Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events.

BACKGROUND: Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are emerging as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease in preclinical studies. Direct evidence that this risk extends to humans is lacking. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, multicenter, observational study involving patients who were undergoing carotid endarterectomy for asymptomatic carotid artery disease. The excised carotid plaque specimens were analyzed for the presence of MNPs with the use of pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, stable isotope analysis, and electron microscopy. Inflammatory biomarkers were assessed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemical assay. The primary end point was a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from any cause among patients who had evidence of MNPs in plaque as compared with patients with plaque that showed no evidence of MNPs. RESULTS: A total of 304 patients were enrolled in the study, and 257 completed a mean (±SD) follow-up of 33.7±6.9 months. Polyethylene was detected in carotid artery plaque of 150 patients (58.4%), with a mean level of 21.7±24.5 µg per milligram of plaque; 31 patients (12.1%) also had measurable amounts of polyvinyl chloride, with a mean level of 5.2±2.4 µg per milligram of plaque. Electron microscopy revealed visible, jagged-edged foreign particles among plaque macrophages and scattered in the external debris. Radiographic examination showed that some of these particles included chlorine. Patients in whom MNPs were detected within the atheroma were at higher risk for a primary end-point event than those in whom these substances were not detected (hazard ratio, 4.53; 95% confidence interval, 2.00 to 10.27; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, patients with carotid artery plaque in which MNPs were detected had a higher risk of a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from any cause at 34 months of follow-up than those in whom MNPs were not detected. (Funded by Programmi di Ricerca Scientifica di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05900947.).

[Carotid Artery Stenting].

Currently, stricter indications for carotid artery stenosis are required owing to improvements in multifaceted medical treatment, including the intensive management of risk factors for atherosclerosis and lifestyle changes. High-risk factors for carotid artery stenting, such as vulnerable plaques, severe calcification, pseudo-occlusion, and difficult access, should be evaluated before endovascular intervention. Therefore, we need to understand the characteristics of each device to achieve maximum risk reduction for carotid artery stenting.

Association between preoperative white matter hyperintensities and postoperative new ischemic lesions on magnetic resonance imaging in patients with cognitive decline after carotid endarterectomy.

Although cognitive decline after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is mainly related to postoperative cerebral hyperperfusion, approximately 30% of patients with cognitive decline do not have postoperative cerebral hyperperfusion. In patients with acute ischemic events, the development of cognitive decline after such events is associated with the presence of chronic cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMHs). The present prospective observational study aimed to determine whether preoperative WMHs and postoperative new ischemic lesions (PNILs) are associated with cognitive decline after CEA in patients without cerebral hyperperfusion after CEA. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed preoperatively, and WMHs were graded according to the Fazekas scale in patients undergoing CEA for severe stenosis of the ipsilateral internal carotid. Diffusion-weighted MRI was performed before and after CEA to determine the development of PNILs. Neuropsychological testing was performed preoperatively and at 2 months postoperatively to determine the development of postoperative cognitive decline (PCD). In 142 patients without postoperative cerebral hyperperfusion, logistic regression analysis revealed that preoperative Fazekas scale of periventricular WMHs (PVWMHs) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.78-28.10; P = 0.0055) and PNILs in the eloquent areas (95% CI: 7.42-571.89; P = 0.0002) were significantly associated with PCD. The specificity and positive-predictive value for the prediction of PCD were significantly greater for the combination of preoperative Fazekas scale 2 or 3 of PVWMHs and PNILs in the eloquent areas than for each individually. Preoperative PVWMHs, PNILs in the eloquent areas, and the combination of both were associated with PCD in patients without cerebral hyperperfusion after CEA.

Impact of carotid artery stenosis on outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Carotid Artery Stenosis (CAS) is common in elderly patients undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). However, the impact of CAS on the outcomes of TAVR is unclear. PURPOSE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the clinical and periprocedural outcomes in patients with and without CAS undergoing TAVR. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched until February 2023. We included studies that performed a direct comparison of outcomes of TAVR in CAS versus non-CAS patients. Data was extracted from published reports and the ROBINS-I tool was utilized for quality assessment. The R studio software (version 4.2.2) was adopted for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Five observational studies and 111.915 patients were included. The mean age was 80.7 ± 8.2 years and 46.3% were female. The risk of stroke or transient ischemic attack was elevated in the group of patients with CAS (OR 1.44; 95% CI 1.07-1.95; p = 0.016). In contrast, myocardial infarction (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.05-1.47; p = 0.074) and all-cause mortality (OR 0.99; 95% CI 0.73-1.35; p = 0.95) were not significantly different between CAS and non-CAS groups. Acute kidney injury and new pacemaker implantation did not differ between patients with and without CAS. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that CAS is significantly associated with cerebrovascular events in patients undergoing TAVR, without significantly impacting all-cause mortality. Further prospective studies are needed for a more granular assessment of additional determinants of this association, such as unilateral vs. bilateral involvement and whether there is a threshold of CAS severity for increased risk.

Ischemic stroke secondary to radiation-induced carotid artery stenosis.

INTRODUCTION: Large vessel vasculopathy, such as carotid stenosis, has been shown to be a side effect of radiotherapy (RT) and has received increasing attention especially in recent decades with the improvement of RT technology. These injuries can lead to a higher risk of cerebrovascular events such as ischemic stroke. The management of these lesions may be performed with surgical repair but also with endovascular technique. OBSERVATION: A 61-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department for an acute ischemic stroke. He was treated 16years prior for laryngeal tumor for which he had received 23 sessions of radiation therapy at the dose of 60Gy per session. The CT scan showed a radiation-induced stenosis of the right internal carotid artery with thrombosis of the right anterior cerebral artery and the right middle cerebral artery. The patient was treated with angioplasty of the right internal carotid artery with good outcome. CONCLUSION: Radiation-induced vasculopathy of the carotid artery has gained relevance in patients with head and neck neoplasms. These vascular lesions are associated with the risk of late cerebrovascular events.

Carotid Artery Stenosis on Panoramic Radiographs and CT Scans in Patients With Malignancies After Radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study aimed to identify the progression of carotid artery stenosis (CAS) in patients with head and neck cancer following radiation therapy (RT) by characterizing associated risk factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Panoramic radiographs (OPG), computed tomography (CT) scans, cone-beam CT (CBCT) scans, and ultrasonography (US) of 69 patients with head and neck tumors were selected and analyzed to identify the presence of CAS. Data on tumor location, smoking status, hypertension (HTN), hyperlipidemia (HLD), diabetes mellitus (DM), and treatment were collected from the patients' medical records. Patients who received chemotherapy or no treatment were excluded from the study. The differential diagnosis of other radiopacities and anatomical landmarks were excluded. Patients were divided into two groups: those with CAS (group1) and those without CAS (group 2) and their clinical information was compared. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of CAS on the panoramic radiographs was 16%. Of the 69 patients, 44 underwent radiography before and after radiotherapy, only seven had mild CAS on radiographs after radiotherapy, and no significant difference in CAS was identified before and after radiotherapy. There were also no differences between the groups regarding age, sex, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, tumor location, and RT dose before and after radiation (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Radiotherapy does not seem to affect the prevalence of CAS, although it has been identified in some patients after radiotherapy completion.

Radiation-Induced Carotid Artery Stenosis: What Nurses Need to Know.

BACKGROUND: Radiation therapy (RT) to the neck is used to treat malignancies such as cancers of the head and neck and lymphomas. Although RT improves survival rates and health outcomes in patients with cancer, it can contribute to late effects, including radiation-induced carotid artery stenosis (RI-CAS). Comprehensive cancer survivorship care includes detection, surveillance, and management of RI-CAS. OBJECTIVES: This article provides an overview of the incidence, risk factors, detection, surveillance, and management of RI-CAS in cancer survivors. METHODS: A literature search was conducted using PubMed®, Embase®, and Web of Science for articles published from January 2008 through June 2022. Search terms included carotid stenosis, radiation therapy, and cancer survivors. This updated review includes content from older references, which serve as a literature-based foundation for the clinical care of cancer survivors at risk for or diagnosed with RI-CAS. FINDINGS: CAS is a long-term sequela of RT to the neck and can lead to serious complications. As part of a cancer survivorship plan of care, nurses monitor patients for RI-CAS so that survival rates and patients' quality of life improve.

Association between modifiable vascular risk factors and rapid progression of postradiation carotid artery stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Postradiotherapy carotid vasculopathy is a clinically relevant complication in patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy. In this study, we investigated the factors associated with the development and progression of carotid artery stenosis (CAS) in such patients. METHODS: Patients who received radiotherapy for head and neck cancers between October 2011 and May 2019 at a medical center in Taiwan were eligible for inclusion in this study. This study included patients who underwent two consecutive carotid duplex examinations within an interval of 1 to 3 years. The factors associated with ≥50% CAS at baseline and follow-up were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 694 patients (mean age, 57.8 ± 9.9 years; men, 75.2%; nasopharyngeal cancer, 73.3%) were included. The mean interval between radiotherapy and carotid duplex examination was 9.9 ± 5.9 years. At baseline, 103 patients had ≥50% CAS, which was significantly associated with tobacco smoking, hypercholesterolemia, and a prolonged interval between radiotherapy and carotid duplex examination. A total of 586 patients did not have CAS at baseline; of them, 68 developed ≥50% CAS during follow-up. Hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were identified as independent risk factors for CAS progression. CONCLUSION: Modifiable vascular risk factors, such as hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, appear to be significantly associated with the rapid progression of postradiotherapy CAS in patients with head and neck cancer.

Nicotine dependence and visceral adiposity as risk factors for the development and severity of carotid artery stenosis.

Nicotine dependence (ND) and visceral adiposity are emerging as independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, including carotid artery stenosis (CAS). This study aimed to determine the relationship between ND and the contribution of abdominal fat to the onset of CAS, which is indicated by a luminal narrowing of at least 60% as determined by duplex and/or Doppler ultrasound. We prospectively collected data from 60 patients with CAS and 60 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), a common research tool, was used in the study. The original questionnaire was designed to gather social and demographic data. Anthropometric measurements, visceral adiposity index (VAI), and lipid accumulation products (LAP) were used to assess obesity. Most patients showed a high or mild-moderate degree of ND: 46.67% and 35%, respectively. The median visceral adiposity index (VAI) and lipid accumulation product (LAP) in patients was 3.92 and 32.83, respectively. Prolonged smoking duration, increased intensity, and high ND are hallmarks of CAS patients.

[Internal carotid artery stenosis with repeated ischemic stroke recurrence due to mechanical stimulation by the hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage: a case report].

We present a case of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis caused by mechanical stimulation by the hyoid bone (HB) and thyroid cartilage (TC). A 78-year-old man with a history of right ICA stenting four years previously was admitted for abrupt onset of dysarthria and left hemiparesis and diagnosed with ischemic stroke by magnetic resonance imaging. Three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography revealed internal carotid in-stent restenosis. Furthermore, the HB and TC contacted with the right ICA. Treatment involved antiplatelet therapy, partial HB and TC resection, and carotid artery restenting. Posttreatmently, the ICA was restored and stenosis improved. Since restenosis may occur posttreatmently in patients with carotid artery stenosis caused by mechanical stimulation of the HB and TC, it is necessary to consider treatments including not only carotid artery stenting but also partial bone structures resection and carotid endarterectomy.

Safety and Efficacy of Tirofiban Bridging Therapy During a Hybrid Carotid Artery Stenting and Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery: A Single-center Study.

PURPOSE: The optimal perioperative antithrombosis management for carotid artery stenting (CAS) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) hybrid surgeries remains unclear; however, a more aggressive antithrombotic therapy might be required after a hybrid CAS + CABG duo stent-related intimal injury or the use of protamine-neutralizing heparin. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of tirofiban as a bridging therapy after a hybrid CAS + CABG surgery. METHODS: Between June 2018 and February 2022, a total of 45 patients undergoing a hybrid CAS + off-pump CABG surgery were divided into either the control group (standard dual antiplatelet therapy postsurgery, n = 27) or the tirofiban group (tirofiban bridging + dual antiplatelet therapy, n = 18). The 30-day outcome was compared between the 2 groups, and the primary end points included stroke, postoperative myocardial infarction, and death. FINDINGS: Two patients (7.41%) from the control group experienced a stroke. There was a trend toward a lower rate of composite end points, including stroke, postoperative myocardial infarction, and death, within the tirofiban group that did not reach statistical significance (0% vs 11.1%; P = 0.264). The need for a transfusion was similar between the 2 groups (33.33% vs 29.63%; P = 0.793). There were no major bleeding events in the 2 groups. IMPLICATIONS: Tirofiban bridging therapy was safe, with a trend toward reducing the risk of ischemic events after a hybrid CAS + off-pump CABG surgery. Tirofiban might be a feasible periprocedural bridging protocol in high-risk patients.

Prediction of cerebral hyperperfusion following carotid endarterectomy using intravoxel incoherent motion magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVES: One of the risk factors for cerebral hyperperfusion following carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is a chronic reduction in cerebral perfusion pressure due to internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis, which is clinically detected as increased cerebral blood volume (CBV). The perfusion fraction (f) is one of the intra-voxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameters obtained using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging that theoretically reflects CBV. The present study aimed to determine whether preoperative IVIM-f on MR imaging predicts development of cerebral hyperperfusion following CEA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with unilateral ICA stenosis (≥ 70%) underwent preoperative diffusion-weighted 3-T MR imaging, and IVIM-f maps were generated from these data. Quantitative brain perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was performed before and immediately after CEA. Regions-of-interest (ROIs) were automatically placed in the bilateral middle cerebral artery territories in all images using a three-dimensional stereotactic ROI template, and affected-to-contralateral ratios in the ROIs were calculated on IVIM-f maps. RESULTS: Nine patients (13%) exhibited postoperative hyperperfusion (cerebral blood flow increases of ≥ 100% compared with preoperative values in the ROIs on brain perfusion SPECT). Only high IVIM-f ratios were significantly associated with the occurrence of postoperative hyperperfusion (95% confidence interval, 253.8-6774.2; p = 0.0031) on logistic regression analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the IVIM-f ratio to predict the occurrence of postoperative hyperperfusion were 100%, 81%, 45%, and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative IVIM-f on MR imaging can predict development of cerebral hyperperfusion following CEA.

Efficacy and mechanism of stellate ganglion block in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is an effective technique for carotid artery stenosis and has been widely used. Stellate ganglion block (SGB) has good effect on the treatment of both painful and non-painful diseases. To investigate the efficacy of SGB in terms of cerebral protection in patients undergoing CEA and to analyze its mechanism. METHODS: In this retrospective analysis, 120 patients who underwent CEA were enrolled and divided into study group (SG) (60 cases, general anesthesia and SGB) and control group (CG) (60 cases, general anesthesia). The differences in hemodynamic indexes, middle cerebral artery (MCA) hemodynamic indexes, and endocrine-related indexes between the two groups at the baseline, after induction of anesthesia (induction), and skin incision (incision) were compared. The differences in neurological function and pain level between two groups 1 day pre-operatively (pre-op 1), 1 day postoperatively (POD 1), 2 day postoperatively (POD 2), and 7 day postoperatively (POD 7) were also evaluated. Perioperative adverse events and intraoperative anesthetics dosage were compared between two groups. RESULTS: The systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean pulse pressure difference, and heart rate of SG at incision were lower than those of the CG (p < 0.05); Vs, Vd, and Vm of MCA were significantly higher in the SG than in CG at induction and incision (p < 0.05). Cortisol and aldosterone levels were lower and potassium and insulin levels were higher in the SG than in CG at induction and incision (p < 0.05); At pre-op 1, POD 1, POD 2, and POD 7, the VAS scores of patients in the SG were significantly lower than those in CG at POD 1, POD 2, and POD 7 (p < 0.05). The patients in SG showed decreased incidence of perioperative adverse events compared with the CG (p < 0.05); The consumption of anesthetics in the SG was lower than that in CG (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: SGB in patients undergoing CEA treatment can improve perioperative cerebral blood supply and reduce the consumption of anesthetics and the incidence of perioperative adverse events, which is safe and feasible as a cerebral protection measure. Meanwhile, SGB may also help stabilize patients' perioperative hemodynamic indexes, but the result still needs to be supported by further large sample data.

Revisiting carotid endarterectomy: Neobulb technique using external carotid artery as a patch.

OBJECTIVES: This study describes an alternative carotid bifurcation endarterectomy technique in which the external carotid artery is used as a suture patch. METHODS: Charts of ten patients with atherosclerotic carotid stenosis that were treated using the neobulb technique between 2002 and 2019 were reviewed. RESULTS: No major surgical adverse event was observed in the postoperative assessments. No postoperative common or internal carotid stenosis was observed in the mid- or long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The neobulb technique allows carotid endarterectomy closure without a synthetic or venous patch, using the external carotid artery as an autologous patch, while preserving distal flow into the external carotid artery branches.

Assessment of Determinants of Value in Carotid Endarterectomy.

BACKGROUND: Over 150,000 carotid endarterectomies (CEA) are performed annually worldwide, accounting for $900 million in the United States alone. How cost/spending and quality are related is not well understood but remain essential components in maximizing value. We sought to identify determinants of variability in hospital 90-day episode value for CEA. METHODS: Medicare and private-payer admissions for CEA from January 2, 2014 to August 28, 2020 were linked to retrospective clinical registry data for hospitals in Michigan performing vascular surgery. Hospital-specific, risk-adjusted, 30-day composite complications (defined as reoperation, new neurologic deficit, myocardial infarction, additional procedure including CEA or carotid artery stenting, readmission, or mortality) and 30-day risk-adjusted, price-standardized total episode payments were used to categorize hospitals into low or high value by defining the intersection between complications and spending. RESULTS: A total of 6,595 patients across 39 hospitals were identified across both datasets. Patients at low-value hospitals had a higher rate of 30-day composite complications (17.9% vs. 10.1%, P < 0.001) driven by a significantly higher rate of reoperation (3.0% vs. 1.4%, P = 0.016), readmission (10.7% vs. 6.2%, P = 0.012), new neurologic deficit (4.6% vs. 2.3%, P = 0.017), and mortality (1.6% vs. 0.6%, P < 0.049). Mean total episode payments were $19,635 at low-value hospitals compared to $15,709 at high-value hospitals driven by index hospitalization ($10,800 vs. $9,587, P = 0.002), professional ($3,421 vs. $2,827, P < 0.001), readmission ($3,011 vs. $1,826, P < 0.001), and post-acute care payments ($2,335 vs. $1,486, P < 0.001). Findings were similar when only including patients who did not suffer a complication. CONCLUSIONS: There is tremendous variation in both quality and payments across hospitals included for CEA. Importantly, costs were higher at low-value hospitals independent of postoperative complication. There appears to be little to no relationship between total episode spending and surgical quality, suggesting that improvements in value may be possible by decreasing total episode cost without affecting surgical outcomes.

Hemodynamic impact of snoring on carotid artery after stent implantation: the role of oscillation.

Snoring is common in overweight and elderly patients treated by endovascular stenting. Studies have proved a correlation between snoring and carotid stenosis, thus, snoring after carotid artery stenting (CAS) might promote or worsen clinical performance. This study tested this hypothesis by constructing a patient-specific carotid bifurcation model and numerically analyzing hemodynamic changes of the carotid artery under different snoring conditions. These conditions included small and large amplitude, low and high frequency, and different age groups. The results found that high amplitude snoring suppressed the disturbed flow at the stented segment while the downstream region of ICA became more chaotic, accounting for in-stent intimal restenosis and thrombosis. Furthermore, local blood flow patterns of elder groups with snoring symptoms were more likely to be changed due to low-speed flow, increasing the possibility of vascular remodeling and thrombosis. Besides, increased snoring frequency hardly influenced the local disturbed flow. Therefore, older adults should receive medical treatment actively after stenting for high-amplitude snoring as soon as possible to avoid potential adverse events.

Comparison between carotid ultrasound and digital subtraction angiography in the diagnosis of carotid artery stenosis in patients with cerebral infarction / Comparación entre la ecografía carotídea y la angiografía por sustracción digital en el diagnostic de estenosis de la arteria carótida en pacientes con infarto cerebral

SUMMARY: This study aimed to compare the clinical value of carotid ultrasound and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for carotid artery stenosis in patients with cerebral infarction. Sixty patients with cerebral infarction underwent carotid ultrasound and DSA. Carotid artery stenosis, degree of stenosis (mild, moderate, severe, and occlusion), and carotid artery plaques were recorded and compared. Carotid stenosis rate was 96.67 % (58/60) and 91.67 % (55/60) on DSA and carotid ultrasound, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant. Mild, moderate, and severe carotid artery stenosis and occlusion were diagnosed in 35, 28, 20, and 17 arteries, respectively, with DSA, and in 39, 25, 10, and 9 arteries, respectively, with carotid ultrasound. There was a statistically significant difference in the degree of carotid stenosis between the two methods (p<0.05). The kappa value of carotid plaques detected by carotid ultrasound and DSA was 0.776, indicating good consistency. Both carotid ultrasound and DSA are effective for screening carotid artery stenosis and carotid atherosclerotic plaques. While carotid ultrasound is faster and more convenient, DSA can more accurately detect the degree of stenosis and presence of occlusion. Thus, our recommendation is a combination of carotid ultrasound and DSA in clinical settings to improve the convenience and accuracy of diagnosis.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo comparar el valor clínico de la ecografía carotídea y la angiografía por sustracción digital (DSA) para la estenosis de la arteria carótida en pacientes con infarto cerebral. Sesenta pacientes con infarto cerebral fueron sometidos a ecografía carotídea y DSA. Se registraron y compararon la estenosis de la arteria carótida, el grado de estenosis (leve, moderada, grave y oclusión) y las placas de la arteria carótida. La tasa de estenosis carotídea fue del 96,67 % (58/60) y del 91,67 % (55/60) en DSA y ecografía carotídea, respectivamente, y la diferencia no fue estadísticamente significativa. Se diagnosticaron estenosis y oclusión de la arteria carótida leve, moderada y grave en 35, 28, 20 y 17 arterias, respectivamente, con DSA, y en 39, 25, 10 y 9 arterias, respectivamente, con ecografía carotídea. Hubo una diferencia estadísticamente significativa en el grado de estenosis carotídea entre los dos métodos (p<0,05). El valor kappa de las placas carotídeas detectadas por ecografía carotídea y DSA fue de 0,776, lo que indica una buena consistencia. Tanto la ecografía carotídea como la DSA son eficaces para detectar la estenosis de la arteria carótida y las placas ateroscleróticas carotídeas. Si bien la ecografía carotídea es más rápida y conveniente, la DSA puede detectar con mayor precisión el grado de estenosis y la presencia de oclusión. Por lo tanto, nuestra recomendación es una combinación de ecografía carotídea y DSA en entornos clínicos para mejorar la conveniencia y precisión del diagnóstico.

Impact of radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma on carotid stenosis risk: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTS: Radiotherapy (RT) serves as the most effective treatment for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) and can cause carotid stenosis. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of RT on carotid stenosis in NPC patients, as well as to explore the risk factors for significant carotid stenosis. METHODS: Studies reporting the carotid stenosis in NPC patients who underwent RT were found on PubMed, Embase and Web of Science. Outcomes of our interest included incidence of overall/significant stenosis, Common Carotid Artery (CCA) stenosis, External Carotid Artery (ECA) stenosis, Internal Carotid Artery (ICA) stenosis, and risk factors for significant carotid stenosis. RESULTS: Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled estimate showed that RT was associated with a significantly higher incidence of overall stenosis (Risk Ratio [RR = 3.53], 95% CI: 2.32‒5.37; p <  0.001) and significant stenosis (RR = 7.06, 95% CI: 3.61‒13.79; p <  0.001) as compared with controls. Moreover, patients treated with RT had a significantly higher risk of stenosis in CCA (RR = 6.87, 95% CI: 4.08‒11.58; p <  0.001), ICA (RR = 3.43, 95% CI: 1.35‒8.73; p =  0.010), ECA (RR = 9.37, 95% CI: 2.06‒42.68; p =  0.004), and ECA/ICA (RR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.52‒3.13; p < 0.001). Meta-analysis indicated that age (RR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.05‒2.04; p =  0.024), smoking habit (RR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.02‒2.78; p =  0.045) and time interval from radiotherapy (RR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.07‒2.28; p =  0.02) were independent predictors of significant carotid stenosis. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that RT increased the risk of carotid stenosis in patients with NPC. Prevention and control measurements should be made for older NPC patients with longer interval from RT, especially those with smoking habit.

Transcarotid Artery Revascularization: Is It Better than Carotid Endarterectomy?

Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) is a novel carotid stenting method that avoids the manipulation of the aortic arch and uses a flow-reversal neuroprotection system that effectively reduces the risk of embolic events during carotid intervention. Studies have shown a lower risk of stroke or death compared with the transfemoral carotid stenting approach, and an equivalent risk of stroke or death compared with traditional carotid endarterectomy. TCAR has added benefits of lower risk of myocardial infarction, cranial nerve injuries, and shorter operative times compared with endarterectomy. TCAR has become widely adopted by vascular surgeons in the United States for the treatment of patients with high-risk medical comorbidities and those with challenging surgical anatomy.