Outcomes of carotid endarterectomy in octogenarians compared to their younger counterparts: a retrospective observational study.

Purpose: This study was performed to analyze the association between age and outcomes of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) by comparing postoperative outcomes between octogenarians and younger patients. Methods: From November 1994 to December 2022, 1,585 internal carotid arteries of 1,434 patients were enrolled. Patients were stratified into 2 groups: octogenarians (≥80 years old) and non-octogenarians (<80 years old). Primary endpoints were early (≤30 days) outcomes of ipsilateral stroke, any stroke, myocardial infarction, death, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). We also compared overall any stroke and death between the 2 groups. Results: One of 132 octogenarians (0.8%) and 17 of 1,453 non-octogenarians (1.1%) experienced ipsilateral stroke within 30 days. Thirty-day MACE occurred in 4 of 132 octogenarians (3%) and 44 of 1,453 non-octogenarians (3%). There were no significant differences in any early (≤30 days) outcomes. Symptomatic status was associated with increased 30-day MACE (odds ratio [OR], 2.610; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.450-4.696; P = 0.003) and 30-day any stroke (OR, 3.999; 95% CI, 1.627-9.828; P = 0.003). Symptomatic status was also associated with overall any stroke (hazard ratio [HR], 2.885; 95% CI, 1.865-4.463; P < 0.001), but age of ≥80 years was not associated with 30-day MACE, 30-day any stroke, or overall stroke. Age of ≥80 years was only associated with overall survival (HR, 2.644; 95% CI, 1.967-3.555; P < 0.001). Conclusion: CEA would be a safe and effective treatment for octogenarians with low 30-day complications and long-term stroke rates, comparable with that of younger counterparts. Advanced age is not a contraindication for CEA.

Comparison between Onyx and coil embolization for persistent type 2 endoleaks after endovascular aneurysm repair.

Purpose: Type 2 endoleaks (T2EL) are the most common form of endoleaks after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Several studies on the feasibility of embolization using ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (Onyx, Medtronic) for T2EL have been reported. The purpose of this study was to compare coil and Onyx embolization for T2EL treatment after EVAR. Methods: Between August 2005 and July 2022, 46 patients underwent endovascular embolization for treatment of T2EL (15 Onyx and 31 coils). The primary endpoint was endoleaks resolution or significant aneurysm sac growth of >5 mm in maximal diameter after T2EL embolization. In addition, periprocedural factors, reintervention, sac rupture, and survival analysis were assessed. Results: The follow-up period after embolization was significantly shorter in the Onyx group (11.6 months vs. 34.7 months, P = 0.016), and there was no difference in aneurysm sac growth rate between both groups (20.0% vs. 51.6%; P = 0.472, log-rank test). However, cases with multiple endoleak origins tended to be treated with Onyx (P = 0.002). When applying Onyx, there was no significant difference in results between the transarterial and translumbar approaches. Conclusion: There appears to be no significant difference in the results of Onyx and coil embolization for T2EL treatment, although it is difficult to evaluate effectiveness due to the small number of cases and short follow-up period. However, in cases of multiple origin endoleaks or when the transarterial approach is not feasible, the Onyx by translumbar approach may be a more effective method.

Impact of Serum Albumin Levels and Body Mass Index on Outcomes of Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair in Korean Population.

BACKGROUND: Although obese patients seem to be susceptible to chronic diseases, obesity paradox has been observed in the field of vascular surgery, in which many previous studies have reported that overweight patients have good postoperative outcomes and underweight patients have poor postoperative outcomes. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the impact of body mass index (BMI) and serum albumin levels, which are evaluated as indicators of nutritional status, on outcomes of open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. METHODS: We reviewed the vascular surgery database of a single tertiary referral center for all patients who underwent open AAA repair due to degenerative etiology from 1996 to 2021. To analyze the effect of BMI, patients were classified into 4 groups according to the Asian-Pacific classification of BMI: underweight (UW) (<18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (NW) (18.5-22.9 kg/m2), overweight (OW) (23-24.9 kg/m2), and obese (OB) (≥25 kg/m2). The χ2, Fisher's exact, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare demographics, comorbidities, radiologic findings, surgical details, and 1-year mortality rates between the 4 groups. We also compared the preoperative serum albumin levels of each group to assess nutritional status indirectly. Cox's proportional hazards model was performed to determine factors associated with mortality. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed, and the differences were analyzed by a log-rank test. We did not perform an analysis for 30-day mortality because cases of 30-day mortality in UW patients were rare due to the unbalanced distribution of the number of patients in the 4 groups. RESULTS: Among a total of 678 patients, 22 were classified as UW (3.2%), 200 as NW (29.5%), 183 as OW (27.1%), and 273 as OB (40.1%). The median age was 70 (64-75) years and 577 of 678 (85.1%) patients were male gender. Higher serum albumin level was associated with decreased 1-year mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15-0.63; P = 0.001). UW patients had a higher 1-year mortality rate than NW patients (HR, 3.67; 95% CI, 1.02-13.18; P = 0.046). OB patients had a lower overall mortality rate than NW patients (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.53-1; P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Low BMI (<18.5 kg/m2) and low serum albumin level were associated with poor 1-year survival after elective open AAA repair. These patients also need more careful preoperative intervention, like weight gain or nutritional support, for better outcomes. The obesity paradox existed in our study; high BMI (≥25 kg/m2) was associated with better overall survival after elective open AAA repair.

Clinical Characteristics and Management of Peripancreatic Arterial Aneurysms: A 20-year Experience.

Pancreaticoduodenal and gastroduodenal artery aneurysms (PDAAs and GDAAs) are rare visceral aneurysms. Considering the rupture risk regardless of size, treatment should be provided promptly. We reviewed the characteristics and management of peripancreatic aneurysms in a retrospective, single-center review of consecutive patients with PDAAs and GDAAs between 2000 and 2022. Demographics, clinical characteristics, radiologic features, treatment, and outcomes were recorded. Nineteen PDAAs and seven GDAAs were identified in 24 patients. The median sizes of the PDAAs and GDAAs were 21 mm (range: 8-50 mm) and 14 mm (range: 11-32 mm), respectively. There were 4 ruptured cases (15.4%). Ten aneurysms (38.5%) had concomitant visceral aneurysms, and 16 (61.6%) were associated with celiac pathology. Aneurysms were managed using endovascular in 12 (46.2%), surgical in 4 (15.4%), and combined methods in 3 (11.5%) cases; 7 patients (26.9%) were lost to follow-up or refused treatments. During a median 13.8-month follow-up (range: 1-147.6), two complications (7.7%) occurred including pancreatitis and coil migration into the superior mesenteric artery after embolization within 30 days. After 30 days, aorto-common hepatic artery bypass graft stenosis was identified in one PDAA. Depending on the characteristics of peripancreatic aneurysms, endovascular, surgical, and hybrid approaches might all be practical treatment options.

Metabolic syndrome and the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm: A nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) remains unclear. We investigated the potential association between AAA and MetS and its components in a large population-based cohort. METHODS: We used the Korean National Health Insurance Service database including 4,162,640 participants aged ≥50 years who received a routine health examination in 2009. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze the association between MetS and its components (elevated waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose, triglycerides, and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C]) with AAA incidence, with adjustment for confounders. RESULTS: During a median 9.4 years of follow-up, 18,160 participants developed incident AAA. MetS was associated with an increased risk of AAA compared to the non-MetS group (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34-1.43). Among the individual components, elevated waist circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides, and reduced HDL-C were associated with increased AAA risk, while elevated glucose alone was associated with reduced AAA risk (aHR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.82-0.87). AAA risk also increased linearly with the increasing number of MetS components, with the highest risk found in the presence of all 5 components (aHR, 1.98, 95% CI, 1.83-2.15). CONCLUSIONS: MetS and its individual components, with the exclusion of elevated glucose, were associated with higher risk of AAA. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the association between MetS and AAA.

A multicenter, randomized, open-labelled, non-inferiority trial of sustained-release sarpogrelate versus clopidogrel after femoropopliteal artery intervention.

Optimal antiplatelet therapy after endovascular therapy (EVT) for peripheral artery disease is controversial. This trial aimed to evaluate whether sarpogrelate plus aspirin was non-inferior for preventing early restenosis after femoropopliteal (FP) EVT compared to clopidogrel plus aspirin. In this open-label, prospective randomized trial, 272 patients were enrolled after successful EVT for FP lesions. Patients in each group received aspirin 100 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg or sarpogrelate 300 mg orally once per day for 6 months. The primary outcome was target lesion restenosis at 6 months, tested for noninferiority. Patient characteristics and EVT patterns were similar, except for increased inflow procedures in the sarpogrelate group and increased outflow procedures in the clopidogrel group. The sarpogrelate group showed a tendency of less restenosis at 6 months than the clopidogrel group (13.0% vs. 19.1%, difference 6.1 percentage points, 95% CI for noninferiority - 0.047 to 0.169). Secondary endpoints related to safety outcomes were rare in both groups. Risks of target lesion restenosis of the two intervention arm were uniform across most major subgroups except for those with coronary artery disease. In conclusion, Sarpogrelate plus aspirin is non-inferior to clopidogrel plus aspirin in preventing early restenosis after FP EVT. Larger multi-ethnic trials are required to generalize these findings. Trial registration: National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials Registry (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02959606; 09/11/2016).

The Impact of age and outcomes of high-risk patients on carotid revascularization.

OBJECTIVES: To validate the accuracy of high-risk criteria for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and analyze the correlation between age and outcome of CEA and carotid artery stenting (CAS) in risk groups. METHODS: We reviewed a prospectively managed vascular surgery database in a single tertiary referral center, and 2482 internal carotid arteries (ICAs) had undergone carotid revascularization from November 1994 to December 2021. To validate high-risk criteria for CEA, patients were classified as high risk (Hr) and normal risk (Nr). Subgroup analysis was performed with patients older or younger than 75 years to investigate the relationship between age and outcome in each group. Primary endpoints were 30-day outcomes including stroke, death, stroke/death, myocardial infraction (MI), and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). RESULTS: A total of 2345 ICAs in 2256 patients were enrolled. The number of patients in the Hr group was 543 (24%) and the number in the Nr group was 1713 (76%). CEA and CAS were performed on 1384 (61%) and 872 (39%) patients, respectively. The 30-day stroke/death rate was higher with CAS than CEA in both the Hr (1.1% vs. 3.9%, p = 0.032) and Nr (1.2% vs. 6.9%, p < 0.001) groups. In unmatched logistic regression analysis of the Nr group (n = 1778), the rate of 30-day stroke/death (OR, 5.575; 95% CI, 2.922-10.636; p < 0.001) was higher for CAS than CEA. In propensity score matching of the Nr group, the rate of 30-day stroke/death (OR, 5.165; 95% CI, 2.391-11.155; p < 0.001) was also higher for CAS than CEA. In the age <75 subgroup of the Hr group (n = 428), CAS was associated with higher 30-day stroke/death (OR, 14.089; 95% CI, 1.314-151.036; p = 0.029). In the age ≥75 subgroup of the Hr (n = 139), there was no difference in 30-day stroke/death between CEA and CAS. In the age <75 subgroup of the Nr group (n = 1318), 30-day stroke/death (OR, 6.300; 95% CI, 2.797-14.193; p < 0.001) was higher in CAS. In the age ≥75 subgroup of the Nr group (n = 460), 30-day stroke/death (OR, 6.468; 95% CI, 1.862-22.471; p = 0.003) was higher in CAS. CONCLUSIONS: In patients older than 75 years in the Hr group, there were relatively poor 30-day treatment outcomes in both CEA and CAS. Alternative treatment is needed that can expect better outcomes in older high-risk patients. In the Nr group, CEA has a significant benefit compared with CAS, and CEA should be recommended more to these patients.

Cryopreserved allografts versus end-to-end anastomosis for the reconstruction of a segment-resected portomesenteric vein during advanced pancreatic cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: Porto-mesenteric vein (PMV) infiltration of pancreatic cancer is classified as borderline resectable cancer. For en-bloc resectability, the probability of PMV resection and reconstruction is the most decisive factor. The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze PMV resection and reconstruction during pancreatic cancer surgery using end-to-end anastomosis (EA) and a cryopreserved allograft (AG) and to verify the effectiveness of reconstruction using an AG. METHODS: Between May 2012 and June 2021, 84 patients (65 underwent EA, and 19 received AG reconstruction) underwent pancreatic cancer surgery with PMV reconstruction. An AG is a cadaveric graft with a diameter of 8-12 mm and is obtained from a liver transplant donor. Patency after reconstruction, disease recurrence, overall survival, and perioperative factors were assessed. RESULTS: The median age was higher in EA patients (p = .022) and neoadjuvant therapy (p = .02) was more in AG patients. Upon histopathological examination, the R0 resection margin did not show a significant difference by reconstruction method. During a 36-month survival analysis, primary patency was significantly superior in EA patients (p = .004), and there was no significant difference in recurrence-free survival (p = .628) or overall survival (p = .638) rates. CONCLUSION: Compared with EA, AG reconstruction after PMV resection during pancreatic cancer surgery showed a lower primary patency, but there was no difference in recurrence-free or overall survival rates. Therefore, the use of AG can be a viable option for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer surgery if the patient is properly followed-up postoperatively.

Venous Reconstruction in Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcoma Is Not Essential.

OBJECTIVE: Limb salvage is an important concern following complete oncologic resection for extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Vascular reconstruction is essential for limb salvage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of vascular reconstruction in patients with extremity STS. METHODS: This is a retrospective, multi-center, case series of consecutive patients who underwent vascular reconstruction during extremity STS resection at 2 major centers in Korea. Demographics, reconstruction methods, type of conduit, surgical complications, graft patency, limb salvage rate, and patient survival were reviewed. RESULTS: From March 2005 to December 2020, 43 patients underwent vascular reconstructions during STS resection. Among the patients, 22 (51.2%) received arterial only, and 21 (48.8%) received simultaneous arterial and venous reconstructions. For the types of conduits, autologous saphenous veins (56.2%), artificial grafts (26.3%), and cryopreserved allografts (15.8%) were used. During a median follow-up of 23.8 months (interquartile range; 7.7-54.5), the overall primary patency of the reconstructed vessels was significantly higher in arteries than in veins (82.5% vs 56.3% at 12 months, P < .001). According to the type of conduit, the primary patency rate of autogenous vein seemed higher in venous reconstruction, however, there was no statistical significance in both arterial and venous reconstruction. There was no significant difference in primary arterial patency rate (P = .132) or incidence of surgical complications including postoperative edema or wound problem whether or not simultaneous venous reconstruction was performed with arterial reconstruction. The overall limb salvage rate and patient survival were 97.4%, 95.1%, and 89.4% and 91.9%, 81.7%, and 65.4% at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patency rates were poorer in venous reconstruction than in arterial reconstruction. In terms of arterial patency and postoperative complication, the role of simultaneous arterial and venous reconstruction seems not essential, however, it needs to be evaluated in future studies.

Arteriovenous Malformation Associated with Intravenous Leiomyomatosis of the Uterus: Characteristic CT Findings and Treatment by Embolization and Surgery.

Seven consecutive female patients with pathologically confirmed arteriovenous malformation (AVM) with intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL) of the uterus (age range, 32-61 years; mean age, 43 years) treated between 2005 and 2021 from a single institution were reviewed. Computed tomography (CT) findings of congenital pelvic AVM of 10 female patients were compared with those of AVM with IVL. Characteristic CT findings of AVM with IVL revealed a focal soft tissue mass inside a dilated venous structure of the AVM. Multiple sessions of transvenous coil embolization of the AVM with or without the injection of ethanol were performed. After complete (6/7, 86%) or partial (1/7, 14%) embolization of the AVM, complete surgical resection of the IVL and embolized AVM mass was performed in 4 patients. Patients with lung metastasis or residual embolized AVM masses are under follow-up with antiestrogen hormonal therapy.

Preliminary outcomes of the LifeStream balloon-expandable stentgraft in Zenith Iliac branch device to preserve pelvic circulation: A Korean multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate early outcomes of aortoiliac or isolated iliac artery aneurysm repair using the Zenith® Bifurcated Iliac Side (ZBIS) stent graft combined with the LifeStream™ Balloon Expandable Vascular Covered Stent as a bridging stentgraft. METHODS: Between August 2018 and February 2020, 38 patients (37 male, mean age 72.7 years) received 46 LifeStream stents in conjunction with 38 ZBIS stent grafts to bridge hypogastric arteries for aneurysm repair in six university hospitals in Korea. The primary outcomes were technical success rate and procedure-related complications. Secondary outcomes were bridging stent graft patency and re-intervention. RESULTS: All procedures were performed as elective standard endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) and unilateral iliac branch device (IBD). Mean follow-up was 13.1 months, and patient overall survival rate was 96.7%. Technical success rate was 76.3% (n = 29). Causes of failure included seven total endoleaks; six type Ic and one type IIIc from the IBD junction, one unintentional IIA coverage, and one failure to deploy the IIA stent graft. Procedure-related complications occurred in two patients: one LifeStream migration and one ZBIS stent graft migration. Overall patency rates for the LifeStream and ZBIS stents were 97.4% and 97.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This multicenter preliminary experience with the LifeStream™ Balloon Expandable Vascular Covered Stent in IBD demonstrated good patency; however, an unexpectedly high rate of type Ic endoleaks was observed. Combined use of the LifeStream stent with the ZBIS stent graft is safe and feasible to preserve pelvic circulation with good patency and a low rate of device-related reintervention.

Repeated Pseudoaneurysm after Endovascular Repair of Popliteal Aneurysm due to Graft Disintegration and Fabric Tear.

Endovascular repair of popliteal artery aneurysms (PAA) using a stent graft is suitable for patients with favorable anatomy. In the domestic situation where Gore Medical withdrew, we report two cases of unusual complications of pseudoaneurysm after endovascular repair of PAA. A 44-year-old male with a history of bypass surgery for a PAA presented with recurrent vein graft pseudoaneurysm. Endovascular treatment using a domestic stent graft was performed. However, pseudoaneurysm developed due to the graft fabric tear 1 month later, requiring surgical removal. In another case, an 84-year-old female presented with acute limb ischemia related to PAA. Endovascular aneurysm repair with the same domestic stent graft was performed. However, stent graft failure occurred 2 years later and the patient underwent open surgical repair. There was a graft fabric disintegration. When proper endovascular device is not available, open surgical treatment is the best option for treating PAA.

Treatment results of carotid endarterectomy and carotid artery stenting for patients with radiation-induced carotid stenosis.

Purpose: Exposure to ionizing radiation over the head and neck accelerates atherosclerotic changes in the carotid arteries. Owing to the characteristics of radiation-induced carotid stenosis (RICS), the results regarding the optimal revascularization method for RICS vary. This study compared treatment outcomes between carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) in RICS. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent CEA or CAS for carotid stenosis. RICS was defined as carotid stenosis (>50%) with the prior neck irradiation for cancer treatment on either side. For the analyses, demographics, comorbid conditions, carotid lesion characteristics based on imaging studies, surgical complications, neurologic outcomes, and mortality during the follow-up period were reviewed. To compare CEA and CAS results in RICS, a 1:1 propensity score matching was applied. Results: Between November 1994 and June 2021, 43 patients with RICS and 2,407 patients with non-RICS underwent carotid revascularization with CEA or CAS. RICS had fewer atherosclerotic risk factors and more frequent severe carotid stenosis and contralateral carotid occlusions than non-RICS. CAS was more commonly performed than CEA (22.9% vs. 77.1%) for RICS due to more frequent unfavorable carotid anatomy (0 vs. 16.2%). Procedure-related complications were more common in the CEA than in the CAS. However, there was no significant difference in neurologic outcomes and restenosis rates between CEA and CAS in RICS. Conclusion: Considering its lesion characteristics and cumulative incidence, RICS requires more attention than non-RICS. Although CAS has broader indications for RICS, CEA has shown acceptable results if selectively performed.

Outcomes after Elective Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair in Octogenarians Compared to Younger Patients in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Although the first choice of treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is endovascular aneurysm repair, especially in elderly patients, some patients require open surgical repair. The purpose of this study was to compare the mortality outcomes of open AAA repair between octogenarians and younger counterparts and to identify the risk factors associated with mortality. METHODS: All consecutive patients who underwent elective open AAA repair due to degenerative etiology at a single tertiary medical center between 1996 and June 2020 were included in this retrospective review. Medical records and imaging studies were reviewed to collect the following information: demographics, comorbid medical conditions, clinical presentations, radiologic findings, surgical details, and morbidity and mortality rates. For analysis, patients were divided into two groups: older and younger than 80 years of age. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with mortality after elective open AAA repair. RESULTS: Among a total of 650 patients who underwent elective open AAA repair due to degenerative AAA during the study period, 58 (8.9%) were octogenarians and 595 (91.1%) were non-octogenarians. Patients in the octogenarian group were predominantly female and more likely to have lower body weight and body mass index (BMI), hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and lower preoperative serum hemoglobin and albumin compared with patients in the non-octogenarian group. Maximal aneurysm diameter was larger in octogenarians. During the median follow-up duration of 34.4 months for 650 patients, the median length of total hospital and intensive care unit stay was longer in octogenarians. The 30-day (1.7% vs. 0.7%, P = 0.374) and 1-year (6.9% vs. 2.9%, P = 0.108) mortality rates were not statistically significantly different between the two groups. Multivariate analysis showed that low BMI was associated with increased 30-day (odds ratio [OR], 16.339; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.192-224.052; P = 0.037) and 1-year (OR, 8.236; CI, 2.301-29.477; P = 0.001) mortality in all patients. CONCLUSION: Because the mortality rate of octogenarians after elective open AAA repair was not significantly different compared with their younger counterparts, being elderly is not a contraindication for open AAA repair. Low BMI might be associated with increased postoperative mortality.

Mortality after Use of Paclitaxel-Coated Balloons Correlates with Total Cumulative Dosage of Paclitaxel in Real-World Analysis.

This study used independent, real-world, patient-level data to examine whether the dosage or frequency of paclitaxel exposure correlated with mortality during follow up. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients treated with a drug-coated balloon (DCB) for an atherosclerotic femoropopliteal lesion from February 2013 to December 2018, excluding patients with non-atherosclerotic lesions or restenosis after DCB treatment in another hospital. We investigated the causes of death, comorbidities (including cancer status), and the initial and total cumulative dosages and frequency of paclitaxel use. To determine whether the dosage or frequency of paclitaxel exposure affected mortality during follow up, we analyzed the risk factors for all-cause death by conducting a time-dependent Cox regression analysis that considered demographics, comorbidities, lesion and procedural characteristics, and paclitaxel exposure data (dosage and frequency). Our analysis examined 225 patients (mean age 71 ± 9 years, range 38-93 years, male 81%). During a mean follow-up duration of 35 months (range 1-89 months), 56 patients (24.9%) died from cardiac disorders (16%, including acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, or sudden cardiac arrest), malignancy (14.3%), respiratory failure with pneumonia (12.5%), septic shock (12.5%), or another cause. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses identified age (hazard ratio, HR, 1.057; 95% confidence interval, CI, 1019-1096; p = 0.0032), critical limb ischemia (CLI) (HR, 4135; 95% CI, 2171-7876; p < 0.0001), and the total dosage of paclitaxel (mg) (HR, 1.040; 95% CI, 1006-1074; p = 0.0210) as predictors of mortality during follow up. The subgroup analysis found that the total dosage of paclitaxel (mg) was also a predictor of mortality during follow up in the CLI group (HR, 1.046; 95% CI, 1007-1087, p = 0.0198). The estimated cut-off value of total cumulative paclitaxel dosage for predicting mortality was 12 mg as evaluated by minimum p value approach. This patient-level analysis identified the total cumulative dosage of paclitaxel as a predictor of mortality after the use of paclitaxel-coated balloons. Our results provide limited information about the potential dose-response relationship underlying paclitaxel-associated mortality concerns.

Association between ankle brachial index and development of postoperative intensive care unit delirium in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Patients with vascular diseases are prone to developing postoperative delirium (POD). Ankle brachial index (ABI) is a non-invasive clinical indicator of lower-extremities peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and has been identified as an indicator of cognitive impairment. We investigated the association between ABI and POD. 683 PAD patients who underwent elective leg arterial bypass surgery between October 1998 and August 2019 were collected for retrospective analysis. Demographic information, comorbidities, preoperative ABI and the Rutherford classification within one month prior to surgery were obtained. POD was assessed using the Confusion assessment method -intensive care unit. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis were used to assess the association between ABI and POD. The mean value of ABI was significantly lower in patients with POD than it was those without POD. Older age, more medical comorbidities, longer length of surgery, decreased ABI, and higher Rutherford class were all significantly associated with POD. The area under ROC (0.74) revealed that ABI below 0.35 was associated with development of POD. Lower preoperative ABI was associated with POD in PAD patients who underwent arterial bypass surgery.

Comparable surgical outcomes of abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in patients with and without Marfan syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Marfan syndrome (MFS) affects the cardiovascular system. Aortic root aneurysm is a pathognomonic feature of MFS; however, the abdominal aorta is rarely affected. A consensus on surveillance for the abdominal aorta in patients with MFS has not been established. In the present study, we compared the outcomes after open surgical repair (OSR) of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) in patients with and without MFS. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, single-center cohort study from 2003 to 2020. We reviewed and compared 28 patients with MFS and 426 patients without MFS who had undergone OSR for AAAs. The baseline characteristics, medical comorbidities, previous cardiovascular surgery, anatomic features of the AAAs, and surgical treatment outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The patients with MFS were younger than those without MFS at the AAA diagnosis (47.2 ± 12.3 vs 70.6 ± 7.9 years; P < .001). The proportion of women was also greater for those with MFS (46.4% vs 15.7%; P < .001). The AAAs were most often located at the infrarenal aorta in both groups. However, thoracoabdominal AAAs were more often found among patients with MFS (10.7% vs 0.9%; P < .012). The proportion of symptomatic patients was lower in the MFS group (3.6% vs 21.6%; P = .022). The maximum median diameter of the AAA at surgery was smaller in the patients with MFS (52 mm vs 58 mm; P = .001). However, concomitant aortic dissection (32.1% vs 3.3%; P < .001) was more prevalent among the patients with MFS. Consequent aneurysmal changes in the iliac artery after AAA repair were more frequent in the patients with MFS (7.1% vs 0%; P = .004). No significant differences were found in 30-day or overall mortality between the patients with and without MFS during a median follow-up period of 71 months (interquartile range, 24.7-121.1 months) and 26.7 months (interquartile range, 7.4-69.5 months), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical outcomes of OSR for AAAs for patients with MFS were not significantly different from those for patients without MFS in a well-established surveillance program of MFS.

Culture-Negative Mycotic Aortic Aneurysms Probably Have a Less Severe Clinical Nature Than Culture-Positive Counterparts.

BACKGROUND: Mycotic aortic aneurysm constitutes a potentially devastating disease that necessitates prompt suspicion and diagnosis. There is no exact consensus for treatment, but removal of infected tissues and prolonged use of antimicrobials based on the identified causative microorganisms seem widely acceptable and have been similarly practiced worldwide. However, some patients still show no identified microorganisms. In this study, we sought to determine whether there are any clinical significance or differences of note in culture-negative mycotic aortic aneurysms. METHODS: Between October 2003 and August 2018, 71 patients were identified as treated for mycotic aortic aneurysms at a single tertiary institution. Review of medical records and imaging studies were completed to collect the following information: demographics, previous medical/surgical history regarding potential infection sources, laboratory and radiologic findings, clinical presentations, treatment method, and morbidity and mortality rates. For analysis, patients were categorized into two groups: the blood and/or tissue culture-positive (CP) group and the blood and/or tissue culture-negative (CN) group. The latter was further divided as CN with identified microorganism by molecular biologic methods [CN(+)] and CN with no identified microorganism [CN(-)]. RESULTS: More patients in the CP group were symptomatic than were in the CN(+) group (100% vs. 80%; P = 0.034). However, identification of causative microorganisms did not result in a difference in symptom status upon comparing the [CP + CN(+)] and [CN(-)] groups. Inflammatory markers were the most elevated in the CP group and least elevated in the CN(-) group. The aneurysm growth rate seemed slower in the CN(-) group than in the CN(+) and CP groups (1.3 vs. 3.4 vs. 9 mm/month respectively). Aneurysm rupture at initial presentation was more prevalent in the CP group (33.3%). 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography showed increased uptake regardless of whether or not the microorganisms were identified. Early mortality and disease-specific mortality rates during the follow-up period were higher in the CP group but without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the CP group, the CN groups appeared clinically less severe, and also exhibited a relatively less devastating course as exhibited by the slower aneurysm expansion rate and smaller number of ruptured aneurysms at the initial presentation.

Factors associated with long-term graft patency after lower extremity arterial bypasses.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine factors associated with long-term graft patency after lower extremity arterial bypass (LEAB). METHODS: Database of LEABs for patients with chronic arterial occlusive disease (CAOD) at a single institution was retrospectively reviewed. To determine the factors we compared demographic, clinical, and procedural variables between 2 patient groups; group I (graft patency < 2 years) and group II (graft patency ≥ 5 years after LEAB) using univariable and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: Among 957 LEABs, 259 limbs (group I, 125 limbs and group II, 134 limbs) in 213 patients were included for the analysis. On a univariable analysis, younger age (69 years vs. 66 years, P = 0.024), hypertension (60.8% vs. 74.6%, P = 0.017), claudication (51.2% vs. 70.9%, P = 0.001), absence of prior intervention (50.4% vs. 73.9%, P < 0.001), common femoral artery based bypass (57.6% vs. 70.1%, P = 0.035), above-the knee bypass (36.8% vs. 64.2%, P < 0.001), postoperative graft salvage procedure (3.2% vs. 14.8%, P = 0.001), and statin use (75.2% vs. 88.8, P = 0.004) were associated with long-term patency. On a multivariate analysis hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 1.91; P = 0.038), claudication (OR, 2.08; P = 0.032), no prior intervention (OR, 2.48; P = 0.001), vein graft (OR, 4.36; P = 0.001), above-the knee bypass (OR, 4.68; P < 0.001), and graft salvage procedures (OR, 7.70; P < 0.001) were identified as independent factors. CONCLUSION: These factors can be considered in decision making before treatment of patients with CAOD.