Editor's Choice – European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) 2023 Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Atherosclerotic Carotid and Vertebral Artery Disease

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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

Cystic Adventitial Disease of the Popliteal Artery: Radical Surgical Treatment After Several Failed Approaches. A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Adventitial cystic disease is a rare nonatheromatous cause of popliteal artery disease. We report the case of a 49-year-old male patient who presented with left calf claudication caused by adventitial cystic disease. Popliteal artery resection followed by autologous vein graft interposition and Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty (PTA) stenting led to recurrence. The patient was finally successfully treated by bypass with autologous vein. No postoperative complications occurred, and patency was preserved at 33-month follow-up. Several different treatment options are possible; however, a primary radical surgical treatment with extra-anatomical medial bypass with autologous vein seems preferable

Endovascular Treatment of a Ruptured Superficial Femoral Artery Aneurysm in Behcet's Disease: Case Report and Literature Review

Purpose: The aim of the study was to report the endovascular repair of a ruptured superficial femoral artery (SFA) aneurysm in a young patient with Behcet's disease and review the literature. Case Report: A 43-year-old man with a known history of vasculo-Behcet's disease (v-BD) under daily immunosuppressive therapy presented with a ruptured aneurysm of the left SFA. The patient underwent urgent endovascular exclusion of the aneurysm using a self-expanding covered stent. Surgical cut-down followed by direct puncture of the SFA was preferred to percutaneous approach to reduce the risk of postoperative pseudoaneurysm formation. The procedure and postoperative recovery were successful. Doppler ultrasound performed at 3 months and computed tomography angiography performed at 6 months after the procedure confirmed aneurysm exclusion, the endograft patency, and the absence of aneurysm degeneration both at the level of surgical access and endograft landing zone. Conclusions: The endovascular treatment of ruptured lower limb aneurysms has been scarcely reported in the literature despite representing the less invasive option. A rare case of ruptured aneurysm SFA in a patient with v-BD was successfully treated with endovascular therapy (ET) and led to satisfactory midterm outcomes. ET offers encouraging results in terms of reduced vessel trauma and reduced postoperative complication rates

VAscular and Endovascular Consensus Update 2017

Data form randomised controlled trials shown endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) to be associated with lower 30-day morbidity than the open repair. the faesibility and effectivfeness of EVAR depend on specific anatomic aortioiliac features. after proximal neck atonomy, the challenging iliac-femoral access (small diameter, severe angulations/tortuosity, exstensive calcification and occlusive disease) represent the second excluding factor for EVAR

Platelet Depletion after Thoraco-Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Endovascular Repair is Associated with Clinically Relevant Hemorrhagic Complications

Background: Thoraco-abdominal endovascular aortic repair (TA-EVAR) can be associated with platelet depletion (PD); the present study aims to evaluate PD incidence after TA-EVAR and to investigate its possible predictors and its influence on hemorrhagic complications and mortality. Methods:A retrospective analysis of all TA-EVAR from 2010 to 2021 was performed to identify patients with PD, (reduction > 60%). Spontaneous hemorrhages considered were: intracranial or any hemorrhages requiring surgery. Risk factors for PD, correlation with hemorrhagic complications and 30-day mortality were investigated by uni/multivariate analysis. Results:A total of 158 TA-EVAR were considered, 35(22%) female, 86(54%) extended thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) (Crawford type I, II, III), 79(50%) staged procedure, 31(20%) urgent treatment (symptomatic/ruptured). PD was identified in 42 (27%) patients and correlated to female sex, thrombus-free aortic lumen > 50mm, urgent treatment, extensive TAAA, blood transfusion >3 units and staged procedure at the univariate analysis. The multivariate analysis confirmed a significant correlation between PD and thrombus-free aortic lumen > 50mm, urgent treatment, blood transfusion > 3 units and staged procedure (odds ratio [OR]: 2.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–7.0), P = 0.04, OR 3.2 (95% CI 1.01–8.6), P= 0.03, OR 3.16 (95% CI 1.23–7.7), P = 0.03 and OR 2.71 (95% CI 1.2–6.2), P= 0.04, respectively). Overall, 13 hemorrhagic complications occurred (8 intracranial and 5 peripheral); PD was associated with higher risk of hemorrhagic complications (9/42 – 21% vs. 4/116 – 3%, OR: 7.6 [95% CI: 2.2–26.3], P= 0.001) and a higher risk of 30-day mortality in elective cases 4/25 – 16% vs. 3/101 – 3%, OR: 6.2 (95% CI: 1.3–29.8), P= 0.03. Conclusions:PD is a relatively common event after TA-EVAR and is associated with thrombus-free aortic lumen > 50mm, urgent treatment, blood transfusion > 3 units and staged procedure. Hemorrhagic complications and mortality are increased under these circumstances

The Clinical Impact of Splanchnic Ischemia on Patients Affected by Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms Treated with Fenestrated and Branched Endografts

Background: Fenestrated/branched endografts for aortic repair (FB-EVAR) are valid options to treat thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs). Successful repair requires manipulation of target visceral vessels (TVVs) with possible splanchnic ischemia. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical impact of splanchnic ischemia occurring in FB-EVAR for TAAA. Methods: Between 2010 and 2015, patients with TAAAs undergoing FB-EVAR were prospectively enrolled. Clinical, morphological, procedural, and 30-day data were evaluated. Splanchnic ischemia was defined as the presence of splanchnic ischemic lesions (SILs) visible at perioperative computed tomography angiography. Preoperative, postoperative, and 30-day hepatic/pancreatic/renal laboratory functions were analyzed. End points were incidence of SILs, laboratory splanchnic functions worsening ( 6525% of baseline), and presence of related clinical/morphological and procedural risk factors. Results: Thirty-six patients (male: 78%; age: 73 \ub1 7 years) with 27 (75%) type I-III and 9 (25%) type IV TAAA who underwent FB-EVAR for a total of 127 TVV (branches: 47\u201360%; fenestrations: 53\u201367%). Fourteen SILs occurred in 12 (33%) patients: 4 (29%) in pancreas, 3 (21%) in spleen, 2 (14%) in bowel, 5 (36%) in kidney. The cause was embolic in 79% and thrombotic in 21%. No preoperative clinical/morphological data or procedural data were correlated with SIL. Pancreatic, hepatic, or renal function worsening occurred at 24 hr in 16 (44%), 16 (44%), and 9 (25%) cases, respectively. Overall, SILs were associated with increased values of C-reactive protein (CRP) (17.9 \ub1 0.4 vs. 9.9 \ub1 9.0 mg/dL; P = 0.03) and bilirubin (1.2 \ub1 2.3 vs. 1.0 \ub1 0.5 mg/dL; P = 0.02) at 24 hr. Specifically, SIL of the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric and renal arteries' parenchyma were associated with the significant laboratory function changes 24 hr. SIL of the superior mesenteric artery was associated with increased 30-day mortality (50% vs. 7 %; P = 0.002). Pancreatic, hepatic, or renal function worsening occurred at 30 days in 2 (6%), 0 (0%), and 4 (12%) cases, with similar laboratory tests in patients with and without SIL. Conclusions: SIL can be frequently detected after FB-EVAR for TAAA and appears mainly of embolic origin. No clinical, morphological, or procedural predictors could be identified in our series. Postoperative laboratory changes of CRP, bilirubin, activated partial thromboplastin time, and amylases are associated with SIL but disappear without clinical consequences within 30 days. However, SIL occurring in the superior mesenteric artery are associated with an increased 30-day mortality

Total Endovascular Repair of Contained Ruptured Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Background: To report perioperative and 1-year results of total endovascular repair of contained ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs). Methods: Between 2015 and 2017, preoperative, procedural, and postoperative data of patients with radiographic evidence of contained ruptured TAAAs treated by endovascular repair were prospectively collected. Only patients with stable hemodynamic parameters were enclosed. Primary endpoints were 30-day/in-hospital mortality, spinal cord ischemia (SCI), postoperative cardiopulmonary complications, and new onset of hemodialysis. Secondary endpoints were endoleaks, reinterventions, and overall follow-up survival. Results: Twelve patients underwent endovascular repair for contained ruptured TAAAs. According with the Crawford/Safi's classification, 6 type II (50%), 3 type III (25%), 1 type IV (8%), and 2 type V (17%) TAAAs were treated. All patients were symptomatic. Overall, 34 target visceral vessels were planned to be revascularized. The mean time from admission to treatment was 48 hours (range 4\u201396), with 4 patients operated within 24 hours. Five patients (42%) were treated by T-branch, 3 (25%) by custom-made fenestrated/branched endografts, 3 (25%) by parallel graft technique, and 1 (8%) by standard thoracic endovascular aortic repair covering a stenotic celiac trunk. The 30-day and in-hospital mortality was 17% and 25%, respectively. Two patients (17%) developed SCI. Cardiac and pulmonary complications were reported in 1 (8%) and 3 (25%) cases, respectively. One patient (8%) needed permanent hemodialysis. Two endoleaks (17%) were detected at the postoperative computed tomography angiography (1 low-flow gutter endoleak and 1 type III endoleak). Four patients (33%) required re-interventions within 30 postoperative days. The mean follow-up was 12 months (range 1\u201322). No late target visceral vessels occlusion, endoleak, or reintervention occurred in this series. Overall, 7/12 (59%) patients were alive, and no cases of TAAA-related mortality occurred during follow-up. Conclusions: According to our results, endovascular repair of contained ruptured TAAAs is feasible by a flexible approach in selected patients with anatomical suitability and stable hemodynamic conditions. Although early mortality and morbidity are significant, with frequent reintervention necessity, subsequent follow-up is free from reinterventions and TAAA-related mortality

The endovascular treatment of juxta-renal abdominal aortic aneurysm using fenestrated endograft: early and mid-term results

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the early and mid-term results of the endovascular treatment of juxta-renal abdominal aortic aneurysms (j-AAA) using fenestrated endograft (FEVAR). METHODS: Between 2008 to 2013 all consecutive patients underwent FEVAR using Cook-Zenith fenestrated endograft for treating j-AAA (proximal neck length <5 mm) with renal aortic α/β angle <60°, were prospectively collected in a database. Cardiovascular risk factors, comorbidities, aortic-iliac morphological features, intra and post-procedural data were analyzed. Preoperative FEVARplanning was performed by a thoraco-abdominal computer tomography angiography (CTA) and the 3D/Center Lumen Line reconstructions (3mensio Medical Imaging, Bilthoven, The Netherlands). Follow-up was conducted by duplex ultrasound (DUS)/ contrast enhancement DUS (CEUS) and/or CTA at 1, 6, and 12 months, and yearly thereafter. Early endpoints were technical (TS) and clinical success (CS), renal function worsening (≥30% of preoperative creatinine value) and type I/III endoleak. Mid-term endpoints were: Type I/III endoleak, target visceral vessels patency, j-AAA shrinkage, freedom from reintervention and survival. RESULTS: Twenty patients (94.7% of whom male; mean age: 73.4±5.9 years; ASA≥3: 100%) were enrolled. The mean neck length and j-AAA diameter were 2±1.4 mm (range: 0-4 mm) and 54.9±5 mm, respectively. Eleven (55%) endograft with two fenestrations and a scallop, 8 (45%) with three fenestrations and a scallop, and one (5%) with one fenestration and a scallop were implanted. Sixty-seven visceral vessels were re-vascularized. TS and CS were 100% and 95%, respectively (1/20 30-day mortality). Perioperative renal function worsening was observed in 15% of cases. The mean follow-up was 25±20 months (range: 2-72 months). No type I/III endoleak or occlusion of target visceral vessels occurred. There was j-AAA shrinkage in 65% of patients and no cases of j-AAA enlargement were observed. There were no FEVAR-related reinterventions. Survival at 12, 24, and 36 months were 89.4%, 80.5%, and 80.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, the endovascular treatment for j-AAA, with α/β angle <60°, is safe and effective