Early Placement of Optional Vena Cava Filter in High-Risk Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury

Objectives:: Patients sustaining severe trauma are at high risk for the development of venous thromboembolic events (VTE). Pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis may be contraindicated early after trauma due to potential bleeding complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate safety and feasibility of early prophylactic vena cava filter (VCF) placement and subsequent retrieval in multiple injured patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods:: Analysis of single-institution case series of consecutive patients who received a prophylactic VCF after severe TBI (Abbreviated Injury Scale, AiS ≥ 3) between August 2003 and October 2006. Results:: A total of 34 optional VCF were prophylactically placed with a median delay of 1 day after trauma (range, 0-7 days). All patients had sustained multiple injuries (median Injury Severity Score 41, range, 18-59) with severe TBI (median AiS 4, range 3-5). Median age was 41 years (range, 17-67 years). Two patients had succumbed before potential filter retrieval. Of the remaining patients, 27 (84%) had their filters uneventfully retrieved between 11 and 32 days (median, 18 days) after placement with no retrieval-related morbidity. Five VCF (16%) were left permanently. In one patient (3%) early inferior vena cava occlusion and deep venous thrombosis occurred 14 days after VCF placement. Symptomatic pulmonary embolism was observed in one patient (3%) 5 days after VCF retrieval. Overall trauma-related mortality was 9%. Conclusions:: Early VCF placement may be of benefit for multiple injured patients with TBI when pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis is contraindicated. VCF retrieval is safe and feasible. Filter placement- and retrieval-related morbidity is lo

Ruptured Internal Iliac Artery Aneurysm: Staged Emergency Endovascular Treatment in the Interventional Radiology Suite

Ruptured aneurysms of the internal iliac artery (IIA) are rare and challenging to treat surgically. Due to their anatomic location they are difficult to operate on and perioperative morbidity is high. An endovascular approach can be helpful. We recently treated a patient with a ruptured IIA aneurysm in the interventional radiology suite with embolization of the side-branch of the IIA and placement of a covered stent in the ipsilateral common and external iliac arteries. A suitable stent-graft was not available initially and had to be brought in from elsewhere. An angioplasty balloon was temporarily placed across the ostium of the IIA to obtain hemostasis. Two hours later, the procedure was finished by placing the stent-graft

Interrupted aortic arch diagnosed with loss of femoral pulse in a patient undergoing patent ductus arteriosus ligation -A case report-

A 12-year-old boy with ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus was presented to the operating room. Upon clamping the patent ductus arteriosus, the femoral arterial pressure curve was lost; however, it returned upon unclamping. Upon further dissection, an interrupted aortic arch was found between the left subclavian artery and patent ductus arteriosus. The surgery was discontinued for further evaluation

Noninvasive Vascular Images for Face Transplant Surgical Planning

Objective: Face transplantation replaces substantial defects with anatomically identical donor tissues; preoperative vascular assessment relies on noninvasive imaging to separate and characterize the external carotid vessels and branches. The objective is to describe and illustrate vascular considerations for face transplantation candidates. Methods: Novel noninvasive imaging using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging over 3 spatial dimensions plus time was developed and tested in 4 face transplant candidates. Precontrast images assessed bones and underlying metal. Contrast media was used to delineate and separate arteries from veins. For computed tomography, acquisition over multiple time points enabled the computation of tissue perfusion metrics. Time-resolved magnetic resonance angiography was performed to separate arterial and venous phases. Results: The range of circulation times for the external carotid system was 6 to 14 seconds from arterial blush to loss of venous enhancement. Precontrast imaging provided a roadmap of bones and metal. Among the 4 patients, 3 had surgical clips, metal implants, or both within 1 cm of major vessels considered for surgery. Contrast-enhanced wide area detector computed tomographic data acquired in the axial mode separated these structures and provided arterial and venous images for planning the surgical anastomoses. Magnetic resonance imaging was able to distinguish between the large vessels from the external carotid systems. Conclusions: Vascular imaging maps are challenging in face transplantation because of the rapid circulation times and artifact from the initial injury, prior reconstructive attempts, or both. Nevertheless, face transplant candidates require high spatial and temporal resolution vascular imaging to determine those vessels appropriate for surgical anastomoses

Late migration of a Sideris buttoned device for occlusion of atrial septal defect

We describe a 17-year-old patient with an atrial septal defect who underwent device closure with a second generation Sideris buttoned device at 4 years of age. She presented 13 years after the procedure with the acute onset of chest discomfort, at which time a chest radiograph showed migration of the wire of the right atrial counter-occluder to the lateral aspect of the right atrial wall, with an associated right atrial perforation. The patient underwent uneventful surgical device retrieval and atrial septal defect closure. Late migration of a portion of the Sideris buttoned device can occur, suggesting the need for continued follow up, and a high index of suspicion for device failure should a patient become symptomatic. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/55845/1/20849_ftp.pd