Resultados de longo prazo do tratamento fibrinolítico da trombose venosa iliacofemoral por infusão seletiva do ativador de plasminogênio tissular recombinante em baixas doses

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of catheter-directed low-dose recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator infusion in the treatment of iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis and prevention of post-thrombotic syndrome. METHOD: Eighteen patients (out of 260 evaluated) with acute iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis and no previous evidence of venous insufficiency were prospectively selected for thrombolytic therapy. Catheter-directed low-dose recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (1 mg/h) was infused into the thrombotic segments. RESULTS: Effective fibrinolysis was achieved in 14 of 18 cases, with correlation between effective fibrinolysis and major/complete resolution of acute signs and symptoms (POBJETIVOS: Avaliar a eficácia da infusão seletiva por cateter do ativador de plasminogênio tecidual recombinante em baixas doses no tratamento da trombose venosa iliacofemoral e na prevenção da síndrome pós-trombótica. MÉTODO: Dezoito pacientes (de 260 avaliados) portadores de trombose venosa profunda iliacofemoral sem evidência prévia de insuficiência venosa foram selecionados para terapia fibrinolítica e submetidos a infusão seletiva por cateter do ativador de plasminogênio tecidual recombinante na dose de 1mg/dl nos segmentos venosos trombóticos. RESULTADOS: Quatorze pacientes apresentaram fibrinólise efetiva; observamos correlação entre o grau de melhora clínica observado e a redução percentual do volume trombótico (

Comparison of Common Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness Between Brazilian Euro-Descendants and Afro-Descendants with Atherosclerosis Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: To compare common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) between the two major Brazilian ethnic groups (those of African descent and those of European descent) among individuals with one or more risk factors for atherosclerotic disease. METHOD: Two hundred and six patients with one or more risk factors for atherosclerotic disease were evaluated in a cross-sectional study in which their clinical, ethnic and Demographic characteristics were collected. All patients underwent duplex ultrasound examination of their carotid vessels to obtain IMT measurements. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-three patients (74.3%) had a carotid IMT greater than 1.0 mm at one or more point of measurement in at least one common carotid artery. There was a significant correlation between older age and mean carotid wall thickness (R=0.479 / P<0.01). Multivariate analysis identified male sex, arterial hypertension and older age as variables associated with increased IMT (P<0.05 for all variables). When IMT was compared between the two ethnic groups in this study, no significant differences were noted. Euro-descendants and Afro-descendants had similar IMT values, even when the groups were stratified by degree of IMT (normal vs. increased) and presence of stroke and/or transient ischemic attack (yes vs. no). CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors associated with increased common carotid artery IMT in Brazilian individuals are similar to those in previously described populations. No differences were observed between the two main Brazilian ethnic groups. Longitudinal studies are required for a better evaluation of the incidence, etiologic factors and evolution of carotid intimomedial thickening in this population

A Practical Protocol to Measure Common Carotid Artery Intima-media Thickness

OBJECTIVE: To describe and test a practical protocol to measure common carotid intima-media thickness that uses the combined values of two longitudinal examination angles to increase sensitivity. METHOD: Between February and September 2005, 206 patients underwent duplex scan examination of carotid vessels, and the intima-media thickness of 407 common carotids were measured in three angles: transversal, longitudinal posterolateral, and anterolateral, with three intima-media thickness measurements for each near and far wall. In addition to numbers obtained from the three angles of measurement, a fourth visual perspective was obtained by combining the intima-media thickness results of posterolateral and anterolateral longitudinal views and considering the thickest wall measurement. RESULTS: Two hundred seventy (66.3%) carotid arteries had an intima-media thickness thicker than 1mm. The mean intima-media thickness values achieved by the different incidences were 1.26±0.6mm (transversal), 1.17±0.54mm (longitudinal anterolateral), and 1.18±0.58mm (longitudinal posterolateral). A significant difference in intima-media thickness measurement values was observed when the three angles of examination plus the combined positive results of both longitudinal angles were compared by ANOVA (P=0.005). The LSD Post-Hoc test determined that the combined longitudinal view results were similar to the transversal views (P=0.28) and had greater intima-media thickness means than isolated anterolateral or posterolateral longitudinal views (P=0.02 and 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The protocol presented is a practical method for obtaining common carotid artery intima-media thickness measurements. The combined longitudinal posterolateral and anterolateral longitudinal views provide a more sensitive evaluation of the inner layers of the carotid walls than isolated longitudinal views

Endovascular treatment of peripheral arterial injury with covered stents: an experimental study in pigs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of using endovascular repair to treat penetrating arterial injuries with covered stents. Feasibility was examined according to the circumferential extent of the injury. INTRODUCTION: Surgical trauma often increases the risk of major morbidity and mortality associated with vascular injury, and endovascular repair has many advantages in such situations. METHODS: Twenty white male domestic pigs weighing 28-38 kg with controlled vascular injuries were divided into four equal groups according to the circumferential extent of their vascular lesion (i.e., no lesion, lesio

Endovascular treatment of peripheral arterial injury with covered stents: an experimental study in pigs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of using endovascular repair to treat penetrating arterial injuries with covered stents. Feasibility was examined according to the circumferential extent of the injury. INTRODUCTION: Surgical trauma often increases the risk of major morbidity and mortality associated with vascular injury, and endovascular repair has many advantages in such situations. METHODS: Twenty white male domestic pigs weighing 28-38 kg with controlled vascular injuries were divided into four equal groups according to the circumferential extent of their vascular lesion (i.e., no lesion, lesion <50%, lesion >50%, and complete lesion). The left common carotid artery was dissected with proximal and distal control, and this procedure was followed by controlled sectioning of the arterial wall. Local manual compression was applied for 10 min and was followed by endovascular repair with the placement of a 5x50 mm VIABHAN TM covered stent using the femoral approach. We also monitored additional variables, such as the duration of the procedures (the mean was 56.3 ± 19.1 min), ultrasound parameters (e.g., maximum arterial diameter, peak systolic and diastolic velocity, and resistance index), arteriography findings, and fluctuations in vital signs (e.g., cardiac output, arterial pressure, and central venous pressure). RESULTS: The experimental procedure was found to be feasible and reproducible. Repairs were successful in all animals in the control (no lesion) and <50% lesion groups. Success was also achieved in four out of five pigs in the >50% group and in one pig in the complete lesion group. DISCUSSION: The endovascular repair of an arterial injury is possible, but success depends on the circumferential extent of the arterial lesion. The present experimental model, which involved endovascular techniques, highlighted important factors that must be considered in future studies involving similar animals and materials

Results of fibrinolytic treatment of iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis by selective infusion of low-dose rt-PA

INTRODUÇÃO: A trombose venosa profunda é uma doença de alta incidência, e uma das principais causas de insuficiência venosa profunda. O tratamento clássico, com heparina e anticoagulante oral, não tem ação direta sobre o tempo de remoção do trombo. O tratamento trombolítico seletivo por cateter permite rápida remoção do coágulo com complicações inferiores a administração sistêmica do fibrinolítico. OBJETIVO: Comprovar a eficácia da infusão seletiva de rt-PA em baixas doses no tratamento da trombose venosa profunda iliacofemoral aguda e na prevenção do desenvolvimento dos sinais, sintomas e alterações hemodinâmicas tardios relacionados à síndrome pós-trombótica.METODO: Em pacientes portadores de trombose venosa profunda iliacofemoral aguda, implantou-se um cateter reto multiperfurado no segmento venoso acometido, e infundiuse dose contínua de 1,0 mg/hora de rtPA diluído. O controle do procedimento foi feito por flebografia transcateter a cada 12-18h. RESULTADOS: Quinze pacientes foram selecionados. Houve fibrinólise efetiva em 12 dos 15 casos (80%), com restabelecimento da perviedade iliacofemoral. O tempo médio de infusão do rt-PA foi de 41 horas. Houve correlação entre o grau de fibrinólise e a magnitude da melhora clínica (p < 0,05). Não ocorreram complicações maiores, tais como embolia pulmonar ou hemorragias graves. Quatro pacientes apresentaram episódios de retrombose. O grupo foi seguido por um período de 45 a 131 semanas (mediana de 99). Nos oito pacientes em que a fibrinólise foi efetiva e não houve retrombose, a incidência de seqüelas clínicas e de refluxo valvular venoso ao duplex-scan foi inferior a observada nos sete pacientes com falha terapêutica ou retrombose (p < 0,01 nas duas amostras). A diferença na incidência de recanalização venosa completa também foi estatisticamente significativa (p < 0,05) em favor do grupo com fibrinólise efetiva. CONCLUSÕES: A terapêutica trombolítica seletiva com rt-PA em baixas doses é eficaz e segura no tratamento agudo da trombose venosa iliacofemoral. A evolução clínica e ultrassonográfica tardia foram significativamente superiores nos pacientes em que a terapêutica foi efetivaINTRODUCTION: Deep venous thrombosis keeps being a high incidence disease and one of the leading causes of chronic venous insufficiency. The classic therapy with heparin and oral anticoagulation doesn\'t have direct action over thrombus removal time. Seletive catheter-directed thrombolysis allows an early thrombus removal with a lower rate of complications than systemic thrombolysis. OBJECTIVES: To prove the efficacy of catheterdirected low-dose rt-PA infusion in the treatment of acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis and in the prevention of late clinical and haemodinamic sequelae of post-thrombotic syndrome. METHODS: In selected patients with acute iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis, a straight multiside-hole catheter was introduced through the thrombotic venous segments. A low-dose (1mg/h) rt-PA continuous infusion was initiated and control transcatheter phlebography was taken every 12-18 hours. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were selected. Effective fibrinolysis was achieved in 12 of 15 cases (80%), with iliofemoral patency obtained. The medium time of rt-PA infusion was 41 hours. Statistic correlation between lysis grade and clinical improvement was observed (p < 0,05). There were no episodes of major complications such as transfusion-needed hemorrhage or pulmonary embolism. Four patients presented with rethrombosis. The group was followed by a period of 45 to 131 weeks (median 99). In the eight patients in witch lytic therapy was well succeeded and venous patency was kept, the incidence of clinical signs and symptoms of venous insufficiency and duplex-scan findings of valvular reflux was statistically lower than in the seven patients with acute therapeutic failure or rethrombosis (p < 0,01 for both). There was also difference in findings of complete venous recanalization between the two groups (p < 0,05), showing benefit to the group with effective therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose rt-PA fibrinolytic therapy is safe and effective in the treatment of iliofemoral acute venous thrombosis. The clinical and ultrasound late evolution was superior in patients in witch lytic therapy was effectiv