Journal of vascular surgery
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Comparative Study
Comparison of conservative and operative treatment for blunt carotid injuries: analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank.
Blunt carotid injury (BCI) is uncommon but potentially devastating. The best treatment modality for this injury remains undetermined. We conducted this study to better understand the hospital course and treatment outcomes for patients with BCI who received different interventions. ⋯ BCI is rare and carries a poor prognosis. Operative intervention is not associated with functional improvement or a survival advantage. This study was unable to support that less invasive endovascular treatment improves treatment outcome when compared to open surgery.
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Case Reports
Hybrid treatment of an ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm following multiple sternotomies.
Ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm following prior cardiac or aortic surgery is a rare entity that requires reoperation. Surgical repair is a complex procedure associated with high operative mortality. We report the case of a 76-year-old male patient with an ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm developing from distal anastomosis of a Dacron aorto-aortic prosthesis. This high-risk patient had previously undergone multiple cardiovascular operations and was treated by performing an extra-anatomic bypass between the descending thoracic aorta and supra-aortic vessels, followed by endovascular stent graft placement, avoiding median re-sternotomy.
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Comparative Study
Long-term outcomes and resource utilization of endovascular versus open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms in Ontario.
Two large randomized trials showed that elective endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) had similar all-cause long-term mortality rates but increased costs compared with open repair for nonruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Despite these data, the use of EVAR continues to increase in North America. Currently, there are very limited adjusted population-based data examining long-term outcomes and resource utilization. ⋯ Compared with open repair, EVAR significantly reduced short-term but not long-term mortality. The EVAR patients spent less time in health institutions, including long-term care facilities, but underwent more imaging studies. Future improvements in EVAR could result in further decreases in reinterventions and subsequent radiologic monitoring.
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Little is known about the significance of blood transfusion in patients with peripheral arterial disease. We queried the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database to examine the effect of intraoperative blood transfusion on the morbidity and mortality in patients who underwent lower extremity revascularization. ⋯ In a large number of patients undergoing lower extremity revascularization, we have found that there is a higher risk of postoperative mortality, pulmonary, and infectious complications after receiving intraoperative blood transfusion. Additional studies are necessary to better define transfusion triggers that balance the risk/benefit ratio for blood transfusion.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Thirty-day NSQIP database outcomes of open versus endoluminal repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.
The mortality of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) has decreased 3.5% per decade in the last 50 years to a current rate of 40%-50%. Reports have indicated that endovascular repair (EVAR) is feasible for rAAA and may offer potential benefits over open repair. We examined the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database to compare 30-day multicenter outcomes for EVAR vs open rAAA repair. ⋯ Composite 30-day morbidity risk is lower after EVAR vs open repair of rAAA. Open repair is associated with increased transfusion requirements. Performance of EVAR in rAAA patients with favorable anatomy could potentially result in improved outcome as compared with open repair.