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Objective: The characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing vascular surgery hospitalised and managed in Lombardy are described with a comparison of patients tested positive for COVID-19 (CV19-pos) vs. those tested negative (CV19-neg). Methods: This was a multicentre, retrospective, observational cohort study which involved all vascular surgery services in Lombardy, Northern Italy. Data were retrospectively merged into a combined dataset covering the nine weeks of the Italian COVID-19 pandemic phase 1 (8 March 2020 to 3 May 2020). The primary outcome was freedom from in hospital death, secondary outcomes were re-thrombosis rate after peripheral revascularisation, and freedom from post-operative complication. Results: Among 674 patients managed during the outbreak, 659 (97.8%) were included in the final analysis: 121 (18.4%) were CV19-pos. CV19-pos status was associated with a higher rate of complications (OR 4.5; p < .001, 95% CI 2.64 – 7.84), and a higher rate of re-thrombosis after peripheral arterial revascularisation (OR 2.2; p = .004, 95% CI 1.29 – 3.88). In hospital mortality was higher in CV19-pos patients (24.8% vs. 5.6%; OR 5.4, p < .001;95% CI 2.86 – 8.92). Binary logistic regression analysis identified CV19-pos status (OR 7.6; p < .001, 95% CI 3.75 – 15.28) and age > 80 years (OR 3.2; p = .001, 95% CI 1.61 – 6.57) to be predictors of in hospital death. Conclusion: In this experience of the vascular surgery group of Lombardy, COVID-19 infection was a marker of poor outcomes in terms of mortality and post-operative complications for patients undergoing vascular surgery treatments.

BACKGROUND: To highlight clinical practice among referral (Hub, HH) or satellite (Spoke, SH) hospitals Vascular Surgery Units (VSUs) in Lombardy, during the COVID-19 pandemic "phase 1" period (March 8 - May 3, 2020). METHODS: The Vascular Surgery Group of Regione Lombardia Register, a real-word, multicenter, retrospective register was interrogated. All patients admitted with vascular disease were included. Patients' data on demographics, COVID-19 positivity, comorbidities and outcomes were extrapolated. Two cohorts were obtained: patients admitted to HH or SH. Primary endpoint was 30- day mortality rate. Secondary outcomes were 30-day complications and amputation (in case of peripheral artery disease [PAD]) rates. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to compare HH and SH groups and predictors of poor outcomes. RESULTS: During the study period, 659 vascular patients in 4 HH and 27 SH were analyzed. Among these, 321 (48.7%) were admitted to a HH. No difference in COVID-19 positive patients was described (21.7% in HH vs 15.9% in SH; p=.058). After 30 days from intervention, HH and SH experienced similar mortality and no-intervention-related complication rate (12.1% vs 10.0%; p=.427 and 10.3% vs 8.3%; p=.377, respectively). Conversely, in HH postoperative complications were higher (23.4% vs 16.9%, p=.038) and amputations in patients treated for PAD were lower (10.8% vs 26.8%; p

Several experiences have shown the benefits of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) to treat symptomatic acute occlusion of common and internal carotid arteries. Instead, surgery for carotid near occlusion remains controversial. We report successful surgical treatment in three patients with near occluded carotid artery. Doppler ultrasound scan was performed and showed common or internal carotid artery (ICA) near occlusion with controlateral carotid stenosis

Background The liability of patients affected by novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to develop venous thromboembolic events is widely acknowledged. However, many particulars of the interactions between the two diseases are still unknown. This study aims to outline the main characteristics of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in COVID-19 patients, based on the experience of four high-volume COVID-19 hospitals in Northern Italy. Methods All cases of COVID-19 in-hospital patients undergoing duplex ultrasound (DUS) for clinically suspected DVT between March 1st and April 25th, 2020, were reviewed. Demographics and clinical data of all patients with confirmed DVT were recorded. Computed tomography pulmonary angiographies of the same population were also examined looking for signs of PE. Results Of 101 DUS performed, 42 were positive for DVT, 7 for superficial thrombophlebitis, and 24 for PE, 8 of which associated with a DVT. Most had a moderate (43.9%) or mild (16.9%) pneumonia. All venous districts were involved. Time of onset varied greatly, but diagnosis was more frequent in the first two weeks since in-hospital acceptance (73.8%). Most PEs involved the most distal pulmonary vessels, and two-thirds occurred in absence of a recognizable DVT. Conclusions DVT, thrombophlebitis, and PE are different aspects of COVID-19 procoagulant activity and they can arise regardless of severity of respiratory impairment. All venous districts can be involved, including the pulmonary arteries, where the high number and distribution of the thrombotic lesions without signs of DVT could hint a primitive thrombosis rather than embolism.

Introduction: Kasabach-Merritt syndrome (KMS) is a life-threatening disease. We describe a combined medical and multistep, endovascular embolization that was successfully performed with surgery. Case Report: A 40-day-old female baby was referred because of an infiltrating pelvic mass. Blood tests showed severe anemia and thrombocytopenia with consumptive coagulopathy. The clinical aspect was pathognomonic for KMS. Administration of steroids and chemotherapy were started and coagulation parameters were normalized with tumor volume regression. Three months later, elective surgical treatment became possible, and dissection and ligature of the left internal iliac artery and sacral artery were performed. The main arterial supply of the mass was embolized with Spongostan®. Two months later, a second hybrid approach was adopted for embolization of the main vascular supply of the tumor occupying the left thigh. Via a third contralateral hybrid femoral approach and under fluoroscopy, selective catheterization of the left profunda femoris artery was performed. The arterial feeder of the tumor, localized at the left gluteus, was seen on a CT scan 2 months later and was embolized with Onyx-18. Conclusion: Chemotherapy and a tailored hybrid approach comprising repeated endovascular embolizations seem to be a safe treatment in cases of unresectable and life-threatening tumors in small babies.

The multilayer flow modulator (MFM) is a device whose real effectiveness in the treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms is not clear yet. A 68-year-old man with a 18-mm blister-like aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta underwent endovascular exclusion, complicated by the thrombosis of a previous aortobi-iliac prosthesis, treated with embolectomy and femorofemoral bypass. Therefore, an MFM placement was planned. The postoperative course was uneventful and the 6-month computed tomography scan showed a complete thrombosis and remodeling of the aneurysm. The MFM stent could be an alternative treatment for saccular thoracic aortic aneurysm in high-risk patients but should not be used indiscriminately when other modalities of aortic repair are not feasible. Longer follow-up is mandatory to prove the efficacy of this technology.

Sir—In their report, M Ruggeri and colleagues (Feb 10, p 441) point out the clinical relevance of the congenital absence of the inferior vena cava (IVC) in young patients (