Editor's Choice - Nationwide Analysis of Patients Undergoing Iliac Artery Aneurysm Repair in the Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: The new 2019 guideline of the European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) recommends consideration for elective iliac artery aneurysm (eIAA) repair when the iliac diameter exceeds 3.5 cm, as opposed to 3.0 cm previously. The current study assessed diameters at time of eIAA repair and ruptured IAA (rIAA) repair and compared clinical outcomes after open surgical repair (OSR) and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). METHODS: This retrospective observational study used the nationwide Dutch Surgical Aneurysm Audit (DSAA) registry that includes all patients who undergo aorto-iliac aneurysm repair in the Netherlands. All patients who underwent primary IAA repair between 1 January 2014 and 1 January 2018 were included. Diameters at time of eIAA and rIAA repair were compared in a descriptive fashion. The anatomical location of the IAA was not registered in the registry. Patient characteristics and outcomes of OSR and EVAR were compared with appropriate statistical tests. RESULTS: The DSAA registry comprised 974 patients who underwent IAA repair. A total of 851 patients were included after exclusion of patients undergoing revision surgery and patients with missing essential variables. eIAA repair was carried out in 713 patients, rIAA repair in 102, and symptomatic IAA repair in 36. OSR was performed in 205, EVAR in 618, and hybrid repairs and conversions in 28. The median maximum IAA diameter at the time of eIAA and rIAA repair was 43 (IQR 38-50) mm and 68 (IQR 58-85) mm, respectively. Mortality was 1.3% (95% CI 0.7-2.4) after eIAA repair and 25.5% (95% CI 18.0-34.7) after rIAA repair. Mortality was not significantly different between the OSR and EVAR subgroups. Elective OSR was associated with significantly more complications than EVAR (intra-operative: 9.8% vs. 3.6%, post-operative: 34.0% vs. 13.8%, respectively). CONCLUSION: In the Netherlands, most eIAA repairs are performed at diameters larger than recommended by the ESVS guideline. These findings appear to support the recent increase in the threshold diameter for eIAA repair.

The effect of supervised exercise therapy on physical activity and ambulatory activities in patients with intermittent claudication.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Intermittent claudication (IC) is associated with a reduction in physical activity (PA) and a more rapid functional decline leading to a higher mortality rate compared with healthy individuals. Supervised exercise therapy (SET) is known to increase the walking capacity of patients with IC. However, it is unclear whether SET increases PA. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of SET on PA levels and ambulatory activities in patients with IC. METHODS: Patients newly diagnosed with IC were requested to wear an activity monitor 1 week prior to and 1 week immediately after 3 months of SET. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients meeting the minimum recommendations of PA (American College of Sports Medicine [ACSM]/American Heart Association [AHA] recommendation for public health of ≥ 67 metabolic equivalents [METs]/min/day, in bouts of ≥ 10 min) at baseline and after 3 months of SET. Additionally, daily PA level (METs/min), duration of ambulatory activities, daily number of steps, pain free walking distance (PFWD), maximal walking distance (MWD), and Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) health surveys were compared before and after SET. RESULTS: Data from 41 participants were available for analysis. A higher number of participants met the ACSM minimum recommendation for PA at the 3 month follow up (baseline: 43%; 3 months: 63%; p = .003). Despite significant increases in PFWD (baseline: 210 m; 3 months: 390 m; p = .001), MWD (baseline: 373 m; 3 months: 555 m; p = .002) and physical functioning score (SF-36) following SET, no increase in the mean daily PA level was found (395 ± 220 vs. 411 ± 228 METs/min; p = .43). Furthermore, the total number of steps and time spent in ambulatory activities did not change following SET. CONCLUSION: Three months of SET for IC leads to more patients meeting the ACSM/AHA public health minimum recommendations for PA. Assessment of PA could be incorporated as an outcome parameter in future research comparing different treatment modalities for peripheral arterial disease.

Physical activity monitoring in patients with intermittent claudication.

OBJECTIVES: Reduced physical activity (PA) is associated with a higher mortality rate and more rapid functional decline in patients with intermittent claudication (IC). The newest generation of accelerometers can assess both direction and intensity of activities three-dimensionally and may also adequately calculate energy expenditure in daily life. The aim of this study was to quantify daily PA level and energy expenditure of newly diagnosed patients with IC and healthy controls. PA outcomes are compared with contemporary public health physical activity guidelines. METHODS: Before initiating treatment, 94 patients with newly diagnosed IC and 36 healthy controls were instructed to wear a tri-axial seismic accelerometer for 1 week. Daily PA levels (in metabolic equivalents, METs) were compared with the ACSM/AHA public health PA minimum recommendations (≥64 METs·min·day, in bouts of ≥10 minutes). A subgroup analysis assessed the effect of functional impairment on daily PA levels. RESULTS: Data from 56 IC patients and 27 healthy controls were available for analysis. Patients with IC demonstrated significantly lower mean daily PA levels (±SD) than controls (387 ± 198 METs·min vs. 500 ± 156 METs·min, p = .02). This difference was solely attributable to a subgroup of IC patients with the largest functional impairment (WIQ-score < 0.4). Only 45% of IC patients met the public health physical activity guidelines compared with 74% of the healthy controls (p = .01). CONCLUSIONS: More than half of patients with IC do not meet recommended standards of PA. Considering the serious health risks associated with low PA levels, these findings underscore the need for more awareness to improve physical exercise in patients with IC.

[From the Cochrane Library: increased walking distance through supervised exercise therapy in patients with intermittent claudication]. / Uit de Cochrane Library: langere loopafstand door gesuperviseerde looptherapie bij patiënten met claudicatio intermittens.

Intermittent claudication is the most important symptom of peripheral arterial disease. Walking is the main treatment for intermittent claudication and is usually prescribed as a single recommendation to 'go home and walk'. A recent Cochrane systematic review of 7 randomised trials and 1 controlled trial compared a supervised walking regimen with non-supervised exercise therapy. Supervised exercise therapy showed statistically significant benefits compared with non-supervised exercise therapy. Further research is needed to determine the clinical relevance of this difference, with a focus on quality of life. Long-term results with supervised exercise therapy should be studied in future trials.

Supervised exercise therapy for intermittent claudication.

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW: Although exercise therapy is considered to be of significant benefit to people with intermittent claudication, almost half of those affected do not undertake any exercise therapy. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the effects of supervised exercise therapy (SET) for people with intermittent claudication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SET will be compared with non-supervised exercise therapy programs and the superiority of SET will be demonstrated. The development and implementation of a new community-based concept of SET will be addressed, whereas the first results of this new concept will be presented and compared with the results of SET programs provided in clinical settings, as described in literature. MAIN RESULTS: SET programs have significant benefits compared with non-supervised programs. Community-based SET has both economic and logistic advantages over clinic-based SET. Furthermore, community-based SET programs seems to be as effective as SET provided in a clinic-based setting and is a promising approach to providing conservative treatment for patients with intermittent claudication. CONCLUSIONS: SET in a community-based setting should ideally be the initial standard of care for patients with intermittent claudication. However, a study of the cost-effectiveness should be awaited.

Supervised exercise therapy versus non-supervised exercise therapy for intermittent claudication.

BACKGROUND: Although exercise therapy is considered to be of significant benefit to people with leg pain (intermittent claudication), almost half of those affected do not undertake any exercise therapy. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of supervised versus non-supervised exercise therapy on the maximal walking time or distance for people with intermittent claudication. SEARCH STRATEGY: The Cochrane Peripheral Vascular Diseases Group searched their Specialized Register (last searched November 2005) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) database in The Cochrane Library (last searched Issue 4, 2005). In addition, we handsearched the reference lists of relevant articles for additional trials. There was no restriction on language of publication. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized and controlled clinical trials comparing supervised exercise programs with non-supervised exercise programs for people with intermittent claudication. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors (BB and EMW) independently selected trials and extracted data. One author (BB) assessed trial quality and this was confirmed by a second author (MP). For all continuous outcomes we extracted the number of participants, the mean differences, and the standard deviation. If data were available, the standardized mean difference was calculated using a fixed-effect model. MAIN RESULTS: We identified twenty-seven trials, of which 19 had to be excluded because the control group received no exercise therapy at all. The remaining eight trials involved a total of 319 male and female participants with intermittent claudication. The follow up ranged from 12 weeks to 12 months. In general, the supervised exercise regimens consisted of three exercise sessions per week. All trials used a treadmill walking test as one of the outcome measures. The overall quality of the included trials was good, though the trials were all small with respect to the number of participants, ranging from 20 to 59. Supervised exercise therapy showed statistically significant and clinically relevant differences in improvement of maximal treadmill walking distance compared with non-supervised exercise therapy regimens, with an overall effect size of 0.58 (95% confidence interval 0.31 to 0.85) at three months. This translates to a difference of approximately 150 meters increase in walking distance in favor of the supervised group. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Supervised exercise therapy is suggested to have clinically relevant benefits compared with non-supervised regimens, which is the main prescribed exercise therapy for people with intermittent claudication. However, the clinical relevance has not been demonstrated definitely and will require additional studies with a focus on the improvements in quality of life.

Medical management of peripheral arterial disease.

Whether symptomatic or not, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), atherosclerosis in the arteries of the lower extremities, is a common disorder in the general population. The prevalence increases with age and under the influence of vascular risk factors. The most classic symptomatic expression of PAD is intermittent claudication. However, the majority of patients with PAD is asymptomatic or has leg symptoms other than classic intermittent claudication. Both symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects with PAD have increased mortality rates, mainly due to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular expressions of atherosclerotic disease. This review focuses on the current available medical therapies for PAD, including risk-factor modification and antiplatelet therapies, as well as strategies for symptomatic relief in both patients with intermittent claudication and patients with critical limb ischemia. In general, risk factor modification and antiplatelet therapy is essential in all patients with PAD to prevent systemic atherosclerotic complications. Furthermore, for symptomatic relief exercise therapy is the main intervention while pharmacological treatment should be only complementary. In patients with critical limb ischemia, when revascularization therapy is not possible, an attempt should be made to avoid amputation with conservative treatment using analgesics, vasodilators and/or anticoagulants. In case of an acute onset of critical limb ischemia, thrombolysis is indicated.

The development and implementation of a regional network of physiotherapists for exercise therapy in patients with peripheral arterial disease, a preliminary report.

BACKGROUND: Exercise therapy (ET) is the main conservative and proven effective treatment of patients with intermittent claudication. Currently, the most frequent exercise prescription is a single 'go home and walk' advise, without supervision or follow-up. There is no evidence to support the efficacy of this advise and compliance is known to be low. Therefore, a systematic approach was used to guarantee quality and standardisation of treatment, optimal guideline adherence and improved of inter-professional communication between vascular surgeons and physiotherapists. In this preliminary report we would like to outline the steps taken for the development and implementation of the Network Exercise Therapy Parkstad. METHODS: In October 2003 all 59 regional physiotherapy practices were invited to attend a symposium regarding ET in a physiotherapeutic setting. Attending physiotherapists interested in providing ET and willing to follow a certified course on ET, were asked to register. Three tastk groups were formed to accomplish the set targets: Exercise therapy education, Exercise therapy implementation and continuity, and Inter-professional communication in the Parkstad region. RESULTS: In total 27 physiotherapists, from 22 different practices followed the educational program and are now trained and accredited to provide ET according to the guideline of the Royal Dutch Society for Physiotherapy. A web-based database was designed to contain information on disease specific items provided by the vascular surgery department, and aspects with respect to ET registered by the physiotherapist. The information is regularly updated and available online. Access to the database is restricted to vascular surgeons and physiotherapists in the network. The secondary purpose of the database is to register essential benchmark data for future analysis of ET in a physiotherapeutic setting in the Netherlands and to enable physiotherapists continuous feedback on patient performance. A triage system was developed to detect patients with a compromised cardiac history. This group receives ET at the in-hospital department of revalidation with the possibility of immediate consultation of a cardiologist in case of cardiac complications or even CPR. CONCLUSION: The Network Exercise Therapy Parkstad of supervised ET is the first initiative in the Netherlands to provide ET close to the patient's home environment. With the implementation of supervised ET in an outpatient physiotherapeutic setting for all eligible patients with symptomatic PAD, the access to care has been improved. A web-based communication system provides physiotherapists and vascular surgeons with all the necessary and continues updated patient information. Future research, currently in progress, will investigate the therapeutic benefits and cost-effectiveness of exercise therapy in a physiotherapeutic setting.

Influence of gender on EVAR outcomes with new low-profile devices.

Women have not benefitted to the same extent as men of endovascular abdominal aortic repair (EVAR). Besides differences in hormones and the higher rate of undiagnosed cardiovascular disease, there are anatomical differences between men and women influencing the outcome of endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). After the first decade of EVAR procedures, only 28% of women with an elective AAA were treated by EVAR due to their poor anatomical suitability for this technique. The anatomical challenges and their associated poorer outcomes suggest the need for advances in device design to better meet the specific female aneurysm anatomy and physiology. Most of the newer-generation endografts have been associated with lower incidences of graft occlusion compared with first-generation endografts, and might be more suitable for women. It is encouraging that EVAR has decreased long-term mortality in women and that women's survival begins to equal men's after 2 years. However, detailed, adjusted anatomical data from population-based samples are needed for better understanding of the differences in AAA anatomy and EVAR eligibility. This information will contribute to enhance the design, testing and evaluation of future stent grafts, to ensure that women will benefit from EVAR to the same extent as men.

EVAR reintervention management strategies in contemporary practice.

It is known that following an endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) procedure, patients may experience endoleaks, device migration, stent fractures, graft deterioration, or aneurysm growth that might require a reintervention. In this review management strategies of reinterventions after EVAR in contemporary practice will be discussed. The current endovascular treatment options of Type I endoleak involve securing of the attachment site with percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty, stent-graft extension, or placement of a stent at the proximal attachment site. Moreover, the use of endostaples to secure the position of the proximal cuff to the primary endograft have been developed. Type II endoleaks can be managed conservatively if the aneurysm is shrinking or remains stable. Otherwise, reinterventions include transarterial embolization, translumbar embolization, transcaval embolization, direct thrombin injection, and endoscopic or open ligation of the lumbar and mesenteric arteries. There is little debate regarding the treatment of type III endoleaks, including deployement of additional stent graft components to bridge the defect. Endovascular treatment of endotension includes endovascular conversion stent or relining of the stent graft. Alternative options are puncture of the aneurysm sac and removal of the aneurysm sac content. In case of migration large balloon-expandable stents can be used to improve the seal between the components, or devices that deploy staples to secure endovascular grafts to the aortic wall to secure endovascular components together. In conclusion, the first treatment options for reinterventions after EVAR are catheter based nowadays.