Risk of stroke during coronary artery bypass graft surgery in patients with internal carotid artery disease documented by angiography

We retrospectively identified 144 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in the presence of angiographically documented greater than or equal to 50% internal carotid stenosis or occlusion. Of these, 115 patients had bilateral carotid lesions and received combined operations involving carotid endarterectomy on only one side. The remaining 29 patients, including 11 with bilateral carotid lesions, underwent coronary bypass alone. Nine cerebral infarcts occurred (6%), but only three strokes (2%) were appropriate to the cerebral hemisphere ipsilateral to unoperated carotid stenosis. There was one stroke (3%) among the 29 patients who did not undergo combined procedures. In the group of 115 patients with bilateral carotid disease who received unilateral combined carotid endarterectomy there were 8 perioperative strokes (7%), of which 6 were ipsilateral to the endarterectomy. Asymptomatic unilateral less than 90% ICA stenosis or ICA occlusion does not increase stroke risk during CABG surgery.     

临床颈动脉系统TIA患者的脑血管造影分析

目的:以数字减影脑血管造影为手段,分析颈动脉系统TIA患者脑供血动脉狭窄或闭塞的分布、程度以及侧枝循环建立情况。方法:颈动脉系统TIA患者70例均行脑血管造影检查,包括主动脉弓上造影及至少双侧颈总及锁骨下动脉四根血管造影。明确有无脑供血动脉的狭窄、狭窄的位置、程度及侧枝循环情况。结果:62例患者存在脑供血动脉狭窄或闭塞,共检出病变132处,轻度狭窄40处(30.3%),中度狭窄34处(25.8%),重度39处(29.5%),闭塞19处(14.4%)。可判断责任血管者58例(85.0%):单纯前循环45例,前后循环联合病变有13例。以颈内动脉狭窄80处为对象,研究颈内动脉狭窄或闭塞的侧枝循环情况。汇总邻近可能引起同一侧枝循环通路的病变,共分析病变58处,发现合并侧枝的病变有23处,有侧支数量36处。各种侧支循环中,Willis环出现频度最高,包括前交通代偿13处和后交通代偿5处。其次为软膜血管代偿13处。结论:颈动脉系统TIA患者,颅外血管病变多于颅内血管病变。责任血管不单纯是在前循环,还可以是前后循环联合病变。颈内动脉狭窄或闭塞最常见的侧枝循环是Wlliis环和软脑膜血管,严重的脑供血动脉狭窄更易引发侧枝循环建立。     

Observer variability in evaluating extracranial carotid artery stenosis

One hundred twenty eight cervical carotid arteriograms were twice viewed by three readers for the evaluation of atherosclerotic disease at the carotid bifurcation. Stenoses were estimated using calipers to the nearest 5% and lesions were qualitatively characterized as smooth, irregular, or ulcerated. The intraobserver correlation coefficient between estimates of percent stenosis was .94 overall and .98 for the internal carotid artery. The average intraobserver variability in estimating percent stenosis was 5.23% for all vessels and 6.04% with a standard deviation of 8.09% for the internal carotid artery. The intraobserver percent agreement at a fixed stenosis is defined as the percent of the time one reader on two readings would read at least the fixed percent stenosis among cases that might be read as having the fixed percent stenosis. The intraobserver percent agreement rate for the internal carotid artery was 95.9% at greater than 0% stenosis, 90.4% for 50% or greater stenosis, and 96.8% for 100% stenosis (total occlusion). The interobserver correlation coefficient between readers was .92 overall and .97 for the internal carotid artery. The absolute difference in percent stenosis between readers was 7.21% for all vessels and 8.64% for the internal carotid artery with a standard deviation of 9.5%. The interobserver agreement rate for the internal carotid artery at greater than 0% stenosis was 93.0%, 85.4% for 50% or greater stenosis and 96.8% at 100% stenosis. The addition of oblique views had no statistical effect on estimates of percent stenosis but increased the frequency with which irregularity and ulceration were diagnosed in the internal carotid artery.     

Carotid artery disease in patients with retinal vein and artery occlusion]

To evaluate carotid artery disease in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and with retinal artery occlusion (RAO), 41 RVO patients (male 21, female 20, mean age 63 +/- 12 years) and 59 RAO patients (male 39, female 20, mean age 66 +/- 12 years) were investigated. All patients were examined neurologically and underwent carotid ultrasound examination. Using carotid ultrasound, carotid artery disease was evaluated in terms of presence of plaque, echogenicity of the plaque, degree of stenosis, or presence of ulceration. Carotid plaque or occlusion of the carotid artery was observed more frequently in RAO patients than in RVO patients (ipsilateral side: p < 0.01, contralateral side: p < 0.001; Fisher's exact test). Heterogeneous plaque was found more frequently in RAO patients compared to RVO patients (ipsilateral side: p < 0.01, contralateral side: p < 0.02; Fisher's exact test). Ulcerated plaque was found only in patients with RAO. In conclusion, carotid artery disease was more frequently found in patients with RAO than in patients with RVO.     

Outcome in patients with symptomatic occlusion of the internal carotid artery or intracranial arterial lesions: a meta-analysis of the role of baseline characteristics and type of antithrombotic treatment

OBJECTIVES: We performed a systematic review of the literature to assess the impact of potential risk factors of recurrent stroke other than a compromised cerebral blood flow in patients with carotid occlusion or intracranial arterial lesions. In addition, we investigated the effect of treatment with aspirin or oral anticoagulation on recurrent stroke rate and assessed whether the incidence of recurrent stroke has decreased over the years. METHODS: We searched Medline (1966 and onwards) and reference lists of identified articles for papers reporting on the recurrent stroke risk in patients with carotid occlusion or intracranial arterial lesions. Two authors independently extracted information from all papers. The influence of study characteristics on the risk of the endpoints 'recurrent stroke', 'ipsilateral stroke' and 'vascular death' was determined by Poisson regression analysis. Rate ratios were calculated per 10 percentage points increase of a characteristic. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Patients with intracranial carotid stenosis or occlusion had a higher rate of recurrent stroke (rate ratio 1.09; 95% CI 1.05-1.14) than patients with extracranial carotid occlusion or middle cerebral artery stenosis or occlusion. In patients with bilateral carotid occlusion the rate was lower (rate ratio 0.82; 95% CI 0.68-0.98). No other vascular risk factors than hypertension (rate ratio 1.23; 95% CI 1.07-1.41) could be shown to increase the rate of recurrent stroke. Oral anticoagulation but not aspirin had a protective effect on the incidence of recurrent stroke (rate ratio 0.86; 95% CI 0.79-0.93). The reported rates of recurrent stroke in patients with symptomatic occlusion of the internal carotid artery or intracranial arterial lesions have not decreased over the years.     

颈动脉系统短暂性脑缺血发作与颅内外动脉狭窄的相关性研究

目的探讨颈动脉系统短暂性脑缺血发作(TIA)与颅内外动脉狭窄的关系,评价数字减影血管造影(DSA)在颈动脉系统TIA中的诊断价值。方法对70例颈动脉系统TIA患者进行DSA检查,观察血管病变的性质,判断责任动脉。结果 70例患者中检出血管狭窄或闭塞59例(84.3%),其中症状相关侧血管狭窄或闭塞51例,症状相关侧对侧8例;颅内动脉狭窄发生率为86.9%(73/84),颅外动脉狭窄发生率为13.1%(11/84);56例(94.9%)可以判断责任动脉。结论颅内外动脉狭窄是颈动脉系统TIA的重要原因,DSA可以明确TIA患者血管狭窄的部位、程度、性质。     

Doppler ophthalmic blood pressure measurement in the hemodynamic evaluation of occlusive carotid artery disease

In 102 patients with angiographically proven occlusive carotid artery disease of 60-100% diameter reduction, Doppler ophthalmic artery pressure and blood flow direction were recorded by the recently developed ophthalmomanometry-Doppler technique. Among these 102 patients, 50 presented with complete carotid artery occlusions and 52 with carotid artery diameter stenoses of greater than or equal to 60%. Mean +/- SD Doppler ophthalmic artery pressure was 69 +/- 15 mm Hg ipsilateral to the occlusion and 86 +/- 18 mm Hg ipsilateral to a stenosis of the carotid artery (p less than 0.001). The mean +/- SD Doppler ophthalmic pressure index (ratio of the ophthalmic artery to systemic blood pressure) was lower ipsilateral to the occlusion (0.46 +/- 0.08) than ipsilateral to a carotid artery stenosis (0.54 +/- 0.08; p less than 0.001); in both, the index was clearly diminished compared with normal values (0.68 +/- 0.04; p less than 0.001). It is concluded that the intracranial hemodynamic consequences in the patients with occlusion are on average more profound than in the patients with stenosis. In carotid artery occlusions, the mean +/- SD ipsilateral ophthalmic pressure index was 0.46 +/- 0.06 for antegrade and 0.46 +/- 0.09 for retrograde ophthalmic artery blood flow. In carotid artery stenoses, the mean +/- SD ipsilateral ophthalmic pressure index was 0.55 +/- 0.07 for antegrade and 0.48 +/- 0.06 for retrograde ophthalmic artery blood flow (p less than 0.01). These results indicate that in carotid stenoses the collateral capacity of the ophthalmic artery is insufficient compared with intracranial collaterals, while in carotid occlusions the blood flow direction in the ophthalmic artery does not predict intracranial hemodynamic compensation.     

Carotid angiography in patients with lacunar infarction. A prospective study

We prospectively studied the results of carotid angiography in 45 patients with transient or nondisabling neurologic deficits caused by lacunar infarction in the internal capsule or corona radiata and demonstrated by computed tomography. An ipsilateral stenosis at the bifurcation of the internal carotid artery was found in 14 patients (31%, 95% confidence limits 18-47%), seven of whom also had stenosis of the contralateral internal carotid artery. In previous studies an average of 65% of patients with transient hemispheric deficit had internal carotid artery stenosis or occlusion. Hypertension and hypertensive retinal vasculopathy assessed by fundus photographs were found in most patients, but not significantly more often in the patients without internal carotid artery stenosis. Our findings support the notion that small vessel disease rather than emboli from the carotid bifurcation is the most common cause of lacunar infarction.     

Long term survival after basilar artery occlusion. 4 cases

Four cases of basilar artery occlusion with a follow-up from 7 to 12 years are reported. The first patient, a 60 year old woman, had a proximal occlusion which was revealed by an acute brain stem ischemia. The second case was a 63 year old man with an aortic aneurysm who had a single episode of vertebro-basilar insufficiency. Cerebral angiography demonstrated a lower basilar artery occlusion. The third patient, a 60 year-old woman, had been operated from right carotid artery and left vertebral artery stenosis; 8 years later, without clinical manifestations, a left carotid artery stenosis and an occlusion of the lower part of the basilar artery were discovered. The evolution was eventless after a left carotid endarterectomy. The last case was a 60 year old man who had a lower basilar artery occlusion associated with a left internal carotid occlusion. There was a full recovery after a hemiplegic stroke. From our personal cases and the review of the literature, long term survival after basilar artery occlusion may occur in occlusions restricted to the lower or middle part of the basilar artery and with a good collateral supply from carotid and cerebellar arteries.     

DSA对单侧颈内动脉系统大动脉狭窄或闭塞后侧支循环建立的应用价值

目的 探讨DSA对单侧颈内动脉系统大动脉狭窄或闭塞后侧支循环建立的应用价值,探讨三级侧支循环在单侧颈内动脉开口部位狭窄或闭塞及大脑中动脉M1段狭窄或闭塞中的特点.方法 分别对56例颈内动脉开口处狭窄或闭塞及94例大脑中动脉M1段狭窄或闭塞的患者进行脑血管造影检查,根据其狭窄程度分析其侧支循环建立的情况.结果 颈内动脉开口部位闭塞组大脑动脉环开放率约38.5%,颅内外沟通开放率30.8%,软脑膜吻合支开放率约30.8%;重度狭窄组大脑动脉环开放率35.1%,软脑膜吻合支开放率16.2%,颅内外沟通开放率约5.4%;中轻度狭窄组无侧支循环建立.大脑中动脉M1段闭塞组大脑动脉环开放率5%,软脑膜吻合支开放率95%;重度狭窄组仅软脑膜吻合支开放,开放率约61%;轻中度狭窄组无侧支形成.结论 在颈内动脉开口部位重度狭窄或闭塞的病例中,一级侧支循环的开放代偿最为重要,二级侧支循环起着重要的辅助作用.在大脑中动脉M1段重度狭窄或闭塞的病例中,二级和三级侧支循环的开放起主要的代偿作用.     

Cognitive impairment in patients with carotid artery occlusion and ipsilateral transient ischemic attacks

Abstract. Although transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) by definition do not cause lasting neurological deficits, cognitive impairment has been suggested in patients with carotid artery disease who have suffered from a TIA. The purpose of our study was to assess whether patients with carotid artery disease and TIAs are cognitively impaired, to describe the frequency, nature and severity of this impairment, and to search for associated patient characteristics.Thirty-nine consecutive patients with carotid occlusion and ipsilateral cerebral or retinal TIAs, and 46 healthy controls underwent extensive neuropsychological assessment. Performances were compared group-wise with analysis of variance. In addition, the presence of cognitive impairment in the individual patient was determined. Associations between illness characteristics and cognitive impairment were explored with regression analysis.Fifty-four percent of patients were cognitively impaired. Cognitive deficits were non-specific in nature and mild in severity. Impairment occurred also in patients with isolated retinal symptoms and in those without visible ischemic brain lesions on MRI. Neither the presence of any vascular risk factor, the side of the symptomatic carotid occlusion, the uni- or bilaterality of carotid occlusion, nor the number of cerebral ischemic lesions were predictors of cognitive impairment.We conclude that about half of the patients with carotid artery occlusion and ipsilateral TIAs are cognitively impaired. The presence of cognitive deficits in patients with isolated retinal symptoms and in those without cerebral ischemic lesions on MRI argues against an exclusive role for structural brain damage in the pathogenesis of these deficits.     

复合手术技术治疗复杂颈动脉狭窄和闭塞性疾病简

目的分析复合手术技术在复杂颈动脉狭窄或闭塞性疾病中的应用,探讨其临床意义。方法回顾分析12例因颈动脉闭塞和颈动脉串联性病变施行复合手术患者之临床资料,初步分析手术安全性和有效性。结果8例颈动脉闭塞患者,7例实现血管再通;4例颈动脉串联性病变患者,均实现血管再通。术后无一例发生脑卒中或死亡。结论采用复合手术技术治疗颈动脉闭塞和串联性病变疗效安全可靠,值得在临床推荐开展。     

Unilateral visual loss in bright light. An unusual symptom of carotid artery occlusive disease

Five patients with carotid artery occlusive disease had unilateral visual loss in bright light. All five had reduced retinal artery pressure on the side of the visual loss, and arteriograms showed either an occlusion or a high-grade stenosis of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery. Unilateral visual loss in bright light may indicate ipsilateral carotid artery occlusive disease and may reflect the inability of borderline circulation to sustain the increased retinal metabolic activity associated with exposure to bright light.     

Prevalence and frequency of microembolic signals in 105 patients with extracranial carotid artery occlusive disease

Besides the established factors "presence of symptoms" and "degree of stenosis", plaque echolucency is considered to be associated with increased risk of stroke in patients with carotid artery disease. An evaluation was carried out as to whether the prevalence and number of microembolic signals (MES) detected by transcranial Doppler ultrasound were higher in patients with echolucent carotid plaques. One hundred and five patients with carotid artery stenosis from 20%-99% or occlusion underwent clinical investigations, duplex ultrasound of the carotid arteries, and a 1 hour recording from the middle cerebral artery downstream to the carotid artery pathology using the four gate technique. The presence of MES was more frequent and the number greater in symptomatic patients (21 out of 64 patients (33%); mean number of MES in all 64 patients 3.1) than in asymptomatic patients (four out of 41 patients (10%); mean number of MES in all 41 patients 0.3) (p=0.007, and p=0.006, respectively). Echogenicity of the lesions did not affect either number or presence of MES. Positivity for MES and the number of MES increased with increasing degree of stenosis (both p=0.002). Four out of 12 patients with carotid artery occlusion showed MES. No MES could be detected in carotid artery stenosis below 80%. There was a decline in positivity of MES and of the number of MES with the time after the ischaemic event. After 80 days or more after the index event, only one patient showed MES. In conclusion, increasing degree of stenosis and presence of symptoms similarly affect macroembolic and microembolic risk. Thus MES may be a surrogate parameter for risk of stroke. The presence of MES in a few asymptomatic patients suggests that clinically silent circulating microemboli may give additional information on the pending embolic potential of carotid artery stenoses. Echolucency of the plaque was not related to an increased number of MES.     

Transient ischemic attacks before and after occlusion of the internal carotid artery

Among 60 cases with occlusion of an internal carotid artery (ICA), 47 p. 100 suffered warning TIA's in the corresponding area. In 7 p. 100 the TIA's were the only manifestation of the disease. The occurrence of warning TIA's significantly correlated with a small volume (less than 20 cm3, p 0,001) and a deep localization (p less than 0,002) of infarction, and also with a better initial neurologic ability and long-term functional prognosis (p less than 0,05) than in patients without warning TIA's. Twenty eight p. 100 of the 60 cases showed delayed TIA's distal to the occlusion. In 12 p. 100 TIA's had not been present before the occlusion. The delayed TIA's were strongly (p less than 0,0001) associated with an atheromatous stenosis of the external carotid artery (ECA) or a stump of the occluded ICA and an important collateral supply through ECA channels, suggesting a micro-embolic mechanism via ECA pathways. Much more rarely hemodynamic factors, and exceptionally probable emboli from the contralateral ICA, appeared to be involved. The occurrence of delayed TIA's was not a warning sign of further stroke, and did not correspond to a poorer functional prognosis. Three p. 100 of the 60 cases suffered TIA's in the contralateral ICA territory, in relation to an atheromatous stenosis of the ICA. Twenty p. 100 showed vertebrobasilar TIA's, usually without associated disease of the vertebral or subclavian arteries (75 p. 100). This point and the evidence of absent or weak collateral circulation (p less than 0,0001) and of an associated contralateral ICA stenosis (p less than 0,01), suggested a hemodynamic mechanism with an intracranial steal from the vertebrobasilar system towards the carotid circulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

交界区脑梗死与脑动脉狭窄或闭塞的关系

目的　观察交界区脑梗死与颅内外主要动脉狭窄或闭塞的关系。方法　回顾性分析经磁共振(MRI)弥散加权成像 (DWI)检查证实的急性交界区脑梗死 4 5例患者的临床资料 ,将交界区梗死部位分为前交界区、后交界区及内交界区 ,利用磁共振血管成像 (MRA)和经颅超声多普勒 (TCD)检查判断颅内外主要动脉有无狭窄或闭塞 ,观察梗死部位与血管受累的情况。结果　 4 5例中共有 32例 (71 1% )存在相应血管狭窄或闭塞。大脑中动脉狭窄出现比例最高 (4 7 6 % ) ,其次为颈内动脉狭窄或闭塞 (31% ) ,大脑前或后动脉狭窄少(11 9% )。动脉异常情况在单交界区与多交界区梗死的患者间无差别 ,但内交界区受累更易合并大脑中动脉狭窄 (P <0 0 5 )。结论　交界区脑梗死患者常存在颅内外主要动脉狭窄或闭塞 ,大脑中动脉狭窄最常见 ,尤其在内交界区受累时。     

TIA患者颈动脉狭窄与临床症状发作的相关性

目的探讨频发型短暂性脑缺血发作(TIA)与症状相关侧颈动脉狭窄程度的相关性。方法应用颈动脉超声、经颅彩色多普勒超声联合对114例颈内动脉系统TIA患者进行检查,按照患者首次发作到入院当天(时间范围<7d)的TIA发作次数分为非频发组TIA(发作次数<3次)和频发组TIA(发作次数≥3次),以及按患者TIA发病年龄分>50岁组和≤50岁组,比较频发组与非频发组,以及各年龄段组间患者责任侧颈动脉狭窄程度发生情况。结果①TIA频发组的责任侧颈动脉发生狭窄以及中重度狭窄的发生率高于非频发组(P<0.05);②114例TIA患者以50～79岁居多,且重度狭窄及闭塞发生率随年龄增长而呈升高的趋势,但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论颈动脉系TIA频发作与颈动脉血管狭窄程度相关,颈动脉狭窄是发生颈动脉系TIA的重要因素。     

Combined extracranial and intracranial atherosclerosis in Korean patients

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the frequency of intracranial atherosclerosis among patients with steno-occlusive extracranial carotid artery disease and to determine if there are factors related to the combined intracranial atherosclerosis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: A tertiary referral hospital.Patients We studied 142 consecutive patients who had atherosclerotic steno-occlusive lesions (defined as > or =30% narrowing of the luminal diameter or occlusion) of an extracranial carotid artery confirmed by conventional angiography. We excluded patients who had potential cardiogenic sources of embolism. Potential vascular risk factors for each patient were obtained from medical records.Main Outcome Measure We determined the location and severity of atherosclerotic lesions by conventional angiography. We compared the vascular risk factors between patients with steno-occlusive extracranial carotid artery disease alone and patients with combined intracranial atherosclerosis and extracranial carotid artery disease. RESULTS: Intracranial steno-occlusive lesions (> or =30% stenosis or occlusion) were found in 80 patients (56.3%). Of 121 patients with significant (> or =50% stenosis or occlusion) extracranial carotid artery disease, 58 (47.9%) also had significant lesions of intracranial arteries. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that diabetes mellitus was the only significant factor associated with combined intracranial atherosclerosis in patients with extracranial carotid artery disease. CONCLUSIONS: Intracranial atherosclerosis is common in Korean patients with steno-occlusive extracranial carotid artery disease. Diabetes mellitus is associated with intracranial atherosclerosis in patients who had steno-occlusive extracranial carotid artery disease.     

Transcranial Doppler sonographic findings in middle cerebral artery disease

The transcranial Doppler sonographic findings of 61 patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) disease were compared with those of 535 controls. According to computed tomographic, angiographic, and/or autopsy findings, the patients were classified as having MCA occlusive lesions in the central (sphenoidal) part or in peripheral branches or MCA stenosis. With MCA lesions, the MCA flow velocity (FV) was reduced. At the same time the anterior cerebral artery FV increased because of collateral flow over leptomeningeal anastomoses. Central MCA lesions showed less marked changes than did peripheral lesions. In MCA stenosis a steep rise of MCA FV appeared inside the stenotic segment. If there was a high-grade stenosis or occlusion of the internal carotid artery, a collateral circulation over the anterior part of the circle of Willis was seen in addition to the changes caused by the MCA disease. From these hemodynamic changes, transcranial Doppler sonographic diagnostic criteria for MCA occlusive and stenotic lesions were established.     

颈内和大脑中动脉狭窄与闭塞的梗死类型及卒中机制的研究

目的 研究单侧动脉粥样硬化性MCA/ICA狭窄与闭塞的急性缺血性脑卒中患者在DWI上的梗死类型及发病机制.方法 起病48h内DWI诊断的急性脑梗死伴有动脉粥样硬化性MCA/ICA狭窄与闭塞的131例患者,有潜在心源性栓子患者除外.急性期DWI上梗死病灶分为：（1）单发病灶（小的穿动脉梗死灶;大的穿动脉梗死灶,皮层支梗死,大面积梗死,分水岭梗死）;（2）多发梗死病灶.结果 131例患者,ICA51例,MCA80例.ICA出现最多的梗死类型：穿支动脉伴分水岭梗死,但与MCA比较,皮层支伴分水岭梗死具有统计学意义（8/51,P=0.001）.MCA以穿支动脉伴皮层支梗死最多,且与ICA比较,具有统计学意义（12/80,P=0.003）.MCA中任何皮层支梗死与狭窄程度无关,ICA中任何分水岭梗死与狭窄程度相关.结论 颈内和大脑中动脉狭窄与闭塞在DWI上的梗死类型有明显的不同,提示有着不同的卒中发病机制.