The Effects of Clopidogrel Duration on Carotid Artery In-Stent Restenosis.

Background: There are limited data supporting a specific duration for dual antiplatelet therapy in carotid artery stenting (CAS), and most clinical evidence is derived from studies involving coronary interventions. As a result, the appropriate duration of dual antiplatelet therapy after CAS is yet to be determined. We aimed to elucidate whether the duration of dual antiplatelet therapy played a role in the rate of carotid in-stent restenosis.

Single Center Outcomes of Carotid Artery Stenting in Veterans with Prior Head and Neck Cancer.

Background: Patients meeting criteria for intervention of carotid stenosis with a history of prior cervical radiation or neck dissection are considered "high risk" for carotid endarterectomy. This is a well-established indication for carotid artery stenting (CAS). The long-term outcomes of CAS in this population are less frequently published in the literature but are poor.

Factors Associated With Unplanned Reoperation After Above-Knee Amputation.

This study assesses factors associated with reoperation after above-knee amputations.

Arterial protocol including prophylactic distal perfusion catheter decreases limb ischemia complications in patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Objective: Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a salvage therapy in patients with severe cardiopulmonary failure. Owing to the large size of the cannulas inserted via the femoral vessels (≤24-F) required for adequate oxygenation, this procedure could result in significant limb ischemic complications (10%-70%). This study evaluates the results of a distal limb perfusion arterial protocol designed to reduce associated complications.

Arteriovenous access does not perform as well for plasmapheresis.

Purpose: Access surgeons are occasionally asked to create arteriovenous access for non-dialysis functions. Subjectively noting overall poor results, we seek to present our experience with arteriovenous access creation for apheresis.

Methods: Billing records were reviewed using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) codes to identify patients undergoing arteriovenous access creation for diseases other than renal failure from January 2007 to August 2014.

Concomitant Parallel Endografting and Fenestrated Experience in a Regional Aortic Center.

Background: Off-label parallel endografting (PE) has been increasingly criticized in favor of on-label custom fenestrated endografts. There remain limited direct comparisons, however, between concurrent patient populations treated by similarly experienced operators. Hence, we seek to evaluate the relative efficacy of the two techniques in treating complex aortic pathology.

Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome-Review of This Rare Disease.

Importance: Median arcuate ligament (MAL) syndrome is a rare disease resulting from compression of the celiac axis by fibrous attachments of the diaphragmatic crura, the median arcuate ligament. Diagnostic workup and therapeutic intervention can be challenging.

Objective: To review the literature to define an algorithm for accurate diagnosis and successful treatment for patients with MAL syndrome.

Acute Paget-Schroetter syndrome: does the first rib routinely need to be removed after thrombolysis?

Background: Most clinicians feel that treatment for patients with acute primary axillosubclavian vein thrombosis ("effort thrombosis") is catheter-directed thrombolysis followed by thoracic outlet decompression. Several investigators feel that first rib resection (FRR) is not indicated in every case. No randomized data exist to answer this question.

Coral reef aorta: case report and review of the literature.

Coral reef aorta (CRA) is a rare form of atherosclerosis that affects the paravisceral and pararenal aorta and its branches. Patients typically present with arterial insufficiency of the bowels, kidneys and lower extremities. The current mainstay of treatment is operative, typically involving transaortic endarterectomy.

An interesting anatomic variant of inferior vena cava duplication: case report and review of the literature.

Congenital anomalies of the inferior vena cava (IVC) occur in roughly 4% of the population. We report an interesting case of an atypical variant of duplicated IVC. A 20-year-old man presented with orthopedic injuries and intracranial hemorrhage following a motorcycle accident.

Results of polytetrafluoroethylene-covered nitinol stents crossing the inguinal ligament.

Objective: Placement of arterial endoprostheses across the inguinal ligament is generally thought to be contraindicated for fear of device kinking, fracture, or occlusion and possible obliteration of the deep femoral artery (DFA). We present a series of selected patients who underwent insertion of polytetrafluoroethylene-covered nitinol stents (Viabahn stent grafts. W.

Robotic-assisted median arcuate ligament release.

Median arcuate ligament syndrome results from external compression of the celiac axis by attachments of the diaphragmatic crura. It has been treated with open or laparoscopic surgical decompression of the celiac axis with neurolysis. We describe our initial experience treating three patients using a robotic-assisted technique with median arcuate ligament release and celiac neurolysis.

An unusual cause of venous hypertension after dialysis access creation.

Venous hypertension after creation of arteriovenous fistula or arteriovenous shunt occurs in approximately 10-15% of patients (Kojecky et al., Biomed Papers, 2002;146:77-79; Criado et al., Ann Vasc Surg 1994;8:530-535).

Is gastrectomy safe in the elderly? A single institution review.

The population of the United States is aging. Studies within the last several years have demonstrated that major abdominal operations in elderly patients can be done safely, but with increased rates of complications. We set out to determine the rates of morbidity and mortality in elderly patients undergoing gastric resection at a tertiary care university hospital.

Endothelial differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells from elderly patients with cardiovascular disease.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) possess significant therapeutic potential for tissue engineering and regeneration. This study investigates the endothelial differentiation and functional capacity of ASCs isolated from elderly patients. Isolation of ASCs from 53 patients (50-89 years) revealed that advanced age or comorbidity did not negatively impact stem cell harvest; rather, higher numbers were observed in older donors (>70 years) than in younger.

May-Thurner syndrome: case report and review of the literature involving modern endovascular therapy.

May-Thurner syndrome is a rare clinical entity involving venous obstruction of the left lower extremity. Obstruction occurs secondary to compression of the left common iliac vein between the right common iliac artery and the underlying vertebral body. Current management largely involves endovascular therapy.

Incidence of anastomotic leak in patients undergoing elective colon resection without mechanical bowel preparation: our updated experience and two-year review.

Mechanical bowel preparation before elective colon resection has recently been questioned in the literature. We report a prospective study evaluating the anastomotic leak rate in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery without preoperative mechanical bowel preparation. One hundred fifty-three patients undergoing elective colon resection from July 2006 to June 2008 were enrolled into this Institutional Review Board-approved study.

Coil-assisted false lumen thrombosis in complicated chronic type B dissection.

Type B dissections complicated by pain, malperfusion, or aneurysm expansion mandate surgical intervention. Success of this therapy is predicated on exclusion and thrombosis of the false lumen of the aneurysm. We report a case where cessation of flow was achieved using covered stent grafts in conjunction with coil embolization of the false lumen.

A new anatomic variant of the aorta: a case report.

Anatomic anomalies of the infrarenal aorta and iliac arteries are rare. We report a 39-year-old man who presented with an ileo-cecal fistula secondary to Crohn disease. A computed tomography scan and subsequent arteriography noted his aorta bifurcated immediately inferior to the main renal arteries, at the level of the second lumbar vertebrae.