Outcomes of lower extremity revascularization among the hemodialysis-dependent

OBJECTIVE

Optimal patient selection for lower extremity revascularization remains a clinical challenge among the hemodialysis-dependent (HD). The purpose of this study was to examine contemporary real world open and endovascular outcomes of HD patients to better facilitate patient selection for intervention.

METHODS

A regional multicenter registry was queried between 2003 and 2013 for HD patients (N = 689) undergoing open surgical bypass (n = 295) or endovascular intervention (n = 394) for lower extremity revascularization. Patient demographics and comorbidities were recorded. The primary outcome was overall survival. Secondary outcomes included graft patency, freedom from major adverse limb events, and amputation-free survival (AFS). Multivariate analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for death and amputation.

RESULTS

Among the 689 HD patients undergoing lower extremity revascularization, 66% were male, and 83% were white. Ninety percent of revascularizations were performed for critical limb ischemia and 8% for claudication. Overall survival at 1, 2, and 5 years survival remained low at 60%, 43%, and 21%, respectively. Overall 1- and 2-year AFS was 40% and 17%. Mortality accounted for the primary mode of failure for both open bypass (78%) and endovascular interventions (80%) at two years. Survival, AFS, and freedom from major adverse limb event outcomes did not differ significantly between revascularization techniques. At 2 years, endovascular patency was higher than open bypass (76% vs 26%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28-0.71; P = .02). Multivariate analysis identified age ≥80 years (hazard ratio [HR], 1.9; 95% CI, 1.4-2.5; P < .01), indication of rest pain or tissue loss (HR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3-2.6; P < .01), preoperative wheelchair/bedridden status (HR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.1; P < .01), coronary artery disease (HR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2-1.9; P < .01), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.8; P = .01) as independent predictors of death. The presence of three or more risk factors resulted in predicted 1-year mortality of 64%.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall survival and AFS among HD patients remains poor, irrespective of revascularization strategy. Mortality remains the primary driver for these findings and justifies a prudent approach to patient selection. Focus for improved results should emphasize predictors of survival to better identify those most likely to benefit from revascularization.

Lesion complexity drives the cost of superficial femoral artery endovascular interventions

OBJECTIVE

Patients who undergo endovascular treatment of superficial femoral artery (SFA) disease vary greatly in lesion complexity and treatment options. This study examined the association of lesion severity and cost of SFA stenting and to determine if procedure cost affects primary patency at 1 year.

METHODS

A retrospective record review identified patients undergoing initial SFA stenting between January 1, 2010, and February 1, 2012. Medical records were reviewed to collect data on demographics, comorbidities, indication for the procedure, TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) II severity, and primary patency. The interventional radiology database and hospital accounting database were queried to determine cost drivers of SFA stenting. Procedure supply cost included any item with a bar code used for the procedure. Associations between cost drivers and lesion characteristics were explored. Primary patency was determined using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and a log-rank test.

RESULTS

During the study period, 95 patients underwent stenting in 98 extremities; of these, 61% of SFA stents were performed for claudication, with 80% of lesions classified as TASC II A or B. Primary patency at 1 year was 79% for the entire cohort. The mean total cost per case was $10,333. Increased procedure supply cost was associated with adjunct device use, the number of stents, and TASC II severity. Despite higher costs of treating more complex lesions, primary patency at 1 year was similar at 80% for high-cost (supply cost >$4000) vs 78% for low-cost (supply cost <$4000) interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

SFA lesion complexity, as defined by TASC II severity, drives the cost of endovascular interventions but does not appear to disadvantage patency at 1 year. Reimbursement agencies should consider incorporating disease severity into reimbursement algorithms for lower extremity endovascular interventions.

Outcomes of infrainguinal bypass determined by age in the Vascular Study Group of New England

BACKGROUND

Many believe extremes of age correlate with poorer outcomes in treatment for lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We hypothesized that the youngest patients would have significantly poorer outcomes compared with older cohorts due to the precocious nature of their PAD.

METHODS

We studied all patients in the Vascular Study Group of New England database undergoing infrainguinal bypass for PAD between 2003 and 2013. Age was grouped by <50 years, 50 to 79 years, and ≥80 years. Our primary outcomes were 1-year freedom from a major adverse limb event (MALE), defined as ipsilateral amputation or need for secondary intervention, and amputation-free survival. A second analysis was performed to analyze the subgroup of patients aged <50 years with critical limb ischemia (CLI), which included a Cox regression model to determine risk factors for MALE or death at 1 year.

RESULTS

Of 5265 patients who were treated with infrainguinal bypass for PAD, 324 (6.2%) were aged <50 years. The mean age was 44.6 years, and 66.4% were male. The proportion of African Americans was significantly higher in the youngest age group (<50 years: 6.8% vs 50-79 years: 3.5%, P = .002; vs ≥80 years: 3.5%, P = .013). More bypasses were done for claudication than acute limb ischemia in patients aged <50 years (33.3% vs 11.4%). More vein grafts were used vs prosthetic (<50 years: 72.1% vs 50-79 years: 65.9%, P = .024; vs ≥80 years: 62.6%, P = .002). Fewer concomitant proximal procedures were performed compared with the older groups (<50 years: 37.7% vs 50-79 years: 51.1%, P < .001; vs ≥80 years: 39.5%, P = .045). More young patients returned to the operating room within their initial hospitalization for early graft thrombosis (<50 years: 5.6% vs 50-79 years: 2.9%, P = .001; vs ≥80 years: 2.4%, P = .009) and revision (<50 years: 4.7% vs 50-79 years: 2.2%, P = .012; vs ≥80 years: 1.4%, P = .002) compared with the older patients. Overall, MALE-free survival was similar across age groups (P = .323), as were patency and amputation rates. When considering only patients with CLI, MALE-free survival in the youngest patients was again similar (P = .171) but with significantly more major amputations at 1 year (P = .022).

CONCLUSIONS

For patients aged <50 undergoing infrainguinal bypass surgery, this large series demonstrates similar overall medium-term graft-related outcomes compared with older cohorts. Further, although the youngest patients with CLI have similar MALEs, their amputation rates are higher than in older cohorts.

Functional outcomes after lower extremity revascularization in nursing home residents: a national cohort study

IMPORTANCE

Lower extremity revascularization often seeks to allow patients with peripheral arterial disease to maintain the ability to walk, a key aspect of functional independence. Surgical outcomes in patients with high levels of functional dependence are poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

To determine functional status trajectories, changes in ambulatory status, and survival after lower extremity revascularization in nursing home residents.

DESIGN

Using full Medicare claims data for 2005 to 2009, we identified nursing home residents who underwent lower extremity revascularization. With the Minimum Data Set for Nursing Homes activities of daily living summary score, we examined changes in their ambulatory and functional status after surgery. We identified patient and surgery characteristics associated with a composite measure of clinical and functional failure-death or nonambulatory status 1 year after surgery.

SETTING

All nursing homes in the United States participating in Medicare or Medicaid.

PARTICIPANTS

Nursing home residents who underwent lower extremity revascularization.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Functional status, ambulatory status, and death.

RESULTS

During the study period, 10,784 long-term nursing home residents underwent lower extremity revascularization. Prior to surgery, 75% of the residents were not walking; 40% had experienced functional decline. One year after surgery, 51% of patients had died, 28% were nonambulatory, and 32% had sustained functional decline. Among 1672 residents who were ambulatory before surgery, 63% had died or were nonambulatory at 1 year; among 7188 who were nonambulatory, 89% had died or were nonambulatory. After multivariate adjustment, factors independently associated with death or nonambulatory status were 80 years or older (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 1.28; 95% CI, 1.16-1.40), cognitive impairment (AHR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.18-1.29), congestive heart failure (AHR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.11-1.22), renal failure (AHR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.04-1.14), emergent surgery (AHR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.23-1.35), nonambulatory status before surgery (AHR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.78-1.99), and decline in activities of daily living before surgery (AHR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.18-1.28).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Of nursing home residents in the United States who undergo lower extremity revascularization, few are alive and ambulatory 1 year after surgery. Most who were still alive had gained little, if any, function.

Abstract 288: Consistency of Hemoglobin A1C Testing and Amputation Risk

Importance: While amputation rates have declined for patients with diabetes in the last decade, it remains unknown if preventive measures such as hemoglobin A1C testing have been associated with these improvements.

Objective: To determine associations between hemoglobin A1c testing and amputation risk.

Design, Setting, and Participants: We identified 11,942,840 Medicare patients with diabetes over the age of 65 between 2002-2012, and followed them for a mean of 6.6 years. We recorded the occurrence of lower-limb amputation and hemoglobin A1C testing. We examined associations between amputation risk and hemoglobin A1C testing. We measured both the presence of any testing, as well as testing consistency, using three categories: poor consistency (hemoglobin A1C testing in 0-50% of years), medium consistency (testing in 50-90% of years)), and high consistency (testing in >90% of the years in the cohort).

Main Outcome Measure: Major (above or below-knee) amputation rate.

Between 2002 and 2012, the incidence of major amputation in Medicare patients with diabetes declined by 54% during the study period, from 1.15 per 1,000 in 2002 to 0.53 per 1,000 in 2012 ( rate ratio = 0.53, 95% CI =0.51-0.54). Hemoglobin A1C testing increased from 78% of patients in 2002 to 83% of patients in 2012, and black and Hispanic patients were least likely to receive high consistency. In multivariable analysis adjusting for patient characteristics, including race, any use of hemoglobin A1C testing was associated with a 15% decline in amputation risk (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.83-0.87, p<0.0001). However, high consistency hemoglobin A1C testing was associated with a 39% decline in amputation (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.59-0.62, p<0.0001).

Conclusions: Amputation rates have declined similarly across black, Hispanic, and white patients in recent years. Longitudinal quality measures emphasizing consistency in hemoglobin A1C testing may be an effective pathway towards limiting amputation in all races.

Endovascular aneurysm repair delivery redesign leads to quality improvement and cost reduction

OBJECTIVE

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is now a mainstay of therapy for abdominal aortic aneurysm, although it remains associated with significant expense. We performed a comprehensive analysis of EVAR delivery at an academic medical center to identify targets for quality improvement and cost reduction in light of impending health care reform.

METHODS

All infrarenal EVARs performed from April 2011 to March 2012 were identified (N = 127). Procedures were included if they met standard commercial instructions for use guidelines, used a single manufacturer, and were billed to Medicare diagnosis-related group 238 (n = 49). By use of DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, and control) quality improvement methodology (define, measure, analyze, improve, control), targets for EVAR quality improvement were identified and high-yield changes were implemented. Procedure technical costs were calculated before and after process redesign.

RESULTS

Perioperative services and clinic visits were identified as targets for quality improvement efforts and cost reduction. Mean technical costs before the intervention were $31,672, with endograft implants accounting for 52%. Pricing redesign in collaboration with hospital purchasing reduced mean EVAR technical costs to $28,607, a 10% reduction in overall cost, with endograft implants now accounting for 46%. Perioperative implementation of instrument tray redesign reduced instrument use by 32% (184 vs 132 instruments), saving $50,000 annually. Unnecessary clinic visits were reduced by 39% (1.6 vs 1.1 clinic visits per patient) through implementation of a preclinic imaging protocol. There was no difference in mean length of stay after the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Comprehensive EVAR delivery redesign leads to cost reduction and waste elimination while preserving quality. Future efforts to achieve more competitive and transparent device pricing will make EVAR more cost neutral and enhance its financial sustainability for health care systems.

Domains that Determine Quality of Life in Vascular Amputees

BACKGROUND

Although patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) commonly undergo major limb amputation, the quality of life (QOL) of this group remains poorly described. Therefore, we sought to describe which domains vascular amputees consider important in determining their health-related QOL.

METHODS

We performed 4 focus groups in patients who had major lower extremity amputations resulting from CLI. They were conducted at 4 distinct centers across the United States to ensure broad geographic, socioeconomic, and ethnic representation.

RESULTS

Of 26 patients (mean age, 64 years), 19 (73%) were Caucasian, 6 (23%) were African American, and 1 (4%) was Native American. Nearly, three-quarter of patients were men (n = 19, 73%) and had a high-school education or more (n = 19, 73%). Overall, 8 (31%) were double amputees and 17 (65%) had diabetes. Time since amputation varied across patients and ranged from 3 months to more than 27 years (mean, 4.3 years). Patients stated that their current QOL was determined by impaired mobility (65%), pain (60%), progression of disease in the remaining limb (55%), and depression/frustration (54%). Across 26 patients, more than half (n = 16, 62%) described multiple prior revascularization procedures. Although most felt that their physician did his/her best to salvage the affected leg (85%), a sizable minority would have preferred an amputation earlier in their CLI treatment course (27%). Furthermore, when asked how their care might have been improved, patients reported that facilitating peer support (88%), more extensive rehabilitation and prosthetist involvement (71%), earlier mention of amputation as a possible outcome (54%), and the early discontinuation of narcotics (54%) were potential areas of improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

Although QOL in vascular amputees seems primarily determined by mobility impairment, pain, and emotional perturbation, our focus groups identified that physician-controlled factors such as the timing of amputation, informed decision making, and postamputation support may also play an important role. The assessment of patient preferences regarding maintenance of mobility at the cost of increased pain versus relief of pain with amputation at a cost of diminished mobility is central to shared decision making in CLI treatment.

Participation in the Vascular Quality Initiative is associated with improved perioperative medication use, which is associated with longer patient survival

OBJECTIVE

Medical management (MM) with antiplatelet (AP) and statin therapy is recommended for most patients undergoing vascular surgery and has been advocated by the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI). We analyzed the effect of VQI participation on perioperative (preoperative and postoperative) MM use over time and the effect of discharge MM on patient survival.

METHODS

We studied VQI patients treated with MM preoperatively and at discharge from 2005 to 2014, including all elective carotid endarterectomy/carotid stenting (n = 28,092), suprainguinal/infrainguinal bypass (n = 11,362), peripheral vascular interventions (n = 24,476), open/endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (n = 13,503), and thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (n = 702). We examined trends of MM use over time, as well as the effect of duration of VQI participation on MM use. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with MM use. In addition, the Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify factors associated with 5-year survival.

RESULTS

MM with AP and statin preoperatively and postoperatively across VQI centers improved from 55% in 2005 to 68% in 2009, with a subsequent overall decline to 62% by 2014, coincident with many new centers with lower MM rates joining VQI in 2010. Longer center participation in VQI was associated with improved perioperative MM overall. This was also noted across all procedure types, with MM increasing from 47% to 82% for aneurysm repairs and 69% to 83% for carotid procedures from 1 to 12 years of participation in VQI. After multivariable adjustment, centers in VQI ≥3 years were 30% more likely to have patients on MM (odds ratio, 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-1.4). Importantly, discharge on AP and statin therapy was associated with improved 5-year survival, compared with discharge on neither medication (82% [95% CI, 81%-83%] vs 67% [95% CI, 62%-72%]), and an adjusted hazard ratio for death of 0.6 (95% CI, 0.5-0.7; P < .001). Discharge on a single medication was associated with intermediate survival at 5 years (AP only: 77% [95% CI, 75%-79%]; statin only: 73% [95% CI, 68%-77%]).

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate that MM is associated with improved survival after a number of vascular procedures. Importantly, VQI participation improves the use of MM, demonstrating that involvement in an organized quality effort can affect patient outcomes.

Retrospective review of superficial femoral artery stenting in diabetic patients: thiazolidinedione use may decrease reinterventions

Background

Diabetics are known to have inferior outcomes following peripheral vascular interventions. Thiazolidinediones are oral diabetic agents which improve outcomes following coronary bare metal stenting. No studies have been performed evaluating thiazolidinedione use and outcomes following lower extremity endovascular interventions. We hypothesize that diabetic patients taking thiazolidinediones at the time of primary superficial femoral artery (SFA) stenting have fewer reinterventions.

Methods

A retrospective review was performed to identify diabetic patients undergoing primary SFA stenting. The unit of analysis was the extremity. The primary outcome was freedom from target lesion revascularization stratified by thiazolidinedione use, evaluated by Kaplan Meier curves and a log rank test. A Cox proportional hazards model was constructed to determine variables associated with freedom from target lesion revascularization.

Results

SFA stents were placed in 138 extremities in 128 diabetic patients between August 1, 2001 and July 15, 2012. Twenty-four patients were taking thiazolidinediones at the time of SFA stenting. All patients taking thiazolidinediones had TASC A or B lesions. Twenty-seven extremities in the non-thiazolidinedione group had TASC C or D lesions and were excluded to control for disease severity. Freedom from target lesion revascularization was significantly higher in diabetics taking thiazolidinediones at 2 years, 88.5% vs. 59.4%, P = 0.02, SE < 10%. Cox modeling identified a protective trend for thiazolidinedione use (thiazolidinedione use HR 0.33, 95% CI 0.09-1.13), whereas critical limb ischemia and insulin use were associated with trends for worse freedom from target lesion revascularization.

Conclusions

This pilot, translation study demonstrates that diabetic patients taking thiazolidinediones at the time of primary SFA stenting have decreased reintervention rates at 2 years. These results may be explained by higher adiponectin levels or other anti-inflammatory effects in patients taking thiazolidinedione. National and regional quality improvement registries should consider collecting information regarding specific diabetic regimens and use of PPAR agonists such as cilostazol and fibrates.

Preoperative symptom type influences the 30-day perioperative outcomes of carotid endarterectomy and carotid stenting in the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Registry

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of presenting symptom types on 30-day periprocedural outcomes of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) in contemporary vascular practice.

METHODS

Retrospective review was undertaken of the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Registry database subjects who underwent CEA or CAS from 2004 to 2011. Patients were grouped by discrete 12-month preprocedural ipsilateral symptom type: stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), transient monocular blindness (TMB), or asymptomatic (ASX). Risk-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were used to compare the likelihood of the 30-day outcomes of death, stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI) and the composite outcomes of death + stroke and death + stroke + MI.

RESULTS

Symptom type significantly influences risk-adjusted 30-day outcomes for carotid intervention. Presentation with stroke predicted the poorest outcomes (death + stroke + MI composite: OR, 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-2.03 vs TIA; OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.18-5.57 vs TMB; OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.46-3.08 vs ASX), followed by TIA (death + stroke + MI composite: OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 0.91-4.25 vs TMB; OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.14-2.33 vs ASX). For both CAS and CEA patients, presentation with stroke or TIA predicted a higher risk of periprocedural stroke than in ASX patients. Presentation with stroke predicted higher 30-day risk of death with CAS but not with CEA. MI rates were not affected by presenting symptom type. The 30-day outcomes for the TMB and ASX patient groups were equivalent in both treatment arms.

CONCLUSIONS

Presenting symptom type significantly affects the 30-day outcomes of both CAS and CEA in contemporary vascular surgical practice. Presentation with stroke and TIA predicts higher rates of periprocedural complications, whereas TMB presentation predicts a periprocedural risk profile similar to that of ASX disease.

Early primary care provider follow-up and readmission after high-risk surgery

IMPORTANCE

Follow-up with a primary care provider (PCP) in addition to the surgical team is routinely recommended to patients discharged after major surgery despite no clear evidence that it improves outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To test whether PCP follow-up is associated with lower 30-day readmission rates after open thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) repair and ventral hernia repair (VHR), surgical procedures known to have a high and low risk of readmission, respectively.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

In a cohort of Medicare beneficiaries discharged to home after open TAA repair (n = 12 679) and VHR (n = 52 807) between 2003 to 2010, we compared 30-day readmission rates between patients seen and not seen by a PCP within 30 days of discharge and across tertiles of regional primary care use. We stratified our analysis by the presence of complications during the surgical (index) admission.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Thirty-day readmission rate.

RESULTS

Overall, 2619 patients (20.6%) undergoing open TAA repair and 4927 patients (9.3%) undergoing VHR were readmitted within 30 days after surgery. Complications occurred in 4649 patients (36.6%) undergoing open TAA repair and 4528 patients (8.6%) undergoing VHR during their surgical admission. Early follow-up with a PCP significantly reduced the risk of readmission among open TAA patients who experienced perioperative complications, from 35.0% (without follow-up) to 20.4% (with follow-up) (P < .001). However, PCP follow-up made no significant difference in patients whose hospital course was uncomplicated (19.4% with follow-up vs 21.9% without follow-up; P = .31). In comparison, early follow-up with a PCP after VHR did not reduce the risk of readmission, regardless of complications. In adjusted regional analyses, undergoing open TAA repair in regions with high compared with low primary care use was associated with an 18% lower likelihood of 30-day readmission (odds ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.71-0.96; P = .02), whereas no significant difference was found among patients after VHR.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Follow-up with a PCP after high-risk surgery (eg, open TAA repair), especially among patients with complications, is associated with a lower risk of hospital readmission. Patients undergoing lower-risk surgery (eg, VHR) do not receive the same benefit from early PCP follow-up. Identifying high-risk surgical patients who will benefit from PCP integration during care transitions may offer a low-cost solution toward limiting readmissions.

Implementation of a pilot accountable care organization payment model and the use of discretionary and nondiscretionary cardiovascular care

BACKGROUND

Accountable care organizations (ACOs) seek to reduce growth in healthcare spending while ensuring high-quality care. We hypothesized that accountable care organization implementation would selectively limit the use of discretionary cardiovascular care (defined as care occurring in the absence of indications such as myocardial infarction or stroke), while maintaining high-quality care, such as nondiscretionary cardiovascular imaging and procedures.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The intervention group was composed of fee-for-service Medicare patients (n=819 779) from 10 groups participating in a Medicare pilot accountable care organization, the Physician Group Practice Demonstration (PGPD). Matched controls were patients (n=934 621) from nonparticipating groups in the same regions. We compared use of cardiovascular care before (2002-2004) and after (2005-2009) PGPD implementation, studying both discretionary and nondiscretionary carotid and coronary imaging and procedures. Our main outcome measure was the difference in the proportion of patients treated with imaging and procedures among patients of PGPD practices compared with patients in control practices, before and after PGPD implementation (difference-in-difference). For discretionary imaging, the difference-in-difference between PGPD practices and controls was not statistically significant for discretionary carotid imaging (0.17%; 95% confidence interval, -0.51% to 0.85%; P=0.595) or discretionary coronary imaging (-0.19%; 95% confidence interval, -0.73% to 0.35%; P=0.468). Similarly, the difference-in-difference was also minimal for discretionary carotid revascularization (0.003%; 95% confidence interval, -0.008% to 0.002%; P=0.705) and coronary revascularization (-0.02%; 95% confidence interval, -0.11% to 0.07%; P=0.06). The difference-in-difference associated with PGPD implementation was also essentially 0 for nondiscretionary cardiovascular imaging or procedures.

CONCLUSION

Implementation of a pilot accountable care organization did not limit the use of discretionary or nondiscretionary cardiovascular care in 10 large health systems.

Using vascular quality initiative as a platform for organizing multicenter, prospective, randomized clinical trials: OVERPAR trial

BACKGROUND

We describe the organization of a prospective, randomized, multicenter trial comparing the effectiveness of open popliteal artery aneurysm repair (OPAR) and endovascular popliteal artery aneurysm repair (EPAR) of asymptomatic popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs) as an example for how to use the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) framework. Given that many centers participate in the VQI, this model can be used to perform multicenters' prospective trials on very modest budget.

METHODS

VQI prospectively collects data on many vascular procedures. These data include many important perioperative, intraoperative, and postoperative details regarding both patients and their procedures. We describe a study where minimal changes to the collected data by participating centers can provide level-1 evidence regarding a significant clinical question. Data will be collected using modified VQI forms within the existing VQI data reporting structure. We plan to enroll 148 patients with asymptomatic PAAs into the open and endovascular surgery cohorts. Patients from participating VQI centers will be randomized 1:1 to either OPAR or EPAR and will be followed for an average of 2.5 years. Our primary hypothesis is that major adverse limb event-free survival is lower in the EPAR cohort and that EPAR is associated with more secondary interventions, improved quality of life, and decreased length of stay. The budget for this trial is fixed at $10,000/year for the course of the study, and the trial is judged to be feasible because of the functionality of the VQI platform.

CONCLUSIONS

Using the existing VQI infrastructure, Open versus Endovascular Repair of Popliteal Artery Aneurysm will provide level 1 data for PAA treatment on a modest budget. The proposed trial has an adequately powered comparative design that will use objective performance goals to describe limb-related morbidity and procedural reintervention rates.

The influence of gender on functional outcomes of lower extremity bypass

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to evaluate the effect of gender on early and late procedural and functional outcomes of lower extremity bypass (LEB).

METHODS

We reviewed the records of 2576 patients (828 women; 32%) who underwent LEB for claudication or critical limb ischemia (CLI) in the Vascular Study Group of New England from 2003 to 2010. Logistic regression and proportional hazards models were used to adjust for potential confounding differences between genders. Morbidity, mortality, graft patency, freedom from major amputation, ambulation, and living status were analyzed postoperatively and over 1 year.

RESULTS

Women were older (70 vs 68 years; P < .001), had more hypertension (89% vs 85%; P = .006), less coronary artery disease (35% vs 39%; P = .03), smoking (73% vs 88%; P < .001), and preoperative statin use (60% vs 64%; P = .04). Women were more likely to have CLI (76% vs 71%; P = .003), and ambulate with assistance at presentation (19% vs 16%; P = .02). Morbidity was similar except women had higher rates of reoperation for thrombosis (4% vs 2%; P < .001) without differences in major amputation (2% vs 1%; P = .13) or in-hospital mortality (1.7% vs 1.7%; P = .96). Women and men with claudication had similar 1-year graft patency rates. Women with CLI had lower rates of primary (hazard ratio [HR], 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.48; P = .02), assisted primary (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.15-1.76; P = .001) and secondary patency (HR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.10-1.77; P = .006) during the first year compared with men. Freedom from amputation was similar for men and women with CLI (HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.84-1.63; P = .36). There were no differences in late survival between women and men with claudication (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.60-1.31; P = .36) or CLI (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.81-1.09; P = .39). More female claudicants were not independently ambulatory at discharge (30% vs 19%; P = .002) and were discharged to a nursing home (15% vs 5%; P < .001) but these differences did not persist at 1 year. Women with CLI were more likely to be nonambulatory at discharge (13% vs 9%; P = .006) and at 1 year (13% vs 8%; P < .001). More women with CLI were discharged to a nursing home (44% vs 35%; P = .01) and resided there at 1 year (11% vs 7%; P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS

Women have complication rates similar to men with inferior early and late functional outcomes after LEB. The reduced patency rates in women with CLI did not translate into differences in limb salvage. These findings might help define physician and patient expectations for women before revascularization.

Bone marrow aspirate injection for treatment of critical limb ischemia with comparison to patients undergoing high-risk bypass grafts

OBJECTIVE

Bone marrow cell therapy (BMCT) for patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a potential treatment in candidates with poor options for standard revascularization procedures. Whereas clinical trials are ongoing, there are few comparative data to assess its efficacy compared with bypass.

METHODS

Patients with poor revascularization options underwent BMCT between 2011 and 2013. Outcomes were compared with those of a cohort of CLI patients undergoing infrainguinal bypass thought to be at high risk for graft failure (tissue loss, a tibial target, and a previous endovascular treatment or bypass). BMCT patients underwent harvest of bone marrow that was then concentrated and injected intramuscularly into the ischemic limb.

RESULTS

There were 20 BMCT patients and 35 high-risk bypass patients. All BMCT patients had either rest pain (80%) or tissue loss (80%). The majority (65%) had a prior intervention (bypass, 30%; endovascular, 58%) compared with high-risk bypass patients, all of whom had previous revascularization attempts (bypass, 43% [P = .35]; endovascular, 77% [P = .14]). Mean follow-up was 773 days after BMCT and 972 days after high-risk bypass. All patients tolerated BMCT without issues or complications. A second BMCT treatment was performed in 21% because of clinical deterioration. Wound healing occurred in 75% at 1.5 years, including patients receiving second injections, all of which resolved. Rest pain improved in 87.5% of patients. Pain completely resolved in 58% at 1.5 years. Ankle-brachial index improvement was 0.23 (±0.25). Three BMCT patients went on to amputation. One-year freedom from major amputation or death was 78% for BMCT vs 69% for high-risk bypass (P = .60).

CONCLUSIONS

BMCT is a potential option in CLI patients who are not candidates for bypass or endovascular intervention. Limb salvage is unexpectedly high in this population with few other options.

Statin therapy after infrainguinal bypass surgery for critical limb ischemia is associated with improved 5-year survival

OBJECTIVE

Although statin therapy has been linked to fewer short-term complications after infrainguinal bypass, its effect on long-term survival remains unclear. We therefore examined associations between statin use and long-term mortality, graft occlusion, and amputation after infrainguinal bypass.

METHODS

We used the Vascular Study Group of New England registry to study 2067 patients (71% male; mean age, 67 ± 11 years; 67% with critical limb ischemia [CLI]) who underwent infrainguinal bypass from 2003 to 2011. Of these, 1537 (74%) were on statins perioperatively and at 1-year follow-up, and 530 received no statin. We examined crude, adjusted, and propensity-matched rates of 5-year surviva1, 1-year amputation, graft occlusion, and perioperative myocardial infarction.

RESULTS

Patients taking statins at the time of surgery and at the 1-year follow-up were more likely to have coronary disease (38% vs 22%; P < .001), diabetes (51% vs 36%; P < .001), hypertension (89% vs 77%; P < .001), and prior revascularization procedures (50% vs 38%; P < .001). Despite higher comorbidity burdens, long-term survival was better for patients taking statins in crude (risk ratio [RR], 0.7; P < .001), adjusted (hazard ratio, 0.7; P = .001), and propensity-matched analyses (hazard ratio, 0.7; P = .03). In subgroup analysis, a survival advantage was evident in patients on statins with CLI (5-year survival rate, 63% vs 54%; log-rank, P = .01) but not claudication (5-year survival rate, 84% vs 80%; log-rank, P = .59). Statin therapy was not associated with 1-year rates of major amputation (12% vs 11%; P = .84) or graft occlusion (20% vs 18%; P = .58) in CLI patients. Perioperative myocardial infarction occurred more frequently in patients on a statin in crude analysis (RR, 2.2; P = .01) but not in the matched cohort (RR, 1.9; P = .17).

CONCLUSIONS

Statin therapy is associated with a 5-year survival benefit after infrainguinal bypass in patients with CLI. However, 1-year limb-related outcomes were not influenced by statin use in our large observational cohort of patients undergoing revascularization in New England.