Article

Operative treatment of atherosclerotic lesions in innominate, subclavian and vertebral arteries. A follow up study

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Abstract

The follow-up study consists of 121 surgically treated atherosclerotic patients. The average age was 49 years and the male: female ratio 7:5. There were 165 obstructions or occlusions in this series. 59 of them suffered from a subclavian steal syndrome. Altogether 146 reconstructive procedures were perdormed. 78 of them were endarterectomies, 51 bypass graft operations, 15 transpositions of the subclavian artery to the common carotid artery and 2 were other procedures. Operative mortality occurred in 3 patients (2.5 %). Non fatal complications occurred in 26 patients, the most frequent of which was thrombosis ot the reconstructed artery (12 cases). In the follow-up study (mean follow-up time 3.5 years) data on 118 patients was available. During the follow-up time 15 patients had died of other reasons than cerebral ischaemia. 42 % of the patients considered the operative result good and 51 % satisfactory. 25 % of the patients were ar work before operation and 50 % after.

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Article
Objective: To review our 10-year experience of reconstruction of the supra-aortic trunks. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Teaching hospital, The Netherlands. Subjects: 47 patients who required reconstruction of the supra-aortic trunks for stenotic or occlusive disease between April 1987 and May 1997. Interventions: Right-sided bifurcation graft through a sternotomy (n = 25), left-sided thoracotomy (n = 1), and extra-anatomic bypass (n = 21). Main outcome measures: Morbidity, mortality, and long term patency. Results: 3 patients died (6%); 7 (15%) developed major complications (leak from the brachiocephalic stump, n = 2, and acute occlusion of the bypass graft, n = 5) all of which were successfully treated by immediate reoperation; and 9 (19%) developed minor complications, all of which resolved within 3 months. The median follow up was 36 months (range 1-108), and the 3-year patency rate was 80%. No patient died during the follow up period, but a further 3 were lost to follow up. The remaining 41 were all assessed by duplex scanning or angiography, and 3 required further operation for recurrent symptoms; 33 remained completely free of symptoms. Conclusion: Symptomatic stenotic or occlusive lesions of the supra-aortic trunks can be treated with acceptable morbidity and mortality, giving long term benefit to patients.
Article
For vascular reconstruction in cases of atherosclerotic stenosis at the origin of the vertebral artery, we use vertebral to subclavian artery transposition. We discuss the advantages and effectiveness of such treatment based on a study of 32 cases. We have experienced neither surgical mortality nor morbidity and the outcome at the time of discharge has been favourable. Follow-up revealed no deaths, however, three cases exhibited symptoms of cerebral ischaemia. One had a supratentorial completed stroke, and the other two hat TIA or RIND, but without any notable lesion in the angiograms. There were no cases of cerebral infarction of the posterior fossa. We believe that this method should be the first choice for treatment of cases without lesions of the subclavian artery for the following reasons: serious operative complications have not been encountered, surgical invasion is minimal, temporary occlusion of the common carotid artery is unnecessary, the operation can be done by occluding only the vertebral artery, and unlike various bypass operations, anastomosis is required at only one location and is consequently technically uncomplicated. Following anastomosis the cerebral blood pathway is physiological.
Article
To compare stenting of aortic arch vessel obstruction with surgical therapy and to establish recommendations for treatment. Though surgery has been considered to be the procedure of choice for subclavian and brachiocephalic obstruction, little work has been done to compare it with stenting. Eighteen patients with symptomatic aortic arch vessel stenosis or occlusion were treated with stenting, followed by periodic clinical follow-up and noninvasive arterial Doppler studies. Data were compared with the results as shown in a systematic review of a published series of surgery and stenting procedures which included comparison of technical success, complications, mortality and patency. Primary success in our series was 100% with improvement in mean stenosis from 84+/-11% to 1+/-5% and mean arm systolic blood pressure difference from 44+/-16 mm Hg to 3+/-3 mm Hg. There were no major complications (death, stroke, TIA, stent thrombosis or myocardial infarction). At follow-up (mean 17 months), all patients were asymptomatic with 100% primary patency. Literature review demonstrates equivalent patency and complications in the other published series of stenting. In contrast, there was a similar patency but overall incidence of stroke of 3+/-4% and death of 2+/-2% in the published surgical series. Subclavian or brachiocephalic artery obstruction can be effectively treated by primary stenting or surgery. Comparison of stenting and the surgical experience demonstrates equal effectiveness but fewer complications and suggests that stenting should be considered as first line therapy for subclavian or brachiocephalic obstruction.
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