OBJECTIVEA primary cause of cognitive decline after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is cerebral injury due to cerebral hyperperfusion. However, the mechanisms of how cerebral hyperperfusion induces cerebral cortex and white matter injury are not known. The presence of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is independently associated with a decline in global cognitive function. The purpose of this prospective observational study was to determine whether cerebral hyperperfusion following CEA leads to the development of CMBs and if postoperative cognitive decline is related to these developed CMBs.METHODSDuring the 27-month study period, patients who underwent CEA for ipsilateral internal carotid artery stenosis (≥ 70%) also underwent SWI and neuropsychological testing before and 2 months after surgery, as well as quantitative brain perfusion SPECT prior to and immediately after surgery.RESULTSAccording to quantitative brain perfusion SPECT and SWI before and after surgery, 12 (16%) and 7 (9%) of 75 patients exhibited postoperative cerebral hyperperfusion and increased CMBs in the cerebral hemisphere ipsilateral to surgery, respectively. Cerebral hyperperfusion was associated with an increase in CMBs after surgery (logistic regression analysis, 95% CI 5.08–31.25, p < 0.0001). According to neuropsychological assessments before and after surgery, 10 patients (13%) showed postoperative cognitive decline. Increased CMBs were associated with cognitive decline after surgery (logistic regression analysis, 95% CI 6.80–66.67, p < 0.0001). Among the patients with cerebral hyperperfusion after surgery, the incidence of postoperative cognitive decline was higher in those with increased CMBs (100%) than in those without (20%; p = 0.0101).CONCLUSIONSCerebral hyperperfusion following CEA leads to the development of CMBs, and postoperative cognitive decline is related to these developed CMBs.
The purpose of the present study was to determine whether objective gait test scores obtained using a tri-axial accelerometer can detect subjective improvement in gait as determined by the patient after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Each patient undergoing CEA for ipsilateral internal carotid artery stenosis determined whether their gait was subjectively improved at six months after CEA when compared with preoperatively. Gait testing using a tri-axial accelerometer was also performed preoperatively and six months postoperatively. Twelve (15%) of 79 patients reported subjectively improved gait. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for differences between pre- and postoperative test values in stride time, cadence, and ground floor reaction for detecting subjectively improved gait were 0.995 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.945–1.000), 0.958 (95%CI, 0.887–0.990), and 0.851 (95%CI, 0.753–0.921), respectively. Cut-off points for value differences in detecting subjectively improved gait were identical to mean −1.7 standard deviation (SD) for stride time, mean +1.6 SD for cadence, and mean +0.4 SD for ground floor reaction of control values from normal subjects. Objective gait test scores obtained using the tri-axial accelerometer can detect subjective gait improvements after CEA. When determining significant postoperative improvements in gait using a tri-axial accelerometer, optimal cut-off points for each test value can be defined.
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