National Utilization and Outcomes of Redo Lower Extremity Bypass versus Endovascular Intervention after a Previous Failed Bypass.

BACKGROUND: Redo lower extremity bypass (LEB) and infrainguinal endovascular intervention (IEI) are options to treat critical limb ischemia after a failed prior LEB, but the utilization and outcomes of each are poorly described. The purpose of this study was to compare 30-day major adverse limb events (MALEs) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) after LEB and IEI in patients with a failed prior ipsilateral LEB and determine risk factors for each composite outcome. METHODS: Patients with prior failed ipsilateral LEB who underwent LEB or IEI involving the same arterial segment for critical limb ischemia were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) Vascular Targeted File (2011-2014). LEB with single-segment saphenous vein was compared to LEB with alternative conduit (prosthetic/spliced vein/composite) and IEI. Primary outcomes were MALE (untreated loss of patency, reintervention, or amputation) and MACE (stroke, myocardial infarction, or death). Multivariate analysis was utilized to identify independent predictors of MALE and MACE. RESULTS: Among 8,066 revascularizations performed for critical limb ischemia (CLI), 1,606 (461 [28.7%] IEI, 518 [32.3%] LEB saphenous, and 627 [39.0%] LEB alternative) were performed after failed ipsilateral LEB involving the same arterial segment. LEB with saphenous had lower MALE than LEB with alternate conduit and IEI (15.8% IEI, 10.8% saphenous, and 15.5% alternative, P = 0.03). Higher MALE was driven by higher 30-day amputation in IEI (7.8% IEI, 3.7% saphenous, and 5.3% alternative, P = 0.02). Independent predictors of MALE include transfer status (odds ratio [OR] = 1.7, P = 0.01), tobacco use (OR = 1.5, P = 0.02), infrageniculate revascularization (OR = 1.6, P = 0.004), and saphenous conduit (OR = 0.5, P = 0.002). MACE was also different between groups (3.9% IEI, 7% saphenous, and 5.6% alternative, P = 0.049), with no difference in 30-day mortality (P = 0.53). Independent predictors of MACE included congestive heart failure (OR = 3.0, P = 0.01) and dialysis dependence (OR = 2.5, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In this large national sample representing routine vascular care of patients with CLI after failed ipsilateral LEB of the same arterial segment, IEI is common and represents 30% of revascularizations in this data set. Redo LEB with saphenous is associated with superior limb-related outcomes, but IEI offers an acceptable potential alternative to bypass in patients who would require alternative conduit. Finally, perioperative care is critical as we demonstrate that patient comorbidities, not the method of revascularization, predicted MACE.

Modifiable Factors Leading to Increased Length of Stay after Carotid Endarterectomy.

BACKGROUND: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is a commonly performed vascular operation. Yet, postoperative length of stay (LOS) varies greatly even within institutions. In this study, the morbidity and mortality, as well as financial impact of increased LOS were reviewed to establish modifiable factors associated with prolonged hospital stay. METHODS: The Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative database was used to identify all patients undergoing primary CEA at a single institution between June 1, 2011 and November 28, 2014. Preoperative patient characteristics, intraoperative details, postoperative factors, long-term outcomes, and cost data were reviewed using an Institutional Review Board-approved prospectively collected database. Multivariate analysis was used to determine statistical difference between patients with LOS ≤1 day and >1 day. RESULTS: Complete 30-day variable and cost data were available for 219 patients with an average follow-up of 12 months. Seventy-nine (36%) patients had an LOS > 1 day. Variables determined to be statistically significant predictors of prolonged LOS included preoperative creatinine (P = 0.02) and severe congestive heart failure (P = 0.05) with self-pay status (P = 0.02) and preoperative beta-blocker therapy (P = 0.04) being protective. Shunt placement (P = 0.04), arterial re-exploration, and postoperative cardiac (P = 0.001) or neurological (P = 0.03) complications also resulted in prolonged hospitalization. Specific modifiable risk factors that contributed to increased LOS included operative start time after noon (P = 0.04), drain placement (P = 0.05), prolonged operative time (101 vs. 125 min, P = 0.01), return to the operating room (P = 0.01), and postoperative hypertension (P = 0.02) or hypotension (P = 0.04). Of note, there was no difference in LOS associated with technique (conventional versus eversion), patch use (P = 0.49), protamine administration (P = 0.60), electroencephalogram monitoring (P = 0.45), measurement of stump pressure (P = 0.63), Doppler (P = 0.36), or duplex (P = 0.92). Both hospital charges (P = 0.0001) and costs (P = 0.0001) were found to be significantly higher in patients with prolonged LOS, with no difference in physician charges (P = 0.10). Increased LOS after CEA was associated with an increase in 12-month mortality (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Increased LOS was associated with increased hospital charges, costs, as well as significant morbidity and midterm mortality following CEA. Furthermore, this study highlights several modifiable risk factors leading to increased LOS. Identified factors associated with increase LOS can serve as targets for improving care in vascular surgery.

Targets to prevent prolonged length of stay after endovascular aortic repair.

OBJECTIVE: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a commonly performed vascular operation. Yet, postoperative length of stay (LOS) varies greatly, even within institutions. The present study reviewed the morbidity, mortality, and the financial effect of increased LOS to establish modifiable factors associated with prolonged hospital LOS, with the goal of improving quality. METHODS: The Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative database was used to identify all patients undergoing primary, elective EVAR at a single institution between January 1, 2011, and May 28, 2014. Preoperative patient characteristics, intraoperative details, postoperative factors, long-term outcomes, and cost data were reviewed using an Institutional Review Board-approved prospectively collected database. Multivariate analysis was used to determine statistical difference between patients with LOS ≤2 days and >2 days. RESULTS: Complete 30-day variable and cost data were available for 138 patients with an average follow-up of 12 months; of these, 46 (33%) had a LOS >2 days. Variables determined to be statistically significant predictors of prolonged LOS included aneurysm diameter (P = .03), American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification score (P < .001), thromboembolectomy (P = .01), and increased postoperative cardiac (P < .001) and renal (P = .01) complications. Specifically, modifiable risk factors that contributed to increased LOS included performance of a concomitant procedure (P < .001), increased volume of iodinated contrast (P = .05), increased volume of intraoperative crystalloid (P = .05), placement in an intensive care unit (P < .001), return to the operating room (P < .001), and the use of vasoactive medications (P < .001). Hospital charges ($102,000 ± $41,000 vs $180,000 ± $73,000; P = .01) and costs ($27,000 ± $10,000 vs $45,000 ± $19,000 P = .01) were significantly higher in patients with prolonged LOS; however, there was no difference in physician charges ($8000 ± $5700 vs $12,000 ± $12,000; P = .09). Increased LOS after EVAR was associated with an increase in mortality at 1 month (0% vs 4% P = .05) and 12 months (3% vs 13% P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights several modifiable risk factors leading to increased LOS after EVAR, including performance of concomitant procedures, admission to the intensive care unit, and postoperative renal and cardiac complications. Further, increased LOS was associated with increased charges, costs, morbidity, and mortality after EVAR. This study highlights specific areas of focus for decreasing LOS after EVAR and, in turn, improving quality in vascular surgery.