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

Atherosclerosis is a major cause of ischemic stroke that can be effectively prevented with appropriate lifestyle modifications and control of cardiovascular risk factors. Medical advances in recent years along with aggressive cardiovascular risk factor modifications have resulted in decreased recurrence rates of atherosclerotic stroke. Non-statin lipid-lowering molecules have recently shown clinical benefit and are recommended for very high-risk patients to reduce their risk of stroke. Aggressive hypertension treatment is crucial to reduce atherosclerotic stroke risk. Advances in antithrombotic treatments include combinations of antiplatelets and new antiplatelet agents in the acute phase post-stroke, which carries a high risk of recurrence. Intensive medical treatment has also limited the indications for carotid interventions, especially for asymptomatic disease. Intracranial atherosclerotic disease may provoke stroke through various mechanisms; it is increasingly recognized as a cause of ischemic stroke with advanced imaging and is best managed with lifestyle modifications and medical therapy. The diagnostic search for the vulnerable culprit atherosclerotic plaque is an area of intense research, from the level of the intracranial arteries to that of the aortic arch. Ultrasonography and novel magnetic resonance imaging techniques (high-resolution vessel-wall imaging) may assist in the identification of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques as the underlying cause in cryptogenic or misdiagnosed non-atherosclerotic ischemic stroke. Vertebrobasilar atherosclerotic disease is less common than carotid artery disease; thus, high-quality data on effective prevention strategies are scarcer. However, aggressive medical treatment is also the gold standard to reduce cerebrovascular disease located in posterior circulation.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Arteries ; Asymptomatic Diseases ; Atherosclerosis ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Dyslipidemias ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Life Style ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Secondary Prevention* ; Stroke* ; Ultrasonography

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

Anatomical variations of carotid arteries may be related to their development (agenesis, aplasia, hypoplasia) or course (coiling, kinking, tortuosity). Partial or total aberrancies in carotid vessel anatomy rarely occur. We describe the case of a 95-year-old woman presented with sudden onset of confusion and disorientation together with upper limb clonus. Computed tomography (CT)-scan revealed a left frontal brain injury with a not conclusive carotid doppler ultrasound. CT angiography reported a bovine aortic arch with bilateral retroesophageal course of both common carotid arteries and left severe (>70%) internal carotid artery stenosis. The knowledge of anatomical variations of the course of carotid arteries is relevant for possible surgical or endovascular repair or in case of otolaryngology or intubation procedures.
Angiography ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Brain Injuries ; Cardiovascular Abnormalities ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Common* ; Carotid Stenosis ; Female ; Humans ; Intubation ; Otolaryngology ; Ultrasonography ; Upper Extremity

No abstract available.
*Aorta, Thoracic/ultrasonography ; Aortic Diseases/*complications/diagnosis ; Catheterization, Peripheral/*adverse effects ; Cerebral Angiography/*adverse effects ; Electrocardiography ; Fatal Outcome ; *Femoral Artery ; Heart Arrest/diagnosis/etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis/*etiology ; Punctures ; *Sinus of Valsalva/ultrasonography ; Thrombosis/diagnosis/*etiology

This study assessed main pulmonary artery diameter of patients with anthracofibrosis. Patients with anthracofibrosis and CT scans were evaluated after exclusion of patients with co-existing disease. We measured the diameter of the main pulmonary artery (PAD) and ascending aorta (AD) and calculated the pulmonary artery to aorta ratio (APR). The upper reference limit for comparison of PAD was 29 mm. Cut-off values for PAD and APR indicating pulmonary hypertension were 33 mm and 1. We correlated the CT parameters with echocardiographic results. Total 51 patients were included in the analysis. The mean PAD, AD, and APR were 33 mm, 38 mm, and 0.87 respectively. The PAD was larger than the upper reference limit, 29 mm (P<0.001). The PAD was >33 mm in 30 (65%) and the APR was >1 in 9 patients (18%). Of 21 patients with echocardiography, 11 (52%) were found to have pulmonary hypertension. There was no statistical difference in the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension between echocardiography and CT (P=1.000). In conclusion, main pulmonary artery is dilated in patients with anthracofibrosis more than in the healthy population.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aorta, Thoracic/*radiography ; Bronchi/pathology ; Bronchoscopy ; Dilatation ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/*diagnosis/ultrasonography ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery/*radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine the frequency and echocardiographic findings of 22q11.2 deletions in fetuses with cardiac defects on fetal ultrasound or familial backgrounds of 22q11.2 deletions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical and ultrasonographic records of 170 fetuses that underwent fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis for chromosome 22q11.2 deletions between February 2001 and April 2013. RESULTS: Among 145 fetuses with cardiac defects, six (4.1%) had 22q11.2 deletions. Deletions of 22q11.2 were detected in 6 (5%) of the 120 fetuses with conotruncal defects: 5 (8.9%) of 56 with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and 1 (5.9%) of 17 with double outlet right ventricle (DORV). No deletions were found in cases of pulmonary atresia, truncus arteriosus, right aortic arch, or transposition of the great arteries. No 22q11.2 deletions were found in non-conotruncal cardiac malformations. Among 25 fetuses with familial backgrounds of 22q11.2 deletions, one (4%) had a maternally inherited 22q11.2 deletion with no cardiac findings. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of the frequency and echocardiographic findings of 22q11.2 deletions might be helpful for prenatal genetic counseling. It is advisable to perform FISH analysis for 22q11.2 deletions in pregnancies exhibiting conotruncal cardiac defects such as TOF or DORV.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Arteries ; Double Outlet Right Ventricle ; Echocardiography ; Fetus ; Fluorescence ; Genetic Counseling ; In Situ Hybridization ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis* ; Pulmonary Atresia ; Retrospective Studies ; Tetralogy of Fallot ; Truncus Arteriosus ; Ultrasonography

The clinical features of ring chromosome 6 include central nervous system anomalies, growth retardation, facial dysmorphism and other congenital anomalies. Ring chromosome 6 occurs rarely and manifests as various phenotypes. We report the case of mosaic ring chromosome 6 by conventional karyotyping in a 7-day-old male infant diagnosed with a large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with hypoplasia of aortic valve and aortic arch. These have not been previously reported with ring chromosome 6. He recovered from heart failure symptoms after ligation of the PDA. He showed infantile failure to thrive and delayed milestone in a follow-up evaluation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a Korean individual with ring chromosome 6 and hemodynamically significant PDA.
Abnormalities, Multiple/*diagnosis/genetics/radiography ; Aorta, Thoracic/radiography ; Aortic Valve/ultrasonography ; Chromosome Disorders/*diagnosis/genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6/genetics ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent/*diagnosis/genetics/radiography ; Humans ; Infant ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Ring Chromosomes ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

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

PURPOSE: The clinical and radiological characteristics of the double aortic arch (DAA) and its differentiation from conotruncal malformations (CTM) were reported in order to familiarize pediatric practitioners with these congenital heart diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 1994 to December 2006, a total of 6 patients (4 male and 2 female, aged 16 days to 6.5 years) with DAA were enrolled in this retrospective study. The study modalities included chart recordings, plain chest radiographs, barium esophagograms, echocardiograms, cardiac catheterization, cardiac angiograms, surgery, magnetic resonance imaging, and chromosome analysis. Patients with incomplete vascular rings or with right aortic arches and left ligamentum were excluded. In addition, the clinical and radiological profiles of 38 patients with CTM, including dextro-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) (n=28), hemitruncus arteriosus (HTA) (n=3), type I truncus arteriosus (TA) (n=4), and the aortopulmonary window (APW) (n=3), were comparatively reviewed. RESULTS: All 6 patients with DAA presented with postprandial choking and respiratory distress that prompted their initial visit to the hospital. One of the 6 patients presented with congestive heart failure, and none with cyanosis. Esophagograms showed indentations in 5 patients with DAA. All patients with d-TGA presented with cyanosis and heart failure, while patients with HTA, type I TA, and APW manifested overt heart failure. Suprasternal and subcostal approaches of the echocardiography may offer diagnositic windows for DAA. As for CTM, parasternal and subcostal approaches could always determine the causality. Cardiac catheterization with angiography comprehensively delineated the pathology. CONCLUSION: In case of postprandial choking and respiratory distress in neonates and infants, barium esophagograms can indicate the presence of DAA. Diagnosis of DAA and its differentiation from the CTM can be achieved by echocardiography, angiography, or magnetic resonance imaging.
Angiography ; Aorta, Thoracic/*abnormalities/radiography/ultrasonography ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital/classification/diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Retrospective Studies