Multicomponent Prehabilitation as a Novel Strategy for Preventing Delirium in Older Chronic Limb Threatening Ischemia Patients: A Study Protocol.

Objective: Chronic limb threatening ischemia is the final stage of peripheral arterial disease. Current treatment is based on revascularization to preserve the leg. In the older, hospitalized chronic limb threatening ischemia patient, delirium is a frequent and severe complication after revascularization. Delirium leads to an increased length of hospital stay, a higher mortality rate and a decrease in quality of life. Currently, no specific guidelines to prevent delirium in chronic limb threatening ischemia patients exist. We aim to evaluate the effect of a multicomponent, multidisciplinary prehabilitation program on the incidence of delirium in chronic limb threatening ischemia patients ≥65 years. Design: A prospective observational cohort study to investigate the effects of the program on the incidence of delirium will be performed in a large teaching hospital in the Netherlands. This manuscript describes the design of the study and the content of this specific prehabilitation program. Methods: Chronic limb threatening ischemia patients ≥65 years that require revascularization will participate in the program. This program focuses on optimizing the patient's overall health and includes delirium risk assessment, nutritional optimization, home-based physical therapy, iron infusion in case of anaemia and a comprehensive geriatric assessment in case of frailty. The primary outcome is the incidence of delirium. Secondary outcomes include quality of life, amputation-free survival, length of hospital stay and mortality. Exclusion criteria are the requirement of acute treatment or patients who are mentally incompetent to understand the procedures of the study or to complete questionnaires. A historical cohort from the same hospital is used as a control group. Discussion: This study will clarify the effect of a prehabilitation program on delirium incidence in chronic limb threatening ischemia patients. New insights will be obtained on optimizing a patient's preoperative mental and physical condition to prevent postoperative complications, including delirium. Trial: This protocol is registered at the Netherlands National Trial Register (NTR) number: NL9380.

Two-year Outcome of Quality of Life and Health Status for the Elderly with Chronic Limb-threatening Ischemia.

PURPOSE: In elderly patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), there is little scientific understanding of the long-term changes of quality of life (QoL) and health status (HS) after treatment. The primary goal of this study was to provide long-term QoL and HS results for elderly CLTI patients after therapy. Treatments consisted of endovascular revascularization, surgical revascularization, or conservative treatment. Furthermore, the aim of this study was to identify the distinctive trajectories of QoL and HS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: CLTI patients aged ≥70 years were included in a prospective observational cohort study with a two-year follow-up. The WHOQOL-BREF was used to asses QoL. The 12-Item Short Form Health Survey was used to measure HS. The QoL and HS scores were compared to the scores in the general elderly Dutch population. Latent class trajectory analysis was used. RESULTS: A total of 195 patients were included in this study. After two years, in all treatment groups patients showed significantly higher physical QoL score compared to baseline and there was no significant difference with the corresponding values in the elderly Dutch population. In the latent class trajectory analysis, there were no overlapping risk factors for poorer QoL or HS. CONCLUSION: This study shows that QoL levels in surviving elderly CLTI patients in the long-term do not differ from the corresponding values for elderly in the general population. There were no disparities in sociodemographic, clinical and treatment characteristics associated with poorer QoL and HS. This study was carried out to encourage further analysis of the influence of biopsychosocial characteristics on QoL and HS in elderly CLTI patients.

[Neurological symptoms associated with aortoiliac occlusive disease: Leriche syndrome]. / Neurologische klachten door een aorta-iliacale occlusie.

Leriche syndrome was diagnosed in three patients aged 63, 71 and 73. They presented with a wide range of neurological symptoms such as impotence, pain or dysfunction of the lower extremities. Because a neurological diagnosis was initially suspected, there was a delay in two of the three patients before palpation for a distal pulse in the lower extremities was performed. A pulse was absent in all three patients. Duplex sonography, MR angiography and CT angiography revealed that a pulse was absent due to aortoiliac occlusive disease, also known as Leriche syndrome. They underwent treatment with covered endovascular reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation (CERAB), aortobifemoral bypass or intravenous thrombolysis. All patients significantly improved after treatment. Physicians should always consider aortoiliac occlusive disease in patients who present with neurological symptoms of the lower extremities and must check for a distal pulse in these patients.

Preoperative mediastinal staging in patients with cT1-3NxM0 non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Endosonography is accepted as the initial procedure for mediastinal staging in patients with suspected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the diagnostic value of different staging methods in specific subgroups is unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the performance and outcome of mediastinal staging in lung cancer in a general teaching hospital. METHODS: The records of 870 consecutive patients with potentially resectable NSCLC (cT1-3NxM0) were analyzed in a retrospective cohort study between January 2010 and December 2016. Patients were divided into four different groups according to ESTS guidelines. The primary endpoint was the rate of unforeseen mediastinal metastasis in these groups and the sensitivity of different staging methods. RESULTS: Mediastinal staging was performed in 336 patients of whom 112 (33%) underwent lobectomy. Unforeseen mediastinal metastasis was seen in 10 (9%) patients after negative mediastinal staging. Sensitivity after combined mediastinal staging (endosonography with mediastinoscopy) in the overall group was 94%. In patients without suspected mediastinal lymph nodes but with suspected hilar lymph nodes (N1), or a peripheral tumor >3 cm, sensitivity of endosonography was 33% and mediastinoscopy 75%. Biopsy of at least level 4L, 4R and 7 was taken in 18% of the endosonographies and 58% of the mediastinoscopies. DISCUSSION: Combined mediastinal staging (endosonography with mediastinoscopy) is reliable with a sensitivity of 94%. However, the diagnostic value of endosonography in patients with suspected hilar lymph nodes or a peripheral tumor >3 cm is questionable, and in these patients, performing direct mediastinoscopy should be considered. KEY POINTS: SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS OF THIS STUDY: The diagnostic value of endosonography in patients without suspected mediastinal lymph nodes but with potential risk factors (suspected N1 disease or peripheral tumor >3 cm) is questionable. Therefore, mediastinoscopy as the first choice should be considered in these patients. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS?: Accurate mediastinal nodal staging is essential in patients with suspected NSCLC to avoid unnecessary lobectomy. Detailed knowledge about sensitivity and specificity of mediastinal staging techniques in different patient groups can make a difference.

Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown Strategy on Vascular Surgery Practice: More Major Amputations than Usual.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown period on the number and type of vascular procedures performed in the operating theater. METHODS: A total of 38 patients who underwent 46 vascular procedures during the lockdown period of March 16th until April 30th, 2020, were included. The control groups consisted of 29 patients in 2019 and 54 patients in 2018 who underwent 36 and 66 vascular procedures, respectively, in the same time period. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics. RESULTS: Our study shows that the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant increase in the number of major amputations (42% in 2020 vs. 18% and 15% in 2019 and 2020, respectively; P-value 0.019). Furthermore, we observed a statistically significant difference in the degree of tissue loss as categorized by the Rutherford classification (P-value 0.007). During the lockdown period, patients presented with more extensive ischemic damage when than previous years. We observed no difference in vascular surgical care for patients with an aortic aneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: Measurements taken during the lockdown period have a significant effect on non-COVID-19 vascular patient care, which leads to an increased severe morbidity. In the future, policy makers should be aware of the impact of their measurements on vulnerable patient groups such as those with peripheral arterial occlusive disease. For these patients, medical care should be easily accessible and adequate.

Do Surgical Site Infections in Open Aortoiliac Surgery Differ Between Occlusive and Aneurysmal Arterial Disease?

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infections (SSI) are frequently seen after aortoiliac vascular surgery (2%-14%). Deep SSIs are associated with graft infection, sepsis, and mortality. This study evaluates the difference in incidence and nature of SSI following open aortoiliac surgery for aneurysmal disease compared to occlusive arterial disease. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including all consecutive patients who underwent open aortoiliac vascular surgery between January 2005 and December 2016 in the Amphia Hospital, Breda, the Netherlands. Patients were grouped by disease type, either aneurysmal or occlusive arterial disease. Data were gathered, including patient characteristics, potential risk factors, and development of SSI. Surgical site infections were defined in accordance with the criteria of the Centers for Disease Control. RESULTS: Between January 2005 and December 2016, a total of 756 patients underwent open aortoiliac surgery of which 517 had aortoiliac aneurysms and 225 had aortoiliac occlusive disease. The group with occlusive disease was younger, predominantly male, and had more smokers. After exclusion of 228 patients undergoing acute surgery, the SSI rate after elective surgery was 6.2%, with 10 of 301 SSIs in the aneurysmal group (3.0%) and 22 of 213 SSIs in the group with occlusive disease (10.3%, P < .001). Also, infection-related readmission and reintervention were higher after occlusive surgery, 6.6% versus 0.9% (P < .001) and 4.2% versus 0.9% (P = .003), respectively. Staphylococcus aureus was found as the most common pathogen, causing 64% of SSI in occlusive disease versus 10% in aneurysmal disease (P = .005). Logistic regression showed occlusive arterial disease and chronic renal disease were associated with SSI. CONCLUSION: Our study presents evidence for a higher rate of SSI in patients with aortoiliac occlusive disease compared to aortoiliac aneurysmal disease, in part due to inherent use of inguinal incision in patients with occlusive disease. All precautions to prevent SSI should be taken in patients undergoing vascular surgery for arterial occlusive disease.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm patients remain at risk for delirium on the surgical ward after intensive care unit dismissal.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of delirium following open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery is significant, with incidence rates ranging from 12% to 33%. However, it remains unclear on what level of care a delirium develops in AAA patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of delirium in the ICU and on the surgical ward after AAA surgery. METHODS: A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted that included all patients treated electively for an open AAA repair and patients who underwent emergency treatment for a ruptured AAA between 2013 and 2018. The diagnosis of delirium was verified by a psychiatrist or geriatrician using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) criteria. The incidence of delirium was calculated. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to analyze 6- and 12-month survival. RESULTS: A total of 135 patients were included, 46 patients (34%) had a delirium during admission. Of these, 30 patients (65%) developed a delirium in the ICU and 16 patients (35%) on the surgical ward. There was no significant difference in six months and twelve months mortality between the ICU and ward delirium groups (HR=1.64, 95% CI: 0.33-8.13, and HR=1.12, 95% CI: 0.28-4.47, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Delirium frequently occurs in patients who undergo AAA surgery. This study demonstrated that patients on the surgical ward remain at risk of developing a delirium after ICU dismissal. Patients with ICU delirium differ in clinical characteristics and outcomes from patients with a delirium on the surgical ward.

A mortality prediction model for elderly patients with critical limb ischemia.

OBJECTIVE: To aid physicians in the process of shared decision-making, many predictive models for critical limb ischemia (CLI) have been constructed. However, none of these models is in widespread use. Predicting survival outcomes for a specific individual may be used to guide treatment selection. The aim of this study was to construct a 6-month survival-predicting model representative of elderly patients with CLI undergoing surgical or endovascular treatment. METHODS: An observational cohort study including all patients with CLI aged ≥65 years who underwent surgical or endovascular treatment of CLI between January 2013 and June 2018 was conducted. The model to predict survival at 6 months was based on a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model and a penalized likelihood method. The performance of the model was judged by means of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: In total, 449 patients were included in the study population. The median age was 76 years (range, 65-97 years), and 52.8% of the population was male. Surgical treatment was performed in 303 patients (67.5%), and 146 underwent endovascular treatment (32.5%). The estimated 30-day survival was 92.7% (standard error [SE], 1.2%); 6-month survival, 80% (SE, 1.9%); and 12-month survival, 71% (SE, 2.1%). Variables with the strongest association with 6-month mortality were age, living in a nursing home, physical impairment, and American Society of Anesthesiologists class. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the 6-month mortality model was 0.81 (95% confidence interval, 0.76-0.85; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: A prediction model constructed for 6-month mortality of elderly patients undergoing surgical or endovascular treatment of CLI showed that age, living in a nursing home, physical impairment, and American Society of Anesthesiologists class have the highest association with an increase in mortality. These factors may be used to identify patients at risk for mortality in shared decision-making.

Post-EVAR aneurysm sac shrinkage is prognostically favorable, but does not justify withholding follow-up.

BACKGROUND: One of the main drawbacks of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) compared to open aortic surgery is the possibility of developing endoleaks and secondary aneurysm rupture, requiring frequent imaging follow-up. This study aims to identify prognostic factors that could be incorporated in follow-up protocols, which might lead to better personalized, lower cost and safe EVAR follow-up. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed including all patients who underwent elective EVAR from January 2000 to December 2015. Follow-up data were gathered by reviewing medical files for radiographic imaging. Linear and logistic regressions were used to assess predictive factors for aneurysm shrinkage. RESULTS: In 361 patients, aneurysm sac shrinkage of 10 mm or more was measured in 152 (42.1%) patients. Patients with ≥10-mm aneurysm shrinkage had fewer endoleaks (4.3% vs. 24.6%, P<0.0001) and fewer re-interventions for endoleak (3.0% vs. 10.1%, P=0.007). Aneurysm sac shrinkage was correlated with the absence of endoleak development (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.19-0.66, P=0.001). In patients who had achieved ≥10-mm shrinkage of the aneurysm sac, no further significant growth was seen, compared to 38 (15.3%) patients who did not attain size reduction (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Once patients achieve ≥10-mm aneurysm sac shrinkage, they are less prone to developing subsequent aneurysm growth and have significantly lower risk of requiring surgery for endoleaks. However, a small number of patients remain at risk of requiring endoleak surgery after aneurysm shrinkage. Therefore, we would not recommend ceasing life-long imaging follow-up after significant aneurysm sac shrinkage, though it might be safe to increase the interval of follow-up.

Quality of Life and Traditional Outcome Results at 1 Year in Elderly Patients Having Critical Limb Ischemia and the Role of Conservative Treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Revascularization is the cornerstone of the treatment of critical limb ischemia (CLI), but the number of elderly frail patients increase. Revascularization is not always possible in these patients and conservative therapy seems to be an option. The goals of this study are to analyze the 1-year quality of life (QoL) results and mortality rates of elderly patients with CLI and to investigate if conservative treatment could be an acceptable treatment option. METHODS: Patients with CLI ≥70 years old were included in a prospective observational cohort study in 2 hospitals in the Netherlands between 2012 and 2016 and were divided over 3 treatment modalities: endovascular therapy, surgical revascularization, and conservative treatment. The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoL-Bref) instrument, a generic QoL assessment tool that includes components of physical, psychological, social relationships and environment, was used to evaluate QoL at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year. RESULTS: In total, 195 patients (56% male, 33% Rutherford 4, mean age of 80) were included. Physical QoL significantly increased after surgical (10.4 vs 14.9, P < .001), endovascular (10.9 vs 13.7, P < .001), and conservative therapy (11.6 vs 13.2, P = .01) at 1 year. One-year mortality was relatively low after surgery (10%) compared to endovascular (40%) and conservative therapy (37%). CONCLUSION: The results of this study could not be used to designate the superior treatment used in elderly patients with CLI. Conservative treatment could be an acceptable treatment option in selected patients with CLI unfit for revascularization. Treatment of choice in elderly patients with CLI is based on multiple factors and should be individualized in a shared decision-making process.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Delirium in Elderly Patients with Critical Limb Ischaemia.

OBJECTIVE: Delirium is associated with adverse outcomes, such as increased mortality and prolonged hospital stay. Information on the risk factors for delirium in elderly patients with critical limb ischaemia (CLI) is scarce. The aim of this study was to analyse the incidence of delirium and to identify risk factors for delirium in elderly patients undergoing surgical or endovascular treatment. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted including patients aged ≥ 65 years undergoing surgical or endovascular treatment for CLI between January 2013 and June 2018. Delirium was scored using the DOSS (Delirium Observation Screening Scale) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) criteria. Risk factors for delirium were analysed using logistic regression. The discriminative ability of the model was calculated using the area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) curve. RESULTS: In total, 392 patients were included, of which 70 (17.9%) developed delirium. Factors associated with an increased risk of delirium were: age, odds ratio (OR) 1.05 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-1.1), history of femoral endarterectomy, OR 4.7 (95% CI 1.5-15), physical impairment, OR 2.2 (95% CI 1.1-4.5), history of delirium, OR 2.7 (95% CI 1.4-5.3), general anaesthesia, OR 2.6 (95% CI 1.2-5.7) and pre-operative anaemia, OR 5.9 (95% CI 2.3-15). The AUROC was .82 (95% CI 0.76-0.87, p < .001). Delirium was associated with more respiratory, renal and surgical complications, as well as a prolonged hospital stay and a more frequent discharge to a nursing home. CONCLUSION: Delirium occurs frequently in patients with critical limb ischaemia undergoing any type of invasive treatment. This study identified multiple risk factors for delirium that may be helpful to delineate patients susceptible to its development.

Important differences between quality of life and health status in elderly patients suffering from critical limb ischemia.

INTRODUCTION: Critical limb ischemia (CLI) patients are often of advanced age with reduced health status (HS) and quality of life (QoL) at baseline. Physical health is considered as the most affected domain due to reduced mobility and ischemic pain. QoL and HS are often used interchangeably in the current literature. HS refers to objectively perceived physical, psychological, and social functioning and in assessing QoL, change is measured subjectively and can only be determined by the individual since it concerns patients' evaluation of their functioning. It is important to distinguish between QoL and HS, especially in the concept of shared decision-making when the opinion of the patient is key. Goal of this study was to examine and compare QoL and HS in elderly CLI patients in relation to the used therapy, with a special interest in conservatively treated patients. METHODS: Patients suffering from CLI and ≥70 years old were included in a prospective study with a follow-up period of 1 year. Patients were divided into three groups; endovascular revascularization, surgical revascularization, and conservative therapy. The WHOQoL-Bref was used to determine QoL, and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey was used to evaluate HS at baseline, 5-7 days, 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year. RESULTS: Physical QoL of endovascularly and surgically treated patients showed immediate significant improvement during follow-up in contrast to delayed increased physical HS at 6 weeks and 6 months (P<0.001). Conservatively treated patients showed significantly improved physical QoL at 6 and 12 months (P=0.02) in contrast to no significant improvement in physical HS. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that QoL and HS are indeed not identical concepts and that differentiating between these two concepts could influence the choice of treatment in elderly CLI patients. Discriminating between QoL and HS is, therefore, of major importance for clinical practice, especially to achieve shared decision-making.

Is amputation in the elderly patient with critical limb ischemia acceptable in the long term?

PURPOSE: Despite high amputation rates, data on patient-reported outcomes is scarce in the elderly population with critical limb ischemia. The aim of this study was to provide mortality rates and long-term changes of the following patient-reported outcomes in elderly critical limb ischemia amputees: quality of life (QoL), health status (HS), and symptoms of depression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective observational cohort study, amputated critical limb ischemia patients ≥70 years were included. The follow-up period was two years. Within the follow-up period patients completed the following questionnaires: the World Health Organization Quality Of Life -abbreviated version of the WHOQOL 100 (WHOQOL-BREF), the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. RESULTS: A total of 49 elderly patients with critical limb ischemia had undergone major limb amputation within two years after inclusion. In these patients, the one-year mortality rate was 39% and the two-year mortality rate was 55%. The physical QoL was the only domain of the WHOQOL-BREF that improved significantly across time after amputation (p≤0.001). In the long-term, there was no difference in the ability to enjoy life (p=0.380) or the satisfaction in performing daily living activities (p=0.231) compared to the scores of the general elderly population. After amputation, the physical HS domain (p≤0.001) and the mental HS domain (p=0.002) improved. In the first year, amputees experienced less symptoms of depression (p=0.004). CONCLUSION: Elderly critical limb ischemia amputees are a fragile population with high mortality rates. Their QoL and HS increased after major limb amputation as compared to the baseline situation and they experienced less symptoms of depression. Moreover, our results show that, in the long-term, major limb amputation in the elderly patients with critical limb ischemia shows an acceptable QoL, which, in some aspects, is comparable to the QoL of their peers. These results can improve the shared-decision making process that does not delay the timing of major limb amputation.

[Is surgical treatment of pulmonary metastases justified?] / Resectie van longmetastasen gerechtvaardigd?

Until recently, patients with cancer and distant metastases were considered incurable. However, nowadays, some of these patients are eligible for curative-intent therapy. Surgery of metastases is becoming an increasingly important part of this ever-evolving therapy. The introduction of minimally invasive surgical techniques has resulted in more resections being performed of pulmonary metastases, even in elderly patients. Low postoperative morbidity and mortality rates have been observed after pulmonary metastasectomy. This is also true for elderly patients as age has not been linked to postoperative morbidity. Long-term survival is better for patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy compared to non-surgically treated patients. However, selection bias plays an important role as only relatively fit patients can tolerate surgery and their prognosis is therefore better from the onset. The question therefore remains whether pulmonary metastasectomy, a non-evidence-based treatment, is justified.

The importance of increased awareness for delirium in elderly patients with rib fractures after blunt chest wall trauma: a retrospective cohort study on risk factors and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Rib fractures are common in ageing people after trauma and delirium is a complication often seen in acutely hospitalized elderly patients. For both conditions, elderly have an increased risk for institutionalization, morbidity, and mortality. This study is the first to investigate risk factors of delirium in elderly patients with rib fractures after trauma. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients ≥65 years admitted with rib fractures after blunt chest wall trauma to the Amphia hospital Breda, the Netherlands, between July 2013 and June 2018. Baseline patient, trauma- and treatment-related characteristics were identified. The main objectives were identification of risk factors of delirium and investigation of the effect of delirium on outcomes after rib fractures. Outcomes were additional complications, length of hospital stay, need for institutionalization and mortality within six months. RESULTS: Forty-seven (24.6%) of 191 patients developed a delirium. Independent risk factors for delirium were increased age, physical impairment (lower KATZ-ADL score), nutritional impairment (higher SNAQ score) and the need for a urinary catheter, with odds ratios of 1.07, 0.78, 1.53 and 8.53 respectively. Overall, more complications were observed in patients with delirium. Median ICU and hospital length of stay were 4 and 7 days respectively, of which the latter was significantly longer for delirious patients (p < 0.001). Significantly more patients with delirium were discharged to a nursing home or rehabilitation institution (p < 0.001). The 6-month mortality in delirious patients was nearly twice as high as in non-delirious patients; however, differences did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Delirium in elderly patients with rib fractures is a serious and common complication, with a longer hospital stay and a higher risk of institutionalization as a consequence. Increased awareness for delirium is imperative, most importantly in older patients, in physically or nutritionally impaired patients and in patients in need of a urinary catheter.

Video-assisted thoracic lobectomy versus stereotactic body radiotherapy for stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer in elderly patients: a propensity matched comparative analysis.

Comparative studies of the overall survival (OS) in elderly patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after surgery or stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) have been limited by mixed extents of resection and different surgical approaches.792 patients aged ≥65 years with clinical stage I NSCLC underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy or SBRT between 2010 and 2015. The propensity score-matched primary analysis included data from the full cohort; the secondary analysis included data from a subgroup of patients with data on pulmonary function.Median OS for unmatched patients was 77 months for patients undergoing VATS lobectomy and 38 months for SBRT. The 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rates after VATS lobectomy were 92%, 76% and 65%, and after SBRT were 90%, 52% and 29% (p<0.001). Median OS for matched patients in the primary analysis was 77 months for patients undergoing VATS lobectomy and 33 months for SBRT. The 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rates after VATS lobectomy were 91%, 68% and 58%, and after SBRT were 87%, 46% and 29% (p<0.001). The survival advantage with VATS lobectomy persisted in the secondary analysis after adjusting for non-matched variables (p=0.034).We suggest that elderly patients with stage I NSCLC undergoing VATS lobectomy have a better rate of OS than patients undergoing SBRT, irrespective of matching. This could be clinically important in decision-making for elderly patients who can tolerate surgery.

Quality of Life and not Health Status Improves After Major Amputation in the Elderly Critical Limb Ischaemia Patient.

OBJECTIVES: A patient-oriented appraisal of treatment has become extremely important, particularly in elderly patients with critical limb ischaemia (CLI). Quality of life (QoL) is an important patient-reported outcome in vascular surgery. Frequently, the physical domain of QoL questionnaires represents an 'objective' evaluation of performing activities, which is expected to be impaired after major limb amputation. However, an objective appraisal of physical function is an assessment of health status (HS) and not of QoL. Little is known about the subjective appraisal of physical health (QoL). The goal of this study was to evaluate, prospectively, QoL in relation to HS in elderly CLI patients undergoing major limb amputation. METHODS: Patients suffering from CLI aged 70 years or older were included in a prospective observational cohort study with a follow-up period of 1 year. Patients were divided according to having had an amputation or not. The World Health Organization Quality Of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) was used to asses QoL. The 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) was used to measure HS. These self-reported questionnaires were completed five times during follow-up. RESULTS: Two-hundred patients were included of whom 46 underwent a major limb amputation within one year. Amputees had a statistically significant improvement of their physical QoL after six months (14.0 vs. 9.0 (95% CI -7.84;-1.45),p = 0.005) and after a one-year follow-up (14.0 vs. 9.0 (95% CI -9.58;-1.46),p = 0.008). They did not however show any statistically significant difference in HS. For non-amputees, both physical QoL and HS improved. An instant statistically significant improvement of the physical QoL appeared 1 week after inclusion (12.0 vs. 10.9 (95% CI -1.57;-0.63),p<0.001). Similarly, statistically significant improvement in the physical HS first occurred at 1 week follow-up (29.0 vs. 28.9 (95% CI -5.78; -2.23),p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: There is a clear difference between patients' functioning (HS) and the patients' appraisal of functioning (QoL). In elderly CLI patients, this study clearly suggests a discrepancy between the physical QoL (WHOQOL-BREF) and HS (SF-12) measurements in vascular amputees. This raises the question, which outcome measurement is the most relevant for elderly CLI patients. Individual treatment goals should be kept in mind when assessing the HS or QoL outcome of patients undergoing hospital care. With respect to shared decision making, distinctive and subjective QoL questionnaires, like the WHOQOL-BREF, provide a very important outcome measurement and should be used in future research.

Stent graft treatment as a bridge to surgery for a secondary aortoduodenal fistula.

A secondary aortoduodenal fistula is a rare but a severe late complication after prosthetic abdominal aortic surgery. Currently, there is little consensus regarding the right treatment due to high mortality and morbidity rates. We report the case of a haemodynamically unstable patient with haematemesis on the basis of a secondary aortoduodenal fistula. He was successfully treated by staged stent graft placement followed by surgical graft excision and autogenous deep vein reconstruction. In haemodynamically unstable patients or in patients where open repair is not feasible in the acute setting of secondary aortoduodenal fistula, we advocate the use of a 2-staged endovascular and surgical approach to improve short- and long-term outcomes.

[A swollen leg because of an aortocaval fistula]. / Een gezwollen been door een aortocavale fistel.

Aortocaval fistulas are a rare and potentially life-threatening complication of aortic aneurysms. They pose a significant diagnostic challenge due to their aspecific presentation. We describe two cases of patients who were admitted to the emergency room with an unusual presentation. The first patient was a 69-year-old male, with a history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia, who was admitted to our hospital with a painful and swollen left leg. The second patient was a 75-year-old male with a history of coronary artery bypass graft and cholecystectomy who was admitted due to a swollen left leg and dyspnea. We also give a review of the literature regarding the clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of aortocaval fistulas.