Konstantinos G. Moulakakis

Konstantinos G. Moulakakis
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens | uoa

Associate Professor of Vascular Surgery, MD,PhD,MSc,FEBVS

About

219
Publications
26,579
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4,961
Citations
Additional affiliations
February 2020 - present
University of Patras
Position
  • Professor (Associate)
January 2010 - January 2020
Attikon University Hospital
Position
  • Consultant

Publications

Publications (219)
Article
Full-text available
This study presents updated information on post-endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) late aortic rupture (LAR) as the data in the literature are limited. It comprises a meta-analysis based on the recent evidence regarding the incidence, causes, treatment outcomes, and prognosis of post-EVAR. A meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA (Pre...
Chapter
Endograft infection is a rare multifactorial complication after endovascular exclusion of aortic aneurysms, which raise both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Several risk factors associated with the patients’ comorbidities, the index procedure and the secondary procedures have been suggested to predispose an endograft infection, whereas seve...
Article
The hemodialysis reliable outflow (HeRO) graft was designed for patients with failed arteriovenous accesses caused by an obstructed central venous outflow or patients who have exhausted all upper arm options. We describe a patient with severe stenosis of the superior vena cava (SVC) who experienced recurrent episodes of infection of permanent tunne...
Article
Full-text available
It has been documented that large-artery stiffness is independently associated with increased cardiovascular risk and may potentially lead to heart and kidney failure and cerebrovascular disease. A systematic review of studies investigating changes in arterial stiffness in patients undergoing endovascular repair of aortic disease was conducted. In...
Article
Full-text available
An intraluminal thrombus (ILT) is present in the majority of abdominal aortic aneurysms, playing a crucial role in their growth and rupture. Although most computational studies do not include the ILT, in the present study, this is taken into account, laying out the whole simulation procedure, namely, from computed tomography scans to medical image...
Article
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Background: We investigated the relationship of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), and Gray-Scale Median (GSM) score with the severity and vulnerability of carotid atherosclerosis and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during follow-up of carotid artery revascularization. Methods: We enrolled 262 patien...
Article
Objective: The need for open surgical conversion (OSC) after failed endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) persists, despite expanding endovascular means for secondary intervention. The VASCUNExplanT project collected international data in order to identify risk factors for failed EVAR, as well as OSC outcomes. This retrospective cross-section...
Article
Full-text available
The GORE EXCLUDER Conformable abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) Endoprosthesis (CEXC), is currently the newest stent-graft system for treating patients with AAA. CEXC is approved for patients with proximal aortic neck angles ≤90° with a ≥15 mm aortic neck length or proximal aortic neck angles ≤60° with ≥10 mm aortic neck length. The present study des...
Article
Introduction: We undertook a systematic review of the currently published literature on TEVAR for DTAAs and we combined the eligible studies into a meta-analysis with the intention of evaluating the efficacy and the long-term durability of this treatment option. Evidence acquisition: A systematic search of the literature from January 2015 up to...
Article
Endovascular repair is the treatment of choice for the patients suffering from thoracic aortic pathologies. Nevertheless, a higher proportion of young and female patients, as well as substantially high-profile delivery systems, lead to significantly higher morbidity rates or possibly the inability to implant any endoprosthesis at all. Thoracic sten...
Article
Re-rupture 2 years after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) rupture is an extremely rare event and limited data exist in the literature. We present an interesting case of a patient with an abdominal aortic rupture that had undergone 2 years before an endovascular repair for rupture after EVAR due to a type IA endoleak. The patient underwent...
Article
Full-text available
Patients who undergo endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) may require prolonged radiation exposure affected by several factors. The objectives of this study were to document fluoroscopy time (FT) during EVAR and identify possible factors that influence it. A retrospective analysis of a 180 patients' database with abdominal infrarenal aortic a...
Article
In this study, the effect of body-mass-index (BMI) on organ doses (ODs) during infrarenal endovascular aneurysm- repair (EVAR) procedures were evaluated. Patient- and intra-operative data from fifty-nine EVAR procedures were inserted into VirtualDose-IR software to calculate ODs. For overweight, obesity class-I and obesity class-II, ODs were up to...
Article
Objective: Endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) has conferred an early survival advantage compared to open surgical repair (OSR) in patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA). However, the long-term survival benefit after EVAR was not displayed among randomized controlled trials (RCTs), whereas many non-RCTs have provided conflicting re...
Article
Full-text available
Introduction: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which involves one or more vessels of the lower extremities, is common in older adults due to complex genetic and environmental interactions that result in reduced peripheral perfusion. Despite being in many cases asymptomatic, early PAD is associated with reduced survival rate due to its undeniable...
Article
Background There was no consensus regarding the terminology, definition, classification, diagnostic criteria and algorithm, nor reporting standards for the disease infective native aortic aneurysm (INAA), previously known as mycotic aneurysm. The aim of this study was to establish this by performing a consensus study. Methods The Delphi methodolog...
Article
Full-text available
The coexistence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm and a congenital pelvic kidney is extremely rare. We present a 66-year-old male with an inflammatory aneurysm and an aberrant origin of the superior mesenteric artery. The inflammatory infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm with a congenital left pelvic kidney was successfully treated with endovascular...
Article
Full-text available
Vascular access-induced limb ischemia is a known complication of arteriovenous fistulas and grafts. Many techniques have been adopted to prevent steal in high-risk patients and to treat steal in cases of moderate ischemia not controlled with conservative management. A major factor guiding treatment is access flow volume. Management is different whe...
Article
Full-text available
Objective To document the recovery of vascular services in Europe following the first COVID-19 pandemic peak. Methods An online structured vascular service survey with repeated data entry between 23 March and 9 August 2020 was carried out. Unit level data were collected using repeated questionnaires addressing modifications to vascular services du...
Article
Objective: The optimal revascularization modality following complete resection of aortic graft infection (AGI) without enteric involvement remains unclear. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the revascularization approach associated with the lowest morbidity and mortality using real-world data in patients undergoing complete excisio...
Article
Background Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is a widely used procedure that has drastically changed the management of thoracic aortic diseases. We assess the effectiveness of supra-aortic debranching during antegrade TEVAR procedures with a retrospective analysis of our clinical experience Methods Between December 2005 and April 2017, 5...
Article
Full-text available
We report an 83-year-old patient with a huge post-catheterization right radial pseudoaneurysm, presented 17 months after a coronary angiography. Cases of radial post-catheterization pseudoaneurysms with a similar size are scarce in the literature. Delay in presentation led to painful skin ischemia due to tension, a sign of imminent rupture, which i...
Article
Full-text available
Limb ischemia is a known complication of vascular access that may appear early postoperatively or after years. Over the last few decades, various techniques based on different physiological mechanisms have been used for treatment. A standardized treatment does not exist, and must be individualized based on the flow volume, and the type and location...
Article
Arterial stiffness and its valid index, the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), have emerged as predictors of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. We investigated the relationship of the CAVI with significant carotid stenosis (> 50%) and the related cerebrovascular symptoms or carotid plaque echogenicity, assessed by ultrasound gray-scale median (GSM)...
Article
Full-text available
Purpose: To describe our experience with the presentation and management of traumatic superficial temporal artery pseudoaneurysms in our institution. Small case series description: Reviewing all patient’s records during the last 20 years we identified 3 cases with a superficial temporal artery pseudoaneurysm. Two patients had suffered a motorcycle...
Article
Full-text available
A 75-year-old male presented with an immediately threatened grade IIb acute ischemia of the left leg due to thrombosis of a femoro-infrapopliteal prosthetic bypass graft. After an urgent Computed Tomography Angiography, an urgent graft thrombectomy was performed using a 5 Fr Fogarty catheter, which had a troublesome distal passage, causing a tibial...
Preprint
A 75-year-old male presented with an immediately threatened grade IIb acute ischemia of the left leg due to thrombosis of a femoro-infrapopliteal prosthetic bypass graft. After an urgent Computed Tomography Angiography, an urgent graft thrombectomy was performed using a 5 Fr Fogarty catheter, which had a troublesome distal passage.
Article
Full-text available
Objective To assess biomarkers between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, and to construct a classification and regression tree (CART) algorithm for their discrimination. Patients and Methods 136 patients were enrolled. They were symptomatic (high risk) ( N = 82, stenosis degree ≥ 50%, proven to be responsible for ischemic stroke the last six...
Article
INTRODUCTION Aortic graft infection remains a considerable clinical challenge, and it is unclear which variables are associated with adverse outcomes among patients undergoing partial resection. METHODS A retrospective, multi-institutional study of patients who underwent partial resection of infected aortic grafts from 2002-2014 was performed usin...
Article
Full-text available
Background Among asymptomatic patients with severe carotid artery stenosis but no recent stroke or transient cerebral ischaemia, either carotid artery stenting (CAS) or carotid endarterectomy (CEA) can restore patency and reduce long-term stroke risks. However, from recent national registry data, each option causes about 1% procedural risk of disab...
Article
Purpose The aim of the present study was to investigate a potential difference on the arterial stiffness among aneurysm patients and non-aneurysm controls, as well as to explore potential changes between patients treated either with endovascular or open repair. Materials and Methods A 110 patients with an infrarenal AAA were prospectively enrolled...
Article
Full-text available
Background: We report a case of a patient with complete aortic endograft occlusion and no morphological characteristic that could explain this event, other than the hypercoagulant status associated with psoriasis. The patient had severe intertriginous psoriasis complicated with cellulitis and sepsis and was treated with endograft excision and repla...
Article
Full-text available
Objective: The aim of the COVER Study is to identify global outcomes and decision making for vascular procedures during the pandemic. Background data: During its initial peak, there were many reports of delays to vital surgery and the release of several guidelines advising later thresholds for vascular surgical intervention for key conditions....
Article
We present a patient suffering from a stroke with a free-floating thrombus extending up to the distal internal carotid artery. The thrombus was totally resolved after a 2-week anticoagulation regimen without leaving behind any severe residual stenosis in the carotid bulb. The optimal treatment of this rare condition remains uncertain. We report som...
Article
We present an unreported complication that occurred during an accidental loss of the ipsilateral limb’s wire during EVAR. During an endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (EVAR), unintentional loss of the ipsilateral limb’s wire during deployment and withdrawal of the endogaft’s main body occurred. The snare’s loops were entrapped whil...
Article
Introduction Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a valid, clinically feasible marker of arterial stiffening, and a strong predictor of outcomes. In patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) alterations in arterial wall composition and inflammation were proposed as possible contributors to increased arterial stiffness. Purpose The present study aimed...
Article
Background Aim: The residual stump after excision of an infected aortic graft may be subject to acute disruption - blowout - due to recurrence of infection or fatigue because of the mechanical stress. We present an innovative technique in which we used the falciform ligament of the liver to reinforce the aortic stump. Technique We excised the falc...
Article
Full-text available
Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a valid, clinically feasible marker of arterial stiffening, and a strong predictor of outcomes. The present study aimed to compare aortic elastic properties in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), with or without coronary artery disease (CAD), as well as healthy individuals. A total of 130 patients with AAA,...
Article
Objective: Common iliac artery aneurysms are present in more than a third of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and may pose a challenge during open and endovascular repair. Although embolization of the internal iliac artery is an established method, it may be complicated with buttock claudication, erectile dysfunction, colon ischemia, and pe...
Article
Backround & purpose: Perioperative neck hematoma (PNH) requiring re-intervention is an important complication after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). There are limited data regarding the potential risk factors associated with PNH. The aim of this prospective, multicenter study was to document the rate of PNH in symptomatic carotid artery stenosis (sCA...
Article
Background-Aim Limited data exist concerning the fluid dynamic changes induced by endovascular aortic repair with fenestrated and chimney graft modalities in pararenal aneurysms. We aimed to investigate and compare the wall shear stress (WSS) and flow dynamics for the branch vessels before and after endovascular aortic repair with fenestrated and c...
Article
Background: Type Ia endoleak due to inadequate seal at the proximal end of the endograft is not infrequent during the initial operation. However, repeated attempts at balloon inflation or over-dilatation of the balloon can produce high axial pressures and can lead to aortic neck rupture with hemodynamic instability. Methods: The purpose of the p...
Article
Extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms are rare and most of them are considered of atherosclerotic etiology. Marfan syndrome (MS) is a systemic connective tissue disorder caused by mutation in the extracellular matrix protein fibrillin 1. Clinical manifestations of the MS include aortic aneurysms, dislocation of the ocular lens, and l...
Article
Objectives: Spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (SISMAD) is a rare disease with an incidence of 0.06%. The purpose of the meta-analysis was to identify the outcomes associated with the various treatment options in the management of asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with SISMAD. Methods: Eligible studies were selected b...
Article
Full-text available
Background: There are a number of stent-grafts in the market, designed to handle difficult anatomies during endovascular aortic repair. The aim of this study is to determine which stent-graft are the most appropriate to accommodate the majority of infra-renal aortic aneurysms cases. An additional aim is to determine which stent-graft characteristic...
Article
Background & Purpose International recommendations advocate that carotid endarterectomy (CEA) should be performed within two weeks from the index event in symptomatic carotid artery stenosis (sCAS) patients. However, there are controversial data regarding the safety of CEA performed during the first two days of ictus. The aim of this international,...
Article
Angiosarcomas developing in nonfunctioning arteriovenous fistulas in renal transplant recipients are quite rare clinical entities with very poor prognosis. Herein we present a 60-year-old male who developed an angiosarcoma in a thrombosed radiocephalic fistula 6 years after renal transplantation. The patient presented with pain and swelling at the...
Article
Full-text available
The lifetime risk for diabetic patients to develop a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is 25%. In these patients, the risk of amputation is increased and the outcome deteriorates. More than 50% of non-traumatic lower-extremity amputations are related to DFU infections and 85% of all lower-extremity amputations in patients with diabetes are preceded by an u...
Article
Purpose: To investigate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous stenting for the management of chronic ischemia caused by endograft limb occlusion following endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Materials and methods: This is a retrospective, single-centre study investigating all patients who underwent percutaneous endovascular covered or bare me...
Article
Full-text available
Objective: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis aiming to assess the mortality and morbidity of all published case series on thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) in experienced centers treated with open repair. Methods: A systematic search of the literature published until April 2017 was performed according to the Preferred Re...
Article
Full-text available
Acute thrombosis of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a rare and often devastating complication with high morbidity and mortality. In some cases, however, it may be associated with a silent course without signs of acute limb ischemia. The aim of this report is to describe an unusual case of acute thrombosis of AAA without signs of acute limb is...
Article
Aim: Spinal cord ischemia (SCI) following endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair (EVAR) is a rare but devastating complication. The mechanism underlying the occurrence of SCI following EVAR seems to be multifactorial and is underreported and not fully elucidated. The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical outcomes in patient...
Article
The last thirty years the endovascular repair (EVAR) has become the standard method of treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Nevertheless, the method has limitations based mainly on the anatomic characteristics of the specific aneurysm. In these cases a combination of endovascular and open techniques can be used. We describe a case of a pa...
Article
Background The aim of the present study is to review the available data on suture-mediated closure devices (SMCDs) and fascia suture technique (FST), which are alternatives for minimizing the invasiveness of percutaneous endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (p-EVAR) and reduce the complications related to groin dissections. Methods The Medline, Clin...
Article
Carotid artery disease (CAD) is a common cause of ischemic stroke with high rates of recurrence. Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid artery stenting (CAS) are highly recommended for the secondary prevention of symptomatic CAD during the first 14 days following the index event of transient ischemic attack or minor stroke. CEA or CAS may also be...
Article
Full-text available
Background Ischemic colitis (IC) is a common type of ischemic insult, resulting from decreased arterial blood flow to the colon. This disease can be caused from either atherosclerotic occlusive vascular disease or non-occlusive disease. The aim of this study is to present the diagnostic methodology and management of this severe disease based on cur...
Article
Objective: To present the technique for emergent removal of the thrombosed stent in acute carotid stent thrombosis in patients undergoing carotid artery angioplasty-stenting (CAS) BACKGROUND: Acute carotid stent thrombosis in patients undergoing CAS is a relatively rare and potentially devastating complication influencing significantly the quality...
Article
Background: Temporary hepatic ischemia is inevitable during open aortic surgery when supraceliac clamping is necessary, as in thoracoabdominal or pararenal aneurysms. Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) has been described as a potential protective means against ischemia - reperfusion injury (IRI) in various tissues including the liver. The aim...
Article
Background: Arteriovenous grafts made of polyurethane (PU) have the advantage of early cannulation obviating the placement of a central vein catheter in patients with an acute need for long-term hemodialysis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety, efficacy and complication rate of PU vascular grafts for dialysis access in patient...
Article
Aim: Bilateral limb occlusion after endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) is relatively uncommon. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of bilateral endograft limb occlusion after EVAR and identify potential anatomical predictive factors of occurrence. Materials-methods: A total of 579 patients underwent elective EVAR for abdominal...
Article
Type IIIb endoleak usually occurs years after the initial endograft implantation and the cause is the chronic fatigue of the endograft. This rare case describes a type IIIb endoleak, appearing immediately after deployment of a new generation low profile stentgraft and highlights the diagnostic and treatment challenges associated with the type IIIb...
Article
Purpose: Acute early carotid stent thrombosis (AcuteCST) is a rare complication after carotid artery stenting (CAS). Purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the incidence, causes and optimal management of AcuteCST. Methods: Medical records of all patients undergoing CAS between 2008 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Time of...
Article
Objective/background: Τo review the incidence of post-carotid endarterectomy (CEA) cranial nerve injury (CNI), and to evaluate the risk factors associated with increased CNI risk. Methods: The study was a meta-analysis. Pooled rates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for CNIs after primary CEA. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated...
Article
Objectives: Diabetic patients who undergo lower limb arterial bypass surgery are considered to have a worse clinical outcome compared to non-diabetics. The aim of the study was to test this hypothesis after applying propensity score matching analysis. Patients and methods: A total of 113 consecutive lower limb bypass procedures (55 diabetic and...
Article
We conducted a systematic review regarding the efficacy and outcome of endovascular treatment of infected iliofemoral arterial pseudoaneurysms with covered stents. 35 cases were identified, including 5 own. 22 pseudoaneurysms were located in the femoral area and 13 in the iliac vessels. The most commonly reported complaints were pulsatile groin mas...