Carotid angioplasty and stenting versus redo endarterectomy for recurrent stenosis

BACKGROUND: Carotid angioplasty and stent (CAS) is an alternative to redo carotid endarterectomy (RCEA) for recurrent carotid stenosis (RCS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of CAS in the treatment of RCS. METHODS: In an 8-year period, all patients presenting for treatment of RCS were followed-up prospectively. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify variables associated with unfavorable outcomes. RESULTS: There were 45 CAS and 46 RCEA procedures performed in 75 patients. One patient in each group suffered a stroke. There were no deaths. The hospital length of stay was significantly shorter for CAS. Secondary recurrence was higher after RCEA (14% vs 6.1%) and failure to take beta-blockers was an independent predictor for multiple recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: CAS is a safe and effective method to treat patients with RCS and may become the procedure of choice for this disease.     

颈动脉狭窄的外科手术治疗

目的探讨颈动脉内膜切除术(CEA)治疗颈动脉狭窄的疗效。方法对2001年1月—2011年5月90例颈动脉狭窄患者行颈动脉内膜切除术93次,其中男78例,女15例;年龄50～78(平均65.6岁)。术前有短暂性脑缺血发作62例(TIA),31例术前患过脑梗死。所有患者术前均行脑血管造影和\或CTA明确颈动脉狭窄,狭窄程度均>80%。对侧颈动脉狭窄或闭塞者22例。结果 90例术后临床症状改善,包括TIA消失,记忆力明显好转,语言障碍恢复等。术后80例获得随访1～36个月。15例发现有手术部位再狭窄,狭窄率小于25%,其中1例脑卒中,1例TIA保守治疗好转。其余13例无临床症状。结论颈动脉内膜切除术是治疗颈动脉狭窄的安全、有效的方法。     

Redo endarterectomy for recurrent carotid artery stenosis

From a registry of 2406 carotid endarterectomies performed on 1818 patients over a 19-year period, 29 patients (1.6%) underwent reoperations for recurrent stenosis. Reoperations were performed for symptomatic stenosis for 23 and asymptomatic greater than 80% stenosis for six patients. Compared to the entire series, there was no difference in the incidence of restenosis for men and women. The pathologic findings were myointimal hyperplasia in 27%, atherosclerosis in 53%, thrombus with vessel dilatation in 17% and extrinsic scar in 3%. Redo endarterectomy with patch angioplasty was used for reconstruction in 27 patients and patch angioplasty alone in two. There were no operative deaths or strokes. Late follow-up (mean 50 months) revealed only one stroke and six other deaths. Although 21 (75%) were alive and stroke-free, follow-up studies suggest a high incidence (21%) of tertiary lesions among patients who have undergone redo endarterectomy for recurrent stenosis.     

Carotid endarterectomy for asymptomatic carotid stenosis is safe in octogenarians

ObjectiveCarotid endarterectomy (CEA) is the gold standard to prevent a recurrent stroke in symptomatic patients with carotid stenosis. However, in the modern era, the benefit of CEA in asymptomatic octogenarian patients has come into question. This study investigates real-world outcomes of CEA in asymptomatic octogenarians.MethodsPatients who underwent CEA for asymptomatic carotid stenosis were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program CEA-targeted database from 2012 to 2017. They were stratified into two groups: octogenarians (≥80 years old) and younger patients (<80 years old). The 30-day outcomes evaluated included mortality and major morbidities such as stroke, cardiac events, pulmonary, and renal dysfunction. Multivariable logistic regression was used for data analysis.ResultsWe identified 13,846 patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis who underwent an elective CEA including 2509 octogenarians and 11,337 younger patients. Octogenarians were more likely to be female and less likely to be diabetic or smokers compared with younger patients. There was no difference in preoperative use of statins or antiplatelet therapy. Examination of 30-day outcomes revealed that octogenarians had slightly higher mortality (1.2% vs 0.5%; odds ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-3.4; P < .01), and a higher risk of return to the operating room (3.3% vs 2.3%; odds ratio, 1.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.9; P = .01). However, there was no difference between octogenarians and younger patients in adverse cardiac events or pulmonary, renal, or wound complications. Twenty-five octogenarian and 138 younger patients suffered from periprocedural stroke at a similar rate (1.0% vs 1.2%; P = .54). Stroke/death occurred for 51 of 2509 patients (2.0%) in the older group and 184 of 11,337 patients (1.6%) in the younger group, a difference that was not significant (P = .15).ConclusionsThe 30-day outcomes of CEA in octogenarians are comparable with those in younger patients. Although the octogenarians had slightly higher mortality than younger patients, the absolute risk of mortality was still low at 1.2%. Therefore, CEA is safe in asymptomatic carotid stenosis in octogenarians. Overall life expectancy and preoperative functional status, rather than age, should be the major determinants in the decision to operate.     

Carotid endarterectomy. Long term follow-up with specific reference to recurrent stenosis, contralateral progression, mortality and recurrent neurological episodes

This study follows up 292 carotid endarterectomy operations in 256 patients using the colour coded carotid Doppler Imager and oculoplethysmography and reports the rate of ipsilateral restenosis, contralateral progression, late (after 30 days postoperatively) neurological symptoms and mortality in life table form. The restenosis rate was 15% at 5 years. No case of restenosis presented with symptoms and none required reoperation. The contralateral progression rate from less than 50% internal carotid artery stenosis to greater than 50% was 20% over 5 years. Significantly more symptoms were associated with cases of contralateral progression (p = 0.05). The late neurological symptom rate was 14% at 5 years and was associated with widespread intra/extracranial vascular disease rather than restenosis. The late death rate was 12% at 5 years of which 40% were due to myocardial infarction. The overall postoperative death rate over 5 years was the same as an age and sex matched population. A more aggressive approach to coronary artery disease does not appear justified. The value of noninvasive tests in the post-endarterectomy situation is stressed with particular reference to documentation of contralateral progression.     

Carotid endarterectomy: update on the gold standard treatment for carotid stenosis

Many prospective, randomized clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) versus medical management in the prevention of ischemic stroke were performed in the 1990s. Clinical trials are underway that will compare CEA outcomes to carotid stenting; however, relatively few studies have examined the outcomes of modern CEA. The purpose of this report is to examine current outcomes of CEA and evaluate hospital costs and length of stay. Statewide results were collected for all hospitals, except Veterans Administration hospitals, by Virginia Health Information (VHI). Data for the years 1997-2001 were evaluated, and data were based on the All Patient Refined Diagnostic Related Group (APR-DRG; 3M Company). A total of 14,095 CEAs were performed in a 5-year period. The mortality of patients undergoing CEA was 0.5 per cent. The stroke rate was 1 per cent overall and decreased each year of the study. Mean and median lengths of hospital stay were 3 and 2 days, respectively. Length of stay decreased over the course of this study. Mean and median hospital costs were 14,331 dollars and 11,268 dollars. Higher rates of mortality and stroke and higher costs were observed at low-volume hospitals. The need for CEA is substantial. CEA is safe and inexpensive. The data presented here demonstrates continued refinement in CEA, leading to a very low rate of perioperative adverse events, declining lengths of stay, and low hospital costs.     

Carotid endarterectomy: operative risks, recurrent stenosis, and long-term stroke rates in a modern series.

To determine whether carotid endarterectomy (CEA) safely and effectively maintained a durable reduction in stroke complications over an extended period, we reviewed our data on 478 consecutive patients who underwent 544 CEA's since 1976. Follow-up was complete in 83% of patients (mean 44 months). There were 7 early deaths (1.3%), only 1 stroke related (0.2%). Perioperative stroke rates (overall 2.9%) varied according to operative indications: asymptomatic, 1.4%; transient ischemic attacks (TIA)/amaurosis fugax (AF), 1.3%; nonhemispheric symptoms (NH), 4.9%; and prior stroke (CVA), 7.1%. Five and 10-year stroke-free rates were 96% and 92% in the asymptomatic group, 93% and 87% in the TIA/AF group, 92% and 92% in the NH group, and 80% and 73% in the CVA group. Late ipsilateral strokes occurred infrequently (8 patients, 1.7%). Late deaths were primarily cardiac related (51.3%). Stroke-free rates were significantly (p less than 0.0001) greater than stroke-free survival rates, confirming a non-stroke related cause for late death. Restenoses greater than 50% according to duplex scanning developed in 13%, most (67%) within 2 years after CEA. Most of these (77%) were asymptomatic, and only 0.3% (1 patient) presented with a permanent neurologic deficit. The results of carotid endarterectomy are superior to those of optimal medical management in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients in terms of long-term stroke prevention. When low perioperative stroke mortality/morbidity rates are achieved, carotid endarterectomy is justified for treatment of patients with carotid bifurcation disease.     

Eversion carotid endarterectomy for recurrent stenosis after carotid angioplasty/stenting

Restenosis requiring treatment after carotid angioplasty/stenting is uncommon in clinical practice. Treatment options include repeat angioplasty (with or without another stent) or carotid endarterectomy. This report describes a patient with recurrent stenosis treated with eversion carotid endarterectomy and stent removal.     

Carotid endarterectomy

Carotid endarterectomy is a procedure that has withstood the test of time and scientific scrutiny to remain an important technique for the surgical prevention of stroke. Several aspects of this operation are critical for success, i.e., improving on the natural history of carotid artery stenosis. The procedure is described in a stepwise manner, with emphasis on key steps for avoiding thrombotic or embolic complications.     

Carotid endarterectomy

A technique for carotid endarterectomy done under general anesthesia features the routine use of a straight shunt, precise removal of all plaque and shreds of media, and routine completion angiography done as a means of quality control.     

Carotid endarterectomy

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is performed to prevent embolicstroke in patients with atheromatous disease at the carotidbifurcation. There is now substantial evidence to support earlyoperation in symptomatic patients, ideally within 2 weeks ofthe last neurological symptoms. Thus, the anaesthetist may befaced with a high risk patient in whom there has been limitedtime for preoperative preparation. The operation may be performedunder local or general anaesthesia. The advantages and disadvantagesof both are explored in this review. Carotid shunting may offera degree of cerebral protection, but carries its own risks andhas not been proved to reduce morbidity and mortality. The useof carotid shunts is based on clinical judgement, awake neurologicalmonitoring, and the use of monitors of cerebral perfusion. Thereis no ideal monitor of cerebral perfusion in the patient receivinggeneral anaesthesia. Both the intraoperative and postoperativeperiods may be witness to dramatic haemodynamic changes thatmay compromise the cerebral or myocardial circulations. In particular,postoperative hypotension may compromise both myocardial andcerebral perfusion, and severe hypertension can cause cerebralhyperperfusion. There is as yet limited evidence to guide themanagement of these problems. In summary, CEA can yield significantbenefit, but those with the most to gain from the operationalso present the greatest challenge to the anaesthetist.     

Carotid endarterectomy

Our indications, contraindications, pertinent preoperative evaluation and treatment, operative technique, and postoperative care for carotid endarterectomy are presented in detail. When this procedure is performed in an orderly manner, the risks are low. We believe the following points are important in avoiding postoperative neurological complications: systemic heparinization, use of relative hypertension, routine use of an internal shunt, endarterectomy to the superior end of the arteriosclerotic plaque, firm attachment of intima at the ends of the endarterectomy, and avoidance of air embolism by back-flushing.     

Incidence of recurrent or residual stenosis after carotid endarterectomy

The incidences of recurrent and residual stenosis after carotid endarterectomy have been controversial. Duplex scanning has recently provided an accurate noninvasive method of quantifying areas of arterial narrowing, and this technique was used in 122 postendarterectomy vessels from 71 men and 35 women with a mean age of 65.2 years. The average time interval between operation and scanning was 26.3 months (range 1 month to 11.76 years). Postoperative examination of the internal carotid artery revealed no stenosis in 78 vessels, less than 50 percent area reduction in 17 vessels, 50 to 75 percent stenosis in 11 vessels, more than 75 percent area reduction in 9 vessels, and total occlusion in 7 vessels. Thus, 22 percent of the vessels (27 of 122) had total occlusion or more than 50 percent area reduction after carotid endarterectomy. This is a higher rate of recurrent stenosis than was diagnosed by oculoplethysmography, where 7 of 52 vessels (13 percent) had a positive oculoplethysmogram after operation. These data show that the reported incidence of residual or recurrent stenosis after carotid endarterectomy is heavily dependent on the testing method used. Duplex scanning documents a 22 percent frequency of residual or recurrent stenosis, a figure higher than has been reported with less sensitive tests.