Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies involving large administrative data sets have revealed regional variation in the demographics of patients selected for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) but lacked clinical granularity. This study aimed to evaluate regional variation in patient selection and operative technique for carotid artery revascularization using a detailed clinical registry. METHODS: All patients who underwent CEA or CAS from 2009 to 2015 were identified in the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI). Deidentified regional groups were used to evaluate variation in patient selection, operative technique, and perioperative management. chi2 analysis was used to identify significant variation across regions. RESULTS: A total of 57,555 carotid artery revascularization procedures were identified. Of these, 49,179 patients underwent CEA (asymptomatic: median, 56%; range, 46%-69%; P < .01) and 8376 patients underwent CAS (asymptomatic: median, 36%; range, 29%-51%; P < .01). There was significant regional variation in the proportion of asymptomatic patients being treated for carotid stenosis <70% in CEA (3%-9%; P < .01) vs CAS (3%-22%; P < .01). There was also significant variation in the rates of intervention for asymptomatic patients older than 80 years (CEA, 12%-27% [P < .01]; CAS, 8%-26% [P < .01]). Preoperative computed tomography angiography or magnetic resonance angiography in the CAS cohort also varied widely (31%-83%; P < .01), as did preoperative medical management with combined aspirin and statin (CEA, 53%-77% [P < .01]; CAS, 62%-80% [P < .01]). In the CEA group, the use of shunt (36%-83%; P < .01), protamine (32%-89%; P < .01), and patch (87%-99%; P < .01) varied widely. Similarly, there was regional variation in frequency of CAS done without a protection device (1%-8%; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Despite clinical benchmarks aimed at guiding management of carotid disease, wide variation in clinical practice exists, including the proportion of asymptomatic patients being treated by CAS and preoperative medical management. Additional intraoperative variables, including the use of a patch and protamine during CEA and use of a protection device during CAS, displayed similar variation in spite of clear guidelines. Quality improvement projects could be directed toward improved adherence to benchmarks in these areas.

Background: Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) are at increased risk of atherothrombotic events and benefit from platelet inhibiting therapies. The EUCLID trial demonstrated no significant benefit from ticagrelor versus clopidogrel for the reduction of cardiovascular or limb events in patients with PAD. Aims: The EUCLID platelet substudy aimed to compare the antiplatelet effects of ticagrelor and clopidogrel in patients with PAD. Methods: Patients were randomized to receive either clopidogrel (75 mg daily) or ticagrelor (90 mg twice daily). The effect of study drug was studied in 75 patients during maintenance therapy (>=6-weeks post randomization). In 42 patients, platelet inhibition was measured at baseline and after 2-and 6-weeks of study drug (=12 hrs after last dose). In all patients, pharmacodynamic assessments were made using light transmission aggregometry (in response to ADP 5 and 20uM, collagen 1ug/ml and arachidonic acid [AA] 150uM), VerifyNow P2Y12, and VASP phosphorylation. Results: During maintenance therapy, ticagrelor achieved lower platelet activity of ADP-induced platelet aggregation than clopidogrel (maximum platelet aggregation to ADP 5uM, 39% vs. 60. 5%, P< 0. 001; ADP 20uM 51% vs. 67. 5%, P=0. 004; VerifyNow, 74 vs. 165 PRU, P< 0. 001; VASP 16. 9 vs. 45. 8 PRI, P< 0. 001). High on-treatment platelet reactivity was observed more frequently in the clopidogrel treated group (P< 0. 05 for each ADP-mediated assay). The effect at 14-days and 6-weeks was consistent with a greater platelet inhibition with ticagrelor compared with clopidogrel. The inhibition of collagenor AA-induced platelet aggregation was not different between groups. Conclusions: In patients with PAD, ticagrelor achieved greater inhibition of ADP mediated platelet activity versus clopidogrel. The inhibition of non-ADP mediated platelet activity was not different between groups. Despite greater platelet inhibition, ticagrelor was not superior to clopidogrel for the reduction of cardiovascular events in patients with PAD

OBJECTIVE: Although fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption is associated with lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, its association with peripheral artery disease (PAD) is less certain. We, thus, sought to characterize F&V intake and investigate the association between F&V consumption and presence of PAD in a large community sample. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Self-referred participants at >20 000 US sites who completed medical and lifestyle questionnaires were evaluated by screening ankle brachial indices for PAD (ankle brachial index /=3 servings of F&V was reported by 29.2%. Increasing age, female sex, white race, never smoking, being currently married, physical activity, increasing income, and frequent consumption of fish, nuts, and red meat were positively associated with daily consumption of F&V. After multivariable adjustment, there was a stepwise inverse association between F&V intake and PAD. Participants reporting daily intake of >/=3 servings of F&V had 18% lower odds of PAD than those reporting less than monthly consumption. In unadjusted and multivariable-adjusted models, the inverse association with F&V became stronger as ankle brachial index decreased. When stratified by smoking status, the association was present only among those subjects who currently or formerly smoked tobacco. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates an inverse association of F&V consumption with prevalent PAD and overall low F&V consumption. These observations suggest the need to further efforts to increase F&V consumption and for more rigorous evaluation of the role of F&V in PAD prevention. VISUAL OVERVIEW: An online visual overview is available for this article.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS), characterized by severe ipsilateral headache, seizures, and intracranial hemorrhage, is a rare, poorly understood complication that can be fatal following carotid endarterectomy (CEA). The purpose of the study was to determine the factors associated with CHS as captured in the Vascular Quality Initiative. METHODS: Analysis was conducted on 51,001 procedures captured from the CEA module of the Vascular Quality Initiative from 2003 to 2015. Preoperative, operative, and postoperative variables were considered for inclusion in logistic regression analyses to determine possible associations with CHS. The relative contribution of each variable to the overall model was determined using dominance analysis. RESULTS: The mean age was 70.2 +/- 9.4 years; there were 39.6% female patients, 93.1% of white race, with 29.6% of CEAs being performed for symptomatic status. The overall rate of CHS was 0.18% (n = 94), with 55.1% occurring in asymptomatic and 44.9% occurring in symptomatic patients with an associated mortality rate of 38.2%. Multivariable analysis including preoperative variables showed that female gender (odds ratio [OR], 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-2.51; P = .019), <1 month major ipsilateral stroke (OR, 5.36; 95% CI, 2.35-12.22; P < .001), coronary artery disease (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.15-2.71; P = .009), and contralateral stenosis >/=70% (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.00-2.36; P = .050) were independently associated with CHS and that <1 month major stroke was the most important contributor to the model. With the additional inclusion of operative and postoperative variables, female gender (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.14-2.67; P = .010), <1 month ipsilateral major stroke (OR, 3.20; 95% CI, 1.32-7.74; P = .010), urgency (OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.38-3.67; P = .001), re-exploration (OR, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.27-6.97; P = .012), postoperative hypertension (OR, 4.09; 95% CI, 2.65-6.32; P < .001), postoperative hypotension (OR, 3.21; 95% CI, 1.97-5.24; P < .001), dysrhythmias (OR, 3.23; 95% CI, 1.64-6.38; P = .001), and postoperative myocardial infarction (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.21-6.67; P = .017) were significantly associated with CHS, with postoperative blood pressure lability and cardiac complications having the strongest associations with CHS. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of CHS was highest in female patients and in those with a recent major stroke, coronary artery disease, and contralateral stenosis >/=70%. In addition, in adjusting for operative and postoperative variables, CHS was most significantly associated with postoperative blood pressure lability and cardiac complications. These data lend insight into a high-risk population for this devastating complication.