Comparison of long-term mortality after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm in England and Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Concern has been raised regarding international discrepancies in perioperative mortality after repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA). The variation in in-hospital mortality is difficult to interpret, owing to international differences in discharge strategies. This study compared 90-day and 5-year mortality in patients who had a rAAA in England and Sweden. METHODS: Patients undergoing rAAA repair were identified from English Hospital Episode Statistics and the Swedish Vascular Registry (Swedvasc) between 2003 and 2012. Ninety-day and 5-year mortality were compared after matching for age and sex. Within-country analyses examined the impact of co-morbidity, teaching hospital status or hospital annual caseload, adjusted with causal inference techniques. RESULTS: Some 12 467 patients underwent rAAA repair in England, of whom 83.2 per cent were men; the median (i.q.r.) age was 75 (70-80) years. A total of 2829 Swedish patients underwent rAAA repair, of whom 81.3 per cent were men; their median (i.q.r.) age was 75 (69-80) years. The 90-day mortality rate was worse in England (44.0 per cent versus 33.4 per cent in Sweden; P < 0.001), as was 5-year mortality (freedom from mortality 38.6 versus 46.3 per cent respectively; P < 0.001). In England, lower mortality was seen in teaching hospitals with larger bed capacity, higher annual caseloads and greater use of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). In Sweden, lower mortality was associated with EVAR, high annual caseload, or surgery on weekdays compared with weekends. CONCLUSION: Short- and long-term mortality after rAAA repair was higher in England. In both countries, mortality was lowest in centres performing greater numbers of AAA repairs per annum, and more EVAR procedures.

Performance of prognostic markers in the prediction of wound healing or amputation among patients with foot ulcers in diabetes: a systematic review.

Prediction of wound healing and major amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulceration is clinically important to stratify risk and target interventions for limb salvage. No consensus exists as to which measure of peripheral artery disease (PAD) can best predict outcomes. To evaluate the prognostic utility of index PAD measures for the prediction of healing and/or major amputation among patients with active diabetic foot ulceration, two reviewers independently screened potential studies for inclusion. Two further reviewers independently extracted study data and performed an assessment of methodological quality using the Quality in Prognostic Studies instrument. Of 9476 citations reviewed, 11 studies reporting on 9 markers of PAD met the inclusion criteria. Annualized healing rates varied from 18% to 61%; corresponding major amputation rates varied from 3% to 19%. Among 10 studies, skin perfusion pressure ≥ 40 mmHg, toe pressure ≥ 30 mmHg (and ≥ 45 mmHg) and transcutaneous pressure of oxygen (TcPO2 ) ≥ 25 mmHg were associated with at least a 25% higher chance of healing. Four studies evaluated PAD measures for predicting major amputation. Ankle pressure < 70 mmHg and fluorescein toe slope < 18 units each increased the likelihood of major amputation by around 25%. The combined test of ankle pressure < 50 mmHg or an ankle brachial index (ABI) < 0.5 increased the likelihood of major amputation by approximately 40%. Among patients with diabetic foot ulceration, the measurement of skin perfusion pressures, toe pressures and TcPO2 appear to be more useful in predicting ulcer healing than ankle pressures or the ABI. Conversely, an ankle pressure of < 50 mmHg or an ABI < 0.5 is associated with a significant increase in the incidence of major amputation.

Effectiveness of bedside investigations to diagnose peripheral artery disease among people with diabetes mellitus: a systematic review.

Non-invasive tests for the detection of peripheral artery disease (PAD) among individuals with diabetes mellitus are important to estimate the risk of amputation, ulceration, wound healing and the presence of cardiovascular disease, yet there are no consensus recommendations to support a particular diagnostic modality over another and to evaluate the performance of index non-invasive diagnostic tests against reference standard imaging techniques (magnetic resonance angiography, computed tomography angiography, digital subtraction angiography and colour duplex ultrasound) for the detection of PAD among patients with diabetes. Two reviewers independently screened potential studies for inclusion and extracted study data. Eligible studies evaluated an index test for PAD against a reference test. An assessment of methodological quality was performed using the quality assessment for diagnostic accuracy studies instrument. Of the 6629 studies identified, ten met the criteria for inclusion. In these studies, the patients had a median age of 60-74 years and a median duration of diabetes of 9-24 years. Two studies reported exclusively on patients with symptomatic (ulcerated/infected) feet, two on patients with asymptomatic (intact) feet only, and the remaining six on patients both with and without foot ulceration. Ankle brachial index (ABI) was the most widely assessed index test. Overall, the positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) of an ABI threshold <0.9 ranged from 2 to 25 (median 8) and <0.1 to 0.7 (median 0.3), respectively. In patients with neuropathy, the NLR of the ABI was generally higher (two out of three studies), indicating poorer performance, and ranged between 0.3 and 0.5. A toe brachial index <0.75 was associated with a median positive likelihood ratio and NLRs of 3 and ≤ 0.1, respectively, and was less affected by neuropathy in one study. Also, in two separate studies, pulse oximetry used to measure the oxygen saturation of peripheral blood and Doppler wave form analyses had NLRs of 0.2 and <0.1. The reported performance of ABI for the diagnosis of PAD in patients with diabetes mellitus is variable and is adversely affected by the presence of neuropathy. Limited evidence suggests that toe brachial index, pulse oximetry and wave form analysis may be superior to ABI for diagnosing PAD in patients with neuropathy with and without foot ulcers. There were insufficient data to support the adoption of one particular diagnostic modality over another and no comparisons existed with clinical examination. The quality of studies evaluating diagnostic techniques for the detection of PAD in individuals with diabetes is poor. Improved compliance with guidelines for methodological quality is needed in future studies.

Effectiveness of revascularization of the ulcerated foot in patients with diabetes and peripheral artery disease: a systematic review.

Symptoms or signs of peripheral artery disease (PAD) can be observed in up to 50% of the patients with a diabetic foot ulcer and is a risk factor for poor healing and amputation. In 2012, a multidisciplinary working group of the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot published a systematic review on the effectiveness of revascularization of the ulcerated foot in patients with diabetes and PAD. This publication is an update of this review and now includes the results of a systematic search for therapies to revascularize the ulcerated foot in patients with diabetes and PAD from 1980 to June 2014. Only clinically relevant outcomes were assessed. The research conformed to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network methodological scores were assigned. A total of 56 articles were eligible for full-text review. There were no randomized controlled trials, but there were four nonrandomized studies with a control group. The major outcomes following endovascular or open bypass surgery were broadly similar among the studies. Following open surgery, the 1-year limb salvage rates were a median of 85% (interquartile range of 80-90%), and following endovascular revascularization, these rates were 78% (70-89%). At 1-year follow-up, 60% or more of ulcers had healed following revascularization with either open bypass surgery or endovascular techniques. Studies appeared to demonstrate improved rates of limb salvage associated with revascularization compared with the results of conservatively treated patients in the literature. There were insufficient data to recommend one method of revascularization over another. There is a real need for standardized reporting of baseline demographic data, severity of disease and outcome reporting in this group of patients.

Diagnosis and assessment of peripheral arterial disease in the diabetic foot.

Approximately half of all patients with a diabetic foot ulcer have co-existing peripheral arterial disease. Identifying peripheral arterial disease among patients with foot ulceration is important, given its association with failure to heal, amputation, cardiovascular events and increased risk of premature mortality. Infection, oedema and neuropathy, often present with ulceration, may adversely affect the performance of diagnostic tests that are reliable in patients without diabetes. Early recognition and expert assessment of peripheral arterial disease allows measures to be taken to reduce the risk of amputation and cardiovascular events, while determining the need for revascularization to promote ulcer healing. When peripheral arterial disease is diagnosed, the extent of perfusion deficit should be measured. Patients with a severe perfusion deficit, likely to affect ulcer healing, will require further imaging to define the anatomy of disease and indicate whether a revascularization procedure is appropriate.

Endovascular aneurysm sealing for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms: 30-day outcomes of 105 patients in a single centre.

OBJECTIVE: Endovascular aneurysm sealing (EVAS) has been proposed as a novel alternative to endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). The early clinical experience, technical refinements, and learning curve of EVAS in the treatment of AAA at a single institution are presented. METHODS: One-hundred and five patients were treated with EVAS between March 2013 and November 2014. Prospective data were recorded on consecutive patients receiving EVAS. Data included demographics, preoperative aneurysm morphology, and 30-day outcomes, including rates of endoleak, limb occlusion, reintervention, and death. Postoperative imaging consisted of duplex ultrasound and computed tomographic angiography. RESULTS: The mean age of the cohort was 76 ± 8 years and 12% were female. Adverse neck morphology was present in 72 (69%) patients, including aneurysm neck length <10 mm (20%), neck diameter >32 mm (18%), ß-angulation >60° (21%), and conical aneurysm neck (51%). There was one death within 30 days. The incidence of Type 1 endoleak within 30 days was 4% (n = 4); all were treated successfully with transcatheter embolisation. All four proximal endoleaks were associated with technical issues that resulted in procedure refinement, and all were in patients with adverse proximal aortic necks. The persistent Type 1 endoleak rate at 30 days was 0% and there were no Type 2 or Type 3 endoleaks. Angioplasty and adjunctive stenting were performed for postoperative limb stenosis in three patients (3%). CONCLUSIONS: EVAS appears to be associated with reasonable 30-day outcomes despite the necessity of procedural evolution in the early adoption of this technique. EVAS appears to be applicable to patients with challenging aortic morphology and endoleak rates should reduce with procedural experience. The utility of EVAS will be defined by the durability of the device in long-term follow-up, although the absence of Type 2 endoleaks is encouraging.

Evidence-based management of PAD & the diabetic foot.

Diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and represents the leading cause of hospitalization in patients with diabetes. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), present in half of patients with DFU, is an independent predictor of limb loss and can be difficult to diagnose in a diabetic population. This review focuses on the evidence for therapeutic strategies in the management of patients with DFU. We highlight the importance of timely referral of patients presenting with a new foot ulcer to a multidisciplinary team, which includes vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists.

The association of ulceration of the foot with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients with diabetes: a meta-analysis.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: It is well established that diabetes mellitus increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. Observational studies suggest that a history of diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) may increase this risk further still. We sought to determine to what extent DFU is associated with excess risk over and above diabetes. METHODS: We identified studies reporting on associations of DFU with CVD and all-cause mortality. We obtained data on incident events of all-cause mortality, fatal myocardial infarction and fatal stroke. Study-specific estimates were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis and the statistical heterogeneity of included studies was assessed using the I (2) statistic. RESULTS: The eight studies included reported on 3,619 events of all-cause mortality during 81,116 person-years of follow-up. DFU was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (RR 1.89, 95% CI 1.60, 2.23), fatal myocardial infarction (2.22, 95% CI 1.09, 4.53) and fatal stroke (1.41, 95% CI 0.61, 3.24). CVD mortality accounted for a similar proportion of deaths in DFU and non-DFU patients. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Patients with DFU have an excess risk of all-cause mortality, compared with patients with diabetes without a history of DFU. This risk is attributable, in part, to a greater burden of CVD. If this result is validated in other studies, strategies should evaluate the role of further aggressive CVD risk modification and ulcer prevention in those with DFU.

Unselected percutaneous access with large vessel closure for endovascular aortic surgery: experience and predictors of technical success.

INTRODUCTION: The effectiveness of percutaneous access with large vessel closure (pEVR) in non-selective groups of patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair (EVR) remains unclear. This study aims to identify factors that predict success in pEVR, performed using percutaneous access and the Prostar XL (Abbott Vascular, Redwood City, Calif) closure device. METHOD: Consecutive patients who underwent pEVR between April 2010 and March 2011 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Procedural and postoperative outcomes were compared with consecutive patients who underwent endovascular aneurysm repair using standard open femoral access between April 2008 and March 2009. To determine the predictors of technical success of pEVR, the association between clinical, anatomical and procedural variables with technical success, were examined in a multiple logistic regression model. RESULTS: pEVR was attempted in 186 common femoral arteries (CFAs) with a technical success rate of 95.2% (177/186). Conventional open femoral access in the historic control group was performed in 208 CFAs. pEVR was associated with a reduced operation length (131 min [105-152] versus 150 min [124-195], p≤0.001) and length of stay (2 days [2-5] versus 4 days [2-7], p = 0.01) in patients undergoing infrarenal EVR. In secondary analysis of outcomes following percutaneous access in 91 CFAs, pre-operative renal failure, CFA depth (min and max), CFA diameter (min and max) and operator experience predicted success of percutaneous access in univariate analysis. Operator experience was the only independent predictor of technical success (p = 0.05) after adjustment for all confounding variables. CONCLUSION: pEVR using the Prostar XL device is effective in the majority of patients. In this study there were benefits in terms of reduced postoperative complications, shorter procedures and decreased lengths of stay. Operator experience is a predictor of technical success for pEVR, irrespective of clinical and morphological characteristics at baseline.

Occurrence and multiple recurrence of severe vasospasm of the upper extremity following thorascopic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis.

INTRODUCTION: Thorascopic sympathectomy is a widely used procedure for the treatment of intractable palmar hyperhidrosis. REPORT: A 24-year-old woman who underwent thorascopic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis in 2005 presented on more than 30 occasions with recurrent right distal upper limb ischaemia secondary to repetitive episodes of vasospasm. The patient did not have preoperative symptoms consistent with Raynaud's syndrome. We observed a reduction in the symptomatic relief offered by Iloprost treatment over a period of five years. DISCUSSION: This is the first report of distal upper limb ischaemia following thorascopic sympathectomy. We highlight the development of resistance to repeated Iloprost infusions that we observed in this case.