Sex-specific differences in alive hospital discharge following infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Background And Aims: A longer time to alive hospital discharge following infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair is associated with reduced patient-satisfaction and increased length of stay, hospital-acquired deconditioning, infection and costs. This study investigated sex-specific differences in, and drivers of, the rate of alive hospital discharge.

Methods: Examination of UK National Vascular Registry (UK NVR), 2014-2019 and Swedish National Patient Registry (SE NPR) elective AAA patients, 2010-2018, for endovascular (EVAR) or open (OAR) aneurysm repair.

Heart rate variability as a dynamic marker of surgeons' stress during vascular surgery.

Background: A surgeon experiences elevated stress levels when operating. Acute stress is linked to cognitive overload, worsening surgical performance. Chronic stress poses a significant risk to a surgeon's health.

Longitudinal health-related quality of life in people with thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Background: Surgical intervention for thoracic aortic aneurysms is high risk. Understanding changes in health-related quality of life before and after endovascular stent grafting and open surgical repair can aid treatment decision-making.

Methods: The Effective Treatments for Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms ('ETTAA') study (ISRCTN04044627) was a longitudinal, observational study.

Inequalities for women diagnosed with distal arch and descending thoracic aortic aneurysms: results from the Effective Treatments for Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms (ETTAA) cohort study.

Background: Women with thoracic aortic aneurysms within the arch or descending thoracic aorta have poorer survival than men. Sex differences in relative thoracic aortic aneurysm size may account for some of the discrepancy. The aim of this study was to explore whether basing clinical management on aneurysm size index (maximum aneurysm diameter/body surface area) rather than aneurysm size can restore equality of survival by sex.

Use of Artificial Intelligence With Deep Learning Approaches for the Follow-up of Infrarenal Endovascular Aortic Repair.

Introduction: Endoleaks represent one of the main complications after endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) and can lead to increased re-intervention rates and secondary rupture. Serial lifelong surveillance is required and traditionally involves cross-sectional imaging with manual axial measurements. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based imaging analysis has been developed and may provide a more precise and faster assessment.

Editor's Choice - Vascular Registries Contributing to VASCUNET Collaborative Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Outcome Projects: A Scoping Review.

Objective: Vascular surgery registries report on procedures and outcomes to promote patient safety and drive quality improvement. International registries have contributed significantly to the VASCUNET collaborative abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) outcome projects. This scoping review aimed to outline the national registries in vascular surgery that currently participate in the VASCUNET collaborative AAA projects.

Comparison of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with or without a Split-Thickness Skin Graft in the Surgical Management of Axillary Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) alone or with the addition of a split-thickness skin graft (STSG) are 2 reconstructive options available after surgical excision of axillary hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). The aim of this study was to retrospectively examine patients undergoing these treatments and to assess clinical and patient-related outcome measures. A single-centre, retrospective analysis was conducted, evaluating surgical excision of axillary HS, with STSG and NPWT, or NPWT alone.

Smoking as a risk factor for lower extremity peripheral artery disease in women compared to men: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: To investigate whether the relationship between smoking and peripheral artery disease (PAD) differs by sex (PROSPERO CRD42022352318).

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and CINAHL were searched (3 March 2024) for studies reporting associations between smoking and PAD in both sexes, at least adjusted for age. Data were pooled using random effects.

Halo sign on temporal artery ultrasound versus temporal artery biopsy for giant cell arteritis.

Background: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a systemic, inflammatory vasculitis primarily affecting people over the age of 50 years. GCA is treated as a medical emergency due to the potential for sudden, irreversible visual loss. Temporal artery biopsy (TAB) is one of the five criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1990 classification, which is used to aid the diagnosis of GCA.

Assessment of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Asymptomatic People In Vivo: Measurements Suitable for Biomarker and Mendelian Randomization Studies.

Background: One strategy to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease is the early detection and treatment of atherosclerosis. This has led to significant interest in studies of subclinical atherosclerosis, using different phenotypes, not all of which are accurate reflections of the presence of asymptomatic atherosclerotic plaques. The aim of part 2 of this series is to provide a review of the existing literature on purported measures of subclinical disease and recommendations concerning which tests may be appropriate in the prevention of incident cardiovascular disease.

Sex differences in risk factors for incident peripheral artery disease hospitalisation or death: Cohort study of UK Biobank participants.

Background: Women with peripheral artery disease (PAD) often have atypical symptoms, late hospital presentations, and worse prognosis. Risk factor identification and management are important. We assessed sex differences in associations of risk factors with PAD.

Cost Effectiveness of Early Endovenous Thrombus Removal for Acute Iliofemoral Deep Vein Thrombosis in the United Kingdom.

Objective: Early clot removal using endovascular intervention aims to reduce post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) following iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis (DVT). This may reduce long term morbidity but incurs a higher initial cost. This study examined the cost effectiveness of catheter directed thrombolysis (CDT) and pharmacochemical thrombectomy (PMT) compared with oral anticoagulation (OAC) alone for treatment of acute iliofemoral DVT in the United Kingdom.

Sex-specific differences in the standard of care for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, and risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and death.

Background: This study investigated whether sex-specific differences in preoperative/perioperative standard of care (SOC) account for disparity in outcomes after elective infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of elective infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs (2013-2020) using depersonalized patient-level National Vascular Registry data. SOC was defined for waiting times, preoperative assessment (multidisciplinary/anaesthetic review), cardiovascular risk prevention, and perioperative medication.

Fully automatic volume segmentation using deep learning approaches to assess aneurysmal sac evolution after infrarenal endovascular aortic repair.

Objective: Endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) surveillance relies on serial measurements of the maximal diameter despite significant inter- and intraobserver variability. Volumetric measurements are more sensitive; however, their general use has been hampered by the time required for their implementation. An innovative, fully automated software (PRAEVAorta; Nurea, Bordeaux, France), using artificial intelligence, had previously demonstrated fast and robust detection of the characteristics of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms on preoperative imaging studies.

Sex-Specific Differences in Cardiovascular Risk, Risk Factors and Risk Management in the Peripheral Arterial Disease Population.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in women worldwide but has been primarily recognised as a man's disease. The major components of CVD are ischaemic heart disease (IHD), stroke and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Compared with IHD or stroke, individuals with PAD are at significantly greater risk of major cardiovascular events.

Risk factors and classification of reintervention following deep venous stenting for acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis.

Background: Acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is associated with the development of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). Thrombolysis and deep venous stenting can restore vessel outflow and can reduce the incidence of PTS. However, for a proportion of patients, subsequent stenosis or reocclusion will necessitate further intervention.

Editor's Choice - Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Sex Specific Differences in Adverse Events After Open and Endovascular Intact Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: Consistently Worse Outcomes for Women.

Objective: Previously, reports have shown that women experience a higher mortality rate than men after elective open (OAR) and endovascular (EVAR) repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). With recent improvements in overall AAA repair outcomes, this study aimed to identify whether sex specific disparity has been ameliorated by modern practice, and to define sex specific differences in peri- and post-operative complications and pre-operative status; factors which may contribute to poor outcome.

Methods: This was a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of sex specific differences in 30 day mortality and complications conducted according to PRISMA guidance (Prospero registration CRD42020176398).