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The aim of this article is to assess the most studied anthropometric measurements in a population of patients with vascular disease (VD) such as chronic venous disease (CVD), carotid stenosis (CS), abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), and peripheral artery disease (PAD). This is a cross sectional study that recruited consecutive patients with VD (CVD, CS, AAA, PAD) referred to Vascular Surgery Units of two hospitals in the period July 2019–March 2022. Several anthropometric measurements such as height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-BMI, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), A Body Shape Index (ABSI), waist-to-stature ratio (WSR) were recorded. In a one-way ANOVA test, no statistical significance for all anthropometric variables were found, but the post hoc analysis performed with Tuckey test, show significant difference for height (p-value: 0.017) and WHR (p-value: 0.005) when compared AAA and CS groups with CVD, respectively. Height seems positively associated with AAA, and negatively associated with CVD. WHR seems positively associated with CS and negatively associated with CVD. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of anthropometric measures as independent predictors for vascular disease onset, progression, and response to treatments.

Background: The aim of study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of 3 different commercial iliac branch devices (IBDs): the Zenith Branch Iliac Endovascular Graft; the Gore Excluder Iliac Branch System and the E-liac Stent Graft System for the treatment of aorto-iliac or iliac aneurysms. Methods: From January 2017 to February 2020, a retrospective reviewed was conducted on a total of 96 patients. Primary endpoint was IBD instability rate at 24 months. Secondary endpoints included onset of any endoleaks, buttock claudication, IBD-related reintervention and all-death rates, postoperative acute kidney, and changes in maximum diameter from baseline of the aortic aneurysmal sac. Results: At 24months, the branch instability rate was similar among the 3 IBDs employed [Jotec 1/24 (4.1%), Gore 1/12 (8.3%), Cook 6/47 (12.7%), P-value=0.502]. As well, no statistical difference in terms of branch occlusion and branch-related endoleaks was observed. The Jotec group showed a significant decrease in maximum diameter from the baseline of the aortic aneurysmal sac when compared to the Gore group alone. No other differences were found relevant to the onset of any endoleaks, reinterventions, and all-death rates. At 24 months, the Kaplan-Meier estimate of survival freedom from any branch instability was 95.8%, 91.6%, and 86.8% for Jotec, Gore and Cook groups, respectively. Conclusions: The use of IBDs represents a safe method for preserving patency of the IIA during treatment of aorto-iliac or iliac aneurysms providing a low rate of IBD instability.

Wounds are a major public health challenge for nurses, and poor wound care has important implications for patients and health care systems. The aim of this study is to assess the Italian registered nurses’ (RNs) perception in the area of wound care, regarding their knowledge, tasks of care delivery, wound management, values, and attitudes, exploring also the previous specific education received during nursing education. An observational online web-based survey was used to assess learning goals and content for wound care education in undergraduate nursing education and the skills and level of self-efficacy in this area during clinical practice. The data were collected between April and May 2022. A total of 210 RNs were interviewed and divided into five national geographic areas. Northwestern RNs showed a better education about the wound care area during university courses: the rate of RNs that did not receive any training in the wound care area was lower than in other Italian geographical areas. Southern RNs presented a better knowledge about factors that expose the wound to becoming chronic, wound drains care, and the ability to assess diabetic foot. This study showed that, in Italy, education in wound care among nursing students is relatively poor, and many skills are achieved during an RN’s career in an empirical way.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) should be considered as the preferred treatment modality for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm for patients with suitable anatomy and reasonable life expectancy. Surgical cut-down of both femoral arteries during EVAR procedure is associated with an increased risk of local complications. Therefore, nowadays most EVAR procedures are performed with a totally percutaneous approach. METHODS: Based on the evaluation of the Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) variation, the purpose of this study was to evaluate possible hemodynamic alterations on arterial perfusion of the lower limbs in two different types of access for EVAR procedures: totally percutaneous (p-EVAR) and EVAR with surgical access (s-EVAR). RESULTS: Our study considered 38 patients (36 men, mean age of 70.6±8.3 years) subjected to EVAR procedure between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2020. The variation in pre- and postoperative ABI values (∆ ABI) and procedure-related complications rate were considered as primary outcomes. The p-EVAR group consisted of 27 patients (92.6% males, mean age of 72.3±8.6) while the s-EVAR group was composed by 11 patients (100% males, mean age of 69±8.1). The follow-up period was ranged from a minimum of 6 to a maximum of 12.3 months. In particular, the pre- and postoperative Δ ABI and the procedure-related complications rate, both considered as primary outcomes, did not show any significant difference between two groups, and in both groups, the technical success rate was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Pre- and postoperative Δ ABI and the procedure-related complications rate, did not show any significant difference between two groups. We can confirm that percutaneous access is safe, and its use should be encouraged when any contraindication on his employment does not exist.

Background Selective crossectomy and mechanochemical ablation (MOCA) of great saphenous vein (GSV) have been used, for years, individually in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. In this paper, we focus on the advantages of a combination of the two techniques, in order to prevent complications and recurrence. Methods A preoperative clinical and instrumental screening phase was conducted for the purpose of dividing patients into three groups: “Saph+Cross” group (51/139 patients) underwent saphenectomy and crossectomy; “MOCA” group (44/139 patients) underwent MOCA of GSV with Flebogrif® device; “MOCA + Cross” group (44/139 patients) subjected to both MOCA and crossectomy procedures. Recurrence rate, defined as total recanalization of GSV and/or onset of neosaphena and/or new varicose veins, was used as a primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were procedural time and intra- and post-procedural complications. Results We conducted a 1-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up with Duplex scan. The recurrence rates were 3.9%, 21.8%, and 4.5% for “Saph+Cross,” “MOCA,” and “MOCA+Cross,” respectively, with a significant difference for the comparison between “MOCA” and “Saph+Cross” (MOCA vs Saph+Cross: OR 5.35, CI95% [0.98; 54.6], p-value .040). The sub-analysis of primary outcome highlighted a lower recanalization rate of GSV when combining the crossectomy with MOCA procedure (2.2% MOCA+Cross vs 15.9% MOCA; 0.12 OR, [0.002; 1.02] CI95%, p-value .029). Among the secondary outcomes, “MOCA” showed a shorter procedural time than the other groups (Saph+Cross: 51.3 ± 11.4; MOCA: 45.1 ± 7.5; MOCA+Cross: 50.4 ± 10; p-value .027). No significant differences were noted in terms of intra- and post-procedural complications. Conclusions The results showed that patients treated with saphenectomy and crossectomy have a lower recurrence rate compared to MOCA alone and MOCA + crossectomy procedures. The association of crossectomy with MOCA significantly reduces the recanalization rate of GSV, and it is also characterized by a higher free survival from recurrence (SSF) than with MOCA alone.

The Mediterranean Federation for the Advancing of Vascular Surgery (MeFAVS) was founded in 2018, with the aim to promote cooperation among vascular professionals within Mediterranean countries. Due to its prominent social and economic impact on national health systems, diabetic peripheral artery was selected as the very first topic to be investigated by the federation. In this second paper, different experiences from delegates of participating countries were shared to define common strategies to harmonize, standardize, and optimize education and training in the Vascular Surgery specialty.