Journal of vascular surgery
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Long-term survival and secondary procedures after open or endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Randomized trials have shown an initial survival benefit of endovascular over conventional open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair but no long-term difference up to 6 years after repair. Longer follow-up may be required to demonstrate the cumulative negative impact on survival of higher reintervention rates associated with endovascular repair. ⋯ During 12 years of follow-up, there was no survival difference between patients who underwent open or endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, despite a continuously increasing number of reinterventions in the endovascular repair group. Endograft durability and the need for continued endograft surveillance remain key issues.
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Multicenter Study
Association between statin therapy and amputation-free survival in patients with critical limb ischemia in the CRITISCH registry.
Secondary prevention in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) is crucial for the reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Nonetheless, current recommendations are extrapolated from other high-risk populations because of the lack of CLI-dedicated trials. The aim of this explorative study was to evaluate the association of statin therapy with the outcomes of CLI patients. ⋯ Statin therapy in CLI patients is associated with an increased AFS and lower rates of mortality and MACCEs without improving, however, the salvage rates of the affected limb.
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Comparative Study
A 10-year institutional experience with open branched graft reconstruction of aortic aneurysms in connective tissue disorders versus degenerative disease.
Aortic reconstruction for complex thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) can be challenging, especially in patients with connective tissue disorders (CTDs) in whom tissue fragility is a major concern. Branched graft reconstruction is a more complex operation compared with inclusion patch repair of the aorta but is frequently necessary in patients with CTDs or other pathologies because of anatomic reasons. We describe our institutional experience with open branched graft reconstruction of aortic aneurysms and compare outcomes for patients with CTDs vs degenerative pathologies. ⋯ CTD patients with aortic aneurysms who undergo open branched graft reconstruction have reasonable outcomes compared with patients with degenerative pathology, including better branched graft patency and a similar risk of perioperative mortality and complications. Open repair of aortic aneurysms with branched graft reconstruction can be performed safely in both populations with low perioperative mortality, but ongoing surveillance is critical for the detection of new aneurysms, especially among patients with CTD.
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Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a highly prevalent disease that impairs walking ability. Walking tests, such as the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and 4-meter walk test, are commonly used to assess exercise endurance and ambulatory function over a short distance, respectively. The 6MWT performance is predictive of PAD severity and disease outcomes, but it is not feasible in many clinical settings because it requires a long walkway to serve as the test route and lengthens clinic visits. As an alternative, the 4-meter walk test is convenient, inexpensive, and repeatable, but whether it accurately predicts endurance performance in the long-distance 6MWT is not known. The goal of this study was to develop a statistical model to predict 6MWT gait speed from 4-meter walk test results and clinical characteristics among patients with PAD. ⋯ Slower 4-meter walking speed, lower ABI, and presence of dyspnea all predict slower 6MWT gait speed, which corresponds to shorter 6MWT distance. Prediction of group means is reasonably precise; however, prediction of individual patient 6MWT performance is imprecise relative to between-group differences that are clinically important.
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Comparative Study
High mortality rates after both open surgical and endovascular thoracic aortic interventions in patients with end-stage renal disease.
Morbidity and mortality have improved with the evolution of endovascular techniques (thoracic endovascular aortic repair [TEVAR]) for thoracic aortic disease, but results after aortic intervention in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) remain unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate outcomes of open and endovascular descending thoracic aortic repair in dialysis-dependent patients. ⋯ In ESRD patients, TEVAR provides short-term mortality benefits compared with open repair, but long-term mortality remains high regardless of treatment modality. Elective intervention for thoracic aortic disease in this population remains high risk and should be approached with caution.