Annals of vascular surgery
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Comparative Study Observational Study
Elective endovascular aneurysm repair in the elderly: trends and outcomes from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample.
This study attempted to identify trends in the use of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and outcomes in elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair over a 5-year period in a nationwide dataset, with specific attention to patients older than 80 years. ⋯ EVAR is being performed with increasing frequency in patients older than 80 years, with one-quarter of EVAR performed in patients aged 80 years and older in the current sample. Although mortality rates remain acceptable in this elderly population, EVAR and OAR are associated with an age-dependent increase in death, complications, and discharge to extended care facilities. These factors, in addition to long-term risk of aneurysm rupture, should be considered when evaluating the appropriateness of elective aneurysm repair in the elderly.
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We hypothesized that infectious complications after open surgery (OPEN) and endovascular repair (EVAR) of nonruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) negatively affected long-term outcomes. ⋯ Hospital-acquired infections had a dramatic effect by increasing hospital and 30-day mortality, readmission rates, and hospital resource use after AAA repair. Programs minimizing infectious complications may decrease future readmissions and mortality after AAA repair.
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Medical complications may prolong the hospital stay after elective carotid endarterectomy (CEA). We prospectively assessed the social and medical feasibility and safety of patient discharge on the first postoperative day after elective CEA and unplanned readmissions. ⋯ In this study, the majority of patients undergoing elective CEA were discharged safely on the first postoperative day. Social reasons, rather than medical reasons, underlied most cases of later discharge. There were no unplanned readmissions for complications of CEA.
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Recurrent symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) after first rib resection have varying etiologies. Regrowth of a first rib is a rare event. Recurrent symptoms in the presence of a regrown rib strongly suggest a causal relationship. We report our experience with recurrent symptoms of TOS and regrown first ribs. ⋯ Regrowth of the first rib is a rare event. There is a concordance between a regrown rib and TOS symptoms. Patients presenting with recurrent TOS symptoms and a regrown first rib have a high probability of improvement with resection of the regrown rib.
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Case Reports
Successful management of threatened aortic rupture late after rib fracture caused by blunt chest trauma.
A 62-year-old man was crushed in a car accident and diagnosed with a fractured left ninth rib, pulmonary and heart contusion, hemopneumothorax, and descending aortic injury based on a computed tomography scan. He underwent chest tube drainage and was intubated for mechanical ventilation because a bone fragment of the ninth rib threatened to penetrate the descending aorta. On the second posttrauma day, computed tomography showed the bone fragment of the ninth rib approaching the descending aorta. He underwent graft replacement of the injured portion of the descending thoracic aorta, and we removed the fractured left ninth rib.