Diagnosis and management of acute conditions of the extracranial carotid artery.

Symptomatic carotid stenosis and carotid dissection are acute conditions of extracranial cerebrovascular vessels determining transient ischemic attack or stroke. Medical, surgical, or endovascular management are different options to treat these pathologies. This narrative review focused on the management, from symptoms to treatment, of the acute conditions of extracranial cerebrovascular vessels, including post-carotid revascularization stroke. Symptomatic carotid stenosis (> 50% according to North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial criteria) with transient ischemic attack or stroke benefits from carotid revascularization-primarily with carotid endarterectomy associated with medical therapy-within 2 weeks from symptom onset to reduce the risk of stroke recurrence. Different from acute extracranial carotid dissection, medical management with antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy can prevent new neurologic ischemic events, considering stenting only in case of symptom recurrence. Stroke after carotid revascularization can be associated with the following etiologies: carotid manipulation, plaque fragmentation, or clamping ischemia. Medical or surgical management is therefore influenced by the cause and timing of the neurologic events after carotid revascularization. Acute conditions of the extracranial cerebrovascular vessels include a heterogeneous group of pathologies and correct management can reduce symptom recurrence substantially.

Society for Vascular Surgery duplex ultrasound surveillance guidelines are safe and cost effective for transcarotid artery revascularization.

BACKGROUND: Carotid duplex ultrasound (CDUS) examination is used in the long-term surveillance after transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR). The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness and cost effectiveness of post-TCAR CDUS surveillance regimens in monitoring for in-stent restenosis (ISR) and associated stroke risk at a single-center community institution. METHODS: CDUS data were collected retrospectively from patients who had undergone TCAR between January 2017 and January 2023. ISR >50% was defined as a peak systolic velocity (PSV) of >220 cm/s and an internal carotid artery (ICA) to common carotid velocity ratio of >2.7. ISR >80% was defined as a PSV of >340 cm/s and an ICA/common carotid artery ratio of >4.15. Study outcomes included incidences of ISR, reintervention, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), strokes, and mortality. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was done to calculate the rates of freedom from ISR. RESULTS: During the study period, 108 TCAR stents were deployed in 104 patients. Eight patients were excluded in analysis or lost to follow-up. Preoperatively, 62% of patients had >80% stenosis, and 39% were symptomatic. No intraprocedural complications were noted. One patient suffered an immediate postoperative dissection. Eight stents (8%) experienced ISR progression from <50% to >50%. Three of the eight had further ISR progression to >80%. One patient had high-grade ISR and a contralateral ICA occlusion that warranted reintervention. There were no occurrences of postoperative TIAs, strokes, or TCAR-related deaths. Rates of freedom from ISR progression from <50% to >50% were 97.4%, 95.9%, 90.9%, 88.2%, and 88.2% at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 42 months, respectively. Rates of freedom from ISR >80% were 100%, 100%, 98.5%, 95.5%, and 95.5% at the same time points. Patients with >50% ISR tended to be females with hyperlipidemia. In addition, they had higher average lesion lengths and lower rates of postdilation balloon angioplasty. The 5-year estimated surveillance cost in this cohort using the Society for Vascular Surgery 2022, and 2018 guidelines, as well as our current protocol would be $113,853, $221,382, and $193,207, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed a low incidence of ISR progression, as well as no TIA, stroke, or TCAR-related deaths, highlighting the safety and efficacy of TCAR. Post-TCAR CDUS examination using the updated Society for Vascular Surgery guidelines are safe and cost effective. Patients with contralateral occlusion or stenosis, or who have significant risk factors, should have more frequent surveillance regimens.

Caracterización de la morbilidad de la endarterectomía carotídea / Characterization of the morbidity of carotid endarterectomy

Introducción: El 80 por ciento de los accidentes cerebrovasculares resulta de tipo isquémico y al menos el 20-30 por ciento está provocado por estenosis de la arteria carótida extracraneal. La endarterectomía carotídea tiene como principal objetivo eliminar las placas de ateroma, que son fuentes de émbolos para el encéfalo, y mejorar el flujo sanguíneo a este órgano. Objetivo: Caracterizar la morbilidad de la endarterectomía carotídea en el Hospital General Docente "Enrique Cabrera" desde 2018 hasta 2021. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de tipo descriptivo y corte transversal a 32 pacientes, a los cuales se les realizó endarterectomía carotídea. La recolección de los datos se efectuó mediante la revisión de historias clínicas. El período de estudio abarcó desde enero de 2018 hasta enero de 2021. Resultados: Predominó el sexo masculino (65,6 por ciento) y la media de edad fue de 68,8 años. Los factores de riesgo más frecuentes resultaron la hipertensión arterial y el tabaquismo con 75 por ciento y 65,6 por ciento, respectivamente. La enfermedad cerebrovascular con secuela mínima constituyó la forma clínica más frecuente en el 40,6 por ciento de los casos. Se encontró asociación estadísticamente significativa entre diabetes mellitus y formas clínicas, y entre enfermedad arterial periférica y la aparición de complicaciones. La carótida izquierda resultó la más afectada con 53 por ciento y el porcentaje de estenosis, entre 70 por ciento y 99 por ciento, se encontró en el 55,9 por ciento de los pacientes. Con mayor frecuencia se presentaron las complicaciones: lesión de nervios craneales (5,8 por ciento) y hematoma cervical (5,8 por ciento). La endarterectomía por eversión se realizó en el 97 por ciento de los casos. Conclusiones: Se demostró la seguridad y el éxito de la endarterectomía carotídea. La mayoría de los pacientes tuvo una evolución satisfactoria, y se presentaron escasas complicaciones y mortalidad nula(AU)

Introduction: 80 percent of strokes result in ischemic type and at least 20-30 percent are caused by stenosis of the extracranial carotid artery. Carotid endarterectomy has as its main objective to remove atheromatous plaques, which are sources of emboli for the brain, and improve blood flow to this organ. Objective: To characterize the morbidity of carotid endarterectomy at the "Enrique Cabrera" General Teaching Hospital from 2018 to 2021. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in 32 patients, who underwent carotid endarterectomy. Data collection was carried out by reviewing medical records. The study period spanned from January 2018 to January 2021. Results: The male sex predominated (65.6 percent) and the mean age was 68.8 years. The most frequent risk factors were high blood pressure and smoking with 75 percent and 65.6 percent, respectively. Cerebrovascular disease with minimal sequelae was the most frequent clinical form in 40.6 percent of cases. A statistically significant association was found between diabetes mellitus and clinical forms, and between peripheral arterial disease and the occurrence of complications. The left carotid was the most affected with 53 percent and the percentage of stenosis, between 70 percent and 99 percent, was found in 55.9 percent of patients. The following complications were the most common: cranial nerve injury (5.8 percent) and cervical hematoma (5.8 percent). Eversion endarterectomy was performed in 97 percent of cases. Conclusions: The safety and success of carotid endarterectomy were demonstrated. Most of the patients had a satisfactory evolution, and there were few complications and zero mortality(AU)

Características de la enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en el municipio de arroyo naranjo / Characteristics of the extra-cranial cerebrovascular disease in Arroyo Naranjo municipality

Introducción: La enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en Cuba está subdiagnosticada, de ahí que se desconoce su prevalencia en población general.Objetivo: Determinar las características de la enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en el municipio de Arroyo Naranjo.Métodos: Se realizó estudio descriptivo en las 26 personas diagnosticadas con enfermedad carotidea de una muestra de 200 individuos obtenida por método aleatorio simple de los 208 554 residentes del municipio Arroyo Naranjo. La enfermedad se confirmó por eco-doppler carotideo. Las variables fueron: edad, sexo, porcentaje de estenosis, localización, tipo de placa, factores de riesgo y grosor íntima-media carotideo.Resultados: La prevalencia de la enfermedad fue de 12,5 x 100 000 habitantes, mayor en las mujeres (10,1) y en los mayores de 60 años (9,1). Se confirmó el diagnóstico en el 80,8 por ciento de las personas y más del 45 por ciento mostró estenosis no significativa en ambas carótidas. Predominaron las placas heterogénea (46,2 por ciento) localizadas fundamentalmente en: bifurcación carotidea y bulbo. El tabaquismo (80,8 por ciento), la hipertensión arterial (73,1 por ciento), y la enfermedad arterial periférica (65,1 por ciento) fueron los factores de riesgo más frecuentes; el 69,2 por ciento presentaba más de tres factores. Más del 75 por ciento de los mayores de 60 años, independiente del sexo, tenían valores patológicos del grosor íntima-media carotideo.Conclusiones: La prevalencia de enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en el municipio es elevada. Alta incidencia de factores de riesgo. El diagnóstico precoz de dicha enfermedad en un alto porcentaje permitió remitir a sus áreas de salud a aquellas personas que requerían de un tratamiento oportuno(AU)

Introduction: Extracranial cerebrovascular disease is a problem of health internationally, in Cuba it is sub-diagnostician without knowing its prevalence in the general population.Objective: To determine the characteristics of the extracranial cerebrovascular disease in the Arroyo Naranjo municipality.Methods: a descriptive study was conducted in 26 people diagnosed with carotid disease of a sample of 200 people obtained by a simple random method of the 208 554 residents of the municipality of Arroyo Naranjo. The disease was confirmed by carotid doppler ultrasound. The variables were: age, sex, percent stenosis, location, type of plate, risk factors and thickness intima-media carotid.Results: The prevalence of the disease was 12,5 x 100 000 inhabitants, higher in women (10,1) and older adults (9,1). The diagnosis was confirmed in 80,8 percent of people, where more than 45 percent showed a non-significant stenosis in both carotid. The types of plates were the heterogeneous (46,2 percent) and the echogenic (38,6 percent), located in: carotid bifurcation, bulb, and internal carotid. Smoking (80,8 percent), hypertension (73,1 percent), and peripheral arterial disease (65,1 percent) were the most frequent risk factors, noting that 69,2 percent had more than three factors. More of the 75 percent of those older than 60 years, independent of sex, showed pathological values of the thickness intima-media carotid.Conclusions: The prevalence of the extracranial cerebrovascular disease in the municipality is high; and too the incidence of the risk factors. Early diagnosis of the disease in a high percentage allowed referring to their areas of health to those persons requiring prompt treatment(AU)

Caracterización de las variantes quirúrgicas realizadas en dos años a pacientes con enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal / Characterization of surgical varians performed in patients with extracranial cerebrovascular diseases in two years

Objetivo: Caracterizar las variantes quirúrgicas realizadas a los pacientes ingresados con enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en un período de dos años.Métodos: Estudio descriptivo prospectivo en 27 pacientes, sin distinción de edad y sexo, operados por enfermedad cerebrovascular de origen extracraneal. Se tuvieron en cuenta los criterios de cirugía, además del estadio clínico, enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal que motivó la operación, localización de la lesión carotidea, variantes quirúrgicas realizadas, la permeabilidad de estas y las complicaciones poscirugía. Los pacientes fueron seguidos en consulta externa por dos años.Resultados: Se encontró que el 44,4 por ciento tuvo un ataque transitorio isquémico. Fueron más frecuentes las lesiones unilaterales (85,2 por ciento) y las de la carótida derecha (48,1 por ciento). Se halló una asociación significativa entre el sexo masculino con el estadio clínico y la localización de las lesiones carotideas. La endarterectomía por eversión fue la variante quirúrgica más realizada (44,4 por ciento). El 96,3 por ciento de las intervenciones se mantuvo permeable hasta los 18 meses poscirugía, mientras que tres pacientes presentaron reestenosis a los 24 meses. El 40,7 por ciento no desarrolló complicaciones, y entre estas el sangrado fue la de mayor frecuencia (33 por ciento).Conclusiones: Las variantes quirúrgicas realizadas se caracterizaron por altos porcentajes de permeabilidad durante el tiempo de estudio, con un mínimo de complicaciones posquirúrgicas(AU)

Objective: To characterize the surgical variants performed in hospitalized patients with extracranial cerebrovascular diseases in two years.Methods: Prospective and descriptive study of 27 patients, regardless of age and sex, who had been operated on from cerebrovascular disease of extracranial origin. Surgical criteria, clinical condition, extracranial cerebrovascular disease that required surgery, location of the carotid lesion, surgical variants, their permeability and the post-surgery complications were all taken into account. The patients were followed-up in the outpatient service during two years.Results: It was found that 44.4 percent of patients had had a transient ischemic attack. Unilateral lesions (85.2 percent) and right carotid lesions (48.1 percent) were the most common. Significant association was found between the male sex and the clinical staging and the location of carotid lesions. Eversion endarterectomy was the most performed surgical technique (44.4 percent). In the study, 96.3 percent of operations were kept permeable up to 18 months after the surgery whereas three patients presented with re-stenosis after 24 months. In the study group, 40.7 percent did not develop complications, being bleeding the most frequent one (33 percent).Conclusions: The surgical variants performed in the study time were characterized by high percentages of permeability and minimal postsurgical complications(AU)

Caracterización de las variantes quirúrgicas realizadas en dos años a pacientes con enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal / Characterization of surgical varians performed in patients with extracranial cerebrovascular diseases in two years

Objetivo: Caracterizar las variantes quirúrgicas realizadas a los pacientes ingresados con enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en un período de dos años. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo prospectivo en 27 pacientes, sin distinción de edad y sexo, operados por enfermedad cerebrovascular de origen extracraneal. Se tuvieron en cuenta los criterios de cirugía, además del estadio clínico, enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal que motivó la operación, localización de la lesión carotidea, variantes quirúrgicas realizadas, la permeabilidad de estas y las complicaciones poscirugía. Los pacientes fueron seguidos en consulta externa por dos años. Resultados: Se encontró que el 44,4 por ciento tuvo un ataque transitorio isquémico. Fueron más frecuentes las lesiones unilaterales (85,2 por ciento) y las de la carótida derecha (48,1 por ciento). Se halló una asociación significativa entre el sexo masculino con el estadio clínico y la localización de las lesiones carotideas. La endarterectomía por eversión fue la variante quirúrgica más realizada (44,4 por ciento). El 96,3 por ciento de las intervenciones se mantuvo permeable hasta los 18 meses poscirugía, mientras que tres pacientes presentaron reestenosis a los 24 meses. El 40,7 por ciento no desarrolló complicaciones, y entre estas el sangrado fue la de mayor frecuencia (33 por ciento). Conclusiones: Las variantes quirúrgicas realizadas se caracterizaron por altos porcentajes de permeabilidad durante el tiempo de estudio, con un mínimo de complicaciones posquirúrgicas(AU)

Objective: To characterize the surgical variants performed in hospitalized patients with extracranial cerebrovascular diseases in two years. Methods: Prospective and descriptive study of 27 patients, regardless of age and sex, who had been operated on from cerebrovascular disease of extracranial origin. Surgical criteria, clinical condition, extracranial cerebrovascular disease that required surgery, location of the carotid lesion, surgical variants, their permeability and the post-surgery complications were all taken into account. The patients were followed-up in the outpatient service during two years. Results: It was found that 44.4 percent of patients had had a transient ischemic attack. Unilateral lesions (85.2 percent) and right carotid lesions (48.1 percent) were the most common. Significant association was found between the male sex and the clinical staging and the location of carotid lesions. Eversion endarterectomy was the most performed surgical technique (44.4 percent). In the study, 96.3 percent of operations were kept permeable up to 18 months after the surgery whereas three patients presented with re-stenosis after 24 months. In the study group, 40.7 percent did not develop complications, being bleeding the most frequent one (33 percent). Conclusions: The surgical variants performed in the study time were characterized by high percentages of permeability and minimal postsurgical complications(AU)

Características de la enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en el municipio de arroyo naranjo / Characteristics of the extra-cranial cerebrovascular disease in Arroyo Naranjo municipality

Introducción: La enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en Cuba está subdiagnosticada, de ahí que se desconoce su prevalencia en población general. Objetivo: Determinar las características de la enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en el municipio de Arroyo Naranjo. Métodos: Se realizó estudio descriptivo en las 26 personas diagnosticadas con enfermedad carotidea de una muestra de 200 individuos obtenida por método aleatorio simple de los 208 554 residentes del municipio Arroyo Naranjo. La enfermedad se confirmó por eco-doppler carotideo. Las variables fueron: edad, sexo, porcentaje de estenosis, localización, tipo de placa, factores de riesgo y grosor íntima-media carotideo. Resultados: La prevalencia de la enfermedad fue de 12,5 x 100 000 habitantes, mayor en las mujeres (10,1) y en los mayores de 60 años (9,1). Se confirmó el diagnóstico en el 80,8 por ciento de las personas y más del 45 por ciento mostró estenosis no significativa en ambas carótidas. Predominaron las placas heterogénea (46,2 por ciento) localizadas fundamentalmente en: bifurcación carotidea y bulbo. El tabaquismo (80,8 por ciento), la hipertensión arterial (73,1 por ciento), y la enfermedad arterial periférica (65,1 por ciento) fueron los factores de riesgo más frecuentes; el 69,2 por ciento presentaba más de tres factores. Más del 75 por ciento de los mayores de 60 años, independiente del sexo, tenían valores patológicos del grosor íntima-media carotideo. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en el municipio es elevada. Alta incidencia de factores de riesgo. El diagnóstico precoz de dicha enfermedad en un alto porcentaje permitió remitir a sus áreas de salud a aquellas personas que requerían de un tratamiento oportuno(AU)

Introduction: Extracranial cerebrovascular disease is a problem of health internationally, in Cuba it is sub-diagnostician without knowing its prevalence in the general population. Objective: To determine the characteristics of the extracranial cerebrovascular disease in the Arroyo Naranjo municipality. Methods: a descriptive study was conducted in 26 people diagnosed with carotid disease of a sample of 200 people obtained by a simple random method of the 208 554 residents of the municipality of Arroyo Naranjo. The disease was confirmed by carotid doppler ultrasound. The variables were: age, sex, percent stenosis, location, type of plate, risk factors and thickness intima-media carotid. Results: The prevalence of the disease was 12,5 x 100 000 inhabitants, higher in women (10,1) and older adults (9,1). The diagnosis was confirmed in 80,8 percent of people, where more than 45 percent showed a non-significant stenosis in both carotid. The types of plates were the heterogeneous (46,2 percent) and the echogenic (38,6 percent), located in: carotid bifurcation, bulb, and internal carotid. Smoking (80,8 percent), hypertension (73,1 percent), and peripheral arterial disease (65,1 percent) were the most frequent risk factors, noting that 69,2 percent had more than three factors. More of the 75 percent of those older than 60 years, independent of sex, showed pathological values of the thickness intima-media carotid. Conclusions: The prevalence of the extracranial cerebrovascular disease in the municipality is high; and too the incidence of the risk factors. Early diagnosis of the disease in a high percentage allowed referring to their areas of health to those persons requiring prompt treatment(AU)