Learning Curves and Competences of Vascular Trainees Performing Open Aortic Repair in a Simulation-Based Environment.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze learning curves and competency gains of novice vascular trainees when performing open aortic repair in a simulation-based environment.

Methods: This was a prospective study of 16 vascular trainees performing infrarenal open aortic repair on an inanimate abdominal aortic aneurysm simulator with pulsatile pressure and flow. Each participant performed 4 procedures as a primary surgeon while getting structured feedback by a supervising experienced vascular surgeon.

Ensuring Competency in Open Aortic Aneurysm Repair - Development and Validation of a New Assessment Tool.

Objective: The aims of this study were to develop a procedure specific assessment tool for open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair, gather validity evidence for the tool and establish a pass/fail standard.

Methods: Validity was studied based on the contemporary framework by Messick. Three vascular surgeons experienced in open AAA repair and an expert in assessment and validation within medical education developed the OPEn aortic aneurysm Repair Assessment of Technical Expertise (OPERATE) tool.

Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation of Heparin Coated Versus Standard Graft for Bypass Surgery in Peripheral Artery Disease Alongside a Randomised Controlled Trial.

Objective/background: Heparin coating has recently been shown to reduce the risk of graft failure in arterial revascularisation, at least transiently. The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of heparin coated versus standard polytetrafluoroethylene grafts for bypass surgery in peripheral artery disease from a long-term healthcare system perspective.

Methods: Cost-effectiveness evaluation was conducted alongside the Danish part of the Scandinavian Propaten trial in which 431 patients planned for femoro-femoral or femoro-popliteal bypass surgery were randomised to either type of graft and followed for 5 years.

Midt-Term Results after Fast-Track Prophylactic Carotid Surgery Program: The Risk of Overlooking Occult Cancer.

Background: Most guidelines recommend fast-track carotid endarterectomy (CEA) within 14 days of the last ischemic event. Long-term survival after fast-track CEA is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the fast-track CEA program in our region was associated with a reduced or increased 2-year survival and overall complication rate in our population.

Five-year outcomes following a randomized trial of femorofemoral and femoropopliteal bypass grafting with heparin-bonded or standard polytetrafluoroethylene grafts.

Background: Cohort studies suggest superior long-term patency of luminal heparin-bonded polytetrafluoroethylene (Hb-PTFE) bypass grafts compared with standard PTFE grafts. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of Hb-PTFE grafts with those of standard PTFE grafts 5 years after a randomized trial.

Methods: Patients with intermittent claudication or critical limb ischaemia requiring femorofemoral or femoropopliteal bypass grafting were randomized in a clinical trial of Hb-PTFE versus standard PTFE in 11 Scandinavian centres between 2005 and 2009.