Annals of vascular surgery
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A double-blind, randomized controlled trial was carried out to study the effects of statins on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in areas of peak and low abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) wall stress. ⋯ The short-term use of statins is not associated in reducing levels of MMP 2, 8, and 9 and TIMP-1 and -2 in areas of low and peak wall stress in patients with AAA.
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Multicenter Study
Endovascular repair of ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysms: predictors of procedure-related stroke.
Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is a valuable tool in the treatment of ruptured descending thoracic aortic aneurysm (rDTAA). A major complication of this procedure is stroke. We investigated the incidence and risk factors for stroke after TEVAR for rDTAA. ⋯ Endovascular repair of rDTAA is associated with a considerable risk of stroke, and stroke is an important cause of 30-day mortality in this patient group. Particularly older patients are at risk for developing stroke after endovascular repair of rDTAA. The risk of stroke decreased significantly over time in this evaluation.
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Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repairs are technically challenging. The advent of endovascular aneurysm repair in combination with visceral/renal artery bypasses has allowed for hybrid endovascular repair of these aneurysms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether outcomes were affected by the number of visceral/renal artery reconstructions, conduit, or gender. ⋯ Hybrid aortic aneurysm repair carries a significant risk of patient morbidity with an acceptable mortality for patients considered to be at a high risk for standard thoracoabdominal repair. In patients requiring fewer visceral/renal reconstructions, there is a trend toward fewer postoperative complications and a significantly shorter length of stay. Moreover, there is a significantly lower need for skilled nursing facility requirements after discharge from the hospital. Bowel ischemia is associated with significantly worse outcome and better attempts at avoiding this complication and aggressive management is indicated.
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Iatrogenic aortic injuries that occur during spinal procedures are rare but potentially lethal. When the posterior spinal approach is used, prone positioning and the need to prevent contamination of exposed bone and hardware adds complexity to the management of significant aortic injuries. ⋯ The patient recovered without significant clinical sequelae. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of intraoperative endovascular repair of a thoracic aortic injury incurred during posterior approach spinal surgery.
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Chronic stump and phantom limb pain after amputation for critical ischemia significantly affect patients' quality of life and pose challenging clinical problems. Pre-emptive analgesia attempts to prevent chronic postoperative pain by minimizing painful stimuli before and during surgery. ⋯ There is no robust evidence supporting the use of pre-emptive analgesia to minimize the risk of chronic pain after amputation for critical ischemia of peripheral vascular disease. The methods used are, however, effective in treating acute postoperative pain.