Ambulatory Cardiology or General Internal Medicine Assessment Prior to Scheduled Major Vascular Surgery is Associated with Improved Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the association between ambulatory cardiology or general internal medicine (GIM) assessment prior to surgery and outcomes following scheduled major vascular surgery. BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular risk assessment and management prior to high-risk surgery remains an evolving area of care. METHODS: This is population-based retrospective cohort study of all adults who underwent scheduled major vascular surgery in Ontario, Canada, April 1, 2004-March 31, 2019. Patients who had an ambulatory cardiology and/or GIM assessment within 6 months prior to surgery were compared to those who did not. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included: composite of 30-day mortality, myocardial infarction or stroke; 30-day cardiovascular death; 1-year mortality; composite of 1-year mortality, myocardial infarction or stroke; and 1-year cardiovascular death. Cox proportional hazard regression using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to mitigate confounding by indication. RESULTS: Among 50,228 patients, 20,484 (40.8%) underwent an ambulatory assessment prior to surgery: 11,074 (54.1%) with cardiology, 8,071 (39.4%) with GIM and 1,339 (6.5%) with both. Compared to patients who did not, those who underwent an assessment had a higher Revised Cardiac Risk Index (N with Index over 2= 4,989[24.4%] vs. 4,587[15.4%], P<0.001) and more frequent pre-operative cardiac testing (N=7,772[37.9%] vs. 6,113[20.6%], P<0.001) but, lower 30-day mortality (N=551[2.7%] vs. 970[3.3%], P<0.001). After application of IPTW, cardiology or GIM assessment prior to surgery remained associated with a lower 30-day mortality (weighted Hazard Ratio [95%CI] = 0.73 [0.65-0.82]) and a lower rate of all secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Major vascular surgery patients assessed by a cardiology or GIM physician prior to surgery have better outcomes than those who are not. Further research is needed to better understand potential mechanisms of benefit.

Age is not a sole predictor of outcomes in octogenarians undergoing complex endovascular aortic repair.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the perioperative, postoperative, and long-term outcomes of fenestrated/branched endovascular aneurysm repair (F/BEVAR) in octogenarians compared with nonoctogenarians. METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Vascular Quality Improvement database, which prospectively captures information on patients who undergo vascular surgery across 1021 academic and community hospitals in North America. All patients who underwent F/BEVAR endovascular aortic repair from 2012 to 2022 were included. Patients were stratified into two groups: those aged <80 years and those aged ≥80 years at the time of the procedure. The preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors were compared between the two groups. The primary outcome was long-term all-cause mortality; secondary outcomes included aortic-specific mortality and aortic-specific reintervention. RESULTS: A total of 6007 patients (aged <80 years, n = 4860; aged ≥80 years, n = 1147) who had undergone F/BEVAR procedures were included. No significant difference was found in technical success, postoperative length of stay, length of intensive care unit stay, postoperative bowel ischemia, and spinal cord ischemia. After adjustment for baseline covariates, octogenarians were more likely to suffer from a postoperative complication (odds ratio [OR]: 1.16; [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.98-1.37], P < .001) and be discharged to a rehabilitation center (OR: 1.60; [95% CI: 1.27-2.00], P < .001) or nursing home (OR: 2.23; [95% CI: 1.64-3.01], P < .001). Five-year survival was lower in octogenarians (83% vs 71%, hazard ratio [HR]: 1.70; [95% CI: 1.46-2.0], P < .0001). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis demonstrated that age was associated with increased all-cause mortality (HR: 1.72, [95% CI: 1.39-2.12], P < .001) and aortic-specific mortality (HR: 1.92, [95% CI: 1.04-3.68], P = .038). Crawford extent II aortic disease was associated with an increase in all-cause mortality (HR 1.49; [95% CI: 1.01-2.19], P < .001), aortic-specific mortality (HR: 5.05; [95% CI: 1.35-18.9], P = .016), and aortic-specific reintervention (HR: 1.91; [95% CI: 1.24-2.93], P = .003). Functional dependence was associated with increased all-cause mortality (HR: 2.90; [95% CI: 1.87-4.51], P < .001) and aortic-specific mortality (HR: 4.93; [95% CI: 1.69-14.4], P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that octogenarians do have a mildly increased mortality rate and rate of adverse events after F/BEVAR procedures. Despite this, when adjusted for other risk factors, age is on par with other medical comorbidities and therefore should not be a strict exclusion criterion for F/BEVAR procedures, rather considered in the global context of patient's aortic anatomy, health, and functional status.

Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Using Fenestrated and Branched Endovascular Grafts for High-Risk Patients: Evolving yet Safe.

PURPOSE: The purpose was to investigate outcomes of high-risk patients undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair using fenestrated or branched endovascular aneurysm repair (F/BEVAR) devices at a single center in Canada. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients undergoing endovascular TAAA repair with F/BEVAR from June 2007 to July 2020. Imaging and clinical endpoints of interest including death, reintervention, and target vessel patency were reported. RESULTS: Ninety-five consecutive patients underwent endovascular TAAA repair using F/BEVAR stent grafts (63 males, median age 74 [interquartile range 70, 78] years). Repairs included 81 elective and 14 urgent/emergent cases (6 ruptures and 8 symptomatic). Graft deployment was 100% successful. Intraoperative target vessel revascularization was successful in 336/355 (94.6%) vessels with the celiac having the lowest success rate 72/82 (87.8%). In-hospital mortality was 9.5% (7.4% elective and 21.4% urgent/emergent, p=0.125) and permanent paraplegia was 4.2% (3.7% elective and 7.1% urgent/emergent, p=0.458). In-hospital complications included stroke in 5.3%, acute myocardial infarction in 8.4%, and bowel ischemia in 5.3%. No patients required permanent dialysis or tracheostomy during their hospital stay. However, 22 (23.2%) patients required additional unplanned procedures for various indications (branch occlusion, endoleaks, realignment) during their hospital stay. Patients were followed up for a mean of 3.6 ± 3.0 years. Clinical follow-up was 100%, with 80/86 (93%) having surveillance imaging. On follow-up imaging, 43 (50%) patients had at least 1 endoleak identified and 337/341 (98.8%) of the target vessels were found to be patent. At 5 years, cumulative probability of reintervention was 46.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 36.1-56.4). Survival at 5 and 8 years was 50.1% (95% CI, 38.4-65.4) and 34.4% (95% CI, 22.5-52.8), respectively. Progression of aneurysmal disease leading to rupture on follow-up was confirmed in 1 patient at 10 years. CONCLUSION: Endovascular TAAA repair provides a safe treatment option with a high technical success rate and low pulmonary and renal complications. Long-term survival is similar to previous literature; however, high rates of secondary reintervention reaffirm the need for ongoing patient follow-up and further technical improvements. CLINICAL IMPACT: This study demonstrates that endovascular repair of TAAAs can be performed in a high-risk elderly population with acceptable rates of mortality, TALE and SCI, using evolving technology. The incidences of post-operative respiratory failure and renal dysfunction were lower in patients who underwent endovascular repair compared with open repair. Future technical and procedural refinements in addition to increasing surgical experience are expected to lead to further improvements in short- and long-term outcomes exceeding those of open repair.

One-time screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm in Ontario, Canada: a model-based cost-utility analysis.

BACKGROUND: Screening programs for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are not available in Canada. We sought to determine the effectiveness and costutility of AAA screening in Ontario. METHODS: We compared one-time ultrasonography-based AAA screening for people aged 65 years to no screening using a fully probabilistic Markov model with a lifetime horizon. We estimated life-years, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), AAA-related deaths, number needed to screen to prevent 1 AAA-related death and costs (in Canadian dollars) from the perspective of the Ontario Ministry of Health. We retrieved model inputs from literature, Statistics Canada, and the Ontario Case Costing Initiative. RESULTS: Screening reduced AAA-related deaths by 84.9% among males and 81.0% among females. Compared with no screening, screening resulted in 0.04 (18.96 v. 18.92) additional life-years and 0.04 (14.95 v. 14.91) additional QALYs at an incremental cost of $80 per person among males. Among females, screening resulted in 0.02 (21.25 v. 21.23) additional life-years and 0.01 (16.20 v. 16.19) additional QALYs at an incremental cost of $11 per person. At a willingness-to-pay of $50 000 per year, screening was cost-effective in 84% (males) and 90% (females) of model iterations. Screening was increasingly cost-effective with higher AAA prevalence. INTERPRETATION: Screening for AAA among people aged 65 years in Ontario was associated with fewer AAA-related deaths and favourable cost-effectiveness. To maximize QALY gains per dollar spent and AAA-related deaths prevented, AAA screening programs should be designed to ensure that populations with high prevalence of AAA participate.

The impact of race on outcomes following ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVES: Racial differences in elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair outcomes have been previously reported; however, data on racial differences in ruptured AAA (rAAA) repair outcomes remain limited. This study assessed in-hospital and long-term mortality after rAAA repair in Black versus White patients. METHODS: The Vascular Quality Initiative database was queried to identify all Black and White patients who underwent open or endovascular rAAA repair between 2003 and 2019. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded, and independent t test and χ2 test were performed to assess differences between groups. In-hospital and 8-year mortality rates were the primary outcomes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards analyses were conducted to analyze associations between race and outcomes. RESULTS: Overall, 310 Black patients and 4679 White patients underwent rAAA repair. A greater proportion of Black patients underwent endovascular repair (73.2% vs 56.1%). Black patients had a lower mean age and were more likely to be female, with a greater proportion being Medicaid insured (9.7% vs 2.1%) or uninsured (4.8% vs 3.3%). Although Black patients were more likely to be current smokers and have hypertension, diabetes, and congestive heart failure, they were not more likely to receive risk reduction medications. The time from symptom onset to incision or access was higher for Black patients (median, 12.0 hours vs 7.0 hours). Similarly, the time from hospital admission to intervention was higher for Black patients (median, 2.8 hours vs 1.3 hours). In-hospital mortality was lower in Black patients (20.0% vs 28.6%; odds ratio [OR], 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47-0.83); however, this did not persist after adjusting for baseline characteristics (adjusted OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.30-1.07; P = .09). Furthermore, the 8-year survival was not different between groups (50.4% vs 46.6%; hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.57-1.26; P = .42), even when stratified by repair type. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified racial differences in demographic, clinical, and procedural characteristics for patients undergoing rAAA repair. In particular, the door-to-intervention time for Black patients of 2.8 hours does not meet the Society for Vascular Surgery recommendation of 90 minutes. Despite these differences, the 8-year mortality is similar for Black and White patients. These differences should be investigated further, and there are opportunities to improve rAAA care for Black patients.

Outcomes in octogenarians after thoracoabdominal and juxtarenal aortic aneurysm repair using fenestrated-branched devices justifies treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To compare outcomes between octogenarians and nonoctogenarians undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair and juxtarenal aortic aneurysm repair using branched and/or fenestrated endovascular devices (F/BEVAR) and compare octogenarian survival to population survival statistics from Ontario, Canada. METHODS: Patients who underwent F/BEVAR at a single institution between 2007 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed with a median follow-up of 3.3 years (interquartile range, 1.6-5.3). The median survival of an average 84-year-old Ontarian from Canada, adjusted for a male:female ratio of 4:1, was retrieved from publicly available Statistics Canada data. RESULTS: In total, 68 octogenarians (25.8%) and 196 nonoctogenarians (74.2%) were included (mean age, 83.5 ± 3.0 vs 71.9 ± 5.8 years; P ≤ .001). The maximum aneurysm size was significantly larger in octogenarians (68.9 ± 11.4 mm vs 65.4 ± 10.0 mm; P = .017). No differences in the number of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs (29.4% vs 38.3%; P = .19) or operative technical success (92.6% vs 85.7%; P = .136) were observed between the two cohorts. Postoperatively, no significant differences in overall in-hospital mortality (7.3% vs 5.1%; P = .49), elective in-hospital mortality (6.1% vs 4.4%; P = .49), stroke (1.5% vs 3.6%; P = .384), or spinal cord ischemia (2.9% vs 9.2%; P = .094) were seen between octogenarians and nonoctogenarians. There was no difference in survival at 4 years between the two cohorts (62.9% vs 71.1%; P = .22), however, survival at 6 years was significantly lower for octogenarians (44.5% vs 64.1%; hazard ratio, 1.96; P = .02). The cumulative rate of reintervention (44.1% vs 41.3%; P = .84) and freedom from branch instability (67.6% vs 73.5%; P = .33) at 6 years were not different between the two groups. When comparing octogenarians who survived to discharge from index hospitalization after F/BEVAR with 84-year-old Ontarians unmatched for comorbidities, a survival difference of 4.8% and 11.1% was noted at 4 and 6 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: F/BEVAR in octogenarians is associated with no differences in technical success or postoperative adverse outcomes when compared with their younger counterparts. Octogenarians had increased mortality after 4 years and their survival at 4 years was comparable with that of an 84-year-old Ontarian. F/BEVAR was safe and effective in octogenarians deemed fit for intervention. Further research into preoperative patient selection and improving perioperative outcomes is needed.

Females experience elevated early morbidity and mortality but similar midterm survival compared to males after branched/fenestrated endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify sex-related differences in outcomes following branched and/or fenestrated endovascular aortic repair (B/FEVAR) for thoracoabdominal (TAAA) and juxtarenal (JRAA) aortic aneurysms. METHODS: Chart review completed on 242 B/FEVAR patients (57 female; 23.5%) between 2007 and 2020 at a single center. Median follow-up time was 3.3 years (interquartile range [IQR], 1.6-5.3 years). RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in age (females, 75.9 ± 5.4 years vs males, 74.7 ± 7.2 years; P = .162) or aneurysm size (64.9 ± 6.8 vs 65.8 ± 9.4 mm; P = .41) at presentation were observed between sexes. Females presented with fewer JRAAs (45.6% vs 73%; P < .001) and received more Crawford extent II (26.3% vs 10.8%; P =.004) TAAA coverage. Increased incidence of moderate/severe target vessel stenosis (29.8% vs 14%; P = .022) was observed in female patients. Intraoperatively, females had higher procedure times (530 [IQR, 425-625] vs 420 [IQR, 350-510] minutes; P < .001), fluoroscopy times (124.1 ± 49 vs 107.3 ± 43.5 minutes; P = .017), and contrast usage (200 [IQR, 150-270] vs 175 [IQR, 130-225] mL; P = .005). Unplanned intraoperative maneuvers (45.6% vs 28.1%; P = .043), graft delivery issues (24.6% vs 4.9%; P < .001), and additional intraoperative complications (61.4% vs 35.7%; P < .001) were also increased in females. Postoperatively, females had a longer intensive care unit (3 [IQR, 1-5] vs 1 [IQR, 1-3] days; P = .002) and hospital stay (8 [IQR, 5-13] vs 5 [IQR, 3-9] days; P < .001) and experienced increased rates of spinal cord ischemia (15.8% vs 3.8%; P = .001) and bowel ischemia (10.5% vs 2.7%; P = .013). In-hospital mortality (12.3% vs 2.7%; P = .004) was higher in female patients but midterm (6-year) survival was 60.2% for all patients (95% confidence interval, 53.0%-68.5%) and was similar between sexes (hazard ratio, 0.95; P = .83), which were the primary endpoints. No sex differences in midterm follow-up reintervention, endoleak, and rupture rates were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Females experienced significantly higher B/FEVAR intraoperative times, complications, and in-hospital morbidity and mortality compared with males but similar midterm outcomes. Anatomic and atherosclerotic differences may have contributed to the observed in-hospital differences.

Using machine learning to predict outcomes following carotid endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Prediction of outcomes following carotid endarterectomy (CEA) remains challenging, with a lack of standardized tools to guide perioperative management. We used machine learning (ML) to develop automated algorithms that predict outcomes following CEA. METHODS: The Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) database was used to identify patients who underwent CEA between 2003 and 2022. We identified 71 potential predictor variables (features) from the index hospitalization (43 preoperative [demographic/clinical], 21 intraoperative [procedural], and 7 postoperative [in-hospital complications]). The primary outcome was stroke or death at 1 year following CEA. Our data were split into training (70%) and test (30%) sets. Using 10-fold cross-validation, we trained six ML models using preoperative features (Extreme Gradient Boosting [XGBoost], random forest, Naïve Bayes classifier, support vector machine, artificial neural network, and logistic regression). The primary model evaluation metric was area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). After selecting the best performing algorithm, additional models were built using intra- and postoperative data. Model robustness was evaluated using calibration plots and Brier scores. Performance was assessed on subgroups based on age, sex, race, ethnicity, insurance status, symptom status, and urgency of surgery. RESULTS: Overall, 166,369 patients underwent CEA during the study period. In total, 7749 patients (4.7%) had the primary outcome of stroke or death at 1 year. Patients with an outcome were older with more comorbidities, had poorer functional status, and demonstrated higher risk anatomic features. They were also more likely to undergo intraoperative surgical re-exploration and have in-hospital complications. Our best performing prediction model at the preoperative stage was XGBoost, achieving an AUROC of 0.90 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89-0.91). In comparison, logistic regression had an AUROC of 0.65 (95% CI, 0.63-0.67), and existing tools in the literature demonstrate AUROCs ranging from 0.58 to 0.74. Our XGBoost models maintained excellent performance at the intra- and postoperative stages, with AUROCs of 0.90 (95% CI, 0.89-0.91) and 0.94 (95% CI, 0.93-0.95), respectively. Calibration plots showed good agreement between predicted and observed event probabilities with Brier scores of 0.15 (preoperative), 0.14 (intraoperative), and 0.11 (postoperative). Of the top 10 predictors, eight were preoperative features, including comorbidities, functional status, and previous procedures. Model performance remained robust on all subgroup analyses. CONCLUSIONS: We developed ML models that accurately predict outcomes following CEA. Our algorithms perform better than logistic regression and existing tools, and therefore, have potential for important utility in guiding perioperative risk mitigation strategies to prevent adverse outcomes.

Risk factors associated with long-term mortality and complications after thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the risk factors associated with late mortality or complications (thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm [TAAA] life-altering events [TALE]: a composite of mortality, permanent paraplegia, permanent dialysis, and stroke) for patients who had undergone endovascular or open TAAA repair. METHODS: We performed a population-based study of patients who had undergone TAAA repair in Ontario, Canada, from 2006 to 2017. The association of baseline risk factors with mortality and complications after repair was examined using Cox hazards models with hospital-specific random effects. The survival of patients who had undergone TAAA repair was compared with that of controls without TAAAs. The two groups were matched by age, sex, area of residence, and average annual household income. The type of repair (endovascular vs open) was included in all models. RESULTS: We identified 664 adults (mean age, 69.3 ± 10.6 years; 71% men) who had undergone TAAA repair. At 5 and 8 years, survival was 55.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 49.8%-60.1%) and 44.6% (95% CI, 40.4%-49.6%) for patients who had undergone TAAA repair vs 85.6% (95% CI, 83.9%-87.1%) and 76.3% (95% CI, 73.8%-78.8%) for the control population, respectively (hazard ratio [HR], 1.97; 95% CI, 1.67-2.32; P < .01). For the TAAA group, freedom from TALE was 49.2% (95% CI, 44.7%-53.7%) and 37.3% (95% CI, 33.1%-42.4%) at 5 and 8 years of follow-up, respectively. On multivariable analysis, the risk factors associated with mortality during follow-up included older age (HR, 1.21 per 5-year increase; 95% CI, 1.13-1.28), peripheral artery disease (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.03-2.09), hypertension (HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.03-2.43), congestive heart failure (HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.34-2.36), and urgent procedures (HR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.74-3.00). A lower rate of death was observed for those with previous coronary revascularization (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41-0.96) and those who had undergone repair at high-volume institutions (>60 TAAA repairs during the study period; HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.55-0.91). Older age, chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, and urgent procedures were associated with a higher rate of TALE. The type of repair (endovascular vs open) was not associated with mortality or TALE. CONCLUSIONS: TAAA repair was associated with reduced long-term survival compared with the general population, regardless of the mode of treatment. Urgent or emergent repair was the most profound risk factor for late adverse events. The type of repair (endovascular vs open) was not a predictor of long-term death or complications. Previous coronary revascularization and treatment performed at a high-volume institution were associated with improved late outcomes for patients undergoing TAAA repair.

Surgery for complications after thoracic endovascular aortic repair with arch vessel debranching: Role of imaging in preoperative planning.

We describe here a series of patients who presented with failed hybrid arch and descending thoracic aortic aneurysm repairs, while highlighting the instrumental role that advanced medical imaging played in formulating an operative plan. Each case involved persistent 1A endoleaks and aneurysm sac growth after hybrid arch repairs tackled by arch debranching followed by thoracic endovascular aortic repair. Two open cases were described as well as one endovascular case. Imaging played a key role in elucidating the site of endoleak and in operative planning. These cases highlight the importance of multidisciplinary input between cardiac surgery, vascular surgery and radiology in management of complex aortic patients.

Health care costs of endovascular compared with open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: To compare 1-year health care costs between endovascular and open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA). METHODS: Population-based administrative health databases were used to capture TAAA repairs performed in Ontario, Canada, between January 2006 and February 2017. All health care costs incurred by the Ministry of Health from a single-payer universal health care system were included. Costs of the aortic endografts and ancillary devices for the index procedure were estimated as C$44,000 per endovascular case vs C$1000 for open cases, based on previous reports. Costs (2017 Canadian dollars) were calculated in phases (1, 1-3, 3-6, and 6-12 months from surgery) with censoring for death. For each phase, propensity score matching of endovascular and open cases based on preoperative patient and hospital characteristics was used. The association between preoperative characteristics (including repair approach) and the first month postprocedure cost was characterized through multivariable analysis. RESULTS: Overall 664 TAAA repairs were identified (open, n = 361 [54.5%] and endovascular, n = 303 [45.6%]). At 1 month, the median cost was higher for endovascular TAAA repair in the prematching cohort (C$64,892 vs C$36,647; P < .01). Similarly, in 241 well-balanced endovascular/open patient pairs after propensity score matching, the median health care costs were higher in endovascular TAAA cases during the first month (C$62,802 vs C$33,605; P < .01). The 1- to 3-month median cost was not statistically different between endovascular and open TAAA cases either before matching (C$2781 vs C$2618; P = .71) or after matching (C$2762 vs C$2092; P = .58). Likewise, in the 3- to 6-month and 6- to 12-month postprocedure intervals, there were no significant differences in the median health care costs between groups. On multivariable analysis, older age (5-year increments) (relative change [RC] in mean cost, 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.06; P = .01), urgent procedures (RC, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.10-1.52; P < .01), and history of stroke (RC, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.00-1.78; P = .05) were associated with higher costs in the first postoperative month, whereas open relative to endovascular TAAA repair was associated with a decreased 1-month cost (RC, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.56-0.74; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: TAAA repair is expensive regardless of technique. Compared with open TAAA repair, endovascular repair was associated with a higher early cost, owing to the upfront cost of the endograft and aortic ancillary devices. There was no difference in cost from 1 to 12 months after repair. A decrease in the cost of endovascular devices might allow equivalent costs between endovascular and open TAAA repair.

Reporting standards for endovascular aortic repair of aneurysms involving the renal-mesenteric arteries.

Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair of complex aortic aneurysms requires incorporation of side branches using specially designed aortic stent grafts with fenestrations, directional branches, or parallel stent grafts. These techniques have been increasingly used and reported in the literature. The purpose of this document is to clarify and to update terminology, classification systems, measurement techniques, and end point definitions that are recommended for reports dealing with endovascular repair of complex abdominal and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms involving the renal and mesenteric arteries.

Systematic review of contemporary outcomes of endovascular and open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to provide a systematic review of the literature reporting the contemporary early outcomes after endovascular and open repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs). METHODS: MEDLINE and Embase were searched for studies from January 2006 to March 2018 that reported either endovascular (using branched or fenestrated endografts) or open repair of TAAA in at least 10 patients. Outcomes of interest included perioperative mortality, spinal cord injury (SCI), renal failure requiring dialysis, and stroke. Pooled proportions were determined using a random-effects model. RESULTS: The analysis included 71 studies, of which 24 and 47 reported outcomes after endovascular and open TAAA repair, respectively. Endovascular cohort patients were older and had higher rates of coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes. Endovascular repair was associated with higher rates of SCI (13.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 10.5%-16.7%) compared with open repair (7.4%; 95% CI, 6.2%-8.7%; P < .01) but similar rates of permanent paralysis (5.2% [95% CI, 3.8%-6.7%] vs 4.4% [95% CI, 3.3%-5.6%]; P = .39), lower rates of postoperative dialysis (6.4% [95% CI, 3.2%-9.5%] vs 12.0% [95% CI, 8.2%-16.3%]; P = .03) but similar rates of being discharged on permanent dialysis (3.7% [95% CI, 2.0%-5.9%] vs 3.8% [95% CI, 2.9%-5.3%]; P = .93), a trend to lower stroke (2.7% [95% CI, 1.9%-3.6%] vs 3.9% [95% CI, 3.0%-4.9%]; P = .06), and similar perioperative mortality (7.4% [95% CI, 5.9%-9.1%] vs 8.9% [95% CI, 7.2%-10.9%]; P = .21). CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review summarizes the contemporary literature results of endovascular and open TAAA repair. Endovascular repair studies included patients with more comorbidities and were associated with higher rates of SCI but similar rates of permanent paraplegia, whereas open repair studies had higher rates of postoperative dialysis but similar rates of being discharged on permanent dialysis. Perioperative mortality rates were similar. Universally adopted reporting standards for patient characteristics, outcomes, and the conduct of contemporary comparative studies will allow better assessment and comparisons of the risks associated with the two surgical treatment options for TAAA.

Leveraging vascular quality initiative data to improve hospital length of stay for patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair

Background: The Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative (SVS-SVQI) is a database that provides insight into standards of care and highlights opportunities for quality improvement by benchmarking institutional data against local, regional and national trends. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a frequently performed vascular operation. Postoperative length of stay in hospital (LOS) varies among institutions. We reviewed the morbidity and mortality of patients who underwent EVAR at our institution and the financial impact of increased LOS for these patients. In addition, we sought to identify modifiable factors associated with prolonged LOS. Methods: We identified all patients who underwent elective EVAR between Jan. 1, 2011, and Dec. 31, 2014. Preoperative patient characteristics, intraoperative details, postoperative factors, long-term (1 yr) outcomes and cost data were reviewed. Univariate analysis was used to determine statistical differences between patients with LOS less than or equal to 2 days and greater than 2 days. Interventions were implemented to modify factors identified as having a negative impact on EVAR LOS. Results: Identified factors that negatively affected EVAR LOS included social, neurologic, cardiovascular, urologic and renal issues. Following targeted interventions, LOS after EVAR decreased from an average of 3.8 to 3.0 days (p < 0.05). Logistic regression (n = 124) identified cardiovascular issues as the most significant predictor of LOS greater than 2 days (p = 0.001, odds ratio 14.24, 95% confidence interval 2.8­71.4). Reduction in LOS was associated with the additional benefit of 6.6% adjusted cost savings. Conclusion: By leveraging SVS-VQI data, we were able to reduce EVAR LOS by identifying modifiable factors and instituting focused interventions. The reduction in LOS was associated with cost savings to the hospital.

Contexte: L'Initiative pour la qualité de la chirurgie vasculaire de la Société canadienne de chirurgie vasculaire (IQCV-SCCV) est une base de données qui donne un aperçu des normes thérapeutiques et souligne les possibilités d'améliorations de la qualité en faisant la comparaison entre les tendances institutionnelles et les tendances locales, régionales et nationales. La réparation endovasculaire d'anévrisme (REVA) est une intervention fréquente. La durée du séjour hospitalier postopératoire varie d'un établissement à l'autre. Nous avons examiné la morbidité et la mortalité chez les patients ayant subi une REVA dans notre établissement et mesuré l'impact économique d'un séjour hospitalier prolongé chez ces patients. De plus, nous avons tenté de dégager les facteurs modifiables associés à un séjour prolongé. Méthodes: Nous avons recensé tous les patients ayant subi une REVA entre le 1er janvier 2011 et le 31 décembre 2014. Nous avons pris en compte les caractéristiques préopératoires des patients, les détails peropératoires, les facteurs postopératoires, les résultats à long terme (1 an) et les coûts. Une analyse univariée a servi à déterminer les différences statistiques entre les patients ayant séjourné à l'hôpital 2 jours ou moins et plus de 2 jours. Des interventions ont été appliquées pour modifier les facteurs reconnus pour leur impact négatif sur le séjour hospitalier après une REVA. Résultats: Les facteurs identifiés pour leur effet négatif sur le séjour hospitalier après une REVA étaient entre autres problèmes sociaux, neurologiques, cardiovasculaires, urologiques et rénaux. Après l'application d'interventions ciblées, la durée du séjour hospitalier post-REVA a diminué d'une moyenne de 3,8 à 3,0 jours (p < 0,05). La régression logistique (n = 124) a permis d'identifier les problèmes cardiovasculaires comme principaux prédicteurs d'un séjour hospitalier de plus de 2 jours (p = 0,001, rapport des cotes 14,24, intervalle de confiance de 95 % 2,8­71,4). L'abrègement du séjour hospitalier a été associé à un avantage additionnel de 6,6 % en économies de coûts ajustées. Conclusion: Après analyse des données de l'IQCV-SCCV, nous avons réussi à abréger la durée des séjours hospitaliers pour REVA en identifiant les facteurs modifiables et en appliquant des interventions ciblées. L'abrègement des séjours hospitaliers a été associé à des économies pour l'hôpital.

Toronto PowerWire fenestration technique to access false lumen branches in fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair for chronic type B dissection.

Chronic type B aortic dissection with aneurysmal degeneration requiring intervention presents significant therapeutic challenges. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair with a fenestrated endograft is a feasible option, but false lumen branches without an adjacent re-entry or perforation in the septum can pose a significant challenge. We present two cases of fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair for chronic type B aortic dissection in which a renal artery from the false lumen was cannulated by creating a "neofenestration" through the dissection flap using a radiofrequency PowerWire (Baylis Medical Inc, Montreal, Quebec, Canada) technique (Toronto PowerWire fenestration technique).

Impact of fenestrated stent graft misalignment on patient outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: During fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR), accurate alignment of the fenestration and the target artery is necessary to prevent complications. This study's objective is to determine the incidence of clinical outcomes following fenestration misalignment during FEVAR. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective chart review was performed for all elective FEVARs between January 2008 and April 2015. Data were gathered from patient records and intraoperative imaging. Native vessel angles were calculated using the vessel centerlines. Intraoperative stent graft orientation was determined by changing the angle of the image intensifier as the fenestration was profiled for cannulation. Vertical fenestration misalignment was defined as 4 mm or greater and is the distance from the center of the fenestration markers to the center of the target vessel ostium at the time of cannulation. Horizontal stent graft misalignment was defined as a difference between the native vessel angle and the intraoperative fenestration angle of 15° or more. Early and late clinical outcomes were analyzed with respect to the presence of either vertical or horizontal misalignment of the renal artery fenestrations. RESULTS: The study cohort includes 65 patients who underwent FEVAR during this study period. A horizontal misalignment of 15° or more occurred in 40% of patients (n = 26) and 30° or more in 9.2% of patients (n = 6). A vertical misalignment of 4 mm or greater occurred in 32.3% of patients (n = 21). The incidence of severe postoperative complications, defined as any in-hospital end-organ ischemia and/or death, was significantly greater for patients with stent graft misalignment-31% (n = 11) vs 3% (n = 1) in the aligned group. There was a trend toward higher rates of target vessel cannulation failure in patients with stent graft misalignment 3% (n = 99 fenestrations) vs 0% (n = 76 fenestrations). The combined incidence of any intraoperative target vessel complication was significantly higher in patients with misalignment, 8.1% (4, 15) vs 1.3% (0, 8). Long-term survival was significantly lower in patients with stent graft misalignment, which was primarily driven by high intraoperative and in-hospital mortality rates (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative stent graft misalignment is associated with higher rates of procedural target vessel complications and severe postoperative adverse events. Patients with stent graft misalignment should be considered at high risk for early postoperative complications. These results highlight an important need for improved FEVAR planning.

The effect of preoperative cognitive impairment and type of vascular surgery procedure on postoperative delirium with associated cost implications.

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative delirium (POD) has a high prevalence among vascular surgery patients, increasing morbidity, mortality, and length of stay. We prospectively studied preoperative risk factors for delirium that can be assessed by the surgical team to identify high-risk patients and assessed its impact on hospital costs. METHODS: There were 173 elective vascular surgery patients assessed preoperatively for cognitive function using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Confusion Assessment Method for POD, which was verified by chart and clinical review. Demographic information, medications, and a history of substance abuse, psychiatric disorders, and previous delirium were prospectively recorded. An accompanying retrospective chart review of an additional 434 (elective and emergency) vascular surgery patients provided supplemental cost information related to sitter use and prolonged hospitalization secondary to three factors: delirium alone, dementia alone, and delirium and dementia. RESULTS: Prospective screening of 173 patients (73.4% male; age, 69.9 ± 10.97 years) identified that 119 (68.8%) had MoCA scores <24, indicating cognitive impairment, with 7.5% having severe impairment (dementia). Patients who underwent amputation had significantly (P < .000) lower MoCA scores (17 of 30) compared with open surgery and endovascular aneurysm repair patients (23.7 of 30). The incidence of delirium was 11.6% in the elective cohort. Regression analysis identified predictors of delirium to be type of surgical procedure, including lower limb amputation (odds ratio [OR], 16.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.41-71.54; P < .000) and open aortic repair (OR, 5.33; 95% CI, 1.91-14.89; P < .000); cognitive variables (dementia: OR, 5.63; 95% CI, 2.08-15.01; P < .001); MoCA scores ≤15, indicating moderate to severe impairment (OR, 6.13; 95% CI, 1.56-24.02; P = .02); and previous delirium (OR, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.11-7.96; P = .03). Retrospective review (N = 434) identified differences in sitter needs for patients with both delirium and dementia (mean, 13.6 days), delirium alone (mean, 3.9 days), or dementia alone (mean, <1 day [17.7 hours]). Fifteen patients required >200 hours (8.3 days), accounting for 69.7% of sitter costs for the surgical unit; 43.7% of costs were accounted for by patients with pre-existing cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: POD is predicted by type of vascular surgery procedure, impaired cognition (MoCA), and previous delirium. Costs and morbidity related to delirium are greatest for those with impaired cognitive burden. Preoperative MoCA screening can identify those at highest risk, allowing procedure modification and informed care.

COMPASS for Vascular Surgeons: Practical Considerations.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To suggest a practical approach for the application of data from the Cardiovascular Outcomes for People Using Anticoagulation Strategies (COMPASS) trial in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). RECENT FINDINGS: The COMPASS trial showed that low-dose rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily plus daily aspirin was superior to aspirin alone in reducing major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, and major adverse limb events among patients with stable atherosclerotic vascular disease, including those with PAD. The risk for major bleeding, however, was higher with rivaroxaban plus aspirin. Critical limb ischemia at baseline (rest pain, ulcer, or gangrene), previous limb or foot amputation, or a history of peripheral revascularization surgery or stenting were independently associated with increased major adverse limb events within the trial. SUMMARY: Intensification of antithrombotic therapy with low-dose rivaroxaban plus aspirin should be considered in low bleeding risk PAD patients who are at increased risk for ischemic and/or limb events. A practical approach for clinicians is presented to help incorporate COMPASS data into practice.