The structure and risk factors of the postoperative cerebral dysfunction in oncosurgery

Aim of the research was to study the features of the structure of postoperative cerebral dysfunction, establishing the risk factors for the development of postoperative cerebral dysfunction and for the each of the clinical types during operations for malignant neoplasms of the chest and abdomen. The study was conducted in 2 stages: a retrospective study based on medical records and a prospective study. In a retrospective study by the method of directed selection from 93,129 clinical cases of patients, 47 cases of patients with acute stroke after surgery were selected. In prospective study, 102 patients (69 men, 33 women) aged 38 to 85 years were examined, the median age was 67 years. They were divided into two study groups: thoracic, abdominal. In a retrospective study, the incidence of perioperative stroke was 0.05%. In a prospective study of surgical operations for malignant neoplasms of the chest and abdomen, the incidence of postoperative cerebral dysfunction was 34%, perioperative stroke 2%, symptomatic delirium of the early postoperative period 11%, deferred cognitive impairment 31%. Statistical processing of the prospective study data revealed 10 risk factors for postoperative cerebral dysfunction, 12 risk factors for perioperative stroke, 7 risk factors for symptomatic delirium of the early postoperative period, and 6 risk factors for deferred cognitive impairment. For each of the clinical types of postoperative cerebral dysfunction the Charlson comorbidity index has a significant predictive value, and therefore it seems appropriate to include this parameter in the preoperative examination algorithm (3 tables, bibliography: 8 refs)

Effect of routine preoperative screening for aortic calcifications using noncontrast computed tomography on stroke rate in cardiac surgery: the randomized controlled CRICKET study

Objectives To evaluate if routine screening for aortic calcification using unenhanced CT lowers the risk of stroke and alters the surgical approach in patients undergoing general cardiac surgery compared with standard of care (SoC). Methods In this prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial, adult patients scheduled for cardiac surgery from September 2014 to October 2019 were randomized 1:1 into two groups: SoC alone, including chest radiography, vs. SoC plus preoperative noncontrast CT. The primary endpoint was in-hospital perioperative stroke. Secondary endpoints were preoperative change of the surgical approach, in-hospital mortality, and postoperative delirium. The trial was halted halfway for expected futility, as the conditional power analysis showed a chance < 1% of finding the hypothesized effect. Results A total of 862 patients were evaluated (SoC-group: 433 patients (66 ± 11 years; 74.1% male) vs. SoC + CT-group: 429 patients (66 ± 10 years; 69.9% male)). The perioperative stroke rate (SoC + CT: 2.1%, 9/429 vs. SoC: 1.2%, 5/433, p = 0.27) and rate of changed surgical approach (SoC + CT: 4.0% (17/429) vs. SoC: 2.8% (12/433, p = 0.35) did not differ between groups. In-hospital mortality and postoperative delirium were comparable between groups. In the SoC + CT group, aortic calcification was observed on CT in the ascending aorta in 28% (108/380) and in the aortic arch in 70% (265/379). Conclusions Preoperative noncontrast CT in cardiac surgery candidates did not influence the surgical approach nor the incidence of perioperative stroke compared with standard of care. Aortic calcification is a frequent finding on the CT scan in these patients but results in major surgical alterations to prevent stroke in only few patients. Key Points • Aortic calcification is a frequent finding on noncontrast computed tomography prior to cardiac surgery. • Routine use of noncontrast computed tomography does not often lead to a change of the surgical approach, when compared to standard of care. • No effect was observed on perioperative stroke after cardiac surgery when using routine noncontrast computed tomography screening on top of standard of care.

Clamped Carotid Dissection Can Reduce Postoperative Stroke After Carotid Endarterectomy

Background: The outcomes of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) are constantly reported in a multitude of studies; however, the specific causes of perioperative stroke have been scarcely investigated. The aim of the present study was to analyze and categorize the causes of perioperative strokes after CEA. Methods: All CEAs performed from 2006 to 2019 in a single center were collected. CEA was routinely performed under general anesthesia, with routine shunting and patching, using cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy monitoring. Carotid exposure technique was classified as either clamped-dissection (CD) or preclamping-dissection (PCD) if the carotid bifurcation was dissected after or prior to carotid clamping. Perioperative and 30-day strokes and their possible mechanisms were evaluated according to preoperative symptoms and surgical technique adopted. Results: Among 1760 CEAs performed, 30 (1.7%) perioperative strokes occurred. 14 (47%) were identified upon emergence from general anesthesia, and 16 (53%) were noted in the first 30 days following intervention. Stroke etiology was categorized as follows: technical (acute thrombosis or intimal flap or due to intraoperative complications), embolic (no recognized technical defect), hemorrhagic, or contralateral. Symptomatic patients had a significantly higher rate of any type of stroke than asymptomatic patients (3.8% vs 0.9%, P = .0001). CD was protective for postoperative stroke (0.9% vs 3.1%, P = .001) in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients (2.5% vs 5.9%, P = .05; 0.4% vs 1.9%, P = .005), particularly for the cohort in which symptomatic patients (0.7% vs 3.2%, P = .04) suffered postoperative embolic stroke. Conclusion: Perioperative stroke in CEA may be multifactorial in etiology, including a result of technical errors. A CD technique may help reduce the incidence of perioperative stroke.

Treatment-Associated Stroke in Patients Undergoing Endovascular Therapy in the ARUBA Trial

Background and Purpose: Since the publication of ARUBA trial (A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations), outcomes in treated and untreated patients with unruptured arteriovenous malformation have been thoroughly compared. However, no prior analysis of ARUBA patients has sought to identify risk factors for perioperative stroke. Improved understanding of risks within the ARUBA cohort will help clinicians apply the study’s findings in a broader context. Methods: The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke database was queried for all data relating to ARUBA patients, including demographics, interventions undertaken, and timing of stroke. Retrospective cohort analysis was performed with the primary outcome of perioperative stroke in patients who underwent endovascular intervention, and stroke risk was modeled with multivariate analysis. Results: A total of 64 ARUBA patients were included in the analysis. One hundred and fifty-ninth interventions were performed, and 26 (16%) procedures resulted in stroke within 48 hours of treatment. Posterior cerebral artery supply (adjusted odds ratio, 4.42 [95% CI, 1.23–15.9], P =0.02) and Spetzler-Martin grades 2 and 3 arteriovenous malformation (adjusted odds ratio, 7.76 [95% CI, 1.20–50.3], P =0.03; 9.64 [95% CI, 1.36–68.4], P =0.04, respectively) were associated with increased perioperative stroke risk in patients who underwent endovascular intervention. Patients treated in the United States or Germany had a significantly lower stroke risk than patients treated in other countries (adjusted odds ratio, 0.18 [95% CI, 0.04–0.82], P =0.02). Conclusions: Knowing patient and lesion characteristics that increase risk during endovascular treatment can better guide clinicians managing unruptured brain arteriovenous malformation. Our analysis suggests risk of perioperative stroke is dependent on Spetzler-Martin grade and posterior-circulation arterial supply. Differences in regional treatment paradigms may also affect stroke risk.

Completion Arteriogram Following Carotid Endarterectomy Yields Lower Perioperative Stroke Rate

Introduction: Completion imaging following carotid endarterectomy (CEA) remains controversial. We present our experience performing routine completion arteriography (CA). Methods: A retrospective review of our prospectively maintained institutional database was performed for patients undergoing isolated CEA. Results: 1439 isolated CEAs with CA were performed on 1297 patients. CEA was for asymptomatic lesions in 70% (1003) of cases. There were no complications related to arteriography. An abnormal arteriogram documented significant abnormalities in the internal carotid artery (ICA) and prompted revision in 1.7% (24/1439) of cases: 20 unsatisfactory distal endpoints of the endarterectomy (12 residual stenoses, 7 intimal flaps, and 1 dissection), 3 kinks or stenoses within the body of the patch, and 1 thrombus. Of the 20 distal endpoint lesions, stent deployment was used in 17 cases and patch revision in 3 cases. The other 4 cases were treated by patch angioplasty (3) or thrombectomy (1). None suffered a perioperative stroke. The overall 30-day stroke, death, and combined stroke/death rate for the 1439 patients in our series was 1.5% (22), .5% (7), and 1.9% (27), respectively. The combined stroke/death rate for asymptomatic lesions was 1.1% (11/1003) and for symptomatic lesions was 2.5% (11/436). Of the 22 strokes in the entire series (all with normal CA), 15 were non-hemorrhagic strokes ipsilateral to the CEA; 14 were confirmed to have widely patent endarterectomy sites by CT-A (13) or re-exploration and repeat arteriography (1). The occluded site was re-explored and underwent thrombectomy, but no technical problems were identified. The remaining strokes were hemorrhagic (4 reperfusion syndrome and 1 surgical site bleeding) or contralateral to the CEA (2). Conclusion: Although not all patients in this series who underwent intraoperative revision due to abnormal CA might have suffered a stroke, performing this simple and safe study may have halved our overall perioperative stroke rate from 3.2% to 1.5%.

Trends, risk factors and prognostic implications of postoperative stroke after heart transplantation: an analysis of the UNOS database

Background Post-operative stroke increases morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery. Data on characteristics and outcomes of stroke after heart transplantation (HT) are limited. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of the UNOS database from 2009 to 2020 to identify adults who developed stroke after orthotropic HT. HT recipients were divided according to the presence or absence of postoperative stroke. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality after HT. Results A total of 25,015 HT recipients were analyzed, including 719 (2.9%) patients who suffered perioperative stroke. The rates of stroke increased from 2.1% in 2009 to 3.7% in 2019 and the risk of stroke was higher after the implantation of the new allocation system (odds ratio 1.29, 1.29, 95% Confidence Intervals [CI] 1.06–1.56, p=0.01). HT recipients with postoperative stroke were older (p=0.008), with higher rates of prior cerebrovascular accident (CVA) (p=0.004), prior cardiac surgery (p&lt;0.001), longer waitlist time (p=0.04), higher rates of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support (ECMO) (p&lt;0.001), left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) (p&lt;0.001), mechanical ventilation (p=0.003) and longer ischemic time (p&lt;0.001). After multivariable adjustment for recipient and donor characteristics, age, prior cardiac surgery, CVA, support with LVAD, ECMO, ischemic time and mechanical ventilation at the time of HT were independent predictors of postoperative stroke. Stroke was associated with increased risk of 30-day and all-cause mortality after HT (hazard ratio [HR] 1.49, CI 1.12–1.99, p=0.007). Conclusion Perioperative stroke after HT is infrequent but associated with higher mortality. Redo sternotomy, LVAD and ECMO support at HT are among the risk factors identified. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Risk factors for stroke

Endovascular treatment of vertebral arteriovenous fistula using an occlude

The search for the optimal approach in the treatment of brachiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas is one of the current problems of neurosurgery and vascular surgery. It is important to note that the best prognosis requires timely diagnosis and the earliest possible dissection of the fistula. Also, the method of treatment should have the least negative consequences and a good clinical effect. Previously, surgeons used open surgical vessel ligation with great technical difficulties due to anatomical difficulties of access as well as bleeding. In recent decades, the endovascular approach to treatment has demonstrated advantages over open interventions. Despite the low traumaticity, there is a risk of complications such as untargeted vascular embolization, perioperative stroke, etc. In this article we demonstrate the experience of arterio-venous vertebral artery fistula dissection using an occluder.

Results of a six-year prospective study of surgical treatment of patients with combined atherosclerosisof coronary and brachiocephalic arteries based on differentiated approach

Objective. To present the results of surgical treatment of patients with multifocal atherosclerosis based on a differential approach of surgical strategy. Materials and methods. During the period of 20142021 in the S.G. Sukhanov Federal Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, Perm, we operated 243 patients with combined atherosclerosis of coronary and carotid arteries; 104 (42.8 %) patients underwent a one-stage coronary and carotid artery surgeries, and 139 (57.2 %) patients underwent a staged correction of pathology. Critical lesion of the coronary arteries was revealed in 16 (6.6 %) patients, single-vessel critical lesion in 24 (9.9 %), two-vessel and three-vessel critical lesion was detected in 87 (35.8 %) and 79 (32.5 %) patients, respectively. 145 (59.7 %) patients had a critical lesion of the carotid arteries, and 16 (6.58 %) had a bilateral critical lesion. We have developed an algorithm for choosing treatment tactics in patients with concomitant atherosclerotic lesions of the coronary and carotid arteries. Depending on our differential approach, we selected 104 (42.8 %) patients who underwent a one-stage surgery, and 139 (42.8 %) patients who were subjected to a staged treatment. Results. A total hospital mortality was 0 %. In the staged group, 1 case of transitory ischemic attack (TIA) (0.7 %) was recorded, in the group of combined interventions there was no TIA. In the group of combined interventions, there were 3 (2.9 %) cases of the perioperative stroke and 1 (0.9 %) case of myocardial infarction. In the group that underwent staged interventions, there were 2 (1.4 %) cases of perioperative stroke and 2 (1.4 %) cases of myocardial infarction. Both groups had similar combined results (death, acute MI, stroke) 5 (3.6 %) for the staged group and 4 (3.8 %) for the combined one. There was no significant difference in any of the endpoints. Conclusions. The proposed approach to the choice of techniques for treatment of combined lesions of the carotid and coronary arteries based on the differential approach is safe and permits to adequately eliminate the lesions.