Surgical Repair of a Giant Inferior Vena Cava Aneurysm Associated with a Congenital Vascular Anomaly: A Case Report.

Inferior vena cava aneurysms (IVCAs) are rare yet potentially lethal, especially if they are symptomatic or complicated. Among the IVCAs reported in the literature, only a few are associated with congenital vascular anomalies, including congenital IVC obstruction, tetralogy of Fallot, left-sided IVC, duplicated IVC, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome, and Klipper-Trenaunay syndrome. We present the case of an 8-cm symptomatic saccular IVCA in a patient with tetralogy of Fallot, treated successfully with surgical repair.

Characteristics and Validation of Pediatric Extremity Vascular Trauma in Dedicated Pediatric and Adult Trauma Centers: A Scoping Review Protocol.

Background: Pediatric extremity vascular injuries constitute a rare yet serious entity that can lead to serious complications especially if left untreated or become late diagnosed. In our scoping review, we sought to evaluate different characteristics and outcomes of pediatric and combined adult trauma centers (ATCs) in the management of pediatric extremity vascular injury.

Methods: We sought to analyze various characteristics and parameters that differentiate a dedicated pediatric and a combined pediatric ATC in terms of effectiveness and quality of care in the acute setting and to describe special features and characteristics of an acute vascular disease that constitute pediatric population unique from the aspect of diagnosis and management.

Tips and Tricks to Facilitate the Combined Iliofemoral Endarterectomy With Stenting for Heavily Calcified Common Femoral Artery Atherosclerosis With Involvement of the External Iliac Artery.

Background: Management of a heavily calcified atherosclerotic occlusive disease involving the common femoral artery (CFA) and external iliac artery (EIA), poses a surgical challenge. Though the current guidelines recommend open surgical therapy for such lesions, this approach is neither easy nor represents the current real-life practice.

Purpose: To describe tips and tricks facilitating the hybrid technique for the management of distal iliofemoral atherosclerotic disease, where classic endarterectomy is inadequate or ill-performed.

Role of Hemodynamic Assessment and Limitations in Ankle-Brachial Pressure Index, Toe- Brachial Pressure Index to Predict Wound Healing After Revascularization.

Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) represents one of the most severe forms of peripheral arterial disease implying impaired wound healing and tissue loss at the same time posing a significant impact on the quality of life of patients and a serious economic burden on healthcare systems around the world. A major challenge in the management of patients with CLTI is the validity and role of non-invasive hemodynamic parameters in assessing their clinical status before and after revascularization. Traditionally, the diagnosis of CLTI is routinely based on clinical symptoms and confirmed by measurements of non-invasive limb hemodynamics including ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) and toe-brachial pressure index (TBPI).

Next-Generation Sequencing of microRNAs in Small Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: MiR-24 as a Biomarker.

Background: Small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are asymptomatic but can potentially lead to rupture if left undetected. To date, there is a lack of simple nonradiologic routine tests available for diagnosing AAAs. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been proven to be good-quality biomarkers in several diseases, including AAA.

Long-term outcomes of the Endurant endograft in patients undergoing endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Objective/background: To investigate the long-term outcomes after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in a real-world setting using the Endurant endograft (EG).

Methods: 184 EVAR candidates treated with the Endurant family EGs in a single vascular center were prospectively enrolled from January 2009 to December 2016. Kaplan-Meir estimates of long-term standardized primary and secondary outcome measures were performed.

Technical Characteristics of the Ovation Alto for the Treatment of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Application to Challenging Anatomies.

The Ovation Alto design repositions the maximum diameter of the proximal sealing ring at 7 mm below the lowermost renal artery. Although it has been introduced to address abdominal aortic aneurysms with short necks ≥7 mm, we present further applications of Alto in other neck irregularities, presenting four representative challenging cases with a short, wide, and conical neck, as well a juxtarenal aneurysm. At 1-month follow-up, there was 100% technical and clinical success.

Customizing foam sclerotherapy of the great saphenous vein: A proposed algorithm to enhance technical efficacy.

Objectives: The catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy (FS) and the suggested perivenous tumescent application for great saphenous vein (GSV) diameter reduction are suggested to improve technical and clinical results; yet, their use is reported rather indiscriminately. Our aim is to introduce an algorithm categorising the use of technical modalities accompanying ultrasound-guided FS of the GSV and present the technical efficacy of FS through a 5 F × 11  cm sheath placed at the knee level.

Methods: Representative cases of GSV insufficiency were chosen to describe our methodology.

Endovascular Retrieval of a Detached and Dislocated Venous Port Catheter in the Right Heart Chamber Using a Triple-Loop Snare Device.

The authors present a case of a successful percutaneous retrieval of a detached port-a-catheter device that had migrated to the right cardiac chambers in a patient with inoperable pancreatic cancer and hepatic metastases. The patient was admitted to the vascular clinic department on an urgent basis due to an accidental detachment of the catheter during removal at another hospital. The catheter had migrated from the initial placement site in the right subclavian vein to the superior vena cava and right heart chambers.

The Altura endograft system for endovascular aneurysm repair: presentation of its unique design with clinical implications.

Introduction: The Altura aortic endograft for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) consists of two separate components with a proximal double D-shaped design. The braided endoskeleton of the endograft is attached only at the proximal and distal ends of the inner surface of the fabric resulting in adjustable length of the Altura components. To ensure optimal orientation and sealing, the design of Altura permits collapse, readjustment, and deployment of the repositioned D-shaped endografts.

Surgical Reconstruction of Traumatic Pseudoaneurysm of Palmar Arch Caused by Blunt Trauma.

Although rare, pseudoaneurysms (PAs) of the palmar arch are mostly considered benign. However, they can cause severe complications if left untreated or misdiagnosed. There are a few data on traumatic PAs of the palmar arch, particularly those most commonly caused by penetrating hand injuries.

A meta-analysis of vascular access outcomes in hemodialysis patients aged 75 years or older.

Background: Several existing guidelines advocate the access creation without any specific recommendations for those patients over 75 years of age. The aim of this meta-analysis is to compare the outcomes of different vascular access procedures in the sub-group of elderly ESRD patients ⩾75 years of age.

Methods: A literature search was performed using the MEDLINE and SCOPUS electronic databases.

Diabetic Foot Management: Education of Vascular Surgeons Remains a Priority.

Diabetic foot ulcers remain difficult to heal, especially in the setting of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Vascular surgeons are very important members of the multidisciplinary foot care team. To make the most of their potential, adequate education of vascular trainees on diabetic PAD remains a priority.

Closed posterolateral elbow dislocation without fracture leading to complete brachial artery rupture.

Traumatic vascular injury of the brachial artery by closed posterolateral complete elbow dislocation, without fracture is an unusual injury. Based on clinical and radiological evidence, emergency treatment is necessary.We present a case of complete brachial artery rupture, with a clot resulting from a closed posterolateral elbow dislocation, without fracture.

A Misdiagnosed Case of Endoleak Type-III Caused by Inadvertent Bilateral Limb Insertion in the Same Limb Gate of the Ovation Endograft.

We describe an infrequent case of endoleak Type-III due to an unrecognized, inadvertent bilateral limb deployment into the same limb gate of the Ovation aortic endograft, accompanied by thrombosis and acute ischemia. The following computed tomography angiography revealed the open limb gate with the characteristic of radio-opaque polymer in the sealing rings. Intraoperative angiographies via the brachial route identified the open limb gate and facilitated the successful use of an occluding plug to manage the Type-III endoleak.

Extensive Inferior Vena Cava Thrombosis Related to COVID-19 Infection in a Patient with Retrievable Filter Due to Multiple Pelvic Bone Fractures.

Inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis is often attributed to IVC filters. Here, we describe the first case of IVC filter thrombosis associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection in a 34-year-old male with multiple pelvic fractures. The IVC filter was initially placed prophylactically prior to major orthopedic trauma reconstruction complicated by silent pulmonary embolism, precluding the safe transition to therapeutic anticoagulation due to the high hemorrhagic risk from pelvic fracture fixation.

Superficialization Methods of Arteriovenous Fistula in Obese Patients: A Review of the Literature.

Background: The creation of an arteriovenous fistula in obese patients with end-stage-renal-disease, might not lead to a successful hemodialysis session, partly due to excess adipose tissue overlapping the enlarged vein. This review summarizes the available evidence on superficialization methods in studies dealing with obese patients.

Methods: An English-language literature search was undertaken in the MEDLINE/SCOPUS databases looking for publications that described procedures of salvaging autologous arteriovenous access in upper extremities of obese patients.

Update on the TREO endograft device: overview of its safety and efficacy.

Introduction: The TREO abdominal aortic stent graft system (Terumo Aortic, Sunrise, Fla) is a low-profile, trimodular endovascular endoprosthesis for the endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The objective of the present study was to collect and discuss all the available modern data of this device highlighting especially its mid-and long-term clinical results.

Areas Covered: This updated review article presents the most current results from great-scale clinical studies and the RATIONALE registry involving also angulated neck anatomies and challenging AAA geometries, reflecting the real-world experience.

Safety and Efficacy of Intentional Celiac Artery Coverage in Endovascular Management of Thoracoabdominal Aortic Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Purpose: Thoracic endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (TEVAR) has emerged as an attractive alternative option in the treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) diseases, reporting lower morbidity and mortality rates compared with open or hybrid repair. A challenging situation arises when the aneurysm involves the celiac artery (CA), precluding a safe distal landing zone. We investigated the safety and efficacy of CA coverage in the treatment of complex TAAA diseases during endovascular management.

Angiotensin II triggers release of neutrophil extracellular traps, linking thromboinflammation with essential hypertension.

Innate immunity and chronic inflammation are involved in atherosclerosis and atherothrombosis, leading to target organ damage in essential hypertension (EH). However, the role of neutrophils in EH is still elusive. We investigated the association between angiotensin II (Ang II) and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in pathogenesis of EH.

Plain versus paclitaxel-coated balloon angioplasty in arteriovenous fistula and graft stenosis: An umbrella review.

An umbrella review was performed to synthesize the evidence from systematic reviews/meta-analyses of clinical trials investigating the efficacy and safety of paclitaxel-coated balloons (PCB) vs. conventional balloon angioplasty in arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) and grafts stenosis.Medline (via PubMed) and SCOPUS databases were searched up to July 15th 2020.

Web-based Medical Education During COVID-19 Lockdown: A Step Back or a Leap to the Future?

The impact of coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) on medical education has been substantial. Medical students require considerable clinical exposure. However, due to the risk of COVID-19, the majority of medical schools globally have discontinued their normal activities.