The location of aneurysm, urgency of repair, region, sex, and hospital size are important factors related to patient treatment and outcome. These data provide a standard of comparison against which surgeons can compare their own results, and they provide a benchmark for the evaluation of interventional techniques proposed to treat aneurysms.

One hundred fifteen patients with a unilateral knee dislocation underwent arteriography to examine the popliteal artery. The incidence of popliteal artery injury was 23% (27 patients). Clinically, 29 (25%) of the 115 patients had an abnormal ipsilateral pedal pulse and 23 (79%) of these 29 patients had an arteriographically identified popliteal artery injury. Twenty-two arteries were surgically repaired and one was treated without surgery. Eight-six patients had normal pulses; the arteriogram showed no abnormalities in 77, demonstrated spasm in five, and revealed an intimal flap in four. All 86 patients were treated without surgery and had no delayed vascular complications. This demonstrates that the vascular examination is an accurate predictor of major popliteal artery injury following knee dislocation. Patients with an abnormal pedal pulse warrant arteriography due to a high incidence (79%) of popliteal artery injury. Patients with normal pulses may be monitored by clinical examination only. Popliteal artery injuries in this group are minor and rarely require intervention.

OBJECTIVES Early thrombosis (ET) contributes to autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) failure. We studied patients undergoing AVF placement in the Hemodialysis Fistula Maturation (HFM) Study, a prospective, observational cohort study, using a nested case-control analysis to identify pre-operative and intra-operative predictors of ET. METHODS ET cases were compared to controls who were matched on gender, age, diabetes, dialysis status, and surgeon fistula volume. ET was defined as thrombosis diagnosed by physical exam or ultrasound within 18 days of AVF creation. Conditional logistic regression models were fit to identify risk factors for ET. RESULTS Thirty-two ET cases (5.3%) occurred among 602 study participants; 198 controls were matched. ET was associated with female gender (OR=2.75, CI 1.19–6.38, P=0.018), fistula location (forearm vs. upper arm) (OR=2.76, CI 1.05–7.23, P=0.039), feeding artery (radial vs. brachial) (OR=2.64, CI 1.03–6.77, P=0.043) and arterial diameter (OR=1.52, CI 1.02–2.26, P=0.039, per mm smaller). Draining vein diameter was nonlinearly associated with ET, with highest risk in 2–3 mm veins. Surprisingly, ET risk was lower in diabetics (OR=0.19, CI 0.07–0.47, P=0.0004), lower with less nitroglycerin-mediated brachial artery dilatation (NMD%) (OR=0.42, CI 0.20–1.92, P=0.029 for each 10% lower) and higher with lower carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (OR=1.49, CI 1.02–2.20, P=0.041, for each m/sec lower). Intraoperative protamine use was associated with a higher ET risk (OR 3.26, CI 1.28-∞, P=0.038). Surgeon’s intraoperative perceptions were associated with ET: surgeons’ greater concern about maturation success (likely, marginal, unlikely) was associated with higher thrombosis risk (OR 8.09, CI 4.03-∞, p<0.0001, per category change), as were absence vs. presence of intraoperative thrill (OR 21.0, CI 5.07-∞, P=0.0002) and surgeons’ reported frustration during surgery (OR 6.85, CI 2.70-∞, P=0.0004). Reduced extent of intraoperative thrill (proximal, mid or distal third of the forearm or upper arm, based on AVF placement) was also associated with ET (OR 2.91, CI 1.31-∞, P=0.014, per diminished level). Oral antithrombotic medication use was not significantly associated with ET. CONCLUSIONS ET was found to be associated with female gender, forearm AVF, smaller arterial size, draining vein diameter of 2–3 mm, and protamine use. Paradoxically, diabetes and stiff, noncompliant feeding arteries were associated with lower frequency of ET. Absent or attenuated intraoperative thrill, and both surgeon frustration and concern about successful maturation during surgery, were strongly correlated with ET.

Complete wound healing of ischemic heel ulcers or gangrene may require up to 6 months, and short-term graft patency is of minimal benefit. Successful arterial reconstruction, especially a patent posterior tibial artery after bypass, is effective in treating most heel ulcers or gangrene. Patients with impaired renal function are at increased risk for failure of treatment, but their wounds may successfully heal and they should not be denied revascularization procedures.

Subintimal angioplasty is technically successful in most patients, with few complications. Most procedures provide short-term clinical success and have allowed for successful wound healing and temporary relief of rest pain. However, late arterial patency is poor, with a high rate of symptom recurrence. Many patients will have recurrent pain, and some will require major amputation. Nevertheless, limb-salvage rates are significantly better than arterial patency. Intermediate-term patency is higher than that commonly reported for prosthetic bypass, and despite the lack of durable long-term patency, the procedure offers an additional potentially effective therapeutic option in the treatment of patients with limb-threatening ischemia and femoropopliteal occlusion.

Stents provide a temporary benefit in most patients with central or peripheral upper-extremity SVO. Regular follow-up and reinterventions are required to maintain patency and achieve long-term clinical success. Stents used for CV lesions have higher clinical success rates than stents used for PV lesions. Patients with a reasonable life expectancy or who are unable to return for subsequent procedures should be considered for undergoing alternative therapy.

Multiple processes of care and complications are associated with AVF maturation outcomes.

Patients who have ICAD often have prodromal symptoms before stroke. If diagnosed early, treatment with anticoagulation may prevent stroke. Duplex scans are accurate for defining carotid abnormalities consistent with ICAD and for indicating the need for arteriography. Patients should undergo a follow-up Duplex scan to identify contralateral ICAD.