Patient-specific risk factors for reintervention following primary endovascular treatment of iliac artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: Predictive models for reintervention may guide clinicians to optimize selection, education, and follow-up of patients undergoing endovascular iliac revascularization. Although the impact of lesion- and device-related characteristics on iliac restenosis and reintervention risk is well-defined, data on patient-specific risk factors are scarce and conflicting. This study aimed to explore the value of patient-related factors in predicting the need for clinically driven target-vessel revascularization (CD-TVR) in patients undergoing primary endovascular treatment of iliac artery disease. METHODS: Consecutively enrolled patients undergoing endovascular revascularization for symptomatic iliac artery disease at a tertiary vascular referral center between January 2008 and June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Primary and secondary outcomes were CD-TVR occurrence within 24 months and time to CD-TVR, respectively. Patients who died or did not require CD-TVR within 24 months were censored at the date of death or at 730 days, respectively. Multiple imputation was used to account for missing data in primary analyses. RESULTS: A total of 1538 iliac interventions were performed in 1113 patients (26% females; 68 years). CD-TVR occurred in 108 limbs (74 patients; 7.0%) with a median time to CD-TVR of 246 days. On multivariable analysis, increasing age was associated with lower likelihood of CD-TVR (odds ratio [OR], 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.50-0.83; P = .001) and decreased risk of CD-TVR at any given time (hazard ratio [HR], 0.66; 95% CI, 0.52-0.84; P = .001). Similarly, a lower likelihood of CD-TVR (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.59-0.95; P = .017) and decreased risk of CD-TVR at any given time (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.58-0.93; P = .009) were observed with higher glomerular filtration rates. Lastly, revascularization of common vs external iliac artery disease was associated with lower likelihood of CD-TVR (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.24-0.93; P = .030) and decreased risk of CD-TVR at any given time (HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.25-0.92; P = .027). No associations were observed between traditional cardiovascular risk factors (sex, hypertension, higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, higher hemoglobin A1c, smoking) and CD-TVR. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective cohort study, younger age, impaired kidney function, and external iliac artery disease were associated with CD-TVR. Traditional markers of cardiovascular risk were not seen to predict reintervention.

Aortic endarterectomy in patients with severe multivessel paravisceral and aortoiliac occlusive disease.

OBJECTIVE: Aortic endarterectomy (AE), once a treatment of choice for aortoiliac occlusive disease, is now rarely performed in favor of endovascular procedures or open aortobifemoral bypass. However, in select patients with paravisceral or aortoiliac occlusive disease, AE remains a viable alternative for revascularization, either as a primary procedure or after prior interventions have failed. Here, we evaluated outcomes for an extended series of patients undergoing paravisceral or aortoiliac endarterectomy, demonstrating that these procedures can be an excellent alternative with acceptable morbidity and mortality in properly selected patients. METHODS: A single institution retrospective review of 20 patients who underwent AE from 2017 to 2023 was performed. RESULTS: Five patients (25%) underwent paravisceral endarterectomy and 15 (75%) underwent aortoiliac endarterectomy. There were no perioperative mortalities. One paravisceral patient died 3 months postoperatively from complications of pneumonia. Three patients in the paravisceral group required reinterventions; one acutely due to thrombosis of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) requiring extension of the endarterectomy and patch angioplasty on postoperative day 0, one due to stenosis at the distal edge of the endarterectomy 1 month postoperatively, successfully treated with SMA stenting, and one at 10-month follow-up due to SMA stenosis at the distal aspect of the endarterectomy, also successfully treated with SMA stenting. With these reinterventions, the 1-year primary patency in the paravisceral group was 40%, primary-assisted patency was 80%, and secondary patency was 100%. In the aortoiliac group, 1-year primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency were 91%, 91%, and 100%, respectively. One patient developed iliac thrombosis 10 days postoperatively owing to an intimal flap distal to the endarterectomy site. She and one other patient, a young man with an undefined hypercoagulable disorder, ultimately required neoaortoiliac reconstructions at 18 and 32 months postoperatively, respectively (the latter in the setting of stopping anticoagulation). The remaining 13 patients experienced no complications. All patients had rapid resolution of clinical symptoms, and median postoperative ankle-brachial indexes of 1.06 on the right and 1.00 on the left, representing a median improvement from preoperative ankle-brachial indexes of +0.59 on the right and +0.56 on the left (P < .01 and P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: In this series of 20 patients undergoing paravisceral and infrarenal aortoiliac endarterectomy, AE was associated with no perioperative mortality, relatively low and manageable morbidity, and excellent clinical outcomes in patients with both paravisceral and aortoiliac occlusive disease. SMA-related early reintervention was not uncommon in the paravisceral group, and attention should be given particularly to the distal endarterectomy site. AE remains a viable treatment for severe multivessel paravisceral or aortoiliac occlusive disease isolated to the aorta and common iliac arteries in select patients.

Covered endovascular reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation: A systematic review aggregated data and individual participant data meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the early and midterm efficacy and safety of covered endovascular reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation (CERAB) in the treatment of aortoiliac disease (AID). METHODS: A systematic search on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles published by August 2023 was performed. The primary end points were primary patency and secondary patency. RESULTS: Eleven retrospective case series, involving 579 patients, were incorporated in the review with 88.9% of the included lesions being categorized as Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) C or D. The pooled primary patency estimates at 12, 24 and 36 months were 94.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 89.4-99.7), 84.4% (95% CI, 72.3-98.5) and 83.8% (95% CI, 71.4-98.3) respectively. The mean primary patency time, representing the period during which individuals remained event-free, was 51.9 months (95% CI, 43.6-55.4). The pooled 36 months primary patency for studies with a predominantly claudicant patient population (>75% of patients) was 89.4% (95% CI, 78.5-100.0), compared with 71.5% (95% CI, 45.6-100.0) for studies with a mixed population (50% of patients). The pooled 36 months primary patency for studies with a predominantly TASC D patient population (>82% of patients) was 70.4% (95% CI, 46.4-100.0) compared with 91.0% (95% CI, 79.1-100.0) for studies with a more homogenous cohort. The pooled secondary patency estimates at 12, 24, and 36 months were 98.6% (95% CI, 96.2-100.0), 97% (95% CI, 93.1-100.0), and 97% (95% CI, 93.1-100.0), respectively. The pooled technical success, 30-day mortality and 30-day systemic complications estimates were 95.9% (95% CI, 93.7- 97.4), 1.9% (95% CI, 1.0-3.5), and 6.4% (95% CI, 4.4-9.1), respectively. The pooled intraoperative and postoperative 30-day CERAB-related complications estimates were 7.3% (95% CI, 2.0-23.0) and 4.2% (95% CI, 0.7-21.0), respectively. The pooled major amputation and target lesion reinterventions by the end of follow-up were 1.9% (95% CI, 1.0-3.4) and 13.9% (95% CI, 9.9-19.2), respectively. The pooled access site complication estimate was 11.7% (95% CI, 5.9-21.7). CONCLUSIONS: Although this review has showcased the safety and feasibility of the CERAB technique in treating AID, it has also highlighted the necessity for a close and prolonged follow-up period extending beyond 1 year. Moreover, the favorable secondary patency estimates predominantly attained via endovascular reinterventions emphasize a potentially advantageous characteristic of the CERAB technique, particularly valuable when addressing late-stage AID disease or anatomically complex lesions.

Role of intravascular ultrasound for the technical assessment of endovascular reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) for the technical assessment of kissing stents (KSs) and covered endovascular reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation (CERAB) in the treatment of aortoiliac obstructive disease involving the aortic bifurcation. METHODS: We conducted a single-center retrospective review of patients undergoing endovascular treatment of severe aorto-iliac obstructive disease (2019-2023). IVUS was performed in patients treated by KSs or CERAB according to preoperative indications, in cases of moderate/severe calcifications, mural thrombus, total occlusions, and lesion extension towards the proximity of renal or hypogastric arteries. Indications for IVUS-guided intraoperative revisions were residual stenosis or compression >30%, incomplete stent-to-wall apposition, or flow-limiting dissection at the landing site. Follow-up assessment was performed at 6 and 12 months, and then yearly. Thirty-day outcomes and 2-year patency rates were evaluated. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with significant technical defects detected by IVUS needing intraoperative revision. RESULTS: IVUS was used for the technical assessment of 102 patients treated by KSs (n = 57; 56%) or CERAB (n = 45; 44%) presenting with severe intermittent claudication (39%), rest pain (39%), or ischemic tissue loss (25%). Twenty-nine significant technical defects were identified by IVUS in 25 patients (25%) who then had successful intraoperative correction by additional ballooning (n = 23; 80%) or stenting (n = 6; 20%). Patients with a severely calcified chronic total occlusion (odds ratio, 1.85; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-5.27; P = .044) or severely calcified narrow aortic bifurcation with <12 mm diameter (odds ratio, 2.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-8.64; P = .032) were at increased risk for IVUS-guided intraoperative revision. There were no postoperative deaths and no major adverse events. Two-year primary patency was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: IVUS was used for the technical assessment of KSs/CERAB in a selected cohort of patients with severe aorto-iliac obstructive disease. This allowed the identification and intraoperative correction of a significant technical defect not detected by completion angiogram in one-quarter of patients, achieving optimal 2-year results. IVUS assessment of KSs/CERAB may be considered especially in patients with a calcified total occlusion or narrow aortic bifurcation.

Long-term outcomes of staged iliofemoral endoconduits prior to complex endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: Adverse iliofemoral anatomy may preclude complex endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). In our practice, staged iliofemoral endoconduits (ECs) are planned prior to complex EVAR to improve vascular access and decrease operative time while allowing the stented vessel to heal. This study describes the long-term results of iliofemoral ECs prior to complex EVAR. METHODS: Between 2012 and 2023, 59 patients (44% male; median age, 75 ± 6 years) underwent ECs before complex EVAR using self-expanding covered stents (Viabahn). For common femoral artery (CFA) disease, ECs were delivered percutaneously from contralateral femoral access and extended into the CFA to preserve the future access site for stent graft delivery. Internal iliac artery patency was maintained when feasible. During complex EVAR, the EC extended into the CFA was directly accessed and sequentially dilated until it could accommodate the endograft. Technical success was defined as successful access, closure, and delivery of the endograft during complex EVAR. Endpoints were vascular injury or EC disruption, secondary interventions, and EC patency. RESULTS: Unilateral EC was performed in 45 patients (76%). ECs were extended into the CFA in 21 patients (35%). Median diameters of the native common iliac, external iliac, and CFA were 7 mm (interquartile range [IQR], 6-8 mm), 6 mm (IQR, 5-7 mm), and 6 mm (IQR, 6-7 mm), respectively. Internal iliac artery was inadvertently excluded in 10 patients (17%). Six patients (10%) had an intraoperative vascular injury during the EC procedure, and six patients (10%) had EC disruption during complex EVAR, including five EC collapses requiring re-stenting and one EC fracture requiring open cut-down and reconstruction with patch angioplasty. In 23 patients (39%), 22 Fr OD devices were used; 20 Fr were used in 22 patients (37%), and 18 Fr in 14 patients (24%). Technical success for accessing EC was 89%. There was no difference in major adverse events at 30 days between the iliac ECs and iliofemoral ECs. Primary patency by Kaplan-Meier estimates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 97.5%, 89%, and 82%, respectively. There was no difference in primary patency between iliac and iliofemoral ECs. Six secondary interventions (10%) were required. The mean follow-up was 34 ± 27 months; no limb loss or amputations occurred during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: ECs improve vascular access, and their use prior to complex EVAR is associated with low rates of vascular injury, high technical success, and optimal long-term patency. Complex EVAR procedures can be performed percutaneously by accessing the EC directly under ultrasound guidance and using sequential dilation to avoid EC disruption.

Comparative outcomes of aortobifemoral bypass with or without previous endovascular kissing stenting of the aortoiliac bifurcation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this multicenter national study was to compare the outcomes of primary open surgery by aorto-bifemoral bypass (ABFB) with those performed after a failed endovascular treatment (EVT) by kissing stent technique for complex aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) lesions (TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus [TASC] II C and D). METHODS: All consecutive ABFB cases carried out at 12 vascular surgery centers between 2016 and 2021 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Data included patients' baseline demographics and clinical characteristics, procedural details, perioperative outcomes, and follow-up results (survival, patency, amputation). The study cohort was divided into two groups based on indications for ABFB: primary treatment vs secondary treatment after EVT failure. RESULTS: Overall, 329 patients underwent ABFB during the study period (71% males; mean age, 64 years), of which 285 were primary treatment and 44 were after prior EVT. At baseline, no significant differences were found between study groups in demographics and clinical characteristics. TASC C and D lesions were similarly represented in the study groups (TASC C: 22% vs 78%; TASC D: 16% vs 84%). No major differences were found between study groups in terms of procedural details, early mortality, and perioperative complications. At 5 years, primary patency rates were significantly higher for primary ABFB (88%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 93.2%-84%) as compared with ABFB after prior EVT (69%; 95% CI 84.9%-55%; log rank P value < .001); however, the 5-year rates of secondary patency (100% vs 95%; 95% CI, 100%-86%) and limb salvage (97%; 95% CI, 99%-96 vs 97%; 95% CI, 100%-94%) were similar between study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of TASC C/D AIOD with ABFB seems to be equally safe and effective when performed after prior EVT, although primary ABFB seemed to have higher primary patency rates. Despite the need for more frequent reinterventions, secondary patency and limb salvage rates were similar. However, future large prospective trials are required to confirm these findings.

Aortobifemoral bypass vs covered endovascular reconstruction of aortic bifurcation.

BACKGROUND: Covered endovascular reconstruction of aortic bifurcation (CERAB) is increasingly used as a first line-treatment in patients with aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD). We sought to compare the outcomes of patients who underwent CERAB compared with the gold standard of aortobifemoral bypass (ABF). METHODS: The Vascular Quality Initiative was queried for patients who underwent ABF or CERAB from 2009 to 2021. Propensity scores were generated using demographics, comorbidities, Rutherford class, and urgency. The two groups were matched using 5-to-1 nearest-neighbor match. Our primary outcomes were 1-year estimates of primary patency, major adverse limb events (MALEs), MALE-free survival, reintervention-free survival, and amputation-free survival. Standard statistical methods were used. RESULTS: A total of 3944 ABF and 281 CERAB cases were identified. Of all patients with AIOD, the proportion of CERAB increased from 0% to 17.9% between 2009 and 2021. Compared with ABF, patients who underwent CERAB were more likely to be older (64.7 vs 60.2; P < .001) and more often had diabetes (40.9% vs 24.1%; P < .001) and end-stage renal disease (1.1% vs 0.3%; P = .03). In the matched analysis (229 CERAB vs 929 ABF), ABF patients had improved MALE-free survival (93.2% [±0.9%] vs 83.2% [±3%]; P < .001) and lower rates of MALE (5.2% [±0.9%] vs 14.1% [±3%]; P < .001), with comparable primary patency rates (98.3% [±0.3%] vs 96.6% [±1%]; P = .6) and amputation-free survival (99.3% [±0.3%] vs 99.4% [±0.6%]; P = .9). Patients in the CERAB group had significantly lower reintervention-free survival (62.5% [±6%] vs 92.9% [±0.9%]; P < .001). Matched analysis also revealed shorter length of stay (1 vs 7 days; P < .001), as well as lower pulmonary (1.2% vs 6.6%; P = .01), renal (1.8% vs 10%; P < .001), and cardiac (1.8% vs 12.8%; P < .001) complications among CERAB patients. CONCLUSIONS: CERAB had lower perioperative morbidity compared with ABF with a similar primary patency 1-year estimates. However, patients who underwent CERAB experienced more major adverse limb events and reinterventions. Although CERAB is an effective treatment for patients with AIOD, further studies are needed to determine the long-term outcomes of CERAB compared with the established durability of ABF and further define the role of CEARB in the treatment of AIOD.

Kidney transplantation using ipsilateral arterial and contralateral venous anastomosis in a patient with failing vascular access.

Herein, we describe our surgical technique and outcome of a kidney transplant in a patient with failing vascular access. A right donor kidney was transplanted into the right iliac fossa with an end-to-side arterial anastomosis to the ipsilateral right common iliac artery and end-to-side venous anastomosis to the contralateral left common iliac vein. The possibility of performing an ipsilateral arterial and contralateral venous anastomosis has been shown here to be successful. No post-operative surgical complications were encountered.

Editor's Choice - Development and Testing of Step, Error, and Event Frameworks to Evaluate Technical Performance in Peripheral Endovascular Interventions.

OBJECTIVE: Tools for endovascular performance assessment are necessary in competency based education. This study aimed to develop and test a detailed analysis tool to assess steps, errors, and events in peripheral endovascular interventions (PVI). METHODS: A modified Delphi consensus was used to identify steps, errors, and events in iliac-femoral-popliteal endovascular interventions. International experts in vascular surgery, interventional radiology, cardiology, and angiology were identified, based on their scientific track record. In an initial open ended survey round, experts volunteered a comprehensive list of steps, errors, and events. The items were then rated on a five point Likert scale until consensus was reached with a pre-defined threshold (Cronbach's alpha > 0.7) and > 70% expert agreement. An experienced endovascular surgeon applied the finalised frameworks on 10 previously videorecorded elective PVI cases. RESULTS: The expert consensus panel was formed by 28 of 98 invited proceduralists, consisting of three angiologists, seven interventional radiologists, five cardiologists, and 13 vascular surgeons, with 29% from North America and 71% from Europe. The Delphi process was completed after three rounds (Cronbach's alpha; αsteps = 0.79; αerrors = 0.90; αevents = 0.90), with 15, 26, and 18 items included in the final step (73 - 100% agreement), error (73 - 100% agreement), and event (73 - 100% agreement) frameworks, respectively. The median rating time per case was 4.3 hours (interquartile range [IQR] 3.2, 5 hours). A median of 55 steps (IQR 40, 67), 27 errors (IQR 21, 49), and two events (IQR 1, 6) were identified per case. CONCLUSION: An evaluation tool for the procedural steps, errors, and events in iliac-femoral-popliteal endovascular procedures was developed through a modified Delphi consensus and applied to recorded intra-operative data to identify hazardous steps, common errors, and events. Procedural mastery may be promoted by using the frameworks to provide endovascular proceduralists with detailed technical performance feedback.

Dilated Internal Iliac Artery Confers a Higher Risk of Endoleak in Iliac Branch Devices in a Single Centre Retrospective Experience.

OBJECTIVE: Iliac branch devices (IBDs) have shown good results but there is little evidence for the risk of internal iliac artery (IIA) endoleak, so there are no clear recommendations on the maximum diameter it should be. Based on limited evidence, it was hypothesised that an IIA of ≥ 11 mm in diameter presents an increased risk of type Ic endoleak. METHODS: This was a single centre, retrospective case control study. Patients undergoing an IBD with the main trunk of the IIA as the target vessel, between 2015 and 2021, were identified. Two groups were created: those with a main trunk diameter of < 11 mm; and those with a diameter of ≥ 11 mm. Technical success, freedom from type Ic endoleak, and re-intervention rates were compared. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to show a cutoff IIA diameter value for risk of type Ic endoleak. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess the risk of type Ic endoleak and the presence of calcification, stenosis, and landing zone length in the IIA. RESULTS: There were 182 IBDs identified. The dilated IIA group (54 IBDs) had significantly lower technical success (91% vs. 98.4%; p = .002), lower freedom from type Ic endoleak (77% vs. 97.1% at 24 months; p = .001), and lower freedom from re-interventions (70% vs. 92.4% at 24 months; p = .002). The ROC curve showed that 10.5 mm was the cutoff diameter for type Ic endoleak. Moderate or severe calcification as well as landing zone length < 5 mm also correlated with type Ic endoleak. CONCLUSION: IBDs have a statistically significantly higher rate of technical failure, lower freedom from type Ic endoleak, and lower freedom from re-intervention when the IIA is ≥ 11 mm in diameter.

Long-term outcome of percutaneous endovascular stenting in external iliac artery endofibrosis.

BACKGROUND: External iliac artery endofibrosis (EIAE) is a rare vascular disease which has been traditionally seen in avid cyclists. The conventional approach has been surgery, although no high-quality evidence suggests superiority of surgery over percutaneous endovascular intervention. There are limited data on the efficacy of stenting in EIAE. METHODS: Over a 14-year period, we treated 10 patients (13 limbs) with EIAE with stents. These patients had declined surgery. The mean follow up was 8.4 ± 3.3 years. There were eight women. Five patients were competitive runners, three were cyclists, and two were triathletes. The mean age was 40.7 ± 2.9 years and body mass index was 19.46 ± 1.6. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was used in eight limbs. RESULTS: Procedural success was achieved in all. The recurrence of symptoms occurred in three patients at a mean of 9.3 ± 2.1 months postindex intervention. The other seven patients remained symptom free. IVUS revealed a pathognomonic finding which we termed 'perfect circle appearance'. It results from symmetric or asymmetric hypertrophy of one or more layers of the arterial wall leading to negative remodeling, which creates a distinct echo dense structure contrasting itself from the luminal blood's echoluscent appearance. It is identical to IVUS images of diffuse venous stenosis with important implications in the treatment technique. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that stenting in EIAE is safe and effective with a good long-term outcome. It can be an alternative to surgery, particularly in those patients who refuse a surgical approach. The IVUS image is pathognomonic and 'sine qua non' of EIAE.

Medium-Term Outcomes of Treatment with a VIABAHN VBX Covered Stent for Aortoiliac Occlusive Lesions in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular treatment (EVT) for aortoiliac (AI) occlusive lesions is now conducted worldwide, but there are challenges in EVT for complex AI lesions. The VIABAHN VBX (W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ) is a next-generation balloon-expandable covered stent designed for use with complex AI lesions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the medium-term outcomes of VIABAHN VBX for such lesions. METHODS: Symptomatic patients who underwent EVT with VIABAHN VBX for an AI lesion from 2018 to 2020 at 7 Japanese centers were reviewed retrospectively. The primary endpoints were primary patency and freedom from target lesion revascularization (TLR). RESULTS: A total of 95 EVT procedures with VIABAHN VBX for AI occlusive lesions were performed in 71 patients. The patients had high rates of dyslipidemia (53%) and chronic kidney disease (61%), and 22% had chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). The Transatlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC Ⅱ) class was A in 12 patients (17%), B in 12 (17%), C in 10 (14%), and D in 37 (52%). Severe calcification (360°) of the treated lesion was present in 31 patients (33%). The median procedure time was 84 (49-158) min, with a technical success rate of 100%. The median follow-up period was 36 (32-43) months. The 3-year primary and secondary patency of VIABAHN VBX were 91% and 99%, the 3-year freedom from TLR was 92%, and the 3-year freedom from major adverse limb event (MALE) was 98%. No limbs required major amputation. Lesion severity (TASC Ⅱ C or D) and severe calcification did not affect the primary patency or freedom from TLR. CONCLUSIONS: Medium-term outcomes after EVT with VIABAHN VBX for AI lesions were acceptable regardless of lesion severity and calcification. These results suggest that VIABAHN VBX may be suitable for AI occlusive lesions with severe anatomical complexity and/or severe calcification.

Long-Term Outcomes of Anatomical and Extra-Anatomical Bypass for the Treatment of Unilateral Iliac Artery Lesions a Systematic Review Aggregated Data and Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the long-term safety and efficacy of anatomical and extra-anatomical bypass for the treatment of unilateral iliac artery disease. METHODS: A systematic search on PubMed, Scopus and Web of science for articles published by June 2023 was performed. We implemented a 2-stage individual participant data meta-analysis and pooled survival probabilities using the multivariate methodology of DerSimonian and Laird. The primary endpoint was primary patency at 5 and 10 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Ten studies encompassing 1,907 patients were included. The 5- and 10-year pooled patency rates for anatomical bypass were 83.27% (95% confidence interval (CI): 69.99-99.07) and 77.30% (95% CI: 60.32-99.04), respectively, with a mean primary patency time representing the duration individuals remained event-free for 10.08 years (95% CI: 8.05-10.97). The 5- and 10-year pooled primary patency estimates for extra-anatomical bypass were 77.02% (95% CI: 66.79-88.80) and 68.54% (95% CI: 53.32-88.09), respectively, with a mean primary patency time of 9.25 years, (95% CI: 7.21-9.68). Upon 2-stage individual participant data meta-analysis, anatomical bypass displayed a decreased risk for loss of primary patency compared to extra-anatomical bypass, hazard ratio 0.51 (95% CI: 0.30-0.85). The 5- and 10-year secondary patency estimates for anatomical bypass were 96.83% (95% CI: 90.28-100) and 96.13% (95% CI: 88.72-100), respectively. The 5- and 10-year secondary patency estimates for extra-anatomical bypass were 91.39% (95% CI: 84.32-99.04) and 85.05% (95% CI: 74.43-97.18), respectively, with non-statistically significant difference between the 2 groups. The 5- and 10-year survival for patients undergoing anatomical bypass were 67.99% (95% CI: 53.84-85.85) and 41.09% (95% CI: 25.36-66.57), respectively. The 5- and 10-year survival for extra-anatomical bypass were 70.67% (95% CI: 56.76-87.98) and 34.85% (95% CI: 19.76-61.44), respectively. The mean survival time was 6.92 years (95% CI: 5.56-7.89) for the anatomical and 6.78 years (95% CI: 5.31-7.63) for the extra-anatomical groups. The pooled overall 30-day mortality was 2.32% (95% CI: 1.12-3.87) with metaregression analysis displaying a negative association between the year of publication and mortality (ß =-0.0065, P < 0.01). Further analysis displayed a 30-day mortality of 1.29% (95% CI: 0.56-2.26) versus 4.02% (95% CI: 1.78-7.03), (P = 0.02) for studies published after and before the year 2000. Non-statistically significant differences were identified between the 2 groups concerning long-term and 30-day mortality outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: While we have demonstrated favorable long-term primary and secondary patency outcomes for both surgical techniques, anatomical bypass exhibited a reduced risk of primary patency loss potentially reflecting its inherent capacity to circumvent the anticipated disease progression in the distal aorta and the contralateral donor artery. The reduction in perioperative mortality observed in our review, coupled with the anachronistic demographic characteristics and inclusion criteria presented in the existing literature, underscores the imperative necessity for contemporary research.

Safety and Efficacy of Stent-Graft in the Treatment of Aortoiliac Artery Occlusive Disease: A Multicenter Study of Short-Term and Medium-Term Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the short-term and mid-term safety and efficacy of stent-graft compared with bare stents for treatment of aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD). METHODS: One hundred eighty three patients diagnosed with AIOD who received stent implantation at 3 vascular centers in north China between January 2019 and December 2021 were enrolled. Patients were divided into those undergoing stent-graft (Group A; n = 67) or bare stent (Group B; n = 116) implantation for retrospective cohort analysis. Efficacy was assessed as surgical success rate and rate of freedom from clinically driven target lesion reintervention at each follow-up time point. Safety was assessed by the rate of perioperative complication, major limb amputation, and aortoiliac artery-related mortality. RESULTS: There were no preoperative baseline differences between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The surgical success was 91.04% for Group A, significantly higher than that for Group B (79.31%; P < 0.05). Incidence of perioperative complications was 2.98% for Group A, significantly lower than that for Group B (9.48%, P < 0.05), as was the rate of major limb amputation (A: 1.49% vs. B: 5.17%) and aortoiliac artery-related mortality (A: 1.49% vs. B: 4.31%), although these 2 indicators were not significantly different (P > 0.05). Follow-up rates were 91.8% for the total follow-up time of 3 years. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis gave significantly higher 1-year and 2-year freedom from clinically driven target lesion reintervention for Group A (98.51% and 95.52%) than for Group B (95.69% and 89.66%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Stent-graft is more effective and safer than bare stent in the treatment of AIOD.

Treatment of Aorto-iliac and Infrainguinal Vascular Infections with a Prefabricated Bovine Pericardial Graft.

BACKGROUND: The use of biological grafts provides acceptable mid- and long-term results in native or prosthetic vascular infections. Several reports describe the successful use of bovine pericardium in case of vascular infections, mainly as a large patch to be sutured as a tubular graft. Recently, a novel prefabricated bovine pericardium graft (Biointegral Surgical No-React® Inc, Mississauga, ON, Canada) has been introduced in clinical practice with promising results. In this study, we report our preliminary experience utilizing Biointegral Surgical graft in case of native and or prosthetic aorto-iliac and infrainguinal infection. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from 20 patients with native or prosthetic aorto-iliac and infrainguinal infection who underwent in situ reconstruction (ISR) with a Biointegral Surgical No-React bovine pericardium prosthesis between October 2020 and February 2023 at the Vascular Surgery Unit of the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Gemelli - IRCCS in Rome, Italy. All patients followed a standardized protocol including postoperative anticoagulation and long-term intravenous antibiotics. RESULTS: The indication for surgery was: mycotic aortic aneurysm in 4 patients (20%), graft infection after abdominal aortic repair in 11 patients (55%), peripheral graft infection in 5 patients (25%). Complete excision of the infected aorta or prosthetic graft, surgical debridement and ISR were performed in all patients. Hospital mortality rate was 5% (n = 1) and graft-related mortality of 0%. During follow-up (median 13 months, range 6-34 months), reinfection was 5.2% and primary graft patency 94.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The use of prefabricated bovine pericardial grafts represents a promising option for the treatment of native and prosthetic aorto-iliac and infrainguinal infections. The application of this biological graft with a standardized postoperative protocol has been associated with a satisfactory patency and reinfection rate without increased bleeding complications.

Treatment of Aortoiliac Occlusive Lesions by Aortic Robotic Surgery: Learning Curve and Midterm Outcome.

BACKGROUD: The learning curve and midterm results of aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) revascularization by robot-assisted laparoscopic (RAL) surgery may be known. METHODS: A prospective single-center study was conducted in the vascular surgery department of Georges Pompidou European Hospital (Paris, France). Patients with AIOD treated by RAL from February 2014 to February 2019 were included. Demographic characteristics, past medical history, Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) lesions classifications, mortality, primary and secondary patency, as well as complication rates were collected. Safety was analyzed by the cumulative sum control chart method with a conversion rate of 10%, operative time by cumulative average-time model, and primary and secondary patency by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Seventy patients were included, 18 (25.7%) with TASC C lesions and 52 (74.3%) with TASC D lesions. Before discharge, 14 (24.3%) patients had surgical complications. Among them, 10 (14.3%) required at least one reintervention. One (1.4%) patient died during the hospitalization. The learning curve in terms of safety (conversion rate) was 13 cases with an operating time of 220 minutes after 35 patients. During follow-up (median 37 months [21; 49]), 63 patients (91.3%) improved their symptoms, 53 (76.8%) became asymptomatic, and 3 graft limb occlusions occurred. The primary patency at 12, 24, 36, and 48 months was 94%, 92%, 92%, and 92%, respectively, while the secondary patency for the same intervals was 100%, 98.1%, 98.1%, and 98.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic surgery in AIOD revascularization seems safe and effective; allowing to treat patients with few comorbidities and severe lesions, in a dedicated center experienced in RAL, with excellent patency. Prospective clinical trials should be performed to confirm safety.

Comparative Analysis of Outcomes of Unibody Endoprosthesis and Aortobifemoral Bypass for Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease.

BACKGROUND: Aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) has traditionally been treated with aortobifemoral bypass (ABF). Unibody endograft (UBE) for AIOD, however, has been increasingly utilized in selected patients. We report outcomes of patients undergoing ABF or UBE for AIOD. METHODS: Patients (2016-2021) undergoing elective ABF or UBE with a unibody device for AIOD were identified at an academic institution. Chi-square and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to evaluate outcomes by group. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-one patients undergoing UBE or ABF were screened, with 82 included. Twenty-one patients underwent UBE (25.6%) and 61 (74.4%) underwent ABF. UBE patients were older (63.8 vs. 58.2 years; P = 0.01), with a higher prevalence of diabetes (52.4 vs. 19.7%; P = 0.004). Significant differences were seen between UBE and ABF including a shorter surgery length (214 vs. 360 min; P = 0.0001), less blood loss (300 vs. 620 mls; P = 0.001), larger minimum aortic diameter (14.6 vs. 12.6; P = 0.0006), larger common iliac artery (9.5 vs. 7.9; P = 0.005) and lower postoperative ankle-brachial index (0.8 vs. 0.9; P = 0.04). There were no differences in TASC C/D iliac lesions in the UBE than ABF group (66.6% vs. 63.9%; P < 0.82) or Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus classification femoropopliteal lesions. Unadjusted analysis revealed no significant differences between UBE and ABF for 30-day mortality (0 vs. 1.6%; P = 1), stroke (0 vs. 3.3%; P = 1), or major adverse cardiac events (4.8 vs. 4.9%; P = 1). There were no significant differences in mid-term surgical outcomes over a mean follow-up period of 23.7 months between UBE and ABF groups; specifically endovascular (0 vs. 8.2%; P = 0.3) or open/hybrid reintervention (9.5 vs. 14.8%; P = 0.7) with similar limb occlusion (4.8 vs. 27.8; P = 0.12). Kaplan-Meier estimated primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency at 36 months were similar with 94%, 100%, and 94% for UBE and 86%, 95%, and 86% for ABF, respectively. Estimated survival at 36 months was 95% for UBE and 97% for ABF (P = 0.8). CONCLUSIONS: Equivalent outcomes were seen between AIOD treated with UBE or ABF in similar patient populations. Mid-term outcomes such as reintervention and patency are similar for UBE and ABF. We still recommend ABF over UBE as a primary modality of treatment in surgically fit patients with greater complexity aortoiliac lesions and with smaller arterial diameters, especially women.

Changes in the Remaining Iliac Artery According to Retrograde Flow after Aorto-Femoral Bypass in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Considering a patient's anatomy and vascular conditions, aorto-femoral bypass is a treatment approach for the open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. This study aimed at evaluating changes in the remnant iliac artery and their correlation with the preservation state of retrograde flow from femoral anastomosis. METHODS: Of 221 patients who underwent abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery between 2007 and 2022 in Pusan National University Hospital, 29 patients who underwent aorto-femoral bypass were included in this retrospective cohort study. Of these patients, 21 underwent aortobifemoral bypass and 8 underwent aortoiliac-and-femoral bypass. The change in size of the iliac artery from preoperative to postoperative and whether this difference in size depended on the status of postoperative retrograde flow were investigated. Additionally, factors affecting overall mortality and ischemic complications were identified. RESULTS: The median duration from operation to the last follow-up was 2069.5 days (about 5.7 years). The average age of the patients was 78.1 years, and the proportion of males was 75.9%. In cases of disappearance of postoperative retrograde flow from the femoral anastomosis, the postoperative iliac artery size was significantly reduced compared to its preoperative size (18.4 ± 18.9 mm vs. 13.2 ± 7.9 mm, respectively; P = 0.04). The group with maintained retrograde flow had significantly larger residual common iliac artery size than the group with disappearance of flow. (20.0 ± 28.0 mm vs. 14.6 ± 8.5 mm, respectively; P = 0.02). Disappearance of retrograde flow was a significant factor in the iliac artery size reduction after surgery (odds ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.9-5.3; P = 0.02). Three patients with maintained retrograde flow (18.8%) required intervention owing to an increase in the size of the iliac artery. The factors that significantly influenced overall death as analyzed by Cox proportional hazard regression were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (hazard ratio, 36.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-870.0; P = 0.03), peripheral arterial occlusive disease (hazard ratio, 12.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-115.8; P = 0.02), and disappearance of retrograde flow (hazard ratio, 8.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-63.9; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Among the open repair methods for abdominal aortic aneurysms, if retrograde flow was not maintained through femoral anastomosis when aorto-femoral bypass was performed, the size of the remaining iliac artery decreased. However, loss of retrograde flow increased long-term mortality. When aorto-femoral bypass is performed, regular imaging follow-up is necessary at appropriate intervals to check the remnant iliac artery and retrograde flow.

Prophylactic common iliac artery temporary clamping versus balloon occlusion for management of placenta accreta spectrum disorders: A prospective clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to compare prophylactic common iliac artery (CIA) temporary clamping and preoperative balloon occlusion for managing placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders. STUDY DESIGN: Between January 2019 and June 2020, 46 patients with PAS disorders were included. Of them, 26 patients were offered CIA balloon occlusion (Group A), while temporary CIA clamping was done for the other 20 patients (Group B). Primary outcomes were procedure-related complications, and secondary outcomes included intraoperative and postoperative complications, reoperation rates, total procedure time, blood loss, and amount of blood transfusion. RESULTS: Blood loss was statistically non-significant higher in group B than in group A (p-value = 0.143). Only one patient in group A and three in group B needed reoperation. The bleeding continued for a mean of 1.6 days in group A and 1.7 days in group B, with non-significant statistical differences between both groups p value = 0.71. Nine patients in group A (34.6%) and four in group B (20%) required ICU admission. The mean Apgar score was 7 and 6.6 in babies of group A and group B patients, respectively. The median number of allogeneic blood transfusions performed was two in patients in group A and 1 in group B (p-value = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Both techniques offer good choices for patients with PAS to decrease mortality and morbidity rates. The selection of a better technique depends on institutional references and physicians' experience.

High-frequency ultrasound-assisted perforator mapping enhances efficiency in microsurgical reconstruction using thin ALT and SCIP flaps.

BACKGROUND: With the growing demand for the use of thin perforator flaps, obtaining knowledge on the superficial anatomy of perforators is imperative for stable flap elevation. Conventional modalities for perforator mapping fall short in providing such information. High-frequency ultrasound (HFUS), known for visualizing the superficially located anatomic structures, may potentially fill this void. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of HFUS in the outcome of anterolateral thigh (ALT) and superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP) flap-based reconstructions. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent free ALT or SCIP flap-based reconstruction from January 2021 to November 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Perforator mapping was conducted using a handheld Doppler during the first year, while HFUS was used in the latter part. The two techniques were compared in terms of flap harvesting time and perfusion-related complication rates while considering the flap elevation plane. RESULTS: In total, 123 cases were analyzed, including 82 ALT flaps (41 in each group) and 41 SCIP flaps (16 in the Doppler and 25 in the HFUS group). The time required for flap elevation exhibited a tendency to decrease in the HFUS group, with a significant difference observed in cases involving thin flap elevation (super-thin ALT flaps and pure-skin-perforator SCIP flaps). Compared with the Doppler group, the HFUS group demonstrated significantly lower rates of PRCs, particularly partial flap necrosis. This difference remained significant in multivariable analyses. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that HFUS might be an appealing modality for perforator mapping in cases requiring thin ALT and SCIP flap.