Comparison Between Radial Approach and Femoral Approach With Vascular Closure Devices on the Occurrence of Access-Site Complications and Periprocedural Bleeding After Percutaneous Coronary Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

Periprocedural bleedings, often related to vascular access site, represent an important drawback of percutaneous coronary procedures and are associated with worse outcomes. Radial access (RA) and, potentially, femoral access (FA) with vascular closure device (VCD) are useful strategies in order to mitigate periprocedural bleedings; nevertheless, their relative efficacy is largely undetermined. We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of available studies comparing the efficacy of RA and FA with hemostasis by VCD (FA + VCD) on the reduction of access-site complications and/or periprocedural bleedings.

METHODS

Published studies reporting outcomes on access-site complications and periprocedural bleedings were included in the analysis. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers; odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated by random-effects model and were used as summary statistics.

RESULTS

We included in the analysis 13 studies, of which 5 were randomized. Access-site complications were reported by 11 studies, amounting to 157,031 patients (77,713 in the RA group and 79,318 in the FA + VCD group), whereas periprocedural bleedings were reported by 12 studies, amounting to 600,196 patients (137,277 in the RA group and 462,919 in the FA + VCD group). RA was associated with a significant reduction in access-site complications (OR, 0.25; 95% CI ,0.21-0.31; P<.001) and periprocedural bleedings (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.34-0.48; P<.001) as compared with FA + VCD; the results were consistent among randomized and observational studies.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis shows that RA is superior to FA + VCD in the reduction of access-site complications and periprocedural bleedings.

Starclose SE® hemostasis after 6F direct antegrade superficial femoral artery access distal to the femoral head for peripheral endovascular procedures in obese patients

PURPOSE

Direct superficial femoral artery (SFA) antegrade puncture is a valid alternative to common femoral artery (CFA) access for peripheral vascular interventions. Data investigating vascular closure device (VCD) hemostasis of distant SFA 6F access are limited. We aimed to investigate the safety and effectiveness of the Starclose SE® VCD for hemostasis, following direct 6F antegrade SFA access distal to the femoral head.

METHODS

This prospective, single-center study included patients who were not suitable for CFA puncture and were scheduled to undergo peripheral endovascular interventions using direct antegrade SFA 6F access, at least 2 cm below the inferior edge of femoral head. Hemostasis was obtained with the Starclose SE® VCD (Abbott Laboratories). Primary endpoints were successful hemostasis rate and periprocedural (30-day) major complication rate. Secondary endpoint was the rate of minor complications. Clinical and Doppler ultrasound follow-up was performed at discharge and at one month.

RESULTS

Between September 2014 and August 2015, a total of 30 patients (21 male; 70.0%) with a mean body mass index of 41.2 kg/m2 were enrolled. Mean age was 72±9 years (range, 67-88 years). Most patients suffered from critical limb ischemia (87.1%) and diabetes (61.3%). Calcifications were present in eight cases (26.6%). Reason for direct SFA puncture was obesity (100%). Successful hemostasis was achieved in 100% of the cases. No major complications were noted after one-month follow-up. Minor complications included two <5 cm hematomas (6.6%) not necessitating treatment.

CONCLUSION

In this prospective study, Starclose SE® VCD was safe and effective for hemostasis of antegrade direct SFA puncture. Uncomplicated hemostasis was achieved even in cases of puncturing 2 to 7 cm below the inferior edge of the femoral head.

Comparison of Percutaneous Closure Versus Surgical Femoral Cutdown for Decannulation of Large-Sized Arterial and Venous Access Sites in Adults After Successful Weaning of Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

OBJECTIVE

Surgical femoral cutdown for decannulation after veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is considered standard practice. However, access-site complications with this technique are not rare. The objective of this study is to evaluate feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a complete percutaneous decannulation procedure after VA-ECMO compared with the conventional surgical cutdown approach.

METHODS

In 35 patients who were successfully weaned from VA-ECMO support, femoral artery and vein access sites were closed using a completely percutaneous approach in 15 patients, whereas 20 patients had conventional surgical cutdown for access-site closure. Data concerning all 35 patients were collected retrospectively and analyzed regarding immediate vascular closure success, associated complications, and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

Technical deployment success of the percutaneous vascular closure devices was achieved in all patients. Immediate success of closure was achieved more frequently in the surgical group (29% vs 100%; P<.05). Severe wound complications requiring surgery occurred only in the surgical group (0% vs 35%; P=NS). Surgical cutdown was associated with a significantly greater need for transfusion of packed red blood cells (1.6 ± 1.4 vs 2.2 ± 1.2; P<.05). Mean hospital stay was shorter in the percutaneous group (32 ± 18 days vs 36 ± 12 days; P=NS). One patient in the surgical group complained about sustained paresthesia after discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

Complete percutaneous closure of the femoral access site after VA-ECMO is feasible, effective, and safe when compared with conventional surgical closure and performed by experienced operators.

Predictability and Outcome of Vascular Complications after Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

BACKGROUND

Although the efficacy and safety of transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have been improved with new devices, careful patient selection is essential and awkward complications associated with the procedure persist. Despite a gradual reduction in the delivery system size and the development of access site arterial closure devices, vascular complications remain one of the main challenges of TAVI. The aim of this single-center study was to prospectively evaluate the incidence and predictors of vascular complications in transfemoral TAVI.

METHODS

A total of 211 patients (mean age 77.98 ± 8.20 years) who underwent transfemoral TAVI between 2011 and 2014 at the authors' institution, using two different commercially available devices, was included in the study. Technical success, vascular complications, predictors of vascular complications and mortality were each assessed. Vascular complications were defined by the current Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 (VARC-2) criteria.

RESULTS

The mean logistic EuroSCORE of the patients was 21.04 ± 7.51. An Edwards SAPIEN XT valve was used in 69.7% of cases, and a Medtronic CoreValve in 30.3%. Completely percutaneous transfemoral TAVI was successful in 81.6% of patients. Procedural and 30-day mortalities were 1.4% and 8.5%, respectively. Vascular complications occurred in 16.1% of patients (minor 10.4%, major 5.7%), and necessitated surgical repair in 25 cases (11.8%). Major vascular complications were predictive of 30-day mortality (58.3% versus 5.6% (p = 0.000). Predicted major vascular complications (by multivariate analysis) were female gender (hazard ratio (HR) 5.45; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.91-32.5, p = 0.063), arterial calcification (HR 2,88; 95% CI 1.14-7.30, p = 0.025) and sheath to iliofemoral artery ratio (SIFAR) (HR 1.91, 95% CI 1.27-2.87, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Although vascular preclosure devices have revolutionized transfemoral TAVI, and offer a simple but effective percutaneous procedure, vascular complications are still observed in a considerable number of patients. The major vascular complications were predictive of 30-day mortality, and included female gender, iliofemoral calcification and SIFAR. Further technological and procedural developments are required to reduce vascular complication rates and related mortality.

Our technique of preceding diaphragm resection and partial mobilization of the hepatic right lobe using a vessel sealing device (LigaSure™) for huge hepatic tumors with diaphragm invasion

We describe and assess our technique of preceding diaphragm resection and partial mobilization of the hepatic right lobe to treat a huge hepatic tumor with diaphragm invasion. The right hepatic artery and portal vein were divided at the hepatic hilum, and the mesenteries were then dissected with a vessel sealing device (LigaSure Impact™). The invaded diaphragm was dissected roundly using a vessel sealing device and the right lobe was partially mobilized. A soft catheter was then passed along the anterior aspect of the retrohepatic inferior vena cava and the liver parenchyma was dissected via a liver hanging maneuver. We performed eight hepatectomies using this technique. The median blood loss was 532.5 ml and the mean excised liver weight was 1859 g. Our results demonstrate the safety and efficiency of the preceding diaphragm resection and partial mobilization technique using a vessel sealing device for right hepatectomy to resect a very large tumor with diaphragm invasion.

[Prevention of postpuncture iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms of femoral arteries after coronary interventions for myocardial infarction]

The study was aimed at analysing strategies of prevention of puncture-related complications in patients with myocardial infarction undergoing subjected to emergency coronary interventions by means of a femoral arterial access. We carried out a retrospective comparative analysis of two strategies aimed at preventing false aneurysms of femoral arteries: Group One (232 cases) - elective use of special devices for closure of puncture defects in patients with high risk of haemorrhage (previously performed thrombolytic therapy; exogenous obesity of the second-third degree, 2-3 degree arterial hypertension, use of 2b/3a blood platelet receptors inhibitors); Group Two (525) cases - conventional routine use of these technologies. Puncture defects were closed using by means of devices Cordis Exoseal and St.Jude Angio-Seal. The obtained results suggested advantage of the conventional approach: demonstrating a statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the total incidence of false aneurysms of femoral arteries (from 5.2 to 1.9%) and the frequency of cases requiring surgical suturing of the defect in the femoral artery (from 1.7 to 0.2%). In the conditions of an intensive flow of emergency patients presenting with acute coronary pathology and requiring coronary interventions, devices for closing defects in the femoral arterial access make it possible to level puncture complications. Over the examined period of 2013-2014 there were performed more than 600 closures of defects of the femoral artery by means of the Cordis ExoSeal. These devices proved to be efficient, reliable, and very simple to use. A decrease in the incidence rate of puncture-related complications was also associated with rational prescription administration of drugs influencing positively various links of haemostasis.

Italian Percutaneous EVAR (IPER) Registry: outcomes of 2381 percutaneous femoral access sites' closure for aortic stent-graft

AIM

The aim of this paper was to report outcomes of endovascular aneurysm repair with percutaneous femoral access (pEVAR) using Prostar XL and Proglide closure systems (Abbot Vascular, Santa Clara, CA, USA), from the multicenter Italian Percutaneous EVAR (IPER) registry.

METHODS

Consecutive patients affected by aortic pathology treated by EVAR with percutaneous access (pEVAR) between January 2010 and December 2014 at seven Italian centers were enrolled in this multicenter registry. All the operators had an experience of at least 50 percutaneous femoral access procedures. Data were prospectively collected into a dedicated online database including patient's demographics, anatomical features, intra- and postoperative outcomes. A retrospective analysis was carried out to report intraoperative and 30-day technical success and access-related complication rate. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors potentially associated with an increased risk of percutaneous pEVAR failure.

RESULTS

A total of 2381 accesses were collected in 1322 patients, 1249 (94.4%) male with a mean age of 73.5±8.3 years (range 45-97). The overall technical success rate was 96.8% (2305/2381). Major intraoperative access-related complications requiring conversion to surgical cut-down were observed in 3.2% of the cases (76/2381). One-month pEVAR failure-rate was 0.25% (6/2381). Presence of femoral artery calcifications resulted to be a significant predictor of technical failure (OR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.03-2.77; P=0.036) at multivariate analysis. No significant association was observed with sex (P=0.28), obesity (P=0.64), CFA diameter (P=0.32), level of CFA bifurcation (P=0.94) and sheath size >18 F (P=0.24). The use of Proglide was associated with a lower failure rate compared to Prostar XL (2.5% vs. 3.3%) despite not statistically significant (P=0.33).

CONCLUSION

The results of the IPER registry confirm the high technical success rate of percutaneous EVAR when performed by experienced operators, even in presence of demanding anatomies. Femoral calcification represents the only predictor of percutaneous access failure.

Fluctuations of serum neuron specific enolase and protein S-100B concentrations in relation to the use of shunt during carotid endarterectomy

Objective

To evaluate the changes in serum neuron specific enolase and protein S-100B, after carotid endarterectomy performed using the conventional technique with routine shunting and patch closure, or eversion technique without the use of shunt.

Materials and Methods

Prospective non-randomized study included 43 patients with severe (>80%) carotid stenosis undergoing carotid endarterectomy in regional anesthesia. Patients were divided into two groups: conventional endarterectomy with routine use of shunt and Dacron patch (csCEA group) and eversion endarterectomy without the use of shunt (eCEA group). Protein S-100B and NSE concentrations were measured from peripheral blood before carotid clamping, after declamping and 24 hours after surgery.

Results

Neurologic examination and brain CT findings on the first postoperative day did not differ from preoperative controls in any patients. In csCEA group, NSE concentrations decreased after declamping (P<0.01), and 24 hours after surgery (P<0.01), while in the eCEA group NSE values slightly increased (P=ns), accounting for a significant difference between groups on the first postoperative day (P=0.006). In both groups S-100B concentrations significantly increased after declamping (P<0.05), returning to near pre-clamp values 24 hours after surgery (P=ns). Sub-group analysis revealed significant decline of serum NSE concentrations in asymptomatic patients shunted during surgery after declamping (P<0.05) and 24 hours after surgery (P<0.01), while no significant changes were noted in non-shunted patients (P=ns). Decrease of NSE serum levels was also found in symptomatic patients operated with the use of shunt on the first postoperative day (P<0.05). Significant increase in NSE serum levels was recorded in non-shunted symptomatic patients 24 hours after surgery (P<0.05).

Conclusion

Variations of NSE concentrations seemed to be influenced by cerebral perfusion alterations, while protein S-100B values were unaffected by shunting strategy. Routine shunting during surgery for symptomatic carotid stenosis may have the potential to prevent postoperative increase of serum NSE levels, a potential marker of brain injury.

Mynx vascular closure device achieves reliable closure and hemostasis of percutaneous transfemoral venous access in a porcine vascular model

AIMS

Vascular closure device (VCD)-based venous closure has been anecdotally reported, but systematic evaluation of the reparative response of the vessel wall to venous closure is lacking. The need to control groin complications, and minimize risks associated with postponed sheath removal under conditions of persistent anticoagulation, has generated interest in the role of VCDs for venous access closure. We sought to characterize the vessel wall response to venous closure, both acutely and in delayed fashion at 30 days using angiography, ultrasound, and histology.

METHODS

Ten venous 7 Fr sheaths were deployed in the femoral veins of swine. Bilateral venous access sites were subsequently closed utilizing manual compression (MC; control arm: n = 4) or a closure device utilizing an extravascular polyethylene glycol sealant (MynxGrip treatment arm: n = 6). Acute (post closure), 3-day, and 30-day vascular ultrasound, as well as venography (internal jugular approach) were used to assess outcomes. Gross pathology and histology were obtained at the 30-day endpoint for all femoral venous closure sites.

RESULTS

Hemostasis was successfully achieved in all cases without access-site complications. Venography and ultrasound confirmed normal ilio-femoral anatomy and flow at all study time points. Gross pathology and histopathology revealed no evidence of deep vein thrombosis, and no abnormalities were seen in the vena cava, heart, or lungs. Histology at 30 days showed complete healing of the vein wall access site, with a small focus of chronic inflammation and fibrosis in the perivascular adventitial tissue of the access tract. There was no microscopic evidence of the sealant. The tissue tract showed mild discrete inflammation (foamy macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells) with microgranulomas centered on residual red cells in both treatment and control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study characterizes the angiographic, ultrasound, and histopathology outcomes of femoral vein closure, and provides insight into the healing mechanisms following venotomy. The bio-resorptive role of MynxGrip extravascular sealant in achieving effective venous closure and preserved long-term vessel patency without venous thromboembolism is demonstrated.

A mathematical model of bipolar radiofrequency-induced thermofusion

Bipolar radiofrequency-induced thermofusion has become a widely accepted method successfully used in open and particularly in minimally-invasive surgery for the sealing of blood vessels and tissue of up to several millimeters diameter. Despite its wide-spread application, the thermofusion process itself is not well understood on a quantitative and dynamic level, and manufacturers largely rely on trial-and-error methods to improve existing instruments. To predict the effect of alternative generator control strategies and to allow for a more systematic approach to improve thermofusion instruments, a mathematical model of the thermofusion process is developed. The system equations describe the spatial and temporal evolution of the tissue temperature due to Joule heating and heat transfer, and the loss of tissue water due to vaporization. The resulting effects on the tissue properties, most importantly the electrical resistivity, heat capacity and thermal conductivity, are considered as well. Experimental results indicate that the extent of the lateral thermal damage is directly affected by Joule heating of the lateral tissue. The experimental findings are supported by simulation results using the proposed mathematical model of thermofusion.

Comparison of vascular closure devices vs manual compression after femoral artery puncture: the ISAR-CLOSURE randomized clinical trial

IMPORTANCE

The role of vascular closure devices (VCD) for the achievement of hemostasis in patients undergoing transfemoral coronary angiography remains controversial.

OBJECTIVE

To compare outcomes with the use of 2 hemostasis strategies after diagnostic coronary angiography performed via transfemoral access-a VCD-based strategy with 2 types of devices, an intravascular device and an extravascular device, vs standard manual compression. The primary hypothesis to be tested was that femoral hemostasis achieved through VCD is noninferior to manual compression in terms of vascular access-site complications. A secondary objective was the comparison of the 2 types of VCD.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Randomized, large-scale, multicenter, open-label clinical trial. We enrolled 4524 patients undergoing coronary angiography with a 6 French sheath via the common femoral artery from April 2011 through May 2014 in 4 centers in Germany. Last 30-day follow-up was performed in July 2014.

INTERVENTIONS

After angiography of the access site, patients were randomized to hemostasis with an intravascular VCD, extravascular VCD, or manual compression in a 1:1:1 ratio.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Primary end point: the composite of access site-related vascular complications at 30 days after randomization with a 2% noninferiority margin. Secondary end points: time to hemostasis, repeat manual compression, and VCD failure. An α-level of .025 was chosen for primary and secondary comparisons.

RESULTS

Of the 4524 enrolled patients, 3015 were randomly assigned to a VCD group (1509 received intravascular VCD and 1506 received extravascular VCD) and 1509 patients were randomly assigned to the manual compression group. Before hospital discharge, duplex sonography of the access site was performed in 4231 (94%) patients. The primary end point was observed in 208 patients (6.9%) assigned to receive a VCD and 119 patients (7.9%) assigned to manual compression (difference, -1.0% [1-sided 97.5% CI, 0.7%]; P for noninferiority<.001). Time to hemostasis was significantly shorter in patients with VCD (1 minute [interquartile range {IQR}, 0.5-2.0]), vs manual compression (10 minutes [IQR, 10-15]; P < .001). Time to hemostasis was significantly shorter among patients with intravascular VCD (0.5 minute [IQR, 0.2-1.0]), vs extravascular VCD (2.0 minutes [IQR, 1.0-2.0]; P <.001) and closure device failure was also significantly lower among those with intravascular vs extravascular VCD (80 patients [5.3%], vs 184 patients [12.2%]; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In patients undergoing transfemoral coronary angiography, VCDs were noninferior to manual compression in terms of vascular access-site complications and reduced time to hemostasis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01389375.

Adjunctive technique for the use of ProGlide vascular closure device to improve hemostasis

The Perclose ProGlide (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, Calif) is indicated for the closure of 5F to 21 F femoral artery access sites. We describe an adjunctive technique for the use of the ProGlide vascular closure device to improve hemostasis. After routine use of the device, a hollow tube (cut from the injection port of an introducer sheath) is placed over the free tails of suture. These tubes are secured in place by a hemostat that grasps the free suture tails, creating a Rummel-style tourniquet that compresses the arteriotomy, improving hemostasis. The tubes doubly serve as a conduit for the administration of prothrombotic agents directly in the event that hemostasis is not adequately achieved.

Inadvertent subclavian artery cannulation with a central venous catheter; successful retrieval using a minimally invasive technique

A 48-year-old lady was referred to our department as an emergency following an unsuccessful attempt at central venous catheter insertion, resulting in cannulation of the subclavian artery. She underwent angiography with removal of the catheter and closure of the arteriotomy using an Angio-Seal device. While the optimal management of this scenario has yet to be defined, the use of this minimally invasive technique warrants consideration.

Ascending aortic constriction in rats for creation of pressure overload cardiac hypertrophy model

Ascending aortic constriction is the most common and successful surgical model for creating pressure overload induced cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Here, we describe a detailed surgical procedure for creating pressure overload and cardiac hypertrophy in rats by constriction of the ascending aorta using a small metallic clip. After anesthesia, the trachea is intubated by inserting a cannula through a half way incision made between two cartilage rings of trachea. Then a skin incision is made at the level of the second intercostal space on the left chest wall and muscle layers are cleared to locate the ascending portion of aorta. The ascending aorta is constricted to 50-60% of its original diameter by application of a small sized titanium clip. Following aortic constriction, the second and third ribs are approximated with prolene sutures. The tracheal cannula is removed once spontaneous breathing was re-established. The animal is allowed to recover on the heating pad by gradually lowering anesthesia. The intensity of pressure overload created by constriction of the ascending aorta is determined by recording the pressure gradient using trans-thoracic two dimensional Doppler-echocardiography. Overall this protocol is useful to study the remodeling events and contractile properties of the heart during the gradual onset and progression from compensated cardiac hypertrophy to heart failure stage.

[Long-term follow-up of the femoral artery after total percutaneous endovascular aortic repair with preclose technique using a vascular closure device]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the long-term outcome of the femoral artery following total percutaneous endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) with preclose technique using a vascular closure device (VCD).

METHODS

From July, 2009 to July, 2012, total percutaneous EVAR was performed in 113 patients (106 males, 7 females; mean age 59.4∓13.5 years) with pre-close technique, including 60 with Stanford type B aortic dissection, 3 with thoracic aortic aneurysm, and 48 with infra-renal abdominal aortic aneurysm, and 2 with thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms. The Technical success and complication rates were evaluated, and the outcomes of the femoral artery were followed up with computed tomography or color Doppler ultrasound.

RESULTS

The overall technical success rate was 97.6% (161/165) with conversion to open surgery in 4 cases. The size of the sheaths used were 24Fr (n=37), 22Fr (n=29), 20Fr (n=24), 18Fr (n=25), 16Fr (n=12) and 14 Fr (n=38), and 347 VCDs were used for hemostasis of 165 femoral sites; 147 femoral sites were closed using 2 VCDs. Four access-related adverse events, including femoral arterial-venous fistula, acute femoral thrombosis, bleeding, and lower extremity ischemia, occurred in 4 (2.4%) of the 165 cases. In cases using ≤18Fr sheaths, the success rate of closure using 2 VCDs was 98.7%, as compared to 81.1% in cases using larger (≥20Fr) sheaths (P=0.0003). The success rate of the 82 anterior sites was lower than that of the 82 posterior sites (82.9% vs 95.2%, P=0.013). No lower extremity ischemia was observed, nor was femoral artery stenosis detected during the follow-up for 26∓9 months (12-50 months) in these cases.

CONCLUSION

Total percutaneous EVAR with preclose technique using VCD provides a safe and effective alternative to open femoral surgery. The sheath size can be a predictor of percutaneous access failure to require conversion to open femoral surgery or using more than 2 devices for suture. Total percutaneous endovascular aortic repair using VCD with preclose technique is safe and effective, which can be adopted as an alternative technique of surgically femoral arterial cut-down operation when the surgeon reduce the learning curve.

[Short- and long-term results of various methods of reconstruction of carotid artery bifurcation]

AIM

comparative assessment of immediate and remote outcomes of various methods of reconstruction of the zone of bifurcation of the common carotid artery in stenotic lesions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

the authors carried out retrospective and prospective analysis of a total of 457 reconstructive operations on the bifurcation of the common carotid artery in 432 patients presenting with haemodynamically significant stenoses. Depending on the type of reconstruction of the carotid artery bifurcation, the patients were subdivided into four groups: group I - eversion carotid endarterectomy (CEA) - 157 (34.4%) operations, group II - CEA with xenopericardial patch plasty - 211 (46.2%) operations, group III- CEA with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) patch plasty - 61 (13.3%) operations, group IV - CEA with original autoarterial remodelling of the bifurcation of the common carotid artery - 28 (6.1%) operations. We evaluated both immediate and remote (from 6 month to 4 years) results of surgical treatment.

RESULTS

clinical efficacy of carotid endarterectomy in prevention of ischaemic stroke in the remote period after surgery amounted to 97.8%. Strokes developed in 2.2% of cases. It was shown that after using a xenopericardium patch the incidence rate of the development of restenosis proved statistically significantly lower than after using a PTFE patch. It was confirmed that CAE with autoarterial remodelling of the common carotid artery bifurcation or eversion CEA are accompanied by a significantly lower incidence rate of restenosis development in remote terms of follow up as compared to the methods of CAE with xenopericardial or PTFE patches (p<0.01). It was determined that coronary revascularization carried out by indications as the first stage statistically significantly decreases the incidence rate of acute myocardial infarction both in the immediate and remote terms of follow up after CEA.