Search

Vascular surgeons provide an important service to the health care system. They are capable of treating a wide range of disease processes that affect both the venous and arterial systems. Their presence broadens the complexity and diversity of services that a health care system can offer both in the outpatient setting and in the inpatient setting. Because of their ability to control hemorrhage, they are critical to a safe operating room environment. The vascular surgery service line has a positive impact on hospital margin through both the direct vascular profit and loss and the indirect result of assisting other surgical and medical services in providing care. The financial benefits of a vascular service line will hold true for a wide range of alternative payment models, such as bundled payments or capitation. To fully leverage a modern vascular surgeon's skill set, significant investment is required from the health care system that is, however, associated with substantial return on the investment.

The prevalence of obesity is increasing in the United States. The treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) via hemodialysis spans the spectrum of body mass index (BMI). This study examines the impact of BMI on outcomes of autogenous fistulas for hemodialysis access in a large population-based cohort of patients.A retrospective study of all patients in the prospectively maintained United States Renal Database System who initiated hemodialysis between 2007 and 2014 was performed. Chi-squared test, t-tests, Kaplan-Meier estimates, log-rank tests, multivariable logistic and Cox regression analysis were employed to evaluate access maturation, interventions, patency, and mortality.There were 300,778 patients studied. Of these, 9,394 (3.1%) were underweight, 87,351 (29.1%) were normal weight, 86,101 (28.6%) were overweight, 57,047 (19%) were obese class I, 31,077 (10.3%) were obese class II, and 29,808 (9.9%) were obese class III. There was no significant difference in maturation for patients who were underweight (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.97, 95% CI 0.89-1.06, P = 0.48), overweight (aHR 1.01, 95% CI 0.97-1.05, P = 0.66), obese class I (aHR 1.05, 95% CI 0.99-1.09, P = 0.22), or obese class II (aHR 1.01, 95% CI 0.94-1.05, P = 0.98 relative to normal weight. However, there was a 6% decrease in maturation for obese class III patients (aHR 0.94, 95% CI 0.89-0.99, P = 0.02) compared to normal weight patients. Primary (aHR 0.93, 95% CI 0.91-0.96, P 0.001), primary assisted (aHR 0.90, 95% CI 0.88-0.93, P 0.001), and secondary patency (aHR 0.89, 95% CI 0.86-0.92, P 0.001) were lower for underweight compared to normal weight patients. There was 8%, 10%, and 7% decrease in primary (aHR 0.92, 95% CI 0.90-0.93, P 0.001), primary assisted (aHR 0.90, 95% CI 0.88-0.92, P 0.001), and secondary patency (aHR 0.93, 95% CI 0.91-0.94, P 0.001) respectively for patients in obese class III compared to patients with normal weight. There was an increase in patient survival with increasing BMI.In this population-based cohort of hemodialysis-dependent patients, severe obesity was associated with a decrease in fistula maturation. Extremes of BMI were associated with lower patency, but higher BMI was associated with better patient survival. Obese patients nearing ESRD might require earlier referral for arteriovenous fistula (AVF) placement in order to allow for maturation and AVF use at incident hemodialysis.

Background In January 2015, we created a multidisciplinary Aortic Center with the collaboration of Vascular Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, Interventional Radiology, Anesthesia and Hospital Administration. We report the initial success of creating a Comprehensive Aortic Center. Methods All aortic procedures performed from January 1, 2015 until December 31, 2016 were entered into a prospectively collected database and compared with available data for 2014. Primary outcomes included the number of all aortic related procedures, transfer acceptance rate, transfer time, and proportion of elective/emergent referrals. Results The Aortic Center included 5 vascular surgeons, 2 cardiac surgeons, and 2 interventional radiologists. Workflow processes were implemented to streamline patient transfers as well as physician and operating room notification. Total aortic volume increased significantly from 162 to 261 patients. This reflected an overall 59% ( P = 0.0167) increase in all aorta-related procedures. We had a 65% overall increase in transfer requests with 156% increase in acceptance of referrals and 136% drop in transfer denials ( P n = 45) of our total aortic volume in 2015. The average transfer time from request to arrival decreased from 515 to 352 min, although this change was not statistically significant. We did see a significant increase in the use of air-transfers for aortic patients ( P = 0.0041). Factorial analysis showed that time for transfer was affected only by air-transfer use, regardless of the year the patient was transferred. Transfer volume and volume of aortic related procedures remained stable in 2016. Conclusions Designation as a comprehensive Aortic Center with implementation of strategic workflow systems and a culture of “no refusal of transfers” resulted in a significant increase in aortic volume for both emergent and elective aortic cases. Case volumes increased for all specialties involved in the center. Improvements in transfer center and emergency medical services communication demonstrated a trend toward more efficient transfer times. These increases and improvements were sustainable for 2 years after this designation.

There are limited data on the impact of carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS)-related changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and preprocedural medications on periprocedural stroke in contemporary, real-world practice. This study evaluates the risk attributable to the CAS-related hemodynamic events and the impact preprocedural medications have on mitigating this risk in a large, population-based cohort.We studied all patients in the Vascular Quality Initiative who underwent CAS between January 2006 and December 2016. Kaplan-Meier, multivariable logistic, and Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the impact of periprocedural hypertension, hypotension, bradycardia, and medication use on immediate periprocedural stroke (IPPS), 30-day, and 1-year stroke.Of the 13,698 CAS procedures studied, 1239 (9.1%), 1824 (13.3%), and 1333 (9.7%) patients experienced periprocedural hypertension, hypotension, and bradycardia, respectively. IPPS was 3.2% vs 2.1% vs 0.65% (P .001), comparing patients with periprocedural hypertension vs hypotension vs normotension and 1.4 vs 1.0% (P = .19) for bradycardic vs nonbradycardic patients. Periprocedural hypertension was associated with a four-fold increase in IPPS (adjusted odd ratio [aOR], 3.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.63-5.99; P .001). periprocedural hypotension and bradycardia were associated with 5.5-fold (aOR, 5.56; 95% CI, 3.24-9.52; P .001) and 2.3-fold (aOR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.26-4.25; P = .007) increases in IPPS among patients with carotid symptoms. There was 76% decrease in IPPS for patients who did not experience a periprocedural hemodynamic event (aOR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.16-0.35; P .001). Unlike preprocedural beta-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, prophylactic antibradyarrhythmic agents conferred a 58% reduction in IPPS among patients with carotid symptoms (aOR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.23-0.78; P = .006). The periprocedural hemodynamic events were also associated with 7.7-fold increase in myocardial infarction (aOR, 7.70; 95% CI, 4.77-12.45; P .001), a 2.2-fold increase in 30-day mortality (aOR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.61-3.12; P .001), and a 16% increase in length of stay (aOR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.04-2.28; P = .042). The occurrence of these hemodynamic events is higher in patients with prior cardiac disease and the difference in periprocedural outcomes extended to 1 year.Periprocedural hemodynamic events are associated with an increase in periprocedural stroke, myocardial infarction, death, and length of stay. Periprocedural hypertension in all patients; hypotension and bradycardia in patients with symptomatic carotid disease are associated with significant increase in IPPS. Prophylactic antibradyarrhythmic agents are associated with decrease in bradycardia and IPPS. These results heighten the need to anticipate and promptly address these CAS-related hemodynamic events, especially in susceptible patients.

While the incidence of diabetics with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is low in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery, failure to recognize and treat these patients appropriately can lead to significant complications. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the pathophysiology and clinical manifestations and then describe the evaluation and management of diabetics with PAD. We also make recommendations on the use of tourniquets and antiplatelet agents, questions we are often asked by our orthopedic colleagues.

Objectives. To evaluate the efficacy of antibiotic-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) beads in eradication of an arterial prosthetic graft methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilm in an experimental animal model. Methods. Forty rats underwent subcutaneous implantation of a MRSA-colonized arterial polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) 1 x 1 cm wafer on the back. The effect of regional antibiosis produced by antibiotic PMMA bead placement adjacent to the infected PTFE wafer was determined using four 10-animal study groups: control (no antibiotic), PMMA bead with no antibiotic, PMMA bead with 10% vancomycin, and PMMA bead with 10% daptomycin. After 3 d, the PTFE wafers were explanted and quantitative biofilm cultures, expressed as colony-forming units (CFU) per graft wafer, performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction to assess MRSA eradication. No systemic antibiotic was administered. Bioassays of antibiotic bead bacteriocidal were performed by measuring zone of inhibition diameters on MRSA colonized agar culture plates prior to and following graft explantation. Results. All animal tolerated implantation of the MRSA-infected PTFE wafer and survived the 3 d until graft explantation. Quantitative biofilm cultures demonstrated a significant decrease (P < 0.01) in MRSA CFUs present on the PTFE wafer surfaces in the presence of both the vancomycin- and daptomycin-impregnated beads compared to controls and plain PMMA beads. Both vancomycin and daptomycin PMMA beads retained antibacterial activity after 3 d of implantation with decrease in zones of inhibition of 15% and 45%, respectively. Conclusions. Regional antibiotic delivery using an antibiotic-impregnated PMMAbead reduced the bacterial biofilm concentration in experimental subcutaneous pocket model of vascular surgical site infection. The delivery of antibiotics via a PMMA bead may be a useful adjunct in the treatment of vascular surgical site infection.

The authors report the microbiology and outcomes following an individualized treatment algorithm for extracavitary (EC) prosthetic graft infection, including the use of graft preservation and in situ graft replacement techniques. A retrospective 8-year review of 87 patients treated for EC prosthetic graft infections was carried out. The treatment algorithm included culture-specific antibiotic therapy, surgical site debridement with antibiotic bead placement, selected graft preservation with muscle flap coverage, or graft excision with in situ conduit replacement. Outcomes measured included death, limb loss, and recurrent infection. It was found that present-day management of EC prosthetic graft infections is associated with lower mortality and morbidity despite changes in microbiology and the increased application of graft preservation and in situ grafting treatments.

BackgroundWe sought to describe modes of failure and associated limb loss after infrainguinal polytetrafluoroethylene bypass grafting in patients lacking a saphenous venous conduit and to define specific clinical or hemodynamic factors prognostic for bypass failure.MethodsWe identified 121 patients (mean age, 67 years; 90 men and 31 women) with determinable outcomes (minimum follow-up, 2 months; mean, 17 months) after 130 prosthetic infrainguinal bypasses between 1997 and 2005. Ischemic presentation was rest pain in 52%, tissue loss in 34%, and disabling claudication and/or popliteal aneurysm in 14%, with 24% of patients requiring a redo bypass. Distal targets were the above-knee (n = 44), distal popliteal (n = 27), or tibial/pedal (n = 59) arteries. Sixty-six (77%) of the below-knee (BK) target (distal popliteal or tibial) bypasses had distal anastomotic adjuncts (vein cuff or patch). Duplex graft surveillance was performed at 1, 4, and 7 months after surgery and twice yearly thereafter, with recording of midgraft velocities and imaging encompassing inflow and outflow vessels. Arteriography and open/endovascular intervention was performed for stenoses identified by duplex scanning (peak systolic velocity >300 cm/s; velocity ratio >3.5). An attempt was made to salvage occluded grafts by using catheter-directed thrombolysis or open techniques. Eighty-six patients (74% of BK bypasses) were placed on chronic warfarin therapy with a target international normalized ratio range between 2 and 3. Prognostic factors were identified by using univariate statistics and multivariate logistic regression analysis.ResultsThree-year primary, assisted, and secondary patency rates were 39%, 43%, and 59%, respectively, for all bypasses, with no difference noted between above-knee and BK grafts (P = .5). At 3 years, freedom from limb loss was 75%, and patient survival was only 70%, with no adverse effect on survival imparted by amputation. Sixty-nine total adverse events occurred as a result of thrombotic occlusion (n = 51), duplex scan–detected stenosis (n = 13), or graft infection (n = 5). Forty-nine percent of all initial graft occlusions eventually led to amputation. Twenty-three grafts (27% of 86 patients) in patients maintained on chronic warfarin were subtherapeutic at the time of occlusion. Use of a distal anastomotic adjunct with BK bypasses reduced graft thrombosis (35% with vs 60% without) but did not impart a significant patency advantage (P = .07). Multivariate analysis revealed low graft flow (midgraft velocity ≤45 cm/s; odds ratio [OR], 6.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9-19.2), use of warfarin (OR, 8.4; 95% CI, 2.1-34.5), and therapeutic warfarin (OR, 24.6; 95% CI, 5.7-106) to be independently predictive for bypass patency. Graft patency was maintained in 89% of grafts remaining therapeutic on warfarin compared with only 55% of subtherapeutic or nonanticoagulated grafts (P < .001). Low-flow grafts (n = 61) occluded more frequently than higher-flow grafts (46% vs 13%; P < .001). Therapeutic warfarin augmented the patency of low-flow (P < .001) but not high-flow (P = .15) grafts.ConclusionsLow graft flow was a more common mode of prosthetic bypass failure than development of duplex scan–detected stenotic lesions during follow-up. Early duplex scanning may be more important for characterizing midgraft velocity and related thrombotic potential and selecting patients for chronic anticoagulation. Maintenance of therapeutic warfarin is paramount in optimizing prosthetic bypass patency and limb preservation.

Without prospective data establishing a consensus multimodality approach to borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma, institutional treatment regimens vary. This study investigated the outcomes of the clinical pathway at the author’s institution, which consists of neoadjuvant gemcitabine, docetaxel, capecitabine, and stereotactic radiotherapy followed by surgery. The study reviewed all cases that met the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) diagnostic criteria for borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma from 1 January 2006, to 31 December 2013. Pancreatectomy rates, margin status, pathologic response, disease-free survival (DFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS) were retrospectively examined. Standard statistical methods and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis were used for statistical comparisons. Of 121 patients who met criteria, 101 entered the clinical pathway, and 94 (93.1 %) completed neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Of the 101 patients, 55 (54.5 %) underwent pancreatectomy, with 53 patients (96.4 %) having microscopically negative margins (R0) and 2 patients (3.6 %) having microscopically positive margins (R1). Vascular resection was required for 22 patients (40 %), with rates of 95.5 % for R0 (n = 21) and 4.5 % for R1 (n = 1). A pathologic response to treatment was demonstrated by 45 patients (81.8 %) and a complete response by 10 patients (14.5 %). Pancreatectomy resulted in a median DFS of 23 months (95 % conflidence interval [CI] 14.5–31.5), a median DSS of 43 months (95 % CI, 25.7–60.3), and a median OS of 33 months (95 % CI, 25.0–41.0) versus a median DSS and OS of 14 months (95 % CI, 10.9–17.1) for patients without pancreatectomy (DSS: P = 3.5 × 10−13; OS: P = 4.7 × 10−10). The study demonstrated high rates for neoajduvant therapy completion (93.1 %) and pancreatectomy (54.5 %). After pancreatectomy, DSS was significantly improved (43 months), with a pathologic response demonstrated by 81.8 % and a complete response by 14.5 % of the patients. The results support further study of this borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma clinical pathway.

PurposeThis study was conducted to evaluate the impact of duplex ultrasound surveillance on the patency of femorofemoral bypasses performed for symptomatic peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD).MethodsA retrospective review was conducted of 108 patients (78 men, 30 women) with a mean age of 62 ± 10 years who underwent femorofemoral prosthetic (n = 100) or vein (n = 8) bypass grafting for symptomatic PAOD (claudication, 38%; rest pain, 41%; tissue loss, 11%; infection, 10%) during a 10-year period. Prior or concomitant inflow iliac artery stenting was performed in 26 patients (24%), and a redo femorofemoral bypass was performed in 19 patients (18%). Duplex ultrasound surveillance of the reconstruction was performed at 6-month intervals to assess patency, graft (midgraft peak systolic flow velocity) hemodynamics, and identify inflow or outflow stenotic lesions. Repair was recommended for a stenosis with a peak systolic velocity (PSV) >300 cm/s and a PSV ratio >3.5. Life-table analysis was used to estimate primary, assisted-primary, and secondary graft patency.ResultsDuring a mean 40-month follow-up (range, 2 to 120 months), 31 bypasses (29%) were revised: 19 duplex-detected stenosis involving the inflow iliac artery (n = 15) or anastomotic stenosis (n = 4), or both, 11 for graft thrombosis, and 1 for graft infection. Abnormal inflow iliac (PSV >300 cm/s) hemodynamics or a mid-graft PSV 300 cm/s correlated with failure, and repair of identified lesions was associated with excellent 5-year patency.

A 60-year-old man presented to the emergency department for evaluation of rectal bleeding, syncope, and pain in the right leg. Five days earlier, diffuse abdominal pain that worsened with movement had developed in association with nausea, anorexia, and malaise. Shortly before admission, the patient had a single episode of gross hematochezia and hematuria followed by syncope, as well as intense pain in the right leg.

PURPOSE To audit the caseloads of vascular surgery residents in the management of disabling claudication and assess the influence of endovascular procedures on overall operative experience. METHODS A retrospective review was conducted of vascular surgery resident experience in the open and endovascular management of lower limb claudication during two 3-year periods (January 2000 to December 2002 and January 2003 to December 2005). The time periods differed with regard to number of surgical faculty with advanced endovascular skills (3 in the first period and 4 in the second) and the availability of portable operating room angiography equipment. RESULTS During the 6-year period, the operative logs of vascular surgery residents indicated participation in 283 procedures [170 (60%) open surgical interventions, including 146 suprainguinal procedures] performed for claudication. The number of procedures increased by 62% (p

Purpose Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective therapeutic option for the treatment of greater saphenous vein (GSV) insufficiency; however, recent reports have begun to document an associated incidence of postprocedural deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of up to 16%. We evaluated our incidence of DVT after RFA and the role of venous duplex ultrasonography (VUS) in the assessment and treatment of GSV reflux. Methods During a 17-month period, 62 lower extremities with symptomatic GSV reflux were evaluated by VUS in 51 patients (74% women; mean age 51 years, range 25–83 yrs). Clinical history and examination focusing on risk factors for venous insufficiency and DVT were obtained along with a complete preoperative bilateral lower-extremity VUS in all patients. All procedures were completed by performing an intraoperative VUS to confirm patency of the GSV and common femoral veins before and after RFA. All patients received outpatient complete lower-extremity VUS within 5 days of the procedure to assess technical success of the procedure and superficial and deep venous patency. Results Fifty (98%) of patients completed RFA, with one patient undergoing high ligation of the GSV because of our inability to pass a guidewire and catheter into the proximal GSV. Duplex ultrasound confirmed successful RFA of the GSV in all limbs treated. Stab phlebectomy was performed in 33 (53%) limbs for associated clusters of large varicose veins. Two postoperative DVTs occurred (2/62,3.2%), both of which were identified as a floating thrombus in the common femoral vein and which subsequently were treated with percutaneous catheter-directed suction thrombectomy without the need for extended anticoagulation therapy. Conclusion Duplex venous scanning is an important component in the diagnosis and treatment of GSV insufficiency. VUS not only is necessary to direct the success of these catheter-based ablative procedures but is mandatory to confirm the absence of extended DVT after the procedure is completed. Our series has recorded a relatively low incidence of DVT and demonstrates that early recognition and aggressive treatment of nonocclusive common femoral DVT after RFA can obviate the need for long-term anticoagulation and potentially the sequelae of deep venous thrombosis.

The persistent high incidence of limb loss resulting from advanced forefoot tissue loss and infection in diabetic patients prompted an evaluation of transmetatarsal (TMA) and transtarsal/midfoot amputations in achieving foot salvage at our tertiary vascular practice. Over the last 8 years, 74 diabetic patients required 77 TMAs for tissue loss and/or infection. Twelve (16%) of the patients had a contralateral below-knee amputation (BKA) and 26% (n = 20) had dialysis-dependent renal failure. Thirty-five (45%) limbs had concomitant revascularization (bypass grafting or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty), 32 (42%) had arterial occlusive disease by noninvasive testing and/or arteriography but were not or could not be revascularized, and seven (13%) had normal hemodynamics. Patient factors, arterial testing, operative complications, operative mortality (60 days), wound healing (at 90 days), limb salvage, functional status, and survival were evaluated during a mean follow-up of 20 months (range 3-48). Operative mortality was 5% (n = 4) after TMA and/or midfoot amputation. Although 32 TMAs initially healed (44%), six BKAs were required 5-38 months later. Of the 41 nonhealing TMAs (56%), progressive infection/tissue loss necessitated major amputation of nine limbs. Chopart (n = 22) or Lisfranc (n = 10) midfoot amputations were done in the remaining 32 nonhealing TMAs. Despite additional wound revisions in 14 patients (44%), major amputation was needed in six limbs. However, functional ambulation was achieved in 23 of 25 (92%) limbs with healed midfoot amputations, and foot salvage was possible in 61% (25/41) of nonhealing TMAs. Overall limb salvage for TMA/midfoot procedures was estimated from Kaplain-Meier life tables to be 73%, 68%, and 62% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively, with only 50% of dialysis patients avoiding major amputation. Ankle pressure100 mm Hg and a biphasic pedal waveform had a positive predictive value (PPV) of 79%, and toe pressure50 mm Hg had a PPV of 91% for determining healing of TMA/midfoot amputations. One- and 3-year survival rates were only 72% and 69% for the entire cohort from life table estimates. Aggressive attempts at foot salvage are justified in diabetic patients with advanced forefoot tissue loss/infection after assuring adequate arterial perfusion. Transtarsal amputations salvaged over half of nonhealing TMAs with excellent functional results.

ObjectiveWe reviewed the presentation, management, and late events in a recent experience with aortic graft-enteric communications (secondary aortoenteric fistula) to identify variables associated with poor outcomes.MethodsSince 1991, 29 patients (19 men, 10 women; mean age, 70) presented with a secondary aortoenteric fistula. The duration from aortic graft implantation to aortoenteric fistula development ranged from 8 months to 180 months (mean, 47 months). Presenting symptoms included gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 25), sepsis and retroperitoneal abscess (n = 3), and ruptured para-anastomotic aneurysm (n = 1). One third (10/29) of patients were hypotensive at presentation. Repair was accomplished by graft excision with axillobifemoral bypass (17 simultaneous, 8 staged), graft excision with in situ deep vein replacement (n = 2), or graft excision with rifampin-treated prosthetic replacement (n = 2). Mean follow-up was 51 months, and the incidence of late events was reported by life table methods.ResultsThe operative (≤30-day) mortality rate was 21%, with shock at presentation (P < .01), the need for preoperative transfusion (P < .01), and use of suprarenal aortic clamping during aortoenteric fistula repair (P = .03) associated with lethal outcome. Cumulative mortality related to aortoenteric fistula management was only 24% within an overall 5-year survival rate of 61%. Freedom from recurrent infection or amputation was 86% and 88% at 5 years, respectively, and assisted graft patency was 79%. Presence of staphylococcal species in 22% of patients and occasional operative findings of adjacent perigraft “biofilm” suggests that underlying indolent graft infection may contribute to the development of aortoenteric fistula in some cases.ConclusionOutcomes associated with aortoenteric fistula repair were surprisingly favorable in the absence of preoperative hemodynamic instability.

Objective The objective of this study was to determine the clinical value of vascular laboratory surveillance after open or endovascular repair of popliteal aneurysm by analysis of the frequency and nature of secondary interventions performed. Methods Over an 8-year period, 55 popliteal artery aneurysms were repaired in 46 men (mean age, 72 years) by aneurysm ligation and bypass grafting (vein, 37; prosthetic, 7), endoaneurysmorrhaphy and interposition grafting (prosthetic, 3; vein, 1), or endograft exclusion (n = 7). Indications for intervention included aneurysm thrombosis with critical limb ischemia (n = 8), symptomatic (n = 10) or asymptomatic (n = 37), >1.75 cm popliteal aneurysm with mural thrombus. Catheter-directed thrombolysis was used in three limbs to restore aneurysm and tibial artery patency before open repair. Duplex ultrasound surveillance was performed after repair to identify residual and acquired lesions. Life-table analysis was used to estimate repair site intervention-free (primary) and assisted-primary patency. Results During a mean 20-month follow-up interval, 20 secondary procedures were performed in 18 (31%) limbs to repair duplex-detected graft stenosis (n = 10), repair site thrombosis (n = 5), vein graft aneurysm (n = 3), graft entrapment (n = 1), or type 1 endoleak (n = 1). Primary patency was 76% and 68% at 1 and 3 years, and was uninfluenced by tibial artery runoff status or type of bypass conduit. Open (n = 12) or endovascular (n = 8) secondary procedures were performed on 15 (12 vein, 3 prosthetic) bypass grafts, 2 endografts, and 1 interposition graft. Mean time to repair graft stenosis (11 months) was shorter than to repair of vein graft aneurysm (37 months). Assisted-primary patency was 93% and 88% at 1 and 3 years; redo bypass grafting was required and successful in five limbs. Limb salvage was 100%. Conclusions One third of popliteal artery aneurysms repaired by open or endovascular procedures required a secondary intervention within 2 years of repair. Repair-site surveillance using duplex ultrasound was able to identify lesions that threaten patency, which resulted in excellent assisted patency and limb preservation rates when corrected.

Persistent sciatic artery (PSA) is a rare developmental anomaly, usually associated with iliofemoral hypoplasia and dependence on the sciatic artery as the dominant inflow to the lower extremity. Although rare, this anomaly is associated with a very high rate of aneurysm formation and frequent thromboembolic complications presenting as lower extremity ischemia, and requires familiarity on the part of the vascular surgeon to properly diagnose the disorder and plan therapy. The authors present 2 cases of PSA presenting with lower extremity ischemia and review the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this rare but important anomaly.

Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms continues to evolve as an alternative to open repair. After open aortic grafting, re-operation to repair anastomotic pseudoaneurysms is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We reviewed our experience with the repair of para-anastomotic aortic pseudoaneurysms, including the feasibility of endovascular repair, its technical success, and outcome compared with conventional surgery. During a 10-year period, 11 patients (10 men, 1 woman) had repair of a para-anastomotic pseudoaneurysm (mean 7 cm; diameter range, 4.5-9 cm) involving the infrarenal aorta. Four pseudoaneurysms developed after infrarenal aortic aneurysm repairs and 7 after bypass for occlusive disease. The mean time to aneurysm development was 6 years. The decision for surgical (interposition polyester grafting) versus endovascular therapy was based on aortic anatomy, endograft availability, and surgeon preference. Endovascular repair was feasible and technically successful in 5 patients. All but one patient treated after the introduction of endovascular aneurysm repair at our institution (December 1999) was treated by this technique. Blood loss was significantly greater in the open surgical group (3000 mL vs 300 mL). The mean intensive care unit and hospital stay (days) was less in the endovascular group (0.8, 2.8) than in the surgical (4, 11) group. Thirty-day morbidity was similar for both treatment groups (endovascular, 1; surgery, 1), and no patient died in either group. During a mean follow-up of 20 months (range, 5-42 months), aortic imaging demonstrated one type II endoleak; which was successfully treated by translumbar embolization, and aneurysm diameter reduction in all endovascularly treated patients. During the surveillance period, no clinical signs of graft infection or recurrent aneurysm were evident in any patient in either treatment group. Endovascular repair of aortic graft para-anastomotic pseudoaneurysms is feasible and associated with more favorable outcomes than open surgical repair. When the aortic anatomy indicated endovascular therapy was a treatment option, endovascular repair was preferred by the surgeon and patient because of perceived reduced morbidity and shorter hospitalization than conventional surgery. To date, endovascular repair of aortic para-anastomotic pseudoaneurysms has produced durable results.

Objective Infrainguinal bypass grafting with arm vein is associated with lower patency rates compared with saphenous vein conduits. In this study the effect of a duplex ultrasound surveillance program to enable identification and treat graft lesions with open or endovascular repair on patency was analyzed. Methods Over 9 years 89 infrainguinal arm vein (26% spliced vein) bypasses were performed to treat critical lower limb ischemia in 89 patients without adequate saphenous vein conduits. Seventy-six (85%) of the bypasses were repeat procedures. Grafts were assessed at operation with duplex ultrasound scanning, then enrolled in a surveillance program. Graft stenoses with peak systolic velocity greater than 300 cm/s and velocity ratio greater than 3.5, detected at duplex ultrasound scanning, were repaired with percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA) if specific criteria were met, including greater than 3 months since primary procedure, lesion length less than 2 cm, and graft diameter greater than 3.5 mm, or with open surgical repair for early appearing or extensive graft lesions. Results During a mean 26-month follow-up, duplex surveillance resulted in a 48% (43 bypasses) intervention rate. Primary patency rate was 43% at 3 years. Twenty-six (43%) of 61 lesions identified and repaired met criteria for PTA; the remaining 35 graft lesions (stenosis, n=30; vein graft aneurysm, n=5) were surgically corrected with vein patch angioplasty (n = 15), interposition grafting (n = 13), jump graft bypass (n = 6), or open repair (n = 1). At 3 years the assisted primary patency rate was 91% (7 graft failures). Multiple interventions were performed in 18 (42%) revised grafts because of metachronous (n = 6) or repair site stenosis (n = 12). In 18 graft interventions (PTA, n=9; surgery, n=9) recurrent stenosis developed, and endovascular therapy was used in one third (n = 6). At 3 years the stenosis-free patency rate for PTA (48%) and surgically repaired (53%) graft lesions was similar. Conclusions Arm veins used in lower limb bypass procedures are prone to development of stenosis and aneurysm, lesions easily detected with a life-long duplex ultrasound surveillance program. Excellent long-term patency (91%) was achieved despite graft intervention being performed in nearly half of all bypasses and one third of revised grafts. Endovascular treatment was possible in half of all graft stenosis, with outcomes similar to those with surgical repair.

Purpose We prospectively evaluated whether magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) enabled definition of cerebrovascular anatomy after indeterminate or inadequate results at duplex ultrasound scanning to facilitate patient selection for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and for technical planning. Methods After implementation of a protocol in October 1998 to minimize use of cerebral arteriography, MRA (arch/cervical two-dimensional and cranial three-dimensional time of flight technique) was performed in 138 consecutive patients with cerebrovascular occlusive disease and inconclusive duplex scans obtained by an ICAVL-approved laboratory. The ability of MRA to define anatomic features unresolved at duplex scanning was compared between categories of duplex scan inadequacies. Operative outcome was compared between patients requiring MRA before CEA (n = 66) and a concurrent cohort undergoing CEA on the basis of duplex scan results only (n = 69). Results Incomplete imaging of the carotid bifurcation, because of high bifurcation, long (>3 cm) internal carotid artery (ICA) plaque, or calcific shadows, was the most common reason for inadequate duplex scans (n = 74, 53%), followed by borderline severe ICA disease (23.17%), suspected extracervical disease (supra-aortic trunk, vertebral, or intracranial, 22, 16%), ICA near- occlusion (12.9%), and diffuse recurrent stenosis (7.5%). MRA enabled resolution of duplex scan inadequacies in 95% of patients with disease confined to the carotid bifurcation, and 90% of all patients, but was least accurate for delineation of extracervical lesions (77%) and near-occlusions (75%). In 5 of 8 patients (6%) arteriography was performed to determine operability of ICA near-occlusion or extracervical lesions. Combined stroke and death rates after CEA were not statistically different ( P = .3) between patients requiring MRA (3 of 66, 4.6%) and the concurrent group in whom MRA was performed solely on the basis of duplex results (1 of 69, 1.5%). However, intraoperative technical adjustments (anatomy that precluded shunt use, extended endarterectomy length, ICA shortening due to tortuosity) were planned in 71% of patients (12 of 17) with MRA-defined anatomy, but only 36% of patients (4 of 11) with long CEA on the basis of duplex results only ( P = .08). Conclusion MRA replaces the need for cerebral arteriography in most patients after inadequate carotid duplex scanning. Delineation of cerebrovascular anatomy at MRA assists in determination of CEA candidacy and operative planning.

In this study we sought to determine whether initial abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) sac anatomy, morphology, and side branch patency influence changes in aneurysm size and development of endoleak following endovascular repair. A blinded, retrospective review of preintervention CT scans and angiograms was conducted on 70 consecutive patients treated for infrarenal AAA (mean size 6.0 +/- 0.8 cm) by AneuRx stent-graft exclusion. Initial AAA diameter and side branch (inferior mesenteric artery [IMA], lumbar artery pair) patency, AAA clot/sac diameter ratio, wall thrombus and calcification distributions, attachment site anatomy, endograft size, and other clinical parameters were correlated with postoperative persistent side branch patency, presence of type II endoleak, and change in AAA diameter (increase/decrease ? 5 mm) using contingency table analyses. Patients underwent CT scanning and/or color duplex imaging at 1 month and at 3 (with endoleak) or 6 (without) month intervals postoperatively with 50 patients followed beyond 6 months (mean follow-up 11 +/- 7 months). The majority of patients possessed patent side branches prior to intervention (lumbar [n = 60, 86%], IMA [n = 45, 64%]). Development of type II endoleak or persistence of side branches could not be predicted (p > 0.05) from preoperative AAA side branch patency or any of the other initial anatomic AAA variables. On serial post-repair CT or duplex cans, 42% (19/45) of IMAs and 27% (16/60) of lumbar artery pairs remained patent. For patients followed beyond 6 months, type II endoleaks persisted in half (13/25) of the patients with patent side branches with roughly equal proportions fed by IMA and lumbar sources. Persistent side branches or presence of type II endoleak was associated with AAA expansion or the failure of aneurysm size diminution after endografting (p

The objective of this study was to evaluate the proposed cardiac protective effect of previous coronary revascularization (coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty [PTCA]) before elective major arterial surgery.Preoperative cardiac risk stratification using American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines was done on 425 consecutive patients undergoing 481 elective major vascular operations at an academic VA Medical Center. The algorithm assumed asymptomatic patients with prior coronary revascularization (CABG,5 year; PTCA,2 year) were low cardiac risk. Coronary angiography was done for recurrent symptoms with secondary intervention when appropriate. Outcomes (myocardial infarction, unstable angina, congestive heart failure, ventricular arrhythmia, cardiac death, and mortality) within 30 days of vascular surgery were compared between patients with and without previous CABG or PTCA by contingency table and logistic regression analyses.Coronary revascularization was classified as recent (CABG,1 year; PTCA,6 months) in 35 cases (7%), prior (1 yearor = CABG5 year, 6 monthsor = PTCA2 year) in 45 cases (9%), and remote (CABG,or = 5 year; PTCA,or = 2 year) in 48 cases (10%). A larger fraction of patients with previous revascularization possessed pathologic cardiac risk variables and were stratified as high-risk preoperatively than their nonrevascularized counterparts. Outcomes in patients with previous PTCA were similar to those after CABG (P =.7). Significant differences in adverse cardiac events (P =.01) and mortality (P =.05) were found between patients with CABG done within 5 years or PTCA within 2 years (6.3%, 1.3%, respectively), individuals with remote revascularization (10.4%, 6.3%), and nonrevascularized patients stratified at high risk (13.3%, 3.3%) or intermediate/low (2.8%, 0.9%) risk. De novo or recurrent 3-vessel coronary disease by angiography, but not the presence or timing of previous revascularization, was an independent predictor of cardiac events after vascular operations, whereas remote revascularization was associated with fatal outcomes by multivariate analysis.Previous coronary revascularization (CABG,5 years; PTCA,2 years) may provide only modest protection against adverse cardiac events and mortality following major arterial reconstruction.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcome and patency rates after iliac artery angioplasty and primary stenting using a noninvasive surveillance protocol that includes duplex ultrasonography. Methods: Sixty-seven patients (64 men; mean age 61 ± 9 years, range 45–83) underwent stenting of 84 iliac systems for claudication (63%), rest pain (9%), tissue loss (20%), or failing lower limb bypass graft (8%). The surveillance algorithm included aortoiliac duplex scanning within 1 month and serial limb pressure measurements and femoral artery waveform analyses during follow-up. Iliac systems with a peak systolic velocity >300 cm/s and velocity ratio >2.0 by duplex and/or symptomatic or hemodynamic deterioration were considered failing and an indication for angiography. Results: During intermediate-term follow-up ranging to 36 months (mean 12), life table primary, assisted primary, and secondary patency rates for the treated iliac systems were 78%, 90%, and 98%, respectively, at 18 months. Assisted primary iliac system patency at 18 months was significantly worse in the 20 (24%) limbs having an outflow bypass done with or prior to iliac stenting (83% versus 100% without bypass, p = 0.01). Indirect clinical indicators found 17 (20%) suspected failing iliac systems, in which duplex imaging correctly identified 5 of 6 recurrent iliac stenoses and facilitated secondary endovascular intervention. Three (4%) stent occlusions occurred in the treated iliac systems despite surveillance. Conclusions: Duplex surveillance after iliac stenting localizes failing inflow segments, optimizes assisted patency of the treated iliac system, and possesses greatest utility in patients with multilevel occlusive disease and outflow reconstructions.