Peripheral vascular disease endovascular management in patients scheduled for cardiac surgery: a clinical-angiographic approach

BACKGROUNDS: Endovascular management of peripheral vascular disease before cardiac surgery is still debated. We sought to present our preliminary experience of endovascular stent placement in patients scheduled for urgent cardiac surgery. METHODS: Between November 2003 and August 2005, 20 patients scheduled for urgent coronary surgery (13 males, mean age 72.5+/-5.3 years) underwent endovascular repair of PVD on the basis of clinical and angiographic indications. Aspirin (100 mg/day) plus low molecular weight heparin (nadroparin calcium) 100 IU/kg/12 h for urgent coronary surgical revascularization was administered after the procedure. RESULTS: Endovascular stenting has been performed in four clinical settings: renal artery stenting prior to coronary surgery (nine patients) to decrease the impact of extracorporeal circulation on an impaired renal function, iliac artery artery angioplasty and stenting (eight patients) in order to facilitate aortic balloon pump insertion after surgery, subclavian artery angioplasty and stenting propedeutical to arterial conduits bypass surgery (one patient), carotid artery stenting before coronary surgery (two patients). All patients underwent successful endovascular repair followed by cardiac surgery. At a mean follow-up of 12+/-4.6 months all patients are alive and without evident thrombosis or restenosis of the implanted vascular stents. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment of PVD in patients scheduled for urgent coronary surgery may be effective, relatively safe and lasting in spite of low dose antiplatelet regimen.     

Outcomes of carotid stenting among symptomatic patients: a contemporary review

Strokes have an extremely significant socioeconomic impact on the healthcare industry with a resultant poor quality of life. The majority of strokes result from embolic phenomenon, a third originating from carotid atheromatous plaque. The gold-standard treatment for symptomatic carotid artery stenosis has been carotid endarterectomy; however, carotid artery stenting over the last decade has become an increasingly accepted and performed alternative. This article describes the outcomes of carotid stenting among symptomatic patients and examines the trials that have been performed regarding the treatment options.     

Outcomes of carotid stenting among symptomatic patients: a contemporary review

Strokes have an extremely significant socioeconomic impact on the healthcare industry with a resultant poor quality of life. The majority of strokes result from embolic phenomenon, a third originating from carotid atheromatous plaque. The gold-standard treatment for symptomatic carotid artery stenosis has been carotid endarterectomy; however, carotid artery stenting over the last decade has become an increasingly accepted and performed alternative. This article describes the outcomes of carotid stenting among symptomatic patients and examines the trials that have been performed regarding the treatment options.     

What are the skills that prepare vascular surgeons for carotid stenting?

Although it has been clearly established that in certain groups of patients, such as in patients with symptomatic high-grade carotid stenosis and in selected asymptomatic patients with high-grade stenosis, carotid endarterectomy offers significant protection from stroke compared with medical therapy, the role of carotid stenting in this patients versus carotid endarterectomy is undergoing a rapid evolution. The definitive evidence awaits the results of ongoing prospective, randomized trials such as CREST and others, but it is clear that carotid stenting will increasingly occupy a significant role in the therapy of carotid bifurcation disease. In that context, vascular surgeons, traditionally the experts on the management of this condition, face the specter of other disciplines intervening in its treatment. In addition, if vascular surgeons do not acquire the skills and the expertise necessary to perform carotid stenting, it is self-evident that they run the risk of being spectators rather retaining the mantle of expert in the management of carotid bifurcation disease. As such, it is the duty of vascular surgeons to acquire the skills with which to retain their rightful place in its management and treatment. The purpose of this article is to describe the skills necessary to become competent in the endovascular management of carotid disease, offer some thoughts and strategy by which one can gain experience and develop an armamentarium of skills necessary to perform carotid stenting, and offer a comprehensive array of options of management and treatment to the patient with carotid disease.     

Vascular surgery for peripheral arterial disease

The North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) confirmed that carotid endarterectomy (CEA) can significantly cut the risk of stroke in patients with moderate and severe blockage. The standard today is that patients who have internal carotid artery stenosis > 70% with associated symptoms and who are appropriate surgical candidates should be offered CEA. Aneurysmal disease, a growing public health concern, poses the threat of death from rupture, and lower extremity arterial occlusive disease poses a significant risk of critical leg ischemia and limb loss. Both conditions involve surgical options. In treating their patients, primary care physicians should become familiar with the benefits and risks of vascular surgery to manage the various aspects of peripheral arterial disease.     

颈动脉支架置入术治疗重度颈动脉狭窄

目的:评价颈动脉支架置入术(CAS)治疗重度颈动脉狭窄的疗效和安全性。方法:对21例重度颈动脉狭窄的患者进行经皮腔内血管成形术和CAS治疗,评价手术效果及其并发症情况。结果:所有患者均顺利完成手术,共置入支架23枚,术后造影证实狭窄程度≤10%,术中出现5例颈动脉窦综合征,2例血管痉挛,1例轻度栓塞,经治疗均恢复良好。随访2～4个月,均未出现与手术血管相关的不良事件。结论:CAS是治疗重度颈动脉狭窄安全、有效的手段,是预防脑梗死的有效措施,而提高操作者本身技巧、加强围手术期的监护能有效地减少并发症和病死率。     

Duplex sonographic predictors of restenosis,vascular and neurological events after carotid endarterectomy

BACKGROUND: Although excellent short- and long-term results have been achieved with surgery in extracranial internal carotid artery stenosis, recurrent stenosis continues to play an important role in post-endarterectomy. Therefore, a close follow-up of patients is warranted. The value of postoperative duplex sonographic evaluations in postoperative follow-up is highly disputed. The study evaluates duplex sonographic parameters as predictors of carotid restenosis, general vascular events and ipsilateral neurological symptoms, in order to assess the role of duplex sonography in follow-up after carotid endarterectomy. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study with a follow-up period ranging from 7 months to 7.5 years was performed in 150 patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy. Pre- and postoperative duplex sonographic and clinical data were analyzed by life-table analysis and multivariate Cox regression with respect to carotid restenosis, vascular and ipsilateral neurological events. MAIN FINDINGS: Duplex sonographic predictors of carotid restenosis include the postoperative degree of stenosis (residual stenosis > or = 30% or more: relative risk (RR) = 1.56; 1.05-2.32), pre- to postoperative reduction of stenosis (higher than 50%: RR = 0.61; 0.45-0.83), and residual plaques in the operated carotid artery (RR = 1.96; 1.31-2.93). Some of these morphological parameters such as reduction of stenosis are also predictive of vascular events (RR = 1.25; 1.01-1.56) and ipsilateral neurological events (RR = 1.52; 1.05-2.19). In 12 cases restenosis was discovered by duplex sonography and in 3 cases by evaluation of clinical symptoms. In 5 cases restenosis was treated by repeat surgery. Contralaterally, progressive or newly developed carotid stenoses were observed in 17 cases, and only 5 were discovered on the basis of clinical symptoms. Fourteen contralateral stenoses required surgery. Overall, 12 patients underwent treatment for stroke prevention on the basis of duplex follow-up findings (8% of the study population). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative duplex sonography allows for the identification of patients at risk for carotid restenosis as well as those at risk for other vascular events. As expected, regular examinations permit early detection of restenosis requiring surgical treatment. However, a large number of contralateral stenoses requiring surgical treatment were detected by routine duplex sonographic examinations. The timing of follow-up intervals may be oriented towards the perioperative outcome of duplex sonography.     

Headache as a manifestation of a life-threatening vascular disorder

Headache is a common complaint among patients seeking medical assistance. The differentiation between a primary headache disorder versus headache as a symptom of a serious underlying disease is of crucial importance. Dissections of the carotid or vertebral arteries frequently present with headache and can result in ischemic stroke. Rarely, headache or neck pain is a presenting symptom in patients with spontaneous proximal aortic dissection. We report on a 53-year-old man with a history of migraine with aura, who was admitted to the hospital because of severe frontal headache and neck pain. An anterior chest pain lasting for 10 minutes the day before and a diastolic heart murmur suggested a proximal aortic dissection, which was confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography. Patients with proximal aortic dissection rarely have headache or neck pain, reflecting the low incidence of carotid artery involvement in this disease. However, differentiation between an isolated cervical artery dissection and a proximal aortic dissection extending to the carotid arteries is pivotal, since treatment options are vastly different.     

Short- and long-term outcome after carotid artery stenting with neuroprotection: single-center experience within a prospective registry

BACKGROUND : Carotid artery stenting is an alternative method to surgical endarterectomy for treatment of carotid artery stenosis. METHODS AND RESULTS : Three hundred and seventy-one consecutive patients (71+/-9 years) undergoing 405 carotid artery interventions at a single cardiologic center were studied prospectively within a therapy registry. In general, the interventional procedure was performed using neuroprotective devices to prevent distal embolization. Stents were used routinely whenever possible. Independent neurological assessment took place prior to and after carotid stenting. The neurological event rate was assessed in the early (<30 days) and late post interventional period. In asymptomatic patients, 286 interventions were done with a 30-day stroke rate of 1.3% (ipsilateral 1.0%). In symptomatic patients, strokes occurred in a significantly (p<0.005) higher rate of 5.0% after 119 interventions (all ipsilateral). At long-term follow-up (mean 728+/-548 days) additional strokes occurred ipsilateral to the side of carotid intervention in 0.4% of asymptomatic patients (1.7% of symptomatic patients); contralateral strokes were seen at long-term follow-up in 1.1% of asymptomatic (1.7% of symptomatic) patients. Due to their comorbidities, 1.6% of patients died early, and an additional 11.1% late after carotid stenting. CONCLUSION : Carotid artery stenting with the general use of neuroprotective devices yields acceptable shortterm results with respect to neurological events. Asymptomatic patients have significantly less periprocedural strokes than symptomatic patients. Neurological events during long-term follow-up are rare, in particular ipsilateral to the side of carotid stenting. Thus, carotid artery stenting with neuroprotection is a safe method for carotid revascularization, with acceptable periprocedural events, particularly in asymptomatic patients, and a good long-term neurologic outcome.     

The optimal treatment of carotid atherosclerosis: a 2008 update and literature review

Carotid and cerebrovascular disease have major public health implications given the associated morbidity and mortality. However, the best treatment for this disease is uncertain. Carotid endarterectomy has proven useful in primary and secondary prevention of strokes for patients with significant internal carotid artery stenoses. Many patients are considered at high risk for such surgical procedures and therefore have relatively few treatment options. Carotid stenting is currently being investigated as an alternative therapeutic intervention for these patients. This article reviews the literature pertaining to carotid intervention and its current status in 2008.     

Non-protected carotid artery stent without angioplasty in high-risk patients with carotid and coronary artery disease undergoing cardiac surgery

Abstract

Hemodynamic depression (HD) is a frequent complication related to carotid endartherectomy or carotid artery stenting (CAS), often not well tolerated in patients with coronary artery disease. The purpose of this study is to assess whether CAS without angioplasty is beneficial in patients with severe carotid artery disease before coronary revascularization surgery (CABG) regarding the occurrence of HD. Between October 2002 and August 2006, 39 CAS were performed in 35 patients before cardiac surgery. Outcome measures, including periprocedural and 30-day post stenting and cardiac surgery complications, were assessed. Twenty-seven patients underwent CABG and eight combined CABG and valve replacement. During or immediately after CAS there was no episode of bradycardia or hypotension necessitating medical treatment. In the period between CAS-CABG, there was no case of HD. We also found no myocardial infarction. There were five neurological complications, two of them in the period between CAS-CABG (one transitory ischemic attack (TIA) and one minor stroke) and three after CABG (one TIA and two strokes). Three of them were discharged symptom-free. CAS without angioplasty can be a safe alternative to treat patients with coexistence of carotid and cardiac disease, since does not produce hemodynamic depression, therefore diminishing the cardiac complications.     

“一站式”冠状动脉搭桥及颈动脉支架植入术的初步尝试

目的:尝试应用冠状动脉搭桥术及颈动脉支架植入术"一站式"治疗冠心病合并严重颈内动脉狭窄。方法:选择复旦大学附属中山医院2例冠心病合并严重颈动脉狭窄的男性患者,给予其"一站式"冠状动脉搭桥术及颈动脉支架植入术,分析相应的围手术期治疗、手术方式及术后相关情况。结果:术后患者心功能改善。术后6个月颈动脉CTA提示支架通畅,患者无晕厥、黑朦症状。结论:"一站式"冠状动脉搭桥术及颈动脉支架植入术对冠心病合并颈动脉狭窄患者是较好的选择,但需要在杂交手术室进行,且对术者技术要求较高。     

The Coronary Artery Revascularization Prophylaxis (CARP) Trial: results and remaining controversies

A high percentage of patients requiring elective vascular surgery also has indications for coronary artery revascularization, leading to varied opinions as to whether to undertake coronary artery revascularization first, to use risk stratification, or to do no coronary intervention before elective vascular surgery. The Coronary Artery Revascularization Prophylaxis (CARP) Trial determined the long-term benefit of coronary artery revascularization in patients with stable coronary artery disease undergoing elective infra-renal aortic or infra-inguinal vascular surgery. Following application of inclusion/exclusion criteria, those patients who did not require urgent vascular surgery or have significant co-existing conditions underwent cardiac evaluation and angiography. Eligible patients (stenosis >70% in one or more cardiac vessels) were randomized to either undergo coronary revascularization or to have no coronary intervention before vascular surgery; 5859 patients were screened and 4669 were excluded for clinical or other reasons. The remaining 1190 patients underwent coronary angiography following which 680 were excluded for clinical or other reasons. The remaining 510 were randomized to coronary artery revascularization (258) before vascular surgery and no coronary intervention before vascular surgery (252). Coronary artery revascularization neither improves long-term survival nor does it improve short-term outcomes for elective aortic or infra-inguinal vascular surgery.     

Prediction of cardiovascular events by inflammatory markers in patients undergoing carotid stenting

ObjectiveTo assess whether inflammatory markers predict atherosclerotic disease activity after carotid treatment in patients with severe carotid stenosis and nonsignificant coronary artery disease undergoing carotid stenting.Patients and MethodsFrom March 1, 2004, to September 30, 2005, a total of 55 consecutive patients (mean ± SD age, 69±8.3 years; 26 men) with severe carotid stenosis and nonsignificant coronary artery disease were treated with carotid stent implantation. Patients were followed up for a period of 5 years for the occurrence of cardiovascular events.ResultsA significant correlation between quantitative analysis of debris entrapped in the filters and inflammatory markers was found. Moreover, the number of particles per filter, the total particles area, and the mean particle axis per filter were significantly higher in patients with clinical events at the follow-up compared with patients without events (87 vs 32, P=.006; 50,118.7 vs 17,782, P=.002; 33.9 vs 30.2, P=.03). At 5-year follow-up we recorded cardiovascular or neurologic events in 11 of the 55 patients (20%). Higher preprocedural levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin 6 soluble receptor, and interleukin 6 were significantly associated with clinical events at follow-up (P<.001, P=.05, and P=.02, respectively). In particular high-sensitivity C-reactive protein measured at 24 and 48 hours after carotid stenting showed a significant correlation with clinical events (P=.001). Also preprocedural intracellular adhesion molecule 1 and circulating vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 blood concentrations were significantly correlated with a worse prognosis at follow-up (P=.04 and P=.03, respectively).ConclusionIn patients with severe carotid stenosis and nonsignificant coronary artery disease, inflammation is associated with atherosclerotic disease activity and a worse prognosis. Interleukin 6, interleukin 6 soluble receptor, intracellular adhesion molecule 1, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels at baseline and 24 and 48 hours after carotid stenting are predictive of neurologic and cardiovascular events at follow-up.     

Contemporary management of carotid stenosis: carotid endarterectomy is here to stay

Thromboembolic complications from atherosclerotic disease of the carotid bifurcation are a common etiology of ischemic stroke, which has a significant morbidity and mortality. Carotid artery angioplasty and stenting (CAS) has been proposed as an alternative therapy for patients requiring treatment of carotid artery stenosis as opposed to the "gold standard" surgical intervention, carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Intense debate regarding these 2 therapeutic approaches has centered on their respective safety profiles. To date, despite multiple studies, no convincing evidence demonstrates the superiority or even equality of CAS to the proven safety, efficacy, and durability of CEA. This chapter reviews in detail the available evidence for CAS and CEA and provides a rationale that, given the available data, CEA remains the preferred therapy for the majority of patients who require treatment of carotid artery stenosis.     

Prophylactic coronary artery revascularization for elective vascular surgery: study design. Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study Group on Coronary Artery Revascularization Prophylaxis for Elective Vascular Surgery.

This article describes the design of an ongoing randomized trial intended to test whether patients who require elective vascular surgery would benefit from preoperative coronary artery revascularization prior to the vascular procedure. The primary objective is to determine whether coronary artery revascularization reduces long-term mortality (mean 3.5 years) in patients undergoing vascular surgery. The study design calls for 620 patients to be randomized and followed for a mean of 3.5 years following vascular surgery. Secondary endpoints include measures of quality of life and cost-effectiveness. Patients with coronary artery disease in need of an elective vascular operation are considered candidates for the study. Anatomic exclusion criteria include ejection fraction <20%, severe aortic stenosis (valve area <1.0 cm2), left main stenosis > or =50%, nonobstructive coronary artery disease (stenosis <70%), and coronary arteries that are not amenable to revascularization. Prior to the vascular surgery, the trial randomizes eligible patients to coronary artery revascularization (either bypass surgery or angioplasty) versus medical therapy. The trial stratifies the randomization by hospital and type of vascular surgery (intraabdominal versus infrainguinal) because of differences in long-term prognosis in those patients. A 1-year feasibility trial involving five Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers of variable vascular surgical loads has been completed. The results showed that over 90% of expected patients could be randomized. As a result, a larger VA Cooperative Study involving 18 centers will begin recruitment of patients. The findings should help determine the best strategy for managing patients with coronary artery disease in need of elective vascular surgery.     

支架置入及经皮血管成形治疗颅外颈动脉狭窄

背景：颈动脉支架置入是一种微创、安全、简便的介入治疗方法,对于身体基础状况差不能耐受开放手术的颈动脉狭窄患者尤其有意义。 目的：探讨支架置入联合经皮血管成形治疗颅外颈动脉狭窄的临床效果。 方法：纳入颅外颈动脉狭窄患者29例,其中男19例,女10例,年龄45-78岁,进行支架置入及经皮血管成形治疗,治疗前及治疗后24 h进行美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表量表、神经功能评分及CT检查;随访3-12个月,复查凝血指标及颈动脉B超。 结果与结论：1例患者为右侧颈总动脉分叉部完全闭塞,经治疗仅颈外动脉管径恢复50.0%,其余患者均经血管造影证实完全恢复至正常水平,治疗成功率为97%。29例患者治疗后24 h的颈动脉病变血管长度、美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表量表、神经功能评分均较治疗前明显改善（P＜0.01,P＜0.05）。随访3-12个月,所有患者均未出现脑梗死和短暂脑缺血发作,颈动脉狭窄明显改善,6个月复查时患者出现再狭窄,再狭窄率为3%。表明经皮血管成形联合生物材料支架置入治疗颅外颈动脉狭窄可以获得良好的临床效果。     

Carotid artery stenting will replace carotid endarterectomy

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Carotid artery stenosis represents one of the most common etiologies of stroke. The current treatment modalities available for the treatment of carotid artery stenosis are carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS). Several clinical trials comparing CEA with medical management showed superiority of the surgical arm; however, the applicability of these results to the general population is limited by the fact that the patients and surgeons enrolled in these trials were carefully selected, and the optimal medical therapy used does not meet the current treatment standards. Carotid artery stenting has emerged as a treatment alternative to CEA, as shown in randomized trials comparing the 2 treatment modalities. Recent data from large-volume CAS registries indicate that percutaneous treatment of carotid artery stenosis compares favorably to CEA. Furthermore, the CAS trial designs make these results more applicable to the community standards. These data suggest that CAS will become the treatment of choice in patients with carotid artery stenosis.     

支架植入术在颅外段症状性颈动脉狭窄中的应用

目的:观察支架植入术在颅外段症状性颈动脉狭窄中的临床疗效。方法:回顾性分析行支架植入术的颅外段症状性颈动脉狭窄患者60例的临床资料,评价手术的临床疗效。结果:颈动脉支架60枚全部准确释放,颈动脉狭窄均成功解除;术后残余狭窄率<20%;临床症状消失或好转55例,症状缓解不明显5例;发生一过性心率、血压下降11例,发生高灌注综合症1例,发生TIA1例,经积极治疗均好转;术后30d随访未再发生脑血管事件。结论:颅外段症状性颈动脉狭窄的患者行支架植入术治疗安全、有效。