Going the (social) distance: Comparing the effectiveness of online versus in-person Internal Jugular Central Venous Catheterization procedural training.

BACKGROUND: This study compares surgical residents' knowledge acquisition of ultrasound-guided Internal Jugular Central Venous Catheterization (US-IJCVC) between in-person and online procedural training cohorts before receiving independent in-person Dynamic Haptic Robotic Simulation training. METHODS: Three surgical residency procedural training cohorts, two in-person (N = 26) and one online (N = 14), were compared based on their performance on a 24-item US-IJCVC evaluation checklist completed by an expert physician completed after training. Pre- and post-training US-IJCVC knowledge was also compared for the online cohort. RESULTS: No significant change in the pass rates on the US-IJCVC checklist was found between in-person and online cohorts (p = 0.208). There were differences in the Economy of Time and Motion between in-person and online cohorts (p < 0.005). The online cohort had significant increases in US-IJCVC knowledge pre-to post-training (p < 0.008). CONCLUSION: Online training with independent simulation practice was as effective as in-person training for US-IJCVC.

From the simulation center to the bedside: Validating the efficacy of a dynamic haptic robotic trainer in internal jugular central venous catheter placement.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to validate the transfer of ultrasound-guided Internal Jugular Central Venous Catheterization (US-IJCVC) placement skills from training on a Dynamic Haptic Robotic Trainer (DHRT), to placing US-IJCVCs in clinical environments. DHRT training greatly reduces preceptor time by providing automated feedback, standardizes learning experiences, and quantifies skill improvements. METHODS: Expert observers evaluated DHRT-trained (N = 21) and manikin-trained (N = 36) surgical residents on US-IJCVC placement in the operating suite using a US-IJCVC evaluation form. Performance and errors by DHRT-trained residents were compared to traditional manikin-trained residents. RESULTS: There were no significant training group differences between unsuccessful insertions (p = 0.404), assistance on procedure (p = 0.102), arterial puncture (p = 0.998), and average number of insertion attempts (p = 0.878). Regardless of training group, previous central line experience significantly predicted whether residents needed assistance on the procedure (p = 0.033). CONCLUSION: The results failed to show a statistical difference between DHRT- and manikin-trained residents. This study validates the transfer of skills from training on the DHRT system to performing US-IJCVC in clinical environments.

OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT METRICS FOR CENTRAL LINE SIMULATORS: AN EXPLORATION OF CAUSAL FACTORS.

The Dynamic Haptic Robotic Trainer (DHRT) was developed to minimize the up to 39% of adverse effects experienced by patients during Central Venous Catheterization (CVC) by standardizing CVC training, and provide automated assessments of performance. Specifically, this system was developed to replace manikin trainers that only simulate one patient anatomy and require a trained preceptor to evaluate the trainees' performance. While the DHRT system provides automated feedback, the utility of this system with real-world scenarios and expertise has yet to be thoroughly investigated. Thus, the current study was developed to determine the validity of the current objective assessment metrics incorporated in the DHRT system through expert interviews. The main findings from this study are that experts do agree on perceptions of patient case difficulty, and that characterizations of patient case difficulty is based on anatomical characteristics, multiple needle insertions, and prior catheterization.

Can Haptic Simulators Distinguish Expert Performance? A Case Study in Central Venous Catheterization in Surgical Education.

INTRODUCTION: High-tech simulators are gaining popularity in surgical training programs because of their potential for improving clinical outcomes. However, most simulators are static in nature and only represent a single anatomical patient configuration. The Dynamic Haptic Robotic Training (DHRT) system was developed to simulate these diverse patient anatomies during Central Venous Catheterization (CVC) training. This article explores the use of the DHRT system to evaluate objective metrics for CVC insertion by comparing the performance of experts and novices. METHODS: Eleven expert surgeons and 13 first-year surgical residents (novices) performed multiple needle insertion trials on the DHRT system. Differences between expert and novice performance on the following five metrics were assessed using a multivariate analysis of variance: path length, standard deviation of deviations (SDoD), average velocity, distance to the center of the vessel, and time to complete (TtC) the needle insertion. A regression analysis was performed to identify if expertise could be predicted using these metrics. Then, a curve fit was conducted to identify whether learning curves were present for experts or novices on any of these five metrics. RESULTS: Time to complete the insertion and SDoD of the needle tip from an ideal path were significantly different between experts and novices. Learning curves were not present for experts but indicated a significant decrease in path length and TtC for novices. CONCLUSIONS: The DHRT system was able to identify significant differences in TtC and SDoD between experts and novices during CVC needle insertion procedures. In addition, novices were shown to improve their skills through DHRT training.

Looks can be deceiving: Gaze pattern differences between novices and experts during placement of central lines.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine whether gaze patterns could differentiate expertise during simulated ultrasound-guided Internal Jugular Central Venous Catheterization (US-IJCVC) and if expert gazes were different between simulators of varying functional and structural fidelity. METHODS: A 2017 study compared eye gaze patterns of expert surgeons (n = 11), senior residents (n = 4), and novices (n = 7) during CVC needle insertions using the dynamic haptic robotic trainer (DHRT), a system which simulates US-IJCVC. Expert gaze patterns were also compared between a manikin and the DHRT. RESULTS: Expert gaze patterns were consistent between the manikin and DHRT environments (p = 0.401). On the DHRT system, CVC experience significantly impacted the percent of time participants spent gazing at the ultrasound screen (p < 0.0005) and the needle and ultrasound probe (p < 0.0005). CONCLUSION: Gaze patterns differentiate expertise during ultrasound-guided IJCVC placement and the fidelity of the simulator does not impact gaze patterns.

Evaluating Surgical Resident Needle Insertion Skill Gains in Central Venous Catheterization Training.

BACKGROUND: Training for ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization (CVC) is typically conducted on static manikin simulators with real-time feedback from a skilled observer. Dynamic haptic robotic trainers (DHRTs) are an alternative method that simulates various patient anatomies and provides consistent feedback for each insertion. This study evaluates CVC needle insertion efficiency and skill gains of both methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two first-year surgical residents were trained by placing internal jugular (IJ) CVC needles in manikins (n = 26) or robots (n = 26). Manikin-trained participants received verbal feedback from an experienced observer, whereas robotically trained participants received quantitative feedback from the personalized DHRT learning interface. All participants were pretested on a Blue Phantom manikin; participants completed posttesting on a Blue Phantom manikin (n = 26) or a novel manikin (n = 26) with different vessel depth and position. During pretests and posttests residents were timed, motion-tracked, and scored on an IJ CVC checklist. RESULTS: (1) All skills on the IJ CVC checklist showed significant (P < 0.014) improvements from pretests to posttest; (2) Average angle of insertion, path length, and jerk improved significantly (P < 0.005); (3) Average procedural completion time, with standard error (SE) reported, decreased significantly from pretest (M = 3.516 min, SE = 0.277) to posttest (M = 1.997, SE = 0.409). CONCLUSIONS: No significant group differences were observed in overall skill gains, but residents' average procedural completion time decreased significantly from pretests to posttest. Overall results support DHRT as an effective method for training IJ CVC skills.

Can Eye Tracking be Used to Predict Performance Improvements in Simulated Medical Training? A Case Study in Central Venous Catheterization.

Manikins have traditionally been used to train ultrasound-guided Central Venous Catheterization (CVC), but are static in nature and require an expert observer to provide feedback. As a result, virtual simulation and personalized learning has been increasingly adopted in medical education to efficiently provide quantitative feedback. The Dynamic Haptic Robotic Trainer (DHRT) trains surgical residents in CVC needle insertions by simulating various patient profiles and presenting personalized feedback on objective performance. However, no studies have examined the learning gains of the personalized learning feedback or the relation of feedback to what the user is focusing on during the training. Thus, this study was developed to determine the effectiveness of the current personalized learning interface through a long-term investigation with 7 surgical residents. The eye tracking analysis showed that residents spent significantly more time fixated on percent aspiration throughout the study; the more time participants spent looking at the Number of Insertions, Percent Aspiration and the Angle of Insertion on the DHRT GUI, the better they performed on subsequent trials on the DHRT system.

Building Ultrasound Phantoms With Modified Polyvinyl Chloride: A Comparison of Needle Insertion Forces and Sonographic Appearance With Commercial and Traditional Simulation Materials.

INTRODUCTION: Training using ultrasound phantoms allows for safe introduction to clinical skills and is associated with improved in-hospital performance. Many materials have been used to simulate human tissue in phantoms including commercial manikins, agar, gelatin, and Ballistics Gel; however, phantom tissues could be improved to provide higher-fidelity ultrasound images or tactile sensation. This article describes a novel phantom tissue mixture of a modified polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polymer, mineral oil, and chalk powder and evaluates needle cutting and ultrasonic properties of the modified PVC polymer mixture compared with a variety of phantom tissues. METHODS: The first experiment measured axial needle forces of a needle insertion into nine phantom materials, including three formulations of modified PVC. The second experiment used a pairwise comparison survey of ultrasound images to determine the perceived realism of phantom ultrasound images. RESULTS: It was found that the materials of Ballistics Gel and one of the PVC mixtures provide stiff force feedback similar to cadaver tissue. Other phantom materials including agar and gelatin provide very weak unrealistic force feedback. The survey results showed the PVC mixtures being viewed as the most realistic by the survey participants, whereas agar and Ballistics Gel were seen as the least realistic. CONCLUSIONS: The realism in cutting force and ultrasound visualization was determined for a variety of phantom materials. Novel modified PVC polymer has great potential for use in ultrasound phantoms because of its realistic ultrasound imaging and modifiable stiffness. This customizability allows for easy creation of multilayer tissue phantoms.

Investigating the Effect of Simulator Functional Fidelity and Personalized Feedback on Central Venous Catheterization Training.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of simulator functional fidelity (manikin vs a Dynamic Haptic Robotic Trainer [DHRT]) and personalized feedback on surgical resident self-efficacy and self-ratings of performance during ultrasound-guided internal jugular central venous catheterization (IJ CVC) training. In addition, we seek to explore how self-ratings of performance compare to objective performance scores generated by the DHRT system. DESIGN: Participants were randomly assigned to either manikin or DHRT IJ CVC training over a 6-month period. Self-efficacy surveys were distributed before and following training. Training consisted of a pretest, 22 practice IJ CVC needle insertion attempts, 2 full-line practice attempts, and a posttest. Participants provided self-ratings of performance for each needle insertion and were presented with feedback from either an upper level resident (manikin) or a personalized learning system (DHRT). SETTING: A study was conducted from July 2016 to February 2017 through a surgical skills training program at Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-six first-year surgical residents were recruited for the study. Individuals were informed that IJ CVC training procedures would be consistent regardless of participation in the study and that participation was optional. All recruited residents opted to participate in the study. RESULTS: Residents in both groups significantly improved their self-efficacy scores from pretest to posttest (p < 0.01). Residents in the manikin group consistently provided higher self-ratings of performance (p < 0.001). Residents in the DHRT group recorded more feedback on errors (228 instances) than the manikin group (144 instances). Self-ratings of performance on the DHRT system were able to significantly predict the objective score of the DHRT system (R2 = 0.223, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Simulation training with the DHRT system and the personalized learning feedback can improve resident self-efficacy with IJ CVC procedures and provide sufficient feedback to allow residents to accurately assess their own performance.

Integrating Cadaver Needle Forces Into a Haptic Robotic Simulator.

Accurate force simulation is essential to haptic simulators for surgical training. Factors such as tissue inhomogeneity pose unique challenges for simulating needle forces. To aid in the development of haptic needle insertion simulators, a handheld force sensing syringe was created to measure the motion and forces of needle insertions. Five needle insertions were performed into the neck of a cadaver using the force sensing syringe. Based on these measurements a piecewise exponential needle force characterization, was implemented into a haptic central venous catheterization (CVC) simulator. The haptic simulator was evaluated through a survey of expert surgeons, fellows, and residents. The maximum needle insertion forces measured ranged from 2.02 N to 1.20 N. With this information, four characterizations were created representing average, muscular, obese, and thin patients. The median survey results showed that users statistically agreed that "the robotic system made me sensitive to how patient anatomy impacts the force required to advance needles in the human body." The force sensing syringe captured force and position information. The information gained from this syringe was able to be implemented into a haptic simulator for CVC insertions, showing its utility. Survey results showed that experts, fellows, and residents had an overall positive outlook on the haptic simulator's ability to teach haptic skills.

Training Surgical Residents With a Haptic Robotic Central Venous Catheterization Simulator.

OJECTIVE: Ultrasound guided central venous catheterization (CVC) is a common surgical procedure with complication rates ranging from 5 to 21 percent. Training is typically performed using manikins that do not simulate anatomical variations such as obesity and abnormal vessel positioning. The goal of this study was to develop and validate the effectiveness of a new virtual reality and force haptic based simulation platform for CVC of the right internal jugular vein. DESIGN: A CVC simulation platform was developed using a haptic robotic arm, 3D position tracker, and computer visualization. The haptic robotic arm simulated needle insertion force that was based on cadaver experiments. The 3D position tracker was used as a mock ultrasound device with realistic visualization on a computer screen. Upon completion of a practice simulation, performance feedback is given to the user through a graphical user interface including scoring factors based on good CVC practice. The effectiveness of the system was evaluated by training 13 first year surgical residents using the virtual reality haptic based training system over a 3 month period. RESULTS: The participants' performance increased from 52% to 96% on the baseline training scenario, approaching the average score of an expert surgeon: 98%. This also resulted in improvement in positive CVC practices including a 61% decrease between final needle tip position and vein center, a decrease in mean insertion attempts from 1.92 to 1.23, and a 12% increase in time spent aspirating the syringe throughout the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: A virtual reality haptic robotic simulator for CVC was successfully developed. Surgical residents training on the simulation improved to near expert levels after three robotic training sessions. This suggests that this system could act as an effective training device for CVC.

Perceptions of mistreatment among trainees vary at different stages of clinical training.

BACKGROUND: Mistreatment of trainees remains a frequently reported phenomenon in medical education. One barrier to creating an educational culture of respect and professionalism may be a lack of alignment in the perceptions of mistreatment among different learners. Through the use of clinical vignettes, our aim was to assess the perceptions of trainees toward themes of potential mistreatment at different stages of training. METHODS: Based on observations from external experts embedded in the clinical learning environment, six thematic areas of potential mistreatment were identified: verbal abuse, specialty-choice discrimination, non-educational tasks, withholding/denying learning opportunities, neglect and gender/racial insensitivity. Corresponding clinical vignettes were created and distributed to 1) medical students, 2) incoming interns, 3) residents/fellows. Perceptions of the appropriateness of the interactions depicted in the vignettes were measured on a 5-point Likert scale. Scores were categorized into neutral or appropriate (≤3) or inappropriate (i.e. mistreatment) (>3) and compared using chi-squared tests. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty seven trainees participated (182 students, 120 interns, 125 residents/fellows). Proportions of students perceiving mistreatment differed significantly from those of interns and residents/fellows in domains of verbal abuse, specialty discrimination and gender/racial insensitivity (p < 0.05). In scenarios comparing interns to residents/fellows, no significant differences were noted in perceptions of mistreatment in the domains of non-educational tasks, withholding learning and neglect. CONCLUSIONS: Perceptions of mistreatment differ at different developmental stages of medical training. After exposure to the clinical learning environment, perceptions of incoming interns did not differ from those of residents/fellows, implicating clinical rotations as a key period in indoctrinating students into the prevailing culture. More longitudinal studies are needed to confirm or better examine this phenomenon.

Aligning perceptions of mistreatment among incoming medical trainees.

BACKGROUND: Learner mistreatment has been a long-standing example of unprofessional behavior in medical training. Alignment of perceptions of professional behavior is a critical component of developing a defined organizational culture. Clinical vignettes addressing learner mistreatment can help to achieve this goal. Our aim was to determine whether using clinical vignettes to address learner mistreatment during onboarding can reduce variability in the perceptions of mistreatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: External experts in the field of labor and employment relations embedded in the clinical learning environment identified six thematic areas of potential mistreatment. Corresponding clinical case vignettes were developed and presented to incoming trainees during the onboarding process, followed by facilitated discussion. Perceptions of mistreatment before and after discussion were assessed on a Likert scale, with results compared using F-test and t-test. RESULTS: There were 145 participants. Most participants reported previously witnessing or experiencing episodes of mistreatment before matriculation (84%), with the majority reporting multiple events. The most common offenders were faculty (57%), residents/fellows (49%), and nurses (33%). Only 10% of incoming trainees reported a previous incident of mistreatment. Postintervention scores demonstrated decreased variability (P < 0.05) in perceptions of mistreatment in all but one vignette (withholding learning opportunities). Two vignettes demonstrated higher perception of mistreatment after intervention (noneducational tasks and gender or racial discrimination, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Mistreatment remains a prevalent phenomenon in medical training involving a wide cross-section of healthcare providers. Trainees arrive with discordant definitions of mistreatment. Alignment of individuals' definitions can be achieved through the use of carefully crafted clinical vignettes and facilitated discussion.

Carotid Endarterectomy versus Carotid Artery Stenting: No Difference in 30-Day Postprocedure Readmission Rates.

BACKGROUND: In the United States, ischemic stroke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, precipitated by carotid artery stenosis in 1 of every 5 individuals who suffer a stroke. Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) are 2 proven means of intervening on this disease process, with similar patient outcomes. Little is known about the burden of readmission after each of these procedures. We hypothesized that no difference in readmission rates within 30 days would exist for these 2 procedures, in spite of baseline differences that might exist between the 2 patient populations. METHODS: Using the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council database, we identified 4,319 people who underwent CEA (n = 3,640) or CAS (n = 679) in Pennsylvania in 2011. Univariate analyses were performed to compare patient characteristics and outcomes, including reasons for readmission, between patients who underwent CEA and those who underwent CAS. Logistic regression was used to estimate the effect of intervention on 30-day readmission, after controlling for potential confounders. Time to readmission was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Patients who underwent CEA and CAS differed in a few notable ways, including age, race, admission type, and comorbid conditions such as congestive heart failure, hemiplegia and paraplegia, and renal disease. The unadjusted rate of 30-day readmission was 9.37% for CEA and 10.75% for CAS (P = 0.26). After controlling for patient and procedure characteristics, differences between 30-day readmission rates were still not statistically significant (odds ratio = 1.13; P = 0.39). Finally, time to readmission was similar for those who underwent CEA and those who underwent CAS (P = 0.19). Complications associated with surgery comprised less than 10% of primary readmission diagnoses for both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Readmission rates after CEA and CAS for carotid artery stenosis are approximately 10%. In spite of differences between patients with carotid stenosis who are selected for endarterectomy and stenting, the choice of procedure does not appear to be associated with different readmission rates or time to readmission, even after controlling for patient characteristics.

Surgical specialty and outcomes for carotid endarterectomy: evidence from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program.

BACKGROUND: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has been performed since the 1950s and remains one of the most common surgical procedures in the United States. The procedure is performed by cardiothoracic, general, neurologic, and vascular surgeons. This study uses data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) to examine the outcomes after CEA when performed by general or vascular surgeons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data included 34,493 CEAs from years 2005 to 2010 recorded in the NSQIP database. Primary outcomes measured were length of stay, 30-d mortality, surgical site infection, cerebrovascular accident, myocardial infarction, and blood transfusion requirement. Secondary outcomes measured were the remaining intraoperative outcomes from the NSQIP database. RESULTS: After controlling for patient and surgical characteristics, patients treated by general surgeons did not have a significantly different LOS or 30-d mortality than those treated by vascular surgeons. Patients of general surgeons had nearly twice the risk of acquiring a surgical site infection (odds ratio [OR] = 1.94; P = 0.012), >1.5 times the risk of cerebrovascular accident (OR = 1.56; P = 0.008), and >1.8 times the risk of blood transfusion (OR = 1.85; P = 0.017) than those of vascular surgeons. Patients of general surgeons had less than half the risk of having a myocardial infarction (OR = 0.34; P = 0.031) than those of vascular surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical specialty is associated with a wide range of postoperative outcomes after CEA. Additional research is needed to explore practice and cultural differences across surgical specialty that may lead to outcome differences.

Arterial complications in patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation via femoral cannulation.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides continuous cardiopulmonary support on a long-term basis. It has been speculated that patients undergoing ECMO via femoral arterial cannulation are more likely to develop peripheral vascular complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of peripheral vascular complications in this group of patients and outline the modalities used for treatment. METHODS: Data were collected for all patients who had femoral artery cannulation for ECMO therapy from June 2008 to October 2011. Primary outcome was any vascular complication. Secondary outcomes were 30-day mortality and amputation. Operative reports were reviewed to analyze the surgical procedures implied for treating vascular complications. RESULTS: One hundred one patients underwent ECMO therapy during the period of study; 63.4% were male with an average age of 47.7 years. Mean length of hospital stay was 19.8 days and average length of time on the ECMO device was 7.33 days. Indications for ECMO included cardiogenic shock in 61 patients (60.4%), pulmonary failure in 37 (36.6%), and combined cardiac and pulmonary failure in 3 (3%). Overall mortality comprised 42 patients (42%). Risk factors for peripheral arterial disease included hypertension (32%), diabetes mellitus (21.8%), hyperlipidemia (21.7%), and smoking (19.8%). Eighteen patients (17.8%) developed peripheral vascular complications (confidence interval 10‒25%). Among the patients who developed vascular complications, 78% were male and average length of time on the device was 7.16 days. Indications for ECMO were cardiac failure in 13 (72%) and pulmonary failure in 5 (28%). Two (11%) were managed nonoperatively and 16 (89%) needed surgical intervention, 8 (44.44%) of whom required femoral endarterectomy with patch angioplasty. One patient required below-knee amputation. None required distal bypass. Mortality among patients with vascular complications was 28% (P = 0.30). Indications for use of ECMO in these patients included cardiogenic shock in 13 (72%) and pulmonary failure in 5 (28%). The mortality rate was 58% among diabetic patients and 34% in nondiabetic patients (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Vascular complications occur in less then 20% of ECMO patients with the majority requiring femoral reconstruction. Development of vascular complications does not appear to increase risk of amputation or mortality. Among those patients who develop vascular complications, the most common indication for ECMO is cardiogenic shock.

The use of ultrasound in vascular procedures.

While the use of duplex ultrasound (DUS) in the diagnosis of vascular disease has been established, its role in vascular procedures continues to expand. More powerful and portable technology has helped to overcome real and perceived barriers to the use of DUS. Familiarity with Doppler and ultrasound physics is helpful to understand the potential roles and limitations of DUS. Use of real-time imaging allows the surgeon to obtain central venous and peripheral arterial access, as well as place vena cava filters and treat iatrogenic arterial pseudoaneurysms with a greater degree of patient safety, comfort, and overall success.

Brachial arteriovenous fistula as a complication of placement of a peripherally inserted central venous catheter: a case report and review of the literature.

Peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) lines have become a frequently used method of intravenous access for long-term administration of antibiotics, chemotherapy, and parenteral nutrition. Catheter-related complications involving the arterial tree are rare. We report a case of a 25-year-old woman with a history of difficult PICC line placement that presented with an arteriovenous fistula in the left arm. Duplex ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis of a brachial artery-to-brachial vein arteriovenous fistula (AVF), and the patient underwent surgical repair. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an AVF resulting from PICC line placement. Correction of AVF is indicated to alleviate symptoms as well as to prevent future complications.

Celiac artery aneurysms: a case report and review of the literature.

Celiac artery aneurysms (CAA) are uncommon. Most are asymptomatic, but up to 20 per cent will present as surgical emergencies. We present a case of an asymptomatic CAA discovered in a 56-year-old male during evaluation for nephrolithiasis. Only rough estimates of the prevalence of CAA are available, ranging between 0.005 per cent and 0.05 per cent. There appears to be a slight male predominance, and atherosclerotic degeneration is the most common cause. Although most patients are asymptomatic, some will present with vague abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or symptoms of mesenteric ischemia. Rupture is a devastating presentation, with reported mortality rates from 35 per cent to 80 per cent. Repair is performed by ligation or reconstruction. Ligation should be considered in an urgent setting, with reconstruction preferred for elective repair. Morbidity and mortality from elective repair should not exceed 5 per cent. Repair of CAA should be undertaken unless major comorbid factors are prohibitive.