Diosmin Alleviates Venous Injury and Muscle Damage in a Mouse Model of Iliac Vein Stenosis

Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a progressive inflammatory disease that increases in prevalence with age. Elucidating the underlying molecular mechanism of CVD development is essential for disease prevention and treatment. This study constructed a mouse model of iliac vein stenosis to explore the mechanism of the CVD disease progression, and diosmin was administered as a positive control (as recommended by clinical practice). The mouse model was established successfully with iliac vein stenosis, leading to the expansion of the intercellular space and venous leakage. Conversely, micronized diosmin showed a dose-dependent therapeutic effect for these manifestations. Concerning the mechanism, iliac vein stenosis caused an inflammatory response in veins, while diosmin suppressed this increase. Furthermore, RNA sequencing analysis indicated that diosmin significantly improved muscle function through actin filament organization and muscle contraction. These results indicated that the mouse model of iliac vein stenosis is a reliable model to study venous diseases. Furthermore, the dose-dependent therapeutic effect of diosmin on stenosis (without toxic side-effects) suggests greater protection against venous diseases at higher doses of diosmin.

Jugular foramen and venous collaterals may help to discriminate congenital from post-thrombotic jugular stenosis

Purpose Unilateral jugular stenosis is easily mistaken as jugular hypoplasia for their similar jugular appearances. This study aimed to propose a scheme to differentiate acquired internal jugular vein stenosis (IJVS) from congenital jugular variation through two case examples. Methods We presented a dynamic evolution process of the IJVS formation, through a case of a 17-year-old female with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)-associated right internal jugular venous thrombosis (IJVT), which resulted in post-thrombotic IJVS in the rare context of rapid recanalization. Meanwhile, we compared her images with images of a 39-year-old healthy male with hypoplastic IJV to determine the differences between the acquired IJVS and congenital dysplasia. Results Based on the first case, we noticed the whole formative process of acquired IJVS from nothing to something. Meantime, we found that acquired IJVS was surrounded by abnormal corkscrew collaterals as imaged on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance venography (CE-MRV), and the ipsilateral jugular foramen (JF) was normal-sized as displayed on computer tomography (CT). Conversely, jugular hypoplasia was with ipsilateral stenotic JF and without serpentine collaterals. Conclusion JF morphology and venous collaterals may be deemed as surrogate identifiers to distinguish acquired unilateral IJVS from jugular hypoplasia.

“Half-uncovered technique” to secure larger stents for postoperative pulmonary vein stenosis

Although larger stent placement could be effective for pulmonary vein stenosis, stents extrusion tends to occur due to caliber narrowing, small landing area, and the slippery nature. We placed stents with diameter ≧8 mm for four stenotic lesions using the “half-uncovered technique”. All stents were precisely placed and successfully resolved the stenosis. This technique allows us to avoid extrusion and to perform safe and effective dilatation when placing larger stents for pulmonary vein stenosis.

The importance of ultrasonography in surgical treatment of vascular access for hemodialysis complications

Background. Most complications of vascular access for hemodialysis require surgical treatment and if ineffective lead to fistula loss and depletion of the vascular resource for the new fistula creation.Objective. To identify complications of permanent vascular access for hemodialysis which require surgical treatment and evaluate its results using duplex scanning.Design and methods. Ultrasonography, clinical and laboratory examinations were performed in 550 patients undergoing hemodialysis.Results. Complications of vascular access for hemodialysis were detected in 154 (28.0 %) patients, surgical treatment was performed in 96 (62.3 %) patients. The main indications for surgical treatment were: significant stenosis, occlusive thrombosis, non-occlusive thrombosis in combination with significant vein stenosis, aneurysm with increased access flow, ischemic steal syndrome of the hand and pulsating hematoma. The analysis of surgical interventions showed that the creation of a new access was more often performed (41.7 %) compared to other types of fistula reconstructions which leads to a decrease in the number of vessels in the upper extremities that can be used to create access in the future.Conclusion. Duplex ultrasound allows diagnosing vascular access for hemodialysis complications and evaluating the results of their surgical treatment.

Upper thigh loop prosthetic arterio-venous grafts (AVG) for dialysis access: An Indian perspective

Introduction: Hemodialysis forms the most common replacement therapy for majority of Indians suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD). Multiple access failure and central vein stenosis has become commonplace in Indian dialysis access patients and there is a burgeoning need for more advanced hemodialysis (HD) access options. Upper thigh arterio-venous grafts (AVG) are seldom inserted due to fear of infection and limb ischemia. Materials and methods: This is a single institutional, retrospective, descriptive case study of consecutive patients who underwent upper thigh prosthetic AVG over a period of 7 years. All these patients had exhausted options of upper limb access and or had central vein stenosis. AVG from the proximal superficial femoral artery (SFA) to the proximal great saphenous vein (GSV) in a loop configuration using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was carried out in the upper thigh. Results: A total of 24 patients had undergone upper thigh loop AVG. Their age varied from 24 to 77 years. The median follow-up period was 3 years. Five of these grafts developed infection (21%) which led to primary failure. A primary patency of 71% (17/24 patients) was achieved at 1 year. Thrombosis developed at a mean of 16.7 months after the primary procedure. Adjunctive procedures such as thrombectomy, segmental replacement of graft, patch angioplasty, balloon angioplasty, and stenting were required in 75% of patients to achieve a secondary patency of 86% at 1 year. Three grafts were explanted without limb loss. Conclusion: Upper thigh loop AVG forms a reliable alternate dialysis access option for patients with failed upper limb access sites or central vein occlusion. Adjunctive procedures are key to maintaining patency in these grafts. Good secondary patency is achievable, and the infection rates are similar to arm AVG. Close follow-up and timely intervention are key to long term dialysis through these grafts.

IVUS guided drug-coated balloon venoplasty for in-stent restenosis in pulmonary veins stenosis: a case report

Background pulmonary veins stenosis after atrial fibrillation radiofrequency ablation is an uncommon complication. When it occurs, percutaneous treatment is the preferred approach. There is a lack of standardized procedures, and when stenting restenosis is relatively common. Case summary we present a young patient with recurrence of pulmonary vein stenosis after a first percutaneous treatment. The recurrence of haemoptysis and dyspnoea after treatment in pulmonary vein stenosis allowed the diagnosis of significant stenosis again in our patient. In the Heart Team we opted for new percutaneous treatment, using IVUS to optimize the final result. Discussion nowadays, percutaneous approach is preferred and among percutaneous treatments for pulmonary veins stenosis, and stenting has shown better results than ballon angioplasty. Despite this, experience in instent restenosis is limited, and there is a lack of adequate and specific material for its approach. In this case we present the possible role of the IVUS and the drug-coated ballon angioplasty in this entity.