Objective/Background: Carotid bifurcation resection with subsequent reconstruction is performed infrequently. While internal carotid artery (ICA) revascularisation is regarded as mandatory, the external carotid artery (ECA) is severed in most instances. Indications for and results of an autologous bifurcated carotid artery reconstruction are discussed. Methods: This was a single centre retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of patients treated at an academic vascular surgery centre. Results: From December 2006 to August 2015, 47 patients underwent reconstruction of the carotid artery using an autologous bifurcated interposition graft (36 men; median age 68.3 years [range 41e87 years]; 33 asymptomatic [70%]). The indication for reconstruction was recurrent carotid stenosis unfavorable for endovascular treatment/redo patch plasty (n = 29; symptomatic: n = 12), carotid aneurysm (n = 10), neck tumour with vascular involvement (n = 7), and trauma (n = 1). Groups were not different with regard to vascular risk factors. Non-reversed valve depleted saphenous/accessory saphenous vein from the groin was used in 44 (94%), and reversed valve depleted cubital vein bifurcation graft in three patients (6%). Median ICA cross clamp time was 17 min (range 8e30 min). Five patients suffered from intra-operative ischaemic neurological deficits (11%), of which all were temporary except one. One tumour patient died on post-operative day 1 due to bleeding. Median follow up was 28.3 months (range 0.1e97.4 months). Tumour erosion required graft ligation in one patient 7 months after reconstruction. Five significant stenoses of the ICA (11%), nine (19%) stenoses of the ECA, and two (4%) common carotid artery stenoses, with four (8%) re-redo interventions, were observed. Thirteen patients (28%) died after a median follow up of 6.7 months (range 1.7e56.7 months), all unrelated to the vascular procedure. Conclusion: Autologous bifurcated carotid artery interposition graft avoids the use of prosthetic graft material, the ECA remains patent in 80%, and it provides mid-term results comparable with other redo carotid artery procedures. Therefore, this procedure should be reserved for symptomatic patients with no other revascularisation option.
Objective: Treatment of asymptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis, particularly for moderate to severe (70%e80%) disease, is controversial. The goal was to assess the clinical course of patients with moderate to severe carotid stenosis. Methods: A single institution retrospective analysis of patients with asymptomatic ICA stenosis identified on duplex ultrasound as moderate to severe (70%e80%) from 2003 to 2018 were analysed. Duplex criteria for 70%e80% stenosis was a systolic velocity of $325 cm/s or an ICA:common carotid artery ratio of $4, and an end diastolic velocity of <140 cm/s. Asymptomatic status was defined as no stroke/transient ischaemic attack (TIA) within six months of index duplex. Primary outcomes were progression of stenosis to >80%, ipsilateral stroke/TIA without documented progression, and death. Results: In total, 206 carotid arteries were identified in 182 patients meeting the inclusion criteria. Mean patient age was 71.5 years, 57.7% were male, and 67% were white. There were 19 stenoses removed from analysis except for survival analysis as they initially underwent carotid endarterectomy or carotid artery stent based on surgeon/patient preference. Documented progression occurred in 24.1% of stenoses. There were 5.3% of stenoses associated with an ipsilateral stroke/TIA without documented progression, which occurred at a mean of 26.4 months. KaplaneMeier analysis demonstrated a 60.3% five year freedom from stenosis progression, 92.5% five year freedom from stroke/TIA without documented progression, and 83.7% five year survival. Risk factors associated with stroke/TIA without documented progression at five years were atrial fibrillation (hazard ratio [HR] 14.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.72e81.16; p = .002) and clopidogrel use at index duplex (HR 6.19, 95% CI 1.33e28.83; p = .020). Risk factors associated with death at five years were end stage renal disease (HR 9.67, 95% CI 2.05e45.6; p = .004), atrial fibrillation (HR 7.55, 95% CI 2.48e23; p < .001), prior head/neck radiation (HR 6.37, 95% CI 1.39e29.31; p = .017), non-obese patients (HR 5.49, 95% CI 1.52e20; p = .009), and non-aspirin use at index duplex (HR 3.05, 95% CI 1.12e8.33; p = .030). Conclusion: Patients with asymptomatic moderate to severe carotid stenosis had a low rate of stroke/TIA without documented progression. However, there was a high rate of stenosis progression reinforcing the need to follow these patients closely.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.