Anatomical Feasibility of Percutaneous Arteriovenous Fistula Formation in Korea.

INTRODUCTION: Currently, there are two types of percutaneous arteriovenous fistula (pAVF) formation systems approved by the FDA: Ellipsys and WavelinQ. Although these systems are already in use in Europe or the United States, they have not been approved for use in Korea yet. For this reason, this study aimed to check anatomical feasibility of these systems for Korean population prior to their actual use. METHODS: Consecutive patients who received ultrasound vein mapping for arteriovenous fistula formation from June 2021 to June 2022 were included. The anatomical feasibility of each system was confirmed according to the manufacturer's instructions for use (IFU). RESULTS: Upper extremity ultrasonography was performed for a total of 83 patients to determine their feasibility for pAVF formation. Of these patients, 65.1% were feasible for pAVF formation with appropriate deep communicating vein (DCV) and outflow. Among them, 57.8% were feasible for the Ellipsys system and 54.2% were feasible for the WavelinQ system. Most patients who were infeasible for pAVF formation had a DCV of small size. Ulnar vessels were more suitable than radial vessel for WavelinQ (54.2% vs 33.7%, P-value = .012). The most common reason for not meeting the criteria was a small vein size at the access site. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of all patients were feasible for pAVF formation in this study. Ellipsys had a higher feasibility than WavelinQ, although they showed no significant difference in the feasibility. If these devices are imported into Korea, it will be a good opportunity for many patients to reduce the surgical burden and create AVFs more easily through these procedures.

Anatomical feasibility of fenestrated stent graft to treat complex abdominal aortic aneurysms from a Korean single institute database.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the feasibility of Zenith Fenestrated AAA Endovascular Graft (Z-FEN, Cook Medical) from a single Korean institution database by evaluating the vascular anatomy of Korean abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients with hostile aortic neck. Methods: This is a retrospective study on patients with AAA who underwent endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) and open surgery repair between January 2012 and December 2021 (n = 211). The anatomic characteristics of the aortic neck were evaluated using 3-dimensional reconstructed computed tomographic scans. For the juxtarenal AAA patients (n = 39), feasibility of fenestrated stent graft was evaluated under the protocol of fenestrated EVAR. For those who were not suitable for the application of Z-FEN, the reasons for unsuitability were analyzed. Results: Among 211 AAA patients, 108 patients (51.2%) had complex aortic neck, and 39 (18.5%) had insufficient aortic neck length (<15 mm) for conventional EVAR. Of the 39 patients with juxtarenal AAAs, 13 (33.3%) were determined feasible for Z-FEN. Twenty-six patients (66.7%) were noncandidate for Z-FEN due to severe neck angulation, short aortic neck length, inadequate iliac artery anatomy, large aortic neck diameter, and severe calcification and thrombosis. Proximal aortic neck length of the non-feasible group was significantly shorter than that of the feasible group (P = 0.002). Conclusion: Z-FEN was applicable to 33.3% of the juxtarenal AAA patients. As recent studies confirm, the effectiveness and safety of fenestrated EVAR, Z-FEN can be an option for AAA patients with short aortic neck.

Preliminary outcomes of the LifeStream balloon-expandable stentgraft in Zenith Iliac branch device to preserve pelvic circulation: A Korean multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate early outcomes of aortoiliac or isolated iliac artery aneurysm repair using the Zenith® Bifurcated Iliac Side (ZBIS) stent graft combined with the LifeStream™ Balloon Expandable Vascular Covered Stent as a bridging stentgraft. METHODS: Between August 2018 and February 2020, 38 patients (37 male, mean age 72.7 years) received 46 LifeStream stents in conjunction with 38 ZBIS stent grafts to bridge hypogastric arteries for aneurysm repair in six university hospitals in Korea. The primary outcomes were technical success rate and procedure-related complications. Secondary outcomes were bridging stent graft patency and re-intervention. RESULTS: All procedures were performed as elective standard endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) and unilateral iliac branch device (IBD). Mean follow-up was 13.1 months, and patient overall survival rate was 96.7%. Technical success rate was 76.3% (n = 29). Causes of failure included seven total endoleaks; six type Ic and one type IIIc from the IBD junction, one unintentional IIA coverage, and one failure to deploy the IIA stent graft. Procedure-related complications occurred in two patients: one LifeStream migration and one ZBIS stent graft migration. Overall patency rates for the LifeStream and ZBIS stents were 97.4% and 97.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This multicenter preliminary experience with the LifeStream™ Balloon Expandable Vascular Covered Stent in IBD demonstrated good patency; however, an unexpectedly high rate of type Ic endoleaks was observed. Combined use of the LifeStream stent with the ZBIS stent graft is safe and feasible to preserve pelvic circulation with good patency and a low rate of device-related reintervention.

TcPO2 Value Can Predict Wound Healing Time in Clinical Practice of CLTI Patients.

BACKGROUND: Transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2) is a noninvasive, nonradiological test to measure local oxygen released from capillaries through the skin. Since it reflects the metabolic state of the lower limb, it can predict wound healing in patients with critical limb threatening ischemia (CLTI). The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of TcPO2 test in evaluating wound healing potential of patients with CLTI. METHODS: This was a retrospective, single-center, nonrandomized, and observational study. A prospectively registered database of patients who visited Vascular Surgery Department of St. Mary's Hospital for CLTI and underwent TcPO2 tests from October 1, 2015 to July 1, 2021 was reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups: (1) those who had amputation only; and (2) those who underwent revascularization procedures. Patients whose wound healing status could not be determined were excluded. The clinical characteristics of patients, patient characteristics related to lower TcPO2 value, treatment success rate, and time for the wound to be healed were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 84 patients were included in this study. There was no difference in background patient characteristics between the 2 groups despite better survival within 12 months and shorter healing time in the revascularization group. A total of 76 patients survived 12 months after surgery, and 63 patients were healed. Higher HbA1c, higher serum creatinine, history of stroke, and history of coronary artery disease were related to lower TcPO2 value on multiple linear regression. The cutoff value of TcPO2 was determined to be 40 mm Hg for predicting wound healing. This value was similar to those of previous studies. In addition, there was a negative correlation between TcPO2 and wound healing time. Correlations among the anklebrachial index (ABI), toe-brachial index (TBI), and TcPO2 were not determined because ABI and TBI for some patients could not be obtained due to wound condition. CONCLUSIONS: The TcPO2 value can predict the wound healing process of ischemic lower extremity injury.

Characteristics and Effect of Rivaroxaban on Venous Thromboembolism in Korean Patients Compared to Western Population: A Subgroup Analysis from XALIA(-LEA) Study.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the characteristics of venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) in Korean to Caucasian population. Materials and Methods: XALIA-LEA and XALIA were phase IV non-interventional prospective studies with identical designs that investigated the effect of rivaroxaban versus standard anticoagulation for VTE. Koreans accounted for the largest proportion of the overall enrolled population of XALIA-LEA. However, in the XALIA study, most patients were Caucasian. Therefore, Korean data from XALIA-LEA and Caucasian data from XALIA were used in this study. This study compared the clinical characteristics and primary outcomes of the XALIA program, including major bleeding, recurrent VTE, and all-cause mortality. Results: The Korean population was older, was less obese, and had more active cancer at baseline than the Caucasian population. Provoked VTE was more common in the Korean population. Interestingly, Koreans showed less accompanying thrombophilia than Caucasians, and factor V Leiden mutations were not detected. Korean analyses comparing the effects of rivaroxaban and standard anticoagulation with primary outcomes showed a lower incidence of major bleeding, recurrent VTE, and all-cause mortality with rivaroxaban. Similar results were obtained in the propensity score matching analysis. Conclusion: Characteristic differences were found between Korean and Caucasian VTE patients. Despite these ethnic differences, the effectiveness and safety of rivaroxaban therapy in these patients were consistent.

Application of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis program in patients with colorectal cancer using the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of postoperative symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) in western colorectal cancer is 1.1-2.5%. Anticoagulation and mechanical devices are recommended for moderate-to high-risk patients. Hospital stay and immobilization, as risk factors for VTE, are reduced by enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). This study aimed to evaluate short- and long-term outcomes for a VTE prophylaxis program after minimally invasive colorectal cancer surgery with ERAS protocol. In addition, predicting factors associated with VTE were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 1043 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer who required surgical treatment between January 2017 and December 2019 at a single institution. The patients enrolled followed the VTE prophylaxis program. RESULTS: Five (0.5%) patients developed symptomatic VTE, and the median follow-up period was 21 months. The Caprini score for all VTE patients was ≤8 points; thus, only mechanical prophylaxis was applied. The incidence rate of postoperative symptomatic VTE was only 0.5%. There was no association between variables considered as associated with VTE onset, such as age, perioperative complication, and length of postoperative day. TNM staging (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.4-4.16, p = 0.001) and the Caprini score (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.1-2.8, p = 0.001) were associated with VTE onset. CONCLUSION: Although pharmacological prophylaxis was only performed for Caprini scores ≥9, the VTE incidence rate of patients with colorectal cancer undergoing VTE prophylaxis program was 0.6%; 0.7% is the incidence criterion of the moderate group recommended for pharmacological prophylaxis. Continuous follow-up is required for patients with advanced-stage colorectal cancer with high-risk Caprini scores.

Real-Time Evaluation of Blood Flow Patterns Using AneurysmFlow for an in vivo Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Model.

BACKGROUND: Many new tools for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture risk evaluation have been developed. These new tools need detailed hemodynamic information in AAA. However, hemodynamic data obtained from in vivo research are lacking. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze blood flow patterns in an in vivo AAA model to acquire real-time hemodynamic information using AneurysmFlow, a novel flow evaluation system. METHODS: Digital subtraction angiography images of patients who underwent endovascular aneurysm repair were analyzed using the visualization function of the AneurysmFlow to classify blood flow patterns as laminar or turbulent flow. The presence of boundary layer separation was also evaluated. The time taken for contrast medium to travel from the infrarenal aortic neck to aortic bifurcation was acquired to calculate the flow velocity. Associations between characteristics of aneurysm including lumen occupying ratio of intraluminal thrombus (ILT) and the hemodynamic flow pattern were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 37 AAA patients was enrolled. Their blood flow patterns were evaluated using the AneurysmFlow. Logistic regression analyses with lumen occupying ratio of ILT as an independent variable showed that the larger the lumen occupying ratio of ILT, the more likely the aneurysm was to show a laminar pattern (P = 0.03), and the more likely the boundary layer separation would not exist (P = 0.04). The flow velocity from the infrarenal aortic neck to the aortic bifurcation showed a positive association with the lumen occupying ratio of the ILT in linear regression analysis (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Hemodynamic analysis of AAA with the AneurysmFlow using real-time individual patient models showed different flow patterns and flow velocities depending on ILT. This novel analytic approach using AneurysmFlow has potential to play an important role in obtaining clinically meaningful hemodynamic information of AAA.

Tailored approach to the choice of long-term vascular access in breast cancer patients.

This study compared the possible options for vascular access in breast cancer patients by analyzing the complications of each method. We retrospectively evaluated the vascular access procedures for intravenous chemotherapy in breast cancer patients from 2016 to 2018. A total of 300 consecutive patients were included, 100 each who received peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs), arm ports, and chest ports. When selecting a catheter, a PICC was considered when four cycles of chemotherapy were expected. Otherwise, patient preference was considered. All but one patient with an arm port were women, with mean age of 51.7 ± 9.1 years. The total mean complication-free catheter indwelling time was 1357.6 days for chest ports, 997.8 days for arm ports, and 366.8 days for PICCs (p = 0.004). There were 11 catheter-related complications (3.7%), one in a chest port patient, five in arm port patients, and eight in PICC patients. There was no patient with catheter related blood stream infection or deep vein thrombosis. All three types of catheters could be used in breast cancer patients without causing serious complications. The selection of catheter considering the clinical situation was effective for providing a safe and secure chemotherapy delivery route.

Outcomes of bedside peripherally inserted central catheter placement: a retrospective study at a single institution.

BACKGROUND: Bedside insertion of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) has higher rates of malposition than fluoroscopic-guided PICC placement. This study evaluated the success rate of bedside PICC placement, variations in tip location, and risk factors for malposition. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients who underwent bedside PICC placement from January 2013 to September 2014 in a single institution. The procedure was conducted under ultrasound guidance or by a blind method. After PICC placement, tip location was determined by chest X-ray. RESULTS: The overall venous access success rate with bedside PICC placement was 98.1% (1,302/ 1,327). There was no significant difference in the venous access success rate between ultrasound-guided placement (868/880, 98.6%) and a blind approach placement (434/447, 97.1%). Optimal tip position was achieved on the first attempt in 1,192 cases (91.6%). Repositioning was attempted in 65 patients; 60 PICCs were repositioned at the bedside, two PICCs were repositioned under fluoroscopic guidance, and three PICCs moved to the desired position without intervention. Final optimal tip position after repositioning was achieved in 1,229 (94.4%). In logistic regression analysis, five factors associated with tip malposition included female sex (Exp(B), 1.687; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.180 to 2.412; P=0.004), older age (Exp(B), 1.026; 95% CI, 1.012 to 1.039; P<0.001), cancer (Exp(B), 0.650; 95% CI, 0.455 to 0.929; P=0.018), lung disease (Exp(B), 2.416; 95% CI, 1.592 to 3.666; P<0.001), and previous catheter insertions (Exp(B), 1.262; 95% CI, 1.126 to 1.414; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Bedside PICC placement without fluoroscopy is effective and safe in central venous catheters. Potential risk factors associated with catheter tip malposition include older age, female sex, cancer, pulmonary disease, and previous central vein catheterizations.

Venous Thromboembolism Following Abdominal Cancer Surgery in the Korean Population: Incidence and Validation of a Risk Assessment Model.

BACKGROUND: A cancer patient slated for abdominal surgery is considered to be at moderate to high risk for developing venous thromboembolism (VTE), but the incidence is quite low in Korean patients. Most risk assessment models and recommendations for VTE management are from Western reports, however they possibly overestimate the risk of VTE in the Korean population. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 1966 patients who were diagnosed with abdominal organ cancer and required surgical treatment. RESULTS: Each patient was rated using the Caprini risk scoring model. The mean score was 7.5 ± 0.7 points; 98.4% of patients were classified as high risk for VTE. Symptomatic VTE occurred in eight patients, and the overall incidence was 0.4%. The mean Caprini score for VTE patients was 8.8 ± 1.9 points. In the group with scores between 5 and 9 points, the incidence was 0.3-0.5%, while in patients with scores > 10 points, the incidence of VTE was found to be 1.12%. CONCLUSIONS: The risk stratification system in the Caprini scoring model needs to be modified based on the actual incidence in the Korean population.

Vein conduit for end-to-side anastomosis of a calcified vessel in lower extremity free flap reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: As the microsurgical and interventional revascularization techniques are evolving, traditionally amputated limbs are now challenged to salvage. However, a calcified recipient vessel is a common but challenging problem encountered in lower extremity reconstruction. METHODS: An end-to-side anastomosis of a vein graft (1.5-3.5 cm in length) was performed to the recipient vessel when it was difficult to clamp the recipient vessel near the defect because of the inelastic and hard vessel wall. The vascular clamp was applied to the vein graft, and the flap's pedicle was anastomosed to the vein graft. RESULTS: A total of 18 free flaps (10 ALT cases, 4 TDAP cases, 2 PAP cases, and 2 SCIP cases) were anastomosed with a bridge vein graft to the heavily calcified recipient vessels (7 ATA cases, 3 PTA cases, 7 DPA cases, and 1 MPA case). Overall flap survival rate was 83.3%. Limb salvage rate was 93.7%, and anastomosis patency rate was 94.4% CONCLUSION: Vein conduit in an end-to-side anastomosis of severely calcified recipient vessels shows a reasonable limb salvage rate. It acts as a buffer, which makes microscopic vessel manipulation easier. If vessel calcification is the only drawback for a free flap reconstruction, then a vein graft needs to be prepared instead of an amputation. This method may extend the surgical option to more high-risk patients in lower extremity microsurgical reconstruction and increase the limb salvage rate.

Early experiences of endovascular aneurysm repair for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.

PURPOSE: The use of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (r-AAA) is steadily increasing. We report early experiences of EVAR for r-AAA performed in two tertiary referral centers in Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed r-AAA patients treated by EVAR from May 2013 to December 2017. An EVAR-first strategy for r-AAA was adopted whenever feasible. The demographic information, anatomic characteristics, operative details, postoperative complications with special attention to abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS), and 30-day mortality were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: We identified 13 patients who underwent EVAR for r-AAA. Mean age was 74.2 years and mean AAA size was 74.2 mm. Two patients underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation at initial presentation. Bifurcated stent grafts were used in 12 out of 13 cases and physician-modified endografts with fenestrated/chimney techniques were performed in 2 cases with short neck. Successful stent graft deployment was achieved in all cases. Three patients were suspected of having ACS and 2 of them underwent laparotomy for decompression. The 30-day mortality was 7.7% (1 of 13), the only mortality being a patient that refused decompressive laparotomy for suspected ACS. CONCLUSION: Despite the small numbers, the outcomes of EVAR for treatment of r-AAA were very promising, even in selected cases with unfavorable anatomy. These outcomes were achieved by a dedicated and well-trained team approach, and by use of high-end angiographic technology. Finally, ACS after EVAR is not uncommon, and requires a high index of suspicion as well as liberal use of decompressive surgery.

Treatment options for isolated iliac artery aneurysms and their impact on aortic diameter after treatment.

PURPOSE: Isolated iliac artery aneurysm (IIAA) is uncommon. It is frequently treated by endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). This study was to evaluate treatment results of IIAA and survey aortic diameter after EVAR. METHODS: Patients treated for IIAA in Seoul St. Mary's Hospital and Bundang Seoul National University from 2005 to April 2016 were retrospectively enrolled. The inclusion criteria of IIAA was >30 mm of iliac artery aneurysm without abdominal aortic aneurysm, which was treated by open surgical repair (OSR) or EVAR. Patients' clinical characteristics, treatment results, and mortality were obtained from electronic medical records. Diameters of aorta and iliac arteries were measured periodically with scheduled interval based on CT scans. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients (40 males; mean age, 71.9 ± 11.1 years) were enrolled. Five ruptured IIAAs were treated with EVAR (n = 1) or hybrid methods (n = 4). The diameter of ruptured IIAAs was 65 ± 31.4 mm, which was not significantly different from that of elective (44.3 ± 17.0 mm). Forty-four elective IIAA underwent 9 OSR, 31 EVARs, and 3 hybrid treatments (15 bifurcated and 12 straight stent-grafts). Treatment success rate was 93.8% without hospital mortality. There were 4 type I endoleak, 1 type II endoleak, and 1 type III endoleak without aneurysm-related mortality during follow-up. However, the aortic diameter was increased over time though there was no change or decrease in common iliac artery's diameter. CONCLUSION: Treatment of IIAA included various endovascular modalities as well as open surgery. Regular surveillance is still needed due to aortic dilatation after its treatment.

Efficacy of volumetric analysis of aorta as surveillance tool after EVAR.

OBJECTIVE: Compared to the diameter measurement, volume measurement of the aneurysm can be an alternative option for accurate evaluation. This study was undertaken to analyze the relationship between the diameter and the volume measurement of the aorta after EVAR. METHODS: From January 2012 to December 2016, 82 patients underwent EVAR in our institution. The infrarenal aorta after EVAR was evaluated with regard to maximal aortic diameter (DMAX) and aortic volume. The relationship between the DMAX and the aortic volume measurement after EVAR were analyzed. RESULTS: The rate of enlargement of aortic volume with endoleak over time was 0.02 cm3/month. The rate of enlargement of DMAX with endoleak over time was 0.007 mm/month. The mean rate of enlargement of aortic volume was significantly different from the mean enlargement rate of DMAX (p = 0.02). A ≥12% of increase rate of aortic volume was equivalent to an increase of ≥5 mm in the DMAX after EVAR. Significantly more endoleak occurred in the DMAX-enlargement group than no-enlargement group (100% vs. 26.76%, p < 0.001). Significantly more patients need secondary intervention and treatment of endoleak in the DMAX-enlargement group (p = 0.02 and p < 0.001, respectively). Significantly more endoleak occurred in the aortic volume-enlargement group than no-enlargement group (90.91% vs. 16.67%, p < 0.001). Significantly more patients needed secondary intervention and treatment for endoleak in the aortic volume-enlargement group (p = 0.02 and p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Volumetric analysis can predict successful EVAR more accurate than diameter measurement. A ≥12% increase in aortic volume was equivalent to a ≥5 mm increase in aortic diameter.

Genetic characteristics of Y-chromosome short tandem repeat haplotypes from cigarette butt samples presumed to be smoked by North Korean men.

Korea has been divided into South Korea and North Korea for over 70 years. DNA profiles of the North Korean population have never been reported in the Y-chromosome STR Haplotype Reference Database (YHRD; https://yhrd.org ). To investigate genetic features of Y-chromosome STR haplotypes of the North Korean population for the first time. Genomic DNA was isolated from 838 cigarette butts assumed to have been smoked by North Korean men and amplified with PowerPlex Y23 (PPY23) kit. Statistical parameters were calculated using Nei's formula and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA). Multidimensional scaling (MDS) plot was constructed by the AMOVA tool and neighbor-joining (NJ) tree was constructed by MEGA 6.06. A total of 121 haplotypes were analyzed for PPY23 loci from a sample population. Haplotype diversity and discrimination capacity were 0.9992 and 0.9837, respectively. Genetic diversities ranged from 0.2981 to 0.9716. For the 16 Y-filer loci and eight minimal loci, respectively 90.9 and 82.6% of the matched haplotypes were estimated to belong to haplogroup O, representing the Southeast and East Asian type. The MDS plot and NJ tree indicated that the samples are most closely related to South Korean. In addition, p-value in the pairwise comparison to the South Korean was slightly above statistical significance (p = 0.0534). The Y-STR haplotypes of the samples were unique and highly genetically polymorphic. Despite the separation between North and South Korea for 70 years, they can still be considered a single genetic population, based on Y-STR haplotypes.

Open Surgical Repair Using the Femoral Vein for a Mycotic Superior Mesenteric Artery Aneurysm.

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) aneurysms are rare and often fatal. A 72-year-old man had previously been admitted to the emergency room with epigastric pain and heart murmur. The echocardiographic diagnosis was vegetation on the aortic and mitral valves, with moderate regurgitation from both valves due to infective endocarditis. No aneurysm was detected on abdominal computed tomography, and emergency double-valve replacement was performed. On postoperative day 25, the patient experienced abrupt abdominal pain, and computed tomography revealed a mycotic SMA aneurysm. Open surgical repair of the SMA aneurysm was performed using the femoral vein, and the patient's postoperative course was uneventful.

Hybrid treatment of multilevel revascularization in patients with peripheral arterial disease - a multi-centre study in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular treatment is an alternative first-line management for peripheral artery disease (PAD). Hybrid treatment (HT) is defined as a combined treatment for patients with PAD using endovascular and open surgery, simultaneously performed in an operating room. The results of HT are reportedly good for multilevel revascularization (MR) in patients with chronic limb ischaemia, and even in older high-risk patients. The goal of this study was to examine the clinical and haemodynamic outcomes of HT in patients who need MR. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine university hospitals in Korea participated in this multicentre study. A total of 134 patients with multilevel PAD underwent HT and MR. Patients were enrolled from July 2014 to June 2015 and were followed for 18 months. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 68.8 ± 9.93 years and 88.1 % were men. Patients with Rutherford category 2 to 3 and 4 to 6 comprised 59.0 % and 42.0 % of the group, respectively. The technical success rate was 100 %. The primary patency rates at 12 and 18 months were 77.6 % and 63.9 %, respectively. The primary-assisted patency rates at 12 and 18 months were both 90.0 %. The pre-operative mean ankle brachial index (0.43 ± 0.23) increased to 0.87 ± 0.23 at six months post-operatively (t-test, p < 0.05). The amputation free survival rate was 97.1 %. CONCLUSIONS: Although outcomes of multilevel PAD are reportedly poor when endovascular treatment alone is used, we have shown that HT is a feasible alternative modality for patients with multilevel PAD, with satisfactory amputation-free survival and freedom from re-intervention rates.

Comparative Analysis of the Suspected Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia Level in Korea.

The primary objective of our study was to evaluate the frequency of suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) among patients treated with different formulations of heparin and investigate the factors that affect the incidence of HIT. This study is an electronic medical record (EMR)-based large-scale retrospective cohort study conducted from 2009 to 2014 in Korea. After hospitalization, patient platelet count was determined before heparin was prescribed, and all platelet count values obtained during hospitalization were extracted. Suspected HIT was estimated by three 4Ts scores (acute thrombocytopenia, timing onset and other possible causes), which when combined yielded a high probability of HIT. Among 6046 patients enrolled in this study, HIT was suspected in 641 cases (10.6%) and a statistically significant increase in HIT incidence rate was observed for three heparins used (p < 0.001). Dalteparin (HR = 0.55, p = 0.036) and enoxaparin (HR = 0.40, p < 0.001) showed a relatively low HIT incidence rate, compared to unfractionated heparin. Majority of suspected HIT cases (76.9 and 66.7%) occurred in days 8-10 and 5-7 of dalteparin and enoxaparin treatments, respectively. Most of the patients medicated with dalteparin were cancer patients; however, no statistically significant relationship was observed between HIT occurrence and cancer. HIT can cause serious complications, making early diagnosis crucial. Clinical practitioners first prescribing heparin should focus on preventing and detecting complications early by conducting frequent, regular platelet counts before and after heparin administration.

Radiofrequency ablation of varicose veins improves venous clinical severity score despite failure of complete closure of the saphenous vein after 1 year.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Endovenous treatment is increasingly supplanting open surgery for the treatment of varicose veins. Among emerging endovenous techniques, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with a ClosureFast catheter is popular in Korea. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy and patient-reported outcomes of RFA of varicose veins. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of a prospectively registered database of patients who underwent RFA for varicose veins from 2012 to 2013 in St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul. Korea. Efficient ClosureFast RFA catheters (Medtronic, San Jose, CA, USA) were used. The techniques used for RFA of varicose veins were performed according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Duplex scans and venous clinical severity scores (VCSSs) were used to document treatment outcome and patient symptoms before and after the procedures. Treatment outcomes were estimated before the procedure and 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the procedure. Outcomes were analyzed by paired t test, chi-square test, or Fisher's exact test as well as by logistical regression. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients were evaluated for 183 consecutive RFA procedures (183 limbs). The initial technical success was 97.3% (178/183). The estimated mean VCSS changed over time from 4.0 ± 1.67 at preprocedure to 0.6 ± 1.05, 0.5 ± 1.02, and 0.6 ± 1.14 at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the procedure, respectively. The improved VCSS was maintained 1 year after the procedure (p < 0.001). Recanalization of the saphenous vein was detected in 20 limbs at the 1-year follow up. The treatment failure group also exhibited a significant decline in the VCSS between preprocedure and 12 months (4.8 ± 1.76 vs. 1.8 ± 2.04, p < 0.001). Specifically, in the treatment failure group, 65% of limbs with episodic recanalization (13/20) were reoccluded or recanalized without venous reflux at the 1-year follow up. CONCLUSION: In this study, RFA of varicose veins had an initial success rate of 97.7% and a significantly improved patient VCSS at 1 year. Patients with episodic recanalization of the saphenous vein also exhibited an improved VCSS with favorable duplex findings at 1 year.