Optical Coherence Tomography-Guided Stenting for Common Carotid Free-Floating Thrombus.

CLINICAL IMPACT: Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) has traditionally been considered an effective method for visualizing carotid free-floating thrombus (CFFT), but it falls short in providing detailed structures of the lumen and the composition of thrombi, making it challenging to determine the etiology. Intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a valuable adjunct to DSA that can precisely evaluate the characteristics of the intrinsic vessel wall and accurately distinguish between red and white thrombus, providing clues to the etiology of CFFTs. Moreover, OCT not only precisely determined the scope of a floating thrombus but also provided guidance for decision-making in endovascular treatment.

Subclavian-Carotid Bypass as a Solution to Recurrent Carotid Artery Stenosis Post Endarterectomy and Transfemoral Stenting.

We present the case of an 80-year-old man who underwent a subclavian-to-distal internal carotid artery bypass with a reversed saphenous vein due to symptomatic in-stent restenosis, following a carotid endarterectomy 20 years ago and carotid artery stenting 10 years ago. The patient presented with right-sided hemiparesis and dysarthria. Imaging suggested in-stent restenosis of the internal carotid artery stent. He was also found to have stenosis of the common carotid artery origin stent. An initial transfemoral attempt by interventional radiology was unsuccessful. Due to the stenosed common carotid artery origin stent, a common carotid-to-internal carotid artery bypass was not feasible. Therefore, a subclavian-distal carotid artery bypass with a reversed saphenous vein was performed. He did well in the postoperative period and has been seen in the clinic since. Surveillance ultrasound demonstrated a patent graft with non-stenotic proximal and distal anastomoses. We include an in-depth review of the management of recurrent carotid artery stenosis as well.

Correlation of Computed Tomography Angiography to Digital Subtraction Angiography in Carotid Stenosis with Real-World Assessment of Overestimation of Carotid Stenosis on Computed Tomography Angiography.

OBJECTIVE: Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is a well-established diagnostic modality for carotid stenosis. However, false-positive CTA results may expose patients to unnecessary procedural complications in cases where surgical intervention is not warranted. We aim to assess the correlation of CTA to digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in carotid stenosis and characterize patients who were referred for intervention based on CTA and did not require it based on DSA. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 186 patients who underwent carotid angioplasty and stenting following preprocedural CTA at our institution from April 2017 to December 2022. RESULTS: Twenty-one of 186 patients (11.2%) were found to have <50% carotid stenosis on DSA (discordant group). Severe plaque calcification on CTA was associated with a discordant degree of stenosis on DSA (LR+=7.4). Among 186 patients, agreement between the percentage of stenosis from CTA and DSA was weak-moderate (r2=0.27, P<0.01). Among concordant pairs, we found moderate-strong agreement between CTA and DSA (adj r2=0.37) (P < 0.0001). Of 186 patients, 127 patients had CTA stenosis of ≥70%, and 59 had CTA of 50%-69%. Correlation between CTA and DSA in severe CTA stenosis was weak (r2=0.11, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stenosis found on CTA, over 88% also had stenosis on DSA, with this positive predictive value in line with previous studies. The percent-stenosis value from CTA and DSA was weakly correlated but does not affect the overall clinical judgement of stenosis. Severe calcification found on CTA may potentially indicate nonstenosis on DSA.

Assessment of Plaque Characteristics by Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound and Stent Restenosis following Carotid Artery Stenting: A Retrospective Study.

Background and objective: carotid artery stenosis contributes significantly to ischemic strokes, with management options including carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) ischemic stroke risk can be reduced. Controversies persist regarding their efficacy and factors influencing complications, and understanding the relationship between atherosclerotic plaque characteristics and stent restenosis after CAS is crucial. Methods: we conducted a retrospective study involving 221 patients who underwent CAS for symptomatic or asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis. Comprehensive assessments of plaque morphology were performed using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) before CAS. Patient demographics, including smoking status and diabetes, were also recorded. Stent restenosis was diagnosed using various imaging modalities, including ultrasound, angiography, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Results: plaque analysis using CEUS revealed a significant association between plaque grade and restenosis incidence (p < 0.001), particularly with grade 0 (11.1%) and grade 2 plaques (66.7%). Smoking was notably associated with plaque vascularization and restenosis (p < 0.001), while diabetes did not significantly impact plaque characteristics or restenosis risk (p > 0.05). The mean duration of restenosis was 17.67 months. Stenting was the most frequent treatment modality for restenosis (70.6%). However, no significant relationship was found between restenosis type and plaque morphology (p = 0.268). Furthermore, while no clear relationship was observed between plaque morphology and the type of restenosis, our findings underscored the importance of plaque characterization in predicting post-CAS outcomes. Conclusions: this study highlights the utility of CEUS in predicting stent restenosis following CAS. There was a significant association between stent restenosis within 12-24 months after the carotid stenting procedure and an elevated grade of plaque vascularization. Moreover, one of the main factors possibly determining the grade of plaque vascularization was smoking. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and refine risk stratification in this patient population.

Comparing Post-operative Pain and Other Outcomes in Carotid Endarterectomy Versus Transcarotid Artery Revascularization.

BACKGROUND: Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) is growing in popularity. Although major clinical end-points such as stroke rate and mortality are well-known, patient reported outcomes such as pain, and length of stay are among the purported benefits that are as yet untested. We sought to determine if there are differences in pain and other clinical outcomes when comparing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and TCAR. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 326 patients undergoing TCAR (n = 50) or CEA (n = 276) from 2019-2023. Primary outcomes of interest were maximum pain numeric rating scales (NRS) reported in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and on postoperative days (POD) zero and 1, and oral morphine milligram equivalents (OMMEs) received intraoperatively through POD1. Secondary outcomes included length of stay (LOS), complications, and 30-day emergency department (ED) returns/readmissions. RESULTS: Fifty TCAR and 150 CEA patients were included in the propensity score matched cohorts. TCAR patients reported lower pain-NRS in PACU (P < .001) and on POD0 (P = .002), but similar pain scores on POD1 (P = .112). Postoperatively, TCAR patients were less likely to receive opioids (52% vs 75.3%, P = .003) and received less OMME from PACU through POD1 (12.8 ± 16.2 vs 23.2 ± 27.2, P = .001). After adjusting for age, sex, BMI, prior chronic opioid use, and prior carotid surgery, TCAR patients were approximately 70% less likely to receive post-operative opioids. No significant differences in LOS, 30-day ED returns/readmissions, or complications were observed between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with CEA, patients undergoing TCAR reported lower pain scores and consumed fewer narcotics overall. However, the absolute difference was modest, and pain scores were low in both cohorts. Differences in pain and post-operative narcotic use may be of less importance when deciding between TCAR and CEA. Total non-opioid protocols may be feasible in both approaches.

In-stent restenosis estimation following carotid artery stenting: The robust predictive value of atherogenic index of plasma and other non-traditional lipid profiles.

OBJECTIVE: Atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis is a significant contributor to ischemic strokes, and carotid artery stenting (CAS) has emerged as a pivotal treatment option. However, in-stent restenosis (ISR) remains a concern, impacting the long-term patency of CAS. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of non-traditional lipid profiles, including the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), in ISR development. METHODS: This retrospective single-center study involved patients presenting at a tertiary healthcare facility with severe carotid artery disease between 2016 and 2020 who subsequently underwent CAS. A total of 719 patients were included in the study. The study cohort was divided into ISR and non-ISR groups based on restenosis presence, confirmed by angiography following ultrasonographic follow-up assessments. Non-traditional lipid indices, such as AIP, atherogenic index (AI), and lipoprotein combined index (LCI), were evaluated along with traditional risk factors. RESULTS: During a 24-month follow-up, ISR occurred in 4.03% of patients. To determine the predictors of restenosis, three different models were constructed in multivariate analysis for non-traditional lipid indices. Multivariate analysis revealed AIP as a robust independent predictor of ISR (OR: 4.83 (CI 95 % 3.05-6.63, p < .001). Notably, AIP demonstrated superior predictive accuracy compared to AI and LCI, with a higher Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.971. CONCLUSION: Non-traditional lipid profiles, especially AIP, were found to be associated with an increased risk of ISR and may serve as predictors of ISR in patients undergoing CAS.

Uncommon Carotid Artery Stenting Complications: A Series by Images.

AIMS: To describe through emblematic images rare but clinically relevant carotid artery stenting complications that occurred at two high-volume centres for carotid artery stenting (CAS). BACKGROUND: CAS is an alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for the treatment of carotid artery stenosis in patients judged to be at high risk for CEA. CAS complications range between 1 and 9% and are higher in older patients complaining of neurological symptoms at the time of presentation. Besides periprocedural or early-after-procedure stroke, which remains the true Achilles' heel of CAS, other dramatic complications might compromise the clinical outcomes of this procedure. METHODS: Five infrequent complications, out of more than 1000 CAS performed in the years 2016-2021, have been described. RESULTS: Among CAS complications, acute carotid stent thrombosis, rescue retrieval of a disconnected distal cerebral embolic protection device, plaque prolapse after carotid stenting, cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS), and radial artery long sheath entrapment requiring surgical intervention were found to account for 0.3% of the total number of procedures performed by operators with high CAS volume. CONCLUSIONS: Unusual CAS complications may infrequently occur, even in hands of expert operators. To know how to deal with such complications might help interventionalists to improve CAS performance.

Determinants of Mortality and Mid-Term Outcomes After Transcarotid Artery Revascularization and Transfemoral Carotid Artery Stenting.

OBJECTIVES: The potential benefit of transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) over transfemoral carotid artery stenting (tfCAS) has been studied in the perioperative period with lower rates of stroke and death; however, data on mid-term outcomes are limited. We aimed to evaluate 3-year outcomes after TCAR and tfCAS and determine the primary predictors of 30-day and 1-year mortality following TCAR. METHODS: Data from the Vascular Quality Initiative for patients undergoing TCAR or tfCAS from January 2016 to December 2022 were analyzed. 1:1 propensity score matching using the nearest-neighbor method was used to adjust baseline demographics and clinical characteristics. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox Proportional Hazard Regression were used to evaluate long-term outcomes. Iterative stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis and Cox Proportional Hazard Regression were used to identify predictors of 30-day and 1-year mortality, respectively, based upon preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors. RESULTS: A total of 70 237 patients were included in analysis (TCAR=58.7%, tfCAS=41.3%). Transcarotid artery revascularization patients were older and had higher rates of comorbid conditions and high-risk medical and anatomic features than tfCAS patients. Propensity score matching yielded 22 322 pairs with no major differences between groups except that TCAR patients were older (71.6 years vs 70.8 years). At 3 years, TCAR was associated with a 24% reduction in hazard of death compared with tfCAS (hazard ratio [HR]=0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.71-0.82, p<0.001), for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. This survival advantage was established in the first 6 months (HR=0.59, 95% CI=0.53-0.62, p<0.001), with no difference in mortality risk from 6 months to 36 months (HR=0.95, 95% CI=0.86-1.05, p=0.31). Transcarotid artery revascularization was also associated with decreased hazard for 3-year stroke (HR=0.81, 95% CI=0.66-0.99, p=0.04) and stroke or death (HR=0.81, 95% CI=0.76-0.87, p<0.001) compared with tfCAS. The top predictors for 30-day and 1-year mortality were postoperative complications. The primary independent predictor was the occurrence of postoperative stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Transcarotid artery revascularization had a sustained mid-term survival advantage associated over tfCAS, with the benefit being established primarily within the first 6 months. Notably, our findings highlight the importance of postoperative stroke as the primary independent predictor for 30-day and 1-year mortal. CLINICAL IMPACT: The ongoing debate over the superiority of TCAR compared to tfCAS and CEA has been limited by a lack of comparative studies examining the impact of pre-operative symptoms on outcomes. Furthermore, data are scarce on mid-term outcomes for TCAR beyond the perioperative period. As a result, it remains uncertain whether the initial benefits of stroke and death reduction observed with TCAR over tfCAS persist beyond one year. Our study addresses these gaps in the literature, offering evidence to enable clinicians to assess the efficacy of TCAR for up to three years. Additionally, our study seeks to identify risk factors for postoperative mortality following TCAR, facilitating optimal patient stratification.

Carotid Free-Floating Thrombus Treated With a Combined Technique Using Embotrap III for Distal Protection.

Carotid free-floating thrombus (FFT) is a rare condition in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Recently, endovascular therapy for carotid FFT has been increasingly reported, but the strategy has not yet been established. We report a case of an acute stroke patient with a carotid FFT, who was successfully treated with a combination of the direct aspiration first-pass technique (ADAPT) and the Embotrap III (Cerenovus, Irvine, CA), specifically designed to prevent distal embolization. We propose the utility of distal embolic protection with Embotrap III for the treatment of patients with carotid FFT. A 71-year-old man who presented with sudden left hemiparesis was admitted to our hospital. Ultrasonography on admission revealed severe stenosis and an FFT at the origin of the right internal carotid artery. Thrombectomy with an aspiration catheter, accompanied by a stent retriever with distal basket Embotrap III for distal protection, was performed. After the FFT was safely aspirated, a carotid Wallstent (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA) was deployed in the stenosis. Follow-up ultrasonography showed neither FFT nor in-stent protrusion. The patient did not experience recurrence, as per clinical or radiological findings, and was discharged on day 11 without any neurological deficits. Embotrap III may be useful for a patient with a carotid FFT as distal protection during mechanical thrombectomies.

Asymptomatic Females Are at Higher Risk for Perioperative TIA/Stroke and Males Are at Higher Risk for Long-Term Mortality after Carotid Artery Stenting: A Vascular Quality Initiative Analysis.

The study aims to review the sex differences with respect to transient ischemic attack (TIA)/stroke and death in the perioperative period and on long-term follow-up among asymptomatic patients treated with carotid stenting (CAS) in the vascular quality initiative (VQI). All cases reported to VQI of asymptomatic CAS (ACAS) patients were reviewed. The primary end point was risk of TIA/stroke and death in the in-hospital perioperative period and in the long-term follow-up. The secondary end point was to evaluate predictors of in-hospital perioperative TIA/stroke and mortality on long-term follow-up after CAS. There were 22,079 CAS procedures captured from January 2005 to April 2019. There were 5,785 (62.7%) patients in the ACAS group. The rate of in-hospital TIA/stroke was higher in female patients (2.7 vs. 1.87%, p = 0.005) and the rate of death was not significant (0.03 vs. 0.07%, p = 0.66). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, prior/current smoking history (odds ratio = 0.58 [95% confidence interval or CI = 0.39-0.87]; p = 0.008) is a predictor of in-hospital TIA/stroke in females. The long-term all-cause mortality is significantly higher in male patients (26.9 vs. 15.7%, p < 0.001). On multivariable Cox-regression analysis, prior/current smoking history (hazard ratio or HR = 1.17 [95% CI = 1.01-1.34]; p = 0.03), coronary artery disease or CAD (HR = 1.15 [95% CI = 1.03-1.28]; p = 0.009), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD (HR = 1.73 [95% CI = 1.55-1.93]; p < 0.001), threat to life American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class (HR = 2.3 [95% CI = 1.43-3.70]; p = 0.0006), moribund ASA class (HR = 5.66 [95% CI = 2.24-14.29]; p = 0.0003), and low hemoglobin levels (HR = 0.84 [95% CI = 0.82-0.86]; p < 0.001) are the predictors of long-term mortality. In asymptomatic carotid disease patients, women had higher rates of in-hospital perioperative TIA/stroke and a predictor of TIA/stroke is a prior/current history of smoking. Meanwhile, long-term all-cause mortality is higher for male patients compared with their female counterparts. Predictors of long-term mortality are prior/current smoking history, CAD, COPD, higher ASA classification of physical status, and low hemoglobin level. These data should be considered prior to offering CAS to asymptomatic female and male patients and careful risks versus benefits discussion should be offered to each individual patient.

Importance of cerebral angiography in the evaluation of delayed carotid stent thrombosis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: While noninvasive imaging is typically used during the initial assessment of carotid artery disease, digital subtraction angiography remains the gold standard for evaluating carotid stent thrombosis and stenosis (Krawisz in Cardiol Clin 39:539-549, 2021). This case highlights the importance of digital subtraction angiography for assessing carotid artery stent patency in place of non-invasive imaging. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a 61-year-old African American male patient with a history of right cervical internal carotid artery dissection that was treated with carotid artery stenting and endovascular thrombectomy, who developed recurrent right hemispheric infarcts related to delayed carotid stent thrombosis. Digital subtraction angiography found multiple filling defects consistent with extensive in-stent thrombosis not clearly observed with magnetic resonance angiography. Etiology was likely secondary to chronic antiplatelet noncompliance. Therefore, the patient was treated medically with a heparin drip, and dual antiplatelet therapy (dAPT) was restarted. At 1-month follow-up the patient did not report new motor or sensory deficits. CONCLUSION: In the setting of delayed carotid stent thrombosis secondary to antiplatelet noncompliance, digital subtraction angiography may play an essential diagnostic role for early identification and determination of the most appropriate treatment.

A proposed modern standardized technical approach for symptomatic chronic carotid total occlusion management.

Chronic carotid total occlusion (CCTO) is a known cause of ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack. Symptomatic CCTO is associated with up to 30% risk of recurrent ischemic stroke, despite optimal medical treatment. Notably, a randomized controlled trial reported that previous surgical management did not improve the overall prognosis of these patients. Endovascular treatment of CCTO has been proposed as a feasible strategy to re-establish cerebral perfusion in symptomatic patients. However, its use is controversial and not supported by evidence from randomized clinical trials. Recently, a meta-analysis reported a reasonably high procedural success without an excess periprocedural complication rate, but several steps are needed before the procedure is mature enough to be tested in randomized controlled trials. This review highlights the developments in the endovascular recanalization of CCTO and emphasizes key steps towards standardizing the procedure.

Ictus isquémico agudo por oclusión en tándem de la arteria carótida interna y la arteria cerebral posterior fetal: tratamiento endovascular / Acute tandem occlusion stroke in internal carotid artery and fetal posterior cerebral artery: endovascular management

Introducción: Cuando la arteria cerebral posterior se origina desde la arteria carótida interna con un segmento P1 ausente, se denomina arteria cerebral posterior de origen fetal (ACPF). No está claro si la ACPF aumenta el riesgo de ictus isquémico agudo, y el tratamiento endovascular del ictus isquémico agudo debido a la oclusión aguda de la ACPF no está bien establecido. Caso clínico: Presentamos un caso de ictus isquémico agudo debido a la oclusión en tándem de la arteria carótida interna y la arteria cerebral posterior fetal ipsilateral tratado con éxito mediante la colocación de una endoprótesis en la lesión proximal y trombectomía mecánica de la lesión distal, con excelentes resultados neurológicos y funcionales. Conclusión: Aunque se necesitan más investigaciones para determinar el mejor tratamiento de estos pacientes, el tratamiento endovascular de la oclusión de la arteria cerebral posterior fetal es factible.(AU)

Introduction: When the posterior cerebral artery arises from the internal carotid artery with an absent P1 segment, it is called fetal posterior cerebral artery (FPCA). It is unclear whether FPCA increases the risk of acute ischemic stroke, and the endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke due to acute occlusion of FPCA is not well established. Case report: We report a case of acute ischemic stroke due to tandem occlusion of internal carotid artery and ipsilateral fetal posterior cerebral artery treated successfully with acute stenting of proximal lesion and mechanical thrombectomy of distal lesion with excellent neurological and functional outcomes. Conclusion: Although further investigations are needed to determine the best treatment of these patients, endovascular treatment of fetal posterior cerebral artery occlusion is feasible.(AU)

Carotid Artery Stenting Versus Carotid Artery Endarterectomy in Asymptomatic Severe Carotid Stenosis: An Updated Meta-Analysis.

Carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid artery endarterectomy (CEA) are revascularization options for the management of severe carotid disease in asymptomatic patients. We aimed to compare the peri-procedural outcomes of the two modalities. A systematic review of the databases PUBMED, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library was performed. All the studies that reported periprocedural outcomes (within 30 days) in asymptomatic carotid stenosis patients were included in the meta-analysis. Random effects models with inverse-variance weighting were used to estimate pooled risk ratios (RRs) to compare the outcomes. Fifteen studies (including seven randomized controlled trials) met the inclusion criteria. A total of 15251 patients were included, out of which 6419 (42%) underwent CAS and 8832 (57.9%) underwent CEA. There was no statistical difference in the primary composite outcome of death/stroke/myocardial infarction (MI) (RR 1.02, 95% CI [0.69-1.51], p 0.93). No difference was found in the secondary outcome of all-cause mortality. CAS was associated with a slightly lower risk of MI and cranial nerve palsy. CAS was associated with a slightly higher risk of stroke with no difference in the occurrence of disabling stroke or ipsilateral stroke. In general terms, the study confirms equipoise in the two treatment strategies with a higher risk of MI and cranial nerve palsy with CEA and a higher risk of non-disabling stroke with CAS.

Mobile Atheroma in the Left Internal Carotid Artery: A Case of Impending Doom!

A 69-year-old male presented for evaluation of a carotid bruit. Carotid ultrasound demonstrated the unique finding of a large, highly mobile atheroma in the proximal left internal carotid artery. The presence of a mobile atheroma confers an even higher risk of stroke, so this presentation posed a dilemma in terms of endovascular versus open surgical management strategies. In patients with carotid artery disease, the risk of stroke is related to plaque rupture and distal embolization. The patient underwent successful carotid stenting without periprocedural complications. Our case reports the unusual occurrence of a highly mobile atheroma as the initial presentation of carotid artery disease treated safely with percutaneous carotid artery stenting.

"One-stop" hybrid operation of carotid stenting and coronary artery bypass grafting: A case report and literature review / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To improve the diagnosis and treatment of coronary heart disease with carotid stenosis, explore synchronous hybrid treatment for coronary heart disease with severe carotid stenosis and review of literature. Methods A case of "one-stop" carotid artery stenting (CAS) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) hybrid surgical treatment of coronary heart disease with severe carotid stenosis was reported in present paper. Searching the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and PubMed databases, several literatures were retrieved and analyzed to summarize the experience of diagnosis and treatment of coronary heart disease with severe carotid stenosis. Results A 64-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital due to intermittent chest tightness for more than one month. Imaging examination, including coronary angiography, carotid ultrasound and cerebral vessel angiography, showed that severe coronary heart disease with bilateral carotid stenosis and obvious cerebral ischemia in the right brain hemisphere. Operation for right carotid artery was first performed under local anesthesia, and then the off-pump CABG was carried on under general anesthesia. Operation procedure was going well, and the recovery was good. The patient was followed up 3 months after operation, and there was no chest tightness and head-neck discomfort. Fourteen articles were obtained through database retrieval, and a total of 590 patients were reported including 427 male cases (72.4%) and 163 female cases (27.6%). All of them were treated at same stage with first CAS and sequential CABG. The interval between CAS and CABG was less than 24 hours. Findings indicated that postoperative stroke in 21 cases (3.5%), perioperative myocardial infarction in 11 cases (1.8%) and in-hospital death in 26 cases (4.4%). The follow-up results were satisfactory. Conclusion "One-stop" CAS and CABG hybrid treatment is one of good therapeutic options for patients with coronary heart disease and carotid stenosis, but this operation needs to be carried out in the hybrid operation room, and the technical requirements for the surgeons are relatively high.

How to Escape Stentriever Wedging in an Open-cell Carotid Stent during Mechanical Thrombectomy for Tandem Cervical Internal Carotid Artery and Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion

We present 2 cases of complicated mechanical thrombectomy involving tandem cervical internal carotid artery and middle cerebral artery occlusion using the Solitaire FR stent and simultaneous carotid stent angioplasty. During the procedures, the Solitaire stents containing the thrombus were wedged into the open-cell carotid stents, which were already deployed for proximal flow restoration. We describe the methods used to avoid and overcome such complications.

Carotid stent angioplasty for severe carotid artery stenosis: analysis of curative effect in 25 patients / 介入放射学杂志

Objective To discuss the surgical characteristics,safety and perioperative management of carotid stent angioplasty (CSA) for the treatment of severe carotid artery stenosis (＞85％).Methods From December 2011 to May 2016,a total of 25 patients with carotid artery stenosis (＞85％) were treated with CSA.According to the stenotic characteristics of the lesion,distal cerebral protection device was employed in performing CSA.During the operation,attention was paid to individualized and detailed surgical management and perioperative management program;the revascularization and the dropping-off of thrombus in cerebral protection device were under close observation,while effort was made to control the occurrence of complications.The patients were followed up for one year to observe the occurrence of ischemic cerebrovascular events.Results The cerebral protection device was successfully deployed after it passed over the severe carotid artery stenosis.After balloon pre-dilation the stent was deployed,and the stent showed satisfactory shape.North America Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Testing (NASCET) showed that the average degree of carotid artery stenosis was decreased from preoperative (91.0±3.1)％ to postoperative (21.0±5.1)％.The protective umbrella was successfully retrieved in all patients,and deciduous tissue fragments were observed in 6 retrieved protective umbrellas.During the perioperative period no severe complications,such as cerebral hemorrhage,cerebral infarction,hyper-perfusion syndrome or death,were observed.All the 25 patients were followed up for one year,and no transient ischemic attack,stroke or death occurred.Conclusion In treating severe carotid artery stenosis with CSA,in order to ensure a successful surgery and patient's safety the following points are very important:in-operative individualized and detailed management,perioperative preventive measures,and use of appropriate cerebral protection device.

Effect of diltiazem injection on blood pressure control after carotid artery stent implantation / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of diltiazem injection on the blood pressure and heart rate of patients with carotid artery stent implantation. Methods 60 patients with carotid artery stent implantation from February 2015 to March 2017 were divided into control group and observation group, with 30 cases in each group. The control group was given conventional medication, the observation group was treated with diltiazem on the basis of routine medication in the control group. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were measured at 72 hours after operation. The number of patients with low blood pressure was measured. Results The stenosis rate of the two groups was significantly lower than that of the control group, while the observation group was significantly lower than the control group (P<0.05). The blood pressure of the observation group was lower than that of the control group at 72 h after operation, but there was no statistical significance. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the rate of hypotension. Conclusion Application of diltiazem injection can help stabilize the carotid artery stent implantation in patients with blood pressure and heart rate, to avoid the occurrence of accidents.