Biomedical subjects

R P Savarese

Publications and source records attributed to R P Savarese.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1995

Thrombolysis to treat arterial thrombotic complications of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

An 80-year-old man with diabetes developed acute ischemia of the right leg secondary to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia while being treated for a pulmonary embolism. For fear of recurrent thrombosis at the operative site, he was treated with cessation of heparin, placement of a Greenfield filter, and intra-arterial infusion of urokinase into the popliteal artery for 36 hours. All arterial thrombus resolved with no complications. One week later he underwent a below-knee popliteal to anterior tibial artery translocated cephalic vein bypass and transmetatarsal amputation for progressive gangrene of the right toes. The graft remains patent 2 years later. This patient represents the eighth case reported in the world literature in which thrombolytic therapy was used to treat arterial thrombotic complications of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Five patients were successfully treated without complications, two others required major amputations, and one died of adrenal hemorrhage. Although thrombolytic therapy should be used cautiously for treatment of arterial thrombotic complications of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, this adjunct may prove useful and safe in selected cases.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

Congenital aneurysm of the internal jugular vein in a pregnant woman.

A pregnant woman with a symptom-free congenital aneurysm of the internal jugular vein (IJV) is described. A color duplex scan revealed an aneurysm (2.4 cm in diameter) of the right IJV in the mid-neck without evidence of thrombus. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case demonstrating that such a lesion in a pregnant woman can be safely managed without excision.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Venous aneurysms: surgical indications and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: During the last 20 years we diagnosed five cases of venous aneurysm of the jugular (n = 4) and basilic (n = 1) veins. The purpose of this report was to determine the natural history and indications for surgery of venous aneurysms. METHODS: Our five cases were included in an English-language literature review performed through August 1993. RESULTS: In our series two aneurysms (one external jugular vein, one basilic vein) were excised for cosmetic reasons. Three internal jugular vein aneurysms were followed up for up to 4 years without complications with serial color duplex ultrasonography. Of 32 patients with abdominal venous aneurysms (18 portal, seven inferior vena cava, four superior mesenteric, two splenic, one internal iliac), 13 (41%) had major complications including five deaths. Of 31 patients with deep venous aneurysms of the extremity (29 popliteal, two common femoral), 22 (71%) had deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism and in 17 recurrent deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism developed when patients were treated with anticoagulation alone. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic surgery is cautiously recommended for low-risk patients with venous aneurysms of the abdomen and strongly recommended for most patients with lower extremity deep venous aneurysms. Other venous aneurysms should be excised only if they are symptomatic, enlarging, or disfiguring.

Abdomen↗

PubMed1995

Atherosclerotic aneurysm of the intrathoracic subclavian artery: a case report and review of the literature.

True aneurysm of the subclavian artery is extremely rare. Excluding the more common aneurysms of an aberrant right subclavian artery, those associated with thoracic outlet syndrome, and posttraumatic "aneurysms," atherosclerosis is the most common cause. Syphilis, tuberculosis, and cystic medial necrosis are less often the cause. These aneurysms can rupture, thrombose, embolize, or cause symptoms by local compression. Surgical treatment is generally indicated, and has evolved from ligation procedures to extirpation or endoaneurysmorrhaphy to the present practice of resection with revascularization. A case of a surgically treated, asymptomatic, atherosclerotic aneurysm of the intrathoracic left subclavian artery is presented, with a review of the English-language literature on the subject.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Successful preservation of an infected common femoral vein to common femoral vein crossover prosthetic graft.

We used selective graft preservation to treat an infected anastomosis of a functioning common femoral vein to common femoral vein crossover PTFE bypass performed for iliac vein occlusion. The graft was successfully salvaged by operative debridement and placement of a rectus abdominis muscle flap. With the growing interest in venous reconstructive surgery, bypass infections may be seen more frequently. This case illustrates that selective preservation of infected prosthetic grafts anastomosed to a peripheral vein may be a simple and improved method to treat these complications.

Abdominal Muscles↗

PubMed1994

Comparison of muscle flaps and delayed secondary intention wound healing for infected lower extremity arterial grafts.

Selective preservation of infected arterial grafts is an alternative to graft excision. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome and cost of treating infected lower extremity arterial grafts with either muscle flaps (MFs) or delayed secondary intention (DSI) wound healing. Between 1985 and 1991 we treated 28 graft infections by graft preservation. All grafts (19 polytetrafluoroethylene, 8 autologous vein, and 1 Dacron) were patent with intact anastomoses and showed no signs of sepsis. Wounds in 18 patients were treated by repeated, aggressive operative debridement and allowed to heal by DSI. Wounds in 10 patients were treated with MFs (4 sartorius, 3 gracilis, 1 rectus abdominis, 1 semimembranous, and 1 gastrocnemius). Costs included anesthesiologists' and surgeons' fees, operating room charges, and daily semiprivate and ICU bed charges. Four (14%) patients died from cardiac complications (1 DSI and 1 MF), sepsis (1 MF), and anastomotic hemorrhage (1 DSI). Of the 24 survivors, 4 patients treated by DSI required graft excision for nonhealing wounds (2), graft thrombosis (1), and recurrent infection (1). However, 3 of these 4 patients were not candidates for MFs because the wounds were not considered acceptable for a flap. Twenty (83%) grafts in survivors were successfully preserved after long-term follow-up (mean 26 mo). No survivors required an amputation. Twenty patients who did not require graft removal were compared for treatment by MF (n = 8) or DSI (n = 12). Two MFs (both sartorius) in survivors necrosed and a new flap was required to successfully preserve the graft.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

PubMed1994

Acute arterial thrombosis associated with total knee arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: Acute arterial thrombosis associated with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a rare but limb-threatening complication. The purpose of this report was to determine the incidence and optimal management of these complications by reviewing our extensive orthopedic experience and the English-language literature. METHODS: Between April 1989 and March 1994 seven (0.17%) patients had development of acute limb-threatening ischemia after 4097 TKAs that were performed at our hospital. Management of these complications included (1) emergency arteriography to define inflow and outflow arteries, (2) use of autologous vein from the contralateral leg when arterial bypasses were necessary (because TKAs are associated with a high incidence of deep vein thrombosis), and (3) early, aggressive revascularization that often required difficult distal bypasses to achieve limb salvage. Management of our cases are compared with treatment of 13 patients described in the literature. RESULTS: Ten patients treated at other hospitals by arterial thrombectomy alone (six cases), sympathectomy alone (two cases), fasciotomy alone (one case) or delayed arterial bypass resulted in seven major amputations and one death. All seven of our patients and three patients treated elsewhere underwent emergency femorodistal bypasses (six tibial, three below-knee popliteal, one pedal). All 10 patients had limb salvage after long-term follow-up (average 18 months; range 1 to 58). CONCLUSION: Thrombectomy alone for acute arterial thrombosis associated with TKA generally is unsuccessful and associated with unacceptably high amputation rates. Dismal results without emergency bypass is due to underlying chronic occlusive atherosclerotic disease found in these patients and intimal plaque disruption that can occur with knee manipulation or tourniquet compression. Acute arterial occlusion after TKA is best managed by emergency arteriography and a femoroinfrageniculate bypass.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1994

Selective preservation of infected prosthetic arterial grafts. Analysis of a 20-year experience with 120 extracavitary-infected grafts.

OBJECTIVE: The authors report on their 20-year experience with 120 patients with infected extracavitary prosthetic arterial grafts (95 polytetraflouroethylene, 25 Dacron). Throughout this experience, an effort was made, when appropriate, to salvage all or a portion of these infected grafts. METHODS: When patients had arterial bleeding (20 cases) or systemic sepsis (6 cases), immediate graft excision was performed. When the infected graft was occluded (43 cases), subtotal graft excision was performed, leaving an oversewn 2- to 3-mm graft remnant to maintain patency of the artery. Complete graft preservation was attempted in 51 cases in which the graft was patent, the patient was not septic, and the anastomoses were intact. Aggressive operative wound debridement was repeated, as necessary, to achieve wound healing. The preferred method of revascularization, when necessary, included secondary bypasses tunneled through uninfected (often lateral) routes. Follow-up averaged 3 years (range, 1 month-20 years). RESULTS: This strategy resulted in a hospital mortality of 12% (14/120) and a hospital amputation rate in survivors of 13% (14/106 threatened limbs). Of the surviving patients treated by complete graft preservation, the hospital amputation rate was only 4% (2/45) and long-term complete graft preservation was successful in 71% (32/45) of cases. Partial graft preservation also proved successful in 85% (35/41) of surviving patients who had occluded grafts. Successful complete graft preservation was as likely when gram-negative or gram-positive bacteria were cultured from the wound, with the exception of Pseudomonas (successful graft preservation in only 40% [4/10] of cases). CONCLUSION: Based on this 20-year experience, the authors conclude that selective partial or complete graft preservation represents a simpler and better method of managing infected extracavitary prosthetic grafts than routine total graft excision.

Aged↗

PubMed1993

Carotid stump pressure, stump pulse, and retrograde flow.

In order to obtain a more comprehensive intraoperative hemodynamic profile and to predict hypoperfusion during carotid endarterectomy, stump pressure, stump pulse, and retrograde internal carotid flow were measured in 261 patients. Our results show a significant correlation between stump pressure and retrograde flow (p < 0.001), stump pressure and the presence of a stump pulse (p < 0.001), and retrograde flow and the presence of a stump pulse (p < 0.001). We also demonstrated a significant correlation between stump pressure (lower), retrograde flow (less), and the absence of a stump pulse in patients with contralateral carotid artery occlusion. There was no correlation between the indication for carotid endarterectomy and any hemodynamic measurement. The triad of stump pulse, stump pressure, and retrograde flow accurately reflects collateral blood flow when the carotid is cross-clamped. These determinations can be obtained at low cost and are easily and rapidly performed. A protocol for selective shunting in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy with general anesthesia is suggested.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Deep femoral artery pseudoaneurysm caused by acute trunk and hip torsion.

Spontaneous pseudoaneurysm is extremely uncommon. Apparently the first case of a deep femoral artery pseudoaneurysm, caused by acute trunk and hip torsion during a golf swing, is reported. The lesion was documented by computed tomography, arteriography and surgical investigation. The present report is aimed at making known the possibility of such a complication following this and similar types of physical activity in order to enable prompt assessment and treatment of the lesion.

Aged↗

PubMed1993

Pulmonary risk factors of elective abdominal aortic surgery.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively identify risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic surgery via a midline incision. METHODS: We reviewed 181 consecutive patients who underwent operation between July 1986 to December 1992. Preoperative factors analyzed included age, sex, diabetes mellitus, history of smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity, indication for surgery (aneurysm [126] or aortoiliac occlusive disease [AIOD] [55]), history of coronary artery disease, length of preoperative hospital stay, American Society of Anaesthesiologists class, and pulmonary function tests. Intraoperative factors analyzed included endotracheal tube diameter, percent of inspired oxygen, blood loss, blood and crystalloid replacement, total operative time, epidural analgesia, and stress ulcer prophylaxis. RESULTS: Although the operative mortality rate was only 1.7% (3 of 181), major pulmonary complications occurred in 29 (16%) patients, including two lung-related deaths. Pneumonia occurred in 17 (9%) patients, prolonged intubation greater than 24 hours occurred in nine (5%), and reintubation caused by pulmonary insufficiency occurred in three (2%). On univariate analysis, the following were associated with major pulmonary complications (p < 00.05): American Society of Anaesthesiologists class IV, age greater than 70 years, ideal body weight greater than 150%, forced vital capacity of 80% or less predicted, forced expiratory flow rate (25 to 75) of 60% or less predicted, crystalloid replacement greater than 6 L, and total operative time greater than 5 hours. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of these pulmonary risk factors, notably increased age and weight, decreased forced vital capacity and forced expiratory flow rate (25 to 75), and expected prolonged operative time, influences our decision not to proceed with surgery for small aortic aneurysms or for AIOD causing claudication. Patients at high pulmonary risk with AIOD who require revascularization for limb salvage would be more likely to undergo extraanatomic bypass. Pulmonary risk factors may play as important a role as cardiac factors in elective aortic surgery.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1992

Risk of prophylactic contralateral carotid endarterectomy.

Fifty-eight patients underwent a prophylactic contralateral carotid endarterectomy following an initial endarterectomy for symptomatic (38 patients) or asymptomatic (20 patients) carotid stenosis. No deaths occurred after either operation. Two (3.4%) minor neurologic deficits occurred after the initial operation and two (3.4%) major and two (3.4%) minor deficits occurred after the prophylactic contralateral carotid endarterectomy. Sixteen (28%) of the initial endarterectomies were associated with perioperative hyper- or hypotensive episodes compared to 35 (60%) of the prophylactic contralateral carotid endarterectomies (p less than 0.001). We did not document an increased risk of surgery in patients undergoing prophylactic contralateral carotid endarterectomy soon after the initial operation. All four neurologic events following a prophylactic contralateral carotid endarterectomy occurred when the operation was performed more than five weeks after the initial endarterectomy. The incidence of perioperative hyper- or hypotension was similar in patients undergoing prophylactic contralateral carotid endarterectomy less than or greater than five weeks after the first operation. Our results suggest that a prophylactic contralateral carotid endarterectomy may be associated with a higher incidence of neurologic complications and hyper- and hypotensive episodes than the initial carotid endarterectomy. Waiting more than five weeks to repair a contralateral asymptomatic carotid stenosis may not enhance the safety of the operation.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Arterial and ischemic aspects of total knee arthroplasty.

Prospective and retrospective analyses of 1,182 consecutive patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were performed to determine (1) the incidence of chronic lower extremity ischemia (CLEI); (2) the effect of tourniquet occlusion; and (3) guidelines that will allow TKA to be performed safely. Despite the appropriately advanced age of our patients, the incidence of CLEI was only 2%. All ischemic complications occurred in six patients with CLEI (25%), but none resulted in death or amputation. The ischemic complications consisted of pressure-induced necrosis of toes, heel, or foot, atheroembolism, femoral-popliteal graft occlusion, and asymptomatic popliteal occlusion. Tourniquet compression in the 1,158 patients without CLEI produced no untoward effects. Patients with mild CLEI can have a TKA performed safely with a tourniquet if there is no femoropopliteal calcification. When the ischemia is severe or there is a femoropopliteal aneurysm, arterial reconstruction should precede the TKA. In patients with patent femoral-popliteal bypasses or calcification without ischemia, TKA should be performed without a tourniquet. Ischemic pressure necrosis is an additional mechanism of injury.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Management of infected lower extremity autologous vein grafts by selective graft preservation.

Between 1975 and 1991, we treated 16 patients with infected lower extremity autologous vein grafts performed for limb salvage by complete graft preservation. Traditional treatment of these infections includes immediate graft excision and complex revascularization procedures to prevent limb loss. The infection involved an intact anastomosis in 12 patients or the body of a patent graft in 4 patients. None of the patients was systemically septic. All patients were treated with appropriate intravenous antibiotics. Six patients were treated by placement of autologous tissue on the exposed graft (4 rotational muscle flaps, 2 skin grafts), and 10 were treated with antibiotic-soaked dressing changes and repeated operative débridements to achieve delayed secondary wound healing. This treatment resulted in a 19% (3 of 16) mortality rate and an 8% (1 of 13) amputation rate in survivors. Of the six patients managed by autologous tissue placement onto the infected graft, five patients had wounds that healed without complications, and one died of a myocardial infarction. Of the 10 patients treated by delayed secondary wound healing, 2 developed anastomotic hemorrhage, which resulted in death in 1 patient and above-knee amputation in the other, 1 died of a myocardial infarction, 1 developed graft thrombosis, and 6 had wounds that healed. Placement of autologous tissue to cover an exposed, infected patent vein graft with intact anastomoses may prevent graft dessication, disruption, and thrombosis, which renders graft preservation an easier, safer method of treatment compared with routine graft excision.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Are gram-negative bacteria a contraindication to selective preservation of infected prosthetic arterial grafts?

Management of infected prosthetic arterial grafts has traditionally included total graft excision especially when gram-negative bacteria were cultured. Between 1973 and 1991 we treated 42 patients with infected prosthetic grafts (33 polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), 9 Dacron) by complete graft preservation when the graft was patent, the anastomoses were intact, and the patient did not have sepsis. The infection involved the anastomosis (36 cases) or the body (6 cases) of 33 peripheral grafts and the distal segment of five aortofemoral and four iliac-distal grafts. Cultures of the 42 infected grafts grew gram-positive bacteria in 33 cases and gram-negative bacteria in 22 cases. Treatment adjuncts included repeated, radical operative wound debridement and rarely (7 of 42) rotational muscle flaps. This management resulted in a 10% (4 of 42) hospital mortality rate and an amputation rate in survivors of 3% (1 of 38 threatened limbs). All four deaths were due to sepsis: gram-positive bacteria were cultured in all cases and gram-negative bacteria in two cases. Of the 38 survivors, 29 (76%) wounds healed and remained healed after average follow-up of 3 years (range, 1 to 18 years). Nine other patients required total graft excision for nonhealing wounds (7 cases) or delayed anastomotic hemorrhage (2 cases). Gram-negative bacteria were cultured in four, and gram-positive bacteria were cultured in six of these nine wounds. Four of nine (44%) graft infections that cultured Pseudomonas organisms healed without complications versus 23 of 33 (70%) wounds that cultured gram-positive bacteria, and 12 of 13 (92%) wounds that cultured gram-negative bacteria other than Pseudomonas organisms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Vessel Prosthesis↗

PubMed1992

Infrainguinal anastomotic arterial graft infections treated by selective graft preservation.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the type of graft material and bacteria involved in an infrainguinal arterial anastomotic infection can be used as guidelines for graft preservation. Between 1972 and 1990, the authors treated 35 anastomotic infections involving a common femoral or distal artery. The graft material was Dacron in 14 patients, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in 14, and vein in 7. Of the 14 Dacron grafts, immediate graft excision was required for overwhelming infection in eight patients (bleeding in five, sepsis in three) and for an occluded graft in one patient. Three of five patients failed attempted graft preservation because of nonhealing wounds. Thus, 12 of the 14 Dacron grafts ultimately required graft excision. Of the 21 "smooth-walled" vein and PTFE grafts, 10 required immediate graft excision for occluded grafts (five PTFE, one vein) or bleeding (three PTFE, one vein). Ten of the remaining 11 (91%) patients with patent "smooth-walled" grafts, intact anastomoses, and absence of sepsis managed by graft preservation healed their wounds and maintained distal arterial perfusion. Wound cultures grew pure gram-positive cocci in 17 of 21 "smooth-walled" graft infections versus 8 of 14 Dacron graft infections. In the absence of systemic sepsis, graft preservation is the treatment of choice for gram-positive infections involving an intact anastomosis of patent PTFE and vein grafts. Regardless of the bacterial cause, the authors recommend that any infrainguinal anastomotic infection of a Dacron graft be treated by immediate excision of all infected graft material.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Congenital pelvic arteriovenous malformations: long-term follow-up in two cases and a review of the literature.

Congenital arteriovenous malformations confined to the soft tissues of the pelvis are rare and challenging lesions. Multitudinous embryonic macrocommunication and microcommunication between the arterial and venous systems, with resultant shunting of blood to the low-resistance veins, produce massive venous and tissue engorgement. No well-established guidelines exist concerning their management. Percutaneous arterial embolization and surgery are associated with high recurrence rates. Surgical excision is frequently not possible and can result in massive hemorrhage. Only 52 cases have been reported in the English-language literature, and only two patients were followed for longer than 6 years. This report presents two additional patients with massive pelvic arteriovenous malformations monitored for 9 and 17 years. One patient was initially treated with arterial percutaneous embolization and the other with attempted operative ablation. A review of the literature has allowed us to develop the following management guidelines: Asymptomatic, nonenlarging lesions require no intervention and can be safely followed by clinical and radiologic (ultrasonography, CT scanning) examinations every 6 months. Symptomatic or rapidly enlarging lesions should be treated with preoperative arterial embolization and surgical excision attempted only if the arteriovenous malformation is localized and does not involve adjacent organs. Arterial embolizations may be repeated to provide symptomatic relief of diffuse, large lesions that involve the bladder or bowel. This protocol will avoid unnecessary and frequently life-threatening surgery in the management of pelvic arteriovenous malformations.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Thromboembolic complications in patients with advanced cancer: anticoagulation versus Greenfield filter placement.

Thirty patients with Stage III/IV cancer and thromboembolic complications between 1987-89 were reviewed. Twelve patients had a deep venous thrombosis proximal to the calf diagnosed by duplex scanning or contrast venography, 15 patients had a pulmonary embolism diagnosed by a high-probability pulmonary ventilation/perfusion scan or arteriogram, and three patients had both deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Patients were treated primarily with anticoagulation (Group A = 20 patients) or a Greenfield filter (Group B = 10 patients). Seventy-five percent (15/20) of the Group A patients developed 19 bleeding or thrombosis-related complications: major bleeding (7), recurrent deep venous thrombosis/pulmonary embolism (4), inability to attain consistent therapeutic anticoagulation levels (3), heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (3), or progression of deep vein thrombosis (2). A Greenfield filter was eventually placed in 10 (50%) of the Group A patients without complications. Thirty percent (3/10) of the Group B patients developed progression of deep vein thrombosis that required anticoagulation. One other Group B patient died due to a guidewire-induced arrhythmia. Although patients with advanced cancers and venous thromboembolic disease have a high complication rate with either treatment, initial treatment with a Greenfield filter appears more definitive. Anticoagulation should be reserved for patients with progressive, symptomatic deep vein thromboses after placement of a filter.

Aged↗