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

Humans ; Neck Injuries/surgery* ; Carotid Artery Injuries/surgery* ; Neck ; Bone Screws/adverse effects* ; Carotid Artery, Common/surgery*

Carotid Artery Diseases ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Carotid Artery, Internal/diagnostic imaging* ; Humans ; Xanthomatosis

carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and cardiovascular (CV) disease in asymptomatic patients has been criticized for the high costs and large number of patients required for detecting one patient with coronary artery disease (CAD). In order to overcome the low cost-effectiveness thereof, we investigated the feasibility of an economic wireless handheld ultrasound (WHUS) device for CIMT measurement in symptomatic patients.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 consecutive patients with cardiac symptoms were enrolled. CIMT was measured in all patients. Coronary angiography was performed in 75 patients indicated for the exam.RESULTS: The mean of maximal CIMT measured from left/right common carotid artery and bulb (max-CIMT) by the WHUS device showed excellent agreement [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)=0.960] with a standard ultrasound device and great interobserver repeatability (ICC>0.9 between all observers). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the predictive power for CAD was improved when max-CIMT and plaque information (plaque≥2) was added [area under the curve (AUC): 0.838] to the traditional clinical CV risk factors (AUC: 0.769). The cutoff values for CAD prediction with the standard device and the WHUS device were 1.05 mm (AUC: 0.807, sensitivity: 0.78, specificity: 0.53) and 1.10 mm (AUC: 0.725, sensitivity: 0.98, specificity: 0.27), respectively.CONCLUSION: max-CIMT measured by a WHUS device showed excellent agreement and repeatability, compared with standard ultrasound. Combined max-CIMT and plaque information added predictive power to the traditional clinical CV risk factors in detecting high-risk CAD patients.]]>
Carotid Artery, Common ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Risk Factors ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography ; Wireless Technology

OBJECTIVE: Stroke volume (SV) measurements have been used to guide fluid management. Noninvasive, indirect, and convenient measurements of the SV for fluid therapy are required for most patients during spontaneous breathing (SB). On the other hand, the preferred method for an indirect prediction of the SV is unclear. This study examined the best of the indirect and predictable parameters responding to a SV variation during SB. METHODS: Hemodynamic parameters, such as collapsibility of the inferior vena cava (cIVC), peak velocity variation in the common carotid artery (pvvCCA), collapsibility of the internal jugular vein (cIJV), and end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO₂) were measured 180 times (6 different positions each in 30 normal subjects). The variables changed with the SV at the upper body elevation of 60°and 30°, in the supine position, at the lower body elevation of 60°and 30°, and lumbar elevation. RESULTS: The SV showed the highest value at 30°of lower body elevation. Following fixed position changes, the ETCO₂ during SB was the factor most correlated with the SV when compared to cIVC, cIJV, and pvvCCA (β coefficient, 2.432 vs. −0.41, −0.033, and −0.654; P=0.004). The adjusted ETCO₂ showed a significant change with the SV, even though the change in ETCO₂ was not large. CONCLUSION: ETCO₂ was less influenced by the SB than cIVC, pvvCCA, and cIJV because the ETCO₂ change was in accordance but the variations of the other blood vessels did not coincide with a SV change. Therefore, ETCO₂ monitoring for predicting the SV would be more important than the variations in the vessels during SB.
Blood Vessels ; Carbon Dioxide ; Carbon ; Cardiac Output ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Fluid Therapy ; Hand ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; Methods ; Respiration ; Stroke Volume ; Stroke ; Supine Position ; Ultrasonography ; Vena Cava, Inferior

OBJECTIVE: To establish an arterial remodeling model of rats and to investigate the expression and role of Hippo signaling pathway in this model. METHODS: In the model group (n=40), the left common carotid artery was removed through the median incision of the neck. The 6-0 non-absorbable line was used to ligate the carotid artery near the proximal end as far as possible, completely blocking the blood flow. The common carotid artery of rats in control group (n=20) was not ligated using the operative line. After 14 days, the animals were sacrificed and the common carotid arteries were separated through the original surgical pathway and the arteries from the ligature to the distal end were collected. Arterial morphology and fibrosis were observed by HE and MASSON staining. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expressions of anti-α smooth muscle actin (α-MSA) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the carotid artery. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of yes associated protein (YAP), transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), TEAD1, Bcl-2-like protein 4 (Bax), and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2). RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the HE staining showed that the vascular remodeling was obvious, the ratio of the neointima/middle membrane was increased significantly, and the MASSON staining indicated that the fibrosis was significantly increased in model group. The immunohistochemical staining suggested that the expressions of α-SMA and PCNA were increased significantly; Western blot suggested that the expressions of YAP, TAZ, TEAD1, and Bcl-2 were increased in carotid artery of the model group. While the expression of Bax and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 were decreased. CONCLUSION A rat model of arterial remodeling mediated by carotid artery ligation was established successfully in this study. Hippo signaling pathway was proved to be activated in the arterial remodeling model induced by carotid artery ligation in rats, and might regulate the change of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio related to proliferation and apoptosis, and subsequently involved in the proliferation of smooth muscle cells to promote vascular remodeling.
Animals ; Carotid Arteries ; metabolism ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Cell Proliferation ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; Vascular Remodeling ; physiology

The aim of the present study was to investigate the differences of the pathological changes and cognitive function after bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) between Sprague-Dawley (SD) and Wistar rats. Male SD and Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups, respectively: sham operated (S-sham and W-sham) and operated (S-BCCAO and W-BCCAO) groups. The survival rate and the rate of loss of pupillary light reflex (PLR) were observed on day 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 after the operation, and the light-dark box, Y-maze and odor recognition tests were performed to detect cognitive function on day 28 after the operation. HE and Luxol fast blue staining were used to observe the pathological changes of gray matter (hippocampus), white matter (optical tract), optic nerve, and retina. The results showed that the survival rate of the W-BCCAO group was 62.5%, and PLR loss rate was 100%; whereas the survival rate of the S-BCCAO group was 100%, and PLR loss rate was 58.3%. In the W-BCCAO group, percentages of time spent and distance traveled in the light box were more than those in the W-sham group, but there was no statistical significance between the S-BCCAO and S-sham groups. In the S-BCCAO group, the percentages of time spent and distance traveled in the III arm (labyrinth arm) of the Y-maze were less than those in the S-sham group, but no statistical significance was found between the W-BCCAO group and W-sham group. In the S-BCCAO group, the discrimination ratio of the odor recognition task was less than that in the S-sham group, but no statistical significance could be seen between the W-BCCAO and W-sham groups. Ischemic injury was observed in the CA1 area of the hippocampus in the S-BCCAO group, but no readily visible damage was observed in the W-BCCAO group. Ischemic injury of the visual beam and optic nerve was observed in both the S-BCCAO and W-BCCAO groups. Compared with the corresponding sham groups, the S-BCCAO and W-BCCAO groups showed serious retinal damage with significant thinner retina. The ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), and outer plexiform layer (OPL) were thinner in the S-BCCAO group, but no statistical significances were shown in the other layers. All the layers, except the outer nuclear layer (ONL), were significantly thinner in the W-BCCAO group. The results indicate that there are differences of the pathological changes in the hippocampus and visual conduction pathway after BCCAO between SD and Wistar rats, and the degree of learning and memory injury was also different, which suggests that the vascular dementia model of different rat strains should be selected according to research purpose.
Animals ; Brain ; pathology ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; pathology ; Carotid Artery, Common ; pathology ; Cognition ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of ghrelin on memory impairment in a rat model of vascular dementia induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. METHODS: Randomized controlled groups and the posttest design were used. We established the representative animal model of vascular dementia caused by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion and administered 80 µg/kg ghrelin intraperitoneally for 4 weeks. First, behavioral studies were performed to evaluate spatial memory. Second, we used molecular biology techniques to determine whether ghrelin ameliorates the damage to the structure and function of the white matter and hippocampus, which are crucial to learning and memory. RESULTS: Ghrelin improved the spatial memory impairment in the Y-maze and Morris water maze test. In the white matter, demyelination and atrophy of the corpus callosum were significantly decreased in the ghrelin-treated group. In the hippocampus, ghrelin increased the length of hippocampal microvessels and reduced the microvessels pathology. Further, we confirmed angiogenesis enhancement through the fact that ghrelin treatment increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-related protein levels, which are the most powerful mediators of angiogenesis in the hippocampus. CONCLUSION: We found that ghrelin affected the damaged myelin sheaths and microvessels by increasing angiogenesis, which then led to neuroprotection and improved memory function. We suggest that further studies continue to accumulate evidence of the effect of ghrelin. Further, we believe that the development of therapeutic interventions that increase ghrelin may contribute to memory improvement in patients with vascular dementia.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Corpus Callosum ; Dementia ; Dementia, Vascular ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Ghrelin ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Learning ; Memory Disorders ; Memory ; Microvessels ; Models, Animal ; Molecular Biology ; Myelin Sheath ; Neuroprotection ; Pathology ; Rats ; Spatial Memory ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Water ; White Matter

OBJECTIVE: To explore the risk factors, clinical characteristics, precaution and treatment of hyper perfusion syndrome (HPS) after carotid artery stenting (CAS). METHODS: From September 2014 to March 2018, the clinical data of 226 patients with severe carotid stenosis (70%-99%) treated with carotid artery stenting (CAS)at Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, were analyzed retrospectively．Five of them developed HPS after CAS．The relationship between the clinical baseline data, imaging characteristics, perioperative management and HPS were assessed. RESULTS: In this group, 5 patients of them (2.21%, 5/226) developed HPS after CAS, and 2 patients of them (0.88%, 2/226) were hyper perfusion induced intracranial hemorrhage (HICH). The 5 patients consisted of 4 men and 1 woman whose age ranged from 58 to 74 years. The symptoms of HPS occurred within 4 hours to 3 days after CAS. Among the 5 cases, the clinical manifestations were that 2 cases with headache, 1 case with delirium,1 case with hemiparesis of left limbs, and 1 case with coma(died ultimately).The main manifestations of case 1 and case 2 were headache in the frontal parietal temporal region of the operative side, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The symptoms were relieved after blood pressure lowering treatment and mannitol dehydration. The main manifestations of case 3 were excitement and delirium. The symptoms were relieved by a small dose of sedatives, also with blood pressure lowering treatment and mannitol dehydration. The initial symptoms of case 4 were excitement and delirium, accompanied by mild headache of the operative side, and hemiplegia of the contralateral limb occurred within a short time. The main manifestation of case 5 was severe headache and went into deep coma within a short time. This patient died of massive cerebral hemorrhage ultimately. CONCLUSION HPS is an uncommon but serious complication after CAS. Improving our understanding and heightening vigilance of HPS is necessary. The earlier diagnosis, the earlier treatment.
Aged ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Carotid Stenosis/surgery* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of ultrasound to measure blood flow on patients with chest compression cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and to find out a real-time, noninvasive hemodynamic evaluation method. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted. All adult patients undergoing CPR admitted to Department of Emergency and intensive care unit (ICU) of Zhengzhou People's Hospital from May 2016 to November 2018 were enrolled. The blood flow over the right carotid arteries during chest compressions was recorded with a bedside ultrasound machine. The peak systolic flow velocity (PSV) and end diastolic flow velocity (EDV) of carotid artery were recorded at 1 minute after the start of CPR and 1 minute before the end of CPR. The mean compression frequency during the whole recovery period was recorded, the rate of compression reaching the standard was evaluated by ultrasound (the rate of compression 100-120 times/min was defined as up to standard), and the interruption time of compression was calculated retrospectively according to the ultrasound image data recorded during CPR. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were enrolled, and 21 patients were successfully rescued, with a successful rate of 53.8%, the time of restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was (10.9±5.3) minutes. The time from CPR to retrieve an ultrasound image was 1.1-4.9 minutes, with an average of (2.5±1.2) minutes. Satisfactory ultra-sonographic images were obtained in 28 patients during the whole course of chest compression. The acquisition rate was 71.8% (28/39). In the process of compression, if the frequency of compression was less than 100 times/min or the velocity of carotid artery dropped (PSV < 30 cm/s), the chest compressors should be reminded and corrected in time. The PSV at 1 minute after CPR start of 28 patients with satisfactory ultrasound images was (62.9±18.5) cm/s, and the EDV was (13.9±3.5) cm/s, the PSV at 1 minute before the end of CPR was (55.4±18.4) cm/s, and the EDV was (12.9±3.7) cm/s. There was no significant difference in above parameters between the two time points (both P > 0.05), suggesting that satisfactory resuscitation effect was achieved in the whole process of CPR. The compression frequency of 28 patients was 100-149 times/min with an average of (117±47) times/min. The rate of compression with standard was 85.7% (24/28), and the total interruption time of compression accounted for 4.4% of all compression time (25.9 minutes/587.2 minutes). CONCLUSIONS Ultrasound measurement of common carotid artery blood flow during CPR has the advantage of real-time and non-invasive, and it is feasible in clinical work.
Adult ; Blood Flow Velocity/physiology* ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/methods* ; Carotid Artery, Common/physiology* ; Feasibility Studies ; Humans ; Pressure ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography, Doppler