Resection of the angle of Treitz and distal diverticulization of the duodenum in penetrating abdominal injuries

BackgroundAccess to the 4th part of the duodenum in the region of the ligament of Treitz can be very difficult. Primary repair or traditional duodenal diverticulization is often technically challenging for managing trauma at this location. Due to the frequent concomitant injuries and hemorrhage, a quick, simple and safe repair technique is highly desirable.Methods3 patients with penetrating injuries to the 4th part of the duodenum were managed by a technique affording good exposure, and involving linear stapling across the bowel proximal and distal to the site of injury, with a jejuno-duodenal anastomosis to the 2nd part of the duodenum, the proximal jejunum having been delivered through a window fashioned in the transverse mesocolon.ResultsAll patients survived and suffered no complications of their duodenal repair.ConclusionsThe technique described offers a relatively simple, apparently safe and effective approach to a difficult problem in trauma surgery.Luis Ruso, Roberto Taruselli, Matthew Metcalfe, Guy Madder

Carotid artery stenting with a new-generation double-mesh stent in three high-volume Italian centres: clinical results of a multidisciplinary approach

Aims: Carotid artery stenting (CAS) is still associated with higher periprocedural cerebrovascular events (CEs) compared to vascular surgery. The Roadsaver carotid artery stent is a double layer micromesh stent which reduces plaque prolapse and embolisation by improving plaque coverage. Its clinical impact on neurological outcome was unknown. The aim of this study was therefore to report the clinical results of a large real-world population from three different centres receiving a Roadsaver stent to treat carotid artery disease. Methods and results: One hundred and fifty (150) patients (age 74±8 yrs, 75% male, symptomatic 29%) treated with CAS using the Roadsaver carotid stent in three high-volume Italian centres were included in the study. Intraprocedural optical coherence tomography (OCT) evaluation was performed in 26 patients, with an off-line analysis by a dedicated core laboratory. All patients underwent duplex ultrasound and neurological evaluation at 24 hours and at 30 days. CAS was technically successful in all cases (stent diameter: 8.6±0.8 mm, stent length: 25.0±4.5 mm). No in-hospital or 30-day CEs were observed. OCT evaluation detected a low rate of plaque prolapse (two patients, 7.7%). Duplex ultrasound showed stent and external carotid artery patency in all cases both before discharge and at 30-day follow-up. Conclusions: The Roadsaver stent is a safe and promising technology for CAS, with a low percentage of plaque prolapse and good short-term clinical outcome. Larger studies with longer follow-up are necessary to confirm this favourable clinical outcome