Balloon angioplasty followed by stenting of the thoracic aorta is reported in a 5-year-old girl with Takayasu's arteritis, who presented with severe hypertension and congestive heart failure. Her aortogram showed severe long segment stenosis of the descending thoracic aorta, which was successfully treated by balloon angioplasty on two occasions, but developed recurrences after 6 and 7 months of angioplasty. Balloon dilatation of the stenosed aorta, followed by sequential implantation of three 30-mm long Palmaz stents in tandem, bridging the full segment of the angioplastied aorta were performed successfully without any complications. The aortic diameter increased from 3.3 mm to 7.7 mm and the peak systolic pressure gradient decreased from 75 mmHg to 3 mmHg. There was no recurrence on clinical follow-up of 13 months.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for stenosis of the aorta due to aortic arteritis in children.

Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty for stenosis of the aorta due to aortic arteritis was attempted on 45 lesions in 41 children (age range, 4-14 years; mean, 9.9+/-4.2 years) presenting with symptoms of hypertension, severe congestive heart failure, and lower limb claudication. Balloon dilatation was technically successful in 38 (92.7%) patients for 41 stenotic lesions (91.1%). The mean peak systolic pressure gradient (PSG) decreased from 71.7 +/- 23.9 mmHg to 23.2 +/- 17.5 mmHg (p < 0.001) and the diameter of the stenosed segment increased from 3.3 +/- 1.1 mm to 7.5 +/- 2.2 mm (p < 0.001) immediately after angioplasty. Patients with short-segment (<3 cm) stenosis had a lower residual gradient (17.9 +/- 11.1 mmHg vs 30.5 +/- 22.6 mmHg; p < 0.05) and a wider diameter of the aorta (8.8 +/- 1.1 mm vs 7.5 +/- 2.2 mm; p < 0.02) compared to patients with long-segment (>/=3 cm) stenosis. Four patients required stent implantation; 2 for flow-limiting dissection, 1 for failure to reduce PSG by >50%, and 1 for recurrent restenosis. There was marked hemodynamic and angiographic improvement in these 4 patients. Hemodynamic and angiographic restudy in 21 of the 41 patients at mean follow-up period of 6.2 +/- 4.2 months (range, 3-24 months) showed restenosis in 4 (19%) patients. Restenosis was more common in patients with long-segment stenosis than those with short-segment stenosis (30% vs 9.1%). Late restudy in 8 patients, done at 3-7 years after first restudy, showed no recurrence of aortic narrowing. On clinical follow-up of 38 patients for a mean of 58.8 +/- 36.0 months (range, 8-146 months) there was marked improvement in symptoms. Hypertension was cured in 11 (29%), improved in 24 (63%), and persisted in 3 (8%). Six patients with associated severe renal artery stenosis showed further improvement in hypertension after successful renal angioplasty. Severe congestive heart failure improved in 21 (95.4%) of 22 patients. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction improved from 0.32 +/- 0.08 to 0. 48 +/- 0.10 (p < 0.001) at a mean follow-up of 28.7 +/- 8.4 months in these patients. Hemodynamic restudy in 10 of these patients showed improvements in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure from a mean 37 +/- 9 mmHg (range, 25-55 mmHg) to 16.4 +/- 6.2 mmHg (range, 6-25 mmHg) (p < 0.001). Lower limb claudication improved in all 4 patients. Our results suggest that percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty in children is safe and highly effective in relieving stenosis of the aorta due to aortic arteritis, with marked clinical improvement, and should be the treatment of choice particularly for discrete stenosis.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Early and long-term results of subclavian angioplasty in aortoarteritis (Takayasu disease): comparison with atherosclerosis.

PURPOSE: To compare the early and long-term outcomes of subclavian artery angioplasty in patients with aortoarteritis and atherosclerosis. METHODS: Sixty-one subclavian artery angioplasties were performed in 55 consecutive patients with aortoarteritis (n = 32) and atherosclerosis (n = 23) between 1986 and 1995. An arch aortogram followed by a selective subclavian artery angiogram was done to profile the site and extent of the lesion, its relation to the vertebral artery, and the distal circulation. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was performed via the femoral route for 56 stenotic lesions and 5 total occlusions. RESULTS: PTA was successful in 52 (92.8%) stenotic lesions and 3 (60%) total occlusions. Three patients (5.4%) had complications, that could be effectively managed nonsurgically. Compared with atherosclerosis, patients with aortoarteritis were younger (27.4 +/- 9.3 years vs 54.5 +/- 10.5 years; p < 0.001), more often female (75% vs 17.4%; p < 0.001), gangrene was uncommon (0% vs 17.4%; p < 0.05), and diffuse involvement was seen more often (43.8% vs 4.4%; p < 0.001). The luminal diameter stenoses were similar before PTA (88.6 +/- 9.7% vs 89.0 +/- 9.1%; p = NS). Higher balloon inflation pressure was required to dilate the lesions of aortoarteritis (9.9 +/- 4.6 ATM vs 5.5 +/- 1.0 ATM; p < 0.001). This group had more residual stenosis (15.5 +/- 12.4% vs 8.3 +/- 9.4%; p < 0.05) after PTA. There were no neurological sequelae, even in PTA of prevertebral lesions. On 3-120 months (mean 43.3 +/- 28.9 months) follow-up of 40 patients, restenosis was more often observed in patients with aortoarteritis, particularly in those with diffuse arterial narrowing. These lesions could be effectively redilated. Clinical symptoms showed marked improvement after successful angioplasty. CONCLUSION: Subclavian PTA is safe and can be performed as effectively in aortoarteritis as in atherosclerosis, with good long-term results. Long-term follow-up shows that it provides good symptomatic relief.

Adult↗

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Endovascular stenting for unsuccessful angioplasty of the aorta in aortoarteritis.

PURPOSE: The efficacy and safety of endovascular stent implantation to correct dissection or a suboptimal result after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was evaluated in patients suffering from aortic stenosis due to aortoarteritis. METHODS: Twelve children and young adults [aged (mean +/- SD) 18.2 +/- 8.7 years] underwent stent implantation after PTA of the aorta, seven for obstructive dissection, four for ineffective balloon dilatation, and one for recurrent restenosis. Nine patients underwent implantation of self-expandable stents and three received balloon-expandable Palmaz stents. RESULTS: Stent implantation could be successfully performed in all 12 patients. After stent implantation, the peak systolic pressure gradient decreased from 91 +/- 33.5 mmHg to 12.4 +/- 12.5 mmHg (p < 0.001). The diameter of the stenosed segment increased from 4.6 +/- 0.8 mm to 11.1 +/- 1.9 mm (p < 0.001). The dissection was completely covered in all seven patients with dissection. Except for epigastric pain with vomiting in one patient, there was no complication. On follow-up, over 12-57 months (mean 26.8 +/- 10.8 months), 11 patients (91.6%) had marked improvement in their blood pressure. Patients with congestive heart failure and claudication also showed improvement. Repeat catheterization in five patients, between 6-30 months (mean 16.8 +/- 9.1 months) after stent implantation, showed sustained improvement in four and a fusiform, long segment, intrastent restenosis after 30 months in one child. The stenosis was safely redilated. CONCLUSION: Endovascular aortic stent implantation is safe and provides good immediate relief in patients with unsatisfactory results after balloon angioplasty. Improvement is sustained in most patients on intermediate-term follow-up.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Seizures and cortical blindness after meglumine (hypaque) administration: a variant of autonomic dysreflexia.

Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a syndrome that consists of facial flushing, excessive sweating, nasal congestion, throbbing headache and paroxysmal hypertension which may occur in response to bladder distension in patients with spinal cord lesions above the T6 level. We report the case of a C2 quadriplegic patient who developed clinical features of AD along with cortical blindness and seizures after administration of meglumine (Hypaque) for diagnostic cystogram.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of multiple papillary fibroelastomas of the tricuspid valve by transesophageal echocardiography.

A 66-year-old man without symptoms, referred for the treatment of moderate hypertension, was found to have a right atrial mass by two-dimensional echocardiography. On transesophageal echocardiography two masses were detected on the tricuspid valve, the first one on the posterior leaflet and the second smaller one on the anterior leaflet. These findings were confirmed at surgery. Histologic analysis revealed that the masses represented papillary fibroelastomas.

Aged↗

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Cutaneous complications of hepatic chemoembolization via extrahepatic collaterals.

PURPOSE: To report cutaneous complications occurring after chemoembolization of hepatic tumors via extrahepatic collaterals. METHODS: Five patients underwent chemoembolization via the internal mammary (n = 3), intercostal (n = 1), or multiple extrahepatic collateral vessels supplying liver metastases. RESULTS: Painful induration and discoloration of the skin in the distribution of the superior epigastric or intercostal arteries occurred in four patients, with transmural necrosis in two. One required surgical excision. One patient developed a radiation burn after 12 procedures and eventually developed a squamous cell carcinoma at the site, which required resection and skin grafting. CONCLUSION: Cutaneous injury can occur after chemoembolization of extrahepatic collaterals. Scrupulous technique is required to avoid nontarget embolization of chemotherapeutic drugs. High cumulative radiation doses to localized areas of skin can occur in patients undergoing multiple procedures.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Identification of severe right ventricular dysfunction and pressure overload by stress radionuclide myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging with gating.

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Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Chordoma metastatic to the breast diagnosed by fine needle aspiration. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic breast tumors are rare but need differentiation from primary malignant and even benign tumors of the breast to ensure appropriate treatment. CASE: A 51-year-old female with chordoma developed a lump in the breast 3.5 years after the primary diagnosis. Fine needle aspiration of the lump showed classic physaliferous cells with a bubbly appearance and anaplastic cells in a magenta, fibrillary background. CONCLUSION: The presence of classic physaliferous cells on fine needle aspiration is diagnostic of chordoma, even in metastatic lesions.

Biopsy, Needle↗

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Lamellar sclerokeratoplasty of epibulbar tumor in xeroderma pigmentosum.

A 10-year-old boy was followed up from the stage of biopsy-proven dysplastic conjunctival mass to carcinoma in situ. This carcinoma was managed by radical excision and lamellar sclerokeratoplasty. To our knowledge, this case represents the first reported successful management of conjunctival carcinoma in xeroderma pigmentosum.

Biopsy↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Strabismus fixus convergens secondary to amyloidosis.

Strabismus fixus convergens is a condition in which both eyes become fixed in extreme adduction. It can be congenital or acquired. We report a case of strabismus fixus convergens in a high myope with primary amyloidosis localized to the lateral rectus muscle. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a case of strabismus fixus convergens secondary to amyloidosis.

Amyloidosis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Ophthalmia nodosa: due to unbarbed hairs.

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Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of common atrial flutter--acute and follow-up results.

Atrial flutter with a structurally well-defined macro-reentrant circuit in the right atrium has recently become amenable to radiofrequency ablation with the recognition of isthmus as a narrow zone of slow conduction. This study describes 20 consecutive and symptomatic patients with atrial flutter (15 males, 5 females; mean age 38.5 +/- 10.2 years) who underwent radiofrequency ablation in our institute in the last 18 months. Fourteen patients had structurally normal hearts, while the remaining six patients had specific disorders (prior surgery for closure of atrial septal defect-2, idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy-1, primary sinus node dysfunction-2, tachycardiomyopathy-1). The endpoints of a complete isthmus block and conversion to sinus rhythm were achieved in 19 of the 20 patients. Total number of pulses needed to attain the endpoints was a mean of 4.2 (range 1-5), each pulse being delivered for 90 seconds. At a mean follow up of 9.4 +/- 3.2 months (range 6-12 months), recurrence of atrial flutter was seen in one patient, atrial fibrillation in two and sinus node reentrant tachycardia in one. These results are comparable to those reported in the literature. Achievement of a complete isthmus block appears to be an important endpoint in obtaining optimal results. The issues of alternative sites of ablation, long-term results and advantages of an 8 mm tip catheter need to be examined further. In conclusion, radiofrequency ablation appears to be the preferred mode of treatment for patients with atrial flutter with excellent short-term and mid-term results.

Adolescent↗