The relationship of fat and muscle measurements with emphysema and bronchial wall thickening in smokers.

Introduction: Differences in body composition in patients with COPD may have important prognostic value and may provide opportunities for patient-specific management. We investigated the relation of thoracic fat and muscle with computed tomography (CT)-measured emphysema and bronchial wall thickening. Methods: Low-dose baseline chest CT scans from 1031 male lung cancer screening participants from one site were quantified for emphysema, bronchial wall thickening, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat and skeletal muscle. Body composition measurements were performed by segmenting the first slice above the aortic arch using Hounsfield unit thresholds with region growing and manual corrections. COPD presence and severity were evaluated with pre-bronchodilator spirometry testing. Results: Participants had a median age of 61.5 years (58.6-65.6, 25th-75th percentile) and median number of 38.0 pack-years (28.0-49.5); 549 (53.2%) were current smokers. Overall, 396 (38.4%) had COPD (256 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 1, 140 GOLD 2-3). Participants with COPD had less subcutaneous fat, visceral fat and skeletal muscle (p<0.001 for all). With increasing GOLD stages, subcutaneous (p=0.005) and visceral fat values (p=0.004) were higher, and skeletal muscle was lower (p=0.004). With increasing severity of CT-derived emphysema, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat and skeletal muscle values were lower (p<0.001 for all). With increasing CT-derived bronchial wall thickness, subcutaneous and visceral fat values were higher (p<0.001 for both), without difference in skeletal muscle. All statistical relationships remained when adjusted for age, pack-years and smoking status. Conclusion: COPD presence and emphysema severity are associated with smaller amounts of thoracic fat and muscle, whereas bronchial wall thickening is associated with fat accumulation.

Repeatability, and Intra-Observer and Interobserver Agreement of Two Dimensional Perfusion Angiography in Patients with Chronic Limb Threatening Ischaemia.

OBJECTIVE: Two dimensional (2D) perfusion angiography is a method that provides quantitative foot perfusion information from standard digital subtraction angiography acquisitions. The aim of this study was to test the reliability of this method in patients with chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI) by investigating repeatability, and intra-observer and interobserver agreement. METHODS: Twenty patients with CLTI and a below the knee endovascular revascularisation were included in a prospective clinical study. Prior to treatment two perfusion angiography runs were acquired with a five minute interval without performing an intervention. In these recordings, regions of interest were selected and time density curves and perfusion parameters were determined. To investigate intra-observer agreement one observer performed five measurements on the same acquisition for each patient. To investigate interobserver agreement three observers performed measurements on the same acquisition for each patient. Results were presented in Bland-Altman plots and as the intraclass correlation coefficient per parameter. RESULTS: Two patients were excluded from repeatability analyses because of major motion artefacts. Repeatability analyses of the 18 remaining patients showed excellent correlation for every parameter (> .96). Intra-observer and interobserver agreement for all 20 patients were excellent for all parameters (1.00). CONCLUSION: Repeatability and intra-observer and interobserver agreement of 2D perfusion angiography in patients with CLTI were found to be excellent. It is therefore a reliable tool when used according to the standardised methods described in this study.

Antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy after revascularization for lower extremity artery disease: a national survey and literature overview.

BACKGROUND: Antiplatelet therapy (APT) after interventions for lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) is recommended. However, (inter)national guidelines vary on type and duration of APT. This report aimed to present the results of a survey on antithrombotic prescribing patterns after lower limb interventions in the Netherlands and an overview of the available literature on this topic. METHODS: Vascular surgeons from the Dutch Society for Vascular Surgery and interventional radiologists from the Dutch Society for Interventional Radiology received an online survey on the type and duration of antithrombotic medication after lower limb interventions. RESULTS: Surveys were completed by 139 of 285 vascular surgeons (49%) and 24 of 288 (8%) interventional radiologists. Clopidogrel was the most prescribed drug after iliac percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) (77%), femoral PTA (77%), femoral PTA with drug-coated balloon (66%), and femoropopliteal (80%) and femorocrural (51%) prosthetic bypasses. Dual APT (DAPT), consisting of aspirin and clopidogrel, was most often prescribed after femoral PTA with stenting (56%) and crural PTAs (55% without stent, 73% with stent). Vitamin K antagonists were most often prescribed after femoropopliteal (83%) and femorocrural (80%) venous bypasses. Aspirin monotherapy prescription varied from 1% to 8% after interventions. Many interventional radiologists responded that they only advise in medication prescription but do not prescribe themselves. CONCLUSIONS: Prescription of antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy in LEAD patients after femoral and crural interventions varies widely among Dutch vascular surgeons, mostly between clopidogrel and DAPT. The duration of DAPT is also highly variable. These results reflect low-level evidence and discrepancy in current guideline recommendations.

Editor's Choice - Drug Coated Balloon Angioplasty vs. Standard Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty in Below the Knee Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to review and analyse the literature on clinical outcomes of drug coated balloon (DCB) vs. standard percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for the treatment of infrapopliteal arterial disease. METHODS: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis. The MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for studies published between January 2008 and November 2018. Two authors independently performed the search, study selection, assessment of methodological quality and data extraction. Studies were eligible when reporting PTA and DCB outcomes in infrapopliteal arteries, published in English, human studies, and full text was available. Methodological quality was determined by MINORS and Cochrane risk of bias tool. GRADE methodology was used to rate the evidence for observed outcomes. The primary outcome was the 12 month limb salvage rate. Secondary outcomes were 12 month survival, amputation free survival (AFS), restenosis, and target lesion revascularisation (TLR) rates. Inclusion criteria for pooling data were randomised controlled trials and comparative studies with 12 month outcomes. RESULTS: Ten studies representing 1593 patients met the inclusion criteria. The quality was assessed as moderate or low. Data from five studies were pooled, and 12 month outcomes for DCB vs. PTA were limb salvage rate, 94.0% vs. 95.7% (odds ratio (OR), 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.39-2.21); and survival rate, 89.8% vs. 92.9% (OR 0.69; 95% CI 0.39-1.21). Data from four studies were pooled, and 12 month outcomes for PTA vs. DCB were restenosis rate, 62.0% vs. 32.9% (OR 2.87; 95% CI 0.83-9.92); and TLR rate, 27.8% vs. 14.0% (OR 2.76; 95% CI 0.90-8.48). Pooled data from two studies showed 12 month AFS rate for DCB vs. PTA; 82.5% vs. 88.7% (OR 0.79; 95% CI 0.23-2.75). No statistically significant differences were found. CONCLUSION: Based on this systematic review and meta-analysis no significant differences in limb salvage, survival, restenosis, TLR, and AFS rates were found when DCB angioplasty was compared with standard PTA.

Medical adjunctive therapy for patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this article is to systematically review the literature on medical adjunctive therapy for patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for studies published between January 1st, 2009, and June 1st, 2019. Articles that studied medical treatment of CLTI patients and reported clinical outcomes were eligible. Main exclusion criteria were case reports <20 patients, incorrect publication type, and CLTI caused by Buerger disease. The primary end point was major amputation (above the ankle) in studies with a follow-up of ≥6 months. Secondary end points were other clinical end points such as death and wound healing. Study quality was assessed according to the Downs and Black checklist. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Included were 42 articles: four focused on antiplatelet therapy, five on antihypertensive medication, 6 on lipid-lowering therapy, 16 on stem cell therapy, three on growth factors, five on prostanoids, and one study each on cilostazol, glucose-lowering therapy, spinal cord stimulation, sulodexide, and hemodilution. Calcium channel blockers, iloprost, cilostazol, and hemodilution showed significant improvement of limb salvage, but data are limited. Stem cell therapy showed no significant improvement of limb salvage but could potentially improve wound healing. Antiplatelets, antihypertensives, and statins showed significantly lower cardiovascular events rates but not evident lower major amputation rates. The quality of the studies was fair to good. CONCLUSIONS: Certain medical therapies serve to improve limb salvage next to revascularization in CLTI patients, whereas others are important in secondary prevention. Because high quality evidence is limited, further research is needed.

Comparing Venous Reconstructions and Antimicrobial Graft Reconstructions in Mycotic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms and Aortic Graft Infections.

BACKGROUND: The perioperative mortality and morbidity rates of surgical repair of mycotic abdominal aortic aneurysms and aortic graft infections are high, and the appropriate treatment is debated. This retrospective study compared venous and antimicrobial prosthetic aortic graft reconstructions. METHODS: All patients of the Northwest Clinics and St. Antonius Hospital who were treated for mycotic abdominal aortic aneurysms or aortic graft infections between January 1, 2008, and January 1, 2018, were analyzed. Exclusion criterion was treatment other than venous or antimicrobial reconstructions. Primary end points were 30-day complications and mortality rates and 3-year overall survival. Secondary end points were reintervention-free survival, persistent infection and reinfection rates, and hospital length of stay. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients met the inclusion criteria, of whom 32 underwent venous reconstructions and 19 antimicrobial prosthetic aortic graft reconstructions. Baseline characteristics did not differ significantly between these groups, except for duration of surgical repair, which was longer in the venous group. The 30-day and 1-year mortality rates, reinfection rates, complication rates, and hospital length of stay did not significantly differ between the groups. The 3-year overall survival was 77% for venous reconstruction compared with 66% for antimicrobial reconstruction (P = 0.781). The 30-day reintervention rate was 19% for the venous group compared with 42% for the prosthetic group (P = 0.071). Reintervention-free survival at 3 years was 46% for the venous group compared with 52% for the prosthetic group (P = 0.615). CONCLUSIONS: Venous reconstruction tends to have better 3-year overall survival and lower 30-day reintervention rates compared with antimicrobial prosthetic graft reconstruction in patients with mycotic abdominal aortic aneurysms or abdominal aortic graft infections. In the acute setting, antimicrobial prosthetic graft reconstruction is a valuable solution due to the shorter operation time and similar 30-day mortality and complication rates.