[Surgical prevention of stroke in patients with carotid stenosis]

Objectives. To study the cerebral and central hemodynamics in patients with stenotic lesions of inner carotid arteries (ICA) before and after reconstructive surgery. Material and methods. Fifty-nine patients, aged from 46 to 78 years, with >50% atherosclerotic stenosis of ICA who underwent preventive carotid endarterectomy (CEAE) were examined. The isolate stenosis of ICA was identified in 13.6% of patients, concomitant lesions of brachiocephalic arteries in 86.4%. Atherosclerotic lesions of coronary arteries were found in 91.1% of patients and those of arteries of lower extremities in 45.8%. In 25.5% of patients, the heart surgery was performed before the current hospitalization. Heterogeneous atherosclerotic plaques with dense or hyperdense components were more frequents in symptomatic stenosis (63.3%). The maximal stenosis was identified in heterogeneous hyperechogenic plaques, the minimal ones in homogenous hypoechogenic plaques. Parameters of central hemodynamics were better in patients with 2nd stage of reconstructive surgeries. The emission fraction decreased proportionally to the degree of stenosis. The parameters of cerebral hemodynamics were significantly decreased in ICA stenosis and improved in the early post-surgery period. Results. CEAE promoted the improvement of cognitive functions and the recovery of motor functions. The best positive dynamics was recorded in asymptomatic ICA stenosis. Poor outcome (transitory ischemic attacks, urgent surgery, restenosis) was found in patients with low levels of central and cerebral hemodynamics 12-24 months after the discharge. Moreover, smoking and the degree of stenosis predicted poor outcome. Conclusions. Surgical treatment in combination with the complex pharmacotherapy (hypotensive drugs, antiaggregants and statins) had the maximal effect, including the remote period.