Nussbaum, Sam

Purpose: Supervised walking exercise is a critical component of rehabilitation for patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD); however, various barriers could limit participation in such programs, highlighting the need for accessible exercise strategies that may facilitate a gradual transition to more intensive physical activity while improving vascular function and walking performance in this population. We examined the hypothesis that static muscular stretching would improve microvascular function and walking ability in patients with PAD. Methods: Thirty-six PAD patients, classified as Fontaine Stage II or III, were randomized into stretching or non-stretching groups. The stretching group performed daily calf stretching using an ankle dorsiflexion splint for 30 minutes, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks. The six-minute walk test (6MWT) and a vascular occlusion test were used to assess changes in walking ability and calf microvascular function before and after the intervention. Results: Microvascular hyperemic reperfusion significantly increased in the treatment group (4958±1111 to 5749±1459 %*s, p=0.034), with no change observed in the control group (5502±1231 to 5022±1160 %*s, p=0.155). 6MWT total walking distance increased in all participants (260±88 to 285±85 m, p=0.004). A moderate but non-significant correlation was observed between the changes in 6MWT and total walking distance and reperfusion index in the treatment group (r=0.45, p=0.26). Conclusions: Static muscular stretching improves microvascular perfusion in the calf muscles, which may contribute to improvement in walking ability in patients with PAD. This low-cost and time-saving intervention may serve as a gradual transition to traditional supervised walking exercise rehabilitation, especially in patients with severely impaired walking ability.

Introduction: Peripheral artery disease (PAD), an atherosclerotic disease of the peripheral arteries, also results in microvascular dysfunction. PAD patients are recommended to undergo supervised walking and medical management; however, compliance with supervised walking programs is limited due to inconvenience and pain, necessitating alternative non-pharmacological interventions. We have shown that daily muscle stretching improved microvascular function in aged rats. This prompted us to study the effect of daily muscle stretching on microvascular function of the calf muscles in PAD patients. Methods: A randomized, single-blinded study was conducted on 24 PAD patients. Patients were assigned to either stretching or placebo stretching using a dorsiflexion splint (Image 1) for 30 min/day, 5 days/wk for 4 wks. Calf muscle oxygen saturation (smO 2 ) was recorded using near-infrared spectroscopy during the six-minute walking test (6MWT) before (Visit 1) and after (Visit 2) stretching or placebo stretching. The percentage decrease in smO 2 (from baseline) at minute 1 (Δ1) and minute 2 (Δ2) of the 6MWT was determined. Two-way ANOVA was used to compare Δ1 and Δ2 between the stretching and placebo stretching groups. Results: The mean age of the patients was 74.1±11.4 yrs with 52% (13/23) males. There was no significant difference in the changes in smO 2 during the 6MWT at either minute 1 (Δ1: 44.1±7.3% vs 27.1±7.0%, p=0.12) or minute 2 (Δ2: 78.7±8.2% vs 58.1±7.9%, p=0.08) between the stretching group and placebo stretching group at Visit 1. In contrast, at Visit 2, there was a significantly greater change in smO 2 at minute 2 (D2: 83.1±8.2% vs 51.3±7.9%, p=0.008) in the stretching group compared to the placebo stretching group with a trend towards a statistically greater change in smO 2 at minute 1 (Δ1: 39.0±7.3% vs 20.4±7.0%, p=0.06) (Image 2). Conclusion: Daily stretching of the calf muscles for 4 weeks is associated with increased oxygen extraction by the calf muscles during walking.

Objectives Endovascular aneurysm repair, though minimally invasive and has the benefit of relatively low perioperative complication rates, it is associated with significant long term reintervention rates related to endoleaks. Several variables have been studied to predict the outcomes of endovascular aneurysm repair, 1 of which is the calcium burden of the vasculature. This prompted us to study the association between calcium burden measured by the standardized Agatston scoring system and the outcomes of Endovascular aneurysm repair. Methods This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent Endovascular aneurysm repair from 2008 to 2020 at our institution and who had a non-contrast computerized tomography scan preoperatively, accounting for 87 patients. The calcium burden of the vasculature was measured by the Agatston scoring system allowing for better reproducibility, and the outcome variables included mortality and endoleaks. Results Patients with higher median total calcium scores (≥12966.9) had significantly lesser survival (79.8% vs 52.3% ( P = .002) at five years compared to patients with lower median total calcium score (<12966.9). Also, patients with type 2 endoleaks had higher calcium scores in above the aneurysm level ((1591.2 vs 688.2), P = .05)) compared to patients with no type 2 endoleaks. Conclusion Calcium score assigned using a standardized Agatston scoring system can be used as a predictor of mortality risk assisting in deciding the treatment of choice for patients.