A Comparative Analysis and Results of Carotid Interventions Based on Duplex Ultrasound as a Single Exam Versus Multiple Diagnose Exams.

BACKGROUND: To determine the results, safety, and clinical outcomes of carotid interventions performed with duplex ultrasound (DUS) as a single preoperative image for internal carotid artery (ICA) assessment, compared to computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). METHODS: Prospective, consecutive cohort study of 2 groups of patients submitted to carotid interventions, 1 group of patients with DUS as a sole exam (group DUS) compared to patients with DUS plus CTA or MRA for ICA stenosis diagnosis (group CTA/MRA) regarding clinical outcomes such as major stroke, minor stroke, transient ischemic attack and perioperative mortality. RESULTS: Two groups of patients were identified: group DUS with 47 patients and group CTA/MRA plus DUS with 68 patients. The mean age of the patients was 71.67 years in total cohort, and most of them were male (66.1%). Group DUS had higher prevalence of male, dyslipidemia, ischemic heart disease, peripheral artery disease and chronic kidney disease than group CTA/MRA (83% vs. 54.4%, P = 0.001; 93.6% vs. 51.5%, P < 0.001; 36.2% vs. 16.2%, P = 0.009; 29.8% vs. 13.2%, P = 0.019; 14.9% vs. 5.9%, P = 0.007, respectively). We have performed a Kaplan-Meier regarding survival rates: Group DUS had 93.5%% and Group CTA/MRA had 90.3%% at 720 days. P = 0.15, standard error < 10 at 720 days. a Kaplan-Meier analysis regarding primary patency rates showed Group DUS with 92.7% and Group CTA/MRA with 94.7% at 720 days. P = 0.78, standard error < 10 at 720 days. Furthermore, the incidence of postoperative stroke was 2.6% (asymptomatic 1.7%, symptomatic 2.9%), with no differences among DUS and CTA/MRA groups (2.1% vs. 2.9%, P = 0.78, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Independently of the type of carotid intervention (carotid endarterectomy and carotid stenting (CAS)), DUS as an only preoperative carotid image has similar results regarding postoperative outcomes when compared to CTA/MRA for preoperative carotid evaluation.

Microbiology of Diabetic Foot Infections in a Tertiary Care Hospital in São Paulo, Brazil.

Diabetic foot infections (DFIs) are one of the causes of hospitalization in diabetic patients and, when this occurs, empirical antibiotic therapy is necessary. We have conducted a retrospective study of patients with DFI that required hospitalization to evaluate microbiologic profile and the susceptibility pattern of these infections. We evaluated 320 patients, of which 223 (69.7%) were male with a media age of 71 years with 276 isolates. Gram-positive bacteria were responsible for 188 (68.1%) of the isolates, while Gram-negative bacilli were responsible for 88 (31.9%). E. faecalis was the most prevalent pathogen, followed by S. aureus and coagulase negative Staphylococci. Among Gram-negative pathogens, P. aeruginosa was the most prevalent agent. Regarding the susceptibility profile, we found ampicillin-sensitive enterococci in 89% of the cases, oxacillin-sensitive S. aureus in 47%, but in coagulase-negative staphylococci, oxacillin was sensible only in 20%. The susceptibility profile of Gram-negatives was very good with 76% susceptibility of P. aeruginosa to ceftazidime and meropenem. The other prevalent Enterobacterales had great susceptibility to ceftazidime, piperacillin-tazobactam and 100% susceptibility to meropenem, with the exception of K. pneumoniae, which had 75% susceptibility to meropenem. Knowledge of microbiological profile and susceptibility patterns of patients with DFIs is useful to guide empirical therapy.

Evaluation of the BASIL Survival Prediction Model in Patients Undergoing Infrapopliteal Interventions for Critical Limb Ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Survival prediction models are clinical tools that help professionals make the best treatment decisions. In the treatment of critical limb ischemia, several scoring methods have emerged; however, many are limited because they are not reproducible in different populations. This study analyze the Bypass versus Angioplasty in Severe Ischemia of the Leg survival prediction model (BASIL SPM), exclusively in patients who underwent infrapopliteal (InfraPo) revascularization for the treatment of critical limb ischemia. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort, patients who underwent InfraPo interventions during a 4-year period (2009-2013) were consecutively included, according to the primary intervention (endovascular or open repair), irrespective of combined treatment in the femoropopliteal and InfraPo segments. Performance of the BASIL SPM was determined using the area under the curve of the receiver-operating characteristic curve. Additionally, secondary patency, limb salvage, and overall survival were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The mean follow-up duration was 32.7 ± 23.8 months. In the total patient group (n = 134), the mean age was 72 ± 8.6 years (range, 46-91 years), and the main associated comorbidities were hypertension (85.8%) and diabetes mellitus (76.8%). Regarding differences between the groups, patients in the endovascular group (n = 100) were older (73 vs. 69.5; P = 0.033) and more frequently stratified as high risk (61% vs. 38.2%; P = 0.030) than the open repair group (n = 34). The area under the curve (95% confidence interval [CI]) using the BASIL SPM at 6, 12, and 24 months was 0.499 (95% CI: 0.344-0.657), 0.508 (95% CI: 0.353-0.629), and 0.549 (95% CI: 0.420-0.678), respectively. In the total patient group, the 36-month secondary patency, limb salvage, and overall survival were 31.5%, 81.1%, and 65.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The BASIL SPM was a poor predictor of life expectancy in this patient cohort.

Factors associated with outcome of endovascular treatment of iliac occlusive disease: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular treatment (ET) of iliac occlusive disease (IOD) is well established in literature. Use of stents in IOD has achieved long-term limb salvage and patency rates similar to those of open surgery, with lower morbidity and mortality rates. OBJECTIVES: To report the long-term outcomes, particularly limb salvage and patency rates, of ET for IOD and the factors associated with these outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients with IOD who underwent iliac angioplasty (IA), between January 2009 and January 2015. Patients with critical limb ischemia or incapacitating claudication were included. RESULTS: In total, 48 IA procedures were performed in 46 patients, with an initial technical success rate of 95.83%. Failure occurred in two patients, who were excluded, leaving 44 patients and 46 IA. The primary patency, secondary patency, limb salvage, and survival rates at 1200 days were 88%, 95.3%, 86.3%, and 69.9%, respectively. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression revealed that the primary patency rate was significantly worse in patients with TASC type C/D than in patients with TASC type A/B (p = 0.044). Analysis of factors associated with major amputation using Cox regression showed that the rate of limb loss was greater in patients with TASC type C/D (p = 0.043). Male gender was associated with reduced survival (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: TASC type C/D was associated with a higher number of reinterventions and with worse limb loss and primary patency rates. Male gender was associated with a worse survival rate after ET of IOD.

CONTEXTO: O tratamento endovascular da doença oclusiva ilíaca (DOI) é bem estabelecido. O uso de stents nas angioplastias ilíacas (AI) alcançou estimativas de salvamento de membro e perviedade similares às de cirurgias abertas, porém com menor morbimortalidade. OBJETIVOS: Demonstrar os desfechos clínicos a longo prazo, principalmente as estimativas de salvamento de membro (ESM) e perviedade, do tratamento endovascular da DOI e os fatores associados. MÉTODO: Estudo de coorte retrospectiva e consecutiva incluindo pacientes com DOI e isquemia crítica ou claudicação limitante submetidos a AI entre janeiro de 2009 a janeiro de 2015. RESULTADOS: Foram realizadas 48 AI em 46 pacientes, com uma taxa de sucesso técnico inicial de 95,83%. Ocorreu falha técnica em dois pacientes, os quais foram excluídos da análise, restando 44 pacientes e 46 AI. As estimativas de perviedade primária, perviedade secundária, ESM e sobrevida aos 1.200 dias foram de 88%, 95,3%, 86,3% e 69,9%, respectivamente. A regressão de Cox univariada e multivariada revelou que a perviedade primária foi pior em pacientes com classificação TASC C/D do que em pacientes TASC A/B (p = 0,044). Quando analisamos os fatores associados à amputação maior, verificou-se que lesões TASC tipo C/D (p = 0,043) apresentaram piores resultados. O sexo masculino foi associado com sobrevida reduzida (p = 0,011). CONCLUSÕES: Classificação TASC tipo C/D foi associada a um maior número de reintervenções, maior perda de membro e piores estimativas de perviedade primária. O sexo masculino foi associado a uma pior sobrevida.

Factors associated with outcome of endovascular treatment of iliac occlusive disease: a single-center experience / Fatores associados com os desfechos clínicos do tratamento endovascular da doença oclusiva ilíaca: experiência de um único centro

Abstract Background Endovascular treatment (ET) of iliac occlusive disease (IOD) is well established in literature. Use of stents in IOD has achieved long-term limb salvage and patency rates similar to those of open surgery, with lower morbidity and mortality rates. Objectives To report the long-term outcomes, particularly limb salvage and patency rates, of ET for IOD and the factors associated with these outcomes. Methods This retrospective cohort study included patients with IOD who underwent iliac angioplasty (IA), between January 2009 and January 2015. Patients with critical limb ischemia or incapacitating claudication were included. Results In total, 48 IA procedures were performed in 46 patients, with an initial technical success rate of 95.83%. Failure occurred in two patients, who were excluded, leaving 44 patients and 46 IA. The primary patency, secondary patency, limb salvage, and survival rates at 1200 days were 88%, 95.3%, 86.3%, and 69.9%, respectively. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression revealed that the primary patency rate was significantly worse in patients with TASC type C/D than in patients with TASC type A/B (p = 0.044). Analysis of factors associated with major amputation using Cox regression showed that the rate of limb loss was greater in patients with TASC type C/D (p = 0.043). Male gender was associated with reduced survival (p = 0.011). Conclusions TASC type C/D was associated with a higher number of reinterventions and with worse limb loss and primary patency rates. Male gender was associated with a worse survival rate after ET of IOD.

Resumo Contexto O tratamento endovascular da doença oclusiva ilíaca (DOI) é bem estabelecido. O uso de stents nas angioplastias ilíacas (AI) alcançou estimativas de salvamento de membro e perviedade similares às de cirurgias abertas, porém com menor morbimortalidade. Objetivos Demonstrar os desfechos clínicos a longo prazo, principalmente as estimativas de salvamento de membro (ESM) e perviedade, do tratamento endovascular da DOI e os fatores associados. Método Estudo de coorte retrospectiva e consecutiva incluindo pacientes com DOI e isquemia crítica ou claudicação limitante submetidos a AI entre janeiro de 2009 a janeiro de 2015. Resultados Foram realizadas 48 AI em 46 pacientes, com uma taxa de sucesso técnico inicial de 95,83%. Ocorreu falha técnica em dois pacientes, os quais foram excluídos da análise, restando 44 pacientes e 46 AI. As estimativas de perviedade primária, perviedade secundária, ESM e sobrevida aos 1.200 dias foram de 88%, 95,3%, 86,3% e 69,9%, respectivamente. A regressão de Cox univariada e multivariada revelou que a perviedade primária foi pior em pacientes com classificação TASC C/D do que em pacientes TASC A/B (p = 0,044). Quando analisamos os fatores associados à amputação maior, verificou-se que lesões TASC tipo C/D (p = 0,043) apresentaram piores resultados. O sexo masculino foi associado com sobrevida reduzida (p = 0,011). Conclusões Classificação TASC tipo C/D foi associada a um maior número de reintervenções, maior perda de membro e piores estimativas de perviedade primária. O sexo masculino foi associado a uma pior sobrevida.