Randomized clinical trial of mechanochemical and endovenous thermal ablation of great saphenous varicose veins.

BACKGROUND: A variety of minimally invasive techniques are available for the treatment of varicose great saphenous vein (GSVs). Non-tumescent, non-thermal ablation methods have been developed. This study compared mechanochemical ablation (MOCA), a non-tumescent, non-thermal ablation technique, with two endovenous thermal ablation methods requiring tumescence in an RCT. METHODS: Patients with GSV reflux were randomized to undergo MOCA, or thermal ablation with endovenous laser (EVLA) or radiofrequency (RFA). The primary outcome measure was the occlusion rate of the GSV at 1 year. RESULTS: The study finally included 125 patients, of whom 117 (93·6 per cent) attended 1-year follow-up. At 1 year, the treated part of the GSV was fully occluded in all patients in the EVLA and RFA groups, and in 45 of 55 in the MOCA group (occlusion rates 100, 100 and 82 per cent respectively; P = 0·002). The preoperative GSV diameter was associated with the recanalization rate of the proximal GSV in the MOCA group. At 1 year after treatment, disease-specific life quality was similar in the three groups. CONCLUSION: The GSV occlusion rate 1 year after treatment was significantly higher after EVLA and RFA than after MOCA. Quality of life was similar between interventions. Registration number: NCT03722134 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Editor's Choice - Treatment of Aortic Prosthesis Infections by Graft Removal and In Situ Replacement with Autologous Femoral Veins and Fascial Strengthening.

INTRODUCTION: Aortic prosthetic graft infection (AGI) is a major challenge in vascular surgery. Eradicating the infection requires prosthetic material removal, debridement, and lower limb revascularization. For the past 15 years, we have used femoral veins for aorto-iliac reconstruction and tensor fascia lata to strengthen the upper anastomosis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this single institution retrospective study is to present results regarding in situ replacement of infected aortic grafts with autologous femoral veins (FVs). METHODS: From October 2000 to March 2013, patients treated for AGI with graft removal and autologous FV reconstruction at Helsinki University Hospital were included. Primary outcome measures were 30 day mortality, long-term treatment related mortality, and re-infection rate. Secondary outcome measures were long-term all cause mortality and event free survival (graft rupture, re-intervention, major amputation). RESULTS: During a 13 year period 55 patients (42 male, 13 female) were operated on using a venous neo-aorto-iliac system for AGI. The mean follow up was 32 months (1-157 months). The 30 day mortality rate was 9% (5) and overall treatment related mortality 18% (10). All cause mortality during follow up was 22 (40%) and overall Kaplan-Meier survival was 90.7% at 30 days, 81.5% at 1 year, and 59.3% at 5 years. Graft rupture occurred in three (5%) cases, two of which were caused by graft re-infection (4%). Four patients required major amputation, one of them on arrival and three (5%) during the post-operative period. Nine (16%) patients needed interventions for the vein graft, and two graft limbs occluded during follow up. CONCLUSION: In situ reconstruction for aortic graft infection with autologous FV presents acceptable rates of morbidity and mortality, and remains the treatment of choice for AGI at Helsinki University Hospital.

Pilot Assessment of the Repeatability of Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging and Correlation with Traditional Foot Perfusion Assessments.

BACKGROUND: Ankle brachial index (ABI), toe pressures (TP), and transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2) are traditionally used in the assessment of critical limb ischemia (CLI). Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging can be used to evaluate local circulation in the foot and to evaluate the severity of ischemia. This prospective study analyzed the suitability of a fluorescence imaging system (photodynamic eye [PDE]) in CLI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-one patients with CLI were included. Of the patients, 66% had diabetes and there was an ischemic tissue lesion in 70% of the limbs. ABI, toe pressures, TcPO2 and ICG-fluorescence imaging (ICG-FI) were measured in each leg. To study the repeatability of the ICG-FI, each patient underwent the study twice. After the procedure, foot circulation was measured using a time-intensity curve, where T1/2 (the time needed to achieve half of the maximum fluorescence intensity) and PDE10 (increase of the intensity during the first 10 s) were determined. A time-intensity curve was plotted using the same areas as for the TcPO2 probes (n=123). RESULTS: The mean ABI was 0.43, TP 21 mmHg, TcPO2 23 mmHg, T1/2 38 s, and PDE10 19 AU. Time-intensity curves were repeatable. In a Bland-Altman scatter plot, the 95% limits of agreement of PDE10 was 9.9 AU and the corresponding value of T1/2 was 14 s. Correlation between ABI and TP was significant (R=.73, p<.001), and it was weaker in diabetic patients (R=.47, p=.048) compared with non-diabetic patients (R=.89, p=.002). Correlations between ABI and TcPO2 and TP and TcPO2 were weak (R=.37, p=.05 and R=.43, p=.037, respectively). Correlation between TcPO2 and PDE10 was strong in diabetic patients (R=.70, p=.003). CONCLUSIONS: According to this pilot study, ICG-FI with PDE can be used in the assessment of blood supply in the ischemic foot.

Strategies for free flap transfer and revascularisation with long-term outcome in the treatment of large diabetic foot lesions.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: To analyse the impact of ischaemia and revascularisation strategies on the long-term outcome of patients undergoing free flap transfer (FFT) for large diabetic foot lesions penetrating to the tendon, bone, or joint. METHODS: Foot lesions of 63 patients with diabetes (median age 56 years; 70% male) were covered with a FTT in 1991-2003. Three groups were formed and followed until 2009: patients with a native in line artery to the ulcer area (n = 19; group A), patients with correctable ischaemia requiring vascular bypass (n = 32; group B), and patients with uncorrectable ischaemia lacking a recipient vessel in the ulcer area (n = 12; group C). RESULTS: The respective 1, 5, and 10 year amputation free survival rates were 90%, 79%, and 63% in group A; 66%, 25%, and 18% in group B; and 50%, 42%, and 17%, in group C. The respective 1, 5, and 10 year leg salvage rates were 94%, 94%, and 87% in group A; 71%, 65%, and 65% in group B; and 50%, 50%, and 50% in group C. In 1 year, 43%, 45%, and 18% of the patients in groups A, B, and C, respectively, achieved stable epithelisation for at least 6 months. The overall amputation rate was associated with smoking (relative risk [RR] 3.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8-5.3), heel ulceration (RR 2.25, 95% CI 1.1-4.7), nephropathy (RR 2.24, 95% CI 1.04-4.82), and an ulcer diameter of >10 cm (RR 2.08, 95% CI 1.03-4.48). CONCLUSION: Despite diabetic comorbidities, complicated foot defects may be covered by means of an FFT with excellent long-term amputation free survival, provided that a patent native artery feeds the ulcer area. Ischaemic limbs may also be salvaged with combined FFT and vascular reconstruction in non-smokers and in the absence of very extensive heel ulcers. Occasionally, amputation is avoidable with FFT, even without the possibility of direct revascularisation.

A two-decade experience of head and neck paragangliomas in a whole population-based single centre cohort.

Paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumours arising from neural crest-derived tissue. In the head and neck region typical locations are the carotid bifurcation, vagal nerve or jugulotympanic region. Paragangliomas are normally benign, and malignant transformation is rare. During the past decade the understanding of the genetic and molecular aetiology has had an important clinical impact on the management of PGs. This is a retrospective review of all histologically verified paragangliomas diagnosed and managed at an academic tertiary care referral centre between 1990 and 2010. Data on age, sex, symptoms, tumour location, management and follow-up were recorded. There were 64 patients with 74 tumours. Thirty-six per cent of the tumours were located in the carotid body region, 48 % in the jugulotympanic region and 15 % in the vagal nerve. One tumour was located in the dorsal neck. Most (95 %) of the patients were treated primarily with surgery and with curative intent. Definitive radiation therapy was primarily given to two patients. Recurrent or residual tumours were treated with surgery in three patients and with radiation therapy in nine patients. The typical long-term post-operative sequel was vocal cord paralysis. Local recurrence was found in 6 % of patients. Symptoms and findings related to paragangliomas are variable and management should be individualized. Surgery remains the primary choice of the current treatment options, but often is challenging and warrants a multidisciplinary approach. We present an algorithm on the management of head and neck paragangliomas based on current knowledge.

Compression therapy versus surgery in the treatment of patients with varicose veins: A RCT.

OBJECTIVE: Superficial venous reflux and varicose veins are common. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to assess effectiveness of compression therapy compared with surgery for superficial venous reflux. METHODS: 153 patients with CEAP class C2-C3 and superficial venous reflux were randomized to receive either conservative treatment (compression stockings) (n = 77) or surgery (n = 76). Clinical examination including duplex ultrasound (DUS) was performed at entry and 1 and 2 years after randomization (compression group) or surgery (surgery group). Venous Clinical Severity Score without compression stockings (VCSS-S), Venous Segmental Disease Score (VSDS), Venous Disability Score (VDS), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were assessed at entry and at the follow-ups. Data were analysed on an intention-to-treat basis and according to the actual treatment performed. RESULTS: At 2 years, 70/76 patients in the surgery group and 11/77 patients in the compression group had been operated on. VCSS-S decreased from 4.6 to 3.5 in the compression group (p < .01) and from 4.8 to 0.6 in the surgery group (p < .001). VSDS decreased from 7.7 to 7.0 in the compression group and from 8.2 to 0.9 in the surgery group (p < .0001). HRQoL did not change in the compression group, but improved significantly in the surgery group. CONCLUSION: The surgical elimination of non-complicated superficial venous reflux is an effective treatment when compared with providing compression stockings only.

Editor's choice - Safety of carotid endarterectomy after intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke: a case-controlled multicentre registry study.

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have been published on the safety of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). Registry reports have been recommended in order to gather large study groups. DESIGN: A retrospective, registry based, case controlled study on prospectively gathered data from Sweden, the capital region of Finland, and from Denmark, including 30 days of follow up. METHODS: The study group was a consecutive series of 5526 patients who had CEA for symptomatic carotid artery stenosis during a 4.5 year period. Among these, 202 (4%) had IVT prior to surgery, including 117 having CEA within 14 days, and 59 within 7 days of thrombolysis. IVT as well as CEA were performed following established guidelines. The median time from index symptom to CEA was 12 days (range 0-130, IQR 7-21). RESULTS: The 30 day combined stroke and death rate was 3.5% (95% CI 1.69-6.99) for those having IVT + CEA, 4.1% (95% CI 3.46-4.39) for those having CEA without previous IVT (odds ratio 0.84 [95% CI 0.39-1.81]), 3.4% (95% CI 1.33-8.39) for those having IVT + CEA within 14 days, and 5.1% (95% CI 1.74-13.91) for those having IVT + CEA within 7 days. CONCLUSION: Data on the time from symptoms to CEA in patients not having IVT, Rankin score, degree of stenosis, and cerebral imaging were not available. Despite its weaknesses, this study reasserts that CEA can be performed within the recommended 2 weeks of the onset of symptoms and IVT without increasing the risk of peri-operative stroke or death. Centres and vascular registries are recommended to continue monitoring changes in patient characteristics, lead times, and major complications after CEA in general, with a special focus on those who have undergone a prior thrombolysis.

Decreasing the delay to carotid endarterectomy in symptomatic patients with carotid stenosis--outcome of an intervention.

OBJECTIVES: Surgical treatment of carotid stenosis after the onset of ischaemic symptoms should be performed within 2 weeks. This aim was accomplished only in 11% during the years 2007-2008 in the Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUCH) region. Since then, special efforts have been made in order to shorten the delay. The aim of this study was to find out how these changes affected the symptom-to-knife time (SKT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All symptomatic patients (n = 144) who had carotid endarterectomy (CEA, n = 145) in HUCH in 2010 were retrospectively analysed and the SKT was determined. RESULTS: Of the operations, 37% (n = 53) were performed within the recommended 2 weeks. The median SKT was 19 days (1-183). Of the patients who came to HUCH on an emergency basis (n = 80), 55% (n = 45) were operated within 2 weeks and their median SKT was 13 days (1-148). CONCLUSIONS: The changes that were made in 2008-2009 have significantly shortened the delay in the treatment of carotid stenosis, but the desired time frame of 2 weeks was reached far too seldom. The greatest benefit from preventive CEA is achieved when patients are referred emergently to a clinic where neurologist, imaging resources and vascular surgeon are available.

Variation in clinical practice in carotid surgery in nine countries 2005-2010. Lessons from VASCUNET and recommendations for the future of national clinical audit.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to analyse variation in carotid surgical practice, results and effectiveness in nine countries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 48,185 carotid endarterectomies (CEAs) and 4602 carotid artery stenting (CAS) procedures were included in the comparison. A theoretical effectiveness of CEA provision for each country was estimated. RESULTS: 92.6% of the CEAs were performed according to the inclusion criteria based on the current European recommendations and had a theoretical benefit for the patient. The indication for surgery was symptomatic stenosis in 60.1% and this proportion varied between 31.4% in Italy and 100% in Denmark. The overall combined stroke and death rate in symptomatic patients was 2.3%. This varied between rates of 0.9% in Italy and 3.8% in Norway. The overall combined stroke and death rate in asymptomatic patients was 0.9%. It was lowest in Italy at 0.5%, and highest in Sweden at 2.7%. We estimated that the stroke prevention rate per 1000 CEAs varied from 72.9 in Italy to 130.8 in Denmark. CONCLUSIONS: There is significant variation in clinical practice across the participating countries. The theoretical stroke prevention potential of CEA seems to vary between participating countries due to differences in the inclusion criteria.

Structure of delay in carotid surgery--an observational study.

OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN: Undelayed investigation and surgical treatment of symptomatic carotid artery stenosis are recommended as per guidelines on stroke prevention. We evaluated patient referral pathways and delays from symptom to surgery in Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUCH) region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred consecutive symptomatic patients scheduled for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) between August 2007 and September 2008 were identified and the delay between ischaemic index symptom and CEA was analysed. RESULTS: The median time from the index symptom to surgery was 47 days (range: 3-688 days). The longest delay was surgery related with a median of 25 days (range: 2-202 days) from the consultation of the vascular surgeon to the operation. Only 11% of the patients were operated within the recommended 2 weeks' time. It was more likely that CEA was performed within 2 weeks if an emergent consultation to Meilahti Hospital neurologist on call did take place (odds ratio (OR) 12.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5-104, p = 0.019). CONCLUSION: Delays from symptom to surgery were generally too long and the in-hospital door-to-knife time (DKT) was long mostly due to waiting for the operation theatre. The investigation of all stroke, amaurosis fugax and transient ischaemic attack patients should be performed on an emergency basis and most optimally centralised to hospitals were carotid surgery is performed.

Non-cholesterol sterols in serum and endarterectomized carotid arteries after a short-term plant stanol and sterol ester challenge.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It is not known whether dietary intake of plant stanols or sterols changes the composition of arterial sterols. Therefore, we compared serum and carotid artery cholesterol and non-cholesterol sterols after plant stanol (staest) or sterol (steest) ester feeding in endarterectomized patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Elderly statin-treated asymptomatic patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy were randomized double-blind to consume staest (n=11) or steest (n=11) spread (2 g of stanol or sterol/day) for four weeks preoperatively. Non-cholesterol sterols from serum and carotid artery tissue were analysed with gas-liquid chromatography. Staest spread lowered serum total (17.2%), VLDL, and LDL cholesterol and serum triglycerides, while steest spread lowered serum total (13.8%) and LDL cholesterol levels from baseline (p<0.05 for all). Serum cholestanol and avenasterol were decreased in both groups, but campesterol and sitosterol were decreased by staest and increased by steest from baseline (p<0.05 from baseline and between the groups). Serum sitostanol to cholesterol ratio was increased by staest, but in arterial tissue this ratio was similar in both groups. On staest, lathosterol, campesterol, and sitosterol, and on steest sitosterol and avenasterol correlated significantly between serum and arterial tissue. Cholesterol metabolism, eg. lathosterol/campesterol, suggested that plant sterols were reduced in serum and in arterial tissue during staest. CONCLUSION: The novel observations were that plant stanol ester consumption, in contrast to plant sterols, tended to reduce carotid artery plant sterols in statin-treated patients. Furthermore, despite increased serum sitostanol contents during plant stanol ester consumption, their arterial levels were unchanged suggesting that sitostanol is not taken up into the arterial wall.

Elevated MMP-8 and decreased myeloperoxidase concentrations associate significantly with the risk for peripheral atherosclerosis disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Matrix metalloproteinases are responsible for degradation and remodelling of extracellular matrix and exert important roles in initiation and progression of inflammatory diseases. We aimed to examine the role of Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their regulators in degenerative arterial diseases. Serum samples were collected from patients with arterial disease (n = 126), who underwent surgery because of symptomatic aorto-occlusive disease (AOD, n = 18), carotid artery stenosis (n = 67) or abdominal arotic aneurysm (n = 41). Serum MMP-1, MMP-8, MMP-13, TIMP-1, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and neutrophil elastase (HNE) concentrations were determined by ELISA, and the molar ratio of MMP-8 and TIMP-1 was calculated. To get reference values, the determinations were done on samples of healthy blood donors (n = 100). In univariate analyses, the patients had higher MMP-8 (P < 0.001), TIMP-1 (P = 0.045), and MMP-8/TIMP-1 (P < 0.001), and lower MPO (P < 0.001) when compared with the blood donors. All three subgroups had higher MMP-8 (P < 0.001) and MMP-8/TIMP-1 (P < 0.001), and lower MPO (P < 0.01, except AOD) levels when compared with the references. In multiple logistic regression analyses, the male gender (P < 0.01), age (P < 0.001), elevated MMP-8 (P < 0.001) and decreased MPO (P < 0.001) concentrations associated significantly with the risk for arterial disease, and provided an area under curve (AUC) of 0.97 in the Receiver operating characteristics analyses. In multiple linear regression analyses, HNE correlated with both MMP-8 (P < 0.001) and MPO (P = 0.008) concentrations. Combination of high MMP-8 and low MPO level in serum eventually reflecting selectively modified neutrophil degranulation may indicate increased risk for arterial disease.

Outcome after injections of crushed tablets in intravenous drug abusers in the Helsinki University Central Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyse injection drug users (IDUs) with complications after intra- or extra-vasal administration of dissolved tablets. DESIGN: A retrospective study. METHODS: The hospital discharge registers were used to identify the patients admitted in different clinics in Helsinki University Central Hospital during 2000-2005. The patient demographics and social background were clarified. The type of the crushed drugs, the injection route and the timing of administration were registered. Medical interventions, examinations and surgical procedures were recorded. RESULTS: Between January 2000 and December 2005, 24 patients had been treated on 30 occasions for manifestations caused by injecting crushed tablets. The main types of manifestations were acute limb ischaemia (16 patients) and infection (eight patients), and eight cases led to distal or proximal amputations. Men (19 of 24) were affected more frequently than were women (5 of 24). Their ages ranged between 20 and 39 years (mean: 26 years). All the patients had a previous history of intravenous drug abuse, and they lived in Greater Helsinki region. The incidence of seropositivity for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was 33% (n=8), 88% (n=21) and 4% (n=1), respectively. The time between injection and presentation to the Emergency Department varied between 3h and 10 days (mean: 62 h). Buprenorphine was the most commonly used drug in 10 of the 24 patients, and benzodiazepine derivatives were also used in 11 of the 24 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Intra- or extra-vasal administration of dissolved tablets leads to serious consequences, including limb amputations. Vascular and soft-tissue imaging may be helpful in the diagnosis. Prompt drainage of any abscess and fasciotomies for compartment syndrome treatment are essential. Controversy exists over the best medical therapy.

Negative pressure wound therapy: a systematic review on effectiveness and safety.

OBJECTIVES: We reviewed the use of negative pressure wound treatment (NPWT) for problematic wounds. METHODS: A systematic literature review was undertaken to assess the effectiveness and safety of NPWT. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing NPWT were included. RESULTS: A total of 14 RCTs were included. Trials included patients with pressure wounds (2), post-traumatic wounds (3), diabetic foot ulcers (4) and miscellaneous chronic ulcers (5). In all trials NPWT was at least as effective and in some cases more effective than the control treatment. Most evidence supports the effectiveness of NPWT on chronic leg ulcers and posttraumatic ulcers. NPWT appears to be a safe treatment, and serious adverse events have been rarely reported. Only two trials were classified as high quality studies, whereas the remaining were classified as having poor internal validity. CONCLUSIONS: Reliable evidence on the effectiveness of NPWT is scarce. Tentative evidence indicates that the effectiveness of NPWT is at least as good as or better than current local treatment for wounds. The need for large high-quality randomised studies is apparent.

Are adverse events after carotid endarterectomy reported comparable in different registries?

OBJECTIVES: To assess the extent of discrepancies between different vascular registries, at various levels of validation, and to investigate whether such differences might alter the morbidity and mortality rates obtained from the gold standard dataset for carotid endarterectomy (CEA). METHODS: All CEA operations in Helsinki University Central Hospital from 2000-2005 were retrieved from the local vascular registry (HUSVASC) and the Hospital Discharge Registry (HILMO). Both registries were validated at different levels to form the final dataset. Total and indication-specific perioperative morbidity and mortality rates were estimated from each level of validation and compared with those from the final dataset and with pooled rates from systematic reviews. RESULTS: Initial search provided 675 and 681 CEAs from HUSVASC and HILMO, respectively, decreasing to 636 (94%) and 614 (90%) when using the specific operative codes for thrombendarterectomy and patch angioplasty. Manual verification of initial HUSVASC results proved that 655 (97%) operations were true CEAs. 18 further proven CEAs, registered only in HILMO, were added to form the final CEA dataset (n=673). The peri-operative morbidity and combined morbidity and mortality rates were 2.23% and 2.67%, respectively. Comparable rates were obtained from both registries, irrespective the level of verification. CONCLUSION: Registry data do not appear to be biased by random loss of some operations and thus they are reliable for decision-making. However, further research is still needed to estimate the permissible volume of omissions in a registry for the data-base to remain trustworthy.

The Influence of Heating on Toe pressure in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The toe skin temperature in vascular patients can be low, making reliable toe pressure measurements difficult to obtain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of heating on the toe pressure measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 86 legs were examined. Brachial pressure and toe pressure were measured at rest in a supine position using a laser Doppler device that also measured skin temperature. After heating the toes for 5 min with a heating pad, we re-measured the toe pressure. Furthermore, after heating the skin to 40° with the probe, toe pressures were measured a third time. RESULTS: The mean toe skin temperature at the baseline measurement was 24.0 °C (standard deviation: 2.8). After heating the toes for 5 min with a warm heating pad, the skin temperature rose to a mean 27.8 °C (standard deviation: 2.8; p = 0.000). The mean toe pressure rose from 58.5 (standard deviation: 32) to 62 (standard deviation: 32) mmHg (p = 0.029). Furthermore, after the skin was heated up to 40 °C with the probe, the mean toe pressure in the third measurement was 71 (standard deviation: 34) mmHg (p = 0.000). The response to the heating varied greatly between the patients after the first heating-from -34 mmHg (toe pressure decreased from 74 to 40 mmHg) to +91 mmHg. When the toes were heated to 40 °C, the change in to toe pressure from the baseline varied between -28 and +103 mmHg. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that there is a different response to the heating in different clinical situations and in patients with a different comorbidity.

Perioperative Myocardial Infarction in Non-Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Prospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Perioperative myocardial infarction is an underdiagnosed complication causing morbidity, mortality, and considerable costs. However, evidence of preventive and therapeutic options is scarce. We investigated the incidence and outcome of perioperative myocardial infarction in non-cardiac surgery patients in order to define a target population for future interventional trials. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective single-center study on non-cardiac surgery patients aged 50 years or older. High-sensitivity troponin T and electrocardiograph were obtained five times perioperatively. Perioperative myocardial infarction diagnosis required a significant troponin T release and an ischemic sign or symptom. Perioperative risk calculator was used for risk assessment. RESULTS: Of 385 patients with systematic ischemia screening, 27 patients (7.0%) had perioperative myocardial infarction. The incidence was highest in vascular surgery-19 of 172 patients (11.0%). The 90-day mortality was 29.6% in patients with perioperative myocardial infarction and 5.6% in non-perioperative myocardial infarction patients ( p < 0.001). Perioperative risk calculator predicted perioperative myocardial infarction with an area under curve of 0.73 (95% confidence interval: 0.64-0.81). CONCLUSION: Perioperative myocardial infarction is a common complication associated with a 90-day mortality of 30%. The ability of the perioperative risk calculator to predict perioperative myocardial infarction was fair supporting its routine use.

Vascular laboratory for critical limb ischaemia.

This is a narrative review on vascular assessment for critical limb ischaemia in the past and present combining Finnish and Japanese experience.