Impact of class of obesity on clinical outcomes following fenestrated-branched endovascular aneurysm repair.

Background: Obesity represents a prevalent and escalating health concern among vascular surgery patients. Evidence pertaining to the influence of body mass index (BMI) on clinical outcomes after fenestrated-branched endovascular aneurysm repair (B/FEVAR) remains unclear. This study aims to assess the effect of obesity on short- and midterm clinical outcomes among individuals undergoing B/FEVAR.

Ascending aortic geometry and its relationship to the biomechanical properties of aortic tissue.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between ascending aortic geometry and biomechanical properties.

Methods: Preoperative computed tomography scans from ascending aortic aneurysm patients were analyzed using a center line technique (n = 68). Aortic length was measured from annulus to innominate artery, and maximal diameter from this segment was recorded.

Females experience elevated early morbidity and mortality but similar midterm survival compared to males after branched/fenestrated endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify sex-related differences in outcomes following branched and/or fenestrated endovascular aortic repair (B/FEVAR) for thoracoabdominal (TAAA) and juxtarenal (JRAA) aortic aneurysms.

Methods: Chart review completed on 242 B/FEVAR patients (57 female; 23.5%) between 2007 and 2020 at a single center.

Outcomes in octogenarians after thoracoabdominal and juxtarenal aortic aneurysm repair using fenestrated-branched devices justifies treatment.

Objective: To compare outcomes between octogenarians and nonoctogenarians undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair and juxtarenal aortic aneurysm repair using branched and/or fenestrated endovascular devices (F/BEVAR) and compare octogenarian survival to population survival statistics from Ontario, Canada.

Methods: Patients who underwent F/BEVAR at a single institution between 2007 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed with a median follow-up of 3.3 years (interquartile range, 1.

Percutaneous Drainage for Aortic Graft Infection Post-aneurysm Repair: A Viable Option?

Purpose: Non-operative management of aortic graft infection is usually only considered in a palliative context. We describe the safety, efficacy, and clinical outcomes of percutaneous drainage of aortic graft infections (AGI) following either open or endovascular repair of aneurysmal disease.

Methods: Twelve consecutive patients (11 males, 1 female, mean age 72.

Importance of computed tomography in defining segmental disease in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Radiological assessment of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is critical to decide whether patients should be treated with pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA). Although computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is increasingly used for decision making in CTEPH, the value of CTPA to predict surgical findings and outcome has never been explored.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 100 consecutive patients with high-quality CTPA undergoing PEA for CTEPH between May 2015 and December 2017.

IVC filter removal after extended implantation periods.

Objective: Life-threatening complications have been reported in patients with chronic retrievable IVC filters. National health agencies have urged hospitals to assess all patients with retrievable IVC filters for filter removal. The aim of the current study was to identify those patients with unretrieved chronic IVC filters, document complications and removal techniques.

Initial Experience With Viabahn VBX as the Bridging Stent Graft for Branched and Fenestrated Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a novel balloon-expandable, heparin-bonded endoprosthesis (Viabahn VBX, W. L. Gore and Associates) when used as a bridging stent graft (BSG) with fenestrated and branched endovascular aneurysm repair (FB-EVAR).

Effect of portal vein embolization on treatment plan prior to major hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Portal vein embolization (PVE) is used before major hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to increase future liver remnant (FLR) volume. However, this may increase tumour growth rate, leading to more extensive resections. This study aimed to determine the effect of tumour growth, following PVE, on treatment plan.

Utility of the Vascular Quality Initiative in improving quality of care in Canadian patients undergoing vascular surgery.

The Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) is a national cooperative quality-improvement initiative designed to evaluate processes of care and outcomes in vascular surgery. The purpose of this report is to show the utility of such a database to provide insight into the standard of care provided, to highlight areas of local quality improvement, to benchmark our data against local, regional and national trends, and to ultimately improve safety in Canadian patients undergoing vascular surgery. We present the history of the database, its spread in the Canadian health care system and examples of quality improvements achieved from analyses of data recorded and retrieved from the VQI.

Twelve-Month Results of the Nitinol Astron Stent in Iliac Artery Lesions.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a self-expanding bare-metal nitinol stent (Astron; BIOTRONIK AG, Bülach, Switzerland) for the treatment of atherosclerotic lesions in the common and external iliac arteries. This study tested the hypothesis that the major adverse event (MAE) rate at 12 months was less than or equal to a performance goal of 15%.

Materials And Methods: In a prospective study that began in November 2011, 161 patients with symptomatic iliac lesions were treated with an Astron stent in the United States, Canada, and Austria.

Non-contrast-enhanced MR angiography in critical limb ischemia: performance of quiescent-interval single-shot (QISS) and TSE-based subtraction techniques.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic performance of non-contrast-enhanced 2D quiescent-interval single-shot (QISS) and 3D turbo spin-echo (TSE)-based subtraction magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in the assessment of peripheral arteries in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI).

Materials And Methods: Nineteen consecutive patients (74 % male, 72.8 ± 9.

Pulmonary endarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: the Toronto experience.

Background: Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the treatment of choice for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, this surgery remains performed in few experienced centres only. The goal of the study is to review our overall experience since the implementation of our program in August 2005.

Radiology of advanced EVAR techniques in complex abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Advanced Endovascular Aortic Repair (EVAR) refers to devices and techniques used for endografting of aortic aneurysms that are considered anatomically unsuitable for conventional EVAR. Customised devices and modified use of conventional EVAR devices now overcome challenging landing zones. Fenestrated and branch devices, together with chimney and periscope techniques can be used to overcome proximal landing zone challenges, while iliac branch grafts and sandwich techniques have been used to address challenging distal iliac landing issues.

Iliac branch graft in the treatment of complex aortoiliac aneurysms: early results from a North American institution.

Purpose: To describe early experience with the use of iliac branch grafts (IBGs) in aortoiliac aneurysm repair.

Materials And Methods: From July 2007 to August 2009 (25 months), 14 patients (13 men, one woman) with a mean age of 70.1 years (range, 59.

Effectiveness of stent-graft placement for salvage of dysfunctional arteriovenous hemodialysis fistulas.

Purpose: To determine the clinical effectiveness of stent-graft placement in dysfunctional autogenous hemodialysis fistulas.

Materials And Methods: Between September 2006 and June 2008, 24 Fluency Plus stent-grafts were inserted in 17 patients with failing autogenous hemodialysis fistulas (two radiocephalic, 12 brachiocephalic, and three brachiobasilic). Six fistulas were thrombosed at presentation.

The use of dynamic volumetric CT angiography (DV-CTA) for the characterization of endoleaks following fenestrated endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (f-EVAR).

Accurate endoleak classification is essential following fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (f-EVAR). Both endoleak type and exact source of endoleak have implications upon the urgency and complexity of future management strategies. Herein we report on a patient with a documented endoleak post-f-EVAR, in which the source of blood flow into the aneurysm sac could not be determined using conventional computed tomographic angiography.

Clinical failure after uterine artery embolization: evaluation of patient and MR imaging characteristics.

Purpose: To investigate the patient and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics associated with clinical failure after uterine artery embolization (UAE).

Materials And Methods: Seventy-eight consecutive patients who underwent UAE were examined. Contrast-enhanced MR imaging was performed before and 4 months after the procedure, and clinical follow-up was performed at 15 months.

Outcomes after uterine artery embolization for pedunculated subserosal leiomyomas.

Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of uterine artery embolization (UAE) treatment of pedunculated subserosal leiomyomas.

Materials And Methods: A review of patients undergoing UAE in a 30-month period (July 2004 to December 2006) was performed. Cases in which a pedunculated subserosal tumor (volume>or=4 cm3) was embolized were analyzed.

Evaluation of persistent pulmonary hypertension after acute pulmonary embolism.

Background: Better knowledge of the evolution of persistent pulmonary hypertension after acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is required to optimize the indication and timing of pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA).

Methods: We reviewed our experience with 17 consecutive patients demonstrated to have persistent pulmonary hypertension after acute massive (n = 1), submassive (n = 7), or recurrent PE (n = 9).

Results: After a median of 18 weeks of anticoagulation (range, 12 to 30 weeks) since the last PE, 10 patients showed residual pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PAsP) > 50 mm Hg.