[Ischaemic lesions of cerebral after carotid stenting].

Carotid angioplasty with stenting is a reliable method of primary and secondary prevention of ischaemic stroke in patients with stenosing lesions of the internal carotid artery. However, carrying out such operations is sometimes associated with risk for the development of intraoperative impairments of cerebral circulation due to arterioarterial embolism in cerebral arteries, as well as vasospasm. Presented herein are the results of following up a total of 64 patients with pronounced atherosclerotic lesions of internal carotid arteries (>70%) - "symptomatic" and "asymptomatic", undergoing carotid stenting. Acute foci of ischaemia in the brain after stenting according to the findings of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance tomography were revealed in 40% of cases, and in only 6% of patients they manifested themselves by symptoms of acute cerebral circulatory impairment. We revealed a direct correlation between the number, size of infarctions in the brain, and the appearance of neurological symptomatology. Intraoperative monitoring of blood flow in the middle cerebral artery during stenting makes it possible to predict the appearance of acute foci of cerebral ischaemia, to specify the genesis of perioperative stroke, as well as to evaluate clinical significance of vasospasm and material microembolism. The obtained findings should concentrate neurologists' attention on active postoperative follow up of patients subjected to carotid angioplasty with stenting in order to perform adequate personified neuroprotective correction, including preventive one.

[Electrophysiological markers of middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity in healthy subjects].

AIM: to determine electrophysiological markers of middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (BFV). PATIENTS AND METHODS: transcranial Doppler registration of middle cerebral artery BFV and direct current (DC) potentials recording from surface of head were performed in 30 healthy volunteers. Analysis of correlation between the BFV and DC potentials was used. RESULTS: significant correlation between BFV and DC potential characteristics was observed. The highest correlation was found between BFV in middle cerebral artery and the difference of DC potentials between central and temporal areas of head (r = 0,55; p = 0,003). These areas coincide with the location of middle cerebral artery and the correlation observed may be connected with streaming potential generated by the blood flow in middle cerebral artery. If electrode placement did not coincide with blood current, DC potentials and BFV were not correlated. CONCLUSIONS: it is assumed that electrical field created BFV in middle cerebral artery may contribute to the generation of DC potentials registered from the head.

[Lower limb vein thrombosis in dynamics of acute impairments of cerebral circulation].

The present work was aimed at studying the state of the inferior vena cava system according to the findings of duplex scanning in dynamics of acute cerebral circulation impairments (ACCI). Amongst 100 patients with ACCI, lower limb vein deep thrombosis (LLVDT) was revealed in 57% of cases. The incidence of LLVDT in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage was higher than in those with ischaemic stroke, however there were no statistically significant differences between the type of ACCI (p=0.06) and subtypes of ischaemic stroke (atherothrombotic, ceardioembolic) (p = 0.68). The main risk factors for LLVDT are the presence of pronounced motion deficit in the extremities, induced by the underlying disease (p=0.02) and immobilization. In the overwhelming majority of patients (81%) thrombosis localized isolatedly in the crural veins. Ascending thrombosis and the development of a floating thrombus were represented mainly on the side of motility deficit in the extremities. We have confirmed a strong association between positive dynamics in the neurological status of patients and frequency of recanalization of thrombi (p=0.043). Ultrasonographic examination of lower limb veins in dynamics of ACCI is an important component of preventive and therapeutic process.

[Intraoperative monitoring of cerebral blood-flow and condition of cerebral at open and endovascular interventions in carotid system].

The aim of our research is to study hemodynamic and embolic situation during the carotid endarterectomy (CEA), carotid angioplastic and stenting (CAS), and to reveal the prognostic significance of the data provided by intraoperative monitoring of the brain blood flow in exposing acute ischemic lesions in brain. Intraoperative monitoring of blood flow in artery ophthalmic vas carried out with 60% of patients, in the middle cerebral artery-with 40% during the main stages of CEA, and with 64 patients in the middle cerebral artery during CAS. The comparison of the data of intraoperative monitoring of blood flow in middle cerebral artery with the result of brain diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) 24 hours after the operation shows, that solid microembolic signals and vasospasm are prognostic signals (sensibility and specifics make up 95%) in the development of acute ischemic cerebral lesions. The monitoring of blood flow in artery ophthalmic is of the greatest diagnostic value in estimation of the hemodynamic situation, but it is of the lowest practical value in detecting microembolic signals. According to the data of the intraoperative blood flow monitoring in middle cerebral artery in group CEA the development of acute ischemic cerebral lesions were predicted with 11,1% of patients and the cause of postoperative stroke, developed by 2,9% of the patients, was specified. According to the result of DW-MRI, acute ischemic cerebral lesions were diagnosed with 21% of patients, that is, 18% of ischemic cerebral lesions were asymptomatic. In group CAS ischemic cerebral lesions were prognosed with 30% of patients, actually they were later detected with 40,6% of cases by means of DW-MRI. According to the data of intraoperative of blood flow monitoring the cause of the development of postoperative stroke was specified in 6,2% of cause; in 34,4% of cause the acute ischemic cerebral lesions were asymptomatic.

[Results of proximal vertebral arteries endovascular interventions].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate immediate and long-term clinical and ultrasound efficacy of proximal vertebral arteries stenting. We studied 74 subjects (age 61+/-10 years) who underwent transluminal balloon angioplasty with stenting of vertebral arteries (77 vessels). Technical success (i.e., residual stenosis < 20%) was achieved in 95% patients. No events (acute stroke, myocardial infarction, or death) were recorded during the procedure or in early postoperative period. Clinical improvement was seen in 81% patients presented with symptoms of vetebrobasilar insufficiency at the baseline (n = 52). Sixty six patients (89%) were followed up in the late postoperative period (6 to 54 months after the intervention). No events of acute stroke were recorded in the vertebrobasilar circulation. Relapse of vertebrobasilar symptoms after temporary improvement was seen in 13% patients. Stent restenosis/occlusion was diagnosed in 36% patients although no relationship was revealed between the alteration of stent patency and relapse of clinical symptoms. Restenosis correlated with initial stenosis of > or = 70% (p < 0.05) and type of stent material. Use of cobalt chromium stents was associated with 2-fold decrease of restenosis rate vs non cobalt chromium stents (24% vs 50%, respectively, p < 0.05). Therefore, stenting of proximal vertebral arteries yields good technical and clinical results. High restenosis rate is a major problem of endovascular treatment of atherosclerosis and needs further evaluation.

[Prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism after severe stroke].

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), a deep and superficial thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is a very important problem of severe stroke. Pulmonary embolism (PE) significantly influences the course and outcome of severe stroke. The cause of this effect lies not only in severe patient's condition, high risk of VTE and difficulties in diagnosis of VTE but in still common limits in prophylaxis and treatment of PE in severe stroke, first of all, in brain hemorrhages and large brain infarctions with secondary hemorrhage. The paper presents the main principles and methods of prophylaxis of VTE in severe stroke. The suggested approach allows to decrease the frequency of VTE and fatal outcomes in severe stroke in the modern neuro-intensive care units.

Structural-and-functional alterations in the arterial wall and clinical manifestations of nonspecific aortoarteritis.

The authors studied structural-and-functional properties of the arterial wall, also assessing elastic properties of the common femoral artery and the brachial artery flow-dependent dilatation (FDD) index in a total of thirty-six patients presenting with nonspecific aortoarteritis (NAA). The overwhelming majority of the patients, i. e., twenty-four (89%), showed a statistically significant decrease in the FDD as compared with the control-group patients (P<0.05). We revealed a statistically reliable (P=0.0005) inverse correlation between the level of systolic arterial pressure and an increase in the rigidity index of the common femoral artery wall. Also determined was a correlation of the femoral artery wall rigidity (systolic AP equalling 140 mm Hg and higher) and the brachial artery flow-dependent dilatation index (r=-0.61). All the patients suffering from non-specific aortoarteritis were diagnosed as having a decrease in the elasticity values, accompanied by an increase in systolic arterial pressure (r=0.36; P=0.07). Comparing the level of systolic arterial pressure with the values of the distensibility coefficient and compliance coefficient revealed a weak inverse correlation (r=-0.28 and 0.21, respectively). Evaluating the impact of duration of the disease on the distensibility coefficient, compliance coefficient and the rigidity index made it possible to detect a statistically significant (P=0.0039) direct correlation between the rigidity index and the duration of non-specific aortoarteritis. To a leaser degree, the duration of the inflammatory process influenced the distensibility coefficient and compliance coefficient (r=-0.28; r=-0.30, respectively; P=0.06).

[To centenary of Takayasu's presentation of nonspecific aortoarteritis case].

Literature review is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the first case presentation for nonspecific aortoarteritis. The review covers the history of the disease concept development, current knowledge on its etiology and pathogenesis, unresolved problems of management strategy for patients with this pathology.

[Efficacy of endovasal laser coagulation depending on the dose of laser energy].

Presented herein is the authors' experience with surgical treatment of 85 lower extremities by means of endovasal laser coagulation. Shown are the energy-related characteristics of coagulation, followed by analysing the causes of unsatisfactory poor outcomes therapeutic as exemplified on their own experience. Proposed is an adequate selection of energy-related parameters of laser radiation in order to obtain stable occlusion. Given are the literature data on using the method concerned, with a detailed discussion of various points of view on the problem concerning selection of an efficient dose of the laser energy in order to attain adequate occlusion.

[Rosuvastatin in prevention of cardiac complications following surgical treatment of patients with vascular pathology].

The article deals with the findings of studying the use of rosuvastatin in patients after endured reconstructive operations on the brachiocephalic arteries and aortofemoral segment in order to prevent cardiac atherothrombotic complications. A total of thirty patients were given "Crestors" at a daily dose of 10 mg for two weeks prior to surgery and for two weeks postoperatively and were found to have a significant decrease in the average levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins, which was accompanied and followed by certain improvement in the functional state of the vascular wall, with no cardiac complications being observed in either case.

[Differential diagnostics of acute inflammatory diseases and tumors of the neck].

The purpose of the investigation was to assess the clinical significance of ultrasonography for differential diagnostics between acute inflammatory and tumorous lesions of the neck. One hundred and eighty-six patients with soft-tissue lesions of the neck aged 18 to 74 (mean age 31.45 +/- 8.39 years), 95 (51%) males and 91 (49%) females were examined. Basing on clinical and ultrasonographic examination, the patients were divided into two groups: 149 or 80% patients with acute inflammatory lesions (Group 1), and 37 or 20% patients with tumorous lesions (Group 2). Thirty-four of the 149 Group 1 patients (22.82%) had lymphadenitis, 30 (20.13%) had soft tissue infiltrates, 13 (8.72%) had abscesses, 19 (12.72%) had phlegmons, 32 (21.48%) had acute inflammatory changes in the major salivary glands, 3 (2.01%) had teratomas with signs of inflammation, and 17 (11.41%) patients had inflammatory changes in the tumors. Of 37 patients with tumorous lesions, 16 (43.2%) had salivary gland tumors, 12 (32.4%) had metastases in the lymphatic nodes, and 9 (24.3%) had neurofibromatosis. Soft tissue ultrasonography was performed using Sonos-5500 and Image-Point ultrasound scanners with 7.5 MHz sensors (Hewlett-Packard, USA), Logio-pro, Uoluson-730 Expert (General Electric, USA), and Premium Edition (ACUSON Antares, Siemens, Germany) with 5 to 13 MHz wide-frequency sensors. Visualization was performed in B-modes using tissue harmonics, color duplex scanning, Sie Scape panoramic visualization, contrast visualization and Sight 4D and 3D-Scape modes. The results of ultrasonography were analyzed taking into account additional methods such as computed and magnetic resonance tomography, intraoperative findings, the results of puncture biopsy, histological, morphological, and bacteriological studies. The study demonstrates that ultrasonography is the method of choice, which is in some cases enough to establish a diagnosis of an acute inflammatory disease or a tumorous formation of various localizations in the neck.

Surgical management of multiple posttraumatic arteriovenous fistulas of femoral vessels.

Presented herein are two case reports concerning surgical management of posttraumatic arteriovenous fistulas of femoral vessels. Case 1. A 45-year-old female patient attended with a history of a shotgun injury wound of her left femur and crus sustained when a girl of eight. She sought medical attention for a progressively deteriorating condition, accompanied by pain, and breathlessness dyspnea at rest. Detected were multiple fistulas between the deep femoral artery and superficial femoral artery and femoral vein. Management consisted in separation of the arteriovenous fistulas, followed by prosthetic repair of the deep femoral artery. Case 2. A 32-year-old male patient after an accidentally inflicted shotgun injury of the his left femur underwent within a time period of 3 year three vascular operations including ligation of the deep femoral artery and femoral vein followed by having later on developed secondary lymphedema of his left lower limb and pronounced manifested chronic venous insufficiency. Management included dissociation of the numerous arteriovenous fistulas between the branches of the deep femoral artery and the common femoral artery, as well as between the superficial femoral artery and femoral vein.

[False arterial aneurysms of celiac trunk system in patients with chronic pancreatitis].

20 patients with chronic pancreatitis complicated by development of false aneurysms of arteries in celiac trunk system were observed. Diagnostics utilities included ultrasound study, contrasted computed tomography and angiography. Two types of aneurysms are distinguished: parencchymal and pseudocysts. Radioendovascular operation is the method of choice for aneurism treatment. Surgical treatment is carried out in case of aneurism rupture with voluminous bleeding or on necessity of elimination other complications of chronic pancreatitis (pseudocyst, pancreatic hypertension, wirsungolithiasis).

[Lower limb venous angiodysplasia as a cause of chronic venous insufficiency: specific diagnosis and treatment].

The paper presents a current understanding of chronic venous insufficiency that develops in venous forms of dysplasia. Management of venous dysplasia must be based on multidisciplinary approach including comprehensive diagnosis (predominantly noninvasive), integrative surgical and non-surgical treatment. Modern therapy must be complex and carried out in highly specialized facilities. Best functional and esthetic results can be achieved only through combined therapy. When surgical or non-surgical interventions are inappropriate or impossible, management focus must be placed on clinical control of vascular anomaly (follow-up and compression-based conservative treatment) aimed at minimization of its unfavorable impact on vital functions and at quality of life improvement.

[Complex ultrasonic diagnosis of large and gigantic non-parasitic cysts of liver].

The results of clinical and complex ultrasonic examination of 95 patients with large and gigantic liver non-parasitic cysts (LNC) are analyzed. The morphological examination was performed in all the cases. The mean diameter of large LNC was 105+/-7 mm, of gigantic cysts -- 149+/-33 mm (p<0,05), cyst volume was respectively 600+/-142 and 1721+/-954 ml (p<0,05). Analysis of clinical, ultrasonic and laboratory data allowed to describe three variants of large and gigantic, complicated and non-complicated cysts with 97,9% accuracy. The 3-D US reconstruction permitted to precise the anatomic structure and trace selection during transcutaneous US-assisted treatment.

Carotid artery grafting for restenosis after carotid endarterectomy.

The paper analyzes outcomes of 12 internal carotid artery (ICA) graftings for repeat stenosis after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in 11 patients. In 6 cases restenosis occurred after eversion CEA, in 5 - after conventional patch CEA, and in 1 case - after ICA patch angioplasty for post-CEA restenosis. Critical restenosis >75% in reconstruction area was an indication for surgical intervention. There was 1 case of graft thrombosis in early postoperative period with hemispherical stroke and lethal outcome. Eight patients were examined in late postoperative period. Mean follow-up was 34?+/-?8.44 months (from 16 to 48 months). No cerebrovascular disturbances in operated ICA feeding area were detected. In 6 patients graft patency was good, while 2 smoking patients with diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia demonstrated repeat restenosis of proximal anastomosis >70%.

[The peculiarities of diagnosis and treatment of chronic venous insufficiency and venous forms of lower extremity dysplasia].

The authors present the modern viewpoint concerning the problem of chronic venous insufficiency in the cases of venous forms of dysplasia. The treatment of patients with of venous forms of dysplasia should be based on the principles of interdisciplinary approach, which stipulates both the careful diagnosis on the basis of mainly non-invasive methods and integration of surgical and conservative treatment methods. Today such treatment should be combined and conducted within the multi-purpose highly specialized institution. Only the combination of all treatment methods will allow achieving the best functional and esthetic results. In the cases when indications are absent and conduction of surgical or any other treatment method is impossible it is necessary control the venous anomaly (dynamical follow-up, compression as a basic variant of conservative therapy). It will allow minimizing the unfavorable influence on vital functions and improving the patient's life quality.

Comparative analysis of carotid endarterectomy late outcomes related to intervention modality.

The paper presents a comparative analysis of late outcomes after 105 carotid endarterectomies (CEA) performed in 89 patients from 1997 to 2003, including 95 patients (90.5%) operated for atherosclerotic stenosis of internal carotid artery (ICA) and 7 patients (6.6%)--for combined ICA stenosis and tortuosity. The severity distribution of cerebrovascular insufficiency (CVI) was the following: grade I--in 22.8%, grade II--in 12.4%, grade III--in 25.7% and grade IV--in 38.1% of patients. CEA methods included eversion endarterectomy in 50.4% cases and open (classic) surgical CEA with PTFE patch angioplasty in 49.6% cases. Mean follow-up period was 31.8 months for the eversion CEA group and 37 months--for the open CEA group (from 3 to 72 months). In 76.4% patients the duration of follow-up period exceeded 1 year. During the follow-up period all patients underwent clinical examination and color duplex scanning of reconstructed CA segment with assessment of diameter, vascular wall thickness and blood flow. TIA was registered in 1 patient from eversion CEA group and in 1 patient from open CEA group. Thus, in the long-term postoperative period 98% of patients were free from neurological complications. Hemodynamically significant restenoses developed in 8 cases (7.6%), including 4 patients from the eversion CEA group and 4 patients from the open CEA group. Myointimal hyperplasia (> 3 mm) accompanied by hemodynamical alterations occurred in 1 patient from the eversion CEA group and in 2 from the open CEA group. In the rest of cases restenoses were related to atherosclerotic plaque formation. In conclusion, the long-term outcomes indicate that CEA is effective in the prevention of cerebrovascular events regardless of carotid angioplasty strategy. The rate of late postoperative restenoses was similar for eversion and open CEAs. Both modalities can be promising for the surgical correction of CA stenoses.

Carotid thromboses in the early postoperative period after carotid endarterectomy.

The paper analyzes 10 cases of internal carotid artery (ICA) thrombosis, which occurred after 635 carotid endarterectomies (CEA), carried out from January 1997 to July 2004. CEA procedures included 346 (54.5%) open CEAs with PTFE patch angioplasty and 289 (45.5%) eversion CEAs. Patients with thromboses in the reconstructed area (n=10) had the profiles of comorbidities and cerebrovascular insufficiency grade similar to the total CEA group (p>0.1). Differences concerned the higher rate of atrial fibrillation cases (10%), diabetes mellitus (30%) and contralateral ICA occlusions (20%) in the group of thromboses (p>0.1). Among these 10 patients, 5 underwent eversion CEA (1.44% of the total eversion CEA group) and 5 - open CEA with patch angioplasty (1.73%). In 8 patients thromboses manifested as local neurological symptoms in the area supplied by the operated carotid artery. One patient demonstrated the progression of general cerebral symptomatology, while in the tenth patient thrombosis was accompanied with cerebral coma. Urgent ultrasonography in 7 patients failed to detect a blood flow in ICA, that proved the diagnosis of ICA thrombosis; in 3 patients ultrasonography showed a mural thrombosis. Nine patients underwent reoperation in emergency, while for the tenth patient an intervention was contraindicated due to the thrombosis of middle cerebral artery, unstable clinical state (cerebral coma) and progression of neurological symptomatology. PTFE arterial graft was implantedin 7 reoperated patients with ICA thrombosis, thrombectomy from ICA was carried out in 1 patient and in another one patient a thrombectomy from reconstructed segment with PTFE patch angioplasty of the arteriotomy defect was fulfilled. In 3 reoperated patients a complete resolution of neurological symptoms was evident 24 hours after intervention, in 2 patients neurological symptomatology regressed over 2-4 weeks. In another 3 reoperated patients local neurological symptoms persisted; 1 patient demonstrated postoperative progression of neurological symptomatology and coma with fatal outcome. The last patient, for whom a reoperation was contraindicated, died due to aggravation of cerebral coma. Dynamic follow-up in early postoperative period after CEA, especially in the first 6 hours, as well as an urgent duplex scanning of the reconstructed area in case of neurological symptoms development, provides timely diagnosis of postoperative thrombosis and the success of reoperations. Adjustments to patient's cardiac status and appropriate intraoperative heparinization can decrease the risk of this complication. An urgent reoperation aimed at the restoration of carotid blood flow, immediately after the diagnosis of thrombosis (provided the absence of deep coma), promotes a complete or partial regression of neurological symptoms and helps to prevent a progression of cerebrovascular disturbances.

Carotid artery dissection (literature review and a case report).

The paper presents a literature review on the internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection and an original case report. The dissected ICA segment was resected and grafted.