BACKGROUND The management of patients with acute massive pulmonary embolism (PE) who do not respond to fibrinolytic therapy remains unclear. We aimed to compare rescue surgical embolectomy and repeat thrombolysis in patients who did not respond to thrombolysis. METHODS We conducted a prospective single-center registry of PE patients who underwent thrombolytic therapy. Lack of response to thro...

Dear Editor, Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a relatively common and hazardous emergency that may lead to acute life-threatening but potentially reversible right ventricular failure. Three months mortality rate in patients with massive pulmonary embolism and a systolic blood pressure of <90 mmHg is approximately 50%, with most deaths occurring within the first few days after diagnosis. For p...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE An embolus causing cerebral ischemia is a major cause of death and disability, and the search for methods to reestablish blood flow is of major importance. A technique for the emergent primary treatment of cerebral emboli causing stroke is presented in detail. METHODS The method developed implies the mechanical extraction of the embolus with a standard vascular retrieva...

Background and Purpose—To report the result of the Mechanical Embolus Removal in Cerebral Ischemia (MERCI) 1 study, a phase 1 trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of mechanical embolectomy in the cerebral vasculature. Methods—MERCI 1 enrolled 30 patients in 7 US centers. Main inclusion criteria were: National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (NIHSS) 10; treatment performed within 8 ...

BACKGROUND Modern stent retriever-based embolectomy for patients with emergent large vessel occlusion improves outcomes. Techniques aimed at achieving higher rates of complete recanalization would benefit patients. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical impact of an embolectomy technique focused on continuous aspiration prior to intracranial vascular embolectomy (CAPTIVE). METHODS A retrospecti...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To report the result of the Mechanical Embolus Removal in Cerebral Ischemia (MERCI) 1 study, a phase 1 trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of mechanical embolectomy in the cerebral vasculature. METHODS MERCI 1 enrolled 30 patients in 7 US centers. Main inclusion criteria were: National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (NIHSS) > or =10; treatment performed w...

BACKGROUND The incidence and prevalence of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) in women is more prevalent than generally appreciated, and the results of surgical treatment are not certain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the result of surgical treatment of PAOD in female patients in our service. METHODS Medical records of female patients undergoing surgical treatment for...

INTRODUCTION This paper reviews the epidemiology, aetiology and management of upper limb ischaemia in a series of 8 patients presenting to a tertiary referral centre over a 4-year period and the review of the pertinent literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS Details of patients admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) due to critical ischaemia of the upper limbs were obtained from admission summar...

OBJECTIVE Determine the impact of 24-hour duration of arterial embolism on the outcomes of management. MATERIAL AND METHOD A prospective study of 91 patients with acute arterial embolism of the lower extremities was carried out. RESULTS Among the 91 patients, 31(34.1%) were with early acute embolism(< 24 hours) and 60 (65.9%) were with late acute embolism (> 24 hours). Extensive limb gangre...

An aortic saddle embolus causing cauda equine syndrome followed by paraplegia is an exceedingly rare phenomenon in post-operative period in coronary artery bypass grafting. In non-CABG cases, reported documentation of neurological recovery from this event is even rarer. A 57-year-old male 8 days after uneventful OPCAP presented with severe lower extremity pain and sudden fecal and urinary incon...