Computed tomography-derived skeletal muscle index: A novel predictor of frailty and hospital length of stay after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Unlabelled: To determine the prevalence of low skeletal muscle mass in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and whether skeletal muscle mass measured from preoperative computed tomography (CT) images provides value in predicting postoperative length of stay (LOS).

Background: There are limited data on the use of body composition as a frailty measure in TAVR patients and no studies have determined if this measure predicts LOS.

Methods: We studied 104 consecutive patients who underwent TAVR at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital from 2012 to 2016.

Reevaluation of temporary transvenous cardiac pacemaker usage during carotid angioplasty and stenting: a safe and valuable adjunct.

Although many current series document the safety of carotid angioplasty and stenting procedures (CAS), several acknowledge clinically significant hemodynamic disturbances in 25-71% of patients. We report herein the safety and efficacy of prophylactic percutaneous temporary transvenous cardiac pacemaker insertion during CAS for the prevention of hemodynamic changes. At a community-based institution, 48 patients undergoing 51 attempted CAS procedures from March 1999 to August 2002 for carotid artery occlusive disease were retrospectively reviewed.

Carotid artery stenting in a community setting: experience outside of a clinical trial.

Carotid artery angioplasty and stenting (CAS) currently represents a less invasive percutaneous alternative to conventional endarterectomy for the treatment of carotid occlusive disease. We report here the results and complication rates of CAS performed by a team of interventionalists at a non-clinical trial center utilizing a standardized CAS protocol. CAS was attempted in 51 arteries in 48 patients (mean age 71 +/- 9 years, range 53-90).

Endovascular management of a ruptured mycotic aneurysm of the innominate artery.

Mycotic aneurysms of the innominate artery are infrequent lesions and, as such, represent challenging surgical problems. We describe herein a case of a ruptured mycotic innominate artery aneurysm, which developed after radical neck dissection and radiation therapy for tonsillar carcinoma. The aneurysm was successfully excluded from the systemic circulation with endoluminal placement of a covered stent, with efficacy confirmed by vascular imaging at 6 months follow-up.