Exploring vertebral artery stump syndrome: An overlooked cause of posterior ischemic strokes. A narrative review of current management options.

INTRODUCTION: Stump syndrome is defined as a clinical syndrome resulting from a distal intracranial vessel embolic stroke due to an extracranial vessel occlusion. Similar to the anterior circulation, the recurrence of ischemic strokes in territories supplied by the posterior circulation in the presence of vertebral artery occlusion is termed Vertebral Artery Stump Syndrome (VASS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a literature review, identifying 72 patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or ischemic strokes attributed to VASS, according to Kawano criteria. We categorized all patients in two groups focusing on the therapeutic management those who underwent primary medical treatment and those who received endovascular or surgical treatment either in acute or chronic phase. RESULTS: In the anticoagulant therapy group, only 1 patient had a stroke recurrence. Among the 4 on antiplatelets, all had recurrences, but 3 benefited from switching to anticoagulants or endovascular therapy. In the endovascular therapy group, worse outcomes were linked to acute large vessel occlusion. Endovascular treatment of the vertebral artery, in a chronic phase, was explored in literature for recurrent TIAs or minor strokes suggesting that this could be a viable therapeutic alternative when medical treatment failed in preventing recurrence of ischemic stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Some studies suggest that anticoagulant medical therapy may be beneficial for VASS and endovascular therapy has also been reported for selected patients. However, data on treatment outcomes and prognosis are still underreported, making treatment decisions challenging. Randomized Controlled Trials are needed to establish the optimal treatment approach.

Factors associated with successful median arcuate ligament release in an international, multi-institutional cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Prior research on median arcuate ligament syndrome has been limited to institutional case series, making the optimal approach to median arcuate ligament release (MALR) and resulting outcomes unclear. In the present study, we compared the outcomes of different approaches to MALR and determined the predictors of long-term treatment failure. METHODS: The Vascular Low Frequency Disease Consortium is an international, multi-institutional research consortium. Data on open, laparoscopic, and robotic MALR performed from 2000 to 2020 were gathered. The primary outcome was treatment failure, defined as no improvement in median arcuate ligament syndrome symptoms after MALR or symptom recurrence between MALR and the last clinical follow-up. RESULTS: For 516 patients treated at 24 institutions, open, laparoscopic, and robotic MALR had been performed in 227 (44.0%), 235 (45.5%), and 54 (10.5%) patients, respectively. Perioperative complications (ileus, cardiac, and wound complications; readmissions; unplanned procedures) occurred in 19.2% (open, 30.0%; laparoscopic, 8.9%; robotic, 18.5%; P < .001). The median follow-up was 1.59 years (interquartile range, 0.38-4.35 years). For the 488 patients with follow-up data available, 287 (58.8%) had had full relief, 119 (24.4%) had had partial relief, and 82 (16.8%) had derived no benefit from MALR. The 1- and 3-year freedom from treatment failure for the overall cohort was 63.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 59.0%-68.3%) and 51.9% (95% CI, 46.1%-57.3%), respectively. The factors associated with an increased hazard of treatment failure on multivariable analysis included robotic MALR (hazard ratio [HR], 1.73; 95% CI, 1.16-2.59; P = .007), a history of gastroparesis (HR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.09-3.09; P = .023), abdominal cancer (HR, 10.3; 95% CI, 3.06-34.6; P < .001), dysphagia and/or odynophagia (HR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.27-4.69; P = .008), no relief from a celiac plexus block (HR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.00-4.72; P = .049), and an increasing number of preoperative pain locations (HR, 1.12 per location; 95% CI, 1.00-1.25; P = .042). The factors associated with a lower hazard included increasing age (HR, 0.99 per increasing year; 95% CI, 0.98-1.0; P = .012) and an increasing number of preoperative diagnostic gastrointestinal studies (HR, 0.84 per study; 95% CI, 0.74-0.96; P = .012) Open and laparoscopic MALR resulted in similar long-term freedom from treatment failure. No radiographic parameters were associated with differences in treatment failure. CONCLUSIONS: No difference was found in long-term failure after open vs laparoscopic MALR; however, open release was associated with higher perioperative morbidity. These results support the use of a preoperative celiac plexus block to aid in patient selection. Operative candidates for MALR should be counseled regarding the factors associated with treatment failure and the relatively high overall rate of treatment failure.

Comparison of Outcomes Following EVAR Based on Aneurysm Diameter and Volume and Their Postoperative Variations.

PURPOSE: to evaluate the impact of bi- and 3-dimensional preoperative aortic morphological features and their immediate postoperative variations on the outcome of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) treated by endovascular exclusion with standard devices (EVAR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Double centre retrospective analysis of prospectively collected registry data of EVAR patients. For all patients, preoperative and 30-day computed tomographic angiography images (CTA) were reviewed. Preoperative maximum AAA diameter >59 mm and volume >159 cm3, and any 30-day postoperative increasing at CTA, were considered as potentially influencing the outcome. The outcome measures were: primary technical success; 30-day, 1-year, and mean follow-up reintervention, all-cause and AAA-related mortality rates, and also endoleak-related reinterventions. RESULTS: Three hundred and thrity-three patients were enrolled. Mean preoperative and 30-day AAA diameter and volume were 50.4 mm ± 11.8 vs. 49.1 mm ± 12.1, and 112.9 cm3 ± 79.5 vs. 112.1 cm3 ± 80.5, respectively. Primary technical success was achieved in all cases. At 34.9 months follow-up, cumulative reintervention rate was 12.0%, mortality rates 7.2%, without AAA-related deaths. Endoleak-related reintervention rate was 7.5%. At uni- and multi-variate analysis, preoperative AAA diameter >59 mm, and AAA volume >159 cm3 were significantly associated to reintervention (P = 0.012; P = 0.002), and reintervention and death (P = 0.002; P = 0.001) during follow-up. Additionally, any increase in postoperative AAA diameter or volume was significantly associated with reintervention (P = 0.001, P = 0.001) and reintervention and death (P = 0.006, P = 0.001). Endoleak-related reintervention were also significantly associated with all of the analysed morphological parameters (P = 0.019, P = 0.005, P = 0.005, and P = 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with larger baseline AAA size and volume as well as unfavourable early remodelling of the sac are associated to worse long-term EVAR outcome.

3D Printing in Cardiovascular Disease: Current Applications and Future Perspectives.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is emerging as an innovative tool for a tailored approach to endovascular or open procedures. The efforts of different specialists and data analysis can be used to fabricate patient-specific implants, which might have significant impact even in life-saving procedures such as aortic dissections or aortic arch aneurysm. 3D printing is gradually changing the traditional pattern of diagnosis and treatment. This innovative approach allows a perfect match between the patient's anatomy and the prosthetic graft, ideally resulting in better hemodynamics and improved long-term patency related to reduced turbulent flow. Future applications of 3D printing in the cardiovascular field combined with tissue engineering will enhance the therapeutic features of bioprinted tissues and scaffolds for regenerative medicine. This review will summarize the clinical significance of 3D printing in cardiovascular disease, exploring current applications, translational outlooks and future perspectives.

Minimally Invasive Open Conversion for Late EVAR Failure.

OBJECTIVE: With the increasing use of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR), open repair after aortic stent grafting is of growing interest. The surgical conversion treatment may be a very challenging process with high mortality and in-hospital complication rates. The aim of this article is to present our experience in patients with EVAR failure treated by minimally invasive open conversion (MOC) and its technical aspects. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on a prospectively compiled computerized database of consecutive patients treated by MOC at our institution between May 2014 and June 2018. Indications for treatment were endoleaks with sac growth at least >5 mm in the last 6 months and failure of previous endovascular tentative for aneurysm sealing. Demographics of the patients, reason for conversion, previous endovascular procedures, surgical outcomes, and survival were reviewed. MOC was performed by a small abdominal incision, infrarenal clamping, and partial explantation of the endograft in all patients. RESULTS: A total of 10 patients were treated during the study period. The mean interval to MOC after EVAR was 45.1 months (range, 14-128). Indications for MOC included type Ia endoleak in three patients (30%), persistent type II EL in four (40%), and type III EL in one patient (10%), indeterminate or type V EL in two (20%). At 30 days, no deaths or reinterventions were reported, and major complication rate was 10% (one postoperative pneumonia). At mean follow-up of 22.9 ± 15.9 months, no reinterventions were described. Death rate was (20%) with one aneurysm-related death (10%) for graft infection 32 months after MOC and one (10%) cardiac event at 18 months. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the potential high risk of open conversion, MOC appears to be a safe surgical solution for EVAR failure. This potentially challenging operation may be improved with minimally invasive techniques that are presented.

Externally Supported Extra-anatomical Venous Bypass to Treat Upper Limb Ischemia with Shoulder Prosthetic Infection.

To report a case of acute arm ischemia and prosthetic shoulder infection treated by extra-anatomical great saphenous vein graft with external vascular scaffolding. A 65 year-old man with multiple surgical interventions for soft tissue sarcoma of the right shoulder, local radiotherapy with residual brachial plexus neuropraxia, was referred to our attention for signs of arm ischemia. Two weeks before, the patient was submitted to prosthetic shoulder replacement complicated with prosthetic infection. Considering the mechanism of vascular injury, an open surgical revascularization was planned with a deliberate avoidance of the natural anatomic pathway to reduce the risk of graft infection. Consequently, after the complete removal of infected shoulder prosthesis and placement of antibiotic spacer, an axillarbrachial artery bypass using great saphenous vein was performed using a new braided cobalt chrome kink resistant external vascular support to prevent compression, also considering the extra-anatomical position of the graft. At 12 months' follow-up, patient was in good clinical condition with complete resolution of arm ischemia; computed tomographic angiography and duplex scan revealed patency of the graft with excellent distal perfusion. The new external vascular support seems to be useful and feasible for preventing compression of extra-anatomical venous bypass.

Results of AFX Unibody Stent-Graft Implantation in Patients With TASC D Aortoiliac Lesions and Coexistent Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

PURPOSE: To describe results of AFX unibody stent-graft treatment for TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) D aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) with coexistent abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 21 consecutive patients (mean age 73.6±6.4 years; 17 men) with TASC D AIOD plus AAA (diameter >3.5 cm) treated electively using the AFX stent-graft. Common iliac artery (CIA) and external iliac artery (EIA) stenosis or occlusion was reported. Outcome measures were technical and clinical success, improvement in ankle-brachial index (ABI), and improvement in Rutherford category. Immediate and midterm patency, AAA exclusion, major adverse events (MAE), and mortality were also evaluated. RESULTS: After AFX deployment (100% technical success), 18 EIAs required adjunctive stenting (none required in the CIA). One patient required a reintervention for closure device failure. At 30-day follow-up, no death or MAE was recorded. Improvement in ABI was registered in all patients (mean 0.91±0.11), with 100% primary patency. At a mean follow-up of 25.2±11.1 months, primary patency was maintained in all cases. No death or amputation occurred; 2 patients had a myocardial infarction. Improvement in ABI was maintained (0.88±0.13) as well as Rutherford category. CONCLUSION: This study examined the use of the AFX unibody stent-graft for the treatment of TASC D AIOD with concomitant AAA. The AFX stent-graft appears to be a safe and effective solution for these complex lesions, with low morbidity and mortality.

Carotid-Carotid Bypass Graft for Internal Carotid Artery Kinking Causing Dysphagia.

Elongation, coils, and kinks of carotid vessels are rare conditions, and these are often asymptomatic. Rarely, kinking may provide functional symptoms, requiring surgical correction. We report an unusual case of internal carotid artery kinking causing pharynx compression with dysphagia. Patient underwent carotid-carotid bypass graft. His dysphagic symptom improved markedly at 1-month follow-up control.

Chimney Technique with the INCRAFT® AAA Stent Graft System to Treat Pararenal Aortic Aneurysm in Narrowed Iliac Axes.

To report a case of pararenal aortic aneurysm (PAAA) with narrowed iliac arteries treated by the chimney technique combined with the INCRAFT® AAA stent graft system. A 75-year-old man was diagnosed with a 55-mm PAAA. Patient was judged unfit for open repair and for standard endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) due to its clinical and anatomical requirements. Custom-made fenestrated device (FEVAR) was excluded due to the presence of narrowed and heavily calcified iliac axes. Consequently, patient underwent auspicious endovascular aneurysm repair with the INCRAFT System and chimney grafts in the superior mesenteric artery and both renal arteries. At 12 months' follow-up, patient was in good clinical condition, with preserved renal function. Computed tomographic angiography revealed inceptive shrinkage of the aneurysm with patency of aortic and visceral grafts even in the presence of a low-flow type Ia endoleak. Chimney grafts (CGs) combined with the low-profile INCRAFT System seem to be feasible for treating PAAA, in high-risk patients unfit for standard EVAR or FEVAR devices.

Emergent Treatment of a Ruptured Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm by Off-Label Rescue Implantation of the Ovation Stent Graft in Nonagenarian Patients.

We report a case of a compassionate treatment of a ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm in a 92-year-old patient. The patient was admitted to our emergency department for acute onset of pain irradiating to the back. Computed tomography angiography showed the presence of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm with a contained rupture at infrarenal level. Given the presence of a relative healthy visceral aorta, we decided to treat the patient by Ovation (Endologix, Irvine, CA) implantation in an off-label fashion. Procedure was performed by bilateral percutaneous access. Completion angiography showed the good stent-graft apposition with complete aneurysm exclusion. The patient was discharged on the third postoperative day. The 1-month follow-up confirmed the good procedural result; aneurysm was completely excluded without further thoracic dilatation.

Endovascular Solution of Acute Limb Ischemia Engendered by Persistent Sciatic Artery Pseudoaneurysm due to Stent Fracture.

We report a case of acute limb ischemia (ALI) due to a thromboembolism from a persistent sciatic artery (PSA) pseudoaneurysm precipitated by a fractured stent. Patient, previously treated for ALI by fibrinolysis and stent implantation, presented with a PSA pseudoaneurysm (undetected during first hospitalization), stent fracture (SF), and occlusion of vessels below the knee. Fibrinolysis was performed, restoring direct flow to the foot. A week later, an endovascular procedure was attempted to reline SF and exclude the PSA pseudoaneurysm by deployment of two 13 × 100-mm peripheral endografts (Viabahn; W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ). At 1-year follow-up, patient was asymptomatic without further clinical events.

Spontaneous Sealing of a Type Ia Endoleak after Ovation Stent Graft Implantation in a Patient with On-Label Aortic Neck Anatomy.

We report a case of an early type Ia endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of an abdominal aortic aneurysm by Ovation Stent Graft implantation and spontaneously resolved without further reintervention. The patient presents a conical aortic neck, but EVAR was performed within the instruction for use proposed by manufactory. At completion angiography, a low-flow type Ia endoleak was present and left untreated. Computed tomographic angiography performed on the third postoperative day showed infolding of the 2 sealing rings. The patient was dismissed without further treatment. At 3-month follow-up, the leak appeared spontaneously sealed with partial expansion of the 2 rings.

Preliminary Results from a National Enquiry of Infection in Abdominal Aortic Endovascular Repair (Registry of Infection in EVAR--R.I.EVAR).

BACKGROUND: To preliminary report on epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, treatments, and outcomes in a multicenter series of patients treated for endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) infection and detected by an Italian National enquiry. METHODS: From June 2012, 26 cases of abdominal aortic endograft infection were collected by a National Enquiry and recorded in the Italian National Registry of Infection in EVAR. Cases collected were available for patients submitted to EVAR implantation from January 2004 to June 2013. RESULTS: Mean time from EVAR treatment to infection diagnosis was 20.5 ± 20.3 months (range, 1-72). In 6 cases (23.1%), an aortoenteric fistula (AEF) was detected. Positive microbiologic cultures were found in 20 patients (76.9%). More than 1 infectious agent was found in 6 cases (19.2%). EVAR infection treatment was conservative in 4 cases, endovascular in 2. Endograft excision was performed in 10 cases by conventional treatment (aortic stump + extra-anatomic bypass) and in 10 cases by in situ reconstruction (cryopreserved allograft or rifampin-soaked silver Dacron graft). A 30-day mortality was 38.4% (10 of 26 cases), 3 patients died from 2 to 24 months after infection treatment, accounting for a mean time from infection treatment to death of 1.25 ± 0.62 months. Mortality rates were 50% in all treatment groups. In those survived (13 of 26 cases) recurrence-free follow-up after infection treatment was 27.9 ± 22.4 months (range, 2-74). Four patients with AEF died in the first month after treatment (66.6%). Suprarenal endografts required supraceliac aortic cross-clamping for removal. Supraceliac cross-clamping was burdened by higher mortality rates than infrarenal cross-clamping (71.4% vs. 30.7%). CONCLUSIONS: EVAR infection diagnosis is burdened by extremely high mortality rates. Prospective registries could help monitoring outcomes in EVAR infection patients and, possibly, developing new surveillance protocols in patients at high risk of recurrence.

A 12-Year Experience With Chimney and Periscope Grafts for Treatment of Type I Endoleaks.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the midterm outcomes of chimney and/or periscope grafts (CPGs) in patients presenting type I endoleak after a previous endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). METHODS: Between June 2002 and April 2014, 24 consecutive patients (mean age 73.9±9.2 years; 23 men) presenting a type I endoleak were addressed with CPGs to extend the proximal and/or distal landing zone and to maintain side branch perfusion. Indication for treatment was a type Ia endoleak in 23 (96%) patients and a type Ib endoleak in one. Median interval from the previous EVAR to endoleak treatment with CPGs was 52.2±48.9 months (range 0.2-179). All patients had proximal/distal landing zones precluding any standard endovascular reintervention. Measured outcomes included technical success and perioperative mortality and morbidity. Technical success was defined as a procedure completed as intended, with no secondary procedures within 30 days. Midterm outcomes included survival, CPG patency, endoleaks, and freedom from reintervention. RESULTS: Technical success was 96%; a single patient required an additional procedure to seal a recurrent type Ia endoleak. Intraoperative revascularization of all 55 target vessels (2.3/patient) with CPGs was successful. One (4%) patient died within 30 days. Estimated survival at 12, 24, and 36 months was 83%; estimated CPG patency at the same intervals was 94%. Over a mean follow-up of 23.4±29 months, 6 (25%) reinterventions were performed; of these, 4 were secondary to type I endoleak. Aneurysm diameters reduced from 88.3±26 to 85.5±33 mm (p=0.49) over the mean follow-up. CONCLUSION: The CPG technique is a safe and effective tool for treatment of type I endoleak after previous EVAR. The CPG technique is feasible even in nonelective patients, with excellent outcomes in terms of patency. Close imaging follow-up is warranted to rule out recurrent or de novo endoleaks.

Preoperative Intrasac Thrombus Load Predicts Worse Outcome after Elective Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of two-dimensional and three-dimensional preoperative morphologic features analyzed on computed tomography (CT) angiography on midterm outcome in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) treated with endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted using a prospectively collected database. Morphologic features considered as potentially influencing outcomes were maximum aortic diameter, thrombus area, overall aneurysm volume, and intrasac thrombus volume. Outcome measures were all perioperative and midterm AAA-related reinterventions and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Investigators reviewed 191 preoperative CT angiography scans. Mean maximum aortic diameter was 58 mm; thrombus area, 49.6%; aortic volume, 159.36 cm(3); and thrombus volume, 58.6%. Technical success was achieved in all cases. No reintervention was required in the perioperative period, and there was no perioperative mortality. At a mean follow-up of 32 months ± 16.8 (range, 3-66 mo), mortality rate was 9.4%, AAA-related death was 0, and reintervention rate was 8.9%. Causes of reintervention included type I endoleak (n = 3 [1.6%]), type II endoleak (n = 7 [3.7%]), type III endoleak (n = 1 [0.5%]), endograft limb thrombosis (n = 4 [2.1%]), and access vessel thrombosis (n = 2; 1%). Greater thrombus area (> 60%) and thrombus volume (> 59%) were predictors for reintervention (P = .005 and P = .0034). Greater maximum aortic diameter (> 59 mm) and aortic volume (> 159 cm(3)) were related to higher reintervention rate without statistical significance (P = .62 and P = .12). Aortic volume was a predictor of any adverse event, reintervention, and all-cause mortality after EVAR (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Thrombus area and volume are related to higher rates of reintervention. Maximum aortic diameter was related to a higher reintervention rate, but this was not significant.

Superficial Femoral Artery Stent Disruption Treated by Peripheral Endograft.

We report a case of superficial femoral artery (SFA) stent fractures (SF) with atypical symptoms and site of disruption. Patient was hospitalized for sudden onset of right thigh pain, nonrelated to steno-obstructive disease. Preoperative ultrasound suspected and computed tomographic angiography (CTA) confirmed multiple proximal SFA SFs with concurrent pseudoaneurysms. A peripheral endograft was deployed covering the entire SFA, achieving a complete "relining" with exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm. Pain disappeared and postoperative control demonstrated good patency of the SFA. After 1 month, patient reported no further events and CTA revealed patency of the endograft and exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm. At 1 year follow-up, Viabahn is patent with no further symptoms reported by the patient.

Abdominal aortic rupture and spondylodiscitis: emergent EVAR and staged spinal fixation.

Concomitant aortic aneurismal pathology and vertebral erosion are seldom reported in literature. The differential diagnosis between a primary vertebral disease affecting the aortic wall and a primary aortic pathology causing a vertebral disruption is quite difficult. We report on a patient presenting with increasing lumbar pain and neurologic lower limbs deficit due to a vertebral erosion accompanied by aortic rupture treated by emergent endovascular aortic repair procedure and then staged vertebral fixation. Microbiological tests on intraoperative periaortic fluid collection samples showed no clear sign of infection and clinical conditions progressively improved. At 12-month follow-up, the patient is in good clinical condition, with a small residual walking impairment and no clinical, laboratory, or imaging sign of aortic endograft infection.

Mandibular subluxation as an adjunct in very distal carotid arterial reconstruction: incidence of peripheral and cerebral neurologic sequelae in a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: The location of the carotid bifurcation and a very distal extension of internal carotid atherosclerotic disease may challenge vascular surgeons performing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) by increasing technical difficulty and possibly the incidence of cranial nerve damage or palsies. The objective of the present study is to report on the safety of CEA with mandibular subluxation (MS) and to compare results of CEA in 2 groups of patients treated by standard CEA or by MS-CEA according to rates of major neurologic complications, death, and the occurrence of postoperative peripheral nerve palsy. METHODS: Between July 2000 and June 2012, 1,357 CEAs were performed. MS was additionally used in 43 patients. Only patients with primary atherosclerotic internal carotid artery (ICA) lesions in the 2 groups (38 in the MS-CEA group and 1,289 in the standard CEA group) were considered for comparative analysis. RESULTS: MS-CEA patients were more frequently male (P = 0.03), presented more frequently with symptomatic lesions (P = 0.007), longer lesions (P = 0.01), and had common ICA bypass implantation (P = 0.02). Mean follow-up was 68.75 ± 37.87 months (range: 1-144 months). No perioperative neurologic mortality and no prolonged discomfort related to MS was recorded. The overall neurologic morbidity rate (major stroke/minor stroke/transient ischemic attach) was comparable in the 2 groups (P = 0.78). The overall immediate peripheral nerve injury rate was 7.89% in the MS-CEA group and 5.27% in the standard CEA group (P = 0.73). Three cases of permanent dysphonia in the standard CEA group (0.23%) and 1 case of dysphagia in the MS-CEA group (2.63%) were reported at follow-up (P = 0.24). CONCLUSIONS: MS-CEA can be a very useful technical adjunct for high-located carotid bifurcations or challenging carotid lesions, with an overall risk comparable to that of standard CEA.

External Scaffold for Venous Graft to Treat Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia: Results of the FRAME Vascular Support.

Background: The surgical treatment of chronic limb-threatening ischemia and optimal conduit choice are extensively debated. The presence of suboptimal autologous material, such as varicosities or venous aneurysms, might impair long-term outcomes. Therefore, kink-resistant external supports have been advocated in the recent literature to improve the conduit quality and outcomes. This study analyzes the FRAME external support in venous ectasic grafts in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia. Methods: From September 2017 to September 2023, a total of sixteen patients underwent CLTI surgery with FRAME external support for venous grafts. The inclusion criteria for FRAME applications were varicose or ectasic autologous material with a diameter ≥ 4.5 and ≤ 8 mm in an isolated segment or in the entire vein and a higher risk of bypass extrinsic compression (e.g., extra-anatomical venous bypass course). Results: Technical success and intraoperative patency were achieved in all cases. At 30 days, the limb salvage and survival rates were 100%. The primary bypass patency was 93.7% due to an early graft occlusion. No graft infection was registered. In one case, dehiscence of the surgical wound was treated by surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy. Minor amputation was required in four patients. Over a median follow-up of 32 months, two occlusions were observed; one was treated with reoperation and the other with major amputation. The primary patency was 68.7% and the assisted primary patency was 75%. Limb salvage rates observed during the entire follow-up period were 87.5%. No graft infections or dilatation of the reinforced veins were registered. Conclusions: For patients with CLTI undergoing infrainguinal bypass, satisfactory results in terms of patency and limb salvage rates were achieved using the autologous venous material, even if ectasic or varicose, with the vascular external support FRAME.