The impact of prolonged lower limb ischemia on amputation, mortality, and functional status: the FRIENDS registry.

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a major cause of cardiovascular ischemic events and amputation. Knowledge gaps exist in defining and measuring key factors that predict these events. The objective of this study was to assess whether duration of limb ischemia would serve as a major predictor of limb and patient survival.

The FReedom from Ischemic Events-New Dimensions for Survival (FRIENDS) registry: design of a prospective cohort study of patients with advanced peripheral artery disease.

Background: Advanced lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD), whether presenting as acute limb ischemia (ALI) or chronic critical limb ischemia (CLI), is associated with high rates of cardiovascular ischemic events, amputation, and death. Past research has focused on strategies of revascularization, but few data are available that prospectively evaluate the impact of key process of care factors (spanning pre-admission, acute hospitalization, and post-discharge) that might contribute to improving short and long-term health outcomes.

Methods/design: The FRIENDS registry is designed to prospectively evaluate a range of patient and health system care delivery factors that might serve as future targets for efforts to improve limb and systemic outcomes for patients with ALI or CLI.

The success and safety of endovenous ablation in patients with previous superficial venous thrombosis: a retrospective case-control study.

Objectives: Retrospective case-control study to determine the failure and endovenous heat-induced thrombosis (EHIT) rates of endovenous ablation (EVA) in patients with a history of superficial venous thrombosis (SVT).

Methods: Study and control groups each consisted of 73 patients with or without the history of SVT, who underwent EVA between June 2010 and July 2012. All patients were followed with venous duplex ultrasound.

Chronic venous ulcer: minimally invasive treatment of superficial axial and perforator vein reflux speeds healing and reduces recurrence.

Background: Chronic venous ulcer (CVU) is common and is responsible for significant health care expenditures worldwide. Compression is the mainstay of treatment, but long-term compliance with this therapy is often inconsistent, particularly in the elderly and infirm. Surgical ablation of axial and perforator reflux has been used as an adjunct to compression to reduce recurrence rates and assist healing.

Outcomes related to antiplatelet or anticoagulation use in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy.

Background: The number of cases involving patients undergoing vascular procedures who are prescribed clopidogrel or warfarin as treatment options continues to rise. Our aim was to examine outcomes related to antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

Methods: A retrospective review of 260 consecutive patients undergoing CEA.

Fate of the ectatic infrarenal aorta: expansion rates and outcomes.

The natural history of the ectatic infrarenal aorta remains undetermined. While surveillance protocols have been proposed for true aneurysms, no recommendations are currently available for ectatic aortas. The purpose of this study is to define the natural history and recommend surveillance protocols for the infrarenal aorta 2.

Use of a non-contact radiant heat bandage on ischemic dermal infections in an ovine model.

Background: Chronic non-healing foot wounds are common complication in the diabetic population. Local radiant heat bandage has recently been proposed as an effective adjuvant. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of such bandage in controlling infection in an ovine ischemic wound model.

Supplemental oxygen reduces intimal hyperplasia after intraarterial stenting in the rabbit.

Hypothesis: Supplemental oxygen can reduce intimal hyperplasia (IH) after stent deployment in a rabbit model.

Background: Endovascular stent placement is technically feasible, but long-term durability in vessels outside the aortoiliac system is compromised with postinterventional IH, which causes restenosis and failure of the arterial conduit.

Methods: Groups (n = 4 to 6) of female New Zealand white rabbits underwent placement of a 3-mm intraaortic stent with laparotomy and were placed in either normoxic (21% inspired oxygen concentration) or supplemental-oxygen (40% inspired oxygen concentration) environments for 0, 7, 14, and 28 days.

Expansion rates and outcomes for the 3.0-cm to the 3.9-cm infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Objective: This study was performed for the determination of the expansion rates and outcomes and for recommendations for the surveillance of the 3.0-cm to 3.9-cm abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).