Vascular最新文献

Objectives: The effectiveness of postoperative medication for the prevention of late graft failure is controversial. We conducted the present study to investigate whether cilostazol improved the mid-term outcomes after infrainguinal autologous vein bypass for chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI).

Methods: From April 1994 to March 2022, we performed 590 de novo infrainguinal bypass procedures using autologous vein grafts (AVGs) in three hospitals. The bypass grafts were classified according to the postoperative prescription of cilostazol. The loss of graft patency and major adverse limb events (MALEs) were set as endpoints. Patients who died within 30 days and grafts that lost primary patency within 30 days after surgery were excluded. Data up to 3 years were analyzed. The cumulative primary patency (PP), assisted primary patency (AP), secondary patency (SP), and freedom from MALE (ffMALE) rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared between the cilostazol group and the non-cilostazol group. After a propensity score matching, same statistical analyses were performed. In addition, a Cox proportional hazards regression analysis that included preoperative factors, intraoperative factors, and postoperative medications was performed to identify whether cilostazol is an independent predictor for the outcomes.

Results: A total of 523 AVGs met inclusion criteria. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the cilostazol group was superior to the non-cilostazol group in all outcomes, while the cilostazol group was superior to the non-cilostazol group in AP and SP after a propensity score matching. A multivariable analysis showed that non-use of cilostazol was identified as an independent predictor for loss of AP, SP, and ffMALE.

Conclusions: Cilostazol improved the mid-term outcomes after infrainguinal autologous vein bypass.

Purpose: To evaluate tibial single access in treatment of chronic total occlusions (CTO) in patients with ipsilateral chronic-limb ischemia (CLTI).

Materials and methods: In this retrospective study, data was collected on patients treated for ipsilateral CTO via a tibial artery access between March 2017 and March 2021. Fifty-nine limbs in 57 patients, (42 men, average age 73 years; range 47-96) were treated. Patient's symptoms were classified in accordance with the Rutherford category. The end points were freedom from major amputation and the need for reintervention up to 1 year of follow up.

Results: Out of the 59 treated limbs, technical success was achieved in 57 (97%). The treated multilevel segments involved 5 common and 12 external iliac arteries, 23 common and 37 superficial femoral arteries, 23 femoropopliteal segments, 14 popliteal arteries, and 4 bypasses. Mean length of occlusion was 186 mm (range 7-670). Rutherford classification of the treated limbs was category 5 and 6 in 45 patients and category 4 in 14 patients. Three procedural complications occurred and were successfully treated during the same procedure. No immediate post-procedural complication was encountered. Median follow-up was 13 months (range 1-45.3). Reintervention was required in 9 limbs, after an average of 6 months. One year free from amputation rate was 91.2%.

Conclusions: Single access via the ipsilateral tibial artery can be a useful, effective, and safe approach for treating CTO in CLTI patients.

Introduction: Aortic graft infection (AGI) is a rare complication following endovascular aneurysm repair and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. The traditional management of AGI is intravenous antibiotic therapy and surgical explantation. In this case series, percutaneous drainage was used as a bridge therapy in the treatment of AGI.

Methods: We report two cases, 78-year-old male and 57-year-old female, in whom image-guided percutaneous drainage was used to treat AGI in two contrasting contexts. Informed consent was obtained from both cases/relatives for publication.

Results: Both cases underwent successful percutaneous drainage of AGI utilized as a bridge therapy before definitive surgical reconstruction and graft explantation. Each patient had a different outcome. In the first case, the patient's comorbidities and severe disease state could not be overcome, resulting in his death. The second patient benefitted from the percutaneous drainage by allowing her more time ameliorate her malnutrition before definitive surgery.

Conclusion: Data on the outcomes of percutaneous drainage of AGI is limited. The successful procedure described in this case series emphasizes the need to conduct more research to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this treatment approach before the surgical explantation.

Objective: To clarify possible factors for recurrence of venous insufficiency following radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of lower extremity chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

Methods: Patients with lower extremity CVI who underwent RFA therapy were reviewed for inclusion in the study. Patients' characteristics, operative parameters and follow-up outcomes were recorded. Patients were divided into two groups (patients with successful RFA and patients with recurrent venous insufficiency). Groups were compared according to patient demographic features, treated vein characteristics, operative data and follow-up duration.

Results: In total, 313 patients matched the study inclusion criteria and 48 patients encountered RFA failure during follow-up. Mean BMI and ratio of COPD were significantly higher in patients with RFA failure (p = .002 and p = .007). The CEAP classification was significantly different between the groups (p = .007). Mean follow-up time was significantly longer in patients with RFA failure (p = .011). Presence of COPD and BMI ≥30 kg/m² increased RFA failure 4.187 times and 2.255 times, respectively (p = .002 and p = .022). Additionally, CEAP C4 significantly increased RFA failure (p = .001). Lastly, longer follow-up time was a predictive factor for RF failure (p = .024).

Conclusion: Our study findings demonstrated for the first time that obesity, presence of COPD, presence of veins classified as CEAP C4 before RFA, and follow-up period longer than 48 months were predictive factors for venous insufficiency recurrence following RFA.

Objectives: To study outcomes in patients with non-thrombotic iliac vein lesions (NIVLs) treated by stents.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study that collected 109 patients from January 2016 to August 2020 diagnosed with symptomatic NIVLs. The patients underwent endovenous stenting using the Wallstents. Clinical severity was assessed using the venous clinical severity score and the Villalta scores. The patency was assessed using duplex ultrasound, while the diameters and the blood flow velocities (BFVs) in the proximal, middle, and distal stented segments were recorded simultaneously.

Results: A total of 128 stents were placed in 115 limbs (median age, 61 years), with a mean follow-up of 32 months. At 36 months, the Villalta scores went from 12.17 to 3.64 (p < .001). The VCSS went from 9.41 to 3.31 (p < .001). The mean diameters in the proximal, middle, and distal stented segments were 8.52 ± 2.15 mm, 10.13 ± 1.75 mm, and 10.17 ± 1.69 mm in the first month, while the mean BFVs were 31.17 ± 13.66 cm/s, 31.07 ± 11.90 cm/s, and 36.39 ± 18.41 cm/s, respectively. Repeated-measures analysis in 55 consecutive patients from 1 month to 3 years after procedure revealed a decrease of the stent diameter in the proximal stented segment (p = .004); a stabilization of the stent diameter in the middle (p = .43) or distal (p = .45) stented segment; a steadiness of the BFVs in the proximal (p = .40), middle (p = .93), and distal (p = .25) stented segments; and an improvement in the VCSS (p = .03) and Villalta scores (p = .006).

Conclusions: BFVs in stented segments remained steady and the symptoms in lower extremities improved after surgery, while stent compression was observed in the diameter of the proximal stented segment, with no impact on BFVs or symptoms.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to report the early and late outcomes of cryopreserved saphenous vein (CSV) in redo infrainguinal bypass and to investigate possible predictors of primary patency loss.

Methods: All patients who underwent a redo bypass for critical limb ischemia from January 2010 to December 2020 were reviewed. Early and late complications were analyzed and included. The endpoints of the study were all cause mortality, major limb amputation, and primary patency (PP).

Results: Data were collected from 95 patients. Among the entire cohort, 16 (16.8%) patients received a cryopreserved vessel bypass with anastomosis in the popliteal artery and 79 (83.2%) patients had cryopreserved vessel bypasses with distal anastomosis in tibial vessels. Median duration of follow-up was 73 months; during this, period estimated survival at 5 years was 80.5 ± 4% (95% CI, 78.0-91.2) and estimates of freedom from limb amputation was 90.3 ± 3.2% (95% CI, 87.3-98.1). Overall, the estimated primary patency of the bypass was 43.7 ± 6.7% (95% CI, 30.2-51.4). On multivariable analysis, intraprocedural tibial vessel angioplasty (HR = 2.3, p = 0.01), distal anastomosis in tibial vessels (HR = 3.6, p = 0.36), and the use of a composite graft (HR = 2.4, p = 0.01) were independently associated with loss of PP.

Conclusions: The use of CSV in redo bypass is an effective strategy in salvaging threatened lower extremities and in preventing or delaying limb amputation. Our results confirm that further attempts at revascularization are generally appropriate, even in technically changing patients.

Objectives: Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) is a hybrid procedure that allows reversal of blood flow away from the brain while placing a stent through direct surgical access of the common carotid artery. It has been shown to have a lower risk of perioperative stroke compared with any prospective trial of transfemoral carotid artery stenting. However, intraoperative injuries related to the procedure and its management are not well characterized. One of the intraoperative complications seen in TCAR is iatrogenic carotid artery dissection (CD). We aim to add qualitative insight in further characterizing CDs and its management in this emerging technology.

Methods: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database for surveillance of all medical devices approved for use. This database was queried for all cases associated with Silk Road Medical's ENROUTE Transcarotid Neuroprotection System from September 2016 to October 2020. Case narratives related to CD were individually analyzed to determine time of injury (intraoperative, recovery, and post-discharge follow-up). CD reporting was further analyzed for the associated procedural event at the time of injury, number of access attempts to CD repair, and type of CD repair. Reports associated with CD repair were further categorized into endovascular repair and open surgical repair.

Results: Of the 115 unique adverse events in the database, there were 58 CDs. Most were identified intraoperatively (n = 55), while three were incidentally found postoperatively. Overall, sheath placement was the most common procedural event attributed to CD (N = 34). There was adequate narrative information about CD repair in 54 patients. Intraoperative repair was performed in 52 cases and two were repaired after post-discharge follow-up imaging was performed.Among CDs that did not require additional access to engage the true lumen, the proportion of endovascular repair (62.5%) was significantly higher (p = .044) compared to the proportion of open surgical repair (37.5%). However, the proportion of open surgical repair (75%) was significantly higher than the proportion of endovascular repair (25%) in CDs with persistent failure to engage the true lumen despite ≥2 access attempts (p = .039).

Conclusion: CD is the most common injury related to TCAR as reported on MAUDE. The most commonly reported procedural event associated with CD was sheath placement. The rate of intraoperative endovascular and open surgical CD repair was associated with whether the access to the true lumen of the carotid artery required additional access attempts or not. This should add qualitative insight among the vascular surgery community regarding intraoperative management of CDs from a TCAR procedure.

Purpose: Postoperative complications after major surgery, especially vascular procedures, are associated with a significant increase in costs and mortality. Previous studies evaluating general anesthesia versus regional or neuraxial anesthesia for infrainguinal bypass have produced conflicting results. The main aim of the present study is to review current evidence on the application of regional or general anesthesia in patients undergoing infrainguinal bypass surgery and its potential favorable effects on postoperative outcomes.

Contents: Patients undergoing vascular surgery often have multiple comorbidities, and it is important to outline both benefits and risks of regional anesthesia techniques. Neuraxial anesthesia in vascular surgery allows overall avoidance of general anesthesia and does provide short-term benefits beyond analgesia. Previous observational studies suggest that neuraxial anesthesia for lower limb revascularization may reduce morbidity and length of stay. However, evidence of long-term benefits is lacking in most procedures and further work is still warranted.

Conclusions: Neuraxial anesthesia is usually an effective anesthesia technique for infrainguinal bypass surgery. Elderly patients and those with underlying respiratory problems may display some benefit from neuraxial anesthesia. Further evaluation within institutions should be performed to identify which patients would most benefit from regional techniques. Notably, systemic antithrombotic and anticoagulation therapy is common among this population and may affect anesthetic choices.

Objectives: Patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) have a high risk of lower limb amputation and loss of walking independence. Minor amputations play a key role in ensuring walking independence and they represent a challenge in terms of timing and level for vascular surgeons. A major cause of re-amputation is a defect in wound healing and a possible predictor of re-amputation for non-healing wounds could be the incorrect timing of minor amputation after revascularization. The lack of evidence in the literature leads to a wide variability of choices in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to try to find the optimal timing analysing the risk of re-amputation in CLTI patients who have undergone successful revascularization and minor amputation focussing on timing of minor amputation.

Methods: We conducted a single centre retrospective analysis on a cohort of 151 patients consecutively admitted to our hospital for CLTI (Rutherford 5) between January 2014 and April 2022. All the enrolled patients underwent successful revascularization of lower limbs and a minor amputation for dry acral necrosis. The characteristics of the patients and the revascularization procedures were collected and analysed. Patients were divided into two groups based on the timing of minor amputation performed before (group 1) or after the day (group 2) that best predicts the risk of re-amputation according to a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The primary outcome of this study was the risk of re-amputation during the first 60 days of follow-up after a primary minor amputation, with revascularization still effective. The impact of the timing of minor amputation after revascularization, the type of revascularization and the presence of risk factors known to prolong the wound healing process were evaluated in a uni- and multi-variable logistic regression model.

Results: Systemic hypertension, and type of revascularization (i.e. open vs endovascular) were independent predictors of the risk of re-amputation at 60 days (HR 4.26, 95% CI 1.30-14.04, p = .017 and HR 2.35, 95% CI 1.16-4.78, p = .018, respectively). Moreover, time ≤14 days between revascularization and first amputation was associate with a clear, albeit not statistically significant, trend toward increased risk of re-amputation (HR 2.09, 95% CI 0.97-4.51, p = .06).

Conclusions: In a cohort of patients who underwent a successful revascularization for CLTI and a minor amputation for dry gangrene in the first 14 days after revascularization, a higher -although not significant-risk of re-amputation was reported. In this cohort of patients, a delayed demolitive procedure should be considered to allow better tissue perfusion and to reduce the risk of re-amputation.

Objective: Many techniques are available for the intraoperative assessment of brain perfusion during carotid endarterectomy, such as carotid stump pressure, near-infrared spectroscopy, somatosensory evoked potentials, transcranial Doppler, electroencephalography, and clinical assessment. The decision for selective carotid shunt insertion is dependent on clinical deterioration or the detection of cerebral hypoperfusion after cross-clamping of the internal carotid artery. Monitoring cerebral oximetry using near-infrared spectroscopy is a noninvasive technique for cerebral oxygen saturation measurement, reflecting changes in cerebral blood flow during carotid endarterectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of near-infrared spectroscopy as a predictor of selective shunting during carotid endarterectomy.

Methods: In total, 47 conventional carotid endarterectomy surgeries were performed at our hospital between March 2016 and December 2021. All surgeries were performed under a regional cervical block supplemented with local infiltration anesthesia. All patients were monitored by cerebral oximetry using bilateral near-infrared spectroscopy probes and clinical assessment through communication with the patient (numerical, visual, and verbal) to indicate a selective shunt. Near-infrared spectroscopy values were recorded before and after internal carotid cross-clamping and after declamping. Any decrease in ipsilateral cerebral oximetry-near-infrared spectroscopy values equal to or more than 20% from the pre-clamping baseline reading associated with deterioration in neurological status (hemiparesis, aphasia, or deterioration in level of consciousness) after internal carotid artery cross-clamping was considered an indication for intraluminal carotid shunting.

Results: After internal carotid artery cross-clamping, 5 of 47 patients (10.6%) developed a significant drop in cerebral oxygen saturation associated with obvious clinical assessment deterioration in verbal communication and weakness in contralateral arm power. A Pruitt-Inahara carotid shunt was subsequently inserted, and 42 patients remained stable throughout surgery. The average decline in ipsilateral near-infrared spectroscopy values was 23.8% in patients with clinical deterioration. The average decline was 8.6% in patients who remained stable.

Conclusions: Monitoring ipsilateral cerebral oximetry using near-infrared spectroscopy is an easy and reliable method for indicating selective shunting during carotid endarterectomy. A 20% decrease in ipsilateral brain tissue oximetry after internal carotid artery cross-clamping provides a reliable cut-off value for selective intraluminal carotid shunting during carotid endarterectomy.