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Currently, there are no guidelines or consensus recommendations on the antithrombotic management of peripheral artery disease (PAD) from an Indian perspective. In this article, we have summarized clinical practice recommendations on antithrombotic management of (i) asymptomatic chronic PAD (cPAD), (ii) symptomatic cPAD (intermittent claudication [IC] and chronic limb-threatening ischemia [CLTI]), and (iii) after revascularization (endovascular and surgical). An electronic search of the PubMed database was undertaken to identify relevant articles. Various combinations of keywords such as PAD, chronic peripheral arterial disease, asymptomatic chronic peripheral arterial disease, symptomatic chronic peripheral arterial disease, dual antiplatelet therapy, single antiplatelet therapy, dual pathway inhibition, antithrombotic, revascularization, endovascular, and surgical were used. Randomized controlled trials, case reports, practice guidelines, systematic literature reviews, and meta-analyses were screened and assessed. A roundtable meeting of experts (n = 13) was conducted to arrive at clinical practice recommendations. Experts made their decisions based on the evidence and guideline recommendations. In patients with asymptomatic cPAD and significant peripheral artery stenosis (PAS), long-term single antiplatelet therapy may be considered at the discretion of the clinician. There is no clear evidence in favor of long-term dual antiplatelet therapy in symptomatic cPAD. Experts agreed that low-dose rivaroxaban plus aspirin should be considered in patients with asymptomatic cPAD with >50% PAS and conditions such as diabetes and polyvascular disease. This combination was also suggested in patients with IC, CLTI, postendovascular (stent based/nonstent), and surgical revascularization to reduce cardiovascular and limb ischemic risk, including major amputation in the absence of high bleeding risk or other contraindications.

Introduction and Objective: The reported incidence of COVID-related acute limb ischemia (CRALI) ranged from 3.7% to 9.6% in the literature. We report on consolidated data of patients with CRALI from 21 centers across India, which spanned the first two waves of COVID-the period of May 2020 to June 2021. Materials and Methods: Study design: Multicenter study from May 2022 to June 2021. Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was done. Inclusion criteria: All patients who presented with signs and symptoms of acute limb ischemia or acute on chronic limb ischemia and who also tested positive for COVID through rapid antigen test or real time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Data for 268 patients from 21 centers across India was available for analysis. 71% were males and 85% were >45 years of age. Majority of patients (n = 191) presented with acute symptoms. Best medical management with antiplatelets and anticoagulants was the only treatment in 34% of patients. Open embolectomy was attempted in 42%, endovascular procedures in 8% and amputation as primary procedure in 14.5%. Higher grades of ischemia were associated with significantly poorer limb salvage, amputation and mortality in the immediate and 14 days follow up (P < 0.001). At 14 days 173 limbs were salvaged (64.5%). Eighty patients underwent amputations (29.8%); 26 of the 80 (32%) were minor amputations (trans-metatarsal and less), so the major amputation rate was 20.1%. Maximum number of deaths were in the group that had undergone medical management (23%), while the least number of deaths were seen in the patients that had undergone some form of intervention, open surgical (2%) or endovascular procedure (4%). Looking at 14-day outcomes, the numbers of deaths in the patients managed with medical methods increased to 30%, open surgical to 7% and endovascular procedures to 8%. Conclusion: CRALI presented both as a primary presentation or developed later during the disease. Early surgical and endovascular interventions in these patients can help in achieving decent limb salvage rates.

Purpose The aim of this study was to describe a modified technique for accurate deployment of the Supera stent under ultrasound (US) guidance for complex lesions involving superficial femoral artery (SFA) ostium without jailing profunda femoral artery (PFA) by retrograde approach. Technique Retrograde pedal access was initially taken in all the cases. The stenotic or occlusive femoropopliteal lesions involving the SFA ostium were crossed retrogradely and additional contralateral common femoral artery (CFA) access was taken only if we failed to cross the lesion. In addition to fluoroscopy, extravascular US guidance was freely used whenever required throughout the procedure. After desired predilatation of the SFA lesion, US guidance (gray scale and color Doppler) was used to start deployment of the proximal few centimeters of Supera stent ensuring that the landing of first crown was exactly from the SFA ostium not extending into CFA or jailing the PFA ostium. The rest of the stent was deployed under fluoroscopic guidance. Retrograde pedal access site hemostasis was achieved by manual compression. The Supera stent implantation with Ultrasound Guidance for complex ostial lesions of superficial femoral Artery by Retrograde approach (SUGAR) technique was applied successfully in 35 patients (mean age 58.1 ± 4.4 years; 24 males) with critical limb ischemia via the distal pedal approach. No access site or remote complications were observed. Conclusion The SUGAR technique has superior advantage of utilizing a simple tool like extravascular US in addition to fluoroscopy for retrograde Supera stent deployment by allowing very precise landing at SFA ostium, bypassing the need for multiple oblique projections, unwanted radiation exposure, and extra contrast dye overload.

Introduction: In chronic kidney disease patients, arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is now increasingly and widely accepted as a vascular access for long-term hemodialysis, so their surveillance and maintenance is of paramount importance. In endovascular procedures, fistulogram and fistuloplasty are being most commonly used for the treatment of malfunctioning AVFs, however, Ultrasound-guided fistuloplasty also now has been established, so here we had evaluated its utility in our institute. Materials and Methods: A prospective, observational study of 67 patients who underwent? USG (ultrasound)-guided fistuloplasty in failing AVF was conducted from April 2019 to April 2020. The outcome of USG-guided fistuloplasty was assessed in terms of technical success rate using Doppler-derived volume flow (VF) criteria, complications, and primary patency at the end of 6 months. Observation and Results: Post fistuloplasty, all our cases showed a 100% procedural and clinical success rate with a significant increase in VF. Mean preprocedure volume flow (VF) was 160 ml / min +/- 47 standard deviation (SD) increased to mean post procedue VF of 399 ml/min +/- 102 SD. The most common complication noted was fistuloplasty site hematoma. Complications were fewer and managed using ultrasound. The primary patency at the end of 1, 3, and 6 months was 100%, 88.1%, and 77.6%, respectively. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided fistuloplasty is a safe and effective treatment option with low morbidity rates for the treatment of failing AVF. This technique is safe, feasible, and reliable as it facilitates to reduce intervention time and achieve better results so should be used more frequently and effectively. Doppler-derived VF is a very useful and remarkable criterion to assess technical outcome.

Background: Pharmacomechanical catheter-directed thrombolysis (PCDT) has revolutionized the treatment of acute deep-vein thrombosis (DVT). Assessment and comparison of quality of life (QOL) in patients treated with anticoagulation alone and PCDT need to be elaborated more in the context of better management of patients. The objective of this study was to compare and assess QOL using health-related QOL (HRQOL) which includes short form-36 (SF-36) and VIENES QOL/sym scoring systems in anticoagulation alone group and patients treated with PCDT. Methods: There were 130 consecutive patients presenting to our department with acute iliofemoro-popliteal DVT (IFPDVT) with

Introduction: Arteriovenous (AV) access maturity and patency is critical for patients on hemodialysis. Maintaining a functioning AV access for these patients is of paramount importance. Salvage of failing AV accesses has been traditionally done mainly with angiographic techniques requiring significant amounts of contrast agent and radiation exposure. Ultrasound-guided angioplasty has been described, but its utility needs to be further studied. Methods: Group 1: 42 patients undergoing ultrasound-assisted angioplasty (UAA) for AV access salvage were assessed prospectively for 9 months (October 2016 to June 2017). Group 2: Retrospective data of 47 patients who underwent angioplasty for failing AV access without ultrasound assistance, over 9 months was collected (January to September 2016). This group was matched with Group 1 in terms of age, sex, type of AV access, and cause of AV access dysfunction. Results: There was a statistically significant decrease in the average number of angiographic runs (2.5 vs. 7.9) and fluoroscopy time in minutes (3.8 vs. 13.1) recorded during UAA (P < 0.01). The average quantity of contrast agent used in milliliters (17.6 vs. 49.8) was also significantly less when ultrasound assistance was used (P < 0.01). Conclusion: UAA for failing AV access reduces the radiation exposure and the amount of contrast agent used in these patients who require multiple of these sessions and need dialysis to get the contrast agent out of their circulation. This technique is feasible and reliable; hence should be used more frequently and effectively. Our model of UAA for AV access salvage allows all cases including complex cases to be performed with the added advantage of reduced radiation exposure and contrast agent; serving as a boon to these already distressed patients. Immediate complication management and adjunctive open procedures also become possible because of the hybrid operating room setup with fluoroscopy facility.

Partial nephrectomy (PN) either done open, laparoscopic, or robotic is associated with the complication of renal artery pseudoaneurysm (RAP), which is rare but can have grave prognosis. Minimally invasive intervention using endovascular techniques can safely treat this problem with minimal morbidity. We present here two cases of RAP following robotic PN. The first case was a 78-year male patient who underwent robotic PN 3 months prior for a 55 mm × 53 mm clear cell carcinoma of the left lower renal pole. On his 3-month follow-up computerized tomography (CT), he was incidentally diagnosed with a 48 mm × 40 mm × 36 mm well-defined pseudoaneurysm with supply from the lower polar accessory renal artery. The second case was a 42-year male patient who had undergone a robotic PN for a 3.5 cm renal mass. On day 24 postsurgery, he developed hematuria and evaluation with renal CT angiography showed two pseudoaneurysms of approximately 8–9 mm each; associated with a hematoma extending from the mid pole of the left kidney to the tail of the pancreas. We managed to successfully embolize the RAPs endovascularly in both the patients; case one with glue and case two with coils. Both patients were discharged on the next day with no side effects, complications, or morbidity. RAP post-PN; though rare, is a dreaded complication that one should be aware of and be able to treat it timely. Knowing how to managing these situations with minimally invasive techniques should be a part of the armamentarium of all endovascular specialists.

Introduction: Alongwith the increasing awareness of fistula for dialysis, there has been an increasing utilization of endovascular interventions to create and maintain native Arterovenous fistulas. So far the widely practiced corrective endovascular options are fistulogram and plasty. However with most target segments being superficial veins of the outflow channel with juxta anastomotic lesions, ultrasound guided fistuloplasty is a promising answer to such a clinical scenario. Methods: All patients with diagnosed outflow vein obstruction with dialysis disturbance and no evidence of central vein stenosis were subjected to the procedure. Results: Satisfactory dialatation was achieved in 84% of patients at the end of one month. Only four patients required adjunctive procedure prior to dialysis. The most common procedure related side effect was hematoma- in 08 ( 19%) of patients, however they were non expanding and self resolving- limited to the area around the plasty site. Conclusion: The procedure can be accomplished in office setting avoiding the exposure of dye and radiation. It also decreases the burden on health care in operating theatres and decreases cost and time of hospitalization. However central vein stenosis and cephalic arch stenosis are definitely limitations of the procedure.