Transcarotid artery stenting for carotid artery pseudoaneurysm using flow reversal technique.

Carotid artery pseudoaneurysm results mostly from direct trauma, prior endarterectomy, prior dissection, radiation, and infections. There are many different surgical and endovascular treatment options for repair, and the choice of treatment depends on patient-, surgeon-, and institute-related factors. Studies have reported the efficacy of various endovascular techniques for aneurysm repair, including stent graft placement and coil embolization, with promising short- and long-term outcomes. In this report, we describe two cases of carotid artery pseudoaneurysm (after trauma and after carotid endarterectomy) treated successfully through transcarotid artery stenting using the flow reversal technique to minimize the risk of embolization and stroke

Acute limb ischemia from gunshot wound secondary to arterial vasospasm.

Gunshot wounds are rising in incidence, morbidity, and mortality. It is thought that about half of nonfatal injuries occur in an extremity. Although the incidence is not known, arterial vasospasm can result in acute limb ischemia. We present the case of a 33-year-old man who suffered a gunshot wound to the left lower extremity resulting in arterial vasospasm of the superficial femoral artery. He quickly regained arterial flow, and we were able to manage his acute limb ischemia nonoperatively and to document restoration of flow through serial examinations and Doppler imaging. He was subsequently discharged the next day and is experiencing a full recovery

Management of tibioperoneal trunk aneurysm in a patient with Behçet disease.

Only a few cases of infrapopliteal aneurysms are reported in the literature. These are commonly associated with trauma, infection, and iatrogenic injuries and mostly present as pseudoaneurysms. We report the case of a 44-year-old man with Behçet disease and an 8-cm tibioperoneal trunk aneurysm and discuss the management options of these aneurysms

Technique and Role of Embolization using Ethylene Vinyl-Alcohol Copolymer before Carotid Body Tumor Resection.

A 45-year old female referred for a large carotid body tumor resection. The tumor was encasing the internal (ICA) and external carotid arteries (ECA). She underwent angiogram and embolization of the ascending pharyngeal artery and a distal branch of the ECA using ethylene vinyl-alcohol copolymer (EVOH). Two days later, surgical resection of the tumor with regional lymph node dissection was performed along with an interposition reversed vein graft anastomosis between the mid common carotid and distal ICA. Devascularization of carotid body tumor can be performed using EVOH delivered through trans-arterial and percutaneous routes. Embolization may facilitate surgical resection and decrease blood loss but does not decrease the rate of neurological complications. Embolization can be performed by the vascular surgeon before a large carotid body tumor resection with minimal migration and or stroke risk

In-Hospital Outcomes of Urgent, Early, or Late Revascularization for Symptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis

Background and purposeAdvancements in carotid revascularization have produced promising outcomes in patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. However, the optimal timing of revascularization procedures after symptomatic presentation remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to compare in-hospital outcomes of transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR), transfemoral carotid stenting (TFCAS), or carotid endarterectomy (CEA) performed within different time intervals after most recent symptoms.MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study of United States patients in the vascular quality initiative. All carotid revascularizations performed for symptomatic carotid artery stenosis between September 2016 and November 2019 were included. Procedures were categorized as urgent (0-2 days after most recent symptom), early (3-14 days), or late (15-180 days). The primary outcome of interest was in-hospital stroke and death. Secondary outcomes include in-hospital stroke, death, and transient ischemic attacks. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare outcomes.ResultsA total of 18 643 revascularizations were included: 2006 (10.8%) urgent, 7423 (39.8%) early, and 9214 (49.42%) late. Patients with TFCAS had the highest rates of stroke/death at all timing cohorts (urgent: 4.0% CEA, 6.9% TFCAS, 6.5% TCAR, P=0.018; early: 2.5% CEA, 3.8% TFCAS, 2.9% TCAR, P=0.054; late: 1.6% CEA, 2.8% TFCAS, 2.3% TCAR, P=0.003). TFCAS also had increased odds of in-hospital stroke/death compared with CEA in all 3 groups (urgent adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.7 [95% CI, 1.0-2.9] P=0.03; early aOR, 1.6 [95% CI, 1.1-2.4] P=0.01; and late aOR, 1.9 [95% CI, 1.2-3.0] P=0.01). TCAR and CEA had comparable odds of in-hospital stroke/death in all 3 groups (urgent aOR, 1.9 [95% CI, 0.9-4], P=0.10), (early aOR, 1.1 [95% CI, 0.7-1.7], P=0.66), (late aOR, 1.5 [95% CI, 0.9-2.3], P=0.08).ConclusionsCEA remains the safest method of revascularization within the urgent period. Among revascularization performed outside of the 48 hours, TCAR and CEA have comparable outcomes

Mortality variability after endovascular versus open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in a large tertiary vascular center using a Medicare-derived risk prediction model

ObjectivePrevious reports have documented better outcomes after open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair in tertiary centers compared with lower-volume hospitals, but outcome variability for endovascular AAA repair (EVAR) vs open AAA repairs in a large tertiary center using a Medicare-derived mortality risk prediction model has not been previously reported. In the current study, we compared the observed vs predicted mortality after EVAR and open AAA repair in a single large tertiary vascular center.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed all patients who underwent repair of a nonruptured infrarenal AAA in our center from 2003 to 2012. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to evaluate 30-day mortality. Patients were stratified into low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk groups, and mortality was predicted for each patient based on demographics and comorbidities according to the Medicare risk prediction model.ResultsWe analyzed 297 patients (EVAR, 72%; open AAA repair, 28%; symptomatic, 25%). Most of our patients were of high and moderate risk (48% and 28%, respectively). The observed 30-day mortality was 1.9% after EVAR vs 2.4% after open repair (odds ratio [OR], 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14-4.29; P = .67). There was no difference in mortality with EVAR vs open repair after adjusting for predefined patient characteristics (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.16-7.43; P = .93); only preoperative renal disease was predictive of 30-day mortality after AAA repair in our cohort (OR, 8.39; 95% CI, 1.41-67.0). The observed mortality within our study was significantly lower than the Medicare-derived expected mortality for each treatment group within patients stratified as high risk or medium risk (P ≤ .0002 for all).ConclusionsDespite treating patients with high preoperative risk status, we report a 10-fold decrease in operative mortality for EVAR and open AAA repair in a tertiary vascular center compared with national Medicare-derived predictions. High-risk patients should be considered for aneurysm management in dedicated aortic centers, regardless of approach

Exertional Dyspnea as a Symptom of Infrarenal Aortic Occlusive Disease

Advanced atherosclerosis of the aorta can cause severe ischemia in the kidneys, refractory hypertension, and claudication. However, no previous reports have clearly associated infrarenal aortic stenosis with shortness of breath. A 77-year-old woman with hypertension and hyperlipidemia presented with exertional dyspnea. Despite extensive testing and observation, no apparent cause for this patient\u27s dyspnea was found. Images revealed severe infrarenal aortic stenosis. After the patient underwent stenting of the aortic occlusion, she had immediate symptomatic improvement and complete resolution of her dyspnea within one month. Twelve months after vascular intervention, the patient remained asymptomatic. In view of the distinct and lasting elimination of dyspnea after angioplasty and stenting of a nearly occluded infrarenal aortic lesion, we hypothesize that infrarenal aortic stenosis might be a treatable cause of exertional dyspnea. Clinicians should consider infrarenal aortic stenosis as a possible cause of dyspnea. Treatment of the stenosis might relieve symptoms

Closed incision negative pressure therapy:international multidisciplinary consensus recommendations

Surgical site occurrences (SSOs) affect up to or over 25% of patients undergoing operative procedures, with the subset of surgical site infections (SSIs) being the most common. Commercially available closed incision negative pressure therapy (ciNPT) may offer surgeons an additional option to manage clean, closed surgical incisions. We conducted an extensive literature search for studies describing ciNPT use and assembled a diverse panel of experts to create consensus recommendations for when using ciNPT may be appropriate. A literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials using key words \u2018prevention\u2019, \u2018negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT)\u2019, \u2018active incisional management\u2019, \u2018incisional vacuum therapy\u2019, \u2018incisional NPWT\u2019, \u2018incisional wound VAC\u2019, \u2018closed incisional NPWT\u2019, \u2018wound infection\u2019, and \u2018SSIs\u2019 identified peer-reviewed studies published from 2000 to 2015. During a multidisciplinary consensus meeting, the 12 experts reviewed the literature, presented their own ciNPT experiences, identified risk factors for SSOs and developed comprehensive consensus recommendations. A total of 100 publications satisfied the search requirements for ciNPT use. A majority presented data supporting ciNPT use. Numerous publications reported SSI risk factors, with the most common including obesity (body mass index 6530 kg/m2); diabetes mellitus; tobacco use; or prolonged surgical time. We recommend that the surgeon assess the individual patient's risk factors and surgical risks. Surgeons should consider using ciNPT for patients at high risk for developing SSOs or who are undergoing a high-risk procedure or a procedure that would have highly morbid consequences if an SSI occurred

Results of the ANCHOR prospective, multicenter registry of EndoAnchors for type Ia endoleaks and endograft migration in patients with challenging anatomy

ObjectiveProximal attachment site complications continue to occur after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (EVAR), specifically type Ia endoleak and endograft migration. EndoAnchors (Aptus Endosystems, Sunnyvale, Calif) were designed to enhance endograft proximal fixation and sealing, and the current study was undertaken to evaluate the potential benefit of this treatment.MethodsDuring the 23-month period ending in December 2013, 319 subjects were enrolled at 43 sites in the United States and Europe. EndoAnchors were implanted in 242 patients (75.9%) at the time of an initial EVAR procedure (primary arm) and in 77 patients with an existing endograft and proximal aortic neck complications (revision arm). Technical success was defined as deployment of the desired number of EndoAnchors, adequate penetration of the vessel wall, and absence of EndoAnchor fracture. Procedural success was defined as technical success without a type Ia endoleak at completion angiography. Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation and interquartile range.ResultsThe 238 male (74.6%) and 81 female (25.4%) subjects had a mean age of 74.1 ± 8.2 years. Aneurysms averaged 58 ± 13 (51-63) mm in diameter at the time of EndoAnchor implantation (core laboratory measurements). The proximal aortic neck averaged 16 ± 13 (7-23) mm in length (42.7% <10 mm and 42.7% conical) and 27 ± 4 mm (25-30 mm) in diameter; infrarenal neck angulation was 24 ± 15 (13-34) degrees. The number of EndoAnchors deployed was 5.8 ± 2.1 (4-7). Technical success was achieved in 303 patients (95.0%) and procedural success in 279 patients (87.5%), 217 of 240 (89.7%) and 62 of 77 (80.5%) in the primary and revision arms, respectively. There were 29 residual type Ia endoleaks (9.1%) at the end of the procedure. During mean follow-up of 9.3 ± 4.7 months, 301 patients (94.4%) were free from secondary procedures. Among the 18 secondary procedures, eight were performed for residual type Ia endoleaks and the others were unrelated to EndoAnchors. There were no open surgical conversions, there were no aneurysm-related deaths, and no aneurysm ruptured during follow-up.ConclusionsUse of EndoAnchors to treat existing and acute type Ia endoleaks and endograft migration was successful in most cases. Prophylactic use of EndoAnchors in patients with hostile aortic neck anatomy appears promising, but definitive conclusions must await longer term follow-up data