International Union of Angiology consensus document on vascular compression syndromes.

Vascular compression syndromes (VCS) are rare diseases, but they may cause significant symptoms interfering with the quality of life (QoL) of patients who are often in their younger age. Given their infrequent occurrence, multiform clinical and anatomical presentation, and absence of dedicated guidelines from scientific societies, further knowledge of these conditions is required to investigate and treat them using modern imaging and surgical (open or endovascular) techniques. This consensus document will focus on known VCS, affecting the arterial and venous system.

School-Based Circuit Training Intervention Improves Local Muscular Endurance in Primary School Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of a 12-week circuit training program in improving local muscular endurance in normal-weighted primary school students.

Methods: The study involved a parallel-group randomized trial with 606 primary school boys assigned to an experimental or a control group. The participants underwent a 12-week circuit training program that involved multi-joint, total-body workouts using body weight, resistance bands, and medicine ball exercises.

Diversity and Distribution of Macrofungi in Protected Mountain Forest Habitats in Serbia and Its Relation to Abiotic Factors.

Fungal diversity is one of the most important indicators of overall forest biodiversity and its health. However, scarce information exists on the state of macrofungal communities of mountain forests in Serbia, making it one of the countries with the least-published mycological data in the Mediterranean and Balkan region of Europe. This paper presents the results of the first comprehensive, long-term study of macrofungal communities in some of the most important mountain forest ecosystems in Serbia (Tara, Kopaonik and Vidlič) In the course of three consecutive years, the sampling of five permanent experimental plots resulted in 245 species of macrofungi, classified into three functional groups (terricolous saprothrophs, lignicolous, and mycorrhizal fungi).

Treatment of vascular non-iatrogenic injuries of upper and lower extremities in tertiary vascular center.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine demographic and baseline characteristics of patients with vascular injuries of extremities and to define the most relevant factors which influenced an early outcome, as well as limb salvage after the management of vascular trauma.

Methods: This study used the database that included 395 patients with peripheral arterial injuries, who were treated in the tertiary vascular university center in the period between 2005-2020. Exclusion criteria were isolated thoracic, abdominal and neck injuries as well as iatrogenic injuries and injuries of intravenous addicts.

Physical Activity, Eating Habits and Mental Health during COVID-19 Lockdown Period in Serbian Adolescents.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted almost every aspect of life, especially daily physical activity and healthy eating habits but also mental health. Our study aimed to examine the relationship between the physical activity level, eating habits and mental health of Serbian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 3506 students from the territory of the Republic of Serbia participated in this study.

Identification of Risk Factors and Development of Predictive Risk Score Model for Mortality after Open Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

Background and Objectives: Despite the relatively large number of publications concerning the validation of these models, there is currently no solid evidence that they can be used with absolute precision to predict survival. The goal of this study is to identify preoperative factors that influenced 30-day mortality and to create a predictive model after open ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) repair. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective single-center cohort study derived from a prospective collected database, between 1 January 2009 and 2016.

Measurement of Axial Strain of Geogrid by Optical Sensors.

In recent years, the technology of optical fibers has rapidly gained ground in many areas of science and industry, including the construction industry. In this article, the technology of optical fibers based on a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) was used to determine tensile forces acting in a basal reinforcement of a scaled down physical model, which included piled embankment and basal reinforcement. Installing FBG sensors on the geogrid made monitoring of axial strains possible, thus allowing determination of the behavior of the basal reinforcement of the piled embankment.

Vehicle Classification Based on FBG Sensor Arrays Using Neural Networks.

This article is focused on the automatic classification of passing vehicles through an experimental platform using optical sensor arrays. The amount of data generated from various sensor systems is growing proportionally every year. Therefore, it is necessary to look for more progressive solutions to these problems.

Vascular Injuries in Intravenous Drug Addicts-A Single-Center Experience.

Background: Infected false aneurysms (IFA) caused by intravenous drug abuse are uncommon but challenging lesions. The best approach for the surgical management of this condition is still unknown. The aim is to present a single-center 14-year experience in the IFA treatment in intravenous drug abusers, thus providing additional data regarding the treatment options and outcome in these patients.

Magnetic resonance imaging assessment of proteolytic enzyme concentrations and biologic properties of intraluminal thrombus in abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used in assessment of biologic activity of intraluminal thrombus (ILT) and proteolytic processes of the abdominal aortic aneurysm wall.

Methods: Using MRI, 50 patients with asymptomatic infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm were analyzed at the maximum aneurysm diameter on T1-weighted images in the arterial phase after administration of contrast material. Relative ILT signal intensity (SI) was determined as the ratio between ILT SI and psoas muscle SI.

Effect of Intra-operative Intra-arterial Thrombolysis on Long Term Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Acute Popliteal Artery Aneurysm Thrombosis.

Objective: Acute lower limb ischaemia (ALI) as a result of popliteal artery aneurysm (PAA) thrombosis represents a significant problem. The aim of this study was to investigate outcome of intra-operative intra-arterial thrombolysis in the treatment of acute ischaemia due to PAA thrombosis in terms of major adverse limb events (MALE), overall survival, and intrahospital complications, especially those associated with bleeding.

Methods: A total of 156 patients with Rutherford grade IIa and IIb acute ischaemia resulting from PAA thrombosis were admitted between 1 January 2011 and 1 January 2017.

Open repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm with associated horseshoe kidney.

Background: Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (RAAA) with concomitant horseshoe kidney (HK) present a unique challenge at the time of repair. The aim of this article was to propose the most rationale strategy during open repair (OR) of RAAA in the presence of HK.

Methods: We identified and analyzed all patients treated at the clinic due to RAAA and HK.

Impact of diabetes mellitus on early outcome of carotid endarterectomy.

Background: Diabetes mellitus increases the risk of ischaemic stroke in the general population but its impact on early outcome after the carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is controversial with conflicting results.

Patients And Methods: This prospective study includes 902 consecutive CEAs. Patients were divided into non-diabetic and diabetic groups and subsequently analysed.

Late Complication after Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair: What Is the Role of an Open Surgical Conversion?

Background: The aim was to evaluate the causes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) failure and conversion to open surgery (COS) in a vascular center with high-volume open surgery and low-volume TEVAR procedures.

Methods: A total of 8 patients (6 men; mean age, 55.14 years) underwent COS after TEVAR.

Evaluation of the renal function using serum Cystatin C following open and endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.

Objectives Controversies regarding renal function impairment after open and endovascular aortic aneurysm repair still exist. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the renal function following open repair and endovascular aneurysm repair using Cystatin C. Methods This prospective, observational case-control study was conducted in tertiary referral centre over 3 years, starting from 2012.

Morphological and Biomechanical Features in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm with Long and Short Neck-Case-Control Study in 64 Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

Background: Both, open and endovascular, procedures are related to higher complication rate in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with shorter neck. Previous study showed that long-neck AAA might have lower risk of rupture. Estimation of biomechanical forces in AAA improves rupture risk assessment.

Open Surgical Treatment of Secondary Aortoesophageal and Aortobronchial Fistula after Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair and Esophagocoloplasty in a Second Procedure.

Aortoesophageal (AEF) and aortobronchial fistula (ABF) after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) are rare complications with catastrophic consequences without treatment. In this case report, we presented a patient with AEF and ABF after TEVAR successfully treated with endograft explantation and replaced by Dacron graft followed by esophagectomy and left principal bronchus repairing. We report a patient with AEF and ABF after TEVAR who was evaluated due to dysphagia and chest pain followed by hematemesis and hemoptysis.

Transient Acute Leg Ischemia in a Professional Athlete Caused by Isolated Popliteal Artery Dissection Mimicking Popliteal Entrapment Syndrome.

Exertional leg pain includes a broad range of conditions induced by different vascular, musculoskeletal, and neurological disorders. We report a case with isolated popliteal artery dissection as a cause of a transient acute lower limb ischemia. We report a patient with popliteal artery dissection which occurred during squatting exercise.

Treatment of a Patient with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: The surgical tactics in cases of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and intra-abdominal malignancy are not uniform in the literature and are still a matter of debate. In this case report, we present a patient with coexisting AAA and primary liver cancer managed by simultaneous open AAA repair and liver resection After laparotomy and intraoperative liver ultrasonography that confirmed resectability of the tumor, aneurysm repair was performed with aorto-aortic tube grafting after interrenal cross-clamping Radiofrequency-assisted liver transection was performed to complete an anterior anatomic resection of liver segments VI and VII. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on a postoperative day 10.

Open Repair of AAA in a High Volume Center.

Objective: To assess results of open repair (OR) of AAA in a single high volume center.

Methods: We analyzed prospectively collected data of 450 patients who underwent elective OR of AAA at the Clinic for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery of the Serbian Clinical Centre in the period between January 2013 and September 2014.

Results: Postoperative death occurred in seven patients (1.

Abdominal Aortic Surgery in the Presence of Inferior Vena Cava Anomalies: A Case Series.

Background: Left-sided inferior vena cava (LIVC) and duplicated inferior vena cava (DIVC) are rare asymptomatic congenital abnormalities. Unrecognized, these anomalies can be the source of major injuries and cause serious life-threatening bleeding complications especially during abdominal aortic surgery.

Methods: Retrospective data for patients with 2 major inferior vena cava (IVC) anomalies that underwent aortic surgery over a 13-year period were collected.

Treatment strategies for carotid artery aneurysms.

Background: The aim of this paper was to present single centre experience in the treatment of extra cranial carotid artery aneurysms (ECCA) and to analyze results discussing different treatment modalities.

Methods: The study analyzed 60 patients with 62 ECCA treated surgically at the Clinic for vascular and endovascular surgery, Serbian Clinical Center (Belgrade) in the period between 1985 and 2013. Treatment strategy was individually selected and demographic, morphologic, intraoperative and postoperative data were collected.

Aortoesophageal and aortobronchial fistula caused by Candida albicans after thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Introduction: Endovascular stent-graft placement has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery for the treatment of aortic aneurysms and dissections. There are few reports of stent graft infections and aortoenteric fistula after endovascular thoracic aortic aneurysm repair, and the first multicentric study (Italian survey) showed the incidence of about 2%.

Case Report: We presented a 69-year-old male patient admitted to our hospital 9 months after thoracic endovascular aortic repair, due to severe chest pain in the left hemithorax and arm refractory to analgesic therapy.