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Background: A coil in the internal carotid artery (ICA), defined as a circular configuration or exaggerated S shape of the ICA, is occasionally encountered during endarterectomy for carotid bifurcation lesions. The significance of coils as an etiology for symptoms is difficult to determine. It is thought, however, that the failure to correct coils and kinks during routine carotid endarterectomy (CE) may lead to turbulence and failure of the CE. Various techniques have been discussed to repair coils., Methods: Our technique consisted of complete dissection of the coil, routine use of a Javid shunt, standard endarterectomy, resection of the redundant ICA, re-approximation of the posterior wall of the ICA and patch angioplasty of the anterior wall. Three hundred and fifteen patients underwent CE between August, 1998 and February, 2000. Fifteen patients (4.7%) had a carotid coil that was repaired. There were ten men and five women. Mean age was 72.6+/-6.1 years. Ten patients had an asymptomatic stenosis. Four patients had lateralizing symptoms and one patient had dizziness. Fifteen patients underwent preoperative duplex scanning and 14 of these patients had MRA scans performed. All patients had a preoperative stenosis of 80-99% by duplex on the operated side. The right carotid artery was repaired in 12 patients. The left in three patients. The length of resected artery varied from 1.2-2.8 cm (1.93+/-0.49 cm)., Results: All patients survived surgery. One patient developed a cerebellar stroke on the third postoperative day. A postoperative carotid duplex scan demonstrated a widely patent repair. There were no cranial nerve injuries in this series. One patient died seven months after surgery from cardiac events with no follow-up duplex exam. There have been no long term strokes or anastomotic complications. Follow-up duplex scans demonstrated widely patent repairs (1-15% stenosis) in seven patients and low end 15-49% stenosis in five patients., Conclusions: Resection of redundant ICA with re-anastomosis of the posterior wall and patch reconstruction of the anterior wall gives acceptable perioperative and long term results.

We describe a 54-year-old male with severe coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease including right cerebellar infarction, total occlusion of the bilateral vertebral arteries, brainstem ischemia, and right cerebral infarction with significant right carotid artery disease. Repeated percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty had been performed, however, unstable angina was developed despite maximal medical treatment. Coronary artery bypass grafting was successfully undergone with use of propofol, application of the intra-aortic balloon pumping perioperatively, and mild hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass with alpha-stat blood gas management. The importance of preoperative evaluation of the intracranial circulation and management of cardiopulmonary bypass are discussed.

Background: The value of carotid patching in carotid endarterectomy in achieving low perioperative morbidity and long-term freedom from restenosis is controversial. We hypothesized that if large internal carotid arteries were closed primarily and smaller arteries selectively patched, there would be no difference in early or long-term results between the two groups., Methods: A retrospective analysis of 133 carotid endarterectomies performed by one surgeon in a community teaching hospital was performed to evaluate a selective approach to patching vs primary closure. Primary closure was performed if the arteriotomy could be closed without tension over a Javid shunt. Seventy-seven arteries underwent primary closure and 56 underwent patching (Vein-14, PTFE-17, Dacron-25). Postoperative (>6 month) duplex scans were available on 46/77 (60%) patients undergoing primary closure, and 33/56 (59%) of patients with patch repair., Results: There were 2 perioperative neurologic deficits, both in the patch group. Restenosis of equal or greater than 50% at 11 months occurred in 5/46 (10.8%) of patients with primary closure and 2/34 patients (5.9%) with patch closure (p=ns). No patient in either group had a late neurologic event or required a redo operation., Conclusions: Selective primary closure is not associated with increased risk of perioperative neurologic events or statistically significant evidence of late postoperative stenosis if primary closure is performed in large internal carotid arteries.

The external carotid artery (ECA) is an important collateral pathway in patients with ipsilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion and recurrent symptoms. An ipsilateral ECA revascularization can improve cerebral perfusion or eliminate an embolic source. In the past 11 years 11 patients underwent operation, 6 times for amaurosis fugax and 5 times for transient ischaemic attacks. Eight times ECA endarterectomy was performed for stenosis and/or ulceration. Eight times closure or separation of the ICA stump with thrombus was carried out. There were no perioperative neurological deficits or deaths, with the exception of 3 patients who already had a long-standing deficit due to the ICA occlusion. All patients were relieved of their ocular or hemispheric symptoms in a follow-up period of 8 years. Two late strokes occurred after 1 1/4 and 4 years. Ipsilateral ECA revascularization is an effective and safe operation and has good long-term results.

Six patients with acute carotid occlusion causing severe neurological deficits were operated within one to two hours after the first signs of deterioration. In one case the occlusion followed carotid arteriography and in five cases extra-cranial carotid surgery. It was possible to restore the blood flow in all six patients. In three patients the neurological deficits disappeared and in three patients they were unchanged. These cases and others reported in literature indicate that if an acute carotid occlusion is operated within one to two hours it will be possible in many cases to restore cerebral blood flow before the brain has suffered irreversible damage.

One hundred endarterectomies of the internal carotid artery have been performed from March 1984 to December 1985; 50 were carried out with a Javid shunt, and 50 were performed without using a shunt. There was no peroperative or hospital deaths. Five operations performed with the use of a shunt and 4 performed without a shunt were followed by a central nervous system deficit. The frequency of central neurological complications is thus not statistically different, but the time of onset and the likely cause of the deficit are different.

Four hundred and twenty-seven carotid endarteriectomies were performed on 377 patients. The electroencephalogram was used as the sole determinant for the use of a carotid shunt in 386 carotid endarterectomies. With clamping of the internal carotid artery, 51 (13%) had electroencephalographic changes. The most common electroencephalographic change (60%) was rapid, ipsilateral attenuation of background activity. In the 30 day follow up period there were 3 deaths (0.7%) and 11 strokes (2.5%). Two patients (0.5%) had intraoperative strokes. The combined morbidity and mortality was 2.8% (12 of 427). Neurologic complications increased significantly with contralateral carotid occlusion. The electroencephalogram correlated well with neurological deficits occurring in surgery, but stump pressures neither correlated with neurological deficits nor electroencephalographic changes. Continuous electroencephalographic monitoring during carotid endarterectomy is an effective method of determining significant cerebral ischemia and the need for a carotid shunt.

From March 1980 to March 1987, at the Department of Vascular Surgery of the University of Padua, 217 patients underwent 252 carotid revascularizations with routine use of an intraluminal shunt (IS) for symptomatic (70%) or asymptomatic (30%) internal carotid artery (ICA) atherosclerotic stenosis. All carotid endarterectomies (CEs) were routinely performed with patch graft angioplasty to prevent restenosis. In the immediate post-operative period, no patient presented permanent or transient neurological deficits; no patient died. In the early post-operative course there was a 0.9% (2 patients) stroke rate and 0.4% (1 patient) mortality rate. These results suggest that the selective use of the IS on the basis of EEG changes is able to reduce the perioperative morbidity and mortality to nearly zero.

Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), imaging of cerebral blood flow was carried out in ten patients with haemodynamically significant carotid stenosis. Before and after carotid endarterectomy each patient was investigated by 3--dimensional SPECT brain scanning using technetium--hexamethyl propyleneamine oxine (99 mTcHMPAO, ceretec). Brain blood flow was normal before and after operation in 3 patients whose autoregulation was kept intact. Seven patients received acetazolamide to limit cerebral vascular reactivity and in four of these, preoperative perfusion defects were visible. After carotid endarterectomy the ipsilateral perfusion defects were abolished and it is concluded that carotid stenosis can reduce perfusion in the dysautoregulation brain and that carotid reconstruction can restore normal flow.

Overall surgical experience in dealing with extracranial angiopathology on the basis of 300 cases submitted to surgical reconstitution is hereby presented, together with long term observations covering a period of 1-10 years. Particular emphasis is given to the concept of prophylaxis which has to be considered as the major goal of contemporary operative approach, by means of "preventing" ischemic episode rather than "reducing" an already established infarct. Spectrum of surgical indications covers mainly transient attacks of brain ischemia with attention focused upon the selective group of patients with "impending stroke" semiology, who although considered asymptomatic, are by no means as such if carefully investigated. "Avant garde" philosophy of operative approach as instituted is fully outlined, with all merits of a fully justified surgical aggression, accordingly discussed.

We feel that kinking of the internal carotid artery with resulting specific cerebrovascular neurologic symptoms is indication for operative treatment. This can be performed with minimal morbidity and mortality with excellent postoperative relief of signs and symptoms.

The results of 518 carotid endarterectomies (CEA) performed by four surgical specialty groups were evaluated for complications and categorized according to their presentations. Nineteen surgeons performing CEA were classified into four groups: general surgeons (GS), general vascular surgeons (GVS), cardiovascular surgeons (CVS), and neurosurgeons (NS). The stroke and combined stroke and death rates respectively by the four groups were 6.1% and 6.1%; 3.2% and 3.5%; 6.5% and 8.7%; and 6.5% and 6.5%. The indications of CEA varied among the groups. Asymptomatic stenosis constituted 10.6%, 16.0%, 19.0%, and 0% of the total CEA performed by the groups respectively; nonhemispheric transient ischemic attacks (TIA) constituted 3.0%, 18.4%, 8.7%, and 0%; hemispheric TIA constituted 77.3%, 58.1%, 63.0% and 90.3%; and stroke constituted 9.1%, 7.5%, 8.7% and 9.7%. When CEA for asymptomatic stenosis and nonhemispheric TIA were combined, the stroke rate was 22.2% for the GS group; 1.6% for the GVS group; and 15.4% for the CVS group. In conclusion, the overall stroke rate was close for the four groups at 6.1%, 3.2%, 6.5% and 6.5% respectively. However, asymptomatic and nonhemispheric TIA patients had significantly lower complication rates when operated on by the GVS group in contrast to the other groups (1.6% for the GVS in contrast to 22.2% for the GS and 15.4% for the CVS). The GVS and CVS groups operated more frequently on asymptomatic and nonhemispheric TIA patients than the GS and NS groups.

Postoperative changes of blood pressure in carotid artery surgery is frequently observed. The Authors, on the base of a review of the literature and examining their own experience related to a consecutive series of 40 cases verify the incidence of this event. Different modality in the onset of postoperative hypertension and hypotension are evaluated. The risks of neurological complications due to the acute hemodynamic modifications are considered.

Crimped knitted Dacron grafts are commonly employed as arterial substitutes and in most instances have proven to be highly effective and relatively durable. Graft failures have occurred and have usually been associated with serious hemorrhage. Fabrication flows, intraoperative damage to the graft, or biodegradation have been suggested as causes of graft failure. In this study three aortic grafts failed, each apparently from a different cause and each presented in a different fashion. Although the exact cause of graft failure in these three cases could not be ascertained it appeared that one was due to a fabrication flow, one due to generalized loss of tensile strength, and the third due to deterioration of only a portion of the fraft. These data suggest that continued search for more suitable plastic prostheses is urgently needed;

Arterial hypertension as a consequence of carotid endarterectomy is a relatively frequent event and potentially dangerous because of the development of central postoperative neurological deficiency. The main pathogenetic theories are reviewed, with reference to hypotensive phenomena and preventive action also. Stress is laid on the importance of recognising potential risk factors, such as the use of anaesthetics which interfere with cerebral flow self-regulation mechanisms, diabetes and atherosclerosis.