Journal of vascular surgery
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Perioperative beta-blocker therapy has been a heavily investigated and controversial topic during the past decade. Prior national consensus statements that recommended the routine use of these medications in patients undergoing high-risk surgical procedures have been called into question because of the results of recent clinical trials that involved heterogeneous groups of surgical patients. ⋯ However, there appears to be a concurrent risk of adverse events associated with these medications if patients are not monitored properly during the perioperative period. Perioperative beta-blockers should continue to occupy a prominent role in the therapeutic armamentarium for improving outcomes among high-risk patients undergoing major vascular surgery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of low-strength compression stockings with bandages for the treatment of recalcitrant venous ulcers.
To compare the proportion and rate of healing, pain, and quality of life of low-strength medical compression stockings (MCS) with traditional bandages applied for the treatment of recalcitrant venous leg ulcers. ⋯ Our study illustrates the difficulty of bringing large and long-standing venous ulcers to heal. The effect of compression with MCS was not different from that of compression with bandages. Both treatments alleviated pain promptly. Quality of life was improved only in patients whose ulcers had healed.
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Comparative Study
A comparative analysis of the outcomes of carotid stenting and carotid endarterectomy in women.
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) advised little benefit from surgery in women because of high operative risk. Whether these findings are also applicable to carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) is subject of investigation. Our aim was to determine the risk of perioperative and late complications related to CAS and CEA in women. ⋯ Women with carotid stenosis might have favorable early and late outcomes from CAS with complication rates similar and even lower than those attained with CEA. CAS, performed by trained operators, may be a valid primary choice for treatment of carotid stenosis, particularly in asymptomatic women for whom the risk of surgery seems to be higher. However, before claiming CAS for women, these results need to be confirmed by large RCTs.
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Comparative Study
A survey of demographics, motivations, and backgrounds among applicants to the integrated 0 + 5 vascular surgery residency.
The 0 + 5 integrated vascular surgery (VS) residency has altered the training paradigm for future vascular specialists. Rising interest in these novel programs highlights our need to better understand the applicant pool. We compared demographics and surveyed recent applicants to our integrated program to gain more insight into their background and motivation for accelerated vascular training. ⋯ Applicants to 0 + 5 integrated vascular residencies were more likely to have rotated on a vascular surgery service, observed vascular cases, identified a vascular surgery mentor, and been actively involved in cardiovascular research. The quality of the top VS applicant based on class rank and test scores is comparable to the top GS applicants, yet the VS applicant has a higher percentage of advanced degrees, more publications, and more involvement in cardiovascular research. Institutional strategies to increase medical student exposure to vascular surgery clinically and via research programs will optimize our ability to attract and train the best candidates in these new training programs.
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Open revascularization in patients with chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) is considered the gold standard. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) is often reserved for patients not suitable for open revascularization. In our institute, endovascular revascularization is the first-choice treatment. The purpose of this study was to report the technical and clinical success rates after endovascular revascularization as the first-choice treatment in a series of 51 consecutive patients with CMI at a single tertiary vascular referral center. ⋯ The initial technical success rate of PTAS as first-choice treatment of CMI is >90%. The 2-year primary patency rate dropped to 60%, but symptomatic in-stent stenoses could often be treated successfully with renewed endovascular techniques. Including one conversion, 14% of patients needed open revascularization during follow-up.