Journal of vascular surgery
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The transaxillary approach to thoracic outlet decompression in the presence of cervical ribs offers the advantage of less manipulation of the brachial plexus and associated nerves. This may result in reduced incidence of perioperative complications, such as nerve injuries. Our objective was to report contemporary data for a series of patients with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) and cervical ribs managed through a transaxillary approach. ⋯ This series of transaxillary cervical and first rib resections demonstrates excellent clinical outcomes with minimal morbidity. The presence of cervical ribs, a positive response to scalene muscle block, and abnormalities on electrodiagnostic testing are reliable indicators for surgery. A cervical rib in a patient with TOS suggests that there is excellent potential for improvement after first and cervical rib excision.
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The use of off-the-shelf stent grafts for thoracic endovascular aortic repair of type A dissections is limited by variability in both the length of the ascending aorta and the location of the proximal intimal tear. This experimental study aimed to assess the feasibility of using a physician-modified thoracic aortic stent graft to treat acute type A dissection by a transapical cardiac approach. ⋯ The use of physician-modified stent grafts is feasible for thoracic endovascular aortic repair of type A dissection by a transapical approach in this model.
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Recent studies demonstrate that microRNAs show promising potential, including angiogenesis, in therapeutic intervention. MicroRNA-126 (miR-126) is reported to regulate angiogenesis by blocking Sprouty-related EVH1 domain-containing protein 1 (SPRED1), an endogenous inhibitor of vascular endothelial cell growth factor. In this study, we investigated the angiogenic effects of the sustained release of miR-126 loaded with poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) in a murine hindlimb ischemia model. ⋯ This study suggests that sustained release of miR-126-loaded PLGA NPs might be an effective method in therapeutic angiogenesis for hindlimb ischemia.
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Review
Epidemiology, outcomes, and management of acute kidney injury in the vascular surgery patient.
Conventional clinical wisdom has often been nihilistic regarding the prevention and management of acute kidney injury (AKI), despite its being a frequent and morbid complication associated with both increased mortality and cost. Recent developments have shown that AKI is not inevitable and that changes in management of patients can reduce both the incidence and morbidity of perioperative AKI. The purpose of this narrative review was to review the epidemiology and outcomes of AKI in patients undergoing vascular surgery using current consensus definitions, to discuss some of the novel emerging risk stratification and prevention techniques relevant to the vascular surgery patient, and to describe a standardized perioperative pathway for the prevention of AKI after vascular surgery. ⋯ AKI is a common postoperative complication among vascular surgery patients and has a significant impact on morbidity, mortality, and cost. Preoperative risk assessment and optimal perioperative management guided by that risk assessment can minimize the consequences associated with postoperative AKI. Adherence to a standardized perioperative pathway designed to reduce risk of AKI after major vascular surgery offers a promising clinical approach to mitigate the incidence and severity of this challenging clinical problem.
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Elective endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is generally well tolerated. However, the incidence of hospital readmission after EVAR and the risk factors and reasons for it are not well studied. This study sought to determine the incidence, to characterize the indications, and to identify perioperative patient-centered risk factors for hospital readmission within 30 days after elective EVAR. ⋯ Hospital readmissions remain a costly problem after vascular surgery and are associated with 30-day mortality after elective EVAR. Whereas female sex and certain irreversible medical comorbidities are nonmodifiable, focusing on medical optimization and identifying those perioperative variables that can affect the need for post-EVAR interventions will be an important step in decreasing hospital readmission.