28%) were eligible and eight (14%) were excluded; 51 of 85 class C3 to C6 limbs (60%) had ≥50% IVO by IVUS. Iliac vein stenting, in randomized patients, was 100% technically successful. At 6 months' follow-up, the mean VAS pain score declined from a median of 8 to 2.5 in patients receiving stents and from 8 to 7 in patients receiving only medical treatment (P .001). The Venous Clinical Severity Score dropped from a median of 18.5 to 11 after stenting and from 15 to 14 with medical treatment (P .001). The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (0-100) improved from a total median score of 53.9 to 85.0 with stenting and 48.3 to 59.8 after medical treatment (P .001). There was no stent fracture or migration, and the primary, assisted primary, and secondary patency rates were 92%, 96%, and 100%, respectively (median, 11.8; range, 6-18 months).Endovascular treatment of IVO with stenting is safe and promotes effective relief of symptoms and improvement in quality of life compared with medical treatment alone in symptomatic CVD patients. Our results echo those achieved in numerous previously published nonrandomized clinical series.

s from the 2015 American Venous Forum Annual Meeting Fig. Mean pressure in common femoral vein. Randomized Double-Blinded Study Comparing Clinical Versus Endovascular Treatment of Iliac Vein Obstruction F. H. Rossi, A. M. Kambara, N. M. Izukawa, P. B. Metzger, C. B. Betelli, B. L. Almeida, T. O. Rodrigues, I. P. Masciarelli, A. G. Sousa, C. B. O. Rossi. Instituto Dante Pazzanese, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Instituto Dante Pazzanese, Sao Paulo, Brazil Objectives: Post-thrombotic (PIVL) and nonthrombotic iliac vein lesions (NIVL) are frequently treated with endovascular methods. However, outcomes have never been studied by a randomized clinical trial before. The purpose of this study is to compare clinical and endovascular treatment outcomes in symptomatic chronic venous disease (CVD) patients with documented iliac vein obstruction. Methods: Patients with CVD (CEAP C3-6) and visual analog scale for pain (VAS pain) score >5 were considered eligible. We randomly assigned 50 iliac vein obstructions with >50% area reduction, per intravascular ultrasound, to undergo angioplasty and iliac vein stenting plus clinical treatment or clinical treatment alone (venoactive drug/aminaftone or warfarin [PIVL], plus compression therapy, and Unna boot for active venous ulcer). The patient and the clinical physician were blinded. Primary outcomes included (1) change from baseline in VAS pain and (2) venous ulcer healing rate at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included changes in Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) and SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire as well as stent integrity, position, and patency at 6 months. Results: Between February 2013 andMarch 2014, 40 patients with 50 highly symptomatic iliac vein obstructions were studied. The median age was 57 years (range, 19-78 years). The female-to-male ratio was 4.7:1, and the leftright ratio was 3:1. CEAP classification was 3:36%, 4:22%, 5:12%, and 6:30%. Iliac vein stenting was 100% successful (PIVL, 42%; NIVL, 52%). The pain level on VAS scale declined from a median of 8.5 to 1.8 following stenting and from7.5 to7.0 after clinical treatment (P< .001).The rate of ulcer healing was higher after stenting (80%) vs clinical treatment group (33.3%) at 6months (95% confidence interval, 0.74-7.75; odds ratio, 2.4; P 1⁄4 .144). The VCSS scale (0-30) declined from a median of 19.2 to 11.6 after stenting and from 15.1 to 14.8 after clinical treatment (P < .001). The SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire (0-100) improved from a median of 53.9 to 85.0 with stenting and 48.3 to 59.8 after clinical treatment (P< .001). With a median follow-up of 10.2months, there was no stent fracture or migration. Primary and assisted primary stent patency rates were 96% and 100%, respectively. Conclusions: Angioplasty with stenting is a safe and effective treatment. The intervention promotes rapid relief of CVD symptoms and improves quality of life in highly symptomatic patients. Our results reproduce those achieved in numerous nonrandomized clinical studies. The data suggest clinical treatment alone should be limited to a very restricted number of patients who cannot undergo endovascular treatment. Author Disclosures: F. H. Rossi: FAPESP, Research Grant, Principal Investigator; A. M. Kambara: Nothing to disclose; N. M. Izukawa: Nothing to disclose; P. B. Metzger: Nothing to disclose; C. B. Betelli: Nothing to disclose; B. L. Almeida: Nothing to disclose; T. O. Rodrigues: Nothing to disclose; I. P. Masciarelli: Nothing to disclose; A. G. Sousa: Nothing to disclose; C. B. O. Rossi: Nothing to disclose. Hemodynamic Consequences of Deep Venous Obstructive Disease R. L. M. Kurstjens, M. A. F. de Wolf, I. M. Toonder, R. de Graaf, C. H. A. Wittens. Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands Objectives: Post-thrombotic iliofemoral venous obstruction can cause debilitating symptoms and can be treated by percutaneous angioplasty and stenting with good clinical results. However, little is known about the hemodynamic effects of iliofemoral post-thrombotic obstruction. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the hemodynamic changes in iliofemoral venous obstructive disease in the common femoral vein (CFV), compared to the dorsal foot vein, during ambulation. Methods: Sixteen patients with post-thrombotic unilateral iliofemoral deep venous obstruction were included. The dorsal foot vein and CFV were cannulated bilaterally, and patients were instructed to walk on a treadmill until a maximum walking distance was reached (3.2 km/h, slope increasing 2% every 2 minutes to a maximum of 26 minutes). Results: All patients suffered from venous claudication. Mean age was 426 14 years; 13 patients were female, and two had right-sided complaints. Pressure in the CFVwas significantly higher in diseased limbs in erect position (58.8 6 12.5 compared with 42.1 6 16.8; P 1⁄4 .008, Wilcoxon signed rank test), but this difference was not found in the dorsal foot vein (84.96 11.8 vs 87.5 6 10.5; P 1⁄4 .386). During walking, pressure significantly increased by 25.66 17.0 mm Hg in the CFV of diseased limbs compared with 1.9 6 6.4 mmHg in control limbs (P 1⁄4 .001; Fig). Pressure decreased by 36.46 21.0 mm Hg in the dorsal foot vein of diseased limbs, which was not significant compared with 40.7 6 19.5 in controls (P 1⁄4 .508). Only four patients were able to finish the treadmill test, although all patients developed pain during the test. In the supine position, no significant differences were found. Conclusions: This is thefirst study showing a significantpressure increase at the level of theCFV in erect position and during ambulation in patients with a post-thrombotic deep venous obstruction. This could explain the occurrence of venous claudication in patients with iliofemoral venous obstruction. Author Disclosures: R. L. M. Kurstjens:Nothing to disclose;M. A. F. de Wolf: Nothing to disclose; I. M. Toonder: Nothing to disclose; R. de Graaf: Nothing to disclose; C. H. A. Wittens: Nothing to disclose. Nonthrombotic Venous Obstructions Cause Pelvic Congestion Syndrome S. F. Daugherty. Veincare Centers of Tennessee, Clarksville, Tenn Objectives: Pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) usually is attributed to ovarian or internal iliac vein reflux. Until recently, nonthrombotic iliac vein obstruction and left renal vein obstruction rarely have been reported as causes of PCS. Methods: A total of 3730 new patients were evaluated in a vein center by a single physician from 2008 through August 2014. Records were reviewed for the patients who underwent treatment for PCS. After a history and physical examination suggested the clinical diagnosis of PCS, the patients were studied with transabdominal venous duplex ultrasound and either computed tomography or magnetic resonance venography. Subsequent venograms with intravascular ultrasound were used to confirm the diagnosis and to direct angioplasty/stenting of the left common iliac vein. Follow-up was performed with clinical examination and transabdominal ultrasound. Results: Twenty-nine patients were treated with angioplasty/stenting of the left common iliac vein for PCS. Only 12 of these patients presented to the center for pelvic symptoms. The other 17 presented for lower extremity complaints, but it quickly became apparent that their dominant symptoms affecting quality of life were pelvic symptoms. Fifty-six other patients whose primary symptoms were leg symptoms with variable degrees of pelvic symptoms were treated as well for nonthrombotic iliac vein obstruction. Three patients were treated for left ovarian vein reflux with coil embolization techniques. One patient was identified with severe aortomesenteric compression of the left renal vein with extensive left ovarian vein reflux causing pelvic congestion symptoms judged severe enough to recommend venous bypass.

OBJETIVO: Analisar os resultados do tratamento de uma série consecutiva de pacientes submetidos a tratamento endovascular de doenças da aorta torácica. Foram observados o sucesso técnico, o sucesso terapêutico, a morbimortalidade e a taxa de complicações perioperatórias e de reintervenções. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo, realizado em um centro de referência, no período de janeiro de 2010 a julho de 2011, em que foram analisados pacientes submetidos a correção endovascular de doenças da aorta torácica. A população foi dividida em dois grupos: grupo 1 (G1) - aneurismas de aorta torácica verdadeiros, úlcera aórtica e pseudoaneurisma; grupo 2 (G2) - dissecção aórtica tipo B crônica. RESULTADOS: Em um total de 55 pacientes tratados, 29 pertenciam ao G1 e 26, ao G2. As idades médias foram 66,8 ± 10 e 56,4 ± 7 anos, respectivamente. Os sucessos técnico e terapêutico foram, respectivamente, 86,3% e 68,6% no G1 e 100% e 74% no G2. A mortalidade perioperatória foi 10,3% no G1 e 7,6% no G2, com taxa de mortalidade anual de 10,3% no G1 e de 19,3% no G2. As taxas de reintervenções foram 10,3% e 15,3%, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: Em nosso estudo, o tratamento endovascular das doenças da aorta torácica demonstrou ser um método viável e associado a aceitáveis taxas de complicações. OBJECTIVE: To analyze treatment outcomes in a consecutive series of patients submitted to endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic disease. Technical success, therapeutic success, morbimortality, rate of perioperative complications and reinterventions were taken into consideration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present retrospective study was developed in a reference center in the period from January 2010 to July 2011, involving patients submitted to endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic disease. The study population was divided into two groups: group 1 (G1) - true thoracic aortic aneurysms, aortic ulcer and pseudoaneurysm; group 2 (G2) - chronic type B aortic dissection. RESULTS: Out of a total of 55 patients, 29 belonged to the G1 and 26 to the G2 group. Mean ages were 66.8 ± 10 and 56.4 ± 7 years, respectively. The technical and therapeutic success reached respectively 86.3% and 68.6% in G1 and 100% and 74% in G2. The perioperative mortality rate was 10.3% in G1 and 19.3% in G2. The reintervention rate was 10.3% in G1 and 15.3% in G2. CONCLUSION: In the present study, the endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic disease proved to be a feasible method associated with acceptable rate of complications.

O tratamento tradicional da fístula aorto-entérica secundária baseia-se na retirada cirúrgica da prótese, desbridamento aórtico, enxerto extra-anatômico, ou in situ, nos casos em que o campo cirúrgico apresenta-se sem sinais de infecção. Recentemente, alguns autores vêm preconizando o tratamento endovascular em pacientes instáveis e com alto risco cirúrgico. Apresentamos um relato de caso de paciente portador de fístula aorto-entérica secundária tratado inicialmente por via endovascular. Traditional treatment of secondary aortoenteric fistula is based on open surgery followed by device removal, aortic debridement and extra-anatomic or in situ by-pass when no signs of local infection are found. Recently, some authors have been advocating endovascular treatment in unstable and high-risk patients. We present a case report of a patient who underwent initial endovascular treatment of a secondary aortoenteric fistula.