Bryan A. Ehlert

Role of statin therapy and angiotensin blockade in patients with asymptomatic moderate carotid artery stenosis

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to evaluate the 10-year outcome of patients presenting with asymptomatic moderate carotid artery stenosis, and to determine which factors correlate with progression of disease to stroke or revascularization. METHODS A retrospective review of all new patients presenting with asymptomatic moderate carotid artery stenosis from July 1998 to December 2001 was undertaken. Patients were consecutively identified and included by using duplex ultrasonography to identify moderate carotid disease. Variables were recorded for all patient encounters through June 2010. The primary end point was occurrence of ipsilateral cerebrovascular stroke or revascularization event (SORE). Statin therapy and angiotensin blockade (STAB) were categorized as follows: STAB(0)-medical treatment with neither statin therapy nor angiotensin blockade, STAB(1)-treatment with only one of the two, STAB(2)-treatment with both. An amortized cost model analyzed the cost of SORE-free survival. RESULTS Over a 42-month period, 468 carotids in 366 patients with an average age of 69.0 ± 8.7 years were evaluated. Over a mean follow-up of 6.6 ± 2.7 years, SORE occurred in 150 (32.1%) carotid arteries. Hyperlipidemia was predictive of SORE (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.543, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.053-2.262, P = 0.03). Medical therapies protective against SORE were beta-blockade (HR: 0.612, 95% CI: 0.435-0.861, P < 0.05), STAB(1) (HR: 0.487, 95% CI: 0.336-0.706, P < 0.01), and STAB(2) (HR: 0.149, 95% CI: 0.089-0.248, P < 0.01). At 10 years, SORE-free survival in STAB(2) was 82.7% ± 4.6%, STAB(1) was 56.3% ± 5.0%, and STAB(0) was 29.3% ± 5.4% (P < 0.01). The cost per SORE-free year in STAB(2) was

A 10-year institutional experience with open branched graft reconstruction of aortic aneurysms in connective tissue disorders versus degenerative disease

1,695.40 ±

Acute Gut Ischemia

275.60, STAB(1) was

Examining the myth of the "July Phenomenon" in surgical patients.

3,916.80 ±

Impact of operative indication and surgical complexity on outcomes after thoracic endovascular aortic repair at National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Centers.

605.44, and STAB(0) was

VH07. Aortic Arch Branch Reconstruction for Multivessel Atherosclerotic Disease

4,126.40 ±

VS2. Open Repair of Distal Aortic Failure Following TEVAR for Type B Aortic Dissection

427.23 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION These data demonstrate the clinical and financial advantage of using both statin therapy and angiotensin pathway blockage in patients with asymptomatic moderate carotid artery stenosis.

Conservative Selection Criteria Generates Favorable Outcome in EVAR: A Mid-Term Analysis

Objective Aortic reconstruction for complex thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) can be challenging, especially in patients with connective tissue disorders (CTDs) in whom tissue fragility is a major concern. Branched graft reconstruction is a more complex operation compared with inclusion patch repair of the aorta but is frequently necessary in patients with CTDs or other pathologies because of anatomic reasons. We describe our institutional experience with open branched graft reconstruction of aortic aneurysms and compare outcomes for patients with CTDs vs degenerative pathologies. Methods We retrospectively analyzed all patients undergoing open aortic reconstruction using branched grafts at our institution between July 2006 and December 2015. Postoperative outcomes, including perioperative morbidity and mortality, midterm graft patency, and the development of new aneurysms, were compared for patients with CTD vs degenerative disease. Results During the 10‐year study period, 137 patients (CTD, 29; degenerative, 108) underwent aortic repair with branched graft reconstruction. CTD patients were significantly younger (39 ± 1.9 vs 68 ± 1.0 years; P < .001) and had fewer comorbidities (hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease; P < .05) but a higher prevalence of aortic dissections (55% vs 16%; P < .001) and aneurysms involving the thoracic aorta (90% vs 60%; P = .003) than patients with degenerative disease. Perioperative mortality (CTD: 10% [n = 3] vs degenerative: 6% [n = 6]; P = .40) and any complication (62% vs 55%; P = .47) were similar between groups. At a median follow‐up time of 14.5 months (interquartile range: 6.5, 43.9 months), CTD patients were more likely to develop both new aortic (21%) and nonaortic (14%) aneurysms compared with the degenerative group (7% and 4% for aortic and nonaortic aneurysms, respectively; P = .02). Loss of branch graft patency occurred in 0 of 99 grafts (0%) in CTD patients and in 13 of 167 grafts (7.8%) in degenerative disease patients (P = .005). Loss of branch graft patency occurred most commonly in left renal artery bypass grafts (77%) and was clinically asymptomatic (creatinine: 1.77 ± 0.13 mg/dL currently vs 1.41 ± 0.25 preoperatively; P = .22). Conclusions CTD patients with aortic aneurysms who undergo open branched graft reconstruction have reasonable outcomes compared with patients with degenerative pathology, including better branched graft patency and a similar risk of perioperative mortality and complications. Open repair of aortic aneurysms with branched graft reconstruction can be performed safely in both populations with low perioperative mortality, but ongoing surveillance is critical for the detection of new aneurysms, especially among patients with CTD.

PS10. Perioperative Administration of Alvimopan, a Novel Peripherally Acting Mu-opioid Receptor Antagonist, Is Associated with Improved Resource Utilization in Patients Undergoing Open Aortic Surgery

Acute mesenteric ischemia is a surgical emergency commonly caused by embolic or thrombotic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery. Prompt diagnosis, fluid resuscitation, systemic anticoagulation, and mesenteric revascularization are key tenants to the treatment of this lethal condition. Revascularization can be performed via open thromboembolectomy or surgical bypass, endovascular techniques, or a hybrid approach of the 2. Despite technological advancements, mortalities remain high, and the plan of care and revascularization should be based on the patients clinical status and available medical center resources.