This study explores graft geometry and hemodynamics in a reproducible canine arteriovenous loop graft model of intimal-medial hyperplasia. Untapered 6 mm diameter polytetrafluoroethylene grafts (n = 10) were paired with 4 to 7 mm taper (n = 5) or 7 to 4 mm taper (n = 5) grafts for a 12-week period. Several hemodynamic variables were assessed at multiple locations, and venous intimal-medial thickness was measured at locations corresponding to the hemodynamic measurements. Color Doppler imaging demonstrated energy transfer out of the vessel in the form of perivascular tissue vibration. This was quantitated by the distance required for Doppler signal attenuation or volume of the detected vibration signal. Differences among graft types were noted for pressure, flow velocity, tissue vibration, and venous intimal-medial thickness. Hyperplasia was significantly decreased in 4 to 7 mm taper grafts. Stepwise deletion regression indicated volume of the vibration signal had a better correlation with venous intimal-medial thickness than any other variable (r 0.9, p less than 0.001). We conclude that graft geometry can have a significant impact on hemodynamic factors and venous intimal-medial hyperplasia in arteriovenous loop grafts. Flow disturbances appear to cause energy transfer through the vessel wall and into perivascular tissue. Kinetic energy transfer in the form of perivascular tissue vibration was quantitated in vivo and correlates strongly with venous intimal-medial thickness.

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This study explores graft geometry and hemodynamics in a reproducible canine arteriovenous loop graft model of intimal-medial hyperplasia. Untapered 6 mm diameter polytetrafluoroethylene grafts (n = 10) were paired with 4 to 7 mm taper (n = 5) or 7 to 4 mm taper (n = 5) grafts for a 12-week period. Several hemodynamic variables were assessed at multiple locations, and venous intimal-medial thickness was measured at locations corresponding to the hemodynamic measurements. Color Doppler imaging demonstrated energy transfer out of the vessel in the form of perivascular tissue vibration. This was quantitated by the distance required for Doppler signal attenuation or volume of the detected vibration signal. Differences among graft types were noted for pressure, flow velocity, tissue vibration, and venous intimal-medial thickness. Hyperplasia was significantly decreased in 4 to 7 mm taper grafts. Stepwise deletion regression indicated volume of the vibration signal had a better correlation with venous intimal-medial thickness than any other variable (r 0.9, p less than 0.001). We conclude that graft geometry can have a significant impact on hemodynamic factors and venous intimal-medial hyperplasia in arteriovenous loop grafts. Flow disturbances appear to cause energy transfer through the vessel wall and into perivascular tissue. Kinetic energy transfer in the form of perivascular tissue vibration was quantitated in vivo and correlates strongly with venous intimal-medial thickness.

Treatment of ALI among cancer patients can be achieved with perioperative mortality and limb salvage rates comparable to non-cancer patients. Aggressive treatment is justified when treating cancer patients with ALI.

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This study explores the hemodynamics, mechanics, and biologic response of end-to-end versus end-to-side venous anastomoses in a canine arteriovenous graft model. Femoral polytetrafluoroethylene grafts were implanted bilaterally in a paired fashion (n = 22). Detailed local hemodynamic measurements were made by use of color Doppler ultrasound imaging at 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after implant. Measurements included volumetric flow rate and Doppler-derived spectral window (percent window) as a measure of turbulence. Amplitude and velocity of vessel wall movement were also measured. Volume of perivascular tissue vibration quantitated kinetic energy transfer through the vessel wall. Volumetric flow rate (end to end, 1013 +/- 70 ml/min; end to side, 1015 +/- 72 ml/min), percent window (end to end, 6.6% +/- 0.6%, end to side, 5.6% +/- 0.4%) and volume of perivascular tissue vibration (end to end, 19.6 +/- 1.2 ml, end to side, 16.3 +/- 1.8 ml) were statistically equivalent in the two graft types (end to end vs end to side p greater than 0.05). Both graft types developed venous intimal-medial thickening of a similar magnitude: end to end, 0.35 +/- 0.05 mm, end to side, 0.43 +/- 0.09 mm, normal vein 0.070 +/- 0.004 mm (analysis of variance [ANOVA] p less than 0.001, p less than 0.01 for end to end or end to side vs control, end to end vs end to side p greater than 0.05 by Student-Newman-Keuls test). The best correlations with venous intimal-medial thickening were obtained from inverse percent window (r = 0.84, p less than 0.001) and volume of perivascular tissue vibration (r = 0.68, p less than 0.001). In the end to end configuration the relative amplitude of venous wall movement decreased, and the relative velocity of wall motion increased over time. We conclude that in the circumstances of this high flow arteriovenous graft model the end-to-end venous anastomosis does not significantly differ from the end-to-side venous anastomosis in terms of flow stability, turbulence, or kinetic energy transfer. The magnitude of the hyperplastic response is statistically equivalent for the two anastomotic types, but the pattern is somewhat different, possibly providing evidence for differences in stress distribution. Differences in the relative amplitude and velocity of vessel wall movement suggest that anastomotic geometry may affect the way in which kinetic energy is dissipated at the graft/vessel interface.

We have compared two IgM-specific cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody assays, an immunofluorescence assay (IFA-M) and an enzyme-linked antigen immunoassay (ELA-M), with an assay for CMV total antibody (ELISA) and viral culture for the detection of active CMV infection in renal transplant recipients. Of 75 patients (49 ELISA negative pretransplant, 26 ELISA positive), CMV-specific IgM was detected in 35 (27 ELISA negative pretransplant, 8 ELISA positive) using the IFA-M assay and in 25 (16 ELISA negative pretransplant, 9 ELISA positive) using the ELA-M test. Of the 25 patients identified as positive by ELA-M, 21 had positive viral cultures post-transplant, two seronegative patients had evidence of infection indicated by post-transplant seroconversion, and two patients were seropositive pretransplant but remained viral culture negative throughout the follow-up period. ELA-M and CMV total antibody ELISA detected primary infection in renal transplant recipients equally well, but ELA-M was found to be superior to ELISA and IFA-M for detecting reinfection and reactivation infections.

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