Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A C W Ting

Publications and source records attributed to A C W Ting.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Detection of C. pneumoniae by polymerase chain reaction-enzyme immunoassay in abdominal aortic aneurysm walls and its association with rupture.

OBJECTIVE: Serological studies have suggested that one of the risk factors for aneurysm development is C. pneumoniae infection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether there is an association between the presence of C. pneumoniae DNA in aneurysms and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. METHODS: Aortic walls were collected consecutively from 30 patients with intact AAA, 16 patients with ruptured AAA and 19 healthy organ donors (control). Purified DNAs from all aortas were analyzed for the presence of C. pneumoniae DNA in parallel by polymerase chain reaction-enzyme immunoassay (PCR-EIA) and agarose gel electrophoresis. PCR-EIA has a high sensitivity in detecting low DNA copy number in clinical atherosclerotic samples. RESULTS: C. pneumoniae DNA was detected more frequently in patients with aneurysms, particular with ruptured aneurysms. The incidence of positive C. pneumoniae DNA was 73.3% in intact AAA and 10.5% in control aortas, with the highest frequency in ruptured AAA (100%) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Giving the high specificity and sensitivity of PCR-EIA, these findings support the association of C. pneumoniae in the pathogenesis of aneurysm development, growth and rupture.

Aged↗

Laparoscopic transperitoneal clipping of the inferior mesenteric artery for the management of type II endoleak after endovascular repair of an aneurysm.

We report the case of a high risk patient with an abdominal infrarenal aortic aneurysm (AAA) who was treated by endovascular technique and the subsequent management of a type II endoleak by the laparoscopic approach. In this case, a 74-year-old woman with a 6-cm infrarenal AAA underwent endovascular repair using a bifurcated stent-graft device. Surveillance CT scan showed a persistent type II endoleak at 1 week and 3 months after the operation. Angiography confirmed retrograde flow from the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA). Attempted transarterial embolization of the IMA via the superior mesenteric artery was not successful. Laparoscopic transperitoneal IMA clipping was performed. Subsequent aortic duplex scan and CT scan confirmed complete elimination of the type II endoleak. We conclude that a combination of endovascular and laparoscopic procedures can be used to manage AAA successfully.

Aged↗

Clinical outcomes and changes in venous hemodynamics after subfascial endoscopic perforating vein surgery.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the clinical results of subfascial endoscopic perforating vein surgery (SEPS) in patients with severe chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) (clinical class 4-6) and assessed the hemodynamic changes associated with SEPS using air plethysmography (APG). METHODS: Forty-five patients with severe CVI who had undergone SEPS were evaluated. Clinical score and venous hemodynamics, as measured by APG before operation and at 1 month and 1 year after operation, were compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Patient satisfaction (on a visual analogue scale of 0 to 100%) was also assessed. RESULTS: There were 29 men and 16 women; their mean age was 60 years (range, 37-83). Thirty-five patients (78%) had active venous ulcers; the ulcers' mean size was 7.8 +/- 11.9 cm2 and the mean duration of ulceration was 9 +/- 10 months. There were no hospital deaths. Postoperative complications were uncommon (one groin wound infection and one case of thrombophlebitis). At a mean follow-up of 15 +/- 9 months, 34 ulcers (97%) had healed. The cumulative ulcer healing was 82% at 3 months. There were five recurrent ulcers (15%). Significant improvement was seen in the clinical scores (10 +/- 3 before operation, 6 +/- 4 at 1 month, and 4 +/- 3 at 1 year after operation). The venous filling index was also significantly improved after operation; this improvement was maintained at 1-year follow-up (7.36 +/- 6.23 ml/sec before operation, 3.63 +/- 3.90 ml/sec at 1 month, and 3.14 +/- 2.06 ml/sec at 1 year). The degree of patient satisfaction was also remarkable, with 74 +/- 17% and 90 +/- 12% satisfaction at 1-month and 1-year follow-up, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SEPS is a safe and effective treatment for patients with severe CVI. It leads to hemodynamic improvement, with rapid ulcer healing, and it is associated with a high degree of patient satisfaction.

Adult↗

Carotid stenting for irradiation-associated carotid stenosis 3 years after previous carotid endarterectomy.

Extracranial carotid stenosis is a known complication of external irradiation to the head and neck region. We report on a patient with previous carotid endarterectomy for irradiation-associated carotid stenosis. This patient developed symptomatic carotid stenosis over the ipsilateral common carotid artery proximal to the previous endarterectomy site 3 years later, and was successfully treated with carotid angioplasty and stenting. This case illustrates the importance of Duplex scan surveillance after carotid endarterectomy for patients with irradiation-associated carotid stenosis. The complimentary role of carotid endarterectomy and carotid angioplasty for managing such a patient is highlighted.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗

Diagnosing deep vein thrombosis in the lower extremity: correlation of clinical and duplex scan findings.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors that predict a positive duplex scan examination result in patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremity. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Vascular laboratory in a university teaching hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The results of 345 lower extremity duplex venous scans performed between August 1994 and November 1998 were reviewed. All patients were in-patients referred from different specialties due to clinical suspicion of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis. Positive duplex scans were correlated with patients' demographic data (sex, age), medical history (history of malignancy, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism) and clinical features (leg swelling, venous insufficiency, calf pain, and leg ulcer). Univariate analysis was performed using the Chi squared test. RESULTS: A total of 345 scans were performed for 313 patients. The mean age was 55 years (range, 19-92 years). Sixty-three patients (49 male, 14 female) had a positive scan, giving a yield of 18.3%. Four factors had a significant association with a positive scan: male sex (P=0.0102), history of malignancy (P=0.0040), history of deep vein thrombosis (P=0.0001), and history of pulmonary embolism (P=0.0265). CONCLUSIONS: Common presenting clinical features do not predict the result of ultrasonographic investigation for deep vein thrombosis. The chance of having a positive scan is significantly higher in male patients and those with a history of malignancy, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism.

Adult↗

Treatment of a ruptured iliac aneurysm with an endoluminal stent graft.

The management of a 79-year-old man presenting with a ruptured common iliac aneurysm is described. The patient had multiple medical problems including hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, and atrial fibrillation, as well as a left hemispheric stroke 5 years previously. Traditional open surgery was judged unsuitable in this case because of the predicted poor outcome. The patient was subsequently treated successfully with endoluminal stent grafting.

Aged↗