Five-year follow-up of a randomized clinical trial comparing open surgery, foam sclerotherapy and endovenous laser ablation for great saphenous varicose veins

Background: New treatment methods have challenged open surgery as a treatment for great saphenous vein (GSV) insufficiency, the most common being ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) and endovenous laser ablation (EVLA). This study evaluated the long-term results of surgery, EVLA and UGFS in the treatment of GSV reflux. Methods: Patients with symptomatic GSV reflux were randomized to undergo either open surgery, EVLA or UGFS. The main outcome measure was the occlusion rate of the GSV at 5years after operation. Results: The study included 196 patients treated during 2008-2010; of these, 166 (847 per cent) participated in the 5-year follow-up. At 5years, the GSV occlusion rate was 96 (95 per cent c.i. 91 to 100) per cent in the open surgery group, 89 (82 to 98) per cent after EVLA and 51 (38 to 64) per cent after UGFS (P Conclusion: UGFS has significantly inferior occlusion rates compared with open surgery or EVLA, and results in additional treatments.Peer reviewe

Drug-Coated Versus Plain Balloon Angioplasty In Arteriovenous Fistulas : A Randomized, Controlled Study With 1-Year Follow-Up (The Drecorest Ii-Study)

Background and Aims: Stenosis due to intimal hyperplasia and restenosis after initially successful percutaneous angioplasty are common reasons for failing arteriovenous fistulas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of drug-coated balloons in the treatment of arteriovenous fistula stenosis. Design: Single-center, parallel group, randomized controlled trial. Block randomized by sealed envelope 1:1. Materials and Methods: A total of 39 patients with primary or recurrent stenosis in a failing native arteriovenous fistulas were randomized to drug-coated balloon (n=19) or standard balloon angioplasty (n=20). Follow-up was 1year. Primary outcome measure was target lesion revascularization. Results: In all, 36 stenoses were analyzed; three patients were excluded due to technical failure after randomization. A total of 88.9% (16/18) in the drug-coated balloon group was revascularized or occluded within 1year, compared to 22.2% (4/18) of the stenoses in the balloon angioplasty group (relative risk for drug-coated balloon 7.09). Mean time-to- target lesion revascularization was 110 and 193days after the drug-coated balloon and balloon angioplasty, respectively (p=0.06). Conclusions: With 1-year follow-up, the target lesion revascularization-free survival after drug-coated balloon-treatment was clearly worse. The reason for this remains unknown, but it may be due to differences in the biological response to paclitaxel in the venous arteriovenous fistula-wall compared to its antiproliferative effect in the arterial wall after drug-coated balloon treatment of atherosclerotic occlusive lesions. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03036241Peer reviewe

Editor's Choice - Treatment of Aortic Prosthesis Infections by Graft Removal and In Situ Replacement with Autologous Femoral Veins and Fascial Strengthening

Introduction: Aortic prosthetic graft infection (AGI) is a major challenge in vascular surgery. Eradicating the. infection requires prosthetic material removal, debridement, and lower limb revascularization. For the past 15 years, we have used femoral veins for aorto-iliac reconstruction and tensor fascia lata to strengthen the upper anastomosis. Objective: The purpose of this single institution retrospective study is to present results regarding in situ replacement of infected aortic grafts with autologous femoral veins (FVs). Methods: From October 2000 to March 2013, patients treated for AGI with graft removal and autologous FV reconstruction at Helsinki University Hospital were included. Primary outcome measures were 30 day mortality, long-term treatment related mortality, and re-infection rate. Secondary outcome measures were long-term all cause mortality and event free survival (graft rupture, re-intervention, major amputation). Results: During a 13 year period 55 patients (42 male, 13 female) were operated on using a venous neo-aorto-iliac system for AGI. The mean follow up was 32 months (1-157 months). The 30 day mortality rate was 9% (5) and overall treatment related mortality 18% (10). All cause mortality during follow up was 22 (40%) and overall Kaplan-Meier survival was 90.7% at 30 days, 81.5% at 1 year, and 59.3% at 5 years. Graft rupture occurred in three (5%) cases, two of which were caused by graft re-infection. (4%). Four patients required major amputation, one of them on arrival and three (5%) during the post-operative period. Nine (16%) patients needed interventions for the vein graft, and two graft limbs occluded during follow up. Conclusion: In situ reconstruction for aortic graft infection with autologous FV presents acceptable rates of morbidity and mortality, and remains the treatment of choice for AGI at Helsinki University Hospital. (C) 2015 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Critical Limb Ischemia

Critical limb ischemia (CLI), defined as chronic ischemic rest pain, ulcers, or gangrene attributable to objectively proven arterial occlusive disease, is the most advanced form of peripheral arterial disease. Traditionally, open surgical bypass was the only effective treatment strategy for limb revascularization in this patient population. However, during the past decade, the introduction and evolution of endovascular procedures have significantly increased treatment options. In a certain subset of patients for whom either surgical or endovascular revascularization may not be appropriate, primary amputation remains a third treatment option. Definitive high-level evidence on which to base treatment decisions, with an emphasis on clinical and cost effectiveness, is still lacking. Treatment decisions in CLI are individualized, based on life expectancy, functional status, anatomy of the arterial occlusive disease, and surgical risk. For patients with aortoiliac disease, endovascular therapy has become first-line therapy for all but the most severe patterns of occlusion, and aortofemoral bypass surgery is a highly effective and durable treatment for the latter group. For infrainguinal disease, the available data suggest that surgical bypass with vein is the preferred therapy for CLI patients likely to survive 2 years or more, and for those with long segment occlusions or severe infrapopliteal disease who have an acceptable surgical risk. Endovascular therapy may be preferred in patients with reduced life expectancy, those who lack usable vein for bypass or who are at elevated risk for operation, and those with less severe arterial occlusions. Patients with unreconstructable disease, extensive necrosis involving weight-bearing areas, nonambulatory status, or other severe comorbidities may be considered for primary amputation or palliative measures

Classificação angiográfica na revascularização do membro inferior isquêmico: pode a angiografia definir a resistência do leito receptor do enxerto? Angiographic classification in ischemic lower limb revascularization: can it define arterial outflow resistance?

CONTEXTO: A arteriografia é muitas vezes utilizada como único método pré-operatório para a definição da conduta terapêutica na revascularização do membro isquêmico, seja ela realizada através de angioplastia transluminal, ou de cirurgia convencional. Ainda hoje, sua utilização é assunto de debate. OBJETIVO: Comparar um método de classificação arteriográfica simples com estudos hemodinâmicos pré e intraoperatórios do leito arterial isquêmico a ser revascularizado, com o objetivo de verificar seu poder para definir a resistência desse leito arterial. MÉTODOS: Foram analisadas 68 cirurgias de revascularização de membros inferiores isquêmicos realizadas no período de julho de 1999 a julho de 2004 no Setor de Cirurgia Vascular do Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia. As características do leito arterial receptor do enxerto foram estudadas e comparadas através de método de classificação arteriográfica pré-operatória proposto pelos autores, análise hemodinâmica pré-operatória por eco-Doppler colorido e intraoperatória por medidas diretas de vazão, pressão e resistência. RESULTADOS: Foram observados índices de correlação de Spearman positivos (p < 0,05) entre o sistema de classificação arteriográfica pré-operatória proposto e as medidas hemodinâmicas ultrassonográficas pré-operatórias de volume de fluxo sanguíneo (p = 0,035) e as medidas diretas intraoperatórias de vazão (p = 0,006), pressão (p = 0,037) e resistência (p = 0,006). CONCLUSÃO: O método de classificação arteriográfica pré-operatória proposto pode definir a resistência do leito arterial a ser revascularizado e auxiliar na definição da conduta e do prognóstico da revascularização do membro inferior isquêmico.<br>BACKGROUND: Angiography is often used as the only preoperative method to define the therapeutic approach for ischemic lower limb revascularization, either by transluminal angioplasty or surgery. Today its use is still controversial. OBJECTIVE: To compare a simple method of angiographic classification with hemodynamic preoperative and intraoperative studies of the ischemic arterial bed in order to verify its efficacy in defining arterial bed resistance. METHODS: We analyzed 68 cases of surgical revascularization of ischemic lower limbs performed from July 1999 to July 2004 at the Division of Vascular Surgery of Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia. The characteristics of the graft recipient arterial runoff were studied and compared using the method of preoperative angiographic classification proposed by the authors, preoperative hemodynamic analysis by color duplex scanning, and intraoperative direct measurements of flow, pressure and resistance. RESULTS: Positive rates for Spearman correlation (p < 0.05) were observed between the preoperative angiographic classification proposed in this study and the preoperative ultrasound hemodynamic measurements of blood flow volume (p = 0.035) and direct intraoperative measurements of flow (p = 0.006), pressure (p = 0.037) and resistance (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: The preoperative method of angiographic classification proposed can assess the resistance of the arterial bed to be revascularized and help to define the approach and prognosis of the revascularization of ischemic lower limbs