Best Medical Treatment in Patients with Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis: Myth or Reality?

BACKGROUND: Approximately 1.4 million strokes/year causing about 1.1 million deaths annually occur in Europe and 10%-15% of those strokes are result of thromboembolism from a previously significant asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS). Medical treatment has improved considerably in the last 15 years; however, its success depends on patient compliance. The aim of our study was to evaluate, in patients with ACS, the implementation and patient adherence to best medical treatment (BMT). Additionally, we sought to determine the "real-world" incidence of cerebrovascular/coronary events in a cohort of nonoperated ACS patients and weighing this risk against surgical complications in patients with ACS undergoing surgical treatment at our Department. METHODS: Patients with ACS ≥ 60% identified by a carotid ultrasound performed at our Department were retrospectively evaluated. Patients selected to BMT were excluded if the follow-up period was inferior to 2 years, as well as patients lost in follow-up, with missing clinical information and submitted to carotid stenting. Patients' data collection was supported by hospital reporting system and data were introduced into a database created for the purpose. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS-25 software. RESULTS: After exclusion criteria were applied, the last 120 consecutive patients (60 with ACS submitted do carotid endarterectomy and 60 with ACS under BMT) were retrospectively evaluated. Twenty one patients had ipsilateral events for more than 6 months. Most patients had hypertension (n = 107; 89%), dyslipidemia (n = 101; 84%), 40% had diabetes, 33% diagnosed coronary disease, 32% were overweight or obese, and 17% were current smokers. Blood pressure control, normal weight, statin with/without ezetimibe association, and antiaggregant therapy were only achieved in 33 patients and only 5 had additionally low-density lipoprotein levels < 70 mg/dL, hemoglobin A1c < 7%, and were nonsmokers. Of the 60 patients assigned to medical treatment, 3 (5%) had a stroke at 2 years of follow-up, which was fatal in 1 patient. Among patients submitted to carotid endarterectomy, perioperative stroke was documented in 3% of the patients, none of them disabling or fatal. CONCLUSIONS: Although some recent studies report a risk of ipsilateral stroke of only 0.34% per year in patients with ACS ≥ 50% under BMT therapy in our everyday practice strict compliance to medical treatment fails in most patients. In consequence, we think that a "one-size-fits-all" guideline policy may not be appropriate for all patients and the management of specific ACS patients may need to be individualized.

Change in Domains that Influence Quality of Life after Major Lower Limb Amputation in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease.

BACKGROUND: Recent guidelines raise the concept of the importance of health-related quality of life (QoL). Change in QoL after amputation in ischemic patients is not well described. We aim to evaluate the change in quality of life after major limb amputation in patients with peripheral arterial disease. METHODS: We retrospectively identified all patients submitted to above-knee amputation (AKA) and below-knee amputation in our vascular surgery department in a 2-year period. Trauma excluded. A vascular amputee adapted QoL questionnaire was administered comparing the last 2 weeks to the 2 weeks before amputation. It included subjective and objective questions adapted from WHOQoL-BREEF and SF-36 divided into specific domains of QoL (physical health, role physical, pain, social, and psychological health) that were compared to 2 global items (overall QoL and general health). Independent samples tests and linear correlations were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients were included, 30-day mortality rate 16.3% and 1-year 39.1%. Patients had an increase in mean total score after amputation of 14.35 out of 100 points, with an improvement of 52.1 points in pain and 11 points in social and psychological health out of 100 (P<0.001). Physical health and role physical scores decreased after amputation. Overall QoL was correlated with total score (P<0.001). Mean QoL total score after amputation was 79.0% ± 12.6. In general, amputees scored higher in the domains social and psychological health. Older people, women, AKA and bilateral amputees had lower physical health scores (P<0.05), prosthesis was correlated with improvement in physical health after amputation (P = 0.026). Elderly and married people had big improvement in overall QoL after amputation (P = 0.008 and P = 0.056, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: QoL does not seem to diminish in advanced ischemic patients after amputation. Older people value more a decrease in pain and family support over physical health. Therefore, patient oriented treatments should be preferred. Future research should be made to validate a disease-specific questionnaire for this population.

Host-Reaction Following Silicone Tube Implantation For Lower Limb Lymphoedema Mimicking Implant Infection.

INTRODUCTION: Silicone tube implantation in lymphoedema reduces symptoms by improving fluid drainage. Although there are descriptions of implant host reaction that can be misdiagnosed as graft infections these are scarce. REPORT: A 34 year old female with lymphoedema of the lower limb, underwent silicone tube implantation. Ten months after surgery, the patient presented with fever and dermatolymphangioadenitis of the limb. Ultrasound suggested an abscess surrounding the tubes. Clinical improvement was achieved after a 6-day cycle of meropenem. She was discharged under oral cefuroxime and clindamycin for one week. After 1 month, CT-angiography was performed showing only residual inflammation surrounding the tubes, the patient was asymptomatic and limb diameter was normal. CONCLUSION: Sudden onset and improvement of the patient's condition after a short cycle of antibiotics without the need of tube removal supports a host-like reaction rather than an actual infection. Doctors should be aware of such complications avoiding unnecessary procedures.