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PURPOSE: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate with venography the rate of thrombus regression after a fixed dose of low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) per day for 3 months compared with oral anticoagulant therapy for deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Secondary endpoints were the comparisons of the efficacy and safety of both treatments. METHODS: This study was designed as an open randomized clinical study in a university hospital setting. Of the 165 patients finally enrolled in the study, 85 were assigned LMWH therapy and 80 were assigned oral anticoagulant therapy. In the group randomized to oral anticoagulant therapy, the patients first underwent treatment in the hospital with standard unfractionated heparin and then coumarin for 3 months. Doses were adjusted with laboratory monitoring to maintain the international normalized ratio between 2.0 and 3.0. Patients in the LMWH group were administered subcutaneous injections of fixed doses of 40 mg enoxaparin (4000 anti-Xa units) every 12 hours for 7 days, and after discharge from the hospital, they were administered 40 mg enoxaparin once daily at fixed doses for 3 months without a laboratory control assay. A quantitative venographic score (Marder score) was used to assess the extent of the venous thrombosis, with 0 points indicating no DVT and 40 points indicating total occlusion of all deep veins. The rate of thrombus reduction was defined as the difference in quantitative venographic scores after termination of LMWH or coumarin therapy as compared with the scores obtained on the initial venographic results. The efficacy was defined as the ability to prevent symptomatic extension or recurrence of venous thromboembolism (documented with venograms or serial lung scans). The safety was defined as the occurrence of hemorrhages. RESULTS: After 3 months of treatment, the mean Marder score was significantly decreased in both groups in comparison with the baseline score, although the effect of therapy was significantly better after LMWH therapy (49.4% reduction) than after coumarin therapy (24.5% reduction; P <.001). LMWH therapy and male gender were independently associated with an enhanced resolution of the thrombus. A lower frequency of symptomatic recurrent venous thromboembolism was also shown in patients who underwent treatment with LMWH therapy (9.5%) than with oral anticoagulant therapy (23.7%; P <.05), although this difference was entirely a result of recurrence of DVT. Bleeding complications were significantly fewer in the LMWH group than in the coumarin group (1. 1% vs 10%; P <.05). This difference was caused by minor hemorrhages. Coumarin therapy and cancer were independently associated with an enhanced risk of complications. Subcutaneous heparin therapy was well tolerated by all patients. CONCLUSION: The patients who were allocated to undergo enoxaparin therapy had a significantly greater improvement in their quantitative venographic score, a significantly lower recurrence rate of symptomatic venous thromboembolism, and a significantly lower incidence of bleeding than patients who underwent treatment with coumarin. LMWH can be used on an outpatient basis as a safer and more effective alternative to classical oral anticoagulant therapy for the secondary prophylaxis of selected patients with DVT.

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Tumoral disease of the arteries is uncommon. It is possible that, in tumoral reoperations affecting cervical structures, periarterial fibrosis due to radiotherapy and previous surgery and metastatic adherences to the arterial wall makes radical surgery difficult. We present a case where the surgical treatment of a regional relapse from laryngeal neoplasm needed the removal of the common carotid artery and its reconstruction with autologous patent superficial femoral artery. Surgical technique included a PTFE graft interposition in the leg.

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INTRODUCTION: Vascular graft infection is a rare (0.8-2.6%) but serious complication of reconstructive vascular surgery, that comprises limb-threatening when located in the groin. PURPOSE: Review our experience in the treatment of infected groin wounds after femoral surgery by using sartorius myoplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1989 and October 1993, 13 patients with infected groin wounds involving vascular graft (Grade III of Szilagyi) were treated with local gently debridement, 10% povidone iodide lavage for 5 days, local and systemic antibodies for 14 days and in situ change of the infected graft followed by sartorius myoplasty, detaching its origin from superior anterior iliac spine and fixing it to inguinal ligament, except in one case where tissue cultures were negative and the graft was not changed. Follow-up was done using clinical and echographical criteria at 3, 6, 12 months after operation, and annually. RESULTS: Hospital mean stage was 10 days (8-13). The mean follow-up was 36 months (12-65). There was only one immediate complication from hemorrhage that needed surgery. The patient whose graft was not changed developed an abscess in the prosthetic bed 12 weeks after treatment. It was necessary to change it after debridement and antibiotics. No mortality was related to this technique. CONCLUSIONS: Sartorius myoplasty, with detaching and origin transposition, after in situ change of infected graft, is an excellent therapeutic option for reconstruction and treatment for infected groins with vascular grafts because it is easy to perform and offers very good results in long-term follow-up.

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The purpose of this prospective study was to determine the value of intraoperative intra-arterial fibrinolytic therapy (IIFT) in patients with acute arterial ischemia as an adjunct to mechanical thromboembolectomy. Sixty-six femoropopliteal or distal acute arterial occlusions were assessed by means of arteriography and Doppler imaging pre- and postoperatively. Two groups of patients were compared: one (n = 35) in which mechanical thromboembolectomy was applied as the single technique and another (n = 31) in which 250,000 IU of urokinase diluted in 250 ml of normal saline solution was instilled at the end of mechanical thromboembolectomy over a 30-minute period with the arterial inflow occluded. Candidates for IIFT were selected according to a nonrandomized method. Intraoperative arteriography showed residual thrombus in 20 (30.3%) patients and unsuspected arterial lesions in 23 (34.8%). Thrombosis recurrence was associated with residual thrombus (p < 0.001) and amputation (p < 0.001). The ankle/brachial index increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the patients who received IIFT (0.88 +/- 0.03) in comparison with those who underwent mechanical thromboembolectomy (0.75 +/- 0.05). Although the percentages of distal revascularization and amputation did not differ significantly between the two groups, quantitatively the results were better in the IIFT group (80.65% success and 9.68% failure) compared to the mechanical thromboembolectomy group (60% success and 22.86% failure). There was no bleeding due to IIFT. Significant variables in our study were diabetes (p < 0.05), the time period of 12 to 24 hours before the surgery (p < 0.05), and the severity of the ischemia in association with rest pain (p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Although carotid patch angioplasty has been performed on a selective or routine basis in all large series of carotid endarterectomy, the choice of patch material still remains in question. The objective of this study has been a prospective randomized evaluation of the relative risks and benefits of saphenous vein patch versus PTFE patch material for carotid endarterectomy. During a 4-year period, 84 patients undergoing 95 carotid endarterectomies were randomized into two groups: 45 venous patch (n = 40) and 50 PTFE patch (n = 44). All operations were carried out under general anesthesia and systematic placement of a shunt. The patients were evaluated at 1, 3, 6 months and every year with doppler, periorbitary photoplethysmography, intravenous digital subtraction angiography, and neurologic assessment (mean follow-up 29 +/- 1 month). Operative time among patients having PTFE patch was significantly longer (p < 0.05) than among those having saphenous vein patch, due to bleeding from suture holes. Perioperatively, no neurologic complications or deaths were observed in venous patch patients, however there was a permanent stroke and one death from arterial wall disruption in the PTFE patch group. The incidence of aneurysmal dilatation in the saphenous vein patch group (15.5%) was higher than for the PTFE patch group (2%). On late follow-up, no deaths, carotid thrombosis or patch rupture were observed in either group. Recurrent stenosis occurred in 2 cases having PTFE patch. One reoperation for recurrence was required. In addition, one patient with PTFE patch angioplasty developed an infected false aneurysm at 7 months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Amaurosis fugax has frequently been related to carotid artery disease. In order to determine the relationship between amaurosis fugax and significant carotid artery stenosis, we prospectively studied 81 consecutive patients presenting to an ophthalmologist with this symptom. Neurologic and vascular evaluation with PPG and Duplex-scan were performed. A stenosis of greater than 70% was regarded as significant. DSA was performed in patients with significant stenosis (55 of 81). The presence of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, tobacco and hyperlipidemia was considered. Mean age was 64.96 years. There was a high prevalence of hypertension, smoking and previous CVA/TIAs. Patients with significant carotid stenosis were endarterectomized. Carotid atheromata plaques were classified in three groups: hemorrhagic plaque (5), dystrophic calcification (8) and ulcerated plaque (42). There was a high correlation (0.87) between ulcerated plaque and amaurosis fugax. We conclude that amaurosis fugax is an important symptom to allocate patients with high risk of carotid disease, specially carotid stenosis complicated with ulcerated plaque. Carotid duplex scan must be done if this symptom is present.

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We report a case of a patient with an elastic pseudoxanthoma (PXE) who presented an acute ischaemia at the left lower limb. The cause of such ischaemia was a thrombosis into the iliac and femoropopliteal arteries. Patient underwent a surgical procedure. The arteriopathy associated with a PXE rarely cause an arterial major occlusion. We did not found a case of acute arterial thrombotic ischaemia and PXE, treated with direct arterial revascularization in the reviewed literature.

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The specific IgE can be accepted in allergic rhinitis as a determinant for the definite diagnosis, as there does not exist a correlation with total IgE, which may be either high or not, probably depending on other factors, amongst which neither the age of the patient nor the season of the year in which the rhinitis is determined are to be included.

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The high incidence of allergic rhinitis in our community allows us to study large groups of the population. We have observed that graminea pollen is the most common allergen, although mites --Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus-- produce the greatest number of cases. The age of appearance or of most acute symptomatology varies depending on the allergen; sensitivity to more than one allergen is most common. The highest incidence is during the months of November, December, April, May and June for domestic dust and mites, whereas December, May and June present the highest incidence for graminea pollen.

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A new case of postnephrectomy arteriovenous fistula is reported. This is an uncommon acquired complication of a common surgical procedure. Clinical features, diagnostic procedures, surgical treatment and results are analysed and discussed. In this case, a direct communication between the right renal artery and the inferior vena cava was found.

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