Expansion of WallStents® after Initial Deployment in Nonthrombotic Iliac Vein Lesions.

Background: To determine the structural changes of Wallstents (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA) in vivo following deployment in iliac veins.

Methods: This retrospective single-center study was performed from September 2012 to April 2013 and included 100 office-based patients who underwent initial stent placement for nonthrombotic iliac vein lesions with Wallstent as well as a second procedure for stenting of the contralateral iliac vein. Measurements were obtained with marker balloons and the diameters of the stents were compared at the time of the index procedure to the secondary procedure.

Risk factors for low back pain after iliac vein stenting for non-thrombotic iliac vein lesions.

Objective: Iliac vein stenting is an option being explored to treat chronic venous insufficiency. We have noted that our most common postoperative complication is low back pain after stent placement, which is occasionally quite severe. We wanted to investigate risk factors that are involved in this phenomenon and identify potentially modifiable factors.

Who are the Vascular Society Presidents?

Background: We noted distinct differences between the demographics among the presidents of various vascular societies. To help characterize these among the present United States, Canadian, and European vascular societies, we queried the websites for the United States, Canadian, and European vascular societies in a systematic review for the names of their presidents since their respective inceptions.

Methods: Age and ethnicity were determined by a search on healthgrades.

The Great Masquerader - TB Osteoarthritis.

Objectives: TB arthritis is a rarely reported entity in Western literature and its ability to masquerade as many other diseases makes it difficult to diagnose. We report an interesting case of TB arthritis of the ankle.

Methods: We present a 44 year-old diabetic Chinese male with a recent history of worsening pain, swelling, and redness in his left foot with an abscess and X-ray findings consistent with Charcot foot.

Spontaneous hemorrhage from varicose veins: A single-center experience.

Objective: Whereas the commonly described manifestations of venous insufficiency include telangiectasia, varicose veins (VVs), edema, skin changes, and ulcers, we have noted some patients who present with external hemorrhage from lower extremity VVs. Because there are few recent data examining this entity, we herein describe our experience.

Methods: During 29 months, we had 32 patients present with hemorrhage from lower extremity VVs.

Loss of Sirtuin 1 Alters the Secretome of Breast Cancer Cells by Impairing Lysosomal Integrity.

The NAD-dependent deacetylase Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is down-regulated in triple-negative breast cancer. To determine the mechanistic basis by which reduced SIRT1 expression influences processes related to certain aggressive cancers, we examined the consequences of depleting breast cancer cells of SIRT1. We discovered that reducing SIRT1 levels decreased the expression of one particular subunit of the vacuolar-type H+ ATPase (V-ATPase), which is responsible for proper lysosomal acidification and protein degradation.

Routine use of ultrasound to avert mechanical complications during placement of tunneled dialysis catheters for hemodialysis.

Objective: While placement of tunneled dialysis catheters for hemodialysis access is considered a routine procedure, it is associated with a small chance of mechanical complications. Because the literature examining these issues is not recent and our impression of the incidence of these postprocedural complications is at variance with the existing literature, we decided to review our experience.

Methods: Since 1998, our vascular service has placed 1766 tunneled hemodialysis catheters in 1065 patients for hemodialysis access.

Success rate and factors predictive of redo radiofrequency ablation of perforator veins.

Objective: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is increasingly being employed for treatment of perforator vein insufficiency and venous ulcer healing. Previous studies have shown a closure rate of 60% to 80% in incompetent perforator veins (IPVs) with RFA. The purpose of the study was to determine the utility of a redo RFA for symptomatic recanalized perforators and to predict factors associated with recanalization.

A Trainee Perspective to Issues Needing Redressal in Current Vascular Surgery Training Programs: Survey Results from 2004 to 2015.

Background: Vascular surgery training and practice have been constantly evolving in the last 2 decades. The goal of this study is to report the changing trends in perspectives of vascular surgery trainees on current training program and issues that need redressal in vascular training and practice.

Methods: Vascular surgery trainees in the United States, who attended the Society of Clinical Vascular Surgery meeting from 2004 to 2015, were surveyed annually with an anonymous questionnaire during the meet.

Recent Trends in Publications of US and European Directors in Vascular Surgery.

Background: We hypothesized that there may be significant differences between academic productivity of the vascular training programs in the United States (US) and Europe. In an effort to explore this theory, we reviewed the number of vascular publications listed in PubMed from 2010 to 2015 for US and European directors in vascular surgery.

Methods: The list of program directors from the Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery (APDVS) and the European Union of Medical Specialists (EUMS) were queried for the names of the directors of vascular surgical training programs at the end of 2015.

Recent trends in publications of US vascular surgery program directors.

Objective In order to examine the academic productivity of US vascular surgery program directors, the number of vascular publications listed in PubMed from 2001 to 2015 for US vascular surgery program directors was reviewed. We suggest that this can be used as a benchmark for academic productivity. Methods The names of the program directors were taken from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) website at two time points: December 2009 (Independent Programs) and December 2015 (Independent + Integrated).

Shortened protocol for radiofrequency ablation of perforator veins.

Background: Routine radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of an incompetent perforator vein (IPV) using the standard treatment protocol at 85°C has a treatment time of 6 minutes. To make treatment time more efficient, we sought to determine the effect of a shortened protocol for radiofrequency stylet (RFS) ablation by comparing the early success using three different temperatures: 85°C, 90°C, and 95°C.

Methods: A retrospective study examined 642 procedures of IPV closures in 255 patients with varying degrees of venous insufficiency treated with RFA from 2009 to 2015.