Efectividad y durabilidad de la endarterectomía carotidea a largo plazo / Effectiveness and durability of long-term carotid endarterectomy

Introducción: Los accidentes cerebrovasculares constituyen un problema de salud mundial con tendencia creciente; en la actualidad es la tercera causa de muerte. Objetivo: Describir la efectividad y durabilidad de la endarterectomía carotidea a largo plazo en la enfermedad carotidea extracraneal. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, ambispectivo en 44 pacientes sometidos a un total de 52 endarterectomías carotideas realizadas en el servicio de Angiología y Cirugía Vascular del Hospital Docente Clínico Quirúrgico Hermanos Ameijeiras. A todos se les realizó un seguimiento clínico con ultrasonografía doppler. El período de tiempo analizado fue de ocho años. Se tuvo en cuenta las variables: sexo, edad, factores de riesgo asociados, categoría clínica, localización topográfica de las lesiones, complicaciones tardías, tiempo de permeabilidad y resultados posquirúrgicos. Resultados: Predominó el sexo masculino (68,2 por ciento). Las lesiones carotideas asintomáticas y sintomáticas representaron el 50 por ciento respectivamente. El hábito de fumar y la dislipidemia fueron los factores de riesgo más frecuentes. Hubo predominio de las complicaciones tardías (55,8 por ciento) con relevancia de la restenosis carotidea (n= 21). El tiempo promedio de permeabilidad primaria del sector revascularizado fue de cinco años. El 86,5 por ciento de los pacientes seguidos a largo plazo mostraron resultados posquirúrgicos satisfactorios al no presentar eventos neurológicos isquémicos o lesiones carotideas con repercusión hemodinámica. Conclusiones: La endarterectomía carotidea es un procedimiento seguro con baja morbilidad y mortalidad perioperatorias que garantiza una reducción significativa en las tasas de enfermedad cerebrovascular isquémica en el seguimiento a largo plazo con baja incidencia de complicaciones vasculares y neurológicas tardías(AU)

Introduction: Cardiovascular events constitute a global health problem with a growing tendency. Nowadays, they represent the third cause of death. Objective: To describe the effectiveness and durability of long-term carotid endarterectomy in the extracranial carotid disease. Methods: A descriptive, ambispective study was conducted in 44 patients subjected to 52 carotid endarterectomies that were performed in the service of Angiology and Vascular Surgery of Hermanos Ameijeiras Teaching-Clinical- Surgical Hospital. A clinical follow-up was performed with Doppler ultrasonography to all the patients. The period analyzed was eight years. The variables considered were: sex, age, associated risk factors, clinical category, topographical localization of the lesions, late complications, time of permeability and postsurgical results. Results: Male sex predominated (68,2 percent). Asymptomatic and symptomatic carotid lesions represented 50 percent respectively. The smoking habit and dyslipidemia were the most common risk factors. There was predominance of late complications (55,8 percent) being notable the carotid restenosis (n = 21). The average time of primary permeability of the revascularized sector was five years. 86,5 percent of the patients followed in the long term showed satisfactory postsurgical results by not presenting ischemic neurological events or carotid lesions with hemodynamic impact. Conclusions: Carotid endarterectomy is a safe procedure with low morbidity and peri-operative mortality that ensures a significant reduction in ischemic cerebrovascular disease´s rates in long-term follow-up with low incidence of late vascular and neurological complications(AU)

Place-and-Clip Method for Fixing the Suture Thread in Deep-Brain Vascular Lesions: A Technical Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial vascular injury incurred during surgery must be repaired as quickly as possible. The standard repair procedure is surgical suturing. However, the narrow and deep working space may obstruct creating a knot with the suture thread. CASE DESCRIPTION: Resection of an olfactory groove meningioma was performed in a 73-year-old woman via the right lateral supraorbital approach. Tumor retraction caused an injury to the pericallosal artery. After temporary clipping of the vessel, a 10-0 nylon thread was placed on the vascular lesion and the end of the thread was fixed with an aneurysm clip. CONCLUSIONS: Fixing the suture thread with an aneurysm clip can be a rescue technique in suturing procedures on deeply located vascular lesions.

The changing role of endovascular stenting for blunt cerebrovascular injuries.

BACKGROUND: Few injuries have produced as much debate with respect to management as have blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVIs). Without question, early anticoagulation is the mainstay of therapy for these injuries. However, the role of endovascular stenting for BCVI remains controversial. Our purpose was to examine the use of endovascular stents for BCVI and outcomes and describe which injuries are being treated with stents. METHODS: Patients with BCVI from 2011 to 2016 were identified and stratified by age, sex, and injury severity. Patients were then divided into two groups (previous study [PS] = 2011-2012 and current study [CS] = 2013-2016) based on a paradigm shift in BCVI diagnosis and treatment at our institution. Beginning in 2013, a multidisciplinary team assumed care of patients with BCVI from interventional radiology. Digital subtraction angiography was used to confirmatory injuries in both groups and heparin used for initial therapy. RESULTS: In the CS, 237 patients were diagnosed with BCVI compared with 128 patients in the PS. Both groups were clinically similar with no difference in distribution of vessels injured. Beginning in 2013, there was a significant decrease in the use of stents for these injuries. In fact, in the CS, only 21 (8.9%) patients were treated with endovascular stenting compared to 44 (34%) patients in the PS. Of patients in the CS, 14 had grade III pseudoaneurysms and seven had grade II dissections. Despite this reduction in stenting, there was no significant change in the BCVI-related stroke rate between the CS and the PS (4.2% vs. 3.9%). CONCLUSION: Anticoagulation alone is adequate therapy for the majority of BCVI. Nevertheless, there is still a role for endovascular stents in the treatment of BCVI. Their use should be reserved for enlarging carotid pseudoaneurysms and dissections with significant narrowing. The prospect of determining which injuries benefit from stent placement warrants prospective investigation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapuetic/care management, level IV.

Cervical artery dissection related to chiropractic manipulation: One institution's experience.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of patients seen at a single institution who were diagnosed with a cervical vessel dissection related to chiropractic neck manipulation. METHODS: We identified cases through a retrospective chart review of patients seen between April 2008 and March 2012 who had a diagnosis of cervical artery dissection following a recent chiropractic manipulation. Relevant imaging studies were reviewed by a board-certified neuroradiologist to confirm the findings of a cervical artery dissection and stroke. We conducted telephone interviews to ascertain the presence of residual symptoms in the affected patients. RESULTS: Of the 141 patients with cervical artery dissection, 12 had documented chiropractic neck manipulation prior to the onset of the symptoms that led to medical presentation. The 12 patients had a total of 16 cervical artery dissections. All 12 patients developed symptoms of acute stroke. All strokes were confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging or computerized tomography. We obtained follow-up information on 9 patients, 8 of whom had residual symptoms and one of whom died as a result of his injury. CONCLUSION: In this case series, 12 patients with newly diagnosed cervical artery dissection(s) had recent chiropractic neck manipulation. Patients who are considering chiropractic cervical manipulation should be informed of the potential risk and be advised to seek immediate medical attention should they develop symptoms.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Traumatic Cerebrovascular Injury: Pitfalls in the Management of Neurotrauma.

Traumatic cerebrovascular injury (TCVI) is an uncommon clinical entity in traumatic brain injury (TBI), yet it may cause devastating brain injury with high morbidity and mortality. Early recognition and prioritized strategic treatment are of paramount importance. A total of 1966 TBI patients admitted between 1999 and 2015 in our tertiary critical care center were reviewed. Screening of TCVI was based on the Guidelines for the Management of Severe Head Injury in Japan. TCVI was confirmed in 33 (1.7%) patients; 29 blunt and 4 penetrating injuries. The primary location of the injury included 16 cervical, 6 craniofacial, and 11 intracranial lesions. On arrival, 15 patients presented with hemorrhage, 5 of these arrived in shock status with massive hemorrhage. Ten presented with ischemic symptoms. Sixteen patients underwent surgical or endovascular intervention, 13 of whom required immediate treatment upon arrival. Surgical procedures included clipping or trapping for traumatic aneurysms, superficial temporal artery - middle cerebral artery bypass, carotid endarterectomy, and direct suture of the injured vessels. Endovascular intervention was undertaken in 7 patients; embolization with Gelfoam (Pharmacia and Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, MI, USA) or coil for 6 hemorrhagic lesions and stent placement for 1 lesion causing ischemia. Patients' outcome assessed by the Glasgow Outcome Scale at 3 months were good recovery in 8, moderate disability in 3, severe disability in 9, persistent vegetative state in 1, and death in 12, respectively. In order to rescue potentially salvageable TCVI patients, neurosurgeons in charge should be aware of TCVI and master basic skills of cerebrovascular surgical and endovascular procedures to utilize in an emergency setting.

Management of Penetrating Cerebrovascular Injuries in Pediatric Trauma: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: Blunt cerebrovascular injury is uncommon in the pediatric population; penetrating cerebrovascular injuries are even rarer and are thus poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To describe the diagnosis and management of penetrating cerebrovascular injuries and describe outcomes of available treatment modalities. METHODS: Clinical and radiographic data were collected retrospectively from a multicenter trauma registry for children screened for cerebrovascular injury during 2003 to 2013 at 4 academic pediatric trauma centers. RESULTS: Among 645 pediatric patients evaluated with computed tomography angiography with blunt cerebrovascular injury, 130 also had a penetrating trauma indication. Seven penetrating cerebrovascular injuries were diagnosed in 7 male patients (mean age 12.4 years, range 12-18 years). Focal neurological deficit and concomitant intracranial injury were each seen in 2 patients. There were 2 intracranial carotid artery injuries, 4 extracranial carotid artery injuries, and 1 vertebral artery injury. The majority of injuries were higher than grade I (5/7; 71%): 2 were grade I, 1 grade II, 2 grade III, and 2 grade IV. The 2 patients with grade III injuries required open surgery, and 1 patient with a grade IV injury underwent endovascular treatment. Two patients suffered immediate stroke secondary to the penetrating cerebrovascular injury. There were no delayed neurological deficits from the penetrating injuries, and no patients died as a result of the injuries. CONCLUSION: This is the largest series of penetrating cerebrovascular trauma in the pediatric literature. Although rare, penetrating cerebrovascular injuries can be high-grade injuries that require urgent recognition and may require aggressive endovascular and/or open surgery for treatment.

Adolescents with vascular frontal lesion: A neuropsychological follow up case study / Adolescentes con lesión vascular frontal: seguimiento neuropsicológico de estudio de casos

The objective of this research was to identify clinically significant changes in cognitive functions in three adolescents who underwent surgery for resection of a focal vascular lesion in the frontal lobe. Cognitive functions, executive function, behavior regulation, emotion regulation, and social abilities were assessed prior to surgery, six and 24 months post-discharge. Significant clinical changes were observed during all the assessments. Cognitive changes after surgery are not homogeneous. Most of the significant clinical changes were improvements. Especially the significant clinical changes presented in EF domains were only improvements; these results suggest that EF were affected by the vascular lesion and benefitted by the surgery. After resection of a vascular lesion between 15 and 16 years of age the affected executive functions can continue the maturation process. Our results highlight the importance that assessments must include emotional aspects, even if deficits in these domains are not presented in the acute phase. Rehabilitation methods should promote the development of skills that help patients and their families to manage the emotional and behavioral changes that emerge once they are discharged from the hospital

El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar cambios clínicamente significativos en las funciones cognoscitivas de tres adolescentes que fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente para resección de una lesión vascular focal en el lóbulo frontal. Se midieron funciones cognoscitivas, funciones ejecutivas, regulación conductual, regulación emocional y habilidades sociales en tres momentos, antes de la cirugía, 6 y 24 meses después de la cirugía. Se observaron cambios clínicamente significativos durante los tres momentos de evaluación. Los cambios cognoscitivos después de la cirugía no son homogéneos. La mayoría de los cambios fueron incrementos. Especialmente los cambios clínicamente significativos presentados en funciones ejecutivas fueron mejoras, los resultados sugieren que la resección de una lesión vascular entre los 15 y 16 años de edad permite la recuperación de las funciones ejecutivas. Nuestros resultados señalan la importancia de incluir aspectos emocionales en la evaluación, aún si no se presentaron alteraciones emocionales en la fase aguda. Se sugiere que los métodos de rehabilitación apoyen a los pacientes y a sus familias a manejar los cambios emocionales y conductuales que surgen una vez que son dados de alta del hospital

Blunt cerebrovascular injuries in association with craniocervical distraction injuries: a retrospective review of consecutive cases.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVIs) have the potential to cause brain, cerebellar, and/or spinal cord ischemia. Certain subtypes of spine fractures, such as vertebral subluxation, fractures through the foramen transversarium, and C1-C3 fractures have been linked to a higher incidence of BCVI. On the other hand, BCVI in association with craniocervical distraction injuries (CCDs) have been only anecdotally reported. PURPOSE: We hypothesized that because CCD is also caused by a high-energy hyperflexion/hyperextension distraction mechanism, it could also be associated with a high incidence of BCVI. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Retrospective chart review. PATIENT SAMPLE: Of 46 consecutive patients with unstable craniocervical dissociations treated operatively at a single Level I trauma center from January 1996 to December 2009, 29 of the 46 had vascular studies that comprised the study sample. OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes assessed were BCVI subdivided into blunt carotid artery injuries and/or blunt vertebral artery injuries and classified according to the Biffl criteria. Secondary measures included associated strokes and evidence of emboli on transcranial Doppler. METHODS: All consecutive patients diagnosed with unstable CCD injuries that were surgically treated at a single Level I trauma center during the period of 1996 to 2009 were identified. Those who were adequately screened with a catheter angiogram and/or computed tomography angiogram of the neck so as to rule out BCVI were included in this study. Electronic medical records were used to determine mechanism, demographics, clinical findings, and transcranial Doppler reports. Angiography and computed tomography angiograms were analyzed to assess for BCVI. If a BCVI was identified, these were classified using the Biffl criteria. RESULTS: Among the 29 screened patients, 30 BCVIs were identified in 15 patients. According to the Biffl criteria, there were 13 Grade I, eight Grade II, five Grade III, three Grade IV, and one Grade V injuries. Three major strokes were diagnosed in those 15 patients with BCVI, as opposed to none among the other 14 patients without BCVI. CONCLUSIONS: Blunt cerebrovascular injuries were seen in more than 50% of the patients screened, with major strokes occurring in 20% of the patients. We suggest screening for BCVI in all patients presenting with C0-C1 and/or C1-C2 distraction injuries.

Multidetector CT angiography influences the choice of treatment for blunt carotid artery injury.

A 43-year-old woman presented with a 2 h history of left neck pain after striking her neck against a marble bench while playing with her son. The patient was screened for blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) and a left carotid bruit was identified. Subsequently, she underwent multidetector CT angiography (MCTA) of the aortic arch and neck vessels, which demonstrated a flow-limiting dissection of the left common carotid artery (CCA). The patient was started on heparin infusion and underwent an emergency operation. At surgery, a circumferential intimal dissection was excised and the arteriotomy defect closed with an autologous venous patch. This case emphasises the importance of adequately examining patients with direct injury to the neck, screening relevant patients for BCVI and investigating them with MCTA that influences the choice of a treatment option.

Modern advances in vascular trauma.

Early diagnosis and intervention are paramount for improving the likelihood of a favorable outcome for traumatic vascular injuries. As technology has rapidly diversified, the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches available for vascular injuries have evolved. Mortality and morbidity from vascular injury have declined over the last decade. The use of vascular shunts and tourniquets has become standard of care in military medicine.

Life-threatening neurovascular injuries associated with recreational use of "banana" boats.

Banana boat rides are a popular form of recreation worldwide. Recommendations that speed should not exceed 15 mph, passengers should wear protective gear, and an observer should be present on the towing boat are generally ignored. Medical personnel at tourist venues and general practitioners may not be attuned to the risk of serious injury. We present our experience in the management carotid- and vertebral artery dissections sustained by 44- and 23-year-old males during banana boat rides. In both cases, the dissections were misdiagnosed until patients presented to the Emergency Department two days after injury. In the first patient, medical management failed and endovascular treatment was required due to neurological deterioration. In patient two, anticoagulation therapy prevented embolic sequelae. Boat operators, passengers, and the medical personnel who are first to see these patients should be aware of the risk of arterial dissection to facilitate early detection of these potentially life-threatening injuries.

The evolution of the treatment of traumatic cerebrovascular injury during wartime.

The approach to traumatic craniocervical vascular injury has evolved significantly in recent years. Conflicts prior to Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom were characterized by minimal intervention in the setting of severe penetrating head injury, in large part due to limited far-forward resource availability. Consequently, sequelae of penetrating head injury like traumatic aneurysm formation remained poorly characterized with a paucity of pathophysiological descriptions. The current conflicts have seen dramatic improvements with respect to the management of severe penetrating and closed head injuries. As a result of the rapid field resuscitation and early cranial decompression, patients are surviving longer, which has led to diagnosis and treatment of entities that had previously gone undiagnosed. Therefore, in this paper the authors' purpose is to review their experience with severe traumatic brain injury complicated by injury to the craniocervical vasculature. Historical approaches will be reviewed, and the importance of modern endovascular techniques will be emphasized.

Delayed detection of carotid-cavernous fistulas associated with wartime blast-induced craniofacial trauma.

Blast-induced neurotrauma is a leading cause of military casualties. Its effects on cerebrovascular structures are not well understood. Vascular injury resulting from overpressure shock wave impact may have a delayed presentation and detection. The authors present the cases of 2 patients who sustained blast-induced craniofacial trauma and brain injury. Detection of a cervical dissection was delayed in one patient, and detection of carotid-cavernous fistulas was delayed in both patients. The authors report the successful obliteration of both the dissection and the carotidcavernous fistulas via an endovascular approach. Endovascular management provides both a reasonable and effective therapeutic option to blast-induced cerebrovascular injuries.

Management and outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for traumatic cervical fracture-subluxation associated with an asymptomatic vertebral artery injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical series. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the management and outcomes of patients with unilateral, asymptomatic vertebral artery occlusion (VAO) undergoing surgery for cervical fractures associated with subluxation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The management of VAO is controversial with several treatment options available, including observation alone, antiplatelet therapy, or anticoagulation therapy. METHODS: A chart review inclusive of the years 2004 to 2006 was performed to include patients who presented after nonpenetrating trauma with cervical fracture associated with subluxation requiring surgery. An associated asymptomatic VAO was also required for inclusion. Eight patients were identified. RESULTS: Seven patients were male and the mean age was 26.8 years. Six patients suffered an associated spinal cord injury. Three patients underwent closed reduction before surgical stabilization. Five patients underwent open reduction with stabilization. No patient received treatment for VAO before reduction. Postoperative treatment for VAO was variable, with 5 of 8 patients undergoing observation alone. The remaining 3 patients were treated with aspirin therapy, although 1 patient received heparin intravenously for 1 day. None of the patients experienced an ischemic complication. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction of a fracture, whether closed or open, without treatment of an associated asymptomatic VAO seems safe. Postoperative management of VAO consisting of either observation alone or aspirin therapy also seems to be a safe option.

Influence of early antioxidant supplements on clinical evolution and organ function in critically ill cardiac surgery, major trauma, and subarachnoid hemorrhage patients.

INTRODUCTION: Oxidative stress is involved in the development of secondary tissue damage and organ failure. Micronutrients contributing to the antioxidant (AOX) defense exhibit low plasma levels during critical illness. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of early AOX micronutrients on clinical outcome in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with conditions characterized by oxidative stress. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center trial in patients admitted to a university hospital ICU with organ failure after complicated cardiac surgery, major trauma, or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stratification by diagnosis was performed before randomization. The intervention was intravenous supplements for 5 days (selenium 270 microg, zinc 30 mg, vitamin C 1.1 g, and vitamin B1 100 mg) with a double-loading dose on days 1 and 2 or placebo. RESULTS: Two hundred patients were included (102 AOX and 98 placebo). While age and gender did not differ, brain injury was more severe in the AOX trauma group (P = 0.019). Organ function endpoints did not differ: incidence of acute kidney failure and sequential organ failure assessment score decrease were similar (-3.2 +/- 3.2 versus -4.2 +/- 2.3 over the course of 5 days). Plasma concentrations of selenium, zinc, and glutathione peroxidase, low on admission, increased significantly to within normal values in the AOX group. C-reactive protein decreased faster in the AOX group (P = 0.039). Infectious complications did not differ. Length of hospital stay did not differ (16.5 versus 20 days), being shorter only in surviving AOX trauma patients (-10 days; P = 0.045). CONCLUSION: The AOX intervention did not reduce early organ dysfunction but significantly reduced the inflammatory response in cardiac surgery and trauma patients, which may prove beneficial in conditions with an intense inflammation. TRIALS REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials.gov RCT Register: NCT00515736.

The acute cerebrovascular event: surgical and other interventional therapies.

Over the next decade, more early and aggressive treatments will become available for acute stroke. As EPs have been forced to push their skills and knowledge significantly further with the advent of time-sensitive interventions for myocardial ischemia, a similar sophistication will undoubtedly emerge in the management of acute stroke. Certain components of the neurological examination will likely assume a new significance and, as with the renewed focus on the nature of ST segment change on the ECG in ACS, there will be new attention to early imaging findings in stroke. Although it is unclear whether the balance of future advances in treatment will come from the world of neurosurgery, neurology, or interventional radiology, the EP is relatively assured to play a central role in their implementation.

Skull base trauma: diagnosis and management.

The singular anatomical relationship of the base of the skull is responsible for the particular problems that may arise after injury. Extensive dural laceration and severe neurovascular damage may accompany skull base injuries. Trauma to the anterior skull base is frequently related to the paranasal sinuses, and trauma to the middle and the posterior skull base usually affects the petrous bone. Injury to the anterior fossa including the paranasal sinuses may produce CSF leakage, damage the olfactory nerves, optic nerves, and orbita contents. Fractures may affect the carotid canal, injure the internal carotid artery and result in carotid-cavernous fistula. Trauma to the petrous bone may cause facial palsy and deafness, and CSF leakage with otorrhoea or paradoxal rhinoliquorrhoea. Trauma to the posterior fossa may lacerate the major venous sinuses, and affect the cranio-cervical stability. Each one of these injuries will need a particular strategy. Decision making for management as a whole must consider all aspects, including the fact that these injuries frequently involve polytraumatized patients. Decisions regarding the timing of surgery and the sequence of the surgical procedures must be made with great care. Modern surgical techniques and recent technologies including functional preservation of the olfactory nerves in frontobasal trauma, visual evoked potentials, assisted optic nerve decompression, facial nerve reconstruction, interventional technique for intravascular repair of vascular injuries, and recent developments in cochlea implants and brain stem implants, all contributed significantly to improve outcome and enhance the quality of life of patients. This article reviews basic principles of management of skull base trauma stressing the role of these advanced techniques.