Journal of vascular and interventional neurology最新文献

Background: Patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) are generally clinically unstable, with fear of developing a handicapping stroke. Identification of those at highest and lowest risk of stroke in the first days and weeks after a TIA would allow appropriate use of worthy secondary prevention strategies.

Objective: Incorporation of a clinical scoring system, neurovascular imaging, and magnetic resonance-diffusion-weighted imaging (MR-DWI) to help predicting risk of developing an ischemic stroke following a TIA.

Subjects and methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 25 patients with TIAs, 64% were females, and 26% were males, with a mean age of 57±10.36. Patients were assessed clinically and an ABCD(2) score was applied. Patients have undergone diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), within 24 h from the event, and intra- and extracranial duplex study. Patients were followed up at intervals of one week, three months, six months, and one year.

Results: Six patients (24%) developed stroke on their follow-up, most of them (83.3%) had their strokes within the first three months and had an initial ABCD(2) score of ≥4. The development of stroke was associated with the presence of significant extra and/or intracranial vessel disease (P=0.006) and the presence of acute lesions on their DWI (P=0.035).

Conclusion: Incorporation of brain MR-DWIs and neurovascular imaging together with the ABCD(2) score improves prediction of ischemic stroke following TIA.

Background and purpose: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a relatively safe imaging modality used to visualize intracardiac thrombus.

Summary of case: We report on a unique, fatal complication during TEE of embolization of a pre-existing "smoking" left atrial thrombus causing acute bilateral internal carotid occlusion, confirmed on angiogram.

Conclusions: Patients with history of lung pathology, such as COPD, who experience retching and cough during transesophageal echocardiography may be more susceptible to embolization of pre-existing thrombi. A need exists to risk stratify such patients.

The authors present a unique case of intracranial lipoma in the interpeduncular cistern associated with proximal P1 segment fenestration. This patient is a 20-year-old male with extensive psychiatric history and complaints of recent auditory hallucinations. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (T1, T2, and FLAIR) showed a hyperintense lesion in the left aspect of interpeduncular cistern with a prominent flow void within the hyperintense lesion suggestive of a combined vascular-lipomatous lesion. Computed tomography (CT) angiography showed a high-riding large tortuous P1 segment on the left side with proximal fenestration, the ectatic posteromedial limb harboring a fusiform dilated segment. Since there are anecdotal cases of cerebral aneurysms associated with intracranial lipomas, a conventional angiography was done, which confirmed a proximal left P1 fenestration and a fusiform-dilated segment, and no aneurysm. There are few cases of hallucinations associated with a vascular midbrain pathology reported in literature, but hallucinations associated with a combination of lipoma and arterial ectasia have never been reported. This article not only demonstrates the MRI and angiographic appearance of this rare lipomatous lesion but also highlights this unique association and significance of auditory hallucinations as a clinical presentation, akin to peduncular hallucinosis.

[This corrects the article on p. 68 in vol. 8, PMID: 26301035.][This corrects the article on p. 37 in vol. 8.].

Background: Transient ischemic attack (TIA) management requires a cardiac evaluation with a Holter electrocardiogram (ECG), preferably a long-term (24 h) electrocardiogram (LT-ECG), to detect atrial fibrillation (AF), which places patients at higher risk of cerebrovascular events. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of AF using ECG and LT-ECG in patients with tissue-based TIA.

Methods: During a three-year period (starting in 2011), all consecutive patients with tissue-based TIA (no evidence of infarction by brain imaging) were included and prospectively evaluated.

Results: Of 861 patients (mean age, 70 ± 13 years; 49.7% women), 854 patients (99.2%) had an ECG at admission, and 338 patients (39.3%) underwent 24-h LT-ECG monitoring during hospitalization. Patients who underwent LT-ECG monitoring were significantly younger (68 vs. 71 years; P=0.001) and experienced longer symptom duration (143 vs. 79 minutes; P=0.024) compared with those who did not. Furthermore, they had lower rates of unilateral weakness (32% vs. 39%; P=0.034) and previous strokes (18% vs. 26%; P=0.007). The LT-ECG investigation was also associated with longer hospitalization (7.9 vs. 5.7 days; P<0.001). A total of 77 patients (8.9%) exhibited AF on the ECG at admission. The LT-ECG revealed AF among seven patients (2.1%); five of these received a new treatment with oral anticoagulation based on the LT-ECG findings. Using the logistic regression, the presence of AF was associated with the following: age over 65 years (odds ratio [OR], 20.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8-152; P=0.003), hypertension (OR, 3.1; 95% CI: 1-8.9; P=0.041) and increased glucose level >6.05 mmol/L) on admission (OR, 1.9; 95% CI: 1-3.5; P=0.036).

Conclusion: Cardiac evaluation with LT-ECG appears to increase the rate of detected AF and may lead to a change in secondary prophylaxis in patients with tissue-based TIA.

Background: Syncope is commonly worked up for carotid stenosis, but only rarely attributed to it. Considering paucity of such cases in literature, we report a case and discuss the pathophysiology.

Design/methods: We report a patient with high-grade bilateral severe internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis who presented with syncopal episodes in the absence of stroke, orthostatic hypotension, significant cardiovascular disease, or vasovagal etiology. We reviewed all literature pertaining to syncope secondary to carotid stenosis and other cerebrovascular disease.

Results: A 67-year-old man presented with two brief syncopal episodes. History and physical examination was not suggestive of seizure or vasovagal syncope. Other workup was negative for any stroke or syncope secondary to cardiac or vasovagal etiology. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) revealed bilateral ICA severe stenosis. This was confirmed by transfemoral carotid vessels angiography. Internal carotid angioplasty and stenting was performed on one side. After this, the patient remained asymptomatic. After one month, carotid endarterectomy (CEA) of contralateral side was performed. Patient remained symptom free after that. On review of literature, we identified only 12 cases of syncope attributable to carotid stenosis and reviewed 24 cases attributable to other cerebrovascular disease.

Conclusion: Syncope secondary to carotid stenosis, especially in the absence of any focal ischemic events is rare. It can only be expected in those patients who have bilateral hemodynamically significant carotid disease, which is unlikely in the absence of any focal ischemic events.

Background: The future of neuroendovascular treatment for intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) has been debated since the results of SAMMPRIS reflected poor outcomes following endovascular therapy. There is currently a large spectrum of current management strategies. We compared historical outcomes of patients with ICAD and stroke that were treated with angioplasty-alone versus stent placement.

Methods: We extracted a population from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) (2005-2011) and the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) (2012) composed of patients with ICAD and infarction that were admitted nonelectively and received endovascular revascularization. Patients treated with thrombectomy or thrombolysis were excluded. Categorical variables were compared with Chi-squared tests. Binary logistic regression was performed to evaluate mortality while controlling for age, sex, severity, and comorbidities.

Results: About 2059 admissions met our criteria. A majority were treated via stent placement (71%). Angioplasty-alone had significantly higher mortality (17.6% vs. 8.4%, P<0.001), but no difference in iatrogenic stroke rate (3.4% vs. 3.6%, P=0.826), compared to stent placement. The adjusted odds ratio of mortality for stented patients was 0.536 (95% CI: 0.381-0.753, P<0.001) in comparison to patients treated with angioplasty alone.

Conclusions: This study found the risk of mortality to be elevated following angioplasty alone in comparison to revascularization with stent placement, without a corresponding significant difference in iatrogenic stroke rate. This may represent selection bias due to patient characteristics not defined in the database, but it also may indicate that patients with ICAD and acute stroke have increased odds of stenosis that is refractory to angioplasty alone and have a high risk of mortality without revascularization.

The external carotid artery's lingual branch to retromandibular venous fistula following a carotid endarterectomy has not been reported earlier in literature. We report a unique case of an 87-year-old man who had a right-sided carotid endarterectomy in 2009 and presented four years later with complaints of fullness and discomfort in the area of right parotid gland with associated pulsatile tinnitus. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the neck revealed a deep portion of the right parotid gland having abnormal aneurysmal dilatation of a vascular structure, which appeared to be an arteriovenous fistula between branches of right external carotid artery and the retromandibular vein. Conventional catheter angiogram showed a complex arteriovenous fistula seen with the right retromandibular vein receiving multiple small arterial feeders from the right external carotid artery via its lingual artery branch. Slight reflux was noted into the right pterygoid plexus, right maxillary, and right submental veins as well. Surgical treatment was deferred due to high risk of inadvertent facial nerve injury from extensive parotid dissection involved in the procedure. Transarterial embolization of five discrete arterial branches from the right external carotid artery supplying the fistula was performed using particles with resultant remarkable slowing of the venous drainage into the retromandibular vein. After the procedure, his tinnitus and ear fullness resolved completely. The presence of arteriovenous fistula after carotid endarterectomy is a rare yet serious complication and therefore should be diagnosed early and treated promptly. The article highlights the relevant literature on arteriovenous fistula formation in the setting of arterial patch, intraoperative shunting, and surgical-site infections.

Background: Anticoagulation with adjusted dose warfarin is a well-accepted treatment for the prevention of recurrent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Meanwhile, using bridging therapy with heparin or heparinoids before warfarin for initiation of anticoagulation is a matter of debate. We compared safety, efficacy, and tolerability of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and unfractionated heparin (UFH) as a bridging method in patients with recent ischemic stroke due to atrial fibrillation.

Method: This study was a randomized single-blind controlled trial in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to atrial fibrillation who were eligible for receiving warfarin and were randomly treated with 60 milligrams (mg) of LMWH (enoxaparin) subcutaneously every 12 h, or 1000 units/h of continuous intravenous heparin. The primary efficacy endpoints were recurrence of new ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction and/or death. The primary safety endpoint was central nervous system and/or systemic bleeding.

Results: Seventy-four subjects were recruited. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of two groups were matched. Composite endpoint outcome of new ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and/or death in follow-up period was seen in 10 subjects (27.03%) in UFH group and in four subjects (10.81%) in LMWH group (p value: 0.136). All hemorrhages and symptomatic central nervous system (CNS) hemorrhages in follow-up period were in 7 (18.9%) and 4 (10.8%) patients in UFH group, in 5 (13.5%), and 3 (8.1%) patients in LMWH group (p values: 0.754 and 0.751), respectively. Drop out and major adverse-effects such as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and drug hypersensitivity were not seen in any patient.

Conclusion: Enoxaparin can be a safe and efficient alternative for UFH as bridging therapy.