Predictors of Aneurysm Sac Shrinkage Utilizing a Global Registry.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysm sac remodeling is a complex multifactorial process with unknown factors influencing sac regression after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). We sought to identify factors associated with this process by analyzing data obtained from patients treated with the GORE EXCLUDER endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) endoprosthesis from December 2010 to October 2016 enrolled in the Global Registry for Endovascular Aortic Treatment (GREAT). METHODS: All patients enrolled in GREAT with three years CT angiography (CTA) follow-up in each of the three successive years after EVAR were included. The percentage of sac size reduction toward device diameter was calculated and used as a surrogate for sac regression with the formula used being: sac size reduction = ((AAA baseline diameter - AAA diameter at follow-up)/(AAA baseline diameter - device diameter))∗100. The cohort was divided into two groups in accordance with the percentage of aneurysm sac reduction at three years; one with the top quartile of patients and the other with the lowest three quartiles. Demographic and procedural variables were analyzed using univariate and regression modeling to determine factors predictive of sac regression. RESULTS: There were 3265 subjects enrolled with follow-up as of May 2018 of which 526 (16.2%) had three years of CTA surveillance. Overall aneurysm sac size decreased from a mean of 58.0 mm (Std Dev: 10.4, range: 34.2, 100.0) to a mean of 49.3 mm (Std Dev: 14.1, range: 0, 140) for a percentage reduction toward device diameter of a mean 28.2% (Std Dev: 39.0, range: -103.7, 183.9). On multivariate logistic regression model; two factors proved to be statistically significant contributors to a larger percentage reduction in aneurysm sac: a conical neck (odds ratio [OR] = 1.64, P-value = 0.023) and a larger proximal device diameter (OR = 1.09, P-value = 0.023). On the other hand, two factors were negative predictors of sac shrinkage, namely: old age (OR = 0.96, P-value = 0.002) and larger baseline aneurysm sac diameter (OR = 0.98, P-value = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Aneurysms with conical necks and larger proximal device neck diameters have an increased percentage change in sac size over time after EVAR. Older age and larger initial diameters of aneurysms were negatively associated with percentage change in sac size as well as sac regression. Further study is needed to determine the clinical utility of these observations and applicability across multiple endoprosthesis platforms.

Implications of the severe acute respiratory syndrome associated with the novel coronavirus-2 on vascular surgery practices.

BACKGROUND: We sought to understand the effects of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) on vascular surgery practices as related to the Vascular Activity Condition (VASCON) scale. METHODS: All members of the Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society were surveyed on the effects of COVID-19 in their practices, educational programs, and self-reported grading of their surgical acuity level using the VASCON scale. RESULTS: Total response rate was 28% (206/731). Most respondents (99.5%) reported an effect of COVID-19 on their practice, and most were VASCON3 or lower level. Most reported a decrease in clinic referrals, inpatient/emergency room consults, and case volume (P < .00001). Twelve percent of respondents have been deployed to provide critical care and 11% medical care for COVID-19 patients. More than one-quarter (28%) face decreased compensation or salary. The majority of respondents feel vascular education is affected; however, most feel graduates will finish with the necessary experiences. There were significant differences in answers in lower VASCON levels respondents, with this group demonstrating a statistically significant decreased operative volume, vascular surgery referrals, and increased hospital and procedure limitations. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly all vascular surgeons studied are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with decreased clinical and operative volume, educational opportunities for trainees, and compensation issues. The VASCON level may be helpful in determining surgical readiness.

Effects of the Affordable Care Act on Vascular Patient Amputation Rates in Arkansas.

BACKGROUND: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010 and enacted in 2013 which improved insurance coverage across America due to increasing Medicaid eligibility as well as changes to individual insurance markets. In Arkansas, this was implemented by a Medicaid expansion waiver which allowed patients to purchase insurance with funds provided by the government to subsidize premiums through the marketplace. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on Arkansas patients with peripheral arterial disease. METHODS: A pre-post research design using the Arkansas Hospital Discharge Dataset was used to study the impact of the ACA on limb amputation, distal bypass, discharge disposition, and total costs for patients diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease/atherosclerosis. The data were obtained for the years 2007 through 2009 (pre-ACA), 2011 through 2013 (post-ACA), and 2014 through 2015 (post-Arkansas expansion). Bivariate analysis, analysis of variance, and regression analyses were performed to analyze the data. RESULTS: A total of 10,923 patients were identified. Uninsured patients ("self-pay") decreased from 7% pre-ACA to 3.4% post-Arkansas expansion (P < 0.0001). There was a decrease in adjusted health-care costs after the Arkansas expansion (P < 0.0001). There was no change in mortality or transfer to rehabilitation facilities, but there was an increase in discharge to skilled nursing facilities along with a decrease in patients being discharged home (P < 0.0001). Regression analysis showed private insurance to be associated with a 49% reduction in the odds of an amputation (P < 0.0001). The Arkansas expansion was associated with a 26% reduction in the odds of an amputation when compared with that before the ACA implementation (P < 0.005). Having private insurance was associated with a 26% increase in the odds of having a bypass when compared with uninsured patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with private insurance have a decreased chance of amputation and increased odds of having a bypass when compared with patients who were of the self-pay category. The increase in private insurance coverage in our patient population could improve the rate of amputation in the vascular population in Arkansas by increasing early interventions for peripheral vascular disease.

Mynx Vascular Closure Device in Arterial Endovascular Procedures.

BACKGROUND: Vascular closure devices have been used to achieve hemostasis of percutaneous access sites following endovascular procedures, with reported decreased time for arterial control as well as decreased time to ambulation. We sought to determine rates and risk factors of postoperative bleeding complications and failures using these devices from a single institution experienced in the use of vascular closure devices. METHODS: All patients undergoing arterial endovascular procedures with percutaneous access between March 2010 and October 2015 at a single institution were identified and analyzed (n = 894). Patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair, open access, venous procedures, or upper extremity access were excluded. Comparison groups were formed between those using the Mynxgrip® (Mynx), Angio-Seal™, Perclose® vascular closure devices and manual pressure (MP). Patient demographics, intraoperative data, and postoperative complications were compared. RESULTS: A total of 615 (69%) patients received Mynx, 165 other vascular closure devices (VCD) ([14%] Perclose, 44 [4%] Angio-Seal), and 114 (13%) MP. MP patients were more likely to be diagnostic angiogram with smaller sheaths, while VCD patients were more likely to be interventions with larger sheaths. Univariate analysis identified age, atrial fibrillation, intervention (as opposed to diagnostic), and sheath size >5F associated with postoperative bleeding (P < 0.05), and in backward, logistic regression analysis, sheath size, age, and renal failure were independent predictors of the same. CONCLUSIONS: Use of vascular closure devices has a low rate of bleeding complication, device failure, and need for operative repair. Bleeding is associated with increased age, interventional procedure, and end-stage renal disease. Mynx, Perclose, and Angio-Seal have similar rates of complications. Use of these devices are a safe option for groin vessel closure.

Risk Factor Modification Behaviors of Practicing Vascular Surgeons.

BACKGROUND: National smoking rates have declined; however, it remains the primary modifiable risk factor for nearly all vascular disease. While vascular surgeons have the availability to treat patients via medical or surgical/endovascular means, involvement in risk factor modification may be lacking. This study seeks to understand vascular surgeons' involvement in tobacco cessation and risk factor modification and to determine if practice variables had any effect on provision of these services to vascular surgery patients. METHODS: Anonymous electronic surveys examining tobacco cessation and risk factor modification were sent to the Vascular & Endovascular Surgery Society members (n = 633). Influence of time from training, practice type (dichotomized into academic and nonacademic vascular surgeons), hospital size, region, and workload was assessed, and data were analyzed by univariate contingency tables. RESULTS: A total of 149 (24%) surveys were completed. While the majority of respondents ask patient's smoking status (97%), assess willingness to quit (84%), and advise patients to quit (95%), only 34% prescribe medications to assist in cessation, 7% see patients in tobacco cessation follow-up, and 3% verify cessation with cotinine levels or carbon monoxide monitoring. Surgeons who prescribed medications for cessation are more likely to assess patient's willingness to quit, prescribe/advise nicotine replacement, or prescribe initial statin or other lipid-lowering medications. There was no difference in perceived education received during training in risk factor modification, but only 26% of respondents thought they were well trained. Comparing academic to private practice vascular surgeons, there was no difference in cessation techniques used; however, academic surgeons were less likely to perform endovascular procedures for claudication in patients who continued to smoke (29% vs. 46%, P = 0.03) and more likely to prescribe an initial antihyperlipid medication (65% vs. 39%, P = 0.0018). CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco dependence remains a critical issue for vascular surgery patients; however, there is wide variation in cessation techniques used. The majority of vascular surgeons are not well versed in cessation techniques and risk factor modification, and thus, efforts should be made to provide this education in vascular surgery training programs.

New predictors of complications in carotid body tumor resection.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relationship between two new variables, tumor distance to base of skull (DTBOS) and tumor volume, with complications of carotid body tumor (CBT) resection, including bleeding and cranial nerve injury. METHODS: Patients who underwent CBT resection between 2004 and 2014 were studied using a standardized, multi-institutional database. Demographic, perioperative, and outcomes data were collected. CBT measurements were determined from computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound examination. RESULTS: There were 356 CBTs resected in 332 patients (mean age, 51 years; 72% female); 32% were classified as Shamblin I, 43% as Shamblin II, and 23% as Shamblin III. The mean DTBOS was 3.3 cm (standard deviation [SD], 2.1; range, 0-10), and the mean tumor volume was 209.7 cm3 (SD, 266.7; range, 1.1-1642.0 cm3). The mean estimated blood loss (EBL) was 257 mL (SD, 426; range, 0-3500 mL). Twenty-four percent of patients had cranial nerve injuries. The most common cranial nerves injured were the hypoglossal (10%), vagus (11%), and superior laryngeal (5%) nerves. Both Shamblin grade and DTBOS were statistically significantly correlated with EBL of surgery and cranial nerve injuries, whereas tumor volume was statistically significantly correlated with EBL. The logistic model for predicting blood loss and cranial nerve injury with all three variables-Shamblin, DTBOS, and volume (R2 = 0.171, 0.221, respectively)-was superior to a model with Shamblin alone (R2 = 0.043, 0.091, respectively). After adjusting for Shamblin grade and volume, every 1-cm decrease in DTBOS was associated with 1.8 times increase in risk of >250 mL of blood loss (95% confidence interval, 1.25-2.55) and 1.5 times increased risk of cranial nerve injury (95% confidence interval, 1.19-1.92). CONCLUSIONS: This large study of CBTs demonstrates the value of preoperatively determining tumor dimensions and how far the tumor is located from the base of the skull. DTBOS and tumor volume, when used in combination with the Shamblin grade, better predict bleeding and cranial nerve injury risk. Furthermore, surgical resection before expansion toward the base of the skull reduces complications as every 1-cm decrease in the distance to the skull base results in 1.8 times increase in >250 mL of blood loss and 1.5 times increased risk of cranial nerve injury.

Contemporary Characteristics and Outcomes of Young Patients (Under 50 Years) Undergoing Open Carotid Artery Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, with 10% of neurologic events occurring in adults aged 18-49 years. The incidence in this age group has risen over the last 2 decades (while falling in the aged), despite improved diagnostic capacity and greater ability to treat it medically and surgically. We are unaware of any modern data regarding the risk factors and outcomes after carotid artery surgery in this demographic. We sought to evaluate the contemporary characteristics and outcomes of young adults undergoing carotid surgery. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients aged 18-49 years who underwent carotid surgery from 2005 to 2015. We collected demographics, indications, and outcomes, comparing them to previously published series. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were with the mean age of 46 (41-49) years, and 44% were male. Most were Caucasian (88%) and smokers (94%), consuming 1.3 packs/day with a mean pack-year history of 32 years (10-100). Average body mass index was 29. The majority (81%) were symptomatic prior to surgery (69% of these were strokes). Complications after surgery were hyperperfusion (1) and one deep vein thrombosis. Compared to young patients treated from 1973 to 1990s, we found significantly more female patients (P < 0.001) and more strokes (P < 0.04) leading to the procedure, while smoking remained the most prevalent risk factor. CONCLUSIONS: Carotid artery surgery in young patients continues to be associated with symptomatic stenosis and smoking; however, compared to 2-4 decades ago it may be more common in young females, and following a stroke. This may be from an increased prevalence of female smoking and improved neuroimaging.

Outcomes after arterial endovascular procedures performed in patients with an elevated international normalized ratio.

BACKGROUND: Patients treated with anticoagulants frequently require urgent vascular procedures and elevated prothrombin time/international normalized ratio (INR) is traditionally thought to increase access site bleeding complications after sheath removal. We aimed to determine the safety of percutaneous arterial procedures on patients with a high INR in the era of modern ultrasound-guided access and closure device use. METHODS: Patients undergoing arterial endovascular procedures at a single institution between October 2010 and November 2012 were reviewed (n = 1,333). We retrospectively analyzed all patients with an INR > 1.5. Venous procedures, lysis checks, and cases with no documented INR within 24 hr were excluded. Sixty-five patients with 91 punctures were identified. A comparison group was then generated from the last 91 patients intervened on with INR < 1.6. Demographics, intraoperative data, and postoperative complications were compared. RESULTS: The demographics were similar. More Coumadin use and higher INR were found in the study group (71/91 and 0/91, P = 0.001; 2.3 and 1.1 sec, P = 0.001, respectively), but there was more antiplatelet use in the control group (68/91 and 51/91, P = 0.01). Intraoperatively, the sheath sizes, protamine use, closure device use, ultrasound guidance, brachial access, and procedure types were not statistically different. Sheath sizes ranged from 4 to 22F in the study group and 4 to 20F in the control group. Paradoxically, heparin was administered more frequently in the study group (64/91 and 50/91, P = 0.046). Bleeding complications occurred more commonly in the study group (3/91 and 1/91, P = 0.62), but this failed to reach significance and the overall complication rate in both groups was low. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular procedures may be performed safely with a low risk of bleeding complications in patients with an elevated INR. Ultrasound guidance and closure device use may allow these cases to be performed safely, but a larger series may be needed to confirm this.