OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the therapeutical efficacy of emergency carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in neurologically unstable patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three groups of a consecutive series of 71 emergency CEAs performed from 1980 to July 1998 were classified: (1) acute onset of severe stroke (n = 16), (2) progressive stroke/stroke in evolution (n = 34), and (3) crescendo transient ischemic attacks (n = 21). Cerebral coma, cerebral haemorrhage, and major ischemic stroke established in cranial computed tomography scans were contraindications for surgery. The neurological outcome was assessed by the modified Rankin scale. Long-term survival and long-term stroke recurrences were analyzed. RESULTS: The recovery/minor stroke rates (Rankin 0-3) in acute stroke, progressive stroke, and crescendo transient ischemic attacks were 56.3, 76.4 and 80.9%, respectively; the combined major stroke/mortality rates (Rankin 4-6) were 43.7, 23.6 and 19.1%, respectively. Intraoperative angiography in 39 patients detected early carotid reocclusions in 2 and intracranial embolism in 7 patients. Local application of thrombolytic agents (n = 5) may contribute to a better neurological outcome in emergency CEA. Life table probabilities of major strokefree survival were 74.5, 71.6, and 53.7% after 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively (including perioperative strokes). Life table probabilities to suffer no stroke recurrence during follow-up were 96.7, 96.7 and 85.3%, respectively (perioperative strokes excluded). CONCLUSIONS: Emergency CEA may be worthwhile in selected patients. Completion angiography is mandatory. Emergency CEA should be included in therapeutic strategies for ischemic stroke.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Value of nuclear magnetic resonance tomography in diagnosis of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms. Comparison with sonography, computerized tomography and angiography].

15 patients with asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging. The results were compared to the sonographic findings in 12, the computed tomographic in 14 and the angiographic findings in 14 cases. 14 patients were operated and the diagnostic results were verified. The advantage of MRI in comparison with the other diagnostic methods is the visualization of an infrarenal segment on the coronal images, which can be anastomized with the vascular prosthesis. The evidence of this segment is important to know for the vascular surgeon to plan the operation technique. The disadvantage of MRI ist that thrombotic material and arteriosclerotic plaques were bad or not visualized. We try to estimate, which importance the MRI will get in further times in the preoperative diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Angiography, Digital Subtraction↗