Editor's Choice - Infra-Renal Aortic Diameter and Cardiovascular Risk: Making Better Use of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Outcomes.

Objective: Aortic diameter (AD), used traditionally for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening may have a role in assessing cardiovascular risk. Unfortunately, AD estimates for those without AAA are underutilised, whilst cardiovascular risk is sub-optimally managed in those with AAA. Our objective was to examine the association between AD measurements and future cardiovascular risk.

Effects of Left Renal Vein Ligation During Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair on Renal Function.

Objective: Left renal vein (LRV) ligation is performed during open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair to facilitate proximal anastomosis. Its impact on short, medium, and long term renal function has not been investigated in detail using appropriately validated endpoints.

Methods: This was a nested case control study using data from a prospectively maintained AAA institutional dataset (tertiary centre).

Editor's Choice - The Impact of Endovascular Aneurysm Repair on Long Term Renal Function Based on Hard Renal Outcomes.

Introduction: Over the short term endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is associated with superior outcomes compared with open repair; however, the progression of renal function after EVAR remains unknown because of the use of inconsistent reporting measures. The aim was to define long term renal decline following elective EVAR using estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Methods: The prospectively maintained in house database was used to identify consecutive patients having elective EVAR who had been followed up for more than five years.

Impact of hospital volume on outcomes following treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms and type-B dissections.

Previous research suggests an association between hospital volume and outcomes in high-risk surgical pathologies. The association between hospital volume and outcomes in patients with isolated descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (DTAAs) and type-B thoracic aortic dissections (TBADs) is conflicting. We aimed to investigate this in a literature review and meta-analysis.

Type II endoleaks: challenges and solutions.

Type II endoleaks are the most common endovascular complications of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR); however, there has been a divided opinion regarding their significance in EVAR. Some advocate a conservative approach unless there is clear evidence of sac expansion, while others maintain early intervention is best to prevent adverse late outcomes such as rupture. There is a lack of level-one evidence in this challenging group of patients, and due to a low event rate of complications, large numbers of patients would be required in well-designed trials to fully understand the natural history of type II endoleak.

Outcomes Following Limb Crossing in Endovascular Aneurysm Repairs.

Background: Crossing the limbs of the stent during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is often used to aid cannulation of the contralateral limb. This study assessed outcomes following the use of this technique.

Methods: Retrospective review of crossed (n = 43) and uncrossed (n = 269) EVARs was performed at a tertiary vascular center over 5 years.

Mortality from thoracic aortic diseases and associations with cardiovascular risk factors.

Background: Temporal trends in mortality from thoracic aortic disease are unclear. This study examined trends in mortality from thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and aortic dissection (AD) with the aim of identifying associations with trends in established cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods And Results: TAA and AD mortality (1994-2010) using International Classification of Diseases codes was extracted from the World Health Organization mortality database and age standardized.

A comparison of infections and complications in central venous catheters in adults with solid tumours.

Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the complication rates of three vascular access devices in patients with solid tumours having infusion chemotherapy.

Materials And Methods: An observational study of 58 central venous catheter (CVC) lines inserted in 55 patients with solid tumours requiring infusional chemotherapy was performed. The study was conducted between January 2011 and August 2013, looking at complication and infection rates as primary outcomes.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between markers of hemostasis and abdominal aortic aneurysm presence and size.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to summarize the current evidence of the association between markers of hemostasis and both the presence and size of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs).

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines by use of the search terms "aneurysm AND abdominal AND aortic AND coagulation" NOT "thoracic." Outcome data including concentration of hemostatic marker, number of patients, and significance level were recorded.

Aneurysm global epidemiology study: public health measures can further reduce abdominal aortic aneurysm mortality.

Background: Contemporary data from Western populations suggest steep declines in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) mortality; however, international trends are unclear. This study aimed to investigate global AAA mortality trends and to analyze any association with common cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods And Results: AAA mortality (1994-2010) using International Classification of Diseases codes were extracted from the World Health Organization mortality database and age standardized.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids increase the neurite outgrowth of rat sensory neurones throughout development and in aged animals.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of the omega-3 series and omega-6 series modulate neurite outgrowth in immature neurones. However, it has not been determined if their neurotrophic effects persist in adult and aged tissue. We prepared cultures of primary sensory neurones from male and female rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG), isolated at different ages: post-natal day 3 (P3) and day 9 (P9), adult (2-4 months) and aged (18-20 months).