-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Selective endarterectomy of external carotid artery (ECA) stenosis has been considered a therapeutic option for patients presenting with symptomatic ipsilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion to correct cerebral hypoperfusion or eliminate a source of emboli. However, data are scarce, and the long-term benefit of ECA revascularization remains unclear. Our objective was to study the operative results and durability of selective ECA endarterectomy in patients presenting with cerebrovascular symptoms in association with nonacute ipsilateral ICA occlusion. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 27 consecutive patients who underwent selective ECA endarterectomy in a single center between 2000 and 2010. All patients presented with neurologic symptoms (<6 months of surgery, 78% repeat events) referable to an ipsilateral occlusion of the ICA and concomitant stenosis of the ECA. We assessed the perioperative clinical outcome <30 days and at midterm follow-up (mean, 31.6 months). Patency was defined as freedom of duplex ultrasound detected ≥50% restenosis. RESULTS: Endarterectomy of the ECA was successful in 26 patients (96.3%) with one ECA found occluded at surgery. No perioperative deaths occurred. In the 30 days after surgery, one patient developed an ipsilateral disabling ischemic stroke (3.7%), and one patient (3.7%) had a myocardial infarction. At follow-up, nine patients had died: one of a fatal ischemic stroke, six of non-vascular-related causes, and two of unknown causes. At 3 years, 83% (standard error, 8%) of patients were free from stroke or death, and 80% (standard error, 8%) of the operated-on arteries were patent. Five patients developed restenosis ≥50% (n = 2, asymptomatic) or occlusion (n = 3, one symptomatic) ≤3 months, and two other patients developed late asymptomatic restenosis. CONCLUSIONS: Selective endarterectomy of the ECA in symptomatic patients with an ipsilateral occlusion of the ICA is a feasible procedure with an acceptable perioperative risk. Most patients remain stroke-free during follow-up and have a low rate of symptomatic restenosis.
Journal of vascular surgery: official publication, the Society for Vascular Surgery [and] International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, North American Chapter 03/2013; · 3.52 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Intraoperative arterial hypotension can lead to severe complications in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy, in particular if cerebral auto-regulation is impaired. Short-acting agents, such as phenylephrine or ephedrine, commonly used to correct intra-operative hypotension, have different hemodynamic effects. Recently, it was reported that, in healthy anesthetized subjects with intact cerebral auto-regulation, frontal lobe cerebral tissue oxygenation declined after phenylephrine bolus administration, while it was preserved after ephedrine use (Br J Anaesth 107:209--217, 2011; Neurocrit Care 12:17--23, 2010). However, the effect of both agents in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy is unknown. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of two routinely used vasopressors (phenylephrine and ephedrine) on the cerebral hemodynamics during carotid endarterectomy.Methods/design: Patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy will be prospectively included and randomized for correction of intraoperative hypotension with either phenylephrine (50 to 100 mug) or ephedrine (5 to 10 mg). If hypotension persists for more than five minutes after treatment, the patient will be classified as a non-responder and escape medication as preferred by the anesthesiologist will be administered. Changes in cerebral hemodynamics will be quantified by changes in transcranial Doppler-derived middle cerebral artery blood velocity and near infra-red spectroscopy-derived frontal lobe cerebral tissue oxygenation, when intra-operative hypotension is treated with phenylephrine or ephedrine in patients who undergo carotid endarterectomy with or without an adequate functioning cerebral auto-regulation.To quantify whether the intra-operative cerebral auto-regulation is impaired or not, a decrease in breathing frequency from the normal 12 breaths per minute to 6 breaths per minute for an episode of three minutes will be performed. DISCUSSION: Phenylephrine and ephedrine are two of the most commonly used short-acting agents to increase blood pressure in clinical anesthesiologic practice. Monitoring of middle cerebral artery blood velocity with transcranial Doppler and frontal lobe cerebral tissue oxygenation with near infra-red spectroscopy are part of the standard of care. Furthermore, there are no reports that the three-minute modification in breathing frequency described in the "intervention"-section is harmful. Therefore, the risks for participating patients are negligible and the burden minimal.Trial registration: Clinical trials.gov: NCT01451294.
Trials 02/2013; 14(1):43. · 2.02 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Because best medical treatment is improving, the risk of stroke in asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (ACAS) may decline. We evaluated the risk of ischemic stroke and stratified it according to stroke subtype in patients with ACAS during long-term follow-up. METHODS: In total, 4319 consecutive patients in the Second Manifestations of Arterial disease study with clinically manifest arterial disease or specific risk factors, but without a history of cerebrovascular disease, were included. Degree of stenosis was evaluated with duplex ultrasound scanning. Strokes during follow-up were classified according to subtype. Cox-proportional hazard-regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between ACAS and future stroke. RESULTS: We identified 293 (6.8%) patients with ACAS 50% to 99%, of whom 193 had 70% to 99% stenosis. In these subgroups, mean follow-up was 6.2 and 6.0 years, respectively. In total, 94 ischemic strokes occurred, of which 8 in ACAS 50% to 99% patients. The any territory annual ischemic stroke risk was 0.4% in 50% to 99% ACAS and 0.5% per year for 70% to 99% ACAS patients. The risk of ischemic stroke was not significantly increased in patients with ACAS 70% to 99% (hazard ratio, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.7-3.5). Patients with ACAS 50% to 99% and ACAS 70% to 99% tended to have nonsignificantly more large vessel disease strokes (hazard ratio, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-4.2 and hazard ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-5.6). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with clinically manifest arterial disease or type 2 diabetes mellitus have a low risk of developing ischemic stroke, irrespective of its subtype and independent of the degree of ACAS stenosis.
Stroke 02/2013; · 5.73 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE: Most studies based on state and nationwide registries evaluating perioperative outcome after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) rely on hospital discharge data only. Therefore, the true 30-day complication risk after carotid revascularization may be underestimated. METHODS: We used the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database 2005-2010 to assess the in-hospital and postdischarge rate of any stroke, death, cardiac event (new Q-wave myocardial infarction or cardiac arrest), and combined stroke/death and combined adverse outcome (S/D/CE) at 30 days following CEA. Multivariable analyses were used to identify predictors for in-hospital and postdischarge events separately, and in particular, those that predict postdischarge events distinctly. RESULTS: A total of 35,916 patients who underwent CEA during 2005-2010 were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database; 59% were male, median age was 72 years, and 44% had a previous neurologic event. Thirty-day stroke rate was 1.6% (n = 591), death rate was 0.8% (n = 272), cardiac event rate was 1.0% (n = 350), stroke or death rate was 2.2% (n = 794), and combined S/D/CE rate was 2.9% (n = 1043); 33% of strokes, 53% of deaths, 32% of cardiac events, 40% of combined stroke/death, and 38% of combined S/D/CE took place after hospital discharge. Patients with a prior stroke or transient ischemic attack had similar proportions of postdischarge events compared with patients without prior symptoms. Independent predictors for postdischarge events, but not for in-hospital events were female sex (stroke [odds ratio (OR), 1.6; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2-2.1] and stroke/death [OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.7]), renal failure (stroke [OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.4-6.2]) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (death [OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.6-3.7], stroke/death [OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.4-2.4], and S/D/CE [OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.4-2.3]). CONCLUSIONS: With 38% of perioperative adverse events after CEA happening posthospitalization, regardless of symptoms status, we need to be alert to the ongoing risks after discharge particularly in women, patients with renal failure, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This emphasizes the need for reporting and comparing 30-day adverse event rates when evaluating outcomes for CEA, or comparing carotid stenting to CEA.
Journal of vascular surgery: official publication, the Society for Vascular Surgery [and] International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, North American Chapter 02/2013; · 3.52 Impact Factor
-
Journal of Endovascular Therapy 02/2013; 20(1):61-3. · 2.86 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with carotid artery stenosis and ocular ischemic events have a much lower risk of future ipsilateral ischemic stroke on medical treatment and lower procedural risks for endarterectomy and stenting than patients with cerebral ischemic events, and are closer in risk to patients with asymptomatic stenosis. The reasons for this difference in prognosis are not fully understood, but may reflect differences in carotid plaque pathology. METHODS: In consecutive patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy for recently symptomatic stenosis (Oxford Plaque Study, Athero-Express Study), we compared carotid plaque histology (using validated semiquantitative scales) in those who had cerebral events within the last 6 months (n=1317) versus those with ocular events only (n=323). RESULTS: Compared with plaques from patients with ocular events only, those from patients with cerebral events had significantly more large lipid core (odds ratio [OR], 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.82; P=0.02), inflammation (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.02-1.72; P=0.04) and overall plaque instability (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.05-1.80; P=0.02), and less fibrous content (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.54-0.92; P=0.01), and calcification (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.54-0.91; P=0.008). The overall number of histological features known to be associated with vulnerable plaque was greater in patients with cerebral events than in those with ocular events (P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Carotid plaques from patients undergoing endarterectomy for previous ocular ischemic events have fewer vulnerable plaque features than those from patients with recent cerebral ischemic events, possibly explaining some of the differences in risk of stroke between these groups.
Stroke 01/2013; · 5.73 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12) promotes atherosclerosis in animal models. MMP-12 is expressed in only a subset of foam-cell macrophages (FCMs) in human plaques. We investigated whether the prevalence of this MMP-12-expressing subpopulation is a prognostic indicator of adverse outcome in patients after carotid endarterectomy (CEA).
Serial sections of culprit lesions from 236 patients who underwent CEA and had undergone 3 years of clinical follow-up were stained immunocytochemically for MMP-12 and for CD68, and the MMP-12/CD68 ratio was used to quantify the MMP-12-expressing subpopulation. A high MMP-12/CD68 ratio correlated with a high content of lipid and total macrophages and a low content of vascular smooth muscle cells, as well as with MMP-8 (R=0.211, P=0.001), MMP-9 (R=0.251, P<0.001), and cleaved caspase-3 (R=0.142, P=0.036) activity measured in a neighboring segment. Dual immunohistochemical examination confirmed the location of MMP-12 in a subpopulation of MMP-8- and MMP-9-positive FCMs, whereas all apoptotic FCMs were MMP-12 positive. Patients who yielded plaques within the highest quartile compared with the lowest quartile of MMP-12/CD68 ratio had a 2.4-fold (hazard ratio, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.1- to 5.1-fold; adjusted P=0.027) increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular event and a 3.4-fold (3.4; 1.2- to 9.6-fold, P=0.024) increased risk for stroke.
The prevalence of an MMP-12-positive subset of FCMs is a prognostic marker for adverse clinical outcome after CEA.
Journal of the American Heart Association. 12/2012; 1(6):e001040.
-
Journal of Endovascular Therapy 08/2012; 19(4):512-4. · 2.86 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm (ECAA) is an uncommon but serious condition. The morbidity and mortality of ECAA are assumed to be high when untreated. ECAA treatment presents a challenge because of accessibility of the carotid artery and lack of evidence-based guidelines. When exclusion of the aneurysm is considered, surgical resection of the aneurysm with reconstruction of blood flow is still considered the gold standard. Several alternative and endovascular approaches are discussed.
Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy 07/2012; 10(7):925-31.
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: This study assessed the outcome of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) as primary therapy for exposed prosthetic vascular grafts in the groin (Szilagyi III).
The study included all consecutive patients with Szilagyi III groin infections and exposed prosthetic graft material from 2009 to 2011. After initial wound debridement, VAC was applied using a two-layer combination, consisting of polyvinyl alcohol and polyurethane sponges. Continuous negative pressure was set on a maximum of 50 mm Hg. All patients received complementary antibiotic therapy. The primary end point was defined as complete wound closure. Secondary end points comprised bleeding complications, amputation, and death.
The study evaluated 15 patients with 17 Szilagyi III groin infections. Mean total length of VAC therapy was 43 days (range, 14-76 days). Mean time until complete healing was 51 days (range, 24-82 days). Mean length of VAC therapy in the hospital was 21 days (range, 5-61 days). Eleven patients received continued VAC treatment at home for a mean length of 22 days (range, 5-69 days). Complete healing was achieved in 14 groins (82%). Three failures due to persisting infection, persisting necrosis, and a pseudomonas infection were noted. No bleeding complications, amputations, or late reinfections occurred. Median follow-up was 380 days (range, 56-939 days). Despite therapy failure, all 17 grafts were preserved.
VAC therapy on an exposed prosthetic vascular graft in the groin is safe and feasible when applying a combination of polyvinyl alcohol and polyurethane foam dressing and 50 mm Hg of continuous negative pressure, resulting in midterm graft preservation.
Journal of vascular surgery: official publication, the Society for Vascular Surgery [and] International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, North American Chapter 05/2012; 56(3):714-20. · 3.52 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: At present, no widely accepted surgical options exist for treating chronic deep venous insufficiency (CDVI). Experimental efforts to improve catheter-based management for CDVI have shown disappointing results, hindering application of these techniques in the clinical arena. A review of the literature focusing on technical aspects of valve stent design was conducted. Eight experimental studies were scrutinized to derive data on (1) stent design and configuration; (2) valve design, composition, and configuration; (3) delivery system; (4) functional outcome; and (5) histology to provide a basis for the design of a new prosthetic venous valve. The analysis of available experimental data found that all prosthetic valve designs currently under development/testing rely on some type of a stent to act as a carrier or frame for valve attachment. Most valve models reviewed were for the most part implanted safely and accurately, with good short-term patency and competency. The most commonly reported adverse event was thrombosis, which limited durability. It is assumed that valve configuration determines long-term results after repair. Hence, the newly proposed valve design consisted of 2 stent rings without barbs to fix the valve in the host vein. Because a little reflux might actually benefit the patency of the valve, the valve cusp in the new design forms a billowing "sail" that does not completely open or close, which also prevents the valve cusp from sticking to the wall. This technology remains of great interest to the interventionist and all physicians who are involved in the care for patients with advanced chronic venous disease. Valve design remains a challenge, but promising new valve substitutes such as the one outlined here are under evaluation.
Journal of Endovascular Therapy 04/2012; 19(2):291-302. · 2.86 Impact Factor
-
Circulation Cardiovascular Interventions 02/2012; 5(1):e6-8. · 6.06 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Patients with both carotid stenosis and previously cervical radiation therapy are considered "high risk" for carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) seems a reasonable alternative, but neither the operative risk for CEA nor the effectiveness of CAS has been proven. The purpose of this study was to evaluate perioperative and long-term outcome of both procedures in patients with radiation therapy.
A systematic search strategy with the synonyms "carotid artery stenosis" and "cervical irradiation" was conducted in MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. To provide and compare estimates of outcomes, pooled and metaregression analyses were performed.
Twenty-seven articles comprising 533 patients undergoing radiation therapy (361 CAS and 172 CEA) fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Pooled analysis showed perioperative risk for "any cerebrovascular adverse event" (CVE) of 3.9% (95% CI, 2.3%-6.7%) in CAS studies against 3.5% (95% CI, 1.5%-8.0%) in CEA studies (P=0.77). Risk for cranial nerve injury (CNI) after CEA was 9.2% (95% CI, 3.7%-21.1%) versus none after CAS. Late outcome showed rates of CVE favoring CEA (P=0.014). The rate of restenosis >50% was significantly higher in patients treated with CAS compared with CEA (P<0.003).
Both CAS and CEA proved to be feasible revascularization techniques with low risk for CVE. Although patients undergoing CEA had more temporary CNI, higher rates of late CVE and restenosis were identified after CAS.
Stroke 12/2011; 43(3):793-801. · 5.73 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The benefit of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in patients with symptomatic severe carotid stenosis is highly dependent on the perioperative stroke rate. Cerebral monitoring plays an important role in reducing the perioperative stroke rate as it allows detection of the main causes of perioperative stroke, being embolism, intraoperative hypoperfusion and postoperative hyperperfusion syndrome. However, some physicians doubt about the benefit of cerebral monitoring and consider it costly and time consuming. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the available cerebral monitoring modalities and their role in CEA.
Electroencephalography, transcranial Doppler, stump pressure and sensory-evoked potentials, are known and used for years. Near-infrared spectroscopy is a relatively new valuable technique, as it is noninvasive, easy to apply and applicable in all CEA patients, but remains to be validated.
In our opinion, cerebral monitoring during CEA is essential because it provides direct information regarding new neurological deficits, which might otherwise be missed. Intraoperative cerebral monitoring provides immediate feedback to the treating physician allowing prompt correction in tissue handling. Several monitoring modalities are available for cerebral monitoring in CEA, but no single test is comprehensive. Therefore, a combination of several monitoring modalities with each specific strength not only during but also after CEA is recommended to cover all needs and reduce the perioperative stroke rate.
Current opinion in anaesthesiology 12/2011; 24(6):693-7.
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Arterial hypotension is more frequently observed early after carotid artery stenting (CAS) than after carotid endarterectomy (CEA), but their long-term effects on blood pressure (BP) are unclear. We compared the effects of CAS and CEA on BP up to 1 year after treatment in the International Carotid Stenting Study.
Patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis were randomly allocated to CAS or CEA. Systolic and diastolic BP were recorded at baseline, at discharge, and at 1, 6, and 12 months. Antihypertensive medication use was recorded. A per-protocol analysis was performed. Patients with missing BP records were excluded. Between-group BP changes were compared and adjusted for baseline covariates with linear regression. Within-group BP changes were compared with the paired t test.
CAS (N=587) and CEA (N=637) were both associated with a decrease in BP at discharge, which was greater after CAS (mean difference in systolic BP between groups, 10.3 mm Hg; 95% CI, 7.3-13.3; P<0.0001; in diastolic BP, 4.1 mm Hg; 95% CI, 2.4-5.7; P<0.0001). During follow-up, BP changes were not different between groups. Adjustment for differences in baseline characteristics did not change the results. Fewer patients undergoing CAS used antihypertensive medication during follow-up than patients undergoing CEA (relative risk at 12 months, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.85-0.97; P=0.0073).
CAS leads to a larger early decrease in BP than CEA, but this effect does not persist over time. CAS may lessen the requirement for antihypertensive medication more than CEA. Clinical Trial Registration- URL: www.controlled-trials.com. Unique identifier: ISRCTN25337470.
Stroke 12/2011; 42(12):3491-6. · 5.73 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Recent randomized trials showed an increased periprocedural risk for stroke with increasing age in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting. Manipulation of atherosclerotic plaques during carotid artery stenting can result in plaque rupture with subsequent superimposed thrombus formation, embolization, and cerebrovascular events. We hypothesized that atherosclerotic plaques become more unstable with increasing age and thereby might provide insight into the age-related increased risk of cerebrovascular events during carotid artery stenting.
Carotid atherosclerotic plaques were harvested from 1385 consecutive patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy between 2002 and 2010. Carotid plaques were quantitatively analyzed for macrophages, smooth muscle cells, and microvessels; and semiquantitatively analyzed for collagen, calcifications lipid cores, and intraplaque hemorrhages. Patients were divided in 4 groups by age: <60, 60 to 69, 70 to 79, and ≥80 years. Measures of association between age as a continuous variable and histological characteristics were also calculated.
Increasing age was associated with a decrease in the amount of smooth muscle cells in the carotid plaque. More plaques with large atheroma and heavy plaque calcifications were observed among elderly patients. After correction for baseline differences, risk factors, and medication use, age was independently associated with a more vulnerable carotid plaque composition.
Plaque stability decreases gradually with age. Older patients with carotid stenosis have relatively unstable plaques with low smooth muscle cell content, a high amount of large lipid cores, and more calcified plaques as compared with younger patients. The underlying vulnerable plaque composition in the elderly might be an important contributing factor to the increased risk of stroke for older patients undergoing carotid artery stenting.
Stroke 07/2011; 42(9):2550-5. · 5.73 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) has emerged as an alternative for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in the prevention of stroke. The benefit of the procedure, however, is hampered by a suggested higher incidence of in-stent restenosis (ISR) for CAS relative to CEA during follow-up. ISR management remains a challenge for clinicians. In this observational retrospective analysis, we evaluated the operative management of ISR by standard CEA with stent removal, including midterm follow-up in 15 patients.
The present analysis included 15 patients from three Dutch vascular centers who underwent CEA for symptomatic (n = 10) or hemodynamically significant (≥80%) asymptomatic ISR (n = 5). Median time between CAS and CEA was 18.3 months (range, 0-51 months).
Standard CEA with stent removal was performed in all 15 patients. A Javid shunt was used in two procedures. One patient sustained an intraoperative minor ischemic stroke, with complete recovery during the first postoperative days. No neurologic complications occurred in the other 14 patients. Two patients required a reoperation to evacuate a neck hematoma. There were no peripheral nerve complications. After a median follow-up of 21 months (range, 3-100 months), all 15 patients remained asymptomatic and without recurrent restenosis (≥50%) on duplex ultrasound imaging.
CEA with stent explantation for ISR after CAS seems an effective and durable therapeutic option, albeit with potential cerebral and bleeding complications, as in this study. The optimal treatment for carotid ISR, however, has yet to be defined.
Journal of vascular surgery: official publication, the Society for Vascular Surgery [and] International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, North American Chapter 02/2011; 54(1):87-92. · 3.52 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) of stable atherosclerotic plaques is associated with an increased risk for restenosis. Patients with transient ischemic attack and patients with and stroke have relatively unstable atherosclerotic plaques. However, carotid plaques stabilize over time after a cerebrovascular event due to plaque repair after rupture. These findings raised 2 questions: (1) Is preoperative clinical presentation related to restenosis after CEA? (2) Does delayed revascularization result in a higher risk for restenosis compared with CEA in the short term after a cerebrovascular event?
Between 2002 and 2009, 1203 patients undergoing CEA were included. The impact of clinical presentation on the occurrence of restenosis 1 year after CEA was investigated and corrected for cardiovascular risk factors, medication use, and type of arteriotomy closure. Patency was assessed with standardized duplex ultrasound imaging at 1 year after CEA. Restenosis was defined as recurrent luminal narrowing ≥50% at the endarterectomy site.
At 1 year of follow-up, restenosis was observed more frequently in asymptomatic patients than in patients with transient ischemic attack and patients with stroke. The adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) for restenosis was 0.56 (0.35 to 0.89) for patients with transient ischemic attack and 0.49 (0.27 to 0.87) for patients with stroke compared with asymptomatic patients. Subgroup analysis showed an increased risk for restenosis if CEA was performed >30 days after stroke (adjusted OR, 2.23; 1.02 to 5.73).
Asymptomatic patients have an increased risk for restenosis at 1 year after CEA compared with patients with transient ischemic stroke and patients with stroke. CEA within 30 days after stroke is associated with a decreased risk of restenosis, which supports the current strategy for early surgical intervention after stroke.
Stroke 02/2011; 42(4):965-71. · 5.73 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death globally, and the majority of CVD is caused by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a systemic inflammatory disease that leads to myocardial infarction, stroke and lower limb ischemia. Pathological studies have given insight to development of atherosclerosis and the importance of local plaque vulnerability, leading to thrombus formation and cardiovascular events. Due to the burden of cardiovascular disease, identification of patients at risk for cardiovascular events and treatment stratification is needed. The predictive power of classical risk factors is limited, especially in patients with manifest atherosclerosis. Imaging modalities have focused on the characteristics of the vulnerable plaque. However, it has become evident that not all so-called vulnerable plaques lead to rupture and subsequent thrombosis. The latter obviously limits the positive predictive value for imaging assessment of plaques and patients at risk. Serum biomarkers have also been studied extensively, but have very limited application in a clinical setting for risk stratification. In line with the important relation between vulnerable plaques and cardiovascular events, plaque biomarker studies have been initiated. These longitudinal studies are based on the concept, that a vulnerable plaque contains predictive information for future cardiovascular events, also in other territories of the vascular tree. Results look promising and plaque markers can be used to develop imaging modalities to identify patients at risk, or to monitor treatment effect. Plaque biomarker studies do not challenge the definition of the vulnerable plaque, but use its concept in favor of prediction improvement for vascular patients.
Current Cardiology Reviews 02/2011; 7(1):22-7.
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To investigate the optimal surgical treatment, remote superficial femoral artery endarterectomy (RSFAE) or supragenicular bypass, for Transatlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) C and D lesions of the superficial femoral artery. Medium-term results will be presented.
The study randomized 116 patients, 61 to RSFAE and 55 to supragenicular bypass surgery. Indications for surgery were claudication in 77, rest pain in 21, or tissue loss in 18.
Primary patency after 3 years of follow-up was 47% for RSFAE and 60% for bypass (p = 0.107), assisted primary patency was 63 and 69% (p = 0.406), and secondary patency was 69 and 73% (p = 0.541), respectively. For venous (n = 25) and prosthetic grafts (n = 30) at 3-year follow-up, primary patency was 65% and 56 versus 47% for RSFAE (p = 0.143), assisted primary patency was 84% and 56 versus 63% for RSFAE (p = 0.052), and secondary patency was 89% and 59 versus 69% for RSFAE (p = 0.046), respectively. Limb salvage was 97% after RSFAE and 95% after bypass surgery (p = 0.564).
RSFAE is a minimally invasive option for surgical repair of TASC C and D superficial femoral artery obstructions, with assisted primary and secondary patency rates comparable with bypass surgery. Venous bypass grafting is superior to both RSFAE and polytetrafluoroethylene grafting, but only 45% of patients had a sufficient saphenous vein available. If the saphenous vein is not applicable, RSFAE should be considered because it is less invasive and prosthetic graft material can be avoided.
Annals of Vascular Surgery 11/2010; 24(8):1015-23. · 1.03 Impact Factor
