Evaluation of Outcomes and Treatment Options Among Trauma Patients with Abdominal Vascular Injuries.

Introduction: Abdominal vascular injuries are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Treatment options include non-operative management, open repair, and endovascular procedures. This study aimed to characterize patients and detail treatment modalities among those who sustained a traumatic abdominal vascular injury.

Concomitant placement of dialysis and infusion catheters in the right internal jugular vein in the intensive care setting: Is it safe?

Purpose: This study examined the safety and efficacy of placing both a central venous dialysis catheter and a central venous catheter for infusion in the right internal jugular vein compared to only a central venous dialysis catheter.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review for all adult patients who underwent the placement of the right internal jugular dialysis catheter by a single surgeon. Patients were grouped based on whether they received a tunneled dual lumen dialysis catheter alone or in combination with a central venous infusion catheter in the right internal jugular vein.

A novel anatomic severity grading score for acute Type B aortic dissections and correlation to aortic reinterventions after thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Background: We introduce a novel preoperative anatomic severity grading system for acute type B aortic dissections and validate the system in a cohort of patients who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Methods: We identified a cohort of patients who received thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for acute type B aortic dissection from 2008 to 2014. We developed an anatomic severity grading score (ASG) to measure attributes of aortic anatomy that we hypothesized may affect difficulty or durability of repair.

Carotid Duplex Ultrasonography: Additional Imaging Is Rarely Necessary for Appropriate Treatment Planning for Carotid Artery Disease.

This study was conducted to determine the utility of multiple imaging studies (CT angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, and/or conventional angiography), in addition to duplex ultrasonography (DU), in evaluating patients with carotid stenosis. A retrospective case series was conducted of patients with carotid stenosis who underwent DU alone or DU plus additional imaging. Concordance between DU and additional imaging and the effect on treatment plan was evaluated.

Anatomic severity grading score for primary descending thoracic aneurysms predicts procedural difficulty and aortic-related reinterventions after thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Background: An anatomic severity grading (ASG) score for primary descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (DTAs) was developed. The objective of this study was to determine if an ASG score cutoff value for DTAs is predictive of procedural complexity, aortic-related reinterventions, and mortality in patients who undergo thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).

Methods: A retrospective review from 2008 to 2013 of patient records was conducted of all consecutive patients who underwent TEVAR for a primary DTA.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm anatomic severity grading score predicts implant-related complications, systemic complications, and mortality.

Objective: The aim of our study was to examine the predictive value of the anatomic severity grading (ASG) score for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) on implant-related complications, systemic complications, and mortality at 30-day and midterm, defined as 2 years, follow-up assessments.

Methods: Patients who underwent endovascular aneurysm repair for infrarenal AAAs between 2009 and 2012 were retrospectively reviewed, and ASG scores were calculated from three-dimensonal computed tomography reconstructions. Two independent patient groups were created: those with a low ASG score (score <14) and those with a high ASG score (score ≥14).

TEVAR Rescue of an Embolized Edwards SAPIEN XT Valve Following TAVR.

Purpose: To report a successful method of managing an embolized Edwards SAPIEN XT aortic valve prosthesis using a thoracic endovascular aortic repair rescue.

Case Report: An 84-year-old man underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement using a 26-mm Edwards SAPIEN XT valve, which immediately embolized into the ascending aorta. Because of the severe tapering of the patient's transverse aortic arch, the embolized valve was unable to be maneuvered further down the aorta.

Volumetric analysis of the initial index computed tomography scan can predict the natural history of acute uncomplicated type B dissections.

Objective: Our objective was to characterize the predictive impact of computed tomography (CT) scan volumetric analysis on the natural history of acute uncomplicated type B aortic dissections (ADs).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with acute type B ADs from 2009 to 2014. On an iNtuition workstation (TeraRecon, Foster City, Calif), volume measurements were obtained using the true lumen volume (TLV), false lumen volume (FLV), and total aortic volume from the left subclavian artery to the celiac artery.

The effect of demographic factors and lesion severity on iliac stent patency.

Objective: The aim of our study was to perform a large multivariate analysis to identify demographic, anatomic, or procedural factors that affect iliac artery stent primary patency (PP).

Methods: Patients receiving iliac stents from 2007 to 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Univariate analysis assessed cohort characteristics and their effect on PP.

Detection of thromboxane A(2) receptor mRNA in rabbit nodose ganglion neurons.

Thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)) is an arachidonic acid metabolite that is released during tissue trauma and elicits platelet aggregation and vascular smooth muscle contraction. Previous research has shown that TXA(2) stimulates pulmonary and cardiac vagal afferent neurons. Therefore, we hypothesized that the presence of the TXA(2) receptor (TP) in vagal neurons would allow for stimulation or modulation of these neurons by TXA(2).