Visceral artery aneurysm is an uncommon pathology, with a potential for rupture. Splenic artery aneurysms (SAA) are most commonly (60%) associated with a high mortality rate of 25% in case of aneurysm rupture. This increases disproportionately to 75% among pregnant women with fetal mortality of 95%. Although this is a rare event, because of the associated catastrophic consequences, prompt management of splenic artery aneurysms (SAA) is of prime importance. This systematic review provides up-to-date information about the management of splenic artery aneurysms in pregnancy.

The risk of neurologic complications is increased after coverage of the LSA during TEVAR. Preemptive revascularization offers no protection against CVA, perhaps indicating a heterogeneous etiology. Revascularization may reduce the risk of SCI, although limited data tempers this conclusion. Improved or perhaps compulsory reporting to registries of a minimum data set may help further assess the exact etiology of these complications and identify a higher-risk subset of patients in whom revascularization might prove protective.

Remote preconditioning reduces urinary biomarkers of renal injury in patients undergoing elective EVAR. This small pilot trial was unable to detect an effect on clinical endpoints; further trials are warranted.

Endovascular thoracic aortic repair reduces perioperative mortality and neurological morbidity in patients with descending thoracic aortic aneurysms. There may be less benefit in other thoracic aortic conditions.

Abstract-The selection of patients for vascular interventions has been solely based on luminal stenosis and symptomatology. However, histological data from both the coronary and carotid vasculature suggest that other plaque features such as inflammation may be more important in predicting future thromboembolic events. Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) contrast agents have been used for noninvasive MRI assessment of atherosclerotic plaque inflammation in humans. It has reached the stage of development to have been recently used in an interventional drug study to not only assess inflammatory progression but also select patients at high risk. This article reviews the basic science behind the use of USPIO contrast agents in atheroma MR imaging, experimental work in animals, and how this has led to the emergence of this promising targeted imaging platform for assessment of high risk carotid atherosclerosis in humans.

We aimed to determine whether remote ischemic preconditioning (IP) reduces renal damage following elective open infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. Sequential common iliac clamping was used to induce remote IP in randomized patients. Urinary retinol binding protein (RBP) and albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) were measured following induction and 3, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively. In controls (n = 22), median urinary RBP increased from 112 microg/mL (interquartile range [IQR] 96-173 microg/mL) preoperatively to 5919 microg/mL (IQR 283-17 788 microg/mL) at 3 hours. Preoperative urinary RBP in preconditioned patients was 96 microg/mL (IQR 50 to 229 microg/mL) preoperatively, rising to 1243 microg/mL (IQR 540 to 15400 microg/mL) at 3 hours. Although control patients' median urinary RBP level was 5 times greater at 3 hours, there were no statistically significant differences in renal outcome indices. This trial could not confirm that remote IP reduces renal injury following elective open aneurysm surgery.

Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) is a physiological mechanism whereby brief ischemia-reperfusion episodes attenuate damage by subsequent prolonged ischemic insults. It reduces myocardial injury following cardiac and aortic aneurysm surgery. We aimed to determine whether RIPC affects neurological or cardiac injury following carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Patients were preconditioned using 10 minutes of lower limb ischemia-reperfusion. The primary neurological outcome was saccadic latency deterioration. The primary cardiac outcome measure was increased in serum troponin I >0.15 mg/dL. In all, 70 patients were randomized, of whom 55 completed the neurological surveillance protocol. Although there were fewer saccadic latency deteriorations in the RIPC arm, this did not reach statistical significance (32% versus 53%; P = .11). The primary cardiac outcome occurred in 1 patient in each arm (P = .97). There were no adverse events related to the preconditioning protocol. Remote ischemic preconditioning appears safe in patients with CEA. Large-scale trials are required to determine whether RIPC confers clinical benefits.

This meta-analysis suggests benefits to the selected group of patients undergoing this minimally invasive procedure. There is a reduction in the high mortality, prolonged intensive care requirement and total hospital stay, which are historically associated with open repair. It also indicates that most patients are fit enough to undergo computerized tomography (CT) scanning in acute settings. However, because of heterogeneity and bias in the outcomes these results should be interpreted with caution.