Long-term Outcomes of Peripheral Artery Disease In Veterans: Analysis of the PEripheral ARtery Disease Long-term Survival Study (PEARLS).

Background: Contemporary research in peripheral artery disease (PAD) remains limited due to lack of a national registry and low accuracy of diagnosis codes to identify PAD patients in electronic health records. Methods & Results: Leveraging a novel natural language processing (NLP) system that identifies PAD with high accuracy using ankle brachial index (ABI) and toe-brachial index (TBI) values, we created a registry of 103,748 patients with new onset PAD patients in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Study endpoints include mortality, cardiovascular (hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction or stroke) and limb events (hospitalization for critical limb ischemia or major amputation) and were identified using VA and non-VA encounters. The mean age was 70.6 years; 97.3% were males, and 18.5% self-identified as Black race. The mean ABI value was 0.78 (SD: 0.26) and the mean TBI value was 0.51 (SD: 0.19). Nearly one-third (32.4%) patients were currently smoking and 35.4% formerly smoked. Prevalence of hypertension (86.6%), heart failure (22.7%), diabetes (54.8%), renal failure (23.6%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (35.4%) was high. At 1-year, 9.4% of patients had died. The 1-year incidence of cardiovascular events was 5.6 per 100 patient-years and limb events was 4.5 per 100 patient-years. Conclusions: We have successfully launched a registry of >100,000 patients with a new diagnosis of PAD in the VHA, the largest integrated health system in the U.S. The ncidence of death and clinical events in our cohort is high. Ongoing studies will yield important insights regarding improving care and outcomes in this high-risk group.

Clinical Outcomes of Non-Stent-Based Interventions for Symptomatic Below-the-Knee Peripheral Artery Disease in the Excellence in Peripheral Artery Disease (XLPAD) Registry.

For endovascular treatment of below-the-knee (BTK) peripheral artery disease (PAD), independently adjudicated real-world outcomes comparing non-stent-based balloon angioplasty (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty) and adjunctive treatments with or without a concomitant ipsilateral femoropopliteal (FP) artery intervention are scarce. A total of 1,060 patients from the multicenter XLPAD registry who underwent non-stent-based BTK PAD intervention between 2006 and 2021 were included. The primary outcome was the 1-year incidence of major adverse limb events (MALEs), a composite of all-cause death, any amputation, or clinically driven repeat revascularization. A total of 566 patients underwent BTK and 494 BTK + FP interventions; 72% were men, with a mean age of 68.4 ± 10.9 years. Diabetes mellitus was more prevalent in the BTK-only group (76.5% vs 69%, p = 0.006). Mean Rutherford class was 4.2 ± 1.18; chronic limb-threatening ischemia was more frequent in the BTK group (55.3% vs 49%, p = 0.040). Moderate to severe calcification was more frequent in the BTK + FP group (21.2% vs 27.1%, p = 0.024), as was lesion length (110.6 ± 77.3 vs 135.4 ± 86.3 mm, p <0.001). Nearly 81% of lesions were treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Drug-coated balloon (1.6% vs 14%, p <0.001) and atherectomy (38% vs 58.5%, p <0.001) use was more frequent in the BTK + FP group. The rate of procedural success was higher in the BTK + FP group (86% vs 91%, p = 0.009), with amputation being the most common complication at 3.3% within 30 days after the procedure. The rates of 1-year MALE (21.2% vs 22.3%, p = 0.675) and mortality (4.6% vs 3.4%, p = 0.3) were similar between the BTK and BTK + FP groups. Nonstent treatment for BTK PAD with concomitant FP intervention leads to high procedural success and similar rates of 1-year MALE compared with isolated BTK intervention. Condensed Abstract: The vast majority of below-the-knee (BTK) peripheral artery disease (PAD) interventions are performed with balloon angioplasty. Presence of inflow femoropopliteal PAD in patients who undergo BTK interventions can affect the outcome of the procedure. This report explores immediate procedural success and major adverse limb events at 1 year after balloon angioplasty treatment for isolated BTK PAD and in patients who underwent an additional femoropopliteal PAD intervention.

Impact of a Quality Improvement Initiative on Medical Management of Veterans With Peripheral Artery Disease.

Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for peripheral artery disease (PAD) remains severely underused. Prevention of Amputation in Veterans Everywhere (PAVE) is a screening program designed to prevent or delay major lower extremity amputation. This study aimed to determine whether diagnosis of PAD through the PAVE program improves the prescription of GDMT in veterans with asymptomatic PAD. Patients enrolled into the PAVE program from our institution from 2020 to 2021 were included. Patients with an abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI), defined as ABI <0.9 or >1.2, were selected for further analysis. Primary outcome was adherence to GDMT, following class I and class IIa recommendations. Secondary outcomes included changes in low-density lipoprotein (LDL), blood pressure, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). A total of 6,313 patients were enrolled into the PAVE program between 2020 and 2021. Of these, 211 had abnormal ABI and were included in our analysis. With enrollment into PAVE, there was significant increase in the prescription of aspirin (74.4% vs 64.9%, p = 0.044) and statins (91.5% vs 82%, p = 0.006). The overall adherence to GDMT significantly increased (56.9% vs 38.9%, p <0.001). The number of patients needed to enroll in PAVE to improve GDMT adherence is 5.6 (95% confidence interval 3.6 to 12.3). Patients enrolled into PAVE program saw significant decreases in HbA1c, with mean decrease of 0.3 (p = 0.012) and a decrease in LDL, with a mean decrease of 6.2 (p = 0.01). In conclusion, enrollment into an amputation prevention program secondarily increased adherence to GDMT, driven by increases in the prescription of statins and aspirin, with resulting decreases in HbA1c and LDL.

Impact of head and neck radiation on long-term outcomes after carotid revascularization.

OBJECTIVE: Radiation-induced carotid artery stenosis (RICS) is a well-described phenomenon seen after head and neck cancer radiation. Previously published literature suggests that, compared with atherosclerotic disease, RICS may result in worse long-term outcomes and early restenosis. This study aims to evaluate the effect of radiation on long-term outcomes after various carotid revascularization techniques using a multi-center registry database. METHODS: Patients in the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) registry for carotid artery intervention (carotid endarterectomy [CEA]; transfemoral carotid artery stenting [CAS]; transcarotid artery revascularization [TCAR]), who are 65 years or older were included in the study. VQI Vascular Implant Surveillance and Interventional Outcomes Network (VISION) Medicare-linked database was used to obtain long-term procedure-specific outcomes. Primary endpoints were 3-year death, stroke, and reintervention. We performed propensity matching between patients with prior radiation and those without. Kaplan-Meier analysis and a multivariate logistic regression model were used to analyze the outcome variables. RESULTS: A total of 56,472 patients had undergone carotid revascularization (CEA, n = 48,307; TCAR, n = 4593; CAS, n = 3572), 1244 patients with prior radiation and 54,925 patients without prior radiation. The prior radiation group was more likely to be male (71.9% vs 60.3%; P < .01), to receive a stent (47.5% vs 13.5%; P < .01), and to be on P2Y12 inhibitor (55.2% vs 38.3%; P < .01). Propensity matching was performed on 1223 patients (CEA, n = 655; TCAR, n = 292; CAS, n = 287). There were no significant differences in 30-day outcomes for death, stroke, or major adverse cardiovascular events for all three procedures. The prior radiation group had higher rates of cranial nerve injury (3.7% vs 1.8%; P = .04) and 90-day readmission (23.5% vs 18.3%; P = .01) after CEA. For long-term outcomes, prior radiation significantly increased mortality risk for CEA and CAS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38-2.27 and HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.02-2.36, respectively). The 3-year risk of stroke for CEA in radiated patients was also significantly higher (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.03-2.09) compared with non-radiated patients. Prior radiation did not significantly affect death and stroke in patients undergoing TCAR. Prior radiation also did not impact the rates of short and long-term reintervention after CEA, CAS, or TCAR. CONCLUSIONS: Prior head and neck radiation significantly increases the risk for mortality and stroke for CEA and the risk for mortality after CAS. Long-term outcomes for TCAR are not significantly affected by prior radiation. TCAR may be the preferred treatment modality for patients with radiation-induced carotid stenosis.

Success of transmetatarsal amputation for limb salvage in patients with peripheral artery disease.

Limb salvage is a difficult path for patients to travel as there is no guarantee of the outcome, often the major factor is perfusion. For patients who underwent transmetatarsal amputation (TMA), success rate is crucial as the next option is most likely a major amputation. We performed a 10 years (2010-2020) retrospective review of patients that underwent a TMA and had an angiogram or computed tomography angiography (CTA) perioperatively at the Dallas VA Medical Center. Failure after TMA was defined as a patient requiring a proximal amputation within 1 year. There were 125 TMAs performed between 2010 and 2020 at the institution. Forty-four (35.2%) patients had an angiogram/CTA peri-operative and met the inclusion criteria. Seventeen subjects (38.6%) had a higher level of amputation. Of the 17 failures, 2 (11.8%) patients had no patent vessel runoff to the foot, 9 (52.9%) had one vessel, 4 (23.5%) had two vessels, and 2 (11.8%) had three vessels runoff. One vessel runoff to the foot yielded a high rate of poor outcomes (56.3%) defined as a higher level of amputation. Two or more vessels runoff to the foot had over 75% success of limb salvage with a TMA.

Impact of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease on outcomes after complex endovascular and open aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease are traditionally associated with worse outcomes after endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) and open aneurysm repair (OAR) of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). However, there needs to be more data on complex AAA repair involving the aorta's visceral segment. This study stratifies complex AAA repair outcomes by CKD severity and dialysis dependence. METHODS: All patients undergoing elective OAR and fenestrated/branched EVAR (F-BEVAR) for complex AAA with preoperative renal function data captured by the Vascular Quality Initiative between January 2003 and September 2020 were analyzed. Patients were stratified by CKD class as follows: normal/mild (CKD 1 and 2), moderate (CKD class 3a), moderate to severe (CKD 3b), severe (CKD class 4 and 5), and dialysis. Only patients with clamp sites above one of the renal arteries were included for complex OAR. For F-BEVAR, patients with proximal landing zones below zone 5 (above celiac artery) were included, and distal landing zones between zones 1 and 5 were excluded. Primary outcomes were perioperative and 1-year mortality. Predictors of mortality were identified by Cox multivariate regression models. RESULTS: We identified 7849 elective complex AAA repairs: 4230 (54%) complex OARs and 3619 (46%) F-BEVARs. Most patients were White (89%) and male (74%), with an average age of 72 ± 8 years. The patients who underwent F-BEVAR were older and had more comorbidities. Elective F-BEVAR for complex AAA started in 2012 and increased from 1.4% in 2012 to 58% in 2020 (P < .001). The OAR cohort had more perioperative complications, but less 1-year mortality. The normal/mild CKD cohort had the highest 1-year survival compared with other groups after both complex OAR and F-BEVAR. On Cox regression analysis, when compared with CKD 1-2, worsening CKD stage (CKD 3b: hazard ratio [HR], 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.82-3.40; P < .001; CKD 4-5: HR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.16-3.26; P = .011; and dialysis: HR, 4.4; 95% CI, 2.53-7.72; P < .001) were independently associated with 1-year survival after F-BEVAR. After complex OAR, worsening CKD stage but not dialysis was associated with 1-year mortality compared with CKD 1-2 (CKD 3b: HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.13-2.35; P = .009; CKD 4-5: HR, 3.4; 95% CI, 2.03-5.79; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: CKD severity is an essential predictor of perioperative and 1-year mortality after complex AAA repair, irrespective of the treatment modality, which may reflect the natural history of CKD. Consideration should be given to raising the threshold for elective AAA repair in patients with moderate to severe CKD and end-stage renal disease, given the high 1-year mortality rate.

Comparative Outcomes of Interventions for Femoropopliteal Chronic Total Occlusion Versus Non-Chronic Total Occlusion Lesions From the Multicenter XLPAD Registry.

Background Endovascular intervention of femoropopliteal chronic total occlusions (CTOs) is technically more complex. However, there is lack of comparative analysis between CTO and non-CTO femoropopliteal interventions. Methods and Results We report procedural details and outcomes of patients treated for femoropopliteal CTO and non-CTO lesions in the XLPAD (Excellence in Peripheral Artery Disease) registry (NCT01904851) between 2006 and 2019. Primary outcomes were procedural success and 1-year major adverse limb events, a composite of all-cause death, target limb revascularization, or major amputation. Analysis included 2895 patients (CTO: n=1516 patients; non-CTO: n=1379 patients) with 3658 lesions (CTO: n=1998 lesions; non-CTO: n=1660 lesions). Conventional balloon angioplasty (20.86% versus 33.48%, P<0.001) or drug-coated balloon angioplasty (1.26% versus 2.93%, P<0.001) were more frequent in the non-CTO group, whereas bare-metal stents (28.09% versus 20.22%, P<0.001) or covered stents (4.08% versus 1.83%, P<0.001) were more frequent in the CTO group. Debulking procedures were more commonly performed in the non-CTO group (41.44% versus 53.13%, P<0.001), despite a similar degree of calcification between the 2 groups. Procedural success was higher in the non-CTO group (90.12% versus 96.79%, P<0.001). Procedural complications were higher in the CTO group (7.21% versus 4.66%, P=0.002), mainly due to excess distal embolization (1.5% versus 0.6%, P=0.015). Adjusted 1-year major adverse limb events were higher in the CTO group (22.47% versus 18.77%, P=0.019), driven mainly by target limb revascularization (19.00% versus 15.34%, P=0.013). Conclusions Procedural success is lower for endovascular treatment of femoropopliteal CTO compared with non-CTO lesions. CTO lesions are associated with higher rates of periprocedural complications and reinterventions after 1 year.

Reproducibility of Femoropopliteal Artery Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease.

Despite increased use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) during peripheral artery interventions, evidence for reproducibility of IVUS measurements and its relation to angiography is lacking. Forty cross-sectional IVUS images of the femoropopliteal artery from 20 randomly selected patients enrolled in the XLPAD (Excellence in Peripheral Artery Disease) registry who underwent peripheral artery interventions and met criteria based on IVUS consensus guidelines were independently assessed by 2 blinded readers. IVUS images from 6 patients (40 images) were selected for angiographic correlation and met criteria for identifiable landmarks (e.g., stent edge and bifurcation). Lumen cross-sectional area (CSA), external elastic membrane (EEM) CSA, luminal diameter, and reference vessel diameter were repeatedly measured. The Lumen CSA and EEM CSA intra-observer agreement by Spearman rank-order correlation (ρ) was >0.993, intraclass correlation coefficient was >0.997, and repeatability coefficient was <1.34. For the interobserver measurement of luminal CSA and EEM CSA, the ρ = 0.742 and 0.764; intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.888 and 0.885; and repeatability coefficient = 7.24 and 11.34, respectively. A Bland-Altman plot for lumen and EEM CSA showed good reproducibility. For angiographic comparison, the ρ for luminal diameter, luminal area, and vessel area were 0.419, 0.414, and 0.649, respectively. Femoropopliteal IVUS measurements showed strong intra-observer and interobserver agreement; IVUS and angiographic measurements did not demonstrate a similar strong agreement.

Women of Childbearing Age Have Higher Mortality Rates Following Inpatient Interventions for Splenic Artery Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Splenic artery aneurysms (SAAs) are the most common type of splanchnic aneurysms. Current guidelines recommend repair of SAAs in women of childbearing age because maternal mortality is high. The purpose of this study was to evaluate treatment modalities and outcomes following inpatient SAA repair in women. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample database from 2012 to 2018 was queried. Patients with SAAs were identified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9 and 10 codes. Childbearing age was defined as 14-49 years. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 561 patients were admitted with a diagnosis of SAA between the years of 2012 and 2018. There were 267 (47.6%) female patients and of these 103 (38.6%) were of childbearing age. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 2.7% (n = 15). There were no differences in rates of elective admissions or type of repair (open versus endovascular) between women of childbearing age and the remainder of the cohort. However, women of childbearing age were significantly more likely to undergo a splenectomy compared to the remainder of the cohort (32.0% vs. 21.4%, P = 0.028). Women of childbearing age had higher rates of in-hospital mortality compared to the remainder of the cohort (5.8% vs. 2.0%, P = 0.040). Subset analysis of the women of childbearing age revealed that those undergoing a splenectomy versus no splenectomy (14.8% vs. 2.6%, P = 0.039) and those treated in the nonelective versus elective setting (10.5% vs. 0%, P = 0.032) had higher rates of in-hospital mortality. There was 1 patient with an ICD code associated with pregnancy and they survived. CONCLUSIONS: Women of childbearing age had higher in-hospital mortality following inpatient interventions for SAAs with all of the deaths occurring in the nonelective setting. These data support the pursuit of aggressive elective treatment of SAAs in women of childbearing age.

Does obesity predict morbidity and mortality amongst patients undergoing transfemoral amputations?

BACKGROUND: We investigated the role of obesity on morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing above knee amputation. METHODS: Data of 4225 patients undergoing AKAs was extracted from NIS Database (2016-2019) for a retrospectively matched case-control study and were grouped into; Non-obese (N-Ob-BMI <29.9 kg/m2; n = 1413), class I/II obese (Ob-I/II-BMI: 30-39.9 kg/m2; n = 1413), and class III obese groups (Ob-IIIBMI > 40; n = 1399). Morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and hospital charges were analyzed. RESULTS: Blood loss anemia (OR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.19-1.64), superficial SSI (OR = 5.10; 95% CI = 1.4717.63) and acute kidney injury (AKI- OR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.21-1.67) were higher in Ob-III patients. Mortality was 5.8%, 4.5%, and 6.4% in N-Ob, Ob-I/II and Ob-III patients (p < 0.001; Ob-I/II vs. Ob-III), respectively. Hospital LOS was 3 days higher in Ob-III (16.1 ± 18.0), comparatively resulting in $25,481 higher inpatient-hospital charge. CONCLUSION: Patients in Ob-III group were noted to have increased morbidity, higher LOS, and inpatient-hospital cost.

Predicting renal function response to renal artery stenting.

OBJECTIVE: The Cardiovascular Outcomes in Renal Atherosclerotic Lesions Trial found no benefit of renal artery stenting (RAS) over medical therapy, although it was underpowered to detect a benefit among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). A post hoc analysis demonstrated improved event-free survival after RAS for patients whose renal function improved by 20% or more. A significant obstacle to achieving this benefit is the inability to predict which patients' renal function will improve from RAS. The objectives of the current study were to identify predictors of renal function response to RAS. METHODS: The Veteran Affairs Corporate Data Warehouse was queried for patients who underwent RAS between 2000 and 2021. The primary outcome was improvement in renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]) after stenting. Patients were categorized as responders if the eGFR at 30 days or greater after stenting increased by 20% or more compared with before stenting. All others were nonresponders. RESULTS: The study cohort included 695 patients with a median follow-up of 7.1 years (interquartile range, 3.7-11.6 years). Based on postoperative change in eGFR, 202 stented patients (29.1%) were responders, and the remainder (n = 493 [70.9%]) were nonresponders. Before RAS, responders had a significantly higher mean serum creatinine, lower mean eGFR, and higher rate of decline of preoperative GFR in the months before stenting. After stenting, responders had a 26.1% increase in eGFR, compared with before stenting (P < .0001), which remained stable during follow-up. In contrast, nonresponders had a progressive 5.5% decrease in eGFR after stenting. Logistic regression analysis identified three predictors of renal function response to stenting: (1) diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.44-0.91; P = .013), (2) CKD stages 3b or 4 (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.26-2.57; P = .001), and (3) rate of decline in preoperative eGFR per week before stenting (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.05-1.39; P = .008). CKD stages 3b and 4 and the rate of decline in preoperative eGFR are positive predictors of renal function response to stenting, whereas diabetes is a negative predictor. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our data, patients in CKD stages 3b and 4 (eGFR 15-44 mL/min/1.73 m2) are the only subgroups with a significant probability of improved renal function after RAS. The rate of decline of preoperative eGFR over the months before stenting is a powerful discriminator of patients who are most likely to benefit from RAS. Specifically, patients with a more rapid decrease in eGFR before stenting have a significantly greater probability of improved renal function with RAS. In contrast, diabetes is a negative predictor of improved renal function, so interventionalists should be circumspect about RAS in diabetic patients.

Selection criterion for endovascular aortic repair in those with chronic kidney disease.

OBJECTIVE: Endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) is the preferred method of repair for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). However, patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) are a high-risk group, and it is unknown which patients with CKD benefit from EVAR vs continued surveillance. The purpose of this study was to identify which patients with advanced CKD may benefit from EVAR. METHODS: The Vascular Quality Initiative Database was utilized to identify elective EVARs for AAAs. Patients were excluded if they underwent urgent or emergent repairs. CKD stages were categorized based on preoperative estimated glomular filtration rate (eGFR) and dialysis status. Predicted 1-year mortality of untreated AAAs was calculated by modifying a validated comorbidity score that predicts 1-year mortality (Gagne Index) without repair. The primary outcome was actual 1-year mortality, which was compared with the predicted 1-year mortality without repair. RESULTS: A total of 34,926 patient met study criteria. There were differences in Gagne Indices among the varying classes of CKD. Patients with CKD 4 and CKD 5 had the highest 1-year mortality rates, followed by CKD 3b, which was significantly higher than those with CKD 1 and CKD 2. Patients with CKD 4 had no differences between actual 1-year mortality with EVAR and predicted 1-year survival without EVAR across all AAA sizes. Those with CKD 5 had worse actual 1-year survival with EVAR than predicted 1-year survival without EVAR for AAAs <5.5 cm. Patients with CKD 5 only experienced an actual mortality benefit with EVAR compared with predicted 1-year mortality without EVAR for AAAs ≥7.0 cm. CONCLUSIONS: The current data suggest that patients with CKD 3b, 4, and 5 represent a high-risk group who may not benefit from elective EVAR utilizing traditional size criteria. Patients with CKD 4 and 5 with AAAs <5.5 cm do not benefit from elective EVAR. In patients with CKD 5, elective EVAR may need to be reserved for AAAs ≥7.0 cm unless there are other concerning anatomic characteristics.

Outcomes of carotid stenting in patients with fibromuscular dysplasia.

OBJECTIVE: Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a noninflammatory arterial disease that affects the extracranial carotid arteries in young patients. The ideal treatment of FMD has continued to be debated, and the role of carotid artery stenting (CAS) is controversial. The aim of the present study was to assess the feasibility and outcomes of CAS for patients with FMD. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients who had undergone CAS was performed using the Vascular Quality Initiative database from December 2012 to May 2021. Patients who had undergone CAS for atherosclerosis and FMD were included and matched 1:1 by age, gender, and clinical presentation. The demographics, clinical parameters, and procedural data were analyzed. The end points included postoperative stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA), and adverse events (perioperative and 1-year mortality, neurologic changes, access site complications, hematoma or bleeding, infection, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, reperfusion symptoms), and hospital length of stay. RESULTS: After matching, 55 patients had undergone CAS for FMD (mean age, 58.7 ± 14 years; 62% women; 69% White; mean body mass index, 28 ± 6 kg/m2). Most of these procedures (69%) were elective. The FMD group had had a lower rate of hypertension (55% vs 82%; P = .002), smoking (35% vs 80%; P < .001), diabetes (13% vs 45%; P < .001), and coronary artery disease (9% vs 45%; P < .001) compared with the non-FMD group. In the FMD group, prior TIA and stroke was identified in 39 (71%) and 31 (57%) patients, respectively. The mean interval from a prior stroke or TIA to the index surgery was 160 days. Additionally, 23 patients (42%) had had anatomically high lesions above the level of the second cervical vertebra. In the FMD group, the transfemoral approach was used for 43 patients (78%), with distal embolic protection used for 40 patients (93%). Flow reversal was used for nine patients (23%). Most cases were performed with local anesthesia (58%). Three patients (6%) in the FMD group had had access site complications that were managed nonoperatively. No differences were found between the FMD and non-FMD groups in perioperative stroke, TIA, or 30-day mortality. The length of stay was similar between the two groups, and the 1-year survival was 100% for both groups. All the patients in the FMD group were discharged without neurologic complications, and 50 patients (91%) were receiving dual antiplatelet therapy. The median follow-up was 328 days (interquartile range, 1-732 days) with no mortality or reinterventions during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: CAS for FMD is a feasible and safe procedure with favorable technical success, a low incidence of neurologic complications, and good clinical outcomes at 1 year of follow-up.

Chronic kidney disease impacts outcomes after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease are traditionally associated with worse outcomes after endovascular and open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). This study stratifies outcomes of AAA repair by approach, CKD severity, and dialysis dependence. METHODS: All patients undergoing elective infrarenal open aneurysm repair (OAR) and endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) with preoperative renal function data captured by the Vascular Quality Initiative between January 2003 and September 2020 were analyzed. Patients were stratified by CKD class as follows: CKD stages 1 and 2, CKD stage 3a, CKD stage 3b, CKD stages 4 and 5, and dialysis. Primary outcomes were perioperative and 1-year mortality. Predictors of survival were identified by Cox multivariate regression models. RESULTS: In total, 53,867 elective AAA repairs were identified: 5396 (10%) OARs and 48,471 (90%) EVARs. Most patients were White (90%) and male (81%), with a mean age of 73 ± 9 years. Patients who underwent EVAR were older and had more comorbidities. The use of elective EVAR for AAA increased from 52% in 2003 to 91% in 2020 (P < .001). The OAR cohort had more perioperative complications and short-term mortality. The CKD 1 and 2 group had the highest 1-year survival compared with the other groups after both OAR and EVAR. On Cox regression analysis, after EVAR, compared with CKD 1 and 2, worsening CKD stage (CKD 3a: hazard ratio [HR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93-1.68; P = .13; CKD 3b: HR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.23-2.45; P < .050; CKD 4-5: HR, 3.23; 95% CI, 2.13-4.88; P < .001), and dialysis (HR, 4.48; 95% CI, 1.90-10.6; P < .001) were independently associated with worse 1-year survival rates. After OAR, compared with CKD 1 and 2, worsening CKD stage (CKD 3a: HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.96-1.20; P = .20; CKD 3b: HR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.41-1.81; P < .001; CKD 4-5: HR, 2.85; 95% CI, 2.39-3.41; P < .001), and dialysis (HR, 3.79; 95% CI, 3.01-4.76; P < .001) were independently associated with worse 1-year survival rates. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the treatment approach, CKD severity is an important predictor of perioperative and 1-year mortality rates after infrarenal AAA repair and may reflect the natural history of CKD. Open repair is associated with high perioperative mortality risk in patients with CKD stages 4 and 5, as well as end-stage renal disease. Individualization of patient decision-making is especially important in patients with a glomerular filtration rate of less than 45 and perhaps consideration should be given to raising the threshold for elective AAA repair in these patients. Further studies focusing on appropriate size threshold for repair in these patients may be warranted.

Short-Term Outcomes After Retrograde Versus Antegrade Crossing Approaches for Femoropopliteal Occlusive Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To compare short- and mid-term outcomes of patients with femoropopliteal (FP) occlusive disease treated with a retrograde vs antegrade crossing strategy. BACKGROUND: Few studies have directly compared procedural details and outcomes after retrograde vs antegrade crossing of FP lesions. METHODS: Patients undergoing retrograde approaches to FP lesions were identified from the multicenter Excellence in Peripheral Artery Disease (XLPAD) registry between 2007 and 2015. These patients were matched 1:1 to patients treated with antegrade crossing strategies based on age, gender, comorbidities, indication for procedure, and lesion characteristics. Technical success, major adverse limb events (MALEs), and overall device cost were compared between retrograde and antegrade-only crossing. RESULTS: A total of 116 patients (58 antegrade and 58 retrograde) were included. The retrograde group had higher prevalence of coronary artery disease and presence of chronic total occlusions. The retrograde approach was associated with significantly longer procedural time (186 ± 70 minutes vs 124.4 ± 60 minutes; P<.001), but similar technical success (91.4% vs 96.6%; P=.24). There was no significant difference in perioperative morbidity. Patients treated with a retrograde approach had a lower total amputation rate (8.6% vs 22.4%; P=.04) and no difference in overall mortality (8.6% vs 5.2%; P=.47). Mean procedural costs were similar in the antegrade and retrograde groups. CONCLUSION: In patients with similar disease characteristics, a retrograde approach to FP occlusive disease was associated with longer procedural time, but improved limb salvage, without significant difference in procedural cost.

Current Predictors of Mortality in Veteran Patients Undergoing Major Lower Extremity Amputations: Risk Factors Have Not Changed and Mortality Remains High.

Major lower extremity amputation (LEA-above the ankle) carries a high rate of mortality. In the present study, we performed an institutional review of all patients submitting to LEAs at a Veteran Administration Hospital (between 2009 and 2021) accompanied with a review of the literature.For the past 12 years, 1042 LEAs were performed in 603 patients at our hospital. The 30-day, 1-year, and 5-year mortalities were 8.5%, 28.9%, and 53.0%, respectively. Age, hypoalbuminemia, and Clavien-Dindo Class were independent predictors of mortality in all the time intervals in the analysis. Cardiac disease was not an independent predictor of mortality. In 39 studies reviewed, the average 30-day, 1-year, and 5-year mortality was 14%, 36%, and 56%, respectively. There was no difference in mortality in multiple studies analyzed. No significant temporal variation was identified between 1950 and 2000 vs. 2001 and 2021. Predictors of mortality were not substantially different from our institutional experience.The mortality rate for LEAs remains constant over time. Increasing age and hypoalbuminemia are strong predictors of short- and long-term mortality.

Endovascular Treatment and Outcomes for Femoropopliteal In-Stent Restenosis: Insights from the XLPAD Registry.

Background: There is limited "real-world" evidence examining treatment modalities and outcomes in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease undergoing endovascular treatment of femoropopliteal (FP) in-stent restenosis (ISR). Materials and Methods: We compared outcomes in 2,895 patients from the XLPAD registry (NCT01904851) between 2006 and 2019 treated for FP ISR (n = 347) and non-ISR (n = 2,548) lesions. Primary endpoint included major adverse limb events (MALE) at 1 year, a composite of all-cause death, target limb repeat revascularization, or major amputation. Results: ISR patients were more frequently on antiplatelet (94.5% vs 89.4%, p=0.007) and statin (68.9% vs 60.3%, p=0.003) therapies. Lesion length was similar (ISR: 145 ± 99 mm vs. non-ISR: 142 ± 99 mm, p=0.55). Fewer treated ISR lesions were chronic total occlusions (47.3% vs. 53.7%, p=0.02) and severely calcified (22.4% vs. 44.7%, p < 0.001). Atherectomy (63.5% vs. 45.0%, p < 0.001) and drug-coated balloons (DCB; 4.7% vs. 1.7%, p < 0.001) were more frequently used in ISR lesions. The distal embolization rate was higher in ISR lesions (2.4% vs. 0.9%, p=0.02). Repeat revascularization (21.5% vs. 16.7%, p=0.04; Figure) was higher and freedom from MALE at 1 year was significantly lower (87% vs. 92.5%, p < 0.001) in the ISR group. Conclusion: Atherectomy and DCB are more frequently used to treat FP ISR lesions. Patients with FP ISR have more intraprocedural distal embolization, higher repeat revascularization procedures, and lower freedom from MALE at 1 year.

Renal Artery Aneurysms in the Inpatient Setting.

BACKGROUND: The risk of rupture of renal artery aneurysms (RAAs) remains undefined. A recent paper from the Vascular Low-Frequency Disease Consortium (VLFDC) identified only 3 ruptures in 760 patients. However, over 80% of patients in the VLFDC study were treated at large academic centers, which may not reflect the pattern of care of RAAs nationwide. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the pattern of nonelective versus elective surgery requiring inpatient admission for RAAs, including nephrectomies, and their outcomes using a national database. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2012 to 2018 was utilized. Patients with a primary diagnosis of RAAs were identified using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. Ruptured RAAs (rRAAs) were identified utilizing surrogate ICD codes. The primary outcome variables for this study were proportion of RAAs requiring non-elective surgery and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 590 inpatient admissions for RAA were identified with 554 procedures at 467 hospitals across the country. Of the 590 inpatient admissions, 380 (64.4%) admissions were deemed nonelective. There was an increasing proportion of nonelective admissions over the study period. The overall rate of nephrectomies was 7.1% (n = 42). In-hospital mortality rate for the cohort was 1.4% (n = 8) with no differences in in-hospital mortality in the elective versus nonelective setting (1.0% vs. 1.6%; P = 0.718). In the nonelective setting, patients requiring a nephrectomy (n = 23) had significantly higher rates of in-hospital mortality compared those not requiring a nephrectomy (8.7% vs. 1.1%, P = 0.045). rRAA (n = 50) patients had significantly higher in-hospital mortality compared to the remainder of the cohort (6.0% vs. 0.9%, P = 0.024). rRAA patients were also more likely to undergo a nephrectomy compared to the remainder of the cohort (16.0% vs. 6.3%, P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that treatment of RAAs are primarily done in the nonelective setting with a high proportion of ruptures, which could continue to rise as the threshold for repair has decreased.