Application of Combined Superficial Femoral Artery Stenting and Deep Femoral Artery Profundoplasty in Chinese Patients With Lower Extremity Artery Disease

Objective: Lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) increases sharply with age and results in severe burden in individuals and in society. This study aimed to compare the efficiency of simple superficial femoral artery stenting (SFAS) and the hybrid operation, such as combined SFAS and deep femoral artery profundoplasty (DFAP), in the treatment of Chinese patients with LEAD, classified as Rutherford grades 3–5.Methods: There were 200 patients with LEAD classified as Rutherford grades 3–5 included in the simple SFAS group (n = 100) and the combined SFAS and DFAP group (n = 100).Results: All the patients had median age of 71 years, and there were 143 males (71.5%). Not only the increase rate of ankle brachial index (ABI), but also reduction rate of Rutherford grade, were significantly higher after surgery in the combined SFAS and DFAP group than in the simple SFAS group (P < 0.05 for all). The patency rate of patients in the combined SFAS and DFAP group was significantly higher than that of patients in the simple SFAS group during the follow-up (P < 0.05). Proportion of amputation and claudication distance <200 m had no significant difference between the two groups during the 2-year follow-up (P > 0.05 for all).Conclusion: This study demonstrated that, compared with SFAS, combined SFAS and DFAP improved not only the ABI and the Rutherford grade after surgery but also the patency rate during the follow-up in Chinese patients with LEAD. Hybrid operation has significant value in alleviating clinical symptoms after surgery, and, thereby, improving vascular prognosis in Chinese patients.

Study of endovascular treatment in obstructive aortoiliac lesions: Immediate and short-term results

Objective: Aorto-iliac occlusive disease (AIOD) is a common atherosclerotic disease causing significant morbidity. Transatlantic intersociety consensus for the management of peripheral arterial disease (TASC II) recommends endovascular therapy (ET) for better management of patients with lesions type A and B. With the advent of endovascular therapy, type C and D lesions management is becoming more feasible with endovascular therapy than open surgery for aorto-iliac occlusive disease. We aimed to evaluate patients with AOID and to describe short-term outcome of endovascular treatment for such lesions. Methods: Patients with aorto-iliac occlusive diseases who underwent endovascular therapy were enrolled in the study. Their demographic data and risk factors were recorded. Patients were followed at 3 and 6 months and their primary patency rate and symptom status were recorded. Results: We enrolled 100 patients with a mean age of 59.77 (8.75) years with the majority of patients being male. The most common presentation was claudication (59%) followed by rest pain (31%) and gangrene (20%). The majority of patients had Transatlantic inter-society consensus (TASC) II type A (44%) and type B (31%) lesions; 15% of patients had types C lesions and the remaining 10% patients had type D lesions. Access site hematoma and contrast-induced nephropathy were present in 7% and 5% of patients respectively. Stent patency rate was 97% and 95% at 3 and 6 months follow up respectively. Conclusion: Endovascular therapy in aorto-iliac occlusive disease is a safe, effective, and low-cost treatment option with a high patency rate and symptomatic improvement in the short-term.

Comparison of the efficacies of 1.0mm and 1.5mm silicone tubes for the treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction

Purpose: We compared the difference in postoperative patency rates due to the differences in the diameter of silicone tubes used for bicanalicular intubation for the treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO). Methods: Patients diagnosed with NLDO at Ehime University Hospital between August 2013 and November 2020 who underwent endoscopic-assisted nasolacrimal duct intubation (ENDI) were included in the study. The patients involved were 130 cases and 157 sides (age 72.6 ± 11.3 years) who were eligible for follow-up for more than six months after the removal of the lacrimal silicone tube. The postoperative recurrence rate was compared retrospectively based on the difference in tube caliber. The patients were divided into two groups: those intubated with a 1.5-mm large diameter tube (Group LD) and those with a 1.0-mm normal diameter tube (Group ND). The survival rates of the two groups at one year after tube removal were compared by Kaplan-Meier's curve and Restricted mean survival time (RMST) method with τ = 365 days. Results: There were no significant differences in age, gender, or observation period after tube removal between the two groups. Meanwhile, the preoperative occlusion period was significantly longer in the ND group. The recurrence rate after tube removal was significantly lower in the LD group (12 / 85 sides, 14.1%) compared to the ND group (27 / 72 sides, 37.5%) (p = 0.001). The patency rate at one year after removal of the lacrimal tube was 0.857 (0.754-0.919) in the LD group and 0.739 (0.617-0.828) in the ND group. In comparing patency rates by the RMST method at τ = 365 days, the RMST difference, RMST ratio, and RMTL ratio were significantly higher in the LD group at p = 0.045, 0.052, and 0.046, respectively. Conclusion: Regarding the bicanalicular silicone tube intubation, the patency rate at one year after removal was significantly higher in the thicker tubes with a diameter of 1.5 mm compared with that of a diameter of 1.0 mm for the treatment of NLDO.

Surgical peripheral iridotomy creation during intraocular surgery by intraocular diathermy probe—a novel technique

A novel technique for the creation of surgical iridotomies using a bipolar diathermic probe is described. In a cohort comprising 19 eyes of 18 patients, a 100% patency rate was achieved, with no intra- or postoperative complications.

Long-term patency rate of the translocated autologous saphenous vein versus prosthetic material in vascular access surgery for haemodialysis and parenteral nutrition

Objective: To evaluate the long-term patency rate of the arteriovenous angioaccess (AVA) with interposition of either autologous or prosthetic material as a last option for vascular access in the upper extremity. Methods: This is a retrospective chart review study of all patients who received an AVA with autologous saphenous vein (SV Group, n = 38) or prosthetic material (PTFE Group, n = 25) as a conduit from the year 1996 to 2020 in the Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc). Data were retrospectively extracted from two prospectively updated local databases for vascular access, one for haemodialysis (HD) and one for parenteral nutrition (PN). When required, the medical records of each patient were used. Data were eventually collected anonymously and analysed in SPSS 25. Kaplan-Meier life-tables were used for the statistical analysis. Results: Primary patency at 12 and 48 months was 30% and 20% in the SV group and 45% and 14% in the PTFE group. No significant difference was shown in the median primary patency rate ( p = 0.715). Secondary patency at 12 and 48 months was 63% and 39% in the SV group and 55% and 19% in the PTFE group. This was considered a significant difference in median secondary patency in favour of the SV with 41.16 ± 17.67 months against 13.77 ± 10.22 months for PTFE ( p = 0.032). The incidence of infection was significantly lower in the SV group ( p = 0.0002). A Kaplan-Meier curve could not detect a significant difference in secondary patency between the access for haemodialysis and the access for parenteral nutrition. The secondary patency of the SV in parenteral nutrition access, was significantly higher when compared with PTFE ( p = 0.004). Conclusion: The SV can be preferred over PTFE when conduit material is needed for long-term vascular access for HD or PN treatment due to its higher secondary patency and lower infection risk.

Trans-radial percutaneous intervention for thrombosed hemodialysis access: A single-center experience

Background: Traditionally, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is a first-line approach for stenosed dialysis accesses and has been performed through the non-thrombosed vein segment. For thrombosed accesses, thrombectomy (whether open or percutaneous) is a standard approach. The primary objective of our study is to determine the clinical and technical outcomes of the trans-radial approach of PTA among thrombosed dialysis accesses, in terms of safety and feasibility, technical and clinical aspects and factors influencing them, as well as assisted primary patency, secondary patency at 6 and 12 months. Methods: This is a single-center retrospective study that included 150 patients over 3 years. About 123 patients underwent successful percutaneous balloon angioplasty through the radial access. Results: We report an overall technical and clinical success rate of 82%, assisted primary patency rate of about 90.25% at 3 months, 82.93% at 6 months, 73.18% at 1 year, and secondary patency rate of 94% at 1 year. Twenty-seven patients were referred for surgical revisions/creation of a new fistula for reasons like inability to pass wire (6 patients), unfavorable anatomical variations like aneurysms at the proximal segments (5 patients), inability to cross the fistula (5 patients), and persistent fistula dysfunction with no flow after initial balloon dilatation (11 patients). Three patients had hematoma at the radial access site (2.5%) while two patients had the AV fistula segment rupture and were successfully treated conservatively. Conclusion: We conclude that PTA through the trans-radial approach to completely thrombosed hemodialysis accesses is a good alternative to transvenous access and has a very good assisted primary patency and secondary patency at 1 year without major complications.

Treatment Failure of Venous Stenting With or Without Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOAC) / Non-Vitamin K Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs) in Patients With Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) in Term of the Stent Patency: Protocol for a Systematic Review

Background: Venous stenting plays a significant role in the treatment of acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT). But the adjuvant anti-coagulant therapy could also help to more successful patency rate. We hope to elucidate the differences in the patency rate of venous stenting with or without direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) / non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs). Methods: Studies that work on the stent patency rate in venous stent with or without DOAC / NOAC will be included. The primary studies (Cohort, case control, case-series or randomized/ non-randomized trials) will be included if the participants / patients have had acute or chronic DVT, with venous stenting (at least one study group or all of study subjects) who have received DOAC / NOAC agents. The stent patency rate should be reported in all of study subjects within a follow-up time, minimum for 1 year. We will perform an electronic search on published or in press articles, which have been published in MEDLINE / PubMed, Embase, the online Cochrane database, CENTRAL and searches of clinical trial registries: clinicalTrials.gov, EU Clinical Trials, ISRCTN registry, WHO network registry for trials. PROSPERO databases will be manually searched for protocols.After screening of the relevant articles, selection and data extraction will be conducted in duplicate and independently. Methodological quality of the selected studies will be assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) tool. We will use “Hazard Ratio” (HR) as the optimum Effect Size (ES) in this meta-analysis, otherwise we will use or calculate “Risk Ratio” (RR) or “Odds Ratio” (OR) ES measures as the selected study specific ES. Discussion: In this review, we hope to find the treatment failure/ success rate of venous stenting with or without DOAC / NOAC regards to the stent patency rate and will try to provide insights into the right choice of anti-coagulant therapy.Submitted to PROSPERO (20/9/2021): CRD42021274542

Sedoanalgesia with intravenous midazolam and fentanyl for angioplasty of dysfunctional arteriovenous access: A retrospective single-center analysis

Background: Endovascular therapy, such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), stenting, or embolization, is a well-established form of treatment to prolong the lifespan of arteriovenous access. These procedures, especially PTA, can be accompanied with severe pain. We reviewed and analyzed the efficacy, safety, and outcome of sedoanalgesia using intravenous midazolam and fentanyl, for pain relief during these procedures. Methods: Two hundred and two consecutive patients with dysfunctional dialysis access that had undergone endovascular procedure in our institute between July and November 2017 were included in this study. The dialysis access profile, procedure complication, and 10-point Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were collected. One-year clinical follow-up record was also collected to evaluate arteriovenous access patency and long-term complications. Results: Among the 202 patients, the mean age was (mean ± SD) 67.0 ± 12.08 years. Dialysis access profile of these patients were 119 (58.9%) native arteriovenous fistula and 162 (74.2%) forearm access. The number of lesions treated were 1.63 ± 0.802. Immediate complications included 11 (5.44%) nausea/vomiting, 24 (11.88%) desaturation (SpO2 < 90%, resolved after pillow removal or jaw trust), 16 (7.9%) hypotension (SBP < 90 mmHg, resolved without inotropic agents). There was a low average pain score (1.16 ± 1.594) during the procedure with 136 (67.3%) no pain (VAS 0–1) and 56 (27.7%) mild pain (VAS 2–4). Higher VAS score correlated with overweight patients, longer PTA time and pain after procedure. Six-month primary patency rate was 49.17% and primary assisted patency rate was 93.04%. Conclusions: Sedoanalgesia with intravenous midazolam and fentanyl is an easy, safe, and effective method for surgeons.