Twenty-Five Year Multicentre Experience of Explantation of Infected Abdominal Aortic Endografts.

We report a multicenter experience of open conversions (OC) for aortic endograft infections (AEI). We retrospectively analyzed all patients who underwent OC for AEI after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), from 1997 to 2021 in 12 Italian centers. The endpoints were as follows: mortality (30-days, in-hospital), major postoperative complications. Follow-up data included: survival, aortic-related complications, infection persistence or reoccurrence. Fifty-eight patients (mean age: 73.8 ± 6.6 years) were included. Median time from EVAR to OC was 14 months (interquartile range 7-45). Thirty-five patients (60.3%) were symptomatic at presentation. Aortic reconstruction was anatomic in 32 patients (55.2%), extra-anatomic in 26 (44.8%). Thirty-day mortality was 31% (18/58). Six additional patients died after 30 days during the same hospitalization (in-hospital mortality: 41.4%). Most common post-operative complications included respiratory failure (38.6%) and renal insufficiency (35.1%). During 28.1 ± 4 months follow-up, 4 aneurysm-related deaths were recorded. Infection re-occurred in 29.4% of the patients. Estimated survival was 50% at 1 year, and 30% at 5 years, and was significantly lower for patients who underwent extra-anatomic reconstructions (37 vs 61% at 1 year, 16 vs 45% at 5 years; log-rank P = .021). OC for AEI is associated with high early mortality. The poor mid-term survival is influenced by aortic complications and infection re-occurrence.

High-throughput Sequencing to Identify Bacteremia in Children with Cancer.

Current methods to diagnose bacteremia are limited. In this pilot study of children with cancer presenting with fever, we determined the concordance between a novel high-throughput sequencing platform called BacCapSeq and blood culture. High-throughput sequencing had modest concordance with blood culture. Discordant organisms included those with both unlikely or potential clinical relevance.

Paleocene/Eocene carbon feedbacks triggered by volcanic activity.

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) was a period of geologically-rapid carbon release and global warming ~56 million years ago. Although modelling, outcrop and proxy records suggest volcanic carbon release occurred, it has not yet been possible to identify the PETM trigger, or if multiple reservoirs of carbon were involved. Here we report elevated levels of mercury relative to organic carbon-a proxy for volcanism-directly preceding and within the early PETM from two North Sea sedimentary cores, signifying pulsed volcanism from the North Atlantic Igneous Province likely provided the trigger and subsequently sustained elevated CO2. However, the PETM onset coincides with a mercury low, suggesting at least one other carbon reservoir released significant greenhouse gases in response to initial warming. Our results support the existence of 'tipping points' in the Earth system, which can trigger release of additional carbon reservoirs and drive Earth's climate into a hotter state.

Endovascular Treatment of Persistent Sciatic Artery Occlusion: Case Report and Literature Review.

Persistent sciatic artery (PSA) is a rare congenital anatomic variant of the lower limb vascular system with highly variable presentations. The management of lower limb ischemia due to PSA disease is not specifically recommended in guidelines, and surgical by-pass is usually the most described treatment. We reported a case of a 46-year-old patient with bilateral PSA and right chronic limb-threatening ischemia due to PSA occlusion at the PSA-popliteal junction which was successfully treated with percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty. In addition to this case report, a systematic review of the literature regarding the endovascular management of PSA stenosis and occlusion was conducted.

Surgical and Endovascular Management of Isolated Internal Iliac Artery Aneurysms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this paper is to report the different modalities for the treatment of isolated internal iliac artery aneurysms (IIIAA), as well as their outcomes. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of the literature (database searched: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library; last search: April 2020). We included articles reporting on the outcomes for IIIAA interventions comprising at least 5 patients. Studies were included when presenting extractable outcome data regarding intraoperative and/or early results. We performed meta-analyses of proportions for different outcomes, using random effects model. RESULTS: Thirteen non-randomized studies were included (192 patients with 202 IIIAA). IIIAA were symptomatic in the 18.1% (95%CI 9.3-26.9; I2 54.46%, P = .019). Estimated mean IIIAA diameter was 46.28 mm (95%CI 39.72-52.85; I2 88.85%, P < .001). Open repair was performed in 21/202 cases. Endovascular treatments were: embolization (81/181), embolization and hypogastric artery coverage (79/181), hypogastric artery coverage by stent-grafting (15/181), stent-grafting in the hypogastric artery (6/181). Overall estimated technical success (TS) rate was 91.6% (95% CI 86.8-95.5; I2 45.82%, P = .031). TS rate was 94.5% for open surgery (95%CI 85.3-100; I2 0%, P = .907), and 89.7% for endovascular repair (95%CI 83.8-95.6; I2 55.43%, P = .006). Estimated overall 30-day mortality was 3.1% (95%CI 0.8-5.4; I2 0%, P = .969). Mortality rates after open surgery and endovascular repair were 8.2% (95%CI 3.4-19.8; I2 0%, P = .545) and 2.8% (95%CI 0.5-5.1; I2 0%, P = .994), respectively. Estimated mean follow-up was 32.63 months (95%CI 21.74-43.53; I2 94.45%, P < .001). During this timeframe, IIIAA exclusion was preserved in 92.8% of the patients (95%CI 89.3-96.2; I2 0%, P = .797). Buttock claudication occurred in 13.9% of the patients (95%CI 8.7-19.2; I2 0%, P = .622). CONCLUSIONS: IIIAA are frequently large, and symptomatic at presentation. Several treatments are proposed in literature, open and endovascular, both with good results. The endovascular treatment is the preferred method of treatment in literature, since it offers good short- to mid-term results and low early mortality. Buttock claudication after hypogastric artery exclusion is a common complication.

Outcomes of Surgical and Endovascular Treatment for Arterial Lesions in Intravenous Drug Abusers.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to report an 18-year single-center experience in the surgical and endovascular treatment of arterial complications due to self-injection in drug abuser patients. METHODS: This retrospective single-center study was conducted analyzing a prospectively collected database including all endovascular or surgical procedures performed from January 2007 to December 2019 for any arterial complication due to self-injection in drug abuser patient. Collected data were patient demographic and comorbidity, site and type of arterial lesion (pseudoaneurysm [PA], arteriovenous fistula [AVF]), signs of systemic or local infection, and procedural data (endovascular/surgical treatment). End points were rate of postoperative complications, reintervention rate, limb salvage, and patients' early and long-term survival. RESULTS: In 11 patients (median age 36 years, range 27-47; male 73%), 13 arterial lesions were treated: 10 (77%) PA, 2 (15%) PA associated with AVF, and 1 (8%) isolated AVF. Arterial lesion involved common femoral artery in 5 (38%), superficial femoral artery in 4 (31%), profunda femoral artery in 1 (8%), brachial artery in 2 (15%), and subclavian artery in 1 (8%). Signs of infections were present in 9 of the 13 cases (69%). The treatment was surgical in 11 (85%) cases: 7 interposition graft (6 great saphenous vein, 1 arterial cryopreserved homograft), 2 direct reconstruction, 1 patch plasty with pericardium bovine patch, and 1 arterial ligation. Endovascular treatment was performed in 2 cases: 1 noninfected PA of the superficial femoral artery, and 1 55-mm PA of the postvertebral segment of the right subclavian artery with clinical sign of hemodynamic instability. At 1 month, postoperative complication rate was 8% (one lower limb claudication after superficial femoral artery ligation). Reintervention rate was 8% (interposition graft rupture for repeated self-injections). Limb salvage and patient survival were both 100%. Median follow-up was 5 years (range 1 month to 11.3 years); surgical group: median 8.2 years (range 2 months to 11.3 years); endovascular group: median 3.5 months (range 1-6). During follow-up, neither complications nor reinterventions occurred, and limb salvage was 100% for both groups. At 2, 4, and 6 years, overall estimated patient survival was 91%, 81%, and 81%, respectively, with no procedure-related death. CONCLUSIONS: After surgical or endovascular management of arterial lesions due to self-injection in drug abuser patients, complications occur mainly in the postoperative period. During follow-up, the surgical procedures have low rate of complications, reinterventions, and procedure-related mortality, whereas for the endovascular treatment the mid-term outcomes remain unknown.

Prevalence, risk factors and clinical impact of intraprosthetic thrombus deposits after EVAR.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to define the prevalence, the evolution and the clinical relevance of the intraprosthetic thrombus deposit (IPT) after endovascular abdominal aortic repair (EVAR). METHODS: Patients treated with EVAR from 2009 to 2017 for abdominal aortic aneurysm were retrospectively considered. Patients with at least one postoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) performed after a 3-month follow-up were included. Postoperative medical therapy (antiplatelet and/or oral anticoagulant) were recorded. Aorto-iliac anatomical characteristics were measured on pre-operative CTA, while structural and dimensional endograft features were extracted from instructions for use. IPT was defined as intra-endograft thrombus with minimum thickness of 2mm and longitudinally extended for minimum 4 mm, and was assessed in all postoperative CTA. Primary endpoints were freedom from IPT occurrence, risk factors for IPT and evolution of IPT. Secondary endpoints were the prevalence of overall and IPT-related tromboembolic events (TEE: main-body or limb occlusion, distal embolization) during follow-up and its correlation with IPT. RESULTS: Two-hundred twenty-one patients (mean age 76±7 years; male 94%) were included. Deployed endografts were: aorto-biiliac 96%, aorto-uniiliac 3%, aortic tube 1%; dacron 90%, ePTFE 10%. Mean follow-up was 30±25 months. Overall IPT prevalence was 36% (80/221). At 6, 12, 24 and 48 months, overall estimated freedom from IPT occurrence was 86%, 80%, 60% and 52%, respectively (Kaplan-Meier analysis). At Cox uni-variate analysis, postoperative medical therapy has no influence on IPT; aorto-iliac anatomical risk factors for IPT were larger neck diameter (P<0.001), severe neck thrombus (P=0.043), higher percentage of sac thrombus (P<0.001), hypogastric occlusion/coverage (P=0.040); endograft risk factors were proximal diameter ≥30mm (P<0.001), longer main body (P=0.002), dacron fabric (P=0.025), higher ratio between main body area/gate areas and main body area/distal iliac areas (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). At Cox multi-variate analysis, independent risk factors for IPT were larger neck diameter (P=0.003), higher percentage of sac thrombus (P=0.005) and longer main body (P=0.028). During follow-up, IPT disappeared in 14 cases (18%). Overall TEE prevalence was 4% (8/221) and overall estimated freedom from TEE occurrence at 6, 12, 24 and 48 months was 99%, 99%, 95.3%, 94.1%, respectively (Kaplan-Meier analysis). TEE was IPT-related in 5/8 cases (63%). No statistical correlation were found between IPT and TEE. CONCLUSIONS: The development of intraprosthetic graft thrombus (IPT) is a frequent event after EVAR. The risk of IPT is closely correlated with the proximal aortic neck size, the presence of intra-aneurysmal sac thrombus, and the length of the endograft main body. However, there was no statistical correlation between the presence of IPT and TEE.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Outcome of Different Treatments for Type 1a Endoleak After EVAR.

BACKGROUND: Insufficient evidence is available to recommend a particular strategy for the treatment of type 1a endoleaks (T1aELs) after endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair (EVAR). The aim of this study was to report outcomes of the different treatment modalities proposed for persistent and late-occurring T1aEL after EVAR. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature (database searched: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library) was undertaken until August 2018. Studies about treatment of T1aEL after EVAR (excluding intraoperative treatments during the first EVAR) presenting a series of 5 or more patients with extractable outcome data (at least intraoperative and/or early results) were included. Meta-analyses of proportions were performed using a random-effects model. RESULTS: A total of 39 nonrandomized studies were included (714 patients; 88.1% males, 95% confidence interval [CI] 84.5-91.7; weighted mean age 75.76 years, 95% CI 74.11-77.4). Overall estimated technical success (TS) and clinical success (CS) rates were 93.2% (95% CI 90.5-95.8) and 88.2% (95% CI 84.5-91.9), respectively. Two hundred eighteen patients underwent proximal extension (98.1% TS, 95% CI 96.3-99.8), 131 chimney EVAR (93.9% TS, 95% CI 89.9-97.9), 97 fenestrated EVAR (86.2% TS, 95% CI 77.3-95.1), 90 open conversion (96.5% TS, 95% CI 93-100), 71 embolization (95.2% TS, 95% CI 90.4-100), 35 endostapling (57.2% TS, 95% CI 14.1-100), and 72 conservative treatment (75.4% CS, 95% CI 56.4-94.5). Estimated overall 30-day mortality was 3.2% (95% CI 1.7-4.7), and it was higher for patients undergoing open surgery (6.6%, 95% CI 1.7-11.5). Overall, endoleak resolution during the mean follow-up of 19.4 months (95% CI 15.45-23.36) was maintained in 91% of the patients (95% CI 87.7-94.3). CONCLUSIONS: T1aEL repair appeared generally feasible, with good early to midterm outcomes. Different treatments are available, and the choice should be based on endoleak characteristics, aortic anatomy, and the patient's surgical risk. Conservative treatment and endoleak embolization should be considered only in selected cases, such as low-flow endoleaks and unfit patients.