Right atrial bypass grafting for central venous obstruction associated with dialysis access: another treatment option.
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PURPOSE: Central venous obstruction is a common problem in patients with chronic renal failure who undergo maintenance hemodialysis. We studied the use of right atrial bypass grafting in nine cases of central venous obstruction associated with upper extremity venous hypertension. To better understand the options for managing this condition, we discuss the roles of surgery and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stent placement. METHODS: All patients had previously undergone placement of bilateral temporary subclavian vein dialysis catheters. Severe arm swelling, graft thrombosis, or graft malfunction developed because of central venous stenosis or obstruction in the absence of alternative access sites. A large-diameter (10 to 16 mm) externally reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene (GoreTex) graft was used to bypass the obstructed vein and was anastomosed to the right atrial appendage. This technique was used to bypass six lesions in the subclavian vein, two lesions at the innominate vein/superior vena caval junction, and one lesion in the distal axillary vein. RESULTS: All patients except one had significant resolution of symptoms without operative mortality. Bypass grafts remained patent, allowing the arteriovenous grafts to provide functional access for 1.5 to 52 months (mean, 15.4 months) after surgery. CONCLUSION: Because no mortality directly resulted from the procedure and the morbidity rate was acceptable, this bypass grafting technique was adequate in maintaining the dialysis access needed by these patients. Because of the magnitude of the procedure, we recommend it only for the occasional patient in whom all other access sites are exhausted and in whom percutaneous dilation and/or stenting has failed. (+info)
Axillary vein thrombosis may occur on strenuous activity with a clinical picture similar to a simple strain. It carries significant morbidity but a good outcome is possible with early treatment. The aetiology, investigation, and treatment are discussed. (+info)
Axillary vein transfer in trabeculated postthrombotic veins.
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PURPOSE: This study assessed whether axillary vein transfer can be successfully performed in trabeculated veins and whether patients with this severe form of postthrombotic syndrome can be helped by an aggressive approach. METHODS: A total of 102 axillary vein transfer procedures were carried out in 83 limbs with trabeculated veins. More than one venous segment was repaired in 38 limbs with a second axillary valve in 19, and a different technique was used in the remainder. The superficial and deep femoral veins were the most common target sites. "Bench repair" of leaky axillary valves was performed before the transfer in 32 cases. Venous stasis dermatitis or ulceration was present in 90% of the limbs. The operability rate and chance of successful valve reconstruction was high, even in the presence of severe venographic appearance. RESULTS: The actuarial transplant patency rate was 83% at 10 years. The actuarial freedom from recurrent ulceration rate was more than 60% at 10 years, similar to the results obtained in a matched group of axillary vein transfers to nontrabeculated veins. Severe preoperative ambulatory venous hypertension (venous filling time [VFT] of less than 5 seconds), which was present in 67% of patients, did not adversely affect outcome, but short VFTs that persisted after surgery did. VFT and VFI90 (venous filling index, air plethysmography) improved after valve transfer. Swelling disappeared or was significantly reduced in 55% of patients (11 of 20 patients) who had moderate or severe preoperative swelling. In 82% of patients (31 of 37 patients) who had mild or no preoperative swelling, the swelling remained stable after surgery, and in 18% of patients (6 of 37 patients), it became worse. Pain was significantly diminished in 70% of patients; 23% of patients with severe pain had complete resolution. CONCLUSION: Axillary vein transfer, in combination with other antirefluxive procedures when indicated, is safe, effective, and durable in patients with trabeculated veins and severe forms of postthrombotic syndrome. It may be considered as an option when conservative therapy or other types of surgery fail. (+info)
Surgical intervention is not required for all patients with subclavian vein thrombosis.
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PURPOSE: The role of thoracic outlet decompression in the treatment of primary axillary-subclavian vein thrombosis remains controversial. The timing and indications for surgery are not well defined, and thoracic outlet procedures may be associated with infrequent, but significant, morbidity. We examined the outcomes of patients treated with or without surgery after the results of initial thrombolytic therapy and a short period of outpatient anticoagulation. METHODS: Patients suspected of having a primary deep venous thrombosis underwent an urgent color-flow venous duplex ultrasound scan, followed by a venogram and catheter-directed thrombolysis. They were then converted from heparin to outpatient warfarin. Patients who remained asymptomatic received anticoagulants for 3 months. Patients who, at 4 weeks, had persistent symptoms of venous hypertension and positional obstruction of the subclavian vein, venous collaterals, or both demonstrated by means of venogram underwent thoracic outlet decompression and postoperative anticoagulation for 1 month. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were treated between June 1996 and June 1999. Of the 18 patients who received catheter-directed thrombolysis, complete patency was achieved in eight patients (44%), and partial patency was achieved in the remaining 10 patients (56%). Nine of 22 patients (41%) did not require surgery, and the remaining 13 patients underwent thoracic outlet decompression through a supraclavicular approach with scalenectomy, first-rib resection, and venolysis. Recurrent thrombosis developed in only one patient during the immediate period of anticoagulation. Eleven of 13 patients (85%) treated with surgery and eight of nine patients (89%) treated without surgery sustained durable relief of their symptoms and a return to their baseline level of physical activity. All patients who underwent surgery maintained their venous patency on follow-up duplex scanning imaging. CONCLUSION: Not all patients with primary axillary-subclavian vein thrombosis require surgical intervention. A period of observation while patients are receiving oral anticoagulation for at least 1 month allows the selection of patients who will do well with nonoperative therapy. Patients with persistent symptoms and venous obstruction should be offered thoracic outlet decompression. Chronic anticoagulation is not required in these patients. (+info)
Cardiac and great vessel thrombosis in Behcet's disease.
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Behcet's disease (BD) is a chronic relapsing systemic vasculitis in which orogenital ulceration is a prominent feature. The disease affects many systems and causes hypercoagulability. We present a 27-year-old male patient who exhibited widespread great vessel thrombosis including right atrial and ventricular thrombi in the setting of right-sided infectious endocarditis and orogenital aphthous ulcerations and erythema nodosum due to BD. We reviewed the enigmatic prothrombotic state of BD, and discuss our prior experiences in this field. (+info)
Outcome after thrombolysis and selective thoracic outlet decompression for primary axillary vein thrombosis.
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PURPOSE: Treatment for primary subclavian-axillary vein thrombosis (SAVT) at our institution consists of thrombolysis and anticoagulation for 3 months. Thoracic outlet decompression has been performed for a small number of patients. We wanted to review the functional outcomes of patients treated in such a manner. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The records of all patients treated for a first episode of SAVT at our hospital over the past 10 years were reviewed. Demographics, comorbidities, method of diagnosis, and treatment for SAVT were recorded. Long-term follow-up was obtained by chart review and asking patients to complete the DASH (disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand) questionnaire that was developed by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients, 20 men and eight women, with a mean age of 36 were treated during the study period. The median time between onset of symptoms and treatment was 5.5 (range, 1-100) days. All patients had confirmation of the diagnosis by venography. Twenty-five patients received thrombolytic treatment with catheter-directed infusions of urokinase; in the other three patients the vein was chronically occluded. Twelve patients had some degree of residual stenosis and were treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty after thrombolysis. During the study period two patients underwent decompressive surgery. Twenty-one patients responded to the DASH questionnaire a mean of 2.9 years (range, 2 months to 8 years) after the episode of SAVT. Six (28%) of 21 patients were completely symptom free, 13 patients (62%) had DASH scores consistent with mild symptoms, and two patients had more severe symptoms. Twenty percent (4 of 21) of patients report some difficulty with work. CONCLUSIONS: Thrombolysis, followed by selective thoracic outlet decompression on the basis of the severity of patients' symptoms can be used as a therapeutic approach to SAVT without undue morbidity. The DASH questionnaire is a useful tool to evaluate results after therapy for SAVT. (+info)
Venous thromboembolism in infancy and childhood.
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A retrospective study of Scottish hospital inpatients aged 15 years or less has revealed, over a 4-year period, 36 cases of venous thrombosis or phlebitis. Of these 10 were considered to have deep venous thrombosis; 2 cases were associated with obvious pulmonary embolism and 2 cases developed chronic venous insufficiency. change in the coding allocations are proposed. There are "high risk" situations in childhood disease in which a diagnosis of venous thromboembolic disease should be considered and investigated. (+info)
New performed catheter for entry into pulmonary artery in complete transposition of great arteries.
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A new performed, semi-rigid, polyethylene catheter, with built-in torque control, has been devised for entry to the pulmonary artery in complete transposition of the great arteries. It has been used 19 times in 17 patients: 18 times the pulmonary artery was entered from the right atrium (via the left atrium and ventricle) in a time between 40 s and 15 min (median 5 min); the patients' ages were 2 days to 6 years (median 8 months) and their weights were 3.1 to 13.3 kg (median 6.9 (kg: in the remaining 1 day-old patient, the procedures was terminated because of atrial flutter. The catheter was introduced into the axillary vein in 3 patients and thesaphenous or femoral vein in the remainder. It is suitable for angiocardiography, and the other heart chambers and vessels were easily entered. Thus the catheter has certain advantages over previously described methods for entry to the pulmonary artery, particularly when there is inferior vena caval thrombosis, or when angiocardiography is necessary. Its use does depend on the presence of an interatrial communication, so a method for entry to the pulmonary artery by retrograde catheterization from the axillary artery using a different catheter is also presented; this was successful in 2 patients with ventriculal sepatal defect. (+info)