Current Vascular Roadmap

Dr. MO
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Current Vascular Roadmap is a daily briefing on new vascular surgery and venous disease literature, curated from PubMed, distilled into practice, relevant takeaways, and delivered in under 30 minutes. Built for vascular surgeons and the clinicians who work alongside them. Educational content for healthcare professionals; not medical advice.

  1. 5d ago

    Episode 18: The Below-Knee Trap in Claudication

    In this episode: a striking but confounded link between GLP-1 drugs and aneurysm rupture, why insulin-dependent diabetes erases much of the low-risk advantage of an asymptomatic carotid, how below-knee intervention for claudication sets up later amputation, a purpose-built stent for inferior vena cava obstruction, and a nerve block that speeds wrist fistula maturation. Aortic disease: In a matched cohort of over 27,000 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm, GLP-1 receptor agonist use was linked to fewer ruptures, repairs, cardiac events, and deaths; the large mortality gap points to healthy-user bias, so a randomized trial is needed.Go CC, et al. GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Decrease the Rate of Rupture, Cardiac Events, and Death in Patients with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms. J Vasc Surg (Impact Factor 3.9). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42957066/ Carotid disease: In over 275,000 carotid procedures, insulin-dependent diabetes raised early and one-year cardiac events and death, so asymptomatic insulin users carried risk similar to symptomatic patients without diabetes.Suggitt JO, et al. Insulin Dependence Erodes the Cardiac and Survival Advantage of Asymptomatic Status After Carotid Revascularization. J Vasc Surg (Impact Factor 3.9). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42946071/ Peripheral arterial disease: In nearly 93,000 limbs treated for claudication, any below-knee intervention at the first procedure was linked to more progression to limb-threatening ischemia, more repeat procedures, and more than double the odds of major amputation.Suri G, et al. Index Below-Knee Endovascular Intervention for Intermittent Claudication Is Associated with Increased Amputation Risk. J Vasc Surg (Impact Factor 3.9). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42962862/ Venous disease: A prospective international single-arm trial of a dedicated venous stent for inferior vena cava obstruction, with or without iliofemoral extension, met its 12-month patency and safety goal in three quarters of patients and reduced pain (89 patients).Desai K, et al. Safety and Effectiveness of the GORE VIABAHN FORTEGRA Venous Stent for the Treatment of Symptomatic Inferior Vena Cava Obstruction With or Without Combined Iliofemoral Obstruction. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg (Impact Factor 6.8). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42977066/ Dialysis access: Ultrasound-guided nerve block for radiocephalic fistula creation dilated the artery and vein, increased flow, and sped two-month maturation versus local anesthesia (163 patients, retrospective).Wen J, et al. Ultrasound-guided selective nerve block promotes perioperative vascular remodeling and early maturation of radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas. J Vasc Surg (Impact Factor 3.9). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42951048/

  2. Oct 25

    Episode 17: Reading the Plaque, Not Just the Narrowing

    In this episode: why type II endoleak reinterventions so often need repeating, how carotid plaque features predict recurrent stroke and may identify who benefits from colchicine, a sirolimus-coated balloon signal in femoropopliteal disease, years-long delays before iliac vein stenting relieves chronic pelvic pain, and what to do with a fistula after kidney transplantation. Aortic disease: In 403 first reinterventions for type II endoleak across 20 centers, early results were safe, but the endoleak recurred in nearly two-thirds by five years; open treatment was more durable, and a sac of 7 cm or more predicted further procedures.Falso R, et al. Early and follow-up results of reinterventions for type 2 endoleak following endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (EVAR): the multicenter RETE study. J Vasc Surg (Impact Factor 3.9). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42901252/ Carotid disease: In 510 CONVINCE participants, higher-risk CT angiography plaque scores predicted recurrent ipsilateral stroke and cardiovascular events, and colchicine's benefit appeared concentrated in high-risk plaque; post hoc, few events.Maes L, et al. Computed-Tomography Angiography-Based Carotid Plaque-RADS, Recurrent Vascular Events, and the Effect of Colchicine: An Imaging Substudy of the CONVINCE Randomized Trial. Stroke (Impact Factor 11.1). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42910427/ Peripheral arterial disease: In 597 SirPAD patients with femoropopliteal disease and no tissue loss, sirolimus-coated balloons lowered one-year target-lesion revascularization versus uncoated balloons (17% vs 27%), with fewer limb events; descriptive, one-year data.Tsaftaridis N, et al. Sirolimus-Coated Balloon Angioplasty for Femoropopliteal Artery Disease Without Tissue Loss: A Secondary Analysis of the SirPAD Trial. J Am Coll Cardiol (Impact Factor 22.3). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42909452/ Venous disease: In 113 women stented for chronic pelvic pain from iliac vein obstruction, about 80% had full pain resolution at a median of seven years; those who saw two or more specialists first waited over eight years for diagnosis.Larkin TA, et al. Differences in Clinical Presentation of Chronic Pelvic Pain Caused by Iliac Vein Obstruction Impacts Referral Pathway, Time to Diagnosis, and Post-stenting Pain Resolution. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg (Impact Factor 8.5). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42887643/ Dialysis access: A Vascular Access Society and European Kidney Transplant Association position paper recommends individualized decisions on ligating or preserving fistulas after transplantation, guided by Doppler flow and cardiac assessment.Akin B, et al. Vascular access management after kidney transplantation position paper on behalf of the Vascular Access Society and the European Kidney Transplant Association. J Vasc Access (Impact Factor 2.0). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42908338/

  3. Oct 20

    Episode 16: Rethinking Blood Thinners After Vein Ablation

    In this episode: early vascular surgery involvement after type A dissection repair, how common carotid near occlusion really is and why hyperperfusion matters, a striking cilostazol signal after leg revascularization, a randomized trial questioning routine anticoagulation after saphenous ablation, and the hidden maintenance cost of dialysis grafts. Aortic disease: Among 241 survivors of acute type A dissection repair, fewer than half had guideline-level imaging follow-up; in-hospital vascular surgery consultation was linked to complete surveillance, earlier detection of aneurysmal degeneration, and more planned secondary interventions.Murphy BE, et al. In-hospital vascular surgery consultation is associated with improved follow-up and earlier identification of aneurysmal degeneration after acute Type A aortic dissection. J Vasc Surg (Impact Factor 3.9). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42880614/ Carotid disease: In 443 patients scheduled for endarterectomy, near occlusion was present in about a third and did not raise pre- or perioperative stroke risk, but hyperperfusion syndrome after surgery was more frequent.Törmänen H, et al. Risk of early stroke recurrence and procedural stroke or death in carotid near occlusion patients scheduled for carotid endarterectomy. J Neurol (Impact Factor 5.4). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42888281/ Peripheral arterial disease: In a Taiwanese nationwide matched cohort (5,464 per group), cilostazol after lower-limb revascularization was associated with about half the rate of major adverse limb events, fewer cardiovascular events, and no excess major bleeding; observational, trial needed.Shu-Han Lin D, et al. Cilostazol and Risk of Major Adverse Limb and Cardiovascular Events after Revascularisation for Peripheral Artery Disease. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg (Impact Factor 8.5). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42887644/ Venous disease: In the TRAIN randomized trial (354 patients without prior deep vein thrombosis), omitting extended prophylaxis after saphenous radiofrequency ablation was non-inferior to 14 days of rivaroxaban 10 mg for 30-day thrombotic events.Qi Y, et al. Efficacy and Safety of No Thromboprophylaxis after Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation for Incompetent Saphenous VeiNs: the TRAIN Non-inferiority Randomised Controlled Trial. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg (Impact Factor 8.5). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42880395/ Dialysis access: In 871 arm accesses followed over 15 years, secondary patency was excellent, but grafts needed about 4.4 times the maintenance procedures per access-year of autogenous fistulas.Cho S, Joh JH. Reintervention Burden and Patency of Hemodialysis Vascular Access in a 15-Year Single-Center Cohort. J Vasc Surg (Impact Factor 3.9). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42880613/ All studies retrieved via PubMed. Educational content only. Not medical advice. Consult your own clinical judgment and institutional protocols for any individual patient.

  4. Oct 13

    Episode 15: The Sex Gap in Complex Aortic Repair

    In this episode: women face higher early risk after fenestrated aortic repair, retinal artery occlusion as an overlooked complication of carotid stenting, foot infection and vein graft narrowing in women after distal bypass, what women with venous pelvic pain actually want from treatment, and how neighborhood disadvantage tracks with dialysis access outcomes. Aortic disease: In 1,651 fenestrated repairs in the UK GLOBALSTAR registry, women had about twice the major complication rate and higher perioperative mortality than men; salvage repairs needed more reinterventions, while octogenarians had acceptable mid-term survival.Guéroult AM, et al. Clinical Messages for Fenestrated Endovascular Aortic Repair from the GLOBALSTAR Registry: Outcomes in Salvage Fenestrated Endovascular Aneurysm Repair, Women, and Octogenarians. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg (Impact Factor 6.8). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42838505/ Carotid disease: In nearly 18,000 matched pairs, retinal artery occlusion was rare but more frequent after carotid stenting than endarterectomy, mostly within 72 hours of the procedure.Zaidi Z, et al. Incidence of Retinal Artery Occlusion After Carotid Endarterectomy Versus Carotid Artery Stenting. Retina (Impact Factor 2.1). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42854197/ Peripheral arterial disease: After distal vein bypass for chronic limb-threatening ischemia, women had more vein graft stenosis than matched men, concentrated in those with severe preoperative foot infection.Okuda H, et al. Sex-specific association between preoperative foot infection and vein graft stenosis after distal bypass for chronic limb-threatening ischemia. J Vasc Surg (Impact Factor 3.9). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42855021/ Venous disease: Interviews with 21 women with venous-origin chronic pelvic pain showed a broad symptom burden and that patients define success as restored daily function, not pain reduction alone, laying the groundwork for a disease-specific outcome measure.Khilnani NM, et al. Patient-Defined Experience in Venous-Origin Chronic Pelvic Pain: Conceptual Foundation for a Disease-Specific Patient-Reported Outcome Measure. J Vasc Interv Radiol (Impact Factor 3.1). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42863662/ Dialysis access: In 77,544 Vascular Quality Initiative patients, those from the most disadvantaged neighborhoods had higher nine-month mortality after access creation, with modest differences in patency by race and area deprivation.Ranjbar K, et al. Association of Race and Socioeconomic Status with Hemodialysis Arteriovenous Access Outcomes. Ann Vasc Surg (Impact Factor 1.6). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42838482/

  5. Oct 4

    Episode 14: Groin Recurrence Is Mostly the Old Stump

    In this episode: no survival gain from subacute stent grafting in uncomplicated type B dissection, injury burden rather than repair type driving outcomes in carotid trauma, deep vein arterialization as a real option for no-option limbs, histology showing groin varicose recurrence is mostly residual stump rather than neovascularization, and a smartphone AI app that flags dangerous fistula aneurysms. Aortic disease: In nearly 1,400 International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection patients with uncomplicated type B dissection, subacute stent grafting gave similar 4-year survival to medical therapy alone, with more new dissections within a year of the procedure.Gontarz B, et al. Outcomes of TEVAR for uncomplicated subacute type B aortic dissection in the IRAD registry. J Vasc Surg (Impact Factor 3.9). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42805273/ Carotid disease: In 3,339 carotid injuries in a US national trauma database, neither endovascular versus open repair nor injury mechanism independently predicted stroke or death; overall injury burden did.Haqqani MH, et al. Outcomes Following Endovascular Versus Open Management of Carotid Artery Injuries in the National Trauma Data Bank. Ann Vasc Surg (Impact Factor 1.6). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42790697/ Peripheral arterial disease: In a Dutch registry of no-option chronic limb-threatening ischemia, percutaneous deep vein arterialization achieved about 80% limb salvage at one year, but with frequent reinterventions.Stolk DJ, et al. One year outcomes of Percutaneous Deep Vein Arterialization in the Dutch LimFlow Registry. J Vasc Surg (Impact Factor 3.9). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42810697/ Venous disease: Of 203 specimens from redo saphenofemoral surgery, 97% were residual stump tissue and only 3% true neovascularization; duplex and intraoperative impression could not reliably tell them apart.Falkenstein T, et al. Histological Differentiation of Neovascularisation and Residual Veins in Groin Recurrence. Ann Vasc Surg (Impact Factor 1.6). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42829182/ Dialysis access: A cloud-based AI app classifying smartphone photos of fistula aneurysms detected nearly all advanced aneurysms identified by masked access specialists; validation is still needed.Dong Z, et al. Cloud-Based AI Application for Classifying Arteriovenous Hemodialysis Vascular Access Aneurysms: Findings from a Masked Multicenter Derivation Cohort Study. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol (Impact Factor 7.0). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42821327/ All studies retrieved via PubMed. Educational content only. Not medical advice. Consult your own clinical judgment and institutional protocols for any individual patient.

  6. Sep 25

    Episode 13: Paclitaxel Falls Short in Tissue Loss

    In this episode: active smoking doesn't raise early risk after complex aortic stent graft repair, a "sweet spot" for timing symptomatic carotid procedures, drug-coated devices fail to save more limbs in patients with wounds or gangrene, clearing chronic venous obstruction helps stubborn post-thrombotic ulcers heal, and catheters carry a mortality penalty even in the oldest dialysis patients. Aortic disease: In nearly 700 elective fenestrated-branched repairs for complex aneurysms, active smokers had no higher 30-day mortality or major complications than former or never smokers, so cessation should be pushed but repair not delayed on smoking alone.Rodrigues DVS, et al. Impact of Active Smoking in Peri-operative Outcomes of Patients Undergoing FB-EVAR for Thoracoabdominal and Complex Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms. J Endovasc Ther (Impact Factor 1.5). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42773082/ Carotid disease: In 821 procedures for symptomatic carotid disease, revascularization at days 3-14 gave the best early and long-term results, while treatment within 48 hours carried higher perioperative risk and delays beyond 14 days more reinterventions.Sanchez-Calderin D, et al. Early Revascularization in Symptomatic Carotid Artery Disease Leads to Better Outcomes: A Ten-Year Multi-Center Cohort Analysis. J Vasc Surg (Impact Factor 3.9). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42767435/ Peripheral arterial disease: In 1,761 SWEDEPAD-1 patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia and tissue loss, paclitaxel-coated devices did not improve limb salvage, showed more early amputations, and their one-year reintervention benefit faded once limb loss was counted.Sellgren F, et al. Paclitaxel-Coated Devices in Patients With Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia and Tissue Loss Undergoing Infrainguinal Endovascular Revascularization: Insights From the SWEDEPAD-1 Trial. Circ Cardiovasc Interv (Impact Factor 7.2). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42779544/ Venous disease: In a small multicenter series of long-standing post-thrombotic venous ulcers, mechanical thrombectomy with venoplasty or stenting as needed left all wounds healed or healing at short follow-up; no control group.Mouawad NJ, et al. Mechanical Thrombectomy for Post-Thrombotic Venous Obstruction is Associated with Venous Wound Healing. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord (Impact Factor 3.1). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42762889/ Dialysis access: In a Korean nationwide cohort of nearly 80,000 hemodialysis patients, permanent catheters were linked to roughly threefold higher mortality than fistulas, a gap that persisted in octogenarians and nonagenarians.Park JU, et al. Mortality risk associated with permanent central venous catheter use in the oldest-old population: a nationwide cohort study. Korean J Intern Med (Impact Factor 2.2). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42754529/ All studies retrieved via PubMed. Educational content only. Not medical advice. Consult your own clinical judgment and institutional protocols for any individual patient.

  7. Sep 18

    Episode 12: CREST-2's Verdict on Cognition

    In this episode: a major randomized trial finds that fixing a symptom-free narrowed carotid artery doesn't sharpen memory, a large registry study finds no single winner among three ways to preserve arm blood flow during complex chest aortic repair, a cost model favors simpler over fancier exercise programs for claudication, catheter-based clot removal proves feasible in the sickest pulmonary embolism patients, and a review makes the case for the leg as a real dialysis-access option once the arm is exhausted. Aortic disease: A multicenter registry study of left subclavian artery revascularization during zone 2 thoracic endovascular aortic repair found similar mortality, stroke, and spinal cord injury across carotid-subclavian bypass, branched, and fenestrated approaches, though bypass involved more blood loss, longer procedures, and lower technical success than the fully endovascular options.Baghbani A, et al. Comparative outcomes of open and endovascular left subclavian artery revascularization during zone 2 thoracic endovascular aortic repair. J Vasc Surg (Impact Factor 3.9). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42754184/ Carotid disease: Prespecified cognitive testing from the CREST-2 randomized trials found no meaningful difference in cognitive function at four years between patients who underwent carotid stenting or endarterectomy plus intensive medical management and those managed with medication alone for asymptomatic severe stenosis.Lazar RM, et al. Revascularization of Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis: Cognitive Results of the CREST-2 Randomized Trials. JAMA (Impact Factor 65.4). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42747844/ Peripheral arterial disease: An economic evaluation built on the MAXIMISE trial found supervised exercise programs for intermittent claudication were cost-effective compared with unsupervised exercise, with the strongest evidence favoring a simpler, shorter walking protocol over more intensive cycling regimens.Chivardi C, et al. Cost Effectiveness of Supervised Exercise Programmes for Intermittent Claudication: An Economic Evaluation Based on the MAXIMISE Study. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg (Impact Factor 6.8). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42753907/ Venous disease: A single-center Danish case series found large-bore mechanical thrombectomy for intermediate-high and high-risk pulmonary embolism was technically successful and improved right heart function, including in patients who had already suffered cardiac arrest or could not safely receive clot-dissolving medication.Dragsbaek SJ, et al. Large-bore mechanical thrombectomy in intermediate-high and high-risk pulmonary embolism: a retrospective single-centre case series. Scand Cardiovasc J (Impact Factor 1.4). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42720249/ Dialysis access: A systematic review and meta-analysis of lower-extremity hemodialysis access found it a viable salvage option once upper-extremity access is exhausted, with autogenous fistulas outperforming synthetic grafts for durability and infection risk.Alanezi N, Alofisan Y. Outcomes of Lower-Extremity Hemodialysis Vascular Access: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Vasc Surg (Impact Factor 3.9). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42754185/ All studies retrieved via PubMed. Educational content only. Not medical advice. Consult your own clinical judgment and institutional protocols for any individual patient.

  8. Sep 15

    Episode 11: Air Pollution's Toll on the Aorta

    In this episode: short-term air pollution spikes are linked to a higher risk of acute aortic dissection, a large database finds no clear winner between two carotid stenting techniques for asymptomatic disease, minimally invasive treatment matches open bypass long-term for claudication, skipping clot-busting drugs before delayed rib resection works well for Paget-Schroetter syndrome, and a stent graft's success at one narrowed spot doesn't protect a dialysis graft's whole circuit. Aortic disease: A case-crossover study using each patient as their own control found short-term spikes in fine-particle air pollution, especially soot from combustion, were linked to a meaningfully higher risk of type A aortic dissection in the following day or two.Lei M, et al. Associations of Fine Particulate Matter Components With Acute Aortic Dissection: A Time-Stratified Case-Crossover Study. J Am Heart Assoc (Impact Factor 6.0). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42714430/ Carotid disease: A national database study matching patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis found no significant difference in four-year stroke risk between neck-based transcarotid stenting and traditional groin-based stenting, with the authors cautioning a numerical trend likely reflects patient selection rather than true benefit.Chen H, et al. Transcarotid Artery Revascularization Versus Carotid Artery Stenting for Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis. Stroke (Impact Factor 7.9). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42734077/ Peripheral arterial disease: A Medicare-linked registry study of claudication patients found a less invasive endovascular approach had more early limb events than open bypass at one year, but the two converged by three and five years for limb events, progression, and survival.Bellomo TR, et al. Patterns of Index Endovascular Compared With Surgical Revascularization for Femoropopliteal Disease in Patients With Claudication Using Medicare-linked Data. Ann Surg (Impact Factor 7.4). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42733139/ Venous disease: A single-center series found that skipping clot-busting medication and using anticoagulation alone before delayed first rib resection for Paget-Schroetter syndrome achieved complete vein clearance in most patients and durable symptom relief at midterm follow-up.Alkhani M, et al. Midterm Outcomes after Delayed First Rib Resection for Acute Axillosubclavian Deep Vein Thrombosis in Paget-Schroetter Syndrome. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord (Impact Factor 3.1). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42732805/ Dialysis access: A multicenter Japanese study of covered stents for dialysis graft outflow narrowing found the treated segment held up well, but the access circuit still failed early and often because new problems shifted to the untreated graft body itself.Suemitsu K, Murakami M, Miyamoto M. Two-Year Patency and Reintervention Patterns of Stent Graft Placement for Arteriovenous Graft Outflow Stenosis From a Prospective Multicenter Study. J Endovasc Ther (Impact Factor 1.5). 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42723439/ All studies retrieved via PubMed. Educational content only. Not medical advice. Consult your own clinical judgment and institutional protocols for any individual patient.

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Current Vascular Roadmap is a daily briefing on new vascular surgery and venous disease literature, curated from PubMed, distilled into practice, relevant takeaways, and delivered in under 30 minutes. Built for vascular surgeons and the clinicians who work alongside them. Educational content for healthcare professionals; not medical advice.

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