Preoperative use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers and diuretics increases the risk of dehydration after ileostomy formation: population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Readmission rates following ileostomy formation are high. Dehydration and consecutive renal failure are common causes of readmission, potentially pronounced by drugs affecting the homeostasis. The aim of the study was to assess the risk of dehydration after ileostomy formation in patients treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) or diuretics. METHOD: This nationwide population-based cohort study used data derived from the Colorectal Cancer Data Base of several Swedish healthcare registers. The study included all patients operated on with elective anterior resection and temporary ileostomy for rectal cancer clinically staged I-III in Sweden in 2007-2016. Exposure was at least two dispensations of ACEI, ARB or diuretics within 1 year prior to surgery. Outcome was 90-day readmission due to dehydration including acute renal failure. RESULTS: In total, 3252 patients were included with 1173 (36.1%) exposed to ACEI, ARB or diuretics. The cumulative incidence for 90-day readmission due to dehydration was 29.0% (151 of 520) for exposed versus 13.8% (98 of 712) for unexposed. The proportion of readmissions due to any reason was 44.3% (520 of 1173) for exposed compared to 34.2% (712 of 2079) for unexposed. The incidence rate ratio for readmission due to dehydration was 2.83 (95% c.i. 2.21 to 3.63, P < 0.001). The hazard rate ratio was 2.45 (95% c.i. 1.83 to 3.27, P < 0.001) after adjusting for age, gender and comorbidity. CONCLUSION: Medication with ACEI, ARB or diuretics defines a vulnerable patient group with increased risk of readmission due to dehydration after ileostomy formation.

Endovascular Treatment of Chronic and Acute on Chronic Mesenteric Ischaemia: Results From a National Cohort of 245 Cases.

OBJECTIVE: Endovascular treatment of chronic mesenteric ischaemia (CMI) is linked to low early morbidity and mortality but a higher risk of recurrence than open repair. Mid and long term outcomes after endovascular treatment remain to be proven in larger series. The aim of this study was to assess short and mid term outcome after first line endovascular revascularisation of CMI and acute on chronic mesenteric ischaemia (AoCMI). METHODS: This was a prospective population and registry based cohort study supplemented by a retrospective review of medical records and imaging files. A national cohort was created based on data extracted from the Danish National Registry for Vascular Surgery (Karbase) for all patients treated endovascularly for CMI or AoCMI between 2011 and 2015 in Denmark. Survival data, bowel resection, complications, re-intervention rate, and improvement of clinical symptoms were analysed, as were potential risk factors. RESULTS: In total, 245 patients had an endovascular intervention for CMI (n = 178; 72.6%) and AoCMI (n = 67; 27.3%). One and three year survival estimates were 85% (95% confidence interval [CI] 79 - 90) and 74% (95% CI 67 - 80) in the CMI-group, and 67% (95% CI 54 - 77) and 54% (95% CI 41 - 65) in the AoCMI group. The hazard ratio for death was 1.89 (95% CI 1.23 - 2.9) for AoCMI, relative to patients with CMI. Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) stenosis, rather then occlusion, significantly increased the success of SMA recanalisation: OR 19.4 (95% CI 6.2 - 61.4) and 9.3 (95% CI 1.6 - 53.6) in the CMI and AoCMI groups, respectively. The proportion of patients reporting clinical improvement was 71% (n = 127) in the CMI group and 59% (n = 39) in the AoCMI group. Five patients (3%) in the CMI and 30 (45%) in the AoCMI groups underwent bowel resection (p < .001), and the overall length of hospital stay (LoS) was a median of two days (interquartile range [IQR] 1 - 3 days) in the CMI group and seven days (IQR 3 - 23 days) in the AoCMI group. Within the first year, re-intervention was performed in 14 patients (5.7%). CONCLUSION: First line endovascular treatment of CMI carries a three year mortality rate of 25%, and low risk of re-occurrence of symptomatic ischaemia. Relative to CMI, patients suffering AoCMI have significantly higher morbidity and mortality, more bowel resections, and longer LoS.

Learning Curves and Competences of Vascular Trainees Performing Open Aortic Repair in a Simulation-Based Environment.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze learning curves and competency gains of novice vascular trainees when performing open aortic repair in a simulation-based environment. METHODS: This was a prospective study of 16 vascular trainees performing infrarenal open aortic repair on an inanimate abdominal aortic aneurysm simulator with pulsatile pressure and flow. Each participant performed 4 procedures as a primary surgeon while getting structured feedback by a supervising experienced vascular surgeon. All sessions were video recorded and were anonymously and independently assessed by 3 rater-trained experts on an online platform using the newly validated open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair of technical expertise assessment tool. All supervisor interferences and procedure time was noted. RESULTS: Reliability between raters was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.92). Participants' mean scores almost doubled during the course between the first (13.4, 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.8-20) and fourth session (29.8, 95% CI, 26.3-33.3) with a mean difference of 14.6 (P < 0.001). Supervisor interference also decreased significantly from mean 3.0 (95% CI, 1.5-3.6) in the first to 0.7 (95% CI, 0.4-1.0) in the fourth session (P = 0.004). Procedure time decreased with a mean of 24 minutes: from 81 min (95% CI, 71.8-90.3) to 57 min (95% CI, 51.1-63.2, P < 0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between procedure time and the Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair of Technical Expertise score (Pearson's r = -0.72, P < 0.01). Only half of the participants passed the pass/fail score of 27.7 points during the course. CONCLUSIONS: Novice vascular trainees achieve skills and competencies in open aortic repair in a simulated setting with dedicated supervision and feedback and can become ready for supervised surgery on real patients. Learning rates are individual, and it is important to construct training programs with emphasis on proficiency and not merely attending a course.

Learn EVAR sizing from scratch: The results of a one-day intensive course in EVAR sizing and stent graft selection for vascular trainees.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Recognition of structured training in endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) for vascular trainees is increasing. Nevertheless, how trainees can achieve sufficient skills in EVAR sizing and graft selection is sparsely described. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of systematic training in basic EVAR sizing and graft selection on vascular surgery trainees using a validated assessment tool. METHODS: Sixteen vascular surgery trainees were included in an intensive 6-h hands-on workshop in aortic sizing and stent graft selection for EVAR with a trainer-to-trainee ratio of 1:2. After 1-h lecture, participants did 5 h of supervised training on increasingly complex cases. Finally, the participants were tested using a validated assessment tool. RESULTS: All participants were able to size the test-case and select a stent graft combination in 24:35 (13:30-48:20) min (median and range). The participants' overall test scores (lower is better) were in median 17.9 (11.9-28.4). This did not differ from the scores of experienced EVAR operators 14.7 (11.7-25.2) (<200 EVAR's) (p = .32) but was inferior to the score of EVAR experts 11.2 (9.8 -18.7) (≥200 EVAR's) (p = .01). The sub-score for anatomical measurements was 10.6 (3.9-18.8) and comparable with the experienced group 9.7 (8.1-12.8) (p = .83) but inferior to the expert operators 6.5 (5.2-10.2) (p = .04). The sub-score for stent graft selection was 7.5 (4.9-14.1) and comparable with experienced operators scoring 4.5 (3.6-12.3) (p = .09) but inferior to the expert operators score of 5.0 (3.6-8.4) (p = .01). CONCLUSION: This study presents the results of a standardised one-day basic EVAR sizing and graft selection workshop. Vascular surgery trainees with no prior EVAR experience learned to size and select stent grafts for a simple infra-renal AAA on par with experienced EVAR operators.

Ensuring Competency in Open Aortic Aneurysm Repair - Development and Validation of a New Assessment Tool.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to develop a procedure specific assessment tool for open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair, gather validity evidence for the tool and establish a pass/fail standard. METHODS: Validity was studied based on the contemporary framework by Messick. Three vascular surgeons experienced in open AAA repair and an expert in assessment and validation within medical education developed the OPEn aortic aneurysm Repair Assessment of Technical Expertise (OPERATE) tool. Vascular surgeons with varying experiences performed open AAA repair in a standardised simulation based setting. All procedures were video recorded with the faces anonymised and scored independently by three experts in a mutual blinded setup. The Angoff standard setting method was used to establish a credible pass/fail score. RESULTS: Sixteen novices and nine experienced open vascular surgeons were enrolled. The OPERATE tool achieved high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha .92) and inter-rater reliability (Cronbach's alpha .95) and was able to differentiate novices and experienced surgeons with mean scores (higher score is better) of 13.4 ± 12 and 25.6 ± 6, respectively (p = .01). The pass/fail score was set high (27.7). One novice passed the test while six experienced surgeons failed. CONCLUSION: Validity evidence was established for the newly developed OPERATE tool and was able to differentiate between novices and experienced surgeons providing a good argument that this tool can be used for both formative and summative assessment in a simulation based environment. The high pass/fail score emphasises the need for novices to train in a simulation based environment up to a certain level of competency before apprenticeship training in the clinical environment under the tutelage of a supervisor. Familiarisation with the simulation equipment must be ensured before performance is assessed as reflected by the low scores in the experienced group's first attempt.

Is EVAR a durable solution? Indications for reinterventions.

INTRODUCION: Indications for reinterventions after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), as well as their occurrence in number and time, are important to establish in order to optimize patient selection, postprocedure surveillance and also to guide improvements in endograft designs. The aim of this report was to present an overview of current data on reinterventions after elective EVAR. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Qualitative review of studies reporting on reinterventions after elective EVAR, identified by a systematic literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library for publications from 2010 to 13th of November 2017. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Twenty-three studies reporting on 83,307 patients met the inclusion criteria. Index procedures were performed between 1996-2014. There was wide heterogeneity in reporting standards. Type I endoleaks were reported in 0.6%-13% and type III endoleaks in 0.9-2.1% with a significant improvement for newer devices. Migration rates varied between 0-4%. Endoleak type II was the most common indication for re-intervention ranging from 14-25.3% although the majority resolved without intervention. Rupture rates ranged from 0-5.4% and carried a high mortality (60-67%). Ruptures occurred at any time after the index procedure. Limb ischemia rates were reported at 0.4-11.9% with re-intervention rates between 0.06-11.9%. Wound related complications and related re-interventions were the indication in 0.5-14% and 0.3-6.5%, respectively. Endograft infection carried a high risk of mortality and was described in 0.3-3.6%, often related to graft-enteric fistula and the majority had an open explantation of the endograft. CONCLUSIONS: This review showed that the rates of complications and techniques for reintervention developed over time with a tendency towards better outcomes considering the aneurysm related indications. Significant factors that led to subsequent secondary interventions were migration, rupture, infections and type I and II endoleaks. Patients treated with earlier generation endografts are still alive and need continued surveillance to detect these severe complications before they lead to rupture.

Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis in the Treatment of Acute Ischemia in Lower Extremities Is Safe and Effective, Especially with Concomitant Endovascular Treatment.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of pre-procedural characteristics on immediate and late results as well as the safety of catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) in acute ischemia of the lower extremity. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study comprising 249 patients treated by CDT from January 2006 to December 2012. Outcomes were primary patency, haemorrhagic complications, amputation and mortality. Results: Primary patency for CDT alone was 68%, for CDT plus endovascular treatment 87% and for successful CDT with supplementary surgery 62% giving an overall primary patency of 76%. Two (0.8%) patients suffered from cerebral haemorrhage during CDT. We found a significant correlation between 30 day amputation rate and no visual distal run-off at CDT start (OR 2.31; CI95% 1.09-4.91; p-value=0.02) and onset of symptoms to CDT start of 8-14 days (OR 4.09; CI95% 1.42-11.81; p-value=0.01). Lack of visualized distal run-off was also associated with a significant risk of 30 day mortality (OR 5.84; CI95% 1.26-27.00; p-value=0.02). Conclusion: Our results show that CDT is a feasible and safe treatment option especially when combined with angioplasty +/- stent. However, no distal run-off at primary angiography is associated with higher rates of amputation during follow-up and 30 day mortality.

The Danish Vascular Registry, Karbase.

AIM: The Danish Vascular Registry (DVR), Karbase, is monitoring arterial and advanced vein interventions conducted at all vascular departments in Denmark. The main aim of the DVR is to improve the quality of treatment for patients undergoing vascular surgery in Denmark by using the registry for quality assessment and research. STUDY POPULATION: All patients undergoing vascular interventions (surgical and endovascular) at any vascular department in Denmark are registered in the DVR. The DVR was initiated in 1989, and each year, ∼9,000 procedures are added. By January 2016, >180,000 procedures have been recorded. Since 2001, data completeness has been >90% (compared to the Danish National Patient Register). MAIN VARIABLES: Variables include information on descriptive patient data (ie, age, sex, height, and weight) and comorbidity (ie, previous cardiovascular disease and diabetes). Process variable includes waiting time (time from event to medical contact and treatment) and the type of procedures conducted. Outcome variables for in-hospital complications (ie, wound complications, myocardial infarction, stroke, amputation, respiratory complications, and renal insufficiency) and 30-day patency are submitted. Variables for medical treatment (antithrombotic and statin treatment), amputation, and survival are extracted from nationwide, administrative registers. CONCLUSION: The DVR reports outcome on key indicators for monitoring the quality at all vascular departments in Denmark for the purpose of quality improvement. Furthermore, data are available for research and are being used in international collaborations on changes in clinical practices.

Preoperative methylprednisolone enhances recovery after endovascular aortic repair: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of preoperative high-dose glucocorticoid on the inflammatory response and recovery after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). BACKGROUND: The postimplantation syndrome after EVAR may delay recovery due to the release of proinflammatory mediators. Glucocorticoids may reduce postoperative inflammatory responses and enhance recovery, but with limited information on EVAR. METHODS: A single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 153 patients undergoing elective EVAR between November 2009 and January 2013. Patients received 30 mg/kg of methylprednisolone (MP) (n = 77) or placebo (n = 76) preoperatively. Primary outcome was a modified version of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Secondary outcome measures were the effect on inflammatory biomarkers, morbidity, and time to meet discharge criteria. RESULTS: Of 153 randomized patients, 150 (98%) were evaluated for the primary outcome. MP reduced systemic inflammatory response syndrome from 92% to 27% (P < 0.0001) (number needed to treat = 1.5), maximal plasma interleukin 6 from 186 pg/mL [interquartile range (IQR) = 113-261 pg/mL] to 20 pg/mL (IQR = 11-28 pg/mL) (P < 0.001) and fulfillment of discharge criteria was shorter [2 days (IQR = 2-4 days) vs 3 days (IQR = 3-4 days)] (P < 0.001). C-reactive protein, temperature, interleukin 8, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor were also reduced (P < 0.001) by MP. Myeloperoxidase, D-dimer, and matrix metalloproteinase 9 were not modified. No differences in 30-day medical (23% vs 36%) (P = 0.1) or surgical (20% vs 21%) morbidity were found in the active group versus the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative MP attenuates the inflammatory response with a faster recovery after EVAR for abdominal aortic aneurysms. Further safety and dose-response studies are required to allow recommendations for general practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00989729.

Categorization of aortic aneurysm thrombus morphology by magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been proposed for qualitative categorization of intraluminal thrombus morphology. We aimed to correlate the qualitative MRI categorization previously described to quantitative measurements of signal intensity and to compare morphological characteristics of intraluminal thrombus specimens to the appearance on magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS: Thirty-four patients undergoing open surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm had a preoperative MRI obtained with a 1.5 T magnet. Qualitative categorization was performed (blinded and in consensus) and correlated to intraluminal thrombus to muscle signal-intensity ratios. Morphology of intraluminal thrombus specimens collected during surgery were compared to the magnetic resonance imaging categories and specimen weight was correlated to thrombus volume measured on preoperative computer tomography angiography. RESULTS: Blinded MRI categorization resulted in agreement in 22 out of 34 intraluminal thrombi (Kappa value 0.3, p=0.006). Medians (p=0.004) and distribution (p=0.002) of signal-intensity ratios varied significantly across the three MRI categories obtained by consensus. Heterogeneous and homogenous specimen appearance corresponded to similar appearances on MRI in 78% and 55% respectively, resulting in an overall Kappa=0.4 (p=0.04). Intraluminal thrombus volume and weight correlated well (rs 0.831, p<0.001) with a mean difference of 60 g (95% CI 38-80 g), without proportional bias. CONCLUSION: Qualitative evaluation of intraluminal thrombus morphology based on MRI can be quantified by measuring signal-intensity ratios. Concurrently a fair agreement to blinded qualitative evaluation of thrombus specimens can be obtained. However, the evaluation is impaired by loss of a large proportion of thrombus during sampling.

[Endovascular and open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm are still both warranted--a systematic review]. / Fortsat behov for både endovaskulær og åben kirurgisk behandling af abdominalt aortaaneurisme.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm can be treated by open surgical repair or by endovascular repair (EVAR) - a less invasive procedure, with lower 30-day mortality and morbidity rates. Twelve studies have been evaluated. The results indicate that for large aneurysms > 5.5 cm, EVAR can be recommended for patients with intermediate to high operative risk. For younger patients, with low operative risk, OR is the preferred method, in light of the continued small risk of rupture after EVAR and the need for lifelong surveillance.

[A hybrid approach to surgery for thoracic aortic aneurysm]. / Hybridoperation af torakalt aortaaneurisme.

A 57-year-old male, previously treated surgically with insertion of grafts for type A and B aortic dissection, presented with a pulsatile mass in the jugular fossa. Further examination verified a pseudoaneurysm the inlet of which was located at the proximal anastomotic site of the descending aortic graft and a newly developed aneurysm of the aortic arch. Using a left lateral thoracotomy to avoid manipulation of the pseudoaneurysm, we adopted a hybrid approach by first debranching the subclavian and carotid arteries from the descending aorta followed by endoluminal grafting of the aortic arch. The pseudoaneurysm was successfully excluded.