Direct health costs and clinical outcomes of open surgery in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm in Spain. The RECAPTA study.

Objective: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a chronic, progressive disease that often requires surgical repair. This study aimed to assess the healthcare costs and clinical outcomes of open AAA repair in Spain.

Method: Observational, retrospective, multicenter study with a one-year follow-up.

Monitoring the practice of vascular surgery: findings from a national registry (1996-2011).

Background: The goal of this article is to present for the first time to the international community the detailed findings and outcomes of the Spanish Vascular Registry (SVR) after 16 years of experience.

Methods: We examined the nationwide registry promoted by the Spanish Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery (1996-2011). The changes in vascular surgical activity in Spain during the period of study were examined.

Role of ultrasound arterial mapping in planning therapeutic options for critical ischemia of lower limbs in diabetic patients.

Background: To assess the role of ultrasound arterial mapping in planning therapeutic options for critical limb ischemia (CLI) in diabetic patients.

Methods: This observational and comparative study included 244 patients with CLI. All participants (64% were diabetic) underwent ultrasound arterial mapping before planning surgical treatment.

[Clinical characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of patients with critical leg ischemia: ICEBERG Study].

Background And Objectives: Critical leg ischemia (CLI) is a medical emergency with a high morbidity and mortality. Although its prognosis has improved during the last years, there are no data on its clinical characteristics, treatment and in-hospital prognosis in our country.

Patients And Method: 671 patients (81% males, mean age 71.

Thigh and buttock exertional pain for the diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of both non-calf intermittent claudication (IC) and classic IC in patients with no known atherosclerotic disease, and their accuracy to detect peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Design: Cross sectional, observational study conducted at 96 internal medicine services.

Materials And Methods: 1487 outpatients with no known atherosclerotic disease, and either diabetes or a SCORE risk estimation of at least 3% were enrolled.

[Cardiovascular complications at 1-year of follow-up in patients with atherothrombosis. On behalf of Spain's REACH Registry].

Background And Objective: The REACH Registry is the largest worldwide designed to obtain information on cardiovascular risk factor control and preventive treatment in a population who have, or are at risk of having, symptoms of atherothrombosis. The objective of this study is to show the results of cardiovascular events obtained in a sample of the Spanish population at one year follow-up and intervention.

Material And Method: The REACH Spain registry is a prospective cohort study of subjects with vascular risk factors (ORF) for atherothrombosis or with symptomatic vascular disease (VD): coronary artery disease (CAD) and/or cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and/or peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Education in vascular surgery: critical issues around the globe-training and qualification in vascular surgery in Europe.

In 1958, the Union Européene des Médecins Spécialistes (UEMS), or European Union (EU) of Medical Specialists the European Union, was founded by the professional organizations of medical specialists in Europe. Among the objectives of the UEMS are to promote the highest level of patient care in the EU and to promote the harmonization of high-quality training programs within the various specialities throughout the EU. Within the 38 Specialist Sections of the UEMS are the European Boards, which are the working groups of the Specialist Sections.

[Prevalence of asymptomatic peripheral artery disease detected by the ankle-brachial index in patients with cardiovascular disease. MERITO II study].

Background And Objective: Patients with polyvascular disease have an increased rate of cardiovascular events and death. Their identification would define a subgroup of the population at very high risk, who would be candidates to intensified preventive measures. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of subclinical peripheral artery disease in subjects with a previous diagnosis of vascular disease in other territories.

[Endovascular management of a left subclavian artery lesion following thoracoplasty for bronchopleural fistula and empyema secondary to aspergillus fumigatus].

Massive and/or recurrent hemoptysis is a clear indication for surgical treatment of pleuropulmonary aspergilloma, despite the incidence of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Thoracoplasty has been widely used for 20 years and is still indicated in these cases, following lobectomy, even though the procedure is not free of complications. We report the case of a patient who required thoracoplasty to treat a pleuropulmonary aspergilloma invading the chest wall.

The normal cellular prion protein and its possible role in angiogenesis.

Cellular Prion Protein (PrPc) is a ubiquitous glycoprotein present on the surface of endothelial cells. Resting vascular endothelial cells show minimum expression of PrPc and can constitutively release PrPc. PrPc participates in cell survival, differentiation and angiogenesis.

Sub-clinical vascular disease in type 2 diabetic subjects: relationship with chronic complications of diabetes and the presence of cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Background: We evaluated the association between a low ankle-brachial index (ABI), chronic complications of diabetes, and the presence of traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors in subjects with type 2 diabetes but without known cardiovascular disease.

Methods: We included diabetic subjects (n=923; 52% male; age range 50-85 years) without clinical evidence of coronary, cerebrovascular, or peripheral artery disease (PAD). A history of nephropathy, retinopathy, or neuropathy was collected from the medical records.

[Risk factor control and treatment of atherothrombosis. Spain REACH Registry].

Background And Objective: The REACH Registry is the largest worldwide registry designed to obtain information on cardiovascular risk factor control and preventive treatment in a population who have, or are at high risk of having, symptoms of atherothrombosis. The objective of this study is to show the results obtained in a sample of the Spanish population included in that registry.

Patients And Method: Registry of consecutive patients who have risk factors only (RFO) for atherothrombosis or who have symptomatic vascular disease (VD): coronary heart disease (CHD) and/or cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and/or peripheral artery disease (PAD).

[Value of the ankle-brachial index in cardiovascular risk stratification of patients without known atherotrombotic disease. MERITO study].

Background And Objectives: Peripheral arterial disease detected by measurement of ankle-brachial index enables the identification of asymptomatic patients with target organ damage. We have investigated the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (ankle-brachial index < 0.9), and its potential clinical-therapeutic impact, in patients without known atherotrombotic disease from internal medicine practices.

Relationship between ankle-brachial index and chronic kidney disease in hypertensive patients with no known cardiovascular disease.

Both decreased GFR and albuminuria are associated with an elevated prevalence of peripheral artery disease. However, the combined effects of these alterations previously were not evaluated. Patients with hypertension and with no known vascular disease (n = 955; mean age 66 yr; 56% male) were selected from internal medicine outpatient clinics throughout Spain.

D-dimer local expression is increased in symptomatic patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy.

Background: Although atherosclerosis is a silent widespread disease, the focal character of the lesions triggering the clinical manifestations is unquestionable. We hypothesized that symptomatic patients with advanced, unstable carotid plaques have increased local intraplaque and circulating levels of fibrin-fibrinogen related products.

Methods: Plaque tissue and plasma samples were studied in 106 patients undergoing endarterectomy for symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid disease.

Intraplaque MMP-8 levels are increased in asymptomatic patients with carotid plaque progression on ultrasound.

Carotid atherosclerotic plaque remodelling and increased risk of symptomatic plaque rupture seem to be partially mediated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). In this study, we have investigated whether different MMPs are related to carotid atherosclerosis or to recent ischaemic brain disease. Eighty-four consecutive patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy for symptomatic and asymptomatic disease were studied.