Safety and feasibility of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair as day surgery.

Objective: The adoption of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) during the past two decades has led to significantly shorter length of stay as well as lower hospital resource use. Currently, most patients are admitted to the hospital after EVAR; however, there are no standard observation periods, and timing of discharge is based on clinical judgment. The aim of this study was to confirm the safety and feasibility of performing EVAR as outpatient surgery.

A National Survey on Teaching and Assessing Technical Proficiency in Vascular Surgery in Canada.

Background: This survey aims to explore trainees' perspectives on how Canadian vascular surgery training programs are using simulation in teaching and assessing technical skills through a cross-sectional national survey.

Methods: A 10-min online questionnaire was sent to Program Directors of Canada's Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons' of Canada approved training programs in vascular surgery. This survey was distributed among residents and fellows who were studying in the 2013-2014 academic year.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia causing graft thrombosis and bowel ischemia postendovascular aneurysm repair.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an immune-mediated thrombocytopenia resulting from prior heparin exposure. It can be associated with limb- or life-threatening thrombotic events. Patients undergoing any vascular procedures including endovascular procedures that require heparin administration are at risk.

Midterm results following endovascular repair of blunt thoracic aortic injuries.

Objective: Previous studies have focused on early outcomes of thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR) of blunt thoracic aortic injuries (BTAIs). Late results remain ill-defined. The purpose of this study is to review the midterm results of our experience with endovascular repair of BTAIs.

Paraplegia prevention branches: a new adjunct for preventing or treating spinal cord injury after endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aneurysms.

In this report, we describe a technique that could potentially be used for both prevention and treatment of spinal cord ischemia (SCI) in endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aneurysms. This technique involves using a specially designed endograft with side branches (paraplegia prevention branches [PPBs]), which are left patent to perfuse the aneurysmal sac and any associated lumbar or intercostal arteries in the early postoperative period. The use of PPBs with this technique is feasible and allows for a temporary controlled endoleak that may be useful for preventing or reversing spinal cord injury.

Reversible endotension associated with excessive warfarin anticoagulation.

An aortic aneurysm was successfully treated with an endovascular stent graft, with no evidence of endoleak and documented progressive aortic diameter reduction during the first 23 months. At 29 months, the patient had documented enlargement of the aneurysm sac associated with excessive anticoagulation with warfarin. No evidence of endoleak could be demonstrated with any diagnostic modality.

Patient-reported quality of life after abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery: a prospective comparison of endovascular and open repair.

Purpose: This study evaluated and compared changes over time in health-related quality of life reported by patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) undergoing elective endovascular (EVAR) and open aneurysm (OR) repair.

Methods: A prospective, nonrandomized cohort of 76 patients (62 men, 14 women; age range, 42 to 89 years) undergoing elective, infrarenal AAA repair (EVAR, n = 43; OR, n = 33) at two university teaching hospitals during a 15-month period were administered the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36-item (SF-36) health survey preoperatively and then 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months postoperatively. Patient demographics, procedural details, postoperative follow-up data, and SF-36 scores were compared between groups.

Superficial femoral vein invasion by a benign neurofibroma in a non-neurofibromatosis patient: case report.

Objective And Importance: Neurofibromas are benign neural sheath tumors arising from intraneural supporting cells. Such tumors are characteristic of neurofibromatosis Type I (von Recklinghausen disease) but also occur sporadically. Vascular involvement by neurofibromata is rare, but has been described in the past in the context of neurofibromatosis.

Early outcomes after elective and emergent endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta.

Background: Endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic pathology has emerged as a viable alternative to open surgical repair in both the elective and emergent settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate preoperative work-up, intra-operative strategy, and outcomes of endovascular stent-grafting of the thoracic aorta in patients undergoing elective repair and those undergoing emergent repair.

Methods: All patient information was obtained by a retrospective review of an established clinical database for all endovascular thoracic stent-graft cases.