Purpose: Atherosclerotic plaques in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) include fatty, mixed, and calcified types. Plaque burden is significantly associated with restenosis, reintervention, and amputation-free survival. Rotational and aspirational atherectomy (RAA) may effectively remove such plaques. This study aimed to evaluate long-term outcomes of RAA for infrainguinal PAD. Methods: Patients with infrainguinal lesions underwent revascularization using the Jetstream Atherectomy System (Boston Scientific). This 60-month extension assessed primary patency rate (PPR) and clinically driven target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR). Kaplan-Meier curves were used for survival analysis; P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 150 patients (mean age, 70.9 years; male, 86.0%; 65.4% with diabetes) were enrolled. The mean lesion length was 15.8 cm, with 74.0% occlusions and 47.3% severe calcification. Lesions were sclerotic (72.4%), thrombosclerotic (13.4%), thrombotic (9.4%), or in-stent (4.7%). A drug-coated balloon (DCB) was used in 85.5% of cases. PPR at 1, 3, and 5 years was 84.1%, 68.1%, and 58.5%, respectively. CD-TLR rates were 93.0%, 81.5%, and 67.4%, respectively. The benefit of DCB was sustained through 3 years but attenuated thereafter, highlighting the need for extended follow-up in infrainguinal interventions. Conclusion RAA demonstrated durable 5-year patency and safety outcomes. Device type, DCB use, lesion morphology, and calcium grade did not significantly influence long-term results. Lesion complexity remains the primary predictor of clinical outcome. Despite the complexity of infrainguinal lesions, the use of RAA demonstrated sustained patency through 3 years, with lesion complexity (particularly TASC classification) emerging as the most critical predictor of long-term success.

Endovascular treatment is an acceptable option for patients with aortoiliac occlusive disease. However, bilateral passage of guidewires through the aortoiliac occlusion can be a challenging step in achieving successful revascularization. The aim of this article is to present a novel strategy for successfully passing bilateral guidewires through long aortoiliac occlusive lesions. After one guidewire is passed through the aortic and iliac lesions via one side of the femoral artery, the other guidewire is passed using the up-and-over technique and pulled out from the ipsilateral side of the body. This contralateral guidewire is then inserted into the ipsilateral angiographic catheter along with the ipsilateral guidewire. Subsequently, the angiographic catheter is removed in a manner similar to a peel-away sheath. Eventually, bilateral guidewires can be passed through the lesion via a single aortic tract.

Purpose: Aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) is widely prevalent and leads to severe claudication or chronic limb-threatening ischemia. Stent placement for AIOD demonstrated excellent outcomes in terms of long-term patency. However, iliac artery rupture is the most fearful complication during the aortoiliac stenting (AIS). This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of iliac artery rupture during AIS. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of consecutive patients with AIOD treated with AIS from 2009 to 2021 was completed. We excluded patients with instent restenosis. All types of stents, including self-expanding stent (SES), balloonexpandable stent (BES), or balloon-expandable covered stent (CS), were used.Angiographic characteristics and procedural outcomes were analyzed. Procedural success was defined as the residual stenosis <30%. Results: A total of 242 patients (86.8% male; mean age 68.8±10.0 years) with de novo AIOD were treated with AIS. The procedural success rate was 100%. Rupture occurred in six patients (2.5%) and all ruptures were occurred in the external iliac artery (EIA). Stenting of the EIA and less calcified lesion were risk factors for iliac rupture (P=0.028). All cases of iliac artery rupture were successfully treated with the CSs. Overall primary patency rates were 98.0% and 93.4% at 12 and 36 months, respectively. Primary patency rates of SES, BES, and CS were 87.7%, 88.4%, and 100% at 36 months, respectively. Conclusion The incidence of iliac artery rupture during AIS was 2.5%. Stent placement in the less calcified lesion and EIA was a risk factor for rupture during AIS. Placement of the CS can be the straightforward solution in case of iliac artery rupture during AIS.

Purpose: Venoactive drugs are widely used to improve the symptoms and signs of chronic venous disease. This study aimed to analyze the rate of adverse events after venoactive drug prescription and subsequent compliance and switching rates. Methods: Using the National Health Insurance Service database, individuals with at least one chronic venous disease code between January 2009 and December 2019 were identified, and 30% (2,216,780 individuals) of these were sampled. Finally, 1,551,212 patients were included, and we analyzed adverse events, compliance, and switching rates with 8 venoactive drugs, including Vitis vinifera extract, naftazone, micronized purified flavonoid fraction, Vitis vinifera leaf extract, diosmin, diobsilate calcium, bilberry fruit dried extract, and sulodexide. Results: The most commonly prescribed venoactive drug was Vitis vinifera extract (72.2%), followed by sulodexide (9.3%), and Vitis vinifera leaf dry extract (8.2%). Adverse event rates were significantly lower in the naftazone and diosmin groups (P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively) and significantly higher in the Vitis vinifera leaf dry extract group (P = 0.009). Drug adherence to sulodexide was the highest throughout the study period, followed by billberry extract and dobesilate (all P < 0.001). For most drugs, the drug switching rate was low (<5.0%). Conclusion Vitis vinifera extract was the most commonly prescribed venoactive drug in Korea, and drug adherence to sulodexide was the highest among all venoactive drugs. The adverse event rates were significantly lower in the naftazone and diosmin groups.

Purpose: Limited data are available on the nationwide trend of treatments for chronic venous disease (CVD). The aim of the present study was to identify the nationwide trends of CVD treatments in Korea. Methods: A serial, cross-sectional study was conducted with the use of time trends to analyze patients with CVD between 2010 and 2020. The trends in the number of patients and procedures were analyzed including sclerotherapy, open surgery, and endovenous thermal ablation (ETA). Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service data were used to analyze the trends. For the statistical analysis, MedCalc Statistical software was used. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 1,867,307 patients with CVD were managed in Korea between 2010 and 2020. The annual number of patients with CVD increased from 143,108 in 2010 to 219,319 in 2020 (risk ratio [RR], 1.53; P < 0.001). The percentage of patients with CVD who had venous ulcer gradually decreased from 3.1% in 2010 to 1.7% in 2020 (RR, 0.86; P < 0.001). The number of conventional surgeries including stripping and local resection of varicose veins decreased from 32,384 in 2010 to 21,792 in 2020 (RR, 0.67; P < 0.001). The number of ETAs performed increased, from 290 in 2011 to 12,126 procedures in 2020 (RR, 41.81; P < 0.001). Conclusion The total number of patients with CVD increased during the last 11 years. The number of conventional open surgery and sclerotherapy procedures decreased. On the contrary, the number of ETAs significantly increased in Korea.

Background: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of a cryopneumatic compression device with that of standard ice packs following arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, with a primary focus on early postoperative pain. Methods: Participants were divided into two groups: cryopneumatic compression device group (CC group) and standard ice pack group (IP group). Patients in the CC Group (28 patients) received a cryopneumatic compression device (CTC-7, Daesung Maref) treatment, while patients in the IP group (28 patients) received standard ice pack cryotherapy postoperatively. All cryotherapy was applied three times (every 8 hours) per day for 20 minutes until discharge (postoperative day 7). Pain scores were assessed preoperatively and at 4, 7, and 14 days after surgery, and the primary outcome for analysis was pain at postoperative day 4 assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS). Other variables were opioid and rescue medication use, knee and thigh circumferences, postoperative drainage, and joint effusion quantified by a three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reconstruction model. Results: The mean pain VAS score and difference in VAS relative to the preoperative measurements for postoperative day 4 were significantly lower in the CC group than in the IP group (p = 0.001 and p = 0.007, respectively). The sum of postoperative drainage and effusion quantified by MRI showed a significant reduction of postoperative effusion in the CC group compared to the IP group (p = 0.015). The average total rescue medication consumption was comparable between the two groups. Circumferential measurements at days 7 and 14 postoperatively relative to those at day 4 (index day) demonstrated no significant differences between the groups. Conclusions Compared to standard ice packs, application of cryopneumatic compression was associated with a significant reduction in VAS pain scores and joint effusion during the early postoperative period following ACL reconstruction.

The mainstream of incompetent saphenous veins treatment has dramatically changed from the first-generation conventional high ligation and stripping surgery to the second-generation endovenous thermal ablation as a minimally invasive technique using laser or radiofrequency. The third-generation treatment of nonthermal non-tumescent techniques is already available, including cyanoacrylate adhesive closure (CAC) and mechanochemical ablation (MOCA).Current Concepts: The non-thermal non-tumescent techniques are developed to overcome the complications of thermal ablation, including nerve injury and vein perforation. The technique also reduces the need for painful tumescent anesthesia and postoperative compression. MOCA employs a dual injury using a single-catheter-based delivery system consisting of a mechanical abrasion with a rotating wire and chemical ablation with a sclerosant. CAC is executed by injecting a glue that produces a polymer with the blood and obliterates the lumen. CAC does not need tumescent anesthesia and postoperative compression. Therefore, patient recovery is fast and satisfaction is excellent. However, the new devices are expensive and not included in the medical insurance in Korea, and long-term effects of the new treatments are unproven; therefore, the cost-effectiveness is unconfirmed.Discussion and Conclusion: MOCA and CAC are newly developed minimal invasive treatments for varicose veins. They are reported to be safe and effective techniques. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

Purpose: Arterial stiffness and steno-occlusion of the lower-extremity can result from many vascular lesions, including acute thromboembolisms, soft plaques, calcified plaques, or inflammatory disease. Ultrasound (US) elastography measures the tissue deformation response to compression and displays tissue stiffness. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of arterial lesions in the lower extremities using US elastography. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 20 patients who visited our institute for arterial disease treatment between May 2016 and November 2017. An US examination with B-mode and strain elastography (SE) was performed of four different lesion types at 45 sites: acute and subacute thromboembolisms, soft plaques, calcified plaques, and thromboangiitis obliterans lesions (TAOs). During SE, stress was externally applied by the operator using the transducer. Strain ratio (SR) was calculated as the fraction of the average strain in the reference area divided by the average strain in the lesion. The SR was compared among different lesion types, with the accompanying vein as the reference region of interest. Results: The strain was highest in the soft plaques (0.63%±0.23%), followed by the TAOs (0.45%±0.11%), calcified plaques (0.44%±0.13%), and acute thromboembolisms (0.34%±0.23%), which were statistically significant (P=0.026). However, the mean SR was highest for the calcified plaques (2.33%±0.80%), followed by the TAOs (1.63%±0.40%), acute thromboembolisms (1.60%±0.48%), and soft plaques (1.51±0.39), and which were statistically significant (P=0.013). Conclusion Despite several limitations, vascular elastography may be useful for differentiating between lesion types in peripheral arterial disease.

Purpose: The optimal treatment for in-stent restenosis (ISR) of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) is still in debate. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of directional atherectomy (DA) as a primary treatment modality for ISR in SFA. Materials and Methods: A retrospective single-center analysis was conducted. In total, 617 stents were deployed in 242 limbs for SFA diseases during the study period. ISR was identified in 29 limbs (12.0%); 14 limbs were treated with DA and 15 limbs with balloon angioplasty (BAP) alone. Technical success rate, target lesion revascularization (TLR) and patency rates (PRs) at 12 months, and any complications were evaluated. Results: DA group included complete occlusions in 50% of patients and BAP group included in 40%. Mean improvement in the ankle-brachial index was 0.29 and 0.32, respectively (P=0.638). Technical success was achieved in all patients.The procedural success rates were 85.7% and 73.3%, respectively (P=0.651). There was no significant difference regarding residual stenosis, distal embolization, or flow-limiting dissection. Primary PRs at 1 year were 85.7% and 73.3%, secondary PRs were 100.0% and 93.3%, and TLR rates were 14.3% and 20.0% (P=0.411, 0.326, and 0.684, respectively). Conclusion Short-term outcomes after DA for ISR were not different from those after BAP but showed a tendency of better primary PR and TLR. Larger multicenter prospective studies are needed to define the role of DA in ISR treatment.

A variety of diseases are known to develop in the aortoiliac segment; these include abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and aortoiliac occlusive disease. This review summarizes several differences of aortoiliac diseases between eastern and western populations. The prevalence of AAA was higher in western countries (4.57% to 19%) than in eastern countries (0.89% to 4.9%). Greater aortic bifurcation angles were observed in the eastern population, while longer common iliac arteries and aneurysm necks were found in the western population with AAA. However, the angle of the aneurysm was found to be more acute in patients from western countries. Several differences were found between patients from western countries and those from eastern countries regarding the diseases that occur in the aortoiliac segment and their anatomical characteristics. Therefore, different approaches to the treatment of aortoiliac diseases in these two groups should be considered.
Aneurysm ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Atherosclerosis ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Neck ; Prevalence ; Vascular Calcification