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Jos C van den Berg

Publications and source records attributed to Jos C van den Berg.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Consistency in endovascular aneurysm repair suitability assessment requires group decision audit.

INTRODUCTION: Proper selection of patient and stent-graft combinations in endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) depends on knowledge and experience with the different types of stents that have to be adapted to the patient's unique abdominal aortoiliac anatomy. The aim of this study was to analyze the consistency and variance in EVAR suitability assessment between clinicians. METHODS: Worksheets that contained anatomic data derived from computed tomography scans and angiography were compiled for 202 patients. Five clinicians, all experienced in EVAR surgery, assessed the anatomic data on the worksheets for suitability for three types of stent-grafts. The obtained 3030 assessments represented a quantification of the likelihood of success the clinician expected for effective and durable sealing and fixation of the stent-graft in EVAR. The Delphi method was used to determine consensus in the thinking process among clinicians, and kappa analysis was used to determine the proportion of variances in the assessment result between clinicians. RESULTS: With the Delphi method, Cronbach alpha values of 0.87, 0.87, and 0.90 were reached for the three types of stent-grafts in the second assessment round. The individual clinician-group correlation in round two was between 0.69 and 0.86 for clinicians 1, 2, 3, and 4. Between clinician 5 and the others, correlation varied between 0.43 and 0.64. The kappa values ranged between 0.32 and 0.51 among clinicians 1, 2, and 3. Between clinician 5 and the others, kappa values between 0.08 and 0.29 were reached. CONCLUSION: EVAR suitability estimation in a cohort of patients is highly consistent in a group of experienced clinicians. The EVAR suitability estimation at the individual patient level varies substantially between clinicians, however. Aggregating expert opinions in abdominal aortic aneurysm anatomic suitability assessment for EVAR had the opportunity to replace individual clinician decision diversification in a more solid and consistent group decision process.

Aged↗

Endovascular recanalization of chronic long-segment occlusions of the inferior vena cava: midterm results.

PURPOSE: To report the midterm results of endovascular recanalization of chronic long-segment (> 5 cm) occlusions of the inferior vena cava (IVC) with stent placement. METHODS: Nine patients (5 men; median age 30 years, range 14-58) with disabling complaints for more than 6 months caused by IVC occlusions were treated by endovascular recanalization. Mean occlusion length was 11 cm (range 6-22); some occlusions extended to the iliac (n = 3) or common femoral (n = 2) veins. All procedures were performed under local anesthesia via a bilateral femoral (n = 7) or popliteal (n = 2) approach. In 3 patients, combined access to the brachial or internal jugular vein was necessary. Patients with acute-on-chronic thrombosis were pretreated with urokinase. After guidewire recanalization, the chronic occlusions were predilated and self-expanding Wallstents were implanted. RESULTS: The initial technical and clinical success was 100%. The venous clinical severity score (pain, venous edema, inflammation, and active ulceration) decreased from a mean 8 +/- 2 to 5 +/- 1 after the procedure. Over a median follow-up of 9 months (mean 21, range 4- 110), 3 patients died. One rethrombosis occurred, and an asymptomatic restenosis was discovered on routine imaging. The primary patency rate was 78%, and the 9-month occlusion-free survival rate was 56%. CONCLUSION: Endovascular recanalization of chronic long-segment occlusions of the IVC is a safe and worthwhile technique to offer patients with debilitating symptoms.

Adolescent↗

Impact of head movements on morphology and flow in the internal carotid artery after carotid angioplasty and stenting versus endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Because stents can cause vessel angulation during movement, we hypothesized that internal carotid artery (ICA) stents might lead to alterations of cerebropetal blood flow. This study assessed three-dimensional anatomy and volumetric flow rate (VFR) in the ICA in various head positions by comparing patients treated with carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) with patients treated with carotid endarterectomy (CEA). METHODS: Three-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography and magnetic resonance flow quantification were performed on six subjects after CAS (median age, 70 years) and on six subjects after CEA (median age, 67 years). All investigations were performed in five head positions: neutral, bent forward, bent backward, and turned to the treated, ipsilateral side and to the contralateral side. Maximum-intensity projection reconstructions were obtained to measure maximal angulation of the ICA in the forward, backward, ipsilateral, and contralateral positions compared with neutral. Subsequently, the plane perpendicular to the ICA, 1 cm distal to the stent or 4 cm distal to the carotid bifurcation (CEA patients), was established. The VFR through this plane was measured for each position, and the forward, backward, ipsilateral, and contralateral positions were compared with neutral. RESULTS: In CAS patients, there was a median change in ICA angulation of +10.2 degrees (interquartile range, +7.3 degrees to +17.9 degrees ) in the forward position, compared with +0.2 degrees (-1.0 degrees to +2.4 degrees ) in CEA patients ( P = .016). In all other head positions, there was no statistically significant difference in angulation change. There was no statistically significant difference in VFR change between groups in any of the head positions tested. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant increase in ICA angulation in CAS patients if the head was bent forward; this was not observed in CEA patients. This angulation change did not lead to significant acute changes in cerebropetal blood flow, but it might have chronic effects not yet tested.

Aged↗

Prediction of early cerebral outcome by transcranial Doppler monitoring in carotid bifurcation angioplasty and stenting.

OBJECTIVE: The outcomes of carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) are, in addition to patient baseline characteristics, highly dependent on the safety of the endovascular procedure. During the successive stages of CAS, transcranial Doppler (TCD) monitoring of the middle cerebral artery was used to assess the association of cerebral embolism and hemodynamic changes with transient (amaurosis fugax and transient ischemic attack) and persistent (minor and major stroke) cerebral deficits, and death. METHODS: By use of a prospectively completed database of 550 patients, the association of various TCD emboli and velocity variables with periprocedural cerebral outcome 5) at postdilation after stent deployment (odds ratio [OR] 2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3 to 5.1), particulate macroembolus (OR, 27.0; 95% CI, 4.5 to 157), and massive air embolism (OR, 51.4; 95% CI, 5.4 to 492), as well as angioplasty-induced asystole and prolonged hypotension with a >70% reduction of middle cerebral artery blood flow velocities (OR, 6.4; 95% CI, 2.3 to 17.8) were independently associated with cerebral deficits. The ROC area of this model was 0.72. Of the patient characteristics, only preprocedural cerebral ischemia (OR, 5.0; 95% CI, 2.4 to 10.4) was associated with outcome. Adding this patient characteristic to the model, the area under the ROC curve increased to 0.80. CONCLUSIONS: In CAS, in addition to such obviously adverse events as particulate macroembolism and massive air embolism, multiple microemboli (>5 showers) at postdilation after stent deployment and angioplasty-induced asystole and hypotension with a significant reduction of middle cerebral artery blood flow velocities are associated with periprocedural cerebral deficits. In combination with the presence of preprocedural cerebral symptoms, these four TCD monitoring variables reasonably differentiate between patients with and without adverse cerebral outcome. TCD monitoring provides insight into the pathogenesis of CAS related adverse cerebral events.

Aged↗

Stent fracture after endoluminal repair of a carotid artery pseudoaneurysm.

PURPOSE: To present a case in which a covered stent fractured 7 months after implantation in the internal carotid artery (ICA). CASE REPORT: A 59-year-old man presented with a large traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the left ICA. Seven months after successful treatment with a covered Symbiot stent, clinical complaints recurred because the pseudoaneurysm recanalized due to fracture of the stent at its midsection. Surgical stent explantation was needed, with polytetrafluoroethylene graft reconstruction of the ICA. No complications occurred in the periprocedural period. A control duplex scan 12 months later showed exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm and no graft-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: This case demonstrates an as yet unreported complication of stent-grafting in a carotid artery.

Aneurysm, False↗

Carotid angioplasty and stent placement: comparison of transcranial Doppler US data and clinical outcome with and without filtering cerebral protection devices in 509 patients.

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate emboli detected at transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (US) and outcome of carotid angioplasty and stent placement and compare these findings in patients treated with the use of filtering cerebral protection devices (CPDs) with the findings in patients treated without the use of filtering CPDs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was approved by the institutional human research committee. Written informed consent was obtained for all patients. Patients were divided into three groups: 161 patients treated before filtering CPDs had become available (group 1), 151 patients treated with filtering CPDs (group 2), and 197 patients treated without CPDs after CPDs had become available (group 3). Clinical end points were cerebral ischemic events and death. Transcranial Doppler US end points included isolated microemboli, microembolic showers, macroemboli, and distal thrombus. The procedure was divided into five phases: wiring, predilation, stent deployment, postdilation, and CPD handling. Data not distributed normally were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U statistic. For binomial data, the chi(2) test was used. P < .05 indicated statistical significance. RESULTS: For each phase, median and interquartile range (IQR) for isolated microemboli in group 2 versus group 3 were as follows: wiring, 51 (IQR, 31-69) versus 27 (IQR, 15-48); predilation, 19 (IQR, 13-33) versus 13 (IQR, 8-19); stent deployment, 64 (IQR, 46-82) versus 48.5 (IQR, 33.25-66); and postdilation, 24 (IQR, 14-39) versus 16 (IQR, 11-27.5) (P < .001 for each phase). Median and IQR for microembolic showers were as follows: wiring, 0 (IQR, 0-3) versus 0 (IQR, 0-0); predilation, 1.5 (IQR, 0-4) versus 0 (IQR, 0-2); stent deployment, 22 (IQR, 11-36) versus 11 (IQR, 6-17); postdilation, three (IQR, 0-9) versus one (IQR, 0-4); (postdilation phase, P = .001; all other phases, P < .001). Median for isolated microemboli in group 1 versus groups 2 and 3 combined were as follows: predilation, 10 (IQR, 5-22.75) versus 16 (IQR, 9-25) (P = .001); stent deployment, 32 (IQR, 15-58) versus 54 (IQR, 40.5-74) (P < .001); and postdilation, 11 (IQR, 6-19) versus 18 (IQR, 12-33) (P < .001). Median for microembolic showers during stent deployment were six (IQR, 1-14) versus 13 (IQR, 7-26) (P < .001). Five patients died, and five major strokes and 14 minor strokes occurred. Eight macroemboli occurred in unprotected procedures; six distal thrombi occurred in protected procedures. CONCLUSION: Carotid angioplasty and stent placement yielded more microemboli in patients treated with filtering CPDs than in unprotected procedures. The infrequent occurrence of cerebral sequelae did not allow comprehensive statistical comparison between groups.

Aged↗

Endovascular repair of paraanastomotic aneurysms after previous open aortic prosthetic reconstruction.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of endovascular repair of anastomotic and true aortic and iliac aneurysms occurring after prior polyester graft repair for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) or aortoiliac obstructive disease. Between July 1999 and January 2003, 14 patients underwent endovascular treatment of aortic pseudoaneurysms (n = 6) or iliac aneurysms (2 patients with pseudoaneurysms and 6 patients with true aneurysms) occurring 4 to 18.4 years (mean, 8.8 years) after open aortic surgery. No patient had symptoms or positive parameters for infection of the original polyester graft. Eleven patients, including one patient with both a proximal anastomotic and a true iliac aneurysm, were treated with AneuRx (n = 8), Talent (n = 2), or Quantum LP (n = 1) bifurcated stent grafts. Three patients with an infrarenal anastomotic pseudoaneurysm were treated with a tube stent graft (Talent [n = 2] and AneuRx [n = 1]). Endovascular stent grafts were successfully inserted in all patients. Procedure-related complications or death was not seen. During a median follow-up of 12 months (range, 3-40) all anastomotic and/or true aneurysms treated with bifurcated stent grafts maintained excluded. However, two out of three patients, treated with a tube graft for proximal aneurysm exclusion, were converted. In both patients the tube stent graft did not migrate from the level of the renal arteries but fixation failed between the stent graft and the previous polyester graft, creating endotension in the thrombus of the aneurysm sac. In one of these patients the old anastomotic aneurysm ruptured 16 months after stent graft placement and the patient died 1 day after conversion because of mesenterial ischemia. At 1 year follow-up the second patient was converted successfully after enlargement of his anastomotic aneurysm due to similar disconnection between the stent graft and the polyester graft. From this experience with endovascular stent grafts, we conclude that these can be used successfully to exclude anastomotic or true aneurysms after open aortic surgery. Exclusion of aneurysms at the proximal anastomosis with tube stent grafts is apparently not durable because of the insecure distal fixation in polyester grafts. Endovascular repair with bifurcated stent grafts, however, seems to be effective at midterm follow-up.

Aged↗

AneuRx stent-graft failure four years after TAA exclusion.

PURPOSE: To present a case of graft material disruption 4 years after thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) exclusion with the AneuRx stent-graft. CASE REPORT: In 1999, a 62-year-old man underwent successful exclusion of a descending 98-mm TAA with 2 AneuRx stent-grafts. A type I distal endoleak was diagnosed 1 month later, and a distal extension cuff was placed just proximal to the celiac trunk. One year later, a new endoleak was discovered (presumed to be type II); the patient refused proposed thrombin injection to seal the leak. The diameter of the aneurysm enlarged gradually, and in 2003, he presented with a ruptured TAA and a massive left-sided hemathorax. The patient underwent urgent open surgical repair using extracorporeal circulation; the 3 stent-grafts were removed. Unfortunately, the patient died from cardiac failure 2 days later. Macroscopic examination showed several disruptions of the graft fabric and a stent fracture, which presumably explains the endoleak and rupture. CONCLUSIONS: This case reaffirms the necessity of long-term stent-graft surveillance.

Aneurysm, Ruptured↗

Remote iliac artery endarterectomy: seven-year results of a less invasive technique for iliac artery occlusive disease.

OBJECTIVE: Remote endarterectomy of external and common iliac artery occlusions through a single, groin incision under fluoroscopic guidance is a relative unknown surgical procedure. This prospective single center cohort study describes this less invasive endovascular technique with the ring strip cutter and its early complications. The results at midterm follow-up are presented. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From April 1994 to July 2001, 49 remote-endarterectomies of the external or common iliac artery were performed in a retrograde manner from a single, groin incision in 48 patients (30 men, 31 procedures). The median age was 66 years (39 to 82 years). Indications for operation were as follows: severe claudication in 28 (57%), rest pain in 13 (27%), and gangrene in 8 (16%) procedures. Follow-up included clinical evaluation, ankle-brachial index, and duplex scanning at 6 weeks, 3 months, and yearly thereafter. RESULTS: Intraoperative technical success was achieved in 43 (88%) procedures. A retroperitoneal incision was necessary in three patients for an additional arteriotomy in the iliac artery and in three others for a bypass procedure. The mean follow-up was 20 months (2 to 77 months). Three-year cumulative primary patency rate by means of life table analysis was 60.2% +/- 12.0 (SE). During follow-up, percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty with and without stenting was performed in six and two patients, respectively, resulting in a 3-year primary-assisted patency rate of 85.7% +/- 9.56. Three-year secondary patency was 94.2% +/- 5.50. CONCLUSIONS: Remote endarterectomy in external and common iliac arterial occlusive disease is a feasible endovascular procedure with a low complication rate. The midterm primary-assisted patency rate is good.

Adult↗

Three-dimensional rotational angiography in peripheral endovascular interventions.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the feasibility and applicability of 3-dimensional rotational angiography (3D-RA) in the assessment of candidates for endovascular treatment of occlusive or aneurysmal arterial disease. TECHNIQUE: In 3D-RA, a continuous rotation of the fluoroscopic tube around the region of interest is made while intra-arterial contrast is continuously infused. The area of interest is placed in the isocenter in both frontal and lateral planes. Images are acquired at a rate of 12.5 frames per second at a rotation speed of 30 degrees per second. Injection protocols are adjusted according to the anatomical location. The acquisition takes 8 seconds and yields 100 contrast-enhanced cinefluoroscopic images that are automatically reconstructed within 5 minutes to yield a 3D volume that can be rotated and viewed in any direction. Measuring the diameter of the target vessel and length of the lesion can be performed in the same session. An initial evaluation of this technique in 101 patients with known peripheral vascular disease yielded diagnostically adequate images preprocedurally while adding a maximum of only 10 minutes to the endovascular procedure: 5 minutes for reconstruction and another 2 to 5 minutes for measurements, which were made without difficulty in all cases. 3D-RA aided in selection of the optimal fluoroscopic tube angulation for the endovascular procedures and provided assessment of the interventional results comparable to angiography. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary experience suggests that 3D-RA appears to be a valid tool in the pre- and periprocedural assessment of patients treated endovascularly for both aneurysmal and occlusive peripheral arterial diseases.

Angiography↗

Carotid artery dynamics during head movements: a reason for concern with regard to carotid stenting?

PURPOSE: To evaluate carotid artery mobility patterns during head movements following carotid angioplasty/stenting (CAS). METHODS: In 7 patients (all men; mean age 69 years, range 65-76) who had undergone unilateral CAS, 3D time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography was performed, visualizing both carotid arteries in 5 different head positions (neutral, turned left and right, and bent forward and backward). Maximum intensity projection reconstructions were obtained to measure angulation at the proximal and distal stent junction. Configuration changes of the stented section of the carotid artery and the unstented contralateral artery were judged. Secondly, transverse sections at the level of the carotid bifurcation and at the skull base were used to calculate torsion shear in the common and internal carotid arteries (CCA, ICA) during left and right head position. Results were expressed as median (range). RESULTS: In neutral head position, maximal angulation at the distal stent junction was 34.3 degrees (32.3 degrees-55.6 degrees). With the head bent forward, this angulation changed to 47.6 degrees (42.6 degrees-85.2 degrees, p=0.028) and when bent backward to 26.5 degrees (25.0 degrees-48.7 degrees, p=0.027). In all patients, configuration changes of the stented sections were absent. The contralateral unstented side showed diffuse configuration changes without specific angulation at one location. With the head turned left and right, the CCA on the stented side was subjected to 28.6 degrees (13.6 degrees-53.7 degrees) and 24.9 degrees (2.0 degrees-50.6 degrees) of torsion shear, respectively. Torsion of the ICA was subsequently 18.1 degrees (12.7 degrees-40.5 degrees) and 15.2 degrees (2.9 degrees-69.4 degrees). CONCLUSIONS: Following carotid stenting, sharp ICA angulation that are aggravated by forward bending of the head occur at the distal stent junction. The stented section of the carotid artery shows complete lack of flexibility despite highly flexible features of hte stents ex vivo. Both the CCA and ICA are subjected to considerable torsion shear with the head turned left and right. This shear is not accommodated by the current stent designs.

Aged↗

Inguinal hernias: MRI and ultrasound.

This article presents an overview of the key anatomic structures of the groin region as seen on gross anatomy and the appearance of these structures on ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An overview of the sonographic and MRI techniques used in preoperative diagnosis of inguinal hernias is provided, and their value is discussed. Finally, the role of ultrasound and MRI after surgical inguinal hernia repair is addressed.

Hernia, Inguinal↗

Endovascular stent-grafting for descending thoracic aortic aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: Endoluminal placement of covered stent-grafts emerges as a less-invasive alternative to open surgical repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA). The present report describes our experience with endovascular stent-grafting in the treatment of descending TAA. METHODS: From 1997 to 2001, 28 descending TAA's were treated in 27 patients (17 male, mean age 70 years) by endovascular stent-grafting. The aneurysms (mean diameter, 6.6 cm) had diverse causes, but the majority were due to atherosclerosis (71%). They were predominantly localized in the proximal (32%), central (39%), and distal part (22%) of the descending thoracic aorta. In two patients (7%), the entire thoracic aorta was treated. Preliminary subclavian-carotid artery transposition was performed in five patients. AneurX (n=6), Talent (n=9), and Excluder (n=13) stent-grafts were used. In 13 cases (46%), multiple stents were necessary for complete aneurysm exclusion. RESULTS: In 27 of 28 cases (96%), the endovascular stent-grafts were successfully deployed. In one patient, stent dislocation into the aneurysm required open surgical repair in a subsequent procedure. There was no operative mortality. None of the patients developed paraplegia or paraparesis. No distal embolization occurred. After a median follow-up of 21 months (range, 1-49 months), there was one non-related late death. There was no aneurysm rupture. Maximal aneurysm diameter either remained stable or decreased slightly over time in all but one patient with evidence of an endoleak. Endoleaks occurred in eight patients (29%) during follow-up. In five of them the endoleaks sealed spontaneously, whereas in two patients a distal extension was inserted. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular repair of descending TAA's is a promising less-invasive alternative to open repair. Extended follow-up is necessary to determine its definite efficacy in the longer term.

Aged↗