Although aneurysm-related mortality and mortality from other causes were similar in both study groups, concomitant iliac artery aneurysms in AAA patients were associated with an increased incidence of distal type I endoleak, iliac limb occlusion, and aneurysm rupture. Therefore, caution is warranted, and efforts should be made to avoid procedural mishaps.

The long-term follow-up results of the endoscopic division of perforating veins are comparable with those of the open division of perforating veins (modified Linton procedure).

The endovenous catheter should not be used more than 5 to 10 cm below the knee to prevent saphenous nerve damage. Performance of the procedure with bloodlessness is preferable. A result of 88% of successfully treated LSV segments indicates a promising alternative for surgical stripping of the LSV.

This study supports applications of the Dutch AVVQ in HR-QOL measurement in patients with venous disease in the Netherlands and the Flemish speaking part of Belgium.

No abstract

This study established the use of the Dutch translated AVVQ as a valid, health-related quality of life (QOL) questionnaire for measuring QOL before and after treatment in patients with clinical-severity classes 1-6 venous disease of the leg.

No abstract

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS The new 2019 guideline of the European Society for Vascular Surgery recommends consideration for elective iliac artery aneurysm (IAA) repair when the iliac diameter exceeds 35 mm. This nationwide study from the Netherlands demonstrates that elective IAA repair is carried out at a median maximum diameter of 43 mm, and ruptured IAA repair at 68 mm. The findings appear to support the recent raise of the threshold diameter for elective IAA repair. Objective: The new 2019 guideline of the European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) recommends consideration for elective iliac artery aneurysm (eIAA) repair when the iliac diameter exceeds 3.5 cm, as opposed to 3.0 cm previously. The current study assessed diameters at time of eIAA repair and ruptured IAA (rIAA) repair and compared clinical outcomes after open surgical repair (OSR) and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Methods: This retrospective observational study used the nationwide Dutch Surgical Aneurysm Audit (DSAA) registry that includes all patients who undergo aorto-iliac aneurysm repair in the Netherlands. All patients who underwent primary IAA repair between 1 January 2014 and 1 January 2018 were included. Diameters at time of eIAA and rIAA repair were compared in a descriptive fashion. The anatomical location of the IAA was not registered in the registry. Patient characteristics and outcomes of OSR and EVAR were compared with appropriate statistical tests. Results: The DSAA registry comprised 974 patients who underwent IAA repair. A total of 851 patients were included after exclusion of patients undergoing revision surgery and patients with missing essential variables. eIAA repair was carried out in 713 patients, rIAA repair in 102, and symptomatic IAA repair in 36. OSR was performed in 205, EVAR in 618, and hybrid repairs and conversions in 28. The median maximum IAA diameter at the time of eIAA and rIAA repair was 43 (IQR 38e50) mm and 68 (IQR 58e85) mm, respectively. Mortality was 1.3% (95% CI 0.7e2.4) after eIAA repair and 25.5% (95% CI 18.0e34.7) after rIAA repair. Mortality was not significantly different between the OSR and EVAR subgroups. Elective OSR was associated with significantly more complications than EVAR (intra-operative: 9.8% vs. 3.6%, postoperative: 34.0% vs. 13.8%, respectively). Conclusion: In the Netherlands, most eIAA repairs are performed at diameters larger than recommended by the ESVS guideline. These findings appear to support the recent increase in the threshold diameter for eIAA repair.