Antithrombotic Therapy and Freedom From Bridging Stent Occlusion After Elective Branched Endovascular Repair: A Multicenter International Cohort Study.

CLINICAL IMPACT: Based on our study, no antithrombotic therapy is significantly associated with bridging stent occlusion, and no evidence of the superiority of other antithrombotic therapy exists. Nevertehless, due to the low number of bridging stent occlusions, this study can neither support nor reject the PRINCE2SS recommendations. Further studies with larger cohorts are needed to determine clear guideliness of the best antithrombotic treatment regimen after complex enfovascular aortic repair.

Reversed Gore Excluder conformable main body as a conduit between branched stent graft limb, common iliac artery, and renal artery.

Renal artery access might not always be achieved due to anatomical reasons during the deployment of a branched stent graft in thoracoabdominal or juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms. Renal perfusion is maintained through the aneurysm sac until the iliac limbs are deployed. To preserve renal perfusion, a branched iliac limb would be needed. Such limbs with a side branch, a narrow (12-14 mm) proximal end, and a wide (16-20 mm) distal end are not commercially available. Due to the nature of their deployment mechanism, Gore Excluder distal limbs (W.L. Gore & Associates) have been used outside the instructions for use in reversed position. A traditional Gore Excluder main body can be reversed; however, the smallest proximal diameter is 23 mm, which could be too large to be deployed in a typically 16- to 18-mm common iliac artery. However, the smallest Gore Excluder Conformable endoprosthesis (W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc) main body is 20 mm in diameter, and the distal limb is 14.5 mm. This allows for a perfect fit when deployed in reversed position between an 11-mm unibody limb (Cook Medical Inc) and the common iliac artery, resulting in access to the renal artery from the side branch. We used a Gore Excluder Conformable main body graft in two such cases successfully. In these two patients, the iliac limbs and renal artery have stayed patent during a follow-up of 24 and 3 months. A Gore Excluder Conformable graft can be deployed in reversed position, using it as a conduit between the branched stent graft limb, common iliac artery, and renal artery.

The Effect of a Suspended Radiation Protection System on Occupational Radiation Doses During Infrarenal EVAR Procedures: A Randomised Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the protective effect of Zero Gravity (ZG) with conventional radiation protection during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Secondly, user experience was surveyed with a questionnaire on ergonomics. METHODS: This was a single centre, prospective, randomised, two arm trial where 71 consecutive elective infrarenal EVAR procedures were randomised into two groups: (1) operator using ZG and assistant using conventional protection (n = 36), and (2) operator and assistant using conventional radiation protection (n = 35). A movable floor unit ZG system consists of a lead shield (1.0 mm Pb equivalent) for the front of the body and 0.5 mm Pb equivalent acrylic shielding for the head and neck. The ZG also includes arm flaps of 0.5 mm Pb equivalent covering the arm up to the elbow. Deep dose equivalent values, Hp(10) were measured with direct ion storage dosimeters (DIS) placed on various anatomical regions of the operator (axilla, chest, abdomen, and lower leg). Personal dose equivalent values, Hp(3) to eye lenses were measured in the operating and assisting surgeon using thermoluminescence dosimeters. The study was registered at the US National Institute of Health #NCT04078165. RESULTS: Protection with the standard protection was superior in chest (0.0 vs. 0.1 µSv), abdomen (0.0 vs. 0.6 µSv), and lower leg (0.4 vs. 2.2 µSv) (p < .001). On the other hand, the ZG system yielded better shielding for the axilla (1.5 vs. 0.0 µSv) and eyes (6.3 vs. 1.1 µSv) of the operator. The use of ZG hampered the deployment of ancillary shields, which is particularly relevant for protection of the assisting surgeon. Users found ZG more cumbersome than conventional garments, it also impaired communication and reduced field of view. CONCLUSION: Both ZG and conventional radiation protection reduced radiation exposure. Conventional protection allows better manoeuvrability at the price of wider exposure of the upper arm and axilla. ZG indirectly impaired protection of the assistant.

Ultrasound Surveillance is Feasible After Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

BACKGROUND: Surveillance after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is traditionally done with computed tomography angiography (CTA) scans that exposes patient to radiation, nephrotoxic contrast media, and potentially increased risk for cancer. Ultrasound (US) is less labor intensive and expensive and might thus provide a good alternative for CTA surveillance. The aim of this study was to evaluate in real-life patient cohorts whether US is able to detect post-EVAR aneurysm-related complications similarly to CTA. METHODS: This retrospective study compared the outcome of consecutive patients who underwent EVAR for intact abdominal aortic aneurysm and were surveilled solely by CTA (CTA-only cohort, n = 168) in 2000-2010 or by combined CTA and US (CTA/US cohort, n = 300) in 2011-2016, as a standard surveillance protocol in the department of vascular surgery, Helsinki University Hospital. The CTA-only patients were imaged at 1, 3, and 12 months and annually thereafter. The CTA/US patients were imaged with CTA at 3 and 12 months, US at 6 months and annually thereafter. If there were suspicion of >5 mm aneurysm growth, CTA scan was performed. The patients were reviewed for imaging data, reinterventions, aneurysm ruptures, and death until December 2018. The 2 groups were compared for secondary rupture, aneurysm-related and cancer-related death, reintervention related to abdominal aortic aneurysm, and maximum aneurysm diameter increase ≥5 mm. The mean follow-up in the CTA-only cohort was 67 months and in CTA/US cohort 43 months. RESULTS: The 2 cohorts were alike for basic characteristics and for the mean aneurysm diameter. The total number of CT scans for detecting aneurysm was 84.1/100 patient years in the CTA-only cohort compared to 74.5/100 patient years for US/CTA cohort. Forty percent of patients under combined CTA/US surveillance received 1 or more additional CTA scans. The 2 cohorts did not differ for 1-year, 5-year and 8-year freedom from aneurysm related death, secondary sac rupture, nor the incidence of rupture preventing interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the follow-up data of this real-life cohort of 468 patients, combined surveillance with US and additional CTA either per protocol or due to suspicion of aneurysm-related complications had comparable outcome with sole CTA-surveillance. Thus, US can be considered a reasonable alternative for the CTA. However, our study showed also that the need of additional CTAs due to suspicion of endoleak or aneurysm nonrelated reasons is substantial.

Intraoperative CBCT imaging in endovascular abdomen aneurysm repair - Optimization of exposure parameters using a stent phantom.

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) may provide essential additional image guidance to endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair (EVAR) operations but also significant radiation exposure to patients if scans are not carefully optimized. The purpose of our study was to define the image quality requirements for intraoperative EVAR CBCT imaging and to optimize the CBCT exposure parameters accordingly. A Multi-Energy CT phantom simulating a large patient was used by replacing the central phantom cylinder with a custom water-filled insert including an EVAR stent. Different exposure parameters covering a range of radiation qualities and dose levels were used to define the optimal image quality level regarding stent graft evaluation (compressed, bent, or collapsed). The radiation dose was measured with a calibrated air kerma-area product (KAP) meter and organ doses were calculated based on Monte Carlo simulations and a mathematical patient model. Based on the results, updated exposure parameters with the highest mean energy and lowest dose level available were recommended. With the updated protocol, the radiation exposure could be significantly decreased. The KAP value decreased from 9720 µGy·m2 to 440 µGy·m2 and reference point air kerma from 351 mGy to 16 mGy (a reduction of 96%) and organ doses of the organs in the irradiated region decreased on an average 91%. The new protocol resulted in acceptable clinical image quality based on testing with clinical cases.

Treatment of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Ruptures in a Well-defined Geographical Area during 2012-2020-A Paradigm Shift.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm ruptures (rAAA) has changed from open to endovascular repair (rEVAR) during the last decade. The immediate survival benefit after endovascular treatment method is well-known, yet without conclusive support from randomized controlled studies. The aim of this study is to report the survival benefit of rEVAR during the transition between 2 treatment methods and to highlight the in-hospital protocol for rAAA patients, with continuous simulation training and a designated team. METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of rAAA patients diagnosed at Helsinki University Hospital during 2012-2020, including a total of 263 patients. Patients were divided by treatment method, and the primary end point was 30-day mortality. The secondary end points were 90-days mortality, one year mortality, and the length of stay in intensive care. RESULTS: Patients were divided into the rEVAR group (n = 119) and open repair group (rOR n = 119). The turndown rate was 9.5% (n = 25). The 30-day short-term survival favored endovascular treatment (rEVAR 83.2% vs. rOR 68.9%, P = 0.015). The 90-day postdischarge survival was higher in the rEVAR group (rEVAR 80.7% vs. rOR 67.2%, P = 0.026). One-year survival was also higher in the rEVAR group, however with less statistical significance (rEVAR 74.8% vs. rOR 64.7%, P = 0.120). The effect of the revised rAAA protocol was seen in improved survival, when comparing the first 3 years of the cohort (2012-2014) to the last 3 years of the cohort (2018-2020). Survival rates were higher at 30 days, 90 days, and one year in the late cohort (74% vs. 84%, 72% vs. 81%, and 70% vs. 77%). CONCLUSIONS: The rEVAR has its place as a first-line treatment option for most patients and reduces short-term and midterm mortality at least to 1-year follow-up compared to rOR. Dedicated vascular surgeons for rEVAR and continuous simulation training for the operating room staff are key elements of a low turndown and successful rAAA treatment. The use of an occlusive aortic balloon reduces overall mortality in both operative methods.

Hybrid Revascularization for Extensive Iliofemoral Occlusive Disease.

BACKGROUND: Total occlusion of the iliac-femoral tract can cause a variety of life-limiting symptoms ranging from mild claudication to chronic limb-threatening ischemia. Efforts should be made to revascularize the symptomatic ischemic limb. Currently there are different options in the vascular surgeon's armamentarium to achieve this. The aim of the study was to verify the feasibility and outcomes of inflow hybrid revascularizations combining femoral endarterectomy and recanalization of iliac atherosclerotic occlusion. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of all hybrid revascularizations involving femoral endarterectomy and endovascular treatment of iliac occlusion. The operations were performed in Helsinki University Hospital between January 2013 and December 2018. First, information about patients' baseline characteristics, indications and details of surgery and technical/hemodynamic success, and complications and mortality were obtained from the vascular registry and patients records. Secondarily, a prospective assessment of mid-term patency was performed through follow-up in November 2019. Immediate technical success, 30-day mortality, complications, and patency were considered major outcomes. Hemodynamic improvement, amputation rate, and overall mortality were also assessed. RESULTS: One hundred sixty three iliofemoral occlusions were performed on 147 patients during the period studied. Six patients (3.6%) had infrarenal aortic occlusion, 86 (52.7%) had common iliac, and 128 (78.5%) had external iliac artery occlusion. Technical success rate was 88.3% (n = 144 occlusions recanalized). Primary technical success was somewhat lower in lesions ≥ 90 mm (87.1%) compared to lesions shorter than 90 mm (95.7%; χ2P = 0.06). Iliac stent was deployed in 141 (94.6%) cases, 51 (34.3%) of which were covered stents. Significant residual stenosis remained in 1.2% of cases. Median operative time was 4 hr 34 min (interquartile range 2 hr 43 min) and median estimated blood loss was 743 mL (interquartile range 500 mL). Five patients (3.0%) developed a deep groin infection and 12 (8.1%) suffered any major cardiovascular event or stroke perioperatively. Primary patency at 30 day, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years was 98.7%, 98.1%, 96.6%, and 93.7%, respectively. Hemodynamic success was documented in 107 patients (73%). By the end of the follow-up, 7 iliofemoral tracts (11.1%) reoccluded, 2 limbs (1.2%) required amputation, and 50 patients (3.0%) died. CONCLUSIONS: Good immediate success rate and mid-term patency can be achieved by hybrid revascularization of iliofemoral occlusions. Careful patient selection is mandatory because this population often suffers from universal atherosclerosis. The involvement of the aorta represents a significant determinant of worse long-term patency, although it did not preclude technical success.

Routine Inferior Mesenteric Artery Embolisation is Unnecessary Before Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

OBJECTIVE: A type II endoleak is the most common complication during surveillance after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), and a patent inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) is a known risk factor for an endoleak. The effect of routine IMA embolisation prior to EVAR on overall outcome is unknown. The aim of the study was to compare two strategies: routine attempted IMA embolisation prior to EVAR (strategy in centre A) and leaving the IMA untouched (strategy in centre B). METHODS: Patients were treated with EVAR in two centres during the period 2005 - 2015, and the data were reviewed retrospectively. The primary endpoints were re-intervention rate due to type II endoleaks and the late IMA embolisation rate. Secondary endpoints included EVAR related re-intervention, sac enlargement, aneurysm rupture, and open conversion rates. RESULTS: Strategy A was used to treat 395 patients. The IMA was patent in 268 (67.8%) patients, and embolisation was performed in 164 (41.5%). The corresponding figures for strategy B were 337 patients with 279 (82.8%) patent IMAs, two (0.6%) of which were embolised. The mean duration of follow up was 70 months for strategy A and 68.2 months for strategy B. The re-intervention rates due to a type II endoleak were 12.9% and 10.4%, respectively (p = .29), with no significant difference in the rate of re-interventions to occlude a patent IMA (2.0% and 4.7%, respectively; p = .039). The EVAR related re-intervention rate was similar, regardless of strategy (24.1% and 24.6%, respectively; p = .93). Significant sac enlargement was seen in 20.3% of cases treated with strategy A and in 19.6% treated with strategy B (p = .82). The rupture and conversion rates were 2.5% and 2.1% (p = .69) and 1.0% and 1.5% (p = .40), respectively. CONCLUSION: The strategy of routinely embolising the IMA does not seem to yield any significant clinical benefit and should therefore be abandoned.

Long Term Results of Pancreatectomy With and Without Venous Resection: A Comparison of Safety and Complications of Spiral Graft, End-to-End and Tangential/Patch Reconstruction Techniques.

OBJECTIVE: Roughly 10% - 20% of pancreatic cancer patients are candidates for curative intent surgical treatment. In the 2000s, many studies showed similar survival rates comparing pancreatic surgery with or without vein resection and reconstruction. The aim was to identify the best method of venous reconstruction. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. A total of 1 375 patients undergoing pancreatectomy between 2005 and 2018 were identified. Patients undergoing a combined pancreatic resection and venous reconstruction were included retrospectively. When tumour infiltration to the portal/superior mesenteric vein was detected, excision and reconstruction with tangential suturing/patch, end to end anastomosis, or a spiral graft from the great saphenous vein was performed. Next, 90 day and long term survival and outcomes across reconstruction techniques were analysed. RESULTS: Overall, 198 patients had venous involvement visible in pre-operative scans or detected during surgery, broken down as follows: 171 (86%) pancreaticoduodenectomy, 12 (6%) total pancreatectomy, and 15 (8%) distal pancreatectomy. In total, 69 (35%) spiral graft reconstructions, 77 (39%) end to end anastomoses, and 52 (26%) tangential/patch reconstructions were performed. Tumour histology revealed pancreatic adenocarcinomas in 162 (82%) patients, intraductal mucinous pancreatic neoplasia in 14 (7%), cholangiocarcinoma in five (3%), neuro-endocrine neoplasia in nine (5%), and eight other diagnoses. Overall, 183 (92%) were malignant and 15 (8%) benign. Two patients died within 90 days, one in hospital and one on post-operative day 38 due to thrombosis of the superior mesenteric vein and intestinal necrosis, a Clavien-Dindo grade 5 complication. In addition, 50 (23%) patients had Clavien-Dindo grade 3 - 4 complications. No differences in complications comparing vein reconstruction techniques or in the long term survival of pancreatectomy patients with or without venous reconstruction were detected. CONCLUSION: The spiral graft technique, used when more advanced venous infiltration occurs, does not increase complications, with outcomes mirroring those accompanying shorter venous resections.

Ultrasound-Navigated Manta Deployment After Removal of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Cannula.

The case provided suggests that an ultrasound-navigated Manta device works well in closing percutaneously the peripheral arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulation site. Ultrasonography use during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation decannulation can further diminish the possible device-related technical failures (toggle or collagen protrusion through the vessel wall, toggle stacking into calcifications, or delivery failure of the collagen pad) leading to bleeding and vascular complications. Further studies are needed on this topic.

Radiation Doses to Staff in a Hybrid Operating Room: An Anthropomorphic Phantom Study with Active Electronic Dosimeters.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the effects of different imaging settings on radiation exposure to the operator and surgical team in a hybrid operating room (OR). METHODS: Measurements to determine scatter radiation in different imaging and geometry settings using an anthropomorphic phantom were performed in a hybrid OR equipped with a robotic C arm interventional angiography system (Artis Zeego; Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany). The radiation dose (RD) was measured with seven calibrated Philips DoseAware active electronic dosimeters and a Raysafe Xi survey detector, which were placed at different locations in the hybrid OR. The evaluated set ups included low dose, medium dose, and high dose fluoroscopy for abdomen; fluoroscopy fade; roadmap; and digital subtraction angiography (DSA), all using 20 s exposures. The effect of magnification, tube angulation, field size, source to skin distance, and RADPAD protection shields were assessed. Finally RD during cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was obtained. RESULTS: In the operator position the initial settings with low dose fluoroscopy caused a RD of 1.03 µGy. The use of fluorofade did not increase the radiation dose (1.02 µGy), whereas the roadmap increased it threefold (2.84 µGy). The RD with "normal fluoro" was 4.13 µGy and increased to 6.44 µGy when high dose fluoroscopy mode was used. Magnification or field size varying from 42 cm to 11 cm led the RD to change from 0.86 µGy to 2.10 µGy. Decreasing the field of view to 25% of the initial size halved the RD (0.48 µGy). The RDs for the left anterior oblique 30° and right anterior oblique 30° were 3.26 µGy and 1.63 µGy, respectively. DSA increased the cumulative dose 33 fold but the RADPAD shield decreased the DSA RD to 4.92 µGy. The RD for CBCT was 47.2 µGy. CONCLUSION: Radiation exposure to operator and personnel can be significantly reduced during hybrid procedures with proper radiation protection and dose optimisation. A set of six behavioural rules were established.

Simulation training streamlines the real-life performance in endovascular repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: Difficulties in distributing endovascular experience among all operating room (OR) personnel prevented full-scale use of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in emergencies. To streamline the procedure of EVAR for ruptured aneurysm (rEVAR) and to provide this method even to unstable patients, we initiated regular simulation training sessions. METHODS: This is an observational study of 29 simulation sessions performed between January 2015 and December 2017. We analyzed the development of time from OR door to aortic balloon occlusion during simulations and OR door to needle times in real-life rEVARs as well as the outcome of the 185 ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) patients who arrived at the university hospital between January 2013 and December 2017. A questionnaire was sent for simulation attendants before and after the simulation session. RESULTS: In the first simulations, the door to occlusion time was 20 to 35 minutes. After adding a hemodynamic collapse to the simulation protocol, the time decreased to 10 to 13 minutes in the 10 recent simulations, including a 5-minute cardiopulmonary resuscitation (P = .01). The electronic questionnaire performed for attendees before and after the simulation session showed significant improvement in both confidence and knowledge of the OR staff regarding rEVAR procedure. In the real-life rEVARs, 75 of the 185 patients with rAAAs underwent EVAR. Among rEVAR patients, the median OR door to needle time was 65 minutes before and 16 minutes after the onset of simulations (P = .000). The overall 30-day mortality among all rAAA patients was 44.8% and 30.6% accordingly (P = .046). When patients who were turned down from the emergency surgery were excluded, the 30-day operative mortality was 39.2% and 25.1% during the periods, respectively (P = .051). The 30-day mortality was 16.2% after rEVAR and 40.6% after open surgery (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Simulation training for rEVAR significantly improves the treatment process in real-life patients and may enhance the outcome of rAAA patients.

A Population-Based Study of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Treatment in Finland 2000 to 2014.

BACKGROUND: In the event of rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), mortality is very high. AAA prevalence and incidence of ruptures have been reported to be decreasing. The treatment of AAA has also undergone a change in recent decades with a shift toward endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Our aim was to evaluate how these changes have affected the elective and emergency treatment of AAA and their results in Finland. METHODS: All patients treated for AAA in Finland, a country with a population of 5.5 million, during 2000 to 2014 were searched from the registry of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. Data on all patients who had died of AAA during the same time period were obtained from Statistics Finland. The data were combined and analyzed. RESULTS: The annual incidence of ruptured AAA was 16.4 per 100 000 population over 50 years and decreased significantly during the study period. Over half of the 4949 patients who had a ruptured AAA died outside the hospital. Thirty-day mortality after emergency repair was 39.4%. Intact AAA repairs numbered 4956. The absolute number of annual repairs increased during the study period, and the use of EVAR became the dominant method of elective repair. Thirty-day mortality in elective AAA repair dropped significantly from 6.3% in 2000 to 2004 to 2.7% in 2010 to 2014 mostly because of the increased number of EVAR procedures with lower mortality. Long-term mortality in patients treated with EVAR was higher than in patients treated with open repair. Mortality after elective AAA repair was primarily attributable to cardiovascular causes, but there was a slightly higher proportion of AAA-related late deaths in patients treated with EVAR. CONCLUSIONS: Ruptured AAA incidence for men >65 years has declined by nearly 30% in Finland, likely because of the decrease in AAA prevalence. The treatment results have improved as well for both elective and emergency repair. Increased use of EVAR has resulted in a decrease of mortality after elective AAA repair, but results of open repair have improved as well. However, late mortality from elective EVAR is surprisingly high in comparison with open repair, which may have been exaggerated by patient selection.

The evolution of the Helsinki frostbite management protocol.

BACKGROUND: Severe frostbite can result in devastating injuries leading to significant morbidity and loss of function from distal extremity amputation. The modern day management approach to frostbite injuries is evolving from a historically very conservative approach to the increasingly reported use of early interventional angiography and fibrinolysis with tPA. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of our frostbite treatment protocol introduced 3 years ago. METHODS: All frostbite patients underwent first clinical and then Doppler ultrasound examination. Angiography was conducted if certain clinical criteria indicated a severe frostbite injury and if there were no contraindications to fibrinolysis. Intra-arterial tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) was then administered at 0.5-1mg/h proximal to the antecubital fossa (brachial artery) or popliteal fossa (femoral artery) if angiography confirmed thrombosis, as well as unfractionated intravenous heparin at 500 units/h. The vasodilator iloprost was administered intravenously (0.5-2.0ng/kg/min) in selected cases. RESULTS: 20 patients with frostbite were diagnosed between 2013-2016. Fourteen patients had a severe injury and angiography was performed in 10 cases. The total number of digits at risk was 111. Nine patients underwent fibrinolytic treatment with tPA (including one patient who received iloprost after initial non response to tPA), 3 patients were treated with iloprost alone and 2 patients received neither treatment modality (due to contraindications). The overall digital salvage rate was 74.8% and the Hennepin tissue salvage rate was 81.1%. One patient developed a catheter-site pseudoaneurysm that resolved after conservative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Prompt referral to a facility where interventional radiology and 24/7 laboratory services are available, and the combined use of tPA and iloprost, may improve outcome after severe frostbite.

Efficacy of endovascular treatment for pelvic congestion syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pelvic pain is not a rare health problem among women. One of the most common causes of chronic pelvic pain is pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS). We have reviewed all medical literature on the endovascular treatment of PCS and hereby provide a brief overview of the anatomy, pathophysiology, and clinical aspects of ovarian and pelvic varices. We describe the technique of transcatheter embolization, the complications thereof and the clinical results of the treatment. METHODS: A literature search was performed using PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Scopus to identify case series on the endovascular treatment of PCS up until the end of November 2014. RESULTS: Twenty studies with a total of 1081 patients were included in the review. There were no randomized trials, and only one study included a control group. The immediate technical success rate in the occlusion of the affected veins was 99%. Seventeen studies reported the 1- to 3-month clinical success of 641 patients. Of these, 88.1% reported moderate to significant relief in the symptoms and 11.9% reported little or no relief. In 17 studies, long-term results were reported, and the follow-up varied between 7.3 months and 5 years. In late follow-up, 86.6% reported relief of the symptoms and 13.6% experienced little or no relief. CONCLUSIONS: The immediate success rate for the endovascular treatment of PCS is good and the complication rate low. Most patients report relief in the symptoms for up to 5 years after the procedure. However, there are no randomized or high-quality controlled trials, and the level of evidence therefore remains at C.

Temporary Axillorenal Bypass in Complex Aorto-Renal Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged renal ischemia during vascular surgery carries high morbidity and mortality. We report an alternative technique for maintaining renal circulation during suprarenal aortic or renal artery clamping. METHODS: Between October 2007 and May 2012, 16 patients undergoing aorto-renal surgery (13 men, 3 women) were operated using temporary axillorenal bypass. Operations were performed for supra- and juxtarenal aortic aneurysms (11), occlusive aortic disease (2), renal artery stenoses (2), and abdominal myofibroblastic tumor (1). In elective cases, axillorenal bypass was planned, when prolonged renal ischemia was expected based on preoperative information. Preoperative risk factors (renal dysfunction, hypertension, coronary disease, diabetes, smoking) and intraoperative variables (operating time, blood loss, renal ischemia time) were assessed and compared with postoperative kidney function (serum creatinine, urine output, dialysis) and in-hospital or 30-day-mortality. Even though renal blood flow was restored between clampings, the total cumulative ischemia time was used in analysis. Acute renal failure postoperatively was based on RIFLE criteria. RESULTS: Preoperatively, 44% (7) of the patients had normal renal function (S-crea ≤ 100 mmol/L). Renal function was moderately present in 50% (8) (S-crea 100-200 mmol/L) and severely in 6% (1) (S-crea ≥ 200 mmol/L). Median operation time was 393 min (251-535 min) and median renal ischemia time was 24.5 min (range 8-50 min). Transient acute renal dysfunction occurred in 6 (38%) patients, and 4 of them had renal insufficiency preoperatively. Transient renal replacement therapy was needed in 1 (6%) patient only. In 1-month control, postoperative renal function had returned to its baseline level or improved and in-hospital or 30-day mortality was zero. CONCLUSIONS: Temporary axillorenal bypass is a considerable option to minimize renal ischemia time during high-risk vascular surgery.

Quality assessment of elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair from referral to surgery.

BACKGROUND: The risk of rupture for a large (≥ 55 mm) abdominal aortic aneurysm(AAA) is significant and therefore operative treatment should take place before possible aneurysm rupture. Timing of elective AAA surgery has rarely been investigated previously. The aim of this study is to evaluate success in the elective treatment process of large AAAs from referral to surgery in Helsinki University Central Hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all 361 patients who were assigned for elective treatment of AAA during 2005 - 2010. We divided the patients into subgroups according to size of the aneurysm: <60 mm, 61 - 70 mm and >70 mm. The main focus was set on the preoperative period and on potential factors causing delay. End points indicating failure in the treatment process were aneurysm ruptures and deaths before surgery. RESULTS: The median time from referral to surgery for the three subgroups was 112, 91 and 45 days respectively (p < 0,001). There were no significant differences between the treatment methods: open repair (OR) with 103 days and endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) with 113 days until surgery. Twenty three (6.4 %) patients were operated on emergency basis while waiting for the operation, six of them for ruptured aneurysm. There were an additional five patients with aneurysm ruptures who all died, as did four out the six operated ones. CONCLUSIONS: The whole treatment process starting from the referral should be considered in order for elective AAA treatment to succeed. Recommendations should be established for the preoperative period to guarantee rapid preoperative evaluation.

Reliability and repeatability of toe pressures measured with laser Doppler and portable and stationary photoplethysmography devices.

BACKGROUND: There are two principally different methods for measuring toe pressures (TP)-photoplethysmography (PPG) and laser Doppler (LD). PPG is based on detecting changes in the blood filling of the digital arteries and arterioles, and the LD perfusion signal is derived from the Doppler shift undergone by the emitted infrared laser light after reflection from moving particles (red blood cells). The aim of the study was to compare two PPG devices and one LD device in TP measurement. The PPG devices used were the Nicolet VasoGuard (Nicolet Vascular Inc, Madison, WI; PPG1) and Systoe (Atys Medical, France; PPG2), and the LD device was the Perimed system 5000 (Perimed, Stockholm, Sweden). MATERIALS AND METHODS: TPs were measured from 54 nonselected consecutive patients who visited the vascular surgical outpatient clinic or underwent an endovascular procedure owing to chronic lower limb ischemia. A total of 107 toes were measured. The symptoms were claudication in 51.4% (n = 55), rest pain in 4.7% (n = 5), and ulcer or gangrene in 14.0% (n = 15) of the legs. Of the measured legs, 29.9% (n = 32) were asymptomatic. Forty patients had undergone endovascular revascularization immediately before the TP measurement. The limits of agreement show the estimated range within which the differences between measurements by the two devices would fall in approximately 95% of the measurements. The approximate 95% limits of agreement were calculated as the mean difference ± 2 standard deviation and presented in the Bland-Altman scatter plots. RESULTS: For PPG1 versus LD, the mean difference between two measurements was 14 mm Hg and the limits of agreement were 38 mm Hg. In 47% of the toes, the difference was ≥10 mm Hg, and in 37% of the toes, it was ≥15 mm Hg. For PPG2 versus LD, the mean difference between the TPs was 12 mm Hg and the limits of agreement were 24 mm Hg. In 44% of the cases, the difference was ≥10 mm Hg, and in 30%, it was ≥15 mm Hg. For PPG1 versus PPG2, the mean difference between two measurements was 14 mm Hg and the limits of agreement were 24 mm Hg. In 50% of the cases, the difference between the two machines was ≥10 mm Hg, and in 33%, it was ≥15 mm Hg. Repeatability measured with LD, PPG1, and PPG2 showed that the difference between the first and second measurement was <10 mm Hg in 93%, 86%, and 78% of the cases, respectively, and <15 mm Hg in 98%, 94%, and 88% of the cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: TP values vary greatly depending on the device used. However, the repeatability seemed to be acceptable with LD and PPG1. We recommend using same device when circulation is repeatedly assessed in the same patient. Also, we emphasize the importance of clinical examination and low threshold for angiography and revascularization especially in diabetics with wound healing problems.