AIM To evaluate the effect of initial stent position on transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). METHODS We studied 425 patients from January 2004 to January 2015 with refractory ascites or variceal bleeding who required TIPS placement. Patients were randomly divided into group A (stent in hepatic vein, n = 57), group B (stent extended to junction of hepatic vein and inferior ven...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the outcomes of percutaneous unilateral metallic stent placement in patients with a malignant obstruction of the biliary hila and a contralateral portal vein steno-occlusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty patients with a malignant hilar obstruction and unilobar portal vein steno-occlusion caused by tumor invasion or preoperative portal vein embolization were enrolled in...

Aim: To analyze the one-year-patency of infrainguinal arterial reconstructions in relation to venous graft diameter and length and the run-off segment, when arteries above the proximal anastomosis of the reconstruction are not diseased. Material and Methods: We compared retrospectively for two-year period the diameter, the length of the used vein and the run-off segment in 107 consecutively con...

PURPOSE To explore the safety and efficacy of PRT-201. METHODS Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-dose escalation study of PRT-201 (0.0033 to 9 mg) applied after arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation. Participants were followed for one year. The primary outcome measure was safety. Efficacy measures were the proportion with intra-operative increases in AVF outflow vein diamete...

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether early administration of aspirin might optimize vein graft patency. More than 250 papers were found using the reported search, of which 4 new papers in addition to the previous 7 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date and c...

OBJECTIVES To describe the natural history of stenoses in infrainguinal vein bypasses and to identify factors predicting outcome. METHODS Forty-two patients with non-revised vein bypass stenoses were followed prospectively by ultrasound Duplex scanning and ankle blood pressure measurements. RESULTS During a median follow-up of 8 (range 0-22) months 18 (43%) (95% confidence limits 28-59%) by...

lthough the autogenous vein has proven itself to be the preferred conduit for infrainguinal revascularization, the ever increasing age and complexity of patients with arterial occlusive disease has brought about clinical scenarios where autogenous vein is not available and an alternative conduit must be found. Given the absence of reliable options for infrageniculate bypass when suitable autoge...

The propeller-type flap design is increasingly used in reconstructive surgery for various regions of the body. To date, determinants of perforator patency when subjected to twisting have not been elucidated. We propose a simulation model to study parameters affecting perforator patency under such conditions. Nonlinear finite element procedure was used to simulate a perforator consisting of an a...

BACKGROUND Hemodialysis used as renal replacement therapy requires a well-functioning vascular access. Arterio-venous fistula (AVF) created on the forearm is the best vascular access, but it also reveals numerous complications such as: lack of fistula maturation and hemodynamically significant stenoses. Many risk factors of fistula dysfunction are still not identified. MATERIAL/METHODS Radial...

INTRODUCTION For access-challenged patients with bilateral upper extremity central venous stenosis, solutions include the Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow (HeRO) device or an autogenous AV fistula in the lower limb. We evaluated HeRO grafts and transpositions of the femoral vein in maintaining primary and secondary patency. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 40 patients with a HeRO device and 1...