Interventricular septal hematoma detected by transesophageal echocardiography after congenital heart surgery in an infant: a case report

Background Interventricular septal hematoma is an extremely rare complication following congenital heart surgery. During cardiac surgery, interventricular septal hematomas can be detected only by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. Here, we report an interesting case of interventricular septal hematoma that was accidentally found in an infant following ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure. Case presentation Transesophageal echocardiography images were acquired from a 1-month-old boy after surgical repair of a large (6.5 mm) perimembranous outlet VSD with interventricular septal flattening. Surgical correction was performed with auto-pericardium and 7–0 Prolene sutures. The patient was successfully weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass, and transesophageal echocardiography showed no VSD leakage and good ventricular function. However, approximately 30 min later, two anechoic masses were found within the interventricular septum, which were suspected to be interventricular septal hematomas; the larger mass measured 1.51 $$\times $$ × 1.48 cm. The swollen interventricular septum showed decreased contractility and compressed both the right and left ventricles. However, there was no change in the size of hematomas or a significant hemodynamic instability for 30 min of observation. Therefore, expecting spontaneous resolution of the hematomas, the interventricular septum was not explored, and the patient was removed from cardiopulmonary bypass. On postoperative day 4, follow-up transthoracic echocardiography revealed thrombi filling the hematomas. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 15 and followed up with regular echocardiographic evaluations. Conclusions We describe a unique case of interventricular septal hematoma after VSD closure. Surgical manipulation of perimembranous VSD and injury of the septal perforating artery may contribute to the development of an interventricular septal hematoma. Moreover, conservative treatment and serial echocardiographic evaluation generally show gradual hematoma resolution in hemodynamically stable patients. Pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists should be aware of this rare complication after VSD repair.

Perforator preservation technologies (PPT) based on a new neuro-interventional classification in endovascular treatment of perforator involving aneurysms (piANs)

Background Treatment of perforator involving aneurysm (piAN) remains a challenge to open and endovascular neurosurgeons. Our aim is to demonstrate a primary outcome of endovascular therapy for piANs with the use of perforator preservation technologies (PPT) based on a new neuro-interventional classification. Methods The piANs were classified into type I: aneurysm really arises from perforating artery, type II: saccular aneurysm involves perforating arteries arising from its neck (IIa) or dome (IIb), and type III: fusiform aneurysm involves perforating artery. Stent protection technology of PPT was applied in type I and III aneurysms, and coil-basket protection technology in type II aneurysms. An immediate outcome of aneurysmal obliteration after treatment was evaluated (satisfactory obliteration: the saccular aneurysm body is densely embolized (I), leaving a gap in the neck (IIa) or dome (IIb) where the perforating artery arising; fusiform aneurysm is repaired and has a smooth inner wall), and successful perforating artery preservation was defined as keeping the good antegrade flow of those perforators on postoperative angiography. The periprocedural complication was closely monitored, and clinical and angiographic follow-ups were performed. Results Six consecutive piANs (2 ruptured and 4 unruptured; 1 type I, 2 type IIa, 2 type IIb, and 1 type III) in 6 patients (aged from 43 to 66 years; 3 males) underwent endovascular therapy between November 2017 and July 2019. The immediate angiography after treatment showed 6 aneurysms obtained satisfactory obliteration, and all of their perforating arteries were successfully preserved. During clinical follow-up of 13–50 months, no ischemic or hemorrhagic event of the brain occurred in the 6 patients, but has one who developed ischemic event in the territory of involving perforators 4 h after operation and completely resolved within 24 h. Follow-up angiography at 3 to 10M showed patency of the parent artery and perforating arteries of treated aneurysms, with no aneurysmal recurrence. Conclusions Our perforator preservation technologies on the basis of the new neuro-interventional classification seem feasible, safe, and effective in protecting involved perforators while occluding aneurysm.

137 Giant Lipomas of The Hand; A Case Series and Review of a Rare Tumour

Introduction Whilst lipomas are the most common tumour of the human body, it is rare in the hand. Less than 50-cases are reported in the literature. We present six-cases from a specialist hand unit, UK, presenting over a 10-year period. All patients had a distinct swelling within the affected hand which was growing in size. Method Patients were investigated with MRI and given the benign appearance; no pre-excision biopsies were performed. All excised tissue was sent for histology. Only one patient reported altered neurology of the hand, describing altered sensation within the ulnar nerve distribution of the index finger. Results In all cases, the lipoma originated in the deep palmar space from adipose tissue surrounding the deep palmar arch. They all extended distally, along natural tissue planes, encasing neurovascular and tendinous structures. In two cases the lipoma extended into the dorsum of the hand, following the perforating artery between the index and middle metacarpal heads. The lipomas all spread radialwards, penetrating the thenar muscles. The largest was 13x12x4cm in size. Conclusions Giant lipoma is a rare cause of symptomatic swelling of the hand. Compression of structures is extremely rare, but careful excision is critical as neurovascular bodies are classically enveloped within the growing lipoma.

Velocity and Pulsatility Measures in the Perforating Arteries of the Basal Ganglia at 3T MRI in Reference to 7T MRI

Cerebral perforating artery flow velocity and pulsatility can be measured using 7 tesla (T) MRI. Enabling these flow metrics on more widely available 3T systems would make them more employable. It is currently unknown whether these measurements can be performed at 3T MRI due to the lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate if flow velocity and pulsatility in the perforating arteries of the basal ganglia (BG) can be measured at 3T MRI and assess the agreement with 7T MRI measurements as reference. Twenty-nine subjects were included, of which 14 patients with aortic coarctation [median age 29 years (21–72)] and 15 controls [median age 27 years (22–64)]. Using a cardiac-gated 2D phase-contrast MRI sequence BG perforating arteries were imaged at 3T and 7T MRI and perforating artery density (Ndensity, #/cm2), flow velocity (Vmean, cm/s) and pulsatility index (PI) were determined. Agreement between scanner modalities was assessed using correlation and difference plots with linear regression. A p-value ≤ 0.05 indicated statistical significance. It was shown that perforating artery flow velocity and pulsatility can be measured at 3T MRI (Ndensity = 0.21 ± 0.11; Vmean = 6.04 ± 1.27; PI = 0.49 ± 0.19), although values differed from 7T MRI measurements (Ndensity = 0.95 ± 0.21; Vmean = 3.89 ± 0.56; PI = 0.28 ± 0.08). The number of detected arteries was lower at 3T (5 ± 3) than 7T MRI (24 ± 6), indicating that 3T MRI is on average a factor 4.8 less sensitive to detect cerebral perforating arteries. Comparison with 7T MRI as reference showed some agreement in Ndensity, but little to no agreement for Vmean and PI. Equalizing the modalities’ sensitivity by comparing the detected arteries on 7T MRI with the highest velocity with all vessels detected on 3T MRI, showed some improvement in agreement for PI, but not for Vmean. This study shows that it is possible to measure cerebral perforating artery flow velocity and pulsatility at 3T MRI, although an approximately fivefold sample size is needed at 3T relative to 7T MRI for a given effect size, and the measurements should be performed with equal scanner field strength and protocol.

Relationship of brainstem infarction to rupture of nonsaccular vertebrobasilar aneurysms

OBJECTIVE Symptomatic nonsaccular vertebrobasilar aneurysms (NSVBAs) are associated with high rates of aneurysm-related death. Anecdotal evidence suggests that brainstem infarction may be a harbinger of aneurysm rupture. The authors aimed to investigate the association between brainstem infarction and subsequent NSVBA rupture. METHODS The clinical records and radiographic imaging studies of patients presenting to the authors’ institution between 1996 and 2019 for evaluation and management of an NSVBA were retrospectively reviewed to determine the effect of perforating artery infarction on the natural history of NSVBAs. Kaplan-Meier curves for patients with and patients without perforator infarction were constructed, and predictors of aneurysm rupture were identified using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS There were 98 patients with 591.3 person-years of follow-up who met the inclusion criteria for analysis. There were 20 patients who experienced perforator infarction during follow-up. Ten patients (10.2%) experienced aneurysm rupture during follow-up and 26 patients (26.5%) died due to aneurysm-related complications, with annual rates of rupture and aneurysm-related death of 1.7% and 4.4%, respectively. Five patients with a perforator infarction later experienced aneurysm rupture, with a median time between infarction and rupture of 3 months (range 0–35 months). On multivariate analysis, the presence of intraaneurysmal thrombus (risk ratio [RR] 4.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12–14.44, p = 0.033) and perforator infarction (RR 6.37, 95% CI 1.07–37.95, p = 0.042) were independently associated with risk of aneurysm rupture. CONCLUSIONS NSVBAs continue to be extremely challenging clinical entities with a poor prognosis. These results suggest that brainstem infarction due to perforating artery occlusion may be a harbinger of near-term aneurysm rupture.

Variation of pectineus muscle forming a hiatus

Knowledge of the anatomic variations in the pectineus muscle is important for vascular surgeons to minimize complications following surgical approach to the distal part of the deep femoral artery. During routine dissection of the thigh, variations in the bilateral pectineus muscles were identified in an 82-year-old male cadaver. On both sides, the superficial and deep layers of the pectineus were divided at its distal part, forming a triangular-shaped hiatus between them and the femur shaft. Distally, the tendon of the superficial part intermingled with the tendon of the adductor longus. The tendon of the deep part was inserted into the pectineal line. On the right side, the deep femoral artery and its first perforating artery passed through the hiatus. On the left side, the deep femoral artery pierced the hiatus, and then, the first perforating artery was branched from the deep femoral artery. No reported case has described a pectineal hiatus. The variations observed in this study are an ontogenetic vestige of the two different origins of the pectineus. The insertion of the superficial layer into the adductor longus tendon suggests a close relationship between these muscles during prenatal development. Surgeons should be aware of the variation to minimize injury to the pectineus muscle while approaching the deep femoral artery.