The term ischemia-reperfusion injury describes the experimentally and clinically prevalent finding that tissue ischemia with inadequate oxygen supply followed by successful reperfusion initiates a wide and complex array of inflammatory responses that may both aggravate local injury as well as induce impairment of remote organ function. Conditions under which ischemia-reperfusion injury is encountered include the different forms of acute vascular occlusions (stroke, myocardial infarction, limb ischemia) with the respective reperfusion strategies (thrombolytic therapy, angioplasty, operative revascularization) but also routine surgical procedures (organ transplantation, free-tissue-transfer, cardiopulmonary bypass, vascular surgery) and major trauma/shock. Since the first recognition of ischemia-reperfusion injury during the 1970s, significant knowledge has accumulated and the purpose of this review is to present an overview over the current literature on the molecular and cellular basis of ischemia-reperfusion injury, to outline the clinical manifestations and to compile contemporary treatment and prevention strategies. Although the concept of reperfusion injury is still a matter of debate, it is corroborated by recent and ongoing clinical trials that demonstrated ischemic preconditioning, inhibition of sodium-hydrogen-exchange and administration of adenosine to be effective in attenuating ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Vascular reconstruction using autologous FV in arterial and graft infection of the aortoiliofemoral axis provides durable long-term results with acceptable mortality and morbidity.

Foot vessels that were occult in conventional angiography but could be detected with MRA were shown to be suitable target vessels for pedal bypass grafting with promising results.

MRI is significantly superior to biphasic CT for endoleak detection and rating of endoleak size, followed by uniphasic late and uniphasic arterial CT scans. MRI shows a significant number of endoleaks in cases with negative CT findings and may help illuminate the phenomenon of endotension. Endoleak rates reported after endovascular aneurysm repair substantially depend on the imaging techniques used.

The current phase-II trial was initiated to assess the efficacy and toxicity of the Ida-FLAG regimen in patients with poor-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Three subgroups of patients with AML were eligible for the study: (a) refractory, (b) first relapse, or (c) secondary AML (i.e., signs of trilineage myelodysplasia at diagnosis or the history of a myelodysplasia or myeloproliferative disorder). Fifty-seven fully evaluable patients were included in the study. Twenty patients received a second course of Ida-FLAG. Complete remission was achieved by 1/14 patients with refractory AML, 12/15 patients with relapsed AML, and 17/28 patients with secondary AML. The median duration of ANC <1000/microl was 17 days (10-36); of platelets <30,000/microl 23 days (9-65); of days with fever >38.0 degrees C 6 days (1-33). Thirteen patients (22.8%) died within 42 days of severe infection or hemorrhage. Overall survival at 20 weeks in the subgroups was 24% for patients with refractory, 78% for patients with relapsed, and 55% for patients with secondary AML. The toxicity of the first cycle of Ida-FLAG is moderate. The feasibility and subjective tolerance of the Ida-FLAG regimen are acceptable. There is no evidence for an increase of atypical infections. The efficacy for patients with secondary AML and especially those with first relapse of AML is good, with a high rate of complete remissions. Remission duration seems to be short. Therefore, an intensified post-remission therapy seems necessary.

Endovascular treatment is safe and effective for emergency treatment of life-threatening acute thoracic aortic syndromes. Results are encouraging, particularly for traumatic aortic ruptures. However, regular follow-up is mandatory, particularly in the other pathologies, to identify late complications of the stent-graft and to perform appropriate additional corrections as required.

AChim Neufang2Michael Pitton1 Franz Schweden1 Manfred Thelen1 OBJECTIVE.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of CT angiography (CTA) with a single helical acquisition for assessment of stenoses and occlusions of the iliac arteries. SUBJECTS CONCLUSION.CTA accurately reveals iliac artery occlusions. Observers of CT angiograms may overlook short stenoses in rare instances. Calcified plaques limit the use of maximum-intensity-projection images.

Although a considerable rate of early thrombotic occlusions occurred, excellent secondary graft patency and limb salvage combined with a tolerable rate of late aneurysmal degeneration detected by means of duplex scan surveillance justify the use of the HUV in femoropopliteal bypass surgery when ipsilateral autogenous vein is not suitable.