颈动脉支架的安全性和有效性

目的评价颈动脉支架植入安全性和有效性。方法前瞻性观察70位中国人所接受的76次颈动脉内膜旋切术 (CEA),对CAS的安全性及有效性做初步探讨。人选者均属高危患者,包括不稳定型心绞痛、同侧CEA史、对侧颈动脉狭窄、颈动脉放疗后狭窄及其他严重的合并症。患者于术前、术后及半年后随访时均接受独立的神经专科检查;于远期随访时复查脑血管造影。结果手术成功率为100％;术前平均狭窄程度达(82±18)％,术后狭窄程度下降至(5±10)％。所有患者共发生3次小卒中(5．7％),均无大卒中事件;住院期间及术后30 d内均无心肌梗死及死亡事件。平均随访期达 (20±12)月;2例患者发生无症状颈动脉再狭窄;2例患者发生非Q波型心肌梗死;两例患者因非神经源性因素死亡;3 例患者发生小卒中;远期随访未发现大卒中。结论在中国人群中,经皮颈动脉支架植入术是安全可行的,它的远期再狭窄率亦低。     

A meta-analysis of carotid endarterectomy versus stenting in the treatment of symptomatic carotid stenosis

Background  Carotid stenosis is one of the common reasons for patients with ischemic stroke, and the two invasive options carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) are the most popular treatments. But the relative efficacy and safety of the methods are not clear.

Methods  About 521 articles related to CAS and CEA for carotid stenosis published in 1995–2011 were retrieved from MEDLINE, Cochrane Library (CL), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) China Journal Full-Test database. Of them, eight articles were chosen. Meta-analysis was used to assess the relative risks.

Results  The eight studies included 3873 patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis, including 1941 cases in the carotid stent angioplasty group, and 1932 cases in the carotid endarterectomy group. Fixed effect model analysis showed that within 30 days of incidence of all types of strokes, surgery was significantly highly preferred in CAS patients (CAS group) than the CEA patients (CEA group), and the difference was statistically significant (relative ratio (RR)=1.80, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.380–2.401, P <0.0001). But the incidence of death in the two groups is not showed and is not statistically significant after 30 days (RR=1.52, 95% CI: 0.82–2.82, P=0.18). The rate of cranial nerve injury in the CAS group is lower than the CEA group (RR=0.14, 95% CI: 0.05–0.43, P=0.0005). The incidence of CAS patients with myocardial infarction is lower than the CEA group after 30 days, but statistically meaningless (RR=0.22, 95% CI: 0.05–1.02, P=0.05). The stroke or death in CAS patients were higher than the CEA group after 1 year of treatment (RR=2.58, 95% CI: 1.03–6.48, P=0.04).

Conclusions  Compared to CAS, carotid endarterectomy is still the preferred treatment methodology of symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. Future meta-analyses should then be performed in long-term follow-up to support this treatment recommendation.

     

高危颈动脉狭窄的球囊扩张和支架植入术治疗

目的:探讨用球囊扩张和支架植入术(Carotid angioplasty and stenting,CAS)治疗高危颈动脉狭窄患者的疗效和并发症。方法:从2003年3月到2006年4月对8例高危的颈动脉狭窄患者进行CAS治疗,观察CAS的疗效和并发症。结果:对8例症状性颈动脉狭窄患者的9根颈动脉进行了CAS治疗。CAS术后9根颈动脉的平均狭窄率从75.4%显著减少到28.8%(P<0.001,配对t检验)。所有的患者都使用了脑保护装置。全部使用自膨式支架,其中大部分是Precise镍钛合金支架(77.8%)。术中5例患者发生了一过性心率减慢和血压下降。经过21.5±14.2(4~41)月的随访,所有患者没有再发卒中,除1例患者仍有轻度头晕外,其余患者头晕、眩晕症状全部消失。6例(75%)患者通过颈动脉超声和/或CTA随访发现支架通畅,无再狭窄。结论:采用脑保护装置的CAS是治疗高危颈动脉狭窄的安全可行的方法,但其疗效和安全性需要作进一步观察。     

功能磁共振对颈动脉狭窄患者支架植入术前后脑功能改变的评估作用

目的研究磁共振灌注成像(PWI)及磁共振扩散张量成像(DTI)对颈动脉狭窄患者支架植入术前后脑功能变化的评估作用。方法选取20例经脑血管造影证实的单侧颈动脉重度狭窄患者,于颈动脉支架植入术(CAS)前后行PWI、DTI检查,评估术前术后脑血流量(CBF)、脑血流容积(CBV)、平均通过时间(MTT)的变化以及各向异性分数(FA)的变化情况。结果 20例患者术前双侧脑灌注存在差异,患侧MTT延长,CBF、CBV降低,术后患侧MTT缩短(t=4.396,P=0.000),CBF升高(t=-2.812,P=0.011),差异有统计学意义;CBV变化不明显。术前患侧额叶FA值较对侧降低(t=-2.539,P=0.013),术后患侧额叶FA值较术前升高(t=-2.322,P=0.032),而顶叶、枕叶、颞叶、内囊前肢、内囊后肢FA值变化不明显。结论联合应用PWI、DTI技术可提示脑组织血流灌注及脑白质受损情况,从而评估单侧颈动脉狭窄患者CAS术前术后脑功能的变化。     

颈动脉狭窄支架置入术的临床研究

目的分析总结颈动脉颅外段狭窄患者支架置入术后的疗效及其并发症，探讨其安全性与可行性。方法对41例因颈内动脉颅外段狭窄〉70％的患者进行了支架置入术。其中22例狭窄严重者使用了脑保护装置。结果所有患者均经DSA血管造影证实有颈动脉狭窄，支架置入术后残余狭窄率均低于50％，手术成功率100％。41例患者中有7例出现低血压、心动过缓，2例出现高灌注综合征、2例出现可逆性小卒中（非脑保护装置支架植入术中）。术后随诊2～24个月（平均随诊12±2．6个月），临床疗效满意。1例发生非支架侧脑梗死。结论血管支架置入术为颈动脉狭窄患者提供了一种新的、有前途的治疗手段。     

单侧颈动脉支架置入术后支架对侧颈动脉供血区微栓塞的危险因素研究

背景　颈动脉支架置入术（CAS）后微栓塞不仅发生于支架同侧颈动脉供血区,也常发生于支架对侧颈动脉供血区以及椎基底动脉供血区。目前CAS后发生支架同侧颈动脉供血区微栓塞的机制如高龄、颈动脉溃疡斑块等已相对明确,但CAS后支架对侧颈动脉供血区微栓塞的发生机制国内鲜有文献提及。目的　探讨单侧CAS后支架对侧颈动脉供血区微栓塞的发生情况,并分析其危险因素。方法　连续选取2013年12月—2018年8月在潍坊市人民医院神经内科就诊的拟行单侧CAS的颈动脉狭窄患者164例为研究对象。收集患者一般资料（性别、年龄、高血压发生情况、糖尿病发生情况、高脂血症发生情况、冠心病发生情况、心房颤动发生情况、吸烟情况、卒中史情况、术前颈动脉狭窄程度）,记录术后颈动脉狭窄程度、术后支架对侧颈动脉狭窄程度、支架对侧颈动脉闭塞发生情况、左侧颈动脉病变发生情况、Ⅱ/Ⅲ型主动脉弓发生情况、CAM评分≥3分情况、闭环支架使用情况、平均增加导管和/或导丝数量、手术时间。根据CAS后3 d内的颅脑MRI平扫检查结果,剔除后循环供血区微栓塞患者,将剩余患者分为同侧组（支架同侧颈动脉供血区微栓塞）和对侧组（支架对侧颈动脉供血区微栓塞或支架两侧颈动脉供血区微栓塞）。结果　164例患者中有163例完成CAS,CAS后3 d内颅脑MRI平扫检查发现72例（44.2%）新发微栓塞（其中支架同侧颈动脉供血区微栓塞39例,支架对侧颈动脉供血区微栓塞5例,支架两侧颈动脉供血区微栓塞13例,后循环供血区微栓塞15例）。剔除发生后循环供血区微栓塞患者,剩余57例,将其分为同侧组（39例）和对侧组（18例）。对侧组左侧颈动脉病变发生率、CAM评分≥3分发生率高于同侧组（P<0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示,左侧颈动脉病变〔OR=10.015,95%CI（2.728,42.680）〕、CAM评分≥3分〔OR=9.137,95%CI（2.564,36.271）〕是颈动脉狭窄患者CAS后发生支架对侧颈动脉供血区微栓塞的影响因素（P<0.05）。结论　发生左侧颈动脉病变以及CAM评分≥3分是CAS后支架对侧颈动脉供血区微栓塞的危险因素,提示复杂的路径以及严重的主动脉弓斑块可能导致CAS后支架对侧颈动脉供血区微栓塞的发生概率增加。     

颈动脉狭窄的外科治疗

目的　探讨颈动脉内膜剥脱术中的外科技术要点。方法　在颈丛麻醉下 ,对 4 3例颈动脉狭窄患者行颈动脉内膜剥脱术 ,其中有 2例是在颈总动脉和颈内动脉之间建立分流后 ,再行颈动脉内膜剥脱术。结果　颈动脉平均阻断时间为 2 7min± 7min ,术后 1例出现一过性神志欠佳 ,11例出现高血压 ,2例出现伤口轻度肿胀 ,后均康复出院。 2 6例术前有症状患者 ,术后症状明显改善 ,术后随访均稳定。结论　颈丛麻醉可以了解患者脑部供血情况 ,对于阻断颈总动脉脑缺血者 ,采用自颈总动脉至颈内动脉建立分流 ,可以避免出现缺血性脑损伤。手术效果主要取决于术中操作、完整去除颈动脉内膜残片及碎屑、充分排气和术后控制高血压     

不同手术方式治疗颈动脉粥样硬化的效果观察

目的 比较颈动脉内膜剥脱术与颈动脉支架置入术治疗颈动脉粥样硬化的效果.方法 将96例颈动脉粥样硬化患者根据治疗方法不同分为CEA组和CAS组,各48例,比较两组效果并随访6个月后观察并发症.结果 术后两组均经彩色超声、MRA检查证实颈内动脉血流通畅;CEA组35例（92.11％）,术后未再出现TIA,与CAS组（89.74％）比较差异无统计学意义（x2=0.130,P=0.719）;术后4周两组并发症比较,差异无统计学意义（x2=0.048,P=0.827）;CEA组术后6个月颈动脉再次狭窄与再发TIA均低于CAS组,差异有统计学意义（x2=10.889,P=0.001）.结论 采用CEA与CAS治疗颈动脉粥样硬化各有利弊,应根据具体情况选择手术方式.     

经颈动脉溶栓治疗兔脑静脉窦血栓的实验研究

目的研究经颈动脉溶栓治疗对兔脑静脉窦血栓模型的局部脑血流量及脑含水量的影响。方法39只新西兰兔通过结扎法建立兔脑静脉窦血栓模型,分为溶栓组(12只,经颈动脉泵入尿激酶0·4万U·kg-1·d-1,共5d)、抗凝组(12只,颈外静脉泵入肝素2mg·kg-1·d-1,共5d)、对照组(15只,颈动脉泵入生理盐水)。应用激光多普勒仪检测治疗前后局部脑血流量的变化,同时测定脑含水量的变化。结果治疗后局部脑血流量较模型建立前基线的百分率,溶栓组(94·8%±0·3%)明显高于抗凝组(88·6%±0·3%)和对照组(80·9%±0·3%,均P<0·01),抗凝组与对照组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0·01);治疗后溶栓组脑含水量(78·9%±0·3%)低于抗凝组(81·8%±0·7%)和对照组(82·1%±1·0%,均P<0·05)。结论应用颈动脉注射尿激酶栓治疗静脉窦血栓效果肯定,即使治疗不能开通静脉窦,局部脑血流量及脑含水量仍有明显改善。     

腔内修复抢救胸主动脉创伤伤员时封闭左锁骨下动脉的可行性分析

目的探讨腔内修复术（endovascularaorticrepair，EⅥ娘）中抢救胸主动脉创伤（thoracicaortictrauma，TAT）伤员时封闭左锁骨下动脉（1eftsubclavianartery，LSA）的可行性，从而为临床快速、简便、有效地急救TAT提供依据。方法对因EVAR中锚定区（1andingzone，LZ）不足的19例TAT伤员进行颈动脉、椎基底动脉及大脑动脉环（Wil—lis环）检查。如颈动脉、椎基底动脉血流通畅及wmis环完整则在EVAR时直接完全封闭LsA开口。术后行电子计算机断层扫描（computedtomography，CT）或／和CT血管造影（computedtomographyangiography，CTA）复查、随访，观察脑及上肢缺血并发症发生情况。结果4例（4／19）伤员因近端LZ不足，均选择了在EⅥ气R术中直接完全封闭LSA开口，均获得了手术成功。术后复查提示LSA远端无前向性血流1例、少量血流1例、中等量血流1例、正常血流1例。出院后平均随访21．2个月，随访期间2例伤员完全没症状；1例左上肢皮色稍苍白，皮温较对侧低，左上肢运动轻微减少，短暂性麻木、针刺感；1例阵发性眩晕，左上肢间歇性肌力减弱。所有症状表现轻微，无需再次手术以减轻症状。结论在明确颈动脉、椎基底动脉血流通畅及willis环完整后，应用EVAR救治TAT伤员时因锚定不足而直接完全封闭伤员的LsA开口是安全、可行的。进一步的论证需要多中心、大样本的临床实验。     

颈动脉CT斑块特征与颈动脉支架成形术后新发脑缺血灶的相关性

目的 研究颈动脉斑块CT特征与颈动脉支架成形术（carotid artery stenting,CAS）术后新发脑缺血灶（new brain ischemic lesion,NBIL）的关系。方法 回顾性分析123例行CAS的颈动脉狭窄患者。所有患者于术前接受颈动脉CT成像（computed tomography angiography,CTA）检查,所有患者于术前及术后接受头颅DWI-MRI检查。区分软斑块、混合斑块及钙化斑块的颈动脉斑块成分。评价及测量分析斑块的表面形态、长度、各类型斑块的体积及厚度,钙化斑块的位置及范围。采用单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析CT斑块特征与CAS术后NBIL的关系。结果 术后共有61例患者出现NBIL。NBIL（+）组钙化斑块厚度大于NBIL（-）组［（1.79±1.38） mm vs.（1.38±0.83） mm,P=0.020］。NBIL（+）组内膜钙化的发生率高于NBIL（-）组（34.4% vs. 8.1%,P=0.002）。多因素回归分析显示内膜钙化（OR=15.65,95%CI：1.34~98.75）及钙化斑块厚度（OR=1.35,95%CI：0.89~1.90）与NBIL相关。ROC曲线显示当狭窄处钙化厚度大于1.75 mm时其曲线下面积为0.726,其预测的特异性为88.7%。结论 颈动脉CT上显示的钙化位置及钙化厚度与CAS术后发生NBIL相关。     

脑保护装置下的颈动脉狭窄支架成形术

目的评价脑保护装置下的颈动脉狭窄支架成形术的有效性和安全性。方法22例患者在颈动脉狭窄支架成形术中联合使用了脑保护装置，首先将脑保护装置（过滤伞）小心通过狭窄部位放置于颈动脉狭窄的远端并释放，然后再行颈动脉狭窄支架成形术，观察手术期缺血性脑血管病事件及其他并发症。结果22例脑保护装置及支架均成功实施，支架释放前颈动脉的平均狭窄率为（84±9）％，支架成形术后的平均狭窄率降为（21±8）％（P〈0．01），手术期无缺血性脑血管病事件发生。结论脑保护装置能有效提高颈动脉狭窄支架成形术的安全性。     

急性脑梗死患者外周血炎症指标与颈动脉粥样硬化程度的关系

目的：探讨急性脑梗死患者外周血炎症指标hs-CRP、CD3＋/HLA-DR＋和中性粒细胞CD64指数与颈动脉粥样硬化程度的关系。方法：100例急性脑梗死患者（梗死组）经颈动脉彩色多谱勒超声证实为颈动脉粥样硬化,按病变程度分为颈动脉内膜增厚组（A亚组）20例、颈动脉斑块组（B亚组）56例、颈动脉狭窄组（C亚组）24例,选择50例健康体检者为对照组。采用免疫透射比浊法及流式细胞学检测各组患者外周血hs-CRP、CD3＋/HLA-DR＋和中性粒细胞CD64指数水平,并分析这些指标与颈动脉粥样硬化的关系。结果：梗死组hs-CRP、CD3＋/HLA-DR＋水平均明显高于对照组（P均〈0.01）;且hs-CRP与CD3＋/HLA-DR＋水平呈正相关（Pearsonr=0.408,P〈0.01）。梗死组中性粒细胞CD64指数与对照组比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。C亚组的hs-CRP、CD3＋/HLA-DR＋水平高于A亚组、B亚组（P均〈0.01）,颈动脉粥样硬化程度与hs-CRP、CD3＋/HLA-DR＋呈正相关（Spearmanrs=0.322,P〈0.01;Spearmanrs=0.387,P〈0.01）。而C亚组的中性粒细胞CD64指数与A亚组、B亚组比较差异无统计学意义。结论：急性脑梗死患者外周血hsCRP、CD3^＋／HLA—DR^＋可在一定程度上反映该患者的颈动脉粥样硬化程度,中性粒细胞CD64指数与颈动脉粥样硬化的关系尚未明确     

脑保护下颈动脉支架成形术治疗颈动脉中重度钙化狭窄的疗效分析

 目的  评价脑保护下颈动脉支架成形术(carotid angioplasty and stenting,CAS)治疗颈动脉中重度钙化狭窄的安全性及有效性。方法  28例颈动脉中重度钙化狭窄患者接受了脑保护下颈动脉支架植入术,均接受了术前颈动脉CT血管造影检查及术前术后头颅MRI检查,评价术后新发弥散加权(diffusion weighted imaging,DWI)病灶、术后支架即刻残余狭窄率与钙化斑块的关系。结果  28例次CAS的即刻成功率为100%。围手术期无死亡或心肌梗死等严重并发症。术后3天内复查头颅MRI:新发DWI病灶15例(53.6%),均无神经系统症状。根据术后有无新发DWI病灶,将患者分为阳性组和阴性组,比较两组钙化斑块的位置、体积大小、钙化弧度(calcium radian,CR)及Agatston钙化评分、钙化CT值、钙化斑块体积百分比和颈动脉斑块最大厚度,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。术后12个月内,1例患者发生手术侧脑卒中,其余27例恢复良好,无短暂性脑缺血发作或脑卒中发生。术后1年复查颈动脉超声,并随访颈部X线,支架内再狭窄发生率为0,支架断裂发生率为0。结论  在实施远端脑保护装置的情况下,CAS对颈动脉中重度钙化狭窄是一种安全有效的治疗方法。钙化斑块的位置、体积大小、CR、Agatston钙化评分、钙化斑块CT值、钙化斑块体积百分比和颈动脉斑块最大厚度对术后新发DWI病灶的发生率无明显影响。     

原发性高血压与颈动脉粥样硬化关系的临床研究

目的: 探讨原发性高血压(EH)患者颈动脉粥样硬化(CAS)的发病情况、特点以及临床意义。方法: 选择80例EH患者,按照WHO的危险分层法将EH患者分成低危、中危、高危和极高危3组,应用高分辨率超声多谱勒对3组EH患者双侧颅外段颈总动脉(CCA)进行超声检查,测量颈总动脉内-中膜厚度(IMT)、斑块检出率等指标,并与30名健康对照者进行比较分析。结果: 低、中危EH组患者CCA的IMT与健康对照组差异均无显著性(P>0.05);高危和极高危EH组CCA的IMT与健康对照组比较差异有显著性(P<0.01),表现为颈动脉IMT增厚;低危、中危、高危和极高危EH组颈动脉斑块检出率分别为34.6%、75.0%和82.4%,与健康对照组(16.7%)比较差异均有显著性(P<0.01);随着EH危险分层增加而增加,颈动脉斑块检出率有增加趋势。结论: 颈动脉IMT厚度增加可能是CAS的早期表现;IMT厚度等是超声检查CAS的可靠指标;超声多谱勒能无创、直观动态地了解CAS程度,能为全面评价高血压是否引起大、中动脉粥样硬化提供一个窗口。     

Comparison of the safety of simultaneous bilateral carotid artery stenting versus unilateral carotid artery stenting: 30-day and 6-month results

Background  Severe bilateral carotid stenosis caused by atherosclerosis has not been unusual in the elderly. Such patients have high stroke risk. Many studies show that carotid artery stenting (CAS) is an alternative to treat unilateral carotid stenosis. However, the optimal procedural strategy of bilateral carotid stenosis remains unclear. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the safety of simultaneous bilateral carotid artery stenting (SBCAS) compared with unilateral carotid artery stenting (UCAS).

Methods  In this single-center retrospective study, we analyzed 234 consecutive patients who underwent carotid stenting from January 2005 to December 2009. Thirty-nine patients (16.7%) of them underwent SBCAS, and the others (n=195) underwent UCAS. Indication for CAS was defined as carotid artery diameter reduction >60% (symptomatic) or >80% (asymptomatic). Six-month and 30-day hemodynamic depression (HD), hyperperfusion syndrome (HPS), stroke, death and myocardial infarction (MI) after carotid stenting were assessed.

Results  SBCAS group had no more HD and HPS compared with UCAS group at 30 days (HD: 28.2% vs. 20.0%, P=0.396; HPS: 2.6% vs. 2.1%, P=0.262). Moreover, there was no statistically significant difference between SBCAS group and UCAS group in major stroke, death, MI and their combinations within 30 days (major stroke: 0 vs. 3.6%, P=0.604; death: 2.6% vs. 1.5%, P=0.520; MI: 2.6% vs. 0.5%, P=0.306; and their combinations: 5.1% vs. 4.6%, P=1.000) and 6 months (major stroke: 0 vs. 3.6%, P=0.604; death: 5.1% vs. 2.1%, P=0.262; MI: 5.1% vs.1.0%, P=0.130 and their combinations: 7.7% vs. 5.1%, P=0.459).

Conclusions  The patients undergoing SBCAS had no more events than those undergoing UCAS in 30-day and 6-month follow-up. Our finding suggests that SBCAS appears to be as safe as UCAS.

     

Percutaneous transluminal stenting in patients with carotid artery stenosis

ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy and safety of percutaneous transluminal stenting for pati ents with carotid artery stenosis.Methods Selective percutaneous transluminal stenting was performed for patients with sym ptomatic carotid artery stenosis (luminal narrowing ≥70%). Success rates and c omplications associated with the procedures were observed. During six months of follow-up, both recurrent symptom and restenosis rates were recorded. Results There were 17 bifurcating lesions among 27 stenoses in 26 patients, of whom 18 had concomitant coronary artery diseases. The acute procedural success rate was 96.3% (26/27), and the degree of stenosis was reduced from 88.6%±8.9% （ran ge 70-100） to 0.4%±2.0% （range 0-10）. Six patients developed severe brady cardia and hypotension, and 3 experienced transient loss of consciousness during balloon dilatation. During hospitalization, 2 patients experienced loss of con sciousness and convulsion, respectively, due to hyperperfusion, and both recover ed 12 hours later. There were 2 minor stroke cases (7.4%) but no cases of majo r stroke or death. At the 6-month follow-up, there were no cases of TIA or ne w onset of stroke. There was no restenosis detected in 16 cases using angiograp hy and in 10 cases using MRI in 6 to 16 months of follow-up. Conclusions Percutaneous transluminal stenting for patients with carotid artery stenosis has a high procedural success rate with few and acceptable complications. Few pati ents suffered from recurrent symptoms or showed restenosis in long-term follow -up.     

前列地尔联合辛伐他汀治疗颈动脉粥样硬化的临床观察

目的:探讨前列地尔联合辛伐他汀治疗颈动脉粥样硬化(CAS)的临床疗效.方法:将100例CAS 患者随机分为治疗组和对照组.对照组给予辛伐他汀治疗,治疗组采用前列地尔联合辛伐他汀治疗,治疗2个月后检测颈动脉内膜中层厚度(IMT)、颈动脉斑块面积、颈总动脉的血流速度及颈总动脉内径的变化.结果:治疗组颈动脉IMT变薄、颈动脉...     

Preliminary results of combined carotid endarterectomy and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with coexistent carotid and coronary artery diseases

Background Coexistent carotid and coronary artery diseases are common and patients with them remain at a high risk for perioperative stroke or myocardial infarction after coronary bypass surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of combined carotid endarterectomy （CEA） and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting （CABG） in patients with coexistent carotid and coronary artery diseases. Methods Between January 2002 and December 2007, consecutive patients with coexistent carotid and coronary artery diseases underwent one-stage unilateral CEA and off-pump CABG in Heart Institute of Nanjing First Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University. Perioperative complications were assessed and follow-up was carried out. Results A total of 51 cases of isolated off-pump CABG and unilateral CEA, including 34 right and 17 left, were performed. The mean blocked time of carotid artery in CEA was （25.5_±7.0） minutes. The mean number of distal grafts per patient was 3.30±0.45. The mean ventilation time, intensive care unit stay, and postoperative hospital stay was （11.3±5.4） hours, （2.1±0.9） days, and （12.5±6.1） days respectively. None of the patients had stroke or myocardial infarct. There was one perioperative death due to acute cardiac failure, resulting in an operative mortality of 1.96%. Follow-up was completed for 47 patients （92.16%） with a mean follow-up of （39.5±12.5） months. None of the patients manifested stroke, new angina or newly developed cardiac infarct. No late death occurred. Conclusion Combined CEA and off-pump CABG is a safe and effective procedure in selected patients with coexistent carotid and coronary artery diseases.     

Kuang Yao-lin邝耀麟，Chen Zhi-ping陈治平，Wu Zhi-yong吴志勇 Huang An黄 安，Yuan Ji-min袁济民，Zheng Zhong-hua郑忠华 Rerj i Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai Xiao Shu-dong萧树东and Zeng Min-de曾民德 Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, Shanghai

This paper reports the real time B-mode Doppler scanning findings of the extracranial portion of carotid arterial system (CAS) in 182 healthy persons (119 males and 63 females). The results showed that the diameter of the lumen of common carotid artery (CCA), bifurcation of common carotid artery (BCCA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) was larger in males than in females; there was no relationship between the diameter of the lumen of CCA, BCCA and ICA and body height; the diameter of lumen of CCA increased with age; 29 cases of atherosclerosis of the arterial wall (11 lesions with thickening of intima, 16 with hard plaque, one with soft plaque and 5 with stenosis) were observed; and the incidence of positive findings of atherosclerotic lesion of extracranial portion of CAS in the 40-49 age group and 50-59 age group was only 4.2% and 4.8% respectively, while the incidence in those aged over 60 increased markedly to 26.5-41.7%. These suggested that incidence of atherosclerosis in extracranial portion of CAS was not low in healthy persons without any evidence of stroke. As atheromatous lesions may be related to the consequent onset of stroke in the future, follow-up study and repeated Doppler scanning are necessary so as to observe the relationship between the location and severity of the lesion and the occurrence of cerebrovasculor disease. They may be helpful in determining the indication for carotid artery operation and also play a role in the prevention and treatment of CVD.