Intervening in the acute phase of postradiation carotid blowout syndrome

Introduction: Acute carotid blowout syndrome (aCBS) is a severe complication of head and neck cancer (HNC). It can be defined as a rupture of the extracranial carotid arteries, or one of their branches, that causes life-threatening hemorrhage, and which nowadays can be treated with urgent endovascular intervention. Objective: We retrospectively evaluate the endovascular management of aCBS and its outcome in years of survival. Methods: Retrospectively, we describe our experience with endovascular control of aCBS in patients treated for HNC. We review the characteristics, pathology, endovascular treatment and morbidity and assess the gain in life years. Results: Nine individuals were included in this study. Four patients had been previously diagnosed with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), one with paranasal SCC, one with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and three with oral or maxillary adenocarcinoma. All subjects underwent radiotherapy and surgical excision to different extents. Twelve endovascular procedures were performed for injuries to the internal carotid artery (n = 3; 25%), external carotid artery (n = 1; 7%) or one of their branches (n = 8; 67%). Deconstructive methods were used in nine procedures, and three procedures were mainly reconstructive with deployment of covered stents. Total control of bleeding was achieved in all individuals with no intraprocedural complications. Conclusion: Endovascular therapy is an effective alternative for the management of exsanguinating CBS. In our series, this palliative therapy increased the overall patient survival by an estimated 9 months (AU)

Neuroprotective effects of erythropoietin on rat retinas subjected to oligemia

OBJECTIVES: Erythropoietin may have neuroprotective potential after ischemia of the central nervous system. Here, we conducted a study to characterize the protective effects of erythropoietin on retinal ganglion cells and gliotic reactions in an experimentally induced oligemia model. METHODS: Rats were subjected to global oligemia by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion and then received either vehicle or erythropoietin via intravitreal injection after 48 h; they were euthanized one week after the injection. The densities of retinal ganglion cells and contents of glial fibrillary acidic protein (astrocytes/Müller cells) and cluster of differentiation 68 clone ED1 (microglia/macrophages), assessed by fluorescence intensity, were evaluated in frozen retinal sections by immunofluorescence and epifluorescence microscopy. RESULTS: Retinal ganglion cells were nearly undetectable one week after oligemia compared with the sham controls; however, these cells were partially preserved in erythropoietin-treated retinas. The contents of glial fibrillary acidic protein and cluster of differentiation 68 clone ED1, markers for reactive gliosis, were significantly higher in retinas after bilateral common carotid artery occlusion than those in both sham and erythropoietin-treated retinas. CONCLUSIONS: The number of partially preserved retinal ganglion cells in the erythropoietin-treated group suggests that erythropoietin exerts a neuroprotective effect on oligemic/ischemic retinas. This effect could be related to the down-modulation of glial reactivity, usually observed in hypoxic conditions, clinically observed during glaucoma or retinal artery occlusion conditions. Therefore, glial reactivity may enhance neurodegeneration in hypoxic conditions, like normal-tension glaucoma and retinal ischemia, and erythropoietin is thus a candidate to be clinically applied after the detection of decreased retinal blood flow.

Carotid blowout syndrome in patients treated by larynx cancer / Síndrome da ruptura da artéria carótida em pacientes tratados para câncer de laringe

Abstract Introduction: Carotid blowout syndrome is an uncommon complication for patient treated by head and neck tumors, and related to a high mortality rate. Objective: The aim of this study was to study the risk of carotid blowout in a large cohort of patients treated only by larynx cancer. Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients older than 18 years, treated by larynx cancer who developed a carotid blowout syndrome in a tertiary academic centre. Results: 197 patients met the inclusion criteria, 192 (98.4%) were male and 5 (1.6%) were female. 6 (3%) patients developed a carotid blowout syndrome, 4 patients had a carotid blowout syndrome located in the internal carotid artery and 2 in the common carotid artery. According to the type of rupture, 3 patients suffer a type I, 2 patients a type III and 1 patient a type II. Five of those patients had previously undergone radiotherapy and all patients underwent total laryngectomy. We found a statistical correlation between open surgical procedures (p = 0.004) and radiotherapy (p = 0.023) and the development of a carotid blowout syndrome. Conclusion: Carotid blowout syndrome is an uncommon complication in patients treated by larynx tumours. According to our results, patient underwent radiotherapy and patients treated with open surgical procedures with pharyngeal opening have a major risk to develop this kind of complication.

Resumo Introdução: A síndrome da ruptura da carótida é uma complicação incomum no paciente em tratamento para tumores de cabeça e pescoço, relacionada com uma alta taxa de mortalidade. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi estudar o risco de ruptura da carótida em uma grande coorte de pacientes tratados isoladamente por um câncer de laringe. Método: Análise retrospectiva de pacientes com mais de 18 anos, tratados por câncer de laringe em um centro de assistência terciária, que desenvolveram a síndrome da ruptura da carótida. Resultados: Ao todo, 197 pacientes atenderam aos critérios de inclusão, 192 (98,4%) eram do sexo masculino e 5 (1,6%) eram do sexo feminino. 6 (3%) desenvolveram síndrome da ruptura da carótida, 4 tiveram síndrome da ruptura da carótida localizada na artéria carótida interna e 2 na artéria carótida comum. De acordo com o tipo de ruptura, 3 pacientes apresentaram síndrome da ruptura da carótida tipo I, 2 pacientes, síndrome da ruptura da carótida Tipo III e um tipo II. Cinco desses pacientes haviam sido previamente tratados com radioterapia e todos os pacientes foram submetidos a laringectomia total. Encontrou-se uma correlação estatística entre procedimentos cirúrgicos abertos (p = 0,004) e radioterapia (p = 0,023) e o desenvolvimento de síndrome da ruptura da carótida. Conclusão: A síndrome de ruptura da carótida é uma complicação rara em pacientes tratados para tumores de laringe. De acordo com nossos resultados, pacientes submetidos a radioterapia e pacientes tratados com procedimentos cirúrgicos abertos com abertura da faringe apresentam um risco maior de desenvolver essa complicação.

Paciente con lesiones por balística terminal / Patient with terminal ballistics lesions

Se presenta un paciente masculino de 25 años de edad que recibe herida por proyectil de arma de fuego de baja velocidad que le ocasionó lesión de estructuras de la boca y el cuello, así como oclusión trombótica de la arteria carótida interna derecha, que se expresó por hemiparesia izquierda. El lesionado recibió tratamiento quirúrgico de urgencia. El paciente egresó vivo con la secuela neurológica ya descrita y fue enviado a centro de rehabilitación. Se realiza una revisión del tema a propósito de este caso(AU)

A 25-year-old male patient is received with a closed vascular lesion caused by a low-speed gunshot to the mouth and neck area, which provoked a stroke 48 hours after the lesion due to the right carotid artery thrombotic occlusion expressed by left hemiparesis. The patient received surgical treatment and was discharged with the previously mentioned neurologic deficit. He continued treatment in a rehabilitation center. This subject was reviewed from the occurrence of this case(AU)

Correction of carotid-jugular traumatic fistula using a bovine pericardial patch / Correção de fístula traumática carotídeo-jugular com pericárdio bovino

Carotid-jugular fistulae are rare, but habitually cause morbidity and mortality. They are often linked with penetrating trauma, primarily caused by gunshots. This report describes the case of a patient who was the victim of a gunshot wound to the left cervical area, provoking a carotid-jugular arteriovenous fistula and occlusion of the common carotid artery. The fistula was corrected by ligature of the internal jugular vein and arteriorrhaphy of the left common carotid artery with a bovine pericardium patch.

A fístula carotídeo-jugular é de ocorrência rara, porém habitualmente causa morbimortalidade. Está associada frequentemente a trauma penetrante, principalmente em razão de lesão por projétil de arma de fogo. Relata-se o caso de um paciente vítima de lesão por projétil de arma de fogo na região cervical esquerda, o que provocou fístula arteriovenosa carotídeo-jugular com oclusão da artéria carótida comum. Foi realizada correção da fístula com ligadura da veia jugular interna e arteriorrafia com remendo de pericárdio bovino na artéria carótida comum esquerda.

Pseudoaneurisma de carótida comum secundário a trauma contuso: opção de tratamento por cirurgia a céu aberto / Pseudoaneurysm of common carotid due to trauma: treatment option for open sky surgery

Relato de caso de paciente feminina, com 44 anos de idade, vítima de trauma cervical em acidente de trânsito, que apresentou massa cervical dolorosa, rouquidão e disfagia associados, três semanas após o trauma. Exames complementares identificaram pseudoaneurisma de carótida comum em zona II. Optou-se pelo tratamento por meio de cirurgia convencional a céu aberto com excelente resultado imediato. Foi realizado um exame de controle após sete meses do procedimento cirúrgico, e os resultados confirmaram o sucesso terapêutico.

Case report of a female patient, 44 years-old, victim of cervical trauma in a traffic accident, who had painful cervical mass, associated with hoarseness and dysphagia three weeks after trauma. Additional tests identified the pseudoaneurysm of common carotid artery in zone II. We opted for treatment through the open conventional surgery with excellent immediate result. Control examination was performed seven months after surgery, and the results confirmed the therapeutic success.

Endovascular treatment of peripheral arterial injury with covered stents: an experimental study in pigs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of using endovascular repair to treat penetrating arterial injuries with covered stents. Feasibility was examined according to the circumferential extent of the injury. INTRODUCTION: Surgical trauma often increases the risk of major morbidity and mortality associated with vascular injury, and endovascular repair has many advantages in such situations. METHODS: Twenty white male domestic pigs weighing 28-38 kg with controlled vascular injuries were divided into four equal groups according to the circumferential extent of their vascular lesion (i.e., no lesion, lesion <50 percent, lesion >50 percent, and complete lesion). The left common carotid artery was dissected with proximal and distal control, and this procedure was followed by controlled sectioning of the arterial wall. Local manual compression was applied for 10 min and was followed by endovascular repair with the placement of a 5x50 mm VIABHAN TM covered stent using the femoral approach. We also monitored additional variables, such as the duration of the procedures (the mean was 56.3 ± 19.1 min), ultrasound parameters (e.g., maximum arterial diameter, peak systolic and diastolic velocity, and resistance index), arteriography findings, and fluctuations in vital signs (e.g., cardiac output, arterial pressure, and central venous pressure). RESULTS: The experimental procedure was found to be feasible and reproducible. Repairs were successful in all animals in the control (no lesion) and <50 percent lesion groups. Success was also achieved in four out of five pigs in the >50 percent group and in one pig in the complete lesion group. DISCUSSION: The endovascular repair of an arterial injury is possible, but success depends on the circumferential extent of the arterial lesion. The present experimental model, which involved endovascular techniques, highlighted important factors that must be considered in future studies involving similar animals and materials.

[Traumatic thrombosis of the internal carotid artery]

The traumatic thrombosis of the internal carotid artery is a vascular complication of cranio-facial and cervical traumas. It can simulate a cerebral hematoma, and can be associated to it. The angiographic studies are essential to perform an extra-intra cranial pontage, which is the unique solution in patients seen with an important delay. The authors report a case and discuss the diagnostic and surgical difficulties