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ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: Thrombotic complications are common in vascular surgery patients. Non-O blood types are associated with an increased risk of thrombo-embolic diseases. The aim of this study is to assess the prognostic implications of non-O vs. O blood type regarding 30-day cardiovascular events and long-term mortality after vascular surgery. METHODS: The population of this retrospective cohort study consisted of 4679 patients undergoing elective major vascular surgery between the years 1990 and 2011. Baseline characteristics, ABO blood type and follow-up were obtained. Multivariable regression analyses, adjusted for age, gender, medical history, medication and smoking were used to evaluate the impact of non-O blood type on 30-day cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction and stroke) and long-term mortality. RESULTS: Non-O blood type was present in 2627 (56%) patients. Within 30 days after surgery, 129 (4.9%) non-O and 112 (5.5%) O patients suffered a cardiovascular event (P = 0.42). Non-O blood type was not associated with increased mortality during long-term follow-up (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.96; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88-1.04, with a median follow-up of 4 years). Anti-platelet and anticoagulant drugs did not interact with the relationship between ABO blood type and long-term outcome. CONCLUSION: Non-O blood type is not associated with either 30-day cardiovascular complications or long-term mortality in vascular surgery patients.
European journal of vascular and endovascular surgery: the official journal of the European Society for Vascular Surgery 01/2013; · 2.92 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to assess the vitamin D status in patients with occlusive or aneurysmatic arterial disease in relation to clinical cardiovascular risk profiles and markers of atherosclerotic disease.
We included 490 patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD, n = 254) or aortic aneurysm (n = 236). Cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), ankle-brachial index (ABI), serum high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and vitamin D were assessed. Patients were categorised into severely (≤25 nmol l(-1)) or moderately (26-50 nmol l(-1)) vitamin D deficient, vitamin D insufficient (51-75 nmol l(-1)) or vitamin D sufficient (>75 nmol l(-1)).
Overall, 45% of patients suffered from moderate or severe vitamin D deficiency. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was similar in patients with PAD and those with an aortic aneurysm. Low levels of vitamin D were associated with congestive heart failure and cerebrovascular disease. Adjusting for clinical cardiovascular risk factors, multivariable regression analyses showed that low vitamin D status was associated with higher CIMT (P = 0.001), lower ABI (P < 0.001) and higher hs-CRP (P = 0.022).
The current study shows a strong association between low vitamin D status and arterial disease, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and irrespective of the type of vascular disease, that is, occlusive or aneurysmatic disease.
European journal of vascular and endovascular surgery: the official journal of the European Society for Vascular Surgery 07/2012; 44(3):301-6. · 2.92 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is associated with reduced cardiac stress compared with open repair and is an attractive therapeutic option, especially in cardiac fragile patients. General and locoregional anaesthesia differ regarding the stress response evoked by surgery. The aim of the study is to compare the incidence of cardiac events after EVAR under general or locoregional anaesthesia.
A total of 302 consecutive patients undergoing infrarenal EVAR between 2002 and 2011 were analysed in this retrospective cohort study. Selection of anaesthesia type was at the discretion of the treating physicians. Medical history, medication use, anaesthesia technique and follow-up were obtained. The study end point was 30-day cardiac complications, including cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, heart failure, ventricular arrhythmia and troponin T release. Multivariable analysis, adjusted for the propensity of receiving a locoregional technique and cardiac risk factors according to the Revised Cardiac Risk Index, was used to assess the association between cardiac events and anaesthesia type.
A total of 173 patients underwent general anaesthesia and 129 locoregional anaesthesia. Obesity, aspirin use and therapeutic anticoagulation were more common in patients receiving general anaesthesia. Cardiac events were observed in 13.3% of patients receiving general anaesthesia and in 4.7% of patients receiving locoregional anaesthesia (P = 0.02), or 6.4% versus .8% (P = 0.02) when asymptomatic troponin release is excluded from the end point. In the general anaesthesia group, two cardiac deaths, six non-fatal myocardial infarctions, two cases of non-fatal heart failure, one non-fatal cardiac arrest and 12 cases of troponin T release were observed, compared with one myocardial infarction and five cases of troponin T release in the locoregional anaesthesia group. In multivariable analysis, general anaesthesia was associated with adverse cardiac events (odds ratio (OR) 3.8; 95%-confidence interval (CI) 1.1-12.9). Non-cardiac complications occurred in 11.6% of patients in both groups (P = 1.00).
General anaesthesia was associated with an increased risk of cardiac events in EVAR, compared with locoregional anaesthesia.
European journal of vascular and endovascular surgery: the official journal of the European Society for Vascular Surgery 05/2012; 44(2):121-5. · 2.92 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This article describes the rationale and design of the DECREASE-XIII trial, which aims to evaluate the potential of esmolol infusion, an ultra-short-acting beta-blocker, during surgery as an add-on to chronic low-dose beta-blocker therapy to maintain perioperative haemodynamic stability during major vascular surgery.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial.
A total of 260 vascular surgery patients will be randomised to esmolol or placebo as an add-on to standard medical care, including chronic low-dose beta-blockers. Esmolol is titrated to maintain a heart rate within a target window of 60-80 beats per minute for 24 h from the induction of anaesthesia. Heart rate and ischaemia are assessed by continuous 12-lead electrocardiographic monitoring for 72 h, starting 1 day prior to surgery. The primary outcome measure is duration of heart rate outside the target window during infusion of the study drug. Secondary outcome measures will be the efficacy parameters of occurrence of cardiac ischaemia, troponin T release, myocardial infarction and cardiac death within 30 days after surgery and safety parameters such as the occurrence of stroke and hypotension.
This study will provide data on the efficacy of esmolol titration in chronic beta-blocker users for tight heart-rate control and reduction of ischaemia in patients undergoing vascular surgery as well as data on safety parameters.
European journal of vascular and endovascular surgery: the official journal of the European Society for Vascular Surgery 05/2011; 42(3):317-23. · 2.92 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The air-Q Intubating Laryngeal Airway (ILA) is a newly introduced extraglottic airway device. In this pilot study, we evaluated its use as a routine airway device during positive pressure ventilation. Ease of endotracheal intubation through the device was also assessed. Fifty-nine ASA I and II patients undergoing elective surgery received an air-Q ILA and an endotracheal tube where indicated. Insertion, ventilation and intubation characteristics were noted, as well as throat morbidity and occurrence of adverse events. An air-Q ILA was successfully inserted in 100% of patients. Mean leak pressure was 19 +/- 5 cmH2O. Endotracheal intubation was indicated in 19 patients and successful in 58% on the first attempt and 74% in total. Ten percent of the study patients were noted to have dysphagia. One patient was diagnosed with bilateral lingual nerve injury but made a complete recovery in four weeks. The air-Q ILA is an adequate extraglottic airway device in terms of insertion and ventilation. However the proposed advantage of ease of endotracheal intubation requires further investigation.
Anaesthesia and intensive care 03/2010; 38(2):346-8. · 1.28 Impact Factor