RETRACTED: Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide for treatment of COVID-19: a multinational registry analysis.

Background: Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, often in combination with a second-generation macrolide, are being widely used for treatment of COVID-19, despite no conclusive evidence of their benefit. Although generally safe when used for approved indications such as autoimmune disease or malaria, the safety and benefit of these treatment regimens are poorly evaluated in COVID-19.

Methods: We did a multinational registry analysis of the use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide for treatment of COVID-19.

Cardiovascular Disease, Drug Therapy, and Mortality in Covid-19.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) may disproportionately affect people with cardiovascular disease. Concern has been aroused regarding a potential harmful effect of angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) in this clinical context.

Methods: Using an observational database from 169 hospitals in Asia, Europe, and North America, we evaluated the relationship of cardiovascular disease and drug therapy with in-hospital death among hospitalized patients with Covid-19 who were admitted between December 20, 2019, and March 15, 2020, and were recorded in the Surgical Outcomes Collaborative registry as having either died in the hospital or survived to discharge as of March 28, 2020.

WITHDRAWN: One-Year Freedom from Amputation, Survival, and Cost of Care following Tibial and Pedal Endovascular Interventions for Critical Limb Ischemia: The Role of Atherectomy and Drug-Eluting Stents.

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.

WITHDRAWN: Revisions to the ICD-10-CM Code Set for Aortic Aneurysms and Dissection Can Advance Clinical Research, Outcomes Reporting, and High-Value Health Care Delivery.

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.

Superior Clinical, Quality of Life, Functional, and Health Economic Outcomes with Pneumatic Compression Therapy for Lymphedema.

Background: Pneumatic compression therapy is one of several options for the management of lymphedema. The lack of clarity around clinical outcomes, quality of life, cost of care, and its proper application, as a function of lymphedema complexity, limit its use in clinical practice. This is compounded by difficulties associated with insurance approval and uncertainty about the role of this modality in the treatment algorithm.

Arteriovenous Access Graft Infection: Standards of Reporting and Implications for Comparative Data Analysis.

There is presently a lack of organization and standardized reporting schema for arteriovenous graft (AVG) infections. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the various types of treatment modalities for access site infections through an analysis of current publications on AVG. Key proposals are made to support standardization in a data-driven manner to make infection reporting more uniform and thereby facilitate more meaningful comparisons between various dialysis modalities and AVG technologies.

Impact of Early Cannulation Grafts on Quality and Cost of Care for Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease.

Background: The annual cost of care associated with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) per patient on hemodialysis is approaching $100,000, with nearly $42 billion in national spend per year. Early cannulation arteriovenous grafts (ECAVGs) help decrease the use of central venous catheters (CVCs), thus potentially decreasing the cost of care. However, a formal financial analysis that also includes the cost of CVC-related complications and secondary interventions has not been completed.

Thrombolysis for Management of Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens in the First Trimester of Pregnancy.

Background: Pregnancy is a hypercoagulable state associated with a fivefold increase in the risk of venous thromboembolism. Thrombolysis is the preferred level of care for patients with acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT); however, most studies exclude pregnant patients, highlighting the lack of data regarding the efficacy and safety of thrombolytic therapy for mother and fetus.

Methods: We describe the successful use of thrombolytic therapy in conjunction with ultrasound to remove a large ileofemoral DVT in a first-trimester patient with phlegmasia cerulea dolens.

Two-Year Outcomes of Early Cannulation Arteriovenous Grafts for End-Stage Renal Disease.

Background: Almost 80% of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) initiate dialysis via a central venous catheter (CVC). CVCs are associated with multiple complications and a high cost of care. The purpose of our project is to determine the impact of early cannulation arteriovenous grafts (ECAVGs) on quality of care and costs.

Six-Month Freedom From Amputation Rates and Quality of Life Following Tibial and Pedal Endovascular Revascularization for Critical Limb Ischemia.

Objective:: Patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) and gangrene have a 10% to 38% rate of major amputation at 6 months. The purpose of this study is to report short- and mid-term major and minor amputation rates for patients who underwent tibial and pedal revascularization in addition to quality-of-life (QoL) scores.

Methods:: All patients who presented to a single institution with CLI (defined as rest pain or nonhealing wounds) and underwent antegrade or retrograde tibial access, atherectomy and angioplasty of the tibial circulation, and angioplasty of pedal circulation (antegrade or retrograde) from June 2016 to September 2017 were included.

Intentional Clinical Process Design to Improve Outcomes for Patients Who Require Emergency Surgery.

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are associated with a 90% overall mortality and $150 000 cost of care per patient. Despite improvements in intensive care and surgical technology, morbidity and mortality remain unchanged over the past 20 years. The most significant predictor of survival is time from the door of the hospital to the operating room.

Thrombolysis for Venous Thromboembolism During Pregnancy: A Literature Review.

Background: Pregnancy is a hypercoagulable state, conferring an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, treatment algorithms for deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are based on studies of nonpregnant patients.

Methods: A literature review of cases in which thrombolysis was used for the treatment of VTE during pregnancy was conducted using the PubMed (National Institutes of Health) database.

Outcomes of Gracilis Muscle Flaps in the Management of Groin Complications after Arterial Bypass with Prosthetic Graft.

Background: This study details 2-year outcomes of a modified gracilis muscle flap (GMF) technique in providing tissue coverage for groin complications after arterial bypass surgery with synthetic graft.

Methods: All patients who developed groin infections after lower extremity arterial bypass with synthetic graft who underwent a GMF technique were included from June 2014 to March 2017 from a prospectively collected, purpose-built institutional database. Modifications to the standard technique included identification of the muscle using ultrasound to ensure precise skip incisions, preservation of the segmental blood supply, widening of the tunnel through which the muscle is retroflexed, placement of a wound vacuum-assisted closure for healing, and lifelong antibiotics.

Myointimal Hyperplasia in a Patient with Neuromyelitis Optica (Devic's Disease) after the Creation of an Arteriovenous Graft.

Neuromyelitis optica, also known as Devic's disease, is an autoimmune disorder that leads to the inflammation and demyelination of nerves. Devic's disease primarily affects the optic nerve and spinal cord, but can lead to a significant loss of function throughout the body if not treated with steroid therapy or plasmapheresis. We recently saw a 62-year-old patient who received plasmapheresis for Devic's disease through a PTFE arteriovenous graft in her left arm.

Factors that Predict Failure to Meet Merit-Based Incentive Payment System Quality Measures for Asymptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy.

Background: The Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) created by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services financially penalizes providers who fail to meet expected quality of care measures. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the factors that predict failure to meet PQRS measures for carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

Methods: PQRS measure 260 (discharge by postoperative day 2 following CEA in asymptomatic patients) and 346 (rate of postoperative stroke or death following CEA in asymptomatic patients) were evaluated using hospital records from the state of Florida from 2008 to 2012.

Utilization of the National Inpatient Sample for abdominal aortic aneurysm research.

Large administrative databases, including the Medicare database by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database sponsored by the American College of Surgeons, and the National Inpatient Sample, have been used by major public health agencies for years. More recently, medical researchers have turned to database research to power studies on diseases that are noted to be relatively scarce. This study aimed to review and discuss the utilization of the National Inpatient Sample for abdominal aortic aneurysm research, inclusive of its advantages, disadvantages, and best practices.

Impact of consensus statements and reimbursement on vena cava filter utilization.

Objective: Pulmonary embolism is the third most common cause of death in hospitalized patients. Vena cava filters (VCFs) are indicated in patients with venous thromboembolism with a contraindication to anticoagulation. Prophylactic indications are still controversial.

Progressive shortfall in open aneurysm experience for vascular surgery trainees with the impact of fenestrated and branched endovascular technology.

Background: In 2014, we published a series of articles in the Journal of Vascular Surgery that detailed the decrease in volume of open aneurysm repair (OAR) completed for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) by vascular surgery trainees. At that time, only data points from 2000 through 2011 were available, and reliable predictions could only be made through 2015. Lack of data on endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) using fenestrated (FEVAR) and branched (BrEVAR) endografts also affected our findings.

National Trends in Deep Vein Thrombosis following Total Knee and Total Hip Replacement in the United States.

Background: Total knee replacement (TKR) and total hip replacement (THR) are associated with an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Advances in DVT prophylaxis over the past decade have led to a decrease in DVT-related morbidity, but gender, racial, and other demographic factors that contribute to a higher risk of DVT are incompletely characterized. This study aimed to determine the incidence of DVT over the past decade and identify factors that were associated with an increased risk of DVT.

The Impact of Physician Specialization on Clinical and Hospital Outcomes in Patients Undergoing EVAR and TEVAR.

Background: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) are commonly performed by interventional radiologists, cardiologists, general surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, and vascular surgeons, with each specialty having differences in residency structure, operative experience, and subspecialty training. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of surgeon specialty on outcomes following EVAR and TEVAR.

Methods: Patients who underwent EVAR and TEVAR were identified from the 2007 to 2009 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS).

Predictors of poor outcome after carotid intervention.

Background: A variety of patient factors are known to adversely impact outcomes after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid artery stenting (CAS). However, their specific impact on complications and mortality and how they differ between CEA and CAS is unknown. The purpose of this study is to identify patient and hospital factors that adversely impact outcomes.

Improving the Success of Strategic Management Using Big Data.

Strategic management involves determining organizational goals, implementing a strategic plan, and properly allocating resources. Poor access to pertinent and timely data misidentifies clinical goals, prevents effective resource allocation, and generates waste from inaccurate forecasting. Loss of operational efficiency diminishes the value stream, adversely impacts the quality of patient care, and hampers effective strategic management.

The Impact of Race on Advanced Chronic Venous Insufficiency.

Background: The study aimed to determine the association between race and patient variables, hospital covariates, and outcomes in patients presenting with advanced chronic venous insufficiency.

Methods: The National Inpatient Sample was queried to identify all Caucasian and African-American patients with a primary International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) diagnosis code for venous stasis with ulceration (454.0), inflammation (454.