Iliac artery recanalization of chronic occlusions to facilitate endovascular aneurysm repair.

Introduction: Concurrent iliac occlusion and abdominal aortic aneurysm is rare. Traditionally, the endovascular approach to these patients has consisted of aortouniiliac devices combined with femoral-femoral bypass. With improved facility of endovascular techniques, standard bifurcated endografts represent an alternative option in these patients.

Thrombin injection for the treatment of mycotic gluteal aneurysm.

Gluteal aneurysms are rare entity, whose surgical or endovascular management is traditionally challenging. Infectious source being increasingly more common as the underlying etiology. We herein describe successful implementation of direct thrombin injection as another therapeutic option for these patients.

Spontaneous superior mesenteric artery dissection: report of 2 patients and review of management recommendations.

Spontaneous superior mesenteric artery dissection is rare and presents with variable symptomatology. Optimal treatment depends on the presentation; asymptomatic patients can be managed expectantly. Endoluminal intervention or open reconstruction is warranted in patients with persistent symptoms or intestinal ischemia.

Variations in early outcomes of endovascular aneurysm repair with alternate endograft configurations.

Background: Most endovascular abdomincal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repairs (EVARs) performed in the United States utilize a bifurcated configuration. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of alternate graft configurations on early outcomes during EVAR.

Methods: Patients in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) participant use file who underwent elective EVAR for AAA from 2005 to 2007 were stratified by configuration using CPT codes.

Blood transfusion is associated with increased morbidity and mortality after lower extremity revascularization.

Background: Little is known about the significance of blood transfusion in patients with peripheral arterial disease. We queried the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database to examine the effect of intraoperative blood transfusion on the morbidity and mortality in patients who underwent lower extremity revascularization.

Methods: We analyzed data from the participant use data file containing vascular surgical cases submitted to the ACS NSQIP in 2005, 2006, and 2007 by 173 hospitals.

Thirty-day NSQIP database outcomes of open versus endoluminal repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background: The mortality of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) has decreased 3.5% per decade in the last 50 years to a current rate of 40%-50%. Reports have indicated that endovascular repair (EVAR) is feasible for rAAA and may offer potential benefits over open repair.

Long-term outcome of infrapopliteal catheter-based intervention for critical limb ischemia.

Context: Percutaneous treatment of tibioperoneal occlusive disease is associated with decreased morbidity compared with bypass surgery. The long-term patency and limb salvage rates are not well documented.

Aims: To evaluate the long-term outcome of endoluminal interventions for tibioperoneal lesions.

Endoluminal thermal ablation versus stripping of the saphenous vein: Meta-analysis of recurrence of reflux.

Background: Catheter-based minimally invasive techniques developed to treat saphenous vein insufficiency include endovenous laser and radiofrequency ablation. Their long-term results are under evaluation. A meta-analysis of trials was performed, comparing endovenous versus surgical saphenous vein ablation with focus on long-term (greater than 365 days) outcomes of recurrence of varicosities, reflux and symptomatic disease.

Endovascular versus open repair for descending thoracic aortic rupture: institutional experience and meta-analysis.

Rupture of thoracic aneurysm, acute type B dissection, blunt thoracic trauma, and penetrating aortic ulcer can present with a similar clinical profile of thoracic aortic rupture. We report a meta-analysis of comparative studies evaluating endoluminal graft versus open repair of these lesions as well as the early experience from our institution. We searched the following databases for reports of endovascular versus open repair of acute descending thoracic aortic rupture: Medline/PubMed, OVID, EMBASE, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.

Meta-analysis of endovascular vs open repair for traumatic descending thoracic aortic rupture.

Objectives: Traumatic thoracic aortic injuries are associated with high mortality and morbidity. These patients often have multiple injuries, and delayed aortic repair is frequently used. Endoluminal grafts offer an alternative to open surgical repair.

Endovascular retrieval of an intraaortic greenfield vena cava filter.

Aberrant placement of vena cava filters has been documented. Only one case of intraaortic deployment, in which the filter was left at the aortic bifurcation with no adverse effects over a 4-year follow-up period, has been reported. We describe the endovascular retrieval of an intraaortic Greenfield filter using a snare and large sheath to protect the aortic intima from injury during removal of the device.