Repair of a high-flow superficial femoral arteriovenous fistula using a bell-bottom iliac limb endoprosthesis.

A 50-year-old patient had presented with recalcitrant right lower extremity venous stasis ulceration, atrial fibrillation, and congestive heart failure. He had a history of a gunshot wound to the right thigh >30 years previously, which had been managed without surgery. Computed tomography angiography indicated a fistulous communication between the right superficial femoral artery and vein with massively dilated right iliofemoral venous and arterial systems. He was treated with stent-graft coverage of the superficial femoral arteriovenous fistula using a bell-bottom iliac limb endoprosthesis. This stent-graft accommodated the diameter asymmetry in the superficial femoral artery caused by the long-standing fistula and ameliorated the symptoms that had afflicted him for decades.

Arteriovenous fistula maturation: Physical exam versus flow study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of routine duplex flow study 4 to 6 weeks after primary AVF creation and to compare physical exam against a duplex flow study in predicting fistula maturation. A surveillance algorithm was established to evaluate the naïve fistula after primary creation. METHODS: This was a single institution retrospective review of 155 veterans with primary autogenous AVF creation from 2016 to 2018. All patients received a duplex flow study evaluation after primary creation. A comparison was made between physical exam (PE) and flow study at 4 to 6 weeks post creation. Sensitivities and specificities of physical exam and duplex flow study were compared head-to-head in predicting unassisted fistula maturation. A mature AVF was defined as a fistula that could be repetitively cannulated and provided adequate flow for dialysis. Failure of maturation was defined as an AVF that was never usable for dialysis. An abnormal duplex included thrombosis, stenosis (> 50% on gray scale imaging), inadequate vein diameter (< 4 mm), inadequate vein length or superficialization, or poor flow (< 500 ml/min). Bivariate comparisons were conducted using Pearson's χ², Fishers exact test, and Wilcoxon test depending on distribution. Significance was defined as P < 0.05. RESULTS: There were 53 patients with radiocephalic (RC) fistulas, 41 patients with brachiocephalic (BC) fistulas, and 6 patients with brachiobasilic (BB) fistulas. Of patients with a confirmed abnormal duplex ultrasound, 53% had an abnormal PE (sensitivity 53%; PPV 96.3%, P < 0.001). Of the patients with a confirmed normal duplex, 98% had a normal PE (specificity 98%; NPV 68.5%, P < 0.001). An abnormal duplex flow study had a 67% sensitivity for predicting AVF failure or need for reintervention while an abnormal physical examination had a 42% sensitivity in predicting AVF failure or need for reintervention (P < 0.001). In total, 48 fistulas needed reintervention, however only 20 (42%) were associated with an abnormal physical examination. Of those 48 reinterventions, 20 (42%) fistulas exhibited primary assisted maturation (P < 0.001). On duplex flow study alone, 32 patients had hemodynamically significant lesions necessitating reintervention, which went on to afford 9 (28%) primary assisted mature fistulas (P = 0.69). CONCLUSION: Abnormal duplex flow studies have a better sensitivity for detecting AVF failure or the need for reintervention compared to physical exam alone. An abnormal duplex correlates more with needing a reintervention to achieve maturation than physical exam. Therefore, we advocate routine use of a postoperative duplex flow study to identify potentially correctable issues and optimize fistula maturation.

Distal Retrograde Access for Infrainguinal Arterial Chronic Total Occlusions: A Prospective, Single Center, Observational Study in the Office-Based Laboratory Setting.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of retrograde arterial recanalization of infrainguinal CTOs in the OBL setting. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent interventions for lower extremity CTOs in the OBL setting by a single vascular surgeon were evaluated (January 2013-November 2017). If antegrade crossing was not possible, then a retrograde distal approach was used. Patient characteristics, CTO location, procedural time, contrast, anticoagulation and radiation doses and costs were recorded. Post-procedural complications were documented on post-procedure day 1 and 10-14 days post procedure. Three groups were compared: group 1-antegrade approach for femoropopliteal CTOs; group 2-antegrade approach for tibial CTOs, and; group 3-retrograde approach for femoropopliteal and tibial CTOs. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-seven patients were studied. In 39 (16.5%), the lesions could not be crossed. A successful antegrade approach was used in 185 of them, of which 69% (group 1, n = 128) patients had femoropopliteal CTOs and 31% (group 2, n = 57) had tibial CTOs. Fourteen patients (5.9%, group 3) were treated by retrograde distal approach. Group 3 patients received higher contrast doses than groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.01). However, patients in groups 1 and 2 received similar contrast doses. Group 3 patients had the highest operative time and treatment costs followed by group 1 and then group 2 (p = 0.01). Three femoral pseudoaneurysms were noted in group 1, and 2 in group 2. No complications were seen in group 3. CONCLUSIONS: Although the operative times, costs, radiation and contrast dose are higher with retrograde arterial access, it represents a safe and effective method for the crossing of CTO infrainguinal lesions in an ambulatory venue.

Frailty Syndrome in Patients with Carotid Disease: Simplifying How We Calculate Frailty.

BACKGROUND: Frailty syndrome is an established predictor of adverse outcomes after carotid surgery. Recently, a modified 5-factor National Surgical Quality Improvement Program frailty index has been used; however, its utility in vascular procedures is unclear. The aim of our study was to compare the 5-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5) with the 11-factor modified frailty index (mFI-11) regarding value and predictive ability for mortality, postoperative infection, and unplanned 30-day readmission. METHODS: The mFI was calculated by dividing the number of factors present for a patient by the number of available factors for which there were no missing data. Spearman rho test was used to assess the correlation between the mFI-5 and mFI-11. Predictive models, using both unadjusted and adjusted logistic regressions, were created for each outcome for carotid endarterectomy using 2005-2012 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data, the last year all mFI-11 variables existed. RESULTS: A total of 36,000 patients were included with mean age of 74.6 ± 5.9 years, complication rate of 10.7%, mortality rate of 3.1%, and readmission rate of 6.2%. Correlation between mFI-5 and mFI-11 was above 0.9 across all outcomes for patients. mFI-5 had strong predictive ability for mortality, postoperative complications, and 30-day readmission. CONCLUSIONS: The mFI-5 and mFI-11 are equally effective predictors of postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. mFI-5 is a strong predictor of postoperative complications, mortality, and 30-day readmission.

Effect of frailty syndrome on the outcomes of patients with carotid stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Frailty syndrome confers a greater risk of morbidity and mortality after operative interventions. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of frailty on the outcomes after carotid interventions, including both carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS). METHODS: We performed an 8-year (2005-2012) retrospective analysis of the National Surgery Quality and Improvement Program database, including patients who had undergone CEA or CAS for carotid artery stenosis. A modified frailty index score was calculated. Frail status was defined as a modified frailty index score of ≥0.27. The outcome measures were inpatient complications, mortality, failure to rescue (FTR), hospital length of stay, and 30-day readmissions. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to study the association between frailty and the perioperative outcomes. RESULTS: The data from 37,875 patients were included. Of the 37,875 patients, 95.7% had undergone CEA, and 27.3% of the patients were frail (27% of the CEA and 26% of the CAS groups had qualified as frail). Overall, 11.7% of the patients had experienced complications, 2.2% had died, and 6.7% had been readmitted after discharge. On regression analysis, after controlling for age, gender, albumin level, type of surgery, and American Society of Anesthesiologists class, frail status was an independent predictor of complications (23.5% vs 7.2%; P < .001), mortality (5.2% vs 1.1%; P = .02), FTR (12.1% vs 4.7%; P = .02), and 30-day readmissions (14.9% vs 3.7%; P = .03). On subanalysis of the patients who had undergone CAS, no association was found between frail status and the occurrence of complications (odds ratio [OR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8-3.2), mortality (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.6-2.7), FTR (OR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.4-2.3), and 30-day readmission rate (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.5-3.1). CONCLUSIONS: Frailty syndrome was associated with morbidity and mortality among patients undergoing surgical interventions for carotid stenosis. In the present study, frailty was associated with significant mortality and morbidity for those who had undergone CEA but not for those who had undergone CAS. However, the present study was not designed to determine the optimal treatment of frail patients. Incorporating frailty status into the treatment algorithm (CEA vs CAS) might provide a more accurate risk assessment and improve patient outcomes.

Helmet use and injury severity among pediatric skiers and snowboarders in Colorado.

INTRODUCTION: Skiing and snowboarding are popular winter recreational activities that are commonly associated with orthopedic type injuries. Unbeknownst to most parents, however, are the significant but poorly described risks for head, cervical spine and solid organ injuries. Although helmet use is not mandated for skiers and snowboarders outside of resort sponsored activities, we hypothesized that helmet use is associated with a lower risk of severe head injury, shorter ICU stay and shorter hospital length of stay. METHODS: The trauma registry at a level I pediatric trauma center in the state of Colorado was queried for children ages 3-17years, who sustained an injury while skiing or snowboarding from 1/1/1999 to 12/31/2014. Injury severity was assessed by Abbreviated Injury Severity (AIS) score, injury severity score (ISS) and admission location. Head injury was broadly defined as any trauma to the body above the lower border of the mandible. Regression analysis was used to test associations of variables with injury severity. RESULTS: 549 children sustained snow sport related injuries during the 16year study period. The mean patient age was11±3years, most were male (74%) and the majority were Colorado residents (54%). The overall median ISS was 9 (IQR 4-9) and 78 children (14%) were admitted to the ICU. Colorado residents were nearly twice as likely to be wearing a helmet at the time of injury, compared to visitors from out-of-state (adjusted OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.24-2.76, p=0.002). In a multivariate analysis injury severity was significantly associated with injury while skiing (p=0.026), helmet use (p=0.0416), and sustaining a head injury (p<0.0001). In a separate multivariate analysis ICU admission was associated with head injury (p<0.0001) and wearing a helmet (p=0.0257); however, those wearing a helmet and admitted to the ICU had significantly lower ISS (p=0.007) and head AIS (p=0.011) scores than those who were not wearing a helmet at the time of injury. CONCLUSION: Visitors from out of state were less likely to be wearing a helmet when injured and more likely to be severely injured, suggesting Colorado residents have a better understanding of the benefits of helmet usage. Helmeted skiers and snowboarders who were admitted to the ICU had significantly lower ISS and head AIS scores than those who were not helmeted. Pediatric skiers, snowboarders and their parents should be educated on the significant risks associated with these activities and the benefits of helmet usage. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.