Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) achieves temporary hemorrhage control via aortic occlusion. Existing REBOA literature focuses on blunt trauma without a clearly defined role in penetrating trauma. This study compared clinical/injury data and outcomes after REBOA in penetrating vs blunt trauma. STUDY DESIGN:All patients in the Aortic Occlusion for Resuscitation in Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (AORTA) database, an observational American Association for the Surgery of Trauma dataset of trauma patients requiring aortic occlusion, who underwent REBOA were included (January 2014 through February 2021). Study groups were defined by mechanism: penetrating vs blunt. Subgroup analysis was performed of patients arriving with vital signs. Univariable/multivariable analyses compared injuries and outcomes. RESULTS:Seven hundred fifty-nine patients underwent REBOA: 152 (20%) penetrating and 607 (80%) blunt. Patients undergoing penetrating REBOA were less severely injured (injury severity score 25 vs 34; p < 0.001). The most common hemorrhage source was abdominal in penetrating REBOA (79%) and pelvic in blunt REBOA (31%; p = 0.002). Penetrating REBOA was more likely to occur in the operating room (36% vs 17%) and less likely in the emergency department (63% vs 81%; p < 0.001). Penetrating REBOA used more zone I balloon deployment (76% vs 64%) and less zone III (19% vs 34%; p = 0.001). Improved or stabilized hemodynamics were less frequent after penetrating REBOA (41% vs 62%, p < 0.001; 23% vs 41%, p < 0.001). On subgroup analysis of patients arriving alive, improvement or stabilization in hemodynamics was similar between groups (87% vs 86%, p = 0.388; 77% vs 72%, p = 0.273). Penetrating REBOA was not independently associated with mortality (odds ratio 1.253; p = 0.776). CONCLUSIONS:Despite lower injury severity, REBOA was significantly less likely to improve or stabilize hemodynamics after penetrating trauma. Among patients arriving alive, however, outcomes were comparable, suggesting that penetrating REBOA may be most beneficial among patients with vital signs. Because hemorrhage source, catheter insertion setting, and deployment zone varied significantly between groups, existing blunt REBOA data may not be appropriately extrapolated to penetrating trauma. Further study of REBOA as a means of aortic occlusion in penetrating trauma is needed.

BACKGROUND:Concomitant iliac artery aneurysms can pose challenges during repair of complex abdominal and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. In fenestrated aortic aneurysm repairs (FEVAR), preservation of internal iliac perfusion is important to minimize risk of spinal cord ischemia. Currently, most commonly used fenestrated stent grafts and the only approved iliac branch devices are manufactured by different companies in the United States. We report our experience with combining Iliac Branch Endoprosthesis (IBE) (W.L. Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, AZ) and fenestrated stent grafts, using the Zenith platform (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN). METHODS:Retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent FEVAR at a single institution from September, 2015 to June, 2020 was performed. Patients were deemed high-risk for open repair. Fenestrated aortic components implanted were either physician-modified or custom manufactured. Cases in which IBEs were deployed during FEVAR were specifically reviewed. Anatomic details were obtained from preoperative CT scans. Postoperative outcomes such as mortality, technical success, major adverse events, limb patency, limb-related endoleaks and re-intervention rates were assessed. RESULTS:During the study period, 171 patients underwent FEVAR at our institution. Among those, 15 patients had unilateral IBE implantation during FEVAR, while one received bilateral IBE implantation. Fourteen cases involved physician-modified fenestrated endograft, and Zenith Fenestrated (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN) in combination with Excluder bifurcated main body and IBE (W.L. Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, AZ). Mean operative, and fluoroscopy times were 340.2 minutes, and 65.4 minutes respectively. A total of 67 viscerorenal target vessels (mean = 3.9, range =_3-5) and 15 internal iliac arteries were incorporated, with a mean of 160 cc contrast used. Completion angiograms were free of type 1 and type 3 endoleaks. Technical success was 100%. There was no perioperative mortality. One patient developed spinal cord ischemia post-operative day two with neurological recovery. At mean follow-up of 430 days, overall survival was 100% with no aneurysm-related mortalities. Limb patency remained 100%. There were no type 3 endoleaks while one patient had a type 1B endoleak that is currently being monitored. There was one re-intervention for type 1C renal branch graft endoleak. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Combining IBE with FEVAR allows internal iliac preservation during endovascular repair of complex abdominal aortic aneurysms, with encouraging early results.

BACKGROUND:Penetrating carotid injuries are associated with an up to 20% risk of stroke. This study evaluated patients in the American Association for Surgery of Trauma PROspective Observational Vascular Injury Trial, with the aim of determining factors associated with stroke and stroke or death. METHODS:Penetrating extracranial carotid injuries in the American Association for Surgery of Trauma PROspective Observational Vascular Injury Trial registry from 2012 to 2020 were queried. Isolated external carotid injuries were excluded. Patients with documented postinjury in-hospital stroke were compared with those without. Significant predictors (p < 0.1) for stroke and stroke or death on univariate analysis were included in multivariate analyses. RESULTS:One hundred two patients from 17 institutions were included. Mean age was 35 ± 18 years, and 80% were male. Average Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on presentation was 9 ± 5, with an Injury Severity Score [ISS] of 22 ± 13. Operative management occurred in 51% of patients who were significantly more hypotensive (systolic blood pressure: 109 vs. 131 mm Hg; p = 0.015) with a lower initial pH (7.17 vs. 7.31; p = 0.001) and presented with hard signs of vascular injury (74% vs. 26%; p < 0.001). Overall stroke rate was 17% (23% operative vs. 10% nonoperative, p = 0.076). Rate of stroke or death was 27% (64% operative and 36% nonoperative). On multivariate analysis, lower GCS (p = 0.05) and completion angiography (p = 0.04) were associated with stroke. Likewise lower GCS (p = 0.015) and ISS (p = 0.04) were associated with stroke or death. CONCLUSION:Penetrating carotid trauma undergoing operative management had a stroke rate of 23%. Low GCS on arrival and need for completion angiography are independently associated with postinjury in-hospital stroke, whereas low GCS on arrival and ISS were associated with stroke or death. The ideal treatment strategy remains elusive, thus a dedicated multicenter study may help to achieve higher fidelity data on this rare but devastating injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:Prognostic and Epidemiological, Level III.

OBJECTIVE:To characterize the association of preoperative functional performance status based on Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scoring with the risk of adverse cardiovascular events, vascular events, and mortality in patients undergoing EVAR and TEVAR. METHODS: = 6595) for non-ruptured aortic pathologies between 2014 and 2018 were eligible for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the association of pre-procedure ECOG functional performance status on risk of in-hospital adverse cardiovascular events, vascular events, and mortality. RESULTS:The number of operations complicated by adverse cardiovascular and vascular events was 480 (2.6%) and 190 (1.0%) for EVAR and 733 (11.1%) and 219 (3.3%) for TEVAR, respectively. There were 118 (0.6%) and 240 (3.6%) in-hospital deaths following EVAR and TEVAR, respectively. Patients with ECOG grades 3 or 4 undergoing EVAR were at increased risk of cardiovascular events (OR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.09, 2.41) and one-year mortality (HR = 2.62; 95% CI = 1.92, 3.57) compared to those with ECOG grade 0. Patients undergoing TEVAR with ECOG grade 3 or 4 were at increased risk for both inpatient death (OR = 2.77; 95% CI = 1.56, 4.9) and one-year mortality (HR = 3.27, 95% CI = 2.06, 5.21). ECOG status was not associated with an increased risk of adverse vascular events following either EVAR or TEVAR. CONCLUSIONS:Poor preoperative functional status as assessed by ECOG score is associated with an increased risk of adverse postoperative cardiovascular events following EVAR and a higher mortality risk following both EVAR and TEVAR. Functional status assessment may be useful for risk stratification and determining procedural candidacy prior to EVAR and TEVAR.

OBJECTIVE:We sought to determine trends in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) versus non-PTA interventions over time, as well as factors that influence the decision for non-PTA intervention. BACKGROUND:Although the optimal strategy for revascularization in patients with below-the-knee (BTK) chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) remains under investigation, PTA has been the preferred endovascular approach. Recently, there has been an increase in the use of non-PTA approaches for revascularization. METHODS:We performed a retrospective analysis of the Vascular Quality Initiative. Between 2011 and 2020, a total of 23,850 procedures corresponding to 33,098 arteries in 19,404 patients with CLTI were included. After application of exclusion criteria and removal of missing variables, 18,644 arteries were included in the study cohort. The primary analysis was factors associated with receiving non-PTA intervention. Secondary analysis included trends in PTA versus non-PTA intervention over time. RESULTS:Throughout the study period, the majority of interventions (72%) were PTA alone. The percentage of non-PTA interventions, on a per-artery basis, increased over the study period from 18% to 33%, p < 0.01. Advanced age, increasing TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus classification, and concomitant above-the-knee disease were associated with an increased likelihood for non-PTA intervention. In contrast, longer lesion length, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, bilateral disease, and discharge to location other than home were associated with an increased likelihood of PTA. CONCLUSIONS:We observed a significant increase in the percentage of non-PTA interventions for patients with CLTI requiring BTK interventions over the last decade, with lesion- and patient-specific characteristics associated with the type of endovascular approach.

OBJECTIVE:Patients who present with lower extremity ischemia are frequently anemic and the optimal transfusion threshold for this cohort remains controversial. We sought to evaluate the impact of blood transfusion on postoperative major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including myocardial infarction, dysrhythmia, stroke, congestive heart failure, and 30-day mortality for these patients. METHODS:All consecutive patients who underwent infra-inguinal bypass at our institution from 2011 to 2020 were included. Perioperative red blood cell transfusion was the primary exposure, and the primary outcome was MACE. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to assess the impact of patient and procedural variables, including red blood cell transfusion, stratified by hemoglobin (Hgb) nadir: <7, 7-8, and >8 g/dL. RESULTS:Of the 287 patients reviewed for analysis, 146 (50.9%) had a perioperative transfusion (mean: 1.6 ± 3 units). Patients who received a transfusion had a mean nadir Hgb of 8.3 ± 1.0 g/dL, compared to 10.1 ± 1.7 g/dL without a transfusion. The overall incidence of MACE was 15.7% (45 of 287 patients). Univariate analysis demonstrated that MACE was associated with blood transfusion (P = 0.009), lower Hgb nadir (P = 0.02), and higher blood loss (P = 0.003). On multivariate analysis, transfusion was independently associated with MACE for patients with a Hgb nadir >8 g/dL (OR: 3.09; P = 0.006), but not for patients with Hgb nadir 7-8 g/dL (OR: 0.818; P = 0.77). Additionally, patients with MACE had significantly longer length of hospital stay than for patients without (13 vs. 7.7 days, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:For patients undergoing infra-inguinal bypass, receiving a red blood cell transfusion with a Hgb nadir >8 g/dL was associated with a 3-fold increase in MACE, with nearly twice the length of stay. For patients with a Hgb 7-8 g/dL, transfusion did not increase or reduce the incidence of MACE. These findings suggest no benefit of blood transfusion for patients with Hgb nadir >7 g/dL and harm for Hgb >8 g/dL, however causation cannot be proven due to the retrospective nature of the study and randomized studies are needed to confirm or refute these findings.