The endovenous great saphenous vein photocoagulation is safe and well tolerated and presents results comparable to those of conventional stripping.

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7 of 8 dogs receiving combination drug therapy consisting of flucytosine together with amphotericin B and/or a triazole for cryptococcosis or aspergillosis developed cutaneous or mucocutaneous eruptions during the course of treatment. Lesions resolved in all cases following discontinuation of flucytosine despite continued administration of other antifungals, suggesting the eruption was referable primarily to the flucytosine component of therapy. Lesions developed 13 to 41 days (median 20 days) after commencing flucytosine (105 to 188 mg/kg/day divided and given every 8 h; median dose rate 150 mg/kg/day). The cumulative dose of flucytosine given prior to the first signs of the drug eruption ranged from 1.7 to 6.8 g/kg (median 2.3 g/kg). The eruptions consisted of depigmentation, followed by ulceration, exudation and crust formation. The scrotum was affected in all 4 male dogs, the nasal plane in 6 of 7 cases, while the lips, vulva, external ear canal and integument were involved in a smaller number of cases. There was considerable variation in the severity of lesions, with changes being most marked when flucytosine was continued for several days after lesions first appeared. Some dogs experienced malaise and inappetence in association with the suspected drug eruption. Healing took a variable period, typically in excess of 2 weeks after discontinuing flucytosine, with up to 2 months being required for total resolution of the lesions. All lesions resolved eventually without scarring or permanent loss of pigment.

Treatment of arterial traumatic injuries is usually performed with conventional revascularization techniques. However, vascular injuries can increasingly be repaired efficiently through minimally invasive procedures. We report four cases of extremity arterial trauma treated by endovascular techniques in a reference center. All patients showed satisfactory development over a 15-month follow-up. We suggest that endovascular therapy is a promising alternative to surgery for selected patients with extremity arterial trauma.Keywords: Vascular trauma, pseudoaneurysm, ischemia, emergency treatment. RESUMOGeralmente o tratamento das lesões arteriais traumáticas é realizado com técnicas tradicionais de revascularização. Cada vez mais, porém, as lesões vasculares podem ser corrigidas com eficiência por meio de procedimentos minimamente invasivos. Nós descrevemos quatro casos de trauma arterial dos membros que foram tratados por técnicas endovasculares num centro de referência. Todos os pacientes evoluíram satisfatoriamente durante o seguimento de 15 meses. Nós sugerimos que o tratamento endovascular é uma alternativa promissora em relação à cirurgia para pacientes selecionados com trauma arterial dos membros. Palavras-chave:Trauma vascular, pseudo-aneurisma, isquemia, tratamento de urgência.

The first report of a successful endovascular repair of a popliteal artery aneurysm was described in 1994. Since then, few series with not many cases have been published. Next, the authors describe two cases of successful endovascular repair of bilateral popliteal artery aneurysm.

ResumoComo a safenectomia é uma cirurgia bem estabelecida, a utilização de um método pouco invasivo para obter os mesmos efeitos indica que os benefícios esperados a curto e médio prazo devem prevalecer sobre os riscos previstos. Entretanto, em se tratando de uma doença muito prevalente na população mundial, há grande preocupação por parte dos órgãos de saúde governamentais e das sociedades científicas correlacionadas sobre esse assunto, de tal forma que os argumentos sobre novas modalidades de tratamento devem estar bem fundamentados, inclusive para aceitação pelo público em geral.Com o intuito de se avaliar efetivamente novos dispositivos, devem ser conduzidos estudos em pacientes e com grupos controles que sejam bem delineados. É preciso submeter qualquer projeto de pesquisa sobre o assunto à apreciação do comitê de ética na instituição em que o trabalho será conduzido para aprovação prévia. Palavras-chave:Insuficiência venosa, tratamento, fotocoagulação a laser. AbstractSince great saphenous vein stripping is a well established surgery, the use of a minimally invasive method to obtain the same effects indicates that short and medium-term benefits should prevail over expected risks. However, because it is a very common disease in the world population, there is great concern about this subject by government health institutions and correlated scientific societies. Therefore, the arguments about new treatment modalities must be well based, including to gain acceptance by the general public.To effectively evaluate new devices, there must be well designed clinical studies with groups and controls. All projects about this matter must be submitted to the appreciation of an ethics committee at the institution where the research will be carried out for previous approval.

Background: Endovascular treatment of hypertensive renal disease in patients with a solitary kidney secondary to renal artery stenosis proved to be effective to prevent organ failure and function, as well as hypertension control. When indicated after judicious evaluation using both biochemical methods and the patient's images and signs, endovascular treatment has effective clinical benefits and is little invasive. Objective: To study renal artery stenosis with hypertension and evaluate the effectiveness of endovascular treatment in the control of hypertension, renal failure secondary to renal artery stenosis, and in the prevention of renal failure in patients with a solitary kidney. Methods: This study was performed at the Reference Center of High Complexity in Endovascular Surgery of Hospital de Cl‚nicas da Universidade de Campinas from April 1997 through June 2005 using a previously developed protocol. Ten patients with renal artery stenosis and solitary kidney submitted to endovascular treatment were included. Improvement in hypertension and renal function was assessed through clinical follow-up and laboratory tests using measurements of blood pressure, serum urea levels, creatinine and clearance. Color-flow Doppler ultrasound was performed 30, 90, 180 days after the surgery and yearly thereafter. Aortography and selective renal arteriography were performed in case of doubt as to images or signs. For this population, 90% had hypertension, 70% were smokers, 40% had hyperlipidemia, 30% had carotid artery occlusive disease, 60% had chronic lower limb arterial occlusion, and 20% had diabetes mellitus. Results: Immediate success was 100%. Mean follow-up time was 40 months. Control of blood pressure occurred in 90% of the cases, and in 10% there was significant reduction in urea and creatinine levels and worsening of hypertension after the procedure. Conclusion: Endovascular treatment of renal artery stenosis is a technique that has clinical benefits in hypertension control, preserving renal function and progression of this disease, but without improvement in renal function.

Beside atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysms can be part of the clinical spectrum of many systemic diseases, including infectious, inflammatory, genetic and, less often, congenital disorders. A 48-year-old white man presented with multiple large aneurysms of the aorta and its main branches. Medical history was unremarkable except for the presence of a softened abdominal mass since he was 28 years old. On the physical examination, an arterial murmur was heard over the left carotid artery and a palpable mass was noted in the whole right side of the abdomen. No skin or joint abnormalities were noted. Aortography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance angiography showed multiple large aneurysms of the descending thoracic and abdominal aorta. Aneurysms of the innominate, left subclavian, and carotid arteries were also seen. This case resembles those previously reported, in which multiple aortic aneurysms were associated with abnormalities of the type III procollagen gene (COL3A1). Although the classic stigmas of the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV were lacking, this genetic disease may be the cause of the multiple aneurysms in this patient.