Severe iliofemoral calcification can compromise emergency endovascular control of access-site bleeding by preventing full covered-stent expansion at the landing zone. A 78-year-old man developed hemodynamic instability, right-flank pain, and severe anemia 6 h after ultrasound-guided right transfemoral primary percutaneous coronary intervention for anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated a large right retroperitoneal hematoma with active extravasation from the distal external iliac artery, immediately proximal to a bulky calcified plaque involving the proximal common femoral artery (CFA). Through ultrasound-guided contralateral femoral access, an 8 mm × 60 mm self-expanding covered stent achieved immediate sealing of the external iliac artery injury but remained markedly underexpanded distally at the calcified CFA landing zone. Conventional 8-mm balloon post-dilation was attempted, but residual underexpansion persisted; further high-pressure dilation was avoided because of concern for rupture or perforation of the calcified iliofemoral segment and loss of the newly achieved seal. Bailout intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) with an 8 mm × 60 mm balloon consisted of 150 pulses delivered at 4 atm in repeated sequences, each followed by nominal-pressure post-dilation of the same balloon at 6 atm. Final angiography showed improved covered-stent expansion with approximately 30% residual stenosis and no recurrent extravasation, dissection, perforation, or distal embolization. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 8. At 12-month follow-up, duplex ultrasound confirmed covered-stent patency without edge stenosis, pseudoaneurysm, or hemodynamically significant restenosis. This case illustrates that IVL may provide a low-pressure bailout option for calcium-mediated peripheral covered-stent underexpansion during emergency vascular access-site repair; however, this off-label use requires careful device sizing, attention to covered-stent integrity, and structured imaging surveillance.

Aims:The hemodynamic consequences of aortic stenosis (AS) on supra-aortic trunks may play a potential role during the diagnosis of concomitant internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis by dampening blood flow velocity. To investigate the effect of AS on ICA blood flow we evaluated carotid and vertebral blood flow velocity indexes in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Methods and results:Patients admitted for endovascular treatment of a severe AS underwent supra-aortic duplex ultrasound examination prior and after TAVI to be enrolled in the study. Patients with symptomatic or severe ICA stenosis were excluded. Patients with other cardiac impairments that could configure a confounding factor were excluded. One hundred and five patients of a median age of 80 years met the study inclusion criteria. The median peak systolic velocity (PSV) of the assessed supra-aortic arteries increased after TAVI: common carotid artery (CCA) from 64.5 to 78.0 cm/s (+24%; P < 0.01), ICA from 67.0 to 90.5 cm/s (+36%; P < 0.01), and vertebral artery (VA) from 44.0 to 51.0 cm/s (+17%; P < 0.01). Median end-diastolic velocity (EDV) also increased: CCA from 12.0 to 14.0 cm/s (+12%; P < 0.01), ICA from 19.0 to 23.0 cm/s (+20%; P < 0.01), and VA from 10.0 to 11.0 cm/s (+18%; P < 0.01). In parallel, median acceleration time (AT) decreased markedly at each site: CCA from 0.180 to 0.100 s (-44%; P < 0.01), ICA from 0.195 to 0.100 s (-41%; P < 0.01), and VA from 0.180 to 0.100 s (-36%; P < 0.01). Conclusion:Severe AS significantly affects supra-aortic arteries blood flow as assessed by duplex, by decreasing both PSV and EDV and increasing AT. This study suggests that carotid ultrasound criteria to assess ICA stenosis severity should be re-evaluated in larger multi-centre studies to validate their predictive values in patients with concomitant AS.

Late type II endoleaks (T2ELs) arising from the internal iliac artery (IIA) may present during follow-up after endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) of aortoiliac aneurysm and may warrant embolization if enlargement of the aneurysmal sac is demonstrated. When coverage of the IIA ostium has been made due to extensive iliac disease, access options can be challenging. Different treatment options have been reported over recent years, and a careful selection of the best one must be made based on the characteristics of each case. The present study reports a simple and reproducible sheathless percutaneous superior gluteal artery (SGA) access and provides a discussion based on a review of the existing literature on this topic.

Objective: The stent cell design has been advocated as a crucial factor that may impact on reducing cerebrovascular ischaemic events during carotid artery stenting (CAS). New generation dual layer stents (DLSs) seem to perform better than the previous generations but long term data are lacking. The present multicentre study investigated the association between stent cell design and stroke prevention in asymptomatic patients undergoing CAS.

Purpose: The study investigated the association between cell-stent area and cerebrovascular events incidence in asymptomatic patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS). Materials and Methods: This is an observational, retrospective, multicenter, cohort study. Between 2012 and 2022, all patients undergoing primary CAS for severe asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis were evaluated. Three groups were defined on the basis of the cell area (open cell, OC; closed cell, CC; double layer, DL). Periprocedural primary outcomes were 30-day stroke, mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and major adverse event (MAE, stroke/mortality composite outcome) rates. Follow-up primary outcomes included overall survival, stroke-free survival (SFS), freedom from ipsilateral stroke (FFiS), and freedom from stroke-related mortality (FF-SRM). Data were analyzed at short-term (1 year) and mid-term (2.5 years) period. Results: A total of 1096 CAS were considered (787 men, 71.8%, median age = 74 years). Technical success was achieved in 99.5% procedures. Periprocedural 30-day stroke rate was 1.5% (OC: 1.1%, CC: 2.3%, DL: 1%, p=0.27), mortality was 0.7% (OC: 1.1%, CC: 0.3%, DL: 0.5%, p=0.35), and no MI was recorded. The MAE rate was 2.1% (OC: 2%, CC: 2.6%, DL: 1.5%, p=0.66). Median follow-up was 46 months. At 1 and 2.5 years, estimated overall survival was 96.1% and 91% (p=0.41), SFS was 99.1% and 98.2% (p=0.007, CC stroke rates 2.9% and 4.2% at timepoints), FFiS was 99.4% and 99% (p=0.014, CC FFiS rates 1.7% and 2.6% at timepoints) and FF-SRM was 99.5% and 99% (p=0.28). During follow-up, no stroke events occurred in DL group. CC design showed higher rates of any (4.2%) and ipsilateral stroke (2.6%) within 2.5 years. Conclusion: In asymptomatic patients undergoing CAS, the contemporary overall stroke incidence is 1.5%. No statistical differences were observed in terms of 30-day stroke incidence among groups. The closed free-cell area showed higher rates of any and ipsilateral stroke within 2.5 years. The DL stents may offer the best available performances in terms of mid-term stroke prevention. Clinical Impact The study analyzed the contemporary results of carotid artery stenting (CAS) focusing on the impact of cell-stent area on peri- and post-operative cerebrovascular events in a multicenter real-world experience. In asymptomatic patients undergoing CAS the contemporary overall stroke incidence is 1.5%. No statistical differences were observed in terms of 30-day stroke incidence among groups. The closed free-cell area showed higher rates of any and ipsilateral stroke within 2.5 years. DL stents may offer the best available performances in terms of mid-term stroke prevention.

BACKGROUND: When performing a conventional CEA it is recommended the use of patch angioplasty (PA), since previous meta-analyses have shown PA to be superior to primary closure (PRC) in terms of stroke and restenosis rates. Different materials patches can be employed although none of them has been proved to be superior. Although autologous veins are potentially more resistant to immediate thrombosis as well as infection, cons may be represented by patch rupture and late dilatation. Aim of this study is to evaluate immediate and long-term results of CEA with saphenous vein patch angioplasty (SVPA) in a single-center experience.METHODS: A retrospective study was performed analyzing all patients undergoing CEA with SVPA at our institution from January 2012 to March 2020. CEA was performed in symptomatic patients with 50-99% carotid stenosis degree or asymptomatic patients with 70-99% stenosis degree. Exclusion criteria were critical limb ischemia, varicose disease, unavailability of saphenous veins, vein diameter <3.5 mm. All CEAs were performed under general anesthesia with rou-tine shunting. Primary endpoints were perioperative stroke, death, carotid thrombosis and hematoma requiring surgery rates. Secondary endpoints included the rate of recurrent stenosis >70%, patch aneurysm/rupture/infection at follow-up.RESULTS: Overall, 488 interventions were performed on 461 patients. Most patients were male (77.8%) with a mean age of 71.2 +/- 8.3 years. Thirty-day mortality and stroke rates were 0.4% and 1.2% respectively. Carotid thrombosis oc-curred in five patients (1%). Five patients (1%) developed a surgical site hematoma requiring surgical drainage. At a mean follow-up of 34.4 +/- 25.8 months 12 restenoses (2.5%) were detected. Five-year freedom from restenosis rate was 96.7%. Restenosis at follow-up was more frequent in patients who had contralateral carotid stenosis (P=0.019). Two patients (0.4%) developed carotid patch aneurysmal degeneration at a mean follow-up of 78.7 months. No infection nor patch disruption were detected.CONCLUSIONS: CEA with SVPA resulted safe and effective in terms of early and late results. The perioperative com-plications rates we recorded were quite similar to those reported by other larger reviews and meta-analyses.

Pseudoaneurysm (PA) following carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is a rare and dangerous complication. In recent years endovascular approach has been preferred to open surgery as it is less invasive and reduces complications in an already operated neck, especially cranial nerve injuries. We report a case of large post-CEA PA causing dysphagia, successfully treated by deployment of two balloon-expandable covered stents and coil embolization of the external carotid artery. A literature review dealing with all cases of post-CEA PAs since 2000 treated by endovascular means is also reported. The research was conducted on Pubmed database using keywords "carotid pseudoaneurysm after carotid endarterectomy," "false aneurysm after carotid endarterectomy," "postcarotid endarterectomy pseudoaneurysm," and "carotid pseudoaneurysm."

A 33-year-old man had been referred to our emergency department for acute respiratory failure. Pulmonary embolism was diagnosed using contrast-enhanced computed tomography. On clinical examination, a painless, nonpulsatile mass was present in the right groin. The patient had no history of trauma or previous intervention in that anatomic region. Duplex ultrasound of the lower limbs showed a large, partially thrombosed aneurysm of the right great saphenous vein, measuring 50 × 47 mm, that was next to, but not involving, the saphenofemoral junction (A).

Background Many patients with critical lower limb ischemia are not eligible for revascularization procedures. Still, given the emerging role of both platelet and coagulation activation in the formation of arterial thrombi, they may benefit from the novel anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs. Case presentation We describe the case of a male with critical lower limb ischemia complicated by older age, frailty, polymorbidity and non valvular atrial fibrillation, who was deemed as non eligible for surgery. The patient was successfully treated with the combination of rivaroxaban and cilostazol, and the clinical benefit was maintained throughout 32 months, with no occurrence of major or minor hemorrhagic or thrombotic events. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report on the efficacy and safety of such a combination therapy in critical lower limb ischemia. In a clinical setting in which alternative pharmacological approaches are urgently needed, the association of rivaroxaban and cilostazol warrants further investigations.

BACKGROUND:Despite recent advances in endovascular techniques, surgical endarterectomy remains the "gold standard" for treatment of atherosclerotic lesions of the femoral bifurcation. Eversion endarterectomy (EE) of the femoral bifurcation is a well-known technique that ensures an extensive plaque removal; furthermore, EE can be performed to avoid the use of prosthetic material. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the EE of the femoral bifurcation in a contemporary prospective series from a single-center experience.MATERIALS AND METHODS:All patients undergoing EE at our institution between January 2014 and December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. EE was performed as an isolated procedure or in a hybrid fashion. Clinical presentation was defined according to Rutherford's classification. End points included major complications and patency rates.RESULTS:Thirty-three EEs were performed on 31 patients during the study period. Thirteen procedures (39%) were performed in a hybrid fashion with concurrent endovascular interventions. Technical success was achieved in 100%. Thirty-day mortality was null, whereas 5 overall complications (15%) were recorded; among those, 2 (6%) were major. In both cases, an early thrombosis of the femoral bifurcation occurred, successfully treated by a short Dacron replacement of the common femoral artery. During follow-up, no femoral pseudoaneurysm or groin infections were observed. Two restenosis occurred at 7 and 10 months after EE, respectively. Two-year primary patency and assisted primary patency rates were 87% and 100%, respectively. During follow-up, two patients underwent percutaneous revascularization of the contralateral femoropopliteal axis at 5 and 8 months after EE, respectively. In both of them, the procedure was successfully performed through direct puncture of the endoarterectomized common femoral artery, without any access-site complications.CONCLUSIONS:Endarterectomy remains the gold standard in the treatment of atherosclerotic lesions of the femoral bifurcation with excellent long-term patency rates. Furthermore, EE adds the advantages of avoiding the use of prosthetic materials in the groin and the possibility to use the treated vessels as access for further percutaneous procedures.

BACKGROUND To evaluate the impact of iliac artery's diameters, tortuosity, and peripheral vascular patency on outcome of elective endovascular repair (EVAR) of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) in 2 high volume vascular centers' experience. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted on a prospectively collected database between 2010 and 2012. Anatomical features at pre-operative computed tomography (CTA) considered as potentially influencing outcomes were: iliac diameters, tortuosity (expressed as a ratio), and calcifications, bilateral internal iliac artery (IIA) patency, and presence of Trans-Atlantic Inter-Societies Consensus (TASC) II C/D femoro-popliteal occlusive disease (PAD). Outcome measures were reintervention and mortality rates at follow-up. RESULTS Two-hundred-eighty-nine patients' CTA preoperative images were reviewed with a mean of 1148±328 images per patient analyzed. Mean common iliac artery (CIA) diameters calculated in the narrowest point were 12.8±4 mm and 12.9±3.9 mm, and mean external iliac artery (EIA) diameters were 7.7±1.6 mm 7.8±1.7 mm, respectively on right and left side. Mean tortuosity ratios were 0.8±0.1 (0.40-0.91) and 0.8±0.1 (0.49-0.99), respectively on right and left side. PAD was present in 31 patients (10.7%). Technical success was achieved in all case, and bilateral IIA patency was preserved in 229 (79.2%) patients. No in hospital and 30-day mortality and complications were recorded. At a mean follow-up of 26 months, 30 reinterventions were required in 26 patients (8.9%), and 22 (7.6%) non AAA-related deaths were noted. Right EIA diameter ≤5 mm (P=0.0012, OR 5.2, 95% CI 1.73-15.57), and femoro-popliteal steno-obstructive disease (P=0.03, OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.02-9.20) were significantly related to reinterventions during follow-up. Iliac tortuosity ratio and calcification were not significant predictors of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS This preliminary experience suggests that diameters of access vessels and the presence of femoro-popliteal steno-obstructive disease could affect the outcome of EVAR.

While endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) has proven to be a safer alternative to open surgical repair for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) repair, the development of stent-graft complications mandates follow-up computed tomography imaging to minimize AAA-related mortality. In this single-institution report, adverse EVAR events identified in 150 consecutive patients are detailed. Early morbidity was low (<3%), with only 1 patient death on post-procedure day 2. After discharge (mean follow-up of 24 months), 2 patients died from cancer and one AAA-related mortality occurred after open conversion for stent-graft migration. Although computed tomography imaging detected no EVAR endoleak at 30 days, 19 patients developed an endoleak, including three Type I and four Type III leaks. Our institutional series review confirmed that EVAR of infrarenal AAA is a safe and valid alternative to open surgical repair, but sac embolization at the primary procedure in patients judged to be at high risk for Type II endoleak should be considered.

INTRODUCTION:Gluteal artery aneurysms (GAAs) are rare, accounting for less than 1% of all arterial aneurysms. Most of them are post-traumatic in nature and involve the superior gluteal artery (SGA), while injuries of the inferior gluteal artery (IGA) have been reported less frequently. We report an unusual case of a patient with double saccular GAA of unknown etiology, involving both the SGA and IGA, successfully treated by endovascular embolization. CASE REPORT:A 80-year-old man referred to our hospital complaining of the progressive onset of left buttock pain and swelling exacerbated by sitting position in the last 4 months. His past medical history was positive for hypertension, prostatic adenocarcinoma treated by brachytherapy, and endocarditis diagnosed about 30 years before and treated by cardiac surgical valve replacement; no history of trauma was reported. After ultrasonography was carried out, an enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed the presence of 2 large GAAs involving both the SGA and IGA, with maximum transverse diameter of 38 and 84 mm, respectively. The patient was referred for endovascular treatment after informed consent was provided. After sequential selective catheterization of SGA and IGA, 3 Amplatzer Plugs II (St. Jude Medical, Zaventem, Belgium) were deployed inside the aneurysms. Postoperative course was uneventful as buttock pain completely disappeared on the second postoperative day. The patient was discharged to home on the third postoperative day. One-month CT scan confirmed the complete thrombosis of the aneurysms without any endoleak. CONCLUSIONS:GAAs represent a rare pathology, and for that reason, the correct timing and choice of treatment are not clearly defined. Endovascular techniques are the first step in the approach to GAAs. In case of complex anatomy, GAAs embolization by the use of vascular plugs can be successfully performed.

The coral reef aorta (CRA) is a rare syndrome commonly referred to a distribution of calcified plaques in the visceral part of the aorta. Because those plaques can cause malperfusion of the lower limbs, visceral ischemia or renovascular hypertension, surgical treatment is recommended. Transaortic endarterectomy is accepted as a standard repair and it is often performed through an extensive thoracoabdominal approach. CRA has been reported in association with polidistrectual atherosclerotic disease, such as Leriche syndrome. When these 2 conditions coexist, surgical invasivity increases raising several issues concerning the type of surgical access and the revascularization techniques. We report the case of a patient with CRA and Leriche syndrome treated by simultaneous aortic endarterectomy and aortibifemoral bypass at our institution. Intervention was performed through left lumbotomy at 10th intercostal space extended by a left pararectal abdominal incision with section of 11th rib. Through extraperitoneal access visceral vessels were isolated. Aortic cross-clamping was performed at supraceliac and infrarenal levels and a longitudinal arteriotomy was performed on the posterolateral wall of visceral aorta for an overall 4-cm extension. Aortic endarterectomy was then performed and complete plaque excision was easily achieved. Superior mesenteric artery angioplasty was then performed by a DeBakey dilator, gaining an optimal backflow. The aortotomy was then closed with running 3-0 polypropylene suture. Subsequently, through a transperitoneal access an aortobi-femoral bypass was performed by a Dacron knitted graft. Postoperative course was uneventful. At a 6-month follow-up, the patient is in good clinical condition with normal patency of visceral vessels.

A 62-year-old man presented with fever, abdominal pain, and malaise 13 months after emergency endovascular aortic repair. Computed tomographic angiograms showed a periprosthetic fluid and gas collection, so infection was diagnosed. Open conversion was performed, involving endograft explantation and in situ aortic reconstruction. Cultures and the explanted prosthesis were positive for carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, resistant to colistin. Because of the sparse data on endograft infections caused by this pathogen, we placed the patient on an empiric double-carbapenem regimen for 4 weeks. Symptomatic recovery occurred after 21 days. On the 30th day, we deployed a stent to treat a new pseudoaneurysm. Three years later, the patient had no signs of persistent or recurrent infection. We think that this is the first report of aortic endograft infection caused by colistin-resistant, carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae.

Patient 1. A 69-year-old man, who is hyperstensive and a smoker, was found to have kinking or looping of both posterior tibial arteries on a lower limb duplex ultrasonography performed for mild lower limb swelling. (A-C). He gave a history bilateral of ankle sprain during childhood with no major trauma and requiring no invasive or surgical treatment. No connective tissue disorder was detected in his family's medical history. Patient 2. A 57-year-old woman with hypertension and hyperlipidemia and who is also a smoker, underwent a supra-aortic vessels and lower limb duplex ultrasonography upon the request of her treating physician. A coiling of the right anterior tibial artery was detected (D). She had no history of right ankle sprain with no family history of connective tissue disorders or major trauma. Structural remodeling of blood vessels continuously occurs in response to physical and biochemical stimuli. The structural adaptation of the vessel internal diameter and wall thickness caused by the circumferential stretch generated by the blood pressure and the wall shear stress generated by the flow are well known and documented mechanisms. Moreover, axial stretch can also play an important role in arterial structural changes, so that circumferential, radial, and longitudinal wall adaptations usually occur under increased arterial pressure.1Dittrich R. Nassenstein I. Harms S. Maintz D. Heindel W. Kuhlenbäumer G. et al.Arterial elongation (“redundancy”) is not a feature of spontaneous cervical artery dissection.J Neurol. 2011; 258: 250-254Crossref PubMed Scopus (8) Google Scholar However, the effect of sudden and abrupt arterial elongation or stretching that can lead to dissection or elongation in structurally predisposed arteries is less well known.1Dittrich R. Nassenstein I. Harms S. Maintz D. Heindel W. Kuhlenbäumer G. et al.Arterial elongation (“redundancy”) is not a feature of spontaneous cervical artery dissection.J Neurol. 2011; 258: 250-254Crossref PubMed Scopus (8) Google Scholar The initial elongation and subsequent proliferation of endothelial cells in response to axial stretch have been well documented in an organ culture system by Lee et al.2Lee Y.U. Drury-Stewart D. Vito R.P. Han H.C. Morphologic adaptation of arterial endothelial cells to longitudinal stretch in organ culture.J Biomech. 2008; 41: 3274-3277Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (18) Google Scholar Elastic or collagen arterial components can vary in different arterial beds, and arterial elastin component loss could be responsible for fragmentation of elastomers and progressive vessel lengthening.3Pancera P. Ribul M. Presciuttini B. Lechi A. Prevalence of carotid artery kinking in 590 consecutive subjects evaluated by Echocolordoppler. Is there a correlation with arterial hypertension?.J Intern Med. 2000; 248: 7-12Crossref PubMed Scopus (113) Google Scholar Whereas arterial redundancy is well documented in experimental studies, it is difficult to follow the progressive elongation of arteries in patients, given the long time required to identify such an occurrence. Furthermore, classification and grading of arterial kinking, coiling, or looping have not been performed. Both patients consented to the publication of images and information included in this article.

Background: Although rare, popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs) are the most commonly observed peripheral arterial aneurysms. Surgical repair is considered the gold standard, even if with debated results. The aim of our study is to evaluate the outcome of endovascular treatment of PAAs using the Viabahn peripheral endograft (W. L. Gore and Associates, Inc., Flagstaff, AZ) in 2 high-volume Italian centers.Methods: All consecutive PAA patients treated by endovascular procedures between January 2004 and December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. True atherosclerotic aneurysms, symptomatic and asymptomatic, were included in the analysis. All patients were treated by high-skilled vascular surgeons. The outcome measures were graft thrombosis, reintervention rate, and limb salvage at early and long-term follow-up.Results: Fifty-three PAAs were treated. Patients were more frequently male (98.1%) with a mean age of 73.6 +/- 7.8 years. Twelve patients (22.6%) were symptomatic and in 8 of them a local fibrinolysis was required before definitive surgery. Mean PAA diameter was 30.9 +/- 10.9 mm (range 17-60). Fifty-two patients (98.1%) had at least 1 patent runoff vessel. Technical success was achieved in all patients. Overall, 80 stent grafts were deployed and in 21 patients (39.6%) more than 1 stent graft was deployed. In-hospital mortality rate and 30-day reinterventions were null. At a mean follow-up of 37.4 +/- 29.3 months, primary patency, secondary patency, and limb salvage were respectively 73.6%, 92.4%, and 100%.Conclusion: In our limited, retrospective experience, the endovascular treatment of PAA by Viabahn stent graft allowed satisfactory technical and clinical results eVen at long-term follow-up.

We report a case of superficial femoral artery (SFA) stent fractures (SF) with atypical symptoms and site of disruption. Patient was hospitalized for sudden onset of right thigh pain, nonrelated to steno-obstructive disease. Preoperative ultrasound suspected and computed tomographic angiography (CTA) confirmed multiple proximal SFA SFs with concurrent pseudoaneurysms. A peripheral endograft was deployed covering the entire SFA, achieving a complete "relining" with exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm. Pain disappeared and postoperative control demonstrated good patency of the SFA. After 1 month, patient reported no further events and CTA revealed patency of the endograft and exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm. At 1 year follow-up, Viabahn is patent with no further symptoms reported by the patient.

Objective. To report on the incidence and factors associated with the development of perioperative neurological complications following CEA in patients affected by carotid stenosis with contralateral occlusion (CO) and to compare results between those patients and the whole group of patients submitted to CEA at our vascular division from 1997 to 2012. Methods. Our nonrandomized prospective experience including 1639 patients consecutively submitted to CEA was retrospectively reviewed. 136 patients presented a CO contralateral to the treated carotid stenosis. Outcomes considered for analysis were perioperative neurological death rates, major and minor stroke rates, and a combined endpoint of all neurological complications. Results. CO patients more frequently were male, smokers, younger, and symptomatic (P < 0.001), presented with a preoperative brain infarct and associated peripheral arterial disease (P < 0.0001), and presented with higher perioperative major stroke rate than patients without CO (4.4% versus 1.2%, resp., P = 0.009). Factors associated with the highest neurological risk in CO patients were age >74 years and preoperative brain infarct (P = 0.03). The combination of the abovementioned factors significantly increased complication rates in CO patients submitted to CEA. Conclusions. In our experience CO patients were at high risk for postoperative neurological complications particularly when presenting association of advanced age and preoperative brain infarction.

We read with great interest the work of Trellopoulos et al. titled “Initial single-center experience with the Ovation stent-graft system in the Treatment of Abdominal Aortic aneurysms: application to challenging iliac access anatomies.” 1 Trellopoulos G. Georgakarakos E. Pelekas D. et al. Initial single-center experience with the Ovation stent-graft system in the Treatment of Abdominal Aortic aneurysms: application to challenging iliac access anatomies. Ann Vasc Surg. 2015; 29: 913-919 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (22) Google Scholar