The surgical treatment of the rare extracranial carotid artery aneurysm can lead to significant thromboembolic events in 4.4% of cases. Intraoperative monitoring has helped detect hypoperfusion and probable ischemic events, but this is not widely available in resource-limited hospitals in the Philippines. This case highlights the use of a portable standard 21-channel EEG machine for intraoperative monitoring in a tertiary government hospital. In addition, it highlights a conception of a protocol for the intraoperative electroencephalogram monitoring of carotid endoaneurysmorrhaphy procedures in a resource-limited setting. During the aneurysmorrhaphy procedure, the authors collaborated with the surgeons and the anesthesiologists to provide feedback about EEG changes during the operation. After a pre-induction baseline was recorded, continuous EEG monitoring was performed until the patient emerged from anesthesia. Mild EEG changes, attributed to relative hypotension, were observed during the procedure. These episodes were responsive to BP augmentation. There were no EEG changes observed during carotid cross-clamping. Shunting was not recommended to the surgical team. No new neurologic deficits were documented postoperatively and on follow-up after six months. This paper illustrates how an intraoperative team was formed, and intraoperative EEG was utilized for a complex carotid endoaneurysmorrhaphy for a patient with ECAA in a tertiary government hospital in the Philippines.

Pseudoaneurysms of the neck are seldom, and those caused by neck infections especially parapharyngeal abscess are even rarer. However, it is life-threatening and may bring sudden death due to the obstruction of airway and the pseudoaneurysms rupture. We analyzed the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of the disease through a case summary and literature review in order to guide clinical diagnosis and treatment of pseudoaneurysms. The patient, whom we presented was an 87-year-old male and admitted in emergency of our hospital with the chief complaint of neck swelling for 7 days and shortness of breath for 2 days. Cervical ultrasound examination showed that there was an liquid dark area next to the left common carotid artery which was approximately 8.0 cm × 5.0 cm, consideration of formation of left carotid artery pseudoaneurysm, and the liquid dark area which was visible on the right considered of pseudoaneurysm or infection. Angiography of neck showed a clustered high-density shadow around the bifurcation of the left carotid artery, with an overall range of approximately 65 mm × 52 mm × 72 mm, the pseudoaneurysms for sure, while on the right side of the lesion, mixed low density shadows with air could be seen, the parapharyngeal abscess for sure.Then he was diagnosed as the pseudoaneurysm of left internal carotid artery which was caused by parapharyngeal abscess. After tracheal intubation and anti-infection treatment, the patient died due to hemorrhagic shock of the ruptured of the pseudoaneurysm. Morever we performed literature search on PubMed, Wanfang database and CNKI with keywords of "neck pseudoaneurysm, neck infection, parapharyngeal abscess" and enrolled 10 cases. Then we summarized the clinical characteristics and treatment. We analyzed and summarized the 10 case reports, in which the number of male was 7. Among them, there were 4 pediatric, and 6 adults were enrolled overall. Most of the symptoms were neck swelling, and the diseased blood vessel was mainly the right internal carotid artery which accounted for half overall. All the patients underwent surgical intervention, and recovered well. So we draw the conclusion that the clinical incidence of cervical pseudoaneurysms is low and can be caused by a variety of factors, especially caused by infectious factors. When a patient has a progressive pulsating mass in the neck, the preliminary diagnosis should be made by ultrasound as soon as possible, and the aortic enhancement CT should be used to further confirm.For a patient with cervical pseudo-aneurysms caused by parapharyngeal infections, he should take operation timely combined with antibiotic treatment in time.
Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Abscess/diagnosis* ; Aneurysm, False/diagnosis* ; Carotid Artery, Common/surgery* ; Carotid Artery, Internal/surgery* ; Neck ; Parapharyngeal Space

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of local unstable atherosclerotic plaque on plaque formation in the carotid and aortic arteries of rabbits. METHODS: Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into atherosclerosis model group, highfat diet feeding group, and normal chow feeding group (blank control group). In the model group, carotid artery balloon injury was induced after 4 weeks of high-fat diet feeding. Eight weeks later, all the rabbits were euthanized for histopathological examination of the carotid artery and abdominal aorta, and the mean intimal thickness and plaque to lumen area ratio were measured using image analysis software. Venous blood samples were collected from the rabbits for blood lipid analysis. RESULT: At the ends of 4, 8 and 12 weeks, the rabbits in the model group and high-fat feeding group, but not those in the blank control group, all showed significant weight gain compared with their body weight at 0 week (P < 0.05). The mean intimal thickness was significantly greater in atherosclerosis model group than in the other two groups (P < 0.05). In atherosclerosis model group, the mean intimal thickness and plaque to lumen area ratio in the injured carotid artery were significantly greater than those in the contralateral carotid artery and abdominal aorta (P < 0.05). At the end of the 12 weeks, the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density cholesterol (HDL-C) and highsensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) were all significantly higher in the model group and high-fat feeding group than in the blank control group (P < 0.05); the levels of TG, TC, LDL-C, or HDL-C did not differ significantly between the model group and high-fat feeding group (P>0.05), but the level of CRP was significantly higher in arteriosclerosis model group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Local unstable atherosclerotic plaque can increase the level of CRP and promote the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid artery and abdominal aorta in rabbits.
Rabbits ; Animals ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Atherosclerosis ; Carotid Arteries

Objective:To investigate surgical treatment of carotid artery diseases in neck tumor surgery. Methods:A retrospective analysis of the clinical data on carotid artery treatment was conducted in the five cases of neck tumor surgeries treated at Department of Surgical Oncology, the First Peoples Hospital of Lanzhou from March 2010 to May 2020. Surgical methods, including carotid artery resection and ligation, tumor-involved artery resection and vascular reconstruction, and tumor peeling and carotid rupture repairing were used, respectively. Results:Five cases were successfully operated on. One case of carotid artery ligation was followed by intermittent dizziness and decreased contra-lateral limb strength after the surgery. The remaining patients exhibited no neurological complications. A patient with cervical low-grade myofibroblastoma developed into lung metastases 8 months after the surgery. Another patient with cervical lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid cancer developed into lung metastases 24 months after the surgery. Conclusion:Currently, surgical methods for clinical treatment of diseased carotid arteries include carotid artery resection and ligation, simple tumor peeling, tumor invasion artery resection and vascular reconstruction, and interventional therapy. Each surgical method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, the choice of treatment depends on the patient's specific conditions, physician's clinical experience, and the equipment available.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Carotid Arteries/pathology* ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/pathology* ; Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery* ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology*

A 23-year-old male motorcyclist experienced blunt head trauma with loss of consciousness, headache and vomiting, epistaxis and right otorrhagia after a collision with a motor vehicle. Fractures involving the right parietal and temporal bones, as well as acute subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhage were identified on a cranial and facial CT scan. On independent evaluation of the imaging study, a subtle but distinct fracture line in the skull base involving the petrous carotid canal was identified. (Figure 1) The patient subsequently underwent CT angiography to evaluate for any injury to the internal carotid artery. In this examination, good opacification of the internal carotid arteries and their branches was noted, with no evident aneurysm, arteriovenous malformation or arteriovenous fistula formation. In patients with temporal bone fractures, the most commonly encountered complications are: tympano-ossicular injury causing conductive hearing loss, cochlear or vestibular injury causing sensorineural hearing loss or vertigo, facial nerve trauma causing facial paralysis, and fractures of the tegmen or posterior cranial fossa plate causing cerebrospinal fluid leaks.1 On the other hand, injury to the intratemporal portion of the internal carotid artery has been described as a rare complication and as such may be overlooked.1 However, its potentially devastating and life-threatening sequelae necessitates a purposeful and intentional evaluation for its presence. These sequelae include brain ischemia from arterial dissection or complete vascular occlusion, exsanguinating epistaxis or otorrhagia from carotid pseudoaneurysms, and the formation of carotid-cavernous fistulas.2 The incidence of involvement of the carotid canal in skull base fractures has been reported to be around 24%, with around 11% of this group developing internal carotid artery injuries.3 As such, the presence of fractures involving the petrous carotid canal is an indication for CT or MR angiography to further evaluate the internal carotid artery.
Fracture ; temporal bone ; internal carotid artery

Objective: To establish reference values for carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) of adult dwellers in Shenzhen City. Methods: The study was conducted based on the Shenzhen heart failure epidemiological survey from 2021 to 2022. In this survey, residents aged 18 years and above in Shenzhen were selected by using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. General information, cardiovascular disease (CVD) related behavior and carotid ultrasound examination and etc. were collected from the participants. People with CVD factors, a history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, carotid plaque or having no carotid ultrasound examination results were excluded. The parameter regression model based on fractional polynomial was used to establish the reference values of CIMT by age and sex. Results: A total of 2 163 healthy individuals were enrolled in the final analysis, including 576 males (26.6%) and 1 587 females (73.4%). The fractional polynomial regression of the CIMT mean and standard deviation was obtained. For men, the regression was mean_CIMT=0.324 7+0.006 9×age and SD_CIMT=0.076 9+0.001 2×age. For women, the regression was mean_CIMT=0.354 9+0.005 4×age and SD_CIMT=0.041 6+0.002 0×age. Conclusion: The age and sex reference values for CIMT of adult people in Shenzhen established in this study could provide the latest reference standards for early screening of subclinical CVD.
Male ; Humans ; Adult ; Female ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Reference Values ; Carotid Arteries/diagnostic imaging* ; Ultrasonography, Carotid Arteries ; Risk Factors ; Carotid Artery Diseases

Objective: To investigate the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and vascular injury in hypertensive patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled patients admitted to the Hypertension Department of TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital from April 2020 to April 2023, who finished portable sleep monitoring. Sleep monitoring indicators, flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), carotid artery ultrasound, carotid intima-media thickness, cervical and femoral pulse wave conduction velocity (cfPWV), brachial and ankle pulse wave conduction velocity (baPWV) were analyzed. OSA was classified into mild (5 times/h≤AHI<15 times/h), moderate (15≤AHI<30 times/h), and severe (AHI≥30 times/h) based on AHI levels. FMD<6.0% was defined as vascular endothelial injury, and cfPWV>10 m/s and/or baPWV>18 m/s was defined as arterial stiffness. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the correlation between AHI, OSA severity and vascular injury, and subgroup analysis was performed in young (age≤45 years) and middle-to-old patients (age>45 years). Sensitivity analysis was performed by excluding patients with diabetes, cerebrovascular disease and coronary heart disease. The correlation between AHI and vascular injury index was analyzed by restricted cubic spline. Results: A total of 555 adult hypertensive patients were included, the mean age was (39.7±9.2) years, 422 were males (76.0%), and the prevalence of OSA was 66.7% (370/555). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that moderate OSA (OR=2.83, P=0.019) and severe OSA (OR=3.40, P=0.016) were positively correlated with vascular endothelial injury after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index and mean arterial pressure. Subgroup analysis showed that log AHI (OR=1.99, P=0.035), moderate OSA (OR=4.83, P=0.010) and severe OSA (OR=4.64, P=0.015) were associated with vascular endothelial injury in young hypertensive patients. The results of sensitivity analysis were similar to the above results. The results of restricted cubic spline analysis showed that AHI was correlated with FMD (P=0.022), and the slope of the curve was the largest when AHI was between 0 and 10 times/h. There was no correlation between log AHI and OSA severity and carotid intima-media thickening and arterial stiffness (all P<0.05). Conclusions: OSA is associated with vascular endothelial injury in hypertensive patients, especially in young patients.
Male ; Humans ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Vascular System Injuries ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Hypertension/complications* ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/complications* ; Carotid Arteries ; Vascular Stiffness

Objective: To investigate the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and vascular injury in hypertensive patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled patients admitted to the Hypertension Department of TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital from April 2020 to April 2023, who finished portable sleep monitoring. Sleep monitoring indicators, flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), carotid artery ultrasound, carotid intima-media thickness, cervical and femoral pulse wave conduction velocity (cfPWV), brachial and ankle pulse wave conduction velocity (baPWV) were analyzed. OSA was classified into mild (5 times/h≤AHI<15 times/h), moderate (15≤AHI<30 times/h), and severe (AHI≥30 times/h) based on AHI levels. FMD<6.0% was defined as vascular endothelial injury, and cfPWV>10 m/s and/or baPWV>18 m/s was defined as arterial stiffness. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the correlation between AHI, OSA severity and vascular injury, and subgroup analysis was performed in young (age≤45 years) and middle-to-old patients (age>45 years). Sensitivity analysis was performed by excluding patients with diabetes, cerebrovascular disease and coronary heart disease. The correlation between AHI and vascular injury index was analyzed by restricted cubic spline. Results: A total of 555 adult hypertensive patients were included, the mean age was (39.7±9.2) years, 422 were males (76.0%), and the prevalence of OSA was 66.7% (370/555). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that moderate OSA (OR=2.83, P=0.019) and severe OSA (OR=3.40, P=0.016) were positively correlated with vascular endothelial injury after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index and mean arterial pressure. Subgroup analysis showed that log AHI (OR=1.99, P=0.035), moderate OSA (OR=4.83, P=0.010) and severe OSA (OR=4.64, P=0.015) were associated with vascular endothelial injury in young hypertensive patients. The results of sensitivity analysis were similar to the above results. The results of restricted cubic spline analysis showed that AHI was correlated with FMD (P=0.022), and the slope of the curve was the largest when AHI was between 0 and 10 times/h. There was no correlation between log AHI and OSA severity and carotid intima-media thickening and arterial stiffness (all P<0.05). Conclusions: OSA is associated with vascular endothelial injury in hypertensive patients, especially in young patients.
Male ; Humans ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Vascular System Injuries ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Hypertension/complications* ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/complications* ; Carotid Arteries ; Vascular Stiffness

Objective: To observe the effect of lipid regulating therapy on carotid atherosclerotic plaque in diabetic patients. Methods: The REACH study, conducted between March 2009 and February 2012, enrolled asymptomatic patients with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed carotid atherosclerotic plaque, who had never taken lipid-lowering drugs. Patients were treated with a moderate dose of rosuvastatin for 24 months. Blood lipid levels were measured and carotid MRI was performed at baseline, 3 and 24 months after treatment. The volume of carotid wall and lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC) were measured by image analysis software. This study retrospectively analyzed patients in the REACH study. Patients were divided into diabetes group and non-diabetic group. The changes of blood lipid level and MRI parameters of carotid atherosclerotic plaque were compared between the two groups and their correlation was analyzed. Results: A total of 38 patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaque were included in this study, including 13 patients (34.2%) in the diabetic group and 25 patients (65.8%) in the non-diabetic group. Baseline parameters were comparable between the two groups, except higher HbA1c level in diabetes group (P<0.05). Compared with baseline, the total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels were significantly decreased at 3 and 24 months in both two groups (P<0.05). The change of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in diabetes group was not obvious, while it was significantly increased in non-diabetic group at 24 months ((1.38±0.33) mmol/l vs. (1.26±0.26) mmol/l, P<0.05). MRI results showed that the volume and percentage of LRNC remained unchanged at 3 months, slightly decreased at 24 months (64.86 (45.37, 134.56) mm³ vs. 75.76 (48.20, 115.64) mm³, P>0.05) and (15.84% (11.47%, 24.85%) vs. 16.95% (11.64%, 22.91%), P>0.05) in diabetic group. In non-diabetic group, the volume and percentage of LRNC were significantly decreased at 3 months (63.01 (44.25, 188.64) mm³ vs. 72.49 (51.91, 199.59) mm³, P<0.05) and (13.76% (8.81%, 27.64%) vs. 16.04% (11.18%, 27.05%), P<0.05) respectively. Both parameters further decreased to (55.63 (27.18, 179.40) mm³) and (12.71% (8.39%, 24.41%)) at 24 months (both P<0.05). Wall volume, lumen volume and percent wall volume (PWV) were not affected post therapy in both two groups(P>0.05). There were no correlations between the changes of plaque parameters including volume and percentage of LRNC, wall volume, lumen volume, PWV and the changes of blood lipid parameters (TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and TG) in 3 and 24 months (P>0.05). Conclusion: Lipid-lowering therapy possesses different effects on carotid atherosclerotic plaque in diabetic and non-diabetic patients, and the LRNC improvement is more significant in non-diabetic patients as compared to diabetic patients.
Carotid Arteries/pathology* ; Carotid Artery Diseases/drug therapy* ; Cholesterol, HDL/therapeutic use* ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Necrosis/pathology* ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Rosuvastatin Calcium/therapeutic use*

Carotid Artery, Internal/diagnostic imaging* ; Humans ; Oropharynx