Background: To investigate the effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns on the vasculopathic population. Methods: The Divisions of Vascular Surgery of the southern Italian peninsula joined this multicenter retrospective study conducted through cross-sectional survey. Each received a 13-point questionnaire, investigating the hospitalization rate of vascular patients in the first 11 months of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the preceding 11 months. Results: 27 out of 29 Centers were enrolled. April-December 2020 (7092 patients) vs 2019 (9161 patients): post-EVAR surveillance, treatment for Rutherford category 3 peripheral arterial disease, and asymptomatic carotid stenosis revascularization significantly decreased [1484 (16.2%) vs 1014 (14.3%), p=0.0009; 1401 (15.29%) vs 959 (13.52%), p=0.0006; and 1558 (17.01%) vs 934 (13.17%), p<0.0001, respectively]; while revascularization or major amputations for chronic limb-threatening ischemia, and urgent revascularization for symptomatic carotid stenosis significantly increased [1204 (16.98%) vs 1245 (13.59%), p<0.0001; 355 (5.01%) vs 358 (3.91%), p=0.0007; and 153 (2.16%) vs 140 (1.53%), p=0.0009, respectively]. Conclusions: The suspension of elective activities during the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant reduction in asymptomatic carotid stenosis revascularization, treatment for Rutherford 3 peripheral arterial disease, post-EVAR surveillance. Contestually, we observed a significant increase in urgent revascularization for symptomatic carotid stenosis, and revascularization or major amputations for chronic limb-threatening ischemia.

We report the case of an endovascular repair of an aortic arch aneurysm by a self-made endograft with a single fenestration in a high-risk patient unfit for open surgery. A patient of 81 years, chronic ischemic cardiopathic, suffering from prostate K in chemotherapy treatment, came to our hospital for post-traumatic fracture of the right femur, associated with dysphonia and respiratory disorders for several days. During the hospitalization, the patient performed angio-CT that found the presence of voluminous aneurysm of the aortic arch with a maximum diameter of about 70mm. The patient was treated in the first instance with a carotid-carotid-succlavium bypass to preserve the cerebral and upper limb vascularization. The self-made endograft was created by modifying a standard endograft by a single fenestration following the three-dimensional reconstructions of the CT images. The procedure was completed by implanting this endograft with stent delivery to the patient with a fenestration on the anonymous trunk. The procedure was successfully completed and postoperative course was uneventful. Computed tomography angiography demonstrated the exclusion of the aneurysm, patency of the implanted endograft modules, and absence of signs of endoleaks and / or cerebral or medullary ischemic complications.

We report the case of an endovascular repair of an aortic arch aneurysm by a surgeon-modified fenestrated endograft with a single fenestration in a high-risk patient unfit for open surgery. A patient of 84 years, chronic ischemic cardiopathic, suffering from prostate adenocarcinoma in chemotherapy treatment, came to our hospital for post-traumatic fracture of the right femur. During the hospitalization, the patient exhibited dysphonia and respiratory disorders for several days, therefore, the patient performed Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) that found the presence of voluminous aneurysm of the aortic arch with a maximum diameter of about 74 mm. The patient was treated with a hybrid-staged procedure; in the first instance, with a carotid-carotid-succlavium bypass to preserve the cerebral and upper limb vascularization and then, the procedure was completed by implanting the surgeon-modified fenestrated endograft with stent delivery to the patient with a fenestration on the anonymous trunk. This surgeon-modified fenestrated endograft was created by modifying a standard endograft by a single fenestration following the three-dimensional reconstructions of the CTA images. The procedure was successfully completed and postoperative course was uneventful. Computed Tomography Angiography demonstrated the exclusion of the aneurysm, patency of the implanted endograft modules, and absence of signs of endoleaks and / or cerebral or medullary ischemic complications.

Background: To investigate the effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns on the vasculopathic population. Methods: The Divisions of Vascular Surgery of the southern Italian peninsula joined this multicenter retrospective study. Each received a 13-point questionnaire investigating the hospitalization rate of vascular patients in the first 11 months of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the preceding 11 months. Results: 27 out of 29 Centers were enrolled. April-December 2020 (7092 patients) vs. 2019 (9161 patients): post-EVAR surveillance, hospitalization for Rutherford category 3 peripheral arterial disease, and asymptomatic carotid stenosis revascularization significantly decreased (1484 (16.2%) vs. 1014 (14.3%), p = 0.0009; 1401 (15.29%) vs. 959 (13.52%), p = 0.0006; and 1558 (17.01%) vs. 934 (13.17%), p < 0.0001, respectively), while admissions for revascularization or major amputations for chronic limb-threatening ischemia and urgent revascularization for symptomatic carotid stenosis significantly increased (1204 (16.98%) vs. 1245 (13.59%), p < 0.0001; 355 (5.01%) vs. 358 (3.91%), p = 0.0007; and 153 (2.16%) vs. 140 (1.53%), p = 0.0009, respectively). Conclusions: The suspension of elective procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant reduction in post-EVAR surveillance, and in the hospitalization of asymptomatic carotid stenosis revascularization and Rutherford 3 peripheral arterial disease. Consequentially, we observed a significant increase in admissions for urgent revascularization for symptomatic carotid stenosis, as well as for revascularization or major amputations for chronic limb-threatening ischemia.