South African cardiovascular risk stratification guideline for non-cardiac surgery.

Executive summary The South African (SA) guidelines for cardiac patients for non-cardiac surgery were developed to address the need for cardiac risk assessment and risk stratification for elective non-cardiac surgical patients in SA, and more broadly in Africa.The guidelines were developed by updating the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines on Perioperative Cardiac Risk Assessment and Management for Patients Who Undergo Non-cardiac Surgery, with a search of literature from African countries and recent publications. The updated proposed guidelines were then evaluated in a Delphi consensus process by SA anaesthesia and vascular surgical experts. The recommendations in these guidelines are:1. We suggest that elective non-cardiac surgical patients who are 45 years and older with either a history of coronary artery disease, congestive cardiac failure, stroke or transient ischaemic attack, or vascular surgical patients 18 years or older with peripheral vascular disease require further preoperative risk stratification as their predicted 30-day major adverse cardiac event (MACE) risk exceeds 5% (conditional recommendation: moderate-quality evidence).2. We do not recommend routine non-invasive testing for cardiovascular risk stratification prior to elective non-cardiac surgery in adults (strong recommendation: low-to-moderate-quality evidence).3. We recommend that elective non-cardiac surgical patients who are 45 years and older with a history of coronary artery disease, or stroke or transient ischaemic attack, or congestive cardiac failure or vascular surgical patients 18 years or older with peripheral vascular disease should have preoperative natriuretic peptide (NP) screening (strong recommendation: high-quality evidence).4. We recommend daily postoperative troponin measurements for 48 - 72 hours for non-cardiac surgical patients who are 45 years and older with a history of coronary artery disease, or stroke or transient ischaemic attack, or congestive cardiac failure or vascular surgical patients 18 years or older with peripheral vascular disease, i.e. (i) a baseline risk >5% for MACE 30 days after elective surgery (if no preoperative NP screening), or (ii) an elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)/N-terminal-prohormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) measurement before elective surgery (defined as BNP >99 pg/mL or a NT-proBNP >300 pg/mL) (conditional recommendation: moderate-quality evidence).Additional recommendations are given for the management of myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS) and medications for comorbidities.

Stent graft repair of subclavian and axillary vascular injuries: The Groote Schuur experience.

BACKGROUND: Trauma-related subclavian and axillary vascular injuries (SAVIs) are generally associated with high morbidity and mortality rates in the surgical literature. There is an emerging trend towards increasing use of stent grafts (covered stents) for repair, with evidence limited to small case series and case reports. OBJECTIVES: To report on the clinical and device-related outcomes of stent graft repair of trauma-related SAVIs at a single institution. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all patients with trauma-related SAVIs requiring stent graft repair was performed. Outcome measures included technical success, mortality, amputation rate, device-related complications (early and late), and reintervention rates (early and late). RESULTS: A total of 31 patients was identified between June 2008 and October 2013 (30 males, 1 female). Mean age was 27.9 years (range 19-51). All 31 patients sustained a penetrating injury (93.5% stab, 6.5% gunshot injuries). There were 21 subclavian and 10 axillary artery injuries. Five patients (16%) were HIV-positive. Nine patients (29%) were shocked on presentation. Early results (30 days): There were no periprocedural deaths. Primary technical success was 83.9% (26/31). Five patients required adjunctive interventional or operative procedures. There were no early procedure-related complications, reinterventions or open conversions in this study. Overall, suboptimal results were seen in five patients (one type I endoleak and four type II endoleaks). Follow-up results (>30 days): Nineteen patients (61.3%) were available for follow-up. Mean duration of follow-up was 55.7 weeks (range 4 - 240). Overall stent graft patency was 89.5% (17/19). Four patients (21.1%) had an occluded stent graft. Stent graft salvage was possible in two patients. Three type II endoleaks were seen on follow-up. Late reinterventions were performed in five patients (26.3%). Conversion to an open procedure was not required in any patient. There was one late death and one major amputation of a stented limb in a patient who had sustained severe soft-tissue injuries during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Perioperative, early and intermediate results suggest that stent graft repair of select trauma-related SAVIs is relatively safe and effective. Axillary arteriovenous fistulas remain a particular challenge using this treatment modality. Larger prospective studies are required to define the utility of stent grafts for select trauma-related SAVIs better.

Hybrid repair of a symptomatic thoracic intra-mural haematoma.

INTRODUCTION: The repair of thoracic aortic pathology by open techniques is associated with high morbidity and mortality. METHODS: We describe the first case of hybrid thoracic aortic repair performed in Ireland for a symptomatic thoracic intramural haematoma. CONCLUSION: Hybrid repair with extra-anatomical aortic visceral revascularisation and subsequent thoracic endograft exclusion offers an attractive alternative method of repair for thoracic aortic pathology.

Transmetatarsal amputation: three-year experience at Groote Schuur Hospital.

Transmetatarsal amputation (TMA) for peripheral vascular disease has the reputation of being an operation with a poor outcome. This retrospective study reviewed a 3-year consecutive series of TMA in diabetic and nondiabetic patients. All amputations performed for peripheral vascular disease at Groote Schuur Hospital from January 1999 to December 2002 were reviewed. Data were obtained from hospital records and operating theatre books. The following groups were defined for the purpose of this retrospective study: group 1, TMAs performed in diabetic patients; group 2, TMAs done in nondiabetic patients. Altogether, 43 TMAs were performed: 27 in group 1 and 16 in group 2. Perioperative mortality rates were 7% and 4%, respectively. Overall, the healing rate was 67%: 62% (17/27) in group 1 and 75% (12/16) in group 2. The median times to healing were 8 months in group 1 and 7 months in group 2. Toe pressure and the presence of advanced tibioperoneal disease influenced the outcome of TMA in diabetic patients. Transmetatarsal amputation with a healed stump provided our patients with good mobility. Prediction of healing after operation is unreliable. There was no statistical difference in outcome in diabetic (group 1) versus nondiabetic (group 2) patients.