Transplant waitlisting attenuates the association between hemodialysis access type and mortality.

Prior studies have shown that beginning hemodialysis (HD) with a hemodialysis catheter (HC) is associated with worse mortality than with an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or arteriovenous graft (AVG). We hypothesized that transplant waitlisting would modify the effect of HD access on mortality, given waitlist candidates' more robust health status. Using the US Renal Data System, we studied patients with incident ESRD who initiated HD between 2010 and 2015 with an AVF, AVG, or HC.

Aortic Surgery Outcomes of Marfan Syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Patients at Teaching and Nonteaching Hospitals.

Background: Despite improvements in prevention and management, aortic aneurysm repair remains a high-risk operation for patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). The goal of this study was to examine differences in characteristics and outcomes of patients with MFS or EDS undergoing aortic aneurysm repair at teaching versus nonteaching hospitals.

Methods: We used the National Inpatient Sample to study patients with MFS or EDS undergoing open or endovascular aortic aneurysm repair from 2000 to 2014.

Comparison of the Cost of Drug-Eluting Stents versus Bare Metal Stents in the Treatment of Critical Limb Ischemia in the United States.

Background: Despite significant technical advancement in the last decade, the durability of endovascular management of critical limb ischemia (CLI) remains highly debatable. Drug-eluting stents (DESs) are being popularized for the management of CLI after its precedent success in coronary intervention. Initial reports on the durability of DES are promising.

Trends of 30-day mortality and morbidities in endovascular repair of intact abdominal aortic aneurysm during the last decade.

Objective: Significant research efforts have been made to improve the safety and efficacy of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in treating abdominal aortic aneurysm. This study aimed to examine the trends of perioperative outcomes of EVAR in the recent decade using a national validated database.

Methods: Patients who underwent EVAR for intact abdominal aortic aneurysm between 2006 and 2015 were identified from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and divided into early (2006-2010) and late (2011-2015) periods.

Use of a primary carotid stenting technique does not affect perioperative outcomes.

Background: Primary carotid stenting (PCS) has been shown to be feasible and safe in small series, but real-world outcomes in a large multicenter data set have yet to be explored. We aimed to compare outcomes for PCS (PCS+) vs conventional carotid artery stenting (CAS) with angioplasty (PCS-) using a national database.

Methods: We analyzed all CAS cases in the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) database (2005-2016) using univariable and multivariable logistic regression to assess the effect of PCS on outcomes.

Perioperative Outcomes of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Surgical Repair in a Nationally Validated Database.

We evaluated the occurrence of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) and 30-day postoperative outcomes. Patients undergoing cervical/first rib resection surgery were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2005-2013). Thoracic outlet syndrome types were then examined.

Perioperative Outcomes of Open versus Endovascular Repair for Ruptured Thoracoabdominal Aneurysms.

Background: Open aneurysm repair (OAR) remains the gold standard for treating ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs). The aim of our study is to compare the 30-day postoperative outcomes among patients with ruptured TAAA undergoing OAR versus endovascular aneurysm repair.

Methods: Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2006-2015), we identified patients who underwent OAR and endovascular repair for a ruptured TAAA.