British AAA screening results show ‘considerable’ local variation in proportion of patients undergoing EVAR

The first detailed surgical results from the U.K. National Health Service (NHS) Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme (NAAASP) show that, over a seven-year period, the turn down rate after referral for treatment with a screen-detected AAA and perioperative mortality were low.…
Study of patients undergoing AAA repair suggests screening guidelines may be inadequate

A retrospective study analyzing approximately 55,000 patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair suggests current screening guidelines may be inadequate in detecting a significant number of new cases. Additionally, expanding screening for certain population segments may be warranted. The study…
Total endovascular aortic arch treatment shows promise in dissections, but secondary interventions remain ‘Achilles’ heel’

Speaking at the Virtual Aortic Surgery How to Do It Highlights conference (Dec. 17–18), Stéphan Haulon, MD, a vascular surgeon at Hôpital Marie Lannelongue, Paris, France, discussed total endovascular treatment of the aortic arch in chronic dissections. Detailing global experience…
Simulation-based training shown to build open vascular surgery skills

A recent systematic review found that “carefully designed and structured” simulation-based training (SBT) in open vascular surgery is effective and can improve technical skills, especially in less experienced trainees. But authors Jonathan Lawaetz, MD, of Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark), and…
‘Fundamental differences’ in outcomes after open AAA detected across three national registries

An investigation of differences in patient outcomes following open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) found in three national registries showed that mortality rates were lower for those contained in the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI). Researchers at Brigham and Women’s…
Preoperative risk score tool for rAAA 30-day mortality is accurate, new study finds

An entirely preoperative risk-scoring tool for the prediction of 30-day mortality after a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) was found to be accurate after a retrospective review of a prospectively collected database at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The calculator…
Open repair linked to higher long-term survival in patients deemed off-label for EVAR

Open repair of aortic aneurysms is associated with higher long-term survival in patients who fall outside the confines of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) instructions for use (IFU), and should therefore be favored over EVAR among this cohort, the annual meeting…
Claim emerging vascular surgeons ‘less well prepared to rapidly achieve open exposure’ in trauma setting draws scorn

A recent perspective published in the Annals of Surgery—which argued the shift toward endovascular care had led to a deficit in open surgical experience among the emerging cadres of trainees, impacting the treatment of vascular trauma injuries—has drawn broad censure…
Inaugural CX Aortic Vienna to take place online

The inaugural CX Aortic Vienna meeting will be livestreamed Sept. 8–11 to an international, online audience, and will include registrant participation, interaction and polling. The program will focus on all matters aortic—from the aortic valve to the iliac arteries. All…
VQI analysis finds endovascular repair of rAAA superior to open repair

A recent study examining the effect of operative approach on outcomes in patients presenting with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) demonstrated clear short- and midterm survival benefits of endovascular repair over an open approach. The authors—Linda J Wang, MD, of…

