Pseudoaneurysms are common vascular abnormalities that represent a disruption in arterial wall continuity. Some complications associated with pseudoaneurysms develop unpredictably and carry high morbidity and mortality rates. The advent of new radiologic techniques with a greater sensitivity for asymptomatic disease has allowed more frequent diagnosis of pseudoaneurysms. Conventional angiography remains the standard of reference for diagnosis but is an invasive procedure, and noninvasive diagnostic modalities (eg, ultrasonography [US], computed tomographic angiography, magnetic resonance angiography) should be included in the initial work-up if possible. A complete work-up will help in determining the cause, location, morphologic features, rupture risk, and clinical setting of the pseudoaneurysm; identifying any patient comorbidities; and evaluating surrounding structures and relevant vascular anatomy, information that is essential for treatment planning. Therapeutic options have evolved in recent years from the traditional surgical option toward a less invasive approach and include radiologic procedures such as US-guided compression, US-guided percutaneous thrombin injection, and endovascular management (embolization, stent-graft placement). The use of noninvasive treatment has led to a marked decrease in the morbidity and mortality rates for pseudoaneurysms.

Further clinical and basic scientific research is required to develop the global picture of SIRS, its associated family of syndromes and their natural histories.

In the current vascular interventional environment, high restenosis rates have increased awareness of the significance of intimal hyperplasia, a chronic structural lesion that develops after vessel wall injury, and which can lead to luminal stenosis and occlusion. Intimal hyperplasia may be defined as the abnormal migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells with associated deposition of extracellular connective tissue matrix. The pathology of intimal hyperplasia is reviewed with particular attention to its physiology, pharmacology, cell biology and molecular biology.

Endovascular therapy with PTA or PTS for central venous stenosis is safe, with low rates of technical failure. Multiple additional interventions are the rule with both treatments. Although neither offers truly durable outcomes, PTS does not improve on the patency rates more than PTA and does not add to the longevity of ipsilateral hemodialysis access sites.

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Vein bypass grafting is an integral component of cardiovascular surgical practice for both arterial and venous diseases. However, many of these grafts will eventually fail due to either intrinsic or extrinsic causes. This review examines the current understanding and knowledge of venous histology, vein graft pathology and the associated endothelial and smooth muscle cell physiology and pharmacology. In addition, the status of research on the therapeutic control of vein graft intimal hyperplasia and accelerated atherosclerosis is assessed.

PTA and stenting of the SFA can be performed safely with excellent procedural success rates. Improved patency of these interventions was seen with increased ankle/brachial index and the performance of angioplasty only. Worse patency was seen with TASC C and TASC D lesions. Patency rates were strongly dependent on lesion type, and the results of angioplasty and stenting compared favorably with surgical bypass for TASC A and B lesions.

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