Endovascular revascularization strategies for aortoiliac and femoropopliteal artery disease: a meta-analysis

Appropriateness of Care Measures: A Novel Approach to Quality

The clinical judgment of a physician is one of the most important aspects of medical quality, yet it is rarely captured with quality measures in use today. We propose a novel approach using individualized physician benchmarking that measures the appropriateness of care that a physician delivers by looking at their practice pattern in a specific clinical situation. A prime application of our novel approach to appropriateness measures is the surgical management of peripheral artery disease and claudication. We discuss 4 potential consensus metrics for the treatment of claudication that explore appropriateness of care of claudication management and are meaningful, actionable, and quantifiable. Given the multitude of medical specialties involved in the care of patients with peripheral artery disease and the consequences of both preemptive and delayed care, it is in all of our interests to promote data transparency with confidential communications to outlier physicians while advocating for evidence-based management.

Patient-specific risk factors for reintervention following primary endovascular treatment of iliac artery disease

OBJECTIVE

Predictive models for reintervention may guide clinicians to optimize selection, education, and follow-up of patients undergoing endovascular iliac revascularization. Although the impact of lesion- and device-related characteristics on iliac restenosis and reintervention risk is well-defined, data on patient-specific risk factors are scarce and conflicting. This study aimed to explore the value of patient-related factors in predicting the need for clinically driven target-vessel revascularization (CD-TVR) in patients undergoing primary endovascular treatment of iliac artery disease.

METHODS

Consecutively enrolled patients undergoing endovascular revascularization for symptomatic iliac artery disease at a tertiary vascular referral center between January 2008 and June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Primary and secondary outcomes were CD-TVR occurrence within 24 months and time to CD-TVR, respectively. Patients who died or did not require CD-TVR within 24 months were censored at the date of death or at 730 days, respectively. Multiple imputation was used to account for missing data in primary analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 1538 iliac interventions were performed in 1113 patients (26% females; 68 years). CD-TVR occurred in 108 limbs (74 patients; 7.0%) with a median time to CD-TVR of 246 days. On multivariable analysis, increasing age was associated with lower likelihood of CD-TVR (odds ratio [OR], 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.50-0.83; P = .001) and decreased risk of CD-TVR at any given time (hazard ratio [HR], 0.66; 95% CI, 0.52-0.84; P = .001). Similarly, a lower likelihood of CD-TVR (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.59-0.95; P = .017) and decreased risk of CD-TVR at any given time (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.58-0.93; P = .009) were observed with higher glomerular filtration rates. Lastly, revascularization of common vs external iliac artery disease was associated with lower likelihood of CD-TVR (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.24-0.93; P = .030) and decreased risk of CD-TVR at any given time (HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.25-0.92; P = .027). No associations were observed between traditional cardiovascular risk factors (sex, hypertension, higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, higher hemoglobin A1c, smoking) and CD-TVR.

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective cohort study, younger age, impaired kidney function, and external iliac artery disease were associated with CD-TVR. Traditional markers of cardiovascular risk were not seen to predict reintervention.

Biomimetic Stents for Infrainguinal Peripheral Arterial Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Biomimetic stents are peripheral infrainguinal self expanding stents that mimic the anatomy of the vasculature and artery movement. They are indicated for use in infrainguinal arteries. This research aimed to synthesise all current evidence on the use of biomimetic stents as adjuncts for endovascular treatment of infrainguinal peripheral arterial disease (PAD), helping to guide clinical decision making.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and Cochrane databases.

REVIEW METHODS

Random effects meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO registration CRD42022385256). Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools checklist, and certainty assessment through the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Endpoints included primary patency, target lesion revascularisation, stent fracture, secondary patency, and Death at one year.

RESULTS

In total, 37 studies were included in the meta-analysis (33 cohort studies, two case series, and two randomised controlled trials [RCTs]), representing 4 480 participants. Of these, 34 studies included data on the Supera (81.5% of participants) and three studies reported data on the BioMimics 3D (18.5% of participants) stents. The pooled primary patency rate of 33 studies at one year follow up was 81.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 78.7 - 83.9%), and the pooled target lesion revascularisation rate of 18 studies at one year was 12.2% (95% CI 9.6 - 15.0%). The certainty of evidence outcome rating as qualified by GRADE was very low for both. Only one study reported a positive stent fracture rate at one year follow up of 0.4% with a certainty of evidence outcome of low.

CONCLUSION

Using biomimetic stents for infrainguinal PAD may be associated with acceptable one year primary patency and target lesion revascularisation rates, with a near negligible one year stent fracture rate. Their use should be considered in those presenting with infrainguinal PAD undergoing endovascular revascularisation. A RCT is necessary to determine their clinical and cost effectiveness.

Treatment of symptomatic popliteal artery lesions: An obituary of the GORE® TIGRIS® vascular stent

BACKGROUND

The popliteal artery is highly exposed to biomechanical stress, which is the primary factor associated with stent failure. However, information on the optimal endovascular treatment for the popliteal artery is lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To report the efficacy of the GORE® TIGRIS® Vascular Stent for the endovascular treatment of popliteal artery lesions.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of all patients with symptoms of peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAD) and popliteal artery lesions who underwent implantation of a GORE® TIGRIS® Vascular Stent between August 2012 and August 2014 at a tertiary vascular centre.

RESULTS

Between August 2012 and August 2014, 48 patients (32 men, aged 75±8 years) were treated with a GORE® TIGRIS® Vascular Stent. The technical success rate was 100% . At 12 months, the primary and secondary patency rates were 74% and 85%, respectively. During follow-up, no stent fracture was observed. No major amputations were performed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that isolated popliteal artery lesions in patients with symptomatic PAD could easily be treated with the GORE® TIGRIS® Vascular Stent, as good short-term results were achieved at 12 months. Therefore, the discontinuation of this product removed a useful tool with a simple release mechanism from the endovascular armamentarium of vascular specialists.

Bibliometric analysis of monoclonal antibodies for atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a prevalent cardiovascular disease that greatly increases mortality in the aging population and imposes a heavy burden on global healthcare systems. The purpose of this study is to examine the research structure and current trends of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against AS from a bibliometric perspective, since the development of these drugs is currently booming. This study collected articles and reviews on mAbs against AS from the Web of Science Core Collection, spanning from 2003 to 2022. Biblioshiny was utilized to analyze and visualize the characteristics of countries, regions, authors, institutions, and journals included in this collection. We used VOS viewer to illustrate the frequency of country co-occurrence, and CiteSpace to visualize co-cited reference, keywords co-occurrence, keywords citation bursts, keywords clustering and timeline plots. The study included 1325 publications, with the United States emerging as a leading contributor to the field. ATHEROSCLEROSIS, CIRCULATION and ARTERIOSCLEROSISTHROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY are core journals that publish high-quality literature on the latest advances in the field. Noteworthy authors with numerous high-quality publications include Witztum JL and Tsimikas S. Currently, lipid metabolism and inflammation are the main research areas of interest in this field. The mAbs against AS is an evolving field, and ongoing research continues to advance our understanding. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge in this area, highlighting two primary research directions: inflammation and lipid metabolism. Additionally, the paper identifies emerging research hotspots, which will provide researchers with useful insights to guide future investigations and anticipate research directions.