Comparison of FLIXENE™ and standard PTFE arteriovenous graft for early haemodialysis.

Purpose: The purpose is to compare the outcomes of FLIXENE™ arteriovenous graft (AVG) to standard polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) AVG for early haemodialysis.

Methods: This is a prospective observational study of all AVGs placed over a 40-month period between 2008 and 2011 at our vascular unit. Primary outcome was to examine early cannulation rates for FLIXENE™.

The role of tissue factor in patients undergoing open repair of ruptured and nonruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background: Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is associated with the development of a procoagulant and hypofibrinolytic state. Tissue factor (TF) and its naturally occurring inhibitor, tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), play a central role in the initiation and progression of such a hypercoagulable state, but their role in patients undergoing open AAA repair has not previously been examined.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted of 17 patients undergoing elective AAA repair and 10 patients undergoing emergency AAA repair.

Hemostatic markers before operation in patients with acutely symptomatic nonruptured and ruptured infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Background: In patients with acutely symptomatic but nonruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), emergent repair is associated with an increased mortality rate as compared with semi-elective repair. Previous results have shown that ruptured but not asymptomatic AAA repair is associated with intense thrombin generation and inhibition of systemic fibrinolysis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether circulating markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis may be used to distinguish acutely symptomatic nonruptured and ruptured AAA.