A systematic review and meta-analysis of two novel techniques of nonthermal endovenous ablation of the great saphenous vein.

Background: Endothermal treatment of the great saphenous vein (GSV) has become the first-line treatment for superficial venous reflux. Nonthermal ablation has potential benefits for acceptability by patients and decreased risk of nerve injury. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of mechanochemical endovenous ablation (MOCA) and cyanoacrylate vein ablation (CAVA) for GSV incompetence.

Clarivein mechanochemical ablation of the great and small saphenous vein: Early treatment outcomes of two hospitals.

Objectives: Mechanochemical endovenous ablation is a novel technique for the treatment of great saphenous vein and small saphenous vein incompetence which combines mechanical injury of the endothelium with simultaneous infusion of liquid sclerosant. The main objective of this study was to evaluate early occlusion.

Methods: All consecutive patients who were eligible for the treatment with mechanochemical endovenous ablation were included.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Autologous Vein Graft Reconstructions of the Lower Extremity.

Background: Different factors contribute to infection after arterial reconstructive surgery. Prophylactic antibiotic use during surgery is widespread, however, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of prophylactic antibiotics with autologous vein grafting. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of single-dose prophylactic antibiotics in patients undergoing autologous vein grafting.

[Patient with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm better off with centralized care].

Current debate on complex medical care in the Netherlands includes the treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA). Topics of interest are hospital volume, patient selection and the use of minimally invasive but more expensive techniques. Based on two recent randomized trials investigating open and endovascular repair for RAAA, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of techniques, quality of life and age.

Comparative study of venous arterialization and pedal bypass in a patient cohort with critical limb ischemia.

Objectives: Patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) have a poor life expectancy, and aggressive revascularization is accepted as a means to maintain their independence in the end stage of life. The goal of this case-control study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of distal venous arterialization and compare this with pedal bypass surgery in patients with CLI, and to identify potential risk factors that could be used to effectively identify patients at high risk of graft occlusion and amputation.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of patients was treated for CLI using venous arterialization or pedal bypass between 2007 and 2012.

Systematic review on health-related quality of life after revascularization and primary amputation in patients with critical limb ischemia.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of revascularization (bypass surgery, angioplasty) and primary amputation on health-related quality of life (QoL) in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI; resting pain or tissue loss).

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed through an electronic search of PubMed (from 1985 to 2012) and Embase (from 1985 to 2012) by two independent investigators to identify English-language articles investigating health-related QoL in regard to CLI.

Results: Three observational studies were identified describing a comparison between primary amputation and revascularization and their effects on QoL in patients with CLI, all concluding that revascularization should be attempted.

The costs and effects of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography and digital substraction angiography on quality of life in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Background: Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) both have a high diagnostic performance in the imaging of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). However, little is known about the effects of initial, preoperative imaging using MRA or DSA on quality of life (QoL) in relation to costs (cost-utility).

Purpose: To compare cost-utility of treatment strategies using either MRA or DSA as the principal imaging tool, related to QoL, in patients with PAOD.

Aluminium foil for the prevention of post-amputation pain: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.

Introduction: Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a painful sensation perceived in the missing limb after amputation. The underlying pathophysiology remains unclear. Until recently, only opioid analgesics have been proven to be effective in prospective studies.

Long-term quality of life and mobility after prosthetic above-the-knee bypass surgery.

Background: Multiple studies have addressed above-the-knee femoral artery bypass grafting; however, information on late quality of life (QoL) and mobility is scarce. We studied long-term QoL and mobility after above-the-knee bypass surgery.

Methods: Consecutive patients presenting with claudication, ischemic rest pain, or gangrene who received above-the-knee prosthetic bypass grafting between December 1997 and January 2003 were included in this observational study.

Hybrid treatment of a ruptured diverticulum of Kommerell.

Purpose: To report a patient with a ruptured diverticulum of Kommerell and to discuss treatment options and complications.

Case Report: An 82-year-old woman with no prior medical history was diagnosed with a ruptured aneurysmal proximal aberrant right subclavian artery (diverticulum of Kommerell). She was treated with a carotid-subclavian bypass, a thoracic aortic stent-graft covering both subclavian orifices, and a vascular plug in the proximal right subclavian artery.

Transit-time volume flow measurements in autogenous femorodistal bypass surgery for intraoperative quality control.

The aim of this study was to assess intraoperative transit-time volume flow measurements (VFMs) as a tool for intraoperative evaluation of lower extremity arterial bypass grafts and to predict their patency. We analyzed 273 consecutive patients who had an infrainguinal bypass procedure using the great saphenous vein from 1998 until 2008; 103 had an intraoperative VFM. All intraoperative revisions were recorded and analyzed.