End of Life Care for Unplanned Vascular Admissions.

Background: Unplanned vascular admissions have a high mortality. Previous studies have indicated that end of life care (EoLC) among this group of patients is low but there exist limited data on EoLC in the United Kingdom. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality and predictors of EoLC for unplanned vascular admissions to a tertiary center in the United Kingdom.

Evaluation of national institute for health and care excellence guidance for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms by emulating a hypothetical target trial.

Objective: This retrospective study evaluates the performance of UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidelines on management of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms in a "real world setting" by emulating a hypothetical target trial with data from two European Aortic Centers.

Methods: Clinical data was retrospectively collected for all patients who had undergone ruptured endovascular aneurysm repair (rEVAR) and ruptured open surgical repair (rOSR). Survival analysis was performed comparing NICE compliance to usual care strategy.

Assessment of internet-based information on statin therapy.

Aims: The use of statin therapy is deemed to be controversial by mainstream media. Patients increasingly source medical information from the internet, and the use of statins is no exception. This study aims to determine the quality and educational content of statin-focused information on the internet and YouTube.

Assessment of Available Online Website and YouTube Resources for Patients with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

Background: Over the last decade, patients have displayed a greater tendency to search for online information related to their health before seeking advice from a clinician. This study aims to determine the current quality and educational content of online patient information for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs).

Methods: In March 2022, the 3 most popular search engines by market shares (Google, Yahoo!, and Bing) and the video platform YouTube were interrogated for the term "abdominal aortic aneurysm".

A vein bypass first versus a best endovascular treatment first revascularisation strategy for patients with chronic limb threatening ischaemia who required an infra-popliteal, with or without an additional more proximal infra-inguinal revascularisation procedure to restore limb perfusion (BASIL-2): an open-label, randomised, multicentre, phase 3 trial.

Background: Chronic limb-threatening ischaemia is the severest manifestation of peripheral arterial disease and presents with ischaemic pain at rest or tissue loss (ulceration, gangrene, or both), or both. We compared the effectiveness of a vein bypass first with a best endovascular treatment first revascularisation strategy in terms of preventing major amputation and death in patients with chronic limb threatening ischaemia who required an infra-popliteal, with or without an additional more proximal infra-inguinal, revascularisation procedure to restore limb perfusion.

Methods: Bypass versus Angioplasty for Severe Ischaemia of the Leg (BASIL)-2 was an open-label, pragmatic, multicentre, phase 3, randomised trial done at 41 vascular surgery units in the UK (n=39), Sweden (n=1), and Denmark (n=1).

Arterial Complications following Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA): A Systematic Review and Proposal for Improved Monitoring.

Introduction: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a common operation and is becoming more common due to population aging and increasing BMI. TKA provides excellent improvement in quality of life but carries risk of arterial complications in the perioperative period. This systematic review aims to provide a greater understanding of the incidence of such complications, and time taken to diagnose arterial injury.

Predictors of long-term survival in 5,680 patients admitted to a UK major trauma centre with thoracic injuries.

Introduction: The long-term outcomes of chest trauma are largely unknown. We sought to determine the predictors of in-hospital and long-term survival in patients admitted to a major trauma centre (MTC) with chest injuries and to evaluate spatial patterns of injury in our network area.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of data collected on the National Trauma Audit Research Network (TARN) database using multivariate analysis and Cox regression analysis.

Analyzing Sex Differences in Intensity of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Medications in Patients With Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms-A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are at a significant risk of cardiovascular events, similar to that of patients who have already experienced a major cardiac event. The European Society for Vascular Society AAA guidelines suggest that antiplatelet therapy and lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) should be considered in all patients with AAA. This study explores the overall prevalence and intensity of antithrombotic therapy and LLT, and lipid profile monitoring in a single center AAA surveillance cohort alongside any sex differences.

Preservation of Smooth Muscle Cell Integrity and Function: A Target for Limiting Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Expansion?

(1) Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a silent, progressive disease with significant mortality from rupture. Whilst screening programmes are now able to detect this pathology early in its development, no therapeutic intervention has yet been identified to halt or retard aortic expansion. The inability to obtain aortic tissue from humans at early stages has created a necessity for laboratory models, yet it is essential to create a timeline of events from EARLY to END stage AAA progression.

High-Frequency Three-Dimensional Lumen Volume Ultrasound Is a Sensitive Method to Detect Early Aneurysmal Change in Elastase-Induced Murine Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

Objective:  The aim of this study was to investigate the reproducibility of anterior-posterior diameter (APd) and three-dimensional lumen volume (3DLV) measurements of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) in a classical murine AAA model. We also compared the magnitude of change in the aortic size detected with each method of assessment.

Methods:  Periadventitial application of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE AAA) or sham surgery was performed in two cohorts of mice.

Palliative Care Interventions for Peripheral Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) encompasses conditions with poor outcome and severe suffering, both mentally and physically, yet utilization and research into palliative care interventions remain sparse. The purpose of this study is to identify existing evidence on palliative care intervention for chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). We conducted a PROSPERO-registered systematic review of studies published between 1991 and 2020 in which people with PAD received palliative care interventions and at least one patient outcome was recorded.

Lipid Optimization in Lower Extremity Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Aims: This review aims to explore the current guidance and issues surrounding lipid optimisation of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Methods: A narrative review of the global PAD guidance, specifically focusing on low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction methods including; 'treating to target', 'fire and forget' and LDL-C percentage reduction. Advanced literature searches were carried out in Pubmed and Google Scholar databases comparing most recent PAD lipid guidance.

Systematic review of interventions to increase the use of arteriovenous fistulae and grafts in incident haemodialysis patients.

Background: Patients who commence haemodialysis (HD) through arteriovenous fistulae and grafts (AVF/G) have improved survival compared to those who do so by venous lines.

Objectives: This systematic review aims to assimilate the evidence for any strategy which increases the proportion of HD patients starting dialysis through AVF/G.

Data Sources: Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central and Scopus.

Histone citrullination as a novel biomarker and target to inhibit progression of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). This study has addressed the notion that NET components might serve as AAA biomarkers or novel targets of AAA therapy. Thus, parameters of neutrophil activation and NET formation were measured in plasma.

Morphometric and traditional frailty assessment in transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Objectives: Frailty is common amongst patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic relevance of newer objective and traditional measures of frailty after TAVI.

Methods: Consecutive patients were identified from the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust TAVI database.

The role of cardiopulmonary exercise testing and echocardiography prior to elective endovascular aneurysm repair.

Introduction: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) are common preparative investigations prior to elective endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Whether these investigations can predict survival following EVAR and contribute to shared decision making is unknown.

Methods: Patients who underwent EVAR at a tertiary centre between June 2007 and December 2014 were identified from the National Vascular Registry.

Meta-analysis of fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair open surgical repair of juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms over the last 10 years.

Background: Juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms pose a significant challenge whether managed endovascularly or by open surgery. Fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR) is now well established, but few studies have compared it with open surgical repair (OSR). The aim of this systematic review was to compare short- and long-term outcomes of FEVAR and OSR for the management of juxtarenal aortic aneurysms.

Cadaveric allograft implantation to maintain limb viability in a case of traumatic pseudoaneurysm and poor native vessels.

Infected pseudoaneurysms are a vascular emergency, necessitating urgent surgical management. Owing to the infected field, a synthetic graft may be inappropriate in patients for whom autografting is impossible. Ligation of the artery is the usual management, often leading to amputation.

A Novel Diagnostic and Prognostic Score for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Based on D-Dimer and a Comprehensive Analysis of Myeloid Cell Parameters.

The pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) involves a central component of chronic inflammation which is predominantly mediated by myeloid cells. We hypothesized that the local inflammatory activity may be reflected in systemic alterations of neutrophil and monocyte populations as well as in soluble factors of myeloid cell activation and recruitment. To establish their marker potential, neutrophil and monocyte sub-sets were measured by flow cytometry in peripheral blood samples of 41 AAA patients and 38 healthy controls matched for age, sex, body mass index and smoking habit.

Influence of psoas muscle area on mortality following elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Background: The effect of sarcopenia based on the total psoas muscle area (TPMA) on CT is inconclusive in patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) intervention. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate morphometric sarcopenia as a method of risk stratification in patients undergoing elective AAA intervention.

Methods: TPMA was measured on preintervention CT images of patients undergoing elective endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) or open aneurysm repair.

Interleukin-6 Receptor Signaling and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Growth Rates.

Background: The Asp358Ala variant (rs2228145; A>C) in the IL (interleukin)-6 receptor ( IL6R) gene has been implicated in the development of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), but its effect on AAA growth over time is not known. We aimed to investigate the clinical association between the IL6R-Asp358Ala variant and AAA growth and to assess the effect of blocking the IL-6 signaling pathway in mouse models of aortic aneurysm rupture or dissection.

Methods: Using data from 2863 participants with AAA from 9 prospective cohorts, age- and sex-adjusted mixed-effects linear regression models were used to estimate the association between the IL6R-Asp358Ala variant and annual change in AAA diameter (mm/y).

Systematic review of endovascular intervention and surgery for common femoral artery atherosclerotic disease.

Background: Endovascular intervention has emerged as a potential alternative to open surgery in treating common femoral artery (CFA) atherosclerotic disease. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the safety and efficacy of both techniques.

Methods: Thirteen electronic databases from 1980 to 3 January 2018 were searched.

Coronary subclavian steal syndrome-is there a need for routine assessment for subclavian artery stenosis following coronary bypass surgery?

Subclavian artery stenosis (SAS) resulting in coronary subclavian steal syndrome (CSSS) is a common but under recognized pathology following coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Patients with SAS may be asymptomatic due to the sub-clinical diversion of blood flow from the myocardium and retrograde blood flow during catheter angiography in the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) may be the first suggestion of CSSS. The management of SAS, causing CSSS, may rarely require acute assessment and intervention.