Mobile luminal thrombus of the descending thoracic aorta is an unusual finding in patients with peripheral embolization. The diagnosis is best made with transesophageal echography (TEE). Traditionally, systemic anticoagulation and selective surgical thrombectomy are standard treatment. We present a case report of recurrent mobile thrombus despite surgical thrombectomy and systemic anticoagulation. We treated it with endovascular exclusion of a descending thoracic aorta emboligenic lesion with an endoluminal stent graft, using simultaneous TEE and fluoroscopic intraoperative guidance. The patient remains symptom-free 9 months after stent-graft implantation. TEE-guided endoluminal exclusion should be considered in treatment of descending thoracic aorta emboligenic lesions.
Carotid stenting can be performed with acceptable safety on carefully selected patients by using meticulous, standardized interventional techniques. It may offer a possibly superior therapeutic alternative for non-CEA candidates. Evolving technological improvements and brain protection devices are likely to enhance its role in the treatment of carotid artery disease in the future. Surgical endarterectomy remains the standard of care for most patients at the present time.
We retrospectively reviewed the treatment of a selected group of 23 patients with pseudoarthrosis after ankle arthrodesis who underwent revision arthrodesis at an average of 1.7 years (range, 0.3-17.0 years) after the initial, unsuccessful procedure. Fourteen patients underwent isolated revision tibiotalar arthrodesis, and 9 had an additional hindfoot arthrodesis (7 tibiotalocalcaneal, 2 pantalar) performed at the time of the procedure. Rigid internal fixation with screws was performed when possible, and, in patients with poor bone quality, an external fixator was used. Autogenous bone grafting was used in 14 patients where bone loss was present. Twenty-one of 23 patients had successful union (average, 14 weeks; range, 6-48 weeks). Two patients underwent successful arthrodesis but had persistent pain from reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Overall, 19 of 23 patients were satisfied with the surgery. We conclude that revision arthrodesis for tibiotalar pseudoarthrosis is a worthwhile procedure.
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