Department Of Vascular Surgery Research Articles

Open Withdrawal of Inferior Vena Cava Filter. Experience of 5 Cases in the Department of Angiology, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery of the Ignacio Chavez National Institute of Cardiology

Open Withdrawal of Inferior Vena Cava Filter. Experience of 5 Cases in the Department of Angiology, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery of the Ignacio Chavez National Institute of Cardiology

Stężenie substancji P związane jest z odpowiedzią zapalną i odczuwaniem bólu u pacjentów z bólem przewlekłym w przebiegu choroby niedokrwiennej kończyn dolnych

Previous studies indicate a significant role of the inflammatory response in the etiopathogenesis of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and chronic pain (CP). The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the concentration of SP and the level/concentration of inflammatory mediators (pro-inflammatory cytokines, positive and negative acute phase protein, anti-inflammatory cytokines) and pain intensity in people suffering from chronic pain (CP) in the course of PAD. We examined 187 patients of the Department of Vascular Surgery. 92 patients with PAD and CP (study group) were compared to 95 patients with PAD without CP (control group). The relationship between SP and the level/concentration of fibrinogen, C-Reactive Protein (CRP), antithrombin III (AT), serum albumin, Interleukin 10 (IL-10), Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α) and pain intensity (NRS) was analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using the R program, assuming the level of statistical significance α=0.05. Patients with CP had significantly higher levels of fibrinogen (p<0.001), CRP (p<0.001), SP (p<0.001), IL-10 (p<0.001) and lower serum albumin levels (p<0.023). Higher SP concentration was associated with higher levels of IL-10, CRP and pain intensity. In both groups, SP concentration correlated negatively with the level of fibrinogen (p<0.001) as well as with albumin in the control group (p<0.001). Thus, there is a relationship between the concentration of SP and fibrinogen, along with CRP, IL-10 and the intensity of pain in people suffering from CP in the course of PAD and the level of albumin in the group without CP.

Treatment of aorto-iliac occlusive lesions by aortic robotic surgery: learning curve and midterm outcome

To evaluate learning curve and midterm results of aorto-iliac occlusive disease (AIOD) revascularization by robot-assisted laparoscopic (RAL) surgery. A prospective single-center study was conducted. Patients with AIOD in the vascular surgery department of Georges Pompidou European Hospital (Paris, France) treated by RAL from February 2014 to February 2019 were included. Demographic characteristics, past medical history, TASC (Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus) lesions classifications, mortality, primary and secondary patency, as well as complication rates were collected. Safety was analyzed by CUSUM method with a conversion rate of 10%, operative time by cumulative average-time model and primary and secondary patency by Kaplan-Meier method. Seventy patients were included, 18 (25.7%) with TASC C lesions and 52 (74.3%) with TASC D lesions. Before discharge 14 (24.3%) patients had surgical complications. Among them, 10 (14.3%) required at least one reintervention. One (1.4%) patient died during the hospitalization. The learning curve in terms of safety (conversion rate) was 13 cases with an operating time of 220 minutes after 35 patients. During follow-up (median 37 months [21; 49]), 63 patients (91.3%) improved their symptoms, 53 (76.8%) became asymptomatic and 3 graft limb occlusions occurred. The primary patency at 12, 24, 36 and 48 months was 94%, 92%, 92% and 92% respectively, while the secondary patency for the same intervals was 100%, 98.1%, 98.1% and 98.1% respectively. Robotic surgery in AIOD revascularization seems safe and effective; allowing to treat patients with few comorbidities and severe lesions, in a dedicated center experienced in RAL, with excellent patency. Prospective clinical trials should be performed to confirm safety.

Elevated Leukocyte Glucose Index Is Associated with Long-Term Arteriovenous Fistula Failure in Dialysis Patients.

(1) Background: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred type of vascular access for dialysis in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). However, the primary patency of AVF at one year is under 70% due to several risk factors and comorbidities. Leukocyte glucose index (LGI), a new biomarker based on blood leukocytes and glucose values, has been found to be associated with poor outcomes in cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of LGI on the long-term primary patency of AVF following dialysis initiation. (2) Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study in which we initially enrolled 158 patients with ESKD admitted to the Vascular Surgery Department of the Emergency County Hospital of Targu Mures, Romania, to surgically create an AVF for dialysis between January 2020 and July 2023. The primary endpoint was AVF failure, defined as the impossibility of performing a chronic dialysis session due to severe restenosis or AVF thrombosis. After follow-up, we categorized patients into two groups based on their AVF status: "functional AVF" for those with a permeable AVF and "AVF failure" for those with vascular access dysfunction. (3) Results: Patients with AVF failure had a higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation (p = 0.013) and diabetes (p = 0.028), as well as a higher LGI value (1.12 vs. 0.79, p < 0.001). At ROC analysis, LGI had the strongest association with the outcome, with an AUC of 0.729, and an optimal cut-off value of 0.95 (72.4% sensitivity and 68% specificity). In Kaplan-Meier survival analyses, patients in the highest tertile (T3) of LGI had a significantly higher incidence of AVF failure compared to those in tertile 1 (p = 0.019). Moreover, we found that patients with higher baseline LGI values had a significantly higher risk of AVF failure during follow-up (HR: 1.48, p = 0.003). The association is independent of age and sex (HR: 1.65, p = 0.001), cardiovascular risk factors (HR: 1.63, p = 0.012), and pre-operative vascular mapping determinations (HR: 3.49, p = 0.037). (4) Conclusions: In conclusion, high preoperative values of LGI are positively associated with long-term AVF failure. The prognostic role of the biomarker was independent of age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, and pre-operative vascular mapping determinations.

AUTOTRANSPLANTATION WITH EXTRACORPORAL RECONSTRUCTION OF RENAL VESSELS: A CLINICAL CASE OF “THE NUTCRACKER SYNDROME” AND LEFT RENAL ARTERIES HYPOPLASIA COMBINATION

Ex vivo kidney autotransplantation with renal artery reconstruction is an effective method of surgical correction of vascular abnormalities (fibromuscular dysplasia, hypoplasia, and renal artery aneurysms) showing good long-term results. The combination of renal artery abnormalities with aorto-mesenteric compression syndrome (“the nutcracker” syndrome) is extremely rare and complicates the diagnosis making greatly. Renal artery hypoplasia is an abnormality that is rarely diagnosed and may not manifest clinically in the absence of contralateral kidney pathology as well as its vascular structures. Renal hypoplasia may be caused by mutations in the kidney development genes (HNF1B, PAX2, PBX1) and/or several environmental factors such as intrauterine growth retardation, maternal diseases (diabetes, hypertension), medication taken by the mother (renin-angiotensin system inhibitors or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and intoxication (smoking and alcohol). Premature delivery (before the 36th week) is also a risk factor due to incomplete nephrogenesis. Renal arteries hypoplasia is associated with fibromuscular dysplasia in most cases. The disease is characterized by non-inflammatory non-uniform focal hyperplasia of the renal artery wall with damage to small and medium arteries. Simultaneous damage to two or more vascular segments is detected in 25% of patients.&#x0D; A clinical case of successful treatment of “the nutcracker” syndrome (annular renal vein) combined with hypoplasia of the left main and accessory renal arteries associated with fibromuscular dysplasia is described. A 27-year-old female was admitted to the Department of Vascular Surgery of Municipal Noncommercial Enterprise of the Lviv Regional Council “Lviv Regional Clinical Hospital” on October 4, 2021, with complaints of pain in the left lumbar region and the left half of the abdomen, hematuria, proteinuria, a persistent increase in blood pressure. Ultrasound of the renal veins: the left renal vein in the aorto-mesenteric segment was not visualized, the posterior portion of the left renal vein was determined. Peak systolic velocity was up to 230 cm/s at the point of confluence with the inferior vena cava and 28 cm/s more distally. The vein was up to 12.0 mm in the renal hilum and up to 11.0 mm in the middle third. MSCT of the abdominal cavity, retroperitoneal space and pelvic organs: CT signs of pyelonephritis of the left kidney. Hypoplasia of the left kidney. Reactive para-aortic lymphadenopathy on the left. Hypoplastic left renal artery (3,8 mm) and presense of accessory ones, annular left renal vein. Angiomyolipoma of the right kidney (2,6 cm). Varicose veins of the small pelvis on the left. The patient underwent surgical treatment, namely ex vivo autovenous prosthetic repair of the left renal artery with autotransplantation of the left kidney. The course of the postoperative period was without complications, the reconstruction was functioning. Ultrasound of the renal vessels (1 week after the surgery): the blood flow was located in the renal hilum in the course of Doppler sonography of intrarenal branches. Venous outflow was unobstructed. Corticomedullary differentiation was marked satisfactorily.&#x0D; The study presented by us demonstrates the effectiveness of kidney autotransplantation for the correction of renal vascular abnormalities.&#x0D; Though of a solitary nature, the combination of renal vessels abnormalities complicates significantly the course of the disease and the possibilities of this pathology diagnostics.

[Endovascular treatment for Stanford type B aortic dissection in Marfan syndrome patients: a series of 23 cases].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in the treatment of Stanford type B aortic dissection (TBAD) in Marfan syndrome patients who had no history of aortic arch replacement. Methods: This is a retrospective case-series study. From January 2009 to December 2019,the clinical data of Marfan syndrome patients who underwent TEVAR for TBAD at the Department of Vascular Surgery were collected. A total of 23 patients were enrolled,including 15 males and 8 females. The age was (38.0±11.0) years (range:24 to 56 years). Among them,12 patients had history of ascending aortic surgery. Details of TEVAR,perioperative complications and reintervention were recorded and survival rate was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curve. Results: Technical success was 91.3% (21/23). Two patients with technical failure were as follows:one patient had type Ⅰa endoleak at the completion angiography,which healed spontaneously during the follow-up,and the other patient suffered aortic intimal intussusception after the deployment of the first stent-graft, and the second stent-graft was deployed. However, type Ⅲ endoleak was detected,which disappeared during the follow-up. One patient died during hospitalization. The median follow-up time (M(IQR)) was 60 (48) months (range:12 to 132 months). Reintervention was performed on 7 patients,including 3 distal stent-graft-induced new entry,2 distal aortic dilation,1 Ⅰa endoleak and 1 retrograde type A aortic dissection,respectively. Five-year cumulative survival rate was 86.7% (95%CI:86.6% to 86.8%) and the 5-year freedom from reintervention rate was 81.8% (95%CI:61.8% to 92.8%). Conclusions: TEVAR is feasible in the treatment of TBAD in Marfan syndrome patients who has no history of aortic arch replacement. It has high technical success rate and low perioperative complication.

Outcomes of balloon angioplasty and stent placement for iliac artery lesions classified as TASC II A, B: a single-center study.

Iliac artery stenosis or occlusion is a critical condition that can severely impact a patient's quality of life. The effectiveness of balloon angioplasty and intraluminal stenting for the treatment of iliac artery lesions classified as TASC II A and B was evaluated in this single-center prospective study. Conducted between October 2016 and September 2020 at Cho Ray Hospital's Vascular Surgery Department, this prospective study involved PAD patients categorized by TASC II A and B classifications who underwent endovascular intervention. Intervention outcomes were assessed peri-procedure and during short-term and mid-term follow-ups. Of the total of 133 patients, 34.6% underwent balloon angioplasty, while 65.4% received stenting. The immediate technical success rate was 97.7%, while the clinical success rate was 62.4%. Complications were minimal, with major limb amputation reported in 1.5% of the cases. There was a significant improvement in Rutherford classification and ABI at short-term follow-up, with a patency rate of 90.2%. The mid-term post-intervention follow-up yielded similar results with an 86.1% patency rate. The mortality rates associated with arterial occlusion were 2.3% during short-term follow-up and 1.7% during mid-term follow-up. Balloon angioplasty and stent placement are effective and safe interventions for TASC II A and B iliac artery occlusions with favorable short and mid-term outcomes. Further, multi-center studies with larger sample sizes are recommended for more comprehensive conclusions, including long-term follow-up assessment.

Designing and Implementation of a Digitalized Intersectoral Discharge Management System and Its Effect on Readmissions: Mixed Methods Approach.

Digital transformation offers new opportunities to improve the exchange of information between different health care providers, including inpatient, outpatient and care facilities. As information is especially at risk of being lost when a patient is discharged from a hospital, digital transformation offers great opportunities to improve intersectoral discharge management. However, most strategies for improvement have focused on structures within the hospital. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of a digitalized discharge management system, the project "Optimizing instersectoral discharge management" (SEKMA, derived from the German Sektorübergreifende Optimierung des Entlassmanagements), and its impact on the readmission rate. A mixed methods design was used to evaluate the implementation of a digitalized discharge management system and its impact on the readmission rate. After the implementation, the congruence between the planned (logic model) and the actual intervention was evaluated using a fidelity analysis. Finally, bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation on the readmission rate. For this purpose, a difference-in-difference approach was adopted based on routine data of hospital admissions between April 2019 and August 2019 and between April 2022 and August 2022. The department of vascular surgery served as the intervention group, in which the optimized discharge management was implemented in April 2022. The departments of internal medicine and cardiology formed the control group. Overall, 26 interviews were conducted, and we explored 21 determinants, which can be categorized into 3 groups: "optimization potential," "barriers," and "enablers." On the basis of these results, 19 strategies were developed to address the determinants, including a lack of networking among health care providers, digital information transmission, and user-unfriendliness. On the basis of these strategies, which were prioritized by 11 hospital physicians, a logic model was formulated. Of the 19 strategies, 7 (37%; eg, electronic discharge letter, providing mobile devices to the hospital's social service, and generating individual medication plans in the format of the national medication plan) have been implemented in SEKMA. A survey on the fidelity of the application of the implemented strategies showed that 3 of these strategies were not yet widely applied. No significant effect of SEKMA on readmissions was observed in the routine data of 14,854 hospital admissions (P=.20). This study demonstrates the potential of optimizing intersectoral collaboration for patient care. Although a significant effect of SEKMA on readmissions has not yet been observed, creating a digital ecosystem that connects different health care providers seems to be a promising approach to ensure secure and fast networking of the sectors. The described intersectoral optimization of discharge management provides a structured template for the implementation of a similar local digital care networking infrastructure in other care regions in Germany and other countries with a similarly fragmented health care system.

Correlation of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease: Cross-Sectional Study

Background Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) represent two facets of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, significantly impacting global health. Despite their high morbidity and mortality rates, the epidemiological and clinical nexus between PAD and CAD remains underexplored. Understanding the interrelation of these conditions is paramount for optimizing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Objective This study aimed to delineate the incidence and clinical correlation of CAD in patients diagnosed with PAD, thereby providing insights into the epidemiological characteristics and enhancing the clinical management of these conditions. Methods A cross-sectional analysis was conducted at Afridi Medical Complex's departments of vascular surgery and cardiology from 2021 to 2023. One hundred PAD patients referred for peripheral angiography were enrolled. Demographic data, Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) readings, ejection fraction percentages, and the presence of multivessel disease were evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25, focusing on mean, median, range, and significance levels to elucidate the prevalence of CAD among PAD patients. Results The study revealed a median age of 58 years among participants, with a significant male predominance (84%). ABI analysis showed that 74% and 108% of patients had mild and moderate PAD severity, respectively. The incidence of CAD in the PAD population was 56%, with angiographic assessments indicating single, double, and triple vessel disease in 23.21%, 39.29%, and 37.5% of patients, respectively. Notably, diabetes and dyslipidemia were prominent predictors of CAD presence in PAD patients. Conclusion The high prevalence of CAD in PAD patients underscores the critical need for comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment and suggests the potential benefit of routine coronary angiography in symptomatic PAD cases, particularly among those with diabetes and dyslipidemia. This study reinforces the intertwined nature of PAD and CAD, advocating for an integrated approach to the diagnosis and management of these atherosclerotic conditions.

Validation of the global limb anatomical staging system in Vietnamese patients treated for chronic limb-threatening ischemia

BackgroundChronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is the most severe clinical form of peripheral artery disease (PAD), accounting for approximately 11%, and is strongly associated with the incidence of amputation, cardiovascular events, and mortality. The Global Vascular Guideline (GVG) proposed a new Global Anatomic Staging System (GLASS) for evaluating the anatomic complexity of arterial lesions. However, more research is required to evaluate outcomes after endovascular intervention in CLTI patients using the GLASS.ObjectiveOur study aimed to describe clinical characteristics, arterial lesions, and endovascular interventions according to three grades of GLASS in the Vietnamese population. We evaluated the technical success, mortality rate, and probability to preserve the limb according to the GLASS.MethodsAll patients were diagnosed with CLTI and underwent infrainguinal endovascular intervention at the Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City from June 2020 to June 2022. All patients were evaluated before intervention and follow-up at 6 and 12 months after intervention. Patients were divided into three groups according to the GLASS, thereby comparing the technical success, mortality, and amputation rates. This retrospective study describes a series of cases.ResultsThe study sample evaluated 82 lower limbs of 82 patients, in which GLASS class I, II, and III lesions accounted for 36.6%, 43.9%, and 19.5% of the patients, respectively. The rates of technical success in the groups gradually decreased according to the complexity of the lesions (90%, 86.11%, and 56.25% for GLASS I, II, and III, respectively; p = 0.012). Notably, limb-based patency (LBP) at 12 months was significantly lower in the GLASS III group than in the GLASS I and II groups (22.22% vs 88.89% and 67.74%, respectively; p = 0.001). The amputation rates at 12 months in GLASS groups I, II, and III were 13.3%, 22.2%, and 50%, respectively (p = 0.021), while the mortality rates at 12 months were 0%, 8.33%, and 25%, respectively (p = 0.015).ConclusionIn patients with CLTI of higher GLASS stages, the rates of technical success were lower and the amputation and mortality rates were higher.

[Surgical strategies and efficacy analysis for aortic dissection complicating intractable mesenteric artery ischemia].

Objective: To explore the surgical strategies and clinical efficacy for aortic dissection combined with refractory superior mesenteric artery (SMA) ischemia. Methods: This is a retrospective case series study. Clinical data of 24 patients with aortic dissection and refractory SMA ischemia admitted to the Department of Vascular Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University from August 2010 to August 2020 were retrospectively collected. Of the 24 patients, 21 were males and 3 were females, with an age of (50.3±9.9) years (range: 44 to 72 years).Among them, 9 cases were Stanford type A aortic dissection, and 15 cases were type B. All patients underwent CT angiography upon admission, and based on imaging characteristics, they were classified into three types. Type Ⅰ: severe stenosis/occlusion of the SMA true lumen only; Type Ⅱ: stenosis of the true lumens in the descending aorta and SMA (isolated type); Type Ⅲ: stenosis of the true lumens in the thoracoabdominal aorta and SMA (continuation type). Surgical procedures, complications, mortality, and reintervention rates were recorded. Results: Among the 24 patients, 17 (70.8%) were classified as Type Ⅰ, 4 (16.7%) as Type Ⅱ, and 3 (12.5%) as Type Ⅲ. Fourteen cases of Type Ⅰ underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair combined with SMA stent implantation. Additionally, 3 Type Ⅰ and 1 Type Ⅱ patients underwent only SMA reconstruction (with one case of chronic TAAD treated with iliac artery-SMA bypass surgery). Moreover, 3 Type Ⅱ and 3 Type Ⅲ patients underwent descending aorta combined with SMA stent implantation. There were 5 patients (20.8%) who underwent small bowel resection, either in the same sitting or in a staged procedure. During hospitalization, 4 patients died, resulting in a mortality rate of 16.7%. Among these cases, two patients succumbed to severe intestinal ischemia resulting in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. The follow-up duration was (46±9) months (range: 13 to 72 months). During the follow-up, 2 patients died, unrelated to intestinal ischemia. The 5-year freedom from reintervention survival rate was 86.1%, and the 5-year cumulative survival rate was 82.6%. Conclusions: Patients with aortic dissection and refractory SMA ischemia have a high perioperative mortality. However, implementing appropriate surgical strategies according to different clinical scenarios can reduce mortality and alleviate intestinal ischemia.

Development and Validation of a Major Adverse Limb Events Prediction Model for Peripheral Arterial Disease with Frailty

ObjectiveTo investigate the risk factors for major limb adverse events (MALE) in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) combined with frailty and to develop and validate a risk prediction model of MALE. MethodsThis prospective study was performed in the vascular surgery department of patients in six hospitals in southwest China. Prospective collection of patients with PAD combined with frailty from February 1 to December 20, 2021, with MALE as the primary outcome, and followed for one year. The cohort was divided into a development cohort and a validation cohort. In the development cohort, a multivariate risk prediction model was developed to predict MALE using random forests for variable selection and multivariable Cox regression analysis. The model is represented by a visualized nomogram and a Web-based calculator. The model performance was tested with the validation cohort and assessed using the C-statistic and calibration plots. ResultsA total of 1179 patients were prospectively enrolled from February 1 to December 20, 2021. Among 816 patients with PAD were included in the analysis, the median follow-up period for this study was 9±4.07 months, and the mean [SD] age, 74.64 [74.64±9.43] years, 249 [30.5%] women. Within one year, 222 (27.2%) patients developed MALE. Target lesion revascularizations were 99 (12.1%) patients, and amputations were 131 (16.1%). The mortality rate within the whole cohort was 108 (13.2%) patients. After controlling for competing risk events (death), the cumulative risk of developing MALE was not statistically different. Prealbumin (PA) (HR 0.6, 95% CI 0.41-0.89, P= .010), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (HR 2.31, 95% CI 1.26-4.21, P= .006), Rutherford classification (HR 1.77, 95% CI 1.36-2.31, P<.001), white blood cell (WBC) (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.20-2.87, P= .005), high altitude area (HR 3.1, 95% CI 1.43-6.75, P= .004), endovascular treatment (EVT) (HR 10.2, 95% CI 1.44-72.5, P= .020) and length of stay (LOS) (HR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.03, P= .012) were risk factors of MALE. The MALE prediction model with a C-statistic of 0.76 (95% CI, 0.70-0.79). The C-statistic was 0.68 for internal validation and 0.66 for external validation for the MALE prediction model. The MALE prediction model for PAD presented an interactive nomogram and a web-based network calculator. ConclusionsIn this study, the MALE prediction model has a discriminative ability to predict MALE among patients with PAD in frailty. The MALE model can optimize clinical decision-making for patients in PAD with frailty.

Improving the Quality of Operative Notes in Vascular Surgery: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background and objective Missing information or mistakes in patients' medical records, including those related to intraoperative and postoperative information, in an operative note can have profound clinical, ethical, and medicolegal implications. Operative notes should be informative, clear, and inclusive of the necessary data and should be collated immediately following surgery. In this study, we aimed to determine the ways to improve the quality of operative notes in the field of vascular surgery. Methods In this retrospective analysis, we compared the operative notes of 32 patients in the Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, University Hospital Galway, against the standard set by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) (Code of Practice for Surgeons RCSI, 2018)and presented the results to our departmental staff. To facilitate an improvement in the quality of operative notes, a structured poster checklist was designed and displayed in the operating theatre. Furthermore, a scanner was set up in the operating theatre with clear and easy-to-follow instructions for uploading the operative notes into our hospital's online and digital patient record system (EVOLVE). An explanatory video was circulated among the staff. Three months after the first cycle, two further retrospective cycles were performed. Results A total of 96 patients' operative notes were analysed. Following the intervention, a significant improvement in documentation was noted concerning the dates; procedures followed; as well as the details of surgeons, assistants, anesthetists, incisions, surgery types, operative diagnoses, complications, additional procedures, tissue details, prostheses involved, closure techniques, postoperative plans, and surgeons' signatures. We also observeda significant increase in the uploading of the operative notes in the EVOLVE system. Conclusions The quality of the operative notesimproved considerably after staff education, poster display, and scanner installment in the operating theatre. It is important to have an efficient and well-structured plan to improve the process of operative note-keeping, thereby ultimately enhancing overall patient care.

The impact of the first and the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on vascular surgery practice in the leading regional center: a comparative, retrospective study

BackgroundWe conducted an analysis of the vascular surgery regional center reorganization in response to the first and the second wave of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to see what lessons we learned from the first wave.MethodsThe study included a total of 632 patients admitted to the vascular surgery department in three periods: March–May 2020, October–December 2020, and October–December 2019 as a control period.ResultsIn the pandemic periods the number of admitted patients decreased in relation to the control period. There was a reduction in performed procedures. We observed an increase in the ratio of less invasive procedures. There was a significant decline in hospitalization time in comparison to the control period.ConclusionsThe reduction of scheduled admissions and procedures affected vascular centers all over the world. Minimally invasive procedures were more willingly performed to shorten the hospitalization time and reduce the patient's exposure to hospital infection. It allowed us to treat more patients during the second wave. Nevertheless, an increased number of vascular patients should be expected in the future, which will result from the failure to perform elective procedures during the pandemic.

An Anatomic Classification Scheme for Surgical Planning of Renal Artery Aneurysms

Purpose: Renal artery aneurysm (RAA) is a rare disease. This study proposed and evaluated a new classification for RAA to assist in surgical decision-making. Materials and Methods: Single-center data of 105 patients with RAAs from the vascular department of vascular surgery were collected retrospectively. A new classification scheme was proposed. Type I aneurysms arise from the main trunk, accessory branch, or first-order branches away from any bifurcation. Type II aneurysms arise from the first bifurcation with narrow necks (defined as dome-to-neck ratio &gt;2) or from intralobular branches. Type III aneurysms with a wide neck arise from the first bifurcation and affect 2 or more branches that cannot be sacrificed without significant infarction of the kidney. Results: There was 50 (47.62%) type I, 33 (31.43%) type II, and 22 (20.95%) type III aneurysms. The classification assigned endovascular repair as first-line treatment (for type I or II), while open techniques were conducted if anatomically suitable (for type III). A kappa level of 0.752 was achieved by the classification compared with a level of 0.579 from the classic Rundback classification. Technical primary success was achieved in 100% and 96.05%, and symptoms were completely resolved in 100% and 84.85%, while hypertension was relieved in 84.21% and 72.92% of patients receiving open surgery or endovascular repair, respectively. No significant difference was observed for perioperative or long-term complications among the 3 classification types. Conclusion: The new classification proved to be a convenient and effective method for facilitating choice of intervention for RAAs. Clinical Impact This study proposed and evaluated a new classification scheme for renal artery aneurysms, which proved to be a convenient and effective method for facilitating surgical decision-making. Coil embolization was the first-line treatment if suitable, while aneurysm resection and reconstruction with vein graft were conducted for some complex lesions. The safety and efficacy of both open and endovascular methods were validated.

Giant retroperitoneal myolipoma mimicking liposarcoma: report of a resected case and review of the literature.

Myolipomas are rare tumors that are often difficult to differentiate from liposarcoma. Herein, we report a case of resected giant myolipoma preoperatively diagnosed as liposarcoma. A 63-year-old woman was suspected of having a large retroperitoneal liposarcoma on October 202X. The patient was referred to our department for tumor resection and a histological diagnosis. After consultation with the urology, obstetric and gynecology, and vascular surgery departments, tumor resection was planned, including the potential resection of other organs. Intraoperative findings revealed a large, elastic, soft tumor with a smooth surface and a capsule occupying the entire abdominal cavity. The tumor was adherent to the stomach, left colon, and uterine adnexa, and no invasion was observed. The tumor was completely resected, and organ resection was not necessary. The tumor was 40cm in diameter and 4.0kg in weight. Pathological examination and immunostaining confirmed a diagnosis of myolipoma. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged on postoperative day 10 with no complications. Twelve months after surgery, the patient was doing well. To the best of our knowledge, we report a complete resection of the largest retroperitoneal myolipoma reported to date. Physicians should consider surgery, even for suspected large sarcomas that may be difficult to resect completely.

Comparison Between Conventional and Patch Carotid Endarterectomy: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

BackgroundCarotid endarterectomy (CEA) is most commonly performed via conventional (cCEA)or patch (pCEA) surgical approaches. Current guidelines recommend prioritizing pCEA, however, these recommendations are based on clinical practice of over a decade ago. Under current medical conditions, controversy remains on optimal choice for surgical techniques. ObjectiveTo compare perioperative and long-term safety and effectiveness between cCEA and pCEA. MethodsData on baseline characteristics as well as perioperative and long-term postoperative complications from patients who underwent cCEA or pCEA at the Department of Vascular Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, from 2013 to 2022, were retrospectively collected and analyzed. ResultsA total of 248 CEA patients included in our study. The majority of patients (87.3%) were male, and mean age was 63.6±7.6 (range, 40-81) years; 104 patients (41.9%) underwent cCEA, while 144 (58.1%) underwent pCEA. Between the cCEA and pCEA groups, there were no significant differences in clinical baseline characteristics, occurrence of perioperative or long-term (median, 42.5 [range, 7 to 120] months) complications, and survival whether restenosis-free, asymptomatic or overall. ConclusionIn a single-center experience, conventional and patch CEA approaches appear similarly safe and effective.

Success Rate of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting on Elderly Patients in Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya

Highlights: CABG is the most performed cardiac surgery in Indonesia, and most patients undergoing this surgery are above 60 years old. CABG success rate is not significantly influenced solely by the patient’s age but also by several perioperative characteristics such as gender, comorbidities, and other variables included in the calculation of EuroSCORE II.   Abstract Introduction: Coronary artery disease (CAD) causes more than a quarter of deaths in Indonesia and is found to be more prevalent in the elderly (≥60 years old). Treatment includes coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), the most-performed cardiac surgery in Indonesia. This study aimed to determine the short-term and one-year postoperative success, morbidity, and mortality rates with their causes in Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya. Methods: This was a cross-sectional retrospective study using secondary data obtained from 85 medical records of CABG patients aged ≥60 years old in the Department of Thoracic, Cardiac, and Vascular Surgery, Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, from January 2018 to December 2020. Aside from descriptive statistics, logistic regression was conducted to assess the relationship between EuroSCORE II and the success of CABG in elderly patients. Results: Patients were mostly male in their sixties with a mean of 65.5 ± 4.9 years old, had three-vessel disease, and had a predicted mortality rate of 1.6%. The average number of grafts used was 3.3 ± 0.7, and the average length of hospital stay was 7.4 ± 2.4 days. The morbidity rate was 71.8%, with bleeding as the most common complication, a 17.6% mortality rate with septic shock as the most frequent cause, and a success rate of 82.4% (short-term) and 80% (one-year postoperative). Higher EuroSCORE II was found to significantly decrease the probability of both short-term and one-year postoperative success. Conclusion: The success rates of CABG in Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, were 82.4% (short-term) and 80% (one-year postoperative), negatively correlated with EuroSCORE II.

Pain reduction as the main parameter for monitoring improvement in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) following endovascular treatment of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate pain reduction as the main parameter for monitoring improvements in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in a female patient following endovascular treatment of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS).A 38-year-old female patient with chronic intermittent, “dragging” abdominal pain, lasting more than two years, mainly in the lower abdomen, radiating to the sacral region, underwent SARS CoV-2 infection in October 2021, and COVID-19, which lasted 10 days. Eight months later, complaints of pain in the lower abdominal area, during the mentrual cycle, during prolonged standing, after sports activities and during and after intercourse, increased. The patient was compelled to begin diagnosis of these complaints due to the severe pain and concerns about whether she had contracted cancer of the cervix uteri. She was diagnosed on transvaginal ultrasound-Doppler and Angio-MR of the pelvic vessels with PCS. Treatment was undertaken at the Department of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Interventions, St. John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland. Intraoperatively, after confirmation through selective angiography, of previously diagnosed insufficiency of the left ovarian vein (LOV) and of the parametrial veins (PMV), the selective obliteration was performed with an adhesive dedicated to endovascular closure of veins and vascular malformations (Glubran2). The range of pain intensity, according to theVisual Analogue Scale (VAS), in Exam. 1 (before surgery), was in the premenstrual period (BM) 7.0 points, which increased during menstruation (DM) or after intense activity (AIA) to 8.0 points, and occasionally during and after intercourse even to 9.0 points. These values were very high, indicating that pain significantly affected the patient's quality of life. The extent of pain severity decreased significantly in Study 2 (two months after surgery) and Study 3 (four months after surgery) and was 2.0 points in the premenstrual period (BM), which increased only slightly during menstruation (DM) or after intense activity (AIA) to 3.0 points, and decreased again to 2.0 points during and after intercourse. The patient reported that the procedure significantly and positively affected her functioning in daily life, especially in caring for a young child, which is evidence of the achievement of HRQoL improvement.Endovascular treatment for Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS) was effective in reducing pain and improving the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of a patient with PCS.

The impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on surgical outcomes after surgery for an acute abdominal diagnosis

Abstract Purpose The current study was undertaken to describe the independent contribution of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to the risk of postoperative morbidity and in-hospital mortality among patients undergoing surgery for an acute abdominal diagnosis. Methods Patients who underwent emergency abdominal procedures were identified from the electronic database of the Department of Visceral, Transplantation, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery of our institution. To evaluate differences in surgical risk associated with COPD, patients with COPD were matched for age, sex, and type of surgery with an equal number of controls who did not have COPD. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the univariate and multivariate associations between the independent variables, including COPD and outcome variables. Results Between January 2012 and December 2022, 3519 patients undergoing abdominal emergency surgery were identified in our abdominal surgical department. After removing ineligible cases, 201 COPD cases with an equal number of matched controls remained for analysis. The prevalence of COPD after the exclusion of ineligible cases was 5.7%. There were statistically significant differences in the rate of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs [57.7% vs. 35.8%; P &lt; 0.001]), ventilator dependence (VD [63.2% vs. 46.3%; P &lt; 0.001]), thromboembolic events (TEEs [22.9% vs. 12.9%; P = 0.009]), and in-hospital mortality (41.3% vs. 30.8%; P = 029) for patients with and without COPD. Independent of other covariates, the presence of COPD was not associated with a significantly increased risk of in-hospital mortality (OR, 1.16; 95% CI 0.70–1.97; P = 0.591) but was associated with an increased risk of PPCs (OR, 2.49; 95% CI 1.41–4.14; P = 0.002) and VD (OR, 2.26; 95% CI 1.22–4.17; P = 0.009). Conclusions Preexisting COPD may alter a patient’s risk of PPCs and VD. However, it was not associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality.