Reduced flow velocity in the internal carotid artery independently of cardiac hemodynamics in patients with cerebral ischemia

PURPOSE: To retrospectively investigate the relationships between carotid flow velocities, clinical features and cardiac hemodynamics to assess the meaning and significance of reduced carotid flow velocities in patients with cerebral ischemic symptoms. METHODS: We selected the files from patients who had undergone duplex Doppler sonographic examination of extracranial carotid arteries, echocardiography, and MR angiography, and in whom the following parameters were available: peak systolic (PSV) and end diastolic (EDV) flow velocity, pulsatility index (PI), and diameter of the left and right common (CCA) and internal (ICA) carotid arteries, intima-media thickness (IMT) of the left and right CCA, left ventricle (LV) mass, peak flow velocity on LV outflow tract, and fractional shortening (FS). Patients with stenosis of the carotid artery or its main intracranial branches were excluded, as were patients with major cerebral infarction, severe intracranial abnormality, or heart function disorder. The remaining 59 patients were subdivided according to the presence or absence of cerebral ischemic symptoms, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, and hyperlipidemia for multivariate analyses and stepwise regressions. RESULTS: Women had smaller diameters and lower PI in the left and right CCA, and smaller LV mass than men. Age, CCA diameter, and IMT showed an inverse correlation with carotid flow velocities in several arterial segments. There was a positive correlation between PSV in the left CCA and ICA and FS, and between PSV in the left CCA and peak velocity on LV outflow tract. Flow velocities in the left and right ICA were significantly slower in patients with than in patients without cerebral ischemic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac hemodynamics and carotid flow velocities are significantly related, only on the left side, probably due to larger hemodynamic stress. Increased intracerebral circulatory resistance is probably involved in the decrease in carotid flow velocity and increase in PI in patients with cerebral ischemic symptoms.     

Blood flow and flow resistance in the vertebral arteries of patients with and without carotid atherosclerosis

In the present prospective study colour duplex ultrasound was used to investigate the vertebral arteries in 117 patients referred for carotid duplex examination. The study aimed to identify flow abnormalities and factors influencing blood flow haemodynamics by calculating the resistance index (RI) in the vertebral and common carotid arteries. Vertebral artery RI was decreased in patients with severe carotid artery disease (> or =80% stenosis or occlusion) caused mainly by an increased diastolic flow velocity. By contrast, patients without severe carotid artery disease showed an age-related increase in vertebral artery RI. The RI in the common carotid artery was increased in patients with local atherosclerosis in the carotid bulb, and was increased with age. There was significantly better visualization of the right vertebral artery origin than of the left (75% versus 62%, P<0.05). Stenotic lesions were found in 15% of the carotid bifurcations and in 7% of the vertebral arteries. It is concluded that vertebral artery haemodynamics can be evaluated using colour duplex ultrasound; however, there are difficulties in visualizing the vertebral artery origin, especially on the left side. Even at advanced age, the vertebral arteries can reduce flow resistance to maintain cerebral blood flow in patients with occluded or severely stenosed carotid arteries. RI in vertebral arteries in patients without severe carotid occlusive disease, and in common carotid arteries, is mainly affected by local atherosclerosis and age, which increase the flow resistance.     

Acute carotid artery dissection treated with stenting and hematoma aspiration guided by ultrasonography

We report the successful treatment of dissection with stenosis of the carotid artery by stenting and aspiration of hematoma. A male patient, presenting with acute blurred vision and weakness and numbness of the right side of his body, was diagnosed with common carotid artery (CCA) dissection and severe stenosis of the internal carotid artery and CCA by digital subtraction arteriography and color Doppler ultrasonography (CDU). Two stents were separately implanted into the left internal carotid artery and CCA to restore blood flow and seal the opening of the dissection. The hematoma inside the CCA dissection was transcutaneously aspirated under CDU guidance after thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator. Three days after the operation, the dissection was still sealed. The patient was discharged 1 week later without any signs or symptoms. Follow‐up examination at 70 days confirmed complete healing of the CCA dissection. Transcutaneous intradissection hematoma aspiration with CDU guidance may be applicable in treating arterial dissection, especially when conservative treatments cannot be expected to improve severe flow disturbances. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 41:509–513, 2013;     

Color duplex sonography of occlusion of the common carotid artery with reversed flow in the extracranial internal carotid artery

In a small percentage of cases with an occluded common carotid artery (CCA), the patency of the arteries beyond the carotid bulb is preserved. Color duplex sonography is useful for assessing blood flow in these vessels. We present a case of retrograde flow in an internal carotid artery (ICA) with an occluded ipsilateral CCA identified using color duplex sonography in a 70-year-old man with diabetes and known atherosclerotic disease. Color duplex sonography revealed that the right CCA was totally occluded near its origin and that flow was re-established at the bulb. Flow in the right ICA was directed cephalad, with a low-frequency, damped waveform; flow in the right external carotid artery (ECA) was bidirectional, with increased reversed diastolic flow. Extensive atherosclerotic lesions were also found in the left side. Endarterectomy of the left carotid bifurcation was performed. Follow-up color duplex sonography 3 months later revealed a small increase of stenosis in the left CCA and mild stenosis in the left ICA. The right CCA remained occluded, but reversed flow with a high-resistance flow pattern was seen in the ipsilateral ICA that supplied the ECA, which had cephalad-directed flow.     

MSCTA与DSA在颈部动脉疾病中的对比研究

目的 探讨多层螺旋CT血管成像（multislice CT angiography,MSCTA）对颈部动脉疾病的临床应用价值.方法 对 16 例临床怀疑颈部动脉狭窄性病变患者行颈血管CTA检查,13例患者一侧或两侧颈动脉狭窄或闭塞,1例患者一侧椎动脉横突孔段狭窄,2例止常,其中16例患者在同期行DSA检杳,以DSA结果为金标准进行效果评价.结果 16 例病人基本满意地显示了两侧颈部动脉血管的正常结构和疾病分布情况.将每侧颈部动脉分为 5 个血管节段进行观察,16例可评价病例共观察 160 段血管.MSCTA显示不同程度狭窄的血管段共 30 段,与DSA 结果比较,两者诊断总符合率为97.5%（156/160）,MSCTA 对颈部动脉狭窄诊断的敏感度、特异度分别为100%（28/28）、98.5%（130/132）.MSCTA 与 DSA 二者在诊断颈动脉狭窄上有很好的一致性.结论 颈部 MSCTA与DSA比较,能够清晰显示颈部动脉狭窄性病变,是一种可靠的、无创的、有应用价值的检查方法.     

彩色多普勒超声检测椎动脉的临床意义

目的探讨彩色多普勒超声对检测椎动脉的临床应用价值。方法选择30例正常成人椎动脉二维及彩色多普勒超声血流动力学检查结果为正常对照组,回顾性总结分析323例经彩色多普勒超声检测诊断椎动脉异常二维声像表现及血流动力学改变,并分别与其MRI或DSA检查结果对照分析。结果323例异常椎动脉中,内径狭窄76例,闭塞伴斑块26例,走行明显扭曲43例,超声与MRI或DSA检查结果一致;彩色多普勒显示峰值流速明显减低216例,Vmax<25cm/s,椎动脉血流方向与颈动脉部分相反、流速曲线显示以收缩期部分反向血流9例,MRI或DSA检查未能做出诊断;彩色多普勒显示血流方向与颈动脉完全相反、流速曲线显示以收缩期完全反向血流11例(SSS),MRI未能做出诊断,DSA确诊11例。结论彩色多普勒超声常规检测椎动脉对临床脑血管疾病诊断有重要意义。     

颈内动脉严重狭窄或闭塞后颈总动脉与颈内动脉虹吸段血流频谱的改变

目的：分析颈内动脉严重狭窄或闭塞（ＩＣＡＳＯ）后颈总动脉（ＣＣＡ）和颈内动脉虹吸段（ＳＩＰＨＡ）血流频谱的改变,提高经颅多普勒超声（ＴＣＤ）对ＩＣＡＳＯ的检出率和准确性。方法：ＩＣＡＳＯ患者１２０例,全部经颈部血管彩超检查证实,其中６２例经脑血管造影（ＤＳＡ）进一步确诊双侧病变３３例,单侧病变８７例,共有病变血管１５３条（狭窄９４条,闭塞５９条）。全部行ＴＣＤ检查。结果：（１）狭窄或闭塞侧颈总动脉     

Color Doppler analysis of vertebral arteries: correlative study with angiographic data.

OBJECTIVE: Color Doppler ultrasonography is the most widespread diagnostic procedure in obstructive disease of the arteries supplying the brain. To our knowledge, there are only a few correlative color Doppler ultrasonographic and angiographic studies of the vertebral arteries, especially in patients who have flow-restrictive stenosis at the carotid bifurcation. The main purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate diameter, flow volume, and time-averaged mean velocities of angiographically verified normal vertebral arteries without collateral flow. The second purpose was to try to establish a threshold value for the flow volume of the vertebral artery. METHODS: One hundred twenty patients referred for carotid angiography with a normal vertebrobasilar system and with no patent posterior communicating arteries were investigated with color Doppler ultrasonography. Luminal diameter, time-averaged mean velocity, peak systolic velocity, and flow volume values were calculated for each patient. The parameters were compared between sexes, in different age groups, in patients with carotid stenosis of 50% or less and greater than 50%, and in patients who had clinical signs of vertebrobasilar insufficiency versus those who had not. RESULTS: We have found no significant difference in evaluated parameters with the degree of associated carotid stenosis or vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Diameter and flow volume values on the left side were higher than on the right side. CONCLUSIONS: We found similar flow volume values of vertebral arteries in both sexes and both groups of patients with carotid stenosis of 50% or less and greater than 50%. All parameters did not differ in patients with stenosis of 50% or less and greater than 50% and in patients with and without clinical signs of vertebrobasilar insufficiency.     

Persistent second cervical intersegmental artery in a case of possible PHACE syndrome

The proximal segment of the vertebral artery most often consists of a persistent sixth cervical intersegmental artery that originates from the subclavian artery, but it may also derive from a fifth, fourth, or third cervical intersegmental artery (in decreasing order of frequency), or from a first thoracic intersegmental artery. The involvement of more cranial cervical branches is exceptional, with no known persistent first cervical intersegmental artery and possibly five cases of persistent second cervical intersegmental arteries reported so far. This report describes a patient with multiple arterial variations including right persistent second cervical intersegmental artery of common carotid origin, distal VA duplication, circumflex aortic arch, and segmental internal carotid agenesis in a context of possible PHACE syndrome.     

多发性大动脉炎颈动脉病变的彩超特征

目的：研究多发性大动脉炎(TA)颈动脉病变的超声特征。方法：TA患者30例。彩超检查颈总、内、外动脉，观察颈动脉病变分布，测量颈总动脉内膜中层厚度；彩色血流显像(CFI)及脉冲多普勒(PD)分析颈动脉血流变化。结果：30例患者中53支颈总动脉受累，平均内膜中层厚度2．4mm。TA颈动脉病变多累及颈总动脉近端，较少直接累及颈内外动脉，但35支颈内和31支颈外动脉内仍表现为血流异常，出现低搏动性血流。23支(23／60，38％)颈外动脉血流反向，近端颈总动脉均有严重狭窄或闭塞。4支病变颈总动脉出现壁内动脉，提示TA处于活动期。结论：彩超可发现TA颈动脉病变较多特征，对诊断TA有重要作用。     

A rare anomalous origin of right vertebral artery: findings on Doppler sonography

Anomalous origin of the right vertebral artery from the right common carotid artery occurs rarely. To the best of our knowledge, the medical literature contains no information about gray-scale and Doppler sonography findings in this anomaly, despite the extensive information available from angiographic studies and postmortem examinations. We present the case of a 32-year-old man who suffered from a sudden onset of hemiparesis on the left side. Doppler sonography revealed a partial thrombosis in the proximal part of right common carotid artery. The right vertebral artery was shown to originate from the proximal part of the right common carotid artery. The right vertebral artery was patent. Thus, the use of color Doppler sonography can aid in the diagnosis of some vascular anomalies.     

三维对比增强MRA容积再现重建在颈部动脉狭窄中的诊断价值

目的分析三维对比增强MRA(3D CE-MRA)容积再现(VR)重建对颈部动脉狭窄的诊断价值。方法选择经DSA证实的颈部动脉狭窄28例,采用三维容积超快速多期动态增强扫描序列(Propeller LAVA)行颈部3D CE MRA检查,将原始图像在Adw4.3工作站上行最大强度投影(MIP)及VR血管重建,以DSA作为标准进行对照。结果28例共44支。动脉闭塞7例11支,其中单侧颈内动脉1支,双侧椎动脉4例8支,单侧椎动脉2支。动脉狭窄21例33支血管(轻度18支、中度10支、重度5支),其中单侧颈内动脉1支,双侧椎动脉12例24支,单侧椎动脉5支,单侧锁骨下动脉3支。44支病变血管VR所见与DSA表现基本一致,所有轻中度狭窄、闭塞血管MIP与DSA表现一致,重度狭窄1例相符,总符合率90.9%。4例重度狭窄血管中,MIP将左椎动脉重度狭窄显示管腔闭塞1支,管腔闭塞后侧支血管显示不清1支,狭窄段形态显示不清2支。结论颈部动脉VR重建可避开静脉干扰,血管显示更直观,反映的是血管真实信息。     

颈动脉狭窄致兔脑缺血时的眼动脉血流动力学改变

目的：应用彩色多普勒血流显像（CDFI）技术研究颈动脉狭窄引起脑缺血时眼动脉血流动力学的改变。方法：选择新西兰大白兔12只，部分阻断左颈总动脉，引起左侧脑缺血时，观测左眼动脉血流动力学的改变。结果：眼动脉血流为低阻力型，左颈总动脉部分阻断后，左眼动脉的平均血流速度，最大血流速度，阻力指数，搏动指数较术前均明显降低，而最小血流速度改变不明显。结论：当颈动脉窄引起急性脑缺血时，同侧眼动脉血流同时也发生相应改变，根据眼动脉血流动力学改变情况，可以间接反映脑血流动力学的变化。     

Doppler sonography of normal fetal vertebral and internal carotid arteries during pregnancy

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the resistance index (RI) in the fetus in both the vertebral artery and the internal carotid artery and to evaluate the relationship of those RIs with that of the umbilical artery. METHODS: In this prospective study, color Doppler examinations of the vertebral, internal carotid, and umbilical arteries were performed in fetuses with normal growth between 17 and 41 weeks' gestational age. For every week, the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles of the RIs in the 3 arteries plus the ratios of the RIs of the vertebral and umbilical arteries and of the internal carotid and umbilical arteries were calculated. RESULTS: In 225 examinations in 114 women, the vertebral and internal carotid arteries showed similar RI patterns, with higher RIs at mid gestation. The only difference was that the RIs in the internal carotid artery reached maximum values at a slightly later gestational age (26-28 weeks) than did those in the vertebral artery (24-25 weeks). Also, the RIs in the vertebral artery were slightly higher than were those in the internal carotid artery. RI values in the umbilical artery decreased progressively throughout gestation. Conversely, the ratios of the RIs in the vertebral and umbilical arteries and those of the RIs in the internal carotid and umbilical arteries increased slightly until the end of pregnancy, with the former ratios always higher than the latter ones. CONCLUSIONS: In normal fetuses, the pattern of blood flow resistance in the vertebral artery resembles that in the internal carotid artery. However, compared with the internal carotid artery, the vertebral artery shows higher absolute RIs with maximum values appearing earlier in the course of pregnancy.     

锁骨下动脉盗血综合征的彩色多普勒血流显像分析

目的分析比较27例锁骨下动脉盗血综合征(SSS)患者锁骨下动脉、椎动脉和桡动脉的血流动力学、频谱特点,以及狭窄程度与盗血的关系等.方法 27例患者均经临床检查、超声诊断以及相关检查确诊.彩色多普勒超声常规显示颈动脉、椎动脉、桡动脉、锁骨下动脉及无名动脉的内径、内膜和血流方向及速度.结果 27例患者中,锁骨下动脉狭窄18例,内径1.0～4.4 mm,血流速度100～420 cm/s;9例锁骨下动脉闭塞,均引起完全性盗血.椎动脉及桡动脉峰值血流速度患侧明显低于健侧,患侧椎动脉出现反向血流,桡动脉血流与锁骨下动脉狭窄程度和反向椎动脉血流有一定关系.结论彩色多普勒血流显像(CDFI)可对完全性SSS做出诊断,部分性SSS可辅助于脉冲多普勒和束臂试验明确诊断.完全性和部分性盗血与血管狭窄程度有关.患侧椎动脉反向血流和桡动脉峰值血流速度取决于侧支循环建立的完善与否.     

头颈部血管超声在评估突发性聋合并颈椎病中的应用

目的探讨头颈部血管超声在评估突发性聋合并颈椎病中的应用。 方法前瞻性选取2016年8月至2017年8月于首都医科大学附属北京朝阳医院耳鼻喉科确诊为伴有椎动脉型颈椎病的突发性聋患者58例设为A组,无颈椎病的突发性聋患者58例设为B组;另收集同期确诊为椎动脉型颈椎病而无突发性聋的患者58例设为C组。患者取平卧位和坐位+头部屈位40°体位,行颈部血管超声检查;患者取俯卧位行经颅多普勒超声检查,并进行转颈试验。记录双侧颈内动脉、双侧椎动脉、基底动脉的平均血流速度,同一血管血流速度不同体位前后比较采用配对t检验,多组血管间血流速度比较采用方差分析。 结果坐位+低头40°体位颈部血管超声检查发现,与平卧位检查相比,双侧颈内动脉流速3组均出现不同程度减低。其中存在椎动脉型颈椎病的2组双侧颈内动脉流速变化差异有统计学意义（A组左侧颈内动脉P=0.004,右侧颈内动脉P=0.011;C组双侧颈内动脉P=0.000）;无颈椎病突发性聋组双侧颈内动脉流速变化差异无统计学意义（B组双侧颈内动脉P均＞0.05）。俯卧位经颅多普勒超声检查结果显示,3组间基底动脉、双侧椎动脉流速比较,差异均有统计学意义（P均=0.000）。在转颈试验中,3组的基底动脉和双侧椎动脉流速与俯卧位相比,均有不同程度减低,其中伴有椎动脉型颈椎病的2组基底动脉和双侧椎动脉流速,转颈试验前后比较差异均有统计学意义（A组基底动脉P=0.039,双侧椎动脉P=0.001;C组基底动脉P=0.042,右侧椎动脉P=0.000,左侧椎动脉P=0.011）;无颈椎病突发性聋组基底动脉和双侧椎动脉流速变化差异无统计学意义（B组P均＞0.05）。 结论头颈部血管超声结合患者体位变化可以较好地反映颈内动脉以及椎动脉、基底动脉流速变化情况,从而为明确突发性聋患者是否存在椎动脉型颈椎病提供诊断依据。     

Surgical reconstruction of the proximal subclavian and vertebral arteries

The diagnosis and management of atherosclerotic lesions of the extracranial internal carotid artery has become fairly well established. Symptoms of basilar artery hypoperfusion may be due to stenotic lesions at the origin of either or both vertebral arteries or the proximal subclavian artery. Surgical correction can offer relief of symptoms. For the past decade, we have used a direct anastomosis from the vertebral or subclavian artery distal to the lesion to the adjacent common carotid artery. We have done this procedure 579 times, with one death and no neurologic deficit. A lymph fistula required closure in one patient, and reoperation was necessary in three patients because of bleeding. The results have been excellent, and we continue to offer this method of restoring arterial circulation in patients with cerebellar symptoms and vertebral hypoperfusion.     

超声造影评价颈动脉斑块增强强度与颈总动脉内-中膜厚度的相关性

目的：探讨颈动脉粥样硬化患者的颈总动脉内-中膜厚度（intima-media thickness,IMT）与颈动脉斑块增强强度（enhanced intensity,EI）的相关性.方法：2009年2011年在复旦大学附属中山医院行颈动脉超声造影（contrast-enhanced ultrasound,CEUS）检查的颈动脉粥样硬化患者135例,共167个颈动脉斑块.采用荷兰Philips iU22超声诊断仪,L9-3线阵探头.所有患者行CEUS检查时,仪器参数设置保持一致.超声造影剂采用Sono Vue,剂量2.0 mL.根据斑块有无增强及增强强度,将斑块EI分为0～4级,采用QLAB定量分析软件分别测量颈总动脉IMT,计算颈动脉斑块EI、斑块EI与颈动脉管腔EI的比值,并分析其与相应颈总动脉IMT的相关性.结果：167条颈动脉中有6条未测及IMT,不同CEUS斑块增强分级组的IMT测值之间差异无统计学意义（P=0.994）.颈总动脉IMT与斑块EI（P=0.687）及比值（P=0.852）无相关性.结论：颈动脉斑块EI与颈总动脉IMT无相关性,临床上可根据具体情况选择合适的筛选和随访手段.     

应用动脉弹性新参数评价2型糖尿病患者双侧颈动脉硬化差异的初步研究

目的应用动脉弹性新参数评价2型糖尿病患者颈动脉段硬化差异的初步研究。方法 2型糖尿病患者88例(DM组),对照组70例。应用超声射频技术获取受检者左、右侧颈动脉顺应系数(CC)和脉搏波速度(PWV),计算左、右侧两参数值之比,获取CCratio、PWVratio新参数,并在组内采用左右侧比较,在组间采用同侧比较。分析影响CCratio、PWVratio值的相关因素。结果 1DM组,左侧颈动脉PWV高于右侧(P﹤0.05);对照组,CC和PWV在左右侧对比差异无统计学意义;2与对照组比较,DM组患者左右侧颈动脉PWV和右侧颈动脉CC均大于对照组(均P﹤0.05);3PWVratio在两组间差异有统计学意义(P﹤0.05)。PWVratio与糖尿病病程和收缩压呈正相关(r=0.334和r=0.460,P﹤0.05),而与年龄、身高、体重不相关。CCratio在两组间差异无统计学意义(P﹥0.05)。结论 2型糖尿病患者双侧颈动脉僵硬度不同,这种差异与病程和血压有关,新参数可评价双侧颈动脉僵硬的差异。     

Headache as only symptom in multiple cervical artery dissection

We describe a patient with atypical headache as the only presenting symptom of spontaneous triple cervical artery dissection. As the patient suffered from arterial hypertension, a causative relation between headache and arterial hypertension was initially taken into consideration. However, four-vessel arteriography disclosed a dissection of both internal carotid arteries and the right vertebral artery. This unique case highlights the value of conventional arteriography for diagnosing cervical artery dissection. Since multiple cervical artery dissections are not rare, all cervical arteries should be examined by means of conventional arteriography when a dissection is suspected.