Intravascular ultrasonography assisted carotid artery stenting for treatment of carotid stenosis: Two case reports

BACKGROUND Digital subtraction angiography(DSA),the gold standard of cerebrovascular disease diagnosis,is limited in its diagnostic ability to evaluate arterial diameter.Intravascular ultrasonography(IVUS)has advantages in assessing stenosis and plaque nature and improves the evaluation and effectiveness of carotid artery sten-ting(CAS).CASE SUMMARY Case 1:A 65-year-old man presented with a five-year history of bilateral lower limb weakness due to stroke.Physical examination showed decreased strength(5-/5)in both lower limbs.Carotid artery ultrasound,magnetic resonance angiography,and computed tomography angiography(CTA)showed a right proximal internal carotid artery(ICA)stenosis(70%-99%),acute cerebral infarction,and severe right ICA stenosis,respectively.We performed IVUS-assisted CAS to measure the stenosis and detected a low-risk plaque at the site of stenosis prior to stent implantation.Post-stent balloon dilatation was performed and postoperative IVUS demonstrated successful expansion and adherence.CTA six months postoperatively showed no significant increase in in-stent stenosis.Case 2:A 36-year-old man was admitted with a right common carotid artery(CCA)dissection detected by ultrasound.Physical examination showed no positive neurological signs.Carotid ultrasound and CTA showed lumen dilation in the proximal CCA with an intima-like structure and bulging in the proximal segment of the right CCA with strip-like low-density shadow(dissection or carotid web).IVUS-assisted DSA confirmed right CCA dissection.CAS was performed and intraoperative IVUS suggested a large residual false lumen.Post-stent balloon dilatation was performed reducing the false lumen.DSA three months postoperatively indicated good stent expansion with mild stenosis.CONCLUSION IVUS aids decision-making during CAS by accurately assessing carotid artery wall lesions and plaque nature preoperatively,dissection and stenosis morphology intraoperatively,and visualizing and confirming CAS postoperatively.

Observation on the Efficacy of Autologous Blood Transfusion Combined with Controlled Hypotension in Patients with Spinal Internal Fixation during the Outbreak of New Coronavirus Pneumonia in Western Guangxi (in Guixi)

Objective: To explore the therapeutic effect of autologous blood reinfusion combined with controlled hypotension in surgical spinal fixation during the outbreak of COVID-19. Methods: 30 patients with spinal internal fixation autologous blood transfusion combined with controlled hypotension were selected as the subjects during the epidemic period from December 2019 to June 2020 in our hospital and during the operation, on the basis of routine blood pressure reduction, the American Haemonetice Corporation autologous blood continuous reinfusion system was used to infuse the blood recovered during the operation to the patient through filtration and other procedures. Results: 30 patients had no complications such as fever and hemolysis;And after the operation, the tube was dialed according to the drainage volume, the cervical thoracic and lumbar brace was customized, and the patient walked on the ground for one week;After no abnormalities, the patient was discharged. Intraoperative comparison of white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), red blood cell pressure (HCT), hemoglobin (HGB), and coagulation time (PT) of patients with autologous blood before and after transfusion showed statistically significant differences before and after surgery (P < 0.001). Conclusion: During the new coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, the internal fixation of spinal surgery used a recovery machine to collect intraoperative blood for reinfusion. Intraoperative antihypertensive drugs were used to control blood pressure within a certain safe range. The postoperative clinical observation effect was significant and safe;especially at present the clinical significance during the epidemic was significant.