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Objective: The aim of this online clinical vignette-based survey study was to compare risk assessments by vascular surgeons, anaesthesiologists and interventional radiologists involved in treating patients with aortic aneurysms in the Netherlands with the NSQIP risk calculator outcomes. Methods: Participants, recruited using purposive sampling, provided their estimation of the likelihood of postoperative complications and events following aortic surgery in five fictional cases. These cases were subsequently scored using the NSQIP calculator. The risk assessments were statistically analysed using the ANOVA and student t-test. Results: All participating specialists i.e. twelve vascular surgeons, ten interventional radiologists and ten anaesthesiologists completed the survey. In the vast majority of outcomes and vignettes, no significant differences were found between various specialists, whereas significant differences were found between the NSQIP risk calculator outcomes and the combined risk assessments of the specialists. Overall, specialist risk assessments differ from the NSQIP, but neither particularly higher nor lower compared to the risk calculator. Conclusions: Risk assessment by vascular surgeons, anaesthesiologists and interventional radiologists differs significantly with NSQIP risk calculator outcomes, within the framework of both endovascular and open aortic aneurysm repair. Based on these results, implementing the NSQIP risk calculator in preoperative workup could be of added value in both patient planning as well as adequately informing patients for obtaining consent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgical site infections (SSI) are frequently seen after aortoiliac vascular surgery (2%-14%). Deep SSIs are associated with graft infection, sepsis, and mortality. This study evaluates the difference in incidence and nature of SSI following open aortoiliac surgery for aneurysmal disease compared to occlusive arterial disease. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including all consecutive patients who underwent open aortoiliac vascular surgery between January 2005 and December 2016 in the Amphia Hospital, Breda, the Netherlands. Patients were grouped by disease type, either aneurysmal or occlusive arterial disease. Data were gathered, including patient characteristics, potential risk factors, and development of SSI. Surgical site infections were defined in accordance with the criteria of the Centers for Disease Control. Results: Between January 2005 and December 2016, a total of 756 patients underwent open aortoiliac surgery of which 517 had aortoiliac aneurysms and 225 had aortoiliac occlusive disease. The group with occlusive disease was younger, predominantly male, and had more smokers. After exclusion of 228 patients undergoing acute surgery, the SSI rate after elective surgery was 6.2%, with 10 of 301 SSIs in the aneurysmal group (3.0%) and 22 of 213 SSIs in the group with occlusive disease (10.3%, P <.001). Also, infection-related readmission and reintervention were higher after occlusive surgery, 6.6% versus 0.9% (P <.001) and 4.2% versus 0.9% (P =.003), respectively. Staphylococcus aureus was found as the most common pathogen, causing 64% of SSI in occlusive disease versus 10% in aneurysmal disease (P =.005). Logistic regression showed occlusive arterial disease and chronic renal disease were associated with SSI. Conclusion: Our study presents evidence for a higher rate of SSI in patients with aortoiliac occlusive disease compared to aortoiliac aneurysmal disease, in part due to inherent use of inguinal incision in patients with occlusive disease. All precautions to prevent SSI should be taken in patients undergoing vascular surgery for arterial occlusive disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to validate a proposed classification system on the characteristics of the abdominal aortic aneurysm neck. The cohort comprised 100 consecutive patients who underwent open or endovascular aneurysm repair. Aneurysm neck characteristics of diameter, calcium, thrombus, and angulation were reviewed. The presence of calcium at the aortic aneurysm wall was associated with lower body mass index. Thrombus was found in 52% of the patients. Hypertension was correlated with the presence of aortic wall thrombus. At the renal artery level, angulation was anterior in 56%, right lateral in 39%, and left lateral in 27%. At the origin of the aneurysm, angulation was posterior in 76%, right lateral in 46%, and left lateral in 42%. A wide variety in these characteristics was found. A scoring system allows comparison of patient characteristics in studies describing the clinical outcome of endovascular aneurysm repair and should be included in study reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asserts the increase awareness for an abdominal aortic aneurysm in women in Netherlands. Distinction of mortality rates between sexes; Percentage of in-hospital mortality in men and women.

The article discusses studies on the importance of long-term follow-up data in evaluating the relative merits of endovascular or open surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. The United Kingdom Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) 1 trial confirmed earlier results that endovascular repair is more effective than open surgery in the short term. Both the EVAR trial and the Dutch Randomized Endovascular Aneurysm Repair study found that such benefit is lost in the long term. The EVAR 2 trial found that endovascular repair prevented aneurysm rupture.

The article discusses the ambulatory surgery program for the endovascular repair of aortic aneurysm (AAA) in the Netherlands. It states that the program includes outpatient preoperative assessment and operative management. It also has a selection of patients to be enrolled in the program, weighing such factors as patient age, AAA size, prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiac disease. Moreover, the schedule of hospital admission and operation under the program are discussed.

Presents medical news briefs. Painkiller that has been linked to suicide which is being withdrawn from the UK; Chronic fatigue syndrome which has now been recognised as a real disorder by the Netherlands; News of an extra payment for thalidomide survivors; Recommendation in the US that men 65 to 75-years-old who smoke should undergo screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm; NICE guidelines on treatment of osteoporosis.