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Background Pregnant patients with Marfan's syndrome (MFS) are at an increased risk for adverse aortic outcomes. While beta-blockers are used to slow aortic root dilatation in nonpregnant MFS patients, the benefit of such therapy in pregnant MFS patients remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of beta-blockers on aortic root dilatation during pregnancy in MFS patients. Methods This was a longitudinal single-center retrospective cohort study of females with MFS who completed a pregnancy between 2004 and 2020. Clinical, fetal, and echocardiographic data were compared in patients on- versus off-beta-blockers during pregnancy. Results A total of 20 pregnancies completed by 19 patients were evaluated. Beta-blocker therapy was initiated or continued in 13 (65%) of the 20 pregnancies. Pregnancies on-beta-blocker therapy experienced less aortic growth compared with those off-beta-blockers (0.10 [interquartile range, IQR: 0.10–0.20] vs. 0.30 cm [IQR: 0.25–0.35]; p = 0.03). Using univariate linear regression, maximum systolic blood pressures (SBP), increase in SBP, and absence of beta-blocker use in pregnancy were found to be significantly associated with greater increase in aortic diameter during pregnancy. There were no differences in rates of fetal growth restriction between pregnancies on- versus off-beta-blockers. Conclusion This is the first study that we are aware of to evaluate changes in aortic dimensions in MFS pregnancies stratified by beta-blocker use. Beta-blocker therapy was found to be associated with less aortic root growth during pregnancy in MFS patients.

ImportanceThoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has increasingly been used for uncomplicated type B aortic dissection (uTBAD) despite limited supporting data.ObjectiveTo assess whether initial TEVAR following uTBAD is associated with reduced mortality or morbidity compared with medical therapy alone.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cohort study included Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services inpatient claims data for adults aged 65 years or older with index admissions for acute uTBAD from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2018, with follow-up available through December 31, 2019.ExposuresInitial TEVAR was defined as TEVAR within 30 days of admission for acute uTBAD.Main Outcomes and MeasuresOutcomes included all-cause mortality, cardiovascular hospitalizations, aorta-related and repeated aorta-related hospitalizations, and aortic interventions associated with initial TEVAR vs medical therapy. Propensity score inverse probability weighting was used.ResultsOf 7105 patients with eligible index admissions for acute uTBAD, 1140 (16.0%) underwent initial TEVAR (623 [54.6%] female; median age, 74 years [IQR, 68-80 years]) and 5965 (84.0%) did not undergo TEVAR (3344 [56.1%] female; median age, 76 years [IQR, 69-83 years]). Receipt of TEVAR was associated with region (vs South; Midwest: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.66 [95% CI, 0.53-0.81]; P P P = .003), hypertension (aOR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.03-1.54; P = .03), peripheral vascular disease (aOR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.02-1.49; P = .03), and year of admission (2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 were associated with greater odds of TEVAR compared with 2011). After inverse probability weighting, mortality was similar for the 2 strategies up to 5 years (hazard ratio [HR], 0.95; 95% CI, 0.85-1.06), as were aorta-related hospitalizations (HR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.99-1.27), aortic interventions (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.84-1.20), and cardiovascular hospitalizations (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.93-1.20). In a sensitivity analysis that included deaths within the first 30 days, initial TEVAR was associated with lower mortality over a period of 1 year (adjusted HR [aHR], 0.86; 95% CI, 0.75-0.99; P = .03), 2 years (aHR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.75-0.96; P = .008), and 5 years (aHR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.80-0.96; P = .004).Conclusions and RelevanceIn this study, 16.0% of patients underwent initial TEVAR within 30 days of uTBAD, and receipt of initial TEVAR was associated with hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, region, Medicaid dual eligibility, and year of admission. Initial TEVAR was not associated with improved mortality or reduced hospitalizations or aortic interventions over a period of 5 years, but in a sensitivity analysis that included deaths within the first 30 days, initial TEVAR was associated with lower mortality. These findings, along with cost-effectiveness and quality of life, should be assessed in a prospective trial in the US population.

Thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection are complex diagnoses that require management by multidisciplinary providers using a variety of medical therapies, surgical interventions, and lifestyle modifications. Pharmacological agents, such as β-blockers (atenolol) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (losartan), have been mainstay treatments for several years, and research from the past decade has continued to evaluate these and other medication classes to further improve patient morbidity and mortality. Combination β- and renin-aldosterone-angiotensin blockade, statins, metformin, antioxidants, and vitamins have been evaluated as therapeutics in both thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms, as well as the effects of various antibiotics (ie, fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines) and benefits of lifestyle modifications (eg, diet and exercise) and enhanced patient-centered care and treatment adherence. In addition, as our understanding of the genetic, biochemical, and pathophysiological mechanisms behind these diseases expands, so do potential targets for future therapeutic research (eg, interleukins, matrix metalloproteases, and mast cells). This review incorporates the major meta-analyses, systematic and generalized reviews, and clinical trials published from 2010 through 2021 that focus on these topics in thoracic aortic aneurysms (and abdominal aneurysms when thoracic literature is scarce). Several key ongoing clinical trials, case studies, and in vivo/in vitro studies are also mentioned. Furthermore, we discuss current gaps in the literature and the abundance of clinical evidence for some interventions in abdominal aneurysms with few thoracic correlates, thus indicating a need for investigation of these subjects in the latter.

Pregnancy-associated aortic dissection (AD) is a rare event, with an incidence of 0.0004% per pregnancy. The work of the Aortic Dissection Collaborative identified pregnancy-associated AD as a high-priority topic, despite its rarity. The Pregnancy Working Group, which included physicians and patient stakeholders, performed a systematic literature review of pregnancy-associated AD from 1960 to 2021 and identified 6,333 articles through PubMed, OVID MEDLINE, Cochrane, Embase, CINAHL and Web of Science. The inclusion criterion was AD in pregnant populations and exclusion criteria were case reports, conference abstracts, and languages other than English. Assessment of full-text articles for eligibility after removal of duplicates from all databases yielded 68 articles to be included in the final review. Topics included were timing of AD in pregnancy, type of AD, and management considerations of pregnancy-associated AD. The Pregnancy Working Group identified gaps in knowledge and future areas of research for pregnancy-associated AD, including clinical management, mental health outcomes post AD, reproductive and genetic counseling, and contraception after AD. Future collaborative projects could be a multicenter, international registry for all pregnancy-associated AD to refine the risk factors, best practice and management of AD in pregnancy. In addition, future mixed methodology studies may be useful to explore social, mental, and emotional factors related to pregnancy-associated AD and to determine support groups' effect on anxiety and depression related to these events in the pregnancy and postpartum period.

Telemedicine uses telephone-based or any form of digital communication for remote clinical services. It has been a field of interest for the last century, with broader implementation of telemedicine technologies during the last 25 years. The COVID-19 pandemic was an impetus for the adoption of these technologies globally across all health care services, including patient care, surgical practice, and workflow. As part of the patient engagement work in the Aortic Dissection Collaborative, this topic was identified as an important patient-centered research topic. Telemedicine has been adopted increasingly in vascular surgery; however, there is little evidence on appropriate use of these technologies pertaining to treating patients with aortic dissection or aortopathy in general. This landscape review summarizes the uses of telemedicine applications pre and post pandemic in medicine and vascular surgery, with a particular focus on uses in aortopathy. Using common resource databases, we identified articles related to the history of telemedicine, its current utilization, and application to vascular surgery and/or aortopathy. We briefly review the history of telemedicine and illustrate a range of applications in medicine before the pandemic, along with its rapid uptake globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. The enablers and barriers to using telemedicine are explored, although as a whole there is satisfaction with its integration among patients and providers. To address these, we offer recommendations to address future research as it pertains to telemedicine technologies in aortic dissection.

Although the topics of surgical techniques and medical therapies have been widely studied in aortic dissection (AD), studies examining the short- and long-term impact of this event on mental health are largely lacking. Many of the studies have used the 36-Item Short Form Survey at variable time points after the event. However, AD as medical trauma has a complex impact on a person's identity. Its implications for emotional, mental, social, existential, and self-concept could be explored more robustly. This topic was identified as a topic of interest by the AD Collaborative. The AD Collaborative Mental Health Working Group was formed and performed a landscape review to summarize current literature surrounding quality of life research in those who have experienced AD, identify gaps in knowledge, and to outline future research questions.

Aortic dissection confers high mortality and morbidity rates despite advances in treatment, impacts quality of life, and contributes immense burden to the healthcare system globally. Efforts to prevent aortic dissection through screening and management of modifiable risk factors and early detection of aneurysms should incorporate genomic information, as it is integral to stratifying risk. However, effective integration of genomic-guided risk assessment into clinical practice will require addressing implementation barriers that currently permeate our healthcare systems. The Aortic Dissection Collaborative was established to define aortic dissection research priorities through patient engagement. Using a collaborative patient-centered feedback model, our Genomic Medicine Working Group identified related research priorities that could be investigated by pragmatic interventional studies aimed at aortic dissection prevention, utilization of genomic information to improve patient outcomes, and access to genomic medicine services. Further research is also needed to identify the genomic, lifestyle, and environmental risk factors that contribute to aortic dissection so these data can be incorporated into future comparative effectiveness studies to prevent aortic dissection.

Understanding what matters most to patients can help guide research in a direction that is best situated to provide evidence that is responsive to their core concerns. This can better inform the treatment decision-making process for patients and their physicians. The Aortic Dissection (AD) Collaborative built a collaborative AD research infrastructure involving patients and other stakeholders to facilitate patient-centered outcomes research training, support, and networking among those affected by AD. Two surveys and semi-structured interviews were conducted between January and October 2020 to gather information from people with and at risk for AD and their family members to better understand their experiences and needs. Discussion of survey and interview results were then articulated as seven key topics for future research to meet the needs of the AD community. Working groups were assembled to address each of the key topics. The groups conducted landscape reviews that were focused on providing guidance for future research that directly addresses the needs identified by the AD community. Recommendations for future research generated by the working groups were compiled by the Aortic Dissection Collaborative. From these recommendations, the Aortic Dissection Collaborative advisors and stakeholders identified high-priority research questions. The research questions form the basis for a third survey, disseminated to the Virtual Research Network between November 2021 and February 2022. Final analysis of the survey will identify top ranked research questions and assess willingness to participate. These results will inform the development of future patient-centered outcomes research and comparative effectiveness research proposals.

OBJECTIVE: Extremity venous aneurysms result in the risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) and chronic venous insufficiency. At present, owing to the rarity of these aneurysms, no consensus for their treatment has been established. The purpose of the present study was to review the presentation, natural history, and contemporary management of extremity venous aneurysms. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, multi-institutional review of all patients with extremity venous aneurysms treated from 2008 to 2018. A venous aneurysm was defined as saccular or fusiform with an aneurysm/vein ratio of >1.5. RESULTS: A total of 66 extremity aneurysms from 11 institutions were analyzed, 40 of which were in a popliteal location, 14 iliofemoral, and 12 in an upper extremity or a jugular location. The median follow-up was 27 months (range, 0–120 months). Of the 40 popliteal venous aneurysms, 8 (20%) had presented with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or PE, 13 (33%) had presented with pain, and 19 had been discovered incidentally. The mean size of the popliteal venous aneurysms presenting with DVT or PE was larger than that of those presenting without thromboembolism (3.8 cm vs 2.5 cm; P = .003). Saccular aneurysm morphology in the lower extremity was associated with thromboembolism (30% vs 9%;P = .046) and fusiform aneurysm morphology with a thrombus burden >25% (45% vs 3%). Patients presenting with thromboembolism were more likely to have had a thrombus burden >25% in their lower extremity venous aneurysm compared with those who had presented without thromboembolism (70% vs 9%). Approximately half of all the patients underwent immediate intervention, and half were managed with observation or antithrombotic regimen. In the nonoperative cohort, three patients subsequently developed a DVT. Eight patients in the medically managed cohort went on to require surgical intervention. Of the 12 upper extremity venous aneurysms, none had presented with DVT or PE, and only 2 (17%) had presented with pain. Of the 66 patients in the entire cohort, 41 underwent surgical intervention. The most common indication was the absolute aneurysm size. Nine patients had undergone surgery because of a DVT or PE, and 11 for pain or extremity swelling. The most common surgery was aneurysmorrhaphy in 21 patients (53%), followed by excision and ligation in 14 patients (35%). Five patients (12%) had undergone interposition bypass grafting. A postoperative hematoma requiring reintervention was the most common complication, occurring in three popliteal vein repairs and one iliofemoral vein repair. None of the patients, treated either surgically or medically, had reported post-thrombotic complications during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Large lower extremity venous aneurysms and saccular aneurysms with thrombus >25% of the lumen are more likely to present with thromboembolic complications. Surgical intervention for lower extremity venous aneurysms is indicated to reduce the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and the need for continued anticoagulation. Popliteal aneurysms >2.5 cm and all iliofemoral aneurysms should be considered for repair. Upper extremity aneurysms do not have a significant risk of VTE and warrant treatment primarily for symptoms other than VTE. (J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2022;10:1352–8.)

Pathogenic variant; Precision medicine; Thoracic aortic aneurysm Variante patógena; Medicina de precisión; Aneurisma de la aorta torácica Variant patògena; Medicina de precisió; Aneurisma de l'aorta toràcica Background Pathogenic variants in 11 genes predispose individuals to heritable thoracic aortic disease (HTAD), but limited data are available to stratify the risk for aortic events associated with these genes. Objectives This study sought to compare the risk of first aortic event, specifically thoracic aortic aneurysm surgery or an aortic dissection, among 7 HTAD genes and variant types within each gene. Methods A retrospective cohort of probands and relatives with rare variants in 7 genes for HTAD (n = 1,028) was assessed for the risk of first aortic events based on the gene altered, pathogenic variant type, sex, proband status, and location of recruitment. Results Significant differences in aortic event risk were identified among the smooth muscle contraction genes (ACTA2, MYLK, and PRKG1; P = 0.002) and among the genes for Loeys-Dietz syndrome, which encode proteins in the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β pathway (SMAD3, TGFB2, TGFBR1, and TGFBR2; P < 0.0001). Cumulative incidence of type A aortic dissection was higher than elective aneurysm surgery in patients with variants in ACTA2, MYLK, PRKG1, and SMAD3; in contrast, patients with TGFBR2 variants had lower cumulative incidence of type A aortic dissection than elective aneurysm surgery. Cumulative incidence of type B aortic dissection was higher for ACTA2, PRKG1, and TGFBR2 than other genes. After adjusting for proband status, sex, and recruitment location, specific variants in ACTA2 and TGFBR2 were associated with substantially higher risk of aortic event with childhood onset. Conclusions Gene- and variant-specific data on aortic events in individuals with HTAD support personalized aortic surveillance and clinical management. These studies were funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (NIH R01HL109942 to Dr Milewicz DMM and K23HL127266 to Dr Morris), Genetic Aortic Disorders Association Canada, Temerty Family Foundation, and the John Ritter Foundation. Dr LeMaire serves as a consultant for Terumo Aortic and Cerus; and serves as a principal investigator for clinical studies sponsored by Terumo Aortic and CytoSorbents. Dr Morris is on the scientific advisory board for vascular Ehlers Danlos syndrome clinical trial for Aytu Biopharma. Dr Regalado is an employee and shareholder of Invitae. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.

Patients with syndromic and nonsyndromic heritable aortopathies (also known as genetic aortic disease) are a heterogeneous group of patients who present at younger ages with more rapid growth of aortic aneurysms and/or increased frequency of dissections compared with patients with atherosclerotic aortopathies. In this review, we describe the etiology, epidemiology, and appropriate care delivery for these conditions at each stage of management. Within each section, we discuss sex, gender, and race differences and highlight disparities in care and knowledge. We then discuss the role of the vascular team throughout the cycle of care and the evolving inclusion of patient input in research. This understanding is essential to the creation of effective health care policies that support equitable, appropriate, and patient-centered clinical practices.

This is a case of a 4-cm left extrathoracic subclavian artery aneurysm (SCAA) in a 58-year-old man with an aortic root and abdominal aortic aneurysm. The patient had features suggestive of genetic arteriopathy, including vertebral artery tortuosity, pectus excavatum, tall stature, and scoliosis. The SCAA was successfully repaired with an inline prosthetic graft and anastomotic pledgets via a supraclavicular approach. Genetic testing revealed an FBN1 pathogenic variant consistent with Marfan syndrome. Repair is satisfactory 2 years later. Patients with SCAA should include consideration of genetic arteriopathy. Open repair of the extrathoracic SCAA in Marfan syndrome is recommended.

Birth outcomes data for patients with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (VEDS) are limited.Patients with a pathogenic or likely pathogenic COL3A1 variant were included. Outcomes included gestational age (GA), birthweight (BW), and maternal complications. Birth outcomes were first compared with that of US population data, then compared by sex, maternal affected status, and COL3A1 genotype.A total of 41 children were included (70.7% male), including 32 with high-risk (missense and splice site) variants. Preterm birth (37 weeks) was more common in patients with VEDS than in the US population (48.8% vs 12.2%, P.0001). Low BW (2.5 kg) was also more common in patients with VEDS than in the US population (P.0001), although, it was appropriate after GA adjustment (median GA-adjusted z-score 0.01 vs z-score 0.0, P = .26). No differences in GA or BW were observed by sex or maternal affected status. Those with high-risk variants were more likely to be born preterm than those with haploinsufficient variants, although this did not meet significance criteria (53% vs 33%, P = .35). Of the 6 affected mothers, 5 had perinatal complications.Preterm birth is more common in children with VEDS than in the general population. Maternal affected status is not associated with preterm birth, suggesting that risk is conferred by the fetal VEDS diagnosis alone.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T12:21:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-10-06 Background The COVID-19 pandemic has made a significant impact on all spheres of society. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the practices, finances, and social aspects of Brazilian vascular surgeons' lives. Methods This is a descriptive analysis of the responses from Brazilian vascular surgeons to the cross-sectional anonymous Society for Vascular Surgery Wellness Task Force Pandemic Practice, Anxiety, Coping, and Support Survey for Vascular Surgeons disseminated 14-24 April 2020. Survey dissemination in Brazil occurred mainly via the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery (SBACV) and social media. The survey evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vascular surgeons' lives by assessing COVID-19-related stressors, anxiety using theGeneral Anxiety Disorder (GAD)-7 scale, and coping strategies using the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief-COPE) inventory. Results A total of 452 responses were recorded from Brazil, with 335 (74%) respondents completing the entire survey. The majority of respondents were males (N = 301, 67%) and practiced in an urban hospitals. The majority of respondents considered themselves at high risk to be infected with COVID-19 (N = 251, 55.8%), and just over half the respondents noted that they had adequate PPE at their primary hospital (N = 171, 54%). One hundred and nine (35%) surgeons confirmed that their hospitals followed professional surgical society guidelines for prioritizing surgeries during the pandemic. At the time of the survey, only 33 (10%) surgeons stated they have pre-operative testing of patients for COVID-19 available at their hospital. Academic vascular surgeons reported being redeployed more often to help with other non-vascular duties compared to community-based or solo practitioners (43% vs. 30% vs. 21% respectively,P = .01). Severe anxiety due to pandemic-related financial concerns was similar in those surgeons practicing solo compared to those in community- or academic-based/group practice (46% vs. 38% vs. 22%;P = .54). The respondents reported their anxiety levels as mild based on the stressors investigated instead of moderate-severe (54% vs. 46%;P = .04). Social media was utilized heavily during the pandemic, with video gatherings being the most commonly used tool (76%). Self-distraction (60%) and situational acceptance (81%) were the most frequently reported coping mechanisms used among Brazilian vascular surgeons. Conclusion The COVID pandemic has greatly affected healthcare providers around the world. At the time of this survey, Brazilian vascular surgeons are reporting low anxiety levels during this time and are using mostly active coping mechanisms. Univ Colorado, Anschutz Med Ctr, Div Vasc Surg & Endovasc Therapy, Aurora, CO USA Sao Paulo State Univ, Div Vasc Surg, Botucatu Sch Med, Botucatu, SP, Brazil McLaren Hlth Syst, Vasc & Endovasc Surg, Bay City, MI USA New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Sch Med, New York, NY USA Univ Texas Houston, Dept Cardiovasc Surg, Houston, TX USA Spectrum Hlth Med Grp, Vasc Surg, Grand Rapids, MI USA Univ Michigan, Dept Surg, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA Louisiana State Univ, Hlth Sci Ctr, Div Vasc & Endovasc Surg, New Orleans, LA USA Univ Calif Los Angeles, Div Vasc Surg, Los Angeles, CA USA Univ Washington, Dept Surg, Div Vasc Surg, Seattle, WA 98195 USA Sao Paulo State Univ, Div Vasc Surg, Botucatu Sch Med, Botucatu, SP, Brazil

To investigate clinical course of patients with type B aortic dissection (TBAD) occurring at a young age with confirmed or suspected heritable thoracic aortic disease.Individuals with TBAD occurring at an age50 years enrolled in the National Registry of the Genetically Triggered Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms and Cardiovascular Conditions Consortium were selected for analysis. Three cohorts were compared: Marfan syndrome (MFS TBAD), nonsyndromic familial TBAD (FTBAD), and sporadic TBAD. Demographics, comorbidities, aortic dissection details, and repair were compared.A total of 150 individuals met inclusion criteria (mean age at TBAD, 36.9 ± 9 years): 73 MFS TBAD, 42 FTBAD, and 35 sporadic TBAD. The cohort of sporadic TBAD had more male patients (71.4%) and fewer individuals of European descent (51.4%) compared with MFS TBAD (57.5% male, 84.9% European descent) and FTBAD (59.5% male, 90.5% European descent). There was a stepwise increase in hypertension prevalence across the cohorts (28.8% MFS, 59.5% FTBAD, 71.4% sporadic TBAD, P.001). Repair of the descending thoracic aorta was performed in 92 cases (67.1% in MFS, 61.9% in FTBAD, and 48.6% sporadic TBAD, P = .18) at a mean of 3.4 ± 5.4 years from TBAD. The repair extent varied. The largest extent of repair was in MFS TBAD, in which thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair was performed in 56.2% compared with 35.7% FTBAD and 17.1% sporadic TBAD (P.001).Control of hypertension is an essential component of care to decrease the risk of TBAD. Over half of the young individuals with TBAD require aortic repair, and individuals with MFS undergo a larger anatomical extent of repair after TBAD.

Background During the past decade, the proportion of women within graduate medical education has increased. Correspondingly, the proportion of women in almost every specialty has increased, including surgical specialties. We sought to evaluate the effect of establishing vascular surgery integrated residencies (VSIRs) on the proportion of women in vascular surgery training programs. Methods Resident data were obtained from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Data Resource Book for the academic years 2007 to 2016. Data were collected on overall ACGME residency numbers as well as on the following surgical subspecialties: vascular, general, thoracic, neurologic, orthopedic, otolaryngologic, and urologic surgery. The number and proportion of women per year in VSIRs and vascular surgery fellowships were compared with those in the other surgical specialties. Results During the study period, the proportion of women in ACGME-accredited residency programs increased from 0.41 (n = 43,695/107,851) to 0.44 (n = 57,130/129,720) of residents. Since the advent of the VSIR, the number of trainees within vascular surgery has increased by 56% from 221 to 501 trainees. The proportion of women in vascular surgery training programs has increased from 0.12 (n = 27/221) to 0.33 (n = 164/501) of trainees. This increase during the 9-year study period was greater than in any other surgical subspecialty and greatest within the VSIR. Compared with fellowship training programs, integrated surgical training programs within the same subspecialty had a higher proportion of women, although variability between surgical subspecialties remained notable. Conclusions Although it is lower than the proportion of women within all graduate medical education training programs, an increasing proportion of women have entered vascular surgery training during the study period. This appears to be related to the introduction of VSIRs and exceeds the proportion of women entering almost all other surgical subspecialties at a rate of change faster than in all other surgical subspecialties. Further work to understand surgical specialty preferences and choice of careers after training is warranted.

General surgery remains a male-dominated specialty. Women constitute 54% of medical students at the University of Washington, but only 3.4% of full professors within the Department of Surgery. Many believe surgical attrition and "the leaky pipeline" starts during medical school clerkships, but the exact deterrents remain undefined. This study examined the impact of gender on grading during the third-year surgical clerkship.Retrospective analysis of confidential final clerkship grades, examination scores and subjective clerkship grades was conducted. These were compared by gender, time period, and type of clerkship site. Chi-square analyses were performed.Clerkship sites across multiple academic (n = 6) and nonacademic (n = 14) locations.All third-year medical students undergoing a core surgical clerkship over 2 time periods-2007 to 2010 (period 1) and 2016 to 2019 (period 2)-were included.There were 539 medical students in period 1 and 792 in period 2. The percentage of women was stable over time (52.0% vs 54.2%, p = 0.43). Final clerkship grades of Honors increased significantly from period 1 to 2 (22.3% vs 44.3%, p0.0001) and was similarly distributed by gender (women: 21.4% vs 48.0%, p0.0001; men 23.2% vs 39.9%, p0.0001). Honors on examinations remained stable over time and did not differ by gender. Women earned more final clerkship honors than men at academic sites in period 2 (48.4% vs 30.9%, p0.001). This finding was not identified in period 1, nor at nonacademic sites.There was a significant increase in surgical clerkship honors over the past decade, independent of gender. Women attained more clinical and final clerkship honors than men and similar exam grades as time progressed, suggesting that gender bias in the subjective grading of women at this institution does not directly contribute to the loss of talented women as they progress from medical student to faculty within the department, with said gender imbalance not related to clerkship evaluations.

Aortic dissection (AD) is recognized as a potentially fatal condition and its standard treatment has been surgical intervention for acute type A AD (TAAD) and complicated acute type B AD (TBAD), and medical management for uncomplicated acute type B AD. Due to rapidly evolving device technologies and minimally invasive surgical techniques that have lowered perioperative risk, there are paradigm shifts for the indications and treatment options for both TAAD and TBAD. In this article, we will discuss the current indications and treatment options for TAAD and TBAD by chronicity of the disease, which comprises four categories: acute TAAD, chronic (repaired) TAAD, acute TBAD, and chronic TBAD. We will also discuss the knowledge gaps in the current surgical management strategies and literature evidence. Open surgical intervention remains the reference standard for acute TAAD and chronic TAAD with complications until an endoprosthesis that will suit the complex anatomy of aortic root, ascending aorta, and aortic arch is developed. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair is now the first line for complicated acute and chronic TBADs. However, we need a larger trials to support the safety and durability of the procedures in patients with uncomplicated TBAD. Without additional data, patients are left to choose between existing treatment options, such as open surgical repair and stent-grafting.

The Aortic Dissection (AD) Collaborative was established to evaluate patient-centered research priorities in AD. Education was identified as a topic of interest by the stakeholders. The AD Collaborative Education Working Group evaluated existing educational resources and identified areas amenable to comparative effectiveness research. The most important positive qualities of available AD education resources are ease of use, diversity of representation, accessibility, and organization. The most important negative qualities of these resources are non-patient-centered language, promotional themes, and those with limited applicability and accessibility. Through a series of focus groups, the Working Group identified target audiences for AD education and educational material content and critically assessed and prioritized barriers to effective AD education. Both the target audiences and the barriers include clinicians and patients themselves. The Working Group defined initiatives to overcome barriers, to include a comprehensive, universally agreed on AD resource that is updated in real time and making education accessible to all relevant target audiences. The Working Group then prioritized needs for comparative effectiveness research in AD education and determined that clinician education is the top priority for future efforts. The Working Group determined that assessment and evaluation of specific and appropriate screening strategies is the second most important priority. Finally, the Working Group identified patient education as the third most important priority, specifically determining how patients and their support groups learn best, the ideal strategies for information dissemination, and methods of assessing understanding and satisfaction with the education process.

Aortic dissection (AD) is a life-threatening rare disease that occurs as a spontaneous tear in the wall of the aorta. Survivors of AD go on to have a chronic disease process that requires lifelong follow-up and management. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has strained health systems and impacted practice in the United States, the effects of these impacts on people living with or at risk for AD is not well understood. This mixed methods project examined the experiences of people in the AD community during the COVID-19 pandemic between March and October 2020. Results reveal that the AD community lacked clear guidance on the role aortic health status plays in COVID-19 risk and experienced significant disruptions in aortic healthcare. At the same time, the new expansion in access to medical care with telehealth conferred unforeseen benefits in the form of reduced barriers for access to specialized aortic health care.

Aortic dissection (AD) is a life-changing event that is often accompanied by a loss of normal quality of life. Survivors of AD go on to have a chronic disease that requires lifestyle modification, medical management, and surgical repair of the aorta. Clinical care includes multiple disciplines, health care settings, and often different geographic locations. This qualitative assessment examined the experiences of people with and at risk for AD. The following four themes emerged: "unnecessary drama" at diagnosis, unmet needs for information and support, the burden of self-advocacy and care coordination, and living with unaddressed mental health impacts. Our findings inform recommendations to advance patient-centered care delivery for individuals with and at risk for AD, improving communication of timely and relevant information, and an approach to care that acknowledges the whole person in clinical decision making.

In 2011, the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) prepared a set of clinical research priorities through a survey of its membership. These priorities were developed with the goal of enhancing clinical research to improve care for vascular patients. In the subsequent decade, several of these priorities served as the focus of clinical trials and significant research efforts. It was understood from the outset that this list of priorities represented a starting point with the intention that they be reevaluated at suitable intervals. In 2021, the SVS Research Council set out to update the research priorities by surveying the SVS membership and engaged a panel of subject matter experts. This process resulted in an updated set of vascular research priorities that more clearly align with current areas of emphasis. Our priorities remain focused on basic areas including aortic disease, carotid disease, lower extremity arterial disease, venous disease, dialysis access, and medical management of vascular disease, along with the topic of health care disparities. The 10 updated priorities reported herein reflect our increasing awareness of the need to understand vascular disease pathogenesis and prevention in the context of a diverse patient population. Importantly, patient-centered outcomes and personalized vascular care are at the core of these updated priorities. Similar to the aims of the original 2011 clinical research priorities, our hope is that this updated list will help to drive large-scale investigations that will improve how we care for our vascular patients.

Iliac branch devices (IBDs) have been used in the treatment of aortoiliac and isolated iliac artery aneurysms. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the clinical effectiveness and safety of IBDs.A systematic review of the literature was conducted by identifying studies in the Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases regarding the outcomes of IBDs in aortoiliac or isolated iliac artery aneurysms between May 2006 and December 2020. Individual studies were evaluated for the following major outcomes: technical success, 30-day mortality, primary patency, endoleak, reintervention, and rates of pelvic ischemia. Furthermore, subgroup meta-analyses were performed to compare the pelvic ischemic events in patients with bilateral IBDs, unilateral IBDs, and bilateral internal iliac artery (IIA) embolization/coverage.Forty-five studies with a total of 2736 patients undergoing unilateral or bilateral IBDs met inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. The pooled technical success rate of IBDs was 98.0% (confidence interval [CI]: 97.3%-98.7%). After IBD treatment, the 30-day mortality rate was 0.4% (CI: 0.07%-0.70%); 30-day patency was 98.4% (CI: 97.7%-99.0%); buttock claudication developed in 1.84% (CI: 1.26%-2.41%); and endoleak occurred in 11.9% (CI: 9.2%-14.7%) and reintervention in 7.6% (CI: 5.65%-9.58%). Furthermore, in patients with bilateral iliac artery involvement, the pooled estimate rates of buttock claudication were 0.7% in the bilateral IBD group, 7.9% in unilateral IBD with contralateral IIA embolization patients, and 33.8% in bilateral IIA embolization/coverage patients, which were statistically significant among the three groups. Sexual dysfunction was 5.0% in the bilateral IIA occlusion group, which was significantly higher than that in IBD groups.The utilization of IBDs in the treatment of aortoiliac or isolated iliac artery aneurysms is associated with high technical success rates as well as low incidences of pelvic ischemia. The risk of postoperative buttock claudication can be further decreased with both IIA preservation if patients are anatomically suitable for bilateral IBDs.

This analysis of death certificate data in Washington State revealed that age-standardized abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) related mortality has declined from 1996 to 2016 with a notable significant drop in ruptured AAA-related mortality. The death rate trends vary by sex, race, and county. OBJECTIVE: Management of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) has undergone considerable advances over the last two decades. Our aim was to evaluate AAA-related mortality trends in Washington State (WA) over a 21 year period and to assess variation in AAA-related mortality by sex, race, and county over the same time period. We hypothesized that a significant decline in AAA-related mortality in WA would be noted. METHODS: Death certificate records were obtained from the WA Department of Health for the period of 1996 to 2016. Records in which AAA was listed as an underlying or an associated cause of death were selected for analysis. Age-standardized mortality rates for each year were calculated using the 2016 WA population as the standard. Mortality trends were compared by sex and race using linear regression. County-specific age-standardized ruptured AAA (rAAA) mortality rates were compared using a Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: Of the 1,014,039 deaths occurring in WA during the study period, 4,438 (0.4%) had AAA listed as an underlying or associated cause of death (66.1% Male, 94.8% White, mean age of death 79.4 ± 9.3 years). In 64.1% of the cases, AAA was listed as the underlying cause of death. AAA-related mortality rates declined by 62.1% over the 21 years from 5.8 2.2 deaths per 100,000. Notably, there was a statistically significant drop in ruptured AAA (rAAA) related mortality rates (3.2 to 0.95 per 100,000, decline of 0.12 death/100,000/year, 95% CI: 0.11–0.14, r(2) = 0.95). Men had a significantly steeper decline in age standardized AAA-related mortality rates with 55% decline (6.5 to 3.0 per 100,000) vs. a 41% decline (2.4 to 1.4 per 100,000) among women. , and were younger at the time of death compared to women (78.1 ± 9.4 vs. 81.9 ± 8.6 years respectively, P

The benefit for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) to prevent a potential stroke has been shown to be less beneficial for women compared with men and the risk of carotid stenting (CAS) is higher in women than men. We hypothesized that a community-based Washington state registry data would also reveal increased morbidity and mortality for women undergoing carotid interventions.Deidentified data for CEA and CAS between 2010 and 2015 were obtained from 19 hospitals participating in the Washington State Vascular-Interventional Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program. Data analysis compared in-hospital composite outcome of stroke and mortality from CEA and CAS between women and men.Over the study period, 3704 individuals underwent CEA (n = 2759; 49.5% symptomatic) and CAS (n = 945; 60.9% symptomatic). Women accounted for 39.5% of the cohort. Women were slightly younger than men (70.0 ± 10.2 vs 71.0 ± 9.6 years respectively; P .01), less likely to be smokers (70.1% vs 75.6%; P .01), and less likely to have a diagnosis of coronary artery disease (32.9% vs 46.5%; P .01). Fewer women underwent CEA for symptomatic carotid disease (46.1% vs 51.8%; P .01). There were no statistically significant differences in the postoperative in-hospital stroke and mortality among women and men undergoing CEA (asymptomatic, 0.8% vs 1.4% [P = .36]; symptomatic, 1.8% vs 2.2% [P = .58]) and CAS (asymptomatic, 1.4% vs 2.2% [P = .56]; symptomatic, 4.6% vs 2.5% [P = .18]). Hospital duration of stay and discharge disposition were similar for women and men. A subanalysis of the octogenarian cohort undergoing CAS demonstrated a substantial increase in-hospital stroke and mortality among women and men (11.6% [CAS] vs 2.2% [CEA]; P = .024).In the Washington state Vascular-Interventional Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program registry, hospital composite outcome of stroke and mortality following carotid interventions from 2010 to 2015 were noted to be similar for women and men. The notable exception to this finding was observed in subcohort of women undergoing CAS for symptomatic carotid disease at age 80 years or older. These findings should be taken into account when risk stratifying patients for carotid interventions.