Impact of the endovascular revolution on vascular training through analysis of national data case reports.

BACKGROUND: In the last couple of decades, there has been a shift in use of endovascular procedures in vascular surgery. We aim to examine the impact of this endovascular shift on vascular trainees, determine whether the surgical experiences of trainees in the integrated residency and fellowship program changed over time, and identify differences between the two training paradigms. METHODS: Data were extracted from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education National Data Case Logs for the vascular surgery fellowship (1999-2021) and integrated residency (2012-2021) programs. Every procedure was categorized as open or endovascular, then designated into the following subcategories: thoracic aneurysm repairs, cerebrovascular, abdominal aneurysm repairs, venous, vascular access, peripheral arterial disease, visceral, or miscellaneous. We compared the prevalence of open and endovascular cases in the fellowship and integrated residency using data from overlapping years (2012-2021). In addition, we compared the mean number of cases per trainee per year within designated time intervals. The vascular surgery fellowship was grouped into three intervals: 1999 to 2006, 2006 to 2013, and 2013 to 2021; the integrated vascular surgery residency was grouped into two intervals: 2012 to 2017 and 2017 to 2021. Data were standardized to represent the average number of cases per trainee per year. RESULTS: Within the fellowship, we found a 362.37% increase in endovascular procedures (mean, 56.80 ± 32.57 vs 262.63 ± 9.91; P < .001), although there was only a 32.47% increase in open procedures (220.19 ± 4.55 vs 291.68 ± 8.20) between the first and last time intervals. There was a decrease in abdominal aneurysm repair (24.46 ± 7.30 vs 13.85 ± 0.58; P < .001) and visceral (6.41 ± 0.44 vs 5.80 ± 0.42; P = .039) open procedures. For the integrated residency, there was an increase in open procedures by 8.52% (352.18 ± 8.23 vs 382.20 ± 5.84; P < .001). Residents had greater total, open, and endovascular procedures per year than fellows (all P < .001). Chief residents had approximately one-half as many cases as vascular fellows per year. Fellows performed more open abdominal aneurysm repair (14.04 ± 0.80 vs 12.40 ± 1.32; P = .007) and visceral (5.83 ± 0.41 vs 4.88 ± 0.46; P > .001) procedures than residents. Overall, 52% to 53% of cases performed by trainees per year were open procedures in both the fellowship and integrated residency (288.56 ± 12.10 vs 261.27 ± 10.13, 365.52 ± 17.23 vs 319.58 ± 6.62; both P < .001). Within the subcategories, only cerebrovascular, vascular access, and miscellaneous had more open procedures performed per trainee. CONCLUSIONS: Vascular surgery training has incorporated new endovascular techniques and technologies while maintaining operative training in open procedures. Despite changes in vascular surgery training, trainees are still performing more open procedures than endovascular procedures per year. However, there are evolving deficits in specific types of procedures.

Adjunctive topical oxygen therapy for wound healing in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

INTRODUCTION: While the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been supported by randomized prospective trials for the use of selective lower extremity wounds, it is associated with significant cost, inconvenience, and a small risk of pneumothorax, barotrauma to the tympanic membrane, and severe hypoglycemia. As topical oxygen therapy (tOT) avoids these issues and there is little literature examining its use for patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), we reviewed our experience with tOT as an adjunctive technique for wound healing with arterial wounds. METHODS: We reviewed our experience with tOT for lower extremity wounds over 8 years. PAD patients with non-healing ulcers were referred to tOT after having revascularization of the limb and/or debridement where appropriate. tOT was administered to affected areas 4 times a week with a local boot that delivered 100% oxygen to the wound at 1.03 atm for 90-min sessions. We had 28 patients with PAD, 57.1% male, and 36 individual wounds. Ages ranged from 37 to 93 (mean 62 ± 13.7). 82% had a history DM, 75% hypertension, and 60.7% hyperlipidemia. 78% had lower extremity arterial angioplasty and 11% had a LE bypass. The remainder had a debridement only and were not candidates for arterial revascularization. RESULTS: tOT duration ranged from 1 to 7 months (mean 3 ± 2). 29% stopped tOT before healing. 25% healed completely. One died during follow-up. Overall, 66% had reduction of the wound area ranging from 12% to 100%. None had major limb amputation. 18% underwent toe amputations. 25% of our patients were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION: While these data are from a single-center and are single-armed, they represent the largest reported series of this therapy. This home-based therapy does show promise and warrants further investigation.

Partial In-Stent Thrombosis After Iliac Vein Stenting in Non-Thrombotic Vein Lesions.

OBJECTIVE: Iliac vein stenting is a safe and efficacious procedure for the correction of iliac vein stenosis. One of its known major complications is complete iliac vein stent thrombosis. However, we have noticed in our practice that a number of patients developed only early partial in-stent (<60%) thrombosis, within the first 30 days. In order to try to learn more about these lesions, we reviewed the data for possible causes of these lesions. MATERIALS/METHODS: From September 2012 to August 2018, we obtained 3518 iliac vein venograms using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) for patients with venous insufficiency who failed to respond to conservative therapy. Patients were followed up with transcutaneous duplex ultrasound (DUS) every 3 months for the first year and every 6 - 12 months thereafter. Patients were prescribed clopidogrel for 3 months or were told to continue their pre-existing anticoagulants. RESULTS: There were 2234 women and 1284 men who received an iliac vein stent. The mean age was 65.7 ±14 years. Mean follow-up for this cohort was 17 months. Of 74 patients developed a full thrombosis, 38 developed a partial venous thrombosis and 3406 developed no thrombosis. When comparing those who developed a partial thrombus versus those who developed no thrombus/full thrombus, overall age, laterality, CEAP, gender, and whether the patient received clopidogrel prior to the procedure and after the procedure were not found to be statistically significant factors. However, patients with an ASA score of 2 or 3,were found to be at a higher risk of developing a partial thrombus(P = 0.0223) compared to those who had an ASA score of 1 or 4. CEAP Scores and ASA class breakdown can be seen in Table 1 and Table 2, respectively. Of the 38 partial venous thrombosis that developed,18 completely resolved within the first 3 months after the procedure and 20 remained chronic past 3 months after the procedure. Patients with partial venous thrombosis were asymptomatic upon clinical presentation, and none developed post thrombotic syndrome (PTS) or pulmonary embolism (PE). Male gender was associated with partial thrombus resolution(P = 0.0036) CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ASA scores of 2 or 3, seemed to be at a higher risk of developing a partial thrombus when compared to patients with ASA score of 1 or 4. Male gender was associated with partial thrombus resolution. All other factors appear to not be statistically significant in impacting the development of a partial thrombus. This has been the first attempt to look at this new clinical entity.

Sphygmomanometer-induced hemostasis following iatrogenic guidewire perforation during lower extremity angioplasty.

OBJECTIVES: Iatrogenic guidewire perforation is a well-known complication of lower extremity angioplasty that is often benign or can be easily treated with endovascular techniques. However, perforations that occur in arterial side branches may be more challenging to manage. If bleeding persists, open surgery and fasciotomy may be required to evacuate the resulting hematoma and prevent compartment syndrome. These subsequent procedures increase morbidity and, if the angioplasty was performed in the outpatient setting, necessitate patient transfer to a hospital. To address these challenges, we describe a non-invasive hemostasis technique involving serial sphygmomanometer cuff inflations over the affected site in a series of five patients who experienced this complication at our office. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of consecutive patients undergoing lower extremity angioplasty that were found to have an arterial guidewire perforation on completion angiogram at our outpatient center between February 2012 and February 2017. Patients found to have iatrogenic guidewire perforations were administered intravenous protamine sulfate and were transferred to the surgical recovery room. Patients received ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain management. A blood pressure cuff was placed around the site of perforation, and patients received serial cuff inflation cycles with repeated examinations of both limbs until patients reported cessation of pain and there were no signs of a developing hematoma. Patients were observed for two hours before they were discharged home. A follow-up duplex ultrasound examination was completed within one week of the intervention. RESULTS: Over the course of five years, 536 angioplasties were performed at our outpatient office. Five of these patients experienced iatrogenic guidewire perforation (0.93%). Perforations occurred in branches of the anterior or posterior tibial artery. All of these patients were successfully managed with the aforementioned hemostasis technique. None of these patients required transfer to a hospital for further management, and no complications were reported at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Complications of iatrogenic guidewire perforations in lower extremity arterial side branches can be safely and effectively managed by applying external compression around the affected site with an automatic blood pressure cuff.

Fast-track thrombolysis protocol for acute limb ischemia.

OBJECTIVE: Catheter-directed thrombolysis in the treatment of acute lower extremity arterial occlusions often requires several interventional sessions to generate successful outcomes. It is typically an expensive procedure, necessitating extended hospital length of stay (LOS) that may be associated with an increase in both local and systemic hemorrhagic complications. Five years ago, we created the fast-track thrombolysis protocol for arteries (FTTP-A) to deal with these concerns. The goal of our protocol is to re-establish patency during the first session of thrombolysis, thus decreasing costs and complications associated with prolonged periods of thrombolytic exposure. METHODS: A retrospective study of 42 patients who were treated for acute limb ischemia at our institution by FTTP-A from January 2014 to February 2019 was performed. FTTP-A includes periadventitial lidocaine injection at the arterial puncture site under ultrasound guidance, contrast arteriography of the entire targeted segment, pharmacomechanical rheolytic thrombectomy of the occluded arterial segment, tissue plasminogen activator infusion along the occluded segment, balloon maceration of the thrombus, and (if deemed necessary) placement of a stent in an area of significant (≥30%) stenosis that is refractory to balloon angioplasty and thrombolysis. After the stenosis or thrombus is cleared, patients are prescribed an oral anticoagulant agent. RESULTS: Primary FTTP-A (50 total interventions) was performed in 42 patients. The median age of patients was 67.2 ± 12.2 years (range, 41-98 years), and 54.8% were male; 59.5% of the procedures were performed on the left lower extremity. Initial arterial access was obtained through the common femoral artery in 39 of 42 cases (92.9%); in the remaining 3 cases, it was obtained in a left bypass access site, a right femoral-popliteal graft, and a right femoral-femoral graft. The mean operative time was 148.9 ± 62.9 minutes (range, 83-313 minutes), and the mean volume of tissue plasminogen activator infused was 9.7 ± 4.0 mg (range, 2-20 mg). The median cost including medications and interventional tools was $4673.19 per procedure. The mean postoperative LOS was 3.1 ± 4.5 days (range, 1-25 days). Median postoperative LOS was 1 day. Mean postoperative follow-up was 27 ± 19.2 months (range, 0-62 months). Single-session FTTP-A was successful in 81% (n = 34/42) of patients; the remaining 8 patients (19%) required a single additional session. Of the 42 patients, 34 (81%) required arterial stenting. Periprocedural complications consisted of one patient with hematuria, which resolved, and one patient with thrombocytopenia, which resolved. No patients experienced rethrombosis within 30 days of FTTP-A. During the 5-year study period, there was no significant local or systemic hemorrhage, limb loss, or mortality related to this protocol. CONCLUSIONS: FTTP-A appears to be a safe, efficacious, and cost-effective procedure in the resolution of acute lower extremity arterial occlusions.

Physician impact on use of fluoroscopy during endovascular procedures to improve radiation safety.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether differences exist in fluoroscopy time and radiation exposure during lower extremity endovascular procedures performed by fellowship trained vascular surgeons vs general surgeons, to minimize radiation exposure to operating room staff. METHODS: A retrospective review of all lower extremity endovascular procedures was performed from August 1, 2014, to January 29, 2016. The procedures were performed by the surgical department's four surgeons with endovascular privileges: two vascular surgeons and two general surgeons. Only procedures involving lower extremity arterial angiograms with balloon angioplasty, stenting, or atherectomy were included. The operative records were reviewed for each case. The total fluoroscopy time and total radiation dose for each procedure were recorded. Procedures were grouped according to the number of endovascular interventions as one to two interventions, three to four interventions, and five or more interventions performed. Statistical analysis was performed with a P value of less than .05 considered significant. RESULTS: About 271 lower extremity endovascular procedures were performed during the study period by 4 surgeons. The average age of the patient population was 70 years. The total number of procedures performed over the study period were 112, 45, 91, and 25 for surgeons 1 through 4, respectively. On average, 3.24 interventions were performed during each procedure. Vascular surgeons were found to have shorter fluoroscopy time for procedures involving one to two (7.8 vs 30.1; P < .01), three to four (9.3 vs 34.2; P < .01), and five or more (11.5 vs 51.9; P < .01) interventions. Vascular surgeons were also found to have less radiation exposure compared with general surgeons in procedures with one to two (1.69 vs 3.53; P = .001) and five or more (2.3 vs 5.4; P = .003) interventions. There was no significant difference in radiation exposure between vascular and general surgeons for procedures with three to four interventions (5.86 vs 5.59; P = .95). CONCLUSIONS: In this small series at our institution, lower extremity endovascular procedures performed by specialty trained vascular surgeons were associated with both decreased operative fluoroscopy time and decreased radiation exposure when compared with general surgeons.

Safety of vascular interventions performed in an office-based laboratory in patients with low/moderate procedural risk.

OBJECTIVE: An exponential increase in number of office-based laboratories (OBLs) has occurred in the United States, since the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services increased reimbursement for outpatient vascular interventions in 2008. This dramatic shift to office-based procedures directed to the objective to assess safety of vascular procedures in OBLs. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed to include all procedures performed over a 4-year period at an accredited OBL. The procedures were categorized into groups for analysis; group I, venous procedures; group II, arterial; group III, arteriovenous; and group IV, inferior vena cava filter placement procedures. Local anesthesia, analgesics, and conscious sedation were used in all interventions, individualized to the patient and procedure performed. Arterial closures devices were used in all arterial interventions. Patient selection for procedure at OBL was highly selective to include only patients with low/moderate procedural risk. RESULTS: Nearly 6201 procedures were performed in 2779 patients from 2011 to 2015. The mean age of the study population was 66.5 ± 13.31 years. There were 1852 females (67%) and 928 males (33%). In group I, 5783 venous procedures were performed (3491 vein ablation, 2292 iliac vein stenting); with group II, 238 arterial procedures (125 femoral/popliteal, 71 infrapopliteal, iliac 42); group III, 129 arteriovenous accesses; and group IV, 51 inferior vena cava filter placements. The majority of procedures belonged to American Society of Anesthesiology class II with venous (61%) and arterial (74%) disease. A total of 5% patients were deemed American Society of Anesthesiology class IV (all on hemodialysis). There was no OBL mortality, major bleed, acute limb ischemia, myocardial infarction, stroke, or hospital transfer within 72 hours. Minor complications occurred in 14 patients (0.5%). Thirty-day mortality, unrelated to the procedure, was noted in 9 patients (0.32%). No statistically significant differences were noted in outcomes between the four groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that it is safe to use OBL for minimally invasive, noncomplex vascular interventions in patients with a low to moderate cardiovascular procedural risk.

Compartment Syndrome of the Leg after Intraosseous (IO) Needle Insertion.

Intraosseous (IO) needles are used in patients who are critically ill when it is not possible to obtain venous access. While IO allows for immediate access, IO infusions are associated with complications including fractures, infections, and compartment syndrome. We present a case of an 87-year-old man who developed lower extremity compartment syndrome after receiving an IO needle insertion and had to be treated surgically with fasciotomy to correct the problem.

Radiofrequency Ablation Increases the Incidence of Endothermal Heat-Induced Thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Endovenous thermal ablation has become the procedure of choice in the treatment of superficial venous reflux disease. The current armamentarium of devices and techniques aimed at the elimination of saphenous reflux offers surgeons and interventionalists a variety of treatment options; however, there is a lack of data comparing the safety of these products. The most concerning complication after endovenous thermal ablation is endothermal heat-induced thrombosis (EHIT) due to the risk of progression to deep venous thrombosis. This study aimed to compare the incidence rate of EHIT between radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and endovenous laser therapy (EVLT). METHODS: This was a single-center, office-based, retrospective study over the course of 5 years, in which 3,218 consecutive patients underwent 10,029 endovenous saphenous ablations. The patient cohort was 66.2% female, with an average age of 61.9 years. At the time of each individual intervention, 24, 212, 3,620, 4,806, 200, and 1,167 patients had Clinical-Etiology-Anatomy-Pathophysiology disease 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. RESULTS: There was a total of 3,983 EVLT and 6,091 RFA procedures. The most common vessel treated was the great saphenous vein, 63.6% of the time, followed by the small saphenous vein (25.6%), accessory saphenous vein (6.1%), and perforator vein (4.6%). There were 186 cases of EHIT, with 137 (73.6%) identified as type 1 as per the Kabnick classification. Endovenous ablation performed via RFA resulted in significantly more cases of EHIT than of EVLT (109 vs. 77; P = 0.034; odds ratio = 1.52), which was confirmed by a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In the largest single-center study of endovenous saphenous ablations to date, RFA was shown to pose a significantly higher risk of EHIT than of EVLT.

Superior Mesenteric Artery Thrombosis after Necrotizing Pancreatitis.

Vascular complications secondary to acute pancreatitis carry a high morbidity and mortality, often because of their hemorrhagic or thrombotic effects. When thrombosis presents, it is typically localized to the splanchnic venous system. In this report, we present a case of acute superior mesenteric artery thrombosis secondary to necrotizing pancreatitis after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The patient was successfully treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy.

A novel technique for duplex-guided office-based interventions for patients with acute arteriovenous fistula occlusion.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to aggressively salvage acutely occluded arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) using duplex imaging as the sole imaging modality for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of acutely thrombosed AVF. METHODS: Over a period of 12 months, 14 patients with acute thrombosis of their AVFs underwent 18 procedures in a single center for AVF salvage. All 14 patients presented with chronic renal failure, and six were diabetic. All patients were treated under duplex guidance alone. Treatment included simple balloon dilation and maceration (group A; n =10 procedures [56%]) for subacute thrombosis or pharmacomechanical thrombectomy (group B; n = 8 procedures [44%]) for more hypoechoic thrombus. A successful procedure was defined as immediate restoration of flow through the AVF. RESULTS: Of the 18 procedures, 13 (72%) were successful. Of the 14 patients, thrombus was located at the perianastomotic AVF in 6 (43%), proximal-mid AVF in 6 (43%), mid AVF in 1 (7%), and distal AVF in 1 (7%). From group A, six (60%) were successful. From group B, seven (88%) were successful. Among the unsuccessful procedures, one group B patient was hypercoagulable (polycythemia vera). Of the 18 procedures, 16 (89%) were treated within 2 weeks from when duplex revealed the presence of thrombus. Early rethrombosis (<1-month patency) occurred in three cases (17%), and these patients received new fistulas. Full restoration of the fistula flow was established in 14 cases (78%). Of these 14 patients, 8 (57%) are currently on hemodialysis via fistula, 3 patients (21%) had newly placed fistulas after failed interventions, 2 patients (14%) are not on dialysis yet, and 1 patient (7%) with polycythemia vera disorder is on dialysis via a Tesio catheter (MedComp, Harleysville, Pa). CONCLUSIONS: The sole use of duplex ultrasound imaging to salvage acutely occluded AVFs using percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is a safe and effective alternative to traditional treatment of thrombosed failing/maturing AVF.

Recent Trends in Publications of US and European Directors in Vascular Surgery.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that there may be significant differences between academic productivity of the vascular training programs in the United States (US) and Europe. In an effort to explore this theory, we reviewed the number of vascular publications listed in PubMed from 2010 to 2015 for US and European directors in vascular surgery. METHODS: The list of program directors from the Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery (APDVS) and the European Union of Medical Specialists (EUMS) were queried for the names of the directors of vascular surgical training programs at the end of 2015. PubMed listed 5,474 citations published from 2010 to 2015. Three thousand five hundred sixty-one were from Europe while 1,912 were from the US. UK and German programs did not list their directors' names in the EUMS website and were thus not included in the European data. RESULTS: The average number of citations in PubMed per program director was 2.36 per year. In Europe, each of the 273 program directors averaged 2.17 publications per year, whereas each of the 114 US program directors averaged 2.80 publications per year (P = 0.37). Journal of Vascular Surgery (JVS) publications made up 24.0% (12.7% in Europe and 45.0% in the US). In the US, the top third produced 69% of the publications and 77% of the JVS publications, whereas in Europe, the top third produced 87% of the publications and 98% of the JVS publications. In the US, 5 program directors (4.4%) had no publications and 21 (18.4%) had no JVS publications. In Europe, 82 program directors (30.0%) had no publications, whereas 180 (65.9%) had no JVS publications. Abstracts were categorized by topic for comparison. CONCLUSIONS: In both Europe and the US, the top third produced more than two-thirds of the publications, with the disparity being even more pronounced in Europe where the top third produced almost 90% of the total publications. Comparing the topics of the publications from Europe and the US, it was found that the US program directors published a great deal more on Endovenous Lower Extremity, Open Lower Extremity, Education, thoracic endovascular aortic repair, Open Carotid, and Endo Venous, whereas their European counterparts published more in the areas of Vascular Medicine, Replies, and Not Vascular.

Underexpansion of Wallstents® in the Treatment of Nonthrombotic Iliac Vein Lesions.

BACKGROUND: Iliac vein stenting is increasingly being used in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency caused by nonthrombotic iliac vein lesions (NIVL). We have noticed that many stents do not deploy to the expected stent area (ESA) as designated by the manufactured stent diameter (MSD). The purpose of this study was to identify factors predictive of Wallstent® underexpansion in the iliocaval venous system. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all patients with NIVL who were treated with iliac vein stenting using Wallstents® was performed. None of the patients in this study underwent pre-or post-stenting balloon angioplasty. Multiway analysis of variance and multiple linear regression analysis were performed to examine the effects of gender, age, stent laterality, location of stenosis, and CEAP (clinical, etiology, anatomy, and pathophysiology) score at presentation on the proportion of observed stent area (OSA) to ESA. RESULTS: Two-hundred three patients (64 male and 139 female; mean age: 68 ± 13.9 years) underwent 242 treatments between December 2012 and January 2016. Disease severity based on CEAP score were: C1 (0), C2 (0), C3 (n = 59, 24%), C4 (n = 148, 61%), C5 (n = 4, 2%), and C6 (n = 31, 13%). On average, stents deployed to 69.58% of the ESA (range, 23.87­123.35%). Multiple linear regression analysis showed a significant negative correlation between increasing MSD and ESA achieved. Regression coefficients for differences in percent difference between ESA and OSA based on MSD were as follows: 16 mm (−15.0, P = 0.1519), 18 mm (−21.0, P = 0.0077), 20 mm (−23.2, P = 0.0059), and 20­22 mm (−35.3, P < 0.0001). No significant difference in stent underexpansion was detected based on gender, age, stent laterality, location of stenosis, or CEAP score. CONCLUSIONS: Larger MSD is associated with greater magnitude of stent underexpansion. These findings may have implications for future venous stent designing.

Recanalization After Endovenous Thermal Ablation.

BACKGROUND: Endovenous thermal ablation in the form of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) has quickly ascended to a prime position in the treatment of venous insufficiency. Although there are good data examining the rates of thrombotic complications, there is a relative paucity of data examining the recanalization rates after endovenous thermal ablation (ETA). METHODS: Data analysis was performed for 1475 thermal ablations in 485 patients from 2012 to 2015 as a retrospective chart review. RFA was performed in 1027 patients and EVLA in 448 patients. The target veins included the great saphenous vein (GSV) (778), short saphenous vein (SSV) (401), accessory saphenous vein (ASV) (140), and perforator veins (PV) (156). Data were collected from follow-up visit within 1 week of procedure, every 3 months for the first year, and every 6 months thereafter. Recurrence was defined as >500 ms for the GSV, SSV, and ASV and as >350 ms for the PV. Data for recanalization were also correlated with age, gender, laterality, presenting symptoms, and treated targeted vein. RESULTS: The average age of the study population was 64.7 years (SD ± 15.6) with 66% women and 326 bilateral veins. At 1-week follow-up, women (2.6%) had higher recanalization rate (P = 0.018). Failure rate of obliteration for GSV and SSV were 0.8% and 0.8%, respectively (P = 0.98). PV had the highest failure rate (16.6%), followed by ASV (2.9%) (P < 0.001). At mean follow-up after 13.5 ± 12 months, PV (41.2%) and ASV (14.85) had higher recanalization rate than GSV (7.7%) and SSV (8.5%) (P < 0.001). Excluding PVs, no difference with recurrence rates between RFA (10%) and EVLA (8.8%) was observed at 1-week and 1-year follow-ups (P = 0.54). Also, 56% of patients with recanalization were symptomatic. Among these 1475 procedures, redo for recurrent symptoms were performed in 76. At 1 week, there was no difference between nonrepeated (92.7%) and repeated procedures (89.5%) (P = 0.41). However, 1 year later, there was significant difference between obliteration rate in nonrepeated (86.9%) and repeated (76.3%) procedures (P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: These data do suggest low overall rates of recanalization after thermal ablation of the GSV and SSV. However, at 1-year follow-up, accessory veins had almost twice the recurrence rate as compared with GSV and SSV, and PV had almost 5 times the recurrence rate. There was no significant difference between RFA and EVLA in recanalization rates. Redo procedures in recanalized veins after venous ablation are effective with a success rate at 76.5%.

A Trainee Perspective to Issues Needing Redressal in Current Vascular Surgery Training Programs: Survey Results from 2004 to 2015.

BACKGROUND: Vascular surgery training and practice have been constantly evolving in the last 2 decades. The goal of this study is to report the changing trends in perspectives of vascular surgery trainees on current training program and issues that need redressal in vascular training and practice. METHODS: Vascular surgery trainees in the United States, who attended the Society of Clinical Vascular Surgery meeting from 2004 to 2015, were surveyed annually with an anonymous questionnaire during the meet. Questions pertaining to their endovascular and open surgical learning experience, independent performance of procedures, challenges of job search, starting an independent practice, and their perception of issues in vascular surgery training were analyzed. Responses from the first half of the decade (2004-2009) were compared with the second half (2010-2015) to identify evolving trends in trainee perception. RESULTS: Among the 908 vascular surgery trainees who attended the annual meeting from 2004 to 2015, 670 (74%) trainees responded to the questionnaire. The mean age of vascular trainees was 32.5 years. In the latter half of the decade, there was a 2-fold increase in female trainees, from 12.3% to 23.6% (P = 0.002), and the integrated program trainees also increased from 0% to 12% of respondents (P = 0.0023). Trainee satisfaction with endovascular training improved from 78% to 90% (P = 0.0001), and satisfaction with open surgical experience was unchanged at 83% over the 10-year period (P = 0.16). The perception of vascular laboratory experience improved with only 35% vs. 27% (P = 0.016) of respondents dissatisfied, despite only a third of respondents actually performing the noninvasive tests in both the former and the latter half of the decade, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although the quality of vascular cases during training has improved, vascular trainees desire shorter training paradigms, and vascular laboratory education is still viewed as deficient. These findings can be used by training programs to re-examine their curricula and implement changes to improve the quality of training the next generation of vascular surgeons.

Intraoperative venoplasty to facilitate placement of tunneled catheters for hemodialysis.

Objective With the implementation of the K-DOQI guidelines, more patients are in need of long-term dialysis catheters until maturation of the arteriovenous fistula. However, on occasion, when placing a tunneled cuffed catheter for hemodialysis, we have encountered difficulty with passing the guidewire in spite of demonstration of a patent cervical portion of the internal jugular vein on duplex. Herein, we review our experience with intraoperative venoplasty for placement of Tesio™ catheters (Medcomp Harleysville, PA). Methods Of the 1147 Tesio™ catheters placed since 1997 by our service, 35 venograms were performed due to difficulty encountered with placement of the guidewire. Patent veins were all crossed with the use of angle-guiding catheters, angled glidewires, and a torque vise. If chronically occluded intrathoracic veins were identified, an alternate site was selected for the placement of the Tesio™ catheter. Results Of the 35 cases with difficulty in catheter placement, venogram demonstrated a patent but tortuous vein in 9, chronically occluded intrathoracic veins in 6, and severe stenosis of the intrathoracic veins in 20. In 19 cases with severe stenosis of the intrathoracic veins, balloon angioplasty with an 8-mm balloon was successfully performed, which allowed successful placement of a functional Tesio™ catheter. In the additional one case, the catheter was not able to be placed despite angioplasty. Seven lesions that underwent balloon angioplasty were in the innominate vein, 11 were in the proximal internal jugular vein, and two were in the superior vena cava. Conclusion Venous balloon angioplasty can be used to maintain options for the site of access for tunneled cuffed catheters and may be necessary to assist with placement of long term cuffed dialysis catheters.

A new endovascular technique for the treatment of dialysis-associated steal syndrome.

Background Dialysis access-associated steal syndrome is a major complication of arteriovenous fistula creation whereby the low-resistance venous conduit shunts arterial inflow through the anastomosis, resulting in clinically significant distal artery insufficiency. Herein, we describe a case of severe steal phenomenon with gangrene of a digit following placement of an arteriovenous fistula that was treated with a novel, entirely endovascular technique. To our knowledge, this was the first totally endovascular approach to dialysis access-associated steal syndrome. Methods Catheterization of the right subclavian, axillary, and brachial arteries was performed. A short 5-Fr sheath was exchanged for a long destination 6-Fr sheath and placed in the proximal brachial artery. An arteriogram showed no stenosis of the arterial system, but did show substantial steal phenomenon with inflow to the arteriovenous fistula, instead of the forearm. We placed a stent graft in the brachial artery across the anastomosis such that the graft covered 3/4 of the length of the opening of the anastomosis. Results Immediately after placement of the stent graft the clinical picture improved dramatically. Patient was followed for 15 months after this procedure until her demise for unrelated causes without ever experiencing dialysis access-associated steal syndrome and with a patent and functional arteriovenous fistula. Conclusion We present a patient with severe dialysis access-associated steal syndrome complicated by third fingertip gangrene, which was successfully treated using a completely endovascular technique. This novel endovascular approach enabled a high-risk patient to avoid open surgery, preserve her limb, and maintain the function of her arteriovenous fistula.

Utilization of stent grafts in the management of arteriovenous access pseudoaneurysms.

Objective Endovascular stent graft repair for exclusion of pseudoaneurysm is currently being explored to replace open surgical repair as current management. The objective of the study was to evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of endovascular stent graft intervention in pseudoaneurysms complicating arteriovenous reconstructions in patients on chronic hemodialysis. Methods A retrospective analysis of all pseudoaneurysms treated with stent grafts at our institution over a period of five years was performed. The indications for endovascular intervention included bleeding from the pseudoaneurysm, infection, and significant skin compromise overlying the pseudoaneurysm or combination of the above. The rates of technical success, complication, and primary patency were measured at one-week, one-month, and six-month follow-up. Results A total of 33 endovascular stent graft interventions in 29 patients were performed for the treatment of pseudoaneurysms. The average age of patients was 68 years (range 31-90 years), with 13 female. Diabetes and hypertension were present in 15 and 22 patients, respectively. In eight patients, there was evidence of active infection at the fistula site. The choice of stent grafts include Viabahn ( n = 31), Wallgraft ( n = 1), and i-Cast ( n = 1). The initial technical success rate was 94%. The two failed interventions included occlusion of inflow artery with immediate conversion to open procedure ( n = 1) and incomplete pseudoaneurysm exclusion ( n = 1). Primary patency at one month and six months was 83 and 60%, respectively. An additional balloon angioplasty of outflow tract or central stenosis was performed in 18 cases (54%). The explanation of stent grafts due to persistent or recurrent bacteremia/site infection was required in four out of eight patients. The average time to explanation was 93 days (range 6-204 days). Conclusion The stent graft implantation is a safe, minimally invasive and efficient way to control and manage arteriovenous accesses with pseudoaneurysms. In the presence of infection, this approach may be less durable.

Clinical outcomes of direct oral anticoagulants after lower extremity arterial procedures.

Objectives The use of postoperative anticoagulation is not uncommon for patients undergoing lower extremity arterial procedures as adjunctive therapy. Longer postoperative length of stay is necessary to achieve adequate therapeutic international normalized ratio with traditional protocols that call for the use of unfractionated heparin and warfarin therapy. We hypothesized the direct oral anticoagulants are an attractive alternative to provide adequate anticoagulation in patients who undergo lower extremity arterial procedures. Methods We retrospectively studied patients who had lower extremity arterial procedures between 2012 and 2015 to examine the safety and efficacy of the direct oral anticoagulants in a single institution. Patency, freedom from re-intervention, and major adverse limb event were evaluated. The direct oral anticoagulant agents used included dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban. The primary patency, adverse effects and freedom from re-intervention were then compared to a control group of patients who were treated with traditional heparin-warfarin therapy after lower extremity bypass procedures. Results Direct oral anticoagulants were utilized in a total of 23 patients (48% men; mean age 69 ± 11 years) during the study period. Indication for use of direct oral anticoagulant after procedure included use of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bypass graft below the knee joint or after lower extremity angioplasty with disadvantaged runoff. Mean follow-up of the drugs was 23 months (SD ± 16 months). At the end of follow-up, the direct oral anticoagulants have been discontinued in four patients, who are currently only on plavix. Among 82.6% of patients who were given direct oral anticoagulants for PTFE bypasses, graft patency, freedom from re-intervention, and major adverse limb event were 100%, 100%, and 0%, respectively. Patients (17.4%) treated with direct oral anticoagulants for disadvantaged runoff after balloon angioplasty of the lower extremity, patency, freedom from re-intervention, and major adverse limb event were 100%, 100%, and 0%, respectively. For the patients who underwent direct oral anticoagulant administration for disadvantaged runoff primary patency was 100%. One patient developed wound dehiscence which was unrelated to direct oral anticoagulant administration. Our control group consisted of 100 patients who were treated with heparin-warfarin therapy for 30 days after lower extremity bypass procedures. The graft patency, freedom from intervention, and major adverse limb event were 93%, 12%, and 0%, respectively. There was however no statistically significant difference in graft patency rate ( P = .34) or freedom from intervention ( P = .07) between the two groups. Conclusions The preliminary data suggest that there may be a role for using the direct oral anticoagulants with patients who undergo lower extremity arterial procedures for prevention of thrombosis and warrants further investigation.

Demographic and clinical features do not affect the outcome of combined endovenous therapy to treat leg swelling.

Background There have been well-documented implications of race/ethnicity on the outcome of various vascular diseases, yet there are limited data on risk factors and outcome of lower limb swelling. While many patients improve with endovenous therapy (thermal ablation or iliac vein stenting), some patients' symptoms persist. The goal of this study was to identify clinical factors including race/ethnicity related to persistent leg swelling after treatment with both iliac vein stenting and thermal ablation. Methods From February 2012 to February 2014, this observational study analyzed data for 173 patients with chronic venous insufficiency who underwent both iliac vein stent placement as well as thermal ablation (radiofrequency ablation or endovenous laser ablation). All procedures of the thermal ablations and the iliac vein stenting were staged. Iliac vein stenosis was identified using intravascular ultrasound of the iliofemoral venous segment showing >50% cross-sectional area or diameter reduction. The patients were queried to the resolution of their leg swelling after both procedures were performed. The resolution of swelling was correlated with age, gender, presenting sign according to CEAP classification, race/ethnicity and degree of iliac vein stenosis. Patients were categorized by Caucasians ( n = 97), African Americans ( n = 27), or Hispanics ( n = 49). Statistical analysis performed using Chi-square and Student's t test. Results Of the total 173 patients who underwent both endovenous closure and iliac vein stent placements, 117 (67.6%) patients were women. The average age was 67 (±13 SD) years. The average pain score was 2.9(±3.1 SD). The average degree of iliac vein stenosis was 66.5(±13.3 SD). About 56.1% were Caucasians, 15.6% were African Americans, and 28.3% were Hispanics. The number of patients with iliac vein stent thrombosis was 2. One hundred fifty-two (87.9%) patients stated that they had improvement in swelling after combined procedures, 100 (65.8%) patients were women. The average age was 67.3 (±13 SD) years. The average pain score was 2.9 (±3.1 SD). The average degree of iliac vein stenosis was 67.3% (±12.8 SD). About 56.6% were Caucasians, 15.1% were African Americans, and 28.3% were Hispanics. The number of patients with iliac vein stent thrombosis was 1. Twenty-one (12.1%) patients stated they had no improvement after both procedures. Correlating these group factors with the group of patients who improved their swelling after the combined procedures we found the following: 17 (81%) of these patients were females ( P=0.16). The average age was 68.4 (±17 SD) years ( P=0.72 SD). The average pain score was 3.2 (±3.7 SD) ( P=0.68). The average degree of iliac vein stenosis was 60.2% (±15.9 SD) ( P=0.02). Around 52.4% were Caucasians, 19% were African Americans, and 28.6% were Hispanics ( P=0.88). The number of patients with iliac vein stent thrombosis was 1 ( P = 0.1). Conclusion These data suggest that the clinical factors including race are not clinically significant factors in the response to swelling after combined iliac stent and endovenous ablation procedures. Interestingly, a higher degree of iliac vein stenosis was associated with improved resolution of swelling.