Primary Balloon Angioplasty Versus Hydrostatic Dilation for Arteriovenous Fistula Creation in Patients with Small-Caliber Cephalic Veins: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: For arteriovenous fistula (AVF) presence of a venous segment with adequate diameter is essential which is lacking in many patients. To find the optimal augmentation technique in patients with small-caliber cephalic vein (i.e.

Low-molecular-weight heparin compared with unfractionated heparin in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Background: Thrombosis in COVID-19 worsens mortality. In our study, we sought to investigate how the dose and type of anticoagulation (AC) can influence patient outcomes.

Methods: This is a single-center retrospective analysis of critically ill intubated patients with COVID-19, comparing low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and unfractionated heparin (UFH) at therapeutic and prophylactic doses.

A Case of Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens in a Patient With COVID-19, Effectively Ttreated With Fasciotomy and Mechanical Thrombectomy.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been widely reported to be associated with increased risk of Venous Thromboembolism, both deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism. A rare and extreme manifestation of DVT is Phlegmasia cerulea dolens, characterized by poor tissue perfusion due to marked limb swelling which can progress to limb and life-threatening venous gangrene. We report the case of a 53-year-old man with severe SARS-CoV2 pneumonia who developed acute iliofemoral DVT leading to acute limb ischemia due to Phlegmasia cerulea dolens.

Acute Gastrointestinal Injury and Feeding Intolerance as Prognostic Factors in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients.

Background: Although acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) and feeding intolerance (FI) are known independent determinants of worse outcomes and high mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, the incidence of AGI and FI in critically ill COVID-19 patients and their prognostic importance have not been thoroughly studied.

Methods: We reviewed 218 intubated patients at Stony Brook University Hospital and stratified them into three groups based on AGI severity, according to data collected in the first 10 days of ICU course. We used chi-square test to compare categorical variables such as age and sex and two-sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U-tests for continuous variables, including important laboratory values.

D-Dimer-Driven Anticoagulation Reduces Mortality in Intubated COVID-19 Patients: A Cohort Study With a Propensity-Matched Analysis.

Examine the possible beneficial effects of early, D-dimer driven anticoagulation in preventing thrombotic complications and improving the overall outcomes of COVID-19 intubated patients. To address COVID-19 hypercoagulability, we developed a clinical protocol to escalate anticoagulation based on serum D-dimer levels. We retrospectively reviewed all our first 240 intubated patients with COVID-19.

Acute superior mesenteric artery thrombosis seven days after discharge for novel coronavirus pneumonia.

Since the emergence of novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP), a number of reports have pointed out an increased coagulation activity in these patients mostly during acute phase of the disease. We are reporting a case of acute superior mesenteric thrombosis in a 55-year-old man with NCP 1 week after hospital discharge. He returned to the emergency department 7 days later with severe acute abdominal pain and found to have superior mesenteric artery thrombosis.

Endovascular repair of infected carotid pseudoaneurysm: A case report.

Background: Pseudoaneurysm (PA) of the carotid artery is a rare but life-threatening complication following carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Management of carotid PAs is challenging due to the increased risk of stroke and nerve injury in an infected and re-operative field. Open surgery has been the mainstay for this complicated pathology however some patients have characteristics which make an endovascular approach more advantageous.

Mid-Term Outcomes of Thrombolysis for Acute Lower Extremity Ischemia at a Tertiary Care Center.

Background: Acute limb ischemia (ALI) is challenging to treat because of high morbidity and mortality. Endovascular-first options beginning with thrombolysis are technically feasible with similar results to open surgery. We examined our experience with thrombolysis to identify patients and target conduits that are predictive of improved outcomes.

Endovascular Thoracic Aortic Repair for Catheter Associated Aortic Injury During Thoracostomy Tube Placement.

Background: Aortic injuries during non-aortic related procedures are rare but potentially catastrophic. Endovascular aortic repair has been described as a viable option in similar circumstances. However, most reports involve aortic injury from orthopaedic hardware after spine surgery or trocar injury during abdominal surgery.

Two-year evaluation of fenestrated and parallel branch endografts for the treatment of juxtarenal, suprarenal, and thoracoabdominal aneurysms at a single institution.

Objective: Despite numerous recent pivotal and small-scale trials, real-world endovascular management of juxtarenal aneurysms (JRA), suprarenal aneurysms (SRA), and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA) remains challenging without consensus best practices. This study evaluated the mortality, graft patency, renal function, complication, and reintervention rates for fenestrated and parallel endografts in complex aortic aneurysms repairs.

Methods: This retrospective review of consecutive included patients with JRA, SRA, or TAAA who underwent complex endovascular repair from August 2014 to March 2017 at one high-volume institution.

Outcomes for concomitant common iliac artery aneurysms after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Objective: This study evaluated the morbidity of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) in patients with concomitant common iliac artery aneurysm (CCIAA).

Methods: This was a retrospective review of all patients who underwent elective EVAR from June 2006 through June 2012 at a single institution. Demographics, comorbidities, preoperative presentation, intraoperative details, and postoperative complications were tabulated.

Aneurysmal Degeneration in Patients with Type B Aortic Dissection.

Background: The optimal management of type B aortic dissection (TBAD) remains controversial in the era of endovascular therapies. This study reports the outcomes and complication rates of different treatment paradigms for TBAD.

Methods: A retrospective review was undertaken of all patients with TBAD from June 2006 to June 2012.

Contemporary Management of Type B Aortic Dissection in the Endovascular Era.

Aortic dissection (AD) is one of the most common catastrophic pathologies affecting the aorta. Anatomic classification is based on the origin of entry tear and its extension. Type A dissections originate in the ascending aorta, whereas the entry tear in Type B dissections starts distal to the left subclavian artery.

Does sedation type affect colonoscopy perforation rates?

Background: Sedation with propofol is gaining popularity. It is unclear whether sedation with propofol is associated with colonoscopic perforation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare perforation rates during colonoscopy using sedation with or without propofol.

Comparative predictors of mortality for endovascular and open repair of ruptured infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background: The continued success of elective endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has led to an extension of this technology to ruptured aortas. The purpose of this study was to evaluate our results of ruptured infrarenal aortic aneurysm (rAAA).

Methods: The treatment results of all patients who underwent repair of rAAAs between January 1990 and May 2008 were reviewed retrospectively.

A comparison of endovascular revascularization with traditional therapy for the treatment of acute mesenteric ischemia.

Objectives: Few centers have adopted endovascular therapy for the treatment of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI). We sought to evaluate the effect of endovascular therapy on outcomes for the treatment of AMI.

Methods: A single-center, retrospective cohort review was performed on all consecutive patients with thrombotic or embolic AMI presenting between 1999 and 2008.

Endovascular therapy for acute limb ischemia.

Background: Acute limb ischemia (ALI) of the lower extremities remains a challenging clinical dilemma. Treatment of ALI has shifted toward endovascular therapies. The purpose of this study was to assess outcomes in patients treated for ALI with intra-arterial thrombolysis and/or adjuvant endovascular techniques.

Patterns of procedure-specific radiation exposure in the endovascular era: impetus for further innovation.

Objective: Although patient preference and outcome data support continued development and use of minimally invasive endovascular therapies, only a few studies have documented radiation exposure to the patient. This report summarizes patient radiation exposure by endovascular procedure at Cleveland Clinic.

Methods: A retrospective review was undertaken of all endovascular procedures during a 30-month period.

Midterm outcome predictors for lower extremity atherectomy procedures.

Purpose: The performance of atherectomy devices has been variable. The purpose of this study was to evaluate our experience using the SilverHawk atherectomy (Fox Hollow Technologies, Redwood City, Calif) device for lower extremity procedures to determine predictors of midterm success.

Methods: Records of all patients who underwent lower extremity atherectomy with the SilverHawk atherectomy catheter were reviewed.

Reoperative lower extremity revascularization with cadaver vein for limb salvage.

We evaluated our experience using cryopreserved cadaver vein allografts (CVGs) for infrageniculate revascularization in patients with a history of failed bypass or no suitable autogenous vein. Records of all patients who underwent lower extremity revascularization with CVG for critical limb ischemia were reviewed. Patient demographics, vessel treated, and postoperative course were analyzed.