Arterial diseases are significant and increasing cause of mortality and morbidity. In this study, we analyze and compare the discrimination capability of different arterial pulse wave (PW) based indices, both earlier proposed and novel ones, for describing the vascular health. The repeatability of the indices is also evaluated. Both volume PWs and dynamic pressure PWs are recorded by using photoplethysmographic and electromechanical film (EMFi) sensors connected to a wireless body sensor network. The study population consists of 82 subjects, 30 atherosclerotic patients, and 52 control subjects. In addition, day-to-day variability of the derived indices is studied with ten test subjects examined on three different days. The results are evaluated in terms of statistical tests and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves as well as coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Altogether 24 out of the evaluated 40 PW parameters showed statistical differences ( or less) between controls and atherosclerotic patients. Maximum area under curve was 0.88. Most of the indices had ICCs higher than 0.8 and average CVs less than 0.1. The study shows that the amplitude ratios and time intervals between different PW peaks could be a useful additional tool for the detection of atherosclerosis. The results encourage us for further studies in this field. Up to our knowledge, the performance and the repeatability of different PW derived indices have previously not been studied and compared with each other this extensively. Our findings also provide evidence for the utility of PW measurements for the detection of atherosclerotic changes.

Emergency open repair of symptomatic, unruptured AAA is associated with a high risk of postoperative death. The results of this study suggest that a rather good postoperative survival rate can be expected in patients with a Glasgow Aneurysm Score <85. A watchful waiting policy or, alternatively, emergency endovascular repair should be advocated in patients with a higher score.

Open repair of infrarenal AAAs can achieve satisfactory 15-year follow-up rates of survival free from reintervention for any graft-related complications, suggesting that surgery should still be considered the procedure of choice for infrarenal AAAs, at least in patients who are fit for surgery.

Atherosclerosis is a significant cause of mortality in the aged population, and it affects arterial wall properties causing differences in measured arterial pulse wave (PW). In this study, both dynamic arterial blood pressure PWs and blood volume PWs are analyzed. The PWs are recorded noninvasively from multiple measurement points from the upper and lower limbs from 52 healthy (22-90-year-old) volunteers without known cardiovascular diseases. For each signal, various parameters earlier proposed in the literature are computed, and 25 different novel parameters are formed by combining these parameters. The results are evaluated in terms of age and heart rate (HR) dependence of the parameters. In general, the results show that 14 out of 25 tested combined parameters have stronger age dependence than any of the individual parameters. The highest obtained linear correlation coefficients between the age and combined parameter and individual parameter equal to 0.85 ( ) and 0.79 ( ), respectively. Most of the combined parameters have also improved discrimination capability when classifying the test subjects into different age groups. This is a promising result for further studies, but indicate that the age dependence of the parameters must be taken into account in further studies with atherosclerotic patients.

Treatment of SFA occlusions (TASC IIB and C or Imelda Ia and II) should be done by PTFE bypass rather than by PTFE thrupass, as thrupass is connected with worse early outcome. These results represent only a small category of femoral disease.

A 14-hour period of mild hypothermia after 75-minute hypothermic circulatory arrest seems to be associated with poor outcome. However, the results of this study suggest that mild hypothermia may preserve its efficacy when it is used for no longer than 4 hours, but the potentials of a shorter period of postoperative mild hypothermia still require further investigation.

Aim: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and related foot complications constitute a growing healthcare burden. Diabetes mellitus is associated with lower-limb amputation, but diabetic foot assessment is challenging. Here, we evaluated a novel noninvasive diagnostic method—infrared thermography (IRT) —assessing its diagnostic potential compared to conventional noninvasive measurements. Methods: This study included patients with DM ( n = 118) and healthy controls ( n = 93). All participants underwent ankle brachial index and toe pressure (TP) measurements, and IRT using a standardized protocol with temperature measurement at five foot areas. Results: Compared to controls, patients with DM generally had warmer feet and exhibited a significantly greater temperature difference between feet ( P < .001). Mean temperatures were highest in patients with DM with neuroischemia, followed by neuropathy. Patients with DM with angiopathy showed the lowest mean temperature—similar to controls and noncomplicated diabetics. Mean temperatures at all measurement sites were significantly higher with abnormal TP (<50 mmHg) than normal TP (≥50 mmHg) ( P < .001). Infrared thermography revealed differences between angiosome areas, subclinical infections, and plantar high-pressure areas. Conclusion: Infrared thermography revealed local temperature differences in high-risk diabetic feet. Normal skin surface temperature varies between individuals, but in combination with other tools, IRT might be useful in clinical screening. ClinicalTrials ID: 14212016

Secondary aortoenteric fistula is a dramatic, rather infrequent late complication occurring mostly after abdominal aortic surgery. Currently, graft excision and in situ bypass is considered the treatment of choice, but it is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Herein, we describe the case of a secondary aortoduodenal fistula treated by staged endovascular stent-grafting and surgical closure of the fistula. Forty days after stent-grafting, Tc-99m-HMPAO labelled leukocyte scanning failed to identify leukocyte infiltration of the graft and there were no clinical signs of infection. At 8-month follow up, the patient was asymptomatic.