Allen D. Hamdan

An Updated Definition of Stroke for the 21st Century A Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

Despite the global impact and advances in understanding the pathophysiology of cerebrovascular diseases, the term “stroke” is not consistently defined in clinical practice, in clinical research, or in assessments of the public health. The classic definition is mainly clinical and does not account for advances in science and technology. The Stroke Council of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association convened a writing group to develop an expert consensus document for an updated definition of stroke for the 21st century. Central nervous system infarction is defined as brain, spinal cord, or retinal cell death attributable to ischemia, based on neuropathological, neuroimaging, and/or clinical evidence of permanent injury. Central nervous system infarction occurs over a clinical spectrum: Ischemic stroke specifically refers to central nervous system infarction accompanied by overt symptoms, while silent infarction by definition causes no known symptoms. Stroke also broadly includes intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage. The updated definition of stroke incorporates clinical and tissue criteria and can be incorporated into practice, research, and assessments of the public health.

Infrapopliteal angioplasty for critical limb ischemia: relation of TransAtlantic InterSociety Consensus class to outcome in 176 limbs

OBJECTIVE Recent data suggest that percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) may be appropriate primary therapy for critical limb ischemia (CLI). However, little data are available regarding infrapopliteal angioplasty outcomes based on TransAtlantic InterSociety Consensus (TASC) classification. We report our experience with infrapopliteal angioplasty stratified by TASC lesion classification. METHODS From February 2004 to March 2007, 176 consecutive limbs (163 patients) underwent infrapopliteal angioplasty for CLI. Stents were placed for lesions refractory to PTA or flow-limiting dissections. Patients were stratified by TASC classification and suitability for bypass grafting. Primary outcome was freedom from restenosis, reintervention, or amputation. Primary patency, freedom from secondary restenosis, limb salvage, reintervention by repeat angioplasty or bypass, and survival were determined. RESULTS Median age was 73 years (range, 39-94 years). Technical success was 93%. Average follow-up was 10 months (range, 1-41 months). At 1 and 2 years, freedom from restenosis, reintervention, or amputation was 39% and 35%, conventional primary patency was 53% and 51%, and freedom from secondary restenosis and reintervention were 63% and 61%, respectively. Limb salvage was 84% at 1, 2, and 3 years. Within 2 years, 15% underwent bypass and 18% underwent repeat infrapopliteal PTA. Postoperative complications occurred in 9% and intraprocedural complications in 10%. The 30-day mortality was 5% (9 of 181). Overall survival was 81%, 65%, and 54% at 1, 2, and 3 years. TASC D classification predicted diminished technical success (75% D vs 100% A, B, and C; P < .001), primary restenosis, reintervention, or amputation (hazard ratio [HR], 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1-5.5, P < .001), primary patency (HR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3-3.9, P < .004), secondary restenosis (HR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.6-6.4, P = .001), and limb salvage (HR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.1-6.3, P < .05). Unsuitability for surgical bypass also predicted restenosis, reintervention, or amputation, secondary restenosis, need for repeated angioplasty, and inferior primary patency and limb salvage rates. CONCLUSION Infrapopliteal angioplasty is a reasonable primary treatment for CLI patients with TASC A, B, or C lesions. Restenosis, reintervention, or amputation was higher in patients who were unsuitable candidates for bypass; however, an attempt at PTA may be indicated as an alternative to primary amputation. Although restenosis, reintervention, or amputation is high after tibial angioplasty for CLI, excellent limb salvage rates may be obtained with careful follow-up and reinterventions when necessary, including bypass in 15%.

Mesenteric revascularization: management and outcomes in the United States, 1988-2006.

BACKGROUND Recent reports have suggested that angioplasty, with and without stenting (PTA/S), may have a lower perioperative mortality rate than open surgery for revascularization of acute (AMI) and chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI). It is unclear if there has been nationwide adoption of this methodology or whether there is actually a mortality benefit. METHODS We identified all patients undergoing surgical (bypass, endarterectomy, or embolectomy) or PTA/S mesenteric revascularization from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1988 to 2006. A diagnosis by International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revisioncoding of AMI or CMI was required for inclusion. We evaluated trends in management during this period and compared in-hospital death and complications between surgical bypass and PTA/S for the years 2000 to 2006. RESULTS From 1988 to 2006, there were 6342 PTA/S and 16,071 open surgical repairs overall. PTA/S increased steadily, surpassing all surgery for CMI in 2002. PTA/S for AMI has also increased and surpassed bypass in 2002 but has not surpassed all surgical procedures for AMI even in 2006. The mortality rate was lower after PTA/S than after bypass for CMI (3.7% vs 13%, P < .01) and AMI (16% vs 28%, P < .01). Bowel resection was more common after bypass than PTA/S for CMI (7% vs 3%, P < .01). This subgroup showed an increased in-hospital mortality rate for both repair types (54% and 25%, respectively). CONCLUSION PTA/S is being used with increasing frequency for revascularization of CMI and AMI. The lower in-hospital mortality rate for patients, as they are currently being selected, shows that PTA/S is appropriate therapy for selected patients with CMI. Longitudinal data are needed to determine the durability of this benefit. The greater proportion of patients undergoing bowel resection with bypass for AMI suggests a more advanced level of ischemia in this group, making comparison with PTA/S difficult. However, PTA/S may be useful in selected patients with AMI and appropriate anatomy. Further data with greater detail regarding symptomatology and anatomy will clarify appropriate patient selection.

Trends in the national outcomes and costs for claudication and limb threatening ischemia: Angioplasty vs bypass graft

PURPOSE Debate exists as to the benefit of angioplasty vs bypass graft in the treatment of lower extremity peripheral vascular disease. The associated costs are poorly defined in the literature. We sought to determine national estimates for the costs, utilization, and outcomes of angioplasty and bypass graft for the treatment of both claudication and limb threat. METHODS We searched the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database (1999-2007), identifying patients who had an identifiable International Classification of Disease (ICD)-9 diagnosis code of atherosclerotic disease (claudication [440.21] or limb threat [440.22-440.24]). Of these, only patients who underwent intervention of angioplasty ± stent (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty [PTA; 39.50-39.90]), peripheral bypass graft (BPG; 39.29) or aortofemoral bypass (ABF; 39.25) were included. We compared demographics, costs, and comorbidities, as well as multivariable-adjusted outcomes of in-hospital mortality and major amputation. Additionally, we used the New Jersey State Inpatient and Ambulatory databases in order to better understand the influence of outpatient procedures on current volume and trends. RESULTS There were 563,143 patients identified (PTA: 38%, BPG: 50%, ABF: 6%; 5.1%: multiple procedure codes). Patients who had PTA and BPG were similar in age (70.4 vs 69.5 years) but older than patients who had ABF (61.8 years, P < .01). Patients who underwent PTA were more often women (PTA: 46%, BPG: 42%, ABF: 45.2%; P < .01). Average costs for PTA increased over 60% for claudication between 2001 and 2007 (

Body Mass Index: Surgical Site Infections and Mortality after Lower Extremity Bypass from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program 2005—2007

8670 to

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition Suppresses Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Expression in the Neointima of Balloon-Injured Rat Aorta

14,084) and limb threat (

Gender differences in abdominal aortic aneurysm presentation, repair, and mortality in the Vascular Study Group of New England

13,903 to

Population-based outcomes of open descending thoracic aortic aneurysm repair

23,196). For BPG, average costs increased 36% for both claudication (

Population-Based Outcomes Following Endovascular and Open Repair of Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

9322 to

Open and endovascular repair of type B aortic dissection in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

12,681) and limb threat (