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Purpose The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate and compare rates of unplanned reoperation and complications after undergoing either fronto-orbital advancement (anterior cranial vault expansion) or posterior cranial vault expansion as an early surgery in the management of syndromic craniosynostosis. Methods A literature search was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Relevant articles were identified in 2 electronic databases (PubMed and EMBASE) from the time of electronic publication to November 2020. Quality assessment and risk of bias were appraised using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. A meta-analysis was performed comparing rates of reoperation and complications between subjects who underwent anterior or posterior cranial vault expansion as an early surgery. Results Of 1,373 screened records, 7 met inclusion criteria. Six were included in the meta-analysis. The studies that met inclusion criteria reported on 103 patients treated with anterior techniques and 72 patients treated with a posterior approach. Anterior cranial vault expansion was associated with significantly higher rates of reoperation (Peto OR = 2.83; 95% CI = 1.19, 6.74, P = 0.02) and complications (Peto OR = 2.61; 95% CI = 1.12, 6.12, P = 0.03) when compared to posterior cranial vault expansion. Conclusions Both anterior and posterior approaches are suitable options in the treatment of syndromic craniosynostosis depending on patient specific factors. Anterior cranial vault expansion was associated with higher rates of unplanned reoperation and complications when compared to posterior techniques in this analysis. Due to the paucity of literature which met inclusion criteria, this study was not able to assess critical outcome variables such as distance distracted/volumetric expansion, estimated blood loss, and cost. Larger studies evaluating both techniques under multiple institutions with long-term follow-up are indicated.

Background Endovascular revascularization (ER) via percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and stenting are viable options for revascularization in below-the-knee (BTK) peripheral arterial disease . Two-dimensional angiography has been the standard of practice for estimating vessel size and selecting treatment devices during ER. However, in other vascular territories, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) offers better visualization of the lumen dimensions. Purpose To compare angiographic and intravascular ultrasound reference vessel (lumen) measurements in below-the-knee peripheral artery interventions. Methods 20 consecutive patients were enrolled in the BTK Calibration study from 2 sites in the United States and Australia. Patients with at least one diseased segment in a native infra-popliteal artery (below-the-knee) and a clinical indication for endovascular therapy (EVT) were included with no limitations with regards to vessel diameter or lesion length. Digital subtraction angiography and intravascular ultrasound imaging were collected pre-and post-percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and images were sent to an independent Core lab for standardized quantitative analysis of the normal-looking reference vessel dimensions when available. The results were presented as least square means with 95% confidence intervals and a p-value of Results The overall (N = 19) mean reference vessel diameter for QVA was 2.98 ± 1.24 vs. 3.47 ± 0.72 for IVUS (mean difference was −0.50, (95% CI: −0.80, −0.20; p = 0.14). As expected in the proximal segments (N = 12), the mean reference vessel diameters were larger: for QVA was 3.17 ± 1.34 vs. 3.55 ± 0.76 in IVUS, (mean difference was −0.38, (95% CI:-0.79,0.03; p = 0.40); while in the distal segments (N = 7), mean reference vessel diameters were smaller: for QVA was 2.64 ± 1.06 vs. 3.33 ± 0.67 in IVUS, (mean difference was −0.69, (95% CI:-1.04,-0.34; p = 0.17). We observed a greater degree of acute gain in cases where the treatment balloon size correlated with the IVUS measured reference size. Conclusion Angiography underestimates infrapopliteal reference vessel lumen size even when quantitatively assessed. Adjunctive IVUS imaging use in guiding BTK procedures could help ensure adequate sizing and possibly impact immediate post-procedure indices.

Objectives The aim of this study was to seek expert consensus regarding the features that predict adverse outcomes in order to develop a dedicated angiographic classification system for femoropopliteal artery dissection. Background Dissection of the femoral and popliteal arteries is common after percutaneous angioplasty. Its classification is important. However, all current classification systems have significant limitations. Methods Delphi consensus methodology was performed over 3 rounds, using an expert panel of 17 interventionalists. Each was asked to rank dissection features with the potential to lead to acute technical failure and/or early restenosis and then which combination of features would require the placement of a metallic scaffold to avoid those outcomes. Results were used to develop a novel grading system and dissection treatment algorithm. Results Four main characteristics were identified from a comprehensive preliminary list. There was a good level of agreement between panelists from 773 responses (48 combinations). All panelists recommended scaffolding if a dissection produced a ≥50% diameter reduction (100%). Most recommended scaffolding if the dissection had a spiral shape (73%-100%), was severely flow limiting (93%-100%), or had complex morphology defined by long and multiple dissections (65%-100%). Multiple combinations of those features were more likely to receive a recommendation to scaffold. Conclusions Scaffolding of a postangioplasty dissection is recommended in the presence of significant diameter reduction, spiral shape, flow impairment, or adverse morphology (DISFORM). The DISFORM classification system has been developed as a tool to provide uniform language to standardize reporting and for discussion of dissection treatment and prognosis.

The use of cyanoacrylate embolization has increased in interest as a safe, effective, and minimally invasive method to treat symptomatic saphenous reflux. The procedure is generally well tolerated by patients, and complications such as phlebitis are minor and usually self-limiting. Postprocedural infections have been described but occur infrequently and usually in the early postoperative course. In the present case report, we have described a late-onset infective thrombophlebitis of the great saphenous vein after cyanoacrylate embolization, requiring surgical excision of the treated vein.

Providers of total hip and knee replacements are being judged regarding quality/cost by payers using competition-based performance measures with poor medical and no socioeconomic risk adjustment. Providers might assume that other providers shed risk and the perception of added risk can influence practice. A poll was collected to examine such perceptions.In 2019 a poll was sent to the 2800 surgeon members of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons using Survey Monkey while protecting respondent anonymity/confidentiality. The questions asked whether the perception of poorly risk-adjusted medical comorbidities and socioeconomic risk factors influence surgeons to selectively offer surgery.There were 474 surgeon responses. Prior to elective total hip arthroplasty/total knee arthroplasty, 95% address modifiable risk factors; 52% require a body mass index40, 64% smoking cessation, 96% an adequate hemoglobin A1C; 82% check nutrition; and 63% expect control of alcohol 2. Due to lack of socioeconomic risk adjustment, 83% reported feeling pressure to avoid/restrict access to patients with limited social support, specifically the following: Medicaid/underinsured, 81%; African Americans, 29%; Hispanics/ethnicities, 27%; and low socioeconomic status, 73%. Of the respondents, 93% predicted increased access to care with more appropriate risk adjustment.Competition-based quality/cost performance measures influence surgeons to focus on medical risk factors in offering lower extremity arthroplasty. The lack of socioeconomic risk adjustment leads to perceptions of added risk from such factors as well. This leads to marginal loss of access for patients within certain medical and socioeconomic classes, contributing to existing healthcare disparities. This represents an unintended consequence of competition-based performance measures.

Background Peripheral vascular devices (stents and balloons) coated with paclitaxel were developed to address suboptimal outcomes associated with percutaneous revascularization procedures of the femoral-popliteal arteries. In randomized controlled trials (RCT), paclitaxel-coated devices (PCD) provided increased long-term patency and a decreased need for repeat revascularization procedures compared with uncoated devices. This finding resulted in the adoption of their use for endovascular lower extremity revascularization procedures. However, in late 2018 a study-level meta-analysis showed increased all-cause mortality at 2 years or more after the procedure in patients treated with PCDs. This review examines the subsequent data evaluation following the publication of the meta-analysis. Methods We review the published responses of physicians, regulatory agencies, and patient advocates during 15-month period after the meta-analysis. We present the additional data gathered from RCTs that comprised the meta-analysis and safety outcomes from large insurance databases in both the United States and Europe. Results Immediately after the publication of the meta-analysis, concern for patient safety resulted in less PCD use, the suspension of large RCTs evaluating their use, and the publication of a letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration informing physicians that there was uncertainty in the benefit-risk profile of these devices for indicated patients and that the potential risk should be assessed before the use of PCDs. Review of the meta-analysis found that a mortality signal was present, but criticisms included that the evaluation was performed on study-level, not patient-level data, and the studies in the analysis were heterogenous in device type, paclitaxel doses, and patient characteristics. Further, the studies were not designed to be pooled nor were they powered for evaluating long-term safety. Clinical characteristics associated with a drug effect or causal relationship were also absent. Specifically, there was no dose response, no clustering of causes of death, and a lack of signal consistency across geographic regions. As more long-term data became available in the RCTs the strength of the mortality signal diminished and analysis of real-world use in large insurance databases, showed that there was no significant increase in all-cause mortality associated with PCD use. Conclusions The available data do not provide definitive proof for increased mortality with PCD use. A key observation is that trial design improvements will be necessary to better evaluate the risk-benefit profile of PCDs.

OBJECTIVES: Operative caseload is thought to be associated with peri-operative mortality following intact aortic aneurysm repair. The aim was to study that association in the Australian setting, which has a unique healthcare provision system and geographical population distribution. METHODS: The Australasian Vascular Audit database was used to capture volume measurements for both individual surgeon and hospital and to separate it into quintiles (1, lowest, to 5, highest) for endovascular (EVAR), open surgical repair (OSR), and subgroups of repair types between 2010 and 2016. Multivariable logistic regression modelling was used to assess the impact of caseload volumes on in hospital mortality after adjustment for confounders. RESULTS: Volume counts were determined from 14,262 aneurysm repair procedures (4121 OSR, 10,106 EVAR). After exclusions, 2181 OSR (161 complex, 2020 standard) and 7547 EVAR (6198 standard, 1135 complex, 214 thoracic (TEVAR)) elective cases were available for volume analysis. Unadjusted mortality after EVAR was unaffected by either surgeon (Quintile 1, 1.0%; Quintile 5, 0.9%; p = .28) or hospital volume (Quintile 1, 0.8%; Quintile 5, 1.3%; p = .47). However, univariable analysis of the TEVAR subgroup revealed a significant correlation with hospital volume (Quintiles 1-2 vs. Quintiles 3-5; p = .02). Univariable analysis for OSR demonstrated a marginal, non-significant value for surgeon (Quintile 1, 4.0%; Quintile 5, 3.6%; p = .06), but not hospital volume (Quintile 1, 4.7%; Quintile 5, 4.0%; p = .67). After adjustment for confounders hospital volume remained a significant predictor of peri-operative TEVAR mortality (Quintile 1-2 vs. 3-5; OR 5.62, 95% CI 1.27-24.83; p = .02) and surgeon volume a predictor following standard OSR (Quintile 1-2 vs. Quintile 3-5; OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.21-3.83; p = .01). CONCLUSIONS: There is an inverse correlation between both surgeon volume of open aortic aneurysm repair, hospital volume of thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair and in hospital mortality. These findings suggest that in Australia TEVAR should be performed by high volume hospitals and OSR by high volume surgeons. ispartof: Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg vol:57 issue:4 pages:510-519 ispartof: location:England status: published

The clinical utility of the native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) has been limited by the prolonged time required for maturation, the low overall maturation rate, and subsequent abandonment. Endovascular intervention has been increasingly accepted as the first-line therapy for AVF stenosis. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the AVF formation outcomes when early endovascular intervention was selectively performed to bring about timely AVF maturation.We performed a retrospective study (February 2014 to February 2020) of 82 AVF consecutive patients (mean age, 62.5 ± 13.5 years; range, 17-83; 58 men [70.7%]) with end-stage renal failure who had undergone vascular access construction at a single institution. The 4-year AVF patency, vascular diameters, hemodialysis parameters, reintervention rate, and mortality were analyzed.Radiocephalic AVF was the most common fistula constructed (71 patients; 88.6%). The evaluation at a mean of 46.2 ± 56.0 days (range, 5-343 days) after AVF formation revealed 33 immature AVFs (40.2%). Subsequently, 19 patients had undergone endovascular procedures, including angioplasty and/or stenting of the juxta-anastomosis, cannulation zones, and/or outflow segments to bring about timely maturation of the AVF. Hence, 93.9% of the AVFs had reached functional patency (maturation) by 6 months after formation, with a mean time to maturation of 67.8 ± 65.9 days (range, 5-320 days). After reaching maturation, the primary access functional patency was 82% ± 4.3% at 6 months, 58% ± 5.5% at 12 months, and 34% ± 6.8% at 48 months. The primary assisted access functional patency was 95% ± 2.4% at 6 months, 90% ± 3.3% at 12 months, and 83% ± 4.7% at 48 months. A total of 121 endovascular interventions were performed to maintain patency, equating to an endovascular reintervention rate of 0.37 procedure/patient year. The mean arterial, venous, and brachial flow rates did not change significantly after maturation with a mean AVF (primary assisted functional patency) survival time of 5.9 ± 0.26 years (range, 5.33-6.36 years) from maturation. Only 12 thromboses had occurred after the first follow-up review after AVF formation. These were all salvaged using endovascular techniques, leading to 100% total secondary functional patency at 4 years. The 5-year estimated all-cause mortality was 45.6% ± 12.7%.The AVF maturation rate and interval to maturation were improved when early endovascular intervention was selectively performed after AVF formation. This allowed for near universal maturation. In addition, once matured, the use of ongoing endovascular reinterventions allowed for a low reintervention rate and long-term patency, providing reliable long-term renal vascular access.

An arteriovenous fistula (AVF), a vascular structure surgically created to enable haemodialysis, is commonly affected by stenosis in the juxta-anastomotic region. A new treatment involving the implantation of a flexible stent has shown good potential for retaining healthy AVFs. Since vascular disease in the AVF is known to be related to the haemodynamic environment within the vasculature, this study aims to understand the impact of the stent implantation on the flow dynamics within a single patient-specific AVF. A virtual stented geometry of the AVF was obtained with micro-CT images of a benchtop AVF model implanted with a Supera stent. Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes simulations were conducted with physiological boundary conditions (Reynolds numbers varying from 345 to 730) applied on the AVF model with and without the presence of the stent. Velocity contour slices within the vein showed the concentration of high velocity in the stent encapsulated region. Moreover, the ratios of flow rate across the stent-lumen cross-sections over the flow rate across the vessel-lumen cross-sections suggested that the flow was being funnelled through the stent encapsulated regions of a malapposed section, despite the porous structure of the stent. A larger low velocity recirculation region translated to a larger vessel wall area of high Oscillatory Shear Index (OSI) and low Time-Averaged Wall Shear Stress (TAWSS) in the AVF model with the stent absent, compared to the stented model. This suggested that the adverse haemodynamic behaviour was being funnelled away from the vessel wall, possibly leading to a protective environment in the malapposed region of the vein.

The present study aimed at investigating the influence of the electrodeposition current density and pH of the plating solution on chemical composition, electrodeposition current efficiency and on the roughness factor of the electrodeposited Co-Mo coatings. The coatings with higher roughness factor were evaluated as cathodes for hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline medium. The electrodeposition current densities were 30 mA cm −2 , 45 mA cm −2 and 60 mA cm −2 and the values of pH of the plating solutions were 6, 7 and 8. The two-level and centre-point factorial design was applied. Coatings showed cracks and amorphous structures. The pH had a positive effect on the Mo percentage and on the roughness factor of the coatings. The current density had the highest effect on the current efficiency and electroactive area of the coatings. Increasing the value of this parameter, the current efficiency decreased from 31.63% to 17.65% and roughness factor presented relative increase of 27.53–78.74. The Volmer reaction was the determining step and the apparent activation energy was 18.40 kJ mol −1 in the hydrogen evolution reaction.

The aim of this paper is to present a method for predicting the effect of temperature on contact angles and wetting transitions for n-alkanes on PTFE. The analysis is based on the effect of temperature on two closely related phenomena, which are critical in the determination of contact angles: intermolecular forces and the thickness of an adsorbed film in the region adjacent to the three-phase contact. Considering solely van der Waals forces, it is possible to reproduce the experimental temperature dependence of contact angles. At low temperature values, contact angles show a small and linear decrease with temperature. For higher temperature values, substantially larger decreases are exhibited by the more volatile alkanes. In the case of n-octane, a single transition from partial to total wetting is found at 443K. This transition, which arises from the vanishing of the effective Hamaker constant at 430K, is characterized by a surface specific heat exponent close to one, indicating the existence of a first order wetting transition. For the less volatile alkanes, the contact angle decrease is progressively less pronounced as the volatility decreases in such a way that for n-hexadecane the contact angle remains approximately constant throughout the temperature range under study.

The z-plasty is a highly versatile standard technique of reconstructive burn surgery. Variations of the classic z-plasty with limbs of equal length at 60° angles can accommodate specific reconstruction needs. Opposing z-plasties can be used when available tissue is limited; series of z-plasties can be linked to elongate tissue over a longer distance with smaller individual incisions, and a z-plasty with varying limb angles and lengths can provide tissue coverage in areas with special distributions of scarred and normal skin.

Objectives To investigate hypothesized sources of error when quantifying the effect of the sensory trick in cervical dystonia (CD) with the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS-2), test strategies to mitigate them, and provide guidance for future research on the sensory trick. Methods Previous analyses suggested the sensory trick (or “alleviating maneuver”, AM) item be removed from the TWSTRS-2 because of its poor clinimetric properties. We hypothesized three sources of clinimetric weakness for rating the AM: 1) whether patients were given sufficient time to demonstrate their AM; 2) whether patients' CD was sufficiently severe for detecting AM efficacy; and 3) whether raters were inadvertently rating the item in reverse of scale instructions. We tested these hypotheses with video recordings and TWSTRS-2 ratings by one “site rater” and a panel of five “video raters” for each of 185 Dystonia Coalition patients with isolated CD. Results Of 185 patients, 23 (12%) were not permitted sufficient testing time to exhibit an AM, 23 (12%) had baseline CD too mild to allow confident rating of AM effect, and 1 site- and 1 video-rater each rated the AM item with a reverse scoring convention. When these confounds were eliminated in step-wise fashion, the item's clinimetric properties improved. Conclusions The AM's efficacy can contribute to measuring CD motor severity by addressing identified sources of error during its assessment and rating. Given the AM's sensitive diagnostic and potential pathophysiologic significance, we also provide guidance on modifications to how AMs can be assessed in future CD research.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the midterm performance of an everolimus-eluting, bioresorbable vascular scaffold (Absorb, Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, California) for...

Objectives The authors sought to investigate the efficacy of a drug-coated balloon (DCB) for treatment of complex femoropopliteal lesions. Background Superiority of DCBs compared with uncoated balloon angioplasty for femoropopliteal interventions has been demonstrated in randomized trials for short lesions. Their performance in complex lesions with higher restenosis rates is unclear. Methods Patency, target lesion revascularization (TLR) rate, clinical improvement, and safety endpoints of femoropopliteal lesions in 288 limbs (n = 260) treated with the In.Pact Pacific or Admiral DCB (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota) were retrospectively analyzed for up to 2 years of follow-up. Predictors of restenosis were identified by logistic regression. Results Lesions were de novo in 51.7%, restenosis in 11.1%, and in-stent restenosis in 37.2%. Mean lesion length was 24.0 ± 10.2 cm, and 65.3% were occluded. Stent implantation was performed in 23.3%. Kaplan Meier estimates of primary patency were 79.2% and 53.7% for all lesions at 1 and 2 years, respectively, whereas freedom from TLR was 85.4% and 68.6%. Primary patency for in-stent restenosis treatment was 76.6% and 48.6%, and freedom from TLR was 83.0% and 58.7% at 1 and 2 years, respectively. Rutherford category improved from a median 3.3 to 1.2 at 1 year, and to 1.1 at 2 years. Major amputation rate was 2.1% at 2 years. No adverse events were thought to be attributable to the coating of the balloon. Conclusions These results suggest that DCB are safe and effective in delaying rather than preventing restenosis in long, complex lesions and restenosis of the femoropopliteal tract. Further studies are recommended to confirm these results.

Drug-coated balloons are used widely as a form of endovascular treatment for peripheral arterial disease, to improve patency by reducing neointimal hyperplasia and restenosis. We present a rare case of acute coronary syndrome secondary to anaphylaxis after inflation of a paclitaxel-coated balloon used to treat a recurrent superficial femoral artery stenosis.