Endovascular Stent-Graft Repair of True and False Aneurysms of the Splenic Artery.

OBJECTIVE: In treatment of aneurysms (SAAs) and pseudoaneurysms (SAPs) of the splenic artery, endovascular coil embolization is the approach most commonly used as it is minimally invasive and safe. However, it carries a significant rate of primary failure (up to 30%) and might be complicated by splenic infarction. The use of stent grafts might represent a valuable alternative when specific anatomical criteria are respected. We report a comprehensive review on technical and clinical outcomes achieved in this setting. Methods: We performed a comprehensive review of the literature through the MedLine and Cochrane databases (from January 2000 to December 2023) on reported cases of stenting for SAAs and SAPs. Outcomes of interest were clinical and technical success and related complications. The durability of the procedure in the long-term was also investigated. Results: Eighteen papers were included in the analysis, totalling 41 patients (n = 20 male 48.8%, mean age 55.5, range 32-82 years; n = 31, 75.6% SAAs). Mean aneurysm diameter in non-ruptured cases was 35 mm (range 20-67 mm), and most lesions were detected at the proximal third of the splenic artery. Stent grafting was performed in an emergent setting in n = 10 (24.3%) cases, achieving immediate clinical and technical success rate in 90.2% (n = 37) of patients regardless of the type of stent-graft used. There were no procedure-related deaths, but one patient died in-hospital from septic shock and n = 2 (4.9%) patients experienced splenic infarction. At the last available follow-up, the complete exclusion of the aneurysm was confirmed in 87.8% of cases (n = 36/41), while no cases of aneurysm growing nor endoleak were reported. None of the patients required re-intervention during follow-up. Conclusions: When specific anatomical criteria are respected, endovascular repair of SAAs and SAAPs using stent grafts appears to be safe and effective, and seems to display a potential advantage in respect to simple coil embolization, preserving the patient from the risk of end-organ ischemia.

Re-hospital admission, morbidity and mortality rate in patients undergoing tunnelled catheter implantation for haemodialysis.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the effort to increase the proportion of patients starting dialysis on native accesses, many of them are still dialyzed on tunnelled catheter. Catheter-related complications are often serious and responsible for re-hospital admission, high morbidity and mortality. Several multicenter trials have reported results in the use of tunnelled dialysis catheter (TDC). However, few single-center studies have been published to verify the outcome from real-world experience. This study presents our center's experience in managing such patients in the context of relevant literature. METHODS: Demographics and operative data were retrospectively collected from medical charts. A prospective follow-up was performed to investigate complications, number of re-hospitalizations and mortality. Kaplan-Meier estimate was used to evaluate catheter primary patency and patients' overall survival. RESULTS: Among a total 298 haemodialysis accesses interventions, 105 patients (56 men, 53.3% and 49 women, 46.7%) with a median age of 65 years (range 32-88 years) were included in the study. All insertions were successful with an optimal blood flow achieved during the first session of dialysis in all cases. A catheter-related complication was detected in 33.3% (n=35) patients (48.6% infections; 28.6% TDC dysfunction; 14.3% local complications; 5.7% accidental catheter retractions; 2.8% catheter migrations). At a median follow-up of 10.5±8.5 months, a total of 85 patients (80.9%) was re-hospitalized, in 28 cases (26.7%) for a catheter-related cause. The median catheter patency rate was 122 days. At the last follow-up, 39 patients (37.1%) were still dialyzed on catheter, 30(28.6%) were dialyzed on an arteriovenous fistula and 7(6.7%) received a kidney transplantation. Two patients (2%) were transferred to peritoneal dialysis and two patients (2%) recover from renal insufficiency. Mortality rate was 23.8% (25 patients). Causes of death were myocardial infarction (n=13, 52%), sepsis (n=9, 36%); one patient (4%) died from pneumonia, one (4%) from uremic encephalopathy and one (4%) from massive hematemesis. CONCLUSION: TDCs may represent the only possible access in some patients, however they are burned with a high rate of complications, re-hospital admission and mortality. Results from this institutional experience are in line with previously published literature data in terms of morbidity and mortality. The present results reiterate once more that TDC must be regarded as a temporary solution while permanent access creation should be prioritized. Strict surveillance should be held in patients having TDC for the early identification of complications allowing the prompt treatment and modifying the catheter insertion site whenever needed.

Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm in women: many questions remain regarding their poor outcome.

Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) affect approximately 5.9/100,000 persons per year, with a male:female ratio of approximately 1.5-1.7:1. Data exploring sex-related variations in epidemiology and clinical presentation are scarce, as women are normally under-represented in clinical trials. As female hormones and their receptors greatly impact the functions of the vascular cells and aneurysm etiology and extent, the age at surgery and comorbidities also differ between men and women. Additionally, female patients have smaller anatomic structures, including visceral/infrarenal aorta and iliac arteries, than most men. Thus, aneurysms of a certain diameter can represent more advanced disease in women comparatively, than the same-sized aneurysms in males, and be the cause of delayed and often emergent treatment. Adjusting the aortic diameter threshold is recommended for surgery using aortic size index (ASI) [aortic diameter in cm/body surface area (BSA) in m2] or aortic height index (AHI) (aortic diameter in cm/patient height in m) indices in patients who are significantly shorter or taller than average, but no specific sex-related size criteria have been indicated so far for TAAA. Data about TAAA outcomes are conflicting, but female sex has been demonstrated to be an independent risk factor for increased major postoperative complications (i.e., bleeding, acute limb ischemia, renal failure, bowel ischemia, spinal cord ischemia) with longer hospital and intensive unit care stay and in-hospital and 30-day mortality following endovascular treatment and increased long-term mortality following open repair. Despite this evidence, sex does not influence TAAA management strategies and currently the allocation to open or endovascular repair is based on anatomy and clinical setting. In light of these disadvantaged outcomes, further efforts are needed to better understand the sex-related differences in the TAAA diagnosis and management in order to allow prompt and appropriate treatment of female patients.

Spinal Cord Protection During Thoracic and Thoracoabdominal Endovascular Aortic Repair: 5-Year Results of a Preventive Protocol Including Prophylactic Cerebrospinal Fluid Drainage in High-Risk Patients.

PURPOSE: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating complication of thoracoabdominal aortic (TAA) repair. The use of prophylactic cerebrospinal fluid drainage (CSFD) as part of a protective protocol during endovascular repair is controversial. This article reports the results of the prophylactic use of CSFD as part of the of a prevention protocol implemented in 2016. METHODS: Retrospective review of spinal cord outcomes (SCI rate and CSFD-related complications) in patients treated endovascularly for TAA disease at a single institution from 2016 (implementation of an institutional SCI risk reduction protocol) to 2021. Patients were classified as high risk (≥2 factors), intermediate risk (1 factor), or low risk (0 factor). Only high-risk patients without contraindications underwent a prophylactic CSFD placement. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-one patients were analyzed (124 males; 69.6 years): 130 (69%) aneurysms (n=24 thoracic, n=28 Crawford 1-2-3, and n=78 Crawford 4/pararenal), 35 (19.9%) chronic aneurysmal dissections, and 16 (8.8%) acute complicated type B dissections. Interventions were staged in 31 (17.2%) cases, and consisted of 74 (41%) Thoracic EndoVascular Aneurysm Repair (TEVAR) and 107 (59%) Fenestrated Branched EndoVascular Aneurysm Repair (F-BEVAR). Sixty-nine (38.1%) patients were identified as being at high risk of SCI and CSFD was used prophylactically in 64 of them (4 failures and 1 contraindication). Spinal cord injury occurred in 8 cases (4 paraparesis, 4 paraplegias including 2 permanent), of which 3 had a prophylactic CSFD and 5 underwent rescue drainage. In addition, 4 patients developed SCI related to prophylactic CSFD (intradural hematoma), resulting in 1 paraparesis and 3 paraplegias. Other CSFD-related complications were mild (6) or moderate (2), for a total of 12 complications (17%). Factors associated with major drain complications were: curative anticoagulation 36 hours after drain removal (n=1), multiple punctures (n=1), platelet count <100 000 at drain removal (n=1), and bipolar disorder (n=2). Overall, 4 patients had permanent paraplegia and 1 had sphincter dysfunction at the last follow-up. Mean follow-up was 17 months. Mortality was 4.4% at 30 days and 13.3% at 18 months, including 3 (1.6%) aortic-related deaths. CONCLUSIONS: With the protocol we used to protect the spinal cord, we report results comparable with the SCI literature and highlight the risks associated with prophylactic CSFD use, which requires a better understanding of contraindications.

Risk Factors for Spinal Cord Injury during Endovascular Repair of Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm: Review of the Literature and Proposal of a Prognostic Score.

Despite recent improvements, spinal cord ischemia remains the most feared and dramatic complication following extensive aortic repair. Although endovascular procedures are associated with a lower risk compared with open procedures, this risk is still significant and must be considered. A combined medical and surgical approach may help to optimize the tolerance of the spinal cord to ischemia. The aim of this review is to describe the underlying mechanism involved in spinal cord injury during extensive endovascular aortic repair, to describe the different techniques used to improve spinal cord tolerance to ischemia-including the prophylactic or curative use of spinal drainage-and to propose our algorithm for spinal cord protection and the rational use of spinal drainage.

Obesity is Not Associated with Adverse Perioperative or Poorer Clinical Outcomes following Thoracic and Fenestrated-Branched Endovascular Aortic Repair.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for higher morbidity and mortality following open aortic repair but currently there is limited literature on its impact on clinical and procedural outcomes following thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and branched-fenestrated endovascular aortic repair (B-FEVAR). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-control analysis of a prospectively collected nonrandomized database to evaluate the effects of obesity on procedural and clinical outcomes after B-FEVAR/TEVAR in treatment of pararenal/thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm and dissection at the University hospital of Nantes (France) between January 2016 and December 2021. Patients were divided in 2 groups according to their body mass index (BMI) and the rate of technical success, complications (renal, pulmonary, cardiac, and neurological events), 30-day and long-term survival, freedom from target vessel instability and reintervention were compared. RESULTS: 195 patients were included (mean age 69.6 DS±11.2; n = 135, 69.2% men; mean BMI: 26.6 kg/m2 range 19-41) totalling n = 72 (36.8%) TEVAR, n = 107 (55.4%) FEVAR and n = 14 (7.3%) BEVAR. Patients were divided in 2 groups [obese: BMI≥30 kg/m2n = 52 (26.7%); and nonobese, BMI<30 kg/m2, n = 143 (73.3%) that statistically differed only in terms of coronary artery disease (obese 42.3% vs. 26.6% nonobese, P = 0.035) and diabetes (obese 25% vs. 12.6% nonobese, P = 0.03). No statistical differences were noted in primary technical (94.2% vs. 94.4%, P = 1.00) and clinical (92.3% vs. 95.1%, P = 0.49) success. Overall morbidity (30.8% vs. 21.1%, P = 0.16), visceral vessels instability (1.9% vs. 1.4% P = 1.00), reintervention rate within 30 days (9.6% vs. 5.6% P = 0.33), 90 days (7.7% vs. 9.8%, P = 0.78) and during follow-up (9.8% vs. 20%, P = 0.14) were comparable. No statistical difference were noted in 30-day mortality (3.8% vs. 4.9%, P = 1.00) and the 2-year follow-up survival (86.8% vs. 78.4%, P = 0.180) between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, obesity was not associated to worst clinical outcomes or higher mortality rate following TEVAR/B-FEVAR. However, considering our small patient sample, a conclusive analysis on obesity as risk factors for adverse events after endovascular treatment is not possible. A larger sample from the collaboration of multiple centers will be required to obtain definitive conclusions.

Treatment outlines for the management of primary leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava.

Primary venous Leiomyosarcoma (LMSs) are extremely rare tumours with poor survival rates. Surgery is currently the only potentially curative therapy in non-metastatic disease, but it consists in challenging interventions. The authors report the experience of one single centre in the treatment of LMS and a literature overview focusing on the diverse methods of vessels repair. Outcomes achieved are also outlined.

The Fate of Hemodialysis Vascular Access After Kidney Transplantation: Why Ligation Should Not Be Systematically Performed?

BACKGROUND: After renal transplant, the haemodialysis (HD) vascular access (VA) is often maintained in the event of graft failure but evidence to recommend the systematic ligation/maintenance are lacking. We investigate the effects of VA preservation/ligation in successfully transplanted patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing successful renal transplantation after HD were conducted. Patients with a functioning VA, those undergoing ligation or presenting with post-transplantation spontaneous thrombosis were included. Demographics, comorbidities, reasons for ligation, need for secondary interventions, complications and return in dialysis were assessed. RESULTS: Out of 542 HD patients, 114 (76, 66.7% male, median age 50 years, range 20-70) were included. Eight (7%) accesses thrombosed in a mean of 1.4 days (range 1-3) after transplant; 42 (36.8%) fistulas were ligated and 64 (56.1%) preserved. The reasons for ligation were patient's request (35, 83.3%), steal syndrome (5, 11.9%), heart failure (1, 2.4%) and aneurysmal degeneration (1, 2.4%).During a mean follow-up of 724.9 days (range 80-1082) 25 patients developed complications over the maintained access (40% of stenosis; 32% high flow and 28% thrombosis); 18 (15.8%) needed reoperation; 17 (15%) required further HD. Multivariate analysis showed that coronary artery disease (OR= 12.566 [2.056-76.805], P < 0.06) or age >60 years (OR=0.181 [0.044-0.735], P = 0.017) were risk factor for complications over unused VA. CONCLUSIONS: The ligation of a functioning VA after renal transplant should evaluated on an individualized basis. Patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease or aged >60 years should be monitored closely up as they are at higher risk of complications.

An observational assessment of aortic deformation during infrarenal and complex endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: Real-time aortic deformation during endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) has not been reported. Successful EVAR relies on predicting intraoperative aortic-endograft deformation from preoperative imaging. Correct prediction is essential, because malalignment of endografts decreases patient survival. We describe intraoperative aortic deformation during infrarenal EVAR and complex fenestrated/branched EVAR (F/BEVAR), relating deformation to preoperative anatomy and follow-up outcomes. METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective cohort of aortic aneurysm patients undergoing operation between January 2019 and February 2021, substratified by repair, infrarenal EVAR (n = 50), F/BEVAR (n = 80), and iliac branch graft with F/B/EVAR (IBG + F/B/EVAR; n = 27), were compared using software-based nonrigid two- and three-dimensional aortic deformational intraoperative assessment (CYDAR). Preoperative computed tomography reconstructions of aortic and iliac tortuosities were assessed against intraoperative deformation, the primary outcome, and related to perioperative and follow-up adverse outcomes. RESULTS: All treatment groups had low preoperative visceral aortic tortuosity; the EVAR group had higher iliac tortuosity (1.43 ± 0.05; P = .018). Intraoperative aortic visceral deformation was consistently cranial and anterior; IBG + F/B/EVAR patients had the largest magnitude deformation (superior mesenteric artery, EVAR 5.1 ± 0.9 mm; F/BEVAR 4.4 ± 0.4 mm; IBG 8.3 ± 1.2 mm; P = .004). Celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery, and bilateral renal artery deformations were correlated (R = 0.923-0.983). Iliac deformation was variable in magnitude and direction. Preoperative tortuosity was not correlated with the magnitude of intraoperative deformation nor was deformation magnitude related to endograft instability during follow-up, including endoleak development, reinterventions, or visceral vessel complications. CONCLUSIONS: The aorta deforms consistently during EVAR at the visceral aortic segment but unpredictably at the iliac bifurcation. Aortoiliac deformation is unrelated to adverse perioperative outcomes, branch instability, or reinterventions during short-term follow-up.

Glue Embolization in the Management of Rectus Sheath Hematomas.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the results achieved in the management of rectus sheath hematoma (RSH) using glue embolization. METHOD: Data about all consecutive patients presenting with RSH, between January 2005 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. RSHs were classified according to the Berna CT scan Classification. Clinical and technical outcomes were evaluated during in-hospital period and 1-month follow-up. RESULTS: Among 74 patients presenting with RSH, CTA revealed an active bleeding in 61 (n = 42, 69% women; median age = 68.8 y range: 47-91). 19 cases of type 1 RSH (25.7%), under anticoagulation therapy and hemodynamically stable, were successfully managed conservatively. Conversely, endovascular embolization with cyanoacrylate glue diluted with ethiodized oil (Lipiodol Ultrafluid, Guerbet, France) was needed in n = 42 (56.8%) patients, in 16 cases after failure of conservative management; a single session of percutaneous glue embolization was adequate to achieve technical and clinical success in all patients with stabilization or progressive improvement of hemoglobin values after procedure (7.1 + 1.8 g/dL pre-procedure vs 11.1 + 1.6 g/dL post-procedure). No major complications occurred. Two minor complications were reported: 1 case (2.4%) of puncture site-related complication (local self-limiting hematoma) and 1 case (2.4%) of post-embolization syndrome (abdominal pain) spontaneously regressive. The median hospital stay was 7 d. At 30-day follow-up, 2 patients (2.7%) died of multiorgan failure. CONCLUSIONS: In the management of RSH, glue embolization was shown to be safe and efficacious. Glue allowed the immediate occlusion of both the "front and back doors" of bleeding without the need to reach the bleeding point, preventing potentially life-threatening recurrence.

Single Centre Experience in Open and Endovascular Treatment of Renal Artery Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: The true incidence and natural history of renal artery aneurysm (RAA) remain unclear and still exists controversy over indication for treatment. Several techniques of conventional surgical reconstructions are described in literature, and more recently endovascular therapies have been reported with satisfying results and lower complication rate. This paper aims to investigate the outcomes of both endovascular and open repair of RAA achieved in a single institution involving 3 medical teams (urology, vascular surgery and neuroradiology). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a single-centre retrospective observational study about all patients surgically or endovascularly treated for RAA over a 15-year period. Pre-operative, procedural and post-operative data at the early, mid- and long-term follow-up were collected and analysed, focusing on operative technique used for repair and related outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients (n = 17 (63%) women, mean age 58 ± 13.2, n = 26 saccular RAA) were included. Mean aneurysm was size was 18.8 ± 6.3 mm. Most diagnosis were accidental. Symptomatic RAA showed with macroscopic haematuria (n = 3, 25.9%), unstable hypertension (n = 2; 7%), chronic lumbar pain (n = 1, 3.7%) and renal infarct (n = 1, 3.7%). Conventional surgery (ex-vivo repair, aneurysmorraphy, aneurysm resection and end-to-end anastomosis) was performed in 14 (51.8%) cases and endovascular coiling embolization in 13 (48.2%). Mean hospital length of stay was 5.4 ± 3.6 days. Intensive Care Unit stay was needed only in the surgically treated patients (mean 1.1 ± 1.2 days). During the early follow-up, morbidity rate was 7/14 in surgically treated patients vs. 1/13 in endovascular group; it included bleeding, retroperitoneal hematoma, arterial thrombosis and bowel obstruction. The discharge imaging showed complete aneurysm exclusion and renal artery patency in all cases. At a mean follow-up of 39 ± 42 months, 3 patients (11%) were lost to follow up and 2 (7.4 %) died from unrelated cause. None of these patients required dialysis but a statistically significant (P = 0.09) decrease in GFR was noted between the preoperative period and last follow-up control. RAA repair neither showed blood pressure control improvement nor reduced the need for anti-hypertensive drug use. CONCLUSION: Open or endovascular techniques are both safe and efficient to treat RAA. Even though, surgical management is burdened with higher morbidity rate, the operative technique should be selected according to anatomical features, diameters and location of RRA; and the number of renal branches involved. Further larger studies are needed to define the feasibility and safety for a wider application of the endovascular approach.

The Results of The Interposition Graft-Technique in Treatment of High Flow Vascular Access.

OBJECTIVE: High-flow (HF) vascular access (VA) is a fearsome condition potentially responsible for cardiac or pulmonary complications, steal syndrome and hand ischemia. The present study was conducted to report the results achieved in a group of patients undergoing interposition-graft technique to treat HF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An analysis of clinical, ultrasound and echocardiography data collected from the review of medical charts was performed. Flow reduction, complications and need for secondary interventions were investigated. RESULTS: Among a total 498 hemodialysis access interventions performed during a 6-years period, 30 patients (n 15, 50% male, median age 63.5, range 42-91 years) presented with high-flow (median flow 1.9 L/min, range 1.5-4 L/min). 18 patients were asymptomatic (60%); 6 (20%) suffered from a severe distal hand ischemia; 5 (16.6%) developed signs of congestive heart failure and 1 patient (3.3%) presented with pulmonary hypertension. In twenty patients (66.7%) the access was preserved by the interposition of a 6 mm polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE) prosthesis. This approach was used as a primary flow reduction technique in 16 patients (80%) or the failure of a previously attempted procedure in 4 cases. No intraoperative complications were observed. Post-operative median VA flow was 1.1 L/min (range 0.900-2 L/min), with a median flow reduction of 0.770 L/min (range 0.100-2.8 L/min). At a median follow-up of 9 months (range 1-42), 95% (n 19) of patients were free from recurrences. CONCLUSION: In treatment of HF-VA graft interposition demonstrated satisfactory results at the mid-term follow-up. More data are needed to affirm this technique as the preferential one.

Late onset infection of covered and bare metal arterial stents.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to present the case of a late covered iliac stent late infection and report a comprehensive literature review on diagnosis and outcomes in this setting. METHODS: A comprehensive review of the literature was performed through MedLine by two independent reviewers from 1990 to 2020 on reported cases of arterial stent late onset infection over arterial stents. The data about on the risk factors, clinical presentation, treatment and outcomes were collected. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies were selected as pertinent for the analysis, totalling 24 patients including the indexed case. Infection occurred at a median of 22 months postoperatively (range 2-120 months) over a bare metal stent in 66.7% (n 16) of cases versus 33.3% (n 8) over a covered stent. Clinical presentation included local symptoms (local pain, oedema, petechiae or skin rash) in 21 (87.5%) cases and non-specific systemic symptoms (fever, sepsis, chills and leucocytosis) in 8 cases (33.3%). In 4 cases (16.7%), patients presented with haemorrhagic shock upon arterial rupture. The bacteria most frequently encountered were S. aureus (54.2% of cases). Several factors were supposed to be responsible for the infection including among which procedure-related (non-aseptic technique, lack of prophylactic antibiotics and repetitive punctures at the access site) or related to pre-existing patient's clinical conditions (immunosuppression, diabetes and concurrent infection) have been considered responsible for the infection. Treatment consisted in antibiotics alone (2 patients, 8.3%) or in association with surgical explant, both with or and without revascularization (n 21, 87.5%). In one case, an endovascular coiling was performed. Complications occurred in 29.2% (n 7) of cases and included the need for amputation, bowel resection, endocarditis, pulmonary failure or pneumonia. Overall, three patients (12.5%) died from a septic shock or multi-organ failure. CONCLUSIONS: Intravascular stent infection is a rare but fearsome condition associated with high morbidity and mortality.

Two-year single centre results with covered endovascular reconstruction of aortic bifurcation (CERAB) in the treatment of extensive aorto-iliac occlusive disease.

OBJECTIVE: To report the results of a single-centre in the treatment of extensive aorto-iliac occlusive disease (AIOD) by the covered endovascular reconstruction of aortic bifurcation (CERAB) technique. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on data obtained from the review of medical charts of all consecutive patients treated with CERAB technique for AIOD between January 2016 and December 2019 in San Giovanni-Addolorata Hospital (Rome, Italy). Clinical examination, duplex ultrasound with ankle-brachial index measurement and contrast-enhanced computed tomography angiography were performed preoperatively. A clinical and ultrasound follow-up was carried out at one month and then half yearly after the intervention to evaluate patients' clinical status, limb salvage, target lesion revascularization rate, primary and secondary patency rate. RESULTS: During the study period, 24 patients (14 men, 58.3%; 10 women, 41.7%; median age 59 years, range 37-79 years) underwent CERAB for AIOD (TASC II C 29.2%, TASC II D 70.8%). Indications for treatment were: intermittent claudication in 18 patients (75%) and critical limb ischemia in 6 (25%). Technical success was achieved in all cases. Perioperative minor complications occurred in three cases (12.5%). One patient reported an intraoperative iliac rupture requiring adjunctive covered stenting. Median hospital length of stay was two days (range 1-9). No patient died perioperatively nor at the last follow-up. At a median follow-up of 18 months (range 6-48 months), mean ankle-brachial index increased significantly (from 0.62 ± 0.15 before the procedure to 0.84 ± 0.18) (P < 0.001) and target lesion revascularization rate was 12.5%. At two years, the limb salvage rate was 100%, and primary and secondary patency rates were 87.5% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: CERAB technique demonstrated to be effective at the mid-term follow-up with low rate of complications and short length of stay. Long-term results and more robust data are needed to affirm this technique as the first-line treatment for extensive AIOD. However, it could become the preferred option especially in fragile patients and during contemporary COVID-19 pandemic due to the current limitations in vascular and critical care bed capacity.

Shamblin III Chemodectoma: The vascular surgeon's point of view.

Chemodectomas (CBTs) are the most frequently encountered tumours at the carotid bifurcation. Even if rare and commonly benign, their development close to the head and neck structures is often source of morbidity by compression and infiltration. Therefore, in order to avoid permanent neurologic or vascular complications these infrequent lesions need to be early removed. The total excision may be technically challenging and requires extensive expertise in surgical neck anatomy and a cooperative multidisciplinary approach. Almost a quarter of CBTs infiltrate carotid vessels so vascular expertise is pivotal in their resection. The present study aims to give an overview of vascular specificity and procedures required during surgical excision of such tumors to assist and guide treating physicians who encounter CBTs. This overview will particularly emphasize current therapeutic options: we discuss the referral criteria that should guide the decision about what type of preoperative care and surgical procedure should be offered to the affected patients. We also specify the epidemiologic data, screening recommendations and outcomes achieved with the different therapeutic approaches. The clinical, operative and follow-up data about a case of a Shamblin III carotid body tumour surgically removed by a multidisciplinary team at our Institution are also reported.

Cardioband removal for secondary mitral valve regurgitation: pitfall and surgical technique.

Mitral regurgitation is a challenging condition, especially in patients at high risk for open heart surgery. Nowadays, trans-catheter procedures for treatment of valvular disorders represent a valid alternative to traditional surgical techniques. These include not only the trans-catheter valve implants but also other percutaneous devices used to repair native valves, notably mitral valve. However, in case of failure, mis-placement, or unsatisfactory results of percutaneous devices, explant and correction of the valvular disease may be required. In such scenarios, only traditional surgery techniques can be efficacious. A case of Cardioband System (Edwards Lifescience, Irvine, CA, USA) surgical explant and valve replacement for persisting mitral valve regurgitation is reported. The technical details and pitfalls of the surgical removal procedure are discussed.

Coronary stent infection: Are patients amenable to surgical treatment? A systematic review and narrative synthesis.

OBJECTIVE: Coronary stent infection is a fearsome complication with high mortality rate. Since antibiotics may have only partial efficacy, invasive surgery may be needed. We present a systematic review about outcomes achieved by surgical versus medical treatment in this scenario. METHODS: A literature search through Medline and Google Scholar was performed over a 30-years period according to PRISMA guidelines. Demographics, clinical data, imaging findings and treatment modalities were collected. Outcomes were analysed according to treatment. RESULTS: Among 1727 articles identified, after duplicate removal the title/abstract screening excluded 821 articles. After full-text screening, 31 studies were included totalling 34 patients (n 28, 82.4% male, mean age 61.7 SD +/- 10 years old). The majority of infection were sustained by S. Aureus (n 28, 82.4%), occurred within one month (median 7 days, range 1-1440) from stenting and mostly over drug-eluting stents (n21, 61.8%). The majority of patients (n30, 88.2%) underwent antibiotics at first: 12 patients (35.3%) didn't undergo additional treatment because they died, were unfit or refused major surgery or responded favorably to medical treatment; surgery was scheduled in a total of 20 patients (58.8%), as an emergent approach (n2) or after failure of antibiotics (n18). More than half of patients medically treated died (n6/11, 54.5%) versus 35% (n7/20) in surgery group. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary stent infections are associated with high morbi-mortality rate. Medical treatment may be the only possible approach in extremely fragile patients, however timely surgical referral is the only definitive treatment, and it is recommended whenever possible.

The Minimally Invasive Treatment of Visceral Artery Pseudoaneurysms: A Retrospective Observational Single Centre Cohort Study on Glue Embolization.

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to report a single centre experience in the embolization of visceral artery pseudoaneurysms with N-butyl-cyanoacrylate-methacryloxy sulfolane (NBCA-MS). METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted on data about all consecutive patients treated for visceral artery pseudoaneurysms in the Interventional Radiology Unit of SS Annunziata Hospital, in Taranto (Italy) between January 2016 and July 2020. Only patients treated with NBCA-MS embolization were included. Clinical and technical outcomes were evaluated during in-hospital stay and at 3-month follow-up by computed angiotomography (CTA). RESULTS: Among 89 patients undergoing treatment for visceral artery pseudoaneurysm, a total of 58 (65.2%) patients (n = 32, 55.2% men; median age 45.8 years, range: 35-81) treated with NBCA-MS only were enrolled. Pseudoaneurysms were located in the renal artery (n = 18 cases, 31%), in the splenic artery (n = 27, 46.6%), in the intra-parenchymal hepatic artery (n = 3, 5.2%), in the common hepatic artery (n = 4, 6.9%) or in the pancreatic artery (n = 6, 10.3%). N-butyl-cyanoacrylate was diluted 1:1 with Lipiodol ultra-fluid, and mean volume injected was 0.6 ± 0.3 mL (range: 0.2-2.8 mL). Embolization was technically and clinically successful in all patients (n = 58, 100%) with an immediate total thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm at the completion angiography. No systemic complications were noted in all cases. Five cases (8.6%) of non-target vessel embolization occurred without any clinical complication. No pseudoaneurysm recurrence was detected at the CTA control 1 day postoperatively. In one case (1.7%), a recurrence was detected 4 days after the initial treatment and successfully managed by a repeated NBCA-MS embolization. During the hospital stay, 56 patients recovered well but 2 (3.4%) died from multi-organ failure not related to the embolization. No recurrences were detected at the 3-month postoperative CTA in the remaining patients. CONCLUSIONS: In properly selected patients affected with visceral artery pseudoaneurysms, NBCA-MS represents a definitive and safe embolization agent.