Patency of the Viabahn stent graft for the treatment of outflow stenosis in hemodialysis grafts.

Background: To evaluate arteriovenous graft patency when failing grafts are treated with Viabahn covered stents vs percutaneous angioplasty (PTA) alone.

Methods: A retrospective review of all patients that underwent endovascular interventions for failing grafts at a single institution between January 2010 and July 2013 was performed. Forty-four patients were identified who were treated with PTA alone (11) and with Viabahn stent grafts (33) for stenoses in the venous to graft anastomoses.

Impact of sex on morbidity and mortality rates after lower extremity interventions for peripheral arterial disease: observations from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium.

Objectives: This study sought to examine sex-related differences in outcomes related to peripheral vascular intervention (PVI) procedures.

Background: Percutaneous PVI is frequently performed for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). However, little is known about sex-related differences related to PVI procedures.

Medical student career survey--vascular surgery awareness initiative.

Background: The objectives of this survey were to identify medical students' general knowledge of vascular surgery as a career choice on entrance to medical school, and how student perspectives change during their exposure to clinical disciplines. Furthermore, we sought to determine which factors may influence the choice of a particular career path, and to apply this knowledge to improve the recruitment process of medical students into the specialty of vascular surgery.

Methods: A one-time anonymous questionnaire consisting of 21 open and multiple-choice questions was distributed to first- (MS1), second- (MS2), and third-year (MS3) medical students at a large single-campus medical school.