Vascular最新文献

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a potentially fatal vascular disorder with a high mortality rate. It was previously reported that fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) was highly expressed in AAA patients. Nonetheless, its underlying mechanism in AAA progression is unclarified.

Methods: Angiotensin II (Ang-II) was used to induce AAA in human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) and mouse models. Western blotting and RT-qPCR were utilized for measuring protein and RNA levels. Immunofluorescence staining was utilized for detecting LC3B expression in HASMCs. Elastica van Gieson staining was conducted for histological analysis of the abdominal aortas of mice.

Results: FGF21 displayed a high level in Ang-II-stimulated HASMCs and AAA mice. FGF21 depletion ameliorated abdominal aorta dilation and Ang-II-triggered pathological changes in mice. FGF21 silencing hindered autophagy and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Conclusions: FGF21 contributes to AAA progression by enhancing autophagy and activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Introduction: Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) are an increasingly prevalent pathology with significant associated morbidity and mortality. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is the primary line of treatment. The purpose of this study was to analyse a single center's experience in the treatment of TAAs and identify possible risk factors for worse outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective review of our institutional database was done to identify all patients treated for TAAs in a 10-year period, from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2022. Data were extracted from patients' medical records. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality and secondary outcomes were procedure related morbidity (vascular access complications, medullary ischaemia, stroke, endoleaks, migration, aneurysm sac enlargement >5 mm) and need for reintervention at 1-, 6- and 12-month follow-up. A descriptive and inferential analysis of the data was performed. Statistical analyses were conducted using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software.

Results: We identified 34 patients treated for TAAs in this period. Mean age was 68 years [47-87] and 79.4% of patients were male. Mean aneurysm diameter was 63 mm [35-100], 55.9% fusiform and 44.1% saccular. The majority (91.2%) were located at the descending thoracic aorta and 3 (8.8%) of them extended to the aortic arch. The most common aetiology was degenerative in 22 patients (64.7%), followed by aortic dissection in 8 patients (23.5%). Elective surgery was performed in 19 (61.3%) patients and 12 (38.7%) had urgent repair. TEVAR was the treatment of choice in 24 (77.4%) patients, and the remaining 7 (22.6%) were treated with hybrid surgery. Mean length of hospital stay was 10 days [2-80] (6 days for elective repair versus 16 days for urgent repair, p = .016). Follow-up period ranged from 1 month to 10 years. At 1 year follow-up, all-cause mortality was 15%, morbidity was 30% (with 6 (22%) patients having a type Ia endoleak) and need for reintervention was 22%. Aneurysm diameter was a significant risk factor for procedure related morbidity (median diameter of 73.5 mm versus 56.0 mm in patients with no morbidity; p = .027). The presence of type Ia endoleak was significantly associated with higher reintervention rates (p = .001), but not with higher mortality rates (p = .515). Age, female sex, aetiology and urgent repair weren't associated with any significant differences in the outcomes.

Conclusions: TEVAR proved to be effective in the treatment of TAAs, with good outcomes at short and mid-term follow-up. TAAs should be diagnosed earlier and be promptly treated when meeting criteria to prevent worse outcomes.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and clinical outcomes of accurate embolization of endoleaks after fenestrated thoracic endovascular aortic repair (F-TEVAR) for thoracic aortic dissections.

Methods: Twenty patients with endoleaks (17 type I and 3 type II) after fenestrated thoracic endovascular aortic repair (F-TEVAR) were embolized using detachable and ordinary coils. We assessed the success rate and complications of the operation, and its effects, through clinical and CT follow-up.

Results: The mean clinical follow-up duration was 25.68 ± 11.07 months (3-44 months). During follow-up, all endoleaks were completely embolized and aortic remodeling was improved. Secondary endoleaks occurred in four patients who were embolized twice. No other complications or death were reported.

Conclusion: Embolization using detachable and ordinary coils is effective and safe for the treatment of endoleaks after fenestrated thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Introduction: The optimal anti-thrombotic management of patients after lower extremity bypass has yet to be fully elucidated, in part due to significant heterogeneity in patient presentation and practice patterns. The Wound, Ischemia, and foot Infection (WIfI) score is a validated scoring system to assist in the management of patients with chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI). We hypothesized that performing a restriction analysis based on WIFI scores would assist in the postoperative anti-thrombotic management of patients undergoing infrainguinal bypass.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of infrainguinal bypass procedures completed at a single hospital system between January 2018 and January 2021 was selected, and preoperative WIfI scores were extracted for each patient. Patients with either Wound scores of 2 and 3, or Ischemia Scores of 0 and 1, or Foot Infection Scores of 3 were excluded. Based on the type of anti-thrombotic regimen on discharge, demographics, comorbidities, type of bypass, 30-day rates of graft occlusion, major amputation, mortality, and major adverse limb events (MALE) were analyzed. Statistical analysis included t-tests, chi square tests, and time-to-event survival analysis.

Results: 230 procedures were included in the study. 69 (30.0%) patients were discharged on single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT), compared to 161 (70.0%) who were discharged on either dual antiplatelet therapy or anticoagulation (DAPT/AC). There was a higher prevalence of bypasses using prosthetic conduit in the DAPT/AC group (45.9 vs 31.8%, p = .047); no other demographic or procedural variable analyzed had any significant differences. At 30-days postoperatively, there was no significant difference in postoperative reintervention rates, however, the DAPT/AC group had significantly lower rates of mortality (1.2 vs 7.2%, p = .01), major amputation (1.2% vs 5.8%, p = .04), and MALE (3.7 vs 13.0%, p < .01). There were no significant differences in bleeding complications. Survival analysis demonstrated that MALE-free survival was higher in the DAPT/AC group compared to the SAPT group (p < .01). On Cox regression analysis, DAPT/AC was associated with significantly decreased rates of MALE + mortality (Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.20 [0.06 - 0.66]).

Conclusion: Lower extremity bypasses patients with low Wound and low foot Infection scores who are discharged on DAPT/AC postoperatively have a significantly higher 30-day MALE-free survival rate compared to patients discharged on SAPT; consideration could be made to preferentially discharge such post-bypass patients on DAPT/AC.

Objective: Preventing untimely death in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) requires a detailed understanding of the predominant causes of death (COD). This literature review aims to describe how short- and long-term COD are reported in patients who had surgery for PAD.

Methods: A literature review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for articles reporting specific causes of mortality in patients who had surgery for all stages of PAD. Articles were included if they reported COD after open surgical or endovascular revascularisation, or major or minor amputation for PAD. Critical appraisals were conducted according to included study types, using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools.

Results: Cause of death was reported in 21 publications. Twenty were observational and one was a randomised control trial. Study size ranged from 25 to 10,505 patients. Cardiovascular disease was the most prevalent COD in perioperative periods (42.5% from 13 studies). Long-term follow-up ranged from 1 month and 7 years with 15 studies reporting cardiac related mortality as the most frequent cause of death. However, mortality from neoplasia, respiratory disease (including pneumonia and pulmonary emboli), stroke and sepsis were prevalent. Many studies were low-average quality, with few population-based observational studies.

Conclusion: Whilst cardiovascular COD are the most prevalent reasons for mortality in patients with PAD, the proportion of patients dying from neoplasia and respiratory disease is high. Improved reporting standards for COD in studies examining PAD are needed.

Objectives: To highlight current evidence pertaining to the measurement methods and prevalence of high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) in patients with PAD, as well as to evaluate the relationship between HTPR and recurrent adverse cardiovascular and limb events in PAD patients.

Methods: A systematic review of English-language literature on HTPR in patients with PAD. An electronic literature search of PubMed and Medline was performed in May 2021.

Results: A total of 29 studies with a total number of 11,201 patients with PAD were identified. HTPR during clopidogrel treatment ranges from 9.8 to 77%, and during aspirin treatment ranges from 4.1 to 50% of PAD patients. HTPR was associated with adverse clinical outcomes. The need for limb revascularisation was higher in patients with HTPR during clopidogrel use. Similarly, HTPR during aspirin use in the PAD population was predictive of adverse cardiovascular events (HR 3.73; 95% CI, 1.43-9.81; p = .007). A wide range of techniques were applied to measure platelet resistance, without consensus on cut-off values. Furthermore, differing patient populations, a variety of antiplatelet regimens, and differing clinical endpoints highlight the high degree of heterogeneity in the studies included in this review.

Conclusion: No consensus on technique or cut-off values for HTPR testing has been reached. Patients with HTPR are potentially at a greater risk of adverse limb-related and cardiovascular events than patients sensitive to antiplatelet therapy illustrating the need for clinical implementation of HTPR testing. Future research must aim for consistent methodology. Adaptation of antiplatelet therapy based on HTPR results requires further exploration.

Background: We retrospectively evaluated early and intermediate outcomes of hybrid repair of complex thoracic aortic diseases involving an aberrant right subclavian artery. This paper aims to report features and available treatment options for this rare, hard-to-diagnose, and manage, aorta-related vascular condition.

Methods: Between January 2012 and May 2019, 13 patients (mean age, 60.1 ± 9.3 years; nine men) underwent complex thoracic aorta repair surgery. Six patients had a thoracic aortic aneurysm, two had type A aortic dissection, and five had complicated type B aortic dissection. Hybrid repair strategies included de-branching in combination with single-stage aortic arch replacement with the frozen elephant trunk technique performed in four patients, thoracic endovascular aortic repair in six patients, and 2-stage hybrid repair consisting of a total arch replacement with a conventional/frozen elephant trunk (first stage) and subsequent endovascular repair (second stage) in three patients.

Results: One early death occurred: a patient with acute type A aortic dissection, who underwent Bentall procedure and aortic arch replacement with the frozen elephant trunk technique, died in-hospital of multiorgan failure 41 days after the procedure. The remaining 12 patients were discharged in stable condition. The median follow-up duration was 36 months (2-71 months). Two late mortalities occurred: a patient with residual type A aortic dissection, who underwent arch replacement with the frozen elephant trunk technique, died of intracranial hemorrhage 3 months after the surgery. And 72 years old female patient died of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2 months after the surgery.

Conclusion: Our study indicates that various hybrid strategies can be used to treat complex thoracic aortic diseases involving an aberrant right subclavian artery. The approach of choice depends on the features of disease pathology, the aortic segments involved, and the operating surgeon's experience.

Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are known to be predisposed to many complications in the lower extremities such as neuropathy, peripheral artery disease (PAD) and infection. Diabetic foot ulcers are complications of diabetes that can lead to lower extremity amputations, re-amputations and high mortality rates.Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the risk factors associated with higher re-amputation rates in diabetic foot disease.Research Design: This is a mono-centric retrospective comparative study.Study Sample: the study included 136 patients, with a total of 193 procedures (111 primary amputations and 82 re-amputations) between 2011 and 2021.Data Analysis: The t-student test and Spearman correlation were used to look for mean differences and any relevant association, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was computed to look for independent variables.Results: Twenty-two (27%) and 60 (50%) of those who had major and minor amputations, respectively, had a re-amputation (p = 0.006). Besides diabetes (89%), the commonest risk factor associated with amputation was hypertension (86.7%), be it for primary amputation or re-amputation, followed by peripheral (PAD) and coronary artery diseases. Only three risk factors showed independent correlation with re-amputation; chronic kidney disease (r = 15%, p = 0.03), smoking (r = 15%, p = 0.03), and simultaneous presence of DM + PAD (r = 13.7%, p = 0.05).Conclusions: Factors that were significantly correlated with increased re-amputation rates have a clear pathologic pathway that affects vascularity and wound healing. Further studies should be aimed at developing a clear scoring system that can be used to stratify patient for re-amputation risk, and to better predict the results according to the severity of diabetes.

Objectives: Spontaneous isolated celiac artery dissection (SICAD) without associated aortic dissection is a rare disease. Complications are ischemia, aneurysm formation, and rupture. Different treatment options have been reported for managing SICAD, including conservative management, endovascular intervention, and open surgery. Despite the increased recognition of this disease, there are no consensus guidelines on management of this condition. To improve the knowledge and treatment of this disease, a case of SICAD was reported.

Methods and results: We describe the case of a 57-year-old woman with SICAD whose symptoms improved after endovascular treatment when conservative treatment failed and systematically analyze the management strategy for patients with SICAD.

Conclusions: SICAD is a rare disease and has no universally agreed upon guidelines for treatment. Most patients can be first treated conservatively for dissection with strict blood pressure control, antithrombotic therapy, and intensive surveillance. For SICAD patients with aneurysms located in the celiac trunk, stent grafts can be used in such patients without affecting the branch blood supply.

Purpose: Here, we describe nutcracker syndrome management using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) during endovascular stent placement of the renal vein.

Case report: A 60-year-old woman with a known Factor V Leiden mutation, long-standing smoking history, and family history of pancreatic cancer presented with 2 years of intermittent left upper quadrant pain (LUQ) and a 15 lb unintentional weight loss. Work-up included abdominal ultrasound (US) and abdominal computerized tomography (CT) scan. Abdominal US and Chest CT scan were negative while the abdominal CT scan revealed severe compression of the left renal vein by the superior mesenteric artery, consistent with nutcracker syndrome. Renal venogram and endovascular stent placement performed under IVUS guidance. IVUS was used to determine stent size and measure flow and assess patency after stent placement.

Conclusions: Post-renal vein stent placement, the patient had resolution of her symptoms with follow-up duplex renal ultrasound exam demonstrating restored blood flow in the left renal vein with improved patency.