Novidades fitossociológicas do nordeste alentejano (Portugal)

Phytosociological novelties of the Northeast Alentejo (Portugal) Palavras chave. Stauracanthus lusitanicus, Sedum marianum, matos, Ulici argentei-Cistion ladaniferi, Cicendion. Key words. Stauracanthus lusitanicus, Sedum marianum, scrubland, Ulici argentei-Cistion ladaniferi, Cicendion

Vitamin d sufficiency in hemodialysis patients and its association with nutritional and clinical parameters

Renal failure is a complicating factor in the maintenance of vitamin D adequate levels, which can interfere in the patients’ nutritional status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] with clinical and nutritional parameters. Prevalent hemodialysis (HD) patients were submitted to a single evaluation about demographic characteristics, clinical data and laboratory measurements. Anthropometric measurements and electrical bioimpedance were performed to obtain BMI, percentage of standard MAMC (%MAMC), fat percentage (%Fat) and phase angle (PA). Deficiency was defined as a 25(OH)D level<15ng/mL, insufficiency as 15-30 ng/mL and sufficiency as>30ng/mL. Univariate models were constructed and the variables associated with 25(OH)D sufficiency were included subsequently in the multiple regression model. Statistical significance was p<0.05.One hundred twelve patients (59 male, 53 female) were included. Twenty seven (24.1%) were 25(OH)D deficient, 43 (38.4%) insufficient and 42 (37.5%) sufficient. In univariate regression, creatinin, albumin and PA were positively associated with serum 25(OH)D, while age, glucose, BMI and %MAMC were negatively associated. In multivariate regression, age and %MAMC were negatively associated with sufficiency. Most studied sample showed inadequate 25(OH)D levels. In our study, the result to be highlighted was the negative associations of 25(OH)D sufficiency with age and %MAMC, but all the findings suggest that fat interferes with vitamin D stores in HD patients

IN SITU LESSER SAPHENOUS VEIN BYPASS THROUGH A POSTERIOR APPROACH: AN UNDERESTIMATED APPROACH FOR LIMB SALVAGE

INTRODUCTION: In situ lesser saphenous vein (LSV) graft has been advocated in cases of lower limb revascularization where target arteries are confined to the lower leg and the greater saphenous vein (GSV) is neither available nor suitable. This often occurs in diabetic or end-stage renal diseased patients, whose occlusive disease pattern typically affects the tibioperoneal vessels, sparing the femoropopliteal segment. In situ technique offers the potential advantages of decreased surgical trauma to the vein, better size-matching and improved hemodynamics. The posterior approach simplifies the surgical procedure; it achieves similar graft patency and limb salvage rates compared to standard procedures. CASE REPORT: We report a case of an 89 years-old male diabetic patient with previous attempts of endovascular revascularization of the posterior tibial and peroneal arteries; he presents with a nonhealing ulcer of the first toe of the right foot. Ultrasonographic vein mapping revealed varicose GSV in both limbs and a linear, ~3mm diameter, LSV in the right leg. The patient underwent right limb retrogeniculate popliteal to distal posterior tibial artery bypass with in situ LSV through a posterior approach. Post-operative bypass thrombosis occurred after seven days; it was resolved with surgical thrombectomy, vein angioplasty and arteriovenous shunt ligation. During follow-up at the outpatient clinic, the bypass remains patent and skin lesions healing without complications. CONCLUSION: In situ LSV is a safe and viable option conduit for popliteal to distal arteries bypasses. Vascular surgeons should be aware of the posterior approach, which simplifies and comfortably exposes the anatomic structures required for this surgery

ABOVE-KNEE AMPUTATION STUMP ISCHEMIA: A SURGICAL CHALLENGE IN PREVENTING DEATH

Introduction: Above-knee stump ischemia is a serious condition. If left untreated usually courses with progression to irreversible ischemia. Without treatment the path from here usually leads to hip disarticulation and death. Our aim is to present our most recent experience in stump revascularization.   Material/Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients with above-knee stump ischemia treated in our institution between July 2018 to March 2019. Results: We present four clinical cases treated in our institution in the last nine months. Two of them presented with non-acute stump ischemia with pain and skin lesions developed after minor trauma several months after surgery and stump healing. In both cases the computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed occlusion of the common femoral artery (CFA) and was inconclusive regarding the status and quality of the deep femoral artery (DFA). Despite this, ischemia severity deemed obligatory an attempt to revascularization, DFA was surgically exposed and proved to be an adequate target run off to a bypass. In the other two, the ischemia of the stump was acute. In one patient it was after surgical treatment of an ipsilateral false aneurism of the CFA (with ligation of the EIA) treated with a bypass from the EIA to both the superficial and DFA. The other was a patient admitted with aortic bifurcation occlusion and irreversible right leg ischemia that was submitted to primary above-knee amputation. In the next postoperative days, the patient developed severe stump ischemia. An axillo femoral bypass and proximal re-amputation was performed. Three patients resolved the stump ischemia and fared well, the last one died in the postoperative period. Discussion/Conclusions: Above-knee stump ischemia usually leads to progressive stump degradation/necrosis/infection, eventually leading to death. When the common/deep femoral arteries are occluded, re-amputation is usually insufficient and progression of ischemia can dictate the need for a hip disarticulation, a very aggressive and mutilating procedure with high rate of morbidity and mortality that do not prevent progression to pelvic ischemia and death. Revascularization of above-knee amputation stump, based on DFA or hypogastric revascularization, is the best therapeutic alternative and should be attempted even in frail patients. We believe that our small series reinforces the idea that stump revascularization is possible and can save both: stump and life

Transposição de veia ovárica como um tratamento cirúrgico menos invasivo para a síndrome de nutcracker

INTRODUÇÃO: O fenómeno de nutcracker refere-se à compressão da veia renal esquerda (VRE), habitualmente entre a aorta e a artéria mesentérica superior. Quando sintomático, designa-se síndrome de nutcracker. Os sintomas/sinais estão relacionados com o desenvolvimento de hipertensão venosa renal e o diagnostico depende da conjugação da clínica e alterações laboratoriais na presença de critérios imagiológicos. Habitualmente a indicação terapêutica depende da severidade dos sintomas. Existem várias opções terapêuticas: transposição/ pontagem da VRE para uma implantação mais distal na veia cava inferior, transposição da veia gonadal, auto- transplante renal, e tratamento endovascular. CASO CLÍNICO: Doente de 40 anos, sexo feminino, observada em consulta de cirurgia vascular por varizes pélvicas e vulvares recidivadas. Por suspeita de síndrome de congestão pélvica, realizou estudo complementar com venoTAC que revelou fenómeno de nutcracker com dilatação importante da veia ovárica (VO) e varizes pélvicas. O exame sumário de urina revelou hematúria. Foram ponderadas várias opções de tratamento, tendo sido decidido fazer uma transposição da VO para a veia ilíaca comum (VIC). Através de uma pequena incisão paramediana esquerda (com cerca de 5cm) foi realizada uma abordagem retroperitoneal dos vasos. Procedeu-se à identificação e isolamento da VO (sinalizada com fio guia colocado pela veia femoral comum direita no início do procedimento). Localizada posteriormente à VO, isolou-se a VIC. Procedeu-se à secção transversal da VO e anastomose em termino-lateral da VO à VIC. O tratamento foi complementado com esclerose com espuma de varizes vulvares por via endovascular. A doente teve alta no primeiro dia de pós-operatório. Ao 6o mês de pós- operatório mantem-se sem recidiva das varizes e sem hematúria. DISCUSSÃO: O Síndrome de nutcracker pode implicar uma morbilidade importante, com risco de trombose da VRE e perda da função renal. O melhor tratamento ainda não está definido e a seleção da melhor opção é dificultada pelo reduzido número de casos, ausência de estudos prospetivos randomizados, e pela ausência de follow-up a longo prazo de algumas das opções terapêuticas. A transposição da VRE é o procedimento mais habitual, seguido pelo auto-transplante renal. O nosso serviço tem vasta experiência na transplantação renal e o auto-transplante tem tido bons resultados; no entanto, não deixa de ser uma intervenção complexa, com riscos potenciais não desprezíveis, com uma convalescença prolongada e um impacto estético importante, sobretudo se aferido à idade jovem dos doentes. Corroborado pelo resultado do caso clínico apresentado, os autores consideram que a transposição da VO é uma alternativa terapêutica menos invasiva a ser considerada

AORTOENTERIC FISTULA, CURRENT STATE OF THE ART

Aortoenteric fistula (AEF) is a rare cause of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. There are two types of AEF: primary and secondary. Primary AEF usually occurs in association with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Secondary AEF are associated to aortic grafts, normally in relation to graft infection, and represent the most common type. A high level of suspicion is essential to a prompt diagnosis. If not promptly diagnosed and treated the associated mortality is very high. The role of endovascular treatment is not yet defined. Our aim is to perform a non-systematic review of the available literature concerning etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of AEF

“DE NOVO” PERIAORTITIS AFTER EVAR OR AORTOILIAC STENTING: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Chronic periaortitis and retroperitoneal fibrosis are related entities that develop with periaortic inflammation and deposition of fibroinflammatory tissue in the retroperitoneal space. This pathological fibroinflammatory process may be associated with endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (EVAR) as well as the treatment of aortoiliac arterial occlusive disease with stent/stent-graft implantation. We performed a systematic review of the literature in the MEDLINE database of original articles that documented the development of periaortitis after endovascular aortoiliac treatment for occlusive and aneurysmatic arterial disease. We included a total of 12 articles describing 14 cases of this complication. Most of the reported cases are related to the development of periaortitis after EVAR in the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). The majority of patients are male, with ages ranging from 45 to 78 years. This complication was verified with the use of different devices that included nitinol or stainless-steel stents. In the case of stent-grafts this complication occurred with both polyester and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coverings. The severity of the clinical picture was also highly variable, with some cases presenting with hydronephrosis resulting from urethral obstruction. Treatment with corticotherapy, tamoxifen, or a combination of the two was effective in all cases. Periaortitis is an extremely rare complication of aortoiliac endovascular treatment. Similar to idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis, corticosteroid therapy appears to be highly effective and early treatment seems to be essential to avoid complications

IATROGENIC INJURY OF THE SUBCLAVIAN ARTERY TREATED PERCUTANEOUSLY WITH ARTERIAL CLOSURE DEVICE

Introduction: Subclavian arterial puncture is a relatively frequent complication of attempted placement of central venous catheters (CVC). The placement of a CVC in the artery is rarer, but with potential serious complications especially in its withdrawal. Anticipating these complications, control of potential bleeding in catheter withdrawal is usually performed by surgical or endovascular approach with endoprosthesis release. Our goal is to present the treatment with a percutaneous arterial closure device.  Materials / Methods: Presentation of a clinical case of a CVC placed in the subclavian artery treated with a percutaneous arterial closure device.  Results: A 51-year-old man hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction. On the first day of hospitalization, the introduction of a CVC into the right subclavian vein was attempted. In view of the suspected intraarterial position, CT angiography scan demonstrated that the CVC had been introduced into the subclavian artery with a point of entry proximal to the passage under the clavicle and with a path to the brachiocephalic trunk. Hypocoagulation with UFH was initiated given the risk of pericateter thrombosis and embolization. The use of percutaneous closure device ProGlide® was planned using the CVC pathway. As predictable difficulties for this option was the long CVC path to the arterial entry point, raising questions about the extent of the suture mechanism of the device and the progression of nodes in this path. Under fluoroscopic control, an angioplasty balloon was progressed until the CVC point of entrance for temporary bleeding control in case of ProGlide® failure; in which case the procedure would be completed with a covered endoprosthesis; the subclavian artery had a diameter of 12 mm and was ipsilateral to a brachiocephalic fistula. It was decided to retrograde puncture the fistula and progress the balloon to the subclavian artery. The rigid guide wire was then placed through the CVC and the CVC removed. Two Proglide® closure devices (positioned at 10 p.m. and 2 p.m.) were released. The complete resolution of clinical and imaging hemorrhage was verified.  Discussion/Conclusions: Placement of CVC in the subclavian artery is a potentially serious complication since its removal can be complicated with severe haemorrhage. Depending on the point of entry, there may be additional complexities due to the proximity of the vertebral and carotid arteries. In this case we left open several hypotheses (endovascular and ultimately surgical), but our preference was ad initium the percutaneous introduction of closure device given the feasibility, simplicity, less aggressiveness, non-interference with the vertebral ostium, and lower cost compared to a covered endoprosthesis.

Considerations on the treatment for aortoiliac aneurysmal disease with concomitant ectopic kidney

INTRODUCTION: Ectopic kidneys with concomitant aortoiliac aneurysmal disease have been previously reported in the literature, however its exact prevalence is unknown. The objective of this review is to summarize current knowledge on the treatment this special group of patients. METHODS: A non-systematic literature research was performed on the treatment of aortoiliac aneurysmal disease in patients with ectopic kidneys. RESULTS: Literature on the management of patients with aorto-iliac aneurysms and concomitant ectopic kidneys is limited to case reports and very small series. Treatment modalities which include open, endovascular or hybrid techniques, should preserve the variable vasculature of the ectopic kidney. Several different surgical solutions have been proposed, highlighting the uncertainty on the optimal management strategy. However, a growing number of reports suggest safety and efficacy with adapted endovascular techniques. CONCLUSION: In parallel to the general trend in the management of abdominal aortic aneurysm, it is expected that a growing number of patients will concomitant aorto-iliac aneurysm and ectopic kidneys will be treated with endovascular techniques