Franco Mazzalai

Common femoral artery endarterectomy for occlusive disease: An 8-year single-center prospective study

BACKGROUND Only a few operative or interventional studies have addressed the issue of isolated arterial occlusive disease at the femoral bifurcation, the early and late results reportedly being favorable in the former, controversial in the latter. The purpose of this study was to analyze the peri-operative (30-day) and long-term outcomes of isolated surgical endarterectomy in patients with occlusive disease at the common femoral artery (CFA), providing a baseline for comparison with emerging endovascular procedures. METHODS Over an 8-year period, all consecutive patients referred to our institution for claudication, rest pain, nonhealing ulcer(s), or minor tissue loss, with imaging findings of CFA occlusive disease (isolated or with additional infrainguinal lesions in the ipsilateral limb) amenable to endarterectomy of the CFA (isolated or combined with a profundoplasty or with the endarterectomy of the superficial or deep femoral artery first tract, not >1 cm long) were enrolled in the study. We excluded all patients with major tissue loss for which a contemporary infrainguinal revascularization was performed because treating the inflow disease alone would not be sufficient to heal the ischemic wound(s) owing to the presence of concomitant femoral and/or distal lesions, inadequate collateralization, or poor runoff. Descriptive demographic data, risk factors, clinical manifestations, and operative details were recorded. Primary patency (PP), assisted PP (APP), and limb salvage (LS) rates, freedom from additional proximal or distal revascularization in the ipsilateral limb, and survival were assessed using Kaplan-Meier life tables. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify which factors could influence CFA segment patency or other parameters. RESULTS In all, 117 patients were enrolled and underwent 121 CFA endarterectomies, 60.3% for claudication and 39.7% for critical limb ischemia (CLI); 30 patients were excluded because they underwent a contemporary infrainguinal revascularization. All procedures were performed with patients under regional anesthesia and took an average operating time of 1.3 +/- 0.7 hours. There were no perioperative deaths or major complications, but 8 (6.6%) local complications. A complete follow-up (mean 4.2 years) was obtained in 111 patients (115 limbs). The 7-year PP, APP, and LS rates were 96%, 100%, and 100%, respectively; the 7-year rates of freedom from further revascularization and survival were 79% and 80%, respectively. CONCLUSION Operative endarterectomy in patients with claudication or CLI for occlusive CFA disease proved safe, effective, and durable, and should provide a baseline for comparison with endovascular treatment. Proponents of endovascular procedures as a routine alternative treatment option should bear this in mind.

Infrapopliteal arterial revascularization for critical limb ischemia: Is the peroneal artery at the distal third a suitable outflow vessel?

PURPOSE Though the peroneal artery (PA) often remains patent despite disease or occlusion of other infrapopliteal arteries, there is skepticism about using the terminal PA as the outflow tract in distal revascularizations for limb salvage, especially when a patent inframalleolar artery is available. We analyzed our experience of using the distal PA and inframalleolar or pedal branches arteries as outflow tracts in revascularizations for critical limb ischemia. METHODS Over a decade, among 651 infrapopliteal arterial reconstructions performed in 597 patients, the PA was the outflow vessel in 214, its distal third being involved in 69 vein revascularizations (study group). During the same period, 187 vein bypass grafts were performed to 179 inframalleolar and 8 pedal branches arteries (control group). Patency, limb salvage and survival rates were assessed using Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis. Complete follow-up (range, 0.1-10.2 years; mean, 5.8 years) was obtained in 245 (95.7%) patients (66 were in the study group). RESULTS The distal PA was chosen as the target vessel: (1) because the proximal, mid-PA was occluded or severely diseased and no other adequate inframalleolar or pedal branches arteries were identified preoperatively (n = 30; 43.5%); (2) because an alternative inframalleolar target vessel was present but severely diseased (n = 9; 13%); (3) because of the length limitations of the available vein (n = 12; 17.4%; or (4) because of the presence of invasive infection or necrosis overlying the dorsalis pedis or posterior tibial arteries (n = 18; 26.1%). The study group was significantly younger than the control group (68 +/- 7 years vs 70 +/- 6 years, P = .039), and included significantly more patients with diabetes mellitus (65.2% vs 50.2%, P = .033) and insulin dependence (52.2% vs 37.9%, P = .041), dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (5.8% vs 1.1%, P = .047), and history of smoking (75.3% vs 58.2%, P = .012). None of the patients died in the perioperative period. Although the overall need for minor amputation was statistically higher in the PA group (78.2% vs 63.1%, P = .022), especially as concerns partial calcanectomy (8.7% vs 2.1%, P = .026), the proportion of wounds completely healed during the follow-up and the mean time to wound healing were comparable in the two groups. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed comparable long-term patency, limb salvage, and survival rates in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Revascularization to the distal third of the PA can achieve much the same outcome in terms of patency and limb salvage rates, wound healing rate and timing, as when other inframalleolar or pedal branches are used. The skepticism surrounding use of the terminal PA as an outflow vessel appears to be unwarranted.

Midline abdominal wall incisional hernia after aortic reconstructive surgery: A prospective study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To evaluate rate of formation of midline abdominal wall incisional hernia (MAIH) after elective open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and revascularization for aortoiliac occlusive disease (AOD). METHODS AAA and AOD patients operated electively via a primary midline abdominal incision at our institution over a decade were entered in this prospective study. Patients who had already undergone midline laparotomy or had an MAIH after previous celiotomy were excluded. Patients were examined for MAIH 6-monthly for 2 years, then yearly. RESULTS We included 1,065 patients who underwent aortic reconstructive surgery (412 with AAA and 653 with AOD). The follow-up (mean ± standard deviation) was 6.4 ± 3.8 years (range, 0.5-12.7). Wounds were closed with a suture length-to-wound length (SL:WL) ratio of at least 4:1 in 58% (239 of 653) of AAA patients and 66% (431 of 653) of AOD patients (P = .01). There were 124 (11.6%) MAIHs, with an incidence of 12.4% (51 of 412) in the AAA group and 11.2% (73 of 653) in the AOD group (P = .62), and 3 (0.4%) wound infections (all among the AOD patients), none of which resulted in MAIH. At multivariate analysis, a SL:WL ratio of <4:1 was the only independent predictor of MAIH in AAA (P = .004) and AOD patients (P < .001). CONCLUSION AAA and AOD patients had a similar incidence of MAIH, which seems related to the wound closure technique. A SL:WL ratio of at least 4:1 is recommended. Further clinical studies are required to determine possible technical and perioperative variables that may be modified to decrease the incidence of MAIH development after aortic reconstructive surgery.

Predictors of neck bleeding after eversion carotid endarterectomy

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to identify predictors for neck bleeding after eversion carotid endarterectomy (eCEA). METHODS A prospectively compiled computerized database of all primary eCEAs performed at a tertiary referral center between September 1998 and December 2009 was analyzed. The end point was any neck bleeding after eCEA. End point predictors were identified by univariate analysis. RESULTS Of 1458 eCEAs performed by the same surgeon on 1294 patients under general anesthesia with continuous electroencephalographic monitoring and selective shunting, there were five major and three minor perioperative strokes (0.5%), and no deaths. Neck bleeding after eCEA occurred in 120 cases (8.2%), of which 69 (4.7%) needed re-exploration. Univariate analysis (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]) identified preoperative antiplatelet treatment with clopidogrel (1.77 [1.20-2.62], P = .004), particularly when continued to the day before CEA (3.84 [2.01-7.33], P < .001), and postoperative hypertension (9.44 [6.34-14.06], P < .001) as risk factors for neck bleeding in general and for neck bleeding requiring re-exploration (4.50 [1.85-10.89], P = .001; 15.27 [2.08-104.43], P = .006, and 2.44 [1.12-5.30], P = .02, respectively). An increased risk of neck bleeding in general was associated with clopidogrel plus acetylsalicylic acid (12.00 [2.59-56.78], P = .005), acetylsalicylic acid alone (4.37 [1.99-9.57], P < .001), and ticlopidine (2.49 [1.10-5.63], P = .02) only when they were continued to the day before CEA. No neck bleeding was associated with preoperative treatment with dipyridamole or warfarin, or no medication. No further complications occurred in the patients who underwent re-exploration. CONCLUSIONS The results of this single-center university hospital study show that neck bleeding after CEA is relatively common but is not associated with an increased risk of stroke or death. Preoperative treatment with clopidogrel, particularly when it is continued to the day before surgery, and postoperative arterial hypertension seem to be associated with a higher risk of neck bleeding after CEA, requiring re-exploration in most cases. Other antiplatelet agents appear to be associated with an increased risk of postoperative neck bleeding only if they are continued to the day before CEA. Larger studies are warranted to confirm our findings and prevent this feared surgical complication.

Carotid endarterectomy for symptomatic low-grade carotid stenosis

OBJECTIVE Although the management of carotid disease is well established for symptomatic lesions ≥ 70%, the surgical treatment for a symptomatic ≤ 50% stenosis is not supported by data from randomized trials. Factors other than lumen narrowing, such as plaque instability, seem to be involved in cerebral and retinal ischemic events. This study analyzes the early-term and long-term outcomes of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) performed in patients with low-grade (≤ 50% on North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial criteria) symptomatic carotid stenosis. METHODS The study involves 57 consecutive patients undergoing CEA for symptomatic low-grade carotid disease at our institution over 5 years, and 21 (36.8%) had experienced more than one ischemic event. Overall, 48 (84.2%) had a minor stroke, and nine (15.8%) had an episode of retinal ischemia. Diagnosis was made by a vascular neurologist based on an ultrasound examination combined with noninvasive imaging studies, after ruling out other possible causes of embolization. Before CEA, all patients were receiving antiplatelet treatment, and 87% were taking statins. All patients underwent eversion CEA under general deep anesthesia, with selective shunting. All carotid plaques were examined histologically. Long-term follow-up (median, 28 months; mean, 32 ± 5 months; range, 3-56 months) was obtained for 55 patients. RESULTS No 30-day strokes or deaths occurred, and no patients had recurrent neurologic events related to the revascularized hemisphere during the follow-up. No late carotid occlusions were detected, but one asymptomatic moderate restenosis was documented. There were seven late deaths (12.7%), none of which were stroke-related. Survival rates were 98% at 1 year and 90% at 3 years. All removed carotid plaques showed different features of ulceration or rupture, with underlying hemorrhage associated with a thrombus. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that CEA is a safe, effective, and durable treatment for patients with symptomatic low-grade carotid stenosis associated with unstable plaque. Patients had excellent protection against further ischemic events and survived long enough to justify the initial surgical risk. Plaque instability seems to play a major part in the onset of ischemic events, regardless the entity of lumen narrowing.

Lower extremity arterial reconstruction for critical limb ischemia in diabetes

BACKGROUND The impact of diabetes mellitus on the technical and clinical outcomes of infrainguinal arterial reconstruction (IAR) for critical limb ischemia (CLI) remains controversial. This study analyzed the outcome of IAR in diabetic patients with CLI over a 17-year period. METHODS Details on all consecutive patients undergoing primary IAR at our institution were stored prospectively in a vascular registry from 1995 to 2011. Demographics, risk factors, indications for surgery, inflow sources and outflow target vessels, types of conduit, and adverse outcomes were analyzed. Postoperative surveillance included clinical examination, duplex scans, and ankle-brachial index measurements in all patients at discharge, 1 and 6 months after surgery, and every 6 months thereafter. End points were patency, limb salvage, survival, and amputation-free survival rates, and were assessed using Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis. The χ(2) or Fisher exact, Student t, and log-rank tests were used to establish statistical significance. RESULTS Overall, 1407 IARs were performed in 1310 patients with CLI by the same surgeon, 705 (50.2%) in 643 diabetic patients and 702 in 667 nondiabetic patients. Autogenous vein conduits were used in 87% of the IARs. There were no perioperative deaths. Diabetic patients had significantly more major (16.7% vs 11.8%; P = .02) and minor complications (9.7% vs 6.5%; P = .02) than nondiabetic patients. At 5 and 10 years, there were no significant differences between diabetic and nondiabetic patients in the rates of primary patency (65% and 46% vs 69.5% and 57%; log-rank test, P = .09), secondary patency (76% and 60% vs 80% and 68%; log-rank test, P = .20), limb salvage (88% and 76% vs 91% and 83%; log-rank test, P = .12) survival (51% and 34% vs 57% and 38%; log-rank test, P = .41), or amputation-free survival (45.5% and 27% vs 51% and 29%; log-rank test, P = .19). The type of conduit did not affect patency or limb salvage rates in either group. CONCLUSIONS Diabetic patients receiving IAR for CLI can have the same survival and amputation-free survival rates as nondiabetic patients. Their comparable technical and clinical outcomes strongly demonstrate that diabetics with CLI can expect the same quantity and quality of life as nondiabetics with CLI, and aggressive attempts at limb salvage in patients with diabetes mellitus, including distal and foot level bypass grafting, should not be discouraged.

Infrapopliteal arterial reconstructions for limb salvage in patients aged ≥80 years according to preoperative ambulatory function and residential status

BACKGROUND Although numerous studies have addressed peripheral revascularizations for critical limb ischemia (CLI) in patients aged > or =80 years, few have focused exclusively on infrapopliteal arterial reconstructions. This study aimed to analyze early and long-term outcomes in very elderly patients who underwent surgical infrapopliteal revascularization for CLI according to their pre-operative ambulatory function and residential status. METHODS Over an 18-year period, all consecutive patients aged > or =80 years referred to our institution for CLI requiring primary infrapopliteal or inframalleolar arterial reconstruction were enrolled in the study. All procedures were completed by the same surgeon with patients under regional anesthesia. Patency, limb salvage, amputation-free survival, and cumulative survival rates were assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis. The patients pre- and postoperative ambulatory function and residential status (at home vs in a nursing home) were also analyzed. The mean follow-up was 6.2 years (range, 0.1-11.5) and was obtained for 98% of patients. RESULTS In all, 197 patients (134 men; mean +/- SD age, 82.8 +/- 1.7 years) with 201 critically ischemic limbs were enrolled in the study. No deaths or fatal major complications occurred in the peri-operative period (first 30 days); the local complication rate was 6%. After 1 and 7 years, the primary patency rates were 88% and 68%, the limb salvage rates were 96% and 87%, the amputation-free survival rates were 88% and 39%, and the survival rates were 91% and 44%, respectively. At last follow-up or death, 80% of the patients were ambulatory and 20% were not; 80% lived at home and were independent, another 9% lived at home with assistance, and 76% of the sample lived at home and were ambulatory. CONCLUSION Infrapopliteal arterial revascularization in the very elderly with CLI proved safe, effective, and durable, confirming that age per se and concomitant comorbidities do not necessarily affect technical and clinical outcomes. Ambulatory function and independent living status are well preserved because, despite a relatively short life expectancy, the majority of very elderly revascularized CLI patients can be expected to spend their remaining years ambulatory and at home. In contrast, patients with poor ambulatory function or who required assistance pre-operatively were less likely to improve their status after limb revascularization despite a successful technical result.

Pluriannual experience in stapled haemorrhoidopexy in the elderly

Background Compare two groups of patients, ≥ 70 years old and < 70 years old, diagnosed with III-IV grade haemorrhoids that underwent a stapled haemorrhoidopexy. [1]

Surgery of diabetic foot in the elderly: early Vs deferred treatment

Background In 1996, the overall prevalence of diabetic patients was 120 million and it will more than double by the year 2025. The most important complication in these patients is the diabetic foot (sepsis, abscess etc.). The aim of this study was to assess the role and results of surgery, performed in emergency or deferred emergency, in older population affected by acute septic foot.

N0 colorectal cancer in the elderly: prognostic role of advanced age and correlation with adjuvant chemotherapy

Materials and methods 129 patients who underwent radical surgery for N0 colorectal cancer were selected and grouped into three age classes: 80. A subpopulation of 44 patients with colorectal cancer in stage II was selected from the initial group for a comparison with a control population consisting of 63 patients who underwent radical surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy for neoplasms at the same stage.