Collagen-Based Vascular Closure Device Multicenter Italian Experience in Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair Compared With Suture-Mediated Closure Vascular Device.

PURPOSE: The Manta Vascular Closure Device is a novel collagen-based vascular closure device that has been designed specifically for closure of large-bore percutaneous arterial accesses. The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the immediate and 30-day outcome of Manta at the completion of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) or thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). The hypothesis is that Manta is not inferior in obtaining hemostasis compared with the Perclose ProGlide Suture-Mediated Closure System device. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited all the percutaneous accesses for (T)EVAR performed from January 2021 to April 2023 by all the Italian Divisions of Vascular Surgery using Manta at the time of data collection (May 2023). The primary outcome is to evaluate the incidence of complications at the puncture site after Manta implantation and at 1 month, and compare this with ProGlide. We applied the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) criteria for observational studies. RESULTS: Overall, 524 consecutive femoral accesses for (T)EVAR procedures were collected: 355 in the Manta cohort and 169 in the ProGlide cohort, respectively. The size of the sheath was 17.2±2.7 Fr for Manta, 15.7±2.3 Fr for ProGlide (p<0.001). No statistically significant differences between the groups regarding age, sex, body mass index, ultrasound-guided access, femoral calcifications, intraoperative, and 30-day complications. Successful arterial closure at groin puncture sites for (T)EVAR using Manta is 90.5% and 93.1% using ProGlide. Freedom for any reintervention for any complication is 95.5% for Manta and 96% for ProGlide. CONCLUSION: The 2 vascular closure devices have proved to be similar in terms of complications, without any statistically significant difference, although the median size of the sheaths for (T)EVAR was statistically significantly larger when Manta has been used, compared with ProGlide. CLINICAL IMPACT: Manta® is effective in the hemostasis of the access sites following the completion of (T)EVAR in this multicenter, retrospective, case-control study on 524 percutaneous femoral accesses. Compared to the more popular Proglide®, the average size of the introducers in the Manta® group was significantly larger than in the Proglide® group.

High-Dose Drug-Coated Balloon Versus Polymer-Based Drug-Eluting Stent for Femoropopliteal Artery Disease Treatment.

PURPOSE: Clinical trials have demonstrated that high-dose drug-coated balloon (HD-DCB) and polymer-based drug-eluting stent (PB-DES) treatments for femoropopliteal (FP) artery disease have favorable outcomes. However, which one would be better remained unrevealed. METHODS: This study used the databases of 2 large-scale multicenter prospective drug-coated balloon (DCB) and drug-eluting stent (DES) registries. The study included 2470 patients with symptomatic FP lesion treated with IN.PACT Admiral DCB or Eluvia DES at 69 centers. A propensity-score-based paired analysis was conducted. Primary endpoint was 1-year restenosis rate. Secondary endpoints were 1-year reocclusion rate, target lesion revascularization (TLR), acute thrombosis, bypass conversion, major amputation, major adverse limb event (MALE), and all-cause death. RESULTS: A total of 1535 patients were treated with HD-DCB, and 935 patients were treated with PB-DES. The propensity-score matching extracted 678 pairs, with no remarkable intergroup difference in baseline characteristics. The 1-year restenosis rate was significantly lower in the PB-DES group than in the HD-DCB group (16.0% vs 22.0%, p=0.016). The other endpoints (reocclusion rate, TLR, acute thrombosis, bypass conversion, major amputation, MALE, and all-cause death) did not differ between the groups. No baseline characteristics had any significant interaction effect on the association of HD-DCB vs PB-DES with restenosis risk (all p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the 1-year TLR, reocclusion rate, and other endpoints did not differ between the PB-DES group and the HD-DCB group despite the lower restenosis in the PB-DES group. CLINICAL IMPACT: One-year restenosis rate was significantly lower in the polymer-based DES group than in the high-dose DCB group for foemoropopliteal disease. However, there is no difference in the other endpoints between two groups.

Comparison of Subsequent Inframalleolar Bypass Surgery and Repeat Endovascular Therapy for Infrapopliteal Restenosis in Patients With Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia Undergoing Primary Endovascular Therapy.

PURPOSE: Although endovascular therapy (EVT) is considered a vital strategy for treating infrapopliteal lesions in chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), the recurrence rate after EVT exceeds that after bypass surgery (BSX). The optimal approach for managing infrapopliteal lesion recurrence in patients with CLTI and unhealed ulcers remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of repeat EVT and subsequent inframalleolar BSX for CLTI with infrapopliteal lesion recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 140 patients with CLTI (mean age, 70±10 years; male, 71.4%; diabetes mellitus, 73.6%; dialysis, 74.3%; Rutherford 5, 79.3%; and Rutherford 6, 20.7%) who had an unhealed wound due to the recurrence of infrapopliteal lesions between January 2015 and May 2020. We compared the clinical outcomes of 40 patients who underwent the subsequent inframalleolar BSX with those of 100 patients who underwent repeat EVT. The outcome measures were amputation-free survival (AFS) and wound healing rate. Propensity score matching analysis was conducted to minimize differences in baseline characteristics. RESULTS: Propensity score matching extracted 38 pairs (38 patients in the subsequent BSX group and 83 patients in the repeat EVT group). AFS was not significantly different between the repeat EVT and subsequent BSX groups (81.9% vs 82.6% at 1 year, p=0.97). Neither was cumulative wound healing (42.8% vs 43.3% at 1 year, p=0.55). No baseline characteristics had any significant interaction effect on the association between repeat EVT, subsequent BSX, and failure of AFS. CONCLUSION: This study using propensity score matching revealed that the clinical outcomes following repeat EVT were comparable with those following subsequent inframalleolar BSX, indicating that repeat EVT may be a viable treatment option for CLTI with infrapopliteal lesion recurrence. CLINICAL IMPACT: Although endovascular therapy (EVT) has expanded the treatment options for chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), the recurrence rate after EVT is higher than that after bypass surgery (BSX). This retrospective study compared the clinical outcomes of repeat EVT with those of subsequent BSX for CLTI with infrapopliteal lesion recurrence. After propensity score matching, amputation-free survival (AFS) was not significantly different between the repeat EVT and subsequent BSX groups (81.9% vs 82.6% at 1 year, p=0.97). Neither was cumulative wound healing (42.8% vs 43.3% at 1 year, p=0.55). There was no difference between the 2 revascularization strategies when treating infrapopliteal restenosis lesions.

Endovascular Embolization for Idiopathic Serial Right Internal Mammary Artery Aneurysms.

CLINICAL IMAPCT: This article showed images of a patient with idiopathic serial right internal mammary artery true aneurysms treated by endovascular embolization, which is a rare diagnosis and should be considered in differential diagnosis of paratracheal mass.

Nationwide Study of the Outcome of Treatment of Lower Extremity Atherosclerotic Lesions With Endovascular Surgery With or Without Drug Eluting Methods in Patients With Diabetes.

CLINICAL IMPACT: This retrospective observational registry trial combines national registries for vascular surgical procedures and diabetes mellitus to clarify results of drug eluting technology in treating diabetic subjects with intermittent claudication or chronic limb threatening ischemia compared to treatment of non-diabetic subjects. As earlier proposed and showed in this trial, there may be an implication for a beneficial treatment efficacy with drug eluting therapy in the diabetic population with PAD compared to the non-diabetic population. A finding worth further exploration.

Results of Palliative Stenting in Malignant Superior Vena Cava Syndrome Analyzing Self-Expanding Stainless Steel and Nitinol Venous Bare Metal Stents.

PURPOSE: The purpose was to analyze the technical, clinical, and survival outcomes of our patients with malignant superior cava vein syndrome (SVCS) treated with endovascular approach and analyze the efficacy of different stent types used. MATERIAL AND METHODS: It is an observational, retrospective, single-center study. From 2006 to 2023, 42 patients (32 male, 10 female, mean age 62 years, age range, 41-87 years) underwent percutaneous stent placement for malignant SVCS. One stainless steel stent (Wallstent) and 2 venous nitinol stent type (Sinus-XL, Venovo) were used. Follow-up mean was 276 days. RESULTS: A total of 53 stents were deployed. Clinical success was 97.6% in less 24 hours. Technical success was achieved in 97.6%. No complications were found except 1 patient died during the procedure due to stent migration and atrial dissociation (2.3%). Overall intraprocedural stent migration rate was 11.9% (18.8% stainless steel stent, 9.6% nitinol stent, p>0.05). Overall survival rates were 87.8%, 41.99%, and 34.12%, and overall primary patency rates were 100%, 93.3%, 91.6% at 1, 6, and 12 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment is a safe and effective therapeutic option for SVCS with high technical and clinical success rates and low complication and recurrence rates. CLINICAL IMPACT: The malignant superior cava vein syndrome is a rare clinical entity treated classically with radiation and chemotherapy with a slower response, or surgical bypass, which is an aggressive surgical technique. Endovascular treatment offers a low-invasive technique with quick clinical resolution and good permeability results. However, further studies are lacking to deal with procedure technical characteristics, stent type used, technical complications, and medium- and long-term patency studies. This study aims to evaluate all these items, analysing self-expanding stainless steel and nitinol venous bare metal stents, and add value to endovascular treatment, confirming the good results of this technique.

A Hybrid Approach That May Facilitate the Repair of Traumatic Popliteal Artery Pseudoaneurysms.

PURPOSE: Traumatic popliteal pseudoaneurysms may occur in accidents or as an iatrogenic complication of a total knee arthroplasty. Complications often arise in open repair because of distorted anatomy. Up to 22% of the patients may suffer above-knee amputation. Endovascular treatment has proven to be an effective solution. However, the long-term performance of stents at the hinge point of the popliteal artery is questionable. We present a hybrid technique that was used successfully in 2 cases. TECHNIQUE: Our approach takes advantage of both open and endovascular techniques. At first, we apply a stent graft at the side of the injury to cover the arterial trauma and stop blood leakage to the aneurysm sac. This allows for a safer dissection and open repair. We clamp the artery proximally and distally, open the sac, extract the stent graft, and extend to a longitudinal arteriotomy. We then reconstruct the entire area with a standard in lay end-to-end anastomosis using a vein graft. This hybrid technique may reduce the risk of uncontrollable bleeding and allow for a safer nerve decompression. CONCLUSIONS: Repair of such injuries is technically demanding. A hybrid approach may reduce the risk of complications and offer excellent long-term outcomes. CLINICAL IMPACT: The hybrid approach to the treatment of traumatic popliteal pseudoaneurysms combines the advantages of both open and endovascular approaches. It may be possible to make an acute operation just as safe as an elective operation by implementing the proposed strategy. The procedure can be performed by surgeons of all levels, and patients may benefit from a safer surgical dissection with fewer complications and blood loss. This smart combination of standard techniques may prove invaluable in a hostile surgical environment where limb loss is likely.

Determinants of Mortality and Mid-Term Outcomes After Transcarotid Artery Revascularization and Transfemoral Carotid Artery Stenting.

OBJECTIVES: The potential benefit of transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) over transfemoral carotid artery stenting (tfCAS) has been studied in the perioperative period with lower rates of stroke and death; however, data on mid-term outcomes are limited. We aimed to evaluate 3-year outcomes after TCAR and tfCAS and determine the primary predictors of 30-day and 1-year mortality following TCAR. METHODS: Data from the Vascular Quality Initiative for patients undergoing TCAR or tfCAS from January 2016 to December 2022 were analyzed. 1:1 propensity score matching using the nearest-neighbor method was used to adjust baseline demographics and clinical characteristics. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox Proportional Hazard Regression were used to evaluate long-term outcomes. Iterative stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis and Cox Proportional Hazard Regression were used to identify predictors of 30-day and 1-year mortality, respectively, based upon preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors. RESULTS: A total of 70 237 patients were included in analysis (TCAR=58.7%, tfCAS=41.3%). Transcarotid artery revascularization patients were older and had higher rates of comorbid conditions and high-risk medical and anatomic features than tfCAS patients. Propensity score matching yielded 22 322 pairs with no major differences between groups except that TCAR patients were older (71.6 years vs 70.8 years). At 3 years, TCAR was associated with a 24% reduction in hazard of death compared with tfCAS (hazard ratio [HR]=0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.71-0.82, p<0.001), for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. This survival advantage was established in the first 6 months (HR=0.59, 95% CI=0.53-0.62, p<0.001), with no difference in mortality risk from 6 months to 36 months (HR=0.95, 95% CI=0.86-1.05, p=0.31). Transcarotid artery revascularization was also associated with decreased hazard for 3-year stroke (HR=0.81, 95% CI=0.66-0.99, p=0.04) and stroke or death (HR=0.81, 95% CI=0.76-0.87, p<0.001) compared with tfCAS. The top predictors for 30-day and 1-year mortality were postoperative complications. The primary independent predictor was the occurrence of postoperative stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Transcarotid artery revascularization had a sustained mid-term survival advantage associated over tfCAS, with the benefit being established primarily within the first 6 months. Notably, our findings highlight the importance of postoperative stroke as the primary independent predictor for 30-day and 1-year mortal. CLINICAL IMPACT: The ongoing debate over the superiority of TCAR compared to tfCAS and CEA has been limited by a lack of comparative studies examining the impact of pre-operative symptoms on outcomes. Furthermore, data are scarce on mid-term outcomes for TCAR beyond the perioperative period. As a result, it remains uncertain whether the initial benefits of stroke and death reduction observed with TCAR over tfCAS persist beyond one year. Our study addresses these gaps in the literature, offering evidence to enable clinicians to assess the efficacy of TCAR for up to three years. Additionally, our study seeks to identify risk factors for postoperative mortality following TCAR, facilitating optimal patient stratification.

Intravascular Ultrasound in the Detection of Bridging Stent Graft Instability During Fenestrated and Branched Endovascular Aneurysm Repair Procedures: A Multicentre Study on 274 Target Vessels.

OBJECTIVE: The use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) reduces contrast medium use and radiation exposure during conventional endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of IVUS in detecting bridging stent graft (bSG) instability during fenestrated and branched EVAR (F/B-EVAR). METHODS: This was a prospective observational multicentre study. The following outcomes were evaluated: (1) technical success of the IVUS in each bSG, (2) IVUS findings compared with intra-operative angiography, (3) incidence of post-operative computed tomography angiography (CTA) findings not detected with IVUS, and (4) absence of IVUS related adverse events. Target visceral vessel (TVV) instability was defined as any branch or fenestration issues requiring an additional manoeuvre or re-intervention. Any IVUS assessment that detected stenosis, kinking, or any geometric TVV issue was considered to be branch instability. All procedures were performed in ad hoc hybrid rooms. RESULTS: Eighty patients (69% males; median age 72 years; interquartile range 59, 77 years) from four aortic centres treated with F/B-EVAR between January 2019 and September 2021 were included: 70 BEVAR (21 off the shelf; 49 custom made), eight FEVAR (custom made), and two F/B-EVAR (custom made), for a total of 300 potential TVVs. Two TVVs (0.7%) were left unstented and excluded from the analysis. The TVVs could not be accessed with the IVUS catheter in seven cases (2.3%). Furthermore, 17 (5.7%) TVVs could not be examined due to a malfunction of the IVUS catheter. The technical success of the IVUS assessment was 91.9% (274/298), with no IVUS related adverse events. Seven TVVs (2.5%) showed signs of bSG instability by means of IVUS, leading to immediate revisions. The first post-operative CTA at least 30 days after the index procedure was available in 268 of the 274 TVVs originally assessed by IVUS. In seven of the 268 TVVs (2.6%) a re-intervention became necessary due to bSG instability. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that IVUS is a safe and potentially valuable adjunctive imaging technology for intra-operative detection of TVV instability. Further long term investigations on larger cohorts are required to validate these promising results and to compare IVUS with alternative technologies in terms of efficiency, radiation exposure, procedure time, and costs.

Standing the test of time: total aortic remodeling 13 years after TEVAR for acute type B aortic dissection.

Long-term outcome after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) of acute type B aortic dissection (aTBAD) is still underreported in current literature. This case report shows persistence of aortic remodeling without secondary complication or need of reintervention 13 years after TEVAR. A 45-year-old woman was referred to the emergency room with aTBAD. Due to early diameter progression in combination with therapy-refractory pain and uncontrolled hypertension, TEVAR was performed. Hereafter, the patient showed complete remodeling of the descending thoracic aorta without persistent false lumen perfusion in this segment and with stable true and false lumen diameter in the untreated abdominal segment for a 13-year period. No aortic-related reintervention was needed. With contemporary devices and adapted therapy, TEVAR seems able to treat complex thoracic disease. Long-term follow-up (FU) is mandatory to monitor the efficacy and durability of endovascular treatment in aortic disease.

Sex-Specific Morphometric Analysis of Ascending Aorta and Aortic Arch for Planning Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: In many studies on aortic disease, women are underrepresented. The present study aims to assess sex-specific morphometric differences and gain more insight into endovascular treatment of the ascending aorta (AA) and arch. METHODS: Electrocardiogram-gated cardiac computed tomography scans of 116 consecutive patients who were evaluated for transcatheter aortic valve replacement were retrospectively reviewed. Measurements of the AA and aortic arch were made in multiplanar views, perpendicular to the semi-automatic centerline. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify predictors affecting AA and aortic arch diameter in men and women. Propensity score matching was used to investigate whether sex influences aortic morphology. RESULTS: In both sexes, body surface area (BSA) was identified as a positive predictor and diabetes as a negative predictor for aortic diameters. In men, age was identified as a positive predictor and smoking as a negative predictor for aortic diameters. Propensity score matching identified 40 pairs. Systolic and diastolic mean diameters and AA length were significantly wider in men. On average, male aortas were 7.4% wider than female aortas, both in systole and diastole. CONCLUSIONS: The present analysis demonstrates that, in women, increased BSA is associated with increased aortic arch diameters, while diabetes is associated with decreased AA and arch diameters. In men, increased BSA and age are associated with increased AA and arch diameters, while smoking and diabetes are associated with decreased AA and arch diameters. Men were confirmed to have 7.4% greater AA and arch diameters than women. CLINICAL IMPACT: Men had 7.4% greater ascending aorta and arch diameters than women in a retrospective cohort, gated computed tomography-based study of 116 patients. Sex-specific differences in ascending aortic and arch size should be considered by aortic endovascular device manufacturers and physicians when developing ascending and arch endografts and planning aortic interventions.

Physician-Modified Single-Fenestrated EndoSuture Aneurysm Repair (FESAR) for Urgent Juxtarenal AAA Repair.

PURPOSE: To describe the endovascular treatment of a symptomatic juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (JAAA) using a combination of endoanchors (Heli-FX EndoAnchor, Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota) and a physician-modified single-fenestrated endograft. TECHNIQUE: An 85 year-old patient unfit for open aortic repair presented for a symptomatic JAAA, characterized by an infrarenal neck with 0.6 cm in length and 23 mm in diameter. A 28 mm-diameter Endurant aortic cuff (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota) was modified with a single fenestration for the left renal artery (LRA) and diameter-reducing tie, then re-sheathed and deployed. The LRA was cannulated with a 7F sheath and the constraining wire was withdrawn. Being the shortest neck length on the right side of the cuff, the endograft was anchored to the aortic wall on this side with 2 endoanchors. The LRA was stented and flared, then a distal physician-modified (without free-flow) bifurcated Endurant graft (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota) was overlapped with the proximal cuff and stabilized with 6 endoanchors. Correct positioning with complete aneurysm exclusion was confirmed with a 30 day and 9 month computed tomography angiograms. CONCLUSIONS: In extremely selected cases, association of endoanchors and single-fenestrated physician-modified graft may be useful to treat complex urgent aortic aneurysm using readily available devices. CLINICAL IMPACT: This technical note demonstrates the feasibility of a single-fenestrated physician-modified Endurant endograft deployed in combination with endosuture fixation (FESAR), to urgently treat a juxtarenal aortic aneurysm unfit for open repair and not suitable for standard endovascular repair nor off-the-shelf endografts.

Surgical Versus Interventional Treatment of Major Access Site Complications During Transfemoral TAVI Procedures at a Large Volume Center.

PURPOSE: Access-related vascular complications in transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) can be treated endovascularly or surgically. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of endovascular treatment compared with surgical repair for access-related vascular complications. METHODS: This retrospective study was performed from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020. All transfemorally treated TAVI patients in whom a surgical or endovascular treatment for an access site complication was needed were included. The primary outcome was the need for any related vascular re-operation. RESULTS: In total, 1219 transfemoral TAVI procedures were conducted during the study period. 19 patients suffered an access complication requiring endovascular treatment, while 54 patients required surgical repair. No differences were seen with regard to re-operations (endovascular 15.8% vs surgical 14.8%; p=0.919), wound infections (endovascular 0% vs surgical. 11.1%; p=0.129), and wound healing disorders (endovascular 15.8% vs surgical 29.6%; p=0.237). Patients undergoing endovascular treatment were discharged earlier (endovascular 11.2 vs surgical 14.9 days; p=0.028). After surgical repair, patients received significantly more blood transfusions than endovascularly treated patients (endovascular 1.00 vs surgical 3.1 red blood cell concentrate bags; p<0.001). No differences were found regarding the new onset of walking pain, rest pain, and ischemic ulcers during follow-up. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective cohort, endovascular treatment of access-related vascular complications of transfemoral TAVI procedures was safe and feasible. During the hospital stay, endovascularly treated patients received fewer blood transfusions and were discharged faster than surgically treated patients. No differences regarding clinical outcomes and re-intervention rates were seen during the follow-up. CLINICAL IMPACT: Given the in this retrospective study demonstrated safety and feasibility of endovascular treatment for major access-related vascular complications, along with the in-hospital benefits and absence of follow-up disadvantages compared to surgical treatment, endovascular treatment should be considered in cases of major access-related vascular complications in transfemoral TAVI patients.

ABS-SMART (Aortic Balloon Supporting for Superior Mesenteric Artery Recanalization Technique): A New Technical Option for Recanalization of Complete Superior Mesenteric Artery Occlusion in Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia.

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience with a new technique for recanalization of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA)/celiac trunk (CT) with complete occlusion at the origin. TECHNIQUE: We describe our ABS-SMART (Aortic Balloon Supporting for Superior Mesenteric Artery Recanalization Technique) for recanalization of the CT and SMA in cases of complete occlusion of these arteries with a short or inexistent stump, which usually corresponds to chronic lesions with important calcification of the ostium. CONCLUSION: The ABS-SMART is an alternative for the recanalization of visceral arteries in cases where other conventional techniques have failed. It is particularly useful in scenarios characterized by a short occlusion at the origin of the target vessel, with no entry stump or severe calcification at the origin. CLINICAL IMPACT: Catheterization and recanalization of visceral stenoses may pose a challenge in some cases, as for example in the presence of a very narrow angle between the root or origin of the vessel and the aorta, as well as in the case of long and calcified stenoses, or when arteriography is unable to visualize the origin of the vessel. The present study describes our experience with the endovascular revascularization of visceral vessels using an aortic balloon-supported recanalization technique not previously described in the literature, that may be an effective alternative for the treatment of lesions of difficult access, such as total occlusion at the origin of the target vessel, with no entry stump or severe calcification at the origin of the SMA and CT, by improving the chances for technical success.

Endovascular Treatment of Superior Mesenteric Artery Pseudoaneurysm Due to Infective Endocarditis With Stent-Graft.

PURPOSE: To report a successful case of pseudoaneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) caused by infected endocarditis treated with a covered stent. CASE REPORT: A patient was diagnosed with infective endocarditis and 2 months later a proximal SMA pseudoaneurysm was identified on computed tomography. Daptomycin was started on admission and continued for approximately 4 months until the inflammatory markers normalized, and then the SMA pseudoaneurysm was successfully excluded with a stent-graft and antibiotics were continued for 1 year after the procedure. There were no associated complications or recurrences at the 3-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Placing a covered stent with a full course of antibiotics before and after surgery may be a successful alternative to open surgery in the treatment of pseudoaneurysms of the SMA due to infective endocarditis. CLINICAL IMPACT: This case report reports a rare case of pseudoaneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery due to infective endocarditis, which was successfully treated with an overlapping stent and confirmed by complete imaging data at a three-year follow-up. This report suggests that endovascular treatment may be an alternative to open surgery in the treatment of pseudoaneurysms of the superior mesenteric artery caused by infective endocarditis.

Fenestrated Endovascular Aortic Repair After Failed Endovascular Aortic Repair.

PURPOSE: Fenestrated endovascular aortic repair (FEVAR) is technically more challenging when performed after a failing EVAR procedure (FEVAR after EVAR). This study aims to assess the technical outcome of FEVAR after EVAR and to identify factors that may influence complication rates. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted at a single department of vascular and endovascular surgery. The rate of FEVAR after EVAR compared to primary FEVAR is reported. Complication and primary unconnected fenestration (PUF) rates as well as survival were assessed for the FEVAR after EVAR cohort. PUF rates and operating time were also compared to all primary FEVAR patients. Patient characteristics and technical factors such as number of fenestrations or use of a steerable sheath were assessed as possible influencers on technical success when performing FEVAR after EVAR. RESULTS: Two hundred and nine fenestrated devices were implanted during the study period (2013 to April 2020). Thirty-five patients (16.7% of all FEVAR patients) had undergone FEVAR after EVAR and were included in the study. Overall survival at last follow-up (20.2±19.1 months) was 82.9% in FEVAR after EVAR patients. Rates of technical failure dropped significantly after 14 procedures (42.9% vs. 9.5%; p=0.03). Primary unconnected fenestrations were seen in 3 cases of FEVAR after EVAR (8.6%) and 14 of 174 primary FEVAR cases (8.0%; p>0.99). Operating time for FEVAR after EVAR was significantly higher than for primary FEVAR (301.1±110.5 minutes vs. 253.9±103.4 minutes; p=0.02). The availability of a steerable sheath was a significant predictor of reduced risk of PUFs, whereas age and gender, number of fenestrations or suprarenal fixation of the failed EVAR did not significantly influence PUF rates. CONCLUSION: Fewer technical complications were seen over the study period in FEVAR after EVAR patients. While rates of PUFs were not different from primary FEVAR, operating time was significantly longer in patients undergoing FEVAR for failed EVAR. Fenestrated EVAR can be a valuable and safe tool to treat patients with progression of aortic disease or type Ia endoleak after EVAR but may be more complex to achieve than primary FEVAR. CLINICAL IMPACT: This retrospective study assesses the technical outcome of fenestrated endovascular aortic repair (fenestrated EVAR; FEVAR) after prior EVAR. While rates of primary unconnected fenestrations were not different from primary FEVAR, operating time was significantly longer in patients undergoing FEVAR for failed EVAR. Fenestrated EVAR after prior EVAR may be technically more challenging than primary FEVAR procedures, but could be performed with equally good results in this patient cohort. FEVAR offers a feasible treatment option for patients with progression of aortic disease or type Ia endoleak after EVAR.

Revascularisation of Chronic Limb Threatening Ischaemia in Patients with no Pedal Arteries Leads to Lower Midterm Limb Salvage.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI) involving the infragenicular arteries is treated by distal angioplasty or pedal bypass; however, this is not always possible, due to chronically occluded pedal arteries (no patent pedal artery, N-PPA). This pattern represents a hurdle to successful revascularisation, which must be limited to the proximal arteries. The aim of the study was to analyse the outcome of patients with CLTI and N-PPA after a proximal revascularisation. METHODS: All patients with CLTI submitted to revascularisation in a single centre (2019 - 2020) were analysed. All angiograms were reviewed to identify N-PPA, defined as total obstruction of all pedal arteries. Revascularisation was performed with proximal surgical, endovascular, and hybrid procedures. Early and midterm survival, wound healing, limb salvage, and patency rates were compared between N-PPA and patients with one or more patent pedal artery (PPA). RESULTS: Two hundred and eighteen procedures were performed. One hundred and forty of 218 (64.2%) patients were male, mean age 73.2 ± 10.6 years. The procedure was surgical in 64/218 (29.4%) cases, endovascular in 138/218 (63.3%), and hybrid in 16/218 (7.3%). N-PPA was present in 60/218 (27.5%) cases. Eleven of 60 (18.3%) cases were treated surgically, 43/60 (71.7%) by endovascular and 6/60 (10%) by hybrid procedures. Technical success was similar in the two groups (N-PPA 85% vs. PPA 82.3%, p = .42). At a mean follow up of 24.5 ± 10.2 months, survival (N-PPA 93.7 ± 3.5% vs. PPA 95.3 ± 2.1%, p = .22) and primary patency (N-PPA 53.1 ± 8.1% vs. PPA 55.2 ± 5%, p = .56) were similar. Limb salvage was significantly lower in N-PPA patients (N-PPA 71.4 ± 6.6% vs. PPA 81.5 ± 3.4%, p = .042); N-PPA was an independent predictor of major amputation (hazard ratio [HR] 2.02, 1.07 - 3.82, p = .038) together with age > 73 years (HR 2.32, 1.17 - 4.57, p = .012) and haemodialysis (2.84, 1.48 - 5.43, p = .002). CONCLUSION: N-PPA is not uncommon in patients with CLTI. This condition does not hamper technical success, primary patency, and midterm survival; however, midterm limb salvage is significantly lower than in patients with PPA. This should be considered in the decision making process.

Validation of an ex vivo Flow Model Including Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Study the Effects of Endovascular Treatments on the Arterial Wall.

Endovascular revascularization is the preferred treatment for peripheral arterial disease. Restenosis often occurs as a response to procedure-induced arterial damage. Reducing vascular injury during endovascular revascularization may improve its success rate. This study developed and validated an ex vivo flow model using porcine iliac arteries, obtained from a local abattoir. Twenty arteries (of 10 pigs) were equally allocated to two groups: a mock-treated control group and an endovascular intervention group. Arteries of both groups were perfused with porcine blood for 9 min, including 3 min of balloon angioplasty in the intervention group. Vessel injury was assessed by calculating the presence of endothelial cell denudation, vasomotor function, and histopathological analysis. MR imaging displayed balloon positioning and inflation. Endothelial cell staining showed 76% of denudation after ballooning compared to 6% in the control group (p < 0.001). This was confirmed by histopathological analysis, showing a significantly reduced endothelial nuclei count after ballooning compared to the controls (median: 22 vs. 37 nuclei/mm, p = 0.022). In the intervention group, vasoconstriction and endothelium-dependent relaxation were significantly reduced (p < 0.05).We present an ex vivo flow model to test the effects of endovascular therapy on the vessel's wall morphology, endothelial denudation, and endothelial-dependent vasomotor function under physiological conditions. Additionally, it allows the future testing of human arterial tissue.

StemRad MD, An Exoskeleton-Based Radiation Protection System, Reduces Ergonomic Posture Risk Based on a Prospective Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: Poor ergonomic posture during interventional procedures might lead to increased physical discomfort and work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Adjunctive equipment such as lead aprons (LAs) has been shown to increase ergonomic posture risk (EPR). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of StemRad MD (StemRad Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel), a weightless exoskeleton-based radiation protective ensemble, in reducing EPR on the operator using wearable inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors. METHODS: A prospective, observational study was conducted at an academic hospital. Inertial measurement unit sensors were affixed to the upper back of 9 interventionalists to assess ergonomic risk posture during endovascular procedures while wearing a traditional LA or the StemRad MD radiation protection system. Total fluoroscopy time, procedure type, and ergonomic risk postures were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-one cases were performed with StemRad MD and 30 with LAs. Mean procedure time for the StemRad MD procedures was 48.4±23.3 minutes (range: 24-106 min), and for LA procedures, it was 34.66±25.83 minutes (range: 6-100 min) (p=.060). The operators assumed low-risk ergonomic positions in 96.1% of StemRad MD cases and in 62.9% of LA cases (p=.001), and high-risk ergonomic positions in 0% and 6.2%, respectively (p=.80). Mean EPR score for StemRad MD was 1.16, and for the LA, it was 1.49 (p=.001). CONCLUSIONS: StemRad MD significantly reduces the EPR to the torso compared with a LA-based radiation protection system. CLINICAL IMPACT: Poor ergonomic posture during interventional procedures might leas to work-related musculoskeletal disorders for healthcare workers. StemRad MD, a weightless, exoskeleton-based radiation protection system was shown to significantly reduce ergonomic posture risk to the torso compared to conventional lead aprons. This might lead to reduced physical discomfort for procedure-based specialists.