Dr. Rua studies various vascular conditions and their impact on patient health. One significant area of his research is popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES), which primarily affects young athletes and causes leg pain during physical activity. His work helps healthcare providers recognize the different symptoms of PAES to ensure accurate diagnosis and timely treatment. Additionally, he investigates the effects of conditions like chickenpox on children’s health, as well as the effectiveness of advanced treatment options like monoclonal antibodies for migraines. Another critical focus of his research is improving surgical techniques and approaches for treating vascular issues, including abdominal aortic aneurysms and leg bypass surgeries.
Key findings
In a study on popliteal artery entrapment syndrome, Dr. Rua emphasized the diverse clinical presentations of this condition, aiding in quicker and more accurate diagnoses.
His research on childhood chickenpox found that hospitalized children could lose nearly 10 days of healthy life, highlighting the importance of vaccination.
In a seven-year study of transluminal endografting for abdominal aortic aneurysms, 95.4% of procedures were successful with an overall death rate of 2.6%.
In a study of infrapopliteal arterial bypasses, those who had an arteriovenous fistula had a 23% patency rate at two years, compared to 5% for those without.
Dr. Rua's five-step protocol for carotid endarterectomy resulted in a low complication rate of 1.8% and saved an estimated $5,636 per patient.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Rua study popliteal artery entrapment syndrome?
Yes, he researches popliteal artery entrapment syndrome, focusing on its diagnosis and treatment, particularly in young athletes.
What impact does chickenpox have on children's health?
Dr. Rua's research shows that children with mild chickenpox lose about 2 days of healthy life, and hospitalized cases can lose nearly 10 days.
What treatments has Dr. Rua researched related to migraines?
Dr. Rua has worked on creating guidelines for using monoclonal antibodies to treat migraines effectively in Argentina.
Is Dr. Rua's work relevant to patients with vascular surgery needs?
Yes, his studies on procedures like endografting and bypass surgeries help improve treatment outcomes for patients with vascular issues.
How does Dr. Rua's research help improve surgical methods?
His studies lead to safer and more effective surgical techniques, like the five-step protocol for carotid endarterectomy that reduces complications.
Publications in plain English
Prospective study of loss of health-related quality adjusted life years in children and their families due to uncomplicated and hospitalised varicella.
2023
Vaccine
Rodrigues F, Marlow R, Gouveia C, Correia P, Brett A +21 more
Plain English This study looked at how chickenpox (varicella) affects the quality of life for children and their families in Portugal. It found that children with mild chickenpox lost an average of 2 days of healthy life, which equates to about 5.4 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) per 1,000 children. In cases where children were hospitalized, the loss jumped to nearly 10 days per child and 26.8 QALYs per 1,000 children, highlighting the significant impact of severe cases. Understanding these losses is important for guiding vaccination programs, especially in countries that don’t include varicella vaccines in their immunization schedules.
Who this helps: This research helps patients, their families, and public health officials in making informed decisions about chickenpox vaccination.
Differential Diagnosis of Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome in Light of an Atypical Clinical Manifestation.
2023
Cureus
Abou-Ghaida J, Thapaliya D, Rua I
Plain English This study looked at a condition called popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES), which often affects young athletes and causes leg pain, especially during physical activity. The researchers found that symptoms of PAES can be similar to those from other conditions, so it’s important for doctors to consider a range of possible diagnoses. Understanding the different ways PAES can present helps ensure that patients receive the correct treatment more quickly.
Who this helps: This helps young athletes and their doctors diagnose and treat leg pain more effectively.
[Argentinean consensus guidelines on the use of monoclonal antibodies in patients with migraine].
2020
Revista de neurologia
Doctorovich ED, Martín-Bertuzzi F, Goicochea MT, Miranda S, Figuerola ML +13 more
Plain English This study focused on creating guidelines for using monoclonal antibodies to treat migraine in Argentina. Experts in neurology came together to review existing research and their experiences, ultimately creating a set of recommendations on how and when to use these treatments effectively. This matters because it helps ensure that patients in Argentina receive the best possible care for their migraines.
Who this helps: This benefits patients suffering from migraines in Argentina.
Risk stratification and outcomes of transluminal endografting for abdominal aortic aneurysm: 7-year experience and long-term follow-up.
2001
Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR
Becker GJ, Kovacs M, Mathison MN, Katzen BT, Benenati JF +13 more
Plain English This study looked at the outcomes of a procedure called transluminal endografting used to treat patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), categorizing patients by their risk of dying from the procedure. Out of 305 procedures attempted, 291 (95.4%) were successful, with an overall death rate of 2.6% and varying death rates based on risk level: from 0.8% in low-risk patients to 6.5% in high-risk patients. This matters because while transluminal endografting is generally safe and effective, careful patient selection and ongoing monitoring are crucial to prevent serious complications, such as aneurysm rupture.
Who this helps: This helps patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms and their doctors in making informed decisions about treatment options.
Idiopathic pedunculated mural thrombus of the nonaneurysmal infrarenal aorta presenting with popliteal embolization: two cases treated with thrombolytic therapy.
2000
Journal of vascular surgery
Dougherty MJ, Calligaro KD, Rua I, Delaurentis DA
Plain English This study looked at two patients who had a rare type of blood clot in their aorta that caused blockages in other arteries. Both patients were treated successfully with a medication to dissolve the clot. This research is important because it highlights a new approach to managing this unusual condition, which is not widely understood.
Who this helps: This helps doctors who treat patients with similar blood clot issues.
Five-step protocol for carotid endarterectomy in the managed health care era.
1999
Surgery
Syrek JR, Calligaro KD, Dougherty MJ, Doerr KJ, McAfee-Bennett S +3 more
Plain English This study looked at a new five-step approach to a surgery called carotid endarterectomy (CEA), aimed at making it safer and cheaper. Out of 109 patients who followed this protocol, only one experienced a serious complication, resulting in a low combined death and stroke rate of 1.8%. This method saved around $5,636 per patient compared to traditional practices, making it a potentially better option in health care that focuses on reducing costs while maintaining safety.
Who this helps: This benefits patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy and healthcare providers looking to lower costs.
Selective use of duplex ultrasound to replace preoperative arteriography for failing arterial vein grafts.
1998
Journal of vascular surgery
Calligaro KD, Syrek JR, Dougherty MJ, Rua I, McAffee-Bennett S +3 more
Plain English This study looked at whether duplex ultrasound (DU) could replace a more invasive and costly procedure called arteriography for diagnosing problems in arterial bypass grafts made from veins. The results showed that DU was effective in identifying issues in 73 out of 106 grafts, with a 91% accuracy rate in confirming serious blockages, allowing for less risky surgeries in most cases. By using DU, medical providers can reduce patient discomfort and costs while maintaining effective treatment for failing grafts.
Who this helps: Patients undergoing surgery for arterial bypass grafts.
Is balloon angioplasty indicated for "short" stenoses of failing vein grafts?
1998
Annals of vascular surgery
Rua I, Calligaro KD, Dougherty MJ, Raviola CA, Doerr K +2 more
Plain English This study looked at the effectiveness of balloon angioplasty, a procedure to widen narrowed blood vessels, for treating short blockages (less than 2 cm) in failing peripheral vein grafts (PVGs) used for improving blood flow. Researchers treated 19 blockages in 16 patients and found that while the initial results were good, only 39% of the grafts remained open one year later, with 73% requiring no further procedures. The findings suggest that surgery might be a better option for treating these blockages instead of balloon angioplasty.
Who this helps: Patients with failing vein grafts and their doctors.
Do distal arteriovenous fistulae improve patency rates of prosthetic infrapopliteal arterial bypasses?
1998
Annals of vascular surgery
Syrek JR, Calligaro KD, Dougherty MJ, Raviola CA, Rua I +1 more
Plain English This study looked at whether adding a small blood vessel connection (called an arteriovenous fistula) to a type of leg artery bypass surgery improves how long the bypass lasts. Researchers analyzed 43 bypass surgeries and found that at two years, 23% of the bypasses with the fistula were still open compared to only 5% of those without it. These findings could lead to better outcomes for patients needing this type of surgery by improving the longevity of the bypass.
Who this helps: This helps patients undergoing infrapopliteal artery bypass surgery.
Use of arm and lesser saphenous vein compared with prosthetic grafts for infrapopliteal arterial bypass: are they worth the effort?
1997
Journal of vascular surgery
Calligaro KD, Syrek JR, Dougherty MJ, Rua I, Raviola CA +1 more
Plain English This study compared two types of blood vessel grafts—using arm and lesser saphenous veins (ALSVs) versus synthetic prosthetic grafts—for surgeries aimed at improving blood flow in the lower legs. Researchers found that while ALSVs showed a tendency for better blood flow preservation over 2 years (46% for arm veins versus 26% for prosthetic grafts), the surgeries using ALSVs took longer (6.2 hours compared to 4.9 hours for prosthetic grafts). This matters because, despite the longer surgery time and other complications, using ALSVs may ultimately lead to better outcomes for patients who need these bypass surgeries.
Who this helps: Patients requiring lower leg bypass surgery.