Perioperative Complications After Aorto-iliac Stenting: Associated Factors and Impact on Follow-up Cardiovascular Prognosis

Institutional Volume and Initial Results for Endovascular Treatment for Chronic Occlusive Lower-Extremity Artery Disease: A Report From the Japanese Nationwide Registry

PURPOSE

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) remains as a major target for endovascular treatment (EVT) in improving symptomatic lower-extremity artery disease (LEAD). However, despite the technical demand and learning curve for the procedure, volume-outcome relationship of EVT targeted for CTO in symptomatic LEAD remains unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data were obtained from a nationwide registry for EVT procedures limited to the Japanese Association of Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics between January 2018 and December 2020 from 660 cardiovascular centers in Japan. In total, 96 099 patients underwent EVT for symptomatic LEAD, and 41 900 (43.6%) underwent CTO-targeted EVTs during the study period. Institutional volume was classified into quartiles. The association of institutional volumes with short-term outcomes was explored using the generalized linear mixed model using a logit link function, in which, interinstitution variability was used as a random effect.

RESULTS

The median institutional volume for all EVT cases per quartile was 29, 68, 125, and 299 cases/year for the first, second, third, and fourth quartiles, respectively. With each model analysis, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for technical success were significantly lower in patients who underwent EVT in institutions within the first quartile (<52 cases/year) than in the other quartiles (P < .01, respectively). On the contrary, the adjusted ORs for procedural complications were significantly higher in the first and second quartiles than in the third and fourth quartiles (P < .01, respectively).

CONCLUSION

In contemporary Japanese EVT practice, a higher institutional volume but not operator volume was associated with a higher technical success rate and a lower procedural complication rate in patients with symptomatic LEAD involving CTO lesions.

CLINICAL IMPACT

EVT for CTO lesions is still challenging for clinicians because of difficulties of wire/devise crossing or high procedural complications rate. Our study demonstrated that a higher institutional volume but not operator volume was associated with a higher technical success rate and a lower procedural complication rate in patients with symptomatic LEAD involving CTO lesions. In contemporary Japanese practice, a higher institutional experience has better impacts on short-term clinical outcomes. Future research should determine the relationship between institutional volume and long-term clinical outcomes.

Single Primary Retrograde Access to Treat Femoro-Popliteal Occlusive Lesions

INTRODUCTION

The retrograde puncture of a distal artery is considered a bailout procedure in case of anterograde approach failure for peripheral artery disease (PAD) treatment. A single primary retrograde access has been suggested as an efficient and safe option. As scant data are available, we present our results using this approach.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between August 2019 and October 2022, we performed this technique in selected patients with femoro-popliteal PAD. Chronic total occlusions (CTOs) were selected on the basis of the CTOP classification. An ultrasound-guided retrograde puncture of a tibial artery at the ankle level was performed, followed by the preferential use of 4F materials. Hemostasis of the puncture site was obtained using manual compression. Postoperative duplex scan examination systematically included an evaluation of the punctured artery. Demographics, intraoperative, and follow-up data were collected retrospectively. The results are expressed as means with standard deviations and numbers with percentages when appropriate.

RESULTS

In total, 55 procedures were performed in 46 patients (9 bilateral). Of these, 57% (N=26) were considered at risk for femoral puncture (obesity, history of groin surgery, challenging crossover approach) and 54% (N=25) presented with critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). The TASC-II femoro-popliteal classification was generally B (60%) and also C (33%) or D (7%). Mean lesion length was 105.6±49.4 mm and 65% were CTOs. Most patients were operated in an outpatient setting (N=25; 54%) under potentialized local anesthesia (N=41, 89%). The punctured site was the posterior tibial artery in 73% (N=40). The procedure time was 65.1±25.7 minutes, and the fluoroscopy time was 10.7±8.5 minutes. The technical success rate was 100%. There were no intraoperative complications. All patients could walk the same day. One CLTI patient presented an erysipelas related to the puncture in postoperative period. At 30 days, the primary patency of the treated and the punctured arteries were 98% and 100%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

A single primary retrograde access can be used safely to treat femoro-popliteal PAD. It represents a valuable alternative to the femoral puncture and allows fast ambulation. Prospective and long-term studies on larger populations are necessary to confirm our results.

CLINICAL IMPACT

This study demonstrates that a single primary retrograde access can be used safely without damaging the punctured artery to treat femoro-popliteal lesions, especially in claudicant patients. Chronic total occlusions can be treated successfully using this technique. This approach represents a valuable alternative to the femoral puncture and allows fast ambulation without risk of major bleeding.

Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging During Aortoiliac Stenting: No Impact on Outcomes at 1 Year

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging use on clinical outcomes after aortoiliac stenting in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Subjects for this retrospective analysis were derived from the OMOTENASHI registry database, which contained 803 symptomatic PAD patients (Rutherford categories 2-4) who were treated with self-expanding stent implantation for aortoiliac atherosclerotic lesions at 61 centers in Japan between January 2014 and April 2016. Of the 803 patients, 545 (67.9%) patients (mean age 73±9 years; 453 men) underwent IVUS-supported stent implantation and were compared with the 258 patients (mean age 73±8 years; 217 men) treated without IVUS. A propensity score analysis of 138 matched pairs was conducted to compare treatment strategies and clinical outcomes between patients having IVUS-supported endovascular therapy and those treated without IVUS.

RESULTS

Endovascular strategies and postoperative medications were not significantly different between the IVUS and no-IVUS groups. A procedure time under 1 hour was less frequent in the IVUS group, which had a longer fluoroscopy time. The 12-month restenosis rate was not significantly different between the 2 groups [10.2% (95% CI 6.9 to 14.9%) vs 10.3% (95% CI 5.4 to 18.6%), p=0.99]. There was no interaction between baseline characteristics and the association of IVUS use with restenosis risk.

CONCLUSION

Propensity score matching analysis revealed that duration and fluoroscopy time during IVUS-supported procedures were significantly longer than in cases without IVUS use, whereas the 12-month restenosis rate was not significantly different between the groups. IVUS use in aortoiliac lesions may be unnecessary.

Impact of Institutional Volume on Critical In-Hospital Complications Adjusted for Patient- and Limb-Related Characteristics: An Analysis of a Nationwide Japanese Registry of Endovascular Interventions for PAD

PURPOSE

To investigate the incidence and clinical predictors, including institutional annual case volume, of critical in-hospital complications after endovascular therapy (EVT) for peripheral artery disease (PAD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The data were extracted from the nationwide registry of peripheral interventions in Japan [Japanese EVT (J-EVT)] between 2012 and 2017. A total of 92,224 EVT cases either for chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) or intermittent claudication were included in the analysis. The primary outcome measure was critical in-hospital complications, which were defined as a composite of urgent surgery and in-hospital death within 30 days after EVT. The institutional volume was classified into quartiles. The association of institutional volume, as well as baseline characteristics, with the critical in-hospital complications was explored using a multivariable logistic regression model with multiple imputation for missing data. Results are presented as the adjusted odds ratio (OR) with the 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

The estimated prevalence of critical in-hospital complications was 0.3% (95% CI 0.3% to 0.4%). The following 10 patient- and limb-related characteristics were identified as independent risk factors for critical in-hospital complications: (1) female sex (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.36 to 2.25), (2) age ≥75 years (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.40), (3) CLTI (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.47 to 3.05), (4) nonambulatory status (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.23 to 2.24), (5) regular dialysis (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.77), (6) cerebrovascular disease (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.33 to 2.33), (7) urgent revascularization (OR 5.10, 95% CI 3.64 to 7.13), (8) aortoiliac TASC II D lesion (OR 3.65, 95% CI 2.51 to 5.33), (9) femoropopliteal TASC II D lesion (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.52), and (10) infrapopliteal TASC D lesion (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.13). In addition, the 4th quartile of the institutional volume (≥158 cases/year), but not the 2nd or 3rd quartile, had a significantly and independently lower risk of critical in-hospital complications than the 1st quartile (OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.23).

CONCLUSION

After EVT for symptomatic PAD, 0.3% of the population encountered critical in-hospital complications. A higher institutional volume was significantly associated with a lower risk of critical in-hospital complications.

Impact of Hospital Volume on Clinical Outcomes after Aortoiliac Stenting in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease

AIM

To investigate the impact of institutional volume on clinical outcomes after aortoiliac (AI) stenting in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD).

METHODS

We analyzed the clinical database from the Observational prospective Multicenter registry study on the Outcomes of peripheral arTErial disease patieNts treated by AngioplaSty tHerapy in the aortoIliac artery (OMOTENASHI) registry. The volume of each institution was evaluated as the number of endovascular therapy (EVT) procedures performed in 2 years (2014-2015). High-volume centers were defined as being in the highest tertile of the procedural volume (≥ 611 EVT procedures in 2 years). Clinical outcomes, treatment strategies, and endovascular procedures were compared between high- and low-volume centers using a propensity score matching.

RESULTS

The propensity score matching extracted 236 pairs of patients (as many patients treated at high-volume centers and 519 patients treated at low-volume centers), with no remarkable intergroup differences in the baseline characteristics. Patients treated at high-volume hospitals had a significantly lower 12-month restenosis rate than that of patients treated at low-volume hospitals (6.5% vs. 15.8%, P=0.032), although comparable outcomes between the two groups included the technical success rate (99.6% vs. 99.8%, P=0.58) and the rate of 30-day major adverse events (0.4% vs. 0.8%, P=0.59).

CONCLUSION

Institutional volume was associated with the 12-month restenosis rate after AI stenting for PAD, although comparable perioperative outcomes were also observed between high-volume and low-volume hospitals.

Impact of Vessel Diameter Measured by Preprocedural Computed Tomography Angiography on Immediate and Late Outcomes of Endovascular Therapy for Iliac Artery Diseases

BACKGROUND

We evaluated whether vessel diameters measured by preprocedural computed tomography angiography (CTA) affects the immediate and late outcomes of endovascular therapy for iliac artery diseases.Methods and Results:A total of 254 patients who underwent endovascular treatment for iliac artery diseases were retrospectively evaluated. Minimum vessel diameters were measured on preprocedural CTA images at target lesions, common iliac arteries, and external iliac arteries (EIA). Predictors of immediate and late procedural outcomes were analyzed. Procedural failure or vessel-specific complications occurred in 29 patients (11%): wire passage failure (n=10), rupture (n=8), and distal embolization (n=11). Target lesion revascularization (TLR) was required in 6.0% at 2 years. Independent predictors of procedural failure or vessel-specific complications were small minimum vessel diameter of the target lesion (odds ratio [OR]=0.68, P=0.008) or EIA (OR=0.67, P=0.008), and chronic total occlusions (OR=3.78, P=0.036). Small minimum EIA diameter (hazard ratio [HR]=0.66, P=0.017) and chronic total occlusions (HR=4.45, P=0.024) were independent predictors of TLR in patients with technical success.

CONCLUSIONS

Small vessel diameter of the target lesion or EIA was an independent predictor of procedural failure or vessel-specific complications. Small vessel diameter, particularly of the EIA, was also associated with increased TLR after successful endovascular therapy for iliac artery lesions.

Transradial and transulnar access for iliac artery interventions using sheathless guiding systems: A feasibility study

PURPOSE

Our aim was to evaluate the acute success and complication rates of the transradial and transulnar access for iliac artery stenting using sheathless guiding systems.

METHODS

Clinical and angiographic data from 156 consecutive patients with symptomatic iliac artery stenosis who were treated with transradial or transulnar access were evaluated. All patients underwent Duplex ultrasound before and after the intervention. The primary endpoints were the procedural success rate, major adverse events, and access site complication rates. The secondary endpoints were the angiographic result of the iliac artery intervention, fluoroscopy time, X-ray dose, procedure length, crossover rate to another puncture site and hospitalization duration. The impact of the learning curve was also investigated, along with right or left radial access.

RESULTS

The indication for the intervention was intermittent claudication in 109 patients (69.9%), critical limb ischemia in 44 (28.2%) subjects and acute limb ischemia in three individuals (1.9%). Technical success was achieved in 155 patients (99.4%), with a crossover rate of 3.8%. Radial and ulnar artery access was used in 151 (96.8%) and 7 (4.5%) patients, respectively. The Ankle-brachial index increased from 0.69 [0.65-0.72] to 0.91 [0.88-0.95] as a result of the procedures (P < 0.001). The cumulative incidence of major adverse events was 3.8% at the 2-month follow-up (0% in patients with intermittent claudication and 13.8% in patients with critical limb ischemia). Radial artery access site complications were encountered in eight patients (5.1%). We documented decreased X-ray doses (1742.0 [783.9-2701] vs. 1435 [991.1-1879] vs. 692.8 [275.3-1110] Gy cm-2 P < 0.05) over time; however, the fluoroscopy time, procedure time, and contrast consumption were not significantly different. Left hand access was not associated with significantly better results than right radial artery access.

CONCLUSIONS

Iliac artery stenting can be safely and effectively performed using radial or ulnar artery access and sheathless guiding catheters, with acceptable complication rates and high levels of technical success. The physician learning curve plays an important role in decreasing the X-ray dose. © 2016 The Authors. Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Efficacy and Safety of Endovascular Therapy for Aortoiliac TASC D Lesions

Background:

Although there is increasing evidence of the effectiveness of endovascular therapy for complex aortoiliac (AI) occlusive disease, it is not universally applied to TASC D lesions.

Methods:

A total of 2096 patients, 2601 limbs with AI occlusive disease, were enrolled. The lesions were categorized as TASC D (395) or TASC A-C (2206), and we compared baseline data, procedure, and follow-up result between the 2 groups.

Results:

The success rate of the procedure was significantly lower in the TASC D group (91.6% vs 99.3%, P < .01), and more procedure complications occurred in the TASC D group (11.1% vs 5.2%, P < .01). The results of a 5-year follow-up revealed no significant difference in primary patency (77.9% vs 77.1%, P = .17) and major adverse cardiovascular and limb events (MACLE; 30.5% vs 33.4%, P = .42) between the 2 groups. A multivariate analysis revealed complications and critical limb ischemia are independent predictors of MACLE in the TASC D group.

Conclusion:

The success rate of the procedure was lower in the TASC D group. Complications were more frequent in the TASC D group, and they were related to MACLE.

Impact of Perioperative Complications After Endovascular Therapy in Diabetic Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia due to Isolated Infrapopliteal Lesions

Purpose: To investigate the thus far poorly defined impact of perioperative complications (POCs) on clinical outcomes after endovascular therapy (EVT) of diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) due to isolated infrapopliteal lesions. Methods: A multicenter registry of CLI patients was interrogated to identify 780 consecutive diabetic patients (mean age 71±10 years; 553 men) who successfully underwent balloon angioplasty for isolated infrapopliteal lesions. More than half of the population (487 patients) was on dialysis. Independent predictors (logistic regression) and prognostic impact on outcomes (Cox proportional hazards model) of POC (ie, death, myocardial infarction, stroke, pseudoaneurysm, puncture site hemorrhage/hematoma, distal emboli, vascular rupture, transfusion, dialysis, and gastrointestinal hemorrhage) were investigated. Outcomes are presented as the odds ratio (OR) and hazard ratio (HR), respectively, with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: POCs occurred in 12.3% (96/780) of the population. Multivariate modeling identified body mass index (BMI) <18.5 kg/m2 (adjusted OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.89, p=0.047) and tissue loss (adjusted OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.14 to 5.15, p=0.021) as independent predictors of POCs. In a Cox regression model adjusted for baseline clinical characteristics, the occurrence of POCs was independently associated with major adverse limb events (HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.12 to 3.13, p=0.016) but not with mortality or wound healing. In follow-up, freedom from major adverse limb events was higher in the group without POC (85.2%) than with POC (69.7%, p=0.006) at up to 3 years. Conclusion: POCs within 30 days after balloon angioplasty for infrapopliteal disease in diabetics with CLI were more likely to occur in patients with low BMI and tissue loss. POC occurrence was associated with major adverse limb events in follow-up but not with mortality or wound healing.