Vein distensibility is superior to vein diameter for predicting unassisted maturation of arteriovenous fistulae.

Background: A mature arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred hemodialysis access owing to its durability and lower risk of complications. Various factors have been implicated as predictors for maturation, including vein diameter and access type. Vein distensibility, which refers to the ability of the vein to dilate in response to changes in blood flow and pressure, has been proposed as a potential predictor for maturation, but its utility remains poorly studied.

Treatment of the Buried Bumper Syndrome​​​​​: A Retrospective Multicenter Study With Inclusion of 160 Cases.

Background And Goals: The therapy of buried bumper syndrome (BBS) is difficult. The aim of this retrospective multicenter study was to analyze the treatment methods with focus on effectiveness and safety of endoscopic techniques.

Methods: The analysis of all therapies and a comparison of the papillotome technique (PT) and needle knife-based nonpapillotome technique (NPT) were performed.

What is the association between gender and self-perceived health status when controlling for disease-specific conditions? A retrospective data analysis of pre- and post-operative EQ-5D-5L differences in total hip and knee arthroplasty.

Background: The self-perceived health status of patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA) might differ post-operatively due to gender, age, or comorbidities. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) such as the EQ-5D-5L measure the self-perceived health status. This study investigates whether the index score of the EQ-5D-5L is a valid tool for interpreting gender differences in outcomes for patients undergoing THA and TKA.

Relationship between ICD implantation volume and treatment parameters of patients receiving an ICD with remote monitoring.

Background: Both highly specialized heart centres and less specialized hospitals care for patients with implantable ICDs/CRT-Ds with remote monitoring.

Objective: To investigate potential differences in patient treatment according to centre's ICD implantation volume.

Methods: Based on their 2012 ICD/CRT-D implantation volume, centres enrolled in the NORDIC ICD trial in Germany were assigned to one of three groups: high- (HV, n= 345), medium- (MV, n= 340) or low-volume (LV, n= 189).

Cervical pessary to prevent preterm birth and poor neonatal outcome: An integrity meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials focusing on adherence to the European Medical Device Regulation.

Background: Findings from randomized trials (RCTs) on cervical pessary treatment to prevent spontaneous preterm birth are inconsistent.

Objectives: Our hypothesis suggests that adhering to the European Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and following the instructions for use are essential prerequisites for successful therapy. Conversely, the non-adherence to these guidelines will probably contribute to its failure.

Proximalization of arteriovenous inflow as native loop utilizing the upper arm basilic and forearm cephalic veins for the treatment of hemodialysis access induced hand ischemia.

Background: Up to 10% of hemodialysis patients with an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) suffer hemodialysis access induced distal ischemia (HAIDI). We report a treatment option of HAIDI by proximalization of arterial inflow (PAI) to the axillary artery as native upper arm loop and salvaging the matured forearm cephalic vein after previous creation of a radio-cephalic AVF (RCAVF).

Methods: A 79-years-old multimorbid male patient with end-stage kidney disease presented with an elsewhere placed left-sided RCAVF.

Prediction of Preterm Birth with the Uterocervical Angle in Singleton Pregnancies Treated with a Cervical Pessary.

Background: Cervical pessaries are an established therapy option for patients at risk for spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB). The uterocervical angle (UCA) remains a promising sPTB predictor. However, its clinical significance has yet to be described in patients treated with a pessary.

Novel classification of proximal forearm perforator vein in the planning and creation of percutaneous and surgical Gracz-type arteriovenous fistulae.

Background: The perforator vein determines whether it is feasible to create a percutaneous (pAVF) or surgical "Gracz-type" arteriovenous fistula (sAVF). Creating a standard anatomic classification of the antecubital region is beneficial to both the selection of the appropriate device and/or procedure and technical outcomes. Accordingly, an analysis of a large cohort of patients undergoing pAVF/sAVF was performed, focusing on perforator vein anatomical suitability, and a novel anatomical classification of the antecubital region was developed and proposed.

Preventing adverse events of chemotherapy for gastrointestinal cancer by educating patients about the nocebo effect: a randomized-controlled trial.

Background: Adverse events of chemotherapy may be caused by pharmacodynamics or psychological factors such as negative expectations, which constitute nocebo effects. In a randomized controlled trial, we examined whether educating patients about the nocebo effect is efficacious in reducing the intensity of self-reported adverse events.

Methods: In this proof-of-concept study, N = 100 outpatients (mean age: 60.

Effect of Teriparatide on Subsequent Fracture and Bone Mineral Density in 47 Women with Pregnancy- and Lactation-associated Osteoporosis and Vertebral Fractures.

Pregnancy- and lactation-associated osteoporosis (PLO) with predominantly vertebral fractures is a rare but severe disease which can occur in the last trimester of pregnancy or postpartum. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of teriparatide on subsequent fractures and bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with PLO. A total of 47 patients with PLO and postpartum spinal fractures (mean: 4 fractures) undergoing treatment with teriparatide were investigated.

Reproducibility of pulmonary magnetic resonance angiography in adults with muco-obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Recent studies support magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) as a diagnostic tool for pulmonary arterial disease.

Purpose: To determine MRA image quality and reproducibility, and the dependence of MRA image quality and reproducibility on disease severity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis (CF).

Material And Methods: Twenty patients with COPD (mean age 66.

Percutaneous Arteriovenous Fistula Creation with Intended Brachial Vein Outflow and Secondary Brachial Vein Transposition Using the WavelinQ EndoAVF System.

Purpose: To assess percutaneous arteriovenous fistula (pAVF) creation with subsequent brachial vein transposition (BVT) using the WavelinQ endoAVF system.

Materials And Methods: A pre-existing database was retrospectively reviewed. Nine patients underwent attempted pAVF-BVT creation between December 2017 and November 2021.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnancies with COVID-19 after medically assisted reproduction: results from the prospective COVID-19-Related Obstetrical and Neonatal Outcome Study.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 infections in pregnancy have been associated with maternal morbidity, admission to intensive care, and adverse perinatal outcomes such as preterm birth, stillbirth, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. It is unclear whether medically assisted reproduction additionally affects maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with COVID-19.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of medically assisted reproduction on maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with COVID-19 in pregnancy.

Achieving high maturation and cannulation rates of radial-cephalic arteriovenous fistulas with VasQ™ device.

Background: Hemodialysis is the predominant treatment modality for chronic kidney disease, with arteriovenous fistula (AVF) being considered to be the preferred type of long-term vascular access. Implantation of the external anastomotic VasQ™ support device during AVF creation has been suggested to improve the functional outcomes of AVFs. In the current study, we report the clinical outcomes when using the device with radial-cephalic AVF (RCAVF) creation in a large cohort over 3 years.

Efficacy and safety of ECG-synchronized pulsatile extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the clinical setting: The SynCor Trial.

Introduction: Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices are increasingly used as a treatment option in resuscitation or in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS). Prophylactic implantation in high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions (HRPCI) is another upcoming indication. The i-cor ECG-synchronized cardiac assist device combines the hemodynamic support of a veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) with the ability to generate a pulsatile flow and thus decreasing adverse effects of VA-ECMO on myocardial function.

Hybrid APC in Combination With Resection for the Endoscopic Treatment of Neoplastic Barrett's Esophagus: A Prospective, Multicenter Study.

Introduction: The current therapy of neoplastic Barrett's esophagus (BE) consists of endoscopic resection plus ablation, with radiofrequency ablation as the best studied technique. This prospective trial assesses a potential alternative, namely hybrid argon plasma ablation.

Methods: Consecutive patients with neoplastic BE undergoing ablation after curative endoscopic resection (89.

Surgical Strategy and Clinical Outcome in Patients with Bronchial Carcinoids.

Carcinoids are malignant neuroendocrine neoplasms showing good long-term survival after oncologic therapy. The study evaluated the influence of operative strategies and individual decision-making on the outcome and long-term survival in 222 patients with bronchial carcinoids. The patients underwent preoperative pulmonary function tests and bronchoscopy to facilitate surgical decision-making.

Multicenter European real-world utilization of VasQ anastomotic external support device for arteriovenous fistulae.

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of arteriovenous fistulae (AVF), created with VasQ external support device under standard clinical practice across three vascular access clinics.

Methods: This multinational, retrospective study evaluated prospectively collected clinical outcomes of both forearm and upper arm brachiocephalic AVF (BCAVF) created using the VasQ device. Fifty-one AVF patients were pooled from three different vascular access centers in Germany, Italy, and Spain.

The role of Doppler ultrasonography in vascular access surveillance-controversies continue.

Chronic hemodialysis therapy required regular entry into the patient's blood stream with adequate flow. The use of arteriovenous fistulas and grafts is linked with lower morbidity and mortality than the use of catheters. However, these types of accesses are frequently affected by stenoses, which decrease the flow and lead to both inadequate dialysis and access thrombosis.

Gracz fistula is a feasible option after two failed percutaneous arteriovenous fistulae.

Two devices for the creation of an endovascular percutaneous (pAVF) endovascular (endoAVF) arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) are available: the Ellipsys and the WavelinQ-4F systems. The main difference is the location of the anastomosis, making it feasible to use both pAVFs and surgical Gracz-type AVF in an algorithm sequence. A 66-year-old male patient with end-stage kidney disease and HIV was referred for a creation of a dialysis access after failed peritoneal dialysis.

Novel external stenting for reconstruction of high flow arteriovenous fistula.

Background: High-flow arteriovenous fistulae (HF-AVF) may lead to adverse cardiac remodeling in hemodialysis patients. We have investigated whether a novel external stent is safe and effective in reducing and stabilizing flow rates during a 1-year follow-up after HF-AVF reconstruction.

Methods: All patients with HF-AVF (access flow rate ⩾ 1500 ml/min), who underwent HF-AVF reconstruction with external stenting in two centers between June 2018 and May 2020, were included in this retrospective analysis.

Comparison of Ellipsys Percutaneous and Proximal Forearm Gracz-Type Surgical Arteriovenous Fistulas.

Rationale & Objective: Percutaneous arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) are created by establishing a proximal forearm anastomosis and offer a safe and reliable vascular access. This study compares the Ellipsys percutaneous AVF with a proximal forearm Gracz-type surgical AVF, chosen for comparison as it is constructed at the same anatomical site.

Study Design: Retrospective study of prospectively collected clinical data.

Novel Biocompatible Adhesive to Remove Stone Dust: Usability Trial in a Kidney Model.

"Clinically insignificant residual fragments" are an independent predictive factor for recurrence of nephrolithiasis. To improve the stone-free rates (SFR), we tested the viability of a novel bioadhesive system for intrarenal embedding and retrieval of residual fragments <1 mm in a kidney model. All procedures were performed in a standardized setting, including a kidney model (Kidney module right, Samed GmbH, Dresden) in a plastic basin filled with water.

The past and the future of vascular access surgery: Creation of percutaneous arteriovenous fistula using Ellipsys vascular access system in a patient with previous ipsilateral Scribner-shunt.

Background: Sixty years after the first description of Scribner-shunt, and 54 years after publication of the first radio-cephalic arterio-venous fistula (AVF), endovascular percutaneous AVF (pAVF) was introduced. We report a successful case of Ellipsys-pAVF creation and use for hemodialysis in a patient with a previous ipsilateral Scribner-shunt.

Case: A 72-year old female patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD), previous right-sided Scribner-shunt and kidney transplant, underwent a successful creation of right-sided Ellipsys-pAVF.