Association of Treatment for Critical Limb Ischemia with Gender and Hospital Volume.

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a frequent and major vascular problem and can lead to amputation and death despite surgical revascularization. Women have been shown to have 3 to 4 per cent lower revascularization rates for CLI compared with men as well as inferior outcomes. We hypothesize that this difference is a result of women being more likely admitted to low-volume hospitals, which in turn perform fewer revascularizations.

Right retroperitoneoscopic living donor nephrectomy does not increase surgical complications in the recipient and leads to excellent long-term outcome.

Background: Right-sided retroperitoneoscopic living donor nephrectomy (LDN) has been shown to be safe for the donor but it is unknown whether the short renal vein is associated with complications or an impaired long-term outcome in the recipient.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, consecutive transplant recipients after retroperitoneoscopic LDN were enrolled. Complications occurring within 1 year were classified according to the Clavien-Dindo Classification for Surgical Complications and analysed using multivariable logistic regression.

Concurrent venography during first rib resection and scalenectomy for venous thoracic outlet syndrome is safe and efficient.

Objective: Surgical treatment of acute axillosubclavian vein thrombosis from venous thoracic outlet syndrome (VTOS) traditionally involves first rib resection and scalenectomy (FRRS) followed by interval venography and balloon angioplasty. This approach can lead to an extended need for anticoagulation and a separate anesthesia session. We present outcomes for FRRS with concurrent venography.

Predictors of major amputation despite patent bypass grafts.

Objective: Despite patent vein bypass grafts, some patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) receive major amputations. We analyzed the predictive factors leading to major amputation in the presence of patent lower extremity bypass (LEB) grafts.

Methods: Data from the Project of Ex-Vivo vein graft Engineering via Transfection III (PREVENT III), a large prospective randomized trial of 1404 patients who underwent LEB with vein graft for CLI, were queried for outcomes.

The effect of social integration on outcomes after major lower extremity amputation.

Objective: Major lower extremity (MLE) amputation is a common procedure that results in a profound change in a patient's life. We sought to determine the association between social support and outcomes after amputation. We hypothesized that patients with greater social support will have better post amputation outcomes.

The effect of surgeon specialization on outcomes after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Objective: Although mortality after elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair has steadily declined, operative mortality for a ruptured AAA (rAAA) remains high. Repair of rAAA at hospitals with a higher elective aneurysm workload has been associated with lower mortality rates irrespective of the mode of treatment. This study sought to determine the association between surgeon specialization and outcomes after rAAA repair.

When to call it a day: incremental risk of amputation and death after multiple revascularization.

Background: Patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) often undergo revascularization before amputation. The exact relationship between multiple procedures and increased risk of amputation is unclear. We sought to determine the increased risk of amputation for each additional revascularization.