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Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are increasingly screen-detected and many small aneurysms enter surveillance. Computed tomography identifies characteristics that can predict subsequent AAA growth but ionizing radiation and nephrotoxic contrast disadvantage its use in surveillance. We investigated whether duplex and 3-dimensional tomographic ultrasound identified features associated with AAA growth in patients on AAA surveillance.

Vein mapping using duplex ultrasound (DUS) is a routine in selecting optimal autologous bypass grafts (aBG) but is time consuming and operator-dependent. Tomographic three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (tUS), using free-hand electromagnetic tracking, allows cardiac and vascular surgeons to view 3D images of the entire length of the potential bypass graft. This study compares tUS with DUS in the evaluation of potential autologous grafts for coronary and lower limb bypass.

To analyse 19 years’ worth of data from a Major UK Vascular Centre to determine the outcome of patients after they enter abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surveillance (surgery, death, discharge or transfer), this may inform interventions to improve these outcomes in the AAA surveillance population.

Among asymptomatic patients with severe carotid artery stenosis but no recent stroke or transient cerebral ischaemia, either carotid artery stenting (CAS) or carotid endarterectomy (CEA) can restore patency and reduce long-term stroke risks. However, from recent national registry data, each option causes about 1% procedural risk of disabling stroke or death. Comparison of their long-term protective effects requires large-scale randomised evidence.

The current criterion for surgical intervention in abdominal aortic aneurysms, based upon a maximal aortic diameter, is considered conservative due to the high mortality rate in case of rupture. The research community is actively investigating the use of computational mechanics tools combined with patient-specific imaging to help identify more accurate criteria. Widespread uptake of a successful metric will however be limited by the need for computed tomography, which is at present the primary image extraction method on account of the location and complex shape of the aneurysms. The use of three-dimensional ultrasound as the scanning method is more attractive on account of increased availability, reduced cost and reduced risk to patients. The suitability of three-dimensional ultrasound is assessed for this purpose in the present work; computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed on geometries obtained from the same patient using both ultrasound and computed tomography. The influence of different smoothing algorithms is investigated in the geometry preparation stage and Taubin’s low-pass filter was found to best preserve geometry features. Laminar, Newtonian, steady-state simulation analysis identified haemodynamic characteristics to be qualitatively similar in terms of wall shear stress, velocity and vorticity. The study demonstrates the potential for three-dimensional ultrasound to be integrated into a more accessible patient-specific modelling tool able to identify the need for surgical intervention of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Inhibition of von Willebrand factor offers a novel approach to prevention of stroke and myocardial ischemia but has not yet been demonstrated to show efficacy on clinically relevant end points. ARC1779 is an aptamer that inhibits the prothrombotic function of von Willebrand factor by binding to the A1 domain of von Willebrand factor and thereby blocking its interaction with glycoprotein. Phase 1 studies suggest it inhibits platelet aggregation with less increase in bleeding than conventional antiplatelet agents. The effect of ARC 1779 on cerebral emboli immediately after carotid endarterectomy was investigated in a randomized clinical trial.

Introduction Moyamoya disease is a rare and progressive condition with poor long-term prognosis. A meticulous evaluation during an extracranial carotid duplex exam, with attention to subtle changes in anatomy and Doppler signals, can alert the sonographer to pathology in the intracranial circulation, which may suggest this diagnosis.Case Report A 45-year-old woman presented to our vascular lab with an episode of slurred speech, right arm weakness, right-sided numbness, and generalized weakness that lasted 15 – 20 min, with total resolution of symptoms. A carotid duplex examination was ordered and demonstrated no evidence of extracranial carotid disease; however, bilaterally the external carotid artery was larger in size than the internal carotid artery, multiple prominent external carotid artery branches were noted, the internal carotid artery and vertebral artery Doppler signals demonstrated low-resistance waveforms with high diastolic flow velocity, and the left vertebral artery was enlarged. Magnetic resonance imaging with angiography demonstrated multiple intracranial abnormalities, and conventional angiography was compatible with Moyamoya disease. A superficial temporal artery-to-middle cerebral artery bypass was performed with an uneventful postoperative course and no recurrence of symptoms.Conclusions Subtle changes in anatomy and Doppler signals observed during an extracranial carotid duplex examination can be important indicators of pathology in a location that is not under direct visualization and interrogation. It is important for the sonographer to note these changes and report them to the physician for further evaluation by more direct methods of testing. This case provides an example of the use of such indirect sonographic evidence.

Purpose —Superficial varicosities surrounding a palpable mass in the posterior aspect of the left thigh were investigated during a venous duplex examination. A well-defined mass with arterial and venous feeding branches strongly suggested the presence of an arteriovenous malformation. We present an unusual case of a soft-tissue thigh mass that appeared to be an arteriovenous malformation by ultrasound and arteriography but after surgical resection was confirmed to be a benign soft tissue tumor.Case Report —A 32-year old woman presented with superficial varicosities surrounding a painful mass on the posterior aspect of her left thigh. Venous duplex exam demonstrated normal findings of the deep veins, but further investigation of the superficial varicosities revealed a 3.5-cm x 6.0-cm soft-homogenous mass with a large complex network of arterial and venous feeding branches. Arteriography confirmed a well-defined thigh mass with an arterial network feeding the mass. Surgical resection of this well-circumscribed mass was performed. Histological tissue exam revealed a benign low-grade spindle cell neoplasm with blood vessels.Conclusion —This report highlights the importance of evaluating all abnormal superficial varicosities and palpable soft-tissue masses as part of a lower extremity vascular duplex evaluation because incidental findings not diagnosed through clinical examination may be detected.

Objective —We sought to evaluate continuous ultrasound contrast infusion Optison® as an adjunct to color duplex ultrasound (CDU) in endoleak detection.Methods —Endoleak surveillance, including CDU, Optison®, and computed tomography (CTA), was performed during 18 examinations. One (3 ml) vial of Optison® was diluted in a 57-ml syringe of normal saline (total 60 ml) and administered by infusion pump at 4 ml/hr. Transverse and sagittal views were performed of the aortic aneurysm sac, endograft, and arteries outside the aneurysm sac. Primary endpoints were endograft patency, the presence or absence of endoleak, and limb dysfunction.Results —There were no adverse events related to the contrast agent. Contrast appearance through the endograft occurred after an average of 1 min using a mean of 46.8 ml of contrast infusion per patient. There were 10 enodleaks clearly identified by CDU and Optison®, i.e., 2 type I, 4 type II, and 2 type III endoleaks with an additional study suspicious for endoleak. Using CDU and CTA, we found 9 studies without endoleaks whereas with Optison®, we found 8 studies normal. Comparatively, when using CTA, we identified only 2 definitive endoleaks. Of the 9 endoleaks identified by using CDU and Optison®, 2 of the endoleaks were type I and not observed on conventional CTA and were later confirmed by arteriogram. One study was deemed negative by CDU and Optison® whereas CTA results were suspicious. Body habitus was prohibitive for definitive CDU findings in one patient.Conclusions —Using continuous ultrasound contrast infusion as an adjunct to CDU allowed for longer imaging time and more extensive evaluation of the endograft, the aneurysm sac, and the perianeurysmal arteries in these patients. Our early results demonstrate that the use of ultrasound contrast for endoleak detection is reliable and may be considered a primary surveillance modality after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the occurrence of spontaneous cerebral emboli and venous to arterial circulation shunts in patients with Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia and controls without dementia. Design Cross sectional case-control study. Setting Secondary care old age psychiatry services, Manchester. Participants 170 patients with dementia (85 with Alzheimer's disease, 85 with vascular dementia) and 150 age and sex matched controls. Patients on anticoagulant treatment, patients with severe dementia, and controls with marked cognitive impairment were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequencies of detection of spontaneous cerebral emboli during one hour monitoring of the middle cerebral arteries with transcranial Doppler and venous to arterial circulation shunts by a transcranial Doppler technique using intravenous microbubbles as an ultrasound contrast. RESULTS: Spontaneous cerebral emboli were detected in 32 (40%) of patients with Alzheimer's disease and 31 (37%) of those with vascular dementia compared with just 12 each (15% and 14%) of their controls, giving significant odds ratios adjusted for vascular risk factors of 2.70 (95% confidence interval 1.18 to 6.21) for Alzheimer's disease and 5.36 (1.24 to 23.18) for vascular dementia. These spontaneous cerebral emboli were not caused by carotid disease, which was equally frequent in dementia patients and their controls. A venous to arterial circulation shunt indicative of patent foramen ovale was found in 27 (32%) Alzheimer's disease patients and 25 (29%) vascular dementia patients compared with 19 (22%) and 17 (20%) controls, giving non-significant odds ratios of 1.57 (0.80 to 3.07) and 1.67 (0.81 to 3.41). CONCLUSION: Spontaneous cerebral emboli were significantly associated with both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. They may represent a potentially preventable or treatable cause of dementia.

Purpose The diagnosis of carotid artery fibromuscular dysplasia is usually made with conventional angiography performed to evaluate a suspected carotid stenosis. The ultrasound findings with fibromuscular dysplasia have not been well described. This study was performed to assess the characteristics of carotid artery fibromuscular dysplasia with duplex ultrasonography.Methods The hospital records for all patients who had carotid duplex ultrasonography were reviewed from January 2000 to October 2003. Patients with findings suspicious for fibromuscular dysplasia formed the basis of this study. The patient demographics, their presenting symptoms, and ultrasound findings were analyzed.Results Carotid duplex studies were performed on 9157 patients during the study period. The presumptive diagnosis of fibromuscular dysplasia was made in 13 female patients (1.2%), with a mean age of 67 ± 10 years (range, 52-79 years). Patients were referred for asymptomatic carotid bruits (n= 10, 77%) or transient ischemic attack (n= 3, 23%). Both mid and distal internal carotid artery involvement were seen in five patients (38%), whereas eight patients (62%) had disease isolated to the distal internal carotid artery. Bilateral carotid artery involvement occurred in eight patients (62%). A consistent finding in all patients was multiple areas of alternating focal thickening with thin, dilated arterial walls. Other sonographic findings included velocity increases (mean, 181 cm/sec; range, 135-318 cm/sec), color flow disturbance, and scarcity of plaque in the suspected arterial segment. Magnetic resonance angiography or carotid angiography was performed on seven (54%) patients, confirming the ultrasound diagnoses. One symptomatic patient was successfully treated with open graduated endoluminal dilatation. One patient with asymptomatic carotid bruit underwent carotid stent placement for rapid progression of the disease. No disease progression was seen on follow-up duplex examination in the remaining group, and no patient became symptomatic.Conclusions Fibromuscular dysplasia should be suspected in female patients with high-grade mid to distal carotid artery stenosis without significant atherosclerotic disease. This study demonstrates the usefulness of duplex ultrasound as both a screening test and diagnostic examination for carotid artery fibromuscular dysplasia. Follow-up is warranted in these patients.

Purpose Carotid artery pseudoaneurysm development after endarterectomy, albeit rare, has been attributed to patch deterioration. We present an unusual case of pseudoaneurysm development 1 year after stent placement for recurrent carotid artery stenosis.Case Report A 64-year-old man had transient hemiparesis develop 1 week after carotid artery endarterectomy (CEA) with patch angioplasty for monocular transient ischemic attack. Carotid angiography reviewed an intimal flap at the distal endarterectomy site, which was successfully treated with carotid stent placement. During a duplex scan 1 year later, he was found to have a symptomatic 2.5-cm pseudoaneurysm at the level of stented carotid bifurcation. This was successfully treated with a combined open and endovascular approach, which consisted of stent-graft placement by means of an open carotid exposure. Completion angiogram showed successful stent-graft exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm. A follow-up duplex scan 6 months later demonstrated diminution of pseudoaneurysm size without endoleak.Conclusion This report highlights the importance of duplex ultrasound surveillance in patients with CEA or carotid stenting, because it can accurately detect recurrent stenosis or carotid pseudoaneurysm. Moreover, a combined open and endovascular therapy using stent graft successfully treated the carotid pseudoaneurysm in our patient.

Cell salvage is an autologous blood transfusion technique, which has been in common use for over twenty years. It has the obvious potential to reduce allogeneic blood usage as fresh red cells that would otherwise be lost are reinfused. Properly used, there is no risk of clerical error and no need to screen for transmissible disease. Although used extensively in the USA and Europe, the adoption of cell salvage, and indeed all autologous blood transfusion techniques, has been very slow in the UK. This may be partly due to the paucity of adequately powered randomized clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy and cost‐effectiveness of cell salvage. This article will review these aspects of cell salvage with particular emphasis on its routine use in vascular surgery.

We investigated whether near infrared spectroscopy could be used to monitor regional tissue oxygenation during uncompensated hemorrhage in man. A Somanetics INVOS 4100 oximeter was used to measure regional hemoglobin oxygen saturation in the cerebral cortex (CsO2, left frontal area) and from the left calf muscle (PsO2) in 40 volunteers donating 470 mL of the whole blood. A Critikon 2001 Cerebral Redox Instrument was used to monitor total (tHb), oxygenated (O2Hb), and deoxygenated (HHb) hemoglobin in the right calf muscle. The oxygenation index, HbD O2Hb − HHb was derived. CsO2decreased by a mean (95 CI) of 2 (1–3.3) (P< 0.001), PsO2decreased by a mean (95 CI) of 3.2 (1.7–4.6) (P< 0.001), and HbD decreased by a median (95 CI) of 6.4 (2.65–10.16) M/cm (P< 0.001) during blood collection. There was an inverse correlation between blood loss and CsO2(R −0.59, P< 0.001), PsO2(R −0.61, P< 0.001), and HbD (R −0.5, P< 0.001). Regional tissue oxygenation decreases in proportion to uncompensated blood loss. Near infrared spectroscopy may potentially be developed into a transfusion trigger.

Since atherosclerosis is characterized by endothelial damage, re-growth seems likely to be occurring in order to repair or replace injured cells. Angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a likely mediator of these events, acts on the endothelium via a specific receptor, Flt-1. We hypothesized that patients with different manifestations of atherosclerosis, and others with diabetes, would have altered plasma levels of VEGF and Flt-1 compared with healthy individuals. Accordingly, 70 patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), 70 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and 70 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. We also recruited 14 patients with diabetes asymptomatic for atherosclerosis, 14 patients with diabetes and atherosclerosis, and 14 age- and sex-matched controls. VEGF and soluble Flt-1 (sFlt-1) were measured by ELISA. In the main study of PAD and CAD, VEGF was raised in both patient groups (P < 0.05) compared with the controls, but was not different between the patient groups. sFlt-1 was lower in patients with PAD (P < 0.05), but not in those with CAD, compared with the controls. VEGF was raised in the patients with diabetes plus atherosclerosis (P < 0.05), but not in the group with diabetes alone; levels of sFlt-1 were unaltered in both diabetes groups. Our data point to changes in plasma levels of VEGF and its receptor sFlt-1 in diabetes and atherosclerosis that may have relevance for therapy and angiogenesis in these conditions.

Chronic venous ulcers are an example of abnormal wound healing showing chronic inflammation which together with the underlying vascular pathology results in delayed healing. Prostaglandins are among the most important mediators of inflammation. They have proinflammatory effects, predominantly by affecting the vasculature. Cyclooxygenase (COX) is the rate‐limiting enzyme in prostanoid synthesis. It is present in two isoforms: COX‐1 (constitutive cyclooxygenase) which is produced in the body to maintain normal haemostatic functions, and COX‐2 (inducible cyclooxygenase), which is induced during inflammation in response to cytokines. Using immunoenzymatic labelling and western blot analysis, this study has shown that both COX‐1 and COX‐2 were up‐regulated in chronic venous leg ulcers by comparison with normal human skin. De novoappearance of COX‐2 in chronic venous ulcers was demonstrated, which is not seen in normal human skin. The main cellular sources of both COX isoforms are macrophages and endothelial cells. COX‐2 is also produced by mast cells and fibroblasts. A COX radioimmunoassay showed up‐regulation of COX activity in chronic venous ulcers compared with normal skin (p<0.05). Up‐regulation of COX‐1 in chronic venous leg ulcers could produce prostacyclin, which contributes to angiogenesis. Thus, inhibition of COX‐1 by non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) could increase the local ischaemia and hypoxia associated with chronic venous ulcers. On the other hand, up‐regulation of COX‐2 is most likely responsible for the persistent inflammation in chronic venous leg ulcers. COX‐2 selective inhibitors could therefore be effective in the treatment of chronic venous ulcers. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Background:Dacron (polyester fiber) was largely abandoned for femoropopliteal bypass grafts 30 years ago because saphenous vein achieved better patencies. However, in patients taking aspirin, patency in above-knee femoropopliteal bypass grafts has recently been shown to be equivalent to that with saphenous vein. We compared heparin-bonded Dacron (HBD) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in a randomized multicenter trial including below-knee popliteal or tibioperoneal trunk bypass graft where the long saphenous vein was absent or inadequate. Methods:Over 28 months, 209 patients undergoing femoropopliteal bypass grafts (180 above-knee, 29 below-knee) were randomized to HBD (n = 106) or PTFE (n = 103). Each patient was given aspirin (300 mg/d) before surgery, and this continued unless the patient had intolerance to the aspirin. Results:The mean follow-up was 42 months (range, 28-55). Fifteen (7.1%) patients died with patent grafts, and three (1.4%) infected grafts were removed. Patency (measured with Kaplan-Meier survival analysis) at 1, 2, and 3 years for HBD was 70%, 63%, and 55% compared with 56%, 46%, and 42%, respectively, for PTFE (P=.044). A total of 67 secondary interventions were performed on 48 thrombosed grafts; long-term patency was achieved in only three. Risk factors for arterial disease did not significantly influence patency. Amputations have been performed in 23 patients, six after HBD and 17 after PTFE bypass grafts (P=.015). Conclusions:HBD achieved better patency than PTFE, which carried a high risk of subsequent amputation. (J Vasc Surg 2001;33:533-9.)

Chronic venous ulcers, an example of abnormal wound healing, show chronic inflammation with defective matrix deposition which together with the underlying vascular pathology, result in delayed healing. L-arginine is known to be metabolized by one of two pathways: nitric oxide synthase (NOS), producing nitric oxide (NO), or arginase, producing ornithine. NO is involved in many pathological conditions including vascular and inflammatory disorders. This study therefore investigated the distribution, level and activity of NOS and arginase in chronic venous ulcers in comparison with normal skin, using immunocytochemistry, western blotting, and enzyme assays. The results demonstrated an increased distribution of both NOS and arginase in chronic venous ulcer tissue compared with normal skin, with inflammatory cells and vascular endothelial cells as the main sources. These data were confirmed by western blot analysis, which showed increased levels of both enzymes in chronic venous ulcers. Moreover, there was significantly increased activity of both total NOS (p&lt;0.04) and inducible NOS (p&lt;0.05) in chronic venous ulcer tissue compared with normal skin, and significantly increased activity of arginase (p&lt;0.01) in chronic venous ulcer tissue in comparison with normal skin. NO is known to combine with hydroxyl free radicals forming peroxynitrite, a potent free radical which causes tissue destruction. NO overexpression in chronic venous ulcers may be involved directly or indirectly (through production of peroxynitrite) in the pathogenesis and delayed healing of chronic venous ulcers, through its effects on vasculature, inflammation, and collagen deposition. Arginase is known to enhance matrix deposition. Thus, increased levels of arginase in chronic venous ulcers could contribute to the pathogenesis of lipodermatosclerosis associated with chronic venous insufficiency, predisposing to the formation of chronic venous ulcers and also to matrix cuff formation around blood vessels. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chronic venous ulcers, an example of abnormal wound healing, show chronic inflammation with defective matrix deposition which together with the underlying vascular pathology, result in delayed healing. L‐arginine is known to be metabolized by one of two pathways: nitric oxide synthase (NOS), producing nitric oxide (NO), or arginase, producing ornithine. NO is involved in many pathological conditions including vascular and inflammatory disorders. This study therefore investigated the distribution, level and activity of NOS and arginase in chronic venous ulcers in comparison with normal skin, using immunocytochemistry, western blotting, and enzyme assays. The results demonstrated an increased distribution of both NOS and arginase in chronic venous ulcer tissue compared with normal skin, with inflammatory cells and vascular endothelial cells as the main sources. These data were confirmed by western blot analysis, which showed increased levels of both enzymes in chronic venous ulcers. Moreover, there was significantly increased activity of both total NOS (p<0.04) and inducible NOS (p<0.05) in chronic venous ulcer tissue compared with normal skin, and significantly increased activity of arginase (p<0.01) in chronic venous ulcer tissue in comparison with normal skin. NO is known to combine with hydroxyl free radicals forming peroxynitrite, a potent free radical which causes tissue destruction. NO overexpression in chronic venous ulcers may be involved directly or indirectly (through production of peroxynitrite) in the pathogenesis and delayed healing of chronic venous ulcers, through its effects on vasculature, inflammation, and collagen deposition. Arginase is known to enhance matrix deposition. Thus, increased levels of arginase in chronic venous ulcers could contribute to the pathogenesis of lipodermatosclerosis associated with chronic venous insufficiency, predisposing to the formation of chronic venous ulcers and also to matrix cuff formation around blood vessels. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Successful arterial reconstructive surgery requires exact definition of the occlusive or aneurysmal process and the condition of the distal arterial tree. To define these two parameters, it is essential that arteriography be precise, yet it must be safe and reproducible. At our institution, we continue to utilize percutaneous needle arteriography because of its safety and excellent delineation of the vascular system. The purpose of this paper is to discuss our indications, techniques, and results of percutaneous arteriography for evaluation of peripheral arterial disease. During 1975, 1,253 percutaneous arteriograms were performed under general anesthesia by the surgical team. The techniques for carotid, vertebral (retrograde brachial), and femoral arteriograms, and translumbar aortograms will be reviewed. There were no deaths and only 8 (0.7%) complications. We believe that this technique provides an excellent method for good preoperative evaluation of the arterial system of the peripheral arteries and abdominal aorta.

Calcification has been examined in 250 samples of atherosclerotic lesions (types II to VI) of human carotid arteries using von Kossa and haematoxylin staining. Early calcification described as ‘stippling’ was first noted in stage III specimens, with intermediate and solid calcifications becoming increasingly prominent within advanced plaques, especially stages Vb and VI. Although the relative frequencies of stippling, intermediate and large calcified deposits varied between plaques of the same stage, the prevalent sites of calcification were recognized as the deeper regions of the intima and the atheroma. Immunolocalization and histochemical techniques were used to identify the associations of mast cells (MCs), macrophages, smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and elastin with the different stages of calcification. Early, dispersed stippling was commonly associated with local accumulations of macrophages (HAM56 and CD68‐positive), MCs and extracellular MC tryptase, the presence of immunoreactive elastin, but the relative absence of SMCs. Intermediate stages of calcification described as ‘morula’ deposits were also associated with local increases in the numbers of macrophages and MCs. Larger calcified deposits, even within the same plaque specimen, showed no regular pattern of cellular or elastin associations. However, in the vast majority of specimens, macrophages represented the predominant cell type associated with different phases of calcification. By contrast, the calcification less frequently observed in the media beneath advanced plaques was commonly associated with SMCs and elastin; only rarely were macrophages or MCs present. These studies are the first to demonstrate that macrophages, MCs, and extracellular tryptase frequently occupy micro‐environmental loci showing the first stages of calcification within the atherosclerotic plaque; similar associations with more advanced mineral deposits are discussed in relation to plaque rupture. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to assess the outcome after the shortening and reimplantation of tortuous internal carotid arteries to prevent kinking after endarterectomy. Methods:Through a review of prospective records, we studied patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) (n = 233) between 1993 and 1996 who had symptomatic stenosis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) of more than 70%. An elongated proximal ICA was excised, and the ICA was reimplanted into the bifurcation in 30 (13%) patients, with additional patch angioplasty in 5 patients. Of the remaining 203 patients, 50 (21%) had Dacron patch angioplasty, and the rest had conventional CEA with simple closure. Results:In the reimplanted group, one patient had a minor stroke with complete recovery on discharge. Three patients (10%) had neck hematomas requiring reexploration, but in none of these was the bleeding from the artery. At mean follow-up of 15 months, 93% of the arteries were widely patent. Significant stenosis secondary to neointimal hyperplasia was detected in only two patients, for a restenosis rate of 6.7%, which is in line with other published reports. In the control group, 8 (3.9%) patients had perioperative transient ischemic attacks, 5 (2.5%) had strokes, and 13 (6.4%) had hematomas requiring evacuation. At follow-up, 14 (6.9%) of the arteries had restenosed. Conclusion:In carotid surgery, reconstructive techniques must be tailored to operative findings. Excision of a tortuous elongated proximal ICA with reimplantation is not associated with additional mortality or morbidity rates over those of conventional CEA alone and has the advantage of removing disease at the bifurcation. This procedure was carried out in 13% of our patients and should be a procedure with which the vascular surgeon is familiar. (J Vasc Surg 1998;27:936-9.)