Dragan Radenko Knezevic

Dr. Dragan Radenko Knezevic

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
31 December 2024 in Medicina
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
NMNikola Mirkovic
Nikola Mirkovic
MPMarko Dragan Prokic
Marko Dragan Prokic
MNMarija Novcic
Marija Novcic
MAMiloš Arsenijević
Miloš Arsenijević
SSSnežana Sretenović
Snežana Sretenović
OKOlivera Kostić
Olivera Kostić
Rupture of the thyrocervical trunk aneurysm into the thoracic cavity does not occur very often. It is an urgent condition due to hemorrhagic shock by massive hemothorax with potentially fatal consequences. Pregnancy and puerperium are additional risk factors for a rupture of the thyrocervical trunk aneurysm in patients with neurofibromatosis and aneurysms. This is the first case of thyrocervical trunk aneurysm rupture after a Cesarean section in a patient with neurofibromatosis type I noted down in the literature. The patient, a 33-year-old woman with neurofibromatosis type I, three days after an already performed Cesarean section had acute pain in the left area of the neck, swelling, and a hematoma that progressed rapidly to respiratory distress, hemothorax, and hemorrhagic shock. Emergency endotracheal intubation was performed for airway control. Urgent computer tomography angiography procedure showed extracranial artery, thyrocervical trunk aneurysm rupture, and vertebral aneurysm without rupture. The patient was urgently and successfully treated by endovascular coil embolization of a ruptured thyrocervical trunk aneurysm and subsequently thoracic drainage for massive hemothorax. Postoperatively, her left neck pain decreased, after which she had no further neurologic deficits. The patient was discharged 10 days later. Thyrocervical trunk aneurysm rupture is a rare condition with a potential outcome of death which requires urgent intervention. Endovascular coil embolization is a minimally invasive, safe, and efficient treatment for patients with rupture of thyrocervical trunk aneurysm and following comorbidities.

18 July 2025 in Diseases
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
NMNikola Mirkovic
Nikola Mirkovic
MPMarko Dragan Prokic
Marko Dragan Prokic
NPNikola S Prodanovic
Nikola S Prodanovic
TTTamara R Nikolic Turnic
Tamara R Nikolic Turnic
NANikola Dragan Andrić
Nikola Dragan Andrić
AMAleksandar Matic
Aleksandar Matic
Introduction: Primary extracranial vertebral artery aneurysms are sporadic in the general population. They are uncommon in individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1. During pregnancy or in the puerperium, the risk of aneurysm rupture in individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1 and extracranial aneurysms is elevated. Rupture of a vertebral artery aneurysm is an emergency condition and can be fatal. Case presentation: We present the case of a 33-year-old woman in the puerperium with neurofibromatosis type 1 who had a vertebral symptomatic artery aneurysm. During a previous hospitalization, two months before the treatment of the vertebral aneurysm, a same-sided aneurysm of the thyrocervical trunk was successfully treated with endovascular coiling because of aneurysm rupture. In this case report, the vertebral artery aneurysm was successfully managed using a flow diverter stent graft. Conclusions: This is the first reported case of a successfully treated symptomatic vertebral artery aneurysm with a flow diverter stent graft in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 during the early puerperium. Endovascular treatment with a stent graft is a minimally invasive, safe, and effective treatment for patients with vertebral artery aneurysms. Early diagnosis of non-ruptured vertebral artery aneurysms is a crucial as well as appropriate treatment, which should be undertaken in a timely manner to prevent serious complications or a fatal outcome.

16 July 2025 in Diagnostics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
NINebojša Igrutinović
Nebojša Igrutinović
JPJelena - Pantovic
Jelena - Pantovic
BMBojana Markovic
Bojana Markovic
MMMarija Medovic
Marija Medovic
MCMilica Cekerevac
Milica Cekerevac
RMRaša H. Medovic
Raša H. Medovic
Background/Objectives: The assessment of platelet kinetics (APK) is recommended for patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (chITP). The aim of this study was to examine the importance of APK as a prognostic instrument in the selection of therapy in children with chITP. Methods: Retrospective, observational research, which included chITP children who were treated and subjected to APK in Serbia for 25 years (total number was 152). Results: In the acute phase of the disease, 15% of patients had life-threatening bleeding, 15% were asymptomatic, and there were no cases of fatal bleeding. Mean platelet life was 0.89 ± 0.47 days. A total of 45% of patients had normal platelet production, and 35% had very low production. Among the patients, 55% exhibited splenic platelet sequestration, 35% had mixed sequestration, and 10% showed hepatic platelet sequestration. Platelet lifespan and production indices were less reliable parameters, due to numerous contradictory results, especially when compared with the location of platelet sequestration. Distribution of bleeding and therapy-resistant patients was dominant with mixed sequestration. Good therapy responders had dominant splenic sequestration. In the chronic phase of the disease, initial therapy was sufficient for 40–45% of patients, while another 25% required second-line therapy, regardless of platelet sequestration location. A total of 25% percent of patients had undergone splenectomy, and all of them were in stable remission. The remaining 10%, which represented the most severe cases, required all available therapies, had equally mixed and liver sequestration, and splenectomy showed no effect. Conclusions: APK may be a determining factor for the selection of splenectomy as a therapeutic option in case of predominantly splenic sequestration. Although the platelet production index has been explored in several studies, its clinical relevance remains controversial. In our findings, it did not contribute to therapeutic decision-making and may even lead to misinterpretation. The factors distinguishing the minority of bleeding and therapy-resistant patients with similar laboratory profiles remain unclear.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ZSZeljko Stepanovic
Zeljko Stepanovic
BRBranko Ristic
Branko Ristic
AMAleksandar Matic
Aleksandar Matic
NPNikola S Prodanovic
Nikola S Prodanovic
JMJelena Milosevic
Jelena Milosevic
DKDjordje Kolak
Djordje Kolak
Background: The optimal route of tranexamic acid (TXA) administration remains one of the most debated topics in total knee arthroplasty. This study aimed to compare the effects of intravenous (IV), intra-articular (IA), and combined TXA protocols on total blood loss (TBL) and hidden blood loss (HBL), while identifying independent predictors of perioperative bleeding. Methods: In a prospective cohort study of 245 patients undergoing primary TKA, participants were assigned into four groups: IV TXA (15 mg/kg), IA TXA (1 g), combined (IV + IA), and a control group. TBL and HBL were calculated using the Gross formula. A multivariate linear regression model was used to assess independent associations of each protocol. Results: The IV group demonstrated significantly lower TBL (mean 898 mL) and HBL (mean 568 mL) compared with both the control (1329 mL and 894 mL; p = 0.002) and IA groups (1129 mL and 748 mL; p = 0.008). While IA TXA reduced 24 h drain output (p < 0.001), it did not significantly reduce TBL (p = 0.539) or HBL (p = 0.875). No significant differences were found between the IV-only and combined groups (p > 0.05). Multivariate regression identified the IV route as an independent predictor of reduced TBL (B = −383.7, p = 0.001). Conclusions: A single intravenous dose of TXA was associated with lower total and hidden blood loss compared with intra-articular administration. The lack of additional benefit in the combined group suggests a possible plateau effect of systemic administration, which is hypothesis-generating and limited by the study design for blood conservation in TKA. Level of Evidence: Level II, Prospective Cohort Study.

26 July 2025 in Experimental and Applied Biomedical Research (EABR)
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
DKDragan Radenko Knezevic
Dragan Radenko Knezevic
JVJokovic Vuk
Jokovic Vuk
SSSretenovic Sasa
Sretenovic Sasa
MNMirkovic Nikola
Mirkovic Nikola
PNProdanovic Nikola
Prodanovic Nikola
JDJovanovic Dalibor
Jovanovic Dalibor
Iliac vessel injuries during spinal surgery are rare but can be fatal. The incidence of these injuries is approximately 0.04%, with the first description dating back to 1945 by Linton and White. Clinical presentation can range from acute hemorrhagic shock to subtle injuries with asymptomatic progression. We present the case of a 53-year-old previously healthy female undergoing planned surgical treatment for a disc hernia at the L4-L5 level on the left. Postoperatively, she experienced hemorrhagic shock with a decrease in hemoglobin to 35g/l. An emergency MSCT angiography verified a vascular lesion. During urgent surgical intervention, a lesion of the common iliac vein was observed, which was sutured directly, and a lesion of the right common iliac artery, which was managed by interposition of an 8mm Dacron graft. Follow-up MSCT angiography showed normal findings. During spinal surgery, it is essential to be aware of the possibility of vascular lesions. Due to the potential occurrence of delayed massive bleeding, intensive peri- and postoperative monitoring of patients after spinal surgery is necessary.

21 March 2025 in Preprints.org
Verified
Preprint
Open access
PDF file
VMVladan Markovic
Vladan Markovic
MMMladen Maksic
Mladen Maksic
Irfan CorovicIrfan Corovic
Irfan Corovic
NZNatasa Zdravkovic
Natasa Zdravkovic
DKDjordje Kralj
Djordje Kralj
RVRadisa H Vojinovic
Radisa H Vojinovic
Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a partial or complete obstruction of blood flow through the portal vein (PV) due to an intraluminal thrombus. Neoplastic portal vein thrombosis is a common complication in cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and it is a sign of a poor prognosis. Diagnosing HCC and tumor PVT is usually performed using non-invasive radiological imaging and measuring tumor marker blood levels. Sometimes, a PVT is present without any detectable liver tumor mass or conclusive findings. In cases like these, a tumor PVT biopsy is performed for confirmation. In the available literature, tumor PVT biopsy is performed either percutaneous or endoscopic, as fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Only a single publication was regarding PVT CORE needle biopsy (CNB). At this moment, we present three cases of percutaneous transhepatic ultrasound-guided biopsy. For the patients in question, the single method remained for diagnostic, staging, and pathohistological verification due to the insufficient sensitivity of the performed radiological imaging. In all three cases, the diagnosis of HCC was confirmed. All three procedures have been carried out without any complications.