Publications by authors named "M Blecha"
Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify variables at the time of clinical presentation which place patients at higher risk for mortality following carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for symptomatic lesions. Further, this study will create a risk score for mortality within two years following CEA for symptomatic stenosis to help tailor future postoperative and long-term management by identifying patients who require heightened vigilance in postoperative care to facilitate survival.
Methods: The Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) CEA module was queried for procedures performed for symptomatic (within 180 days) carotid bifurcation stenosis.
Objective: Endovascular infra-renal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) has proven to be an effective, less invasive alternative to open aortic aneurysm repair with decreased 30-day mortality. Historically, urinary drainage catheters were routinely placed preoperatively before EVAR in our institution. A shift to reduced catheter placement has occurred in conjunction with percutaneous EVARs becoming more routine.
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- The Delphi consensus aimed to clarify management practices for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) due to conflicting data in previous literature.
- A group of 44 experts anonymously discussed six key topics over three rounds, achieving a 100% response rate.
- Key findings included the agreement on minimum case volume for AAA repairs, the effectiveness of screening programs, lifelong surveillance after repair, and the consideration of screening for women smokers at 65, but no consensus on certain repair thresholds or thrombosis prevention was reached.
Background: We hypothesize that sociodemographic variables, particularly disadvantaged financial environments, impact both rate of prosthetic utilization and the achievement of ambulation post major amputation.
Methods: All cases in the Vascular Quality Initiative amputation module were queried between April 2013 and January 2024. Inclusion was limited to patients who underwent below knee, through knee, and above knee amputation.
Background: Long-term data surrounding the impact of different endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) surveillance strategies are limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to characterize postoperative imaging patterns, as well as to evaluate the association of duplex ultrasound surveillance after the first postoperative year with 5-year EVAR outcomes.
Methods: EVAR patients (2003-2016), who survived at least 1 year without aneurysm rupture, conversion to open repair, and reintervention in the Vascular Implant Surveillance and Interventional Outcomes Network were examined to provide all subjects ≥3 years of follow-up time.