Comprehensive comparison of carotid endarterectomy primary closure and patch angioplasty: A single-institution experience

Background: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is an effective intervention for the treatment of high-grade carotid stenosis. Technical preferences exist in the operative steps including the use patch for arteriotomy closure. The goals of this study are to compare the rate of postoperative complications and the rate of recurrent stenosis between patients undergoing primary versus patch closure during CEA. Methods: Retrospective chart review was conducted for patients who underwent CEA at single institution. Vascular surgeons mainly performed patch closure technique while neurosurgeons used primary closure. Patients’ baseline characteristics as well as intraprocedural data, periprocedural complications, and postprocedural follow-up outcomes were captured. Results: Seven hundred and thirteen charts were included for review with mean age of 70.5 years (SD = 10.4) and males representing 64.2% of the cohort. About 49% of patients underwent primary closure while 364 (51%) patients underwent patch closure. Severe stenosis was more prevalent in patients receiving patch closure (94.5% vs. 89.4%; P = 0.013). The incidence of overall complications did not differ between the two procedures (odds ratio = 1.23, 95% confidence intervals = 0.82–1.85; P = 0.353) with the most common complications being neck hematoma, strokes, and TIA. Doppler ultrasound imaging at 6 months postoperative follow-up showed evidence of recurrent stenosis in 15.7% of the primary closure patients compared to 16% in patch closure cohort. Conclusion: Both primary closure and patch closure techniques seem to have similar risk profiles and are equally robust techniques to utilize for CEA procedures.

EFFICIENCY OF THE PUBLIC URETHROSTOMIA IN CIRCULAR URETHRAL CANAL OBSTRUCTION IN CATS

Absolute indications for performing pubic urethrostomy in cats are recurrent stenosis and overgrowth of the urogenital canal fistula after its formation in the perineal region of the excretory system. Pubic urethrostomy, with the removal of the genitourinary canal outside the pelvic cavity in cats, is the best option for surgical treatment with significant traumatic damage and perforation of the genital part of the urethra and soft tissues in the perineum area.

A cost-effective analysis of drug-eluting balloon in highly recurrent stenosis on dialysis vascular access

Background: The efficacy and cost-effectiveness of drug-eluting balloon (DEB) in vascular access for dialysis remain unclear. Methods: Data obtained from using DEB in highly recurrent stenosis were retrospectively analyzed. These data were obtained from procedures performed in the Vascular Access Center, responsible for attending over 3600 patients from 30 dialysis centers. Highly recurrent stenosis is defined as stenosis having three or more previous interventions and/or associated with early recurrence defined as the last procedure in less than 90 days. Patency and cost-effectiveness were evaluated. Patency was defined as the number of days free of interventions after applying DEB. Cost-effectiveness was evaluated using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and an estimation of costs per day/patient/year. Results: Data from 37 consecutive procedures on 32 patients were assessed. The average patency time between interventions was 107.22 ± 104.428 days before DEB intervention. After the procedure, the average patency time intervention was 160.27 ± 96.472 days (ρ=0.001). The cost analysis revealed an ICER of 10.37€/ patency day gained. The costs estimation revealed improved patency of 14.5 days/patient/year, and an increased cost of 1028.4€/patient/year when compared to conventional balloon. Conclusions: This retrospective analysis may suggest a benefit of DEB on this highly recurrent stenosis. Although it appears to be more expensive, the increased patency at long term may be considered encouraging.

Variants of surgical treatment of chronic post-intubation laryngeal stenosis in children

Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of a surgical tactics used for the treatment of children with chronic post-intubation laryngeal stenosis depending on the condition of their laryngeal cartilages. Patients and methods. We treated 47 children with chronic post-intubation laryngeal stenosis. Preoperative examination included endoscopy and computed tomography (CT) of the larynx and trachea. We evaluated the condition of their laryngeal cartilages in order to choose an optimal surgical tactics. Children with intact laryngeal cartilages (n = 20) have undergone endolaryngeal microsurgery using a CO2 laser. This method caused minimal injury due to submucosal excision of scar tissue, which enabled wound coverage with mucous microflaps to prevent recurrent stenosis. Surgery for extensive stenosis in the middle portion of the larynx was associated with a risk of recurrent scarring. In our study, we prevented it by using endografts during 21 days. However, patients with lesions in the subglottic larynx still had a high risk of recurrent stenosis (5 out of 12 patients) even if there was no evidence of damage to the laryngeal cartilages. Results. Twenty-seven patients with laryngeal post-intubation stenosis with lesions to the laryngeal cartilages detected before surgery have undergone extralaryngeal laryngotracheoplasty. Eighteen children have undergone laryngofissure with subsequent stenting between 6 and 18 months with a T-shaped silicone stent. Nine patients have undergone single-stage laryngotracheoplasty with autologous grafts. Conclusion. The methods used in this study have demonstrated high effectiveness, while the use of grafts reduced the number of stages of surgery and its duration. Key words: laryngotracheoplasty in children, laryngeal microsurgery, complications of tracheal intubation in children, chronic laryngeal stenosis, cartilage autologous grafts, CO2 laser

Revision cricotracheal resection: our experience

ObjectiveThe incidence of recurrent stenosis after cricotracheal resection is 3–9.5 per cent. Management of such patients is challenging. This study aimed to review our experience in revision cricotracheal resection.MethodsThe study was conducted in the Otorhinolaryngology Department, Mansoura University Hospitals, Egypt, on nine patients with recurrent stenosis following cricotracheal resection. Revision cricotracheal resection was performed in all patients. Surgiflo was applied on the site of anastomosis to enhance healing.ResultsNo intra-operative complications were recorded. Minor post-operative complications occurred in two patients (surgical emphysema and temporary choking); no major complications were reported. Re-stenosis occurred in one patient. Successful decannulation was achieved in eight of the nine patients.ConclusionRevision cricotracheal resection is the definitive curative treatment for recurrent stenosis after previous unsuccessful resection. It has high success rates, provided that careful pre-operative assessment and meticulous operative technique are performed.