Journal of vascular surgery
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Currently, the latex agglutination D-dimer assay is widely used for excluding deep vein thrombosis (DVT) but is considered less sensitive than the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based D-dimer test. The purpose of the present study was to determine if a combination of different cutoff points, rather than a single cutoff point of 1.0 microg/mL, on the latex agglutination D-dimer assay and the pretest clinical probability (PTP) score would be able to reduce the use of venous duplex ultrasound (DU) scanning in patients with suspected DVT. ⋯ Combination of a specific D-dimer level with the clinical probability score is most effective in low-risk PTP patients for excluding DVT. In moderate- and high-risk PTP patients, however, the recommended cutoff points of 1.0 microg/mL may be preferable. These results show that different D-dimer levels for patients differing in risk is feasible for excluding DVT using the latex agglutination D-dimer assay.
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Marfan syndrome patients are prone to aortic dilatation, dissection, and rupture. Success of aortic root replacement has generated a cohort of patients surviving longer and presenting with distal aortic dissection and enlargement. Thoracic endovascular stent-graft repair (TEVR) is being increasingly utilized to exclude aneurysms resulting from chronic aortic dissection. This report explores the role of TEVR in Marfan patients with this pathology. ⋯ TEVR in Marfan syndrome patients with chronic aortic dissection is technically feasible. However, post intervention surveillance confirms that the aorta continues to dilate despite graft deployment and false lumen thrombosis. Endovascular repair may offer a viable option in patients who have contraindications to open surgery, but longer follow up of more patients is required to define the place of this therapy.
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Multicenter Study
Acute management of aortobronchial and aortoesophageal fistulas using thoracic endovascular aortic repair.
Aortobronchial fistula (ABF) and aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) are rare but lethal if untreated; open thoracic surgery is associated with high operative mortality and morbidity. In this case series, we sought to investigate outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for emergency cases of ABF and AEF. ⋯ TEVAR does prevent immediate exsanguination in patients admitted with AEF and ABF, but after initial deployment of the endograft and control of the hemodynamic status, most patients, in particular those with AEF, are at risk for infectious complications. Early esophageal repair after TEVAR appears to improve the survival in case of AEF. Therefore, TEVAR may serve as a bridge to surgery in emergency cases of AEF with subsequent definitive open operative repair of the esophageal defect as soon as possible. In patients with ABF, additional open surgery may not be necessary after the endovascular procedure.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
The Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy vs. Stenting Trial completes randomization: lessons learned and anticipated results.
The Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy vs. Stenting Trial (CREST) completed randomization on July 18, 2008. Sponsored by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the trial has enrolled 2,522 participants across North America and is the largest randomized clinical trial (RCT) comparing the efficacy of carotid artery stenting (CAS) to carotid endarterectomy (CEA). ⋯ Credentialing of interventionalists also included a review of additional CAS procedures enrolled into a CREST lead-in phase prior to entering patients into the randomized trial; 1564 patients were enrolled in the lead-in, the final pathway for the largest credentialing effort to date for any clinical trial. CREST will provide long-term follow-up after carotid revascularization based on systematic ultrasonographic and neurologic surveillance, and on quality of life and cost-effectiveness comparisons between CAS and CEA in the setting of a RCT. We present a brief description of the CREST protocol, impediments that were overcome during the trial, salient results from the lead-in phase of the trial, a summary of enrollment activities and characteristics of the final cohort, and a timeline for anticipated results from the randomized phase.