Vascular Surgery
Canadian Society for Vascular Surgery Last updated: July 2023
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PAD is a marker of a systemic disease and patients with PAD may have atherosclerotic disease in other vascular beds, including the carotid and coronary circulation. Patients with mild to moderate PAD have a higher 5 year risk of stroke, myocardial infarction or cardiovascular death than amputation. Initial therapy should include smoking cessation and risk factor modification, medical therapy and a walking program. Lower extremity bypass surgery and endovascular therapy should be reserved for patients with limb threatening ischemia or truly disabling claudication.
Sources:
Society for Vascular Surgery Lower Extremity Guidelines Writing Group, et al. Society for Vascular Surgery practice guidelines for atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the lower extremities: management of asymptomatic disease and claudication. J Vasc Surg 2015;61(3 Suppl):2S-41S. PMID: 25638515.
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The purpose of carotid artery surgery and stenting is to prevent stroke and, when combined with appropriate medical therapy, is a successful strategy in selected, mainly symptomatic, patients. Medical therapy alone is an effective alternative in many asymptomatic patients and safer in those who are elderly or at high risk for surgery and stenting and don’t have the life expectancy to benefit from such a prophylactic procedure.
Sources:
Hobson RW, et al. Management of atherosclerotic carotid artery disease: clinical practice guidelines of the Society for Vascular Surgery. J Vasc Surg 2008;48:480-6. PMID: 18644494.
Voeks JH, et al. Age and outcomes after carotid stenting and endarterectomy: the carotid revascularization endarterectomy versus stenting trial. Stroke 2011;42(12):3484-90. PMID: 21980205.
Wach MM, et al. Carotid artery stenting in nonagenarians: are there benefits in surgically treating this high risk population? J Neurointerv Surg 2015;7(3):182-7. PMID: 24503283.
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Repair of asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms is recommended when the risk of rupture exceeds the risk of repair. Randomized controlled trials have failed to show a survival benefit for open or endovascular repair of most small aneurysms. Repair may be considered with specific growth patterns and aneurysm morphology.
Sources:
Cao P, et al. Comparison of surveillance versus aortic endografting for small aneurysm repair (CAESAR): results from a randomised trial. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2011;41(1):13-25. PMID: 20869890.
Lederle FA, et al. Immediate repair compared with surveillance of small abdominal aortic aneurysms. N Engl J Med 2002;346:1437-44. PMID: 12000813.
Ouriel K, et al. Endovascular repair compared with surveillance for patients with small abdominal aortic aneurysms. J Vasc Surg 2010;51(5):1081-7. PMID: 20304589.
The UK Small Aneurysm Trial Participants. Mortality results for randomized controlled trial of early elective surgery or ultrasonographic surveillance for small abdominal aortic aneurysms. Lancet 1998;352:1649-55. PMID: 9853436.
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Patient Pamphlet: Treating Blocked Leg Arteries: When you need a procedure and when you don’t
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Repair of asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms is recommended when the risk of rupture exceeds the risk of repair and is performed in patients with sufficient life expectancy to allow them to benefit from such a prophylactic procedure. Most elderly, or medically high risk patients, have insufficient life expectancy and are at higher risk of complications following endovascular repair to warrant intervention.
Sources:
EVAR Trial Participants. Endovascular aneurysm repair and outcome in patients unfit for open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (EVAR trial 2): randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2005; 365(9478):2187-92. PMID: 15978926.
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Regular ultrasound examination of asymptomatic patients with small abdominal aortic aneurysms is essential to document aneurysm growth and decide when intervention is warranted. The interval between examinations is dictated by the size of the aneurysm and its expected growth rate. Too frequent examinations can cause undue patient anxiety and are not cost effective.
Sources:
RESCAN Collaborators, et al. Surveillance intervals for small abdominal aortic aneurysms: a meta-analysis. JAMA 2013;309(8):806-13. PMID: 23443444.
Thompson SG, et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the growth and rupture rates of small abdominal aortic aneurysms: implications for surveillance intervals and their cost-effectiveness. Health Technol Assess 2013;17(41):1-118. PMID: 24067626.
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The Canadian Society for Vascular Surgery (CSVS) established its Choosing Wisely Canada Top 5 recommendations by canvassing its members for suggestions for investigations or procedures that should not be performed, should be performed rarely or should only be performed under certain circumstances. A subgroup of the CSVS Executive Committee reviewed the membership’s suggestions and made a list of five draft recommendations. The CSVS Executive Committee provided feedback and the evidence and literature were reviewed to make sure these recommendations were evidence based. The final list was approved by the CSVS Executive Committee.
Treating Blocked Leg Arteries
When you need a procedure and when you don’t.