Five-Year Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction After Acute Ischemic Stroke in Korea.

Background The long-term incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has not been well defined in large cohort studies of various race-ethnic groups. Methods and Results A prospective cohort of patients with AIS who were registered in a multicenter nationwide stroke registry (CRCS-K [Clinical Research Collaboration for Stroke in Korea] registry) was followed up for the occurrence of AMI through a linkage with the National Health Insurance Service claims database. The 5-year cumulative incidence and annual risk were estimated according to predefined demographic subgroups, stroke subtypes, a history of coronary heart disease (CHD), and known risk factors of CHD. A total of 11 720 patients with AIS were studied. The 5-year cumulative incidence of AMI was 2.0%. The annual risk was highest in the first year after the index event (1.1%), followed by a much lower annual risk in the second to fifth years (between 0.16% and 0.27%). Among subgroups, annual risk in the first year was highest in those with a history of CHD (4.1%) compared with those without a history of CHD (0.8%). The small-vessel occlusion subtype had a much lower incidence (0.8%) compared with large-vessel occlusion (2.2%) or cardioembolism (2.4%) subtypes. In the multivariable analysis, history of CHD (hazard ratio, 2.84; 95% CI, 2.01-3.93) was the strongest independent predictor of AMI after AIS. Conclusions The incidence of AMI after AIS in South Korea was relatively low and unexpectedly highest during the first year after stroke. CHD was the most substantial risk factor for AMI after stroke and conferred an approximate 5-fold greater risk.

Outcomes of reintervention for recurrent symptomatic disease after tibial endovascular intervention.

OBJECTIVE: Tibial interventions for critical limb ischemia are now commonplace. Restenosis and occlusion remain barriers to durability after intervention. The aim of this study was to examine the patient-centered outcomes of open and endovascular reintervention for symptomatic recurrent disease after a primary isolated tibial endovascular intervention. METHODS: A database of patients undergoing isolated primary lower extremity tibial endovascular interventions between 2006 and 2016 was retrospectively queried. Patients with recurrent critical ischemia (Rutherford 4 and 5) were identified. Outcomes in this cohort were analyzed, and three groups were defined: endovascular reintervention (ie, a repeated tibial or pedal endovascular intervention), bypass (bypass to a tibial or pedal vessel), and primary amputation (ie, above- or below-knee amputation) on the ipsilateral leg. Patient-oriented outcomes of clinical efficacy (absence of recurrent signs or symptoms of critical ischemia, maintenance of ambulation, and absence of major amputation), amputation-free survival (survival without major amputation), and freedom from major adverse limb events (above-ankle amputation of the index limb or major reintervention, such as new bypass graft or jump or interposition graft revision) were evaluated after the reintervention. RESULTS: There were 1134 patients (56% male; average age, 59 years) who underwent primary tibial intervention for critical ischemia, and 54% presented with symptomatic restenosis and occlusion. Of the 513 patients with recurrent disease, 58% presented with rest pain and the remainder with ulceration. A repeated tibial endovascular intervention was performed in 64%, open bypass in 19%, and below-knee amputation in 17%. Bypass was employed in patients with a good target vessel, venous conduit, and good pedal runoff. Patient-centered outcomes were better in the bypass group compared with the reintervention group (amputation-free survival, 45% ± 9% vs 27% ± 9% [P < .01]; major adverse limb events, 50% ± 9% vs 31% ± 9% [P < .05]; clinical efficacy, 60% ± 7% vs 30% ± 9% [P < .01], mean ± standard error of the mean at 5 years). CONCLUSIONS: Tibial interventions for critical ischemia are associated with a high rate of reintervention. In patients with good target vessel, venous conduit, and good pedal runoff, bypass appears more durable than repeated tibial endovascular intervention.

Positive predictive values of peripheral arterial and venous thrombosis codes in French hospital database.

French hospital database, called Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d'Information (PMSI), covers all hospital stays in France (>66 million inhabitants). The aim of this study was to estimate the positive predictive values (PPVs) of primary diagnosis codes of peripheral arterial and venous thrombosis codes in the PMSI, encoded with the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision. Data were extracted from the PMSI database of Toulouse University Hospital, south of France. We identified all the hospital stays in 2015 with a code of peripheral arterial or venous thrombosis as primary diagnosis. We randomly selected 100 stays for each category of thrombosis and reviewed the corresponding medical charts. The PPV of peripheral arterial thrombosis codes was 83.0%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 73.9-89.1, and the PPV of correct location of thrombosis was 81.0%, 95% CI: 72.2-87.5. The PPV of pulmonary embolism was 99.0%, 95% CI: 93.8-99.9. The PPV of peripheral venous thrombosis was 95.0%, 95% CI: 88.2-98.1, and the PPV of correct location of thrombosis was 85.0%, 95% CI: 76.7-90.7. Primary diagnoses of peripheral arterial and venous thrombosis demonstrated good PPVs in the PMSI.

Treatment Strategy for Persistent Sciatic Artery and Novel Classification Reflecting Anatomic Status.

BACKGROUND: Persistent sciatic artery (PSA) is a relatively rare congenital variant of the lower limb vasculature and can have highly variable clinical presentations. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between PSA anatomy and clinical presentation, and to suggest an optimal management strategy. METHODS: Between 2001 and 2014, 24 PSAs in 19 patients were diagnosed by computed tomography and referred to the vascular surgery department. Patient demographics, types of PSA and femoral artery, aneurysmal changes, symptoms, and treatment methods were assessed. Additionally, all English literature from 1964 to 2014 was reviewed and compared using the PubMed database (224 PSAs in 171 patients). RESULTS: PSA was diagnosed in 10 men (52.6%) and nine women (47.4%). PSAs were bilateral in five patients (26.3%) and symptomatic in 12 patients, while in seven patients PSA was found incidentally. According to the Pillet-Gauffre classification, Type 2a was the most common variant (n = 15/24, 62.5%), with unclassifiable types in two limbs. Compared with cases in the literature, the PSA occlusion rate in this study was higher (n = 10/24, 41.7% vs. n = 54/224, 27.5%), but aneurysm incidence was higher in the literature cases (n = 5/24, 20.8% vs. n = 112/224; 50.7%). In this study, 16 limbs (66.6%) were treated conservatively, and six limbs were treated by open surgery, including four bypasses, one amputation, and one thrombo-embolectomy. Endovascular coil embolization was performed in one limb, and a hybrid procedure with stent graft was performed in one limb with PSA aneurysm. Based on the present series and the literature review, a new classification system and treatment option is proposed according to the anatomic status and the presence of aneurysm. According to the new classification, class III was the most common in both the present study (18/24; 75%) and the literature review, and the presence of aneurysm was the most important determinant of surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The new classification system is simple and provides guidance for management. Limb anatomy of the femoral artery system and the presence of PSA aneurysm should be considered when selecting the optimal treatment. The risk of embolism from the presence of aneurysm is an important factor for treatment, and bypass surgery is mostly required in classes III and IV.

[Prospective, Systematic Observational Study on the Daily Use of Cilostazol (Pletal) in Clinical Vascular Surgical Practice - Significant Improvement of Walking Distance and Quality of Life for Patients with PAOD, Stage II b]. / Prospektiv-systematische Beobachtungsstudie zur Anwendung von Cilostazol (Pletal) in täglicher klinisch-gefäßchirurgischer Praxis - signifikante Verbesserung von Gehstrecke und Lebensqualität bei Patienten mit pAVK Stadium II b.

AIM, PATIENTS AND METHODS: Through a defined time period, all consecutive vascular surgical patients with indicated and initiated medication with cilostazol (PAOD, stage II b) were registered and controlled clinically within 3-month time intervals to investigate the therapeutic effect in a representative, specifically vascular surgical group of patients using a systematic prospective, unicentre clinical observational study. In particular, maximum walking distance, subjective (semiquantitative) assessment of the quality of life, impact of accompanying diseases as well as the occurrence of adverse effects and their impact onto the treatment were studied. RESULTS: Out of the 146 registered patients with initiated medication of cilostazol, 93 subjects were finally evaluated. Three months after initiation of cilostazol medication, maximum walking distance increased by 108 m (159.7 %) based on the initial 181 m. After 6 and 9 months, walking distance increased by 181 m (200 %) and 168 m (192.8 %), respectively. After 12 months, there was no further increase of the walking distance by 126 m (169.6 %) compared with months 6 and 9 but still with a significant difference to the initial distance. There was a trend of an improved walking distance from the 3rd to the 6th month (p = 0.1055) and a significant difference between the 3rd and the 9th month (p = 0.0094; no further significant differences between the time points 3rd/12th, 6th/9th, 6th/12th and 9th/12th month). While an improved quality of life was reported in 80.7 % of patients after 3 months, the rate varied between 82.6, 72.9 and 80.9 % at 6, 9 and 12 months, respectively, i.e., always in the majority of cases. There were no hints for safety concerns with regard to severe adverse effects, in particular, bleeding episodes. Subgroup analyses on accompanying diseases such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia or nicotine abuse did not reveal any impact on the improved walking distance (ABI - no feasible parameter). CONCLUSION: Medication with cilostazol led to a significant increase of the maximum walking distance (p < 0.0001) compared to the initial distance, which was further increased through one year (however, the effect became weaker) accompanied by a dominating improvement of the quality of life. The effects can be observed longer than 3-6 months.

Endovascular treatment for unilateral chronic total occlusions of the iliac artery categorized as TASC II type D lesions.

PURPOSE: To compare the results of endovascular treatment for unilateral iliac occlusion in types B and D, and confirm its validity for type D. METHODS: Between 2000 and 2011, 108 patients underwent endovascular treatment for unilateral iliac occlusion. 77 were categorized as type B for occlusion of common iliac artery (CIA) or external iliac artery (EIA) and 31 were categorized as type D for occlusion of both CIA and EIA. The initial success rates, procedure time, penetration time, amount of contrast media used, complication rates, and cumulative primary patency rates were determined and compared between these groups. RESULTS: Between type D and B groups, the initial success rates were 87.1 % (type D) and 89.6 % (type B) (p = 0.9316). The procedure time was 137.0 ± 55.5 and 97.2 ± 47.2 min (p < 0.05). The penetration time was 49.1 ± 40.6 and 31.6 ± 30.1 min (p < 0.05). The amount of contrast agent used was 193.9 ± 103.1 and 156.5 ± 85.0 ml (p = 0.0722). The complication rates were 6.5 and 3.9 % (p = 0.8491). The cumulative primary patency rates, at 1, 3, and 5 years were 91, 85, and 85 % and 100, 96, and 93 %. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment can be indicated for unilateral occlusion of both CIA and EIA categorized as type D.

[Mesenterointestinocolonovascular arterial ischemic disease: guidelines of the angiology section of Slovak Medical Chamber (AS SMC, 2013)]. / Mezentériointestinokolonovaskulárna artériová ischemická choroba Odporúcania Sekcie angiológov Slovenskej lekárskej komory (2013).

Organovascular arterial ischemic diseases (cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, extremitovascular, renovascular, genitovascular, pulmovascular, mesenterovascular, dermovascular, oculovascular, otovascular, stomatovascular etc.) are an important manifestations of systemic atherosclerosis and other arterial diseases of vascular system (arteriolosclerosis/arteriolonecrosis; diabetic macroangiopathy; diabetic microangiopathy; Mönckeberg´s mediosclerosis/mediocalcinosis; arteritis - vasculitis; syndromes of arterial compression; fibromuscular dysplasia; cystic adventitial degeneration; arterial thrombosis; arterial embolism/thromboembolism; traumatic and posttraumatic arteriopathies; physical arteriopathies; chemical and toxic arteriopathies; iatrogenic arterial occlusions; dissection of aorta and of arteries; coiling; kinking; complicated arterial aneurysms; arteriovenous fistula, rare vascular diseases). Key clinical-etiology-anatomy-pathophysiology (CEAP) aspects of the mesenteriovascular arterial ischemic diseases are discussed in this article (project Vessels).

[Padma 28--a useful supplement in the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease in the stages IIa and IIb]. / Padma 28--eine sinnvolle Ergänzung zur Behandlung der peripheren arteriellen Verschlusskrankheit im Stadium IIa und IIb.

Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) is in about 90% of the cases caused by atherosclerosis. Since this can affect all arteries of the body, PAOD is considered an important indicator of cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke, and thus of the leading cause of death in the Western world. With the measurement of the ankle/brachial pressure index (ABI), a practicable method is available to diagnose the disease in routine practice. Besides lifestyle modifications, the mainstay of treatment of atherosclerosis includes also drug treatment of known risk factors. In case of a severe circulatory disorder with critical ischemia, a revascularization by angioplasty or surgical methods is imperative. If the walking distance is limited due to PAOD, we speak of intermittent claudication. Here, in addition to the interventional treatment (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) / surgery), a conservative walking exercise can be performed. The supportive use of Padma 28 in the conservative treatment has a measurable effect with a significant extension of the maximum walking distance and poses an additive treatment option.

[Complications after reconstructive operations on major arteries of lower limbs and methods of correction thereof].

The present study was aimed at revealing and examining the causes of specific complications after reconstructive vascular operations in the aortic-iliac-femoral zones. The study comprised a total of 155 patients, with the period of postoperative follow up amounting to 3 years. Thirty-nine patients were operated on for various specific complications within the terms from 1 to 3 years. The results of the study showed clear-cut relationship between the development of complications and progression of the underlying disease. Satisfactory results after secondary interventions were obtained in patients with good state of the distal bed and operated on at early terms after complications.

Chapter IV: Treatment of critical limb ischaemia.

Recommendations stated in the TASC II guidelines for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) regard a heterogeneous group of patients ranging from claudicants to critical limb ischaemia (CLI) patients. However, specific considerations apply to CLI patients. An important problem regarding the majority of currently available literature that reports on revascularisation strategies for PAD is that it does not focus on CLI patients specifically and studies them as a minor part of the complete cohort. Besides the lack of data on CLI patients, studies use a variety of endpoints, and even similar endpoints are often differentially defined. These considerations result in the fact that most recommendations in this guideline are not of the highest recommendation grade. In the present chapter the treatment of CLI is not based on the TASC II classification of atherosclerotic lesions, since definitions of atherosclerotic lesions are changing along the fast development of endovascular techniques, and inter-individual differences in interpretation of the TASC classification are problematic. Therefore we propose a classification merely based on vascular area of the atherosclerotic disease and the lesion length, which is less complex and eases the interpretation. Lesions and their treatment are discussed from the aorta downwards to the infrapopliteal region. For a subset of lesions, surgical revascularisation is still the gold standard, such as in extensive aorto-iliac lesions, lesions of the common femoral artery and long lesions of the superficial femoral artery (>15 cm), especially when an applicable venous conduit is present, because of higher patency and limb salvage rates, even though the risk of complications is sometimes higher than for endovascular strategies. It is however more and more accepted that an endovascular first strategy is adapted in most iliac, superficial femoral, and in some infrapopliteal lesions. The newer endovascular techniques, i.e. drug-eluting stents and balloons, show promising results especially in infrapopliteal lesions. However, most of these results should still be confirmed in large RCTs focusing on CLI patients. At some point when there is no possibility of an endovascular nor a surgical procedure, some alternative non-reconstructive options have been proposed such as lumbar sympathectomy and spinal cord stimulation. But their effectiveness is limited especially when assessing the results on objective criteria. The additional value of cell-based therapies has still to be proven from large RCTs and should therefore still be confined to a research setting. Altogether this chapter summarises the best available evidence for the treatment of CLI, which is, from multiple perspectives, completely different from claudication. The latter also stresses the importance of well-designed RCTs focusing on CLI patients reporting standardised endpoints, both clinical as well as procedural.

Retrograde approach to recanalization of complex tibial disease.

A significant proportion (~ 20%) of patients with complex tibial artery occlusions cannot be treated using a conventional antegrade approach. We report our experience using the retrograde approach for the treatment of complex tibial artery occlusive disease using retrograde pedal/tibial access in 13 limbs from 12 patients. Retrograde pedal/tibial access was achieved in all cases (facilitated by surgical cutdown in one case), and procedural success was achieved in 11 of 13 limbs (85%). Based on this experience, a discussion of clinical and technical aspects of the retrograde pedal/tibial approach is provided, and a new classification for tibial artery occlusive disease is proposed.

Robos arteriales / Arterial steal syndromes

Se detallan los tipos de robos arteriales más frecuentes: robo carotideo tipo I, robo carotideo tipo II, robo subclavio, robo coronario-subclavio, y robo de la fístula arterio-venosa de hemodiálisis al lecho distal.

Robos arteriales / Arterial steal syndromes

Se detallan los tipos de robos arteriales más frecuentes: robo carotideo tipo I, robo carotideo tipo II, robo subclavio, robo coronario-subclavio, y robo de la fístula arterio-venosa de hemodiálisis al lecho distal.(AU)

[Physical activity and peripheral arterial obstructive disease]. / Exercice physique et artériopathie oblitérante des membres inférieurs.

Intermittent claudication (IC) is the most common clinical manifestation of atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease. Exercise training plays a major role in treating patients with IC. Regular exercise increases functional walking capacity, reduces cardiovascular mortality and improves quality of life. This seems to be achieved by: favorable effect on cardiovascular risk factors, anti-inflammatory effect, increased collateral blood flux, improved rheology profile, endothelial function, fibrinolysis, and muscular metabolism. However, exact mechanisms underlying beneficial effect of exercise remain largely unknown. Exercise modalities will be discussed in this article.