Cohort profile of PLUTO: a perioperative biobank focusing on prediction and early diagnosis of postoperative complications.

PURPOSE: Although elective surgery is generally safe, some procedures remain associated with an increased risk of complications. Improved preoperative risk stratification and earlier recognition of these complications may ameliorate postoperative recovery and improve long-term outcomes. The perioperative longitudinal study of complications and long-term outcomes (PLUTO) cohort aims to establish a comprehensive biorepository that will facilitate research in this field. In this profile paper, we will discuss its design rationale and opportunities for future studies. PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing elective intermediate to high-risk non-cardiac surgery are eligible for enrolment. For the first seven postoperative days, participants are subjected to daily bedside visits by dedicated observers, who adjudicate clinical events and perform non-invasive physiological measurements (including handheld spirometry and single-channel electroencephalography). Blood samples and microbiome specimens are collected at preselected time points. Primary study outcomes are the postoperative occurrence of nosocomial infections, major adverse cardiac events, pulmonary complications, acute kidney injury and delirium/acute encephalopathy. Secondary outcomes include mortality and quality of life, as well as the long-term occurrence of psychopathology, cognitive dysfunction and chronic pain. FINDINGS TO DATE: Enrolment of the first participant occurred early 2020. During the inception phase of the project (first 2 years), 431 patients were eligible of whom 297 patients consented to participate (69%). Observed event rate was 42% overall, with the most frequent complication being infection. FUTURE PLANS: The main purpose of the PLUTO biorepository is to provide a framework for research in the field of perioperative medicine and anaesthesiology, by storing high-quality clinical data and biomaterials for future studies. In addition, PLUTO aims to establish a logistical platform for conducting embedded clinical trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05331118.

Leisure-time and occupational physical activity and health outcomes in cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE: In healthy populations, leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) improves health outcomes, while, paradoxically, occupational physical activity (OPA) is associated with detrimental health effects. This study aimed to investigate the associations of LTPA and OPA with mortality, cardiovascular events and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: In 7058 outpatients with CVD (age 61±10 years, 75% male) from the prospective Utrecht Cardiovascular Cohort-Second Manifestations of ARTerial disease cohort, Cox models were used to quantify the associations between self-reported LTPA and OPA and all-cause mortality, cardiovascular events and T2D. RESULTS: Over 8.6 years (IQR: 4.6-12.5) of follow-up, 1088 vascular events, 1254 deaths and 447 incident T2D cases occurred. The top LTPA quarter had a lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.74), recurrent cardiovascular events (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.84) and incident T2D (HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.93), compared with the lowest quarter. The continuous LTPA associations were reverse J-shaped for all-cause mortality and vascular events and linear for T2D. OPA (heavy manual vs sedentary) showed a trend towards an increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.35), cardiovascular events (HR 1.15, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.45) and T2D (HR 1.04, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.50). The detrimental effects of higher OPA were more pronounced in men, never-smokers, people with higher education and active employment. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CVD, LTPA was associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality, recurrent cardiovascular events and incident T2D. In contrast, OPA seemed to increase the risk of these outcomes. These findings support the existence of a physical activity paradox in patients with CVD.

The relation between urinary sodium and potassium excretion and risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND: Most evidence on the relationship between sodium and potassium intake and cardiovascular disease originated from general population studies. This study aimed to evaluate the relation between estimated 24-hour sodium and potassium urinary excretion and the risk of recurrent vascular events and mortality in patients with vascular disease. METHODS: 7561 patients with vascular disease enrolled in the UCC-SMART cohort (1996-2015) were included. Twenty-four hour sodium and potassium urinary excretion were estimated (Kawasaki formulae) from morning urine samples. Cox proportional hazard models with restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate the relation between estimated urinary salt excretion and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; including myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiovascular mortality) and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 7.4 years (interquartile range: 4.1-11.0), the relations between estimated 24-hour sodium urinary excretion and outcomes were J-shaped with nadirs of 4.59 gram/day for recurrent MACE and 4.97 gram/day for all-cause mortality. The relation between sodium-to-potassium excretion ratio and outcomes were also J-shaped with nadirs of 2.71 for recurrent MACE and 2.60 for all-cause mortality. Higher potassium urinary excretion was related to an increased risk of both recurrent MACE (HR 1.25 per gram potassium excretion per day; 95%CI 1.13-1.39) and all cause-mortality (HR 1.13 per gram potassium excretion per day; 95%CI 1.03-1.25). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with established vascular disease, lower and higher sodium intake were associated with higher risk of recurrent MACE and all-cause mortality. Higher estimated 24-hour potassium urinary excretion was associated with a higher risk of recurrent MACE and all-cause mortality.

Platelet aggregation inhibitor prescription for newly diagnosed peripheral arterial disease in the Netherlands: a cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Pharmacological treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) comprises of antiplatelet therapy (APT), blood pressure control and cholesterol optimisation. Guidelines provide class-I recommendations on the prescription, but there are little data on the actual prescription practices. Our study provides insight into the prescription of medication among patients with PAD in the Netherlands and reports a 'real-world' patient journey through primary and secondary care. DESIGN: We conducted a cohort study among patients newly diagnosed with PAD between 2010 and 2014. SETTING: Data were obtained from the PHARMO Database Network, a population-based network of electronic pharmacy, primary and secondary healthcare setting records in the Netherlands. The source population for this study comprised almost 1 million individuals. PARTICIPANTS: 'Newly diagnosed' was defined as a recorded International Classification of Primary Care code for PAD, a PAD-specific WCIA examination code or a diagnosis recorded as free text episode in the general practitioner records with no previous PAD diagnosis record and no prescription of P2Y12 inhibitors or aspirin the preceding year. The patient journey was defined by at least 1 year of database history and follow-up relative to the index date. RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2014, we identified 3677 newly diagnosed patients with PAD. Most patients (91%) were diagnosed in primary care. Almost half of all patients (49%) had no APT dispensing record. Within this group, 33% received other anticoagulant therapy (vitamin K antagonist or direct oral anticoagulant). Mono-APT was dispensed as aspirin (40% of patients) or P2Y12 inhibitors (2.5% of patients). Dual APT combining aspirin with a P2Y12 inhibitor was dispensed to 8.5% of the study population. CONCLUSION: Half of all patients with newly diagnosed PAD are not treated conforming to (international) guideline recommendations on thromboembolism prevention through APT. At least 33% of all patients with newly diagnosed PAD do not receive any antithrombotic therapy. Evaluation and improvement of APT prescription and thereby improved prevention of (secondary) cardiovascular events is warranted.

Long-term Outcome of Axillo-axillary Bypass in Patients with Subclavian or Innominate Artery Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Subclavian or innominate artery stenosis (SAS) may cause upper extremity and cerebral ischemia. In patients with symptomatic subclavian or innominate artery stenosis, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is the treatment of first choice. When percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is technically restricted or unsuccessful, an extrathoracic bypass grafting, such as an axillo-axillary bypass can be considered. The patency rate of axillo-axillary bypass is often questioned. The aim of this study was to assess long-term outcomes of patients undergoing axillo-axillary bypass for subclavian or innominate artery stenosis (SAS) and to provide a literature overview. METHODS: In this single-center study, data from patients who underwent axillo-axillary bypass for symptomatic SAS between 2002 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Bypass material was Dacron® (54%) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) (46%). Primary outcome was graft patency and secondary outcome was the occurrence of mortality and stroke. In addition, a systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE and EMBASE databases including all studies describing patency of axillo-axillary bypass. RESULTS: In total, 28 axillo-axillary bypasses had been performed. Cumulative primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency rates at one year were 89%, 93%, and 96%, respectively. Cumulative primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency rates at five years were 76%, 84%, and 87%, respectively. The primary-assisted patency rates at five years for Dacron® and PTFE were 93% and 73%, respectively. A total of four primary axillo-axillary bypass occlusions occurred (14%), with a mean of 12 months (range, 0.4-25) after operation. The 30-day mortality was 7%; one patient died after a stroke and one died of a myocardial infarction. At the first postoperative follow-up control, 22 of the 26 remaining patients (85%) had relief of symptoms. The literature search included 7 studies and described a one-year primary patency range of 93-100% (n = 137) and early postoperative adverse events included death (range, 0-13%) and stroke (range, 0-5%). CONCLUSIONS: Patency rates of axillo-axillary bypasses for patients with a symptomatic SAS are good. However, the procedural complication rate in this series is high and attention should be paid to intervention indication.

Cardiovascular risk factors and the risk of major adverse limb events in patients with symptomatic cardiovascular disease.

AIM: To determine the relationship between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-c), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and smoking and the risk of major adverse limb events (MALE) and the combination with major adverse cardiovascular events (MALE/MACE) in patients with symptomatic vascular disease. METHODS: Patients with symptomatic vascular disease from the Utrecht Cardiovascular Cohort - Secondary Manifestations of ARTerial disease (1996-2017) study were included. The effects of non-HDL-c, SBP and smoking on the risk of MALE were analysed with Cox proportional hazard models stratified for presence of peripheral artery disease (PAD). MALE was defined as major amputation, peripheral revascularisation or thrombolysis in the lower limb. RESULTS: In 8139 patients (median follow-up 7.8 years, IQR 4.0-11.8), 577 MALE (8.7 per 1000 person-years) and 1933 MALE/MACE were observed (29.1 per 1000 person-years). In patients with PAD there was no relation between non-HDL-c and MALE, and in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular disease (CVD) or abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) the risk of MALE was higher per 1 mmol/L non-HDL-c (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.29). Per 10 mm Hg SBP, the risk of MALE was higher in patients with PAD (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.12) and in patients with CVD/CAD/AAA (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.22). The risk of MALE was higher in smokers with PAD (HR 1.45, 95% CI 0.97 to 2.14) and CAD/CVD/AAA (HR 7.08, 95% CI 3.99 to 12.57). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of MALE and MALE/MACE in patients with symptomatic vascular disease differs according to vascular disease location and is associated with non-HDL-c, SBP and smoking. These findings confirm the importance of MALE as an outcome and underline the importance of risk factor management in patients with vascular disease.

Heterogeneity in Standard Operating Procedures for Catheter Directed Thrombolysis for Peripheral Arterial Occlusions in The Netherlands: A Nationwide Overview.

OBJECTIVE: Catheter directed thrombolysis (CDT) for acute arterial occlusions of the lower extremities is associated with a risk of major bleeding complications. Strict monitoring of vital functions is advised for timely adjustment or discontinuation of thrombolytic treatment. Nevertheless, current evidence on the optimal application of CDT and use of monitoring during CDT is limited. In this study the different standard operating procedures (SOPs) for CDT in Dutch hospitals were compared against a national guideline in a nationwide analysis. METHODS: SOPs, landmark studies, and national and international guidelines for CDT for acute lower extremity arterial occlusions were compared. The protocols of 34 Dutch medical centres where CDT is performed were assessed. Parameters included contraindications to CDT, co-administration of heparin, thrombolytic agent administration, angiographic control, and patient monitoring. RESULTS: Thirty-four SOPs were included, covering 94% of medical centres performing CDT in the Netherlands. None of the SOPs had identical contraindications and a strong divergence in relative and absolute grading was found. Heparin and urokinase dosages differed by a factor of five. In 18% of the SOPs heparin co-administration was not mentioned. Angiographic control varied between once every 6 h to once every 24 h. In 76% of the SOPs plasma fibrinogen levels were used for CDT dose adjustments. However, plasma fibrinogen level threshold values for treatment adjustments varied between 2.0 g/L and 0.5 g/L. CONCLUSION: The SOPs for CDT for acute arterial occlusions of the lower extremities differ greatly on five major operating aspects among medical centres in the Netherlands. None of the SOPs exactly conforms to current national or international guidelines. This study provides direction on how to increase homogeneity in guideline recommendations and to improve guideline adherence in CDT.

Factors Associated with Hospital Dependent Delay to Carotid Endarterectomy in the Dutch Audit for Carotid Interventions.

OBJECTIVES: As the risk of a recurrent neurological event in patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis requiring carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is highest in the early phase after the first neurological event, guidelines recommend operating on these patients as soon as possible or at least within 14 days of their initial event. However, in real world practice this is often not met. The aim of this study is to identify factors that cause hospital dependent delay to CEA. METHODS: All consecutive patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis undergoing CEA registered in the mandatory Dutch Audit for Carotid Interventions from January 2014 up to and including December 2017 were included in the current analysis. Univariable followed by multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent factors associated with hospital dependent waiting time, defined as time from the first consultation at any hospital to CEA of more than 14 days. RESULTS: A total of 8620 patients were included. The median time to CEA was 11 days (IQR 8-14). Seventy-eight per cent of patients underwent CEA within 14 days of first hospital consultation. Factors associated with a hospital dependent waiting time longer than 14 days were age (OR 0.99 per year, 95% CI 0.98-0.99), any previous CEA (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.32-2.09), ocular symptoms as index event (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.15-1.50), and indirect referral (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.34-1.73). Hospital surgical volume was not identified as a factor for delay, except for the delay of indirectly referred patients where high volume hospitals reported the shortest delay. CONCLUSION: This cohort derived from a validated nationwide prospective audit identified younger age, previous CEA, ocular symptoms, and indirect referral as hospital dependent factors for delay. High volume hospitals had a similar hospital dependent waiting time to middle and low volume hospitals. However, high volume hospitals had more indirect referrals, implying that their logistics are more efficiently organised.

[When is carotid endarterectomy actually indicated for stenosis?] / Wie moet er eigenlijk nog aan vernauwing in de A. carotis geopereerd worden?

Criteria for carotid endarterectomy are based on the results of clinical trials that were conducted more than two decades ago. In the meantime medical treatment has improved, and surgery can be performed more safely. As such, it is currently unknown which patients should be recommended to undergo carotid surgery. The aim of the currently running European Carotid Surgery Trial 2 is to find better answers to this dilemma.

[Faster wound healing after vascular surgery: negative pressure wound therapy for exposed prosthetic vascular grafts in the groin]. / Snellere wondgenezing na vaatchirurgie.

Vascular surgery in the groin is highly susceptible to wound infection (up to about 30%). Wound infections associated with exposed vascular prosthetic grafts are difficult to treat and may lead to acute bleeding or graft failure, requiring amputation of the lower limb in extreme cases. Negative pressure wound therapy is a method to promote wound healing in case of infected vascular grafts. Since there is suspected risk of bleeding, this technique has been adapted with a double-sponge technique in combination with lower negative pressure.

Arterial stiffening and thickening in patients with pseudoxanthoma elasticum.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients with pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), a monogenetic calcification disease, are at high vascular risk. Although the precise arterial phenotype remains unestablished, it is hypothesized that PXE predominantly affects the medial arterial layer leading to arterial stiffening. We aimed to test this hypothesis by measuring arterial wall characteristics in PXE and comparisons with the general population and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2), a condition typically associated with mixed intimal and medial arterial disease. METHODS: Extensive arterial wall characterization was performed in 203 PXE patients involving intima-media thickness (IMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV) and pulse pressure (PP) measurements. IMT and PWV in PXE were compared with the general population using age, sex and mean arterial pressure corrected values for each PXE patient. IMT and PP were compared between PXE and DM2 independently of sex, age and systolic blood pressure, using data of DM2 patients (n = 1033) from the Second Manifestations of ARTerial disease (SMART) cohort. RESULTS: PXE patients had significantly higher IMT (mean difference 0.09 mm; 95% CI 0.07-0.12 mm) and PWV (mean difference 2.5 m/s; 95% CI 1.9-3.0 m/s) compared to the general population. IMT in PXE was lower compared to DM2 (0.72 mm; 95% CI 0.68-0.75 mm vs. 0.85 mm; 95% CI 0.83-0.87 mm, p-value<0.01), whereas PP in PXE was higher compared to DM2 (60 mmHg; 95% CI 59-62 vs. 57 mmHg; 95% CI 57-58 mmHg, p-value<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: PXE patients have thicker arterial walls than the general population, but thinner arterial walls than DM2 patients at similar age. Arterial stiffening is more pronounced in PXE patients compared to DM2 patients.

Expression and Cellular Localization of CXCR4 and CXCL12 in Human Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaques.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The CXCR4/CXCL12 complex has already been associated with progression of atherosclerosis; however, its exact role is yet unknown. The aim of this study was to analyse the expression and cellular localization of CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques. METHODS: Carotid plaques (n = 58; 31 stable, 27 unstable, based on histological characterization of plaque morphology) were obtained during carotid endarterectomy, and 10 healthy vessels were used as a control. Expression of cxcr4, cxcr7, cxcl12, ccl2/ccr2 and csf1/csf1r was analysed at mRNA, and level expression of CXCR4, CXCR7 and CXCL12 was analysed at protein level. Cellular localization was determined using consecutive and double immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and microdissection. RESULTS: At mRNA level, cxcr4, cxcr7 and cxcl12 were significantly higher expressed in stable carotid plaques compared with controls (p = 0.011, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). Cxcl12 mRNA expression was successively augmented toward unstable plaques (p < 0.001). At protein level, CXCR4, CXCR7 and CXCL12 expression was significantly increased in both stable (p = 0.001, p < 0.001 and p = 0.035, respectively) and unstable (p = 0.003, p < 0.001 and p = 0.045, respectively) plaques compared with controls. Using IHC, CXCR4 was particularly localized in macrophages and small neovessels. Microdissection confirmed strongest expression of cxcr4 in macrophages within atherosclerotic plaques. Leukocytes and smooth muscle cells showed cxcr4 expression as well. For cxcl12, only microdissected areas with macrophages were positive. CONCLUSION: Expression of CXCR4 and CXCL12 was significantly increased in both stable and unstable carotid atherosclerotic plaques compared with healthy vessels, both at mRNA and protein level. CXCR4 and CXCL12 were localized particularly in macrophages.

Unexpected Cardiac Computed Tomography Findings in Patients With Postoperative Myocardial Injury.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative myocardial injury (PMI) is a strong predictor of mortality after noncardiac surgery. PMI is believed to be attributable to coronary artery disease (CAD), yet its etiology is largely unclear. We aimed to quantify the prevalence of significant CAD in patients with and without PMI using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). METHODS: This prospective cohort study included patients of 60 years or older without a history of cardiac disease and with and without PMI after intermediate- to high-risk noncardiac surgery. PMI was defined as any serum troponin I level ≥60 ng/L on the first 3 postoperative days. Main exclusion criteria were known cardiac disease and postoperative ischemic symptoms or electrocardiography abnormalities. Noninvasive imaging consisted of a postoperative CCTA. Main outcome was CAD defined as >50% coronary stenosis on CCTA. RESULTS: The analysis included 66 patients. Median peak troponin levels in the PMI (n = 46) and control group (n = 20) were 150 (interquartile range, 120-298) vs 15 (interquartile range, 10-31) ng/L (P < .01). CAD was found in 23 patients with PMI (50%) vs 3 without PMI (15%; relative risk, 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-9.8). Remarkably, pulmonary embolism was present in 15 patients with PMI (33%) versus in 4 without PMI (20%; relative risk, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 0.6-4.3). None of the patients died within 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: In patients without a history of cardiac disease, PMI after noncardiac surgery was associated with CAD. In addition, a clinically silent pulmonary embolism was found in one-third of patients with PMI. This urges further research to improve clinical workup using imaging and may have important clinical implications.

Decline in risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in the period 1996 to 2014 partly explained by better treatment of risk factors and less subclinical atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: To quantify the decline in recurrent major cardiovascular events (MCVE) risk in patients with clinically manifest vascular disease between 1996 and 2014 and to assess whether the improvements in recurrent MCVE-risk can be explained by reduced prevalence of risk factors, more medication use and less subclinical atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study was conducted in the Second Manifestations of ARTerial disease (SMART) cohort in patients entering the cohort in the period 1996-2014. The prevalence of risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis was measured at baseline. Incidence rates per 100person-years for recurrent MCVE (including stroke, myocardial infarction, retinal bleeding, retinal infarction, terminal heart failure, sudden death, fatal rupture of abdominal aneurysm) were calculated, stratified by the year of study enrolment. For the attributable risk of changes in risk factors, risk factor treatment, and subclinical atherosclerosis on the incidence rates of recurrent MCVE, adjusted rate ratios were estimated with Poisson regression. 7216 patients had a median follow-up of 6.5years (IQR 3.4-9.9). The crude incidence of recurrent MCVE declined by 53% between 1996 and 2014 (from 3.68 to 1.73 events per 100person-years) and by 75% adjusted for age and sex. This improvement in vascular prognosis was 36% explained by changes in risk factors, medication use and subclinical atherosclerosis. CONCLUSION: The risk of recurrent MCVE in patients with clinically manifest vascular disease has strongly declined in the period between 1996 and 2014. This is only partly attributable to lower prevalence of risk factors, improved medication use and less subclinical atherosclerosis.

Validation of the Automated Electronic Microemboli Detection System in Patients Undergoing Carotid Endarterectomy.

PURPOSE: To assess the diagnostic value of automatic embolus detection software (AEDS) in transcranial Doppler (TCD) monitoring for the detection of solid microemboli in patients at risk for perioperative stroke during carotid endarterectomy (CEA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 50 patients undergoing CEA, perioperative TCD registration was recorded. All recorded events, identified and saved by the AEDS, were analyzed off-line doubly by two human experts (HEs) within a time frame of > 4 months. The inter- and intraobserver variability was assessed. The overall agreement with the HEs, the sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values (NPV and PPV) of the AEDS were computed for different cut-offs (patient displaying perioperative 5, 10, 20, 25, or 50 microemboli). RESULTS: 77 233 events were analyzed. The inter- and intraobserver variability was good (min κ = 0.72, max κ = 0.79). AEDS and the HEs identified 760 and 470 solid emboli, respectively. The agreement between AEDS and the HEs for solid emboli detection was poor (κ = 0.24, SE = 0.016). The specificity and NPV were high (99.2 % and 99.6 %) but the sensitivity and PPV were low (30.6 % and 19.8 %). Applying a threshold of > 20 microemboli resulted in the best sensitivity (100.0 %), specificity (84.4 %), PPV (42.7 %), NPV (100.0 %) and area under the curve (0.898). However, 58.3 % of the patients were false positive as classified by AEDS. CONCLUSION: In this validation cohort, AEDS has insufficient agreement with HEs in the identification of solid emboli. AEDS and HEs disagree with respect to the identification of specific patients at risk. Therefore, AEDS cannot be used as a standalone system to identify patients at risk for perioperative stroke during CEA.

Expert review on the VenaSeal® system for endovenous cyano-acrylate adhesive ablation of incompetent saphenous trunks in patients with varicose veins.

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of incompetent truncal veins has been innovated by the introduction of minimally invasive non-thermal non-tumescent (NTNT) techniques. One of these consists of the use of cyanoacrylate glue to occlude the vein lumen by means of the VenaSeal device. Areas covered: This expert-review aims to evaluate NTNT ablation of incompetent saphenous trunks using the VenaSeal device. Expert commentary: Cyanoacrylate adhesive embolization of incompetent truncal veins using the VenaSeal device is a safe and efficacious innovative technique. Further studies are needed to evaluate anatomical and clinical outcomes at long term.

Physical Activity and Characteristics of the Carotid Artery Wall in High-Risk Patients-The SMART (Second Manifestations of Arterial Disease) Study.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity reduces the risk of vascular disease. This benefit is not entirely explained through an effect on vascular risk factors. We examined the relationship of physical activity and characteristics of the carotid artery wall in patients with vascular disease or risk factors. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cross-sectional analyses were performed in 9578 patients from the SMART (Second Manifestations of Arterial Disease) study, a prospective cohort study among patients with vascular disease or risk factors. Physical activity was assessed using questionnaires. Carotid intima-media thickness and carotid artery stenosis of both common carotid arteries was measured. In a subset of 3165 participants carotid diastolic diameter and distension were assessed. Carotid stiffness was expressed as the distensibility coefficient and Young's elastic modulus. Regression analyses adjusted for vascular risk factors showed that physical activity was inversely associated with diastolic diameter (fifth versus first quintile B=-0.13 mm; 95% CI, -0.21 to -0.05) and decreased risk of carotid artery stenosis (relative risk, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.48-0.69). A light level of physical activity was associated with less carotid stiffness (second versus first quintile; Young's elastic modulus B=-0.11 kPa-1×10-3; 95% CI, -0.16 to -0.06; distensibility coefficient B=0.93 kPa×103; 95% CI, 0.34-1.51), but there was no additional benefit with increasing levels of physical activity. In patients with vascular disease, physical activity was inversely associated with common carotid intima-media thickness, but not in patients with vascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with vascular disease or risk factors, increased physical activity was associated with smaller carotid diastolic diameter, decreased risk of carotid artery stenosis, and less carotid stiffness, but it only showed benefits on carotid intima-media thickness in patients with vascular disease.

Inter-arm systolic blood pressure differences, relations with future vascular events and mortality in patients with and without manifest vascular disease.

BACKGROUND: Inter-arm systolic blood pressure difference (SBPD) is an easily obtained patient characteristic which relates to vascular disease. We aimed to identify determinants of large inter-arm SBPD and to investigate the relation between inter-arm SBPD and vascular events in patients with and without manifest vascular disease. METHODS: In a cohort of 7344 patients with manifest vascular disease or vascular risk factors alone enrolled in the Second Manifestations of ARTerial disease (SMART) study, single bilateral non-simultaneous blood pressure measurements were performed. Logistic and Cox regression was used to identify determinants of large inter-arm SBPD (≥15mmHg) and to investigate the relation between inter-arm SBPD and vascular events (composite of non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and vascular mortality) and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: In all patients the median inter-arm SBPD was 7mmHg (IQR 3-11) and 1182 (16%) patients had inter-arm SBPD ≥15mmHg. Higher age, higher systolic blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, peripheral artery disease, carotid artery stenosis, higher carotid intima-media thickness, and lower ankle-brachial indices were related to large inter-arm SBPD (≥15mmHg). Each 5mmHg increase in inter-arm SBPD was related to a 12% higher risk of vascular events in patients without manifest vascular disease (HR 1.12; 95% CI 1.00-1.27), whereas no relation was apparent in patients with manifest vascular disease (HR 0.98; 95% CI 0.93-1.04, interaction p-value 0.036). Inter-arm SBPD was not related to all-cause mortality (HR 1.05; 95% CI 0.93-1.19). CONCLUSIONS: Inter-arm SBPD relates to a higher risk of vascular events in patients without manifest vascular disease, whereas this relation is not apparent in patients with manifest vascular disease.