Challenges in Diagnosis of Non-A Non-B Acute Aortic Dissection.

BACKGROUND: Non-A non-B (NANB) aortic dissections are uncommon and frequently unrecognized diseases. However, their proper identification is crucial given the unpredictable behavior of the dissected aorta with potential mortality and increased morbidity. We investigate the accuracy of radiological computed tomography angiography (CTA) reports in the diagnosis of acute NANB and the risk related to delayed recognition or misdiagnosis. METHODS: The pretreatment contrast CTA of all consecutive patients admitted with acute aortic dissection (AAD) in a University Hospital in London (UK) between January 2017 and May 2023 were reviewed to retrospectively verify the accuracy of CTA reports in the diagnosis of NANB AAD (B1-2D The risk related to the delayed diagnosis (morbidity, mortality, and hospital readmissions) were evaluated as secondary outcomes. The study was conducted according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. RESULTS: Overall, 588 aortic CTAs were reviewed for a total of n = 393 (66.8%) type A AADs, n = 171 (29%) type B AADs and n = 25 (4.3%) NANB AADs (n = 16, 64% men, mean age 60.56, standard deviation ± 14.6 years). While no case of misdiagnosis was identified in Type A or B AAD groups, in NANBs only about a third of cases (n = 9, 36%) were immediately indicated as "NANB" (n = 2, 8%) or "B with retrograde extension into the arch" (n = 7, 28%), n = 8 cases (32%) were described generically as "arch dissections" (n = 6, 24%) or "type A and B" AAD (n = 2, 8%). The remaining 32% of patients received a diagnosis that did not include mention of the arch, as n = 6 (24%) cases were reported to be "type A″ and n = 2 (8%) to be "type B″ AADs. Despite the heterogeneity of terms used to describe NANB AAD, no case of cardiac tamponade, new onset malperfusion nor neurological complications were reported, and no sudden death nor home-discharge and readmission while waiting for the proper diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The heterogeneity of terms used to describe NANB aortic dissection highlights the need for increased awareness, adoption of in guideline based classification systems, and further education to better understand and correctly address this challenging entity, minimizing misdiagnosis in ambiguous or difficult cases.

Frozen Elephant Trunk procedure for Acute type A Aortic Dissection: analysis of distal aortic remodeling according to the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS)/Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) reporting standard.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate impact of Frozen Elephant Trunk (FET) on long-term distal aortic remodelling in acute AAD according to the latest recommended standards from the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS)/Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). METHODS: Clinical data and imaging of patients undergone FET to treat acute AAD over the last 8 years were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were included if a pre- and post-operative Computed AngioTomographies at least 30-day from surgery was available for comparison. Contrasted postprocessed imaging were analysed with Aquarius iNtuition (TeraRecon Inc., Foster City, CA, USA) to analyse long-term positive aortic remodelling, FL thrombosis and aortic expansion according to the SVS/STS recommendations. Secondary endpoints were the rate of in-hospital and long-term mortality, spinal cord ischaemia and aortic-related reinterventions. RESULTS: Out of 75 patients who underwent FET for type A AAD, n=41(54.6%) were included. Significant positive aortic remodelling was reported in Ishimaru zone 1-4 but not in visceral/infrarenal aorta (p<0.001) and overall rate of FL thrombosis was 95.1% (n=39). Aortic expansion rates were: 4.9% in zones 1-4, 8.3% in zones 5-6 and 15% in zone 7. The rates of in-hospital mortality and long-term mortality were 7.3% (n=3) and 9.7% (n=4) respectively. At a median follow-up of 11 months (range 1-141, reintervention rate was 17.1%. CONCLUSIONS: We report positive aortic remodelling of the distal thoracic aorta in patients who underwent FET for acute AAD according to the SVS/STS reporting standards. The positive effect on the distal aorta is limited to the thoracic segments but not in the visceral aorta.

Spinal Cord Protection During Thoracic and Thoracoabdominal Endovascular Aortic Repair: 5-Year Results of a Preventive Protocol Including Prophylactic Cerebrospinal Fluid Drainage in High-Risk Patients.

PURPOSE: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating complication of thoracoabdominal aortic (TAA) repair. The use of prophylactic cerebrospinal fluid drainage (CSFD) as part of a protective protocol during endovascular repair is controversial. This article reports the results of the prophylactic use of CSFD as part of the of a prevention protocol implemented in 2016. METHODS: Retrospective review of spinal cord outcomes (SCI rate and CSFD-related complications) in patients treated endovascularly for TAA disease at a single institution from 2016 (implementation of an institutional SCI risk reduction protocol) to 2021. Patients were classified as high risk (≥2 factors), intermediate risk (1 factor), or low risk (0 factor). Only high-risk patients without contraindications underwent a prophylactic CSFD placement. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-one patients were analyzed (124 males; 69.6 years): 130 (69%) aneurysms (n=24 thoracic, n=28 Crawford 1-2-3, and n=78 Crawford 4/pararenal), 35 (19.9%) chronic aneurysmal dissections, and 16 (8.8%) acute complicated type B dissections. Interventions were staged in 31 (17.2%) cases, and consisted of 74 (41%) Thoracic EndoVascular Aneurysm Repair (TEVAR) and 107 (59%) Fenestrated Branched EndoVascular Aneurysm Repair (F-BEVAR). Sixty-nine (38.1%) patients were identified as being at high risk of SCI and CSFD was used prophylactically in 64 of them (4 failures and 1 contraindication). Spinal cord injury occurred in 8 cases (4 paraparesis, 4 paraplegias including 2 permanent), of which 3 had a prophylactic CSFD and 5 underwent rescue drainage. In addition, 4 patients developed SCI related to prophylactic CSFD (intradural hematoma), resulting in 1 paraparesis and 3 paraplegias. Other CSFD-related complications were mild (6) or moderate (2), for a total of 12 complications (17%). Factors associated with major drain complications were: curative anticoagulation 36 hours after drain removal (n=1), multiple punctures (n=1), platelet count <100 000 at drain removal (n=1), and bipolar disorder (n=2). Overall, 4 patients had permanent paraplegia and 1 had sphincter dysfunction at the last follow-up. Mean follow-up was 17 months. Mortality was 4.4% at 30 days and 13.3% at 18 months, including 3 (1.6%) aortic-related deaths. CONCLUSIONS: With the protocol we used to protect the spinal cord, we report results comparable with the SCI literature and highlight the risks associated with prophylactic CSFD use, which requires a better understanding of contraindications.

Obesity is Not Associated with Adverse Perioperative or Poorer Clinical Outcomes following Thoracic and Fenestrated-Branched Endovascular Aortic Repair.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for higher morbidity and mortality following open aortic repair but currently there is limited literature on its impact on clinical and procedural outcomes following thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and branched-fenestrated endovascular aortic repair (B-FEVAR). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-control analysis of a prospectively collected nonrandomized database to evaluate the effects of obesity on procedural and clinical outcomes after B-FEVAR/TEVAR in treatment of pararenal/thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm and dissection at the University hospital of Nantes (France) between January 2016 and December 2021. Patients were divided in 2 groups according to their body mass index (BMI) and the rate of technical success, complications (renal, pulmonary, cardiac, and neurological events), 30-day and long-term survival, freedom from target vessel instability and reintervention were compared. RESULTS: 195 patients were included (mean age 69.6 DS±11.2; n = 135, 69.2% men; mean BMI: 26.6 kg/m2 range 19-41) totalling n = 72 (36.8%) TEVAR, n = 107 (55.4%) FEVAR and n = 14 (7.3%) BEVAR. Patients were divided in 2 groups [obese: BMI≥30 kg/m2n = 52 (26.7%); and nonobese, BMI<30 kg/m2, n = 143 (73.3%) that statistically differed only in terms of coronary artery disease (obese 42.3% vs. 26.6% nonobese, P = 0.035) and diabetes (obese 25% vs. 12.6% nonobese, P = 0.03). No statistical differences were noted in primary technical (94.2% vs. 94.4%, P = 1.00) and clinical (92.3% vs. 95.1%, P = 0.49) success. Overall morbidity (30.8% vs. 21.1%, P = 0.16), visceral vessels instability (1.9% vs. 1.4% P = 1.00), reintervention rate within 30 days (9.6% vs. 5.6% P = 0.33), 90 days (7.7% vs. 9.8%, P = 0.78) and during follow-up (9.8% vs. 20%, P = 0.14) were comparable. No statistical difference were noted in 30-day mortality (3.8% vs. 4.9%, P = 1.00) and the 2-year follow-up survival (86.8% vs. 78.4%, P = 0.180) between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, obesity was not associated to worst clinical outcomes or higher mortality rate following TEVAR/B-FEVAR. However, considering our small patient sample, a conclusive analysis on obesity as risk factors for adverse events after endovascular treatment is not possible. A larger sample from the collaboration of multiple centers will be required to obtain definitive conclusions.

An observational assessment of aortic deformation during infrarenal and complex endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: Real-time aortic deformation during endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) has not been reported. Successful EVAR relies on predicting intraoperative aortic-endograft deformation from preoperative imaging. Correct prediction is essential, because malalignment of endografts decreases patient survival. We describe intraoperative aortic deformation during infrarenal EVAR and complex fenestrated/branched EVAR (F/BEVAR), relating deformation to preoperative anatomy and follow-up outcomes. METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective cohort of aortic aneurysm patients undergoing operation between January 2019 and February 2021, substratified by repair, infrarenal EVAR (n = 50), F/BEVAR (n = 80), and iliac branch graft with F/B/EVAR (IBG + F/B/EVAR; n = 27), were compared using software-based nonrigid two- and three-dimensional aortic deformational intraoperative assessment (CYDAR). Preoperative computed tomography reconstructions of aortic and iliac tortuosities were assessed against intraoperative deformation, the primary outcome, and related to perioperative and follow-up adverse outcomes. RESULTS: All treatment groups had low preoperative visceral aortic tortuosity; the EVAR group had higher iliac tortuosity (1.43 ± 0.05; P = .018). Intraoperative aortic visceral deformation was consistently cranial and anterior; IBG + F/B/EVAR patients had the largest magnitude deformation (superior mesenteric artery, EVAR 5.1 ± 0.9 mm; F/BEVAR 4.4 ± 0.4 mm; IBG 8.3 ± 1.2 mm; P = .004). Celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery, and bilateral renal artery deformations were correlated (R = 0.923-0.983). Iliac deformation was variable in magnitude and direction. Preoperative tortuosity was not correlated with the magnitude of intraoperative deformation nor was deformation magnitude related to endograft instability during follow-up, including endoleak development, reinterventions, or visceral vessel complications. CONCLUSIONS: The aorta deforms consistently during EVAR at the visceral aortic segment but unpredictably at the iliac bifurcation. Aortoiliac deformation is unrelated to adverse perioperative outcomes, branch instability, or reinterventions during short-term follow-up.

The Results of The Interposition Graft-Technique in Treatment of High Flow Vascular Access.

OBJECTIVE: High-flow (HF) vascular access (VA) is a fearsome condition potentially responsible for cardiac or pulmonary complications, steal syndrome and hand ischemia. The present study was conducted to report the results achieved in a group of patients undergoing interposition-graft technique to treat HF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An analysis of clinical, ultrasound and echocardiography data collected from the review of medical charts was performed. Flow reduction, complications and need for secondary interventions were investigated. RESULTS: Among a total 498 hemodialysis access interventions performed during a 6-years period, 30 patients (n 15, 50% male, median age 63.5, range 42-91 years) presented with high-flow (median flow 1.9 L/min, range 1.5-4 L/min). 18 patients were asymptomatic (60%); 6 (20%) suffered from a severe distal hand ischemia; 5 (16.6%) developed signs of congestive heart failure and 1 patient (3.3%) presented with pulmonary hypertension. In twenty patients (66.7%) the access was preserved by the interposition of a 6 mm polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE) prosthesis. This approach was used as a primary flow reduction technique in 16 patients (80%) or the failure of a previously attempted procedure in 4 cases. No intraoperative complications were observed. Post-operative median VA flow was 1.1 L/min (range 0.900-2 L/min), with a median flow reduction of 0.770 L/min (range 0.100-2.8 L/min). At a median follow-up of 9 months (range 1-42), 95% (n 19) of patients were free from recurrences. CONCLUSION: In treatment of HF-VA graft interposition demonstrated satisfactory results at the mid-term follow-up. More data are needed to affirm this technique as the preferential one.

The Fate of Hemodialysis Vascular Access After Kidney Transplantation: Why Ligation Should Not Be Systematically Performed?

BACKGROUND: After renal transplant, the haemodialysis (HD) vascular access (VA) is often maintained in the event of graft failure but evidence to recommend the systematic ligation/maintenance are lacking. We investigate the effects of VA preservation/ligation in successfully transplanted patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing successful renal transplantation after HD were conducted. Patients with a functioning VA, those undergoing ligation or presenting with post-transplantation spontaneous thrombosis were included. Demographics, comorbidities, reasons for ligation, need for secondary interventions, complications and return in dialysis were assessed. RESULTS: Out of 542 HD patients, 114 (76, 66.7% male, median age 50 years, range 20-70) were included. Eight (7%) accesses thrombosed in a mean of 1.4 days (range 1-3) after transplant; 42 (36.8%) fistulas were ligated and 64 (56.1%) preserved. The reasons for ligation were patient's request (35, 83.3%), steal syndrome (5, 11.9%), heart failure (1, 2.4%) and aneurysmal degeneration (1, 2.4%).During a mean follow-up of 724.9 days (range 80-1082) 25 patients developed complications over the maintained access (40% of stenosis; 32% high flow and 28% thrombosis); 18 (15.8%) needed reoperation; 17 (15%) required further HD. Multivariate analysis showed that coronary artery disease (OR= 12.566 [2.056-76.805], P < 0.06) or age >60 years (OR=0.181 [0.044-0.735], P = 0.017) were risk factor for complications over unused VA. CONCLUSIONS: The ligation of a functioning VA after renal transplant should evaluated on an individualized basis. Patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease or aged >60 years should be monitored closely up as they are at higher risk of complications.

Single Centre Experience in Open and Endovascular Treatment of Renal Artery Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: The true incidence and natural history of renal artery aneurysm (RAA) remain unclear and still exists controversy over indication for treatment. Several techniques of conventional surgical reconstructions are described in literature, and more recently endovascular therapies have been reported with satisfying results and lower complication rate. This paper aims to investigate the outcomes of both endovascular and open repair of RAA achieved in a single institution involving 3 medical teams (urology, vascular surgery and neuroradiology). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a single-centre retrospective observational study about all patients surgically or endovascularly treated for RAA over a 15-year period. Pre-operative, procedural and post-operative data at the early, mid- and long-term follow-up were collected and analysed, focusing on operative technique used for repair and related outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients (n = 17 (63%) women, mean age 58 ± 13.2, n = 26 saccular RAA) were included. Mean aneurysm was size was 18.8 ± 6.3 mm. Most diagnosis were accidental. Symptomatic RAA showed with macroscopic haematuria (n = 3, 25.9%), unstable hypertension (n = 2; 7%), chronic lumbar pain (n = 1, 3.7%) and renal infarct (n = 1, 3.7%). Conventional surgery (ex-vivo repair, aneurysmorraphy, aneurysm resection and end-to-end anastomosis) was performed in 14 (51.8%) cases and endovascular coiling embolization in 13 (48.2%). Mean hospital length of stay was 5.4 ± 3.6 days. Intensive Care Unit stay was needed only in the surgically treated patients (mean 1.1 ± 1.2 days). During the early follow-up, morbidity rate was 7/14 in surgically treated patients vs. 1/13 in endovascular group; it included bleeding, retroperitoneal hematoma, arterial thrombosis and bowel obstruction. The discharge imaging showed complete aneurysm exclusion and renal artery patency in all cases. At a mean follow-up of 39 ± 42 months, 3 patients (11%) were lost to follow up and 2 (7.4 %) died from unrelated cause. None of these patients required dialysis but a statistically significant (P = 0.09) decrease in GFR was noted between the preoperative period and last follow-up control. RAA repair neither showed blood pressure control improvement nor reduced the need for anti-hypertensive drug use. CONCLUSION: Open or endovascular techniques are both safe and efficient to treat RAA. Even though, surgical management is burdened with higher morbidity rate, the operative technique should be selected according to anatomical features, diameters and location of RRA; and the number of renal branches involved. Further larger studies are needed to define the feasibility and safety for a wider application of the endovascular approach.

Late onset infection of covered and bare metal arterial stents.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to present the case of a late covered iliac stent late infection and report a comprehensive literature review on diagnosis and outcomes in this setting. METHODS: A comprehensive review of the literature was performed through MedLine by two independent reviewers from 1990 to 2020 on reported cases of arterial stent late onset infection over arterial stents. The data about on the risk factors, clinical presentation, treatment and outcomes were collected. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies were selected as pertinent for the analysis, totalling 24 patients including the indexed case. Infection occurred at a median of 22 months postoperatively (range 2-120 months) over a bare metal stent in 66.7% (n 16) of cases versus 33.3% (n 8) over a covered stent. Clinical presentation included local symptoms (local pain, oedema, petechiae or skin rash) in 21 (87.5%) cases and non-specific systemic symptoms (fever, sepsis, chills and leucocytosis) in 8 cases (33.3%). In 4 cases (16.7%), patients presented with haemorrhagic shock upon arterial rupture. The bacteria most frequently encountered were S. aureus (54.2% of cases). Several factors were supposed to be responsible for the infection including among which procedure-related (non-aseptic technique, lack of prophylactic antibiotics and repetitive punctures at the access site) or related to pre-existing patient's clinical conditions (immunosuppression, diabetes and concurrent infection) have been considered responsible for the infection. Treatment consisted in antibiotics alone (2 patients, 8.3%) or in association with surgical explant, both with or and without revascularization (n 21, 87.5%). In one case, an endovascular coiling was performed. Complications occurred in 29.2% (n 7) of cases and included the need for amputation, bowel resection, endocarditis, pulmonary failure or pneumonia. Overall, three patients (12.5%) died from a septic shock or multi-organ failure. CONCLUSIONS: Intravascular stent infection is a rare but fearsome condition associated with high morbidity and mortality.

Two-year single centre results with covered endovascular reconstruction of aortic bifurcation (CERAB) in the treatment of extensive aorto-iliac occlusive disease.

OBJECTIVE: To report the results of a single-centre in the treatment of extensive aorto-iliac occlusive disease (AIOD) by the covered endovascular reconstruction of aortic bifurcation (CERAB) technique. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on data obtained from the review of medical charts of all consecutive patients treated with CERAB technique for AIOD between January 2016 and December 2019 in San Giovanni-Addolorata Hospital (Rome, Italy). Clinical examination, duplex ultrasound with ankle-brachial index measurement and contrast-enhanced computed tomography angiography were performed preoperatively. A clinical and ultrasound follow-up was carried out at one month and then half yearly after the intervention to evaluate patients' clinical status, limb salvage, target lesion revascularization rate, primary and secondary patency rate. RESULTS: During the study period, 24 patients (14 men, 58.3%; 10 women, 41.7%; median age 59 years, range 37-79 years) underwent CERAB for AIOD (TASC II C 29.2%, TASC II D 70.8%). Indications for treatment were: intermittent claudication in 18 patients (75%) and critical limb ischemia in 6 (25%). Technical success was achieved in all cases. Perioperative minor complications occurred in three cases (12.5%). One patient reported an intraoperative iliac rupture requiring adjunctive covered stenting. Median hospital length of stay was two days (range 1-9). No patient died perioperatively nor at the last follow-up. At a median follow-up of 18 months (range 6-48 months), mean ankle-brachial index increased significantly (from 0.62 ± 0.15 before the procedure to 0.84 ± 0.18) (P < 0.001) and target lesion revascularization rate was 12.5%. At two years, the limb salvage rate was 100%, and primary and secondary patency rates were 87.5% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: CERAB technique demonstrated to be effective at the mid-term follow-up with low rate of complications and short length of stay. Long-term results and more robust data are needed to affirm this technique as the first-line treatment for extensive AIOD. However, it could become the preferred option especially in fragile patients and during contemporary COVID-19 pandemic due to the current limitations in vascular and critical care bed capacity.

Puncture Site Necrosis Over Hemodialysis Native and Prosthetic Vascular Accesses.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to detail our experience in the management of skin necrosis/ulceration over hemodialysis vascular accesses. METHODS: We collected demographics and operative data about patients undergoing surgery for skin necrosis over native or prosthetic vascular accesses. The different procedural techniques used and outcomes achieved were analyzed. RESULTS: Over a six-year period (2013-2019), 593 hemodialysis accesses were created and 16 patients (50%, 8 male; median age 63.6 years, range 42-87; 12 native and 4 prosthetic accesses) were emergently/urgently treated for skin necrosis with danger of rupture (n 9), minor active bleeding (n 4) or life-threatening hemorrhage (n 3). Underlying causes were local infection, aneurysm/pseudo-aneurysm formation and venous stenosis. Most accesses were preserved. Rescue procedures consisted in excision of skin necrosis in association with aneurysmorrhaphy (n 1, 6.3%), simple closure of the venous breach (n 2, 12.5%) or resection and direct re-anastomosis (n 7, 43.8%). Concomitant endoluminal dilatation of venous outflow was needed in 7 (43.8%) cases. No intraoperative complications were observed. At a median of 13 months (range 1-39), 90% of rescued accesses were still functional. CONCLUSIONS: Skin necrosis/ulceration over vascular access requires prompt surgical intervention ahead the risk of life-threatening hemorrhage. The rescue of a functional access is possible in most patients and provides an efficient dialysis in postoperative period.

True Aneurysm of Ovarian and Uterine Arteries:a Comprehensive Review.

BACKGROUND: Gonadal artery aneurysm represents an extremely rare condition often unrecognized until rupture. METHODS: A literature review was undertaken on Pubmed from 1990 to 2020 to identify reported cases of ovarian and uterine artery aneurysms, including the index case presented here. Data about the clinical presentation, diagnostic approach, and treatment were collected. RESULTS: Twenty-one articles reporting on data about 22 patients, including the index case, were included. The patients's median age was 46.7 years (range 30-80) and aneurysm maximal diameter 2.6 cm (range 0.75-5 cm). Except for one asymptomatic patient, the aneurysm's clinical presentation was abdominal/back pain in the majority of cases (n = 20, 90.9%). Rupture with retroperitoneal hematoma occurred in 16 cases (72.7%) and hemorrhagic shock in one case (4.5%). No history of vaginal bleeding was reported in any case. The majority of the aneurysms were diagnosed in women of childbearing age: in 50% (n = 11) of cases during the peripartum period and in 22.7% (n = 5) of cases during the postmenstruation period. The remaining cases (n = 6, 27.3%) were detected during the postmenopausal period. The majority of patients (n = 15, 68.2%) were emergently treated with an endovascular approach by embolization, achieving the total exclusion of the aneurysm in 86.7% of cases (13 patients). In 7 cases (31.8%), surgical ligation was performed, of which 2 (9.1%) were for the failure of a primarily attempted coils embolization. The spontaneous thrombosis of the uterine aneurysm was noted 3 months after the initial diagnosis in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: The Gonadal artery aneurysms are unrecognized entities until an acute rupture occurs. Endovascular treatment by embolization is progressively becoming the first-line treatment with satisfactory results.

Surgical Treatment of Carotid Webs in Symptomatic Young Adults.

BACKGROUND: Carotid webs are possibly responsible for ischemic stroke in young adults. We aim to report a case series study about surgical treatment of this uncommon condition. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis on clinical, imaging, pathological, operative data, and outcomes about consecutive patients affected with carotid ischemic stroke due to carotid webs in a single institution. RESULTS: During a three-year period, a total of 123 patients were treated for carotid stroke, in five cases (4%) (median age 48.4 years, range 44-53, 2 men and 3 women, median NIHSS score 8.4, range 4-17) due to a carotid web. Patients were all Caucasian excepting for one. No severe comorbidities were detected. Preoperatively thrombectomy of middle cerebral artery was needed in three cases. Surgical treatment consisted in web resection and carotid end-to-end anastomosis (3 cases) or web excision and patch angioplasty (2 cases). In-hospital NIHSS score improved postoperatively of more than 2 points (median 3.6, range 2-7) in all cases. No major complications were detected. One patient experienced a local hematoma treated conservatively. At a mean follow-up of 18 months (range 1-35 months), no recurrent stroke nor myocardial infarction nor death were remarked. CONCLUSIONS: In young patients presenting with ischemic stroke without neither conventional stroke risk factors nor other possible sources of embolism, a carotid web should be suspected. Surgery guarantees excellent results in prevention of recurrences.

Tailoring Hemodialysis Vascular Access in Diabetic Patients.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to investigate which kind of native arterious-venous fistula guaranteed the best results in diabetic patients. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study with prospective follow-up was conducted on all consecutive patients undergoing creation of the first native vascular access (VA) at our Institution between January 2011 and December 2016. Patients were divided into 2 groups: diabetics (group A) and nondiabetics (group B), and results were evaluated in accordance with site chosen for VA creation. Primary outcomes were maturation and primary patency rate. Secondary outcomes were complications, rate of functional fistulas, and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 410 patients (n 155, 37.8% female; n 255, 62.2% male; mean age 64.21 ± 14.85 years, range 58-78) were divided into 2 nonstatistically different groups (group A: n 170, 41.5% and group B: n 240, 58.5%). Maturation and primary patency were statistically different for antebrachial (P = 0,038 and P = 0.044, respectively), but not for brachial access (P = 1 and P = 0.080, respectively) at 3 years. Hyperflow and steal syndrome rate did not differ between the 2 sites and groups. At a mean follow-up of 42.86 months (range 1-72), 5 patients died. Diabetics demonstrated the higher rate of overall complications at the long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes mellitus plays a detrimental role in maturation and primary patency of antebrachial fistula; however, brachial fistula results do not differ between diabetic and nondiabetic patients. More robust data and longer-term results from randomized studies are needed to affirm brachial fistula as preferential access in diabetic patients.

Symptomatic Aortic Mural Thrombus Treatment and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: To report results achieved in treatment of symptomatic aortic mural thrombus in a single institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of data about 97 patients presenting with acute onset lower limb ischemia (Rutherford stage II-III), upper limb ischemia, and mesenteric ischemia surgically treated between January 2011 and December 2018 in the Vascular and Endovascular Unit of Foch Hospital (Suresnes, France) was conducted. Only patients affected with primary aortic mural thrombus (PAMT) as source of embolism were included. RESULTS: A total of 9 patients (mean age 51 years, range 28-69; 55.5%, n 5 men and 44.5% n 4 women) were affected with PAMT. Three (33.3%) patients presented a concomitant renal embolism (22.2% of acute renal failure). Thrombus was located at the level of thoracic aorta (4 patients), visceral aorta (2 patients), or infrarenal aorta (3 patients). PAMT was sessile or pedunculated in 5 (55.5%) and 4 (44.4%) patients, respectively. Treatment consisted of anticoagulation in all patients in association with surgical exclusion of the PAMT, distal thrombectomy alone, or in addition to distal bypass. At a median follow-up of 22 months (range 1-57 months) no patients died, 4 patients (44.4%) recovered well, and 5 patients (55.5%) experienced recurrence/thrombus persistency and needed secondary interventions. The best results and absence of recurrences were achieved in patients undergoing immediate exclusion of the PAMT. CONCLUSIONS: PAMT is an uncommon source of embolism, and no guidelines are at disposal in its management. An aggressive approach with anticoagulation and exclusion of thrombus seems to be efficacious in preventing recurrences limiting complications and optimizing outcomes.

Early Carotid Endarterectomy for Symptomatic Stenosis of Internal Carotid Artery in Patients Affected by Transient Ischemic Attack or Minor-to-Moderate Ischemic Acute Stroke: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: In the setting of carotid transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor/moderate ischemic stroke, early surgical endarterectomy (CEA) seems to decrease the number of recurrences. The aim of the present study was to report a single-center experience with early surgical carotid revascularization in patients affected by TIA and minor/moderate ischemic acute stroke. METHODS: A retrospective data collection was carried out on all consecutive patients surgically treated for an extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) hemodynamic NASCET stenosis in the Vascular Unit of Foch Hospital, in Suresnes (France) between January 2011 and July 2016. All patients undergoing ICA endarterectomy for symptomatic carotid stenosis (SCS) within 48 hours and 14 days after the acute neurologic onset were included in the present study. Outcomes were evaluated by a prospective follow-up. Primary outcomes were the rate of postoperative ipsilateral stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) and the death/stroke/MI at 30-day and at the long-term follow-up. Secondary outcomes were local and systemic complications' rate. Outcomes were stratified according to NIHSS score and comorbidities, and a univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were performed to define any correlation between preoperative data and postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 249 consecutive patients (45.4%, 113 symptomatic vs. 54.6%, 136 asymptomatic) underwent CEA for hemodynamically significant ICA stenosis at our institution. According to inclusion criteria, 72 patients affected by SCS (27.7% women vs. 72.3% men; median age 71.9 years, range: 42-89; median preoperative NIHSS score 3, range 1-17) were enrolled in the present study. Median delay for surgery was 4 days (range: 2-14). No in-hospital stroke, nor myocardial infarction nor death were detected during in-hospital post-operative period. The combined death/stroke/MI rate was 0% and 5.5 % at 30-days at 6 years follow-up respectively. In-hospital NIHSS score improved post-operatively of more than 2 points (range 0-15) in 47.2% of cases. A total of 10 patients (13.8%) experienced a local complication (hematoma, permanent or regressive nerve injury). No systemic complications (renal/respiratory failure, urinary tract infection, pneumoniae) were registered. At long-term follow-up a total of four patients (5.5%) died and six patients (8.3%) were lost. The stratification of outcomes according to NIHSS status, sex, comorbidities and preoperative surgical procedure did not show any statistical relation neither at 30 days nor at the long term-follow up. Diabetes was statistically correlated to a higher rate of complication at the long-term follow-up (P 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: In properly selected patients affected by minor/moderate ischemic acute stroke and TIA early carotid endarterectomy can be performed without any worsening of neurological status.

Late-Onset Paraplegia After Endovascular Repair of Type B Aortic Dissection Managed by Urgent Left Subclavian Artery Revascularization: A Case Report.

Spinal cord ischemia is one of the most unpredictable and feared complications after open surgical or endovascular thoracic aortic repair. Protection of collateral network branches that contribute blood supply to spinal cord is fundamental in the prevention of this catastrophic condition. We report the case of a patient who underwent emergent endovascular treatment for a type B aortic dissection complicated by rupture of the false lumen, with intentional coverage of the left subclavian artery without revascularization. The patient developed paraplegia on the 10th postoperative day, which did not significantly improve with immediate cerebrospinal fluid drainage but fully recovered after urgent left carotid-subclavian bypass.

Open Surgery and Endovascular Techniques in Treatment of Acute Abdominal Arteriovenous Fistulas.

Acute abdominal arteriovenous fistulas in the setting of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms are a life-threatening condition; thus, a prompt diagnosis is required for proper treatment. Open, endovascular, and hybrid repair have been proposed for their management, with pros and cons for each method. In particular, the evolution of endoluminal techniques guarantees an increasing feasibility of these procedures, and a significant reduction in morbidity and mortality rates was usually associated with open surgery. Nevertheless, some concerns still remain regarding the midterm and long-term follow-up. The aim of this article was to review and compare the reported clinical and technical results of conventional open surgery and endoluminal techniques in this scenario and to report the case of an acute aorto-iliac fistula due to a ruptured common iliac artery aneurysm into the iliac vein that was managed by endovascular repair at our institution.

Re-hospital admission, morbidity and mortality rate in patients undergoing tunnelled catheter implantation for haemodialysis.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the effort to increase the proportion of patients starting dialysis on native accesses, many of them are still dialyzed on tunnelled catheter. Catheter-related complications are often serious and responsible for re-hospital admission, high morbidity and mortality. Several multicenter trials have reported results in the use of tunnelled dialysis catheter (TDC). However, few single-center studies have been published to verify the outcome from real-world experience. This study presents our center's experience in managing such patients in the context of relevant literature. METHODS: Demographics and operative data were retrospectively collected from medical charts. A prospective follow-up was performed to investigate complications, number of re-hospitalizations and mortality. Kaplan-Meier estimate was used to evaluate catheter primary patency and patients' overall survival. RESULTS: Among a total 298 haemodialysis accesses interventions, 105 patients (56 men, 53.3% and 49 women, 46.7%) with a median age of 65 years (range 32-88 years) were included in the study. All insertions were successful with an optimal blood flow achieved during the first session of dialysis in all cases. A catheter-related complication was detected in 33.3% (n=35) patients (48.6% infections; 28.6% TDC dysfunction; 14.3% local complications; 5.7% accidental catheter retractions; 2.8% catheter migrations). At a median follow-up of 10.5±8.5 months, a total of 85 patients (80.9%) was re-hospitalized, in 28 cases (26.7%) for a catheter-related cause. The median catheter patency rate was 122 days. At the last follow-up, 39 patients (37.1%) were still dialyzed on catheter, 30(28.6%) were dialyzed on an arteriovenous fistula and 7(6.7%) received a kidney transplantation. Two patients (2%) were transferred to peritoneal dialysis and two patients (2%) recover from renal insufficiency. Mortality rate was 23.8% (25 patients). Causes of death were myocardial infarction (n=13, 52%), sepsis (n=9, 36%); one patient (4%) died from pneumonia, one (4%) from uremic encephalopathy and one (4%) from massive hematemesis. CONCLUSION: TDCs may represent the only possible access in some patients, however they are burned with a high rate of complications, re-hospital admission and mortality. Results from this institutional experience are in line with previously published literature data in terms of morbidity and mortality. The present results reiterate once more that TDC must be regarded as a temporary solution while permanent access creation should be prioritized. Strict surveillance should be held in patients having TDC for the early identification of complications allowing the prompt treatment and modifying the catheter insertion site whenever needed.