This real-world study of femoropopliteal artery disease treatment with drug-coated balloons confirmed positive findings reported from more strictly designed randomized controlled trials and showed that outcomes are durable in this population up to 2 years after treatment. (IN.PACT Global Clinical Study; NCT01609296).

A comparison was made of sirolimus-eluting stents and bare stents as an effective means of treatment of stenosis in crural arteries. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: (1) patients treated with sirolimus-eluting stents and (2) patients treated with bare stents. Each group consisted of 25 patients, and every patient had one stent implanted. All patients showed symptoms of ischemia of the peripheral arteries, classified according to the Rutherford scale into categories 3, 4, and 5. All patients were examined 24 h before and 24 h and 6 months after the intervention. The results were analyzed according to clinical, hemodynamic, and angiographic criteria. Technically, the procedure was successful in 100% of cases, and both groups presented an equal improvement in clinical and hemodynamic parameters. The follow-up angiographic examination demonstrated a significantly lower rate of restenosis among the sirolimus-eluting stent group (4, 16%) versus the bare stent group (19, 76%) (p < 0.001), with lower target lesion revascularization in 3 (12%) versus 14 (56%) (p < 0.05), respectively. Quantitative angiography demonstrated that all variables used to assess restenosis were superior for sirolimus-eluting stents 6 months after intervention: late lumen loss 0.46 +/- 0.72 versus 1.70 +/- 0.94 (p < 0.001) and minimal lumen diameter 2.25 +/- 0.82 versus 0.99 +/- 1.08 (p < 0.001). Results of this study reveal that the use of sirolimus-eluting stents decreases the risk of restenosis in comparison to standard stents.

Retrograde varicocele embolization may be superior to surgery because of its ability to detect gonadal vein variants. In our study group, transcatheter embolization with 3% polidocanol and fibered coils allowed successful, minimally invasive treatment of postsurgical varicoceles.

Based on the presented results of the trial, CBA seems to be a safer and more effective than PTA for treatment of short atherosclerotic lesions in the superior femoral artery.

The use of drug-coated devices in intravascular therapy is aimed at preventing neointimal hyperplasia caused by excessive proliferation of vascular smooth muscle and thereby restenosis. Although its use seemed initially promising, a recent publication has shown an increased risk of mortality with paclitaxel-coated devices, and there is an urgent need to reaffirm assessments of drug-eluting stents (DES). Objective: The aim of the study was to compare mortality and effectiveness of paclitaxel-coated stents and bare-metal stents (BMS) in the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) with long-term follow-up. Materials and methods: In a single center randomized study, 256 patients with PAD were treated intravascularly with stent implantation. Patients were randomized into two groups: the first (n = 126) were treated with DES, and the second (n = 130) were treated with BMS. The study included evaluation after the procedure, after about 6 months and 36 months. Co-morbidities, with risks for atherosclerosis, were analyzed in all patients. Patients were evaluated for clinical outcome, restenosis frequency, and safety (complications and total mortality). Results: Clinical benefit at the end of the investigation was statistically significantly better in the DES group compared with the BMS group: 85.7% versus 66.2% (p = 0.0003), respectively. Restenosis occurred significantly less frequently in patients with DES: 16.0% versus BMS: 35.0%, p = 0.012. There was no significant effect of comorbidities on the frequency of restenoses. There were no differences in all-cause mortality over the three years with paclitaxel and no-paclitaxel stents cohorts (8.7% versus 7.1%; long-rank p = 0.575). No association was found with mortality and treatment with DES or BMS. Conclusions: The use of paclitaxel-coated stents gave good clinical benefit and caused a significantly lower frequency of restenosis compared to bare-metal stents. The use of paclitaxel-coated stents did not increase mortality.

Objective: Visceral artery fibromuscular dysplasia (VA FMD) manifestations range from asymptomatic to life-threatening. The aim of the study is to evaluate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of VA FMD. Methods: A total of 232 FMD patients enrolled into ongoing ARCADIA-POL study were included in this analysis. All patients underwent detailed clinical evaluation including ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, biobanking, duplex Doppler of carotid and abdominal arteries and whole body angio-computed tomography. Three control groups (patients with renal FMD without visceral involvement, healthy normotensive patients and resistant hypertensive patients) matched for age and sex were included. Results: VA FMD was present in 32 patients (13.8%). Among these patients (women: 84.4%), FMD lesions were more frequent in celiac trunk (83.1%), 62.5% of patients showed at least one visceral aneurysm, and five patients presented with severe complications related to VA FMD. No demographic differences were found between patients with VA FMD and individuals from the three control groups, with the exception of lower weight (P < 0.001) and BMI (P < 0.001) in VA FMD patients. Patients with FMD (with or without visceral artery involvement) showed significantly smaller visceral arterial diameters compared with controls without FMD. Conclusion: Patients with FMD showed smaller visceral arterial diameters when compared with patients without FMD. This may reflect a new phenotype of FMD, as a generalized arteriopathy, what needs further investigation. Lower BMI in patients with VA FMD might be explained by chronic mesenteric ischemia resulting from FMD lesions. FMD visceral involvement and visceral arterial aneurysms in patients with renal FMD are far to be rare. This strengthens the need for a systematic evaluation of all vascular beds, including visceral arteries, regardless of initial FMD involvement.

No abstract

The puncture of the gluteal artery (GA) is a rare and difficult procedure. Less experienced clinicians do not always have the opportunity to practice and prepare for it, which creates a need for novel training tools. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of developing a 3D-printed, patient-specific phantom of the GA and its surrounding tissues to determine the extent to which the model can be used as an aid in needle puncture planning, simulation, and training. Computed tomography angiography scans of a patient with an endoleak to an internal iliac artery aneurysm with no intravascular antegrade access were processed. The arterial system, including the superior GA with its division branches, and pelvic area bones were 3D printed. The 3D model was embedded in the buttocks-shaped, patient-specific mold and cast. The manufactured, life-sized phantom was used to simulate the GA puncture procedure and was validated by 13 endovascular specialists. The printed GA was visible in the fluoroscopy, allowing for a needle puncture procedure simulation. The contrast medium was administered, simulating a digital subtraction angiography. Participating doctors suggested that the model could make a significant impact on preprocedural planning and resident training programs. Although the results are promising, we recommend that further studies be used to adjust the design and assess its clinical value.