Carotid artery stenting: a single-center experience

Carotid artery stenting is now used as an alternative to surgical endarterectomy. This study was done to assess the feasibility, safety, and immediate and late clinical outcomes in patients undergoing carotid stenting. Between July 2008 and December 2009, a total of 40 patients [20 male, mean age: 65 +/- 11 years, 19 symptomatic, and 90% high risk for endarterectomy] underwent carotid artery stenting with different embolic protection devices and carotid stents. Thirty-seven patients had coronary artery disease. Technical success rate, stroke/death/ myocardial infarction rate at 30 days, access-site complications, and contrast-induced nephropathy were assessed. For the evaluation of the influence of experience in carotid artery stenting on complications, the patients were divided into two groups: Group I included the first 20 treated patients and Group 2 comprised the remainder of the patients. The overall technical success rate was 100%. The cumulative in-hospital stroke death rate was 7.5% [n = 3:1 deaths and I major stroke]. Complications were more frequent in Group 1 [2/20, 10%; 2 deaths] than in Group 2 [1/20, 5%; 1 major stroke], but this was not statistically significant [p value = 0.09]. No access-site complications occurred, and mild contrast-induced nephropathy occurred in 3 patients [7.5%]. No major stroke or neurological deaths occurred during a mean follow-up of 12 months. Carotid stenting seemed feasible and relatively safe in our experience. Advanced experience in carotid artery stenting appears to confer an acceptable peri-procedural stroke-death rate

Changes of left ventricular mass index among end-stage renal disease patients after renal transplantation

The aim of this study was to determine left ventricular [LV] mass index via echocardiography in end-stage renal disease patients [ESRD] before and after renal transplantation, and its association with one-year survival. Forty-seven patients with ESRD who were candidate for renal transplantation were evaluated with echocardiography before and 4 months after the operation. Left ventricular ejection fraction [EF], LV mass, and LV mass index were determined. All of the patients were followed up for 1 year. Mean LVEF was 51.6% which increased to 53.7% after renal transplantation [P = .001]. Mean LV mass was 209 gr before the operation which decreased to 189 gr after the operation [P = .001]. Mean LV mass index before the operation was 120 gr/m2 which decreased to 110 gr/m[2] following the operation [P = .002]. All of the patients survived during 1-year follow-up, and no death was reported. Renal transplantation had beneficial effects in terms of LV function in young patients with ESRD