Editor's Choice - Infective Native Aortic Aneurysms: A Delphi Consensus Document on Terminology, Definition, Classification, Diagnosis, and Reporting Standards.

There is no consensus regarding the terminology, definition, classification, diagnostic criteria, and algorithm, or reporting standards for the disease of infective native aortic aneurysm (INAA), previously known as mycotic aneurysm. The aim of this study was to establish this by performing a consensus study. The Delphi methodology was used. Thirty-seven international experts were invited via mail to participate. Four two week Delphi rounds were performed, using an online questionnaire, initially with 22 statements and nine reporting items. The panellists rated the statements on a five point Likert scale. Comments on statements were analysed, statements revised, and results presented in iterative rounds. Consensus was defined as ≥ 75% of the panel selecting "strongly agree" or "agree" on the Likert scale, and consensus on the final assessment was defined as Cronbach's alpha coefficient > .80. All 38 panellists completed all four rounds, resulting in 100% participation and agreement that this study was necessary, and the term INAA was agreed to be optimal. Three more statements were added based on the results and comments of the panel, resulting in a final 25 statements and nine reporting items. All 25 statements reached an agreement of ≥ 87%, and all nine reporting items reached an agreement of 100%. The Cronbach's alpha increased for each consecutive round (round 1 = .84, round 2 = .87, round 3 = .90, and round 4 = .92). Thus, consensus was reached for all statements and reporting items. This Delphi study established the first consensus document on INAA regarding terminology, definition, classification, diagnostic criteria, and algorithm, as well as reporting standards. The results of this study create essential conditions for scientific research on this disease. The presented consensus will need future amendments in accordance with newly acquired knowledge

Documenting the Recovery of Vascular Services in European Centres Following the Initial COVID-19 Pandemic Peak: Results from a Multicentre Collaborative Study

Objective: To document the recovery of vascular services in Europe following the first COVID-19 pandemic peak. Methods: An online structured vascular service survey with repeated data entry between 23 March and 9 August 2020 was carried out. Unit level data were collected using repeated questionnaires addressing modifications to vascular services during the first peak (March – May 2020, “period 1”), and then again between May and June (“period 2”) and June and July 2020 (“period 3”). The duration of each period was similar. From 2 June, as reductions in cases began to be reported, centres were first asked if they were in a region still affected by rising cases, or if they had passed the peak of the first wave. These centres were asked additional questions about adaptations made to their standard pathways to permit elective surgery to resume. Results: The impact of the pandemic continued to be felt well after countries’ first peak was thought to have passed in 2020. Aneurysm screening had not returned to normal in 21.7% of centres. Carotid surgery was still offered on a case by case basis in 33.8% of centres, and only 52.9% of centres had returned to their normal aneurysm threshold for surgery. Half of centres (49.4%) believed their management of lower limb ischaemia continued to be negatively affected by the pandemic. Reduced operating theatre capacity continued in 45.5% of centres. Twenty per cent of responding centres documented a backlog of at least 20 aortic repairs. At least one negative swab and 14 days of isolation were the most common strategies used for permitting safe elective surgery to recommence. Conclusion: Centres reported a broad return of services approaching pre-pandemic “normal” by July 2020. Many introduced protocols to manage peri-operative COVID-19 risk. Backlogs in cases were reported for all major vascular surgeries

Second asymptomatic carotid surgery trial (ACST-2): a randomised comparison of carotid artery stenting versus carotid endarterectomy

Background: Among asymptomatic patients with severe carotid artery stenosis but no recent stroke or transient cerebral ischaemia, either carotid artery stenting (CAS) or carotid endarterectomy (CEA) can restore patency and reduce long-term stroke risks. However, from recent national registry data, each option causes about 1% procedural risk of disabling stroke or death. Comparison of their long-term protective effects requires large-scale randomised evidence. Methods: ACST-2 is an international multicentre randomised trial of CAS versus CEA among asymptomatic patients with severe stenosis thought to require intervention, interpreted with all other relevant trials. Patients were eligible if they had severe unilateral or bilateral carotid artery stenosis and both doctor and patient agreed that a carotid procedure should be undertaken, but they were substantially uncertain which one to choose. Patients were randomly allocated to CAS or CEA and followed up at 1 month and then annually, for a mean 5 years. Procedural events were those within 30 days of the intervention. Intention-to-treat analyses are provided. Analyses including procedural hazards use tabular methods. Analyses and meta-analyses of non-procedural strokes use Kaplan-Meier and log-rank methods. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN21144362. Findings: Between Jan 15, 2008, and Dec 31, 2020, 3625 patients in 130 centres were randomly allocated, 1811 to CAS and 1814 to CEA, with good compliance, good medical therapy and a mean 5 years of follow-up. Overall, 1% had disabling stroke or death procedurally (15 allocated to CAS and 18 to CEA) and 2% had non-disabling procedural stroke (48 allocated to CAS and 29 to CEA). Kaplan-Meier estimates of 5-year non-procedural stroke were 2·5% in each group for fatal or disabling stroke, and 5·3% with CAS versus 4·5% with CEA for any stroke (rate ratio [RR] 1·16, 95% CI 0·86–1·57; p=0·33). Combining RRs for any non-procedural stroke in all CAS versus CEA trials, the RR was similar in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients (overall RR 1·11, 95% CI 0·91–1·32; p=0·21). Interpretation: Serious complications are similarly uncommon after competent CAS and CEA, and the long-term effects of these two carotid artery procedures on fatal or disabling stroke are comparable. Funding: UK Medical Research Council and Health Technology Assessment Programme

Clinical considerations of primary hydatid disease of the pancreas

Background: The pancreas is a rare primary location of hydatid disease. The purpose of our study is to gain more insight into this entity and to focus on the management and the diagnostic approach to the disease. Methods: The medical records of 5 patients with hydatid cysts of the pancreas were reviewed. Results: Four of the cysts were primary, while in 1 case a coexisting cyst was found in the liver. The body and tail of the pancreas were the most common locations. Clinical presentation varied according to the anatomic location of the cyst. Abdominal pain, discomfort and vomiting were the main clinical symptoms. One patient presented with obstructive jaundice, while another patient manifested a mild episode of anaphylactic shock. The indirect hemagglutination test was positive in 3 of 4 cases. A computed tomography scan successfully imaged all cysts and calcification of the cystic wall was found in 3 of 4 cases. All patients underwent surgical therapy. Hydatid cysts in the tail of the pancreas were successfully treated with distal pancreatectomy, while cysts in the body and head of pancreas were treated with proper evacuation, pericystectomy and omentoplasty. The postoperative course was uneventful in all patients except 1 who presented a pancreatic fistula and was re-operated. The mean length of hospitalization after surgery was 11 - 12 ( range 10 - 13) days, except for the patient who needed to be re-operated. No evidence of cyst recurrence was observed during the follow-up period. Conclusions: Hydatid cystic masses of the upper abdomen might also originate from the pancreas especially in endemic countries. Surgical excision of the entire cystic lesion remains the optimal treatment, offering hope for a complete cure. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel and IAP

Serum Biomarkers and Classification and Regression Trees Can Discriminate Symptomatic from Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Disease Patients

Objective: To assess biomarkers between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, and to construct a classification and regression tree (CART) algorithm for their discrimination. Patients and Methods: 136 patients were enrolled. They were symptomatic (high risk) (N = 82, stenosis degree ≥ 50%, proven to be responsible for ischemic stroke the last six months) and asymptomatic (low risk) (N = 54, stenosis degree ≤ 50%). Levels of fibrinogen, matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (SiCAM), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (SvCAM), adiponectin and insulin were measured on a Luminex 3D platform and their differences were evaluated; subsequently, a CART model was created and evaluated. Results: All measured biomarkers, except adiponectin, had significantly higher levels in symptomatic patients. The constructed CART prognostic model had 97.6% discrimination accuracy on symptomatic patients and 79.6% on asymptomatic, while the overall accuracy was 90.4%. Moreover, the population was split into training and test sets for CART validation. Conclusion: Significant differences were found in the biomarkers between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. The CART model proved to be a simple decision-making algorithm linked with risk probabilities and provided evidence to identify and, therefore, treat patients being at high risk for cardiovascular disease. © 2021, The Author(s)

Correlation between lipid abnormalities and immunosuppressive therapy in renal transplant recipients with stable renal function

Background: Hyperlipidemia following successful renal transplantation is a frequent and persistent complication. Several immunosuppressive agents including cyclosporine A (CyA), corticosteroids, and tacrolimus appear to have a significant pathogenetic role. The aim of this study is to investigate the differential effects of different immunosuppressive agents on lipids in renal transplant patients. Methods: Two groups of renal transplant recipients, each treated with a different combination of immunosuppressive agents, were studied: Group A (n = 13), cyclosporine A, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), steroids, and basiliximab; Group B (n = 13), tacrolimus, MMF, steroids, and daclizumab). Plasma lipids [cholesterol (CHOL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-CHOL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)- CHOL, and triglycerides (TG)] were examined before transplantation and 1 and 6 months posttransplantation. Results: The patients treated with cyclosporine A-MMF showed a significant increase in mean cholesterol and mean LDL-cholesterol values at the 1-month posttransplantation follow-up compared with pretransplant levels (CHOL: 208.9 ± 47.4 vs. 268.7 ± 42.2 mg/dl, P = 0.004; LDL: 118.4 ± 49.9 vs. 198.7 ± 40.7 mg/dl, P = 0.002; pretransplant vs. 1 month, respectively). At 6 months, LDL-cholesterol levels were significantly elevated compared with pretransplant levels (LDL: 118.4 ± 49.9 vs. 148.3 ± 48.5 mg/dl, P = 0.034), whereas there was no significant change in the cholesterol level during the same period. In cyclosporine A-MMF-treated patients, plasma triglyceride levels were reduced at the 1- and 6-month follow-up (TG: 293.9 ± 59.2 vs. 182.9 ± 48.7 mg/dl, P = 0.03; 293.9 ± 59.2 vs. 178.6 ± 74.2 mg/dl, P = 0.023; pretransplant vs. 1 and 6 months, respectively). Patients receiving combined therapy with tacrolimus-MMF showed no significant changes in LDL-CHOL levels during the trial. Cholesterol levels at 6 months posttransplantation were significantly lower than the pretransplant measurements (CHOL: 182.9 ± 44.4 vs. 162.3 ± 37.2 mg/dl, P = 0.024; pretransplant vs. 6 months ). A significant reduction in triglyceride level was documented at the 1-month follow-up followed by a subsequent decrease within 6 months (TG: 228.5 ± 61.6 vs. 147.6 ± 51.5 mg/dl, P = 0.005; TG: 228.5 ± 61.6 vs. 130.4 ± 54.7 mg/dl, P = 0.011; pretransplant vs. 1 and 6 months, respectively). Conclusions: In posttransplant patients with stable renal function cyclosporine therapy is associated with increased cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels. Hyperlipidemia is less pronounced in patients given tacrolimus. Tacrolimus appears to an immunosuppressant agent with fewer and less severe adverse effects on lipid metabolism. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008