Outcomes Following Inferior Mesenteric Artery Reimplantation During Elective Aortic Aneurysm Surgery

Outcome analysis of the surgical team in open surgical repair of intact abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery

OBJECTIVES

To analyze how the experience of the surgical team went to impact the outcomes after open surgical repair (OSR) of intact abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs).

METHODS

This is a single-center, observational cohort study with retrospective analysis of all OR for intact AAA performed between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2022. The primary outcome was survival at 30 days and in follow-up, and a composite outcome of mortality and major complication. The secondary outcome was freedom from aorta-related reintervention. All outcomes were stratified according to the experience of the operating team (surgeons and anesthesiology).

RESULTS

We analyzed 103 (7.2%) patients: 97 (94.2%) males and 6 (5.8%) females. The mean age was 76 ± 8 years (range, 55-93). The best possible team composition was present in 52 (50.5%) interventions. The follow-up index was 0.82 ± 0.18 (range, 0.6-1.0). Mean follow-up duration was 59 ± 43 months (range, 0-158). We observed no differences between teams in major complications (best, 17.3% vs mixed, 21.6%; OR: 0.4, P = 0.622), 30 days mortality (best, 0% vs mixed, 5.9%; OR: 7.6, P = 0.118) and composite outcome (best, 11.5% vs mixed, 17.6%; OR: 0.8, P = 0.416). Cox regression analysis identified the best possible team as a protective factor against the need for reintervention (hazard ratio: 0.2; 95% confidence interval: 0.06-0.88, P = 0.032).

CONCLUSIONS

In our experience, OR of AAA yielded satisfactory results in terms of safety and efficacy independently of the team's experience. A more experienced team may protect against aorta-related reintervention.

Analysis of acupoint massage combined with touch on relieving anxiety and pain in patients with oral implant surgery

BACKGROUND

Oral implant surgery is an effective procedure for artificial implants in missing tooth areas under local anesthesia. Because patients under local anesthesia are conscious during this procedure, compared with general anesthesia-related operations, they are more likely to experience negative emotions, such as anxiety and tension. These emotional reactions result in shivering and chills in the limbs, leading to poor doctor-patient cooperation and even avoidance of treatment. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed that acupoint massage regulates blood and Qi, dredge menstruation, and relieve pain, which is beneficial for patients' emotional adjustment; however, there are few related clinical studies.

AIM

To observe the changes in anxiety and pain in patients with oral implant after acupoint massage combined with touch therapy.

METHODS

One hundred patients undergoing oral implantation in our hospital between May 2020 and May 2023 were randomly divided into control and study groups, according to a random number table, with 50 patients in each group. The control group received routine intervention, and the study group received acupoint massage combined with touch on the basis of the control group. Anxiety [assessed using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS)], pain severity, blood pressure, heart rate, and satisfaction were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Before intervention, the difference in MDAS score between the two groups was not significant (P > 0.05), while after the intervention, the MDAS scores decreased in both groups compared with those before the intervention (P < 0.05); the MDAS score of the study group was lower than that of the control group, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). The degree of pain in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Before the intervention, there were no significant differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressures or heart rate between the two groups (P > 0.05). The systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate in the intervention group, during and after the intervention, were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The total degree of satisfaction in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Acupoint massage combined with touch better relieves anxiety and pain in patients undergoing dental implant surgery, improving the perioperative comfort of these patients and ensuring safety and a smooth operation.

Guidelines on the management of abdominal aortic aneurysms: updates from the Italian Society of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery (SICVE)

The objective of these Guidelines was to revise and update the previous 2016 Italian Guidelines on Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Disease, in accordance with the National Guidelines System (SNLG), to guide every practitioner toward the most correct management pathway for this pathology. The methodology applied in this update was the GRADE-SIGN version methodology, following the instructions of the AGREE quality of reporting checklist as well. The first methodological step was the formulation of clinical questions structured according to the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) model according to which the Recommendations were issued. Then, systematic reviews of the Literature were carried out for each PICO question or for homogeneous groups of questions, followed by the selection of the articles and the assessment of the methodological quality for each of them using qualitative checklists. Finally, a Considered Judgment form was filled in for each clinical question, in which the features of the evidence as a whole are assessed to establish the transition from the level of evidence to the direction and strength of the recommendations. These guidelines outline the correct management of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm in terms of screening and surveillance. Medical management and indication for surgery are discussed, as well as preoperative assessment regarding patients' background and surgical risk evaluation. Once the indication for surgery has been established, the options for traditional open and endovascular surgery are described and compared, focusing specifically on patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms as well. Finally, indications for early and late postoperative follow-up are explained. The most recent evidence in the Literature has been able to confirm and possibly modify the previous recommendations updating them, likewise to propose new recommendations on prospectively relevant topics.

Factors Associated With Noninfectious Fever After Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair

PURPOSE

The post-endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) inflammatory response, which is very often associated with fever, has been ascribed to a wide range of proinflammatory mediators and operative events. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of such factors in the development of fever of noninfectious origin after elective EVAR.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of patients treated with standard elective EVAR between February 2017 and December 2020 was undertaken. The database included patients' demographics and comorbidities, as well as laboratory inflammatory markers (white blood cell count, neutrophils, and C-reactive protein [CRP]) and anatomical characteristics (sac diameter, inferior mesenteric artery [IMA] patency and diameter, number of patent lumbar arteries, internal iliac artery [IIA] patency or occlusion). Intraoperative details, such as type of stent graft material and IIA overstenting, were also analyzed. Patients with infectious postoperative complications or previously receiving systemic anti-inflammatory medication were excluded. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 22.0 for Windows software (IBM Corp, Armonk, New York).

RESULTS

From 332 patients treated with elective EVAR between 2017 and 2020, 268 patients (all men) were included in the analysis. The mean age was 72.1±7.5 years and the mean aneurysm diameter was 59.1±12.1 mm. Seventeen patients were excluded due to a known infection site. From the study cohort, 114 (42.5%) patients presented with fever. Multivariate regression analysis confirmed that the occlusion of IMA ≥5 mm (p<0.008) and higher CRP (p<0.001) were independent factors associated with postoperative fever. A subanalysis was performed only on patients with patent IMA before EVAR. In the multivariate regression analysis of this subgroup, IMA ≥5 mm (p=0.008), presence of dyslipidemia (p=0.037), and higher CRP (p<0.001) were related to fever.

CONCLUSION

Occlusion of an existing wide (≥5 mm) and patent IMA prior to EVAR may contribute to the development of post-EVAR pyrexia. The CRP is a reliable marker for post-EVAR fever. Further prospective studies are needed to corroborate these findings.

[Debate on Infrarenal AAA in Young and Fit Patients ('Fit for Open Repair'): Open Repair is Safe and Long-term Results are Better]

Endovascular aortic repair, initially developed for patients at prohibitively high risk for an open repair, has undergone significant technical evolution and refinement and has emerged as the preferred treatment option for patients with an infrarenal aortic aneurysm. However, analysis of long-term data of the randomised studies revealed inferior results with regards to survival and freedom-from-reintervention after eight years. Open aortic repair has been performed for more than seven decades and especially for the younger patients with few comorbidities, results are excellent. Potential drawbacks of open repair like incisional hernias, erectile dysfunction and quality of life can either be effectively prevented (mesh reinforcement) or actually failed to show a significant difference compared to open repair in recent studies. Therefore, meticulous assessment of patient comorbidites using validated parameters is the key element for decision-making and parameters such as young age, low comorbidity profile, large aneurysm and presence of atopic renal arteries or a dominant inferior mesenteric artery should prompt a recommendation of open repair.

Pelvic radiation therapy as a potential risk factor for ischemic colitis complicating abdominal aortic reconstruction

A 78-year-old man with a 56-mm juxtarenal aneurysm and previous pelvic radiotherapy for prostate cancer (3 years earlier) who was disease free during follow-up received elective aortoaortic bypass suprarenal clamping through a transperitoneal approach. After the patient experienced initial abdominal pain and diarrhea, a computed tomography scan showed mild sigmoid inflammation, and the patient received conservative treatment. One month after discharge, the patient underwent urgent laparotomy and bowel and sigmoid resection for an enterocutaneous fistula. At 6-month follow-up, he has recovered, although a bowel stoma remains.