ObjectiveTo observe ocular ischemic appearance (OIA) associated with carotid artery stenosis and its effects on the hemodynamics of central retinal artery (CRA) and ophthalmic artery (OA). MethodsA total of 30 normal persons and 60 patients with carotid artery stenosis diagnosed by color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were enrolled in this prospective study.Sixty patients were randomly divided into 2 groups:30 patients with the carotid artery stenosis degree < 60% and 30 cases with the carotid artery stenosis degree≥60%. Thirty normal persons were enrolled in the normal control group. All patients underwent a comprehensive eye examination to determine if OIA exists. The Doppler spectral patterns of CRA and OA were observed by CDFI. The peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), blood vessel diameter (BVD) and resistance index (RI) of CRA and OA were measured. ResultsIn the group of the carotid artery stenosis degree≥60%, 24/30 patients (80.0%) had the ophthalmic symptoms and 9/30 patients (30.0%) had ophthalmic signs. In the group of the carotid artery stenosis degree < 60%, 9/30 patients (30.0%) had the ophthalmic symptoms and 3/30 patients (10.0%) had ophthalmic signs. For patients with≥60% stenosis, CDFI revealed a bread-like waveform of CRA, and single peak of OA instead of the typical 3-peak/2-notch waveform. For patients with < 60% stenosis, CDFI revealed a normal pattern of CRA and OA (3-peak/2-notch). The PSV(t=5.255, P=0.007) and EDV(t=4.949, P=0.005) of CRA in the stenosis≥60% group were statistically decreased compared to the normal control group, but the BVD(t=0.457, P > 0.05)and RI(t=0.213, P > 0.05)were normal. The PSV, EDV, BVD and RI of CRA in the stenosis < 60% group were normal(P > 0.05). The PSV(t=4.457, P=0.010)and EDV(t=4.588, P=0.009)of CRA in the stenosis≥60% group were statistically decreased compared to the stenosis < 60% group, but the BVD and RI were the same between these 2 groups. ConclusionPatients with carotid stenosis≥60% had a higher OIA incidence, reduced PSV, EDV of their CRA, while had no significant changes of OA hemodynamics.
ObjectiveTo compare the clinical efficacy of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) in the treatment of patients with carotid artery stenosis, and to provide a more abundant evidence-based medicine for the treatment of CEA and CAS in patients with carotid artery stenosis. MethodsForty patients with carotid artery stenosis were randomly divided into CEA group and CAS group based on the operative indication. Patients in CEA group were given carotid endarterectomy treatment and those in CAS group were given carotid artery stenting treatment. Then clinical efficacy of the two groups were observed and compared. ResultsIn terms of the occurring rate of perioperative complications, cardiovascular events in 3 months after operation, and some major end events such as stroke, death and so on, the comparative difference between the two groups was of no statistical significance (P > 0.05). Through the followed-up visits of 12 months, the comparative difference between the two groups was also of no statistical significance (P > 0.05) in terms of the occurring rate of carotid artery restenosis and disabling or fatal stroke. ConclusionsFor patients with severe extracranial carotid stenosis under indication of operation treatment, carotid endarterectomy and carotid artery stenting are of equivalent clinical efficacy, and both of them are of high security, although further study with large-amount and evidence-based medical data in long term from multiple centers is still in need.
ObjectiveTo analyze the short-term and long-term efficacy of staged coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) compared with CABG alone in patients with coronary heart disease with preoperative history of stroke and carotid stenosis. MethodsWe reviewed the clinical data of 55 patients (48 males, 7 females, aged 67.62±7.06 years) with coronary heart disease and carotid stenosis who had a history of stroke and underwent CABG+CAS or CABG alone in Zhongshan Hospital from 2008 to 2017. There were 13 patients in the staged CABG+CAS group and 42 patients in the CABG alone group. The differences in the incidence of perioperative adverse events and long-term survival between the two groups were studied, and univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to determine the independent risk factors of long-term adverse events. Results Perioperative adverse events occurred in 1 (7.69%) patient of the staged CABG+CAS group, and 4 (9.52%) patients of the CABG alone group (P=0.84). During the follow-up period (67.84±37.99 months), the long-term survival rate of patients in the staged CABG+CAS group was significantly higher than that in the CABG alone group (P=0.02). The risk of long-term adverse events in the staged CABG+CAS group was 0.22 times higher than that in the CABG alone group (95%CI 0.05-0.92, P=0.04). ConclusionStaged CABG+CAS can significantly improve the long-term survival prognosis without increasing the perioperative risk. It is a safe and effective treatment, but prospective randomized studies are still needed to further confirm this finding.
Objective To compare the long-term efficacy of carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in the treatment of carotid artery stenosis by meta-analysis. Methods PubMed, Embase, Medline, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, Chongqing VIP database, and SinoMed were searched, for randomized controlled trials comparing the efficacy of CAS and CEA in the treatment of carotid artery stenosis published before September 2nd, 2021. Stata 15.1 software was used to analyze the long-term outcome data, including any stroke, ipsilateral stroke, fatal or disabling stroke, any death, combined endpoint of stroke or death, and carotid artery restenosis. Results A total of 20 English articles from 9 studies were included, involving 8551 patients (4658 in the CAS group and 3893 in the CEA group). The medians of the follow-up time of these studies were 2-10 years. The meta-analysis showed that the risks of any stroke [hazard ratio (HR)=1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.16, 1.52), P<0.0001], ipsilateral stroke [HR=1.26, 95%CI (1.02, 1.55), P=0.034], and the combined endpoint of stroke or death [HR=1.17, 95%CI (1.02, 1.33), P=0.021] in the CAS group were significantly higher than those in the CEA group, while the risks of fatal or disabling stroke [HR=1.19, 95%CI (0.94, 1.51), P=0.152], any death [HR=1.06, 95%CI (0.95, 1.18), P=0.302], and restenosis [HR=1.20, 95%CI (0.96, 1.49), P=0.111] were not significantly different between the CAS group and the CEA group. Conclusions CAS and CEA have similar risks in terms of long-term fatal or disabling stroke, death, and carotid artery restenosis, but the long-term risks of any stroke, ipsilateral stroke and combined endpoint of death or stroke of CAS are higher than those of CEA. CEA is still the preferred non-drug method for carotid artery stenosis.
ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between retinal vessel diameters and cerebral infarction of carotid artery stenosis patients. MethodsEighty-seven patients (174 eyes) with carotid stenosis were included in this study. There were 49 males and 38 females, with an average age of (65.25±7.85) years. Thirty-four patients were suffered from cerebral infarction (cerebral infarction group), and the other 53 patients had no cerebral infarction (control group). There was no significant difference in age (t=1.916), male rate (χ2=0.142) and carotid stenosis extent (χ2=0.785) between the two groups (P=0.059, 0.706, 0.675). All patients underwent color fundus photography after mydriasis. Retinal vascular caliber measurements were performed using IVAN software. The main parameters were central retinal artery diameter (central retinal artery equivalent, CRAE), the diameter of the central retinal vein (central retinal vein equivalent, CRVE) and the retinal arteriole to venular ratio (AVR). The relationship between retinal vessel diameter and cerebral vascular disease were analyzed with logistic regression analysis. ResultsIn cerebral infarction group, CRVE, CRAE and AVR ratios were (132.90±20.67) μm, (243.47±43.92) μm and 0.56±0.10, while the control group was (145.26±21.59) μm, (224.99±32.35) μm and 0.68±0.13 respectively. There were significant differences between the two groups (t=-2.648, 2.257, -4.631; P < 0.05). After correction for risk factors, such as age, smoking history, CRAE reduction and CRVE increases were significantly correlated with cerebral infarction. ConclusionCRAE reduction and CRVE increases are risk factors of cerebral infarction in patients with carotid stenosis, and it is useful in the prediction.
Objective To summarize cl inical experience of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in treating severe carotid stenosis. Methods Between October 1998 and January 2010, 215 patients with carotid stenosis were treated with CEA. There were 140 males and 75 females with an average age of 66 years (range, 51-88 years). Transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurred in127 cases, and 31 cases had history of cerebral infarction. All cases were diagnosed definitely by selective angiography and/or CT angiography, and stenosis degree was more than 80%; contralateral carotid artery was also involved in 45 cases. Ninty-six cases were found to have coronary artery stenosis by coronary angiography. CEA and coronary artery bypass grafting were performed simultaneously in 25 cases. Peripheral arterial disease was found in 43 cases and treated at the same time. Results A total of 155 patients were followed up 6-72 months. The cl inical symptom significantly alleviated in 148 cases postoperatively. Two cases had compl ication of cerebral hemorrhage within 1 week postoperatively; one died and the other was resumed after the conservative treatment. One case had hypoglossal nerve injury. Four cases had injuring marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve, and no special treatment was given. Restenosis was found in 25 patients, and the stenosis degree was less than 25%; moreover, the patients had no TIA. One case died of heart attack at 3 years of follow-up period. Conclusion CEA is an effective and safe method for treating severe carotid stenosis.