Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:Statin use results in atherosclerotic plaque stabilization. We sought to determine the effects of statins on the size and number of embolic particles generated during carotid artery stenting (CAS). METHODS:Embolic debris from carotid filters following CAS was analyzed using photomicroscopy and imaging software. Patient comorbidities, pre-operative cerebrovascular symptoms, statin use, and outcomes (peri-operative major adverse events, MAE) were reviewed. RESULTS:Carotid filters from 62 consecutive CAS procedures were examined. The mean age is 68.7 ± 9.8 years, 64% were men, 41 (66%) were on statins at the time of CAS, and 27 (43.5%) had neurological symptoms pre-procedurally. The mean intra-procedural stenosis was similar between groups (statin: 89.4 ± 7.4% vs. no statin: 88.4 ± 5.9%, P = NS). There was no significant difference in overall pre-operative symptoms between the two groups. Statin users were more likely to have coronary artery disease (CAD, P = 0.02), hyperlipidemia (HL, P = 0.047), or have undergone coronary artery bypass (CABG, P = 0.01). Statin use was associated with significantly less embolic particles (statin: 16.4 ± 2.1 vs. no statin: 42.4 ± 9.5, P = 0.001) during CAS. Further, multivariate analysis controlling for CAD, HL, and CABG confirmed that statin use was independently associated with less captured debris (P = 0.005). There was no significant difference in the mean particle size (statin: 326.2 μm ± 31.1 vs. no statin 310.5 μm ± 41.8), peri-procedural stroke, and MAE between the two groups (P = NS). CONCLUSIONS:Statin use is associated with less embolic debris during CAS. Further investigation utilizing a larger study group is necessary to assess the impact of statin use on peri-procedural outcomes.

BACKGROUND:Carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) is an alternative to carotid endarterectomy. CAS outcomes and risk factors affecting postoperative complications in women are not well defined. We sought to determine the effect of sex on particle size captured by embolic protection devices, comorbidities influencing embolization, and results after CAS. METHODS:Embolic debris from 188 consecutively collected carotid embolic protection devices were analyzed using photomicroscopy and imaging software. Patient comorbidities, preoperative cerebrovascular symptoms, and perioperative outcomes (cerebrovascular accident, myocardial infarction, mortality) were examined. RESULTS:The mean age was 71.0 years (56.4% males). Men (M) were more likely than women (W) to be smokers (M: 70.4% vs. W: 55.6%, p = 0.046) and have coronary artery disease (M: 65.7% vs. W: 48.1%, p = 0.02). Symptomatic (S) patients had larger mean particle size compared with asymptomatic (AS) patients (S: 469.9 ± 416.4 μm vs. AS: 316.1 ± 241.1 μm, p = 0.01). On subgroup analysis, a larger mean particle size was observed in symptomatic woman compared with asymptomatic women (S: 461.5 ± 348.1 μm vs. AS: 281.4 ± 209.4 μm, p = 0.02). In men, a trend toward a larger mean particle size in symptomatic patients did not reach statistical significance (S: 475.8 ± 462.9 μm vs. AS: 351.2 ± 262.4 μm, p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS:Preoperative cerebrovascular symptoms are associated with a greater mean particle size in symptomatic women compared with asymptomatic women. This difference in mean particle size was not observed in men. These results provide evidence that may help in better selection of CAS patients, but the impact of an increased mean particle size in symptomatic women during carotid stenting requires further investigation.

OBJECTIVE:We sought to determine the effects of open (O) and closed (C) cell stents on the size and number of embolic particles generated during carotid artery stenting (CAS) and assess the impact on outcome. METHODS:Embolic debris from carotid filters after CAS was analyzed using photomicroscopy and imaging software. Patient comorbidities, preoperative cerebrovascular symptoms, stent type, and outcomes (perioperative major adverse events) were examined. RESULTS:Carotid filters from 173 consecutive CAS procedures (O, 125 and C, 48) were reviewed. The mean age was 70.9 ± 9.2 years; 58% were men. Mean stenosis was 88.2% ± 8.1%; 36.6% had neurological symptoms preprocedurally. There was no difference in preoperative symptoms between the two groups (O, 38.7% vs C, 31.3%; P = not significant [NS]). However, closed cell stent use was associated with higher degree of stenosis (O, 87.2% ± 8.0% vs C, 90.6% ± 7.8%; P = .01), an older age (O, 70.0 ± 8.6 years vs C, 73.4 ± 10.2 years; P = .03), and peripheral arterial disease (21.1% vs 43.5%; P = .01). A larger mean particle size was observed in patients treated with open cell stents compared to closed cell stents (O, 416.5 ± 335.7 μm vs C, 301.1 ± 251.3 μm; P = .03). There was no significant difference in the total number of particles (O, 13.8 ± 21.5 vs C, 17.6 ± 19.9; P = NS), periprocedural stroke (P = NS), and major adverse events between the two groups (P = NS). CONCLUSIONS:Open cell stents are associated with a larger mean particle size compared to closed cell stents. No impact on procedural outcomes based on stent type was observed.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a rare cause of mycotic aortic aneurysms, which have been classically treated with a combination of antimycobacterial medical therapy and open surgery. Endovascular therapy has been gaining popularity as an alternative to open surgery for mycotic aneurysms. We report a case of a tuberculous mycotic aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta that was successfully treated with endovascular stent-graft placement with complete resolution of the pseudoaneurysm at 1 year. We also review other cases in the previously published data to identify factors that may affect the outcome of endovascular treatment of tuberculous mycotic aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: The impact of vascular injuries on patient mortality has not been well evaluated in multi-trauma patients. This study seeks to determine (1) whether the presence of vascular trauma negatively affects outcome compared with nonvascular trauma (NVT) and (2) the utility of existing severity scoring systems in predicting mortality among vascular trauma (VT) patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of our trauma database from January 2005 to December 2007 was conducted. Demographics, Injury Severity Scores (ISS), Revised Trauma Scores (RTS), Trauma Score-Injury Severity Scores (TRISS), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores, and mortality rates were compared. Control patients were selected from a matching cohort based on ISS. Comparisons were made between groups based on the above scoring systems. Statistical analysis used chi(2) analysis and Student t-tests. RESULTS: Fifty VT and 50 NVT patients were identified with no significant differences in age, gender, mechanism of injury, ISS, RTS, or TRISS. The mean APACHE II score was higher in VT compared with NVT (12.3 vs 8.8, P < .05). Overall mortality was higher in VT compared with NVT but did not reach statistical significance (24% vs 11.8%, P = .108). VT patients with RTS score >5 had a higher mortality rate (26% vs 2.2%, P = .007). VT patients with an ISS score >24 had a higher mortality compared with NVT patients (61% vs 28.6%, P = .04). VT patients with an APACHE II score <14 also had a higher mortality rate (18.2% vs 0%, P = .007). Finally, VT patients with a TRISS probability of survival of >80% had a higher mortality rate (13.9% vs 0%, P = .05). CONCLUSIONS: In multi-trauma patients, the presence of vascular injury was associated with increased mortality in less severely injured patients based on the RTS, TRISS, and APACHE II scores. These scoring systems underestimated mortality in patients with vascular trauma. Level of care and future trauma algorithms should be adjusted in the presence of vascular trauma