Browsing by Author "Kolar, Jovo (55941339000)"

Background: We sought to prospectively evaluate clinical effects of eversion carotid endarterectomy (ECEA) versus best medical treatment of symptomatic patients with near total internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion. Methods: From January 2003 to December 2006, a total of 309 recently (within 12 months) symptomatic patients with near total ICA occlusion who were eligible for surgery were identified in our institution. Patients were nonrandomly divided into group A (259 patients), who underwent ECEA surgery, and group B (50 patients), who refused surgery. Patients in group B received the best medical treatment based on the opinion of the attending vascular surgeon and/or angiologist. Patients were followed for ipsilateral stroke, transient ischemic accident, and neurologic mortality for 12 months. Results: There were no intraoperative and perioperative deaths and strokes in patients who were subjected to surgery. TIA was noted in 4 (1.5%) of these patients. There were no differences between the groups with respect to medications on discharge. Cumulative 12 month incidence of TIA, ipsilateral stroke and neurologic mortality was lower in patients who underwent ECEA than in patients on medical therapy (13 [5%] versus 12 [24%], p < 0.001; 4 [1.5%] versus 7 [14%], p < 0.001; and 4 [1.5%] versus 4 [8%], p = 0.034, respectively). Restenosis of the operated ICA was noted in 7 (3%) patients, and progression of near to total occlusion was seen in 15 (37%) patients in group B. Conclusion: Our data indicate that recently (within12 months) symptomatic patients with near total ICA occlusion who underwent ECEA have lower incidence of TIA, ipsilateral stroke, and neurologic death during follow-up than medically treated patients. It appears that, at least in high-volume centers, ECEA should be favored over medical treatment for the management of these patients. © 2009 Annals of Vascular Surgery Inc.

Introduction: Carotid angioplasty and internal carotid artery stenting is the therapeutic method of choice in the treatment of carotid restenosis, but when it is not technically feasible (expressed tortuosity of supraaortic branches, calcifications, presence of pathological elongation of very long lesions) a redo surgery is indicated. Objective: The aim of our study was to examine the benefits and risks of redo surgery in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic significant internal carotid artery restenosis and its impact on early and late morbidity and mortality. Methods: The study included 45 patients who were surgically treated for a hemodynamically significant internal carotid artery restenosis from January 2000 to December 2009. Surgical techniques included redo endarterectomy with direct suture, redo anderectomy with a patch plastic and resection with Dacron tubular graft interposition.The patients were followed for postoperative neurological ischemic events (transient ischemic attack (TIA), stroke), local surgical complications and lethal outcome after one month, six months, one year and after two years). Results: In the early postoperative period (up to 30 days) there were no lethal outcomes. TIA was diagnosed in four patients (8.8%), minor stroke in one patient (2.2%) and one patient (2.2%) also had cranial nerve injury. After two years two patients died (4.4%) due to fatal myocardial infarction, three patients (6.5%) had ipsilateral stroke and one patient developed graft occlusion (2%). Conclusion: In the case of symptomatic and asymptomatic: carotid restenosis that cannot be treated by carotid percutaneous angioplasty, redo surgical treatment is therapeutic option with an acceptable rate of early and late postoperative complications.

The aim of this article is to review our experience in surgical treatment of carotid atherosclerosis using eversion carotid endarterectomy (ECEA) in 5,034 patients, with particular attention to temporal changes in patients' characteristics, diagnostic approach, surgical technique, medical therapy, and outcome in the early (group A, 1991-1997) versus fate (group B 1998-2004) period of ECEA. From January 1991 to December 2004, 5,034 primary ECEAs were performed for high-grade carotid stenosis. Patients treated for restenosis after previous carotid surgery were excluded from the analysis. Group A consisted of 1,714 patients who underwent surgery between 1991 and 1997, and group B consisted of 3,320 patients who underwent surgery between 1998 and 2004. Follow-up included routine clinical evaluation and noninvasive surveillance, with duplex scanning at 1 month after surgery, after 6 months, and annually afterward. Only 3% of patients in group A and 0.6% in group B were asymptomatic, with 23% and 47% of them having preoperative stroke, respectively. In group A, angiography was used for the final diagnosis in 78% of patients. In group B, duplex scanning was performed in 82% of patients and angiography in only 18% (p < .001). Clamping time was shorter in the latter group (12.4 ± 3.1 vs 14.5 ± 4.1 min, p < .01). Introperative shunting and regional anesthesia were rarely performed in both groups (1.4% vs. 0.4%, p < .01, and 2% vs 0.3%, p < .001). Total and neurologic morbidity was significantly higher in group A than in group B (6.41% ± 0.47% vs 4.81% ± 0.53%, p < .001, and 2.14% ± 0.31% vs 1.23% ± 0.29%, p < .001, respectively). Total mortality was also higher in group A than in group B (1.92% ± 0.24% vs 1.36% ± 0.50%, p < .05), but although there was a trend toward lower neurologic mortality, it did not reach statistical significance (1.04% ± 0.5% vs 0.57% ± 0.25%, p = .074). There was a lower rate of nonsignificant restenosis (< 50%) in group B (2% vs 5%, p < .01), but the incidence of restenosis a 50% was identical between the groups (5.5% for both). Our data show that ECEA is a reliable surgical technique for the treatment of atherosclerotic carotid disease. Temporal trends in our patients demonstrated a decline in periopertive mortality and morbidity, despite a higher incidence of preoperative stroke. © BC Decker Inc. All rights reserved.

Background/Aim. Doppler ultrasonography is now a reliable diagnostic tool for noninvasive examination of the morphology and hemodynamic parameters of extracranial segments of blood vessels that participate in the brain vascularisation. This diagnostic modality in recent years become the only diagnostic tool prior to surgery. The aim of the study was to determine hemodynamic status in symptomatic and asymtomatic patients with severe carotid stenosis prior to and after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Methods. A total of 124 symptomatic and 94 asymptomatic patients who had underwent CEA at the Clinic for Cardiovasculare Disease "Dedinje" in Belgrade were included in this study. Doppler ultrasonography examinations were performed one day before CEA and seven days after it. The peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-dyastolic velocity (EDV), time-averaged maximum blood flow velocity (MV), resistance index (RI) and the blood flow volume (BFV) of the ipsilateral and the contralateral internal carotid artery (ICA) were measured. Results. Diabetes was the only risk factor found signifi cantly more frequent in symptomatic patients. There were significantly more occluded contralateral ICAs in the group of symptomatic patients. There was a significant increase in PSV, EDV, MV and BFV of the ipsilateral ICA after CEA and a significant decrease in PSV, EDV, MV and BFV of the contralateral ICA after CEA. RI is the only hemodynamic parameter without significant changes after CEA in both groups of patients. Comparing the values of hemodynamic parameters after CEA between the group of symptomatic and the group of asymptomatic patients no significant differences were found. Conclusion. The occlusion of the contralateral ICA is an important factor differentiating between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with severe carotid stenosis. Successful surgery provides good recovery of cerebral hemodynamics in both symtomatic and asymptomatic patients.