A systematic review and meta-analysis of sirolimus-eluting stents for treatment of below-the-knee arterial disease.

OBJECTIVE: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to analyze the efficacy and safety of sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs) in the treatment of below-the-knee (BTK) arterial disease. METHODS: An electronic literature search was conducted from inception to July 24, 2021. Retrospective, prospective, and randomized studies that had used SESs to treat BTK arterial disease and had reported the primary patency, technical success, target lesion revascularization, and/or mortality were included. Meta-analyses of the proportions were conducted to derive pooled summary statistics of the outcomes. Where Kaplan-Meier curves were provided for primary patency, a meta-analysis of the individual patient data was conducted via a graphic reconstruction tool to estimate primary patency at various follow-up points. For studies comparing SESs and bare metal stents (BMSs), a two-stage meta-analysis was performed to compare the 6-month primary patency of SESs vs BMSs. RESULTS: Ten studies across 13 publications, including 995 patients, were retrieved for analysis. In the meta-analysis of proportions, across six studies (n = 339 patients), the pooled 6-month primary patency was 87.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 81.6%-92.1%). Across seven studies (n = 283 patients), the pooled 6-month mortality was 5.4% (95% CI, 1.4%-11.2%). An individual patient data analysis of three studies (n = 282 patients) yielded a primary patency rate of 95.2% (95% CI, 92.7%-97.8%), 82.8% (95% CI, 78.3%-87.6%), 79.8% (95% CI, 75.0%-85.0%), and 79.8% (95% CI, 75.0%-85.0%) at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, respectively. The 12-month target lesion revascularization rate across four studies (n = 324 patients) was 9.6% (95% CI, 6.4%-13.4%). In the two-stage meta-analysis of 6-month primary patency across three studies (n = 168 patients), the use of SESs was significantly favored over BMSs (risk ratio, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.12-1.46; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The overall evidence suggests that the use of SESs appears to be safe and offers favorable outcomes for BTK arterial disease compared with BMSs.

Percutaneous decannulation of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation using the Manta vascular closure device: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the techniques and outcomes associated with percutaneous decannulation of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) using the Manta vascular closure device. BACKGROUND: Peripheral VA-ECMO can be used to treat critically ill patients with conditions such as refractory cardiogenic shock. After percutaneous implantation of VA-ECMO, VA-ECMO can also be decannulated completely percutaneously by using a vascular closure device. The Manta vascular closure device is a dedicated device used in the closure of large-bore arteriotomies by sandwiching the arteriotomy with an intra-arterial toggle and an extraluminal collagen plug. METHODS: We performed a thorough literature search using various electronic databases. We included studies that reported outcomes after peripheral femorofemoral VA-ECMO decannulation with the Manta vascular closure device. We performed a meta-analysis of proportions on outcome measures, including technical success, bleeding complications, vascular complications, wound complications, major amputation, and procedural-related deaths. RESULTS: We included seven studies with a total of 116 patients. The overall technical success of percutaneous decannulation of VA-ECMO with the Manta vascular closure device was 93.7%. The overall incidence of bleeding, vascular and wound complications was 1.7%, 13.8%, and 3.4%, respectively. No patient required lower limb amputation or died due to VA-ECMO decannulation. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous decannulation with the Manta vascular closure device is an effective and safe procedure that should be considered in suitable patients on VA-ECMO.

Transradial Approach for Aortoiliac and Femoropopliteal Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To present a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the transradial approach for aortoiliac and femoropopliteal interventions to the traditional transfemoral access. METHODS: A search of the public domain databases MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library Databases was performed to identify studies related to the use of the transradial approach for infra-aortic procedures. Meta-analysis was used to compare the transradial to the transfemoral route in terms of procedure success, complications, procedure parameters, and hospital length of stay. Results are presented as the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Nineteen studies containing 638 patients with transradial access for lower limb interventions were selected. Lesions were treated from the aortic bifurcation down to the popliteal artery. The mean technical success rate was 90.9%, conversion to a transfemoral approach was necessary in 9.9%, and complications were reported in 1.9%. The meta-analysis included 4 comparative studies involving 114 transradial and 208 transfemoral procedures. There was no significant advantage of either approach in terms of procedure success (OR 5.0, 95% CI 0.49 to 50.83, p=0.17), but the risk of developing a complication was significantly lower (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.86, p=0.03) with the transradial approach. CONCLUSION: Transradial access for lower limb endovascular interventions can be performed with comparable technical success and a lower overall complication profile compared to transfemoral access.

Greater hypertrophy can be achieved with associating liver partition with portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy compared to conventional staged hepatectomy, but with a higher price to pay?

BACKGROUND: Associating liver partition with portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) and conventional staged hepatectomy (CSH) are options for patients with unresectable liver tumors due to insufficient future liver remnant (FLR). METHODS: A retrospective comparison of clinical data, liver volumetry and surgical outcomes between 10 ALPPS and 29 CSH patients was performed. RESULTS: Patient demographics and disease characteristics were similar between both groups. ALPPS induced superior FLR growth (ALPPS vs. CSH, 48.1% (IQR 39.4-96.9%) vs. 11.8% (IQR 4.3-41.9%), p = 0.013). However, post-operative day 5 international normalized ratio (INR) (ALPPS vs. CSH, 1.6 (IQR 1.5-1.8) vs. 1.4 (IQR 1.3-1.6), p = 0.015) and rate of post-hepatectomy liver failure (ALPPS vs. CSH, 25 vs. 0%, p = 0.032) was higher in the ALPPS group. 90-day mortality (ALPPS vs. CSH, 12.5% vs. 0%, p = 0.320) was similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: ALPPS was superior in inducing FLR growth but associated with increased post-hepatectomy liver failure compared to CSH.

CT-guided thoracic biopsy: evaluating diagnostic yield and complications.

INTRODUCTION: This study retrospectively evaluated CT-guided thoracic biopsies for diagnostic yield, accuracy and complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 384 patients (mean age 62.7 years; male/female = 251/133) who underwent 399 CT-guided thoracic biopsies were performed for evaluating diagnostic yield, accuracy and complications. Correlations between patients age, procedure factors (biopsy-needle size, number of passes, lesion-size, lesion-depth and traversed lung-length) and complications such as pneumothorax, haemothorax and haemoptysis were evaluated. A comparison between fine needle aspiration (FNA) group and core ± FNA group for diagnostic yield and complications was also performed. RESULTS: FNA was performed in 349 patients and core ± FNA in 50 patients. The biopsy samples were adequate in 91.9% and the diagnostic accuracy for malignant lesions was 96.8% with 95.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Pneumothorax (detected on CT) occurred in 139 cases (34.8%) and only 12 (3.0%) required insertion of an intercostals drain. Mild haemoptysis occurred in 13 patients (3.2%) and small haemothoraces in 2 patients. Pneumothorax occurrence was significantly associated with the traversed lung-length (>3mm), lesion-size (≤33 mm) and lesion-depth (≥60mm) (P <0.05). Haemoptysis occurrence was also significantly associated with traversed lunglength (>3mm) and lesion-size (≤33 mm) (P <0.05). There was no significant difference between diagnostic yield and complication rate between FNA and core ± FNA groups. CONCLUSION: CT-guided thoracic biopsy is a safe procedure with high diagnostic yield and low risk of significant complications. Traversed lung-length and smaller lesion size are associated with occurrence of pneumothorax and haemoptysis.