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Background: Acute abdominal aortic occlusion (AAO) is a rare vascular emergency associated with high morbidity and mortality. In the present study, we analyzed the clinical management and outcomes for a consecutive patient series during a 16-year period., Methods: We included all patients with an acute AAO and bilateral acute limb ischemia who had been treated between 2004 and 2019. Patients with dissection, aneurysm rupture, or chronic occlusive disease were excluded. The patient characteristics, surgical procedures, and outcomes were extracted retrospectively from a prospective aortic database, electronic patient files, and outpatient examination records. The extent of ischemia was classified according to the TASC II (Inter-Society Consensus for the Management of Peripheral Arterial Disease) section on acute limb ischemia. The primary endpoints were 30-day mortality (safety endpoint) and the combined 6-month amputation and/or death rate (efficacy endpoint). The follow-up outcomes, amputation rates, and 30-day complications were evaluated as secondary endpoints. The patient cohort was divided into four 4-year groups (2004-2007, 2008-2011, 2012-2015, 2016-2019) to assess the outcome changes over time. Statistical analysis included χ 2 tests and univariate and linear regression analyses., Results: A total of 74 patients (57% male; median age, 64.5 years) with an acute AAO were identified. Arterial thrombosis was the most common etiology (66%). The extent of ischemia was TASC I, IIa, IIb, and III in 7%, 39%, 40%, and 14%, respectively. The patient numbers had increased significantly over time (P = .016). Of the patients, 42% had undergone open transfemoral recanalization (including hybrid procedures), 35% open aortic surgery, 15% extra-anatomic bypass surgery, and 5% (four patients) endovascular therapy alone. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 23%, and the 6-month amputation and/or death rate was 43%. The 30-day mortality rate had declined significantly from 54% for 2004 to 2007 to 10% for 2011 to 2015 (odds ratio [OR], 0.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.001-0.52) and 20% for 2016 to 2019 (OR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.05-0.90), a statistically nonsignificant trend showing that the relative decline in the use of open aortic procedures was associated with decreased 30-day mortality (P = .06). Univariate analysis indicated that elevated serum lactate on admission (OR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.06-10.48) and an advanced stage of limb ischemia (OR, 4.33), were strongly associated with an increased 30-day mortality rate. The incidence of severe postoperative systemic complications also indicated a greater incidence of both primary endpoints. The 6-month amputation and/or mortality rates were also affected by the presence of atrial fibrillation (OR, 3.63; 95% CI, 1.34-9.79) and increased patient age (OR, 3.96; 95% CI, 1.49-10.53)., Conclusions: Acute AAO remains a life-threatening emergency. Immediate transfemoral open or endovascular techniques should be preferred, if technically possible and proper intraoperative imaging is available., (Copyright © 2021 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: In Germany, the regional settlement structure is heterogenous, ranging from densely populated cities with a tight network of vascular health care to large regions in which access to health care is limited in terms of space and time. Therefore, the aim of this secondary data analysis was to investigate the association between the settlement structure of the patient's home district (KT), and the hospital incidence, type of therapy, and mortality of non-ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (nrAAA)., Methods: The microdata of the DRG statistics of the Federal Statistical Office for the years 2005-2014 were evaluated. All patients with nrAAA (ICD-10 Code I71.4) who were admitted to a German hospital and treated by open surgery and endovascular repair were included. Classification of treatment was based on the German Operation and Procedure Code. Patients were grouped according to the settlement structure of their home district defined by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (KT1 independent city, KT2 urban district, KT3 rural district, KT4 sparsely populated region). The age-, sex- and risk-adjusted association between the type of settlement structure and in-hospital mortality was analysed using a multivariable multi-level regression model. The Elixhauser co-morbidity score validated for administrative data was used for risk adjustment., Results: Of 95,452 cases included, 88 % were men. Mean age was 72 years. There were 28,970 (30 %) patients in KT1, 37,759 (40 %) in KT2, 14,442 (15 %) in KT3 and 14,281 (15 %) in KT4. The hospital incidence was 12.4 per 100,000 inhabitants in KT1, 11.8 in KT2, 10.8 in KT3 and 11.2 in KT4 (p <0.001, falling trend). The proportion of EVAR treatment was 56 % in KT1, 54 % in KT2, 57 % KT3, and 59 % in KT4 (p <0.001, increasing trend). The raw hospital mortality of patients from KT1 to KT4 was 3.4 %, 3.4 %, 3.2 % and 3.6 %, respectively (p=0.553 for trend). The multivariable regression analysis revealed no statistically significant association between the KT and hospital mortality (KT1=reference, RR KT2=0.97 [95% CI 0.79-1.15], RR KT3=0.98 [0.81-1.14], RR KT4=0.98 [0.86-1.11])., Conclusions: The study shows that both the hospital incidence and the type of therapy (endovascular vs. open) differed between the settlement structural district types, but there is no urban-rural gap regarding in-hospital mortality of treated nrAAA., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

Background: The German quality assurance guideline on abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) was implemented by the Joint Federal Committee (Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss, G-BA) in 2008. The aims of this study were to verify the association between hospital case volume and outcome and to assess the hypothetical effect of minimum caseload requirements., Methods: The German diagnosis-related groups statistics for the years 2012 to 2016 were scrutinized for AAA (ICD-10 GM I71.3/4) with procedure codes for endo - vascular or open surgical treatment. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality. Logistic regression models were used for risk adjustment, and odds ratios (OR) were calculated as a function of the annual hospital-level case volume of AAA. In a hypo - thetical approach, the linear distances for various minimum caseloads (MC) were evaluated to assess accessibility., Results: The mortality of intact AAA (iAAA) was 2.7% (men [M] 2.4%, women [W] 4.2%); ruptured AAA (rAAA), 36.9% (M 36.9%, F 37.5%). An inverse relationship between annual hospital case volume of AAA and mortality was confirmed (iAAA/rAAA: from 3.9%/51% [<10 cases/year] through 3.3%/37% [30-39 cases/year] to 1.9%/28% [≥ 75 cases/year]). For a reference category of 30 AAA procedures/year, the following significant OR were found: 10 AAA cases/year, OR 1.21 (95% confidence interval [1.20; 1.21]); 20 cases, OR 1.09 [1.09; 1.09]; 50 cases, OR 0.89 [0.89; 0.89]; 75 cases, OR 0.82 [0.82; 0.82]. In a hypothetical centralization scenario with assumed MC of 30/year, 86% of the population would have to travel less than 100 km to the nearest hospital; with an MC of 40, this would apply to only 50% (without redistribution effects)., Conclusion: In the observed period, a significant correlation was confirmed between high annual case volume and low in-hospital mortality. A minimum caseload requirement of 30 AAA operations/year seems reasonable in view of the accessibility of hospitals. Cite this.

Background Trials and registries associated female sex and high age with unfavorable outcomes in abdominal aortic aneurysm treatment. Many studies showed an inverse correlation between annual hospital volume and in-hospital mortality. The volume-outcome relationship has not been investigated separately for women and men or across the age range. The aim was to analyze whether sex and age are effect modifiers or confounders of the volume-outcome association. Methods and Results In a nationwide setting, all in-hospital cases from 2005 to 2014 with a diagnosis of intact abdominal aortic aneurysm and procedure codes for endovascular or open aortic repair were included. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Using a multilevel multivariable regression model, hospital volume was modeled as a continuous variable. Separate analyses were performed for women and men and for predefined age groups. A total of 94 966 cases were included (12% women; median age, 72 years). Mortality was 4.9% in women and 3.0% in men (3.2% overall). Mortality increased with age. Although there was no significant volume-outcome association in women ( P =0.57), there was in men ( P =0.02). The strongest volume-outcome association was found in younger men. The younger female subpopulation was found to show a trend for an inverse volume-outcome relationship, whereas an opposite association was found for the women aged >79 years. Conclusions Women have a higher mortality risk after elective abdominal aortic aneurysm treatment. Sex and age are modifiers of the volume-outcome relationship. Unlike in male patients, in women there is no consistent effect of hospital volume on outcome.

Background : Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) can be treated by either open surgery (OAR) or endovascular aortic repair (EVAR). The aim of this study was to analyze regional variations in application of (EVAR) and in-hospital mortality after intact AAA (iAAA) repair. Methods : Using data provided by the German Federal Statistical Office, a nationwide analysis for 2012 to 2014 was conducted. Patients with a diagnosis of iAAA (I71.4) and corresponding procedure codes for OAR (5-384.5/7) or EVAR (5-38a.1) were included. Odds ratios (ORs) for use of EVAR (proportion of EVAR among total EVAR + OAR cases) and mortality were calculated for all regions in Germany. ORs for EVAR use were adjusted for age, sex, and risk (Elixhauser score). ORs for mortality were additionally adjusted for type of procedure (OAR/EVAR). Results : Finally, 31,757 procedures for iAAA were included. Median age of all patients was 73 years (interquartile range 67-78 years) and 87.1 % were male. The mean proportion of EVAR procedures was 72.6 %; however, the application of EVAR for repair of iAAA varied widely depending on region. The lowest unadjusted regional rate of EVAR use was 48.8 %, while the highest was 92.5 %. After adjustment, the lowest regional OR for EVAR use (compared to the nationwide mean) was 0.23 (95 % confidence interval [0.15-0.36]), the highest 5.93 [1.79-19.65]. Overall in-hospital mortality was 2.9 % (OAR 6.2 %; EVAR 1.7 %). The adjusted regional OR for mortality ranged from 0.31 [0.07-1.42] to 4.98 [2.08-11.93]. Conclusions : This study reveals variations in use of EVAR and in-hospital mortality for iAAA treatment in Germany. This may imply that selection of treatment might not only be influenced by patient characteristics, but also by regional location. These results need to be taken into account when discussing centralization of AAA treatment in Germany.

Introduction: Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses of primary studies have been published on the relationship between annual case load of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) performed at hospital level or by individual surgeons, and perioperative outcomes. Many studies on volume-outcome relationship have already been published and high-quality systematic reviews are crucial for further guideline development., Evidence Acquisition: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the relationship between hospital or surgeon CEA/CAS volume and periprocedural outcomes were identified through a systematic literature search of Medline, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Methodological quality of the systematic reviews was appraised using the AMSTAR2 tool independently by two authors. Systematic reviews were aggregated in their volume-outcome findings. Quantitative data from primary studies included in the systematic reviews were synthesized. Additionally, volume definitions and the time point of outcome assessment used in primary studies were analyzed., Evidence Synthesis: In total, five systematic reviews published between 2000 and 2018 were identified, each comprising 11-25 primary studies. Methodological quality appraisal of these reviews revealed high quality for only the most recent review, low quality for three reviews, and critically low quality in one review. Aggregation of the systematic reviews revealed a significant inverse relationship between hospital/operator volume and the periprocedural risk of death or stroke following CEA. For CAS, high operator volume was associated with lower outcome rates. Regarding hospital volume, an inverse but non-significant relationship between CAS hospital volume and outcome rate was found. In our synthesis of primary studies from these systematic reviews an inverse CEA hospital and operator volume relationship was present for stroke or death and for CAS for hospital volume, respectively. A high heterogeneity regarding the definitions of volume categories, and of time points assessing outcomes was apparent., Conclusions: For CEA, high quality aggregated evidence revealed an inverse relationship between hospital/surgeon CEA volume and periprocedural rate of stroke or death. The same was true for operator linked CAS volume. Regarding hospital linked CAS volume, no unequivocal evidence was found. Additionally, heterogeneity was found regarding volume definition, and time of outcome assessment. Thus, future studies should aim to harmonize volume definitions and outcome time points.

Background Population-based data about the incidence and mortality of patients with aortic dissections ( ADs ) are sparse. Therefore, the hospital incidence and in-hospital mortality of patients undergoing open or endovascular surgery for type A ADs ( TAADs ) and type B ADs ( TBADs ) in Germany were analyzed on a nationwide basis between 2006 and 2014. Methods and Results A secondary data analysis of the nationwide diagnosis-related group statistics, compiled by the German Federal Statistical Office, was performed for patients who were surgically/interventionally treated for AD ( International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, German Modification [ ICD -10- GM] codes I71.00-I71.07; n=20 533). By using specific procedure codes, a distinction between TAAD (n=14 911/72.6%) and TBAD (n=5622/27.4%) could be made. The standardized hospital incidence of surgically/interventionally treated AD was 2.7/100 000 per year, comprising 2.0/100 000 per year for TAAD and 0.7/100 000 per year for TBAD . The in-hospital mortality of TAAD was 19.5%; and of TBAD, 9.3%. Both the incidence and in-hospital mortality increased over the 9-year period. The share of endovascularly treated TBAD increased steadily during the same time interval. A multilevel multivariable analysis revealed that, for TAAD , age and comorbidity were significantly associated with a higher mortality risk. The latter was also true for TBAD . Sex was not significantly associated with mortality. A significant association between higher annual center volume and mortality was found for TAAD , but not for TBAD . Conclusions This is the first report on hospital incidence and mortality for surgically/interventionally treated AD on a nationwide basis. Overall, in Germany, hospital incidence and mortality of TAAD and TBAD increased over time. In addition, TAAD is performed more safely in high-volume centers.

Objective: Hospital incidence, treatment modality, and in hospital mortality after surgery are reported for thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) treated by endovascular or open means in Germany from 2005 to 2014., Methods: Data were extracted from diagnosis related group statistics from the German Federal Statistical Office. All inpatient cases with a diagnosis of ruptured and non-ruptured TAAA (ICD-10 I71.5 and I71.6) and procedure codes for fenestrated or branched endovascular aortic repair (f/bEVAR 5-38a.7x and 5-38a.8x), open aortic repair (OAR 5-384.4), or hybrid procedure (5-384.b/c, 5-38a.a/b/8/80) were included. To adjust for sex, age, medical risk (Elixhauser comorbidity score), type of procedure, and type of admission, a multilevel multivariable regression model with robust error variance was applied. The primary outcome was in hospital mortality; secondary outcomes were organ complications. The relationship between annual hospital volume and outcome was analysed., Results: A total of 2607 cases (406 rTAAA, 2201 nrTAAA) were included. f/bEVAR was performed in 856 cases (32.8%), OAR in 1422 cases (54.5%), and hybrid repair in 354 cases (13.6%). Endovascular repair became more frequent over time (6% in 2005 vs. 76% in 2014 for nrTAAA). Hypertension (75.2%), peripheral artery disease (including abdominal aortic aneurysm, 49.5%), other heart diseases (44.6%), coronary heart disease (30.6%), and renal failure (28.7%) were the most frequently coded comorbidities. The number of hospitals treating TAAAs almost tripled within 9 years. The in hospital mortality was 46.1% for rTAAA and 15.9% for nrTAAA. f/bEVAR (RR 0.35, 0.24-0.51) and high hospital volume (p < .001) were significantly associated with decreased in hospital mortality. Aortic rupture, increasing age, and comorbidity were significantly associated with higher mortality (RR 3.17, 2.45-4.09; 1.52, 1.32-1.76, and 1.05, 1.04-1.06)., Conclusions: Seventy-six percent of all TAAAs were treated endovascularly in 2014 with increasing frequency over a decade. In hospital mortality is lower with endovascular repair and in high volume centres. Aortic rupture, age, and severe comorbidities are associated with worse outcomes., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objectives: Nationwide population based data on epidemiology and surgical treatment of descending thoracic aortic (DTA) aneurysms are not available for Germany. The aim was to assess the in hospital incidence, and to report outcomes of patients who received surgical treatment., Methods: Data were acquired by analysing the diagnosis related group (DRG) statistics of the German Federal Statistical Office. All inpatient cases of ruptured (rDTA aneurysm, ICD Code I71.1) or non-ruptured DTA aneurysm (nrDTA aneurysm; I71.2) who received thoracic endovascular (TEVAR; OPS procedure code 5-38a.7/70/8/80) or open aortic repair (OAR; OPS 5-384.3) between 2005 and 2014 were included. To adjust for sex, age, medical risk (Elixhauser comorbidity score), type of procedure, and type of admission, a multilevel multivariable regression model with robust error variance was applied. The primary outcome was in hospital mortality; secondary outcomes were organ complications. A volume outcome analysis was performed., Results: A total of 48,098 cases of DTA aneurysm (5,848, 12.2% rDTA aneurysm) were identified. The average age was 69 ± 12 years. 65.2% were male. Frequent comorbidities were hypertension (74.9%), peripheral artery disease (including abdominal aortic aneurysm, 42.6%), other heart diseases (41.6%), coronary heart disease (26.2%), and renal failure (22.5%). Surgical treatment was received by 4969 patients (10.3%): 4057 TEVAR (81.6%) and 912 OAR (18.4%) procedures. Mortality for rDTA aneurysm was 42.9% (OAR) and 22.3% (TEVAR). It was 10.5% and 3.7% for DTA aneurysm, respectively. Rupture, increasing age, and higher comorbidity score were significantly associated with higher mortality (RR 6.66, 5.33-8.25; 1.28, 1.17-1.40; and 1.06, 1.05-1.08, respectively). Endovascular treatment was associated with lower mortality (RR 0.31, 0.23-0.41). Hospital volume was not significantly associated with in hospital mortality., Conclusions: Eighty per cent of patients treated surgically for a DTA aneurysm receive endovascular therapy, with low peri-operative mortality in non-ruptured cases. Elective endovascular repair should be considered for individuals at a high risk of rupture who are fit for surgery. Open repair, increased age, and a high comorbidity score are associated with higher mortality., (Copyright © 2018 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose:: Outcomes of open iliac artery repair (OIR) and endovascular iliac artery repair (EVIR) were compared at a tertiary referral vascular center., Methods:: From 2004 to 2015, all patients treated for isolated iliac artery aneurysms (IAAs) were retrospectively identified, and patient records and computed tomography (CT) scans were analyzed. The primary end point was overall survival; secondary end points were 30-day mortality and morbidity and freedom from reintervention. For follow-up, data from outpatient visits and CT scans following a standard surveillance protocol were used., Results:: A total of 106 IAAs in 94 patients were treated (mean follow-up: 35.7 months; 66 OIR; 40 EVIR). Six (15%) aneurysms from the EVIR group and 4 (6.1%) from open-operated IAA presented in the state of rupture. There was no difference in overall survival between EVIR and OIR ( P = .14). In multivariable analysis, higher risk of death was associated with ruptured IAA (rIAA; hazard ratio [HR]: 40.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.05-796.18; P = .02) and coronary heart disease (HR: 11.07, 95% CI: 1.94-63.36; P < .01). The 30-day mortality was 1.9% overall (0% OIR, 5.0% EVIR, P = .27), but there were no differences between OIR and EVIR in 30-day morbidity ( P = .11). Freedom from reintervention was higher for OIR than for EVIR ( P < .01). In multivariable analysis, a higher reintervention rate was seen in EVIR (HR: 10.80, 95% CI: 2.20-53.01; P < .01) and in rIAA (HR: 12.02, 95% CI: 1.31-111.11; P = .03)., Conclusion:: Iliac artery aneurysmss can be safely and effectively treated by EVIR or OIR regarding 30-day morbidity, mortality, and long-term survival, although freedom from reintervention is significantly lower after EVIR.

Background: Aim of this study was to analyze hospital incidence, type of treatment, and hospital mortality rates of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in Germany from 2005 to 2014., Methods: Microdata of the diagnosis-related group (DRG) statistics compiled by the German Federal Statistical Office for the years 2005-2014 were analyzed. Patients who were hospitalized for a ruptured AAA (rAAA, ICD-10 code I71.3, treated either surgically or conservatively) or received surgical treatment for an unruptured AAA (nrAAA, ICD-10-Code I71.4, treated either with open surgery or an endovascular procedure) were included in the analysis. The "European Standard Population 2013" was used for direct standardization of the hospital incidences. In-hospital mortality was calculated with standardization for age and risk., Results: The standardized overall hospital incidence of AAA was 27.9 and 3.3 cases per 100 000 people for men and women, respectively; over the period of the study, the incidence of rAAA fell by 30% in both sexes and that of nrAAA rose by 16% in men and 42% in women. The percentage of patients receiving endovascular treatment rose from 29% to 75% in patients with nrAAA and from 8% to 36% in patients with rAAA. The age- and risk-standardized in-hospital mortality of nrAAA was 3.3% in men and 5.3% in women. The in-hospital mortality of surgically treated rAAA was 39% in men and 48% in women., Conclusion: The hospital incidence of AAA rose from 2005 to 2014, while that of rAAA fell. Endovascular treatment became more common for nrAAA as well as rAAA, and in-hospital mortality fell for both.