Journal of vascular surgery
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Comparative Study
Mini skin incision for carotid endarterectomy (CEA): a new and safe alternative to the standard approach.
Patients requiring surgery are naturally attracted to shorter incisions because they tend to cause less pain and are esthetically more appeasing. To substantially shorten the length of standard skin incisions (4 to 7 inches) for carotid endarterectomy (CEA), we used preoperative duplex scanning to outline the carotid bifurcation as well as to determine the extent of disease in both the internal and common carotid arteries. ⋯ Most CEAs (95%) can safely be performed with < or = 2-inch skin incisions. Pre-CEA duplex-assisted skin marking is a novel approach that confirms the side of the operation, localizes the disease, and minimizes the magnitude of the operation via shorter, more esthetically pleasing incisions.
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Although pseudoaneurysm of the thyrocervical trunk is seen with increasing frequency as a result of trauma or central venous cannulation, true aneurysm of the thyrocervical trunk is exceedingly rare. A 44-year-old woman presented with acute left neck swelling that progressed rapidly to respiratory distress and subsequent hemothorax. Emergency endotracheal intubation was performed for airway control, and tube thoracostomy was placed for drainage of the pleural space. ⋯ Observation has been uniformly fatal. Because life-threatening rupture is possible, the presence of this aneurysm mandates intervention. Endovascular coil embolization is a viable option for treatment of this entity.
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Bedside placement of inferior vena cava filters by using either transabdominal duplex ultrasonography or intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) has been shown to be safe and effective. We review techniques for bedside filter placement with transabdominal duplex ultrasonography, IVUS with dual venous access, and IVUS with single venous access. Transabdominal duplex ultrasonography and IVUS remain our preferred techniques for filter placement when feasible, especially in critically ill and immobilized patients.
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Comparative Study
Risk factors and prevalence of perioperative cognitive dysfunction in abdominal aneurysm patients.
Perioperative delirium is common in high-risk surgery and is associated with age, education, preoperative cognitive functioning, pre-existing medical conditions, and postoperative complications. We investigated these factors as well as lifestyle and demographic variables by using cognitive measures that were more sensitive than those used in previous studies. ⋯ A significant proportion of patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair are susceptible to the development of delirium and are at risk for cognitive dysfunction after surgery. Our findings have implications for promoting long-term lifestyle changes, including smoking cessation and improved management of mental health as risk-reduction strategies.
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Comparative Study
The safety of carotid endarterectomy in diabetic patients: clinical predictors of adverse outcome.
Patients with diabetes mellitus have been shown to have an increased incidence of complications after elective major vascular surgery. The objective of this study was to evaluate a large series of diabetic patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) to determine if outcome differed from nondiabetic patients and to examine predisposing factors of poor outcome among diabetic patients. ⋯ Despite an increased prevalence of cardiac disease and preoperative neurologic symptoms among diabetic patients undergoing CEA, the rates of perioperative cardiac morbidity, mortality, and stroke were equal to nondiabetic patients. In contrast to nondiabetic patients, current cigarette smoking appeared to predict increased adverse neurologic outcomes among diabetic patients, and the presence of contralateral occlusion among diabetic patients appeared to predispose them towards increased perioperative mortality. The use of a general anesthetic appeared to increased perioperative neurologic risk among diabetic patients; however, this may be related to surgeon bias in the selection of anesthetic technique. Although diabetic patients may have an increase in complications after other major vascular surgical procedures, the presence of diabetes mellitus does not appear to significantly increase risk.