Long-term results of a multicenter randomized study on direct versus crossover bypass for unilateral iliac artery occlusive disease.

Objective: To compare late patency after direct and crossover bypass in good-risk patients with unilateral iliac occlusive disease not amenable to angioplasty.

Methods: Between May 1986 and March 1991, 143 patients with unilateral iliac artery occlusive disease and disabling claudication were randomized into two surgical treatment groups, ie, crossover bypass (n = 74) or direct bypass (n = 69). The size of the patient population was calculated to allow detection of a possible 20% difference in patency in favor of direct bypass with a one-sided alpha risk of 0.

Stent-graft repair for thoracic aortic disease: results of an independent nationwide study in France from 1999 to 2001.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the overall short-term outcome of stent-graft repair for thoracic aortic disease in France between June 1999 and May 2001.

Methods: This retrospective study was designed by the French National Health Insurance Fund for Salaried Workers. To ensure objectivity, data were retrieved at each center and checked by a team of medical advisors.

[Treatment for carotid stenosis: surgery, the reference].

THE CONTROVERSY: The indications for carotid revascularisation are clearly codified, but the surgical treatment is debatable. The angioplasty initially proposed for non-atheromatous stenosis or for high surgical risk patients is used by some as first-line therapy, although no benefit/risk ratio in its favour has been demonstrated. ARE THERE ANY BENEFITS WITH SURGICAL TREATMENT?: The efficacy of surgery in the treatment of atheromatous carotid stenosis has been demonstrated.

Use of abdominal aortic endovascular prostheses in France from 1999 to 2001.

Background: Since the introduction of endovascular repair (EVR) for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), clinical evaluation has been under way in many countries throughout the world. The main purpose of this retrospective study was to determine outcome of EVR with aortic endovascular prostheses (AEPs) and to evaluate the extent to which French practitioners have complied with regulatory and clinical guidelines for the use of these trial devices.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted by the French National Health Insurance Fund for Salaried Workers.