Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has been increasingly adopted in the treatment of intact thoracic aorta aneurysms (iTAA), offering a less invasive approach with good effectiveness. Women usually present with smaller aortas, while having greater aneurysm growth rates. How sex can affect mortality and re-interventions after TEVAR for iTAA is the aim of this review. A search was conducted on PubMed databases to identify studies with gender-specific data on outcomes after TEVAR for iTAA. Primary endpoints were 30-day (or in-hospital) and mid-term mortality. Secondary endpoints were 30-day and mid-term secondary interventions. Nine studies were included with a total of 4484 patients (2707 men and 1777 women). Thirty-day mortality ranged from 0% to 6% in female and from 1.1% to 5.3% for male patients. Three studies reported gender-specific mortality one year after TEVAR, ranging from 12% to 15.2% for female and from 8% to 16.8% in male patients. Six studies were found describing gender-related secondary intervention data. Mortality after TEVAR for iTAA seems to be similar between genders. While there was a tendency for higher mortality in women, specially at 30-days, statistically significant differences were reported in only two studies. Re-interventions rates were higher in men in 4 of 6 studies, probably due to increased rates of endoleak in men, but no statically significant difference was found. Further studies with larger female population and longer follow-up are needed to firmly confirm differences among genders.

Background/Objectives: Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of death, especially in the developed world, and is marked by chronic arterial inflammation and lipid accumulation. As key players in its progression, monocytes contribute to plaque formation, inflammation, and tissue repair. Understanding monocyte involvement is crucial for developing better therapeutic approaches. The objective of this study is to assess the prognostic value of monocytes for limb-related outcomes following revascularization for complex aortoiliac lesions, thereby emphasizing the central role of monocytes in atherosclerosis. Methods: This prospective cohort study-enrolled patients who had undergone elective aortoiliac revascularization at two hospitals between January 2013 and December 2023. Patients with TASC II type D lesions were included, excluding those with aneurysmal disease. Demographic, clinical, and procedural data were gathered, and patients were monitored for limb-related outcomes. Preoperative complete blood counts were analyzed, and statistical analyses, including multivariable Cox regression, were conducted to identify predictors of major adverse limb events (MALE). Results: The study included 135 patients with a mean age of 62.4 ± 9.20 years and predominantly male (93%). Patients were followed for a median of 61 IQR [55.4–66.6] months. Smoking history (91%) was the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor. Preoperative monocyte count >0.720 × 10⁹/L was associated with worse 30-day limb-related outcomes (MALE: OR 7.138 95% CI: 1.509–33.764, p = 0.013) and long-term outcomes, including secondary patency (p = 0.03), major amputation (p = 0.04), and MALE (p = 0.039). Cox regression analysis confirmed an elevated monocyte count as an independent predictor of MALE (adjusted hazard ratio 2.149, 95% CI: 1.115–4.144, p = 0.022). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that patients with a higher absolute monocyte count may be more exposed to the risk of MALE in patients with aortoiliac TASC II type D lesions undergoing revascularization, with predictive accuracy in both the short and long term. Additionally, it was an independent predictor of major amputation. This new marker has the potential to serve as a cost-effective and easily available tool for risk stratification, helping identify patients at higher risk of MALE.

Purpose: Cerebrovascular diseases remain a critical focus of medical research due to their substantial impact on global health. Carotid stenosis, often associated with atherosclerosis and advancing age, profoundly affects cerebral blood supply and white matter integrity. This study aims to assess how age -related white matter changes (ARWMC) score, applied to cortex and Basal Ganglia, relates to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Methods: Ninety patients undergoing CEA with regional anesthesia were prospectively enrolled from January 2012 to January 2022, and a post hoc analysis of patients with preoperative cerebral CT scans were reviewed, stratified by ARWMC score. Survival analysis and multivariate Cox regression were employed to assess timedependent variables and independent predictors. Results: A median follow-up of 51 months (Inter -quartile range [IQR [ [38.8 - 63.2] months) revealed higher ARWMC grades in the basal ganglia independently associated with significantly increased stroke risk (HR =5.070, 95 % CI: 1.509 - 17.031, P =0.009), acute heart failure (HR =19.066, 95 % CI: 2.038 - 178.375, P =0.01), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (HR =2.760, 95 % CI: 1.268 - 6.009, P =0.011), and all -cause mortality (HR =2.497, 95 % CI:1.009 - 6.180, P =0.048). Polyvascular disease and chronic kidney disease emerged as additional predictors of MACE. Conclusion: Higher grades of ARWMC score in the basal ganglia were related to a significant increase in the risk of adverse cardiovascular events, such as stroke, MACE, AHF and all -cause mortality. This study suggests that ARWMC may have potential as a possible predictor of long-term cardio- and cerebrovascular events in patients undergoing CEA.

Background: This prospective study aimed to validate the prognostic value of Prevent III (PIII) risk score in patients undergoing aortoiliac revascularization, both in limb-related outcomes and cardiovascular risk. Methods: The prospective cohort study included 130 consecutive patients (122 males, 8 females; mean age: 62.1±9.2 years; range, 53 to 71 years) undergoing elective aortoiliac revascularization between January 2013 and September 2022. Patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics were retrieved and PIII scores were calculated. A risk category was assigned according to the total points: low-risk (score ≤3), medium-risk (score 4-7), or high-risk (score ≥8). Results: The median follow-up period was 55 months (interquartile range, 39 to 70 months). Twenty-four (18.5%) patients had a PIII score ≥4. Regarding short-term outcomes, patients with PIII scores ≥4 exhibited lower ankle-brachial index changes at 30 days and more extended hospital stays. There were no significant associations between PIII scores and major adverse events at 30 days. However, during follow-up, a PIII score ≥4 was associated with increased major adverse limb events (p=0.036) and all-cause mortality (p=0.007). Conclusion: The PIII score is a reliable predictor of long-term limb and mortality risk in patients undergoing aortoiliac revascularization procedures, leveraging five user-friendly clinical parameters. More research with larger cohorts and studies comparing PIII with other validated scores should be performed in the future.