Spontaneous Superficial Femoral Artery Mycotic Aneurysm

Peripheral artery mycotic aneurysms are rare occurrences. In this case, we review a 52-year-old lady with poorly controlled diabetes who developed a spontaneous left superficial artery mycotic aneurysm. She underwent excision and subsequent extra-anatomic bypass with a great saphenous vein graft. She had full functional recovery after a short period of rehabilitation

May–Thurner Syndrome: A Consideration for Deep Vein Thrombosis in Males

May–Thurner syndrome (MTS) is an underdiagnosed cause of lower limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The clinical prevalence of MTS-related DVT is likely underestimated, particularly in patients with other more recognisable risk factors. MTS is classically described in females between the age group of 20–50 years. In patients with acute iliofemoral thrombosis, medical treatment with anticoagulation alone has been associated with higher risk of postthrombotic syndrome (PTS) and lower iliofemoral patency rates, as compared to endovascular correction. We describe a case of MTS-related extensive iliofemoral DVT occurring in a middle age male who presented with acute onset of left lower limb swelling and pain, complicated by pulmonary embolism. Doppler compression ultrasonography of the left lower limb showed partial DVT extending from the left external iliac to the popliteal veins, and contrasted computed tomography (CT) of the thorax abdomen and pelvis established features of MTS, together with right pulmonary embolism. He was started on low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and then underwent left lower limb AngioJet pharmacomechanical thrombolysis/thrombectomy, iliac vein stenting, and temporary inferior vena cava (IVC) filter insertion. After the procedure, the patient recovered and improved symptomatically with rapid resolution of this left lower limb swelling and pain. He was switched to an oral Factor Xa inhibitor and was subsequently discharged. After 1-month follow-up, he remained well with stent patency visualised on repeat ultrasound and underwent an uneventful elective IVC filter retrieval with subsequent plans for a 1-year follow-up

Fast-Access Multidisciplinary Approach to Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers: The Diabetic Rapid Evaluation and Lower Limb Amputation Management (DREAM) Clinic

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are debilitating to the patient and costly for the healthcare system. We set up the Diabetic Rapid Evaluation and lower limb Amputation Management (DREAM) clinic with the aim of providing early directed specialist care to patients with DFUs. With early management, we hope to treat DFUs in its early stages, reducing the need for and associated morbidity of major and minor lower limb amputations. Objectives: We evaluated the outcomes of the fast-access DREAM clinic with multi-disciplinary evaluation for patients with DFUs. Outcomes include time from the point of referral to DREAM clinic evaluation, amputation rates and wound healing rates. Design; Patients presenting with DFU to the DREAM clinic were enrolled. A podiatrist made the first assessment, followed by immediate specialist consultation with Endocrinologists, Vascular surgeons or Orthopaedic surgeons as required. Methods: Data on baseline demographics and DFU characteristics were collected. Outcomes evaluated were wound healing at 12 weeks, wound salvage rates, time to DREAM clinic access and time to specialist referral. Results: Sixty-eight patients were enrolled, with 57.3% males, and mean age of 63 ± 13.0 years. Majority of ulcers were classified as neuropathic (41.3%) and located at the digits (40%). At 12-weeks follow-up, 1 had undergone major amputation, 9 minor amputations and 4 surgical debridements. The median time to DREAM clinic evaluation from first presentation was 3 days (IQR 7). Eleven (16.2%) required >1 specialist consult. Twenty (29.4%) were hospitalised for treatment. Twelve underwent revascularisation within 4 days (IQR 3.5). Twenty-four patients (35.3%) continued podiatry follow-up, having 28 DFUs in which 20 (71.4%) healed within 12 weeks. Conclusion: The fast-access multidisciplinary DREAM clinic shows promising outcomes with lower major amputation rates and exemplary DFU healing outcomes

A case of severe polyarteritis nodosa with critical limb threatening ischemia—promising treatment with sirolimus drug-coated angioplasty

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a rare form of vasculitis. Acute limb ischemia is a rare presentation and complication of PAN. Plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA) is one of the treatment strategies for addressing PAN-related critical limb threatening ischemia (CLTI). However, recurrence of stenosis and occlusion is frequent, making POBA a poor treatment choice, as evidenced in our described clinical case. Consequently, with consideration of sirolimus's anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, we used a sirolimus-coated balloon in the treatment of PAN-induced CLTI. A 37-year-old woman first presented with acute limb ischemia as her initial symptom. Diagnostic angiography demonstrated occlusion of her tibial vessels, and POBA was performed to restore perfusion. Later in the course of her illness, she developed foot gangrene despite multiple courses of immunosuppressive drugs and several attempts with POBA to achieve limb salvage. Because of her disease trajectory, a MagicTouch (Concept Medical) sirolimus-coated balloon was deployed to her anterior tibial artery during her third angioplasty. At 17 months after her last angioplasty, she remained ulcer free, and surveillance scans demonstrated occlusion-free tibial vessels. The use of sirolimus-coated balloon angioplasty is a promising treatment approach for successful limb salvage in patients with PAN vasculitis and CLTI