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Introduction: The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term stabilizing-healing effectiveness and influence on adjacent intact vertebral bodies of a new injectable partly resorbable calcium sulfate (60 wt.%)/hydroxyapatite (40 wt.%) bone substitute employed in vertebral augmentation of osteoporotic collapses. Methods: From April 2009 to April 2011, 80 patients underwent vertebral augmentation. Patients enrolling criteria were age >20 years and symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral collapse from low-energy trauma encompassed between levels T5 to L5. Preoperative and postoperative imaging studies consisted of computed tomography, plain X-ray, dual X-ray absorptiometry scanning, and magnetic resonance. Pain intensity has been evaluated by an 11-point visual analog scale (VAS) and physical and quality of life compromise assessments have been evaluated by Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (ODI). All procedures have been performed fluoroscopically guided by left unilateral approach under local anesthesia and mild sedation. Results: VAS-based pain trend over the 12-month follow-up has shown a statistically significant ( p < 0.001) decrease, starting from 7.68 (SD 1.83) preoperatively with an immediate first day decrease at 3.51 (SD 2.16) and 0.96 (SD 0.93) at 12 months. ODI score dropped significantly from 54.78% to 20.12% at 6 months. No device-related complication has been reported. In no case a new incidental adjacent fracture has been reported. Conclusion: Data show how this injectable partly resorbable ceramic cement could be a nontoxic and lower stiffness alternative to polymethylmethacrylate for immediate and long-term stabilization of osteoporotic collapsed vertebral bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze preoperative risk factors affecting long-term survival and the occurrence of stroke in patients older than 80 years undergoing either carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid artery stenting (CAS) for carotid stenosis., Methods: Data of all consecutive patients treated from January 1999 to December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed and outcomes analyzed. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate long-term survival and the risk of stroke for both groups. Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to assess the relative risk of all-cause mortality and long-term stroke for patients in the presence of selected comorbidities, including preoperative symptoms, coronary artery disease, chronic renal failure, atrial fibrillation (AF), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia. A P value <.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: A total of 473 patients older than 80 years (298 men [63%]) underwent either CEA (n = 178) or CAS. At 30 days, one patient died in the CEA group of unrelated causes; no deaths were recorded after CAS (0.6% vs 0%; P = .18). At 5 years, survival was 67.6% ± 4.9% after CEA and 90.2% ± 2.3% after CAS (P < .0001). The main cause of death after CEA and CAS was a neoplasm. Estimated freedom from any stroke at 5 years was 97.3% ± 0.5% after CEA and 93.2% ± 1.2% after CAS (P = .07). The presence of preoperative AF significantly affected long-term mortality after CAS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34-1.98; P = .04) as well as being classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists class 3 at evaluation of the preoperative anesthesiology risk. The presence of preoperative AF was the only factor that significantly affected the occurrence of long-term stroke after both CAS (HR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.86-5.63; P = .001) and CEA (HR, 3.45; 95% CI, 2.29-8.19; P = .005)., Conclusions: Both CEA and CAS showed low 30-day mortality and any-stroke rates in patients older than 80 years. In the long term, survival was significantly better after CAS; however, deaths after CEA and CAS were mainly unrelated to the procedure. No significant differences were recorded in the occurrence of any stroke in the long term. The presence of preoperative AF significantly affected long-term survival after CAS as well as being classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists class 3 at evaluation of the preoperative anesthesiology risk. The presence of preoperative AF also significantly affected long-term risk of stroke after both CAS and CEA., (Copyright © 2019 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Aortic neck dilation has been reported after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) with self-expanding devices. With a core laboratory analysis of morphologic changes, this study evaluated midterm results of aortic neck evolution after EVAR by endograft with no chronic outward force., Methods: This was a multicenter registry of all patients undergoing EVAR with the Ovation endograft (TriVascular, Santa Rosa, Calif). Inclusion criteria were at least 24 months of follow-up. Standard computed tomography (CT) scans were reviewed centrally using a dedicated software with multiplanar and volume reconstructions. Proximal aortic neck was segmented into zone A (suprarenal aorta/fixation area), zone B (infrarenal aorta, from lowest renal artery to the first polymer-filled ring), and zone C (infrarenal aorta, at level of the first polymer-filled ring/sealing zone). Images were analyzed for neck enlargement (≥2 mm), graft migration (≥3 mm), endoleak, barb detachment, neck bulging, and patency of the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric and renal arteries., Results: Inclusion criteria were met in 161 patients (mean age, 75.2 years; 92% male). During a mean follow-up period of 32 months (range, 24-50), 17 patients died (no abdominal aortic aneurysm-related death). Primary clinical success at 2 years was 95.1% (defined as absence of aneurysm-related death, type I or type III endoleak, graft infection or thrombosis, aneurysm expansion >5 mm, aneurysm rupture, or conversion to open repair). Assisted primary clinical success was 100%. CT scan images at a minimum follow-up of 2 years were available in 89 cases. Patency of visceral arteries at the level of suprarenal fixation (zone A) was 100%. Neither graft migration nor barb detachment or neck bulging was observed. None of the patients had significant neck enlargement. The mean change in the diameter was 0.18 ± 0.22 mm at zone A, -0.32 ± 0.87 mm at zone B, and -0.06 ± 0.97 mm at zone C. Changes at zone B correlated significantly with changes at zone C (correlation coefficient, 0.183; P = .05), whereas no correlation was found with zone A (correlation coefficient, 0.000; P = 1.0)., Conclusions: No aortic neck dilation occurred in this series at CT scan after a minimum 24-month follow-up. This may suggest that aortic neck evolution is not associated with EVAR at midterm follow-up when an endograft with no chronic outward radial force is implanted., (Copyright © 2016 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To review the manifestation and management of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding caused by secondary aortoenteric fistula (AEF) after infrarenal aortic grafting., Methods: Between 1991 and 2006, nine patients underwent emergency treatment for secondary AEF localized in the duodenum (78%), ileum (11%), or sigmoid colon (11%). Three (33%) patients suffered hypovolemic shock. There were two (22%) real fistulas and seven (78%) paraprosthetic fistulas. Graft infection was confirmed in four (45%) patients and four (45%) had proximal sterile pseudoaneurysms. Surgical management consisted of graft removal with (n = 5) or without simultaneous extra-anatomic bypass (n = 1), in situ Dacron graft interposition (n = 3), ileo-duodenorrhaphy (n = 8), sigmoidectomy with colostomy (n = 1), and segmentary ileectomy (n = 1). Endografting was used only as a temporary measure to control bleeding in two patients., Results: The mortality rate was 55% (n = 5). There were no intraoperative deaths, but 75% of the septic patients, 66% of those with preoperative hemodynamic instability, 50% of those with pseudoaneurysms, and 100% of those who required bowel resection died during the early postoperative period. Moreover, all of the surviving patients suffered early postoperative morbidity, resulting in prolonged intensive care unit stay and hospitalization., Conclusions: Secondary AEF is life-threatening, difficult to treat, and associated with high morbidity and mortality, especially in patients with sepsis or hemodynamic instability and those requiring bowel resection.