Impact of number of run-off vessels on interwoven nitinol mesh stents patency in the femoropopliteal segment

Objective To evaluate the impact of run-off vessels number on the outcomes of Supera stent(Abbott Vascular,Santa Clara,Calif,USA)for treatment of femoropopliteal occlusive disease.Methods We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of 188 consecutive patients(mean age 68.2±9.6 years,100 males)undergone angiography and woven mesh stent implantation in femoral or popliteal arteries or both arterial segments,in our institution between January 12014 and January 12018.Target lesion revascularization and major adverse limb events at 12-month were evaluated comparing patients with 1-,2-or 3-run-off vessels in the foot.Results Interventional success was achieved in 100%.Stent implantation involved in the femoral site in 56 patients(30.3%),the femoropopliteal in 92 patients(48.9%)and the popliteal site in 40 patients(21.3%).A significant improvement of ankle-brachial index(0.29±0.6 vs.0.88±0.3,P<0.001)and Rutherford class(5.3±0.8 vs.0.7±1.9,P<0.01)were observed before discharge.The median follow-up duration was 12.3 months(inter quartile range:11.0 to 13.9).During the follow-up period,52 patients(27.6%)had clinical events.Primary patency at 12 months was 72.4%.The primary patency significantly increased when the runoff status.Comparing the number of events among patients with different number of run-off vessels,a significant difference(P<0.001)was observed for patients having one(24.0%)and two run-off vessels(15.0%).Conclusions The outcomes of Supera stent in femoropopliteal occlusive disease depend strictly on the number of run-off vessels.

Patent foramen ovale in the elderly:what to do?

The increase in life expectance makes the diagnosis of PFO a possible and not easily manageable event in patients > 60-years-old due to the presence of different comorbidities and in particular of diastolic dysfunction which is considered as a contraindication to PFO closure. The literature review suggests that aged patients with PFO cannot be excluded"a priori"from PFO closure that should evaluated as therapeutic options in presence of anatomical and functional indications. Moreover in the elderly many other syndromes than paradoxical stroke mediated by PFO required full assessment and, if needed, transcather PFO closure:deoxygenating in obstructive sleeping apnoea, unexplained increased dyspnoea associated with hypoxemia after lung surgery, paralysis of the hemidiaphragm, and platypnea orthodeoxia. Differently from in the young and middle age, the management of PFO in aged patients should obligatory include the careful evaluation of potential comorbidities and eventual contraindications, such as severe diastolic dysfunction due to for example to hypertensive cardiomyopathy and coronary heart disease, the main causes of diastolic dysfunction.(J Geriatr Cardiol 2007;4:254-256.)