1.Endovascular Treatment of a Giant Renal Artery Aneurysm with High-Flow Renal Arteriovenous Malformation
Apostolos G. PITOULIAS ; Georgios A. PITOULIAS ; Dimitrios A. CHATZELAS ; Theodosia ZAMPAKA ; Thomas E. KALOGIROU ; Anastasios POTOURIDIS ; Charalampos LOUTRADIS ; Maria D. TACHTSI
Vascular Specialist International 2022;38(2):13-
Renal artery aneurysms (RAAs) are rare lesions with a prevalence of less than 1% in the general population. Renal arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare lesions with an estimated incidence of less than 0.04%. The coexistence of these two clinical entities is extremely rare and narrows the available treatment options by endovascular or open surgery. We describe a case of a giant symptomatic RAA type III, which was combined with a high-flow renal AVM in the right kidney. Using two vascular plugs, the RAA was excluded successfully. The perfusion of the right kidney’s lower pole was preserved by implantation of two covered stents in the inferior segmental renal artery.
2.Endovascular Repair of a Failed Nellix Endograft Proximal Sealing Zone Using the Altura Stent-Graft: A Case Report and Literature Review
Dimitrios A. CHATZELAS ; Apostolos G. PITOULIAS ; Georgios V. TSAMOURLIDIS ; Theodosia N. ZAMPAKA ; Anastasios G. POTOURIDIS ; Maria D. TACHTSI ; Georgios A. PITOULIAS
Vascular Specialist International 2023;39(4):39-
Endovascular aortic aneurysm sealing (EVAS) with the Nellix endograft was initially considered a groundbreaking and acceptable alternative to conventional endovascular aortic aneurysm repair, with encouraging initial results. However, long-term follow-up has revealed a high incidence of endograft-related complications, such as caudal migration and type Ia endoleaks, indicating the need for reintervention. Managing failed EVAS remains challenging and is an ongoing topic of discussion, especially for high-risk patients. We describe a 70-year-old female who initially underwent EVAS with a Nellix endograft and presented after 5 years of follow-up with caudal endograft migration and a type Ia endoleak. The patient was treated with endovascular implantation of an Altura stent-graft, a relatively new low-profile device with a similar double stent configuration. Device migration and endoleaks were undetectable at 12 months of follow-up, suggesting that the Altura might offer a safe and efficient approach in cases of Nellix proximal failure.
3.Can Routine Investigation for Occult Pulmonary Embolism Be Justified in Patients with Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Dimitrios A. CHATZELAS ; Apostolos G. PITOULIAS ; Vangelis BONTINIS ; Theodosia N. ZAMPAKA ; Georgios V. TSAMOURLIDIS ; Alkis BONTINIS ; Anastasios G. POTOURIDIS ; Maria D. TACHTSI ; Georgios A. PITOULIAS
Vascular Specialist International 2024;40(2):12-
Purpose:
This study aims to investigate whether routine screening for silent pulmonary embolism (PE) can be justified in patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Materials and Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 201 patients with lower-extremity DVT admitted to the vascular surgery department of a single tertiary university center between 2019 and 2023. All patients underwent clinical evaluation, basic laboratory exams, a whole-leg colored duplex ultrasound, and a computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA), to screen for an occult, underlying PE.
Results:
The overall incidence of silent PE was 48.8%. The median admission Ddimer level was significantly higher in patients with silent PE than in those without PE (9.60 vs. 5.51 mg/L, P=0.001). A D-dimer value ≥5.14 mg/L was discriminant for predicting silent PE, with a sensitivity of 68.2% and a specificity of 59.3%. Silent PE was significantly more common on the right side, with the embolus located at the main pulmonary, lobar, segmental, and subsegmental arteries in 29.6%, 32.7%, 20.4%, and 17.3%, respectively. A higher incidence of occult PE was observed in patients with iliofemoral DVT (P=0.037), particularly when the thrombus extended to the inferior vena cava (P=0.003). Moreover, iliofemoral DVT was associated with a larger size and a more proximal location of the embolus (P=0.041). Multivariate logistic regression showed that male sex (odds ratio [OR]=2.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.39-3.53; P=0.026), cancer (OR=2.76, 95% CI: 1.45-4.07; P=0.017), previous venous thromboembolism (VTE) history (OR=2.67, 95% CI: 1.33-4.01; P=0.022), D-dimer value ≥5.14 mg/L (OR=2.24, 95% CI: 1.10-3.38; P=0.033), iliofemoral DVT (OR=2.13, 95% CI: 1.19-3.07; P=0.041), and thrombus extension to the IVC (OR=2.95, 95% CI: 1.43-4.47; P=0.009) served as independent predictors for silent PE.
Conclusion
A high incidence of silent PE was observed in patients with lowerextremity DVT. Screening of patients with DVT who have the aforementioned predictive risk factors using CTPA for silent PE may be needed and justified for the efficient management of VTE and its long-term complications.