Carotid Endarterectomy with Modified Eversion Technique: Results of a Single Center

Clinical risk factors and features on computed tomography angiography in high-risk carotid artery plaque in patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

High-risk carotid artery plaque (HPR) is associated with a markedly increased risk of ischemic stroke. The aims of this study were: 1) to examine the prevalence of HRP in a cohort of asymptomatic adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D); 2) to investigate the relationship between HRP, established cardiovascular risk factors and computed tomography angiography (CTA) profile; and 3) to assess whether the presence of HRP is associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of T2D asymptomatic patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) from January 2018 to July 2021. The carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP) was assessed for the presence of ulceration, the presence of lipids, fibrosis, thrombotic deposits, hemorrhage, neovascularization, and inflammation. A CAP presenting at least five of these histological features was defined as a HRP (Group A); in all other cases it was defined as a mild to moderate heterogeneous plaque and no-HRP (Group B). CTA features included the presence of rim sign consisting of thin peripheral adventitial calcification (<2 mm) and internal soft plaque (≥2 mm), NASCET percent diameter stenosis, maximum plaque thickness, ulceration, calcification, and intraluminal thrombus were recorded. Binary logistic regression with Uni- and Multivariate was used to evaluate possible predictors for HRP while multivariable Cox Proportional Hazards was used to assess independent predictors for MACE.

RESULTS

One hundred eighty-five asymptomatic patients (mean age 73±8 years, 131 men), undergoing carotid endarterectomy, were included. Of these, 124 (67%) had HRP, and the 61 (33%) did not. Diabetic complications (OR 2.4, 95% CI: 1.1-5.1, P=0.01), NASCET stenosis ≥75% (OR 2.4, 95% CI: 1.2-3.7, P=0.02) and carotid RIM sign (OR 4.3, 95% CI: 3.9-7.3, P<0.001) were independently associated with HRP. However, HRP was not associated with a higher risk of MACE (freedom from MACE at 5 years: HRP 83.4% vs. non HRP 87.8%, P=0.72) or a reduction of survival (5-year survival estimates: HRP 96.4% vs. non HRP: 94.6%, P=0.76).

CONCLUSIONS

A high prevalence of HRP (67%) was observed in asymptomatic and elderly T2D patients. Independent predictors of HRP were diabetic complications, NASCET stenosis ≥75% and carotid RIM sign (OR 4.3, 95% CI: 3.9-7.3, P<0.001). HRP was not associated with an increased risk of MACE during a mean follow-up of 39±24 years.

History of Carotid Artery Reconstruction around the World and in Japan

Since ancient times, physicians have been aware of correlations between the carotid artery and consciousness; however, carotid stenosis was only recently identified as the cause of atherothrombotic ischemic stroke. In 1658, Wepfer described the first suggestion of a link between symptoms of cerebral arterial insufficiency and carotid pathology. In 1951, Fisher reported details of the symptoms and pathological findings and emphasized that cervical atheromatous lesions induced cerebral infarction with various symptoms. The beginning of carotid artery surgery was ligation of the carotid artery for neck or head injury, but surgeons were aware that this operation induced cerebral symptoms due to lack of blood supply. Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) was first reported by Eastcott et al. in 1954, and in Japan, Kimoto performed a successful CEA in 1962. In 1979, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was performed for patients with fibromuscular dysplasia, and then, carotid artery stenting (CAS) was first performed in 1989 by Mathias. In Japan, Kuwana et al. were the first to perform carotid PTA, in 1981, whereas Yamashita et al. performed the first CAS in 1997. Yoshimura et al. proposed staged carotid stenting to prevent hyperperfusion syndrome. Some issues in carotid reconstruction are still debated today, which include conventional (standard) CEA versus the eversion technique, CEA versus CAS versus medical therapy, and medical economic problems. In the future, we must continue to develop more effective, safer, and less expensive therapeutic methods to prevent carotid stroke, carrying on the efforts of the ancient peoples who pioneered this research.

Prediction of long-term mortality for patients with severe asymptomatic de novo carotid stenosis undergoing carotid endarterectomy (PREMY2SE-CEA): Derivation and validation of a novel risk score

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a risk prediction model for the prediction of long-term mortality for patients with severe asymptomatic de novo carotid stenosis undergoing carotid endarterectomy (PREMY²SE-CEA).

METHODS

Data were collected retrospectively from a dedicated database of consecutive patients who had undergone elective CEA for severe (>70% using the NASCET [North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial] criteria) asymptomatic carotid stenosis at two Italian University Hospitals from 2008 through 2016. Internal validation of the score was performed after random sampling in a 3:1 fashion. The primary end point of the PREMY²SE-CEA risk score was the 5-year mortality.

RESULTS

Of the 1214 patients, 901 were included in the derivation cohort and 313 in the validation cohort. Using multivariable logistic regression with backward elimination, a parsimonious model was derived. A risk score incorporating eight risk factors was generated and found to be highly predictive of long-term mortality in the derivation (odds ratio [OR], 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-1.41; P < .001) and validation (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.21-1.37; P <.001) cohorts. The discrimination power in the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was C = 0.775 (95% CI, 0.74-.80), and the optimism-corrected area under the curve in the bootstrapped samples was 0.761 (P < .001). A strong correlation was found between the predicted and actual mortality rates in the validation cohort (r = 0.71; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, we have described the development, evaluation, and validation of a risk prediction model (PREMY²SE-CEA) for long-term mortality after CEA in asymptomatic patients. Physicians could use the PREMY²SE-CEA risk scoring tool to complement their estimates of life expectancy and prompt selective consideration of prophylactic CEA to improve the long-term benefits of interventions.

Partial Eversion Carotid Endarterectomy versus Conventional Techniques for Significant Carotid Stenosis

BACKGROUND

To compare the outcomes of patients who were submitted to partial carotid endarterectomy (P-CEA) to those of patients who underwent standard conventional CEA with patch closure (C-CEA) and eversion CEA (E-CEA) for a significant carotid stenosis.

METHODS

Data of patients who consecutively underwent CEA from January 2014 to December 2018 for a significant carotid stenosis were retrospectively collected. Primary outcomes included mortality and the occurrence of neurologic and cardiologic complications, both at 30 days and during follow-up. Secondary outcomes included the occurrence of perioperative local complications (i.e. cranial nerve injuries, hematomas) and restenosis during follow-up. P values < 0.5 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Three-hundred twenty-seven patients (241 males, 74%) underwent CEA for carotid stenosis (28.6% symptomatic). P-CEA was performed in 202 patients (61.8%), while C-CEA and E-CEA were performed in 103 and 22 cases respectively. At 30 days, neurologic complications were not significantly different among the 3 groups (2.8% in the group of C-CEA, 2.4% after P-CEA and 0% in E-CEA patients, P = 0.81), neither during follow-up. Perioperative local complications also were not significantly different among the 3 groups (P = 0.16).

CONCLUSIONS

P-CEA had similar outcomes if compared to C-CEA and to E-CEA in terms of perioperative mortality, occurrence of neurologic and cardiologic complications, and occurrence of local complications. Also, in the long-term, P-CEA, C-CEA, and E-CEA were burdened by similar rates of mortality, neurologic, and cardiologic complications and restenosis.

NIHSS score at admission can predict functional outcomes in patients with ischemic stroke undergoing carotid endarterectomy

OBJECTIVE

The aim of present study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score in patients undergoing acute CEA, and to assess clinical and morphological factors that could predict worse outcomes.

METHODS

The data of 183 consecutive patients who have undergone CEA after ischemic stroke was analyzed from January 2015 to January 2021. Patients were divided into two groups using the NIHSS cut off point of 4. Functional dependence was assessed on hospital discharge and 90 days after.

RESULTS

In total, 102 patients (55.7%) had a minor stroke (Group A: NIHSS ≤ 4), whereas 81 patients (44.3%) had a moderate-major stroke (Group B: NIHSS > 4). Group A and group B showed significant differences in their intracranial anatomic features: presence of incomplete Circle of Willis (7.8% vs 17.3%; p=.05), volume of Cerebral ischemic lesion volume ≥4000 mm³ (5.9 % vs 24.7%; p=<.001), and high ASPECTS of 8 to 10 (75.5% vs 44.4%; p=<.001). The overall rate of combined perioperative stroke/myocardial infarction/death was 1.1%, with no strokes recorded during the waiting time to carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Patients in group A had a lower rate of functional dependence at discharge (4.9% vs. 35.8%; p = <.001) and at 90 days after index stroke event (2.5% vs. 19.6%; p = <.001) versus those in group B. Using multivariate binary logistic regression, admission NIHSS>4 was significantly associated with higher odds of functional dependence at discharge (OR= 7.9, 95%CI= 2.7-18.5, p = <.001) and at 90 days (OR= 10.4, 95%CI= 2.7-19.3, p = .002).

CONCLUSIONS

NIHSS>4 at admission will increase the risk of having higher mRS scores both at hospital discharge and at 90 days after index stroke event. acute CEA was safe and feasible in patients with ischemic stroke, even if they had previously undergone intravenous thrombolysis.

Prognostic interaction between age and sex on outcomes following carotid endarterectomy

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic interaction between age and sex on peri-operative and follow-up outcomes following elective carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for asymptomatic and symptomatic carotid stenosis. Patients and methods: A retrospective review of all patients admitted to a single vascular unit who underwent elective CEA between January, 2015 and December, 2019 was performed. The primary endpoints of the study were overall survival (from index operation) and cumulative stroke rate at thirty days. Results: A total of 383 consecutive patients were included in this study; of these 254 (66.4%) were males. At baseline, males were younger (mean age 73.4±11 vs. 76.3±10 years, p=.01) and with lower proportion of octogenarians (20.4% vs. 28.7%, p=.05). The rate of stroke in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients (males vs. females) were as follows: a) whole cohort 1.9% vs. 2% (p=1.00) and 2.7% vs. 1.3% (p=.66), respectively; b) ≥80 years old 3.7% vs. 0% (p=1.00) and 4% vs. 5.9% (p=1.00), respectively; c) <80 years old 1.2% vs. 3.3% (p=.47) and 2.5% vs. 0% (p=.55), respectively. The 3-year survival estimates were significantly lower for males (84% vs. 92%, p=.03). After stratification by age groups, males maintained inferior survival rates in the strata aged <80 years (85% vs. 97%, p=.005), while no differences were seen in the strata aged ≥80 years (82% vs. 79%, p=.92). Using multivariate Cox proportional hazards, age (HR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.29-3.3, p=.002) and male gender (HR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.16-5.5, p=.02) were associated with increased hazards of all-cause mortality. Conclusions: In this study of elective CEA for asymptomatic and symptomatic carotid stenosis, similar peri-operative neurologic outcomes were found in both males and females irrespective of age. Despite being usually older, females have superior long-term survival rates.