Reamputation Rate, Mortality, and the Incidence of Risk Factors for Ipsilateral Reamputation Among Patients with Dysvascular Major Lower Limb Amputation.

Background: A major lower limb amputation (LLA) for dysvascular disease carries the risk of disturbed wound healing necessitating reamputation at a higher level. A reamputation causes a delay in prosthetic fitting and recovery of walking ability. The combination of a prolonged open wound and inability to walk can worsen the physical and psychological situation.

Gender differences following supervised exercise therapy in patients with intermittent claudication.

Objective: Prevalence of peripheral arterial disease is equal in men and women. However, women seem to suffer more from the burden of disease. Current studies on gender-related outcomes following supervised exercise therapy (SET) for intermittent claudication (IC) yield conflicting results.

Primary aortoduodenal fistula and Q-fever.

Patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are prone to vascular infection with chronic Q-fever. There is a rising incidence of up to 8% of chronic Q-fever in The Netherlands. Increased vascular aortic aneurysm infection with chronic Q-fever is reported.

Supervised exercise therapy versus non-supervised exercise therapy for intermittent claudication.

Background: Although supervised exercise therapy is considered to be of significant benefit for people with leg pain (peripheral arterial disease (PAD)), implementing supervised exercise programs (SETs) in daily practice has limitations. This is an update of a review first published in 2006.

Objectives: The main objective of this review was to provide an accurate overview of studies evaluating the effects of supervised versus non-supervised exercise therapy on maximal walking time or distance on a treadmill for people with intermittent claudication.

Ginkgo biloba for intermittent claudication.

Background: People with intermittent claudication (IC) suffer from pain in the muscles of the leg occurring during exercise which is relieved by a short period of rest. Symptomatic relief can be achieved by (supervised) exercise therapy and pharmacological treatments. Ginkgo biloba is a vasoactive agent and is used to treat IC.

Applicability of the ankle-brachial-index measurement as screening device for high cardiovascular risk: an observational study.

Background: Screening with ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement could be clinically relevant to avoid cardiovascular events in subjects with asymptomatic atherosclerosis. To assess the practical impact of guidelines regarding the use of ABI as a screening tool in general practice, the corresponding number needed to screen, including the required time investment, and the feasibility of ABI performance, was assessed.

Methods: An observational study was performed in the setting of 955 general practices in the Netherlands.

Q fever (Coxiella burnetii) causing an infected thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm.

We report a patient, which we believe is the first, with a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm, Crawford type IV, caused by Q fever (Coxiella burnetii). Treatment consisted of antibiotic therapy started preoperatively and continued postoperatively and an open repair, including resection of the infected aneurysm, replacement with a rifampin-soaked polyester graft, and an omental wrap covering the grafts. After 13 months of follow-up, the patient had no signs of infection, and results of laboratory findings were normal.

Ginkgo biloba for intermittent claudication.

Background: People with intermittent claudication suffer from pain in the muscles of the leg occurring during exercise which is relieved by a short period of rest. Symptomatic relief can be achieved by (supervised) exercise therapy and pharmacological treatments. Ginkgo biloba is a vasoactive agent and is used to treat intermittent claudication.

A clinical prediction model for the presence of peripheral arterial disease--the benefit of screening individuals before initiation of measurement of the ankle-brachial index: an observational study.

Measurement of the ankle-brachial index (ABI) can provide important information about the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis. Performing the ABI in the overall population is not feasible, but it can be used in a selected population. A simple prediction rule could be of much use to estimate the risk of an abnormal ABI.

Endovascular repair of paraanastomotic aneurysms after previous open aortic prosthetic reconstruction.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of endovascular repair of anastomotic and true aortic and iliac aneurysms occurring after prior polyester graft repair for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) or aortoiliac obstructive disease. Between July 1999 and January 2003, 14 patients underwent endovascular treatment of aortic pseudoaneurysms (n = 6) or iliac aneurysms (2 patients with pseudoaneurysms and 6 patients with true aneurysms) occurring 4 to 18.4 years (mean, 8.