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Carotid endarterectomy. The unreliability of intraoperative monitoring in patients having had stroke or reversible ischemic neurologic deficit.

We reviewed 125 patients who had had stroke or reversible ischemic neurologic deficits (RIND) and who underwent carotid endarterectomy, with follow-up extending to six years. Phase I patients (n = 36) had endarterectomy and shunt placement at operation by surgeons' preference. The rate of postoperative neurologic deficit was 8%. Phase II patients (n = 36) had endarterectomy monitored by EEG and stump pressures. Postoperative deficits occurred in 9%. The EEGs and stump pressures in these patients were "normal"; therefore, no shunt was used. Phase III patients (n = 41) had endarterectomy again monitored by EEG and stump pressure. Despite normal EEGs or stump by EEG and stump pressure. Despite normal EEGs or stump pressure, all patients underwent endarterectomy with a temporary indwelling shunt. No complications occurred. In 368 patients operated on for transient ischemic attacks alone, the operative stroke rate was 1.6%. Stump pressure and EEG are unreliable indicators of cerebral perfusion during carotid endarterectomy in patients who have suffered stroke or RIND. Use of a temporary shunt is indicated in all of these patients.

Adult↗

Closed endarterectomy. Preferred operation for aortoiliac occlusive disease.

Closed endarterectomy using the LeVeen plaque cracker was performed on isolated, clamped segments of the unopened aorta, iliac, and femoral arteries. The results of this type of endarterectomy have been analyzed for 111 patients who were followed up from 2 1/2 to nine years. The five-year patency rate was 99%. After nine years, 96.5% of the vessels that underwent surgery remained functionally and radiographically patent. Closed endarterectomy is a substantial improvement over conventional open or half-closed endarterectomy. The closed endarterectomy takes less time, entails little or no blood loss, and is accomplished through a retroperitoneal approach. The aortofemoral bypass graft is inferior to the closed endarterectomy in morbidity, mortality, patency, and alleviation of impotence. Late complications with bypass grafts, using synthetic material, are more numerous and life-threatening.

Adult↗

Initial trial of argon ion laser endarterectomy for peripheral vascular disease.

In the initial of open laser endarterectomy, 16 patients underwent 18 reconstructions for claudication (13 patients), rest pain (3 patients), and gangrene (2 patients). The mean (+/- SD) preoperative ankle arm index was 0.53 +/- 0.18. The laser endarterectomies were aorto-bi-iliac (1 patient), iliac (1 patient), superficial femoral (7 patients), profunda femoral (7 patients), and popliteal-posterior tibial (2 patients). All operations included surgical exposure, vascular control, administration of heparin, and an arteriotomy. Atheromas were dissected from arteries with argon ion laser radiation (power, 1.0 W). End points were welded with laser light. Arteries were closed primarily. The laser endarterectomies were 6 to 60 cm long and required 168 J to 2447.5 J. All patients had symptomatic relief, with a postoperative ankle arm index of 0.97 +/- 0.10. There were no arterial perforations from laser radiation. Surgical complications included early thrombosis requiring thrombectomy (3 patients) and hematoma requiring evacuation (1 patient). The laser endarterectomies have an 88% patency at 1 year. Open endarterectomy can be performed with laser radiation. A larger clinical trial is necessary to define the indications for laser endarterectomy in peripheral vascular disease.

Adult↗

Carotid endarterectomy in Great Britain and Ireland.

A survey of the practice of carotid surgery by 245 vascular and neurological surgeons in Great Britain and Ireland was conducted with a 96 per cent response. Ninety-six surgeons (41 per cent) performed at least one carotid endarterectomy in 1984 and a total of 1374 such operations were carried out in that year. The indications for carotid endarterectomy in order of frequency were transient ischaemic attack, minor stroke and stroke. Operation was hardly ever undertaken for asymptomatic carotid bruit. Eighty-six per cent of surgeons who performed carotid endarterectomy generally assessed patients in the first instance using techniques less invasive than conventional angiography, principally Doppler ultrasonography or digital subtraction angiography. Nevertheless, conventional angiograms were usually performed before surgery by 89 per cent of surgeons. Almost all surgeons operated only under general anaesthesia, while opinion on the use of an intraluminal shunt during carotid endarterectomy was divided. Despite an increase in the number of carotid endarterectomies in recent years, this operation is currently performed nineteen times less frequently in Great Britain and Ireland than in the USA. The reasons for this are explored and certain controversies surrounding carotid endarterectomy are discussed.

Carotid Arteries↗

The effect of carotid endarterectomy on mental functioning.

In order to ascertain the effect of carotid endarterectomy on mental functioning, carotid endarterectomy patients suffering from transient ischemic attacks (TIA) were compared preoperatively and postoperatively with cholecystectomy patients. Preoperatively, a tendency toward poorer verbal memory and greater well-being is found in carotid endarterectomy patients. Postoperatively, the overall mental functioning of the carotid endarterectomy patients is not significantly improved, though verbal fluency does show improvement. The well-being of both groups is significantly greater following operation. The complaints of the carotid endarterectomy patients during the (last) TIA had already diminished before operation and after operation remained practically on the same level. Preoperatively and postoperatively, no clear connection exists between mental functioning and age of patients in this experiment, not between mental functioning and the side of the operation. Finally, in the case of 5 patients, no long-term (4.5 months) effect of carotid endarterectomy could be indicated.

Aged↗

Combined semiclosed iliac endarterectomy and distal arterial reconstruction for multilevel arterial disease.

Semiclosed iliac endarterectomy in combination with an infrainguinal vascular reconstruction has been used over the past decade in the treatment of lower-limb ischaemia. Although the early results of this combination of operations were known, the durability of the external iliac endarterectomy had not been assessed and so an effort was made to review all surviving patients by duplex scanning. Between 1985 and 1993, 48 patients (51 limbs) underwent combined semiclosed iliac endarterectomy and infrainguinal vascular reconstruction for iliac and femoropopliteal occlusive disease. Some 49% of operations were performed for limb salvage. An iliofemoral bypass graft was required twice because of failure of the endarterectomy. A variety of distal arterial reconstructions was employed. One patient required a major amputation and there were two deaths. Mean (s.d.) ankle/brachial indices (ABI) rose from 0.54 (0.14) to 0.85 (0.25) after surgery. Some 85% of the patients who underwent operation for claudication became symptom free; 83% of patients who underwent operation for limb-threatening ischaemia became symptom free or improved to mild claudication during an average of 29 months follow-up. During the follow-up period five patients underwent a further procedure because of restenoses of the external iliac artery. A duplex scanning study was performed in 22 of the 51 limbs an average of 36 months after surgery. External iliac artery stenotic lesions were found in the area of the endarterectomy in three patients. Endarterectomy of the external iliac artery from the groin is an alternative for some patients with iliac arterial disease. In a patient scheduled for an infrainguinal bypass, when an unexpectedly greater degree of athermoma is found at operation in the common femoral and external iliac arteries, this operation may be performed. The durability of the operation as assessed by follow-up duplex scan is quite acceptable.

Aged↗

Adjunct brachytherapy: a new concept to prevent intimal hyperplasia after surgical endarterectomy?

OBJECTIVE: Endarterectomy represents a therapeutical option for patients with advanced coronary artery disease. The mid-term results are compromised by restenosis due to neointima formation. The aim of this study was to evaluate a new treatment concept - endarterectomy with consecutive gamma-irradiation - in a rat model. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent left carotid endarterectomy with removal of intima: control (n=10) or were irradiated with 15 Gray (Gy) (n=13) or 20 Gy (n=10) postoperatively and compared with sham-operated rats (n=10). After 3 weeks, carotid arteries were perfusion-fixed and vessel compartment areas were measured. Transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemical staining were used to confirm neointima formation. RESULTS: Three weeks after endarterectomy, neointimal hyperplasia was found in the control group (0.07+/-0.04 mm(2)). After irradiation, a dose-dependent reduction of neointima was observed (0.003 mm(2) at 15 Gy and 0.0007 mm(2) at 20 Gy, P<0.0001). However, immunohistochemical staining revealed that thin re-endothelialization after irradiation was not inhibited. CONCLUSIONS: Gamma-irradiation significantly suppressed neointimal hyperplasia in a rat model of surgical endarterectomy. Despite inhibition of intimal hyperplasia, re-endothelialization after adjuvant brachytherapy was present. Adjuvant brachytherapy may be therefore a new concept to prevent restenosis after endarterectomy in patients.

Animals↗

Reverse right ventricular remodeling after pulmonary endarterectomy in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: utility of magnetic resonance imaging to demonstrate restoration of the right ventricle.

OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary arterial hypertension causes right ventricular remodeling; that is, right ventricular dilatation, hypertrophy, and leftward ventricular septal bowing. We studied the effect of pulmonary endarterectomy on the restoration of right ventricular remodeling in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension by magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS: In 17 patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, before and at least 4 months after pulmonary endarterectomy, and in 12 healthy controls, right ventricular and left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (milliliters) and mass (grams per meter squared) and leftward ventricular septal bowing (1 divided by the radius of curvature in centimeters) were determined by magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Before pulmonary endarterectomy, right ventricular volumes, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, right ventricular mass, and leftward ventricular septal bowing differed significantly between patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and healthy control subjects. After pulmonary endarterectomy, pulmonary hemodynamics improved, and right and left ventricular volumes and leftward ventricular septal bowing normalized; right ventricular mass decreased significantly (46 +/- 14 to 31 +/- 9 g x m(-2), P< .0005), but did not completely normalize. The change in total pulmonary resistance correlated with the change in right ventricular ejection fraction (r = 0.50, P < .05), right ventricular mass (r = 0.63, P < .01), and leftward ventricular septal bowing (r = 0.50, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Right ventricular remodeling was observed in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and restored almost completely after a hemodynamically successful pulmonary endarterectomy. Magnetic resonance imaging is a valuable tool to evaluate cardiac remodeling and function in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, both before and after pulmonary endarterectomy.

Adult↗

Activation of the peroxynitrite-poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase pathway during neointima proliferation: a new target to prevent restenosis after endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: In a rat model of endarterectomy, we investigated the potential role of the peroxynitrite-poly(adenosine diphosphate[ADP]-ribose) polymerase (PARP) pathway in neointima formation and the effect of pharmacologic inhibition of PARP on vascular remodeling. METHODS: Carotid endarterectomy was performed in male Sprague-Dawley rats by incision of the left carotid artery with removal of intima. Three groups were studied: sham-operated rats (n = 10), control rats with endarterectomy (n = 10) or rats with endarterectomy treated with the PARP inhibitor, INO-1001 (5 mg/kg daily) postoperatively (n =10). After 21 days, neointima formation and vascular remodeling were assessed. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated activation of the peroxynitrite-PARP pathway with significant staining for nitrotyrosine, poly(ADP-ribose), and nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) in the neointima of the control group. Treatment with INO-1001 significantly reduced the neointima area (0.024 mm2 +/- 0.019 mm2 vs 0.089 mm2 +/- 0.033 mm2 in the control group), the neointima/media thickness ratio (0.81 +/- 0.05 vs 2.76 +/- 1.57 in the control group), and the inflammation score (0.1 +/- 0.07 vs 0.3 +/- 0.12 in the control group) after endarterectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacologic inhibition of PARP with INO-1001 may be a new concept to prevent neointimal hyperplasia after endarterectomy.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗

Safety and efficacy of one stage off-pump coronary artery operation and carotid endarterectomy.

BACKGROUND: Patients with concomitant occlusive disease of coronary and carotid arteries remain at high risk of perioperative stroke and myocardial infarction. Combined coronary artery bypass grafting on cardiopulmonary bypass and carotid endarterectomy has been shown to give good results for this category of patients. In the present study, we analyzed our results of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and carotid endarterectomy as a one-stage procedure. METHODS: Between January 1997 and December 2000, 82 patients underwent combined off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and carotid endarterectomy. All patients were evaluated by preoperative carotid duplex scanning and carotid angiography. All patients had more than or equal to 70% carotid artery stenosis. There were 35 asymptomatic patients (42.7%) and 47 symptomatic patients (57.3%). Carotid endarterectomy was performed before coronary artery bypass grafting in all the patients. RESULTS: There were 66 males (80.5%) and 16 females (19.5%) with a mean age of 63+/-8 years. The average number of grafts was 3.4+/-0.8. There was no hospital mortality. One patient had perioperative myocardial infarction. None of the patients had stroke. One patient had transient neurologic deficit and 1 patient had temporary 12th nerve dysfunction; both recovered completely. There was no incidence of neck wound infection, although 1 patient developed neck hematoma that required reexploration. At a mean follow-up of 2.2+/-0.7 years, 1 patient required contralateral carotid endarterectomy and 1 patient died because of cardiac failure. CONCLUSIONS: Combined off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and carotid endarterectomy is a safe and effective procedure in patients with significant concomitant carotid and coronary artery disease.

Aged↗

Coronary endarterectomy with off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to review our experience in coronary artery endarterectomy performed without cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: Between May 1998 and June 2000 off-pump coronary endarterectomy was performed on 11 patients who had unstable angina pectoris. The mean ejection fraction (EF) was 26.3 +/- 4.4, and all of the patients were New York Heart Association (NYHA) III or IV. Off-pump open left anterior descending (LAD) endarterectomy was performed on 7 patients, and closed endarterectomy of the right coronary artery (RCA) was done on the remaining 4. RESULTS: There were no deaths. None of the procedures was converted to on-pump operation; all the endarterectomies and bypasses were performed on the beating heart. All patients were completely revascularized, the left internal mammary artery was bypassed to the LAD in all operations, and all other grafts were of saphenous vein. At the end of the first year all bypasses to the endarterectomized arteries were patent. The overall patency rate was 95.6%. The mean postoperative EF was 34.7 +/- 9.1, which was significantly higher than the preoperative one (p < 0.05). At the end of the first year 9 patients were NYHA I or II and all were angina free in Canadian Cardiovascular Society class 0 or I. CONCLUSIONS: Endarterectomy without cardiopulmonary bypass can be performed in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction who are expected to benefit from the complete revascularization.

Aged↗

Manual coronary endarterectomy with saphenous bypass: experience with 263 patients.

From January, 1972, until August, 1980, 271 manual coronary endarterectomies with bypass were performed in 263 patients. All patients underwent additional cardiac procedures simultaneously. The group contained 254 distal right and 17 left endarterectomies (including 8 double endarterectomies). Clinical follow-up was 100%, operative mortality was 2.3% (6 out of 263), and the rate of perioperative infarction was 4.9% (13 out of 263). Cineangiography was performed on 72 patients between 1 and 60 months after operation (mean, 15.4 months). Patency was 85% (61 out of 72). Endarterectomy in a dominant right coronary artery could be planned electively. Left coronary endarterectomy was performed only when diffuse disease prevented standard bypass. Coronary endarterectomy may be used to extend operability with excellent clinical results, low perioperative mortality, and high late patency. Careful attention to technical aspects of core removal and myocardial protection are necessary for consistent results.

Adult↗

Evaluation of carotid endarterectomy with sequential MR perfusion imaging: a preliminary 12-month follow up.

AIM: The clinical benefit of carotid endarterectomy is partially determined by peri-operative mortality and morbidity. Post-operative abnormalities in cerebral perfusion may be a risk factor for cerebral haemorrhage, and may be estimated from Bolus Arrival Time (BAT) as demonstrated by MR perfusion imaging. We aimed to use MR perfusion imaging to determine the temporal extent of these changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single slice gradient recalled echo sequence was employed in five patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy. Sequential studies were undertaken pre-operatively, 3-5 days post carotid endarterectomy, and additionally at 3, 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: Asymmetric BATs were demonstrated in 3/5 patients, changes occurring as late as 6 to 12 months after carotid endarterectomy. These changes were not associated with either clinical or conventional MR morphological complications. CONCLUSIONS: MR perfusion imaging is able to demonstrate changes in BAT characteristics for up to 12 months after carotid endarterectomy. The clinical significance and underlying cause of these changes, including any association with post carotid endarterectomy hyperaemia, remains unknown.

Aged↗

Intimal hyperplasia following carotid endarterectomy in an insulin-resistant rat model.

Hyperhomocysteinemia, a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, results in an elevation of intimal hyperplasia (IH) following a carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in a rat model. An exaggerated IH response following CEA has been observed in rats with dietary induced hyperhomocysteinemia. Type 2 diabetics often present with hyperhomocysteinemia and are at higher risk for developing vascular blockage following surgical procedures. To determine if insulin resistance increases IH risks following endarterectomy, the 3 goals of this study were: (1) to establish plasma homocysteine concentrations in dietary induced insulin-resistant rats and their controls, (2) to investigate whether a positive correlation of IH and plasma homocysteine response occurs following CEA in the insulin-resistant rat model, and (3) if so, to attempt to decrease IH by supplementation with folic acid, a known enzymatic cofactor in the homocysteine metabolic pathway. To achieve these aims, male rats (275 to 300 g) were fed 1 of 4 diets for a 4-month period: (1) high-fat sucrose (HFS), (2) low-fat complex carbohydrate (LFCC), (3) HFS + 25 mg/kg folic acid (HFS+F), or (4) LFCC + 25 mg/kg folic acid (LFCC+F). At the end of the 4-month period the rats underwent an open (non-balloon) unilateral CEA. Two weeks post-endarterectomy, blood, liver and carotid tissue were removed to measure plasma insulin, folic acid, and homocysteine, 2 key enzymes of homocysteine metabolism-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS)-and percent lumenal stenosis (IH%). Computer-assisted morphometric analysis was used to measure the percentage of IH in the carotid artery. Plasma homocysteine was significantly higher in the HFS group when compared with the LFCC group (11.3+/-1.3 micromol/L v 7.4+/-0.6 mircomol/L, P=.008) as was post-endarterectomy IH producing lumenal stenosis (30.7%+/-4.2% v 14.0%+/-4.3%, P=.008). Plasma insulin in the HFS group was higher than the LFCC (control) group and was significant (36.3+/-3.0 microU/mL v 21.1+/-0.8 microU/mL, P=.0004). Folic acid supplementation in the HFS group resulted in reductions of plasma homocysteine (HFS v HFS+F, 11.3+/-1.3 micromol/L v 7.95+/-1.0 micromol/L, P=.02) and post-endarterectomy IH (HFS v HFS+F, 30.7%+/-4.2 % v 10.4%+/-1.6%, P=.0001). The control or LFCC group was not statistically different from the HFS+F group in homocysteine or IH. Folate supplementation did not decrease insulin concentrations in the HFS+F group compared to the LFCC group. We conclude that the HFS diet produced an insulin-resistant state with an elevated plasma homocysteine and an exaggerated IH response following carotid endarterectomy in this rat model. Dietary folate supplementation reduced plasma homocysteine concentrations in the HFS diet, which implicates hyperhomocysteinemia as an etiologic factor in the development of post-CEA IH in this insulin-resistant rat model.

Animals↗

Prediction of benefit from carotid endarterectomy in individual patients: a risk-modelling study. European Carotid Surgery Trialists' Collaborative Group.

BACKGROUND: Carotid endarterectomy lowers the risk of carotid territory ipsilateral ischaemic stroke, and is the treatment of choice, in patients with recently symptomatic 70-99% carotid stenosis. However, the 3-year risk of stroke on medical treatment alone is only about 20%. We investigated whether the efficacy of endarterectomy would be improved if patients with a high risk of stroke on medical treatment and a low risk of operative stroke or death could be identified. METHODS: We developed two prognostic models from data on patients with 0-69% carotid stenosis in the European Carotid Surgery Trial (ECST). The medical model predicted risk of ipsilateral carotid territory major ischaemic stroke (fatal or lasting longer than 7 days) on medical treatment and the surgical model predicted risk of major stroke and death within 30 days of endarterectomy. From these models we developed a prognostic score to identify patients with a high risk of stroke on medical treatment but a low operative risk. We validated the models and tested the scoring system on 990 ECST patients with 70-99% carotid stenosis assigned surgery (594) or medical treatment only (396). FINDINGS: When patients with 70-99% stenosis were stratified by the scoring system, which was based on seven independent prognostic factors, endarterectomy was beneficial in only 162 (16%) patients. The 5-year absolute risk of carotid territory ipsilateral major ischaemic stroke, operative major stroke, or death was lowered by 33% in the 16% of patients with a score of 4 or more (odds ratio 0.12 [95% CI 0.05-0.29], p<0.0001), but not in the other 828 (84%) patients (1.00 [0.65-1.54], p=0.7). INTERPRETATION: Many patients with recently symptomatic 70-99% carotid stenosis may not benefit from carotid endarterectomy. Validation of the predictive score is needed on external datasets, but risk-factor modelling could be useful to identify those patients in whom endarterectomy will be beneficial.

Actuarial Analysis↗

The effects of carotid endarterectomy on the retrobulbar circulation of patients with severe occlusive carotid artery disease. An investigation by color Doppler imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of carotid endarterectomy on the retrobulbar circulation of patients with severe occlusive carotid artery disease (OCAD) by means of color Doppler imaging (CDI). DESIGN: Prospective. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 17 consecutive patients with severe OCAD and neurologic symptoms (with a history of transitory ischemic attack or cerebral vascular accident) participated. INTERVENTION: All 17 patients underwent carotid endarterectomy. The CDI of both orbits was performed by one masked investigator before surgery and at 1 week and 1 month after surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, and resistive index of the ophthalmic, central retinal, and temporal short posterior ciliary arteries were measured. The authors compared the hemodynamic parameters at all intervals. RESULTS: Peak systolic and end diastolic velocities in the ophthalmic, central retinal, and temporal short posterior ciliary arteries increased significantly 1 week and 1 month after carotid endarterectomy (P < 0.05). After surgery, the resistive indices in the central retinal and temporal short posterior ciliary arteries decreased significantly at both intervals (P < 0.05). The six patients who had reversed ophthalmic artery flow before surgery showed forward ophthalmic artery flow after carotid endarterectomy. The contralateral orbits showed no significant hemodynamic change after endarterectomy (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Hemodynamic changes in patients with severe OCAD undergoing carotid endarterectomy suggest improvement in the ipsilateral retrobulbar blood flow.

Aged↗

Redistribution of blood flow after carotid endarterectomy.

PURPOSE: We wanted to characterize the immediate effect of endarterectomy on flow of the arteries composing the extracranial carotid artery system. METHODS: Transit time ultrasound probes were used to measure flow through the carotid bifurcation in 48 patients undergoing endarterectomy. Maximum single-diameter stenosis affecting the internal carotid artery (ICA) was determined by angiography. The significance of differences between means were determined by t tests and analysis of variance; linear and nonparametric correlation analyses were also applied to analyze the relation between stenosis and several flow-derived parameters. RESULTS: Common carotid artery flow significantly increased (p = 0.0043) from a mean value of 264 +/- 99 ml/min to 314 +/- 98 ml/min, corresponding to an average percent increase of 34.3% +/- 71.3%. ICA flow increased from 128 +/- 69 ml/min to 173 +/- 66 ml/min (p < 0.0001), with an average percent increase of 74.9% +/- 114.9%. External carotid artery (ECA) flow decreased from 129 +/- 61 ml/min to 106 +/- 49 ml/min (p = 0.0098), representing an average percent decrease of -5.2% +/- 48.2%. The difference between ECA and ICA mean flow changes is highly significant (p < 0.001). The percent change in ECA flow did not correlate with preoperative stenosis. We noted, however, a positive correlation between stenosis and the ECA/ICA flow ratio before endarterectomy (Spearman r = 0.31, p = 0.032), indicating that more severe stenosis led to a greater distribution of blood into the ECA. The ECA/ICA flow ratio fell from an initial value (ECFbef/ICFbef) of 1.52 +/- 1.74 before endarterectomy to 0.69 +/- 0.37 (ECFaft/ICFaft) after endarterectomy (p = 0.0006). CONCLUSIONS: The data are consistent, with the ECA being an important collateral path for cerebral perfusion when ICA stenosis exists. When endarterectomy relieves bifurcation stenosis, common carotid artery blood flow is redistributed preferentially to the ICA at the expense of ECA flow, consistent with a change in the relative resistances of the two vessels resulting from operative reconstruction.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

Carotid artery shortening: a safe adjunct to carotid endarterectomy.

PURPOSE: Kinks and coils of the extracranial carotid artery system have been described in conjunction with atherosclerotic disease of the internal carotid artery. The purpose of this study was to determine whether adding a carotid artery shortening procedure to carotid endarterectomy affected perioperative mortality and stroke-morbidity rates or late restenosis. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all patients who concurrently underwent carotid endarterectomy and ipsilateral carotid artery shortening between 1983 and 1992 was performed. Long-term follow-up was obtained by contacting the primary physician or patient, and carotid artery duplex scans were obtained. RESULTS: One hundred seven patients were found to have undergone concurrent carotid endarterectomy and carotid artery shortening. The age range was 47 to 89 years, with 53 female and 54 male patients. Indications for surgery in this group were transient ischemic attacks in 28%, stroke in 18%, amaurosis fugax in 7%, and high-grade asymptomatic stenosis in 47%. Shortening procedures were performed by use of a variety of techniques at the completion of endarterectomy. The combined 30-day mortality and stroke morbidity rate was 2.7%, with two postoperative deaths and one stroke. In this same period, a total of 1072 carotid endarterectomies were performed, and the combined 30-day mortality and stroke morbidity rate was 4.0%. During late follow-up there were no ipsilateral strokes, recurrent symptoms, or significant restenoses. CONCLUSIONS: This experience suggests that the addition of a shortening procedure to carotid endarterectomy can be performed without increased morbidity and mortality rates and, when deemed appropriate, is a procedure with which the vascular surgeon should be familiar.

Aged↗