Early neuropsychological outcome after carotid endarterectomy

30 patients with a history of transient ischemic attacks (TIA) and 16 patients with cerebral infarcts were evaluated neuropsychologically 1-3 days before carotid endarterectomy, due to hemodynamically significant carotid artery stenosis, and again 2 weeks and 2 months after operation. Preoperatively, there were no differences between the groups, but postoperatively the neuropsychological outcome of the TIA patients was better than that of the infarction patients. Consequently, carotid endarterectomy patients cannot be studied as one group in neuropsychological examinations but various subgroups should be dealt with separately. In the TIA group 2 months after operation, the patients with left-sided operations had improved in verbal but not in visual tests, and the right-operated patients showed improvement also in visual tests. Therefore, the use of sum scores across neuropsychological tests is not preferable in the evaluation of the effects of carotid endarterectomy because after unilateral operation the cognitive improvement is greater in functions ipsilateral to the operation side.     

颈动脉内膜切除术后对侧颈内动脉的变化情况

目的观察颈动脉内膜切除术(CEA)后对侧颈内动脉变化情况。方法回顾性分析127例因一侧颈内动脉高度狭窄而实施CEA病人的临床资料,每隔1年行1次双侧颈动脉超声检查,定期检查双侧颈动脉狭窄情况。结果随访1~110个月,平均32.8个月,从实施CEA到对侧颈内动脉出现显著狭窄时间为50.7个月;出现对侧颈内动脉进行性狭窄达70%以上12例。这12例虽合并高血压、高脂血症或冠脉疾病,但与非进行性狭窄病人经统计学分析无显著差异(P>0.05)。结论 CEA术后对侧颈内动脉出现进行性狭窄的显著危险因子尚未发现,定期检查及密切观察预后非常重要。     

Salivoma after carotid endarterectomy

Although the diagnosis and management of postoperative or traumatic fluid collections have been documented extensively in the literature, to our knowledge the occurrence of a salivoma after carotid endarterectomy has not been reported. We report an extra salivary glandular collection of saliva – a “salivoma” – in a 79-year-old patient who underwent a carotid endarterectomy with a high carotid bifurcation. He presented with serous watery drainage from the incision site that had started spontaneously 4 days after surgery. The patient was taken to the operating room for exploration and washout of the wound with presumption of an infectious source. As self-retaining retractors were placed under the platysma, a large release of serous fluid occurred. Copious irrigation allowed complete washout of the wound. On postoperative day 2, the patient re-exhibited neck wound fullness and a Penrose drain was placed in the incision with clear serous fluid flowing through the drain. The patient was given a scopolamine patch to decrease salivary secretions. Within 5 days, the drainage significantly decreased and the drain was removed. This diagnosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of an expanding neck mass following carotid endarterectomy to properly treat this complication.     

Subacute corticobasal syndrome following internal carotid endarterectomy

The present report is of two patients who, immediately after internal carotid endarterectomy, presented with unexplained hemiplegia, despite normal findings on repeated MRI scans, which secondarily evolved into homolateral subacute corticobasal syndrome (CBS), with asymmetrical hemispheric hypometabolism and evidence of dopaminergic denervation. This prompted us to propose an hypothesis of transient cerebral hypoxia arising during the surgical clamping period that might have provoked a prolonged or permanent functional lesion of the left hemisphere and basal ganglia, with no visible infarction on MRI but only synaptic rearrangement of the neural networks, thereby revealing or exacerbating a potentially preexisting silent impairment.     

Neuropsychological functions after carotid endarterectomy

Summary Psychological testing was performed on 23 patients (mean age 60.7 years) with unilateral or bilateral stenoses of the carotid arteries prior to and 10 months after carotid endarterectomy. Intellectual functions were slightly improved, mnemic functions impaired, psychomotor functions and dimension of personality remained unchanged. Carotid endarterectomy, although improving neuropsychological functions in a few cases, on average does not cause a significant improvement. This underscores the preventive character of the surgical intervention.     

Neuropsychological changes after carotid endarterectomy

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA), performed to prevent stroke, could lead to changes in cognitive functions. Sixty-four patients with severe carotid stenosis undergoing CEA treatment were evaluated by means of a detailed neuropsychological assessment before (baseline), from one to two weeks (1st follow up) after and 3 months (2nd follow up) after surgical operation. A significant post-CEA improvement was found in verbal memory and attention (p<0.05), while other cognitive functions showed no significant changes.     

Gait improvement after carotid endarterectomy.

A prospective study was performed to investigate whether carotid endarterectomy was accompanied by changes in the cerebral circulation and gait of patients with gait disturbance caused by cerebral ischemia from an internal carotid artery flow lesion. Gait analysis was performed pre-and postoperatively in 16 patients who had a gait disturbance from April 1997 to May 1998. A correlation between change of volume flow measured by duplex sonography, a change in cerebral perfusion (CP) by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), the status of collateral circulation by cerebral angiogram or magnetic resonance angiogram, and improvement of gait disturbance was analyzed. Of 16 patients with gait disturbance, 14 (87.5%) showed improvement in various gait analysis parameters. Statistical significance was noted in cadence, speed, stride length, step time, and knee range of motion (P<05). Dramatic gait improvement was observed in 8 patients who had markedly increased Doppler volume flow after carotid endarterectomy. Among those 8 patients, 7 had a significant increase of CP as measured by SPECT and an incomplete circle of Willis. In conclusion, the most significant gait improvement was noted in patients who had severely decreased preoperative volume flow, an incomplete circle of Willis, and significantly increased postoperative CP as measured by SPECT.     

Multiple intra-cranial hemorrhages after carotid endarterectomy

Intra-cerebral hemorrhage is an unusual and often fatal complication of endarterectomy (CEA). Previous cerebral infarction, intra-operative or post operative hypertension, and the use of anti-coagulants are some of the defined major risk factors. Hemorrhage usually occurs early after CEA, and a second hemorrhage has only once been reported. We wish to report a patient who developed three separate hemorrhages following CEA. This patient had a long history of poorly controlled hypertension. We believe that poorly controlled hypertension, in addition to other reported factors, may be an important separate risk factor for post-CEA hemorrhage.     

颈动脉内膜切除的围手术期并发症及防治策略

目的 探讨颈动脉内膜切除术(CEA)的围手术期并发症及其危险因素和防治策略.方法 分析1987-2009年405例CEA术后发生的各类并发症37例的临床资料.结果 37例围手术期并发症包括:15例血流动力学不稳定、2例心肌缺血或梗死、2例暂时性脑缺血、4例脑梗死、2例脑出血、7例脑神经损害、2例喉头痉挛及其他3例.其中3例分别死于脑出血、心肌梗死和术区血肿.全组卒中/死亡率为1.98%.结论 CEA围手术期最常见的并发症是血流动力学不稳定,但不严重,经相应处理,多可在1-2 d内恢复正常.较常见的并发症是脑缺血,加强术中监测,选择性应用术中转流可降低该并发症.脑出血少见但可能致命,对颈动脉极度狭窄,且侧枝循环差者,应重视术后血压监控,慎用抗凝治疗.心肌梗死是CEA术后死亡的主要原因之一,全面的心血管系统评估和围手术期监测不可或缺.脑神经损伤不少见,多数症状较轻,可自行恢复,采用显微外科技术可有效降低其发生率.     

颈内动脉内膜剥脱术治疗症状性颈内动脉狭窄临床研究

目的探讨颈内动脉内膜剥脱术在症状性颈内动脉狭窄治疗中的临床应用价值。方法对2012年6月~2014年6月间在我院行颈内动脉内膜剥脱术的症状性颈内动脉狭窄病人的23例临床资料进行回顾性研究并随访。结果术后出现暂时性声音嘶哑1例,术侧多发小梗塞灶1例,颈部血肿保守治疗后恢复2例,未见肢体瘫痪、神志不清等严重并发症;术后CTA、DSA检查示颈动脉通畅;随访6月~2年未见血管再狭窄、严重脑缺血表现。结论颈内动脉内膜剥脱术治疗症状性颈内动脉狭窄是一种简单、安全、有效的治疗方法。     

An audit of carotid endarterectomy for internal carotid artery disease at Dunedin Hospital

Carotid endarterectomy, mostly for symptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis, has been successfully performed in both the vascular and neurological surgery units at Dunedin Hospital. This study was performed to compare our results with those of the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial and the European Carotid Surgery Trial. The 30-day perioperative morbidity and mortality rate was 4.3% (1.2% < 95% Cl > 7.4%) which compares favourably with an estimated upper limit of 5.5% based on recent trial reports. The present study highlights the difficulty in modelling local clinical practice on results of major trials when standards of patient evaluation and surgical skill may differ from those of the large studies. To justify generalization of indications for intervention based on the multicentre trials, there must be continual monitoring of local surgical results, and standardized use of diagnostic investigations.     

Danish very-low-dose aspirin after carotid endarterectomy trial

The effect of very-low-dose aspirin as an antithrombotic agent was evaluated blindly in 301 patients who had recently undergone carotid endarterectomy. After randomization, 150 patients received aspirin and 151 received placebo. The two groups were comparable with regard to age, sex, blood pressure, previous cerebrovascular events, and smoking habits. The effect of the study medication on platelet aggregation was measured twice in each patient during the first 2 months and at each follow-up visit; the dose was individually adjusted. In 76% of the patients receiving aspirin, 50 mg/day gave satisfactory platelet inhibition, 13% needed 60 mg/day, 8% needed 70 mg/day, and 3% needed 100 mg/day. Platelet aggregation was found to be inhibited in only 1.2% of the measurements in the patients receiving placebo. Observation during treatment averaged 21 months; total intention-to-treat follow-up averaged 25 months. For the combined outcome events of transient ischemic attack, stroke, acute myocardial infarction, and vascular death, aspirin reduced risk by 11% (95% confidence limits: -38% to 48%, p greater than 0.1). Thus, there was no significant effect of very-low-dose aspirin in our trial.