ViPS (Viabahn Padova Sutureless) technique: preliminary results in the treatment of peripheral arterial disease.

BACKGROUND: To describe early results of a novel technique (ViPS, Viabahn Padova Sutureless) that connects a vascular prosthetic graft to a target artery in a sutureless fashion. METHODS: A consecutive series of five patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (Rutherford class IV and V) underwent six ViPS procedures (one bilateral) for limb revascularization. Angiography in all cases demonstrated complete superficial femoral artery (SFA) occlusion with reconstitution of a circumferentially calcified above-knee popliteal artery. Ultrasonography revealed no adequate vein for autogenous bypass creation. In all cases, a previous attempt of SFA endovascular recanalization was unsuccessful. A Viabahn (W.L. Gore, Flagstaff, AZ) endoprosthesis was partially deployed, and its proximal end was sutured to a polytetrafluoroethylene graft. After surgical exposure, the circumferentially calcified popliteal artery, which could not be safely sutured, was transected and the undeployed distal portion of the Viabahn was inserted into the popliteal artery supported by a stiff guidewire. The distal portion of the Viabahn graft was then deployed 2.5 cm into the popliteal artery with optimal apposition. The proximal end of the polytetrafluoroethylene graft was then sutured to the common femoral artery. The distal portion of the Viabahn was ballooned to ensure apposition with the popliteal artery. RESULTS: The mean time for surgical modification of the device was 6.6 minutes with a mean time for ViPS anastomosis deployment of 7 seconds. Mean operative time for ViPS procedure was 61 minutes (range: 48-74). Completion angiogram in all cases demonstrated a patent graft with no sign of dissection. The patients' symptoms resolved in all cases, with complete ulcer healing occurring in five patients within 3 weeks. Follow-up imaging (mean = 2.6 months, range: 1-5) with eco-color-Doppler and computed tomography angiogram demonstrated a patent graft with no loss of device integrity in all cases. CONCLUSION: The ViPS technique is simple, easily performed, and provides an alternative for bypass creation, particularly in cases where challenging arterial anastomoses are required. Furthermore, this technique has the potential to reduce operative time and is accomplished using common commercially available devices.

Emergency Endovascular Total Arch Exclusion With an Off-the-Shelf Bimodular Device.

A patient with a history of surgery for type A acute aortic dissection was readmitted for aortic arch and descending aortic dissection with rupture at the isthmus and periaortic hematoma. Due to the high surgical risk, the aortic team chose an endovascular approach, and the patient successfully underwent emergency total arch exclusion with an off-the-shelf, bimodular, single-branch device. The main module was deployed in the aortic arch and in the brachiocephalic trunk, and the second module was deployed in the ascending aorta. Despite the good perioperative outcome with no cerebrovascular events, the patient died 20 days later because of sudden iliac rupture.

Groin Surgical Site Infection in Vascular Surgery: Systemic Review on Peri-Operative Antibiotic Prophylaxis.

OBJECTIVES: Surgical site infections (SSIs) in lower extremity vascular surgeries, post-groin incision, are not only common complications and significant contributors to patient mortality and morbidity, but also major financial burdens on healthcare systems and patients. In spite of recent advances in pre- and post-operative care, SSI rates in the vascular surgery field remain significant. However, compliant antibiotic therapy can successfully reduce the SSI incidence pre- and post-surgery. METHODS: In October 2021, we conducted a systematic literature review using OVID, PubMed, and EMBASE databases, centered on studies published between January 1980 and December 2020. The review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses checklist. Inclusion/exclusion criteria have been carefully selected and reported in the text. For analyses, we calculated 95% confidence intervals (CI) and weighted odds ratios to amalgamate control and study groups in publications. We applied The Cochrane Collaboration tool to assess bias risk in selected studies. RESULTS: In total, 592 articles were identified. After the removal of duplicates and excluded studies, 36 full-texts were included for review. CONCLUSIONS: The review confirmed that antibiotic therapy, administered according to all peri-operative protocols described, is useful in reducing groin SSI rate in vascular surgery.

Endovascular exclusion of the entire aortic arch with branched stent-grafts after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of residual pathology of the aortic arch after surgical repair for type A acute dissection (AAD) represents a therapeutic challenge. Recently, new branched endovascular devices have expanded the possibility of aortic arch stent-grafting (ASG) with proximal landing in zone 0. The aim of this retrospective, single-center study was to evaluate outcomes of patients with a history of surgical repair for AAD undergoing ASG with branched devices. METHODS: We analyzed patients undergoing ASG after treatment for type AAD with 2 different branched devices: Nexus (dual-module, single branch, off-the-shelf) and RelayBranch (single-module, dual branch, custom-made). Before ASG, surgical bypass of supra-aortic vessels was performed according to patient's anatomy and to the selected device. All patients underwent clinical and computed tomography scan evaluation before hospital discharge, at 6 months, and on a yearly basis thereafter. RESULTS: From March 2017 to April 2019, 4 consecutive patients underwent ASG after surgery for AAD at our institution. Mean time from surgery for AAD to ASG was 20 months. Mean age at the time of ASG was 72 years. Nexus and Relay were implanted in 2 patients each. All patients survived and were successfully discharged. Mean intensive care unit stay and hospital stay were 3 and 19 days, respectively. We did not observe any major adverse events. At a mean follow-up of 28 months, all patients are alive and computed tomography scans showed good anatomic results with no endoleaks. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary experience shows that ASG after surgery for AAD is feasible and provides encouraging clinical and anatomic early results.

The peritoneum as a natural scaffold for vascular regeneration.

OBJECTIVE: The peritoneum has the same developmental origin as blood vessels, is highly reactive and poorly thrombogenic. We hypothesize that parietal peritoneum can sustain development and regeneration of new vessels. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study comprised two experimental approaches. First, to test surgical feasibility and efficacy of the peritoneal vascular autograft, we set up an autologous transplantation procedure in pigs, where a tubularized parietal peritoneal graft was covered with a metal mesh and anastomosed end-to-end in the infrarenal aorta. Second, to dissect the contribution of graft vs host cells to the newly developed vessel wall, we performed human-to-rat peritoneal patch grafting in the abdominal aorta and examined the origin of endothelial and smooth muscle cells. In pig experiments, the graft remodeled to an apparently normal blood vessel, without thrombosis. Histology confirmed arterialization of the graft with complete endothelial coverage and neointimal hyperplasia in the absence of erosion, inflammation or thrombosis. In rats, immunostaining for human mitochondri revealed that endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells rarely were of human origin. Remodeling of the graft was mainly attributable to local cells with no clear evidence of c-kit+ endothelial progenitor cells or c-kit+ resident perivascular progenitor cells. CONCLUSIONS: The parietal peritoneum can be feasibly used as a scaffold to sustain the regeneration of blood vessels, which appears to occur through the contribution of host-derived resident mature cells.

Does the type of carotid artery closure influence the management of recurrent carotid artery stenosis? Results of a 6-year prospective comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the results of reoperative surgery and carotid artery stenting (CAS) in cases of recurrent carotid artery stenosis (RCS) and to compare the results of all RCS (reoperative surgery + CAS) with primary carotid endarterectomy (CEA) performed during the study period. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Consensus has not yet been established on the best treatment for RCS. Recently CAS has emerged as a potential alternative to carotid endarterectomy. METHODS: A 6-year (Jan 2000-Dec 2005) prospective study was performed. Eligible patients were those with symptomatic or asymptomatic RCS > or = 80% at a preoperative angiography or angio-computed tomography. The carotid plaques were classified at a preoperative ultrasonographic scan, according to the five type classification proposed by Geroulakos (Br J Surg 1993;80:1274-7). Patients with type 1 and 2 carotid plaque were not considered for CAS. RESULTS: 56 patients were enrolled. Fifteen patients with a type 1-2 plaque underwent reoperative surgery, 41 with type 3-4 plaque underwent CAS. In 90.6% of primary closure a type 3-4 carotid plaque was found; a type 1-2 was observed in 84.5% of the polytetrafluoroethylene patch closure group. No statistical difference for the 30-day and the 6 year stroke-free rate was observed; similarly no differences emerged between all RCS (reoperative surgery + CAS) performed and primary CEA. CONCLUSIONS: CAS is an acceptable alternative to surgery in the management of RCS. An accurate patient selection is required. Restenosis after CEA and direct closure is mostly associated with fibrous material. In these cases CAS might be the best choice.

Open repair versus endovascular treatment for asymptomatic popliteal artery aneurysm: results of a prospective randomized study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective randomized study was to evaluate the relative risks and advantages of using the Hemobahn graft for popliteal artery aneurysm (PAA) treatment compared with open repair (OR). The primary end point was patency rate; secondary end points were hospital stay and length of surgical procedure. METHODS: The study was a prospective, randomized clinical trial carried out at a single center from January 1999 to December 2003. Inclusion criteria were an aneurysmal lesion in the popliteal artery with a diameter > or = 2 cm at the angio-computed tomography (CT) scan, and proximal and distal neck of the aneurysm with a length of > 1 cm to offer a secure site of fixation of the stent graft. Exclusion criteria were age < 50 years old, poor distal runoff, contraindication to antiplatelet, anticoagulant, or thrombolytic therapy, and symptoms of nerve and vein compression. The enrolled patients were thereafter prospectively randomized in a 1-to-1 ratio between OR (group A) or endovascular therapy (ET) (group B). The follow-up protocol consisted of duplex ultrasound scan and ankle-brachial index (ABI) measured during a force leg flexion at 1, 3, and 6 months. Group B patients underwent an angio-CT scan and plain radiography of the knee with leg flexion (> 120 degrees) at 6 and 12 months, and then yearly. RESULTS: Between January 1999 and December 2003, 30 PAAs were performed: 15 OR (group A) and 15 ET (group B). Bypass and exclusion of the PAA was the preferred method of OR; no perioperative graft failure was observed. Twenty stent grafts were placed in 15 PAAs. Endograft thrombosis occurred in one patient (6.7%) in the postoperative period. The mean follow-up period was 46.1 months (range, 12 to 72 months) for group A and 45.9 months (range, 12 to 65 months) for group B. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a primary patency rate of 100% at 12 months for OR and 86.7% at 12 months with a secondary patency rate of 100% at 12 and 36 months for ET. No statistical differences were observed at the log-rank test. The mean operation time (OR, 155.3 minutes; ET, 75.4 minutes) and hospital stay (OR, 7.7 days; ET, 4.3 days) were statistically longer for OR compared with ET (P < .01). CONCLUSION: We can conclude, with the power limitation of the study, that PAA treatment can be safely performed by using either OR or ET. ET has several advantages, such as quicker recovery and shorter hospital stay.