METHODS: We performed a systematic review in multiple databases (including PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scopus) from 1966 to May 18, 2019, to identify all case reports and case series describing patients with ankle pseudo aneurysm. This systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA). Our inclusion criteria included patients with ankle pseudo aneurysm of any age. We excluded reports in which the individual level data is not available. Patients demographic (gender, age), clinical characteristics (precipitating event, duration), diagnostic modality and treatment were recorded.
RESULT: There were in total 23 case reports identified on ankle pseudo aneurysm from 1966 until 2018. Among these twenty-three reports, 16 (70%) were male and seven (30%) patients were female. Age distribution showed higher number of reports among young adults, 15 patients (65%). Based on our systematic review trauma (48%), arthroscope (48%) and arthrodesis (4%) were the etiologies described in all these case reports. Ultrasound duplex and CT Angiogram has been used as a single modality in three reports each. In fifteen patients (65%) combination of imaging has been used for diagnosis. Anterior tibial artery is the most commonly injured vessel among the reported cases, comprised of 14 (61%) patients. Among these arthroscopes were the highest reported precipitating events, 9 (64%), followed by trauma in four patients (29%) and arthrodesis in one patient (7%). Treatment modalities described in all previous reports were excision and ligation, 10 (42%); excision of sac and primary repair, 4 (17%); excision of sac followed by reversed saphenous venous graft repair, 2 (8%); US guided compression, 2 (8%); US guided thrombin injection, 4 (17%); stenting, 1 (4%) and coiling, 1 (4%).
CONCLUSION: Ankle pseudoaneurysm is mostly preventable by detailed initial assessment following trauma or careful approach during arthroscope. Evolving diagnostic modality and treatment has shed some light into noninvasive management of pseudo aneurysm of ankle.
METHODS: This is a prospective cross-sectional study of asymptomatic type 2 diabetics selected from the outpatient ophthalmology and endocrine clinics for carotid duplex ultrasound scanning performed by a single radiologist. The duplex ultrasound criteria were based on the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) classification of carotid artery stenosis. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify possible risk factors of carotid artery stenosis.
RESULTS: Amongst the 200 patients, the majority were males (56%) and Malay predominance (58.5%). There were 12/200 patients (6%) with mean age of 69.2 years identified to have carotid artery stenosis. Univariate analysis of patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis identified older age of 69.2 years (p=0.027) and duration of exposure to diabetes of 17.9 years (p=0.024) as significant risk factors.
CONCLUSION: Patients with longer exposure of diabetes and older age were risk factors of carotid artery stenosis in asymptomatic type 2 diabetics. These patients should be considered for selective screening of carotid artery stenosis during primary care visit for early identification and closer surveillance for stroke prevention.