Robert Gross MD and the Birth of Pediatric Heart Surgery.

Robert Gross performed the first repair of a patent ductus arteriosus in 1938. His life and career were dedicated to the advancement of vascular, cardiac, pediatric surgery, and the unrelenting care of his patients.

Therapeutic Angiogenesis and Cardiovascular Disease: A Review.

After the success of novel angiogenesis inhibitors in cancer treatment, angiogenesis promotors for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease and coronary artery disease became the target of significant research. Promising results in animal models led to numerous randomized control trials that failed to translate into meaningful clinical results. The goal of this review is to describe the history of investigation into therapeutic angiogenesis for cardiovascular disease and discuss the lessons learned and future directions.

Marijuana and Vascular Disease: A Review.

Marijuana use is common and increasing due to decriminalization, legalization, and expansion of medical use. As a result, the proportion of vascular patients with marijuana is also expected to increase, raising questions if cannabis use affects the incidence and outcomes of vascular disease. Active ingredients of cannabis have been shown to interact with receptors found on vascular endothelium, promoting oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction.

The Evolution of Current Management for Carotid Artery Bifurcation Disease.

Options for treatment of symptomatic carotid bifurcation disease include carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS). While over the years CEA has established itself as the gold standard for carotid artery revascularization, results from recent trials have shown CAS to be safe and effective in selected patients. This review details the evolution of carotid artery bifurcation disease by highlighting key clinical trials.

A Case of Right Subclavian Artery Agenesis.

The authors present a 12-year-old male with an asymptomatic absence of the proximal right subclavian artery. On physical examination, his right brachial, radial, and ulnar pulses were diminished compared with the left side. Computed tomographic angiography revealed that the right subclavian artery was supplied from the anterior right internal mammary artery.

Stents in the Management of Stenotic and Occlusive Lesions in the Venous System.

Occlusive disease of the iliac veins or major intrathoracic veins have traditionally been managed by conservative management or by major vascular reconstructive procedures. Over the past 15-20 years, these lesions have become amenable to management with venous stents. Lesions in the iliac venous system are typically due to thrombus secondary to deep vein thrombosis, and lesions in the superior vena cava are due to either malignant intrathoracic lesions, indwelling central venous catheters, pacemaker leads, or enlarged nodes due to granulomatous disease.

Acute Aortic Occlusion and Its Sequelae: Metabolic, Pathologic Etiology, and Management.

Acute occlusion of the abdominal aorta is a catastrophic occurrence that results in high risk of limb loss and death. The etiology has historically been either acute embolism obstructing the aortic bifurcation in 8% to 75% of patients, or thrombosis of existing aorta-iliac occlusive disease in 35% to 84% of patients. Other etiologies include thrombosis of either a previously placed endograft or aortic graft or acute dissection.

Middle Aortic Syndrome in a Child-Bearing Age Patient.

We report a rare case of a 30-year-old female who had a long-standing history of middle aortic syndrome that was being managed nonsurgically. She presented with hypertension and buttock pain with plans to become pregnant. She underwent an aortoiliac bypass.

Carotid Stenosis and Impaired Cognition: The Effect of Intervention.

There is a clear association between carotid artery stenosis and cognitive impairment. However, there is no consensus as to how to interpret this association, and what, if any, impact this connection should have on the management of carotid stenosis. A review of the relevant literature suggests that although an intervention to relieve carotid stenosis in patients without clinically significant cognitive impairment does not improve cognition, there may be a cognitive benefit with intervention for carotid stenosis in those patients with clinically significant cognitive disorders.

Vascular Complications Associated with Transfemoral Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background Transfemoral aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a novel technique for treating aortic stenosis, yet vascular complications are yet to be delineated. Objectives This study aims to study the vascular complications of TAVR with Edwards Sapien valves (Edwards Lifesciences Corp., Irvine, CA).

Carotid Endarterectomy in Moyamoya Disease: A Case Report.

We report the case of a 55-year-old female who presented with symptomatic high-grade stenosis of the right internal carotid artery, years after her diagnosis of moyamoya disease (MMD), which had been treated with extensive carotid and cerebral vascular reconstructions. A percutaneous carotid revascularization was unsuccessful, and a carotid endarterectomy with bovine patch angioplasty was subsequently performed. The presence of symptomatic atherosclerotic carotid disease in combination with MMD, with all the perioperative challenges, has not been previously described.