Increased body mass index and vein diameter are associated with incomplete target vein closure following microfoam ablation of incompetent saphenous veins.

Objective: Patient characteristics and risk factors for incomplete or non-closure following thermal saphenous vein ablation have been reported. However, similar findings have not been clearly described following commercially manufactured polidocanol microfoam ablation (MFA). The objective of our study is to identify predictive factors and outcomes associated with non-closure following MFA of symptomatic, refluxing saphenous veins.

Comparison of outcomes following polidocanol microfoam and radiofrequency ablation of incompetent thigh great and accessory saphenous veins.

Background: Microfoam ablation (MFA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are both approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of proximal saphenous truncal veins. The objective of our study was to compare early postoperative outcomes between MFA and RFA following treatment of incompetent thigh saphenous veins.

Methods: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was conducted of patients who underwent treatment of incompetent great saphenous veins (GSVs) or anterior accessory saphenous veins (AASVs) in the thigh.

Early results following comparison of radiofrequency and microfoam ablation of large diameter truncal veins demonstrate high closure rates and symptomatic relief.

Objective: Endovenous closure of truncal veins with a large diameter (LD) (≥8 mm) has been associated with higher risk of post ablation thrombus propagation into the deep venous system. Similar findings after Varithena microfoam ablation (MFA) have not been characterized. The study objective was to analyze outcomes after both radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and MFA and of LD truncal veins.

The evolution of open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair at a tertiary care center.

Background: The characteristics of and indications for open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair have evolved over time. We evaluated these trends through the experience at a tertiary care academic center.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted for patients undergoing open AAA repair (inclusive of type IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms) from 2005 to 2018 at an academic institution.

Heart-Kidney and Heart-Liver Transplantation Provide Immunoprotection to the Cardiac Allograft.

Background: Prior single-center studies suggest that kidney and liver allografts are immunoprotective toward transplanted hearts. The broader effects of the simultaneous transplantation of kidney or liver on protection from rejection are unclear.

Methods: The United Network for Organ Sharing database for heart transplantation was queried from 1987 to 2015 and stratified into patients undergoing heart-liver transplantation (HLT) (n = 192), heart-kidney transplantation (HKT) (n = 1,174), and heart-only transplantation (HT) (n = 61,471).