Journal of vascular surgery
-
Multicenter Study Comparative Study Observational Study
Bleeding and thrombotic outcomes associated with postoperative use of direct oral anticoagulants after open peripheral artery bypass procedures.
Widespread adoption of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism treatment has resulted in peripheral bypass patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation with DOACs postoperatively. This study was undertaken to evaluate patient outcomes after open peripheral bypass based on anticoagulation treatment. ⋯ Among patients undergoing lower extremity surgical bypass, those receiving a DOAC postoperatively had a shorter length of stay and were less likely to receive a transfusion in 30 days without compromising graft patency and readmission for anticoagulation complications, thrombectomy, or thrombolysis or affecting amputation rate compared with those receiving a VKA. A majority of surgeons within the quality collaborative have adopted the use of DOACs after peripheral bypass, suggesting the need for a prospective trial evaluating DOAC safety and efficacy in patients requiring anticoagulation for high-risk bypass grafts.
-
Multicenter Study
Managing central venous access during a health care crisis.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, central venous access line teams were implemented at many hospitals throughout the world to provide access for critically ill patients. The objective of this study was to describe the structure, practice patterns, and outcomes of these vascular access teams during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ Implementation of a dedicated central venous access line team during a pandemic or other health care crisis is a way by which physicians trained in central venous access can contribute their expertise to a stressed health care system. A line team composed of physicians with vascular skill sets provides relief to resource-constrained intensive care unit, ward, and emergency medicine teams with a low rate of iatrogenic complications relative to historical reports. We recommend that a plan for central venous access line team implementation be in place for future health care crises.
-
Multicenter Study
Index and follow-up costs of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair from the Endurant Stent Graft System Post Approval Study (ENGAGE PAS).
Trials for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) report lower perioperative mortality and morbidity, but also higher costs compared with open repair. However, few studies have examined the subsequent cost of follow-up evaluations and interventions. Therefore, we present the index and 5-year follow-up costs of EVAR from the Endurant Stent Graft System Post Approval Study. ⋯ Costs associated with index EVAR are driven primarily by cost of operating room supplies, including graft components. Subsequent admissions are largely not aneurysm related; however, cost of aneurysm-related hospitalizations is higher than for nonaneurysm admissions. These data will serve as a baseline for comparison with open repair and other devices.
-
Multicenter Study Comparative Study Observational Study
The impact of age on in-hospital outcomes after transcarotid artery revascularization, transfemoral carotid artery stenting, and carotid endarterectomy.
Previous data showed superior outcomes of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) compared with transfemoral carotid artery stenting (TFCAS) in elderly patients because of an increased stroke risk in TFCAS-treated patients. Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) with flow reversal was developed to mitigate the maneuvers at highest risk for causing stroke during TFCAS, such as manipulation of a diseased aortic arch and crossing of the carotid lesion before deployment of an embolic protection device. This study aimed to compare the association between age and outcomes after TCAR, TFCAS, and CEA. ⋯ TCAR is a relatively safe procedure regardless of the patient's age. The advantages of TCAR become more pronounced in elderly patients, with significant reductions in in-hospital stroke compared with TFCAS in patients ≥77 years old, independent of symptomatic status and other medical comorbidities. These findings suggest that TCAR should be preferred to TFCAS in elderly patients who are at high surgical risk.
-
Multicenter Study Comparative Study Observational Study
Treatment choice and survival after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm: A population-based study.
The objective of this study was to clarify whether the findings of the randomized studies of repair method (open aortic repair [OAR] vs endovascular aneurysm repair [EVAR]) concerning short-term and midterm survival for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (RAAAs) could be confirmed in a contemporary, nationwide, and unselected population. ⋯ An OAR/EVAR practice for RAAA is not superior to an OAR-only practice with respect to survival at short-term or midterm follow-up. The results are even compatible with an advantage of OAR-only practice vs OAR/EVAR practice for both follow-up periods. There is no extra benefit for either female or elderly patients with an OAR/EVAR practice.