Jeffrey R. Rubin

Timing of carotid endarterectomy after acute stroke

An arbitrary delay of at least 6 weeks before performing carotid endarterectomy after acute stroke has been recommended based on anecdotal reports. This prolonged interval may increase the danger of recurrent neurologic deficit before surgery. From September 1978 to September 1988, carotid endarterectomy was performed on 140 patients at variable intervals after stroke. Eleven patients had temporary stroke, which left 129 patients with neurologic symptoms that persisted for 3 weeks or had a cortical infarct on CT scanning. A prospective therapeutic protocol was applied to 82 patients admitted with acute stroke. They were observed until neurologic recovery reached a plateau, based on clinical observation by a neurologist, before performing angiography and carotid endarterectomy (group I). Forty-seven patients were not seen until after recovery from stroke was established (group II). At initial presentation, the severity of neurologic deficit was classified as mild, moderate, or severe in 31%, 58%, and 11%, respectively. Recovery before operation was registered as complete in 11%, mild residual in 66%, moderate residual in 21%, and severe residual in 2%. Group I patients (n = 82, 64%) were operated on within 6 weeks of stroke and group II (n = 47, 36%) were operated on at varying times after 6 weeks. No significant difference was found in the incidence of cerebrovascular events (1.2% vs 4.2%) and deaths (1.3% vs 2.1%) between groups I and II with respect to the timing of carotid endarterectomy, and no significant difference was found between patients operated on at 2, 4, 6, or more than 6 weeks after stroke.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The relevance of arterial wall microbiology to the treatment of prosthetic graft infections: Graft infection vs. arterial infection

One potential, but poorly studied source for intraoperative contamination of vascular grafts is the native artery to which the prosthetic graft is attached. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between arterial wall microbiology and graft infection. Between July 1, 1981, and March 31, 1982, arterial specimens were cultured from 88 (30%) of 298 patients undergoing clean, elective arterial reconstructive procedures. Control cultures were obtained from adjacent adipose or lymph node tissue. Positive cultures were obtained from 38 of 88 (43%) of the arterial walls cultured but from none of the control cultures (0 of 20) (p less than 0.001). The most common organism cultured was Staphylococcus epidermidis (27 of 38; 71%). Our overall graft infection rate since January 1, 1981, is 0.9% (3 of 335). All three graft infections occurred in patients with positive arterial cultures. Arterial and graft cultures were also obtained from 20 patients treated for 22 graft infections over the past 13 years. Organisms recovered included staphylococcal species (36%), enteric organisms (46%), and mixtures of the two (18%). These patients with culture-positive graft infections were divided retrospectively into two groups: those with positive and those with negative arterial cultures. Positive arterial cultures were associated with suture line disruption in 8 of 14 cases (57%), but there were no arterial disruptions in patients with negative cultures (0 of 8) (p less than 0.01). These data document a significant correlation between positive arterial wall cultures and subsequent prosthetic infection and also suggest that infection involving the arterial wall is a major determinant of the morbidity and mortality associated with the treatment of prosthetic graft sepsis.

Carotid endarterectomy in a metropolitan community: The early results after 8535 operations

Several retrospective community surveys have provoked speculation concerning the safety of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) throughout the United States. To address this serious issue, surgical outcome was calculated for 8535 CEAs entered prospectively into a computer registry by 51 trained vascular surgeons in a large metropolitan area from 1973 to 1985. A total of 7480 procedures (88%) were performed for symptomatic lesions and 1055 (12%) were performed for asymptomatic stenosis or ulceration. There were 178 operative strokes (2.1%) and 135 early deaths (1.6%), for a combined morbidity-mortality rate of 3.2%. Fatal events were attributed to cardiac disease in 0.7%, neurologic complications in 0.6%, and other causes in 0.3%. The stroke rate (n = 148; 2.0%) in symptomatic patients was better than that in asymptomatic patients (n = 30; 2.8%) (chi 2 = 5.2; p less than 0.025), but the combined morbidity-mortality rates (2.9% and 3.7%) were not statistically different. The incidence of stroke reported by surgeons who performed more than 5 CEAs annually (1.7%) was statistically superior to the stroke rate (3.4%) among those with less experience (chi 2 = 37.1; p less than 0.0001). Nevertheless, both groups had acceptable results that were consistent with their training and continued interest in vascular surgery.

Lower-extremity amputation with immediate postoperative prosthetic placement

To study the efficacy of an immediate postoperative prosthesis (IPOP) program, a retrospective review of 167 major lower-extremity amputations was performed. Patient enrollment in the IPOP program was based on the individuals potential for rehabilitation and participation in an aggressive postoperative physical therapy regimen, as determined by the surgeon, prosthetist, physical therapist, and social worker. Indications for amputation were intractable infection and/or severe unreconstructable arterial insufficiency. Sixty-five patients underwent 69 amputations with IPOP (59 below knee; 10 above knee). Successful program completion was defined as independent ambulation and occurred in 86% of those patients enrolled. The average interval from amputation to ambulation was 15.2 days for the below-knee amputees and 9.3 days for the above-knee amputees. Failure to complete the program occurred in 14% of patients and was due to noncompliance, stump infection, stump trauma, and death. The results of this review support the use of IPOP after major lower-extremity amputation.

The role of the lymphatic system in acute arterial prosthetic graft infections

No experimental data have been published that evaluate the role of lower extremity lymphatics in the pathophysiology of arterial graft infection. Bilateral interpositional femoral artery graft (PTFE) replacements were performed in 21 greyhounds, accompanied by unilateral limb ischemia-rendering operations and ipsilateral bacterial inoculations with standardized inocula of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Inguinal lymphatics in the ischemic leg were either simply transected (group I), carefully preserved (group II), or excised and ligated (group III) at the time of femoral graft implantation. The grafts were harvested 48 hours later and graft and blood cultures obtained. There was an 87.5% incidence of positive graft cultures in groups I and II, but both organisms were cultured significantly more often in group II than in group I (62.5% vs. 12.5%; p less than 0.01). Blood culture data were similar. The incidence of positive graft and blood cultures in group III was only 20%, and no cultures obtained were positive for both organisms. Cultures of contralateral control grafts yielded both organisms in all group II dogs compared with only 25% of group I and 0% in group III (p less than 0.01). These results suggest that the lymphatics probably contribute to the development of acute graft infection by absorbing bacteria, and either transporting them to the systemic circulation via lymphatic-venous communications when the lymphatics are intact, causing hematogenous contamination of a graft, or by directly bathing the implanted graft when the lymphatics are disrupted proximal to a septic focus. Careful isolation, transection, and ligation of the inguinal lymphatics at the time of arterial reconstruction might minimize acute graft sepsis.

The value of carotid endarterectomy in reducing the morbidity and mortality of recurrent stroke

Survivors of ischemic stroke are at high risk of sustaining recurrent strokes, which tend to be more severe and are often fatal. Controversy exists regarding whether or not carotid endarterectomy (CEA) achieves its objectives of preventing recurrent stroke and reducing subsequent death in such patients. Therefore, we analyzed the records of 275 consecutive patients who underwent 350 CEAs between 1977 and 1983 and identified 95 patients (34.5%) who had suffered a preoperative stroke, which was the primary indication for operation. All had either full recovery (13.7%) or only mild (63.2%) or moderate (23.1%) neurologic deficits at the time of operation. Patients with severe deficits did not undergo operation. The operations were performed whenever the neurologic recovery had reached a plateau, without a specific interim waiting period between the stroke and the operation. The combined operative morbidity/mortality rate was 2.7% (three patients), both deaths caused by stroke in patients with mild preoperative neurologic deficits and one (0.9%) nonfatal postoperative stroke involving the retina in a patient who also had a mild preoperative deficit. Long-term follow-up averaged 32 months (range, 6 to 72 months). No ipsilateral recurrent strokes occurred during this period after CEA. Life-table analysis revealed a recurrent stroke rate of 3.2% (0.64% per year) and a 5-year survival rate of 81.3%. Patients who were neurologically normal at the time of operation had a cumulative 5-year survival rate of 90.9%. None of the late deaths was due to recurrent stroke.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Femoral-tibial bypass for calcific arterial disease.

Overt calcification of the recipient artery and outflow bed has been regarded as a poor prognostic factor for femoral-distal arterial bypass patency and subsequent wound healing. In order to determine the short- and long-term limb salvage and graft patency rates achieved in these patients, the records of 35 patients undergoing 38 attempted femoral-tibial bypasses to a calcified recipient artery were reviewed. Two patients were unreconstructable at the time of surgery. Thirty-one of the 36 operations (86 percent) were performed using in situ saphenous vein bypass techniques, 3 were performed with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), 1 with a composite sequential, and 1 with a composite vein graft. Immediate limb salvage was achieved in 31 of 36 limbs (86 percent). Five early below-knee amputations (14 percent) were required, two due to graft thromboses and three due to progressive foot necrosis despite patent grafts. One patient (3 percent) died secondary to sepsis. Three-year primary graft patency and limb salvage rates did not differ significantly from bypasses to noncalcified vessels. Femoral-distal bypass in the presence of overt calcific arterial disease may be successfully accomplished and offers an excellent prognosis for long-term graft patency and limb salvage.

Carotid brachial bypass for treating proximal upper-extremity arterial occlusive disease

Symptomatic occlusive disease of the subclavian arteries, not associated with thoracic outlet syndrome, is an uncommon problem with a paucity of literature related to the appropriateness of bypass graft selection and long-term patency for revascularization. Between 1985 and 1993, 9 patients (3 men and 6 women) underwent 13 carotid brachial bypasses for chronic severe upper-extremity ischemia. Ages ranged from 47 to 75 years (mean 65). Three patients had documented collagen vascular disease, 1 had radiation arteritis, and 4 had bilateral disease requiring staged arterial reconstruction. Indications for operation included severe exercise-induced ischemia in two limbs (15%), rest pain in eight (62%), and gangrene or infection, or both, in three (23%). Two bypasses were performed for failed prior reconstructions. Inflow originated from the carotid artery (4 proximal and 9 bifurcation), and distal anastomoses were made to a disease-free section of brachial artery. Reinforced 6 mm thin-wall polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts were used in all operations. No operative mortality or major upper-extremity amputation was associated with the procedure, although digital amputations were performed in four instances. Follow-up ranged from 4 to 83 months with a mean of 38 months. The 5-year primary patency rate, by life-table analysis, was 92%. Our results showed excellent long-term patency when prosthetic grafts were used for carotid brachial bypass, because of excellent runoff and the relatively short graft length required.

Do operative results justify tibial artery reconstruction in the presence of pedal sepsis

An aggressive surgical approach is warranted in all patients with a salvageable weight-bearing pedal surface. Although patients with pedal sepsis (69 limbs) had a lower 30 day limb salvage rate and higher morbidity and mortality rates than those without sepsis (34 limbs), the long-term salvage rates of both groups by life table analysis were not statistically different and remained at the 70 percent level 3 years postoperatively. Peribypass amputation, debridement of the septic foot, or both should be carried out when deemed necessary to decrease the risk of septic complications after revascularization. Other risk factors such as diabetes or heart disease had no bearing on the short-term results of bypass in either the septic or nonseptic group. Autogenous saphenous vein is preferable to synthetic bypass material, especially in patients with ongoing infection. Lastly, even though the medical climate in 1988 must reflect the stark reality of economic restrictions imposed by third-party payors, optimal patient care remains our primary responsibility. We believe that long-term pedal salvage, as achieved by arterial reconstruction, aggressive wound management, and rehabilitation, attains this goal.

Is the Use of Suboptimal Saphenous Veins Justifiable for Limb Salvage

In situ saphenous vein bypass (ISSV) techniques are preferable when the “target vessel” for arterial reconstruction is below the knee. There is no minimally acceptable vein; however, it must be large enough to generate a physiologic increase in ankle pressure following bypass. This retrospective chart review sought to determine success rates for limb salvage and long-term graft patency in individuals with “less than optimal” saphenous veins. Over a 24-month period, 76 below-the-knee ISSV bypasses were performed and 17 veins were described as “suboptimal.” Of those, three had evidence of prior thrombophlebitis, one had severe varicose changes throughout the graft length, and two were too small to be used for reconstruction. Of the 11 small saphenous veins used, the smallest diameter measured after establishment of arterial flow ranged from 0.9 to 1.6 mm (mean=1.2). Target vessels included the below-the-knee popliteal artery (n= one), posterior tibial artery (n= two), peroneal artery (n= four), anterior tibial artery (n=two), and the dorsalis pedis artery (n=two). Following arterial anastomosis, a 15% or greater increase in ankle-brachial index was achieved in all cases. Limb salvage was achieved in eight of 10 limbs. However, amputation was required in three patients and one died secondary to chronic renal failure. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 24 months (mean= 13). Four bypasses thrombosed despite aggressive surveillance, two had multisegmental graft stenoses requiring revision, and five remained patent (mean follow-up: 9.6 months). Short-term patency was satisfactory and immediate limb salvage was achieved. However, long-term limb salvage was not improved. On the basis of these results, the authors would not recommend the use of saphenous veins less than 2 mm minimum diameter for ISSV bypass.