RCAAP Repository

Introduction: Carotid disease affects 3-4% of the general population. The association between systemic low-grade inflammation and atherosclerosis has led to the study of blood biomarkers, such as red blood cell distribution width – coefficient of variation (RDW-CV), and their role in the pathophysiology and prognosis of carotid artery disease. The aim of this study was to review the literature regarding the relevance of RDW-CV in carotid artery disease.  Methods: A Medline search was performed in order to identify publications focused on the physiopathology of RDW-CV and its impact in patients with carotid artery disease. Results: Increased RDW-CV was associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in several studies. It was associated with plaque presence and progression. One study demonstrated an independent association between all-cause and cardiovascular-related mortality in patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis and increased RDW-CV.  Conclusion: RDW-CV is a widely available, easy to measure, and low-cost marker that seems to be associated with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. However, further studies are needed in order to determine its clinical relevance in this setting.

Adventitial cystic disease (ACD) is a rare condition. It affects mostly the popliteal artery, with few cases reported affecting the radial artery. This condition is characterized by accumulation of mucinous content at the adventitious layer.  

Introduction: In many areas of Medicine, biomarkers have been proving their value in disease management. The inclusion of inflammatory biomarkers in acute limb ischemia (ALI) decision-making remains debatable due to the scarce literature evidence. Nevertheless, much attention has been held towards the prognostic value of these simple, readily available and low-cost biomarkers might have. Therefore, this review aimed to identify studies that support the utility of preoperative inflammatory markers, such as the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), for predicting ALI outcome. Methods: A comprehensive systematic search was applied to Medline database to identify all the cohort studies that specifically investigated and compared the outcomes of ALI patients in relation to their preoperative inflammatory biomarkers. Results: Four cohort studies were included in the review: two published citations, one research letter and one unpublished paper from the same authors of this review. In all studies, the primary outcomes were amputation and/or survival. All studies reported that higher NLR values were independently associated with adverse outcomes after treatment. One study stated that NLR ≥ 5.2 was found to have an 83% sensitivity and 63% specificity for predicting amputation within 30 days (Area Under Curve (AUC) 0.8) while other found that NLR ≥ 5.4 demonstrated to have a 90.5% sensitivity and 73.6% specificity for predicting 30-day amputation or death (AUC 0.86). Higher preoperative RDW, MPV, PLR and C-reactive protein were also reported as predictors of amputation in acute arterial thromboembolism patients in another study. Conclusion: This review demonstrates that although limited literature exists, inflammatory biomarkers like NLR and PLR appear to have a role in ALI preoperative risk stratification. Definition of levels and trends of inflammatory biomarkers and their relationship with treatment outcome could be established through multicentric studies, influencing timing and intervention selection and leading to potential improvements in ALI morbimortality.

Introduction: Mycotic extracranial carotid artery aneurysms are extremely unusual, with only around 100 cases published in the literature. They represent a challenge due to delayed presentations, possible catastrophic consequences if left untreated, as well as high morbidity after surgical management. Knowledge about infectious aneurysms on this territory remains limited to case reports. Thus, the authors pretend to present a systematic review on the matter with the intention to open a path to further understanding. Methods: Pubmed and Embase databases were consulted using the keywords “infected aneurysm” and “carotid artery”, including published papers in English to the present date. Papers in other languages and papers which focused results on intracranial locations of the disease were excluded. Pseudoaneurysms following trauma or vascular surgery were not included. Results: Inclusion criteria allowed analysis of 55 papers from 1979-2019 reporting data on 58 patients. Median age was 63 years old (min. 9 months; max.88 years), being 67% male. Among diverse risk factors, nearly 70% presented a previous history of bacterial infection or immunosuppression. The right carotid arteries were affected in 52% of cases. The most usual location was the internal carotid artery (31 cases) followed by the common carotid, almost exclusively near the bifurcation in both groups. Clinical presentation was broad, including neck mass (46%), compression syndromes as Horner syndrome, dysphagia or hoarseness (38%); and stroke/transient ischemic attack (11%). The most common bacteria identified were Staphylococcus aureus (26%), followed by Salmonella spp (19%). Autologous vein graft interposition was the technique used to treat the majority of cases. Carotid ligation, occlusion using detachable coils and stent graft angioplasty were among the applied treatments. Mortality was reported in 7 patients (14%). Conclusion: Mycotic carotid artery aneuryms are rare and demand surgical treatment. Diagnosis can be challenging due to late presentation of neck mass or compression syndromes. Treatment implies inflow restoration and removal of infected tissue, so interposition grafts using autologous conduits remain the preferred strategy. Although endovascular techniques can be used in selected cases, one should remember that prosthetic material can be a nidus for bacterial growth. Morbidity and mortality may be higher than expected due to publication bias.

Introduction/Objectives: Repair of post-dissection thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysms (PD-TAAA) is a complex challenge. Choosing the correct approach to manage these aneurysms is not straightforward as both open and endovascular strategies are valid. Our aim was to analyze and compare the results of PD-TAAA treated by endovascular or open surgery. Methods: A seven-year (January-2013 and May-2020) single-center retrospective cohort study of patients with PD-TAAA treated by endovascular (group-1) or open (group-2) surgery was conducted. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were organ lesion, in-hospital infections, length of stay (LOS), endoleaks, branch occlusions, re-interventions and mortality during follow-up. Results: Twenty-one patients (15-men) were treated: 8 in group-1 and 13 in group-2. The mean age was lower in group-2 [68 (SD:11) versus 48 (SD:12), p=0.004]. Three patients had connective tissue disease (CTD). Group-1 patients had a higher ASA score (p<0.001). In group-1, debranching and TEVAR were performed in 2 patients and custom-made fenestrated/ branched-endografts were used in 6. In group-2, there was one thoracic aorta interposition graft and reconstruction involving the visceral arteries ocurred in 12 patients. Seven cases were operated using the Crawford technique with visceral patch, and branched grafts were used in 3 patients with CTD. Intercostal arteries were revascularized in 5 patients. In-hospital mortality was 12% (1 patient) in group-1 and 15% (2 patients) in group-2, LogRank=0.9. The LOS was longer in group-2 (p=0.033), and there was a tendency for a longer stay in intensive care unit in this group. No difference was observed in spinal cord ischemia, acute kidney injury or re-interventions. There were more post-operative infections in group-2 (12% versus 69%, p = 0.017). During follow-up [median 15 months (IQR:55)], there was no mortality after discharge. In group-1, 14% had type-II-endoleaks, without aneurysmal sac dilation. Branch permeability during follow-up was 100% in group-1 and 95% in group-2, LogRank=0.3. Conclusion: Endovascular and open surgery of PD-TAAA allowed treatment of a wide variety of patients in this cohort. Patients treated by the endovascular surgery were older and had higher surgical risk but without repercussions on the outcomes. Open surgery was associated with longer hospital stay and more postoperative complications.

Endovascular treatment of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (DTAA) is associated with low rates of morbimortality and is currently the first line of therapeutic intervention. Endoleaks are a well-known complication of this technique, with the consensus that the identification of type I endoleak implies its prompt correction. We present the case of a patient who underwent TEVAR for the treatment of DTAA, with exclusion of the aneurysm in the control angiography. The control CTA showed type Ib endoleak with growth of the aneurysmal sac, so treatment was proposed which the patient refused. The patient was subsequently admitted urgently with rupture of the aneurysm and was immediately subjected to debranching of the visceral trunks, followed by distal TEVAR extension. The hybrid treatment of thoracic aneurysms without a distal landing zone through the debranching of the visceral trunks and TEVAR is an alternative to conventional surgery and complex endovascular surgery that presents good results in patients with high surgical risk and also allows to treat patients in an urgent regime since it does not depend on the manufacture of fenestrated and/or branched endoprostheses.

Introduction: Traumatic Thoracic Aortic Injury (TTAI) is a major cause of mortality in high-velocity trauma. While most cases result in instant death, TTAI may be present in patients with multiple traumatic injuries and therefore a high index of suspicion is necessary. Endovascular treatment offers significant advantages in this context and is now standard of care. The purpose of this study is to review our contemporary institutional experience with endovascular repair of TTAI. Methods: A retrospective analysis of discharge data for patients admitted with TTAI between 2010 and 2019 was performed from our institutional administrative database (level 1 trauma center). We extracted ICD-9 procedure code 39.73 — endovascular implantation of graft in the thoracic aorta and cross-checked with hospital registries to identify all TTAI cases. Follow-up was extracted from patient charts. The primary endpoints were primary technical and clinical success. Secondary endpoints were time to diagnosis and to surgical procedure relative to traumatic event, overall mortality, ongoing primary clinical success, and procedural details (upper limb revascularization, spinal drainage, systemic heparinization and endograft oversizing). Results: We identified six patients with TTAI who underwent TEVAR between 2010 and 2019. All were victims of high impact deceleration trauma, aged between 24 and 57 years old, and otherwise healthy. Additional major injuries were present in all patients (Injury Severity Score 14–57). All patients were submitted to CTA at admission which allowed for early diagnosis of TTAI and treatment in less than 24 hours in all cases expect one (which was treated in the first 48 hours). Grade III lesions were present in all six patients. All patients underwent TEVAR with 100% technical and clinical success. Three patients had a lesion that extended above the subclavian artery and consequently required subclavian coverage, but no patient was submitted to upper limb revascularization. Spinal drainage was not used in any case and there were no neurologic events. Half the patients were submitted to the procedure under systemic heparinization. The median oversizing of the endograft was 16% (10–35%). There was no in-hospital mortality nor mortality during follow-up (median duration of 35,5 months with an IIQ of 84,5 months) and the ongoing primary clinical success is 100%. Conclusion: Endovascular repair is a safe and effective therapy for TTAI even in patients with multiple trauma, and good mid-term results are expected. The procedure specifications such as the need for upper limb revascularization, use of spinal drainage, endograft oversizing, and systemic heparinization are still unclear. The long-term consequences need to be clarified.

Introduction/Objectives: The Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has taken a major toll on the public health system, with restrictions in all clinical activity, from consultations and exams to number and type of surgeries. Patients apprehension to resort to medical aid and hospitals leads to late admissions and, in our perception, more severe presentations of the underlying pathology, namely, in Chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI). Need for testing prior to non-emergent surgery causes larger delays in the referral of patients, and this, added to the reduction of surgical times and ICU availability, potentially results in worse outcomes. The aim of this study was to objectively evaluate the type pathology that was treated during the emergency state and to compare the outcome of the surgical procedures with the same period of 2018 and 2019. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the patient charts from patients submitted to surgery in the months of March and April of the year 2020 was conducted and compared to the same period on the previous two years. The primary endpoint was death at 30 days or during hospital stay and the secondary endpoints were pathology classification, grade of ischemia, amputation, amputation level, type of surgery (endovascular, conventional or hybrid), time of hospital stay and reintervention. Results: There were 98 patients submitted to surgery in the COVID period (CP), compared to 286 in the Non-COVID period (NCP). There was no significant difference in the age (70 years (17–98) in the CP vs. 69 (17–92) in the NCP, p=.13) or sex profile of the patients (76% male (n=74) in the CP vs. 70% (n=196) in the NCP, p=.26). There was no statistical difference in mortality (5% (n=5) in the CP vs. 5% (n=13) in the NCP, p=.88). There was a statistically significant decrease in conventional surgery (43% (n=42) in the CP vs. 57% (n=164) in the NCP, p=.04), but no statistically significant difference in length of hospital stay(10 (0–77) days in the CP vs. 7 (0–118) in the NCP, p=.6), and reintervention (18% (n=18) in the CP vs. 16% (n=45) in the NCP, p=.58). PAD corresponded to 75% (n=73) of the admissions in the CP vs. 48% (n=137) in the NCP, p=.02. CLTI corresponded to 99% (n=70) of the PAD population in the CP, vs. 93% (n=114) in the NCP, p=.1, with a significant increase in the number of patients presenting with Rutherford Grades 5 and 6 (81% (n=57) in the CP, vs. 68% (n=77) in the NCP, p=.03). There was a non-significant decrease in amputation rate (35% (n=25) vs. 40% (n=49), p=.49) and increase of major limb amputation (52% (n=13) vs. 39% (n=19), p=.27). The second most frequent pathology was aneurysmal aortic and iliac disease, but there was a statistically significant reduction in the number of patients treated (5% (n=5) in the CP vs. 13% (n=36) in the NCP, p=.05). All aortic aneurysms treated in 2020 were ruptured (100% (n=5) vs. 42% (n=15) in the NCP, p=0.2). There was no significant difference in mortality in urgent aortic aneurysm repair between groups (60% (n=3) in the CP vs. 47% (n=7) in the NCP, p=.77). Conclusions: COVID-19 restrictions manifested mainly in the type of pathology treated and the number of patients operated on. The gravity of the underlying pathology, manifested by more serious wounds and advanced CLTI at presentation, did not increase mortality nor was reflected on limb amputations rates. Aortic and iliac aneurismal disease was the second most common pathology treated but with a significant decrease in total number of cases and no significant difference in mortality.

Background: The surge of the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal and the implemented public health measures were accompanied with a noticeable decrease in patients’ attendance to the Emergency Department (ED). Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Vascular Surgery ED admissions, by comparing clinical and demographic characteristics of patients visiting the ED during the pandemic and the homologous period of 2019. Methods: We retrospectively collected data from patients admitted to the ED of a Portuguese tertiary hospital centre between March 4th and April 1st, 2020 — two weeks before and two weeks after the governmental implementation of the state of emergency in our country due to the COVID-19 pandemic — and the homologous period of 2019. Individual medical records were revised to obtain patients demographics and characteristics, clinical severity under the Manchester Triage System (MTS), final diagnosis, need for hospitalization or emergent/urgent surgery, in-hospital length of stay and mortality within 30 days of hospital discharge. Results: A total of 119 and 210 patients visited the Vascular Surgery ED during the pandemic and the homologous period of 2019, respectively. Males comprised the majority of patients in both years and the proportion of women visiting the ED was lower in 2020 compared to 2019 (P=0.015). The MTS attributed a lower number of high-priority levels (yellow and orange) to patients visiting the ED in 2020 (P=0.048). A higher proportion of patients required in-hospital treatment or emergent/ urgent surgery (P<0.001 and P=0.002, respectively) during the pandemic. No differences were observed in in-hospital length of stay and early mortality. The most prevalent diagnosis during this critical period were chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI), deep vein thrombosis, and acute limb ischemia; in 2019, CLTI, non-vascular limb pain and post-operative pain were the dominating diagnosis. Conclusion: We found a 43.3% decrease in the number of visits to the Vascular Surgery ED in the first month after the inaugural diagnosis of COVID-19 in Portugal. There was a significant reduction of patients with high-priority complaints, but those who presented to the ED had more severe and advanced disease, reflected by the increased proportion on hospitalization and emergent/urgent surgery requirements. Fear of infection and mobility limitations imposed by the quarantine may deter patients from attending the ED and delay proper healthcare. Mid to long-term impact of such behaviour on morbimortality should be determined to evaluate the quality of response of healthcare services to the pandemic.

Introduction: The treatment of complex arterial lesions with long occlusions and involvement of the bifurcation of the tibial arteries remains a technical challenge in the endovascular area that often culminates in the choice of a conventional surgical alternative. Given the similarities in arterial caliber and necessary material, the adaptation of techniques used in lesions of bifurcations in the coronary circulation to the infrapopliteal territory has allowed a change in the treatment paradigm. Material and methods: This article presents a clinical case of a patient with complex peripheral arterial disease treated with the double kissing (DK) crush technique. Clinical case: 74-year-old male patient, hypertensive, and smoker, previously submitted to endovascular exclusion of infra-renal abdominal aortic aneurysm and bilateral saphenectomy, diagnosed with chronic limb-threatening ischemia of the left limb – Rutherford 4. AngioCT revealed a long (30 cm) femoropopliteal occlusion with rehabilitation at the level of the tibioperoneal trunk (TPT). Despite the extent and location of the lesion, the patient's surgical history, the absence of a great saphenous vein, and multiple previous femoral surgical approaches led the patient to be initially proposed for endovascular treatment using the DK crush technique. The lesion was recanalized through percutaneous access of the ipsilateral superficial femoral artery, and a guidewire was placed in the peroneal and posterior tibial arteries. The TPT bifurcation was predilated in kissing (1st kissing balloon), and a balloon-expandable stent (Xience Sierra® 3×18mm) was placed in the posterior tibialis (PT). Subsequently, a second balloon-expandable stent (Xience Sierra® 3.5×18mm) was placed in the peroneal artery with the consequent crush of the proximal portion of the 1st stent. The PT guidewire was removed and reintroduced through the stent mesh, and then the second kissing balloon of the bifurcation was performed, with an excellent angiographic result. Finally, femoropopliteal angioplasty was performed with placement of self-expanding stents (Zilver PTX®) in increasing degrees. The patient had no complaints and maintained patency of the entire arterial axis at nine months of follow-up, namely the peroneal and PT arteries, evident on the control ultrasound. Conclusion: In the case presented here, the adaptation of the DK crush technique to the tibial-peroneal territory allowed the effective revascularization of a complex arterial lesion, with good results in the medium term.

Aorto-iliac occlusive disease sometimes extends proximally with involvement of the renal arteries and visceral aorta, with loss of renal functional mass and intestinal ischemia. In this article we report the case of a patient presenting with progressive disabling intermittent claudication caused by chronic juxtarenal aortic thrombosis with proximal progression and involvement of the left renal artery, with a functional kidney preserved by the collateral circulation. This imagiologic finding led to a change in the usual surgical procedure, needing a supraceliac aortic clamp. Simultaneously, we choose to revascularize the left renal artery while perfunding the right renal artery with cold Ringer’s lactate solution during clamping period. No complications occurred during the surgery and post-operative period. Renal involvement in aortic juxtarenal thrombosis occurs in 3 to 15% of the cases but demands a more complex surgical approach with more proximal aortic clamping level as well as the use of intraoperative strategies to protect the visceral and renal territories.

Introduction: Inadequate systemic perfusion as a consequence of heart disease may compromise inflow to lower limb revascularization procedures, decreasing short and mid-term patency. It may be theorized that patients suffering from heart valve disease or reduction of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) have worse limb outcomes after lower limb revascularization. Method: This retrospective study included all first lower limb revascularization procedures performed in a tertiary hospital, between January 2017 and December 2018, in patients with diagnosed PAD and an available preoperative transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). The group with moderate to severe heart disease in TTE (Group 1, defined as LVEF<40% or moderate to severe valvular heart disease) was compared against the group with no or mild heart disease in TTE (Group 2, defined as LVEF≥40% and no or mild valvular heart disease). Subgroup analysis was undertaken considering the presence and severity of the individual heart change on TTE. Primary endpoint was major amputation, and secondary endpoints were diagnosed restenosis/occlusion, vascular reintervention and overall survival. Results: The study included 268 lower limb revascularization procedures. Group 1 and 2 included 70 and 198 procedures, respectively. In both groups, the prevalence of CLTI was 89%. There were no significant differences in wound and infection grading (in WIfI), and anatomic disease staging (in GLASS), between Groups 1 and 2. In Group 1, 73% were endovascular procedures (65% in Group 2; p=0,34). Amputation rates in Group 1 and 2 were 9% and 13% at 1 month, 19% and 20% at 1 year and 19% and 22% at 2 years, respectively (p=0,758). Diagnosed restenosis/occlusion rates in Group 1 and 2 were 5% and 15% at 1 month, 18% and 26% at 1 year and 24% and 31% at 2 years, respectively (p=0,119). Reintervention rates in Group 1 and 2 were 13% and 18% at 1 month, 25% and 27% at 1 year and 30% and 32% at 2 years, respectively (p=0,614). After subgroup analysis according to the presence and severity of individual heart change, the difference remained non-significant for the above-mentioned outcomes. Overall survival in Group 1 and 2 was 92% and 96% at 1 month, 61% and 86% at 1 year and 52% and 80% at 2 years, respectively (p<0,001). LVEF<40% was associated with worse overall survival (p<0,001), as was moderate to severe valvular heart disease (p=0,004). Conclusion: Our study suggests that moderate to severe heart disease, detected in TTE, does not influence limb-related outcomes after revascularization procedures. However, patients with valvular heart disease or LVEF reduction have worse overall survival. We should not expect worse limb outcomes in patients with heart disease, but aggressive tertiary prevention should be provided to improve vital prognosis.

Introduction: Prosthetic graft infection is one of the most feared complications after aortic surgery (0,19% after conventional surgery and 0,16% after EVAR). Clinical case: Male patient, 53 years-old, with a prior history of hypertension, dyslipidemia, stroke, smoking habits, was submitted in 2015 to an aorto-bifemoral bypass for aortic occlusive disease. In October 2019 the angio CT showed signs of prosthetic graft infection and an aorto-enteric fistula. The patient was initiated on vancomycin and was submitted to an axillofemoral bypass and after 5 days, submitted to aortic ligation and correction of the enteric defect. The aortic stump was reinforced with a bovine pericardium patch. The graft microbiology identified Candida glabrata, Enterobacter cloacae e Klebsiella pneumoniae. Few months after, the follow-up angio CT showed an aortic stump collection suggesting infection and abscess formation and the authors proposed an aortic stump revision in order to remove the infected tissue. Via thoraco-phreno-laparotomy, the abdominal aorta was exposed by retroperioneal access, and all infected tissue including the pericardium patch was excised. The microbiology of the pericardium bovine patch resected revealed Candida glabrata and Enterococcus faecium. The patient was discharged with antibiotics and cautious follow-up. Conclusion: In patients with low profile surgical risk, an aggressive strategy may offer the best effective treatment chance for patients presenting with aortic prosthetic graft infection and pericardium bovine patch infection. Nevertheless, these patients require long term follow-up due to the risk of recurrence. Pericardium patches may infect if implanted in contaminated tissue, so autologous grafts should be the preference whenever possible.

Introduction: It is estimated that approximately 20 to 40% of patients with chronic type B aortic dissection (CTBAD) develop enlargement of the FL that warrants treatment. The standard endovascular treatment usually involves implant of a stent graft into the true lumen of the dissection in an effort to exclude the false lumen, with less morbidity than open surgery. Clinical case: The patient was a 65 year old male, with a prior history of hypertension, dyslipidemia and chronic kidney disease. He was referred to our vascular center for a CTBD, with thoracoabdominal aneurysm degeneration (Crawford type II) with a maximum diameter of 85mm. The celiac trunk, superior mesenteric and right renal artery arose from the false lumen and left renal artery from the true lumen. A three stage procedure was planned. The patient was first submitted to a carotid-subclavian bypass. Subsequently, a frozen elephant trunk procedure was undertaken and the TEVAR component was intentionally deployed on the false lumen. Lastly, a customized branched stent graft was implanted into the false lumen, with the right renal artery catheterized through a fenestration created for the effect. The angioCT at 1 month showed adequate proximal and distal sealing and permeable visceral branches. The true lumen was partially thrombosed. Conclusion: Implant of a branched graft into the false lumen of an aortic dissection in order to exclude a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm is possible, and can be a solution, with successful exclusion of the aneurysmal degeneration. The durability of this solution remains largely unknown and cautious follow-up is needed.

Introduction: In chronic aortic dissection complicated with aneurysmal degeneration, there are commonly spontaneous tears between true and false lumen at the level of visceral arteries. However, in its absence or difficult identification, treatment with f/bEVAR is limited. In these, it may be required a fenestration procedure to allow visceral vessels access. Methods / Results: We present two case-reports of patients that underwent dissection flap fenestration procedures followed by f/bEVAR. In both patients, one-year follow-up CT scans show endoprosthesis and visceral branches patency, reduction of aneurysmal sac and absence of dissection or endoleaks. Conclusions: In fenestration creation, chronic dissection flap rigidity may require coarse devices with increased risk of aortic rupture, as TIPS needle. To prevent this complication, besides meticulous preoperative planning by CT angiography, intraoperative identification of true and false lumen using IVUS or double aortic lumen angiography is required. In presented cases, this technique was effective.

Introduction: Off-the-shelf multi-branched stent grafts, such as Cook t-Branch®, emerged as an alternative for the prompt treatment of thoracoabdominal aneurysms (ATA). Objective/Technique: In our institution, the use of the Cook T-Branch® stent graft has been carried out in urgent cases and in some elective cases with favorable anatomy and in which it is not advisable to wait for the production of a custom-made device (CMD). The accumulated experience justifies the purpose of this review article, which aims to describe the deployment, some adjuvant techniques and some tips and tricks that may facilitate the learning curve in centers with less contact with this platform. Conclusion: The use of off-the-shelf multi-branched stent grafts, such as Cook T-Branch®, is a safe and viable alternative for the treatment of ATA. The main advantage of this approach is its prompt accessibility. As we advance in the learning curve and new adjuvant techniques are acquired, their applicability is significantly increased, both in the urgent and elective context.

Introduction: Sex-specific data on outcomes after lower limb revascularization associate the female gender with worse surgical outcomes, particularly after open procedures. Women were found to be more likely to suffer from procedure complications, limb loss, and mortality than their male counterparts. This study aims to identify differences in demographic characteristics, clinical presentation and all major outcomes after lower limb revascularization between female and male patients. Methods: This retrospective, single-center study comprises all never-revascularized lower limbs in patients with clinically diagnosed PAD who underwent a lower limb therapeutic vascular intervention in a tertiary hospital between January 2017 and December 2018. Women's limbs Group (F) was compared against men's limbs Group (M). The primary endpoint was major amputation, and the secondary endpoints were restenosis/occlusion, vascular reintervention and overall survival. Subgroup analysis was undertaken considering open, endovascular or hybrid procedures. Results: Group M included 324 male lower limbs; patients had a mean age of 67,5 years. Group F included 96 female lower limbs; patients had a mean age of 71,7 years (p<0,001). There were no significant differences in cardiovascular risk factors between groups, aside from a higher prevalence of smoking in Group M and hypertension in Group F (p<0.001). 83% of Group F procedures and 79% of procedures in Group M were performed due to CLTI (p=0,321). We found no statistically significant difference between groups regarding wound or infection grading (WIfI) and femoropopliteal or BTA anatomic disease staging (GLASS). Group M was more likely to have aortoiliac (p=0,014) and common femoral artery disease (p=0.001), and Group F to have more severe BTK disease (p=0,012). Group F had a higher proportion of endovascular procedures (p<0.001). Amputation rates in Group M and Group F were 8±2% and 7±3% at 1 month, 14±2% and 16±4% at 1 year, 15±2% and 19±4% at 2 years, respectively (p=0,564). There were no significant differences in rates of procedure restenosis/occlusion between groups (p=0,395). Reintervention rates in Group M and Group F were 13±2% and 13±3% at 1 month, 21±2% and 20±4% at 1 year, 25±3% and 24±5% at 2 years, respectively (p=0,74). Overall survival in Group M and Group F was 97±1% and 93±3% at 1 month, 84±2% and 84±4% at 1 year, 77±3% and 72±5% at 2 years, respectively (p=0,443). Stratifying according to the type of vascular procedure (open, endovascular or hybrid), we found no significant difference between groups in the outcomes mentioned above. Conclusion: Overall, women were more likely to be older, to have more severe BTK disease, and to undergo endovascular procedures. However, this study suggests no major differences in limb outcomes for women who undergo lower limb revascularization procedures.

Chronic periaortitis and retroperitoneal fibrosis are related entities that develop with periaortic inflammation and deposition of fibroinflammatory tissue in the retroperitoneal space. This pathological fibroinflammatory process may be associated with endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (EVAR) as well as the treatment of aortoiliac arterial occlusive disease with stent/stent-graft implantation. We performed a systematic review of the literature in the MEDLINE database of original articles that documented the development of periaortitis after endovascular aortoiliac treatment for occlusive and aneurysmatic arterial disease. We included a total of 12 articles describing 14 cases of this complication. Most of the reported cases are related to the development of periaortitis after EVAR in the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). The majority of patients are male, with ages ranging from 45 to 78 years. This complication was verified with the use of different devices that included nitinol or stainless-steel stents. In the case of stent-grafts this complication occurred with both polyester and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coverings. The severity of the clinical picture was also highly variable, with some cases presenting with hydronephrosis resulting from urethral obstruction. Treatment with corticotherapy, tamoxifen, or a combination of the two was effective in all cases. Periaortitis is an extremely rare complication of aortoiliac endovascular treatment. Similar to idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis, corticosteroid therapy appears to be highly effective and early treatment seems to be essential to avoid complications.

Introduction: Acute renal ischemia has a low incidence. Literature evidence of its surgical treatment is based on case series, and there are no well-defined indications for renal revascularization in this setting.  Methods: Observational and retrospective study, based on clinical records from patients that underwent renal artery revascularization due to acute renal ischemia, at a tertiary university hospital, from January 2011 to June 2020. Primary endpoint was 30 days dialysis rate, and secondary endpoints were 30 days de novo chronic kidney disease rate and 30 days survival.  Results: Eleven patients with acute renal ischemia were included. The causes of renal artery occlusion were: aortic dissection (N=3), native renal artery thrombosis (N=3), thrombosis of a previously revascularized renal artery (N=3), embolism (N=1) and closed trauma (N=1). Two of these affected patients with a single kidney. The median time from symptom onset to surgical revascularization was 24 hours. Two patients had previously known chronic kidney disease. Clinical presentation was lumbar or abdominal pain (n=8), non-controlled hypertension (N=5), or oligoanuria (N=5). The diagnosis was made by CTA in all patients. In all cases, the main renal artery was involved (N=9 from its ostium), and there was some degree of affected kidney contrast enhancement. Unilateral endovascular revascularization was performed with angiographic success in 10 patients; it was performed a bilateral endovascular revascularization in one of the three patients who had bilateral renal ischemia. Except for one patient with stent occlusion (that underwent DCB angioplasty), all patients underwent stent angioplasty (6 using covered stents). Two patients presented postoperative oligoanuria, and four required at least one dialysis session. At 30 days, the rate of dialysis was 11% (one patient with traumatic bilateral acute renal ischemia with 13 hours evolution), and the percentage of de novo chronic kidney disease was 22%. The 30-day survival was 90%.  Conclusion: In this population, we can foresee the reversion of acute renal ischemia, even after prolonged renal artery occlusions. However, with our data, it is not possible to predict which patients will recover previous renal function after urgent revascularization with angiographic success. For being prompt and less invasive, endovascular treatment is the first surgical option for acute renal ischemia treatment at our institution.

INTRODUCTION: After noncardiac surgery, cardiac complications are common. Recently there is one that has gained notoriety as risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS). It has an estimated incidence of 8% and is associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Thus, the aim of this paper is to review the available literature regarding MINS in Vascular Surgery. METHODS: A Medline search was performed in order to identify articles focused on MINS and its pathophysiology and effect on outcomes in Vascular Surgery. Additional articles of scientific interest for the purpose of this non-systematic review were included by cross-referencing. RESULTS: The incidence of MINS in Vascular Surgery is of at least 15%, higher than in other surgical specialties. As in other areas, MINS has been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients submitted to a vascular surgery. Meanwhile, troponin measurement in the post-operative period is only recommended in high risk patients. Despite the lack of consensus regarding protective factors, dabigatran and statins have showed potential as treatment after the diagnosis of MINS. CONCLUSION: The available evidence identifies MINS as a factor that carries significant worse outcomes in patients that underwent a vascular surgery, although it remains a largely unexplored area.