Objective:To investigate risk factors for decompressive craniectomy (DC) after endovascular therapy (EVT) in patients with acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke.Methods:Patients underwent EVT due to acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusion in Liaocheng Brain Hospital from January 2018 to January 2020 were retrospectively included. They were divided into DC group and non-DC group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine risk factors for DC after EVT. Results:A total of 207 patients were enrolled, 126 were male (60.87%), and their age was 66.22±11.24 years old. The baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 19.84±9.20, and the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) was 7.98±0.66. The immediate postoperative modified Treatment In Cerebral Ischemia (mTICI) blood flow grade in seven patients (5.80%) was ≤2a, 30 (14.49%) experienced hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after procedure, and 28 (13.5%) received DC. There were statistically significant differences between the DC group and the non-DC group in terms of past stroke history, preoperative NIHSS score and ASPECTS, vascular occlusion site, EVT time, immediate postoperative mTICI ≤2a, and HT (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that atrial fibrillation (odds ratio [ OR] 3.202, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.335-9.796; P=0.011), previous stroke history ( OR 2.655, 95% CI 1.016-6.938; P=0.046), high preoperative NIHSS score ( OR 1.074, 95% CI 1.026-1.124; P=0.002), internal carotid artery occlusion ( OR 4.268, 95% CI 1.399-13.024; P=0.011), longer EVT time ( OR 1.010, 95% CI 1.003-1.016; P=0.003), mTICI grade ≤2a ( OR 5.342, 95% CI 1.565-18.227; P=0.007) and postoperative HT ( OR 3.036, 95% CI 1.024-9.004; P=0.045) were independent risk factors for DC. Conclusions:It is not uncommon for patients with acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke to need DC after EVT. Previous stroke history, atrial fibrillation, high baseline NIHSS score, internal carotid artery occlusion, prolonged blood EVT time, mTICI grade ≤2a and postoperative HT are independent predictors of needing DC after EVT.

Objective:To explores the clinical efficacy and safety of carotid endarterectomy in patients with high bifurcation carotid artery stenosis.Methods:A total of 169 patients with carotid artery stenosis (147 patients with non-high bifurcation carotid artery stenosis and 22 patients with high bifurcation carotid artery stenosis), underwent carotid endarterectomy under surgical microscope in our hospital from January 2017 to January 2020, were included in the study. Patients with high bifurcation carotid artery stenosis were operated by cutting off the posterior abdomen of the digastric muscle to assist in exposing the distal end of the internal carotid artery plaque. Cervical CTA/DSA examination was performed within one week of surgery to confirm whether carotid artery stenosis was relieved; ultrasound examination of cervical vessels was performed 6 months and 1 year after surgery to determine whether restenosis was appeared in the carotid artery. The surgical efficacy, perioperative complications and re-examination results were compared between the two groups.Results:Postoperative carotid artery stenosis was relieved in both groups. The proportions of new cerebral infarction and temporary neurological impairment between the two groups (4.5% vs. 2.0%; 9.1% vs. 3.4%) showed no significant differences ( P>0.05). Carotid artery restenosis was not found in both groups. There was no obvious functional abnormality in the digastric muscles of patients with high bifurcation carotid stenosis. Conclusion:Cutting off the posterior abdomen of the digastric muscle during carotid endarterectomy can better expose the distal end of the internal carotid plaque in patients with high bifurcation carotid stenosis, and provide convenience for effective relief of carotid artery stenosis with high safety.