Renal Dysfunction is the Strongest Prognostic Factor After Carotid Artery Stenting According to Real-World Data

Complications and outcomes of carotid artery stenting in high-risk cases

OBJECTIVES

Carotid artery stenting is sometimes adapted for some at-risk cases; however, appropriate treatment timing with stroke onset is controversial. This study aims to identify factors that have an impact on complications and outcomes, especially in patients at high risk.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We examined the characteristics of 152 consecutive patients treated by carotid artery stenting between January 2018 and March 2022 and retrospectively analyzed the risk factors for complications and poor outcomes (modified-Rankin-Scale deterioration), such as patient background, carotid artery stenting risks (access route tortuosity, severe calcification, vulnerable plaque, estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73 m2, etc.), characteristics of the stenosis, details of treatment, and treatment timing.

RESULTS

The average North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial criteria score was 68.3% and the lesion length was 20.5±9.7mm. Among patients, 107 (70.4%) had a carotid artery stenting risk. In high-risk carotid artery stenting cases, symptomatic complications occurred in 32 (30.0%), and the 90-day modified Rankin scale score deteriorated in 15 cases (14.0%). Multivariate analysis showed that cases with triple antithrombotic therapy (p=0.003), stenting within 7 days (p=0.0032), and after 28+ days (p=0.0035) of stroke onset were independently associated factors for complications.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that among risk factors, triple antithrombotic therapy in particular was a risk factor for perioperative complications. Carotid artery stenting for patients with stroke after 28 days of onset affects the prognosis. Therefore, although further study is warranted, waiting more than one month for treatment in patients requiring carotid artery stenting is a potential risk.

Registry Studies of Stroke in Japan

Recently, the Cerebrovascular and Cardiovascular Disease Control Act was enacted, for which it was necessary to establish a comprehensive and accurate nationwide database and promote rational and economical stroke countermeasures in Japan, thus serving the public interest. Among the many studies on stroke registries, the Fukuoka Stroke Registry, a regional cohort, provides highly accurate information, and the Japanese Stroke Data Bank, a nationwide cohort, is highly comprehensive. The findings of these studies have contributed to the construction of evidence and the establishment of guidelines for stroke management. In the Nationwide survey of Acute Stroke care capacity for Proper dEsignation of Comprehensive stroke CenTer in Japan, research on improving the quality of medical care to close the gap between guidelines and clinical practice was performed using electronic medical records. This has enabled the recommendation of medical policies in Japan by visualizing medical care. In the era of healthcare big data and the Internet of Things, plenty of healthcare information is automatically recorded electronically and incorporated into databases. Thus, the establishment of stroke registries with the effective utilization of these electronic records can contribute to the development of stroke care.

Feasibility of Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Angiography/Black-Blood Magnetic Resonance Imaging/Computed Tomography Fusion Imaging Without Contrast Agent for Carotid Endarterectomy

BACKGROUND

Preoperative identification of the carotid bifurcation (CB) location and plaque and stenosis distal end of the cervical internal carotid artery in relation to bony structures is essential for carotid endarterectomy (CEA). However, for patients with contrast contraindications, cervical 3-dimensional computed tomography angiography (3D-CTA) is unavailable. In this study, we created fusion images of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), black-blood (BB) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and CT to determine if these noncontrast agent images are superior to 3D-CTA for preoperative CEA planning.

METHODS

The fusion images showed vascular structures obtained by MRA, plaque observed by BB-MRI, and bone structures shown by CT. Spatial localization accuracy was verified by directly overlaying contrast-enhanced 3D-CTA images on the fusion images. We validated this technique in 50 patients with unilateral ICA stenosis, 28 of whom underwent CEA. The 2D-distance CB MRA-CTA (the 2D distance difference between CB MRA and CB CTA perpendicular to the long axis of the carotid artery) was measured. We also compared the findings of the fusion image regarding the CB location and plaque distal end with the operative findings.

RESULTS

The median 2D distance CB MRA-CTA was 1 mm. CB MRA was located distal and proximal to CB CTA in 21and 29 patients, respectively. The CB location and fusion-image plaque were consistent with the intraoperative findings in all CEA patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Fusion images created from MRA, BB-MRI, and noncontrast CT were feasible as an alternative to 3D-CTA for patients with contrast contraindications.