Staging of immuno-virological dynamics during acute HIV infection in a Belgian prospective cohort study.

Background: The events during acute HIV infection (AHI) set the stage for the subsequent course of the disease. Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been associated with favorable immunovirological outcomes, yet the precise impact of ART timing during AHI remains unclear, particularly on lymphoid tissues.

Materials And Methods: The ACS cohort is a prospective cohort study in Belgium, collecting longitudinal clinical data and human bodily material (HBM) from people diagnosed and treated during AHI.

Literature review on management of prosthetic graft infections after supra-aortic bypass surgery, based on a case report.

Background: Graft infections of supra-aortic bypasses are rare, but often life-threatening. Guidelines for treatment of graft infections recommend systemic antibiotics and complete graft removal, followed by in-situ or extra-anatomic revascularisation.

Methods: Based on case report, literature search was performed on Medline, Google Scholar and Web of Science databases, focussing on infected supra-aortic bypass reconstructions.

Iliac artery endofibrosis: diagnostic dilemna and treatment options.

Background: External iliac artery endofibrosis (EIAE) is an uncommon pathology, predominantly occurring in cyclists, caused by thickening of the external iliac artery intima. Symptoms are exercise-dependent and typically consist of pain, muscle cramps and loss of strength in the affected limb at (sub)maximal effort. As other musculo-skeletal as well as conditional problems might cause similar complaints diagnosis is not always easy or straightforward.

The combined effect of systemic antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors on Clostridioides difficile infection and recurrence.

Background: Antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are recognized risk factors for acquisition and recurrence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), yet combined effects remain unclear.

Objectives: To assess the short- and long-term effects of antibiotics and PPIs on CDI risk and recurrence.

Methods: Population-based study including all 43 152 patients diagnosed with CDI in Sweden (2006-2019), and 355 172 matched population controls without CDI.

Massed Training is Logistically Superior to Distributed Training in Acquiring Basic Endovascular Skills.

Objective: A "PROficiency based StePwise Endovascular Curricular Training" (PROSPECT) has proven its superiority over traditional training in a randomised controlled trial to acquire basic endovascular skills outside theatre, but real life adherence is low. This study aimed to compare the original distributed training format, where trainees learn at their own pace, with a massed training format offering the same content within a limited time span while exempt from clinical duties. Secondly, long term skills retention was evaluated.

Fenestrated and branched endovascular repair for juxtarenal and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms: analysis of the first 100 cases.

Background: Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) has become the most popular technique to treat infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms. In aneurysms with unsuitable anatomy open surgical repair remains the golden standard but fenestrated EVAR (FEVAR) or branched EVAR (BEVAR) may be an alternative to treat juxtarenal or thoracoabdominal aneurysms. The aim of this study was to report our results and to evaluate its safety and feasibility.

Endovenous Iliocaval Revascularization for Transplant Kidney Salvage.

Purpose: We report the case of a venous iliocaval recanalization to preserve a transplant kidney.

Case Report: A young patient with a nephrotic syndrome caused by focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) underwent a robot-assisted living-donor kidney transplant. The postoperative course was uneventful; serum creatinine at discharge was 1.

Angiosarcoma after endovascular aneurysm repair: case report and literature review.

Introduction: Epithelioid angiosarcoma is a rare soft tissue sarcoma with a poor prognosis. We report two cases of patients who presented with a history of lower back pain, inflammatory signs and weight loss 5 and 6 years after endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) of an elective infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Imaging suggested graft infection but tissue samples revealed an epithelioid angiosarcoma.

Single-setting robot-assisted kidney transplantation consecutive to single-port laparoscopic nephrectomy in a child and robot-assisted living-related donor nephrectomy: initial Ghent experience.

Introduction: Kidney transplantation (KT) is the gold-standard treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in children. Robot-assisted kidney transplantation (RAKT) in adults is becoming increasingly common with potentially improved morbidity compared with open KT. The study objective was to evaluate feasibility and outcomes of RAKT in children.

Evolution of surgical treatment of carotid artery stenosis: a single center observational study.

In 2009 and 2011 respectively ESVS and AHA/ASA guidelines recommended to operate patients with a symptomatic carotid artery stenosis within 14 days. This study aimed primarily to determine if an academic hospital has implemented these international guidelines about indication and timing of surgical treatment of carotid stenosis. Second, the influence of referral from another hospital on time from symptoms to surgery and the influence of time between neurological event and surgery on 30-day complication rate was studied.

Management of abdominal aortic aneurysm and concomitant malignant disease.

Introduction: Concomitant malignant disease and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) represent a challenging issue in terms of treatment priority, timing and perspectives. This systematic review provides an overview of the available literature about AAA and concomitant malignant disease.

Evidence Acquisition: We conducted a literature search of all the English-language medical literature in Medline (through PubMed), Embase, Clinical Trial databases and the Cochrane Library up to December 31st, 2018.

A systematic review of infected descending thoracic aortic grafts and endografts.

Objective: The objective of this study was to collect and critically analyze the current evidence on the modalities and results of treatment of descending thoracic aortic surgical graft (SG) and endograft (EG) infection, which represents a rare but dramatic complication after both surgical and endovascular aortic repair.

Methods: A comprehensive electronic health database search (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library) identified all articles that were published up to October 2017 reporting on thoracic aortic SG or EG infection. Observational studies, multicenter reports, single-center series and case reports, case-control studies, and guidelines were considered eligible if reporting specific results of treatment of descending thoracic aortic SG or EG infection.

A Proficiency Based Stepwise Endovascular Curricular Training (PROSPECT) Program Enhances Operative Performance in Real Life: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Objectives: Healthcare evolution requires optimisation of surgical training to provide safe patient care. Operating room performance after completion of proficiency based training in vascular surgery has not been investigated.

Design: A randomised controlled trial evaluated the impact of a Proficiency based Stepwise Endovascular Curricular Training program (PROSPECT) on the acquisition of endovascular skills and the transferability of these skills to real life interventions.

Role of bioresorbable stents in the superficial femoral artery.

Bioresorbable stents or scaffolds are a new technology in the treatment of coronary and peripheral vascular disease. Their goal is to provide adequate support to the dilated vessel segment for the time needed and to disappear through a controlled resorption process afterwards. Doing so they can offer the early advantages and avoid the late complications related to stent placement such as stent-induced restenosis, stent fracture and problems at reintervention.

Results of the Protégé EverFlex 200-mm-long nitinol stent (ev3) in TASC C and D femoropopliteal lesions.

Objectives: This study investigated the results with primary stenting using the Protégé EverFlex 200-mm-long self-expanding nitinol stent (ev3 Endovascular Inc, Plymouth, Minn) in femoropopliteal TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) C and D lesions of at least 150 mm in length.

Methods: Between March 2008 and June 2009, 100 patients (66 men) presenting with 100 symptomatic TASC C and D femoropopliteal lesions were treated with at least one 200-mm-long Protégé EverFlex stent. The intention of this study was to treat all lesions with as few stents as possible.

Importance of exchange of vascular trainees among centers.

Training in surgery has for a long time been based on the classical model of master-apprentice, leading to the creation of "schools" comparable to the famous painter schools of Rubens, Rembrandt and many others during the Middle Ages. Although it may offer some advantages, this model is no longer suitable today. Modern vascular surgery covers several fields, including not only open vascular and endovascular treatment, but also non-invasive diagnosis and medical treatment of vascular diseases in different parts of the human body.

Standardization of the fully stapled laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for obesity reduces early immediate postoperative morbidity and mortality: a single center study on 2606 patients.

Background: Various techniques of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass have been described. We completely standardized this procedure to minimize its sometimes substantial morbidity and mortality. This study describes our experience with the standardized fully stapled laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (FS-LRYGB) and its influence on the 30-day morbidity and mortality.

Endovenous laser treatment for primary varicose veins.

Venous insufficiency of the lower extremities is a highly prevalent condition. Successful treatment of superficial venous insufficiency will most often necessitate treatment of the saphenofemoral junction incompetence with correction of saphenous vein reflux. In the majority of patients it concerns a reflux of the greater saphenous vein.