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Objectives: The treatment of a refluxing perforator is indicated in the setting of severe chronic venous insufficiency, but there are limited data on the presence of multilevel disease in these patients. This study sought to evaluate whether the presence of a pathologic perforator is predictive of the presence of central venous pathology., Methods: This study was a retrospective review of the institutional Vascular Quality Initiative database. Consecutive patient limbs were identified that underwent intervention of refluxing perforators. The patients who underwent imaging, including magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography (group A), were compared with those who did not undergo imaging (group B). The treated limbs in group A were also compared with the contralateral limbs as an internal control. Anatomical findings on imaging were analyzed by two independent investigators. The primary outcome was the presence and degree of central venous stenosis as measured by an orthogonal diameter reduction of >50% by axial imaging. Secondary outcomes included demographic and clinical differences between the two groups, frequency of central venous intervention, and duration of ulcer healing. Standard statistical analysis was performed., Results: Ninety-three patient limbs underwent treatment of a pathologic perforator, with 30 in group A and 63 in group B. The following demographic and clinical variables were higher in group A compared with group B: male sex, body mass index, deep venous thrombosis history, recent or active anticoagulation use, perforator diameter, Clinical Etiology Anatomy Pathophysiology class 4, 5, or 6, and Venous Clinical Severity Score. Radiographic analysis of group A revealed concordance of a treated pathologic perforator with an ipsilateral central venous stenosis in 53.3% of patients, and a higher frequency of common iliac vein stenosis (50% vs 21.4%, P = .024) and external iliac vein stenosis (20% vs 0%, P = .012) compared with the contralateral limbs. When separated by the left or right limb, the left limbs exhibited a greater degree of common iliac vein stenosis as compared with the contralateral limbs (50.7% ± 20.9% vs 16.3% ± 16.5%, P < .001) as well as a greater frequency of >50% common iliac vein stenosis (46.7% vs 13.3%, P = .046). The right limbs exhibited a greater frequency of >50% external iliac vein stenosis as compared with the contralateral limbs (33.3% vs 0%, P = .022)., Conclusions: This study suggests that patients with severe chronic venous insufficiency who undergo treatment for a pathologic perforator may have additional ipsilateral central venous pathology, supporting the presence of multilevel disease. Additional axial imaging might unmask central venous pathology and provide another option for treatment., (Copyright © 2021 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: For women with left common iliac vein compression (ie, May-Thurner syndrome) who undergo venous stenting and subsequently become pregnant, concerns have been raised regarding a possible compromise of stent patency due to compression from the gravid uterus and the hypercoagulability induced by pregnancy. Only a small body of literature exists on this subject, and limited management guidelines are available. The present study was designed to evaluate the safety of iliac vein stenting for May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) with subsequent pregnancy., Methods: Female patients who had undergone common iliac vein stenting at our center who were aged 18 to 45 years and had subsequently become pregnant were identified. A retrospective medical record review of eight eligible patients was conducted, recording the demographics, procedural characteristics, and anticoagulation strategies. The primary outcome evaluated was stent patency., Results: All eight patients had undergone left common iliac vein stenting for MTS. A total of eight stents were placed, and all demonstrated duplex ultrasound patency throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Seven patients delivered healthy pregnancies, and one experienced a stillbirth. The clinical CEAP (clinical, etiologic, anatomic, pathophysiologic) class remained unchanged or improved from pregnancy to postpartum for all patients. The average age at stent placement was 31 ± 5 years, and the average interval from stent placement to pregnancy was 28 ± 19 months. One patient developed nonobstructive deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the left femoral vein during pregnancy and was treated with therapeutic enoxaparin. The nonobstructive DVT did not compromise the iliac vein stent. Two patients received low-dose aspirin and prophylactic doses of enoxaparin, one for a history of DVT and factor V Leiden and one for a recent history of fertility treatment. The five remaining patients received no anticoagulation, three received low-dose aspirin, and two received no antiplatelet therapy., Conclusions: Common iliac vein stent patency was not compromised by subsequent pregnancy in our eight patients with MTS. Furthermore, the stents remained patent throughout pregnancy in patients receiving a wide range of anticoagulation and antiplatelet treatments, suggesting that no uniform therapeutic threshold exists and treatment should be individualized. For most patients, low-dose aspirin alone or no treatment was adequate. This could have implications for counseling women who require intervention for MTS and are of child-bearing age., (Copyright © 2021 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Restenosis after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) poses unique therapeutic challenges, with no specific guidelines available on the operative approach. Traditionally, transfemoral carotid artery stenting (TfCAS) has been regarded as the preferred approach to treating restenosis after CEA. Recently, transcarotid artery revascularization with a flow-reversal neuroprotection system (TCAR) has gained popularity as an effective alternative treatment modality for de novo carotid artery stenosis. The aim of the present study was to compare the contemporary perioperative outcomes of TfCAS and TCAR in patients with prior ipsilateral CEA., Methods: The Vascular Quality Initiative database was reviewed for patients who had undergone TfCAS and TCAR for restenosis after prior ipsilateral CEA between January 2016 and August 2020. The primary outcome was the 30-day composite outcome of stroke and death. The secondary outcomes included 30-day stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), myocardial infarction (MI), death, and composite 30-day outcomes of stroke, death, and TIA, stroke and TIA, and stroke, death, and MI. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the outcomes of interest after adjustment for potential confounders and baseline differences between cohorts., Results: Of 3508 patients, 1834 and 1674 had undergone TfCAS and TCAR, respectively. The TCAR cohort was older (mean age, 71.6 years vs 70.2 years; P < .001) and less likely to be symptomatic (27% vs 46%; P < .001), with a greater proportion taking aspirin (92% vs 88%; P = .001), a P2Y12 inhibitor (89% vs 80%; P < .001), and a statin (91% vs 87%; P = .002) compared with the TfCAS cohort. Perioperatively, the TCAR cohort had had lower 30-day composite outcomes of stroke/death (1.6% vs 2.7%; P = .025), stroke/death/TIA (1.8% vs 3.3%; P = .004), and stroke/death/MI (2.1% vs 3.2%; P = .048), primarily driven by lower rates of stroke (1.3% vs 2.3%; P = .031) and TIA (0.2% vs 0.7%; P = .031). Among asymptomatic patients, the incidence of stroke (0.6% vs 1.4%; P = .042) and the composite of stroke/TIA (0.8% vs 1.8%; P = .036) was significantly lower after TCAR than TfCAS, and TCAR was associated with a lower incidence of TIA (0% vs 1%; P = .038) among symptomatic patients. On adjusted analysis, the TCAR cohort had lower odds of TIA (adjusted odds ratio, 0.17; 95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.74; P = .019)., Conclusions: Among patients undergoing carotid revascularization for restenosis after prior ipsilateral CEA, TCAR was associated with decreased odds of 30-day TIA compared with TfCAS. However, the two treatment approaches were similarly safe in terms of the remaining perioperative outcomes, including stroke and death and stroke, death, and MI. Our results support the safety and efficacy of TCAR in this subset of patients deemed at high risk of reintervention., (Copyright © 2021 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Histologic analyses of deep vein thrombi (DVTs) have used autopsy samples and animal models. To the best of our knowledge, no previous study has reported on thrombus composition after percutaneous mechanical extraction. Because elements of chronicity and organization render thrombus resistant to anticoagulation and thrombolysis, a better understanding of clot evolution could inform therapy., Methods: We performed a histologic evaluation of DVTs from consecutive patients who had undergone mechanical thrombectomy for extensive iliofemoral DVTs using the Clottriever/Flowtriever device (Inari Medical, Irvine, Calif). The DVTs were scored using a semiquantitative method according to the degree of fibrosis (collagen deposition on trichrome staining) and organization (endothelial growth with capillaries and fibroblastic penetration)., Results: Twenty-three specimens were available for analysis, with 20 presenting as acute DVT (≤14 days from symptom onset). Of the 23 patients, 11 (48%) had had >5% fibrosis (ie, collagen deposition) and 14 (61%) had had >5% organization (ie, endothelial growth, capillaries, fibroblasts). Four patients with acute DVT had had ≥25% organized thrombus and two had had ≥25% collagen deposition. Of the 20 patients with acute DVT, 40% had had >5% fibrosis and 55% had had >5% organization. The acuity of DVT did not correlate with the amount of fibrosis or organizing scores., Conclusions: A large proportion of patients with acute DVT will have histologic elements of chronicity and fibrosis. A better understanding of the relationship between such elements and the response to anticoagulant agents and fibrinolytic drugs could inform our approach to therapy., (Copyright © 2021 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: During the past two decades, the treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs) has undergone a transformation. Although open surgical repair (OR) has remained the reference standard for treatment, endovascular repair (ER) has become an attractive alternative for select patient populations. The objective of the present study was to compare the outcomes of OR vs ER of PAAs at a single institution., Methods: We performed a retrospective review of the medical records for all patients who had undergone repair for PAAs from 1998 to 2017. The baseline patient, anatomic, and operative characteristics and outcomes were compared between the OR and ER cohorts. Intervention and treatment were at the discretion of the surgeon., Results: From 1998 to 2017, 64 patients had undergone repair of 73 PAAs at our tertiary care center. Of the 69 patients (73 PAAs), 29 (33 PAAs) had undergone OR and 35 (40 PAAs) had undergone ER. When comparing the two cohorts, no statistically significant differences were found in the demographic characteristics such as age, gender, or number of runoff vessels. Significantly more patients in the ER group (n = 21; 53%) than in the OR group (n = 7; 21%) had had hyperlipidemia (P = .008) and a previous carotid intervention (6% vs 0%; P = .029). Overall, the presence of symptoms was similar between the two groups. However, the OR group had a significantly higher number of patients who had presented with acute ischemia (P = .01). The length of stay was significantly shorter for the ER cohort (mean, 1.8 days; range, 1-11 days) than for the OR group (mean, 5.4 days; range, 2-13 days; P < .0001). No significant difference was found in the primary or secondary patency rates between the two groups. In the ER group, good runoff (two or more vessels) was a positive predictor for primary patency at 1 year (odds ratio, 3.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-11.25). However, it was not in the OR group. Postoperative single and/or dual antiplatelet therapy did not affect primary patency in either cohort., Conclusions: The results of our study have demonstrated that ER of PAAs is a safe and durable option with patency rates comparable to those with OR and a decreased length of stay, with good runoff a positive predictor for primary patency in the ER cohort., (Copyright © 2021 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Although inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis is infrequently encountered, it carries a significant risk of post-thrombotic syndrome and pulmonary embolus. Recent studies show no difference in the incidence of post-thrombotic syndrome in patients with iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis (DVT) treated with pharmacothrombolysis vs anticoagulation alone; however, there is an associated increased risk of bleeding. The treatment of IVC thrombosis is less well-studied and the hemodynamic changes may be more significant with pharmacothrombolysis, although the bleeding risk remains. The ClotTriever and FlowTriever systems remove thrombus from veins without the use of thrombolytics. Our study evaluates outcomes of patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy for the treatment of IVC thrombosis using the ClotTriever and FlowTriever devices., Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed to identify consecutive patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy for the treatment of IVC thrombosis using the ClotTriever and/or FlowTriever systems from November 2018 to January 2020 at four data-sharing institutions. The decision of which device(s) to use was at the discretion of the surgeon. Patient demographics, symptomatology, and imaging characteristics were captured at presentation and follow-up., Results: A total of 15 patients met the inclusion criteria; 10 were male, and the average age was 59 years. The majority of patients were symptomatic at presentation (n = 14), had a prior history of DVT (n = 13), and had a preexisting IVC filter (n = 8). Eleven patients presented with acute onset (<1 week) of symptoms, whereas three patients had subacute (1-4 weeks) symptoms. Most patients had an associated iliofemoral DVT (n = 13) and were treated with both ClotTriever and FlowTriever (n = 8); others were treated with either ClotTriever or FlowTriever alone (n = 5 and n = 2, respectively). Technical success was achieved in all but two patients, one who had a nonocclusive thrombus densely adherent to a preexisting IVC filter and another who had a chronic rubbery clot in the IVC that could not be cleared. No patient required concomitant lytic therapy or a postoperative stay in the intensive care unit. Furthermore, there were no postoperative bleeding events, myocardial infarctions, pulmonary emboli, renal impairments, or deaths. The median length of stay was 3 days (range, 1-37 days). Patients underwent postoperative follow-up (n = 7) as well as extended follow-up (>6 months; n = 8). All patients who achieved technical success were asymptomatic without evidence of reocclusion of the IVC on follow-up imaging., Conclusions: In our multicenter series of 15 patients, The ClotTriever and FlowTriever showed promise in the treatment of IVC thrombosis without the use of fibrinolytic drugs, with no bleeding events and no requirement for intensive care unit stay., (Copyright © 2020 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused devastating morbidity and mortality worldwide. In particular, thromboembolic complications have emerged as a key threat for patients with COVID-19. We assessed our experience with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with COVID-19., Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients with COVID-19 who had undergone upper or lower extremity venous duplex ultrasonography at an academic health system in New York City from March 3, 2020 to April 12, 2020 with follow-up through May 12, 2020. A cohort of hospitalized patients without COVID-19 (non-COVID-19) who had undergone venous duplex ultrasonography from December 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 was used for comparison. The primary outcome was DVT. The secondary outcomes included pulmonary embolism, in-hospital mortality, admission to the intensive care unit, and antithrombotic therapy. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify the risk factors for DVT and mortality., Results: Of 443 patients (COVID-19, n = 188; and non-COVID-19, n = 255) who had undergone venous duplex ultrasonography, the COVID-19 cohort had had a greater incidence of DVT (31% vs 19%; P = .005) than had the non-COVID-19 cohort. The incidence of pulmonary embolism was not significantly different statistically between the COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 cohorts (8% vs 4%; P = .105). The DVT location in the COVID-19 group was more often distal (63% vs 29%; P < .001) and bilateral (15% vs 4%; P < .001). The duplex ultrasound findings had a significant impact on the antithrombotic plan; 42 patients (72%) with COVID-19 in the DVT group had their therapy escalated and 49 (38%) and 3 (2%) had their therapy escalated and deescalated in the non-DVT group, respectively (P < .001). Within the COVID-19 cohort, the D-dimer level was significantly greater in the DVT group at admission (2746 ng/mL vs 1481 ng/mL; P = .004) and at the duplex examination (6068 ng/mL vs 3049 ng/mL; P < .01). On multivariable analysis, male sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-4.87; P = .035), intensive care unit admission (OR, 3.42; 95% CI, 1.02-11.44; P = .046), and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (OR, 5.5; 95% CI, 1.01-30.13; P = .049) were independently associated with DVT., Conclusions: Given the high incidence of venous thromboembolic events in this population, we support the decision to empirically initiate therapeutic anticoagulation for patients with a low bleeding risk and severe COVID-19 infection. Duplex ultrasonography should be reserved for patients with a high clinical suspicion of venous thromboembolism for whom anticoagulation therapy could result in life-threatening consequences. Further study of patients with COVID-19 is warranted to elucidate the etiology of vascular thromboembolic events and guide the prophylactic and therapeutic interventions for these patients., (Copyright © 2020 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Lymphedema is associated with significant morbidity and healthcare resource usage. Conventional therapy efficacy has been limited, with poor surgical salvage options. Preliminary studies have demonstrated that the use of advanced pneumatic compression devices (APCDs) improves clinical outcomes. However, limited evidence regarding their role in healthcare cost mitigation or health-related quality of life (QOL) is available., Methods: The present postmarket, multicenter, single-arm, observational clinical trial conducted in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System evaluated patients with a diagnosis of primary or secondary edema of unilateral or bilateral lower extremities treated with the Flexitouch APCD (Tactile Medical, Minneapolis, Minn) from February 2016 to March 2019. The patients were assessed at baseline and 12, 24, and 52 weeks from enrollment by limb circumference, QOL assessments (short form-36 and Lymphedema Quality of Life), device compliance, cellulitis episodes, and lymphedema-related healthcare use since the previous visit. The primary endpoints of interest were the QOL at baseline compared with at 12 weeks, unscheduled lymphedema-related clinic visits, and hospital admissions at 52 weeks. The secondary endpoints included the change in limb girth and QOL at 52 weeks compared with baseline., Results: A total of 178 patients with lower extremity lymphedema were prospectively enrolled. The present study reports the interim data for the first 74 subjects to complete 52 weeks of APCD treatment. The cohort was predominately male (94.6%), elderly (mean age, 67 years), obese (median body mass index, 32 kg/m 2 ), and most commonly enrolled for the treatment of phlebolymphedema (71.6%) with largely bilateral lower extremity involvement (91.9%). No significant difference was seen in QOL at 12 weeks. However, at 52 weeks, the Lymphedema Quality of Life scores had significantly improved from baseline (6.3 vs 7.4; P < .0001) and the short form-36 had demonstrated significant improvement from baseline in the physical component (38.6 vs 40.8; P = .035), with an effect toward overall improvement in the mental component (49.9 vs 51.3; P = .549). The limb circumference had decreased significantly at 12 weeks compared with baseline (28.5 cm vs 27.7 cm; P = .0005) in the most affected lower extremity, and this reduction had remained stable for the study duration. APCD treatment was associated with a significant reduction in cellulitis episodes (24.3% vs 8.1%; P = .005), lymphedema-related clinic visits (2.2 vs 0.7; P = .02), urgent care visits (1.2 vs 0.3; P = .004), and hospital admissions (0.5 vs 0.1; P = .047) per patient., Conclusions: The Flexitouch APCD resulted in initial significant limb girth reduction as early as 12 weeks and a steady and sustained improvement in health-related QOL for ≤1 year. The latter was likely reflective of a decrease in cellulitis episodes and fewer associated lymphedema-related clinic and urgent care visits and hospital admissions., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Wound complications after major lower extremity amputations (LEAs) are a cause of significant morbidity in vascular surgery patients. Recent publications have demonstrated the efficacy of the closed incision negative pressure dressing at preventing surgical site infections (SSIs); however, there are few data on its use in major LEAs. This study sought to assess if closed incision negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) would decrease the risk of complications as compared with a standard dressing in patients with peripheral vascular disease undergoing major LEA., Methods: Fifty-four consecutive patient limbs with a history of peripheral arterial disease underwent below-knee or above-knee amputations. This was a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database from January 2018 to December 2019, and it included 23 amputations in the NPWT group and 31 amputations in the standard dressing group. NPWT using the PREVENA system was applied intraoperatively at the discretion of the operating surgeon and removed 5 to 7 days postoperatively. The standard group received a nonadherent dressing with an overlying compression dressing. Amputation incisions were assessed and wound complications were recorded. Student's t-test and two-sample proportion z-test were used for statistical analysis. A P value of less than .05 was considered statistically significant., Results: For comorbidities, there was a higher incidence of tobacco use in the NPWT as compared with the standard group (44% vs 13%; P = .011), as well as trends toward increased prior amputations, anemia, hyperlipidemia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder in the NPWT group. For risk factors, there were more dirty wounds in the NPWT as compared with the standard group (52% vs 26%; P = .046). For outcomes, there were fewer wound complications in the NPWT as compared with the standard group (13% vs 39%; P = .037). The types of wound-related complications in the NPWT group included one wound dehiscence with a deep SSI, one superficial SSI, and one incision line necrosis. In the standard group, there were four wound dehiscences with deep SSI, three superficial SSIs, four incision line necroses, and one stump hematoma. The rates of perioperative mortality and amputation revision did not differ significantly between the NPWT and the standard groups (3% vs 4% and 4.3% vs 10%, respectively)., Conclusions: Closed incision NPWT may decrease the incidence of wound complications in vascular patients undergoing major LEA. This held true even among a population that was potentially at higher risk. This therapy may be considered for use in lower extremity major amputations., (Copyright © 2020 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The American Venous Forum (AVF) and the Society for Vascular Surgery set forth these guidelines for the management of endothermal heat-induced thrombosis (EHIT). The guidelines serve to compile the body of literature on EHIT and to put forth evidence-based recommendations. The guidelines are divided into the following categories: classification of EHIT, risk factors and prevention, and treatment of EHIT. One major feature is to standardize the reporting under one classification system. The Kabnick and Lawrence classification systems are now combined into the AVF EHIT classification system. The novel classification system affords standardization in reporting but also allows continued combined evaluation with the current body of literature. Recommendations codify the use of duplex ultrasound for the diagnosis of EHIT. Risk factor assessments and methods of prevention including mechanical prophylaxis, chemical prophylaxis, and ablation distance are discussed. Treatment guidelines are tailored to the AVF EHIT class (ie, I, II, III, IV). Reference is made to the use of surveillance, antiplatelet therapy, and anticoagulants as deemed indicated, and the recommendations incorporate the use of the novel direct oral anticoagulants. Last, EHIT management as it relates to the great and small saphenous veins is discussed., (Copyright © 2020 Society for Vascular Surgery, the American Venous Forum and the Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Penetrating ulcers of the abdominal aorta (PUAA) are an increasingly common finding on abdominal imaging studies; however, their significance and natural history are not well described. This study's objective was to analyze the demographics, presentation, and outcomes of patients with a radiographic diagnosis of PUAA., Materials and Methods: Patients at our tertiary referral center were identified for inclusion based on a search for the term "penetrating ulcer" in abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging reports between January 2014 and December 2017. Patients' electronic medical records were retrospectively reviewed to determine baseline medical characteristics, imaging indication, and subsequent clinical course, interventions, and outcomes. Aortic diameters and ulcer depths were measured by a single observer on initial and follow-up imaging to assess for association with concomitant aortic pathology, evolving aortic disease, and ulcer progression, defined as increase in depth of ≥ 1 mm. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 16 (College Station, TX: StataCorp LLC), and a threshold P-value of <0.05 was set for significance., Results: Ninety-two patients with PUAA were identified; 57 (62%) were male. The mean age at diagnosis was 79.3 years, and comorbidities included hypertension (74%), hyperlipidemia (65%), and malignancy (34%). The most common indication for imaging was chest, back, or abdominal pain (19%). On initial imaging, the mean ulcer depth was 1 cm (range from 0.2 cm to 3.4 cm). Concomitant abdominal aortic dilation ≥ 3 cm was found in 34 (37%) patients. Thirty-six (39%) patients had a vascular surgery consultation immediately after radiographic diagnosis. Follow-up axial imaging was performed on 27 (29%) untreated patients. The overall sample's mean ulcer depth remained essentially unchanged from initial measurement (P = 0.99); however, 14 (52%) patients with follow-up imaging were found to have increased overall aortic diameter. Of the total 92 patients, 9 (10%) underwent an endovascular abdominal aortic intervention during the review period: 2 for symptomatic PUAA and the remainder for progression of concomitant aneurysmal disease. All-cause mortality was 5% during the mean follow-up period of 21.9 months (range 0 to 72.5 months). Of the patients lost to follow-up, 61% did not receive vascular referral after initial diagnosis., Conclusions: PUAA are typically incidental findings identified in elderly, comorbid patients undergoing imaging for an unrelated indication. Although isolated findings of asymptomatic PUAA rarely require surgical intervention, these patients we argue would benefit from vascular surgery referral for long-term follow-up and interval imaging to assess for disease progression and concomitant aortic degeneration, which may necessitate repair. In addition, we observed that most of those patients lost to follow-up did not receive vascular consultation, suggesting that lack of involvement of vascular specialists at the time of diagnosis is a missed opportunity to secure appropriate follow-up and management., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Ischemic complications (including in the lower extremity, visceral, spinal, and pelvic territories) following standard endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) are well recognized but fortunately uncommon. The incidence of such complications following fenestrated and branched aortic repair (F/BEVAR) has not been well defined in the literature. The objective of this study was to compare the incidence of ischemic complications between EVAR and F/BEVAR and to elucidate potential risk factors for these complications., Methods: We identified all patients who underwent EVAR from 2003 to 2017 or F/BEVAR from 2012 to 2017 in the national Vascular Quality Initiative database. We assessed differences in perioperative ischemic outcomes with methods including logistic regression and inverse probability of treatment propensity score weighting, using a composite end point of lower extremity ischemia, intestinal ischemia, stroke, or new dialysis as the primary end point., Results: The data comprised 35,379 EVAR patients and 3374 F/BEVAR patients. F/BEVAR patients were more likely to be female, have had previous aneurysm repairs, and be deemed unfit for open aneurysm repair; they were less likely to have ruptured aneurysms; and they had higher estimated blood losses, contrast volumes, and fluoroscopy and procedure times. The incidence of any ischemic event (7.7% vs 2.2%) as well as the incidences of the component end points of lower extremity ischemia (2.3% vs 1.0%), intestinal ischemia (2.7% vs 0.7%), stroke (1.5% vs 0.3%), and new hemodialysis (3.1% vs 0.4%) were all significantly increased (all P < .001) in F/BEVAR compared with standard EVAR. After propensity adjustment, F/BEVAR conferred increased odds of any ischemic complication (1.8), intestinal ischemia (2.0), lower extremity ischemia (1.3), new hemodialysis (10.2), and stroke (2.3)., Conclusions: Rates of lower extremity ischemia, intestinal ischemia, new dialysis, and stroke each range from 0% to 1% for standard EVAR and 1% to 3% for F/BEVAR. The incidence of perioperative ischemic complications following F/BEVAR is significantly increased compared to EVAR. The real-world data in this study should help guide decision-making for surgeons and patients as well as serve as one metric for progress in device and technique development. Improvements in ischemic complications may come from continued technology development such as smaller sheaths, improved imaging to decrease procedure time and contrast volume, embolic protection, and increased operator skill with wire and catheter manipulation., (Copyright © 2019 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, durability, and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) of the great saphenous vein (GSV) and small saphenous vein (SSV) to treat symptomatic venous reflux in patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation., Methods: Patients treated at a single institution with RFA or EVLA while receiving warfarin (Coumadin) anticoagulation were identified retrospectively along with a consecutive sample of patients not receiving anticoagulation who were similarly treated. Patients' demographics, comorbidities, procedural details, and follow-up data were obtained from electronic medical records. Outcomes of interest included the rates of persistent vein ablation, bleeding, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and endothermal heat-induced thrombosis. Groups were compared using χ 2 tests, Fisher exact test, Kaplan-Meier curves, and Cox proportional hazard modeling., Results: There were 100 procedures performed in 65 patients receiving anticoagulation and 127 procedures in 89 control patients. Mean follow-up time was 467 days. The most common indications for anticoagulation were atrial fibrillation (52%), remote DVT (29%), and mechanical heart valves (8%). Patients receiving anticoagulation were on average older (67 years vs 52 years), were more likely to be male (51% vs 27%), and had higher rates of coronary disease (9% vs 0%) and hypertension (55% vs 20%), although they were more likely to have never smoked (86% vs 69%). There were 127 RFA procedures (56%) and 100 EVLA procedures (44%); 189 procedures treated the GSV or its tributaries (83%), and 38 treated the SSV (17%). At 1 year, the target vessel remained ablated after 96% of procedures performed with anticoagulation and in 99% of controls; at 18 months, rates were 92% vs 95% (P = .96). Rates of persistent ablation did not differ significantly by vessel treated (P = .28), EVLA vs RFA (P = .36), or use of antiplatelet therapy (P = .92). One patient had bleeding from a phlebectomy site 2 days postprocedurally when supratherapeutic on warfarin; this was controlled with pressure. DVT in the ipsilateral leg occurred within 90 days after 1 of 100 (1%) procedures in patients receiving anticoagulation and 2 of 127 (1.6%) procedures in control patients; endothermal heat-induced thrombosis rates were similarly 1 of 100 (1%) procedures in patients receiving anticoagulation and 1 of 127 (0.8%) in control patients., Conclusions: This is the largest series to date reporting >30-day follow-up for patients undergoing venous ablation procedures while receiving anticoagulation and the longest follow-up reported of any series. Durability, safety, and efficacy of vein ablation in patients receiving anticoagulation are comparable to those in control patients. Anticoagulation should not be considered a contraindication to endothermal ablation of the GSV or SSV for symptomatic venous reflux., (Copyright © 2019 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (UEDVT) and its associated complications are increasing in incidence, but management strategies are largely derived from experience treating lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (LEDVT). The purpose of this study is to examine our single institution's experience with in-hospital venous thromboembolism (VTE), specifically the characteristics and outcomes of the UEDVT population as it compares to LEDVT., Methods: This is a single tertiary care center retrospective cohort study of all consecutive inpatients diagnosed with acute VTE from June 2015 to December 2015. During this period, 4,495 patients underwent venous duplex examination (622 UE and 3,873 LE), identifying 83 inpatient DVTs. Chronic DVT and those diagnosed in the outpatient population were excluded. DVTs were classified as either provoked or unprovoked. Provoked DVT were defined as the presence of any of the following factors within 30 days prior to diagnosis: major surgery, immobilization (greater than 3 days of bedrest), trauma, infection requiring antibiotics, central venous access, pregnancy, and/or hormonal medication use. Inpatient pulmonary embolisms (PE) detected on chest computed tomography (CT) were also evaluated during this time frame. Patient data were collected, including age, gender, race, lifestyle factors, comorbidities, VTE risk factors, symptomatology at presentation, management including anticoagulation choice and filter placement if applicable, as well as discharge disposition. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 8.0 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, California), and a threshold P-value of <0.05 set for significance., Results: During the study period, 83 DVTs (48 LEDVT, 35 UEDVT) and 24 PE were identified in 96 inpatients. Of these DVTs, 77.1% of these were defined as provoked. Eleven patients had simultaneous DVT and PE, and thirteen patients had PE with presumed occult pelvic or LEDVT. UEDVT patients had a higher proportion of comorbidities than LEDVT patients: coronary artery disease (25.7% vs. 13.1%, P = 0.16), congestive heart failure (20% vs. 6.6%, P = 0.09), as well as a trend toward higher incidence of malignancy (60% vs. 42.6%, P = 0.13). Of provoked VTE, UEDVT correlated more significantly with central venous catheters (88.4% vs. 12.5%, P=<0.0001), but was less commonly associated with prolonged bed rest (19.2% vs. 39.5%, P = 0.11). PE was diagnosed in 24/96 (25%) of the study population. Patients with LEDVT were found to have a significantly higher incidence of PE compared to those with UEDVT (34.4% vs. 8.6%, P = 0.006). Same-admission mortality for patients with VTE was 13/96 (13.5%). Of these, patients with UEDVT had significantly higher all-cause mortality than patients with LEDVT (28.5% vs. 4.9%, P = 0.004). When catheter-related UEDVT was excluded, there remained a significant difference in mortality between non-catheter-related UEDVT and LEDVT (33.3% vs. 4.9% P = 0.0119)., Conclusions: This study demonstrates a high prevalence of UEDVT in hospitalized patients who experience VTE. Despite a lower incidence of synchronous PE, patients with UEDVT had a higher prevalence of significant medical comorbidities and higher all-cause mortality on the index hospital admission., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Mesenteric venous thrombosis (MVT) is a relatively uncommon but potentially lethal condition associated with bowel ischemia and infarction. The natural history and long-term outcomes are poorly understood and under-reported., Methods: A single-institution retrospective review of noncirrhotic patients diagnosed with MVT from 1999 to 2015 was performed using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and radiology codes. Patients were excluded if no radiographic imaging was available for review. Eighty patients were identified for analysis. Demographic, clinical, and radiographic data on presentation and at long-term follow-up were collected. Long-term sequelae of portal venous hypertension were defined as esophageal varices, portal vein cavernous transformation, splenomegaly, or hepatic atrophy, as seen on follow-up imaging., Results: There were 80 patients (57.5% male; mean age, 57.9 ± 15.6 years) identified; 83.3% were symptomatic, and 80% presented with abdominal pain. Median follow-up was 480 days (range, 1-6183 days). Follow-up radiographic and clinical data were available for 50 patients (62.5%). The underlying causes of MVT included cancer (41.5%), an inflammatory process (25.9%), the postoperative state (20.7%), and idiopathic cases (18.8%). Pancreatic cancer was the most common associated malignant neoplasm (53%), followed by colon cancer (15%). Twenty patients (26%) had prior or concurrent lower extremity deep venous thromboses. Most patients (68.4%) were treated with anticoagulation; the rest were treated expectantly. Ten (12.5%) had bleeding complications related to anticoagulation, including one death from intracranial hemorrhage. Four patients underwent intervention (three pharmacomechanical thrombolysis and one thrombectomy). One patient died of intestinal ischemia. Two patients had recurrent MVT, both on discontinuing anticoagulation. Long-term imaging sequelae of portal hypertension were noted in 25 of 50 patients (50%) who had follow-up imaging available. Patients with long-term sequelae had lower recanalization rates (36.8% vs 65%; P = .079) and significantly higher rates of complete as opposed to partial thrombosis at the initial event (73% vs 43.3%; P < .005). Long-term sequelae were unrelated to the initial cause or treatment with anticoagulation (P = NS)., Conclusions: Most cases of MVT are associated with malignant disease or an inflammatory process, such as pancreatitis. A diagnosis of malignant disease in the setting of MVT has poor prognosis, with a 5-year survival of only 25%. MVT can be effectively treated with anticoagulation in the majority of cases. Operative or endovascular intervention is rarely needed but important to consider in patients with signs of severe ischemia or impending bowel infarction. There is a significant incidence of radiographically noted long-term sequelae from MVT related to portal venous hypertension, especially in cases of initial complete thrombosis of the mesenteric vein., (Copyright © 2016 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To define the relative importance of fiber type as compared to laser wavelength on tissue injury depth, postoperative pain, and bruising during endovenous laser ablation., Methods: This study included 213 limbs that were treated with an 810-, 980-, or 1470-nm laser, with bare-tip (BT) or jacket-tip (JT) fibers. Pain scores (10-point scale) and bruising scores (5-point scale) were recorded. Tissue thermal injury depth (mm) was evaluated in vitro for the 810- and 1470-nm wavelengths with BT and JT fibers., Results: The JT fibers had lower pain scores as compared to the BT fibers at 810 nm (1.69 ± 1.77 vs 3.70 ± 1.34; P < .0005) and at 980 nm (1.14 ± 1.06 vs 2.71 ± 1.80; P < .0005). The JT fibers had lower bruising scores as compared to the BT fibers at 980 nm (0.89 ± 1.06 vs 2.00 ± 1.44; P < .0005). The in vitro study showed lower thermal injury depths for the JT as compared to the BT fibers at 810 nm (0.36 mm ± 0.26 mm vs 1.05 mm ± 0.34 mm; P < .0005) and at 1470 nm (0.20 ± 0.16 mm vs 0.71 ± 0.31 mm; P < .0005). With regard to wavelength, 980-nm laser had lower pain scores as compared to 810-nm laser with BT fibers (2.71 ± 1.80 vs 3.70 ± 1.34; P = .015), and with JT fibers, a similar result trended toward significance (1.14 ± 1.06 vs 1.69 ± 1.77; P = .057). The 980-nm JT fiber showed less bruising as compared to the 810-nm JT fiber (0.89 ± 1.06 vs 1.42 ± 1.19; P = .019). Similarly, the 1470-nm JT fiber showed less bruising as compared to the 810-nm JT fiber (0.94 ± 1.02 vs 1.42 ± 1.19; P = .038). The in vitro study showed thermal injury depths that were less for 1470 nm as compared to 810 nm, with JT fibers (0.20 ± 0.16 mm vs 0.36 ± 0.26 mm; P = .013) or with BT fibers (0.71 ± 0.31 mm vs 1.05 ± 0.34 mm; P =.001). All mean differences between JT and BT fibers were greater than between differing wavelengths. The multivariate analysis for the in vitro study showed a mean difference between 1470 nm and 810 nm of 0.26 mm, P < .0005 favoring 1470 nm and a mean difference between JT and BT fibers of 0.61 mm, P < .0005 favoring the JT fibers., Conclusions: The use of a JT fiber appeared to be more significant in reducing pain and bruising as compared to a longer wavelength. Moreover, the results appeared additive, and the cohort using 1470 nm with a JT fiber produced the best treatment outcomes. Additional study is required to confirm the efficacy and durability of the various iterations evaluated; however, these data should be taken into consideration when undertaking treatment with endovenous laser ablation., (Copyright © 2016 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)