Imaging characteristics and treatment strategies for carotid artery occlusion caused by skull base fracture:Three case reports

BACKGROUND Traumatic internal carotid artery(ICA)occlusion is a rare complication of skull base fractures,characterized by high mortality and disability rates,and poor prognosis.Therefore,timely discovery and correct management are crucial for saving the lives of such patients and improving their prognosis.This article retrospectively analyzed the imaging and clinical data of three patients,to explore the imaging characteristics and treatment strategies for carotid artery occlusion,combined with severe skull base fractures.CASE SUMMARY This case included three patients,all male,aged 21,63,and 16 years.They underwent plain film skull computed tomography(CT)examination at the onset of their illnesses,which revealed fractures at the bases of their skulls.Ultimately,these cases were definitively diagnosed through CT angiography(CTA)examinations.The first patient did not receive surgical treatment,only anticoagulation therapy,and recovered smoothly with no residual limb dysfunction(Case 1).The other two patients both developed intracranial hypertension and underwent decompressive craniectomy.One of these patients had high intracranial pressure and significant brain swelling postoperatively,leading the family to choose to take him home(Case 2).The other patient also underwent decompressive craniectomy and recovered well postoperatively with only mild limb motor dysfunction(Case 3).We retrieved literature from PubMed on skull base fractures causing ICA occlusion to determine the imaging characteristics and treatment strategies for this type of disease.CONCLUSION For patients with cranial trauma combined with skull base fractures,it is essential to complete a CTA examination as soon as possible,to screen for blunt cerebrovascular injury.

Bilateral cerebral infarction in diabetic ketoacidosis and bilateral internal carotid artery occlusion:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Diabetic ketoacidosis(DKA)is a serious complication of type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM).Very rarely does DKA lead to cerebral edema,and it is even rarer for it to result in cerebral infarction.Bilateral internal carotid artery occlusion(BICAO)is also rare and can cause fatal stroke.Moreover,case reports about acute cerebral infarction throughout both internal carotid arteries with simultaneous BICAO are very scarce.In this study,we present a patient with BICAO,T1DM,hypertension,and hyperlipidemia,who had a catastrophic bilateral cerebral infarction after a DKA episode.We briefly introduce BICAO and the mechanisms by which DKA results in cerebral infarction.CASE SUMMARY A 41-year-old woman presented with ischemic stroke that took place 3 mo prior over the left corona radiata,bilateral frontal lobe,and parietal lobe with right hemiplegia and Broca’s aphasia.She had a history of hypertension for 5 years,hyperlipidemia for 4 years,hyperthyroidism for 3 years,and T1DM for 31 years.The first brain magnetic resonance imaging not only revealed the aforementioned ischemic lesions but also bilateral internal carotid artery occlusion.She was admitted to our ward for rehabilitation due to prior stroke sequalae.DKA took place on hospital day 2.On hospital day 6,she had a new massive infarction over the bilateral anterior cerebral artery and middle cerebral artery territory.After weeks of aggressive treatment,she remained in a coma and on mechanical ventilation due to respiratory failure.After discussion with her family,compassionate extubation was performed on hospital day 29 and she died.CONCLUSION DKA can lead to cerebral infarction due to several mechanisms.In people with existing BICAO and several stroke risk factors such as hypertension, T1DM,hyperlipidemia, DKA has the potential to cause more serious ischemic strokes.

EVALUATION OF THE BRAIN TOLERANCE TO CAROTID ARTERY OCCLUSION

Objective: To establish an objective criterion for assessing brain tolerance to carotid artery occlusion. Methods Endovascular trial balloon occlusion of carotid artery (TBO) in combination with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) and carotid artery stump pressure (SP) measurement was performed routinely for those patients who might have carotid artery manipulated or permanently occluded. Results Out of the 10 cases, one failed the TBO, though an angiographically adequate collateral circulation was observed. The patient’s SP and relative symmetry (rS) of SPECT imaging were 51mmHg and 86%. The remaining cases showed negative TBOs. After carotid occlusions, their mean velocity of ipsilateral middle cerebral artery decreased (16. 3 ± 6. 9 )%. The mean rS was (98. 0 ± 2. 4)% (92. 7% -101. 3% ). The mean SP was (64. 5 ± 13. 0)mmHg [(72. 3±11. 3)% of baseline, range 32-83mmHg. For one subject, the ICA was occluded spontaneously in the test. A reversal internal carotid artery (ICA ) flow was noted in 3 patients with balloon inflated in the common carotid artery (CCA ). When the CCA was occluded, the system blood pressure and heart rate increased apparently. However, this phenomenon did not occur when the ballon was inflated in the ICA. Conclusion With this TBO technique, clinically silent areas of decreased perfusion might be detected. We suggest it be a routine examination prior to carotid manipulations.

PREDICTION OF THE BRAIN TOLERANCE TO CAROTID ARTERY OCCLUSION USING NONINVASIVE METHODS

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Dissection-related carotid-cavernous fistula(CCF)following surgical revascularization of chronic internal carotid artery occlusion:a new subtype of CCF and proposed management

Background:The development of carotid-cavernous fistulas(CCFs)during surgical recanalization of chronic internal carotid artery occlusion(ICAO)may be secondary to severe ICA dissection rather than a focal tear of the cavernous ICA seen in typical traumatic CCFs.The purpose of this study is to investigate the causal relationship between the CCFs and severe ICA dissections and to characterize technical outcomes after treatment with stenting.Methods:Five patients underwent treatment with self-expanding stents due to intraprocedural CCF and ICA dissection following surgical removal of ICAO plaque.The stents were telescopically placed via true channel of the dissection.Safety of the procedure was evaluated with 30-day stroke and death rate.Procedural success was determined by the efficacy of CCF obliteration and ICAO recanalization with angiography.Results:All CCFs were associated with spiral and long segmental dissection from the cervical to cavernous ICA.After stenting,successful dissection reconstruction with TICI 3 was achieved in all patients,with complete(n=4)or partial CCF(n=1)obliteration.No patient had CCF syndrome,stroke,or death during follow-up of 6 to 37 months;but one patient had pulsatile tinnitus,which resolved 1 year later.Angiography at 6 to 24 months demonstrated CCF obliteration in all 5 patients and durable ICA patency in 4 patients.Conclusions:Intraprocedural CCFs with spiral and cervical-to-cavernous ICA dissection during ICAO surgery are dissection-related because of successful obliteration after stenting for dissection reconstruction.Self-expanding stenting through true channel of the dissection,serving as implanting stent-autograft,may be an optimal therapy for the atypical CCF complication from ICAO surgery.

The comparison of STA-MCA bypass and BMT for symptomatic internal carotid artery occlusion disease:a systematic review and meta-analysis of long-term outcome

Background:Superficial temporal artery(STA)-middle cerebral artery(MCA)bypass surgery is now being widely used in moyamoya disease,and its therapeutic value in SICAO remains divergent.Methods:A systematic search was performed in PubMed,EMBASE,and Cochrane Databases in Feb.2020 and updated in Jun.2019.We have strict inclusion and exclusion criteria.Cochrane Bias Risk Assessment Tool was used to assess the quality of included RCTs.Review Manager 5.3 was used for analysis results in terms of comparing the STA-MCA bypass and BMT.For dichotomous variable outcomes,risk ratios(RRs)and 95%confidence intervals(95%CIs)were calculated for the assessment.Results:The total patient cohort consisted of 2419 patients,of whom 1188(49.1%)patients had been grouped in STA-MCA bypass and 1231(50.9%)patients had been divided into the BMT group.Mean follow-up of included patients was 29 months.The RR of the seven studies was 1.01,and the 95%confidence interval was.89–1.15,with statistical significance,Z=.13,P=.89,sustaining that STA-MCA bypass was not superior to BMT in symptomatic carotid artery occlusion disease.Conclusions:STA-MCA bypass and BMT were associated with similar rates of a composite of long-term stroke.And the risk of long-term overall stroke was mildly higher with BMT.At present,each patient should receive more precise treatment,by reasonably assessing the individual differences of each patient to reduce the recurrence rate of stroke.

Effect of cold weather on carotid artery stenosis and occlusion:A retrospective observational study

Objective:To investigate the effect of cold weather on carotid artery stenosis and occlusion.Methods:We conducted a retrospective observational study,in which 145 patients with carotid artery stenosis and occlusion were enrolled[115 men and 30 women;the mean age was 61.08 years(95%CI 59.27-62.88)].Patients were divided into the low-temperature group(n=98)(≤12℃)and the non-low temperature group(n=47)(>12℃).Clinical characteristics,blood pressure,National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS),blood fat,and blood viscositys were compared between the two groups.Correlation between NIHSS and mean daily temperature was analyzed.Results:There was no significant difference in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the two groups(P>0.05).The NIHSS score was slightly higher in the non-low temperature group compared to that of the low-temperature group(U=2984,P<0.01).Glycemia,cholesterol level,prothrombin time,fibrinogen,and International Normalized Ratio did not show any significant difference(P>0.05).Correlation analysis showed a very low positive and statistically significant correlation between ambient temperature and NIHSS score(r=0.18,P=0.029).Conclusion:Cold weather does not impact blood pressure,blood cholesterol,and coagulation factors of patients with carotid artery stenosis and occlusion.The neurological deficit is more severe in the non-low ambient temperature group.A potential relationship exists between ambient temperature and the level of neurological impairment.

Research Progress of Chronic Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion

Chronic internal carotid artery occlusion(CICAO)is a chronic cerebrovascular disease which,from various causes,leads to progressive stenosis of the internal carotid artery lumen and finally to complete occlusion.With an aging society,the detection rate of CICAO is increasing year by year,with the highest incidence of CICAO in elderly men.The main clinical manifestations of CICAO are ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack.Drug therapy is the first choice for asymptomatic CICAO,and surgical treatment is an optional means of improving prognosis for symptomatic CICAO that cannot be controlled by drugs.The selection of indications needs further study.This article reviews the latest research progress in the epidemiology,etiology,clinical features,imaging analysis,and treatment of CICAO in order to guide clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Efficacy of Different Types of Self-expandable Stents in Carotid Artery Stenting for Carotid Bifurcation Stenosis

Both open and closed loop self-expandable stents were used in carotid artery stenting（CAS） for carotid bifurcation stenosis. We sought to compare the efficacy of two types of stents in CAS. The data of 212 patients treated with CAS（42 and 170 cases implanted with closed and open loop stents, respectively） for carotid bifurcation stenosis and distal filtration protection devices were retrospectively analyzed. Between closed and open loop stents, there were no significant differences in hospitalization duration, NIHSS score before and after the treatment, stenosis at 12 th month, and cumulative incidence of primary endpoint events within 30 days or from the 31 st day to the 12 th month; while there were significant differences in hemodynamic changes and rate of difficulty in recycling distal filtration protection devices. Use of open vs. closed loop stents for carotid bifurcation stenosis seems to be associated with similar incidence of complications, except for greater rate of hemodynamic changes and lower rate of difficulty in recycling the distal filtration protection devices.

Resveratrol improves cognition and reduces oxidative stress in rats with vascular dementia

Resveratrol possesses beneficial biological effects, which include anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. Recently, resveratrol has been shown to exhibit neuroprotective effects in models of Parkinson＇s disease, cerebral ischemia and Alzheimer＇s disease. However, its effects on vascular dementia remain unclear. The present study established a rat model of vascular dementia using permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion. At 8-12 weeks after model induction, rats were intragastrically administered 25 mg/kg resveratrol daily. Our results found that resveratrol shortened the escape latency and escape distances in the Morris water maze, and pro- longed the time spent percentage and swimming distance percentage in the target quadrant during the probe test, indicating that resveratrol improved learning and memory ability in vascular dementia rats. Further experiments found that resveratrol decreased malonyldialdehyde levels, and increased superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione levels in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of vascular dementia rats. These results confirmed that the neuroprotective effects of resveratrol on vascular dementia were associated with its anti-oxidant properties.

Neuroprotective effects of kaempferol against 2VO-induced chronic cerebral ischemia in rats

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of kaempferol(KAE)on chronic cerebral ischemia in rats.METHODS Chronic cerebral ischemia was induced in rats by permanent occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries(2VO).Then,the rats with chronic cerebral ischemia were randomly divied into three groups:model group,KAE 10 and 30 mg·kg-1group.Another group rats without occlusion of common carotid arteries were used as the sham-operation group.Memory behavior was investigated by Morris water maze test.Prehensile ability was investigated by prehensile traction test.The structure of hippocampus and cortex neurons was observed with Nissel staining.In addition,the SOD activity and MDA content in brain tissue were determined.The DJ-1protein level was determined by Western blotting.RESULTS KAE 10 and 30 mg·kg-1could significantly improve cognitive impairment and prehensile traction ability(P<0.01)induced by chronic cerebral ischemia in rats.The results of the pathological analysis also suggested that KAE could ameliorate the pathological damage induced by chronic cerebral ischemia.In addition,KAE 30 mg·kg-1significantly increased the activity of SOD(P<0.05),but had no effect on the content of MDA in rat brain tissue.Western-blotting confirmed that KAE 10 and30 mg·kg-1could increase the expression of anti-oxidation proteins DJ-1 in hippocampus(P<0.01).CONCLUSION KAE may attenuate the chronic cerebral ischemic injury in rats.

Curcumin alters expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein and nestin following chronic cerebral ischemia

Astrocytes can alter their appearance and become reactive following chronic cerebral ischemia. In the present study, a rat model of chronic cerebral ischemia was treated with 50 and 100 mg/kg curcumin. Results showed that pathological changes of neuronal injury in hippocampal CA1 area of rats induced by chronic cerebral ischemia were attenuated, as well as upregulated expression of glial fibriliary acidic protein and nestin, in a dose-dependent manner.

Bis(7)-Tacrine Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment Caused by Cerebral Hypoperfusion in Rats

The effects ofbis(7)-tacrine, a novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, on cognitive impairment and neuronal degeneration induced by permanent ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries (2VO) were investigated using the Morris water maze in rats. Once daily oral administration ofbis(7)-tacrine (0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 mg?kg?1) was started 14 days after 2VO operation. Over a three-week treatmentbis(7)-tacrine effectively reversed 2VO-induced spatial memory deficits in a dose-dependent fashion. Furthermore, histological observation showedbis(7)-tacrine decreased the neuropathological changes in the 2VO rats brain. These results suggest thatbis(7)-tacrine has therapeutic potential for the treatment of dementia caused by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.

Transplanted bone marrow stromal cells improve cognitive dysfunction due to aging hypoperfusion in rats

Background Aging is an important risk factor for vascular dementia, and D-galactose （D-gal） injection can simulate the pathology of aging. Two-vessel occlusion of common carotid arteries （2VO） is the most popular model for vascular dementia. This study was aimed to investigate the possibility of D-gal injection plus 2VO simulating cognitive impairment of aging vascular dementia; and whether transplanted bone marrow stromal cells （BMSCs） can improve the cognitive function induced by D-gal injection plus 2VO.Methods Totally 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups equivalently： control group, D-gal group,D-gal＋2VO group, D-gal＋2VO＋saline water group, and D-gal＋2VO＋BMSCs group. Aging hypoperfusion rats were created by subcutaneous injection of D-gal and occlusion of two common carotid arteries. BMSCs or saline water was stereotactically transplanted into the subventricular zone as treatment vehicles at 24 hours post operation. Two-way repeat analysis of variance （ANOVA） was used for significance analysis of 5 groups at 6 weeks post transplantation;moreover, Tamhane＇s test （equal variance not assumed） and least significant difference （LSD） test （equal variance assumed） were used for pairwise comparison in Morris water maze （MWM）.Results Transplanted BMSCs distributed around the lateral ventricles and acquired the phenotypes of neurons and astrocytes. In terms of swimming path distance and escape latency in MWM, D-gal＋2VO＋BMSC group showed significant improvement than the D-gal＋2VO group but was still obviously worse than the control group （both P ＜0.05）.There was no significant difference in swimming speed for all 5 groups.Conclusions D-gal plus 2VO induces cognitive dysfunction. The engrafted BMSCs exhibit the beneficial effect on cognitive function via promotion interactively with host brain.