Faculty Bibliography

The current size threshold for elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair is 5.5 cm. Over this diameter limit, the AAA rupture rate exceeds the perioperative mortality of open surgical repair. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is associated with lower perioperative mortality rates, so it seems logical to hypothesize that the size threshold for endovascular AAA repair should be lowered. The arguments supporting this proposal are: (1) the EVAR-associated mortality rises several fold with increasing age, (2) larger AAAs have more complex anatomy that may not be suitable for EVAR, and (3) smaller AAAs treated with EVAR have lower perioperative and long-term mortality and fewer secondary interventions. Future guidelines may need to consider lowering the size threshold for elective AAA repair in the endovascular era in certain patient subgroups. The reduction of the size threshold should be counterbalanced against the cost of the procedures, as well as the age, life expectancy, and general condition of the patient

Complications of surgical and percutaneous vascular access are well known and can lead to considerable morbidity and even mortality. This article describes a technique which combines the advantages of surgical open and percutaneous access approaches: minimal surgical exposure of the target vessel followed by fast and safe access by a modified open Seldinger technique under direct tactile and visual control. This unique combination of techniques enhances the safety of vascular access such that local complications can be almost totally avoided. Economic and safety considerations are discussed and a balanced view on the advantages of the described technique will be given

Statins are an essential component of the management of patients suffering from vascular diseases. As there is neither any consensus nor any guidelines regarding this issue, we aimed to define the optimal statin type and dosage for these patients. MEDLINE was searched for studies comparing different statin types and dosages for vascular patients. In the absence of adverse effects, rosuvastatin or atorvastatin >/= 20 mg/d is the optimal statin type and dosage for vascular patients. The management of statin-induced adverse events and the options for statin-intolerant patients are also discussed. Routine statin treatment is associated with several beneficial effects in vascular patients whether managed conservatively or undergoing open vascular surgery/endovascular interventions. If possible, statins should not be discontinued before open or endovascular procedures and treatment should be resumed as soon as possible. Future studies should evaluate the effects of an increased statin loading dose prior to vascular procedures

Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) as a result of prolonged nasogastric intubation is rare and certainly fatal, without prompt surgical intervention. We report the case of a 41-year-old man with morbid obesity who was admitted after suffering 55% of total body surface area burns. After several skin graft operations over the course of 12 weeks, he was rushed into surgery because of the acute onset of severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Exploratory laparotomy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) suggested an AEF, which was then quickly confirmed by a diagnostic angiogram. An endovascular aortic stent graft repair was performed that successfully stopped the bleeding. We include a review of the literature pertaining to cases of AEF treated by endovascular surgery, which appears to be a promising alternative to open surgery in the unfit patient

Iliac artery aneurysms (IAA) are often found coexisting with abdominal aortic aneurysms. There is significant risk of associated morbidity and mortality when not treated appropriately. In these two case reports, the authors describe a minimally invasive endovascular approach to treat IAA by placing an aorto-uni-iliac endograft through the contralateral side of the common iliac aneurysm