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Biomedical subjects

P Balas

Publications and source records attributed to P Balas.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Open subintimal angioplasty of the superficial femoral and distal arteries.

PURPOSE: To describe an open approach to subintimal angioplasty. TECHNIQUE: Through a subinguinal incision and arteriotomy over the superficial femoral artery origin, the opening of a subintimal channel is created surgically. The subintimal plane is advanced distally with a guidewire, and this neolumen is expanded with sequential balloon dilations. The atherosclerotic core is dissected proximally in the common femoral artery and tacked down to ensure inflow. A patch graft closes the arteriotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Open subintimal angioplasty is a simple, minimally invasive alternative treatment for complete SFA occlusion. Long-term follow-up in a large group of patients will be necessary to determine the durability of the false arterial lumen.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗
PubMed1999

Concurrent multivessel stenting in a patient with multifocal arterial disease.

PURPOSE: To report the concurrent endovascular treatment of multiple stenoses in different vascular territories. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 45-year-old male presented with an aortic arch syndrome, renovascular hypertension, and Leriche syndrome. Intra-arterial digital arteriography disclosed occlusion of the left subclavian artery and stenoses in the left common carotid artery (CCA), the right CCA at the bifurcation, the left renal artery, and both iliac arteries. In a single procedure, the patient received 5 stents in 2 carotid, 1 renal, and 2 iliac arteries. At 3-month follow-up, color flow duplex imaging confirmed continued patency of all stented arteries. CONCLUSIONS: This case illustrates the feasibility, safety, and cost effectiveness of treating multivessel stenoses using a single-session endovascular approach executed by experienced interventionists.

Angiography↗
PubMed1998

Surgical treatment of spontaneous internal carotid dissection.

Spontaneous dissection of the internal carotid artery is rarely submitted to surgery. We report a case successfully operated on with complete restoration of the cerebral blood flow. A 43-year-old male was admitted to our hospital 10 days after an episode of amaurosis fugax of the left eye, left sided headache and paresis of the right arm of a few hours duration. A diagnosis of dissection of the left internal carotid artery was made by duplex and triplex ultrasound examination and was confirmed by cerebral arteriography in contrast to magnetic resonance angiography which was misleading. Due to the slow arterial flow from the right to the left cerebral hemisphere through only the posterior communicating arteries we envisaged the possibility of a cerebral infarction if the dissection were to be extended. For this reason a surgical procedure was performed by excising the dissected segment and inserting a venous graft for the re-establishment of the arterial flow. Surgical treatment of spontaneous internal carotid dissection should be considered very carefully when the clinical and laboratory findings suggest the possibility of an impending stroke.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The role of profunda femoris revascularization in aortofemoral surgery. An analysis of factors affecting graft patency.

BACKGROUND: To determine the long-term results of aortofemoral grafts using the profunda femoris artery as an outflow vessel and to determine the factors affecting the outcome of these procedures. DESIGN: Prospective study. METHODS: From 1980 to 1993, 224 profundoplasties were performed as an adjunctive outflow procedure of aortofemoral grafts in 180 patients. There were 167 men and 13 women with a mean age of 63.7 years. Severe claudication was the indication for operation in 147 limbs (65.6%), and critical ischemia in 77 (34.4%). Good runoff was present in 159 limbs (71%), while poor run-off in 65 (29%). Profundoplasty was extended distally in 67 cases (29.9%), while in the remaining 157 (70.1%) it was limited to the proximal portion of the artery. Arterial and venous patches were used alternatively for the profundoplasty. RESULTS: The 30-day mortality was 1.6% and the 5-year and 9-year survival rate was 69.7% and 49.1% respectively. Primary graft patency was 87.2% in 5 years and 78.5% in 9 years, while secondary graft patency was 90.1% in 5 years and 81.4% in 9 years. Limb salvage rate was 92.7% in 5 years and 87.6% in 9 years. There were four factors which were predictive of inferior longterm results namely; critical ischemia, poor run-off, extended profundoplasty and vein patch used for the profundoplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Angioplasty of the profunda femoris artery is a durable outflow procedure for aortofemoral graft surgery, when the above mentioned risk factors are absent; however when they do exist, the use of arterial patch for profundoplasty may improve the prognosis.

Aorta, Abdominal↗
PubMed1997

Secondary aortoduodenal fistulae.

Secondary aortoenteric fistula (SAF) is a rare but fatal complication of reconstructive aortoiliac surgery. The prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this complication remains a challenging problem in everyday practice. Nine cases of secondary aortoduodenal fistulae during the period of 1980 to 1992 are presented. Their main symptom was bleeding of the upper gastrointestinal tract. The mean time interval since the aortic surgical procedure was 32 months. Removal of the old graft and closure of the duodenal defect was the first stage of the operative procedure. One patient underwent replacement of the old graft, with a new graft, while in the remaining three patients extranatomical bypass was not necessary because of satisfactory circulation in the lower extremities. In five patients extranatomical revascularization of the lower limbs was performed postoperatively at various intervals. Three patients died postoperatively. Follow-up of the remaining patients ranged from one month to 8 years. Bleeding of the upper gastrointestinal tract in patients with a history of intrabdominal reconstructive vascular surgery must raise severe suspicion as to the certainty of existance of SAF unless the diagnostic procedure, mainly exploratory laparotomy, excludes this possibility.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

The validity of current vascular imaging methods in the evaluation of aortic anastomotic aneurysms developing after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the validity of current imaging methods for diagnosing anastomotic false aneurysms (AFA) of the aorta. One hundred four patients who had undergone elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair between January 1, 1985, and May 31, 1991, were studied. All of them were investigated for potential development of an aortic anastomotic aneurysm by B-mode ultrasonography, CT scanning, digital subtraction arteriography, and MRI. These findings were compared with results of color-coded Doppler imaging, which is considered the "gold standard," and were subsequently classified as true positive or true negative. The accuracy of color Doppler ultrasound was independently evaluated by clinical examination of the patients, which was carried out for a mean period of 77.5 months during follow-up. On the basis of the data obtained and observations made during follow-up (mean 36.4 months), the sensitivity and specificity of the preceding imaging methods were estimated. Aortic anastomotic aneurysms were detected in two patients (1.9%). The sensitivity of all methods was 100% and specificity was as follows: 74.2% for ultrasound, 59.8% for nonenhanced CT scans, 85.4% for enhanced CT scans, and 99% for digital subtraction arteriograms. Color Doppler and MRI were 100% specific for ruling out aortic anastomotic aneurysms. In a comparison of the accuracy, estimated cost, safety, and the availability of each method, color Doppler appeared to be the diagnostic method of choice for identifying aortic anastomotic aneurysms after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography and MR imaging versus conventional angiography in carotid artery dissections.

A retrospective analysis comparing the three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography, MR imaging and transfemoral digital substraction angiography (DSA) in cases of carotid artery dissection was made. During a 2-year period, 12 cases (11 males and 1 female), aged between 16 and 60 years, were submitted to our Hospital with the symptoms of TIA, stroke or cranial nerve palsies and the suspicion of carotid dissection. Transfemoral angiograms were done in other Institutions, while the MRI and MRA were performed in our diagnostic center. Blind interpretation of MR and angiography images was made by two independent radiologists. MR angiography in combination with MR imaging was more accurate than conventional angiography in the diagnosis of carotid artery dissection. Respective sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 100% for MRI with MRA and 91.6% and 100% for conventional angiography. From the analysis of this small series, we can conclude that MR angiography in combination with MR imaging is a reliable noninvasive method for use in diagnosis of extracranial internal carotid artery dissection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Comparative study of magnetic resonance angiography, digital subtraction angiography, duplex ultrasound examination with surgical and histological findings of atherosclerotic carotid bifurcation disease.

This study was designed in order to determine the diagnostic accuracy in imaging of the extracranial arteries by using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), digital subtraction angiography (DSA), B-mode duplex ultrasonic examination (DUE) in comparison with the surgical and histological findings of the specimen removed after endarterectomy. The degree of stenosis of the arterial lumen of the surgical specimen was compared with the imaging findings of MRA, DSA and DUE: a) the degree of agreement of stenosis with histologic findings was found in 89% of cases for MRA, in 93% for DSA and 88% for DUE; b) the correlation of morphology of the plaque showed agreement in 91% of the cases with MRA, in 94% with DSA and 87% with DUE; c) the constitution of the plaque was in agreement with DUE findings in 96% of cases. There is no significant difference between the three methods, as far as the estimation of degree of carotid stenosis and morphology of the atheromatous plaque in the carotid arteries. MRA findings are similar with those of DSA and DUE with a high sensitivity and specificity concerning the constitution of the plaque. The combination of MRA and DUE provides all the necessary information concerning the extracranial segments of the cerebral arteries for the preoperative evaluation of patients with carotid disease.

Angiography, Digital Subtraction↗
PubMed1995

Abdominal aortic aneurysm and left sided inferior vena cava. A case report.

The co-existence of abnormalities of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a rare condition but with surgical significance. With the development of various imaging technics and the routine use of computerized tomography for the examination of the abdomen and/or the investigation of AAA these venous abnormalities can be disclosed. A male patient with AAA and left sided IVC is presented.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Mesenteric venous thrombosis due to coagulation deficiencies - a case report.

Mesenteric venous thrombosis is a rather rare condition posing diagnostic problems and very often with an obscure etiology. Recently, various coagulation deficiencies were found as the main etiologic factor. A case of a 75-year-old man with acute abdomen is presented. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a 250 cm necrosis of the small intestine. Patient was successfully treated by resecting the entire involved segment of the bowel. After a complete coagulation profile examination, deficiencies of protein C and anti-thrombin III were found and were considered as the main cause of the disease. In cases with known coagulation deficiencies the presence of an acute abdomen should raise suspicion of mesenteric venous thrombosis.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed1994

Obstructive uropathy, following redo aortobifemoral by-pass surgery.

A rare case of obstruction of the right ureter due to encagement between the right iliofemoral and right limb of an aorto-bilateral femoral Dacron graft is described. Patient was managed successfully by ureterolysis, removal of the occluded right iliofemoral graft, omentoplasty and placement of a pig tail catheter along the right ureter.

Aorta, Abdominal↗
PubMed1994

Arterial aneurysms in Behçet's disease.

Six cases of arterial aneurysms, due to "Behçet's disease" located in various arteries are presented. Surgical reconstruction included: Resection of the lesions and replacement with corresponding grafts with satisfactory results. In spite of the macroscopic similarity of the aneurysms found in "Behçet's disease" as compared to those of mycotic origin, the presence of any microorganism could not be detected in various cultures or pathological specimens. Meticulous diagnosis on the nature of the aneurysm, close follow-up and careful postoperative anticoagulant treatment, is imperative for satisfactory immediate and late results.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Axillodistal bypass on critical limb ischaemia.

The axillodistal extra anatomic bypass is not an operation commonly performed and the only reason for performing it is to attempt limb salvage for a reasonable period of time or until death in patients with critical ischaemia. During the period 1983-1991 we performed 67 such bypasses where no other form of reconstructive arterial surgery was feasible. There were 27 axillopopliteal (15 below and 12 above the knee), five crossover, seven bilateral, 11 axillotibial and 17 jump (sequential bypasses). The first 34 procedures (1983-1987, early period) had a 5-year cumulative secondary graft patency of 20%, which increased to 33% for the 33 bypasses performed during the second period (1987-1991). The primary graft patency of the 67 bypasses was 13%. Our clinical results show that even in these patients with diffuse occlusive arterial lesions, limb salvage is possible in a reasonable number even when axillodistal bypass is used. Improvements in the technique, better selection of patients, the performance of jump grafts and the aggressive treatment of early and late graft occlusions have led to much better results being achieved.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Acute abdominal aorta embolism caused by primary cardiac echinococcus cyst.

Embolism of the abdominal aorta by an echinococcus cyst is extremely rare and is due to rupture of an intracardiac hydatid cyst. We report a case of abdominal aortic embolism by a primary intracardiac echinococcus cyst which was treated successfully with bilateral femoral embolectomy followed by direct aortotomy. We found only 16 previous cases reported and only one caused by a primary cyst.

Acute Disease↗