Prevalencia de aneurismas de aorta abdominal en una población de riesgo en una consulta de cirugía vascular / Prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms in a risk population seen in a vascular surgery department

OBJETIVO: conocer la prevalencia de los aneurismas de aorta abdominal infrarrenal (AAA) y factores de riesgo en pacientes remitidos a consultas externas de Angiología y Cirugía Vascular para valoración de enfermedad arterial periférica (EAP). MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: entre febrero de 2012 y diciembre 2016 se realizó eco Doppler aortoilíaco a los pacientes mayores de 50 años remitidos para descartar arteriopatía de miembros inferiores. En todos los casos se realizó exploración física y recogida de factores de riesgo cardiovascular. Diseño observacional, longitudinal. Análisis univariante y multivariante. RESULTADOS: el estudio incluyó a 454 pacientes. De estos, se excluyeron 11 en los que no fue posible la medición del diámetro del aneurisma por obesidad/gas abdominal. El total de pacientes estudiados es de 443. La prevalencia en la población estudiada de aneurisma fue del 8,8% (n = 39). La media del diámetro de los aneurismas diagnosticados fue 4,1 cm (± 1,1). En los pacientes que presentaron ITB menor de 0,9 (EAP), la prevalencia fue del 11,2% (29) frente al 5,2% (10) en pacientes con ITB mayor de 0,9 (p < 0,05). Los pacientes con EAP presentaron un mayor porcentaje de hipertensión arterial y tabaquismo (p < 0,05). En el análisis univariante de los factores de riesgo asociados a presentar AAA (grupo 1) frente a no presentar AAA (grupo 2), que fueron estadísticamente significativos (p < 0,05), la diabetes mellitus (DM) apareció como factor protector (grupo 1: 28,2%; grupo 2: 71,8%), mientras que los pacientes con broncopatía crónica (EPOC) (grupo 1: 64,1%; grupo 2: 35,9%), EAP (grupo 1: 74,4%; grupo 2: 55,2%), tabaquismo (grupo 1: 100%; grupo 2: 82,2%) y los mayores de 65 años (grupo 1: 89,7%; grupo 2: 70%) presentaron mayor riesgo de AAA. En el análisis multivariante, EPOC (OR 4,7), edad > 65 años (OR 3,4) y el grupo de pacientes con EAP (OR 2,4) se mostraron como factores de riesgo, mientras que la DM se mostró como factor protector (OR 0,4). CONCLUSIONES: en nuestra población, EPOC, EAP y edad > 65 años son factores de riesgo de AAA, mientras que la DM es un factor protector. El análisis de estos datos puede ayudar a definir la población de riesgo para la realización de estudios de despistaje en una consulta de cirugía vascular

OBJECTIVE: to determine the prevalence of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and their risk factors in patients referred to the Angiology and Vascular Surgery outpatient clinic for the evaluation of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: a longitudinal observational study was carried out involving aortoiliac echodoppler exploration of the patients over 50 years of age referred to our center for the exclusion of arterial disease of the lower extremities between February 2012 and December 2016. A physical examination was made in all cases, with the compilation of cardiovascular risk factors. The data obtained were subjected to univariate and multivariate statistical analysis. RESULTS: a total of 454 patients were initially included in the study. Of these, 11 were discarded because abdominal gas / obesity impeded measurement of the diameter of the aneurysm. The final sample thus consisted of 443 individuals. The prevalence of aneurysms was 8.8% (n = 39), with a mean diameter of 4.1 (± 1.1 cm). In the patients with an ankle-brachial index (ABI) < 0.9 (indicative of PAD), the prevalence was 11.2% (n = 29) versus 5.2% (n = 10) in those with ABI > 0.9 (p < 0.05). The patients with PAD presented a greater incidence of arterial hypertension and smoking (p < 0.05). In the univariate analysis, on contrasting the patients with factors significantly associated (p < 0.05) to a risk of AAA (group 1) versus those without such risk factors (group 2), diabetes mellitus (DM) was identified as 63 a protective factor (group 1: 28.2%; group 2: 71.8%), while chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (group 1: 64.1%; group 2: 35.9%), PAD (group 1: 74.4%; group 2: 55.2%,), smoking (group 1: 100%, group 2: 82.2%) and age > 65 years (group 1: 89.7%; group 2: 70%) were associated to an increased risk of AAA. In the multivariate analysis, COPD (odds ratio [OR] 4.7), age > 65 years (OR 3.4) and PAD (OR 2.4) were identified as risk factors, while DM proved to be a protective factor (OR 0.4). CONCLUSIONS: in our population of patients COPD, PAD and age > 65 years were risk factors for AAA, while DM was identified as a protective factor. These findings may contribute to define the risk population with a view to conducting screening studies in a vascular surgery department

Endovascular Treatment of Descending Thoracic Aortic Pathology: Results of the Regis-TEVAR Study.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular techniques have become an essential tool for treatment of thoracic aortic pathology. The objective of this study was to analyze indications and results of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in vascular surgery units, through a retrospective and multicentric national registry called Regis-TEVAR. METHODS: From 2012 to 2016, a total of 287 patients from 11 vascular surgery units, treated urgently and electively, were recruited consecutively. The primary variables analyzed are mortality, survival, and reintervention rate. The following indications for TEVAR were also analyzed: aortic dissections, thoracic aneurysms, traumatisms, and intramural hematomas or penetrating ulcers, as well as results and postoperative complications in accordance with each indication. RESULTS: Of the 287 TEVAR performed (239 men, mean age 64.1 ± 14.1 years), 155 were because of aortic aneurysm (54%), 90 because of type B aortic dissection (31.4%), 36 because of traumatic aortic rupture (12.5%), and 6 because of penetrating ulcers or intramural hematomas (2.1%). Overall mortality at 30 days was 11.5% (18.5% in urgent and 5.3% in elective), being higher in dissections (13.3%). The median actuarial survival was 73% at 4 years. The stroke rate was 3.1%, and the rate of spinal cord ischemia was 4.9%. Aortic reoperations were necessary in 23 patients (8.1%). CONCLUSIONS: This registry provides complete and reliable information on real clinical practice of TEVAR in Spain, with results similar to international series of open surgery. In accordance with these data, TEVAR can be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality and with low rates of postoperative complications.

Avanzando en la toma de decisiones compartida: estenosis carotídea asintomática / Advancing in shared decision making: asymptomatic carotid stenosis

En las últimas décadas ha venido produciéndose un cambio de paradigma en la relación médico-enfermo, que ha pasado de una visión paternalista a una medicina más centrada en el paciente. La toma de decisiones compartidas (TDC) es un proceso que incluye el intercambio de información (personal y médica) entre el paciente y el sanitario respecto a la enfermedad, la deliberación sobre las distintas opciones y, finalmente, la toma de una decisión consensuada. Para facilitar este proceso se han desarrollado distintas herramientas mediante diversos medios y formatos (folletos, texto escrito, vídeos, aplicaciones informáticas...), utilizando en muchas ocasiones ayudas visuales tales como caras sonrientes u otros pictogramas. Desde nuestro grupo de trabajo nos unimos a este proceso evolutivo de la práctica médica y presentamos una herramienta de ayuda visual a la TDC en el caso de pacientes con estenosis carotídea asintomática mayor del 70%. Para su realización nos hemos basado en los cates plots, que ayudan a cuantificar riesgos y beneficios de una intervención de forma estandarizada

In the last decades there has been a paradigm change in the doctor-patient relationship, from a paternalistic model to a patient centered medicine. Shared decision making (SDM) is a process that involves bidirectional communication between physicians and patients about the illness, different treatment options, and, through the deliberation process, reaching an agreement in the ultimate decision made. Various different tools have been developed to promote shared decision making, through different types of support methods (leaflets, books, videos, websites or other interactive media), frequently using visual aids like smiley faces plots or other pictograms. Our Working Group would like to join this evolutionary process. Thus, we have developed a visual aid tool to help in the decision-making process in the case of asymptomatic carotid stenosis > 70%. We have based on Cates plots that help to quantify risks and benefits of specific interventions in a standardized manner

Preoperative mapping of the aortoiliac territory with duplex ultrasound in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

OBJECTIVE: Duplex ultrasound (DUS) arterial mapping of the aortoiliac area is limited by obesity, abdominal gas, and the need to use a low-frequency probe (and therefore poorer resolution) in the examination. The aim of this study was to analyze the degree of agreement between DUS mapping of the aortoiliac area and angiography or contrast-enhanced computed tomography angiography (CTA). METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study. Between November 2006 and June 2015, there were 173 patients with a surgical indication for aortoiliac occlusive disease included, with preoperative aortoiliac DUS mapping and subsequent CTA or intraoperative angiography. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of DUS as an arterial mapping test were analyzed, as was the degree of agreement with angiography/CTA and agreement between the surgical indication based on DUS and the final surgical technique performed. RESULTS: Of 173 DUS mapping tests, 155 were evaluated (89.6%); the remaining 18 were not able to be evaluated because of the patient's obesity or bowel gas. Overall accuracy of DUS for predicting significant artery lesions was as follows: 92% sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI], 88%-95%), 96% specificity (95% CI, 95%-97%), 89% positive predictive value (95% CI, 86%-93%), and 97% negative predictive value (95% CI, 96%-98%). Agreement with angiography/CTA had a κ index of 0.81 (95% CI, 0.77-0.84), which reflects a good degree of agreement. Surgical indications based on DUS mapping were correct in 89% of cases (138/155). CONCLUSIONS: DUS mapping of the aortoiliac territory could be used as a single preoperative imaging test in aortoiliac occlusive disease in patients whose DUS examination is able to be evaluated.

Disease progression in the contralateral carotid artery after endarterectomy.

Our objectives were to establish the incidence and progression of stenotic lesions in the contralateral carotid artery (CCA) after endarterectomy, to identify subpopulations of patients at risk of contralateral disease progression, and to evaluate the efficacy of duplex scanning surveillance at detecting these lesions. We performed a prospective study on 180 patients in whom the CCA to the operated artery was healthy or showed <70% stenosis. All patients had completed a clinical and hemodynamic follow-up program, including duplex scanning of both carotids, with sessions 3 and 6 months after surgery and then every semester until 2 years. Thereafter, examinations were scheduled according to the severity of stenosis. Mean follow-up time was 26.2 months (range 1.6-67.6). Disease progression was observed in 26 lesions (15%), nine of which (5.5%) progressed to severe stenosis (SS). Kaplan-Meier event-free rates of any disease progression were 89%, 88%, 82%, and 79% for 1, 2, 3, and 4 years, respectively. Event-free rates of progression to SS were 98%, 96%, 93%, and 90.6%, respectively, for 1, 2, 3, and 4 years. The risk of progression to SS was five times higher for stenoses that were moderate at the start of the study (p = 0.025). Severe contralateral stenoses were more common and appeared later during follow-up than ipsilateral restenoses. Progression of contralateral stenotic lesions is not uncommon and is essentially related to the presence of a moderate lesion at the start of follow-up. Indeed, moderate stenosis is a risk factor for progression to SS, which appears later and more frequently than ipsilateral restenosis. It therefore seems that patients with a moderate contralateral lesion would benefit from long-term duplex ultrasound surveillance.