Pararenal Aortic Ulcer Repair.

Objective/background: In order to investigate techniques and outcomes of pararenal penetrating aortic ulcer (PAU) repair, a retrospective cohort study was performed.

Methods: Over the 6 year study period, 12 patients treated for a pararenal PAU were included. Outcome measures included technical success, survival, and peri-operative complications, as well as stent patency.

Degree of contralateral carotid stenosis improves preoperative risk stratification of patients with asymptomatic ipsilateral carotid stenosis.

Objective: The benefit of carotid surgery in asymptomatic patients with high-grade internal carotid artery stenosis (ICAS) is subject of intense debate, and thus improved preoperative risk stratification is mandatory. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of contralateral ICAS (cl-ICAS) for the preoperative clinical presentation of patients with ipsilateral ICAS (primary outcome).

Methods: This study was a post hoc analysis of a prospective cohort comprising 485 consecutive patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy for high-grade ICAS.

[Aortofemoral vascular graft infections and their prevention].

Vascular prosthesis infections are potentially severe adverse events following vascular reconstruction. They are often associated with a high morbidity and mortality, especially in the aortofemoral region. The present article outlines the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of vascular graft infections in a clinical setting.

Local anesthesia and exposure for carotid endarterectomy: background and technical realization.

While carotid endarterectomy is an established method for the treatment of symptomatic as well as high-grade asymptomatic carotid artery stenoses, there is a considerable variation concerning the kind of anesthesia used as well as technical details of the operation. In the present article differing arguments on local versus general anesthesia as well as a transverse versus a longitudinal skin incision will be discussed. Furthermore, possible access routes to the carotid bifurcation, the retrojugular compared to the ventrojugular approach, will be presented in detail.

Diagnostic accuracy of sigmoidoscopy compared with histology for ischemic colitis after aortic aneurysm repair.

Clinically relevant rates of ischemic colitis (IC) causing diarrhea, systemic involvement, colon necrosis, and, ultimately, death by multiple organ failure affect only a small proportion of patients after aortic reconstructions, with reported incidences of 2.7 to 3.3%.