The authors measured flow velocity of intracranial arteries to venrify the patency of the parent arteries and branches after clip placement during aneurysm surgery. Before the clinical study, experimental sonographic recording was done with a feline aorta. The patency was evaluated by recording the flow velocity and pulse waveform using intraoperative microvascular Doppler sonography. The results of the clinical study were summarized as follows: (1) The patency of the parent artery can be proved. (2) The complete clipping of aneurysmal sac can be confirmed. (3) Vasospasm or narrowing of the arterial caliber can be detected. (4) Severe arteriosclerosis may mimic decreased flow velocity. It is suggested that the use of intraoperative microvascular Doppler sonography is an atraumatic and reliable method of testing the optimal clipping of the aneurysm and patency of the parent artery.
Aneurysm ; Aorta ; Arteries ; Arteriosclerosis ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Parents ; Ultrasonography

The pulmonary sequestration is rare congenital anomaly characterized by the presence of a part of lung tissuewhich is supplied by an aberrant systemic artery from the aorta or its branch and usually has no communicationwith the normal bronchial tree. The authors present 3 cases of intralobar pulmonary sequestration, studied by CTand /or US. Typical CT features of intralobar pulmonary sequestration are homogenous or unhomogeneous, relativelylow density lung mass near the diaphragm, having feeding artery from the aorta or branching vessels within themass during bolus injection or dynamic CT.
Aorta ; Arteries ; Bronchopulmonary Sequestration ; Diaphragm ; Lung ; Trees ; Ultrasonography

The effects of angiotensin II receptor antagonist losartan on elastic properties of aorta in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension were assessed. The ascending aortic distensibility in 26 patients (48 +/- 3 years) with mild to moderate essential hypertension before and after 12 weeks of treatment with losartan (50 mg/day) was evaluated by using two-dimensional echocardiography. M-mode measurements of aortic systolic (Ds) and diastolic diameter (Dd) were taken at a level approximately 3 cm above the aortic valve. Simultaneously, cuff brachial artery systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) pressures were measured. Aortic pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep) was calculated as Dd x (SBP-DBP)/(Ds-Dd) x 1333 and stiffness index beta (beta) was defined as Dd x Ln (SBP/DBP)/(Ds-Dd). Blood pressure significantly decreased from 148 +/- 13/95 +/- 9 mmHg to 138 +/- 12/88 +/- 8 mmHg (systolic blood pressure, P = 0.001; diastolic blood pressure, P = 0.003). There was no significant difference in pulse pressure before and after treatment with losartan (53 +/- 10 mmHg vs 50 +/- 7 mmHg). The distensibility of ascending aorta increased significantly as showed by the significant decrease in pressure-strain elastic modulus from 4.42 +/- 5.79 x 10(6) dynes/cm2 to 1.99 +/- 1.49 x 10(6) dynes/cm2 (P = 0.02) and stiffness index beta from 27.4 +/- 32.9 to 13.3 +/- 9.9 (P = 0.02). Although there was a weak correlation between the percent changes in pressure-strain elastic modulus and stiffness index beta and that in diastolic blood pressure after losartan treatment (r = 0.40, P = 0.04 and r = 0.55, P = 0.004, respectively), no correlation was found between the percent changes in pressure-strain elastic modulus and stiffness index beta and that in systolic blood pressure (r = 0.04, P = 0.8 and r = 0.24, P = 0.2, respectively). Our study demonstrated that angiotensin II receptor antagonist losartan has a beneficial effect on aortic distensibility in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension and this effect is partly independent of blood pressure reduction.
Aorta/*physiopathology ; Aorta/ultrasonography ; Echocardiography ; Elasticity ; Hypertension/*drug therapy ; Hypertension/*physiopathology ; Hypertension/ultrasonography ; Losartan/*therapeutic use ; Receptors, Angiotensin/*antagonists & inhibitors

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) among unselected fetuses and to evaluate its association with chromosomal abnormalities and other congenital anomalies. METHODS: In all, 7,547 fetuses (gestational age, 20 to 34 weeks) were examined using routine antenatal sonography at our institution between April 2014 and September 2015. The right subclavian artery was assessed using grayscale and color Doppler ultrasonography in the transverse 3-vessel and tracheal view, and confirmed in the coronal plane. RESULTS: ARSA was found in 28 fetuses (0.4%). Further, 27 of these 28 fetuses were euploid (96.4%). Trisomy 18 was the only chromosomal anomaly (3.6%) found in the study sample. ARSA was an isolated finding in 23 of the 28 cases (82.1%). In the remaining three cases (10.7%), ARSA was accompanied with extracardiac anomalies. Other cardiac defects were present in three cases (10.7%). CONCLUSION: Isolated ARSA does not seem to be associated with a significantly increased risk of aneuploidy. However, the possibility of fetal karyotyping, which is a more invasive procedure, should be discussed in the light of the overall risk of the fetus.
Aneuploidy ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Fetus ; Karyotyping ; Prenatal Diagnosis* ; Subclavian Artery* ; Trisomy ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

A 55-year-old man was admitted to the trauma center after a car accident. Cardiac tamponade, traumatic aortic injury, and hemoperitoneum were diagnosed by ultrasonography. The trauma surgeon, cardiac surgeon, and interventional radiologist discussed the prioritization of interventions. Multi-detector computed tomography was carried out first to determine the severity and extent of the injuries, followed by exploratory sternotomy to repair a left auricle rupture. A damage control laparotomy was then performed to control mesenteric bleeding. Lastly, a descending thoracic aorta injury was treated by endovascular stenting. These procedures were performed in the hybrid-angio room. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 135, without complications.
Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Cardiac Tamponade ; Heart ; Hemoperitoneum ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Middle Aged ; Resuscitation ; Rupture ; Shock ; Stents ; Sternotomy ; Trauma Centers ; Ultrasonography

We studied the wall motion characteristics of the ascending aorta by velocity vector imaging (VVI) in primary hypertension patients. The ascending aortas both in 30 patients with primary hypertension and 30 normal controls were examined by Acuson sequoia 512 equiped with VVI. The maximum velocity (Vs, Ve) of every point on the anterior wall of ascending aorta both in systole and diastole was measured. The aortic diameter was wider in the hypertension patients than that in the healthy subjects (P<0.05). The movement amplitude of the anterior wall of the ascending aorta in long axis view in the hypertension patients was lower than that in the healthy subjects (P<0.05). The motion and time to peak in systole of each point of the ascending aorta in the healthy subjects had no significant difference (P>0.05). The velocity curves of the anterior wall of ascending aorta both in the hypertension and healthy subjects were regular, and the curve in systole was named S wave and that in diastole named E wave. The velocity of S wave and E wave was slower in the hypertension patients than that in the healthy subjects (P<0.05). The time to peak of S wave on the anterior wall of ascending aorta in systole was shorter in the hypertension patients than in the healthy subjects (P<0.05). VVI could be used to accurately and directly observe the movement character of the ascending aorta walls, which would help us understand the elasticity of great arteries in patients with hypertension.
Aorta/pathology ; Aorta/*physiopathology ; Aorta/ultrasonography ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Case-Control Studies ; Echocardiography/*methods ; Elasticity ; Hypertension/pathology ; Hypertension/*physiopathology ; Vectorcardiography/*methods ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/physiopathology ; Young Adult

A 17-yr-old young woman was referred to our hospital with a 2-yr history of claudication of the lower extremities and severe arterial hypertension. Physical examination revealed significantly different blood pressures between both arms (160/92 and 180/95 mmHg) and legs (92/61 and 82/57 mmHg). The hematological and biochemical values were within their normal ranges, except for the increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (83 mm/hr) and C-reactive protein (6.19 mg/L). On 3- dimensional computed tomographic angiography, the ascending aorta, the aortic arch and its branches, and the thoracic and, descending aorta, but not the renal artery, were shown to be stenotic. The diagnosis of type IIb Takayasu's arteritis was made according to the new angiographic classification of Takayasu's arteritis, Takyasu conference 1994. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stenting was performed on the thoracic and abdominal aorta. After the interventional procedures, the upper extremity blood pressure improved from 162/101 mmHg to 132/85 mmHg, respectively. She has been free of claudication and there have been no cardiac events during 2-yr of clinical follow-up.
Adolescent ; Angiography ; *Angioplasty, Balloon ; Aorta, Abdominal/radiography ; *Aorta, Thoracic/radiography ; Carotid Arteries/ultrasonography ; Female ; Humans ; *Stents ; Takayasu Arteritis/radiography/*therapy/ultrasonography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: The relation between pressure-derived fractional collateral flow (PDCF) and coronary arterial remodeling remains uncertain in acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: We evaluated the effect of arterial remodeling on the development of PDCF in 72 patients with first acute myocardial infarction (pain onset <12 h) treated with primary angioplasty. Intravascular ultrasound study was performed before intervention. The remodeling index (RI) was defined as a ratio of (lesion/proximal reference) external elastic membrane area. Positive remodeling was defined as a RI >1.0 and nonpositive remodeling as a RI < or =1.0. Using a 0.014-in. fiber optic pressure monitoring guide wire, the PDCF index was measured by simultaneous measurement of mean aorta pressure (Pao), distal coronary pressure during the balloon occlusion (Pocc), and central venous pressure (CVP):PDCF index=100x(Pocc-CVP)/(Pao-CVP). Sufficient collateral was defined as PDCF index >24% and insufficient collateral as PDCF index < or =24%. RESULTS: The RI was 1.04+/-0.15 in the lesions with sufficient collateral and 1.03+/-0.16 in the lesions with insufficient collateral (p=0.812). There was no significant difference in the frequency of positive remodeling between the 2 groups (55% vs. 54%, respectively, p=0.966). The PDCF index was 20+/-11% and 20+/-9% in positive and nonpositive remodeling, respectively (p=0.891). There was no significant correlation between RI and PDCF index (r=0.027, p=0.823). CONCLUSION: The pattern of coronary arterial remodeling might not influence the development of collateral blood flow in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty.
Angioplasty* ; Aorta ; Balloon Occlusion ; Central Venous Pressure ; Collateral Circulation ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Membranes ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

Incomplete fixation of pancreas, which may be associated with a wide mobility of root of SMA, result in chronic midgut volvulus. Movable pancreas is an uncommon form of incomplete intestnal fixation and rotation. Herein, we present a caae of movable pancreas. A patient was a 32-year-old male with the complaint of colicky intermittent abdomnal pain. The abdominal ultrasonography and CT showed a movable pancreas. The head of pancreas was located in the left of the abdominal aorta during the inspiratory time and left decubitus position. At surgery, pancreas was mobile and the root of mesentery was very weak and fibrotic. Duodenum and mesentery were fixed by 0.7 mm Dacron patch along the right peritoneal gutter and the retroperitoneum from ligament of Treitz to the ileocecal attachment. Duodenojejunostomy was performed for the prevention of SMA syndrome. The symptoms disappeared and recovery was prompt. Following the procedure, the patient remains asymptomatic until 10 months after operation
Adult ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Duodenum ; Head ; Humans ; Intestinal Volvulus* ; Ligaments ; Male ; Mesentery ; Pancreas* ; Polyethylene Terephthalates ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Nutcracker syndrome refers to compression of the left renal vein(LRV) between the aorta and superior mesenteric artery(SMA) that results in elevation of pressure in the LRV and development of collateral veins. It must be considered as a possible factor when hematuria or proteinuria occurs in a healthy child. The purpose of this study is to determine the time to spontaneous resolution in childhood nutcracker syndrome, and to observe whether this is affected by sex, age, proteinuria or initial ratio of peak velocity of LRV. METHODS: We investigated 26 patients who were found to have spontaneous resolution by follow-up Doppler ultrasonography among 117 patients diagnosed with nutcracker syndrome by renal Doppler ultrasonography from May 2001 to December 2005. We determined the time to spontaneous resolution in childhood nutcracker syndrome, and observed whether the duration was affected by sex, age, proteinuria or initial ratio of peak velocity. RESULTS: 26 patients(59%) achieved spontaneous resolution by 1.2 years(mean). The time to spontaneous resolution of childhood nutcracker syndrome in 26 patients was 16.71+/-9.99 months(range 6.0-49.2). The time to spontaneous resolution was not affected by sex, age, proteinuria nor initial ratio of peak velocity of LRV. CONCLUSION: More than half of the patients who were diagnosed by renal Doppler ultrasonography achieved spontaneous resolution. The time to spontaneous resolution was not affected by sex, age, proteinuria nor initial ratio of peak velocity of LRV.
Aorta ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Proteinuria ; Ultrasonography, Doppler ; Veins