Outcomes of prosthetic upper arm arteriovenous graft vs brachiobasilic fistula for hemodialysis access.

OBJECTIVE: Primary arteriovenous access such as radiocephalic and brachiocephalic fistulas are initial choices for creating vascular access in dialysis patients. When neither of these choices is an option, upper arm arteriovenous graft or brachiobasilic transposition is recommended. Although primary fistula is better than prosthetic graft for suitable patients, there is little data to guide the best treatment strategy in the absence of suitable vein for primary access creation. This study identifies factors that influence patency rates and compares outcomes of patients treated with brachiobasilic fistula vs upper arm graft in patients who have failed forearm access or are not candidates for primary access. METHODS: A prospectively maintained database of patients with dialysis-dependent renal failure from 2010 to 2022 was analyzed. Primary, primary assisted, and secondary patency rates were calculated. Incidence rates of complications and reinterventions were compared. RESULTS: There were 148 patients with brachiobasilic fistulas and 157 patients with upper arm grafts. The graft group was older (70.1 ± 14.7 vs 62.5 ± 14.6 years; P = .003) and had a higher incidence of pacemakers (11.9% vs 4.1%; P = .005). Brachiobasilic fistulas had higher 6-month (77.0% vs 64.3%; P = .02) and 1-year (68.2% vs 55.4%; P = .03) primary-assisted patency. Secondary patency rates were better for upper arm grafts at 1-year (82.2% vs 72.3%; P = .05). Access complications of non-maturation and aneurysm were higher in basilic vein transposition (21.6% vs 1.3%; P < .0001; 15.5% vs 6.4%; P = .017). Grafts had higher rates of occlusion (58.0% vs 25.7%; P < .0001). In terms of interventions, upper arm grafts had higher rates of thrombectomy (50.3% vs 18.9%; P < .0001), but there was no difference seen in angioplasty, stent, surgical revision, or steal procedures. Basilic vein transpositions had longer time to cannulation (104.6 ± 81.1 vs 32.5 ± 22.4 days; P < .0001), longer total catheter days (251.1 ± 181.7 vs 72.9 ± 56.3 days; P < .0001), and higher number of procedures to aid maturity (0.7 ± 0.7 vs 0.1 ± 0.3; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective analysis, when forearm access or primary arteriovenous access is not an option, basilic vein transposition and upper arm grafts have fairly equivalent primary patency. Primary assisted patency is slightly better in basilic vein fistulas, but secondary patency is better in upper arm grafts at 1 year. Basilic fistulas also had longer time to cannulation, longer total catheter days, and more procedures to aid maturity.

Development and Validation of a Risk Prediction Tool for In-hospital Mortality After Thoracic Endovascular Repair in Patients with Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury Using the Aortic Trauma Foundation Registry.

BACKGROUND: The objective of our present effort was to use an international blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) registry to create a prediction model identifying important preoperative and intraoperative factors associated with postoperative mortality, and to develop and validate a simple risk prediction tool that could assist with patient selection and risk stratification in this patient population. METHODS: For the purpose of the present study, all patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for BTAI and registered in the Aortic Trauma Foundation (ATF) database from January 2016 as of June 2022 were identified. Patients undergoing medical management or open repair were excluded. The primary outcome was binary in-hospital all-cause mortality. Two predictive models were generated: a preoperative model (i.e. only including variables before TEVAR or intention-to-treat) and a full model (i.e. also including variables after TEVAR or per-protocol). RESULTS: Out of a total of 944 cases included in the ATF registry until June 2022, 448 underwent TEVAR and were included in the study population. TEVAR for BTAI was associated with an 8.5% in-hospital all-cause mortality in the ATF dataset. These study subjects were subsequently divided using 3:1 random sampling in a derivation cohort (336; 75.0%) and a validation cohort (112; 25.0%). The median age was 38 years, and the majority of patients were male (350; 78%). A total of 38 variables were included in the final analysis. Of these, 17 variables were considered in the preoperative model, 9 variables were integrated in the full model, and 12 variables were excluded owing to either extremely low variance or strong correlation with other variables. The calibration graphs showed how both models from the ATF dataset tended to underestimate risk, mainly in intermediate-risk cases. The discriminative capacity was moderate in all models; the best performing model was the full model from the ATF dataset, as evident from both the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (Area Under the Curve 0.84; 95% CI 0.74-0.91) and from the density graph. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we developed and validated a contemporary risk prediction model, which incorporates several preoperative and postoperative variables and is strongly predictive of early mortality. While this model can reasonably predict in-hospital all-cause mortality, thereby assisting physicians with risk-stratification as well as inform patients and their caregivers, its intrinsic limitations must be taken into account and it should only be considered an adjunctive tool that may complement clinical judgment and shared decision-making.

Initial experience with a modified "candy-plug" technique for false lumen embolization in chronic type B aortic dissection.

Background: Persistent distal false lumen (FL) perfusion after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for type B aortic dissection (TBAD) can lead to aneurysmal degeneration and an increased risk of rupture. We have presented our initial experience using a modified "candy-plug" (CP) technique for FL embolization. Methods: From February 2021 to July 2022, we treated six patients using the modified CP technique. All the patients had undergone prior or simultaneous TEVAR for chronic TBAD with persistent FL perfusion and aneurysm expansion. Bilateral common femoral artery access was obtained, and intravascular ultrasound was used to confirm wire access in the true lumen (TL) and FL. A conformable TAG device (W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ) was used in four cases and an Excluder aortic cuff (W.L. Gore & Associates) in two cases. The device was modified by placing a constraining "napkin-ring" suture through the middle segment of the device. Femoral sheaths were placed in the TL and FL. A standard TL TEVAR extension was performed at the level of the celiac artery (zone 5). Next, the CP device was advanced and deployed in the FL, distally aligning it with the TL device. An appropriately sized Amplatzer II plug (Abbot Vascular, Santa Clara, CA) was then deployed in the constrained segment of the modified stent graft. Completion angiography was performed to confirm successful FL embolization. Results: Technical success was defined as successful deployment of the CP device in the FL. The technical success rate was 100% (six of six patients). Clinical success was defined as the cessation of aneurysm growth on follow-up computed tomography angiography. No 30-day mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, spinal cord ischemia, access site complications, or aortic-related reinterventions occurred. Surveillance imaging at a mean follow-up of 10 months confirmed clinical success (stable aneurysm size or shrinkage) for all five patients with follow-up data available. Conclusions: The modified CP embolization technique is a promising solution for persistent distal FL perfusion after TEVAR for TBAD. Further investigation is required to determine the long-term durability of this technique as an adjunct to TEVAR to promote aortic remodeling.

Female sex portends increased risk of major amputation following surgical repair of symptomatic popliteal artery aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: Popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs) are rare in women, with only ∼5% of all PAAs occurring in women. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether sex disparities exist for patients treated with open PAA repair. METHODS: We reviewed all patients with PAAs who had undergone open PAA repair in the Vascular Quality Initiative from January 2010 to July 2021. Univariate analyses and multivariable logistic or Cox regression analyses controlling for potential confounders were performed. The study outcomes included primary patency, major amputation, overall survival, and amputation-free survival at 1 year. RESULTS: The study included 3807 adult patients, of whom 160 were women (4.2%). The female patients were younger (age, 66.1 years vs 68.3 years; P = .012) and less likely to have coronary artery disease (14.5% vs 23.4%; P = .009). However, the women were more likely to be taking aspirin (69.2% vs 60.4%; P = .019) and statins (67.8% vs 60.4%; P < .001) and to undergo repair for symptomatic disease (77.5% vs 64.1%; P = .001). No difference was found between the women and men in primary patency (95.2% vs 90.8%; P = .230) and overall survival (94.3% vs 96.1%; P = .270). Amputation-free survival was lower for women than for men (91.4% vs 95.3%; P = .033). This finding resulted from by lower freedom from major amputation for women (96.1% vs 98.9%; P = .010). After adjustment for confounders, no differences were found between the women and men regarding the loss of primary patency and all-cause mortality. For symptomatic PAAs, the risk of major amputation was threefold greater for women (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-9.06; P = .040), and the risk of the composite end point of major amputation or death was twofold higher for women than for men (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.97; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-3.79; P = .043). CONCLUSIONS: In our large national study of patients with PAAs, women were more likely to be treated for symptomatic PAAs. The risk of 1-year major amputation was threefold greater for women with symptomatic PAAs than for men with a similar presentation. Early recognition and treatment of PAAs in women before the PAAs have become symptomatic could optimize limb salvage outcomes in women.

Outcomes and practice patterns of medical management of blunt thoracic aortic injury from the Aortic Trauma Foundation global registry.

OBJECTIVE: Blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) is the second leading cause of death from blunt trauma. In the present study, we aimed to determine the outcomes of medical management (MM) for BTAI. We hypothesized from the results of several previously reported studies, that patients with a minimal aortic injury (BTAI grades 1 and 2) could safely be treated with definitive MM alone. METHODS: The Aortic Trauma Foundation international prospective multicenter registry was used to examine the demographics, injury characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with BTAI. We analyzed a subset of patients for whom MM was initiated as definitive therapy. RESULTS: From November 2016 to April 2020, 432 patients (median age, 41 years; 76% male; median injury severity score, 34) with BTAI (Society for Vascular Surgery grade 1, 23.6%; grade 2, 14.4%; grade 3, 51.2%; grade 4, 10.9%) were evaluated. Of the 432 patients, 245 (57%) had received MM in the initial period and 114 (26.4%) had received MM as the planned definitive therapy (grade 1, 59.6%; grade 2, 23.7%; grade 3, 15.8%; grade 4, 0.9%). The most common mechanism of BTAI was a motor vehicle collision (60.4%). Hypotension was present on arrival in 74 patients (17.2%). Continuous titratable infusion of antihypertensive medication was used for 49.1%, followed by intermittent bolus administration (29.8%), with beta-blockers (74.6%) the most common agent used. Treatments were targeted to a goal systolic blood pressure for 83.3%, most often to a target goal systolic blood pressure <120 mm Hg (66.3%). The MM goals based on blood pressure control were attained in 64.0% (73 of 114). Twelve patients (10.5%; grade 1, 1; grade 2, 0; grade 3, 10; grade 4, 1) had required subsequent intervention after MM. Eleven patients (9.6%) had undergone thoracic endovascular aortic repair and one (0.9%) had required open repair for a grade 4 injury. The overall in-hospital mortality for patients selected for definitive MM was 7.9%. No aortic-related deaths had occurred in the patients receiving definitive MM. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one in four patients with BTAI will receive MM as definitive therapy. The variation in the pharmacologic therapies used is considerable. MM for patients with minimal aortic injury (BTAI grades 1 and 2) is safe and effective, with a low overall intervention rate and no aortic-related deaths. These findings support the use of definitive MM for grade 2 BTAI.

Risk calculator predicts 30-day mortality after thoracic endovascular aortic repair for intact descending thoracic aortic aneurysms in the Vascular Quality Initiative.

OBJECTIVE: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for descending thoracic aortic aneurysm (DTAA) is associated with high perioperative survival, although mortality is a possible outcome. However, no risk score has been developed to predict mortality after TEVAR for intact DTAA to aid in risk discussion and preoperative patient selection. Our objective was to use a multi-institutional database to develop a 30-day mortality risk calculator for TEVAR after DTAA repair. METHODS: The Vascular Quality Initiative database was queried for patients treated with TEVAR for intact DTAA between August 2014 and August 2020. Univariable and multivariable analyses aided in developing a 30-day mortality risk score. Internal validation was done with K-fold cross-validation and calibration curve analysis. RESULTS: Of 2141 patients included in the analysis, 90 (4.2%) died within 30 days after the procedure. Clinically relevant variables identified to be independently associated with 30-day mortality and therefore used to derive the predictive model included age 75 years or greater (odds ratio [OR], 2.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50-3.44; P < .001), coronary artery disease (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.03-2.47; P = .036), American Society of Anesthesiologists class IV/V (OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.39-4.10; P = .002), urgent vs elective procedure (OR, 3.47; 95% CI, 1.90-6.33; P < .001), emergent vs elective procedure (OR, 5.27; 95% CI, 2.36-11.75; P < .001), prior carotid revascularization (OR, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.64-6.39; P = .001), and proximal landing zone <3 (OR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.65-3.81; P < .001). The model showed an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.75. Internal validation demonstrated a bias-corrected area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.73 (95% CI, 0.66-0.79) and a calibration slope of 1.00 with a corresponding intercept of 0.00. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a novel clinically relevant risk prediction model to estimate 30-day mortality risk after TEVAR for DTAA. The TEVAR Mortality Risk Calculator provides useful prognostic information to guide patient selection and facilitate preoperative discussions and shared decision making. An easily accessible online version of the TEVAR Mortality Risk Score is available to facilitate ease of use.

Outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair in patients with concomitant blunt thoracic aortic injury and traumatic brain injury from the Aortic Trauma Foundation global registry.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) are the top two leading causes of death after blunt force trauma. Patients presenting with concomitant BTAI and TBI pose a specific challenge with respect to management strategy, because the optimal hemodynamic parameters are conflicting between the two pathologies. Early thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is often performed, even for minimal aortic injuries, to allow for the higher blood pressure parameters required for TBI management. However, the optimal timing of TEVAR for the treatment of BTAI in patients with concomitant TBI remains an active matter of controversy. METHODS: The Aortic Trauma Foundation international prospective multicenter registry was used to identify all patients who had undergone TEVAR for BTAI in the setting of TBI from 2015 to 2020. The primary outcomes included delayed ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, in-hospital mortality, and aortic-related mortality. The outcomes were examined among patients who had undergone TEVAR at emergent (<6 vs ≥6 hours) or urgent (<24 vs ≥24 hours) intervals. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients (median age, 43 years; 79% men; median injury severity score, 41) with BTAI (Society for Vascular Surgery BTAI grade 1, 3%; grade 2, 10%; grade 3, 78%; grade 4, 9%) and concomitant TBI who had undergone TEVAR were identified. Emergent repair was performed for 51 patients (51%). Comparing emergent repair (<6 hours) to urgent repair (≥6 hours), no difference was found in delayed cerebral ischemic events (2.0% vs 4.1%; P = .614), in-hospital mortality (15.7% vs 22.4%; P = .389), or aortic-related mortality (2.0% vs 2.0%; P = .996) and no patient had experienced delayed hemorrhagic stroke. Likewise, repairs conducted in an urgent (<24 hours) setting showed no differences compared with those completed in an emergent (≥24 hours) setting regarding delayed ischemic stroke (2.6% vs 4.3%; P = .548), in-hospital mortality (18.2% vs 21.7%; P = .764), or aortic-related mortality (1.3% vs 4.3%; P = .654), and no patient had experienced delayed hemorrhagic stroke. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to prior retrospective efforts, results from the Aortic Trauma Foundation international prospective multicenter registry have demonstrated that neither emergent nor urgent TEVAR for patients with concomitant BTAI and TBI was associated with delayed stroke, in-hospital mortality, or aortic-related mortality. In these patients, the timing of TEVAR did not have an effect on the outcomes. Therefore, the decision to intervene should be guided by individual patient factors rather than surgical timing.

The first commercial use of the Valiant Navion stent graft system for endovascular repair of a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm.

OBJECTIVES: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is the standard of care for descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (DTAA), and newer generation stent grafts have significant design improvements compared to earlier generation devices. METHODS: We report the first commercial use of the Medtronic Valiant Navion stent graft for treatment of an 85-year-old woman with a 5.8 cm DTAA and a highly tortuous thoracic aorta. RESULTS: A percutaneous TEVAR was performed using a two-piece combination of the Valiant Navion FreeFlo and CoveredSeal stent graft configurations for zones 2-5 coverage. The devices were successfully delievered through highly tortuous anatomy and deployed, excluding the entire length of the aneurysm with precise landing, excellent apposition and no evidence of endoleak. The patient tolerated the procedure well and has had no stent graft-related complications through one-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Design enhancements such as a lower profile delivery system, better conformability, and a shorter tapered tip are some of the improvements to this third-generation TEVAR device. Coupled with the multiple configuration options available, this gives physicians a better tool to treat thoracic aortic pathologies in patients with challenging anatomy. The early results are encouraging, and evaluation of long-term outcomes will continue.

The AAST prospective Aortic Occlusion for Resuscitation in Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (AORTA) registry: Data on contemporary utilization and outcomes of aortic occlusion and resuscitative balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA).

INTRODUCTION: Aortic occlusion (AO) for resuscitation in traumatic shock remains controversial. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) offers an emerging alternative. METHODS: The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Aortic Occlusion for Resuscitation in Trauma and Acute Care Surgery registry prospectively identified trauma patients requiring AO from eight ACS Level 1 centers. Presentation, intervention, and outcome variables were collected and analyzed to compare REBOA and open AO. RESULTS: From November 2013 to February 2015, 114 AO patients were captured (REBOA, 46; open AO, 68); 80.7% were male, and 62.3% were blunt injured. Aortic occlusion occurred in the emergency department (73.7%) or the operating room (26.3%). Hemodynamic improvement after AO was observed in 62.3% [REBOA, 67.4%; open OA, 61.8%); 36.0% achieving stability (systolic blood pressure consistently >90 mm Hg, >5 minutes); REBOA, 22 of 46 (47.8%); open OA, 19 of 68 (27.9%); p =0.014]. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) access was femoral cut-down (50%); US guided (10.9%) and percutaneous without imaging (28.3%). Deployment was achieved in Zones I (78.6%), II (2.4%), and III (19.0%). A second AO attempt was required in 9.6% [REBOA, 2 of 46 (4.3%); open OA, 9 of 68 (13.2%)]. Complications of REBOA were uncommon (pseudoaneurysm, 2.1%; embolism, 4.3%; limb ischemia, 0%). There was no difference in time to successful AO between REBOA and open procedures (REBOA, 6.6 ± 5.6 minutes; open OA, 7.2 ± 15.1; p = 0.842). Overall survival was 21.1% (24 of 114), with no significant difference between REBOA and open AO with regard to mortality [REBOA, 28.2% (13 of 46); open OA, 16.1% (11 of 68); p = 0.120]. CONCLUSION: Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta has emerged as a viable alternative to open AO in centers that have developed this capability. Further maturation of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Aortic Occlusion for Resuscitation in Trauma and Acute Care Surgery database is required to better elucidate optimal indications and outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/care management study, level IV.