Tomonobu Kodama

Intraprocedural plaque protrusion resulting in cerebral embolism during carotid angioplasty with stenting

An 82-year-old man with an asymptomatic left high-grade carotid stenosis was treated with carotid artery stenting (CAS) under distal protection. The procedure consisted with predilation with a 5 × 40 mm percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) balloon, deployment of a 10 × 20 mm self-expandable stent, post-dilation with a 7 × 20 mm PTA balloon, and aspiration of debris with 60 ml of blood. The cervical carotid angiogram immediately after deflation of the distal blocking balloon demonstrated a small in-stent filling defect of the contrast medium that protruded from the anterior wall of the carotid artery. The following cranial carotid angiogram showed abrupt occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA). Because the in-stent lesion had vanished in the repeat study after recognition of this embolic event, it was suggested that an embolus had been liberated from the in-stent lesion, reaching the left MCA and obliterating it. In this case, the embolus was speculated to originate in the ruptured plaque, which protruded into the stent through the cells of the device and became liberated into the bloodstream. Attention should be paid so as not to overlook any plaque protrusion, which may be seen subsequently as a cerebral embolism on the angiogram obtained immediately after CAS.

Carotid Artery Stenting for Calcified Lesions

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Our aim was to assess the feasibility of carotid artery stent placement (CAS) for calcified lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using embolic protection devices (EPDs), we performed 51 CAS procedures in 43 patients with severe carotid artery stenosis accompanied by plaque calcification. Before intervention, all lesions were subjected to multidetector-row CT. The arc of the circumferential plaque calcification was measured on axial source images at the site of maximal luminal stenosis, and the total volume of the plaque calcification was determined. The angiographic outcome immediately after CAS, and intra- and postoperative complications were recorded. RESULTS: The mean arc of calcification was 201.1 ± 72.3° (range, 76–352°), and the mean of the total calcification volume was 154.9 ± 35.4 mm3 (range, 92–2680 mm3). Balloon rupture occurred in 1 procedure (2.0%) at predilation angioplasty; all 51 CAS procedures were successful without clinical adverse effects. Although there was a correlation between the arc of plaque calcification and residual stenosis (r = 0.6, P < .001), excellent dilation with residual stenosis ≤30% was achieved in all lesions. There was no correlation between the total volume of calcification and residual stenosis. None of the patients developed stroke or death within 30 days of the CAS procedure. CONCLUSION: CAS by using EPDs to treat lesions with plaque calcification is feasible even in patients with near-total circumferential plaque calcification.

Accordion effect during carotid artery stenting: report of two cases and review of the literature.

IntroductionThe term “accordion effect” is used to describe a mechanical distortion of tortuous arteries mimicking spasm or dissection. This phenomenon has been reported in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. To our knowledge, this is the first documentation of the accordion effect during carotid artery intervention.MethodsTwo patients who developed the accordion effect during carotid artery stenting (CAS) are described.ResultsAngiograms obtained just after CAS showed a stenosing lesion with wall irregularity at the distal part of the stent. This lesion disappeared and tortuosity of the internal carotid artery developed after withdrawing the guidewire until its floppy segment rested equally on the lesion. In another patient, the lesion did not disappear completely until the guiding catheter had been withdrawn to the proximal portion of the common carotid artery. We conclude that these stenosing lesions reflected the accordion effect.ConclusionIt is essential to differentiate the accordion effect from dissection, spasm, and thrombosis because the management is importantly different. We report our findings and present a review of the literature.

Spasm induced by protection balloon during carotid artery stenting

PurposeThe PercuSurge system is a distal balloon embolic protection device used for carotid artery stenting (CAS). We performed a retrospective study on the prognosis and clinical effects of spasms induced by the PercuSurge GuardWire system (PercuSurge-induced spasm).Materials and methodsWe performed CAS in 118 carotid stenoses using the PercuSurge system. Of the 118 procedures, 31 (26.3%) of the patients experienced PercuSurge-induced spasm, and all underwent postoperative follow-up studies by cerebral angiography and antiplatelet treatment.ResultsOn follow-up angiograms obtained a mean of 5.2 months (range 3–10 months) after CAS, all 31 PercuSurge-induced spasms had disappeared, and no delayed stenosis was found at the sites where the spasms had occurred. No ischemic events due to the spasms occurred during a mean follow-up of 13 months (range 3–32 months).ConclusionIn the hands of physicians experienced in endovascular surgery, CAS using the PercuSurge system is a safe method with which to treat patients with carotid stenosis. Our study demonstrated that PercuSurge-induced spasms had no morphological or clinical adverse effects.