The Patency Rate of Endovascular Procedure in Patients with Superior Vena Cava Syndrome Caused by Intravenous Catheterization: A Case Series and Longitudinal Study

Introduction: Different methods have been well addressed in literature in terms of treating superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome; nevertheless, the patency of endovascular treatment has rarely been investigated in patients with SVC syndrome in patients with central venous access. Objectives: The present study was performed to assess the patency rate of endovascular procedure in patients with SVC syndrome caused by intravenous catheterization. Methods: The present case series and longitudinal study was conducted on patients with SVC syndrome in presence of central venous catheter who underwent venoplasty. Computed tomography (CT) venography was performed 1, 6 and 12 months after venoplasty. Facial swelling, facial discomfort, extremity edema, arteriovenous fistula (AVF) dysfunction, impairment in dialysis and SVC stenosis were measured at baseline and 1, 6 and 12 months after venoplasty. Results: Out of 20 investigated patients, 11 (55%) were male. Significantly decreases were observed in the median grades of facial swelling and extremity edema in the follow-up (P<0.001). The decrease in facial discomfort was statistically insignificant (P=0.129), and the median grade of SVC stenosis significantly decreased from 1.5 to zero in the follow-up (P<0.001). A statistically-significant decrease was observed in AVF dysfunction (P=0.007), and impairment in dialysis significantly decreased after the intervention during the follow-up (P<0.001). Conclusion: Findings of the present study revealed the appropriate patency rate of endovascular treatment in patients with SVC syndrome in presence of central venous catheter

The Patency Rate of Endovascular Procedure in Patients with Superior Vena Cava Syndrome Caused by Intravenous Catheterization: A Case Series and Longitudinal Study

Introduction: Different methods have been well addressed in literature in terms of treating superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome; nevertheless, the patency of endovascular treatment has rarely been investigated in patients with SVC syndrome in patients with central venous access. Objectives: The present study was performed to assess the patency rate of endovascular procedure in patients with SVC syndrome caused by intravenous catheterization. Methods: The present case series and longitudinal study was conducted on patients with SVC syndrome in presence of central venous catheter who underwent venoplasty. Computed tomography (CT) venography was performed 1, 6 and 12 months after venoplasty. Facial swelling, facial discomfort, extremity edema, arteriovenous fistula (AVF) dysfunction, impairment in dialysis and SVC stenosis were measured at baseline and 1, 6 and 12 months after venoplasty. Results: Out of 20 investigated patients, 11 (55%) were male. Significantly decreases were observed in the median grades of facial swelling and extremity edema in the follow-up (P<0.001). The decrease in facial discomfort was statistically insignificant (P=0.129), and the median grade of SVC stenosis significantly decreased from 1.5 to zero in the follow-up (P<0.001). A statistically-significant decrease was observed in AVF dysfunction (P=0.007), and impairment in dialysis significantly decreased after the intervention during the follow-up (P<0.001). Conclusion: Findings of the present study revealed the appropriate patency rate of endovascular treatment in patients with SVC syndrome in presence of central venous catheter

Ileal intussusception secondary to both lipoma and angiolipoma: a case report

Lipoma and angiolipoma are common benign neoplasms that occur in the subcutaneous tissue and rarely in the gastrointestinal tract. These tumors are usually asymptomatic but may present with abdominal pain, bleeding and obstruction. We present a 53-years-old woman with abdominal discomfort for several weeks accompanied with bloody diarrhea and recurrent vomiting. Ileo-ileal invagination was diagnosed by computed tomography scan. Laparotomy revealed five intraluminal masses that caused intussusception. Histopathological study showed that one was angiolipoma and other lesions were lipoma. We have described some aspects of diagnosis and treatment of this rare cause of intestinal intussusception

Relation between homocysteine and peripheral vascular atherosclorosis: a brief report

Background: The purpose of this study was evaluation of risk factors of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and effective markers on it.Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was done during 2010-2011 in the surgical units of Khorramabad Shohada Hospital. Fifty patients who had symptoms of PAD undergoing CT angiography and biochemical markers for them were measured. The investigated variables were family history, site of arterial obstruction, underlying diseases, smoking history, physical activity and stress level. A control group was considered for the study. The comparison was made between these two groups.Results: Aging showed a significant role in prediction of PAD (70% sensitivity and 64% specificity). Homocysteine had the highest sensitivity (80%) in prediction of PAD, compared with other biomarkers. CRP (74% sensitivity) was the best marker that had positive predictive value for PAD. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) showed a significant role in prediction of true positive cases of PAD (72% sensitivity and 74% specificity). HbA1C with 68% sensitivity and 64% specificity and TG with 50% sensitivity and 44% specificity could be considered as factors related with PAD.Conclusion: The levels of C-Reacative protein, homocysteine, and FBS were correlated with PAD, HbA1C and TG levels were associated with PAD, but lower than the previously named markers. In this study a significant relationship between lipoprotein levels and PAD was also observed. PAD was associated with sex and age

Nicolau Syndrome after Intramuscular Benzathine Penicillin Injection

A 3-year-old boy was admitted to the emergency department with right lower limb pain, edema, and livedoid discoloration that occurred immediately after intramuscular injection of benzathine penicillin. The patient was diagnosed with Nicolau syndrome, a rare complication of intramuscular injection presumed to be related to the inadvertent intravascular injection. It was first reported following intramuscular injection of bismuth salt, but it can occur as a complication of various other drugs. Fasciotomy was carried out due to the resultant compartment syndrome and medical therapy with heparin, corticosteroid, and pentoxifyllin was initiated

A new look at an old dogma: wound complications in two methods of skin closure in uncomplicated appendicitis

Background: Appendicitis is more common during the second and third decade of life and appendectomy scar is important in terms of cosmetic issues. The scar is an important factor in the patient's satisfaction. Conventional teaching has an emphasis on the closure of skin incision with "separate" sutures. The aim of this study was to reconsider this dogma. Methods: Among 321 patients with acute appendicitis who came to the emergency unit of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran since april 2007 till april 2008, 278 (86.6%) patients had uncomplicated appendicitis and were enrolled in our clinical trial. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups of interrupted suture closure (n=139) and subcuticular suture closure (n=139). Anesthesia method and surgical technique were similar between the two groups. All patients were followed up post-operatively (four weeks) for the presence of infectious drainage, pain, erythema, swelling and warmness at the surgical site. Results: The patients' sex and their mean age were not statistically different between the groups. There was no significant difference in the frequency of surgical site complications between the two groups (five cases in the "interrupted" group and eight cases in the "subcuticular" group p=0.415). Conclusion: This study showed that appendectomy incision closure with subcuticular sutures did not increase the risk of wound complications. From the point of better cosmetic outcome of subcuticular sutures, this method may be the method of choice for the closure of appendectomy incisions in uncomplicated appendicitis

A new look at an old dogma: Wound complications in two methods of skin closure in uncomplicated appendicitis

Background: Appendicitis is more common during the second and third decade of life and appendectomy scar is important in terms of cosmetic issues. The scar is an important factor in the patient's satisfaction. Conventional teaching has an emphasis on the closure of skin incision with "separate" sutures. The aim of this study was to reconsider this dogma.\ud \ud Methods: Among 321 patients with acute appendicitis who came to the emergency unit of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran since april 2007 till april 2008, 278 (86.6%) patients had uncomplicated appendicitis and were enrolled in our clinical trial. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups of interrupted suture closure (n=139) and subcuticular suture closure (n=139). Anesthesia method and surgical technique were similar between the two groups. All patients were followed up post-operatively (four weeks) for the presence of infectious drainage, pain, erythema, swelling and warmness at the surgical site.\ud \ud Results: The patients' sex and their mean age were not statistically different between the groups. There was no significant difference in the frequency of surgical site complications between the two groups (five cases in the "interrupted" group and eight cases in the "subcuticular" group p=0.415).\ud \ud Conclusion: This study showed that appendectomy incision closure with subcuticular sutures did not increase the risk of wound complications. From the point of better cosmetic outcome of subcuticular sutures, this method may be the method of choice for the closure of appendectomy incisions in uncomplicated appendicitis