Living-Donor Uterus Transplantation: A Clinical Review.

Uterus transplantation (UTx) is currently the only available treatment for absolute uterine factor infertility. More than 90 uterus transplantations have been performed worldwide, mostly from living donors. Living-donor (LD) UTx is a challenging surgical procedure since it poses ethical issues, and it is a high-risk and invasive surgery with higher hysterectomy-related risks compared to conventional hysterectomy.

Results of a prospective observational study of autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cell therapy for no-option critical limb-threatening ischemia and severe diabetic foot ulcers.

Background: Cell therapy with autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PB-MNCs) may help restore limb perfusion in patients with diabetes mellitus and critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) deemed not eligible for revascularization procedures and consequently at risk for major amputation (no-option). Fundamental is to establish its clinical value and to identify candidates with a greater benefit over time. Assessing the frequency of PB circulating angiogenic cells and extracellular vesicles (EVs) may help in guiding candidate selection.

Position Paper on Young Vascular Surgeons Training of the Mediterranean Federation for the Advancing of Vascular Surgery (MeFAVS): State of the Art and Perspectives.

The Mediterranean Federation for the Advancing of Vascular Surgery (MeFAVS) was founded in 2018, with the aim to promote cooperation among vascular professionals within Mediterranean countries. Due to its prominent social and economic impact on national health systems, diabetic peripheral artery was selected as the very first topic to be investigated by the federation. In this second paper, different experiences from delegates of participating countries were shared to define common strategies to harmonize, standardize, and optimize education and training in the Vascular Surgery specialty.

1-Year Results From a Prospective Experience on CAS Using the CGuard Stent System: The IRONGUARD 2 Study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the 1-year safety and efficacy of a dual-layered stent (DLS) for carotid artery stenting (CAS) in a multicenter registry.

Background: DLS have been proved to be safe and efficient during short-term follow-up. Recent data have raised the concern that the benefit of CAS performed with using a DLS may be hampered by a higher restenosis rate at 1 year.

1-Month Results From a Prospective Experience on CAS Using CGuard Stent System: The IRONGUARD 2 Study.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate 30-day safety and efficacy of dual-layer mesh-covered carotid stent systems for carotid artery stenting (CAS) in the clinical practice.

Background: When compared with carotid endarterectomy, CAS has been associated with a higher rate of post procedural neurologic events; these could be related to plaque's debris prolapsing through stent's mesh. Consequently, the need for increased plaque coverage has resulted in the development of dual-layer mesh-covered carotid stent systems.

Acute Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism: is the Thromboaspiration Device an Appropriate Choice?

Nowadays patients affected by deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are studied widely but the challenge for physicians is when and how they are to be treated. Most patients present serious comorbidities that can potentially make treatment difficult. An increasing cohort of patients cannot be treated with systemic fibrinolysis but fortunately today, physicians can utilize a number of different instruments to resolve acute DVT and PE.

Focusing on Diabetic Ulcers.

Foot ulcers associated with Diabetes mellitus require immediate attention due to risk of amputation if left untreated. Herein we focus on the mitigating risk factors and physiopathology of the diabetic foot, recounting our own surgical approach and revascularization procedures.

The use of a low-profile stent graft with a polymer ring sealing technology combined with bare renal stent (vent technique) in patients with juxtarenal aneurysm not eligible for open surgery and fenestrated endograft.

Objective: In cases of juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (jAAA), endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) involves the use of custom-made fenestrated stent grafts, which usually need large-diameter access vessels, superior costs, and a certain time between graft planning and delivery. We report our preliminary experience using the bare renal stent technique (called vent) in combination with the ultralow-profile stent graft Ovation (Endologix, Irvine, Calif) to seal jAAAs in patients evaluated to be unfit for open surgery and not suitable for fenestrated endograft.

Methods: A single-center retrospective review of jAAAs treated by Ovation vent technique from January 2015 to December 2018 was conduced.

Influence of earthquakes on the occurrence of aortic aneurysm ruptures.

Background: Catastrophic events have been correlated to increased incidence of cardio-vascular events, but no correlation between RAA and seismic activities have ever been investigated.

Methods: Hospital admissions related to RAA between January 2014 and December 2016 were retrospectively assessed in nine vascular centers of central Italy and correlated with date-matched seismic events. Correlation between RAA presentation and seismic event was first evaluated by Linear Regression analysis.

The Indigo System in Acute Lower-Limb Malperfusion (INDIAN) Registry: Protocol.

Background: Acute lower limb ischemia (ALLI) poses a major threat to limb survival. For many years, surgical thromboembolectomy was the mainstay of treatment. Recent years have brought an endovascular revolution to the management of ALLI.

Early carotid artery stenting after onset neurologic symptoms.

Multicenter clinical trials level 1 evidence favors the application of carotid endarterectomy in symptomatic patients, especially the in the elderly cohort. Carotid artery stenting has been proposed as a possible early alternative in selected patients after onset of ipsilateral neurologic symptoms. It is well known that treatment of acute stroke is time-dependent in patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by high-grade stenosis of the internal carotid artery, but intensive medical treatment in conjunction with intervention to improve stroke severity and clinical outcomes has not been established.

Acute on chronic limb ischemia: From surgical embolectomy and thrombolysis to endovascular options.

After the invention of the balloon catheter by Fogarty in 1963, surgical thromboembolectomy was considered the gold standard treatment for many years in patients with acute lower limb ischemia (ALLI). ALLI is a dramatic event, carrying a high risk of amputation and perioperative morbidity and mortality. The evolution of endovascular technologies has resulted in a variety of therapeutic options to establish arterial patency.

History of the diagnosis and treatment of critical limb ischemia and diabetic foot.

The history of the recognition and surgical treatment of lower limb ischemia dates back to the Middle Ages. The twin Saints Comas and Damian were ascribed to have saved a gangrenous limb in the 13 century and became patrons of future surgeons. The physicians that followed developed the theories of blood flow, anatomy of the arterial circulation, and recognition that occlusive disease was the cause of limb ischemia and gangrene.

Incidental extravascular findings in computed tomographic angiography for planning or monitoring endovascular aortic aneurysm repair: Smoker patients, increased lung cancer prevalence?

Aim: To validate the feasibility of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the lung prior to computed tomography angiography (CTA) in assessing incidental thoracic findings during endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) planning or follow-up.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study among 181 patients (143 men, mean age 71 years, range 50-94) referred to our centre for CTA EVAR planning or follow-up. HRCT and CTA were performed before or after 1 or 12 mo respectively to EVAR in all patients.

Device selection for carotid stenting: reviewing the evidence.

Carotid artery stenting (CAS) has recently changed the status in the treatment of the extracranial carotid atheromasic disease. In recent years, evolution in both stents and protection devices as well as in carotid stenting techniques, has resulted in an important reduction in the rate of stroke in patients undergoing CAS procedures. Areas covered: The purpose of this article is reviewing the literature and summarizing the current evidence of the new available materials to underline the importance of the correct choice of the devices during the procedure.

Endovascular correction in acute bleeding after femoro-popliteal bypass: a single-center experience.

Background: The endovascular correction (EC) has emerged in recent years as a possible alternative to surgical revision (SR) in case of bleeding complications after peripheral bypass (PB). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EC compared to SR in case of bleeding complications of PB.

Methods: From January 2004 to December 2014, we have submitted 32 patients to surgery for acute bleeding in previous PB (25 venous bypass, in situ or reversed, 6 PTFE bypass and 1 composite bypass).

Restenosis after Coronary and Peripheral Intervention: Efficacy and Clinical Impact of Cilostazol.

Restenosis is one of the main complications in patients undergoing coronary or peripheral revascularization procedures and is the leading cause for their long-term failures. Cilostazol is the only pharmacotherapy that showed an adequate efficacy for preventing restenosis in randomized, controlled studies after coronary or peripheral revascularization procedures. The present review sums up the main clinical evidence supporting the use of cilostazol after revascularization interventions, focusing on all its benefits, warnings, and administration schedules.

Midterm Results of Proximal Aneurysm Sealing With the Ovation Stent-Graft According to On- vs Off-Label Use.

Purpose: To compare the use of the Ovation stent-graft according to the ≥7-mm neck length specified by the original instructions for use (IFU) vs those treated off-label (OL) for necks <7 mm long.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective registry (TriVascular Ovation Italian Study) database of all patients who underwent endovascular aneurysm repair with the Ovation endograft at 13 centers in Italy was interrogated to identify patients with a minimum computed tomography (CT) follow-up of 24 months, retrieving records on 89 patients (mean age 76.4±2.

Carotid artery stenting renaissance: is it safe and effective using new materials?

Data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) demonstrated significant differences between carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in terms of early neurological outcomes (from 0 to 30 days), although mid- and long-term neurological results are indistinguishable. CAS in symptomatic standard risk patients is coupled with a higher risk of any stroke, and death or any stroke at 30 days, while the rates of disabling or major stroke do not vary remarkably between treatments. Since the micro-embolization through the stent struts is the primary suspected cause of suspected early postoperative neurological complications (i.