Comparison of percutaneous closure systems for large bore vascular access sites in endovascular procedures.

Backgrounds: The vascular closure device (VCD) is a medical device used for achieving hemostasis of vascular access sites greater than 8 Fr. We compared complications after placement of Perclose ProGlide (Abbott Vascular, USA), a percutaneous suture-mediated closure system, with MANTA VCD (Teleflex Vascular, USA), a collagen-based closure device. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed procedures performed between 2016 and 2021. We compared the incidence of bleeding complications according to the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) and Valve Academic Research Consortium-3 (VARC-3) criteria. The comparison was made between two cohorts of patients: in the first, vascular access sites were closed with a double Perclose ProGlide system, and in the second with an 18 Fr MANTA VCD. Results: A total of 189 patients were included in the study, out of which 63% were male and 37% were female, with a median age of 79 (72-83) years. All devices were used for femoral arterial access closure. A double Perclose ProGlide was used in 91 (48%) patients, while MANTA VCD was used in 98 patients (52%). The distribution of patients by VARC-3 and BARC bleeding criteria differs between groups (p = 0.017). A significantly higher incidence of VARC 1 (14% vs. 4%; p = 0.020) and BARC 1-2 (14% vs. 4%; p = 0.020) complications in the Perclose ProGlide cohort was observed. VARC 3 (1% vs. 5%; p = 0.213) and BARC 3b (1% vs. 5%; p = 0.213) complications showed higher, but statistically non-significant rates of major bleeding complications in the MANTA VCD cohort. The need for subsequent surgical revision did not show a significant difference between the cohorts (2% vs. 6%; p = 0.281). Conclusion: The Perclose ProGlide cohort was associated with a significantly higher rate of milder complications. MANTA VCD cohort had a higher rate of major bleeding complications, requiring more complex treatment with a potentially larger impact on quality of life.

Drug-Coated Balloon Versus Drug-Eluting Stent in Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Drug-eluting stents (DES) represent a significant evolution in the treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction with ST elevation. However, stent-related adverse events have led to an introduction of drug-coated balloons (DCB) applied particularly to bifurcation lesions, in-stent restenosis and small vessel disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether a DCB-only strategy has a similar safety profile and equal angiographic and clinical outcomes to DES implantation in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five patients with acute myocardial infarction with ST elevation were randomized into DES and DCB groups of 37 and 38 patients, respectively. The study end-points were major adverse cardiac events and late lumen loss during the 6 months following the pPCI. RESULTS: Reinfarction occurred in 5.4% of patients in the DES and 5.3% of patients in the DCB group after 1 month (risk ratio = 1.03, 95% CI [0.15-6.91], P = 0.98). After 6 months, major adverse cardiac events were reported in 5.4% of patients in the DES group and none in the DCB group (risk ratio = 5.13, 95% CI [0.25-103.42], P = 0.29). Late lumen loss in the DES group was 0.10 ± 0.19mm and -0.09 ± 0.09mm in the DCB group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A DCB-only strategy is safe and feasible in the pPCI setting and showed good clinical and angiographic outcomes in a 6-month follow-up period.

Soluble adhesion molecules in patients with acute coronary syndrome after percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-coated balloon, drug-eluting stent or bare metal stent.

Adhesion molecules play an important role in inflammation, atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD). These molecules are expressed on the surface of dysfunctional endothelial cells, causing inflammatory cells from the circulation to adhere and migrate through the endothelium. Their expression is upregulated in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The contact between stent struts and endothelium upregulates endothelial cell gene expression, endothelial cell activation and inflammation. The paclitaxel or sirolimus eluting stents inhibited expression of adhesion molecules in several studies and reduced the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) after drug-eluting stent (DES) over bare metal stent (BMS) implantation. Therefore, we propose that elevated serum levels of the soluble adhesion molecules after primary PCI in patients treated with BMS or DES implantation versus drug-coated balloon (DCB) application to the vulnerable coronary plaque might be a predictor of MACE and further adverse outcomes. Consequently, DCB-only strategy in patients with ACS might be a superior approach in comparison to BMS implantation and non-inferior approach when compared to DES implantation.

Fine needle aspiration cytology in the evaluation of parotid gland tumors.

Main objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness and accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) diagnosis of parotid masses to distinguish reliably between benign and malignant lesions. In the period of 5 years, 214 parotid glands were resected at the Rijeka University Hospital Center (Croatia), but 176 patients had cytopathological and histopathological diagnoses and therefore fulfilled the criteria for study. The results of the FNAC were analyzed and compared to the corresponding histopathological diagnosis obtained from the surgical specimen. Histological evaluation revealed 17malignant and 159 benign lesions. There were 13 true positive, 147 true negative, 3 false negative, and 13 false positive. Sensitivity of FNAC was 81%, and specificity was 98%. FNAC results provide useful predictive preoperative information and better preparation the surgeon and patient for surgical procedure.

Risk factors for wound infection after oral cancer surgery.

Wound infection is a common complication after oral cancer surgery and may result in significant functional morbidity, poor cosmetic results and prolonged hospitalization. The purpose of this study was to identify the most important factors contributing to operative wound infections in patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer. A retrospective review of complications in 111 patients after oral and oropharynx cancer surgery with an immediate reconstruction is presented. Potential risk factors for infection were categorized based on the patient, the disease, and the treatment. Flap-related complications developed in 73 patients (65.76%). Wound infection occurred in 69 (62.12%), and a fistula in 10 patients (9%). Other complications developed in 41.44% of the patients. The analysis of risk factors for the development of infection showed the following factors to be significant: male sex, T and S tumour stages, reconstruction, tracheostomy, nasogastric tube or gastrostomy feeding and extent of surgery.