Andrew Choong

Evaluating training for a simulated team in complex whole procedure simulations in the endovascular suite

Introduction: Simulators supporting the development of technical skills for complex procedures are gaining prominence. Safe performance of complex procedures requires effective team interactions. Our research group creates ‘whole’ procedure simulations to produce the psychological fidelity of clinical settings. Recruitment of real interventional team (IT) members has proved challenging. Actors as a simulated team are expensive. We hypothesised that medical students and trainees in a vascular unit could authentically portray members of the endovascular suite for carotid stenting. Methods: This paper describes the evaluation of a training programme for a simulated IT. Participants rated the extent to which programmes objectives were met and realism of simulations. Researchers’ field notes provided insight into strengths and weaknesses of the programme. Results: Seven members from the vascular unit undertook training. Learning objectives were largely met. Nineteen simulations with 13 interventionalists were performed. Realism levels were at least moderate. Simulated IT members reported increased understanding of teamwork and roles in the endovascular suite. Discussion: A simulated IT proved feasible. Authentic psychological fidelity complemented the physical fidelity of the simulated suite. Although there were areas for development in training, this approach might contribute considerably to interventionalist training and increase knowledge and skills of vascular trainees and medical students.

A systematic review of transcatheter aortic valve implantation via carotid artery access

BACKGROUND The carotid artery is a novel access route for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). This may represent a viable alternative in patients unsuitable for TAVI via traditional transfemoral access, up to 20%, as well as other access routes such as subclavian, transapical and aortic. This systematic review summarises the current evidence for its safety and feasibility. METHODS A systematic review was conducted as per the Preferred Reporting Instructions for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines using five electronic databases. RESULTS 16 studies were identified, including three prospective cohort studies, one retrospective cohort study, three case series and eight case reports. Data on 74 patients (mean age 76.9years) was extracted including pre-operative work-up, technical procedure details and outcomes. This found 1 intraoperative death, 2 further deaths within 30days, two incidences of transient ischaemic attack, no incidences of stroke, myocardial infarction, carotid access site complications or infection, 1 patient required new dialysis and 1 patient had an intraoperative dissection which resolved. Follow-up from 30days to 1year showed symptomatic improvement and echocardiographic improvement in line with those seen in transfemoral TAVI. CONCLUSIONS The available data on TAVI via carotid access demonstrate technical feasibility with comparable outcomes to other traditional access routes. A low number of patients, heterogeneous clinical endpoints and relatively short follow-up periods limit formal meta-analysis and firmer conclusions. For patients in which other access routes are impossible, TAVI via carotid access represents a viable and potentially crucial alternative in patients who might otherwise be untreatable.

How minimalized extracorporeal circulation compares with the off-pump technique in coronary artery bypass grafting

Recognition of the adverse effects of conventional extracorporeal circulation (CECC) led to the development of alternative technologies and techniques to minimize their impact while maintaining circulation during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) grafting has become established as one such alternative and more recently minimalized extracorporeal circulation (MECC) circuits have been developed with the aim of providing circulatory support while minimizing the interface between blood and the foreign surfaces of the circuit that initiates the associated adverse effects of CECC. Recently, some authors have suggested that MECC may be an alternative to OPCAB in patients undergoing CABG; the aim of this article is to systematically analyze and compare the impact of CABG with MECC with that of OPCAB, studying the adverse outcomes related to CECC. We performed a systematic search to identify all studies directly comparing OPCAB and MECC. Endpoints were subcategorized into four key areas of interest: length of stay (LOS), hemorrhage, cerebrovascular injury, and 30-day mortality. Random effect modeling techniques were applied to identify differences in outcomes between the two groups. Six studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, incorporating 2,072 patients of whom 930 underwent OPCAB and 1,142 underwent revascularization supported by MECC. We found no statistically significant difference in hospital or intensive care unit (ICU) LOS, blood loss, mean number of patients transfused, neurocognitive disturbance, or 30-day mortality between the two groups but a trend toward an increased number of cerebrovascular events in the MECC group was observed. The number of studies comparing these alternative techniques for coronary revascularization is small, and there is a lack of high-quality data. Currently, there seems little difference between MECC and OPCAB but larger randomized controlled trials focusing on high-risk patients are required.

Neovascular Glaucoma Post Carotid Endarterectomy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Carotid endarterectomy is a standard vascular surgical procedure performed worldwide and encompasses multiple risks including cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome, stroke, carotid dissection and aneurysmal formation, all of which are well documented in the literature. However, neovascular glaucoma manifesting post carotid endarterectomy, is extremely rare and can have disastrous consequences if left undiagnosed. In this article, we present one such case of neovascular glaucoma manifesting post carotid endarterectomy and review the available literature on this uncommon entity.

Changes in temperature affect the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture

There is a well‐established link between exposure to hot and cold temperatures and an increased risk of cardiovascular hospitalization or death. There is also contrasting evidence of a seasonal increase in aortic ruptures related to atmospheric pressure, but an association with environmental temperature has never been formally modelled.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of one-stage versus two-stage brachiobasilic arteriovenous fistula creation

Background: Long‐term patency of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) is critical for hemodialysis vascular access. We compared the efficacy of a one‐stage vs two‐stage approach to brachiobasilic AVF creation by primarily investigating primary and secondary patency rates. We hypothesize that the two‐stage is superior to the one‐stage procedure in terms of efficacy and safety. Methods: This review was performed as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis guidelines. Searches were performed on MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Database. Risk of bias and quality assessment scores were both performed based on previously validated tool. Results: The systematic search revealed a total of 242 publications for possible inclusion. On the basis of title and abstract review, two randomized controlled trials and nine case‐cohort series fit our inclusion criteria. There were no statistically significant differences in failure rates (pooled risk ratio [RR], 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79‐1.55; P = .25), 1‐year primary patency rates (RR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.83‐2.06; P = .24), 1‐year secondary patency rates (RR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.54‐1.77) and 2‐year secondary patency rates (RR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.54‐2.63; P = .67) between both groups. However, the two‐stage procedure had significantly improved 2‐year primary patency rates (RR, 2.50; 95% CI, 1.66‐3.74; P < .00001). There were no differences in steal syndrome, hematoma, infection, pseudoaneuryms, or stenosis, although there was a trend toward an increased incidence of postoperative thrombosis (RR, 1.81; 95% CI, 0.95‐3.45; P = .07) in one‐stage procedures. Conclusions: With improved 2‐year primary patency rates and the absence of significant differences in complications, this study suggests potential benefit of a two‐stage over a one‐stage procedure for brachiobasilic AVF creation. However, rather than being a definitive answer, our results merely highlight the continuing need for an adequately powered, well‐designed, randomized controlled trial to interrogate this question further.

Transradial Approach for Aortoiliac and Femoropopliteal Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Purpose: To present a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the transradial approach for aortoiliac and femoropopliteal interventions to the traditional transfemoral access. Methods: A search of the public domain databases MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library Databases was performed to identify studies related to the use of the transradial approach for infra-aortic procedures. Meta-analysis was used to compare the transradial to the transfemoral route in terms of procedure success, complications, procedure parameters, and hospital length of stay. Results are presented as the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Nineteen studies containing 638 patients with transradial access for lower limb interventions were selected. Lesions were treated from the aortic bifurcation down to the popliteal artery. The mean technical success rate was 90.9%, conversion to a transfemoral approach was necessary in 9.9%, and complications were reported in 1.9%. The meta-analysis included 4 comparative studies involving 114 transradial and 208 transfemoral procedures. There was no significant advantage of either approach in terms of procedure success (OR 5.0, 95% CI 0.49 to 50.83, p=0.17), but the risk of developing a complication was significantly lower (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.86, p=0.03) with the transradial approach. Conclusion: Transradial access for lower limb endovascular interventions can be performed with comparable technical success and a lower overall complication profile compared to transfemoral access.

Transcarotid transcatheter aortic valve implantation: A systematic review

BACKGROUND The carotid artery is a novel access route for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), especially useful in patients unsuitable for traditional access routes including transfemoral (TF), subclavian, transapical (TAp), and aortic (TAo). This systematic review summarizes the evidence on TAVI via the carotid artery for its efficacy and safety. METHODS A systematic review was conducted as per the Preferred Reporting Instructions for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines on three online databases: Medline (via Pubmed), SCOPUS, and Cochrane Database. RESULTS There were 8 non-randomized controlled trials identified comprising 650 patients in four TAVI vascular access sites: transcarotid (TC) (N=364), TF (N=100), TAp (N=151), TAo (N=35). The 30-day rates of mortality and neurological complications for TC TAVI were 6.5% and 3.8%, respectively, with 1 incidence of myocardial infarction. Other complications included vascular complications (7.7%), insertion of new pacemaker (17.4%), atrial fibrillation (5.2%), and acute kidney injury (6.9%), bleeding episodes (14.3%), of which 13 (3.6%) cases were life-threatening; 5 (1.4%) were major; and 35 (9.3%) were minor cases. Follow-up to 1 year showed 19 further deaths. There were no significant differences in terms of mortality rates [risk ratio (RR)=0.31, 95%CI 0.05-1.79; p=0.19] and onset of dialysis treatment (RR=2.53, 95%CI 0.31-19.78; p=0.38) between the TC and TAp groups. CONCLUSION The available data on TC TAVI show comparable technical feasibility with other traditional access routes, representing a viable alternative. However, the paucity of data warrants the need for larger randomized controlled trials to establish a firm conclusion.

Unique solution to the difficult problem of an aorto‐duodenal fistula in a regional centre

in about 20% of population based on their study on 200 asymptomatic people, although it rarely causes symptoms. A similar variation was noticed in 13% of musicians studied by Karalezli et al. The same authors demonstrated that the utility of magnetic resonance imaging in localizing the anomalous tendinous connection in all of their patients (nine) with a clinical diagnosis of the condition, which they advocate, is useful in reduction in surgical time and the degree of scarring, due to the limited incision possible. The usefulness of surgical exploration and release in symptomatic patients of this condition has been well demonstrated.

Non-aneurysmal abdominal aortic rupture in a patient with Marfan syndrome

Aortic rupture in the presence of aneurysmal disease is well understood and extensively described in the literature. However, aortic rupture in a non-aneurysmal aorta is far less common. In the few reported cases, perforations are believed to result from a penetrating atheromatous ulcer of the aorta. We describe a rare case of non-aneurysmal aortic rupture in a 68-year-old man with Marfan syndrome and a history of proximal aortic surgery. The urgent need for hemorrhage control precluded any consideration of an endovascular repair.