A vascular multi-arm multi-stage trial to prevent groin wound surgical site infection: A feasibility survey.

Surgical site infection (SSI) is common following arterial surgery involving a groin incision. There is a lack of evidence regarding interventions to prevent groin wound SSI, therefore, a survey of vascular clinicians was undertaken to assess current opinion and practice, equipoise and feasibility of a randomised controlled trial (RCT). Participants at the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting were surveyed regarding three separate interventions designed to prevent SSI in the groin; impregnated incise drapes, diakylcarbomoyl chloride dressings and antibiotic impregnated collagen sponges. Results were collated via an online survey using the Research Electronic Data Capture platform. Seventy-five participants completed the questionnaire, most were consultant vascular surgeons (50/75, 66.7%). The majority agree that groin wound SSI is a major problem (73/75, 97.3%), and would be content using either of the three interventions (51/61, 83.6%) and had clinical equipoise to randomise patients to any of the three interventions versus standard of care (70/75, 93.3%). There was some reluctance to not use impregnated incise drapes as may be considered "standard of care". Groin wound SSI is perceived as major problem in vascular surgery, and a multicentre RCT of three preventative interventions appears acceptable to vascular surgeons.

Documenting the Recovery of Vascular Services in European Centres Following the Initial COVID-19 Pandemic Peak: Results from a Multicentre Collaborative Study.

Objective: To document the recovery of vascular services in Europe following the first COVID-19 pandemic peak. Methods: An online structured vascular service survey with repeated data entry between 23 March and 9 August 2020 was carried out. Unit level data were collected using repeated questionnaires addressing modifications to vascular services during the first peak (March - May 2020, "period 1"), and then again between May and June ("period 2") and June and July 2020 ("period 3"). The duration of each period was similar. From 2 June, as reductions in cases began to be reported, centres were first asked if they were in a region still affected by rising cases, or if they had passed the peak of the first wave. These centres were asked additional questions about adaptations made to their standard pathways to permit elective surgery to resume. Results: The impact of the pandemic continued to be felt well after countries' first peak was thought to have passed in 2020. Aneurysm screening had not returned to normal in 21.7% of centres. Carotid surgery was still offered on a case by case basis in 33.8% of centres, and only 52.9% of centres had returned to their normal aneurysm threshold for surgery. Half of centres (49.4%) believed their management of lower limb ischaemia continued to be negatively affected by the pandemic. Reduced operating theatre capacity continued in 45.5% of centres. Twenty per cent of responding centres documented a backlog of at least 20 aortic repairs. At least one negative swab and 14 days of isolation were the most common strategies used for permitting safe elective surgery to recommence. Conclusion: Centres reported a broad return of services approaching pre-pandemic "normal" by July 2020. Many introduced protocols to manage peri-operative COVID-19 risk. Backlogs in cases were reported for all major vascular surgeries.

Analysis of the relationship between sex and prescriptions for guideline-recommended therapy in peripheral arterial disease, in relation to 1-year all-cause mortality: a primary care cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore population patterns of sex-based incidence and prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), guideline-directed best medical therapy prescriptions and its relationship with all-cause mortality at 1 year. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Anonymised electronic primary care from 787 practices in the UK, or approximately 6.2% of the UK population. PARTICIPANTS: All registered patients over 40 with a documented diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease. OUTCOME MEASURE: Population incidence and prevalence of PAD by sex. Patterns of guideline-directed therapy, and correlation with all-cause mortality at 1 year (defined as death due to any outcome) in patients with and without an existing diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. Covariates included Charlson comorbidity, sex, age, body mass index, Townsend score of deprivation, smoking status, diabetes, hypertension, statin and antiplatelet prescription. RESULTS: Sequential cross-sectional studies from 2010 to 2017 found annual PAD prevalence (12.7-14.3 vs 25.6 per 1000 in men) and incidence were lower in women (11.6-12.4 vs 22.7-26.8 per 10 000 person years in men). Cox proportional hazards models created for PAD patients with and without cardiovascular disease over one full year analysed 25 121 men and 13 480 women, finding that following adjustment for age, women were still less likely to be on a statin (OR 0.69; 95% CI 0.66 to 0.72; p<0.001) or antiplatelet (OR: 0.87; 95% CI 0.83 to 0.90; p<0.001). Once fully adjusted for guideline recommended medical therapy, all-cause mortality was similar between women and men (adjusted HR (aHR) 0.95, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.03, p=0.198 for all patients, aHR 1.01, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.16, p=0.860 for those with cardiovascular disease). CONCLUSIONS: Women with a new diagnosis of PAD were not prescribed guideline-directed therapy at the same rate as men. However once adjusted for factors including age, all-cause mortality in men and women was similar.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on vascular registries and clinical trials.

Quality improvement programs and clinical trial research experienced disruption due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Vascular registries showed an immediate impact with significant declines in second-quarter vascular procedure volumes witnessed across Europe and the United States. To better understand the magnitude and impact of the pandemic, organizations and study groups sent grass roots surveys to vascular specialists for needs assessment. Several vascular registries responded quickly by insertion of COVID-19 variables into their data collection forms. More than 80% of clinical trials have been reported delayed or not started due to factors that included loss of enrollment from patient concerns or mandated institutional shutdowns, weighing the risk of trial participation on patient safety. Preliminary data of patients undergoing vascular surgery with active COVID-19 infection show inferior outcomes (morbidity) and increased mortality. Disease-specific vascular surgery study collaboratives about COVID-19 were created for the desire to study the disease in a more focused manner than possible through registry outcomes. This review describes the pandemic effect on multiple VASCUNET registries including Germany (GermanVasc), Sweden (SwedVasc), United Kingdom (UK National Vascular Registry), Australia and New Zealand (bi-national Australasian Vascular Audit), as well as the United States (Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative). We will highlight the continued collaboration of VASCUNET with the Vascular Quality Initiative in the International Consortium of Vascular Registries as part of the Medical Device Epidemiology Network coordinated registry network. Vascular registries must remain flexible and responsive to new and future real-world problems affecting vascular patients.

Editor's Choice - Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Wound Adjuncts for the Prevention of Groin Wound Surgical Site Infection in Arterial Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Groin incision surgical site infections (SSIs) following arterial surgery are common and are a source of considerable morbidity. This review evaluates interventions and adjuncts delivered immediately before, during, or after skin closure, to prevent SSIs in patients undergoing arterial interventions involving a groin incision. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases were searched. REVIEW METHODS: This review was undertaken according to established international reporting guidelines and was registered prospectively with the International prospective register of systematic reviews (CRD42020185170). The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases were searched using pre-defined search terms without date restriction. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies recruiting patients with non-infected groin incisions for arterial exposure were included; SSI rates and other outcomes were captured. Interventions reported in two or more studies were subjected to meta-analysis. RESULTS: The search identified 1 532 articles. Seventeen RCTs and seven observational studies, reporting on 3 747 patients undergoing 4 130 groin incisions were included. A total of seven interventions and nine outcomes were reported upon. Prophylactic closed incision negative pressure wound therapy (ciNPWT) reduced groin SSIs compared with standard dressings (odds ratio [OR] 0.34, 95% CI 0.23 - 0.51; p < .001, GRADE strength of evidence: moderate). Local antibiotics did not reduce groin SSIs (OR 0.60 95% CI 0.30 - 1.21 p = .15, GRADE strength: low). Subcuticular sutures (vs. transdermal sutures or clips) reduced groin SSI rates (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.17 - 0.65, p = .001, GRADE strength: low). Wound drains, platelet rich plasma, fibrin glue, and silver alginate dressings did not show any significant effect on SSI rates. CONCLUSION: There is evidence that ciNPWT and subcuticular sutures reduce groin SSI in patients undergoing arterial vascular interventions involving a groin incision. Local antibiotics did not reduce groin wound SSI, although the strength of this evidence is lower. No other interventions demonstrated a significant effect.

Outcomes of Vascular and Endovascular Interventions Performed During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the COVER Study is to identify global outcomes and decision making for vascular procedures during the pandemic. BACKGROUND DATA: During its initial peak, there were many reports of delays to vital surgery and the release of several guidelines advising later thresholds for vascular surgical intervention for key conditions. METHODS: An international multi-center observational study of outcomes after open and endovascular interventions. RESULTS: In an analysis of 1103 vascular intervention (57 centers in 19 countries), 71.6% were elective or scheduled procedures. Mean age was 67 ±â€Š14 years (75.6% male). Suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection was documented in 4.0%. Overall, in-hospital mortality was 11.0% [aortic interventions mortality 15.2% (23/151), amputations 12.1% (28/232), carotid interventions 10.7% (11/103), lower limb revascularisations 9.8% (51/521)]. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [odds ratio (OR) 2.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.30-3.15] and active lower respiratory tract infection due to any cause (OR 24.94, 95% CI 12.57-241.70) ware associated with mortality, whereas elective or scheduled cases were lower risk (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.22-0.73 and 0.60, 95% CI 0.45-0.98, respectively. After adjustment, antiplatelet (OR 0.503, 95% CI: 0.273-0.928) and oral anticoagulation (OR 0.411, 95% CI: 0.205-0.824) were linked to reduced risk of in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality after vascular interventions during this period was unexpectedly high. Suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases were uncommon. Therefore an alternative cause, for example, recommendations for delayed surgery, should be considered. The vascular community must anticipate longer term implications for survival.

Study protocol for COvid-19 Vascular sERvice (COVER) study: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision, practice and outcomes of vascular surgery.

BACKGROUND: The novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having a profound impact on global healthcare. Shortages in staff, operating theatre space and intensive care beds has led to a significant reduction in the provision of surgical care. Even vascular surgery, often insulated from resource scarcity due to its status as an urgent specialty, has limited capacity due to the pandemic. Furthermore, many vascular surgical patients are elderly with multiple comorbidities putting them at increased risk of COVID-19 and its complications. There is an urgent need to investigate the impact on patients presenting to vascular surgeons during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The COvid-19 Vascular sERvice (COVER) study has been designed to investigate the worldwide impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vascular surgery, at both service provision and individual patient level. COVER is running as a collaborative study through the Vascular and Endovascular Research Network (VERN), an independent, international vascular research collaborative with the support of numerous national and international organisations). The study has 3 'Tiers': Tier 1 is a survey of vascular surgeons to capture longitudinal changes to the provision of vascular services within their hospital; Tier 2 captures data on vascular and endovascular procedures performed during the pandemic; and Tier 3 will capture any deviations to patient management strategies from pre-pandemic best practice. Data submission and collection will be electronic using online survey tools (Tier 1: SurveyMonkey® for service provision data) and encrypted data capture forms (Tiers 2 and 3: REDCap® for patient level data). Tier 1 data will undergo real-time serial analysis to determine longitudinal changes in practice, with country-specific analyses also performed. The analysis of Tier 2 and Tier 3 data will occur on completion of the study as per the pre-specified statistical analysis plan.

Editor's Choice - Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in Aortic Intervention: Findings From the Midlands Aortic Renal Injury (MARI) Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) after open (OAR) or endovascular (EVAR) aortic repair is unknown. This research assessed the proportion of patients who develop AKI after aortic intervention using validated criteria, and explored AKI risk factors. METHODS: This was a multicentre national prospective cohort study. Eleven centres recruited patients undergoing EVAR or OAR (September 2017-December 2018). Serum creatinine (SCr) and urine outputs were measured over a minimum of 48 h or throughout the index inpatient stay to define post-operative AKI using the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. Renal decline at 30 days was calculated using estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the Major Adverse Kidney Events (MAKE) 30 day composite endpoint (consisting of: death, new dialysis, > 25% eGFR decline). RESULTS: 300 patients (mean age: 71 years, standard deviation [SD] 4 years; 9% females) were included, who underwent: infrarenal endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) 139 patients, fenestrated EVAR (fEVAR) 30, branched EVAR (bEVAR) seven, infrarenal open aneurysm repair (OAR) 98, juxtarenal OAR 26. Overall, 24% of patients developed stage 1 AKI (defined at 48 h as per KDIGO), 2.7% stage 2 AKI and 1% needed renal replacement therapy before discharge. AKI proportions per intervention were: infrarenal EVAR 18%; fEVAR 27%; bEVAR 71%; infrarenal OAR 41%; juxtarenal OAR 63%. Older age (odds ratio [OR] 1.44 for EVAR, 1.58 for OAR), lower baseline eGFR (OR 0.88 EVAR, 0.74 OAR), and ischaemic heart disease (OR 4.42 EVAR, 5.80 OAR) were the main predictors of AKI for infrarenal EVAR and OAR. Overall, 24% developed the MAKE30 endpoint. All patients who died (0.6%) or developed a major cardiac event (5.6%) at one year had developed AKI. CONCLUSION: AKI and short term renal decline after aortic intervention are common. Age, renal function, and cardiovascular disease are the main risk factors. Research should now focus on AKI prevention in this high risk group.

Purine nucleoside use as surrogate markers of cerebral ischaemia during local and general anaesthetic carotid endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVES: In periods of cerebral ischaemia, adenosine triphosphate is metabolised, leading to accumulation of adenosine inosine and hypoxanthine. These can be measured in real time using peripheral blood samples intraoperatively. The primary aim of this study was to describe changes in purine concentrations in a cohort of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy under general anaesthetic, and to evaluate correlation between changes in values with major perioperative steps. The secondary aim was to compare changes in concentrations with a previous cohort of patients who had undergone carotid endarterectomy under local anaesthetic. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study. Purine concentrations were determined from arterial line samples and measured via an amperometric biosensor at specific time points during carotid endarterectomy. Mean arterial pressure was manipulated to maintain steady cerebral perfusion pressure throughout the procedure. These results were analysed against data from a cohort of patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy under local anaesthetic in previously published work. RESULTS: Valid results were obtained for 37 patients. Purine concentrations at baseline were 3.02 ± 1.11 µM and 3.16 ± 1.85 µM for the unshunted and shunted cohorts, respectively. There was no significant change after 30 min of carotid clamping at 2.07 ± 0.89 and 2.4 ± 3.09 µM, respectively (both p > 0.05). Peak purine during the clamp phase in the loco-regional anaesthetic cohort was 6.70 ± 3.4 µM, which was significantly raised compared to both general anaesthetic cohorts (p = 0.004). There were no perioperative neurological events in either cohort. CONCLUSION: This small study does not demonstrate conclusive evidence that purine nucleosides can be used as a marker of cerebral ischaemia; the comparisons to the loco-regional anaesthetic data offer information about differences in the cerebral adenosine triphosphate metabolism between general anaesthetic and loco-regional anaesthetic. We hypothesise that the lack of a rise in purine nucleosides under general anaesthetic may be caused by a decrease in the cerebral metabolic rate and loss of metabolic rate-blood flow coupling caused by general anaesthetic agents.

Endovascular Aneurysm Repair May Provide a Survival Advantage in Patients Deemed Physiologically Ineligible for Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) provides an objective assessment of functional capacity and fitness. It can be used to guide decision making prior to major vascular surgery. The EVAR-2 trial suggested that endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in patients unfit for open repair failed to provide a significant survival advantage over nonsurgical management. The aim of this study is to assess contemporary survival differences between patients with poor CPET measures who underwent EVAR or were not offered surgical intervention. METHODS: A prospectively maintained database of CPET results of patients considered for elective infrarenal aortic aneurysm repair were interrogated. Anaerobic threshold (AT) of <11 mL/min/kg was used to indicate poor physical fitness. Hospital electronic records were then reviewed for perioperative, reintervention, and long-term outcomes. RESULTS: Between November 2007 and October 2017, 532 aortic aneurysm repairs were undertaken, of which 376 underwent preoperative CPET. Seventy patients were identified as having an AT <11 mL/min/kg. Thirty-seven patients underwent EVAR and 33 were managed nonsurgically. All-cause survival at 1, 3, and 5 years for those patients who underwent EVAR was 97%, 92%, and 81%, respectively. For those not offered surgical intervention survival at the same points was 72%, 48%, and 24% [hazard ratio, HR = 5.13 (1.67-15.82), P = 0.004]. Aneurysm-specific survival at 1, 3, and 5 years for those patients who underwent EVAR was 97%, 94%, and 94%, respectively. Survival at the same time points for those not offered surgical intervention was 90%, 69%, and 39%, respectively [HR = 7.48 (1.37-40.82), P = 0.02]. CONCLUSIONS: In this small, retrospective, single-center, nonrandomized cohort, EVAR may provide a survival advantage in patients with poor physical fitness identified via CPET. Randomized studies with current generation EVAR are required to validate the results shown here.

The clinical application of purine nucleosides as biomarkers of tissue Ischemia and hypoxia in humans in vivo.

During periods of ischemia and hypoxia, intracellular adenosine triphosphate stores are rapidly depleted. Its metabolism results in release of purine nucleosides into the systemic circulation. While the potential of purine nucleosides as a biomarker of ischemia has long been recognized, this has been limited by their complex physiological role and inherent instability leading to problematic sampling and prolonged, complex analysis procedures. Purine release has been demonstrated from cerebral tissue in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy and patients presenting to hospital with stroke and transient ischemic attack. Rises in purine nucleosides have also been demonstrated in patients with angina and myocardial infarction, during systemic hypoxia, exercise, in patients with peripheral arterial disease and during surgery. This article reviews purine nucleoside production in ischemia, the development of purine analysis technology and details results of the studies investigating purine nucleosides as a biomarker of ischemia with suggestions for areas of future research.

Comparison of Immediate and Long-term Outcomes in Men and Women Undergoing Revascularisation for Chronic Limb Threatening Ischaemia in the Bypass vs. Angioplasty in Severe Ischaemia of the Leg (BASIL-1) Trial.

BACKGROUND: The reports from cohort studies comparing outcomes after revascularisation for chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI) between men and women remain controversial. Anatomical and clinical disease severity is often heterogeneous, and treatment choice influenced by a variety of clinician and patient factors. The aim was to compare outcomes in men and women entered into the only randomised study comparing bypass and angioplasty for infra-inguinal disease causing severe limb ischaemia. METHODS: Data were obtained from BASIL-1 trial case record forms. Baseline demographics were compared, and Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the relationship between sex and amputation free survival (AFS), overall survival (OS), and freedom from major adverse limb events (FF-MALE) using a per-protocol analysis. Data were analysed using a per-protocol analysis. RESULTS: A total of 452 patients were randomised into the BASIL-1 trial from 1999 to 2004. At randomisation, women were older and less likely to be smokers, to have diabetes, or to be on recommended best medical therapy. Men were more likely to present with gangrene. Ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI), post-revascularisation length of hospital stay, and 30 day morbidity and mortality were similar for men and women. At three years, female sex was associated with significantly better AFS (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.47-0.89, p < .01), OS (HR 0.66 95% CI 0.46-0.95, p = .02) and FF-MALE (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.57-0.96, p = .02). CONCLUSION: In the BASIL-1 trial, women had similar short term but better long term outcomes after revascularisation. Sex is an important consideration when developing early, evidence based treatment pathway and revascularisation strategies for CLTI, and is an independent risk factor for outcomes following revascularisation as well as development of symptomatic PAD.

Pedicled Abdominal Flaps for Enhanced Digital Salvage After Severe Frostbite Injury.

Extremities are the area of the body most commonly affected by frostbite, which can also affect the face, ears, perineum, or genitals. Optimum management has moved away from early amputation and debridement toward maximizing tissue preservation and delaying surgical intervention. Increasing length of digit amputation increases morbidity, in terms of loss of hand function, experienced by patients. Reconstruction of affected digits is limited by bone necrosis, which often leads to shortened residual stumps and limited functional outcomes. This case describes the management of a severe frostbite injury affecting both hands and feet in a 39-y-old man, sustained during descent of Mount Everest. The use of a pedicled abdominal flap to provide soft-tissue cover permitted optimized digit length and function and sensate digits. The case highlights the benefits of early multidisciplinary team involvement in the management of severe frostbite to optimize functional outcome.

Cerebral embolization during endovascular infrarenal, juxtarenal, and suprarenal aortic aneurysm repair, high-risk maneuvers, and associated neurologic outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Risk factors for postoperative cognitive decline after noncardiac surgery are multifactorial and poorly understood. Evidence suggests that perioperative microembolic damage to the brain on movement of wires and catheters during endovascular aortic procedures may play an important role. Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair requires invasive manipulation of wires and cannulas within the aorta, but research into cerebral emboli during aortic aneurysm repair and cognitive or neurologic injury is scarce and limited to thoracic aneurysms. This study prospectively studied embolic phenomena detected in the middle cerebral artery during infrarenal, juxtarenal, and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and investigated links to delirium, stroke, and postoperative cognitive decline. METHODS: There were 60 patients who received continuous left-sided perioperative transcranial Doppler monitoring during endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (bifurcated graft for infrarenal aneurysm, n = 18; endovascular aneurysm sealing graft, n = 16; endovascular aneurysm sealing and renal "chimney" stent, n = 17; and thoracic aneurysm, n = 3). The procedure was time stamped for events such as stiff wire insertion and graft deployment. A battery of cognitive tests designed to test several cognitive domains were performed preoperatively and at 90 days postoperatively. RESULTS: TEVAR and chimney grafts demonstrated significantly greater numbers of total procedural emboli compared with standard bifurcated grafts (mean emboli, 36.2 and 13.39, respectively; bifurcated graft, 5.81; P < .05). The highest risk maneuvers were guidewire and pigtail catheter insertion. This was the case for all procedures including infrarenal aneurysm repair. A higher perioperative embolic load was associated with medium-term cognitive decline in list recall but not with incidence of delirium or stroke. Risk of cognitive decline did not relate to procedure type. Antiplatelet use failed to demonstrate a protective effect. CONCLUSIONS: Patients are at risk of cerebral emboli during several types of endovascular aortic surgery, although TEVAR remains the highest risk procedure. As yet, there are no validated protective measures available to prevent cerebral emboli and their associated risks of clinical and subclinical neurologic injury.

Ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm: current practice, challenges and controversies.

The UK screening programme began in 2009, and has now been expanded around the UK. Long-term follow-up of the original cohorts continues to demonstrate significant benefits for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)-related and all-cause mortality , and results from the first 5 years of the formal screening programme have demonstrated similar success. Ultrasound scanning is an effective and safe screening tool for the detection of AAA, although a variety of measurement protocols are employed internationally. Key challenges for the future of the programme relate to declining incidence of screen detected aneurysms.  Recent publications have demonstrated a UK incidence of only 1.34%, compared to 4.9-7.2% of men invited for screening in the original trials. Work into increasing engagement amongst the target group, and expanding screening to siblings and women is underway to address this issue. This review describes the evidence behind the screening programme, its justification in addressing AAA as a significant health problem and discusses some of the potential developments in the future.

Screening results from a large United Kingdom abdominal aortic aneurysm screening center in the context of optimizing United Kingdom National Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme protocols.

BACKGROUND: After its introduction in six pilot centers in 2009, the National Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme (NAAASP) is now established across the United Kingdom, demonstrating significant benefit in terms of fewer emergency surgeries and reduced 30-day surgical mortality. However, according to publication of data on annual screened abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) detection, a lower incidence than predicted in the original screening trials has been found. In this audit we assessed features and risk factors of men found to have a positive scan result in the southwest London AAA screening program, to determine screening yield for subgroups of populations and assess the case for a more targeted screening program. METHODS: Data from the NAAASP screening database for England were extracted for all men who attended screening from the April 1, 2009 through October 16, 2013 in the southwest London area. Primary outcomes were aneurysm prevalence, risk factors, and incidence within subgroups. Results were reviewed against nationally reported data and London census data. RESULTS: Of 24,891 men who were screened in the southwest London program during this period, 292 AAAs were identified (1.18%). Patients were asked to categorize their ethnic background according to classifications provided by the office of national statistics. Those at highest risk of AAA were white-British (1.35%), followed by black and black British (0.65%), and Asian/Asian British (0.23%). Number needed to screen to identify one AAA was calculated as 78, 154, and 431, respectively. The relative proportions of patients screened were similar to that described in the most recent United Kingdom census, except for white-British patients, indicating a shortfall in acceptance of screening invitations in this group. There were no AAA identified in Chinese men. A positive smoking history was found in 90%, a confirmed diagnosis of hypertension in 50%, hypercholesterolemia in 34%, and ischemic heart disease in 21%. CONCLUSIONS: Within southwest London, AAA was most strongly associated with being white-British, a previous or current smoker, and known hypertension. Targeted education in patient groups with identified risk factors for AAA should be considered to improve screening yield without excluding any subgroup from the screening program. This could draw on resources released by unused scans because of lower than predicted prevalence. AAA diagnosis should be seen as an opportunity to address the increased all-cause mortality associated with aortic aneurysmal disease.

Is routine postoperative enteral feeding after oesophagectomy worthwhile?

A best evidence topic in surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether, in patients undergoing an oesophagectomy for cancer, immediate postoperative enteral feeding (via percutaneous jejunostomy or nasojejunostomy) provides better patient outcomes as compared to waiting until oral feeding can be instituted. Four randomized controlled trials represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The first study randomized 25 patients into enteral feeding via jejunostomy (n = 13) versus a routine diet without jejunostomy (n = 12). The authors found no statistical difference in outcomes including length of stay, anastomotic complications and mortality. They did not report any catheter-related complications. A second study included patients undergoing an oesophagectomy or a pancreatodudenectomy, randomized to immediate postoperative jejunostomy feeding (n = 13) or remaining unfed for 6 days (n = 15). They reported one incident of detachment of the catheter from the abdominal wall. They also noted a statistically significant decrease in vital capacity and FEV1 in enterally fed patients. There was no difference in length of stay or anastomotic complications. They concluded that there was no indication for routine use of immediate postoperative enteral feeding in those patients without significant preoperative malnutrition. A third report randomized their post-oesophagectomy patients into enteral feeding via jejunostomy (n = 20) versus crystalloid only (n = 20). The also found no difference in length of stay, anastomotic leak rate or mortality. One catheter was removed due to concerns over respiratory function. They also concluded that there was no measurable benefit in early enteral feeding. The last of these 4 studies randomized patients into naso-duodenal feeding (n = 71) and jejunostomy feeding groups (n = 79). As in previous trials, they found no statistically significant difference between length of stay or anastomotic leak rates. Mortality was higher in the jejunostomy group, although the team did not attribute the deaths to the catheter. They found both methods equally effective in providing postoperative nutrition. In summary, all the trials concluded that routine postoperative enteral nutrition was feasible, but there was no evidence suggesting that it conferred any clinical benefits.