Echolucent or predominantly echolucent femoral plaques predict early restenosis after eversion carotid endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Although the association between vulnerable lesions and cardiovascular events is well established, little is known about their relationship to postsurgery restenosis. To address this issue, we initiated a prospective, nonrandomized study to examine the femoral plaques on both sides in patients who were undergoing eversion carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and were longitudinally followed-up for early restenosis development. METHODS: The final analysis enrolled 321 patients (189 women) with a median age of 67.0 years (interquartile range, 59.0-73.0 years), who underwent eversion CEA (2005 to 2007). Using duplex ultrasound scanning, we evaluated 321 common femoral atherosclerotic lesions on the day before CEA. A quantitative scale was used to grade the size of plaques as grade 1, one or more small plaques (<20 mm2); grade 2, moderate to large plaques; and grade 3, plaques giving flow disturbances. The plaque morphology in terms of echogenicity was graded as echolucent, 1; predominantly echolucent, 2; predominantly echogenic, 3; echogenic 4; or calcified, 5. The plaque surface was categorized as smooth, irregular, or ulcerated. The patients underwent carotid duplex ultrasound imaging at 6 weeks and at 6, 12, and 24 months after CEA. Mann-Whitney U test, chi2 test, and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical evaluation. RESULTS: Internal carotid artery restenosis of > or = 50% was detected in 33 patients (10.28%) in the operated region. Neither the size (grade 1, P = .793; grade 2, P = .540; grade 3, P = .395) nor the surface characteristics of the femoral plaques (smooth, P = .278; irregular, P = .281; ulcerated, P = .934) were significantly different between the patients with and without carotid restenosis. Echolucent-predominantly echolucent femoral lesions were an independent predictor of recurrent carotid stenosis (adjusted odds ratio, 5.63; 95% confidence interval, 2.14-10.89; P < .001). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound evaluation of femoral plaque morphology before CEA can be useful for identifying patients at higher risk for carotid restenosis.

[Arterial thrombolysis in the lower extremity in vascular surgical practice]. / Alsó végtagi artériás thrombolysis az érsebszeti gyakorlatban.

The acute arterial thrombosis of the lower limb is dangerous not only for the limb, but it can cause life-threatening situation as well. That is why it is important to use different therapeutical modalities as the catheter guided intraarterial thrombolysis, which can reduce the surgical risks. All the drugs used for lysis now days are plasminogen activators. Due to the results of different studies the most appropriate drugs for optimal thrombolysis are the urokinase, the tissue-plasminogen activators and their recombinant forms. There are two major studies dealing with the effect of the different fibrinolytic drugs in comparison of the results of randomly operated patients. Both of these studies (STILE, TOPAS) determined a nearly same efficacy of both methods, operative or thrombolytic (approximately 70% amputation-free survival). Significant difference was observed in relation of occlusion of a native artery or a graft: better results could be obtained with surgery in case of arterial occlusion and conversely, it was in favor for thrombolysis if a graft was occluded. It must be noted that the thrombolysis has to be followed with endovascular or open surgical procedures in most of the cases. On the basis of our experiences and the data of literature we suggest after individual decision thrombolysis in case of graft occlusion, and surgery in case of arterial occlusion as first choice.

[Congenital arteriovenous malformation complicated with brachial artery false aneurysm]. / Congenitalis arterio-venosus fistula talaján kialakult artéria brachialis álaneurysma esete.

Congenital arteriovenous malformations in the upper extremity, mainly in the hand are rare. In this patient an arteriovenous fistula of the hand caused arterial dilatation of the upper limb, and blunt injury of brachial artery resulted in an extreme large false aneurysm. This situation, which threatened with rupture and peripheral embolisation was treated by resection of the false aneurysm with end-to-end direct anastomosis. Complication of a congenital arteriovenous malformation so late, in the ninth decade is almost exceptional. We think that the successful surgical treatment of an infrequent lesion's rare late complication is worth presenting.

Impairment of blood-brain barrier integrity during carotid surgery as assessed by serum S-100B protein concentrations.

During carotid endarterectomy (CEA) the internal carotid artery is cross-clamped for a period of several minutes. This maneuver may cause cerebral hypoperfusion and/or impairment of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) even in cases where clinical signs are absent. The aim of the present study was to examine whether such alterations could be detected by monitoring the cerebral marker S-100B protein concentrations during and after CEA in the serum. Twenty-five consecutive patients (17 M/8 F, mean age: 64.2 years, range 47-79 years) undergoing elective CEA at our department were studied. All of these patients were without perioperative neurological deficit. Intraoperative samples were collected from internal jugular and peripheral venous blood: 1) before carotid cross-clamping; 2) immediately before declamping; 3) after clamp release. Postoperative samples were taken from peripheral blood at 6 and 24 h, respectively. S-100B was assayed in sera using an immunoluminometric technique. During carotid cross-clamping, S-100B protein concentrations in the ipsilateral jugular serum significantly (p < 0.02) increased to pre-clamp values. After declamping, however, S-100B returned to the baseline level. No differences were seen between the responses of hypertensive and normotensive patients. There was no correlation between carotid occlusion time and S-100B protein concentrations. In the peripheral venous serum no significant changes in S-100B concentrations were detected during or after CEA. We presume that the elevation of S-100B protein concentration during CEA in patients with no neurological deficits indicates the transient opening of the BBB elicited by carotid cross-clamping.