Trigeminal Postherpetic Neuralgia: From Pathophysiology to Treatment.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia (TG-PHN) is a neuropathic pain condition complicating herpes zoster (HZ) attributed to the trigeminal nerve. It poses significant challenges due to its persistent and debilitating nature. This review explores the clinical characteristics of TG-PHN, analyzes its pathophysiological underpinnings, and addresses existent and potential therapies. RECENT FINDINGS: TG-PHN is one of the most common and complex PHN locations. It has distinguishing clinical and pathophysiological characteristics, starting with viral triggered injuries to the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and peripheral tissue and involving the ascending and descending brain modulation pathways. Current therapies include vaccines, oral and topical medications, and interventional approaches, like nerve blocks and neurostimulation. This review covers TG-PHN's clinical and physiological components, treatment options, and potential future targets for improved management. By exploring the complexities of this condition, we aim to contribute to developing more effective and targeted therapies for patients suffering from trigeminal PHN.

Multicenter validation of the liver graft assessment following transplantation (L-GrAFT) score for assessment of early allograft dysfunction.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Early allograft dysfunction (EAD) following liver transplantation (LT) negatively impacts graft and patient outcomes. Previously we reported that the liver graft assessment following transplantation (L-GrAFT7) risk score was superior to binary EAD or the model for early allograft function (MEAF) score for estimating 3-month graft failure-free survival in a single-center derivation cohort. Herein, we sought to externally validate L-GrAFT7, and compare its prognostic performance to EAD and MEAF. METHODS: Accuracies of L-GrAFT7, EAD, and MEAF were compared in a 3-center US validation cohort (n = 3,201), and a Consortium for Organ Preservation in Europe (COPE) normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) trial cohort (n = 222); characteristics were compared to assess generalizability. RESULTS: Compared to the derivation cohort, patients in the validation and NMP trial cohort had lower recipient median MELD scores; were less likely to require pretransplant hospitalization, renal replacement therapy or mechanical ventilation; and had superior 1-year overall (90% and 95% vs. 84%) and graft failure-free (88% and 93% vs. 81%) survival, with a lower incidence of 3-month graft failure (7.4% and 4.0% vs. 11.1%; p <0.001 for all comparisons). Despite significant differences in cohort characteristics, L-GrAFT7 maintained an excellent validation AUROC of 0.78, significantly superior to binary EAD (AUROC 0.68, p = 0.001) and MEAF scores (AUROC 0.72, p <0.001). In post hoc analysis of the COPE NMP trial, the highest tertile of L-GrAFT7 was significantly associated with time to liver allograft (hazard ratio [HR] 2.17, p = 0.016), Clavien ≥IIIB (HR 2.60, p = 0.034) and ≥IVa (HR 4.99, p = 0.011) complications; post-LT length of hospitalization (p = 0.002); and renal replacement therapy (odds ratio 3.62, p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: We have validated the L-GrAFT7 risk score as a generalizable, highly accurate, individualized risk assessment of 3-month liver allograft failure that is superior to existing scores. L-GrAFT7 may standardize grading of early hepatic allograft function and serve as a clinical endpoint in translational studies (www.lgraft.com). LAY SUMMARY: Early allograft dysfunction negatively affects outcomes following liver transplantation. In independent multicenter US and European cohorts totaling 3,423 patients undergoing liver transplantation, the liver graft assessment following transplantation (L-GrAFT) risk score is validated as a superior measure of early allograft function that accurately discriminates 3-month graft failure-free survival and post-liver transplantation complications.

Delayed Implantation of Pumped Kidneys Decreases Renal Allograft Futility in Combined Liver-Kidney Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Combined liver-kidney transplantation (CLKT) improves survival for liver transplant recipients with renal dysfunction; however, the tenuous perioperative hemodynamic and metabolic milieu in high-acuity CLKT recipients increases delayed graft function and kidney allograft failure. We sought to analyze whether delayed KT through pumping would improve kidney outcomes following CLKT. METHODS: A retrospective analysis (University of California Los Angeles [n = 145], Houston Methodist Hospital [n = 79]) was performed in all adults receiving CLKT at 2 high-volume transplant centers from February 2004 to January 2017, and recipients were analyzed for patient and allograft survival as well as renal outcomes following CLKT. RESULTS: A total of 63 patients (28.1%) underwent delayed implantation of pumped kidneys during CLKT (dCLKT) and 161 patients (71.9%) received early implantation of nonpumped kidneys during CLKT (eCLKT). Most recipients were high-acuity with median biologic model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score of, 35 for dCLKT and 34 for eCLKT (P = ns). Pretransplant, dCLKT had longer intensive care unit stay, were more often intubated, and had greater vasopressor use. Despite this, dCLKT exhibited improved 1-, 3-, and 5-year patient and kidney survival (P = 0.02) and decreased length of stay (P = 0.001), kidney allograft failure (P = 0.012), and dialysis duration (P = 0.031). This reduced kidney allograft futility (death or continued need for hemodialysis within 3 mo posttransplant) for dCLKT (6.3%) compared with eCLKT (19.9%) (P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Delayed implantation of pumped kidneys is associated with improved patient and renal allograft survival and decreased hospital length of stay despite longer kidney cold ischemia. These data should inform the ethical debate as to the futility of performing CLKT in high-acuity recipients.

Treatment of superficial and perforator reflux and deep venous stenosis improves healing of chronic venous leg ulcers.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of three treatment modalities, superficial truncal vein ablation, perforator vein ablation, and deep venous stenting on venous leg ulcer (VLU) healing, as well as their cumulative effect on ulcer healing, in an attempt to establish the best algorithm for the treatment of chronic and recalcitrant VLUs. METHODS: Multicenter retrospective cohort study using a standardized database to evaluate patients with chronic venous ulcers treated between January 2013 and December 2017. RESULTS: Eight-hundred thirty-two consecutive patients with VLU were identified at 11 centers in the United States. All patients were initially managed with wound care and compression for at least 2 months. Compression and wound care management alone, used in 187 patients, led to ulcer healing in 75% of patients by 36 months. Ulcer recurrence in patients managed without surgery at 6, 12, and 24 months was 3%, 5% and 15%, respectively. Five hundred twenty-eight patients underwent ablation of incompetent superficial veins, and 344 of those also underwent incompetent perforator ablation. Patients who underwent truncal vein ablation alone had an ulcer healing rate of 51% at 36 months. Patients who received both superficial and perforator ablation were significantly younger, and had a 17% improvement in healing at 36 months (68% vs 51%, respectively), but there was no impact of combined superficial and perforator ablations on ulcer recurrence rates. One hundred thirty-four patients had stenosis of one of more lower extremity deep veins and 95 (71%) underwent endovenous stenting. Ulcer healing and recurrence rates for those who underwent stent placement alone was 77% and 27%, respectively, at 36 months. Patients who underwent deep venous stenting and ablation of both incompetent truncal and perforator veins had an ulcer healing rate of 87% at 36 months and ulcer recurrence of 26% at 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that correction of superficial truncal vein reflux, as well as deep vein stenosis, both contribute to healing of VLU. Patients who fail to heal their VLU after superficial and perforator ablation should have the iliocaval system imaged to identify hemodynamically significant stenoses or occlusions amenable to stenting, which facilitates venous ulcer healing even in patients with large ulcers.

Metabolic factors affecting hepatocellular carcinoma in steatohepatitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: With the rising prevalence of alcoholism, obesity and metabolic syndrome, steatohepatitis will become the leading cause of end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States by 2025. Patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and alcoholic liver disease have similar clinical and histopathological presentations, whether these similarities persist in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and alcoholic liver disease patients with hepatocellular carcinoma remains unknown. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the clinical features of adult patients from a large transplant center who underwent liver transplantation for steatohepatitis due to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and alcoholic causes (alcoholic liver disease) between 1/1/02 and 1/1/12 was performed. Clinical features, explant histopathology, and clinical outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Hepatocellular carcinoma was present in 80 of 317 patients, who underwent liver transplantation for steatohepatitis with equivalent distribution in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and alcoholic liver disease patients (24% vs 26%; P = 0.8). On multivariate analysis, significant predictors of hepatocellular carcinoma included age, ethnicity (Hispanic), and diabetes, but not BMI, hypertension or smoking. A lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma was associated with a clinical history of hyperlipidemia. Clinical parameters were similar between patients with alcoholic liver disease - hepatocellular carcinoma and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-hepatocellular carcinoma, except sex and presence of metabolic syndrome. non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-hepatocellular carcinoma livers retained histopathological features of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis such as ballooning and Mallory bodies, while alcoholic liver disease-hepatocellular carcinoma livers did not. There were no significant differences in hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence rates or post-transplant overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: We report the largest single-center study evaluating clinical, histopathological and outcome measures of patients undergoing liver transplantation for steatohepatitis. Older patients, diabetics, and Hispanics may warrant more frequent cancer screening due to increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Multicenter experience with endovascular treatment of aortic coarctation in adults.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate outcomes of endovascular treatment of aortic coarctation in adults. METHODS: Clinical data and imaging studies of 93 consecutive patients treated at nine institutions from 1999 to 2015 were reviewed. We included newly diagnosed aortic coarctation (NCO), recurrent coarctation, and aneurysmal/pseudoaneurysmal degeneration (ANE) after prior open surgical repair (OSR) of coarctation. Primary end points were morbidity and mortality. Secondary end points were stent patency and freedom from reintervention. RESULTS: There were 54 (58%) male and 39 (42%) female patients with a mean age of 44 ± 17 years. Thirty-two patients had NCO (mean age, 48 ± 16 years) and 61 had endovascular reinterventions after prior OSR during childhood (mean, 30 ± 17 years after initial repair), including 50 patients (54%) with recurrent coarctation and 11 (12%) with ANE. Clinical presentation included asymptomatic in 31 patients (33%), difficult to control hypertension in 42 (45%), and lower extremity claudication in 20 (22%). Endovascular treatment was performed using balloon-expandable covered stents in 47 (51%) patients, stent grafts in 36 (39%) patients, balloon-expandable uncovered stents in 9 (10%) patients, and primary angioplasty in 1 (1%) patient. Mean lesion length and diameter were 64.5 ± 50.6 mm and 19.5 ± 6.7 mm, respectively. Mean systolic pressure gradient decreased from 24.0 ± 17.5 mm Hg to 4.4 ± 7.4 mm Hg after treatment (P < .001). Complications occurred in nine (10%) patients, including aortic dissections in three (3%) patients and intraoperative ruptures in two patients; type IA endoleak, renal embolus, spinal headache, and access site hemorrhage occurred in one patient each. The aortic dissections and ruptures were treated successfully by deploying an additional covered stent proximal to the site of dissection or rupture. Two patients died within 30 days of the index procedure. After a mean follow-up of 3.2 ± 3.1 years, nearly all patients (98%) were clinically improved and all stents were patent. Reintervention was needed in 10 (11%) patients. Freedom from reintervention at 5 years was 85%. Two additional patients died during follow-up of coarctation-related causes, including rupture of an infected graft and visceral ischemia. Patient survival at 5 years was 89%. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular repair is effective with an acceptable safety profile in the treatment of NCO and postsurgical complications of coarctation after initial OSR. Aortic rupture is an infrequent (2%) but devastating complication with high mortality. Balloon-expandable covered stents are preferred for NCO, whereas stent grafts are used for ANE. The rate of reinterventions is acceptable, with high procedural and long-term clinical success.

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictor of Outcomes after Amputation.

BACKGROUND: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has become a prognostic marker for proinflammatory states. It is associated with outcomes in many clinical processes including critical limb ischemia. We sought to identify predictors of amputation failure and mortality, in addition to the role of NLR in patients undergoing above-knee amputations (AKAs) or below-knee amputations (BKAs). METHODS: All patients undergoing BKA or AKA between 2004 and 2014 at 3 institutions were identified and analyzed (n = 513). Patients were excluded if they did not have a complete blood count with differential within 7 days prior to their operations. Comparison groups were formed between patients requiring unplanned revision and those who did not, and additionally between survivors and nonsurvivors at 30 days postamputation. Patient demographics, intraoperative data, and postoperative courses were compared. A multinomial logistic regression model was created to further compare the groups. RESULTS: Four hundred and ten patients were included for analysis, of which 142 (35%) required unplanned revision. Nearly 5% of patients (19/410) died within 30 days of the initial amputation. On univariate analysis, those requiring revision were more likely to be current smokers compared to former smokers (P = 0.004 and P = 0.021, respectively), have a lower ankle-brachial index (ABI) (P = 0.019), and have undergone a BKA (P < 0.001). Patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) were less likely to require a revision after an amputation (P = 0.007). Postoperative NLR was higher in patients requiring revision (9.9 vs. 7.0, P < 0.001) and both preoperative and postoperative NLRs were higher in those with 30-day mortality (21.0 vs. 7.0, P < 0.001; 19.4 vs. 7.5, P < 0.001). A multinomial logistic regression model identified CHF (P = 0.004), ABI (P = 0.041), and elevated body mass index (BMI, P = 0.045) as predictors of revision, while coronary artery disease (CAD, P = 0.031), CHF (P = 0.029), and postoperative NLR (P < 0.001) were predictive of 30-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative elevated NLR, CAD, and CHF are predictors of 30-day mortality in patients undergoing major limb amputation, while CHF, elevated ABI, and high BMI are predictors of revision. This study suggests that NLR may have a role as a biomarker for poor outcomes in patients with underlying peripheral vascular disease and warrants further investigation.

Propensity-Matched Analysis of Patients with Mixed Hepatocellular-Cholangiocarcinoma and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Liver Transplantation.

Mixed hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinomas (HCC-CCAs) are rare tumors with both hepatocellular and biliary differentiation. While liver transplantation (LT) is the gold standard treatment for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), it is contraindicated in known HCC-CCA because of concerns of poor prognosis. We sought to compare posttransplant oncologic outcomes for HCC-CCA and a matched cohort of HCC LT recipients. A retrospective, single-center analysis (1984-2015) identified 12 patients with mixed HCC-CCA who were matched 1:3 to patients with HCC on both pretransplant (radiologic diameter and alpha-fetoprotein) and explant (pathologic diameter, grade/differentiation, and vascular invasion) tumor characteristics. Compared with HCC patients matched on pretransplant characteristics (n = 36), HCC-CCA had higher explant tumor grade, more poorly differentiated tumors, but similar T stage and vascular invasion. HCC-CCA recipients trended toward inferior recurrence-free survival at 5 years (28% versus 61%; P = 0.12) and greater recurrence (HCC-CCA: 50%, median time to recurrence 297 days versus HCC: 22%, median time to recurrence 347 days; P = 0.07). However, when matched to a separate HCC cohort with similar explant pathology, HCC-CCA had similar 5-year recurrence-free survival (42% versus 44%; P = 0.45) and posttransplant recurrence (50% versus 27%; P = 0.13). All 6 HCC-CCA recurrences occurred with poorly differentiated tumors (median survival 21.3 months), without a single recurrence in 5 of the 12 HCC-CCA patients with well-moderately differentiated tumors (median survival 60.2 months). Mixed HCC-CCA tumors are more likely poorly differentiated tumors compared with HCC with similar pretransplant characteristics. However, compared with HCC with similar pathologic characteristics, they display similar recurrence-free survival and are not inherently more aggressive tumors. Low-grade, well-moderately differentiated HCC-CCAs have excellent survival with a low risk for post-LT recurrence, and they should not be excluded from LT. Improved pretransplant identification of pathologic characteristics in HCC-CCA may allow for successful utilization of LT in this subset of patients.

Evaluation of Early Allograft Function Using the Liver Graft Assessment Following Transplantation Risk Score Model.

Importance: Early allograft dysfunction (EAD) following a liver transplant (LT) unequivocally portends adverse graft and patient outcomes, but a widely accepted classification or grading system is lacking. Objective: To develop a model for individualized risk estimation of graft failure after LT and then compare the model's prognostic performance with the existing binary EAD definition (bilirubin level of ≥10 mg/dL on postoperative day 7, international normalized ratio of ≥1.6 on postoperative day 7, or aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase level of >2000 U/L within the first 7 days) and the Model for Early Allograft Function (MEAF) score. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective single-center analysis used a transplant database to identify all adult patients who underwent a primary LT and had data on 10 days of post-LT laboratory variables at the Dumont-UCLA Transplant Center of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA between February 1, 2002, and June 30, 2015. Data collection took place from January 4, 2016, to June 30, 2016. Data analysis was conducted from July 1, 2016, to August 30, 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Three-month graft failure-free survival. Results: Of 2021 patients who underwent primary LT over the study period, 2008 (99.4%) had available perioperative data and were included in the analysis. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of recipients was 56 (49-62) years, and 1294 recipients (64.4%) were men. Overall survival and graft-failure-free survival rates were 83% and 81% at year 1, 74% and 71% at year 3, and 69% and 65% at year 5, with an 11.1% (222 recipients) incidence of 3-month graft failure or death. Multivariate factors associated with 3-month graft failure-free survival included post-LT aspartate aminotransferase level, international normalized ratio, bilirubin level, and platelet count, measures of which were used to calculate the Liver Graft Assessment Following Transplantation (L-GrAFT) risk score. The L-GrAFT model had an excellent C statistic of 0.85, with a significantly superior discrimination of 3-month graft failure-free survival compared with the existing EAD definition (C statistic, 0.68; P < .001) and the MEAF score (C statistic, 0.70; P < .001). Compared with patients with lower L-GrAFT risk, LT recipients in the highest 10th percentile of L-GrAFT scores had higher Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores (median [IQR], 34 [26-40] vs 31 [25-38]; P = .005); greater need for pretransplant hospitalization (56.8% vs 44.8%; P = .003), renal replacement therapy (42.9% vs 30.5%; P < .001), mechanical ventilation (35.8% vs 18.1%; P < .001), and vasopressors (22.9% vs 11.0%; P < .001); longer cold ischemia times (median [IQR], 436 [311-539] vs 401 [302-506] minutes; P = .04); greater intraoperative blood transfusions (median [IQR], 17 [10-26] vs 10 [6-17] units of packed red blood cells; P < .001); and older donors (median [IQR] age, 47 [28-56] vs 41 [25-52] years; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: The L-GrAFT risk score allows a highly accurate, individualized risk estimation of 3-month graft failure following LT that is more accurate than existing EAD and MEAF scores. Multicenter validation may allow for the adoption of the L-GrAFT as a tool for evaluating the need for a retransplant, for establishing standardized grading of early allograft function across transplant centers, and as a highly accurate clinical end point in translational studies aiming to mitigate ischemia or reperfusion injury by modulating donor quality and recipient factors.

Determination of hepatocellular carcinoma grade by needle biopsy is unreliable for liver transplant candidate selection.

The objective of this article is to evaluate the utility of preoperative needle biopsy (PNB) grading of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a biomarker for liver transplantation (LT) candidate selection. Given the prognostic significance of HCC tumor grade, PNB grading has been proposed as a biomarker for LT candidate selection. Clinicopathologic characteristics of HCC LT recipients (1989-2014) with a PNB were analyzed, and the concordance of PNB grade to explant grade and vascular invasion was assessed to determine whether incorporation of PNB grade to accepted transplant criteria improved candidate selection. Of 965 patients undergoing LT for HCC, 234 (24%) underwent PNB at a median of 280 days prior to transplant. Grade by PNB had poor concordance to final explant pathology (κ = 0.22; P = 0.003), and low sensitivity (29%) and positive predictive value (35%) in identifying poorly differentiated tumors. Vascular invasion was predicted by explant pathologic grade (rs= 0.24; P < 0.001) but not PNB grade (rs = -0.05; P = 0.50). Increasing explant pathology grade (P = 0.02), but not PNB grade (P = 0.65), discriminated post-LT HCC recurrence risk. The incorporation of PNB grade to the established radiologic Milan criteria (MC) did not result in improved prognostication of post-LT recurrence (net reclassification index [NRI] = 0%), whereas grade by explant pathology resulted in significantly improved reclassification of risk (NRI = 19%). Preoperative determination of HCC grade by PNB has low concordance with explant pathologic grade and low sensitivity and positive predictive value in identifying poorly differentiated tumors. PNB grade did not accurately discriminate post-LT HCC recurrence and had no utility in improving prognostication compared with the MC alone. Incorporation of PNB to guide transplant candidate selection appears unjustified. Liver Transplantation 23 1123-1132 2017 AASLD.

Impact of Pretransplant Bridging Locoregional Therapy for Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Within Milan Criteria Undergoing Liver Transplantation: Analysis of 3601 Patients From the US Multicenter HCC Transplant Consortium.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of pretransplant bridging locoregional therapy (LRT) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and survival after liver transplantation (LT) in patients meeting Milan criteria (MC). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Pre-LT LRT mitigates tumor progression and waitlist dropout in HCC patients within MC, but data on its impact on post-LT recurrence and survival remain limited. METHODS: Recurrence-free survival and post-LT recurrence were compared among 3601 MC patients with and without bridging LRT utilizing competing risk Cox regression in consecutive patients from 20 US centers (2002-2013). RESULTS: Compared with 747 LT recipients not receiving LRT, 2854 receiving LRT had similar 1, 3, and 5-year recurrence-free survival (89%, 77%, 68% vs 85%, 75%, 68%; P = 0.490) and 5-year post-LT recurrence (11.2% vs 10.1%; P = 0.474). Increasing LRT number [3 LRTs: hazard ratio (HR) 2.1, P < 0.001; 4+ LRTs: HR 2.5, P < 0.001), and unfavorable waitlist alphafetoprotein trend significantly predicted post-LT recurrence, whereas LRT modality did not. Treated patients achieving complete pathologic response (cPR) had superior 5-year RFS (72%) and lower post-LT recurrence (HR 0.52, P < 0.001) compared with both untreated patients (69%; P = 0.010; HR 1.0) and treated patients not achieving cPR (67%; P = 0.010; HR 1.31, P = 0.039), who demonstrated increased recurrence compared with untreated patients in multivariate analysis controlling for pretransplant and pathologic factors (HR 1.32, P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Bridging LRT in HCC patients within MC does not improve post-LT survival or HCC recurrence in the majority of patients who fail to achieve cPR. The need for increasing LRT treatments and lack of alphafetoprotein response to LRT independently predict post-LT recurrence, serving as a surrogate for underlying tumor biology which can be utilized for prioritization of HCC LT candidates.

Cryopreserved venous allograft is an acceptable conduit in patients with current or prior angioaccess graft infection.

OBJECTIVE: The durability of cryopreserved allograft has been previously demonstrated in the setting of infection. The objective of this study was to examine the safety, efficacy, patency, and cost per day of graft patency associated with using cryopreserved allograft (vein and artery) for hemodialysis access in patients with no autogenous tissue for native fistula creation and with arteriovenous graft infection or in patients at high risk for infection. METHODS: Patients implanted with cryopreserved allograft for hemodialysis access between January 2004 and January 2014 were reviewed using a standardized, multi-institutional database that evaluated demographic, comorbidity, procedural, and outcomes data. RESULTS: There were 457 patients who underwent placement of cryopreserved vein (femoral: n = 337, saphenous: n = 11) or artery (femoral: n = 109) for hemodialysis access at 20 hospitals. Primary indications for allograft use included high risk of infection in 191 patients (42%), history of infected prosthetic graft in 169 (37%), and current infection in 97 (21%). Grafts were placed more frequently in the arm (78%) than in the groin, with no difference in allograft conduit used. Mean time from placement to first hemodialysis use was 46 days (median, 34 days). Duration of functional graft use was 40 ± 7 months for cryopreserved vein and 21 ± 8 months for cryopreserved artery (P < .05), and mean number of procedures required to maintain patency at follow-up of 58 ± 21 months was 1.6 for artery and 0.9 for vein (P < .05). Local access complications occurred in 32% of patients and included late thrombosis (14%), graft stenosis (9%), late infection (9%), arteriovenous access malfunction (7%), early thrombosis (3%), and early infection (3%). Early and late infections both occurred more frequently in the groin (P = .030, P = .017, respectively), and late thrombosis occurred more frequently with cryopreserved artery (P < .001). Of the 82 patients (18%) in whom the cryopreserved allograft was placed in the same location as the excised infected prosthetic graft, 13 had infection of the allograft during the study period (early: n = 4; late: n = 9), with no significant difference in infection rate (P = .312) compared with the remainder of the study population. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year primary patency was 58%, 35%, and 17% for cryopreserved femoral vein and 49%, 17%, and 8% for artery, respectively (P < .001). Secondary patency at 1, 3, and 5 years was 90%, 78%, and 58% for cryopreserved femoral vein and 75%, 53%, and 42% for artery, respectively (P < .001). Mean allograft fee per day of graft patency was $4.78 for cryopreserved vein and $6.97 for artery (P < .05), excluding interventional costs to maintain patency. CONCLUSIONS: Cryopreserved allograft provides an excellent conduit for angioaccess when autogenous tissue is not available in patients with current or past conduit infection. Cryopreserved vein was associated with higher patency and a lower cost per day of graft patency. Cryopreserved allograft allows for immediate reconstruction through areas of infection, reduces the need for staged procedures, and allows early use for dialysis.

Medical therapy and intervention do not improve uncomplicated isolated mesenteric artery dissection outcomes over observation alone.

OBJECTIVE: Isolated dissection of the mesenteric vessels is rare but increasingly recognized. This study aimed to evaluate patient characteristics, primary treatment, and subsequent outcomes of mesenteric dissection using multi-institutional data. METHODS: All patients at participant hospitals between January 2003 and December 2015 with dissection of the celiac artery (or its branches) or dissection of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) were included. Patients with an aortic dissection were excluded. Demographic, treatment, and follow-up data were collected. The primary outcomes included late vessel thrombosis (LVT) and aneurysmal degeneration (AD). RESULTS: Twelve institutions identified 227 patients (220 with complete treatment records) with a mean age of 55 ± 12.5 years. Median time to last follow up was 15 months (interquartile range, 3.8-32). Most patients were men (82% vs 18% women) and symptomatic at presentation (162 vs 65 asymptomatic). Isolated SMA dissection was more common than celiac artery dissection (n = 158 and 81, respectively). Concomitant dissection of both arteries was rare (n = 12). The mean dissection length was significantly longer in symptomatic patients than in asymptomatic patients in both the celiac artery (27 vs 18 mm; P = .01) and the SMA (64 vs 40 mm; P < .001). Primary treatment was medical in 146 patients with oral anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy (n = 76 and 70, respectively), whereas 56 patients were observed. LVT occurred in six patients, and 16 patients developed AD (3% and 8%, respectively). For symptomatic patients without evidence of ischemia (n = 134), there was no difference in occurrence of LVT with medical therapy compared with observation alone (9% vs 0%; P = .35). No asymptomatic patient (n = 64) had an episode of LVT at 5 years. AD rates did not differ among symptomatic patients without ischemia treated with medical therapy or observed (9% vs 5%; P = .95). Surgical or endovascular intervention was performed in 18 patients (3 ischemia, 13 pain, 1 AD, 1 asymptomatic). Excluding the patients treated for ischemia, there was no difference in LVT with surgical intervention vs medical management (one vs five; P = .57). CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic patients with isolated mesenteric artery dissection may be observed and followed up with intermittent imaging. Symptomatic patients tend to have longer dissections than asymptomatic patients. Symptomatic isolated mesenteric artery dissection without evidence of ischemia does not require anticoagulation and may be treated with antiplatelet therapy or observation alone.

Current techniques to treat pathologic perforator veins.

Pathologic perforating veins have become an interest to the venous specialist caring for patients with CEAP 4 to 6 disease. Historically, open perforator ligation and then subdermal endoscopic perforator ligation was described. These methods had clear shortcomings. More recently, thermal ablation techniques, including radiofrequency ablation and laser ablation, have been described. Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy has also been used as a possible means to treat pathologic perforator veins. This report describes and summarizes the updated techniques to treat perforating veins in a challenging patient population.

Predicting Mortality in Patients Developing Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Liver Transplantation: Impact of Treatment Modality and Recurrence Characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate predictors of mortality and impact of treatment in patients developing recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following liver transplantation (LT). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Despite well-described clinicopathologic predictors of posttransplant HCC recurrence, data on prognosis following recurrence are scarce. METHODS: Multivariate predictors of mortality following HCC recurrence were identified to develop a risk score model to stratify prognostic subgroups among 106 patients developing posttransplant recurrence from 1984 to 2014, including analysis of recurrence treatment modality on survival. RESULTS: Of 857 patients undergoing LT, 106 (12.4%) developed posttransplant HCC recurrence (median 15.8 months following LT) with a median post-recurrence survival of 10.6 months. Patients receiving surgical therapy (n = 25) had a median survival of 27.8 months, significantly superior to patients receiving nonsurgical therapy (10.6 months) and best supportive care (3.7 months, P < 0.001). Multivariate predictors of mortality following recurrence included model for end-stage liver disease at LT >23, time to recurrence, >3 recurrent nodules, maximum recurrence size, bone recurrence, alphafetoprotein at recurrence, donor serum sodium, and pretransplant recipient neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio. A risk score model based on multivariate predictors accurately stratified recurrent HCC patients into prognostic subgroups, with low-risk patients (<10 points) demonstrating excellent median survival of 70.6 months, significantly superior to the medium-risk (12.2 months, 10-16 points) and high-risk (3.4 months, >16 points) groups (C-statistic 0.75, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In the largest single-center report of recurrent HCC following LT, surgical treatment in well-selected patients is associated with significantly improved survival and should be pursued. A risk score model accurately stratifies prognostic subgroups, and may help guide treatment strategies.

A multi-institutional experience in adventitial cystic disease.

BACKGROUND: Adventitial cystic disease (ACD) is an unusual arteriopathy; case reports and small series constitute the available literature regarding treatment. We sought to examine the presentation, contemporary management, and long-term outcomes using a multi-institutional database. METHODS: Using a standardized database, 14 institutions retrospectively collected demographics, comorbidities, presentation/symptoms, imaging, treatment, and follow-up data on consecutive patients treated for ACD during a 10-year period, using Society for Vascular Surgery reporting standards for limb ischemia. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed comparing treatment methods and factors associated with recurrent intervention. Life-table analysis was performed to estimate the freedom from reintervention in comparing the various treatment modalities. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients (32 men, 15 women; mean age, 43 years) were identified with ACD involving the popliteal artery (n = 41), radial artery (n = 3), superficial/common femoral artery (n = 2), and common femoral vein (n = 1). Lower extremity claudication was seen in 93% of ACD of the leg arteries, whereas patients with upper extremity ACD had hand or arm pain. Preoperative diagnosis was made in 88% of patients, primarily using cross-sectional imaging of the lower extremity; mean lower extremity ankle-brachial index was 0.71 in the affected limb. Forty-one patients with lower extremity ACD underwent operative repair (resection with interposition graft, 21 patients; cyst resection, 13 patients; cyst resection with bypass graft, 5 patients; cyst resection with patch, 2 patients). Two patients with upper extremity ACD underwent cyst drainage without resection or arterial reconstruction. Complications, including graft infection, thrombosis, hematoma, and wound dehiscence, occurred in 12% of patients. Mean lower extremity ankle-brachial index at 3 months postoperatively improved to 1.07 (P < .001), with an overall mean follow-up of 20 months (range, 0.33-9 years). Eight patients (18%) with lower extremity arterial ACD required reintervention (redo cyst resection, one; thrombectomy, three; redo bypass, one; balloon angioplasty, three) after a mean of 70 days with symptom relief in 88%. Lower extremity patients who underwent cyst resection and interposition or bypass graft were less likely to require reintervention (P = .04). One patient with lower extremity ACD required an above-knee amputation for extensive tissue loss. CONCLUSIONS: This multi-institutional, contemporary experience of ACD examines the treatment and outcomes of ACD. The majority of patients can be identified preoperatively; surgical repair, consisting of cyst excision with arterial reconstruction or bypass alone, provides the best long-term symptomatic relief and reduced need for intervention to maintain patency.

Evaluation of Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinomas That Do Not Produce α-Fetoprotein.

Importance: Serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) is a biomarker for hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) associated with a more aggressive tumor phenotype and inferior outcomes after a liver transplant (LT). Data on the outcomes for patients with HCCs that do not produce AFP are limited. Objective: To compare characteristics and outcomes among LT recipients with radiographically apparent HCC lesions with AFP-producing tumors or with tumors that do not produce AFP (hereafter referred to as non-AFP-producing tumors), and to identify factors influencing recurrence in LT recipients with non-AFP-producing tumors. Design, Setting, and Participants: Retrospective analysis at a university transplant center of 665 adults with HCC who underwent an LT during the period from 1989 to 2013. Of the 665 LT recipients, 457 (68.7%) had AFP-producing tumors, and 208 (31.3%) had non-AFP-producing tumors (the maximum AFP level before an LT was ≤10 ng/mL). Dates of study analysis were from August 2015 to June 2016. Intervention: Liver transplant. Main Outcomes and Measures: Recurrence-free survival and recurrence rates. Results: Patients with non-AFP-producing tumors had radiographic tumor characteristics similar to those of patients with AFP-producing tumors, but, pathologically, they had fewer lesions (25% vs 35% with >2 lesions; P = .03), smaller cumulative tumor diameters (4.2 vs 5.0 cm; P = .02), fewer microvascular (17% vs 22%) and macrovascular (2% vs 9%) invasions (P < .001), and fewer poorly differentiated tumors (15% vs 28%; P < .001). Patients with non-AFP-producing tumors also had significantly superior recurrence-free survival at 1, 3, and 5 years (88%, 74%, and 67% vs 76%, 59%, and 51%, respectively; P = .002) and lower 5-year recurrence rates (8.8% vs 22%; P < .001) than patients with AFP-producing tumors. When stratified by radiologic Milan criteria, 5-year survival was better, and recurrence lowest, among patients with non-AFP-producing tumors within the Milan criteria (71% survival and 6% recurrence), and survival was worse, and recurrence highest, for patients with AFP-producing tumors outside the Milan criteria (40% survival and 42% recurrence; P < .001). Significant predictors of recurrence among patients with non-AFP-producing tumors include radiologic (>2 tumors [HR, 4.98; 95% CI, 1.72-14.4; P = .003]; cumulative diameter [1.70 per log SD; 1.12-2.59; P < .001]; outside the Milan criteria [10.0; 3.7-33.3; P < .001) and pathologic factors (>2 tumors [4.39; 1.32-14.6; P = .02]; cumulative diameter [2.32 per log SD; 1.43-3.77; P = .001]; microvascular [3.07; 1.02-9.24; P = .05] and macrovascular invasion [8.75; 2.15-35.6; P = .002]). Conclusions and Relevance: Nearly one-third of patients with radiographically apparent HCC have non-AFP-producing tumors that have more favorable pathologic characteristics, lower posttransplant recurrence, and superior survival compared with patients with AFP-producing tumors. Posttransplant HCC recurrence for patients with non-AFP-producing tumors is predicted by important radiologic and pathologic factors, and is negligible for patients within the Milan criteria. Stratifying patients by AFP status in addition to radiological criteria may improve the selection process for and the prioritization of transplant candidates.

Current state of the treatment of perforating veins.

Perforating veins may play a role in the development of chronic venous insufficiency and ulceration. There is renewed interest in minimally invasive treatments vs historic surgical options. Current indications for treatment, technical success, and evidence for clinical efficacy are summarized. Existing recommendations include perforator closure in Clinical, Etiology, Anatomy, and Pathophysiology class 5 or class 6 disease through percutaneous thermal ablation, subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery, open surgery, or sclerotherapy. Closure rates for percutaneous thermal ablation are reported as 60% to 80% initially. More recanalization and de novo perforator formation have been reported than after thermal saphenous closure. Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy has shown promise in perforator closure and wound healing, but with variable success rates. Regardless of method used, successful closure of perforators appears predictive of wound healing with minimal morbidity. However, the power and design of all studies supporting this are far from robust, and more work is needed.

Treatment and outcomes of aortic endograft infection.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the medical and surgical management and outcomes of patients with aortic endograft infection after abdominal endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) or thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). METHODS: Patients diagnosed with infected aortic endografts after EVAR/TEVAR between January 1, 2004, and January 1, 2014, were reviewed using a standardized, multi-institutional database. Demographic, comorbidity, medical management, surgical, and outcomes data were included. RESULTS: An aortic endograft infection was diagnosed in 206 patients (EVAR, n = 180; TEVAR, n = 26) at a mean 22 months after implant. Clinical findings at presentation included pain (66%), fever/chills (66%), and aortic fistula (27%). Ultimately, 197 patients underwent surgical management after a mean of 153 days. In situ aortic replacement was performed in 186 patients (90%) using cryopreserved allograft in 54, neoaortoiliac system in 21, prosthetic in 111 (83% soaked in antibiotic), and 11 patients underwent axillary-(bi)femoral bypass. Graft cultures were primarily polymicrobial (35%) and gram-positive (22%). Mean hospital length of stay was 23 days, with perioperative 30-day morbidity of 35% and mortality of 11%. Of the nine patients managed only medically, four of five TEVAR patients died after mean of 56 days and two of four EVAR patients died; both deaths were graft-related (mean follow-up, 4 months). Nineteen replacement grafts were explanted after a mean of 540 days and were most commonly associated with prosthetic graft material not soaked in antibiotic and extra-anatomic bypass. Mean follow-up was 21 months, with life-table survival of 70%, 65%, 61%, 56%, and 51% at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic endograft infection can be eradicated by excision and in situ or extra-anatomic replacement but is often associated with early postoperative morbidity and mortality and occasionally with a need for late removal for reinfection. Prosthetic graft replacement after explanation is associated with higher reinfection and graft-related complications and decreased survival compared with autogenous reconstruction.