Annals of vascular surgery
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To determine the diagnostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) in detecting prosthetic aortic graft infection (AGI). ⋯ FDG PET/CT is a valuable diagnostic test for identifying AGI. Infected grafts display significantly greater FDG uptake in a distinctive intense focal perigraft pattern and distribution. SUVmax greater than 6.3 is a good cutoff to determine infective status.
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Recently, there has been a shift toward elective endovascular repair of visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs). Transcatheter embolization (TE) and covered stenting (CS) represent the 2 most used endovascular techniques; however, TE carries the potential risk of end-organ ischemia, while CS is challenging when the parent arteries are tortuous. Flow diverter devices (FDDs) developed for cerebral aneurysms maintain distal flow and are characterized by high navigability in tortuous arteries. This report describes our initial experience in using FDD developed for cerebral aneurysms to treat extracranial VAAs/pseudoaneurysm (VAP). ⋯ When high tortuosity and small caliber of the parent arteries prevent CS and the necessity to maintain vessel patency contraindicates TE, FDD could represent an option for the treatment of VAP; however, high costs and the off-label use in extracranial vessels demand an accurate selection of the patients suitable for the VAP treatment with FDD.
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Three-dimensional (3D) printing, also known as rapid prototyping or additive manufacturing, is a novel adjunct in the medical field. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the role of 3D printing technology in the field of contemporary vascular surgery in terms of its technical aspect, practicability, and clinical outcome. ⋯ 3D printing was recognized and gradually incorporated as a useful adjunct in the field of vascular and endovascular surgery. The production of an accurate anatomic patient-specific replica was shown to bring significant impact in patient management in terms of anatomic understanding, procedural planning, and intraoperative navigation, education, and academic research as well as patient communication. Further analysis on cost-effectiveness was indicated to guide decisions on applicability of such promising technology on a routine basis.