Possible implications of device-specific variability in post-endovascular aneurysm repair sac regression and endoleaks for surveillance categorization.

Objective: Significant sac regression during early surveillance has been shown to best predict reintervention-free long-term surveillance after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Furthermore, a persistent endoleak has been related to a worse outcome. Individualized surveillance algorithms based on these findings have been suggested.

The Safety and Effectiveness of the Prostar XL Closure Device Compared to Open Groin Cutdown for Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the outcomes of percutaneous femoral closure with the Prostar XL for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) to those of open femoral cutdown, and to evaluate factors which may predict the failure of percutaneous closure.

Methods: Patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair for an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm between 2005 and 2013 were included. Patient characteristics, anatomic femoral artery measurements, and postoperative complications were recorded retrospectively.

Routine Inferior Mesenteric Artery Embolisation is Unnecessary Before Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

Objective: A type II endoleak is the most common complication during surveillance after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), and a patent inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) is a known risk factor for an endoleak. The effect of routine IMA embolisation prior to EVAR on overall outcome is unknown. The aim of the study was to compare two strategies: routine attempted IMA embolisation prior to EVAR (strategy in centre A) and leaving the IMA untouched (strategy in centre B).

Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms is a Valid Alternative to Open Repair also in Patients Treated Outside of Instructions for Use Criteria.

Purpose: It remains unclear whether endovascular aneurysm repair, in the long term, is less effective than open surgery due to need for reinterventions and close monitoring. We aimed to evaluate this matter in a real-life cohort.

Methods: We collected consecutive patients treated with EVAR or OSR between January 2005 and December 2013.

Reliability and Safety of Individualized Follow-up Based on the 30-day Computed Tomography Angiogram after Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

Background: Most patients undergo uneventful surveillance after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), and therefore, unmodified surveillance protocols are ineffective. An example of a modified follow-up protocol was introduced by the European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) in January 2019. One feature of this protocol is that for the patients with adequate sealing and without any detectable endoleak at 30 days, the next scheduled follow-up could be at 5 years.

Long-term outcomes of endovascular aneurysm repair according to instructions for use adherence status.

Objective: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has become the standard treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Endovascular device manufacturers have defined specific anatomic criteria for the aneurysm characteristics that should be observed as instructions for use (IFU) for specific grafts. In clinical practice, the prevalence of performing EVAR outside the IFU has been high.

The effect of suprarenal graft fixation during endovascular aneurysm repair on short- and long-term renal function.

Objective: The effect of suprarenal fixation (SR) compared with infrarenal fixation (IR) on renal function during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) remains controversial. This study aims to compare the renal outcomes between fixation types in short- and long-term follow-up.

Methods: Patients undergoing EVAR for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm between 2005 and 2013 were included.

Postoperative imaging follow-up at 2 years as a predictor of long-term outcomes after endovascular aneurysm repair.

Objective: Lifelong imaging follow-up remains the reference standard after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Because the number of EVARs has been increasing, an individually optimized follow-up protocol is desirable. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possibility of creating such a protocol by evaluating patients' follow-up images and to compare the findings with their freedom from reintervention and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture.

Overall outcome after endovascular aneurysm repair with a first-generation stent graft (Vanguard): A 20-year single-center experience.

Objective: The problems with first-generation stent grafts for endovascular aneurysm repair are well known, but their long-term outcome remains to be established. The purpose of the study was to characterize the outcome of patients treated for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with a first-generation stent graft, Vanguard (Boston Scientific, Natick, Mass), in a single academic center with a follow-up of up to 20 years.

Methods: There were 48 AAA patients electively treated with a Vanguard stent graft between February 1997 and November 1999.

Systematic Long-term Follow Up After Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair With the Zenith Stent Graft.

Objective/background: Although endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has been widely adopted, long-term data remain limited. This study analyses the long-term outcome (16 years) after EVAR with the Zenith stent graft in a single academic centre.

Methods: From 2000 to 2010, 282 patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) were treated electively and monitored annually.

Oral Dipyridamole-Associated Circulatory Collapse.

Extended-release dipyridamole plus aspirin is widely used for secondary prevention of ischemic stroke, although the molecular pharmacodynamics of dipyridamole are not completely determined. Adverse effects of fixed-dose combination of aspirin and dipyridamole include headache, bleeding, and gastrointestinal events. Previously, intravenous infusion of dipyridamole in cardiac stress testing has been associated with cardiogenic shock and pulmonary edema.

Hybrid Repair of Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms Is a Durable Option for High-Risk Patients in the Endovascular Era.

Objective: To report our long-term experience in using the hybrid technique in complex thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs).

Methods: Between March 2005 and September 2013, 10 patients with TAAA underwent hybrid procedures with open renovisceral revascularization and thoracoabdominal aortic endografting. Patients were analyzed retrospectively.

Long-Term Experience of Endovascular Repair for Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms and Dissections.

Purpose: To report the long-term results of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in both elective and emergency cases of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and type B dissection.

Material And Methods: A prospective single-center study of 78 TEVAR patients treated between February 1998 and February 2013. Stent-graft implantation was performed in 51 (65%) patients for TAA (43 elective and 8 emergency cases) and in 27 (35%) patients for type B dissection (11 elective and 16 emergency cases).

Muraglitazar-eluting bioabsorbable vascular stent inhibits neointimal hyperplasia in porcine iliac arteries.

Purpose: To evaluate the biocompatibility of a new muraglitazar-eluting polylactide copolymer stent and investigate its ability to prevent the formation of intimal hyperplasia.

Materials And Methods: Ten self-expandable muraglitazar-eluting poly-96 L/4D-lactic acid (PLA96) stents and 10 self-expandable control PLA96 stents were implanted into porcine common iliac arteries. After 28 days follow-up, all stent-implanted iliac arteries were harvested and prepared for quantitative histomorphometric analysis.

Dexamethasone-eluting vascular stents.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with stenting is widely used in the treatment of vascular disorders, but restenosis remains a significant problem. Drug-eluting stents (DES) have been developed as an attempt to reduce the intimal response leading to restenosis. Drugs used in DES include mainly immunosuppressive and anti-proliferative compounds.

Effect of triclosan-coated sutures on the incidence of surgical wound infection after lower limb revascularization surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Surgical wound infection (SWI) is a common complication after peripheral vascular surgery. In a prospective study, triclosan-coated sutures were reported to decrease the incidence of surgical site infection after various surgical procedures. The aim of our study was to test the hypothesis that use of triclosan-coated sutures decreases the incidence of SWI after lower limb vascular surgery.

Challenging treatment of multiple late complications after endovascular aneurysm repair.

Background: To report a case of multiple additional procedures after successful endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Methods: An endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with a bifurcated aortic Vanguard endograft successfully performed in 1999 resulted in multiple complications, including endoleaks and a row separation, treated endovascularly. Subsequently, tuberculosis sepsis and prosthesis infection resulted in long-term antibiotic treatment.

[Subclavian steal syndrome].

Subclavian steal syndrome is a circulatory disorder usually caused by atherosclerosis and accompanied by ischemic symptoms of the vertebrobasilar region and the hand. In many cases, significant vascular lesions are found also in other arteries. In more than 80% of cases the blood vessel lesion is on the left, and a significant stenosis or occlusion causes an inter-arm pressure gradient of > 20 mmHg, resulting in retrograde blood flow of the ipsilateral vertebral artery.

Preclinical evaluation of new indomethacin-eluting biodegradable urethral stent.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of an indomethacin-eluting biodegradable urethral stent on the production of inflammatory cytokines in vitro and the degradation and biocompatibility of the new stent in vivo.

Materials And Methods: The effects of an indomethacin and indomethacin-eluting biodegradable stent on monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted), and transforming growth factor-ß were measured in THP-1 cells by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Stents (copolymer of L-lactide and glycolide acid) that were coated with 50L/50D polylactic acid and two different concentrations of indomethacin were inserted into the rabbit urethra.

Biocompatibility of new drug-eluting biodegradable urethral stent materials.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of biodegradable stent material (poly-96L/4D-lactic acid [PLA]) on the production of cytokines and other inflammatory mediators in vitro and the biocompatibility of new drug-eluting biodegradable urethral stent materials in vivo. Indomethacin, dexamethasone, and simvastatin were used in the materials.

Methods: The effects of the biodegradable stent material on cytokines and other inflammatory mediators were measured using the Human Cytokine Antibody Array and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in THP-1 cells, with bacterial lipopolysaccharide as a positive control.

Urethral in situ biocompatibility of new drug-eluting biodegradable stents: an experimental study in the rabbit.

Objective: To assess the effect of drug-eluting properties on the degradation process and the biocompatibility of biodegradable drug-eluting urethral stents.

Materials And Methods: Braided biodegradable 80 L/20D-PLGA (copolymer of polylactide and polyglycolide) stents with drug-eluting properties were used as the test material. The drugs analysed were indomethacin, dexamethasone and ciprofloxacine.

Single-center experience with foam sclerotherapy without ultrasound guidance for treatment of varicose veins.

Background: Varicose veins are a common disorder and many treatment methods are available.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term efficacy of foam sclerotherapy and the safety of performing the treatment in an outpatient clinic without ultrasound guidance. METHODS This was a prospective, nonrandomized study with foam sclerotherapy.

Tissue biocompatibility of new biodegradable drug-eluting stent materials.

Drug-eluting stents are a recent innovation for endovascular and endourethral purposes. The aim of this study was to assess the biocompatibility of new biodegradable drug-eluting stent materials in vivo. Rods made of SR-PLDLA (self-reinforced poly-96L,4D: -lactic acid) covered with P(50L/50D)LA and rods made of 96L/4D SR-PLA and covered with P(50L/50D)LA including indomethacin 3.

Drug-eluting biodegradable poly-D/L-lactic acid vascular stents: an experimental pilot study.

Purpose: To evaluate in vivo a new drug-eluting biodegradable vascular stent with respect to biocompatibility, neointimal hyperplasia formation, and reliability.

Methods: Self-expanding biodegradable poly-96L/4D-lactic acid (PLA) stents with 2 drugs (PLA + dexamethasone [DEX] and PLA + simvastatin [SIM]) and 2 different coatings (PLA + P(D,L)LA and PLA + polycaprolactone [PCL]) were compared with a self-expanding stainless steel Wallstent. The stents were implanted in both common iliac arteries of 8 pigs.

Biodegradable self-expanding poly-L/D-lactic acid vascular stent: a pilot study in canine and porcine iliac arteries.

Purpose: To report results of an in vivo pilot study to evaluate the biocompatibility and delivery system of a new biodegradable vascular stent and validate the study design.

Methods: Two self-expanding intravascular stents, a biodegradable poly-D/L-lactic acid (PLA) and a medical stainless steel stent (Wallstent) were implanted in the common iliac arteries of 2 postpuberal female pigs and 3 laboratory-bred beagle dogs. Specimens were harvested after 45 days in the dogs and 32 days in the pigs for histomorphometry of the stented iliac artery segments.