Multi-Modality Imaging of Atheromatous Plaques in Peripheral Arterial Disease: Integrating Molecular and Imaging Markers

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common and debilitating condition characterized by the narrowing of the limb arteries, primarily due to atherosclerosis. Non-invasive multi-modality imaging approaches using computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and nuclear imaging have emerged as valuable tools for assessing PAD atheromatous plaques and vessel walls. This review provides an overview of these different imaging techniques, their advantages, limitations, and recent advancements. In addition, this review highlights the importance of molecular markers, including those related to inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and oxidative stress, in PAD pathophysiology. The potential of integrating molecular and imaging markers for an improved understanding of PAD is also discussed. Despite the promise of this integrative approach, there remain several challenges, including technical limitations in imaging modalities and the need for novel molecular marker discovery and validation. Addressing these challenges and embracing future directions in the field will be essential for maximizing the potential of molecular and imaging markers for improving PAD patient outcomes

2020 Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology Consensus Recommendations on Antithrombotic Management for High-risk Chronic Coronary Syndrome

The unique characteristics of patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) in the Asia-Pacific region, heterogeneous approaches because of differences in accesses and resources and low number of patients from the Asia-Pacific region in pivotal studies, mean that international guidelines cannot be routinely applied to these populations. The Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology developed these consensus recommendations to summarise current evidence on the management of CCS and provide recommendations to assist clinicians treat patients from the region. The consensus recommendations were developed by an expert consensus panel who reviewed and appraised the available literature, with focus on data from patients in Asia-Pacific. Consensus statements were developed then put to an online vote. The resulting recommendations provide guidance on the assessment and management of bleeding and ischaemic risks in Asian CCS patients. Furthermore, the selection of long-term antithrombotic therapy is discussed, including the role of single antiplatelet therapy, dual antiplatelet therapy and dual pathway inhibition therapy

Pooled analysis of WHO Surgical Safety Checklist use and mortality after emergency laparotomy

Background The World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist has fostered safe practice for 10 years, yet its place in emergency surgery has not been assessed on a global scale. The aim of this study was to evaluate reported checklist use in emergency settings and examine the relationship with perioperative mortality in patients who had emergency laparotomy. Methods In two multinational cohort studies, adults undergoing emergency laparotomy were compared with those having elective gastrointestinal surgery. Relationships between reported checklist use and mortality were determined using multivariable logistic regression and bootstrapped simulation. Results Of 12 296 patients included from 76 countries, 4843 underwent emergency laparotomy. After adjusting for patient and disease factors, checklist use before emergency laparotomy was more common in countries with a high Human Development Index (HDI) (2455 of 2741, 89.6 per cent) compared with that in countries with a middle (753 of 1242, 60.6 per cent; odds ratio (OR) 0.17, 95 per cent c.i. 0.14 to 0.21, P <0001) or low (363 of 860, 422 per cent; OR 008, 007 to 010, P <0.001) HDI. Checklist use was less common in elective surgery than for emergency laparotomy in high-HDI countries (risk difference -94 (95 per cent c.i. -11.9 to -6.9) per cent; P <0001), but the relationship was reversed in low-HDI countries (+121 (+7.0 to +173) per cent; P <0001). In multivariable models, checklist use was associated with a lower 30-day perioperative mortality (OR 0.60, 0.50 to 073; P <0.001). The greatest absolute benefit was seen for emergency surgery in low- and middle-HDI countries. Conclusion Checklist use in emergency laparotomy was associated with a significantly lower perioperative mortality rate. Checklist use in low-HDI countries was half that in high-HDI countries.Peer reviewe

Global variation in anastomosis and end colostomy formation following left-sided colorectal resection

Background End colostomy rates following colorectal resection vary across institutions in high-income settings, being influenced by patient, disease, surgeon and system factors. This study aimed to assess global variation in end colostomy rates after left-sided colorectal resection. Methods This study comprised an analysis of GlobalSurg-1 and -2 international, prospective, observational cohort studies (2014, 2016), including consecutive adult patients undergoing elective or emergency left-sided colorectal resection within discrete 2-week windows. Countries were grouped into high-, middle- and low-income tertiles according to the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). Factors associated with colostomy formation versus primary anastomosis were explored using a multilevel, multivariable logistic regression model. Results In total, 1635 patients from 242 hospitals in 57 countries undergoing left-sided colorectal resection were included: 113 (6·9 per cent) from low-HDI, 254 (15·5 per cent) from middle-HDI and 1268 (77·6 per cent) from high-HDI countries. There was a higher proportion of patients with perforated disease (57·5, 40·9 and 35·4 per cent; P < 0·001) and subsequent use of end colostomy (52·2, 24·8 and 18·9 per cent; P < 0·001) in low- compared with middle- and high-HDI settings. The association with colostomy use in low-HDI settings persisted (odds ratio (OR) 3·20, 95 per cent c.i. 1·35 to 7·57; P = 0·008) after risk adjustment for malignant disease (OR 2·34, 1·65 to 3·32; P < 0·001), emergency surgery (OR 4·08, 2·73 to 6·10; P < 0·001), time to operation at least 48 h (OR 1·99, 1·28 to 3·09; P = 0·002) and disease perforation (OR 4·00, 2·81 to 5·69; P < 0·001). Conclusion Global differences existed in the proportion of patients receiving end stomas after left-sided colorectal resection based on income, which went beyond case mix alone

Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) of an Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) in a Young Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

: Introduction: While hypertension, pericardial, myocardial, and coronary artery disease are common cardiovascular manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), aortic aneurysms (AA) are rare but increasingly diagnosed, with the true incidence unknown. Case report: A 40 year old female suffering from SLE with a 5.3 cm saccular eccentric infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) was treated successfully with endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) using the Medtronic Endurant II bifurcated stent graft and followed up 2 years post-operatively. Pre-operatively, open and EVAR options were offered and the latter was chosen by the patient. Discussion: Proposed mechanisms for AA formation in SLE including accelerated atherosclerosis brought about by chronic steroid use and SLE associated vasculitis and cystic medial degeneration (CMD) have been discussed in other case reports and series. To the authors' knowledge, the use of EVAR for AAA in SLE patients has not been reported in available literature. The need for earlier repair, screening, and detection as well as the long-term suitability, durability, and surveillance of EVAR remain unknown. The benefit of using the Ovation device in minimising late neck dilatation is also discussed. Conclusion: EVAR was demonstrated to be a suitable form of repair in a young female patient with SLE and AAA, followed up 2 years post-surgery. The ideal repair and the natural history of these aneurysms remains to be studied. Keywords: Endovascular aneurysm repair, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Abdominal aortic aneurys

Outcomes following peritoneal dialysis catheter removal with reinsertion or permanent transfer to haemodialysis

Introduction: Long-term use of peritoneal dialysis catheter is associated with complications such as infection and malfunction, necessitating removal of catheter with subsequent reinsertion or permanent transfer to haemodialysis. This study aims to investigate the outcome in patients who underwent reinsertion. Methods and materials: A single-centre retrospective study was performed in Singapore General Hospital for all adult incident peritoneal dialysis patients between January 2011 and January 2016. Study data were retrieved from patient electronic medical records up till 1 January 2017. Results: A total of 470 patients had peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion with median follow-up period of 29.2 (interquartile range = 16.7–49.7) months. A total of 92 patients required catheter removal. Thirty-six (39%) patients underwent catheter reinsertion. The overall technique survival at 3 and 12 months were 83% and 67%. Median time to technique failure of the second catheter was 6.74 (interquartile range = 0–50.2) months. The mean survival for patients who converted to haemodialysis and re-attempted peritoneal dialysis was comparable (54.9 ± 5.5 vs 57.3 ± 3.6 months; p = 0.75). Twelve (13%) patients had contraindication for peritoneal dialysis and were excluded from analysis. Of 11 patients who required catheter removal due to malfunction, 7 (64%) underwent catheter reinsertion and 6 (86%) patients ultimately converted to haemodialysis during study period. Of the 69 patients who had catheter removal due to infection, 29 (42%) underwent catheter reinsertion and 8 (28%) patients eventually converted to haemodialysis during the study period. Conclusion: Patient survival was comparable between patients who re-attempted peritoneal dialysis and patients who transferred to haemodialysis. Patients who had previous catheter removal due to infections had favourable technique survival than those due to catheter malfunction.Accepted versio

A pilot study on adjunctive use of parametric colour-coded digital subtraction angiography in endovascular interventions of haemodialysis access

Abstract Background Two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is the gold standard for angiographic evaluation of dysfunctional haemodialysis access. We aim to investigate the utility of parametric colour coded DSA in providing hemodynamic analysis during haemodialysis access interventions. Methods We retrospectively studied 20 patients who underwent access intervention and applied parametric colour-coding on selected DSA acquisitions before and after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). The difference in time to peak (dTTP) contrast enhancement and time attenuation curve (TAC) of pre- and post-stenotic regions of interest (ROIs) were obtained and compared after treatment. Results Improvements were seen in mean percent of stenosis after PTA (p < 0.0001) for all cases. Median dTTP improved from 0.52 (IQR 0.26, 0.8) to 0.25 (IQR 0, 0.26) seconds (p = 0.001). Median 50% contrast washout time improved from 0.77 (IQR 0.39, 1.17) to 0.42 (IQR 0.23, 0.59) seconds (p = 0.031). Significant correlation was seen for dTTP vs. percent of stenosis (r = 0.723, p = 0.043) pre-PTA and for change in dTTP vs. percent change in stenosis post-PTA (r = 0.786, p = 0.021) for inflow lesions. Such correlation was however not seen in outflow lesions. Conclusions Adjunctive use of parametric colour-coded DSA may provide potentially useful hemodynamic information during vascular access interventions. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate our findings