Recurrent carotid stenosis: a consequence of local or systemic factors? The influence of unrepaired technical defects.

To determine the influence of unrepaired technical defects as well as systemic risk factors for atherogenesis on carotid artery healing after endarterectomy, we conducted a prospective study using intraoperative duplex scanning with spectral analysis to establish the initial status of the artery (N = 131 arteries), and then we studied these vessels at regular postoperative intervals with the same technique (N = 108 arteries, 265 studies). The vessels were divided into the operated and nonoperated segments of the common, internal, and external carotid arteries, and both intraoperative image and flow data were tabulated by artery segment. The technical factors that were analyzed included defect size, defect type, adjacent segment defects, number of defects, shunt use, vessel reopening, and peak, mean, and end-diastolic frequency and velocity. The systemic risk factors studied were sex, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, randomly drawn total serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and perioperative aspirin and dextran use. Data were analyzed by linear logistic regression analysis. Among the technical factors, only intraoperative defect size was significantly associated with risk of recurrent stenosis (p = 0.0175). Although any defect size adversely affected the condition of the vessel during follow-up, the magnitude of this effect was small for smaller defects (size category 1: less than or equal to 40% stenosis or flap length less than or equal to 25% of vessel diameter). The systemic factors that were associated with risk of recurrent stenosis were hypertension (p = 0.0002), smoking (p = 0.0016), and randomly drawn total serum cholesterol level (p = 0.0116). The fact that the operated segments consistently fared worse during follow-up than did the nonoperated segments (p = 0.0044) undoubtedly reflects the inevitable trauma of the endarterectomy, but also emphasizes the important contribution of systemic risk factors in recurrent carotid stenosis. Risk factor modification may be the most effective method of ensuring the durability of carotid endarterectomy.

Intraoperative use of ultrasound in arterial surgery.

Technical perfection is the goal of any arterial reconstruction so as to avoid postoperative complications. Experimental and clinical studies have clearly shown that these operations are imperfect and that some form of intraoperative surveillance is required to decrease the incidence of correctable technical defects. Ultrasound technology is uniquely suited for this role. This article describes the distinct advantages of duplex ultrasound for the intraoperative monitoring of vascular reconstructions.

Does compliance mismatch alone cause neointimal hyperplasia?

To define the relationship between compliance mismatch and the development of neointimal hyperplasia, one 3 cm segment of common iliac artery was externally banded in seven dogs, thereby fixing the arterial diameter at end diastole. To quantify compliance, end-diastole diameter and its change with pulse pressure were measured by induction angiometry. This technique uses intravascular soft trifilar wire probes introduced through distally placed polytetrafluoroethylene sidearms. Compliance was checked in the banded and contralateral undissected unbanded control iliac arteries at 3 and 6 months, at which times the vessels were fixed by perfusion, excised, and examined histologically. Sustained (6-month) compliance mismatch was successfully induced within the banded segments (p less than 0.0001), and no compliance mismatch was seen in the control segments (p = 0.357). The intima of all banded vessels was virtually indistinguishable from that in controls grossly and histologically. Mild focal intimal thickening, less than 3 cell layers thick involving less than 5% of the vessel circumference, was typically seen in both banded and control vessels (range 6.57 +/- 6.80 micron to 38.86 +/- 57.16 micron). In marked contrast, at the sites of the polytetrafluoroethylene-to-femoral artery anastomosis, near-occlusive neointimal hyperplasia (1714 +/- 415.47 micron) was seen in all animals. Residual lumen area in the banded and control vessels was only minimally abnormal (range 98.65% +/- 2.18% to 99.96% +/- 0.08%). These data indicate that compliance mismatch alone is an insufficient stimulus for the development of neointimal hyperplasia in the canine model.

Intraoperative assessment of renal and visceral artery reconstruction: the role of duplex scanning and spectral analysis.

To refine our ability to assess intraoperatively renal and visceral reconstructions, we have investigated the usefulness of combined duplex scanning and Doppler spectral analysis to determine the technical adequacy and flow characteristics of these repairs. We studied 62 patients (116 arteries) who underwent renal (83 arteries) or visceral (13) reconstruction by transaortic endarterectomy (76), autogenous graft (12) or prosthetic (5) bypass, reimplantation (2), and dilation (1). Twenty-six nonreconstructed vessels were also studied, including preoperative arteries (6), unrepaired arteries (14), and normal renal arteries (donor nephrectomies) (6). Duplex scanning was performed by means of a 7.5 or 10 MHz probe placed in a sterile glove and plastic sleeve. Peak (Vs) and mean (Vm) velocities measured in meters per second were subsequently calculated from frequency spectral analysis. Spectral broadening (SB) and aortic inflow data were also collected and analyzed. There were no complications related to ultrasound scanning. Mean scan time was 7.8 minutes. Fourteen of 26 nonreconstructed vessels (54%) appeared normal by duplex scanning, including all six control (normal) renal arteries. Sixty-five reconstructed arteries (68%) appeared normal, 27 had various minor defects, and four had major defects (three occlusions and one floating thrombus). The major defects were repaired, whereas minor ones were not. Confirmatory studies were obtained in 19 (73%) nonoperated and 73 (76%) operated vessels. There were two false negative duplex studies (sensitivity 89%) and 17 false positive duplex studies--all minor defects (specificity 77%). The predictive value of duplex scans in detecting the presence of confirmed defects was Tau = 0.47 (p = 0.01). Although SB correlated with B-mode imaging alone (Tau = 0.21, p = 0.07), it added no independent value in predicting the results of a confirmatory study. No other variable (Vs, Vm, or aortic inflow) added to the duplex scan in predicting an abnormal confirmatory study. Detailed renal and visceral artery spectral analysis data are provided for validation of this technique and comparison with transcutaneous studies. These data suggest that the requirement for reliable and immediate assessment of renal and visceral reconstructions, particularly those involving transaortic extraction endarterectomy, is satisfied by duplex scanning.