Long-Term Survival and Reintervention Following Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair in Blunt Traumatic Thoracic Aortic Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) represents one of the most devastating scenarios of vascular trauma. Different management strategies are available with varying clinical outcomes. However, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has become the first-line option for most BTAI patients, mainly owing to its minimally invasive nature, yielding improved immediate results. This meta-analysis aims to investigate mortality, long-term survival, and reintervention following TEVAR in BTAI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review conducted a comprehensive literature search on multiple electronic databases using strict search terms. Twenty-seven studies met the set inclusion/exclusion criteria. A proportional meta-analysis of extracted data was conducted using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software, v.4. RESULTS: 1498 BTAI patients who underwent TEVAR were included. Using the SVS grading system, 2.6% of the population had Grade 1 injuries, 13.6% Grade 2, 62.2% Grade 3, 19.6% Grade 4, and 1.9% unspecific. All-cause mortality did not exceed 20% in all studies except one outlier with a 37% mortality rate. Using the random effects model, the pooled estimate of overall mortality was 12% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.35-8.55%; I2 = 70.6%). This was 91% (95% CI, 88.6-93.2; I2 = 30.2%) at 6 months, 90.1% (95% CI, 86.7-92.3; I2 = 53.6%) at 1 year, 89.2% (95% CI, 85.2-91.8; I2 = 62.3%) at 2 years, and 88.1% (95% CI, 83.3-90.9; I2 = 69.6%) at 5 years. Moreover, the pooled estimate of reintervention was 6.4% (95% CI, 0.1-0.49%; I2 = 81.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high morbidity and mortality associated with BTAI, TEVAR has proven to be a safe and effective management strategy with favorable long-term survival and minimal need for reintervention. Nevertheless, diagnosis of BTAI requires a high index of suspicion with appropriate grading and prompt transfer to trauma centers with appropriate TEVAR facilities.

A prospective longitudinal study of risk factors for abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) from the largest Welsh screening cohort to date. Patients were recruited from 1993 (to 2015) as part of the South East Wales AAA screening programme through general practitioners. Demographic data and risk factors were collected by means of a self-report questionnaire. Statistical tests were performed to determine whether associations could be observed between AAA and potential risk factors. Odds ratios (OR) were also calculated for each of the risk factors identified. A total of 6879 patients were included in the study. Two hundred and seventy-five patients (4.0%) presented with AAA, of which 16% were female and 84% were male. Patients with AAA were older than the (no AAA) control group (p < 0.0001). The following risk factors were identified for AAA: family history of AAA (p < 0.0001); history of vascular surgery (p < 0.0001), cerebrovascular accident (p < 0.0001), coronary heart disease (p < 0.0001), diabetes (p < 0.0001), medication (p = 0.0018), claudication (p < 0.0001), smoking history (p = 0.0001) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (p = 0.0007). AAA is associated with classical vascular risk factors, in addition to other less-well-documented risk factors including previous vascular surgery. These findings have practical implications with the potential to improve future clinical screening of patients in order to reduce AAA mortality.

Microvascular insulin resistance associates with enhanced muscle glucose disposal in CD36 deficiency.

Dysfunction of endothelial insulin delivery to muscle associates with insulin resistance. CD36, a fatty acid transporter and modulator of insulin signaling is abundant in endothelial cells, especially in capillaries. Humans with inherited 50% reduction in CD36 expression have endothelial dysfunction but whether it is associated with insulin resistance is unclear. Using hyperinsulinemic/euglycemic clamps in Cd36-/- and wildtype mice, and in 50% CD36 deficient humans and matched controls we found that Cd36-/- mice have enhanced systemic glucose disposal despite unaltered transendothelial insulin transfer and reductions in microvascular perfusion and blood vessel compliance. Partially CD36 deficient humans also have better glucose disposal than controls with no capillary recruitment by insulin. CD36 knockdown in primary human-derived microvascular cells impairs insulin action on AKT, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and nitric oxide release. Thus, insulin resistance of microvascular function in CD36 deficiency paradoxically associates with increased glucose utilization, likely through a remodeling of muscle gene expression.

Haemodynamic support with percutaneous devices in patients with cardiogenic shock: the current evidence of mechanical circulatory support.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a complex life-threatening condition that results from primary cardiac dysfunction, leading to persistent hypotension and systemic hypoperfusion. Among the therapeutic options for CS are various percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices that have emerged as an increasingly effective hemodynamic support option. Percutaneous therapies can act as short-term mechanical circulatory assistance and can be split into intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and non-IABP percutaneous mechanical devices. AREAS COVERED: This review will evaluate the MCS value while considering the mortality rate improvements. We also aim to outline the function of pharmacotherapies and percutaneous hemodynamic MCS devices in managing CS patients to avoid the onset of end-organ dysfunction and improve both early and late outcomes. EXPERT OPINION: Given the complexity, acuity and high mortality associated with CS, and despite the availability and efficacy of pharmacological management, MCS is required to achieve hemodynamic stability and improve survival. Various percutaneous MCS devices are available with varying indications and clinical outcomes. The rates of early mortality and complications were found to be comparable between the four devices, yet, IABP seemed to show the most optimal clinical profile whilst ECMO demonstrated its more long-term efficacy.