Faculty Bibliography

This systematic review aimed to identify sex-specific outcomes in men and women after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS), including transfemoral and transcarotid. A search of literature published from January 2000 through December 2022 was conducted using key terms attributed to carotid interventions on PubMed. Studies comparing outcome metrics post intervention (ie, myocardial infarction [MI], cerebral vascular accident [CVA] or stroke, and long-term mortality) among male and female patients were reviewed. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. Overall, all studies reported low rates of perioperative complications. Among the studies that did not stratify outcomes by the preoperative symptom status, there were no significant sex differences in rates of perioperative strokes or MIs. Two studies, however, noted a higher rate of 30-day mortality in male patients undergoing CEA than in female patients. Analysis of asymptomatic patients undergoing CEA revealed no difference in perioperative MIs (female: 0% to 1.8% v male: 0.4% to 4.3%), similar rates of CVAs (female: 0.8% to 5% v male: 0.8% to 4.9%), and no significant differences in the long-term mortality outcomes. Alternatively, symptomatic patients undergoing CEA reported a higher rate of CVAs in female patients vs. male patients (7.7% v 6.2%) and showed a higher rate of death in female patients (1% v 0.7%). Among studies that did not stratify outcome by symptomatology, there was no difference in the 30-day outcomes between sexes for patients undergoing CAS. Asymptomatic patients undergoing CAS demonstrated similar incident rates across perioperative MIs (female: 0% to 5.9% v male: 0.28% to 3.3%), CVAs (female: 0.5% to 4.1% v male: 0.4% to 6.2%), and long-term mortality outcomes (female: 0% to 1.75% v male: 0.2% to 1.5%). Symptomatic patients undergoing CAS similarly reported higher incidences of perioperative MIs (female: 0.3% to 7.1% v male: 0% to 5.5%), CVAs (female: 0% to 9.9% v male: 0% to 7.6%), and long-term mortality outcomes (female: 0.6% to 7.1% v male: 0.5% to 8.2%). Sex-specific differences in outcomes after major vascular procedures are well recognized. Our review suggests that symptomatic female patients have a higher incidence of neurologic and cardiac events after carotid interventions, but that asymptomatic patients do not.

BACKGROUND:While prior studies have confirmed the protective effect of diabetes on abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) development, much less is known about the effect of diabetes, and in particular insulin dependence, on outcomes following AAA repair. In this study, we aim to evaluate the role of insulin-dependent diabetes on short-term and long-term outcomes following open and endovascular AAA repair. METHODS:The Vascular Implant Surveillance and Interventional Outcomes Network (VISION), a registry linking the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) data with Medicare claims, was queried for patients who underwent open or endovascular AAA repair from 2011 to the present. Exclusion criteria were unknown diabetes status, prior aortic intervention, maximum aneurysm diameter <45 mm at presentation, and Medicare Advantage coverage due to inconsistent follow-up. Patients were stratified based on diabetes status (no diabetes versus diabetes) and insulin dependence (no diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes versus insulin-dependent diabetes). RESULTS:Of the 38,437 cases in the VISION endovascular aortic aneurysm (EVAR) and open aortic aneurysm repair (OAR) databases, 21,943 met inclusion criteria. Perioperative outcomes after OAR were comparable between diabetic and nondiabetic patients. However, diabetic patients undergoing EVAR were significantly more likely to have a postoperative myocardial infarction (1.0% vs 0.6%, P = 0.04) and have a 30-day readmission (10.9% vs 8.8%, P < 0.001). Insulin-dependent diabetic patients were more likely to require a 30-day readmission after OAR (24.5% vs 13.5%, P = 0.02) and EVAR (15.1% vs 9.0%, P < 0.001); however, only insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients undergoing EVAR experienced higher rates of postoperative myocardial infarction (1.9% vs 0.7%, P < 0.01). After propensity score matching, patients with IDDM undergoing EVAR were additionally at increased risk of mortality at 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year follow-up with the highest risk occurring at the 1-year mark (hazard ratio 1.79, P < 0.0001), while IDDM patients undergoing OAR were only at a significantly increased risk of mortality at 5-year follow-up (hazard ratio 1.90, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS:Patients with insulin-dependent diabetes have greater than 14% one-year mortality following open or endovascular aneurysm repair, compared to 8% for all others. Our findings raise questions about whether insulin-dependent diabetics should have a higher size threshold for prophylactic repair, although further studies are needed to address this question and consider the influence of glycemic control on these outcomes.

BACKGROUND:Despite the expanded application of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in patients with significant cardiac comorbidities, the effect of decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) on outcomes remains unknown. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes in patients with normal and abnormal EFs undergoing TEVAR for type-B aortic dissection (TBAD). METHODS:The Vascular Quality Initiative database was reviewed from 2012 to 2020. Patients were categorized into severely reduced (EF ≤ 30%), reduced (EF 30-50%) and normal EF (EF>50%). Baseline characteristics, procedural details and 18-month outcomes were compared. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with mortality, major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), and aortic-related reintervention. RESULTS:Of 1,993 patients, 38 (2%) and 208 (10%) patients had severely reduced ejection fraction (SREF) and reduced ejection fraction (REF). Patients with abnormal EF were more likely to have cardiac comorbidities and be prescribed angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and anticoagulants. Perioperatively, patients with SREF were more likely to experience mortality (13.2% vs. 6.7% vs. 4.4%, P = 0.018), MACE (26.3% vs. 11.5% vs. 8%, P < 0.001), hemodialysis (13.5% vs. 5% vs. 2.9%, P = 0.001) and aortic related reintervention (21.1% vs. 13% vs. 10%, P = 0.041), compared to REF and normal ejection fraction (NEF) patients. However, these associations were not present on multivariable analysis. At 18 months, mortality was significantly higher in patients with SREF, which was confirmed on multivariable analysis, but depressed EF was not associated with increased aortic reintervention compared to NEF. CONCLUSIONS:SREF was not independently associated with perioperative mortality or MACE compared to NEF. REF had similar risk of morbidity and mortality compared to NEF in both the perioperative and early postoperative periods. TEVAR-related complications were similar among the cohorts. As such, TEVAR may be offered to appropriately selected patients regardless of EF.

Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) present increased risk for ischemic cardiovascular complications up to 1 year after infection. Although the systemic inflammatory response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection likely contributes to this increased cardiovascular risk, whether SARS-CoV-2 directly infects the coronary vasculature and attendant atherosclerotic plaques remains unknown. Here we report that SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA is detectable and replicates in coronary lesions taken at autopsy from severe COVID-19 cases. SARS-CoV-2 targeted plaque macrophages and exhibited a stronger tropism for arterial lesions than adjacent perivascular fat, correlating with macrophage infiltration levels. SARS-CoV-2 entry was increased in cholesterol-loaded primary macrophages and dependent, in part, on neuropilin-1. SARS-CoV-2 induced a robust inflammatory response in cultured macrophages and human atherosclerotic vascular explants with secretion of cytokines known to trigger cardiovascular events. Our data establish that SARS-CoV-2 infects coronary vessels, inducing plaque inflammation that could trigger acute cardiovascular complications and increase the long-term cardiovascular risk.

OBJECTIVE:The outcomes of patients with premature cerebrovascular disease (age ≤55 years) who undergo carotid artery stenting are not well-defined. Our study objective was to analyze the outcomes of younger patients undergoing carotid stenting. METHODS:The Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative was queried for transfemoral carotid artery stenting (TF-CAS) and transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) procedures between 2016 and 2020. Patients were stratified based on age ≤55 or >55 years. Primary endpoints were periprocedural stroke, death, myocardial infarction (MI), and composite outcomes. Secondary endpoints included procedural failure (defined as ipsilateral restenosis ≥80% or occlusion) and reintervention rates. RESULTS:Of the 35,802 patients who underwent either TF-CAS or TCAR, 2912 (6.1%) were ≤55 years. Younger patients were less likely than older patients to have coronary disease (30.5% vs 50.2%; P < .001), diabetes (31.5% vs 37.9%; P < .001), and hypertension (71.8% vs 89.8%; P < .001), but were more likely to be female (45% vs 35.4%; P < .001) and active smokers (50.9% vs 24.0%; P < .001) Younger patients were also more likely to have had a prior transient ischemic attack or stroke than older patients (70.7% vs 56.9%; P < .001). TF-CAS was more frequently performed in younger patients (79.7% vs 55.4%; P < .001). In the periprocedural period, younger patients were less likely to have a MI than older patients (0.3% vs 0.7%; P < .001), but there was no significant difference in the rates of periprocedural stroke (1.5% vs 2.0%; P = .173) and composite outcomes of stroke/death (2.6% vs 2.7%; P = .686) and stroke/death/MI (2.9% vs 3.2%; P = .353) between our two cohorts. The mean follow-up was 12 months regardless of age. During follow-up, younger patients were significantly more likely to experience significant (≥80%) restenosis or occlusion (4.7% vs 2.3%; P = .001) and to undergo reintervention (3.3% vs 1.7%; P < .001). However, there was no statistical difference in the frequency of late strokes between younger and older patients (3.8% vs 3.2%; P = .129). CONCLUSIONS:Patients with premature cerebrovascular disease undergoing carotid artery stenting are more likely to be African American, female, and active smokers than their older counterparts. Young patients are also more likely to present symptomatically. Although periprocedural outcomes are similar, younger patients have higher rates of procedural failure (significant restenosis or occlusion) and reintervention at 1-year follow-up. However, the clinical implication of late procedural failure is unknown, given that we found no significant difference in the rate of stroke at follow-up. Until further longitudinal studies are completed, clinicians should carefully consider the indications for carotid stenting in patients with premature cerebrovascular disease, and those who do undergo stenting may require close follow-up.

This case series highlights that extra-adrenal and recurrent pheochromocytomas can require en bloc vascular resection to achieve negative margins. Through this series of cases performed in a multidisciplinary fashion, we aim to highlight the technical aspects of these cases that can add to their complexity. Vascular invasion alone should not preclude an otherwise feasible oncologic resection.

OBJECTIVE:Interventions for carotid occlusions are infrequently undertaken and the outcomes are poorly defined. We sought to study patients undergoing urgent carotid revascularization for symptomatic occlusions. METHODS:The Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative database was queried from 2003 to 2020 to identify patients with carotid occlusions undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Only symptomatic patients undergoing urgent interventions within 24 hours of presentation were included. Patients were identified based on CT and MRI imaging. This cohort was compared to symptomatic patients undergoing urgent intervention for severe stenosis (≥80%). Primary endpoints were perioperative stroke, death, myocardial infarction (MI) and composite outcomes as defined by the SVS reporting guidelines. Patient characteristics were analyzed to determine predictors of perioperative mortality and neurological events. RESULTS:inhibitor (32.0%), aspirin (77.9%) and renin-angiotensin inhibitor (43.7%) preoperatively. When compared to patients undergoing urgent endarterectomy for severe stenosis (≥80%), those with symptomatic occlusion were well matched with regards to risk factors, but the severe stenosis cohort appeared better medically managed and less likely to present with cortical stroke symptoms. Perioperative outcomes were significantly worse for the carotid occlusion cohort, primarily driven by higher perioperative mortality (2.8% vs 0.9%, P<.001). The composite endpoint of stroke/death/MI was also significantly worse in the occlusion cohort (7.7% vs 4.9%, P=.014). On multivariate analysis, carotid occlusion was associated with increased mortality (OR, 3.028; 95% CI, 1.362-6.730; P=.007) and composite outcome of stroke, death, or MI (OR, 1.790; 95% CI, 1.135-2.822, P=.012). CONCLUSIONS:Revascularization for symptomatic carotid occlusion constitutes approximately 2% of carotid interventions captured in the VQI, affirming the rarity of this undertaking. These patients have acceptable rates of perioperative neurologic events but are at an elevated risk of overall perioperative adverse events, primarily driven by higher mortality, compared to those with severe stenosis. Carotid occlusion appears to be the most significant risk factor for the composite endpoint of perioperative stroke, death, or MI. While intervention for a symptomatic carotid occlusion may be performed with acceptable rate of perioperative complications, judicious patient selection is warranted in this high-risk cohort.

OBJECTIVE:Although post-carotid endarterectomy (CEA) strokes are rare, they can be devastating. The degree of disability that patients develop after such events and its effects on long-term outcomes are unclear. Our goal was to assess the extent of postoperative disability in patients suffering strokes after CEA and evaluate its association with long-term outcomes. METHODS:The Vascular Quality Initiative CEA registry (2016-2020) was queried for CEAs performed for asymptomatic or symptomatic indications in patients with preoperative modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores of 0 to 1. The mRS grades stroke-related disability as 0 (none), 1 (not significant), 2 to 3 (moderate), 4 to 5 (severe), and 6 (dead). Patients suffering postoperative strokes with recorded mRS scores were included. Postoperative stroke-related disability based on mRS and its association with long-term outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS:Among 149,285 patients undergoing CEA, there were 1178 patients without preoperative disability who had postoperative strokes and reported mRS scores. Mean age was 71 ± 9.2 years, and 59.6% of patients were male. Regarding ipsilateral cortical symptoms within 6 months preoperatively, 83.5% of patients were asymptomatic, 7.3% had transient ischemic attacks, and 9.2% had strokes. Postoperative stroke-related disability was classified as mRS 0 (11.6%), 1 (19.5%), 2 to 3 (29.4%), 4 to 5 (31.5%), and 6 (8%). One-year survival stratified by postoperative stroke-related disability was 91.4% for mRS 0, 95.6% for mRS 1, 92.1% for mRS 2 to 3, and 81.5% for mRS 4 to 5 (P < .001). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that while severe postoperative disability was associated with increased death at 1 year (hazard ratio [HR], 2.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5-5.89; P = .002), moderate postoperative disability had no such association (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.45-2; P = .88). One-year freedom from subsequent ipsilateral neurological events or death stratified by postoperative stroke-related disability was 87.8% for mRS 0, 93.3% for mRS 1, 88.5% for mRS 2 to 3, and 77.9% for mRS 4 to 5 (P < .001). Severe postoperative disability was independently associated with increased ipsilateral neurological events or death at 1 year (HR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.25-4.38; P = .01). However, moderate postoperative disability exhibited no such association (HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.46-1.82; P = .8). CONCLUSIONS:The majority of patients without preoperative disability who suffered strokes after CEA developed significant disability. Severe stroke-related disability was associated with higher 1-year mortality and subsequent neurological events. These data can improve informed consent for CEA and guide prognostication after postoperative strokes.

Stroke is a persistent leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and carotid artery atherosclerosis remains a treatable cause of future stroke. Although most patients with asymptomatic carotid artery disease may be at a relatively low risk for future stroke, most completed strokes are unheralded; thus, the identification and appropriate treatment of patients with asymptomatic carotid artery disease remains a critical part of overall stroke prevention. Select patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis with an increased risk of future stroke based on the degree of stenosis and other imaging or patient-related characteristics are appropriate to consider for carotid artery intervention.

BACKGROUND:Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk, whose pathogenesis is not fully known. OBJECTIVE:We identified a transcriptomic signature in psoriasis and investigated its association with prevalent and future risk of a CV event to understand the connection between psoriasis and CV disease (CVD). METHODS:Psoriasis patients (n = 37) with a history of moderate-severe skin disease without CVD and 11 matched controls underwent whole blood RNA sequencing. This transcriptomic signature in psoriasis versus controls was evaluated in two CVD cohorts: Women referred for cardiac catheterization with (n = 76) versus without (n = 97) myocardial infarction (MI), and patients with peripheral artery disease (n = 106) followed over 2.5 years for major adverse CV or limb events (MACLE). The association between genes differentially expressed in psoriasis and prevalent and incident CV events was assed. RESULTS:In psoriasis, median age was 44 (IQR; 34-51) years, 49% male and ACC/AHA ASCVD Risk Score of 1.0% (0.6-3.4) with no significant difference versus controls. The median psoriasis area and severity index score (PASI) was 4.0 (IQR 2.9-8.2) with 36% on biologic therapy. Overall, 247 whole blood genes were upregulated and 228 downregulated in psoriasis versus controls (p < 0.05), and 1302 genes positively and 1244 genes negatively correlated with PASI (p < 0.05). Seventy-three genes overlapped between psoriasis prevalence and PASI with key regulators identified as IL-6, IL-1β and interferon gamma. In the CVD cohorts, 50 of 73 genes (68%) identified in psoriasis associated with prevalent MI, and 29 (40%) with incident MACLE. Key regulator transcripts identified in psoriasis and CVD cohorts included SOCS3, BCL3, OSM, PIM2, PIM3 and STAT5A. CONCLUSIONS:A whole blood transcriptomic signature of psoriasis diagnosis and severity associated with prevalent MI and incident MACLE. These data have implications for better understanding the link between psoriasis, systemic inflammation and CVD.