Distal protection devices such as FilterWire EX have been widely used in carotid artery stenting, however, the large amount of atherothrombotic debris entrapped in the filter could reduce or stop antegrade flow. We present a case of pseudo-no-reflow phenomenon after postdilatation of the stent in a patient with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis. After several passes using an Export Aspiration catheter, normal flow in the internal carotid artery was restored. Aspiration thrombectomy can successfully recover pseudo-no-reflow phenomenon.
Aged ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Carotid Arteries/radiography/surgery ; Carotid Stenosis/diagnosis/radiography/*surgery ; Humans ; Male ; *No-Reflow Phenomenon ; Stents ; Thrombectomy/*instrumentation

Simultaneous occurrence of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is very rare and only two cases have been previously reported in the literatures. We present a case of 68-yr-old man with a history of untreated hypertension, who suffered from sudden onset of headache followed by right hemiparesis. Computed tomographic (CT) scan revealed SAH in the basal cistern and remote ICH at the left putamen. Cerebral angiography showed a saccular aneurysm at the anterior communicating artery. No other vascular anomaly could be found at left putaminal area. Nine days after the ictal attack of SAH, the neck of aneurysm was clipped via the left frontotemporal craniotomy. Because of the ICH at the left frontal lobe and intraventricular hematoma on postoperative CT, we performed hematoma removal and external ventricular drainage 3 hours after the first operation. Postoperative neurological status had been improved to be drowsy and he was discharged in a severely disabled state 4 weeks after surgery. We suggest that the rupture of aneurysm possibly caused a rapid increase in blood pressure and subsequently resulted in hypertensive ICH.
Aged ; Aneurysm, Ruptured/*complications/radiography/surgery ; Carotid Arteries/radiography ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhage, Hypertensive/*complications/radiography/surgery ; Male ; Putaminal Hemorrhage/*complications/radiography/surgery ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/*etiology/radiography/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Symptomatic vertebral artery (VA) stenosis associated with bilateral carotid rete mirabile (CRM) has not been reported. We report the long-term clinical and angiographic outcome after stenting for symptomatic VA stenosis in the patient with bilateral CRM. This report is the first case that symptomatic VA stenosis associated with bilateral CRM was treated with stenting.
Adult ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Carotid Arteries/pathology/*radiography/*surgery ; Cerebral Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; *Stents ; Syncope/etiology ; Treatment Outcome ; Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency/*radiography/*surgery ; Young Adult

Hypothermia and cardiopulmonary bypass has rarely been used for difficult lesions of the brain such as giant aneurysms and hemangioblastoma of the brainstem. We report a case of huge recurrent angioblastic meningioma operated under the profound hypothermia and cardiopulmonary bypass. We reviewed the complications related to hypothermia and cardiopulmonary bypass for brain lesions.
Adult ; Brain Neoplasms/*surgery ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass/*methods ; Carotid Arteries/pathology ; Carotid Artery Diseases/therapy ; Case Report ; Cerebral Angiography ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Human ; Hypothermia, Induced/*methods ; Lung/pathology/radiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningioma/*surgery ; Neoplasms, Second Primary/*surgery ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVETo study the diagnosis and treatment of the malignant tumor involving carotid artery.

METHODSA total of 23 cases of recurrent malignant tumors involving the carotid artery were included in this study. For the primary cancers, 8 of 23 cases were laryngeal carcinomas, 10 hypopharyngeal carcinomas, 2 thyroid carcinomas, 1 tonsil carcinoma, 1 parotid gland carcinoma, and 1 hypopharyngeal sarcoma with the invasion of cervical esophagus. Detailed evaluation on each case was performed before treatment. The relations of recurrent tumors with neck blood vessels were determined with enhanced CT/CTA. Of 23 cases with recurrent malignant tumors involving the carotid artery, 16 cases received surgery and 7 cases received the palliative treatment without operation.

RESULTSSeven patients with palliative treatments died of hemorrhage from the invaded neck blood vessels, systemic failure or pulmonary metastasis in six months. Of 16 cases with surgery, recurrent tumors were completely excised in 14 cases and there were residual tumor tissues on artery walls in 2 cases. Within 16 surgical cases, 2 cases died of neck hemorrhoea after one week because of infection, 2 cases died of lung metastasis 8 months later, 3 cases died of neck local recurrence 1 year later, 2 cases died of lung metastasis after 2 years, 1 case died of neck local recurrence 2 years later and 1 case died of a heart attack 2 years later. The rest 5 cases were alive.

CONCLUSIONSEnhancement CT/CTA can used in the evaluation for recurrent malignant tumors involving the carotid artery. Surgical treatments can be applied to some selected patients, which can improve the quality of life and survival time of the patients.

Aged ; Carotid Arteries ; pathology ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; pathology ; Radiography

PURPOSE: During carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS), hemodynamic instability (HDI) can occur, possibly causing post-procedural ischemic complications. The goal of this study was to investigate the risk factors of HDI focusing on characteristics of plaque. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty nine CAS patients were retrospectively evaluated for HDI. Prolonged HDI that lasted over 30 minutes was analyzed in relation to characteristics of calcified plaque. RESULTS: Nineteen (48.7%) patients had HDI. Ten of the 19 had both bradycardia and hypotension, and nine had only bradycardia. All bradycardia was treated well with a transcutaneous temporary cardiac pacemaker. But eight patients presented with prolonged hypotension in spite of recovery of bradycardia. Calcified plaque was a related factor associated with HDI (odds ratio, 8.571; 95% confidence interval, 1.321-55.62; p=0.024). Extensive and eccentric type calcified plaques were associated with prolonged hypotension (p=0.04, and p=0.028, respectively). CONCLUSION: The calcification of plaque is a predictable factor of HDI during CAS, and its extensive and eccentric calcified plaques may be related to prolonged HDI.
Aged ; Angioplasty/*adverse effects ; Bradycardia/complications ; Carotid Arteries/*surgery ; Carotid Stenosis/*physiopathology ; Female ; *Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypotension/complications ; Intraoperative Complications/*etiology/radiography ; Intraoperative Period ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stents ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Endovascular repair of inflammatory aortic aneurysms has been reported as an alternative to open surgical treatment. In selective cases, adjunctive bypass surgery may be required to provide an adequate landing zone. We report a case of endovascular repair of an inflammatory aortic aneurysm in a patient with Behcet's disease using a carotid-carotid bypass graft to provide an adequate landing zone. A 45-yr-old man with a voice change was referred to our hospital with the diagnosis of saccular aneurysm of the distal aortic arch resulting from vasculitis. Computed tomography showed a thoracic aortic aneurysm with thrombosis. Right to left carotid-carotid bypass grafting was performed. After 8 days, the patient underwent an endovascular stent graft placement distal to the origin of the innominate artery. The patient was discharged with medication and without postoperative complications after 5 days. Hybrid endovascular treatment may be suitable a complementary modality for repairing inflammatory aortic aneurysms.
Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic/complications/radiography/*surgery ; Behcet Syndrome/*complications/surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation/*methods ; Carotid Arteries/physiopathology/*surgery ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Endovascular Procedures ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; Thrombosis/complications ; Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed ; Vasculitis/complications

OBJECTIVETo retrospectively analyze a single institution's experience with surgery of the carotid artery performed as part of an oncological procedure and emergency hemostasis, with the aim to determine the preoperative methods for evaluation of cerebral circulation, selection of surgical procedures and perioperative complications.

METHODSFrom January 1999 to December 2004, a total of 35 patients underwent carotid artery surgery including repair of carotid artery in 7 cases, ligation or resection of carotid artery in 17 cases, and reconstruction of carotid artery in 11 cases. All the patients were evaluated for blood flow in the circle of Willis with DSA, DSA plus TBO plus SPECT, and TCD and followed up from 4 months to 4 years. The perioperative complications and surgical outcomes were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTSThere were 16 carotid body tumors, 1 malignant carotid body tumor, 17 malignant tumors involving the carotid artery and 1 traumatic arterio-venous fistula. Twenty-seven patients underwent carotid occlusion test, 10 were positive and 17 were negative (tolerable). Of 7 cases with repair of the carotid artery, 1 patient died of uncontrolled bleeding due to rupture of the anastomosis, and the remaining was uneventful. Of 17 cases with ligation or resection of the carotid artery, 4 developed neurologic deficit 2 weeks postoperatively. Three patients with malignant tumors died 1 month, 4 months, and 4 months postoperatively, respectively. One patient with carotid artery body tumor complained of inarticulate speech 4 months after operation; another patient complained of incapability and limited movement of the ipsilateral upper limbs; 5 patients complained of dizziness 4, 6, 12, 24 and 48 months postoperatively. Of 11 patients who underwent carotid reconstruction, no major cerebral complications were noted after operation. One patient died of recurrence, 1 patient with carotid body tumor complained inarticulate speech and incapability of the contralateral limbs, the remaining was uneventful. Color Doppler showed patent vascular graft 1 year postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONSTBO plus SPECT is a reliable method for evaluation of the circle of Willis currently. The short term and long term complications of ligation of carotid artery are high, therefore, resection and revascularization of the carotid artery is advocated for carotid artery tumors when possible.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Balloon Occlusion ; Carotid Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Carotid Artery Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Carotid Body Tumor ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Child ; Collateral Circulation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Vascular Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; methods ; Young Adult