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Objective Surgical treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs) has advanced over time. Constant development of new endovascular techniques has converted these into the most attractive methods available today. However, results for each endovascular procedure are still limited, and available data have emerged from studies examining only a small number of cases. The present retrospective review was designed to examine early and late results for PAA treatment and to identify possible factors associated with graft patency. Methods This was a retrospective review of all PAAs treated from January 1993 to December 2013. Symptomatic and asymptomatic PAAs >2 cm treated using open surgery or an endovascular procedure were included. Kaplan-Meier curves and the Breslow test were used to analyze data. Results A total of 171 aneurysms were treated in 142 men (mean age, 69.3 years); of these, 53.3% were asymptomatic and 18.7% presented as acute ischemia. Saphenous vein was used for bypass in 57.9% of the patients, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) in 23.4%, and a stent graft in 18.7%. In the open surgical group, a popliteal-popliteal bypass was performed in 37.4% and a distal anastomosis to a tibial vessel was required in 14.4%. Good runoff (two to three vessels) was present in 69%. Perioperative mortality (30 days) was 1.8%. Of eight early occlusions recorded, five (2.9%) underwent reoperations. Major amputations were needed in five patients (all with previous acute ischemia). Median follow-up for the entire cohort was 49 months (range, 1-228 months). Primary and secondary patency rates at 24, 36, and 60 months were 76.3% and 89.5%, 73.4% and 87.4%, and 68.3% and 80.9%, respectively. Popliteal-popliteal bypasses showed better primary patency at 24 months when saphenous vein was used vs ePTFE (94.9% vs 79%; P = .04); however, similar patency rates were recorded for short ePTFE bypasses and stent grafts (79% vs 79.7%). On multivariate analysis, only poor runoff emerged as an independent factor for worse primary patency (hazard ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-7.2; P = .001). Conclusions The open repair of PAA offers good long-term results, especially in asymptomatic patients, those undergoing elective surgery, and those showing good runoff. Given the also good midterm outcomes of endovascular treatment, this may be a feasible option in selected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: In March 2021, a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak was declared at a large long-term care and short stay facility in British Columbia, Canada-well after introduction of the vaccination program in long-term care facilities that resulted in a dramatic decline in the number of outbreaks in this type of setting. The objective of this study is to provide the descriptive epidemiology of this outbreak, in the context of partial immunization of both residents and staff at the facility., Methods: The cases' information was extracted from a provincial information system (Panorama). Descriptive analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel and SAS. Outbreak management controls included, but were not limited to, asymptomatic testing and efforts to increase vaccination., Results: Twenty-six cases among the 241 resident and three cases among the 418 staff (corresponding to attack rates of 10% and less than 1%, respectively) were identified. The attack rate in residents was considerably lower than the average attack rate for COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities before the vaccine rollout. Seventeen resident cases were either partially or fully immunized. Four of the eight hospitalized cases and two of the three deceased cases were partially immunized. Seventeen cases were temporary stay residents. The three staff cases were not vaccinated. Ten cases were identified as part of asymptomatic testing., Conclusion: Introduction of vaccination at facilities contributed to lower attack rates and higher numbers of asymptomatic cases in this outbreak. Screening asymptomatic individuals identified additional cases among vaccinated residents. Findings underscore the importance of achieving high vaccine coverage, including among temporary stay residents, to prevent virus introduction and subsequent unrecognized transmission opportunities., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None.