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Objective This study aimed to develop and internally validate risk prediction models for predicting groin wound surgical site infections (SSIs) following arterial intervention and to evaluate the utility of existing risk prediction models for this outcome. Methods Data from the Groin wound Infection after Vascular Exposure (GIVE) multicentre cohort study were used. The GIVE study prospectively enrolled 1 039 consecutive patients undergoing an arterial procedure through 1 339 groin incisions. An overall SSI rate of 8.6% per groin incision, and a deep/organ space SSI rate of 3.8%, were reported. Eight independent predictors of all SSIs, and four independent predictors of deep/organ space SSIs were included in the development and internal validation of two risk prediction models. A systematic search of the literature was conducted to identify relevant risk prediction models for their evaluation. Results The “GIVE SSI risk prediction model” (“GIVE SSI model”) and the “GIVE deep/organ space SSI risk prediction model” (“deep SSI model”) had adequate discrimination (C statistic 0.735 and 0.720, respectively). Three other groin incision SSI risk prediction models were identified; both GIVE risk prediction models significantly outperformed these other risk models in this cohort (C statistic 0.618 – 0.629; p Conclusion Two models were created and internally validated that performed acceptably in predicting “all” and “deep” groin SSIs, outperforming current existing risk prediction models in this cohort. Future studies should aim to externally validate the GIVE models.

Objective Paclitaxel based drug coated balloons (DCBs) and drug eluting stents (DESs) may be associated with increased mortality in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD), based on a recent meta-analysis. This study, however, had a number of limitations, which have been discussed at great length among the vascular community. The aim of this research was to assess the association between paclitaxel based endovascular treatment (PTX) in the femoropopliteal (F–P) segment and mortality, adjusting for relevant risk factors and including patients with chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI). Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of a prospectively maintained multicentre (three sites) database of patients with claudication or CLTI. Patients having F–P angioplasty between 1 January 2014 and 30 May 2019 with or without PTX were included. Survival was compared in Cox regression analyses adjusted for parameters of the Charlson comorbidity index. A separate nested case matched (based on each individual's Charlson index) analysis was performed to compare mortality rates between those who received PTX and those who did not. Results A total of 2 071 patients were analysed: 966 patients (46.6%) were treated with PTX (952 [46%] had CLTI and 1 119 [54%] severe claudication [Rutherford stage 3]). Over a 24 month median follow up, 456 (22.1%) patients died. Using multivariable Cox regression, PTX was not associated with mortality (HR 0.94, p = .46), even when assessed separately for those with intermittent claudication (HR 1.30, p = .15) or CLTI (HR 0.81, p = .060). In the case matched analysis (885 matched pairs of patients), PTX was not associated with mortality (HR 0.89, p = .17). Paclitaxel dose and use of a DCB or DES were not associated with mortality in any subanalysis. Conclusion When relevant risk factors were taken into account, there were no associations between PTX and mid term mortality in patients with PAOD.

Objectives The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) after open (OAR) or endovascular (EVAR) aortic repair is unknown. This research assessed the proportion of patients who develop AKI after aortic intervention using validated criteria, and explored AKI risk factors. Methods This was a multicentre national prospective cohort study. Eleven centres recruited patients undergoing EVAR or OAR (September 2017–December 2018). Serum creatinine (SCr) and urine outputs were measured over a minimum of 48 h or throughout the index inpatient stay to define post-operative AKI using the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. Renal decline at 30 days was calculated using estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the Major Adverse Kidney Events (MAKE) 30 day composite endpoint (consisting of: death, new dialysis, > 25% eGFR decline). Results 300 patients (mean age: 71 years, standard deviation [SD] 4 years; 9% females) were included, who underwent: infrarenal endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) 139 patients, fenestrated EVAR (fEVAR) 30, branched EVAR (bEVAR) seven, infrarenal open aneurysm repair (OAR) 98, juxtarenal OAR 26. Overall, 24% of patients developed stage 1 AKI (defined at 48 h as per KDIGO), 2.7% stage 2 AKI and 1% needed renal replacement therapy before discharge. AKI proportions per intervention were: infrarenal EVAR 18%; fEVAR 27%; bEVAR 71%; infrarenal OAR 41%; juxtarenal OAR 63%. Older age (odds ratio [OR] 1.44 for EVAR, 1.58 for OAR), lower baseline eGFR (OR 0.88 EVAR, 0.74 OAR), and ischaemic heart disease (OR 4.42 EVAR, 5.80 OAR) were the main predictors of AKI for infrarenal EVAR and OAR. Overall, 24% developed the MAKE30 endpoint. All patients who died (0.6%) or developed a major cardiac event (5.6%) at one year had developed AKI. Conclusion AKI and short term renal decline after aortic intervention are common. Age, renal function, and cardiovascular disease are the main risk factors. Research should now focus on AKI prevention in this high risk group.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of erectile dysfunction and retrograde ejaculation following thulium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Tm:YAG) laser prostate vaporesection (ThuVaRP). Patients and Methods: Between January 2009 and June 2010, 113 consecutive patients underwent ThuVaRP for bladder outflow obstruction. Of these, 54 (48%) were included in the study as they were able to maintain an erection for sexual intercourse prior to undergoing ThuVaRP. All patients had benign pathology and had not undergone previous bladder neck surgery. The incidence of erectile dysfunction and retrograde ejaculation was reported at a mean follow-up period of 12 months post-operatively. Results: The mean patient age was 71 years (range 46–90). The mean follow-up period was 12 months (range 4–21). 11 (20%) patients experienced worsening erectile function with 3 (6%) noticing an improvement. A total of 30 patients (56%) experienced some degree of retrograde ejaculation. 4 patients (7%) noticed an improvement in their ejaculation. Retrograde ejaculation was more common in patients with an indwelling catheter in situ for refractory urinary retention (43 vs. 17%, p = 0.04) and in diabetic patients (27 vs. 4%, p = 0.03). There was an increased trend of erectile dysfunction in men aged ≧70 years, with hypertension and with hypercholesterolaemia, but this was not significant. Conclusion: Our retrospective study has demonstrated that the overall risk of erectile dysfunction and retrograde ejaculation associated with ThuVaRP is 20 and 56%, respectively.

Purpose To determine whether a pre-discharge duplex ultrasound scan detects early endoleaks that would not otherwise have been identified. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of all patients undergoing elective infrarenal endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) at our center. These patients underwent intraoperative completion angiography, had a duplex ultrasound scan prior to hospital discharge, and were followed at 1, 3, and 6 months and at 6-month intervals thereafter. The outcome of any patients found to have an endoleak on a pre-discharge scan was studied. Results There were 52 EVAR patients (50 men; mean age 76 years, range 61-87) with endoleak on the pre-discharge duplex: 17 (2.8%) type I, 28 (4.6%) type II, and 8 (1.3%) type III. Of these, only 7 of the type I and 2 of the type II leaks had been detected on completion angiography. Among the patients with type I endoleaks, 5 had resolution of the leak, 10 required further endovascular interventions, and 2 had open repair (1 died of aneurysm rupture). Two patients with failed endovascular repairs of the leak also had open repair. Fifteen of the 28 type II endoleaks resolved, 4 were treated with endovascular procedures, 1 had open repair, 7 are being observed, and 1 was lost to follow-up. Six of the 8 type III leaks resolved, 1 required open repair for an enlarging sac, and 1 is being observed. Conclusion Despite routine completion angiography, new endoleaks may be identified postoperatively, which suggests that more rigorous imaging at the point of completion angiography is required.