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Biomedical subjects

F N Littooy

Publications and source records attributed to F N Littooy.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Anastomotic pseudoaneurysms. A continuing late complication of vascular reconstructive procedures.

Anastomotic pseudoaneurysms continue to be a late complication of vascular grafting procedures. We reviewed the records of 48 patients who presented with 65 abdominal or lower extremity anastomotic pseudoaneurysms during 1977 to 1985. The interval between the original operation and the development of a pseudoaneurysm was 6.2 years (range, 2.5 months to 19 years). Most patients underwent resection of the involved segment of graft and artery with placement of an interposition graft. Graft patency was 97.5% during a mean follow-up of 2.4 years (range, two months to five years), and one operative mortality occurred. Four patients had emergency procedures; one patient underwent reconstruction, and three others underwent resection of the pseudoaneurysms alone. Two of those patients died, and the one survivor eventually required a high amputation. We recommend aggressive diagnosis and surgical reconstruction in these patients usually by interposition grafts or anastomotic revisions because the short- and long-term results are excellent. Morbidity and mortality are greatly increased when these procedures are done emergently.

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PubMed1986

Pneumatic compression devices for prophylaxis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

A pneumatic compression device was applied to 155 patients with a normal Doppler venous examination who underwent a general surgical procedure of at least 1 hr in duration. One hundred fifty-three patients had neither PE nor DVT clinically or by Doppler studies, one patient had a venographically proven DVT, and one patient had a clinical pulmonary embolism verified by lung scanning. Using clinical and Doppler criteria, the device was effective in the prophylaxis of thromboembolic complications.

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PubMed1986

Intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography as a method to study peripheral vascular disease.

In many patients with peripheral vascular disease, conventional arteriograms are not adequate to make proper preoperative decisions. In the past, these inadequate studies led to surgical exploration of vessels and intraoperative angiography to determine operability. Such efforts prolonged operating time and potentially had adverse effects on amputation levels. Recently, intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (IDSA) has provided an excellent means to further evaluate these patients preoperatively. We presently have 30 patients in whom IDSA supplemented routine aortography and runoff studies. When standard angiographic studies were considered inadequate, the catheter was positioned appropriately and IDSA was obtained. Inadequate lower extremity distal runoff in 23 patients and no proximal or distal runoff in seven patients prompted the IDSA. The IDSA study yielded further information on all patients, and 26 of 30 patients underwent successful bypass operation. In all 17 patients having femoropopliteal or femorotibial bypass, the IDSA was confirmed by an intraoperative (after bypass) angiogram. Nine patients had inflow procedures, and operative findings corroborated the IDSA. Two patients refused surgery and two patients were not candidates for revascularization. The IDSA study provided an accurate "road map," eliminated unnecessary vessel exploration, saved vital operative time, and prevented compromise of potential amputation levels.

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PubMed1986

Acute aortic occlusion--a multifaceted catastrophe.

Eighteen patients whose mean age was 61 years were referred to us with acute aortic occlusion from 1977 to 1985. Ten patients had cardiac emboli (group I) and eight had aortoiliac occlusive disease (group II). Fourteen of these patients had paresis or paralysis. Diagnosis was prompt but the time lapse from onset of symptoms to revascularization averaged 18 hours (group I, 10.3 hours; group II, 26.1 hours). All 10 patients in group I had embolectomy alone; of the eight patients in group II, two had transfemoral thrombectomy and six had bypass procedures. The perioperative mortality rate was 40% in group I and 62.5% in group II. Complications developed in 12 patients (nine died); renal failure occurred in 11, compartment syndrome in nine, adult respiratory disease syndrome in three, acute myocardial infarction in three, disseminated intravascular coagulation in two, and paraplegia in one. No amputations were required in the nine survivors and limb function was restored in eight of these patients. Acute aortic occlusion sets in motion a chain of events that threatens life and limb. Prompt diagnosis and revascularization by the simplest operation are required to decrease morbidity and mortality.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1984

Carotid endarterectomy without a shunt: the control series.

Nine hundred forty carotid endarterectomies were performed without the use of a temporary indwelling shunt. Six patients (0.6%) died, all from stroke; 17 other patients (1.8%) had another stroke, and 21 patients (2.2%) had temporary neurologic symptoms. Complete x-ray films detailing the opposite internal carotid artery and carotid artery back pressure were available for 783 operations. Correlation of stroke to back pressure, status of the contralateral internal carotid artery, preoperative neurologic deficit, and carotid clamp time was examined. Statistical analysis demonstrated significantly increased neurologic complications only if the systolic carotid back pressure was less than or equal to 50 mm Hg or the contralateral internal carotid artery was occluded. Analysis to determine if these factors were dependently related showed that when both a contralateral carotid occlusion and a carotid back pressure of less than or equal to 50 mm Hg coexisted (82 patients), the rate of permanent deficit was 11.0% compared with 2.8% when either factor was singly present and 0.9% when neither factor was present. No statistical difference exists between the group with only a single factor and those with neither factor. When a temporary shunt is not used during carotid endarterectomy, the risk of neurologic complication is increased if both a contralateral internal carotid artery occlusion and a carotid back pressure of less than or equal to 50 mm Hg coexist. The use of a shunt in this patient population may be beneficial.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

External carotid endarterectomy.

Forty-nine external carotid revascularization procedures were performed in 36 patients. Indications included transient ischemic attacks, amaurosis fugax, and the procedure as a prelude to extracranial-to-intracranial bypass. Twenty patients had a preoperative neurologic defect. Twelve patients were classified as having bilateral and 24 as having unilateral carotid disease. Unilateral external carotid endarterectomy was performed in 29 patients, with the remaining patients undergoing procedures for additional occlusive lesions. Five patients had operation-related strokes (one death). Three of eight patients with bilateral disease and a preoperative neurologic defect had a stroke. Five additional patients had late neurologic events. Although technically easy, external carotid thromboendarterectomy should be advised with caution in patients with identifiable risk factors.

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PubMed1984

Factors influencing morbidity of carotid endarterectomy without a shunt.

A retrospective analysis of 156 unshunted carotid endarterectomies in 124 patients indicates that at least three factors may influence the surgeon to consider using an indwelling shunt. Contralateral internal carotid artery occlusion, prolonged cross-clamp time, and possibly stump pressures less than 25 mm Hg torr were associated with increased rate of permanent neurologic deficit. Selective shunting would not be based on stump pressures less than 50 mm Hg torr, previous ipsilateral stroke, or abnormal intraoperative electroencephalogram.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Hemodynamics of sequential grafts.

Sequential femoropopliteal-tibial grafts have been advocated as a promising treatment for use in patients with severe ischemia of the distal lower extremity. Proponents hypothesize better patency rates due to documented increases in proximal graft flow with the sequential technique. We hypothesized that the effect of the sequential graft was to create competitive collateral flow and that distal graft flow would not be increased with the addition of a sequential anastomosis. Seven adult dogs with chronic occlusions were studied with angiography and underwent sequential iliofemoral bypass grafting. Proximal and distal flows were measured with and without the sequential anastomosis open to flow. Proximal graft flows increased significantly whereas distal flows decreased significantly in all dogs with an open sequential anastomosis. The study suggests that there may be limitations to the use of sequential bypass grafts.

Angiography↗
PubMed1983

Durability of carotid endarterectomy.

Carotid endarterectomy is the preferred treatment for patients with transient ischemic attacks and carotid stenosis. Although clinically these patients do well, the long-term fate of the operated carotid artery has not been well documented. To address this question, repeated noninvasive testing has been employed to follow our carotid endarterectomy patients since 1976. Supraorbital Doppler examination, oculoplethysmography-Kartchner, carotid phonoangiography and, later in this series, spectral analysis of the carotid Doppler velocities were performed after 193 endarterectomies. One hundred fifty-eight patients were initially tested within 3 months of operation, and 35 were initially tested 3 or more months after operation. Twenty-four arteries, four of which were symptomatic, had an initial abnormal test and are excluded from this study of carotid artery durability. Of the 169 patients with normal carotid tests, 36 had no further evaluation. Among the 133 patients who returned for serial testing from 1 to 60 months (mean 20 months), 115 carotid arteries continued to test normal at late follow-up but 18 subsequently developed test abnormalities. Ten had more than 75% stenosis, eight had 50% to 75% stenosis. Eight of these patients had contrast studies: three had normal findings; the five that had abnormal findings underwent reoperation. Interestingly, only two patients presented with symptoms appropriate to the abnormal test. The findings suggest that carotid endarterectomy is a reasonably durable operation. Recurrent stenosis was presumed or proven in 10% of 133 serially tested carotid arteries. This threat of restenosis makes long-term follow-up of these patients mandatory.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗
PubMed1982

Immediate and long-term outcome of acute arterial occlusion of the extremities. The effect of added vascular reconstruction.

Patients with acute arterial occlusion in immediate danger of limb loss, are frequently high-risk surgical candidates, yet a simple balloon thromboembolectomy often does not suffice for limb salvage. With this in mind, we studied 61 male patients with acute arterial occlusions to assess the effects of added vascular procedures at the time of initial thromboembolectomy. Forty-three patients had only thromboembolectomy, but 18 required additional vascular reconstructive procedures. Immediate limb salvage (83.3%) and long-term limb salvage (67%) in these 18 patients, who had no operative deaths, were similar to those of the other 43 patients. Surgical therapy including needed additional vascular reconstruction of acute arterial occlusions results in not only satisfactory short-term but also good long-term functional outcome.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1980

Laparotomy as a precipitating factor in the rupture of intra-abdominal aneurysms.

Previously asymptomatic aneurysms in ten patients ruptured within 36 days (mean, ten days) of a prior laparotomy. The laparotomy and associated intra-abdominal disease may have precipitated rupture of the unresected abdominal aneurysms by reduction of the collagen content of the aneurysm wall, thus making the wall weaker. The scar-like collagen fibers of an aneurysm wall provide the strength that permits the wall to resist rupture. There is a dynamic equilibrium between synthesis and lysis of this collagen. Lysis of collagen is enhanced by injury, such as laparotomy, and by nutritional depletion and local inflammation. Collagen lysis is greatest in the area adjacent to the injury, but also occurs at remote sites as well. Lysis is greatest during the first postoperative week, after which, in the absence of sepsis or starvation, synthesis exceeds lysis and the equilibrium is restored. A thin aneurysm wall may be weakened enough during this period of negative collagen balance to allow rupture.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

Management of polytetrafluoroethylene graft occlusions.

Forty-two femoropopliteal-tibial bypass grafts were performed in 37 patients. Autogenous vein was used in 15, a composite polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-vein in 15, and PTFE in 12. Two vein grafts occluded acutely because of veins of inadequate size. Three acute occlusions of PTFE grafts were due to primary thrombosis. Whereas no late vein graft occlusions have occurred, eight of 17 composite and eight of 12 PTFE grafts have subsequently occluded. Satisfactory vein grafts do not commonly occlude unless inadequate inflow or outflow exists. Contrariwise, PTFE grafts have an inherent risk of both early and late thrombosis. Therefore, repeated thrombectomy, may be required to maintain PTFE graft patency. Seventeen thrombectomies or revisions of PTFE or composite grafts in 12 limbs have resulted in seven patent grafts, thus underlining the value of this aggressive surgical approach. Composite grafts offer little advantage over PTFE grafts. The role of anticoagulation has yet to be established.

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