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Introduction: The distal landing zone in iliac arteries represents an important issue during endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (EVAR). The aim of this study is to present a case series for landing in the external iliac artery (EIA) during EVAR while preserving blood flow in the internal iliac artery (IIA) with the covered endovascular reconstruction of the iliac bifurcation (CERIB) technique., Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of patients that underwent EVAR either for intact abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) or previous failed EVAR from December 2022 up to September 2023. Indications for treatment were presence of common iliac artery aneurysm (CIAA), short CIA, or endoleak type Ib (ETIb). For the distal sealing zone, we used balloon-expandable covered stent (BXCS). Primary outcomes were technical success and first-month patency rate. Secondary outcomes were endoleak and re-intervention rate., Results: Sixteen patients being treated with 20 CERIBs were included in the study. Four patients had a previous failed EVAR, while 3 patients were treated urgently for a symptomatic para-renal aneurysm. The indications for treatment were EIb (n=2), short CIA (n=4), CIAA with narrow lumen (n=3), and CIA aneurysm (n=11). Platforms that were used were the Cook Zenith Alpha (n=5), Gore C3 (n=2 and 3 limbs), Endurant IIs (n=2, and 3 limbs), and a t-branch device (n=3). Technical success rate was 100% with no adjunctive procedure. No death or re-intervention was recorded for all patients at postoperative 30-day period and at 6 months for 2 patients. At first-month CTA, patency rate was 100% (20/20), while in 2 patients that had 6-month CTA, the patency was also 100% (2/2). No kinking or stenosis was also noted. Two patients had ETIII after branched EVAR (BEVAR), 2 patients had ETII, and 1 patient had gutter ET in the area of the CERIB., Conclusion: The CERIB technique seems to be effective and safe in the early period. It is suitable with a variety of commercial endograft platforms. It may be a valuable alternative to iliac branch devices when there are anatomical considerations. Longer follow-up is needed to conclude for long-term patency and durability., Clinical Impact: The distal landing zone in iliac arteries represents an important issue during EVAR while it is important to preserve blood flow in the internal iliac artery. The covered endovascular reconstruction of the iliac bifurcation (CERIB) technique is a technique for the preservation of internal iliac arteries during EVAR, while it is suitable with a variety of commercial endograft platforms. The CERIB technique seems to be effective and safe in the early period. It may be valuable alternative to iliac branch devices when there are anatomical considerations., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Purpose: Endovascular treatment of aortic coarctation (CoA) constitutes a valuable alternative with low morbidity and mortality. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the technical success, re-intervention, and mortality after stenting for CoA in adults., Materials and Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis statement and PICO (patient, intervention, comparison, outcome) model were followed. An English literature data search was conducted, using PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL, until December 30, 2021. Only studies reporting on stenting, for native or recurrent CoA, in adults were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A proportional meta-analysis was performed to assess the outcomes. Primary outcomes were technical success, intra-operative pressure gradient and complications, and 30-day mortality., Results: Twenty-seven articles (705 patients) were included (64.0% males, 34.0±13.6 years). Native CoA was present in 65.7%. Technical success was 97% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.96%-0.99%; p<0.001, I 2 =9.49%). Six (odds ratio [OR]: 1%; 95% CI, 0.00%-0.02%; p=0.002, I 2 =0%) ruptures and 10 dissections (OR: 2%; 95% CI, 0.001%-0.02%; p<0.001, I 2 =0%) were reported. The intra-operative and 30-day mortality were 1% (95% CI, 0.00%-0.02%; p=0.003, I 2 =0%) and 1% (95% CI, 0.00%-0.02%; p=0.004, I 2 =0%), respectively. The median follow-up was 29 months. Sixty-eight re-interventions (OR: 8%; 95% CI, 0.05%-0.10%; p<0.001, I 2 =35.99%) were performed; 95.5% were endovascular. Seven deaths were reported (OR: 2%; 95% CI, 0.00%-0.03%; p=0.008, I 2 =0%)., Conclusion: Stenting for CoA in adults presents high technical success and the intra-operative and 30-day mortality rates were acceptable. During the midterm follow-up, the re-intervention rate was acceptable, and mortality was low., Clinical Impact: Aortic coarctation is a quite common heart defect that may be diagnosed in adult patients, as a first diagnosis in native cases or as a recurrent after previous repair. Endovascular management using plain angioplasty has been associated to a high intra-operative complication and re-intervention rate. Stenting in this analysis seems to be safe and effective as is related a high technical success rate, exceeding 95%, with a low intra-operative complication and death rate. During the mid-term follow-up, the re-interventions rate is estimated at less than 10% while most cases are managed using endovascular means. Further analyses are needed on the impact of stent type on endovascular repair outcomes.

Purpose: Currently there is no robust evidence which type of bridging stent graft provides better outcomes after branched endovascular aortic repair (BEVAR). Self-expanding (SESG) and balloon-expandable (BESG) stent grafts are both commonly used to connect branches to their respective target vessels (TV). The aim of the current review was to evaluate the impact of the type of bridging stent grafts on TV outcomes during the mid-term follow-up after BEVAR., Materials and Methods: The study protocol was registered to the PROSPERO (CRD42021274766). A search of the English literature was conducted, using PubMed and EMBASE databases via Ovid and Cochrane database via CENTRAL, from inception to June 30, 2021, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Only comparative studies on BEVAR reporting TV outcomes related to BESG vs SESG were considered eligible. Individual studies were assessed for risk of bias using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment , Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. The primary outcomes were primary patency, freedom from endoleak, TV instability, and re-intervention between BESG and SESG, used as bridging stents in branches. The outcomes were summarized as odds ratio along with their 95% confidence intervals (CI), through a paired meta-analysis., Results: Five out of 609 articles published from 2016 to 2020 were included in the analysis. In total, 1406 TV were revascularized, 547 (38.9 %) with BESGs and 859 with SESGs. The overall pooled primary patency (odds ratio [OR], 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-1.09; p=.256, I 2 =4.24%) and freedom from branch-related endoleak (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.17-1.48; p<.122, I 2 =0.18%) did not differ between the stent types during the available follow-up (17 months, range = 12-35 months). In 4 studies (619 TV), SESG required fewer secondary interventions (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.23-1.83; p=.009, I 2 =0%) and TV instability rate was lower (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.33-1.65; p=.003, I 2 =0%) compared with BESG during the available follow-up., Conclusion: BESG and SESG seem to perform similarly in terms of primary patency and branch-related endoleak during the mid-term follow-up. Current data from retrospective studies suggest that overall TV instability and re-intervention rates are favorable for SESG as bridging stent grafts in BEVAR.

Background: Ascending aorta and aortic arch diseases have an increasing interest among cardiovascular specialists regarding diagnosis and management. Innovations in endovascular surgery and evolution of open surgery have extended the indications for treatment in patients previously considered unfit for surgery. The aim of this systematic review of the literature was to present and analyze current cardiovascular guidelines for overlap and differences in their recommendations regarding ascending aorta and aortic arch diseases and the assessment of evidence., Methods: The English medical literature was searched using the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases from January 2009 to December 2020. Recommendations on selected topics were analyzed, including issues from definitions and diagnosis (imaging and biomarkers) and indications for treatment to management, including surgical techniques, of the most important ascending aorta and aortic arch diseases., Results: The initial search identified 2414 articles. After exclusion of duplicate or inappropriate articles, the final analysis included 5 articles from multidisciplinary, cardiovascular societies published between 2010 and 2019. The definition of non-A-non-B aortic dissection is lacking from most of the guidelines. There is a disagreement regarding the class of recommendation and level of evidence for the diameter of ascending aorta as an indication. The indication for treatment of aortic disease may be individualized in specific cases while the growth rate may also affect the decision making. The role of endovascular techniques has not been established in current guidelines except by 1 society. Supportive evidence level in the management of aortic arch diseases remains limited., Conclusion: In current recommendations of cardiovascular societies, the ascending aorta and aortic arch remain a domain of open surgery despite the introduction of endovascular techniques. Recommendations of the included societies are mostly based on expert opinion, and the role of endovascular techniques has been highlighted only from 1 society. The chronological heterogeneity apparent among guidelines and the inconsistency in evidence level should be also acknowledged. More data are needed to develop more solid recommendations for the ascending aorta and aortic arch diseases.

Purpose: The post-endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) inflammatory response, which is very often associated with fever, has been ascribed to a wide range of proinflammatory mediators and operative events. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of such factors in the development of fever of noninfectious origin after elective EVAR., Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of patients treated with standard elective EVAR between February 2017 and December 2020 was undertaken. The database included patients' demographics and comorbidities, as well as laboratory inflammatory markers (white blood cell count, neutrophils, and C-reactive protein [CRP]) and anatomical characteristics (sac diameter, inferior mesenteric artery [IMA] patency and diameter, number of patent lumbar arteries, internal iliac artery [IIA] patency or occlusion). Intraoperative details, such as type of stent graft material and IIA overstenting, were also analyzed. Patients with infectious postoperative complications or previously receiving systemic anti-inflammatory medication were excluded. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 22.0 for Windows software (IBM Corp, Armonk, New York)., Results: From 332 patients treated with elective EVAR between 2017 and 2020, 268 patients (all men) were included in the analysis. The mean age was 72.1±7.5 years and the mean aneurysm diameter was 59.1±12.1 mm. Seventeen patients were excluded due to a known infection site. From the study cohort, 114 (42.5%) patients presented with fever. Multivariate regression analysis confirmed that the occlusion of IMA ≥5 mm (p<0.008) and higher CRP (p<0.001) were independent factors associated with postoperative fever. A subanalysis was performed only on patients with patent IMA before EVAR. In the multivariate regression analysis of this subgroup, IMA ≥5 mm (p=0.008), presence of dyslipidemia (p=0.037), and higher CRP (p<0.001) were related to fever., Conclusion: Occlusion of an existing wide (≥5 mm) and patent IMA prior to EVAR may contribute to the development of post-EVAR pyrexia. The CRP is a reliable marker for post-EVAR fever. Further prospective studies are needed to corroborate these findings.

Purpose: To compare different anatomical characteristics between intact and ruptured large abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA >80 mm) with the goal of refining the process of estimating rupture risk. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study involving 62 male patients with large (>80 mm) aneurysms matched for age and smoking produced a 31-patient elective group with a mean maximum aneurysm diameter of 92±9.7 mm and a 31-patient rAAA group (mean maximum aneurysm diameter 95.7±12 mm). Preoperative computed tomography angiography scans were analyzed with a dedicated workstation, and anatomical characteristics of the aortic neck, iliac arteries, and aneurysm were compared in multivariable regression analyses; the outcomes are given as the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). The prognostic utility of several characteristics as predictors of rupture occurrence was examined with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: Anatomical characteristics differing significantly between elective and ruptured aneurysms were the infrarenal aortic neck diameters at 5 mm, 10 mm and 15 mm; the neck length and calcification; the common iliac artery (CIA) lengths; the iliac artery indexes; the left CIA and external iliac artery diameters; and the total and true lumen aneurysm volumes. Intraluminal thrombus (ILT) volume did not differ (p=0.76), although its distribution in elective vs ruptured cases did [absent: 0% vs 19%, respectively (p=0.025); circumferential: 61% vs 35%, respectively (p=0.04)]. Total aneurysm volume was higher in rAAA (442±140 mL) vs intact AAA (331±143 mL, p=0.014), while the ILT/total aneurysm volume rate was lower in rAAA (55%) vs intact AAA (70%, p=0.02). Multivariate analysis determined that a shorter left CIA (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.1, p=0.016) and a smaller total aneurysm volume (OR 1.007, CI. 1.001 to 1.014, p=0.016) were associated with intact AAA. After a ROC curve analysis, left CIA length <50 mm demonstrated a lower incidence of rupture (sensitivity 60% and specificity 78%), while total aneurysm volume <380 mL had 60% sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: Large rAAAs seem to have different anatomical characteristics than similarly sized intact AAAs. Large intact AAAs have lower total aneurysm volumes and shorter left CIAs, with higher ILT/aneurysm volume rates.

Purpose: To provide an updated systematic literature review and summarize current evidence on proximal aortic neck dilatation (AND) after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR)., Methods: A review of the English-language medical literature from 1991 to 2015 was conducted using MEDLINE and EMBASE to identify studies reporting AND after EVAR. Studies considered for inclusion and full-text review fulfilled the following criteria: (1) reported AND after EVAR, (2) included at least 5 patients, and (3) provided data on AND quantification. The search identified 26 articles published between 1998 and 2015 that encompassed 9721 patients (median age 71.8 years; 9439 men)., Results: AND occurred in 24.6% of patients (95% CI 18.6% to 31.8%) over a period ranging from 15 months to 9 years after EVAR. No significant dilatation of the suprarenal part of the aorta was reported by most studies. The incidence of combined clinical events (endoleak type I, migration, reintervention during follow-up) was higher in the AND group (26%) when compared with 2% in the group without AND (OR 28.7, 95% CI 5.43 to 151.67, p<0.001)., Conclusion: AND affects a considerable proportion of EVAR patients and was related to worse clinical outcome, as indicated by increased rates of type I endoleak, migration, and reinterventions. Future studies should focus on a better understanding of the pathophysiology, predictors, and risk factors of AND, which could identify patients who may warrant a different EVAR strategy and/or a closer post-EVAR surveillance strategy.

We compared the effects of lipid lowering with rosuvastatin (RSV) monotherapy versus intensified treatment by combining RSV with ezetimibe (EZT) on kidney function in patients undergoing vascular surgery. Patients were randomly assigned to either 10 mg/d RSV (n = 136) or RSV 10 mg/d plus EZT 10 mg/d (RSV/EZT, n = 126). At 12 months, a similar decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was noted. Patients who achieved a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of <100 mg/dL had less eGFR decrease than those patients having an LDL-C limit of more than 100 mg/dL. There were no significant changes in the urinary total protein to creatinine ratio in either group. Significant microalbuminuria was evident in both the groups. Patients undergoing vascular surgery show deterioration in their renal function during the first year, despite statin therapy. Intensified lipid-lowering therapy by adding EZT does not appear to have any renoprotective effect., (© The Author(s) 2014.)

Purpose: To report a prospective nonrandomized study comparing the effects of suprarenal (SR) vs. infrarenal (IR) stent-graft fixation on renal function in patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)., Methods: Patients with AAA undergoing elective EVAR between June 2008 and June 2010 were eligible for the comparative study of fixation method on renal function. Patients with impaired renal function [estimated creatinine clearance (eCrCl) <30 mL/min] or a history of renal impairment were not eligible. Renal function was assessed by measuring serum creatinine (SCr) and total proteins and microalbumin in the urine preoperatively, on postoperative day 1, and at 1, 6, and 12 months. The eCrCl was calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault formula. A standard preoperative hydration protocol was followed in all patients, and stent-graft choice was at the operator's discretion. Of 116 patients undergoing elective EVAR in the study period, 16 were ineligible, leaving 100 patients (95 men; median age 74 years) enrolled in the study (49 SR and 51 IR)., Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the prevalence of any risk factor, the baseline SCr and eCrCl values, contrast usage, or procedure duration. At the postoperative measurement, there was no significant deterioration of renal function in either group, although total urinary proteins increased significantly in both groups (IR p=0.01, SR p<0.001). At the 12-month follow-up, patients in the IR group had no significant alteration in any marker vs. baseline, while patients in the SR group had significant alterations in SCr (p=0.001), eCrCl (p<0.001), and microalbumin (p=0.04) in urine. The number of patients with a >20% decrease in eCrCl was not significantly different between the groups. No patient had an adverse renal event., Conclusion: Deterioration in renal function was observed 12 months after EVAR in patients receiving a stent-graft with suprarenal fixation, even though this did not seem to increase the likelihood of postoperative renal impairment. Furthermore, suprarenal fixation may be responsible for progressively significant proteinuria. Further studies are needed to determine the long-term impact of suprarenal fixation on renal function and investigate the potential risk of progressive renal disease in relation to type of fixation.

Objective: Cardiovascular complications represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing vascular surgery. This was a prospective randomized, open-label study to investigate the effect of lipid-lowering treatment by statin monotherapy or intensified by combining statin with ezetimibe on a  12-month  prognosis after vascular surgery., Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to receive rosuvastatin (RSV) 10 mg/d or rosuvastatin 10 mg/d plus ezetemibe (RSV/EZT) 10 mg/d, starting prior to scheduled surgical procedure. The primary end point was the first major cardiovascular event, including death from cardiac causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and unstable angina., Results: A total of 136 patients assigned to RSV and 126 to RSV/EZT completed the study protocol. As many as 6.6% of patients in the RSV group experience a major cardiovascular event within 30 days after surgery versus 5.6% in the RSV/EZT group (P = .72). From month 1 to 12 of the follow-up period, primary end point was observed (9 taking RSV vs 2 in the RSV/EZT group [P = .04]). Intensified lipid-lowering therapy with RSV/EZT was associated with a greater decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels compared with RSV (75.87 ± 31.64 vs 87.19 ± 31.7, P = .004), while no differential effect on triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels was noted between groups., Conclusion: Our findings indicate that statin therapy intensified by ezetimibe may reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events within the first 12 months after vascular surgery. Nonetheless, whether the use of ezetimibe as an add-on therapy to reduce cardiovascular risk in these patients needs to be tested in larger future studies.

Purpose: To review the literature on the endovascular management of external carotid artery (ECA) disease., Methods: A review was conducted of the English-language medical literature from 1985 to 2011 using PubMed, OVID, and EMBASE databases to find all studies involving endovascular management of ECA stenosis. The search identified 21 reports describing endovascular repair of ECA lesions encompassing 56 patients (35 men; mean age 62.6±10.5 years) and 58 arteries., Results: The majority of patients (91.1%) were reported to have ipsilateral ICA occlusion, while 55.6% of patients were symptomatic. In the 56 patients, 33 arteries received stents primarily, while 25 had primary balloon angioplasty; 52 cases involved endovascular repair of ECA stenosis, while 4 patients with a normal ECA had a covered stent deployed to exclude the ICA stump. The technical success rate was 98.3%. During the first 30 days after the procedure, 1 (1.8%) stroke was reported, while 5 (8.9%) transient ischemic attacks were also described. During a follow-up period spanning an average 23.8±18.3 months, none of the patients experienced any clinical cerebrovascular event. Two (3.4%) dilated ECAs developed restenosis, while 1 (1.7%) ECA stent occluded at 6 months., Conclusion: Endovascular repair of ECA appears to have low rates of perioperative stroke or death but a high rate of TIAs. The appropriate type of stent and the use of embolic protection need to be established. In the endovascular era, despite the limited data available, this therapeutic approach could be considered a reasonable alternative to conventional open repair, especially in patients with ipsilateral ICA occlusion and concomitant contralateral carotid stenosis or occlusion, an insufficient circle of Willis, and other significant comorbidities.